cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Statin Therapy in Long QT Syndrome Type II

Statins are among the most commonly prescribed drug classes for prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease, and their use is expected to increase due to recent changes in therapy guidelines. Although statins have an overall very favorable safety profile in the general population, the effect of this drug class on cardiac electrophysiology, in particular for non-heart-failure patients, has been incompletely studied. Indeed, some reports show statins decreasing repolarizing potassium channel currents in the heart, an effect expected to prolong QTc interval and increase the risk for cardiac arrhythmias.
Linguistic complexity in L2 writing revisited: Issues of topic, proficiency, and construct multidimensionality

Abstract This study aims to explore the validity of syntactic, lexical, and morphological complexity measures in capturing topic and proficiency differences in L2 writing. The additional purpose of this study is to examine how these measures gauge distinct dimensions of complexity. To these ends, this study examined a corpus of 1198 argumentative essays on two different topics written by college-level Chinese EFL learners. The essays were analyzed for topic effects (within-subjects) and for development across proficiency levels (between-subjects), as well as for the multidimensional construct of complexity. The result indicated strong topic effects on the majority of complexity measures (i.e., more complex language in a topic more relevant to writers’ experiences). There were significant changes across proficiency levels in phrase-level syntactic, lexical, and morphological measures but not in clause-level measures. Last, a factor analysis result showed that lexical and morphological dimensions of complexity loaded on one construct and that the unit-length measures with different base units loaded on different constructs. The results of this study are interpreted in terms of topic relevance and the validity of multidimensional dimensions of complexity.
A review of CD19-targeted immunotherapies for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Aim Novel immunotherapies have generated high response rates and unique adverse effects among patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Therapies engaging endogenous T-cells against acute lymphoblastic leukemia are emerging for children and adults with various poor prognostic factors, thus accurate knowledge of immunotherapies is necessary for their effective implementation in the future. In this review, we evaluate clinical trial data regarding chimeric antigen receptor T-cells and blinatumomab, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Summary In the relapsed or refractory setting, response rates rapidly diminish after subsequent lines of chemotherapy and cumulative toxicities may cause significant patient harm. Immunotherapies provide an approach to improve response rates and minimize traditional toxicities via novel mechanisms of action. Two therapies targeting CD19 antigens expressed on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia lineages, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, and blinatumomab have induced complete remissions among high-risk patient populations, especially those refractory to multiple therapies. Adverse effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurologic sequelae remain serious precautions of each therapy. Conclusion Knowledge of immunotherapy mechanisms and clinical outcomes associated with immunotherapies is critical for the optimization of treating patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Future use of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells and blinatumomab demands proper assessment of a patient's disease and treatment history in addition to unique monitoring and supportive care interventions.
Inferring particle dynamics in the Mediterranean Sea from in-situpump POC and chloropigment data using Bayesian statistics

Abstract. Chloropigment and particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration data collected using in-situ large-volume pumps during the MedFlux project in the Mediterranean Sea in May 2005 provided an opportunity to estimate rate constants that control the fate of particles and specifically chloropigments in the water column. Additionally, comparisons to thorium and chloropigment data from settling-velocity (SV) sediment traps at the same site enabled us to distinguish between the influence of the sampling method used vs. the tracer used on particle dynamic rate constants. Here we introduce a Bayesian statistical inversion method that combines the data with a new box model and has the capacity to infer rate constants for POC respiration/dissolution, chlorophyll and phaeopigment degradation, and particle aggregation and disaggregation. The estimated small-particle (1–70 μm) POC respiration rate constant was 1.25 +0.55 −0.38 yr−1 (0.80 yr). For this data set, the rate constants for chlorophyll (Chl) degradation to phaeopigments and phaeopigment respiration were not well constrained. The estimated aggregation and disaggregation rate constants were 7.65 +3.35 −2.33 (0.13 yr) and 106.09 +39.13 −28.59 yr−1 (0.01 yr), respectively, which indicates that particle aggregation and disaggregation were extensive at the studied depths (125–750 m) in May after the spring bloom had ended and flux was low.
Mobile Phone Camera Based Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Measurements

We report a wearable camera-based near-infrared spectroscopy technique for low-resource regions. With a mobile phone and LED attachment, we investigate the suitability of low-cost cameras in non-contact tissue oxygenation assessments.
Gravity model error considerations for high-integrity GNSS-aided INS operations

