cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoperiodic effects on serum glucocorticoids and fur growth in mink.

The relationship of glucocorticoid secretion to artificial light-induced, early winter priming of pelage in ranch mink was investigated. On December 13, 1977, 16 mature female mink were exposed to natural light. On June 26, 1978, the animals were assigned randomly to one of two groups. Animals in Group 1 were housed in a light-control facility and subjected to 6 hr of artificial light daily and ambient temperatures until November 27, 1978. Animals in Group 2 served as controls and were exposed to natural light. Samples of blood and measurements of the fur and vulva were taken biweekly throughout the year. Concentrations of total glucocorticoids in serum were determined by competitive protein-binding assay. The pelage of mink reared under reduced artificial light was fully prime by October 31, while that of control animals did not become prime until November 27 (time x light regimen interaction, P less than .05). A seasonal effect (P less than .01) on total glucocorticoid concentrations in serum of control mink was revealed by a pattern of three peaks over the 12-month period. The pattern of glucocorticoid secretion was not affected by exposure of mink to reduced artificial light. Maximum concentrations of total glucocorticoids in serum occurred on the same date (September 5) in both groups, although levels were significantly higher in the light-treated mink (44.5 +/- 10.4 ng/ml) than in the controls 26.9 +/- 5.7 ng/ml). Fur growth was positively correlated with total glucocorticoid concentrations in serum during the period from June to December (overall r = .14, P less than .05). Both length and width of the vulva increased (P less than .01) during February and March in animals reared under natural light. These data suggest that the increased secretion of glucocorticoids induced by exposure of mink to reduced artificial light may be involved in promoting early priming of the winter pelage of these animals.
Collaborative Development and Component Trials of a Comprehensive School-Based Intervention for Children with HFASDS

This study examined the collaborative development of a comprehensive school-based intervention (CSBI) and component feasibility for seven children, aged 7 to 8 years, with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs). In Phase I, focus groups were conducted in two school districts with school staff and/or parents of children with HFASDs. The focus groups examined needs, resources, and barriers related to CSBIs, followed by adaptation of an empirically supported nonschool psychosocial intervention for HFASDs into a CSBI manual. In Phase II, two 4-week component trials examined the feasibility of the five treatment components when administered by school staff. Focus-group meetings were also held during Phase II to revise the CSBI manual as needed. Feasibility was assessed according to the level of treatment fidelity during implementation and teacher- and parent-reported acceptability and satisfaction. Feasibility was supported in high levels of treatment fidelity and teacher- and parent-reported acceptability and satisfaction.
Restructuring from a Central Business District-Focused to a Decentralized Transit System

The relationship between a transit system's design and the pattern of urban development affects the level and pattern of accessibility in a community. A mismatch between the two renders some destinations inaccessible to people who rely primarily on transit to serve their transportation needs. System design is critical to accessibility and to equity, but thus far, the research literature has largely neglected this important issue. The relationship between system design and accessibility was examined through a study of the July 11, 2011, restructuring of StarMetro, the bus system in Tallahassee, Florida. The focus was on the change in riders' accessibility provided by shifting from a transit network that was downtown-oriented and radial before restructuring to one that was decentralized and multidestination after restructuring. System restructuring increased the time for people to walk to bus stops, but once people reached the stops, the more direct travel connections provided by the new system reduced trav...
Comparison of spectrophotometric and biological assays for nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF): nonspecificity of the diazotization reaction for NO and failure to detect EDRF.

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor has been tentatively identified as nitric oxide (NO) partially on the basis of chemical assays. In the present study, saline solutions that were either bubbled continuously for 30 min with NO (NO/X) or prepared using 25 ml of NO/ml (NO/25) produced equivalent relaxations of segments of rabbit aorta which had the endothelium removed. NO solutions prepared using 0.1 ml of NO/ml (NO/0.1), and 3 mM sodium nitrite (NO2-) were significantly (P less than .05) less potent vasodilators than NO/X and NO/25 (order of potency: NO/X = NO/25 greater than NO/0.1 greater than NO2-). A novel automated method was developed to monitor nitrogen oxides using continuous-flow spectrophotometric detection (diazotization reaction). The absorbance readings for the solutions were NO/X greater than NO/25 = NO/0.1 = NO2-. Argon purging of NO/X, NO/25 and NO/0.1 solutions significantly (P less than .05) reduced (44-100%) the bioactivity of these solutions in inverse proportion to the initial volume of NO used in their preparation. In contrast, the absorbance values were unchanged, indicating that the chemical assay was not correlated with the bioassay. Varying the duration of NO gassing (1-30 min) significantly (P less than .05) increased the absorbance values, while having no effect on the vascular relaxations, elicited by the solutions. The diazotization assay did not detect nitrogen oxides released from cultured endothelial cells by bradykinin, ATP, or A23187, whereas the bioassay readily detected endothelium-derived relaxing factor release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reframing Sanity: Scapegoating the Mentally Ill in the Case of Jared Loughner

Rhetoric scholars (Predergast, Leweicki-Wilson, Pryal) have examined the rhetorical disempowerment of the mentally ill, whose perceived lack of reason isolates them from public discourse. Such isolation can be explained using Kenneth Burke's theory of identification (and its "ironic counterpart," division) which shows how the discursive markers of "sane" and "insane" function to create an in-group, the sane, that relies upon the rhetorical and physical isolation of the insane. The article argues that the mentally ill make an ideal Burkean scapegoat, and that the criminal acts of a few mentally ill people provides the necessary justification for the scapegoating of the entire group, taking the case of Jared Loughner's shootings in Tucson, Arizona. This article examines reports of major U.S. media outlets in the weeks following the 2011 shootings to show how the public rhetorical response to such tragedies tends to be one of division, and then scapegoating, of all mentally ill people. The public reaction to a criminal perpetrator's mental illness follows a predictable rhetorical pattern, including arguments of blame (who is at fault for the crimes of the mentally ill?); arguments for greater categorization (who is mentally ill?); and arguments for prevention (what should we do with the mentally ill?). These arguments arise out of a desire for reassurance that future tragedies can be prevented, so long as we can identify, and isolate, the insane. Thus, this article reframes sanity as a culturally imposed division that is used to forge identification, especially after a traumatic event.
Reflex peripheral vasoconstriction is diminished in older men

The purpose of this study was to compare reflex control of limb blood flow in healthy young (Y; 26 +/- 2 yr) and older (O;61 +/- 2 yr) men during whole body cooling under resting conditions. To better isolate the effect of chronological age, the two age groups (n = 6 per group) were closely matched for maximal oxygen uptake, body surface area, skinfold thickness, and fat-free weight. Subjects sat in an environmentally controlled chamber clad in standardized (0.6-clo) light cotton clothing at a dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) of 28 degrees C. After 30 min, Tdb was decreased by 2 degrees C every 5 min until Tdb = 10 degrees C, where it was held constant for the remainder of the 120-min session. Esophageal and mean skin temperatures were monitored continuously. Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured every 5 min by venous occlusion plethysmography by using a mercury-in-Silastic strain gauge while arm temperature between the wrist and elbow was clamped at 37.2 +/- 0.1 degrees C by localized warm air heating. In this way, limb vasoconstriction was driven solely by thermoregulatory reflexes and not by direct effects of localized cooling. Mean skin temperature decreased at a similar rate and to a similar extent (by approximately 6 degrees C over a 2-h period) in both age groups, whereas esophageal temperature was relatively unaffected. In response to the local heating, the Y group maintained a significantly higher FBF than did the O group during the initial 30 min but decreased FBF during the cooling phase at a greater rate and to a greater extent than did the O group, leading to a significantly lower FBF during the final 30 min (at Tdb = 10 degrees C). Because there was no age difference in the mean arterial pressure response, similar effects of age were seen on forearm vascular conductance (FBF/mean arterial pressure). It was concluded that older men have a diminished reflex limb vasoconstrictor response to skin cooling. Furthermore, this difference in control of peripheral blood flow appears to be related to age per se; i.e., it is not a reflection of age-related differences in maximal oxygen uptake or body composition.
Are Younger Cohorts Demanding Less Fresh Vegetables