GNSS-aided inertial systems are used to achieve accurate and reliable position, velocity, and attitude estimates in a wide variety of aerospace applications. When utilized in a safety-critical operation such as civil aviation, every potential error source must be characterized for its potential contribution to hazardously misleading information. The standards-making body, RTCA, facilitates working groups that develop requirements and test criteria in the form of Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for airborne equipment. Existing standards address the usage of navigation grade inertial units in long-range operations such as oceanic flight. Currently, RTCA SC-159 WG-2C is developing a new MOPS that, in addition to addressing a wider range of inertial units, will also address coasting during GNSS outages to increase continuity in operations such as non-precision approach. As part of this effort, the effect of gravity mis-modeling on the navigation system during short-term GNSS outages is being investigated from a certification perspective. For certification purposes, the navigation system must be properly stressed/tested using realistic worst case scenarios. Previous gravity modeling work by the authors [1] demonstrated that large gradients in the deflection of the vertical (DOV) can lead to horizontal position errors that are a significant fraction of an RNP 0.3 lane width. This paper extends the previous work in two main areas: a) global analysis of DOV magnitude and gradient; and b) statistical characterization of low, medium and high-order gravity model performance.
Data Mining Lessons Learned in the Federal Government

• Defense Medical Logistics Support System Data Warehouse Program • Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Financial and Accounting Service (DFAS) “Operation Mongoose” • DoD Computerized Executive Information System (CEIS) • Department of Homeland Security’s Analysis, Dissemination, Visualization, Insight, and Semantic Enhancement (ADVISE) Program • Department of Transportation (DOT) Executive Reporting Framework System • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Accident Data Mining Project • General Accountability Office (GAO) Data Mining of DoD Purchase and Travel Card Programs • U.S. Coast Guard Executive Information System • Veteran Administrations (VA) Demographics System
The effects of an online professional development course on teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions regarding digital game-based learning

This study examined the effects of a graduate level, professional development (PD) course on teachers’ perceptions, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions regarding the use of digital games in the classrooms, teacher involvement in educational game design, and constructionist gaming. Twenty-one teachers participated in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from pre- and post-surveys and participants’ reflections on major assignments. The results revealed significant changes in participants’ perceptions, attitudes, and self-efficacy. At the end of the course, all participants believed that digital games could be helpful for students’ learning and help students develop real-world skills, including higher-order thinking, problem solving, decision making, and collaboration skills. They also felt more comfortable using digital games in the classroom after completing the course. All participants agreed or strongly agreed that teachers should be involved in the process of educational game design. The participants also realized that constructionist gaming could provide an engaging and meaningful context where students can practice and develop real world skills. This study examined the impact of the PD experience on the participants’ behavioral intentions beyond their perceptions and attitudes. The results showed that the PD experience had a positive influence on the participants’ behavioral intentions. The findings of this study provide useful insights into teacher professional development.
Gut bacteria are required for the benefits of black raspberries in Apc Min/+ mice

Background The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Objective To determine whether the gut microbiota is required for the chemoprotective effects of black raspberries (BRBs) in Apc Min/+ mice. Methods Apc Min/+ mice were given (a) a control diet for 8 weeks, or (b) the control diet for 4 weeks and then a 5% BRB diet for additional 4 weeks, or (c) the control diet and antibiotics for 4 weeks followed by the 5% BRB diet and antibiotics for the next 4 weeks. At the end of the study, all the mice were euthanized, and colonic and intestinal polyps were counted. mRNA expression levels of TLR4, NF-κB1, and COX2 were determined in colon and small intestine of these Apc Min/+ mice by quantitative real-time PCR. Results 5% BRBs significantly suppressed intestinal and colonic polyp development in the Apc Min/+ mice, whereas antibiotics significantly abolished BRBs' chemoprotective effects. BRBs decreased mRNA levels of TLR4, NF-κB1, and COX2 in colon, whereas significantly enhanced mRNA levels of TLR4 and NF-κB1 were observed in small intestine of BRB-treated Apc Min/+ mice fed antibiotics. Conclusions The gut microbiota is required for BRBs' chemoprotection against polyp development in Apc Min/+ mice.
Non-conventional therapeutic technique to replace CRISPR bacteria from biofilm by inducible lysogen.

ABSTRACTBacteriophage can be an effective means of regulating bacterial populations when conditions allow phage invasion of bacterial colonies. Phage can either infect and lyse a host cell, or inse...
Alzheimer's disease risk factors as mediators of subjective memory impairment and objective memory decline: protocol for a construct-level replication analysis.