The demand for vegetables is expected to increase with trends in the population of the United States. For example, having a college education increases demand, and more Americans are completing college. However, the possibility of a cohort effect has not been considered. A cohort includes people born in the same year, and is similar in concept to a generation. Using data collected over more than twenty years, we find younger cohorts spend less money on fresh vegetables for at-home consumption than their older counterparts do. These effects will decrease demand over time. Changing cooking habits may explain this effect.
Templated synthesis of a chiral solid: Synthesis and characterization of {Co(H2N(CH2)2NH2)3}[V3O9] · H2O, containing a new type of chiral vanadium oxide chain

Abstract Synthesis and characterization of a novel chiral solid, {Co(H2N(CH2)2NH2)3}[V3O9] · H2O (1), containing chiral vanadium oxide chains constructed from corner sharing tetrahedral {VO4} units and propagated by a twofold screw axis are described. The resulting [{V3O9}3−]n chains host dissymmetric {Co(H2N(CH2)2NH2)3}3+ species, which functions as an optically active template. The synthesis of 1 demonstrates the potential application of an optically active complex compound of D3 symmetry as a chiral template in the synthesis of chiral chemical systems with extended structures. Crystal data for C6H26CoN6O10V3, 1: Orthorhombic space group P212121 (No. 19), a = 8.183(4) A, b = 12.638(6) A, c = 18.039(7) A, V = 1865.6(14) A3, Z = 4, Dcalcd = 1.973 Mg m−3, R1 = 0.0297 (all data), wR2 = 0.0681.
Depletion-mode n-channel organic field-effect transistors based on NTCDA

Abstract The depletion-mode n-channel organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on naphthalene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (NTCDA) were fabricated and characterized. Electrical characteristics of the OFETs were demonstrated and analyzed under the depletion-mode operation. The mobility of NTCDA is about 0.016 cm2 V−1 s−1. The threshold voltage is −32 V, and cut off current is 1.76 nA. The on/off ratio extracted from transfer characteristics at saturation region (Vds=60 V) is 2.25 × 102.
Late Complications After Takeuchi Repair of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery: Case Series and Review of Literature

Abstract Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart lesion that if left untreated, results in high mortality. Surgical treatment options include reimplantation of the anomalous coronary ostia, use of extracardiac arterial blood supply, or the Takeuchi procedure. The Takeuchi procedure involves creation of an aortopulmonary window and an intrapulmonary tunnel that baffles the aorta to the ostium of the anomalous left coronary artery. The incidence of late complications following the Takeuchi repair is unknown. The goal of our study was to determine the long-term outcome after palliation of ALCAPA using the Takeuchi Procedure. A total of 9 patients with a history of ALCAPA palliated with the Takeuchi procedure were identified from our surgical database. Chart review was performed. The mean age at time of Takeuchi procedure was 49.6 months (range 5 weeks-14.6 years). There was one late death, of unknown cause. Of the remaining 8 patients, the mean length of follow-up after surgery was 15.9 years (13.5-19.7 years). All 8 survivors had some degree of main pulmonary artery stenosis in the area of the intrapulmonary baffle, with moderate stenosis in 2 and severe stenosis in 1. Three late survivors (38 %) had a baffle leak. Two patients (25 %) had decreased left ventricular systolic function and 3 (38 %) had developed at least moderate mitral valve regurgitation. Three of the 8 late survivors (38 %) required a reoperation for repair of mitral valve regurgitation, baffle leak, and main pulmonary artery (MPA) stenosis. Review of literature demonstrated similar complication rates and need for reoperation following the Takeuchi procedure. Compared with patients after direct reimplantation for ALCAPA at our institution, there was no significant difference in late survival or freedom from reoperation. The Takeuchi procedure is a method to establish a two-coronary repair for ALCAPA. Late complications are common, necessitating lifelong care in a center experienced with caring for adults with congenital heart disease.
Insights into crustal assimilation by Icelandic basalts from boron isotopes in melt inclusions from the 1783–1784 Lakagígar eruption