Subjective memory impairment (SMI), or the perception of memory problems in the absence of objective memory deficits, is associated with negative outcomes of individual and societal significance, including a substantially increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, little is known regarding the mediators that link SMI and memory decline in some individuals, or which older adults with SMI are at greatest risk for memory decline. In this study, we will examine modifiable AD risk factors (specifically affective symptoms and activity participation) as mediators underlying linkages among SMI and memory decline over time; furthermore, we will characterize SMI subgroups at highest risk for memory decline via this pathway. This study utilizes a series of construct-level replication analyses across four large longitudinal datasets to maximize the unique aspects of each dataset as well as test the reproducibility of findings across multiple populations to establish generalizability. The current study’s sample (n > 40,000) is drawn from the Einstein Aging Study, Health and Retirement Study, Minority Aging Research Study, and National Health and Aging Trends Study. Participants must meet the following basic criteria for inclusion: age 55 or older and no evidence of cognitive impairment at baseline. We will use multilevel modeling to determine whether higher levels of SMI are related to increased affective symptoms and decreased activity participation, as well as whether this relationship is moderated by neuroticism, family history of AD, and race/ethnicity. Finally, we will test our full conceptual model that examines whether changes in affective symptoms and activity participation mediate the relationship between SMI and objective memory decline. Specifically, we will test moderated mediation as we hypothesize these relationships to hold among subgroups of older adults. Discovery of modifiable AD risk factors that mediate the association between SMI and memory decline (the earliest and most central deficit in AD) will provide explicit, and potentially novel, targets for intervention. Additionally, identifying individuals at highest risk for negative reactions to SMI will serve to enrich samples for future research as well as to help guide the development of SMI assessment tools to identify older adults at greatest risk for debilitating outcomes.
General education teachers’ math instructional practices in kindergarten classrooms with and without students with emotional and behavioral disabilities

Abstract Including students with disabilities in general education classrooms is a priority nationwide, but little is known whether classroom compositions have implications for frequencies of classroom activities. This study focuses on kindergarten classrooms that do and do not have students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBDs). Using national data, we found teachers reported greater frequency of traditional math activities if they had students with EBDs in their classroom. Teachers in classrooms with students with EBDs reported more frequencies of math content that involved advanced practical and writing skills. Differences in findings arose based on teacher qualifications. Implications for policy are discussed.
Extreme Heat Events and Rising Temperatures: Heat-Related Morbidity Vulnerability and Prevention

Challenge: The major determinants of vulnerability for heat stress/strain and adverse health outcomes are known; virtually all heat-related morbidity and mortality (HRMM) is preventable given adequ...
Correlates of Intimate Partner Homicide among Male Suicide Decedents with Known Intimate Partner Problems

Objective Intimate partner (IP) problems are risk factors for suicide among men. However, there is little understanding of why some male suicide decedents who had such problems killed their partners before death (i.e., "IP homicide-suicide"), while most of these decedents did not. To inform prevention efforts, this study identified correlates of IP homicide among male suicide decedents with known IP problems. Methods We examined IP homicide correlates among male suicide decedents aged 18+ years who had known IP problems using 2003-2015 National Violent Death Reporting System data. Prevalence odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for demographic, incident, and circumstance variables. IP homicide-suicide narratives were examined to identify additional prevention opportunities. Results An estimated 1,504 (5.0%) of 30,259 male suicide decedents who had IP problems killed their partner. IP homicide-suicide perpetration was positively correlated with suicide by firearm and precipitating civil legal problems but negatively correlated with mental health/substance abuse treatment. An estimated 33.7% of IP homicide-suicides occurred during a breakup; 21.9% of IP homicide-suicide perpetrators had domestic violence histories. Conclusions Connections between the criminal justice and mental health systems as well as stronger enforcement of laws prohibiting firearm possession among domestic violence offenders may prevent IP homicide-suicides.
Lidar remote sensing of the aquatic environment: invited

This paper is a review of lidar remote sensing of the aquatic environment. The optical properties of seawater relevant to lidar remote sensing are described. The three main theoretical approaches to understanding the performance of lidar are considered (the time-dependent radiative transfer equation, Monte Carlo simulations, and the quasi-single-scattering assumption). Basic lidar instrument design considerations are presented, and examples of lidar studies from surface vessels, aircraft, and satellites are given.
Ghostly fogs in a decaying empire: disoriented and melancholy experience in Russia’s metropole

This article explores the disoriented affective experience of urban modernity in the Russian imperial metropole: obsessive portrayals, by writers both famous and obscure, of St. Petersburg as a pla...
Cross-Sectional Abdominal Imaging Findings in Patients With COVID-19

Objective We aimed to review and analyze cross-sectional abdominal imaging findings in a cohort of 10 patients who had tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods This retrospective study conducted from April 1, 2020, to May 13, 2020, involved two institutions that comprised a central tertiary academic institution and multiple smaller community hospitals. We reviewed and examined cross-sectional imaging studies of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 either during the emergency room (ER) visit or hospital admission. Salient imaging findings and medical records were reviewed. Results A total of 10 COVID-19-positive patients (seven males and three females) of ages ranging from 21-75 years underwent cross-sectional abdominopelvic imaging. Nine of the 10 patients demonstrated typical lung base findings associated with COVID-19 on both CT and MRI. Twelve CT abdominopelvic examinations, one MRI abdomen, and one right upper quadrant ultrasound (RUQ US) were performed, with three patients undergoing two CT scans during the course of hospitalization. Gastric and bowel wall abnormalities were found on 25% (n=3/12) of abdominal CT scans. Acute interstitial pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis were both found on one CT exam. The remaining (n=7/12, 58%) CT studies demonstrated no acute intraabdominal pathology with incidental findings including fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and splenomegaly. Conclusion A spectrum of abdominal imaging findings ranging from colitis to pancreatitis may be correlated with COVID-19 infection, even though the majority of our patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms did not have identifiable GI pathology on imaging.
Multivariate Apéry numbers and supercongruences of rational functions

One of the many remarkable properties of the Apery numbers A(n), introduced in Apery’s proof of the irrationality of ζ(3), is that they satisfy the two-term supercongruences A(pm) ≡ A(pr−1m) (mod p) for primes p > 5. Similar congruences are conjectured to hold for all Apery-like sequences. We provide a fresh perspective on the supercongruences satisfied by the Apery numbers by showing that they extend to all Taylor coefficients A(n1, n2, n3, n4) of the rational function 1 (1 − x1 − x2)(1 − x3 − x4) − x1x2x3x4 . The Apery numbers are the diagonal coefficients of this function, which is simpler than previously known rational functions with this property. Our main result offers analogous results for an infinite family of sequences, indexed by partitions λ, which also includes the Franel and Yang–Zudilin numbers as well as the Apery numbers corresponding to ζ(2). Using the example of the Almkvist–Zudilin numbers, we further indicate evidence of multivariate supercongruences for other Apery-like sequences.
Ann Patchett’s Run and James Joyce’s “The Dead”: A Call to Action

On the surface, the most striking similarity between James Joyce’s “The Dead” (1914) and Ann Patchett’s Run (2007) is the prevalence of snow in both works. Even Patchett’s character Teddy, staring ...
Disease Transmission by Embryo Transfer in Cattle

The number of calves born in North America from commercial embryo transfer has increased from zero in 1970 to approximately 100,000 in 1985. Improvements in basic embryo transfer procedures, as well as in ancillary techniques such as embryo freezing, have resulted in a significant demand for international transport of bovine embryos. Any technique for dispersing genetically valuable germplasm must also be shown to be relatively free of the risk of transmitting pathogenic microorganisms.
Inter- and intra-cow variability and the effect of teat-end shape on average milk flow rate, milk harvested in the first two minutes, and seconds below 2.2 lb per minute

Data from electronic milk meters that measure milking characteristics such as average flow rate (AFR), amount of milk harvested in the first 2 minutes (2MIN), and seconds below 2.2 lb (1 kg) per minute flow rate (LOW) have been used as indicators of milking efficiency among cows. While these milking characteristics are valuable metrics to optimize efficiency of dairy production systems, the variability in them has not been rigorously investigated. The primary objective of this study was to describe the variability of the milking characteristics AFR (lb/min), 2MIN (lb), and LOW (sec.), both within and between cows. Our secondary objective was to investigate the influence of the explanatory variables milk yield, stage of lactation (DIM), parity, milking time, farm, manual control mode, and teat-end shape on the aforementioned milking characteristics.
Impacts of compacting methods on the delivery of erythromycin and vancomycin from calcium polyphosphate hydrogel matrices.

Designing hydrogels for controlled drug delivery remains a big challenge. We developed a calcium polyphosphate hydrogel (CPP) as matrix for delivery of vancomycin (VCM) and erythromycin (EM) by unique ionic binding and physical wrapping. In this continuing study, we investigated if gel discs prepared by mechanical compaction (at 3000 psi pressure, C-discs) is superior to that of discs prepared by regular manual compaction (M-discs) for the release of VCM and EM (10 wt.%). Data demonstrated a significant reduction of burst release of VCM and EM in C-discs (1.8% and 5%, respectively) as compared to that from M-discs within 72 hr (55% and 60%, respectively, p < 0.05). In addition, C-discs significantly extended the VCM release (1500 hr) and EM (800 hr) as compared to M-discs (160 and 96 hr, respectively, p < 0.05). The VCM released from C-discs retained its bactericidal activity much longer (1500 hr) than that from M-discs (700 hr, p < 0.05). Raman Spectroscopy indicated an ionic bond of both VCM and EM with fully hydrated polyphosphate chains of CPP hydrogel matrix for both M-discs and C-discs. Micro CT showed that C-discs had much denser microstructures and less number/depth of microcracks as a result of high pressure. We propose that CPP hydrogel represents an excellent tool for the controllable and sustained delivery of VCM and EM. Extensive experiments are currently underway to evaluate the potential impacts of the modification of compaction techniques, other antibiotics, gel concentrations on the drug release, degradation behavior and infection control both in vitro and in vivo.
A polymorphism in the rat liver mitochondrial ALDH2 gene is associated with alcohol drinking behavior

Liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) has a low Km for acetaldehyde and plays a major role in acetaldehyde oxidation in vivo following alcohol consumption. In humans, a single base pair mutation produces a catalytically inactive enzyme (Yoshida et al., 1984). Approximately 50% of Asians have this defective ALDH2 allele; upon ingestion of ethanol, these individuals experience classic symptoms of acetaldehyde accumulation (Mizoi et al., 1979) which deters alcohol-drinking and thus reduces the risk of becoming an alcoholic. Japanese alcoholics have a low incidence of the ALDH2-deficient phenotype (2.3%) compared with the general Japanese population (41%) suggesting that polymorphism of ALDH2 could play a role in an individual’s susceptibility to alcoholism (Harada et al., 1982).
Chapter 33. Reactions of Interest in Medicinal Chemistry

Publisher Summary This chapter examines various reactions of interest in medicinal chemistry. The properties of 1-chlorobenzotriazole, capable of effecting high-yield oxidations of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, as well as other reactions, have been described. Oxidation occurs on refluxing in CCl 4 for a short time and is believed to occur via a radical chain mechanism. A large number of 1,4-, 1,5-, and 1,6-diols is converted to lactones on treatment with silver carbonate on celite in refluxing benzene mevalonolactone is thus prepared in 74% yield. An ingenious method for the oxidation of primary amines modeled after biological transamination reactions has been developed. Et 3 SiH in the presence of Pd is usable in a convenient way to effect the conversion of acyl chlorides to aldehydes in higher yields than are obtainable with lithium hydrides. The isolation of [Py 2 .DMF.RhCl 2 (BF 4 )], a highly active chloroform-soluble catalyst that gives the same product stereochemistry observed in heterogenous hydrogenation, has also been described.
Human Torso Response to Blunt Trauma

The most frequent causes of blunt abdominal injury are the steering wheel and the lap belt. The organs most often injured are the liver, pancreas, spleen and intestines. Based on this information, a series of animal abdominal impacts were designed to study the relationship between shape and type of impactor, velocity and direction of impact, body region impacted and injury level. The results of this study are given in the form of an experimental scaling factor which relates the sensitivity to impacts of the various body regions. This scaling factor was found to be dependent of body weight, making it applicable for evaluating human tolerances to abdominal impacts.
Causal inference of interaction effects with inverse propensity weighting, G-computation and tree-based standardization

Given the recent interest of subgroup-level studies and personalized medicine, health research with causal inference has been developed for interaction effects of measured confounders. In estimating interaction effects, the inverse of the propensity weighting (IPW) method has been widely advocated despite the immediate availability of other competing methods such as G-computation estimates. This paper compares the advocated IPW method, the G-computation method, and our new Tree-based standardization method, which we call the Interaction effect Tree (IT). The IT procedure uses a likelihood-based decision rule to divide the subgroups into homogeneous groups where the G-computation can be applied. Our simulation studies indicate that the IT-based method along with the G-computation works robustly while the advocated IPW method needs some caution in its weighting. We applied the IT-based method to assess the effect of being overweight or obese on coronary artery calcification (CAC) in the Chicago Healthy Aging Study cohort.
Entrainment of the fetal hamster circadian pacemaker by prenatal injections of the dopamine agonist SKF 38393

Prenatal treatment with the D1-dopamine receptor agonist SKF 38393 or cocaine induces expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos in the fetal rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) (Weaver et al., 1992). Because the induction of c-fos gene expression in the SCN has been implicated in the entrainment of circadian rhythms by light in mature animals, the present study investigated whether prenatal dopaminergic activation entrains the fetal circadian pacemaker. Injections of SKF 38393 (8 mg/kg) were given to pregnant, SCN-lesioned hamsters during the last 5 d of gestation and the phases of the offspring's wheel-running activity rhythms were measured on postnatal day 20. Pregnant hamsters were each given two injections/day 12 hr apart, but only one of the injections each day contained SKF 38393. One group of hamsters received the drug at 0800 hr while another group received the drug at 2000 hr. The offspring from these treatment groups showed average phases that differed by 11.3 hr, demonstrating that prenatal SKF 38393 set the phase of the offspring's circadian rhythms. These results suggest that the fetal circadian pacemaker can be entrained by dopaminergic activation. In situ hybridization using cRNA probes demonstrated that a single injection of SKF 38393 on the last day of gestation induced c- fos gene expression in the fetal hamster SCN and that mRNA for the D1- dopamine receptor was present in the SCN at that time. It is possible that maternal entrainment of the fetal circadian pacemaker, which normally occurs during development, is mediated by dopaminergic activation within the fetal hypothalamus.
Low Temperature Heat Capacity Studies on Hydrogen Absorbing Intermetallic Compounds

Low temperature heat capacities of some ternary Haucke compounds [ThNi5−xAlx (x = 0 to 3), YNi5−xAlx (x = 0 to 1. 5) and LaNi5−xCux (x = 0 to 5)] were studied. The electronic specific heat constants of these compounds decrease as A1 or Cu is substituted for Ni. The Debye temperatures show some variations but not in a systematic manner for the aluminum substitution. In the aluminum substituted ternaries, there is no correlation between the hydrogen absorption capacity with the electronic specific constant and the Debye temperature except for ThNi2Al3. In the pseudo-binary system, LaNi5−xCux, the stability of the metal hydride may be related to the rigidity of the metal lattice, i. e. softer the metal lattice the more stable the metal hydride. This is in agreement with our previous observations.
Bridges and Boundaries: African Americans and American Jews at the New York Historical Society.