Abstract The boron isotope system has great potential for tracing alteration and assimilation in basaltic systems due to the very low concentrations of B in mantle-derived melts and the strong isotopic contrast between the mantle and surface materials. However, variability in B concentrations and isotope ratios in basalts can also be interpreted to reflect inputs from enriched regions of the mantle, as the extent of mantle heterogeneity with respect to boron remains poorly delineated. We have determined boron concentrations and isotope ratios in fresh, glassy, plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions and unaltered scoriaceous matrix glasses from four localities associated with the 1783–1784 Lakagigar (Laki Fissure) eruption, Iceland. Boron concentrations range from 0.59 to 1.25 ppm in the melt inclusions, and from 1.25 to 1.65 ppm in the matrix glasses, while δ 11 B NBS-951 ranges from −7.8‰ to −16.5‰ in the melt inclusions and −10.5‰ to −16.9‰ in the matrix glasses. In contrast to previous studies of boron in basaltic melt inclusions from other fissure swarms in Iceland ( Gurenko and Chaussidon, 1997 , Chem. Geol. 135 , 21–34), the Lakagigar melt inclusions display a significant range of boron concentrations and isotope ratios at constant K 2 O wt.%, which is more consistent with B addition by assimilation of altered basalt than it is with mixing between depleted and enriched mantle sources. Assimilation of freshwater-altered crustal materials at depth may impart a light δ 11 B signature such as that observed in the Lakagigar melt inclusions and tephra host glasses. Considering boron concentrations and isotope ratios in the Lakagigar glasses and previously studied altered Icelandic basalts, together with volatile equilibration depths of the Lakagigar melt inclusions, we propose that (a) mantle-derived magmas formed beneath Lakagigar assimilated ∼5–20% altered crust at a depth of ∼3–4 km or more, probably during magma accumulation in sills formed at the boundaries of low-density hyaloclastite layers; and (b) the magma subsequently underwent extensive mixing and homogenization prior to eruption, quite possibly within the magma chamber beneath the Grimsvotn central volcano, assimilating an additional ∼10% of altered crust at that time, for a total of up to 30% crustal assimilation. We hypothesize that volatiles including H 2 O, CO 2 , S, F, and Cl, which were responsible for the majority of the considerable casualties attributed to the Lakagigar eruption, were added together with isotopically light B by assimilation of hydrothermally altered crustal materials.
Deep levels in superlattices

The physics governing deep levels in superlattices and quantum wells is elucidated, with emphasis on the importance of shallow-deep transitions caused by a band edge passing through a deep level, and the accompanying change in doping character of the impurity.
Dysphoria and the prediction and experience of emotion

Depression and dysphoria have been characterised by dampened positive emotional experiences. However, it remains unclear whether dysphoria is also characterised by dampened expectancies about positive emotional experiences. In the present study, participants with (dysphoric group; n=36) and without (non-dysphoric group; n=36) dysphoria reported on their expected and actual emotional responses to winning and losing money in a computer task. Results showed the dysphoric group predicted and experienced less happiness and contentment after winning money than the non-dysphoric group. Results also showed the dysphoric group predicted and experienced as much negative emotion after losing money as the non-dysphoric group. Moreover, the dysphoric group predicted they would experience more happiness after winning money than they actually did, whereas the non-dysphoric group experienced as much happiness as they had predicted. Results suggest that disturbances in positive emotional responding are characteristic of p...
TU‐D‐332‐08: Gd‐DTPA DCE‐MRI Assisted Image‐Guided PO2 Measurements in Rodent Tumor Xenografts

Purpose: To optimize the correlation between interstitial pO2 readings and PET‐derived 18 F‐FMISO / 18 F‐FDG concentrations in tumors using co‐registered Gd‐DTPA DCE‐MRI to distinguish viable and necrotic tumor cells. Method and Materials: Nude rats with Dunning R3327‐AT xenografts were positioned in a custom‐fabricated mold and imaged by (1) T2‐weighted MRIimaging; (2) DCE‐MRI following IV injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine; (3) microPET for 1/2 hr post‐IV injection of 18 F‐FDG or 18 F‐FMISO . The MRI and PET images were used to direct intra‐tumoral pO2 measurements using an image‐guidedrobot system. PET‐ and MRI‐visible fiducial markers were used to register the respective image and robot coordinate systems. pO2 was measured at 0.5‐mm increments along different tracks within the tumor using an OxyLite™ 4000 Oxygen probe advanced by the robot, providing point‐to‐point correspondence between the pO2 measurement and image‐voxel intensity. Measurement points in the necrotic region and those outside tumor region, identified by DCE‐MRI and T2‐weighted MRI, were excluded from the correlation analysis. Necrotic tissue was identified as having ( I ( t )− I 0 )/ I 0 at t=2 min after contrast injection, where I0 and I(t) are MR image intensities before injection and at time t. Results: The registration error between images and the robot is 18 F‐FMISO intensities was not improved — r = −0.71 ± 0.14 ( mean ± SD ) vs r = −0.73 ± 0.16 ( p = 0.50) . Four animals were studied using 18 F‐FDG with 423 measurements and 20 tracks. The negative correlation improved significantly (p =0.00118) — r = −0.36±0.35 vs r = −0.65±0.24 — if only viable‐tumor points were considered. Conclusion: The negative correlation between 18 F‐FDG voxel intensities and intra‐tumoral pO2 was improved when DCE‐MRI was used to exclude necrotic tissue pO2s. Exclusion of necrotic points did not improve the correlation for 18 F‐FMISO , however.
A CLASS OF LINEAR KINETIC EQUATIONS IN A KREIN SPACE SETTING

Krein space methods are used to derive the unique solvability of a class of abstract kinetic equations on a half-space with accretive collision operators. At the same time a new proof is provided for the case of a positive self-adjoint collision operator. A Fokker-Planck type example is worked out as a new application.
Hemodynamic instability following carotid endarterectomy does not affect early discharge

Over the last few years, there has been increased emphasis on early discharge of patients following carotid endarterectomy in the United States. Recent studies have shown that short-stay hospitalization for carotid endarterectomy may be safe and cost-effective. However, this is not always possible because of reasons that are not clearly delineated. In order to optimize the early discharge of patients following carotid endarterectomy, an analysis of the causes of delayed discharges was performed in the present series. Since hemodynamic instability has been shown to be the most frequent complication following carotid endarterectomy, the authors investigated whether it was an important factor preventing early postoperative discharge. This study reviewed the data of 100 consecutive patients admitted for elective carotid endarterectomy. The incidence of post-carotid endarterectomy hemodynamic instability was 37% (n = 37), with hypertension occurring in 25 patients (68%) and hypotension occurring in 12 patients (32%). Hemodynamic instability tended to occur with the use of general anesthesia as compared with regional anesthesia. Hemodynamic instability did not correlate with pre-existent history of hypertension, nor with the type of drug used when general anesthesia was applied. All the patients were successfully treated either in the recovery room or in a monitored area. The average total length of stay was 1.65 days with 79% of the patients being discharged on the first postoperative day and 21% having delayed discharge ranging from 2 to 15 days (mean 4 days). The main reasons for delayed discharges were cardiac and urinary tract complications. Blood pressure instability accounted for only 2% of cases. Thus, these data show that hemodynamic instability does not significantly affect early discharge.
The Principalship as a Career: In Need of a Theory

Gary Crow is Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Louisiana State University, USA, where he teaches a course, inter alia, in principalship. In this paper he argues that principalshi...
Intraoperative ultrasound to assess for pancreatic duct injuries.