BRIDGES AND BOUNDARIES: AFRICAN AMERICANS AND AMERICAN JEWS. The Jewish Museum at the New York Historical Society, New York City (March 22 - July 19, 1992); The Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA (October 13 - December 20, 1992); The Strong Museum, Rochester, NY (January 14 - March 14,1993); The Jewish Historical Society of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (April 18 – June 10, 1993); National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce, OH (July 11 – September 1, 1993); California Afro-American Museum, Los Angeles, CA (September 27 – December 6, 1993); Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum and National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, PA (January 7 – March 13, 1994); Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, IL (April 7 – July 4, 1994).
Abstract 459: Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs) Prevent Cyclosporine A-Induced Vascular and Renal Endothelial Cell Injury

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive drug that can cause vascular and renal endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting various innate and adaptive immune cells; however, the direct effects of CsA on MDSCs and whether MDSCs can prevent the detrimental CsA effects on endothelial cells are unknown. We hypothesized that CsA directly decreases MDSCs and that MDSCs prevent CsA-induced endothelial injury. CsA (50 uM) treatment of CD11b+/Gr-1+ MDSCs isolated from male C57BL6/J mice for 24 hours caused a dose-dependent decrease in MDSCs (Total CD11b+/Gr-1+ cell number: Veh=6,358,000, CsA 10 uM=3,505,000, CsA 25 uM=2,685,000, CsA 50 uM=1,425,000). Mouse cardiac vascular and glomerular endothelial cells were treated with CsA (50 uM) in the absence and presence of 75,000 isolated MDSCs for 24 hours. CsA significantly increased fibronectin and ICAM protein levels 1.5-2-fold in both vascular and glomerular endothelial cells compared to vehicle-treated endothelial cells. The presence of MDSCs prevented the CsA-induced increase in fibronectin and ICAM while having no effects in vehicle-treated endothelial cells. Additionally, CsA (50 uM) treatment of aortas isolated from male C57BL6/J mice for 24 hours markedly decreased maximal acetylcholine-induced relaxation responses and this was partially restored by co-incubation with MDSCs, and isolated kidneys treated with CsA had increased levels of fibronectin and this was ameliorated by co-incubation with MDSCs. In conclusion, CsA-induced decreases in MDSCs may play a role in endothelial cell injury and the augmentation of MDSCs may prevent the vascular and renal dysfunction and hypertension caused by CsA.
Sonographic evaluation of the distal biceps tendon using a medial approach: the pronator window.

Objective The purpose of this report is to describe and demonstrate the potential advantages of a technique to image the distal biceps tendon using a medial approach: the pronator window. Methods Distal biceps tendon imaging via the medial approach was shown using real-time sonography on an asymptomatic volunteer as well as cadaveric anatomic dissection. Results The medial approach images the biceps tendon with minimal anisotropy while providing several potential advantages, including (1) complete visualization of the ulnarly facing radial tuberosity and the tapered distal biceps insertion, (2) increased contrast and reduced beam attenuation at the interface between the biceps tendon and overlying brachial artery, and (3) avoidance of the beam-attenuating effects of the supinator encountered when imaging the tendon from a lateral approach. Conclusions The medial approach to image the distal biceps tendon complements previously described techniques and should be considered in the evaluation of patients presenting with distal biceps tendon disorders. Future clinical studies may elucidate the relative advantages and disadvantages of sonographic distal biceps imaging techniques in specific patient populations.
The clinical use of Imbretil.

The long-lasting muscle-relaxant hexamethylene-l,6-bis-carbaminoylcholine bromide (Imbretil) has been employed as the chief muscle-relaxant drug in 225 patients, most of whom were healthy, middle-aged females undergoing uncomplicated, major pelvic surgery. General anaesthesia usually was maintained with cyclopropane, and the dosage of Imbretil employed was 0.050 mg./kg.
On Directional Correlation of Successive Quanta

A theoretical investigation shows that there should be a correlation between the directions of propagation of the quanta emitted in two successive transitions of a single radiating system. This correlation is described by a function $W(\ensuremath{\theta})$ which gives the relative probability that the second quantum will be emitted at an angle $\ensuremath{\theta}$ with the first; $W$ is determined by the angular momenta of the three levels involved in the two transitions and by the multipole order of the radiation emitted in these transitions. The explicit forms of $W$ for all angular momenta and for dipole and quadrupole radiation are given; experimental determination of $W$ in any given case should limit these factors to a small number of possibilities. This has particular interest as a means of investigating the nuclear energy levels involved in $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-radiation; here $W$ should be observable by measuring the variation with $\ensuremath{\theta}$ of gamma-gamma coincidence counting rates.
Simultaneous Scalable-Reconfigurable Manufacturing System Design and Inventory Control Policy Decision Making

Scalable reconfigurable manufacturing systems (scalable-RMS) consist of standardized modular equipment that can be quickly added or removed to adjust the production capacity. Each modular machine, referred to as a scalable reconfigurable machine tool (scalable-RMT), is composed of identical modules that can be added to, or removed from the machine depending on its required throughput. In previous work, conceptual scalable-RMTs have been described. Additional scalable-RMTs are presented in this paper to highlight the applicability of this concept in manufacturing. As an extension to existing scalable-RMS literature, this paper incorporates multiple products in the system configuration design. Specifically, this paper proposes an integer programming based iterative algorithm for finding the minimum cost configuration of a multi-product system. It is shown that the proposed algorithm converges to the optimal solution under the majority of practical conditions. Then, a mathematical formulation to minimize the system investment and operational costs in a multi-product scalable-RMS is presented. A numerical example compares the solution obtained using the traditional approach of determining the system design and then the inventory control policy versus the proposed simultaneous approach. It is concluded that the simultaneous approach yields significant improvement over the traditional (decoupled) approach.© 2006 ASME
The Place of Self‐Respect in a Theory of Justice

This essay provides a critical examination of Rawls' (and Rawlsians') conception of self‐respect, the social bases of self‐respect, and the normative justification of equality in the social bases of self‐respect. I defend a rival account of these notions and the normative ideals at stake in political liberalism and a theory of social justice. I make the following arguments: (1) I argue that it is unreasonable to take self‐respect to be a primary social good, as Rawls and his interpreters characterize it; (2) secondly, drawing on a distinction made by Darwall, I argue that recognition respect provides a far more suitable notion of respect for a theory of justice than Rawls' notion of appraisal respect; (3) thirdly, I argue that Rawls' treatment of self‐respect and the social bases of self‐respect as empirical conceptions should be rejected in favor of normative notions of a reasonable or justified self‐respect and equality in reasonable social bases of self‐respect; (4) I argue that Rawls' notions of polit...
Fast atom bombardment-induced condensation of glycerol with ammonium surfactants. I : Regioselectivity of the adduct formation

Fast atom bombardment promotes condensation between trimethyl tetradecyl ammonium cations and the glycerol matrix. Bond formation at both the head and tail of the surfactant is demonstrated by low energy collision-induced dissociation (ClD) of deuterium-labeled precursors, with a preponderance of the reaction apparently occurring at the tail. Two distinct ClD pathways are identified for each kind of adduct (head- and tail-attack). Evidence is presented for the detection of distonic radical cations of the surfactant, complexed (solvated) with glycerol.
Complications of inflatable penile prostheses

Abstract From February, 1974, to June, 1979, 128 patients underwent insertion of an inflatable penile prosthesis at our medical center. Major complications (a complication requiring device removal or a secondary surgical procedure) occurred in 21 patients (16 per cent), and 18 were successfully repaired. The most common complication was fluid leak which occurred in 12 patients. Of the 128 patients, 125 presently have a normally functioning prosthesis and satisfactory intercourse.
Practical Algorithms for Online Routing on Fixed and Reconfigurable Meshes

Abstract The critical problem in creating practical online SIMD mesh routing algorithms is to minimize both the number of communication steps and the size and complexity of the queues required at each PE (processing element). Currently, the best available algorithms for likely array sizes require 16 n routing steps with queue size 1; if priority queues of size 2 q − 1 are allowed, the number of routing steps required is reduced to 14 n / q + 2 n . We present an algorithm (the MGRA), based on wormhole routing, that has routed a large number of communication patterns (all patterns tried besides a synthetically constructed worst case) in 5 n routing steps with a FIFO queue of size 2. We also show that the MGRA can be modified for meshes with broadcast buses and reconfigurable broadcast buses to route in a similar number of routing steps but with a queue size of 1. A second algorithm (the CGRA) uses reconfigurable broadcast buses in implementing cut-through routing. Using the CGRA, sparse patterns are routed in a small constant number of communication steps. We prove that the MGRA has bad worst case performance, but also show that a randomizing preprocessing step can improve the predictability of the original result. Finally, we show how performance scales with changing inter- and intra-PE path widths.
Layered Double Hydroxides Intercalated by Polyoxometalate Anions with Keggin (α-H2W12O406-), Dawson (α-P2W18O626-), and Finke (Co4(H2O)2(PW9O34)210-) Structures

The pillaring of Mg3Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) by the title polyoxometalates (POMs) was accomplished by ion exchange reaction of the LDH−hydroxide and −adipate precursors with the POM anion at ambient or refluxing temperatures. The structural, thermal and textural properties of the LDH−POM intercalates were elucidated based on XRD, FTIR, TEM, EDS, and N2 adsorption−desorption studies. A gallery height of ∼10 A was observed for the LDH intercalated by the symmetrical Keggin POM, whereas two different gallery heights were found for the cylindrical Dawson (14.5 and 12.8 A) and Finke (13.3 and 12.6 A) anions, depending on the preparation temperature. The differences in POM orientations were rationalized in terms of different electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between the POM pillars and the LDH layers. Upon thermal treatment at ≥100 °C, the intercalated Dawson and Finke POM ions exhibited only one gallery orientation, regardless of synthesis conditions. The crystalline microporous struct...
Plastic flow and fracture of titanium at low temperatures

Abstract The following features of the mechanical behaviour of titanium at low temperatures are discussed: operative slip systems, twinning, serrations in the stress-strain curves near 4.2 K, grain size hardening, strain hardening, interstitial solid solution strengthening, deformation kinetics, and fracture and ductility. Regarding plastic flow, interstitial solutes mainly influence the thermal component of the flow stress, the rate controlling mechanism being the thermally activated overcoming of interstitial solute obstacles by dislocations gliding on the first order prism planes. Strain hardening is given by the commonly observed linear relationship between the flow stress σ and the square root of the dislocation density ρ, σ= σ f (T, e , C i )+ λEb[p(ϵ, d)] 1 2 where σ f , the stress due to all obstacles other than dislocations, increases with increase in strain rate e and interstitial content C i and with decrease in temperature T. The constant α is of the order of 0.7 and E is Young's modulus. Both σ f and α are relatively independent of grain size, d, supporting the work hardening model for the effect of grain size on the flow stress. The fracture stress increases with decrease in grain size and with increase in interstitial content. As a general trend, the total elongation tends to increase as the temperature is lowered to about 77 K, below which a decrease elongation occurs. The improvement in ductility with decreasing temperature to 77 K is attributed to the occurrence of twinning. Therefore, the effects of grain size, temperature, and interstitial content on ductility at low temperatures reflects in part the influence these variables have on twinning.
Children's Residential Mobility and Neighborhood Environment following Parental Divorce and Remarriage

Longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics show that parental divorce sharply increases the annual probability that children will move out of their neighborhoods. Conditional upon moving, children of divorce move to significantly poorer neighborhoods than do children in stable, two-parent families, a difference attributable to the negative impact of parental divorce on children's family income. The impact of divorce on these mobility outcomes is especially pronounced for African American children and for children whose parents owned their homes prior to divorcing. Parental remarriage is associated with higher mobility rates, but this difference is attributable to preexisting differences between parents who remarry and those who do not. Mobile children whose parents remarry move to slightly wealthier neighborhoods than mobile children whose parents remain unmarried
ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS FROM AVERAGED FOURIER-TRANSFORM MAGNITUDE : SOLUTION AND FIBER X-RAY SCATTERING PROBLEMS

Reconstruction of objects based on solution x-ray scattering and fiber x-ray diffraction both involve measurements that are averages of the magnitude squared of the Fourier transform of the electron density and involve electron densities with symmetries. We describe an iterative algorithm for such problems that is a generalization of the Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm from two dimensions (where the measurement is the magnitude squared of an unknown complex number) to n dimensions (where the measurement is the norm squared of an unknown n vector). An example of the reconstruction, for solution x-ray scattering from cowpea mosaic virus, is described.
Myocyte enhancer factor (MEF) 2C: a tissue-restricted member of the MEF-2 family of transcription factors.

Abstract MEF-2 is a muscle-specific DNA binding activity that recognizes an A+T-rich sequence found in the control regions of numerous muscle-specific genes. The recent cloning of MEF-2 showed that it belongs to the MADS (MCM1, Agamous, Deficiens, and serum-response factor) box family of transcription factors and that MEF-2 mRNA is expressed ubiquitously. Here we describe the cloning of a member of the MEF-2 gene family, referred to as MEF-2C, that is nearly identical to other MEF-2 gene products in the MADS box but diverges from other members of the family outside of this domain. MEF-2C binds the MEF-2 site with high affinity and can activate transcription of a reporter gene linked to tandem copies of that site. In contrast to previously described members of the MEF-2 family, MEF-2C transcripts are highly enriched in skeletal muscle, spleen, and brain of adult mice and are upregulated during myoblast differentiation. These results suggest that the MEF-2 site is a target for a diverse family of proteins that regulates transcription in a variety of cell types.