Abstract : While pancreatic injuries are relatively uncommon, the morbidity and mortality associated with such injuries are high. Of all pancreatic injuries, most result from penetrating rather than blunt trauma. It is estimated that 6% of abdominal gunshot wounds and 2% of abdominal stab wounds result in a pancreatic injury. The mortality associated with pancreatic injuries ranges from 20% to 45%, while the pancreas-specific complication rate is higher than 35%. Involvement of the pancreatic duct is the main determinant of morbidity and mortality from a pancreatic injury. Not surprisingly, a delay in diagnosis of a main pancreatic ductal injury over 6 hours to 12 hours further contributes to the high complication and death rate of pancreatic injuries. Furthermore, diagnosis of pancreatic ductal involvement requires operative resection rather than placement of drains or nonoperative management. However, determining whether the pancreatic duct is involved in the injury remains one of the greatest challenges in trauma surgery. Diagnosing pancreatic ductal injuries often requires a multimodal imaging approach by a multidisciplinary team. Un- fortunately, intraoperative cholecystocholangiopancreatography is often nondiagnostic, gastroenterologists may not be available for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and the patient may be excluded from magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) because of skeletal traction equipment or previous metal implants. Surgeon-controlled intra-operative pancreatic ultrasound (US) may overcome these limitations. In this article, we describe our use of interoperative US as an adjunct to evaluate for ductal involvement in pancreatic injuries.
Functional Nanocavity Arrays via Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Thin Films

The amphiphilic block copolymer polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) forms micelles in toluene that can be cast onto a planar substrate to create quasi-hexagonal arrays of spherical PAA domains in a PS matrix. Treatment of these ultrathin films with an appropriate selective solvent swells the PAA domains and fractures open (cavitates) the PS matrix, thereby exposing the PAA chains to solution. Here we have investigated the conditions required for this cavitation process to occur and the end-state polymer morphology of close-packed films of PS-b-PAA micelles following treatment with a series of short alkyl chain alcohols or aqueous solutions of varying pH and ionic strength. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to characterize the morphologies of the precursor and solvent-treated films. In addition to the effects of solvent conditions, we show that the cavitation process is influenced by the molecular weight of the PS block and is thermally rever...
Perspectives on Teaching Computing in the Humanities.

Before addressing the topic of teaching computing to students of the humanities, it is interesting to consider the following statement which I made in Humanities in the South in the Spring of 1972: The humanities must begin to develop the potential of the computer as an important element of humanistic education. Not only is learning to program computers excellent training in rigorous thinking and logical reasoning, but computers offer a variety of new, efficient methods of data analysis to probe the diverse records of human experience-history, philosophy, literature, the fine arts, and the social sciences. To study concepts that would be difficult or impossible to reproduce in real situations, the student can use a computer to simulate mental activities in such areas as linguistics, learning theory, and logic. According to conditions which he predetermines, he can construct and test models of human activity in history, music, and the social sciences. Indeed, the computer constitutes a powerful new educational tool for imaginative creativity and insight in all the arts and humanities. Students of the 1970's will need to master the use of this technological tool just as they need to know how to drive a car or use a typewriter. (No. 35, p. 4) Both the telltale sexist language of the generic "he" and the fact that the typewriter itself is now a computer indicate the passage of time. Yet I submit that the issues raised here are still valid today. Although the computer is no longer a "new" educational tool, it has not often been used with creativity and insight in the arts and the humanities. More than the students of the 1970's, today's students of the late 1980's must have, in my view, some ac-
ASTM Round-Robin on Creep-Fatigue and Creep Behavior of P91 Steel

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), through its Committee E08 on Fatigue and Fracture subcommittee E08.05 on Creep-Fatigue Crack Formation, has recently developed a new standard for creep-fatigue testing (ASTM E2714-09). This paper describes the plans and preliminary results from a round-robin being presently conducted in support and verification of this new standard. The choice of the test material (ASTM Grade P91), the design of the round-robin test matrix, and a machining plan for the specimens are described. The results of microstructural analysis, tensile testing, and creep deformation and rupture testing are also presented along with some preliminary results from creep-fatigue testing. A new analytical model for representing the creep deformation characteristics of this material is also presented and evaluated using the creep data generated as part of the round-robin program. The results of the round-robin creep-fatigue testing will be used to make appropriate modifications to the test standard.
Child, family and community characteristics associated with school readiness in Jordan

The present study investigated demographic differences in school readiness within Jordan, a particularly interesting context because of wide-spread national reform currently sweeping the education system in Jordan. Teacher reports and researcher direct assessments of the school readiness of a national sample of 4,681 Jordanian first grade children were used to describe the levels of school readiness of children with respect to seven demographic characteristics. Higher levels of school readiness were associated with male gender, higher family income, higher paternal education, higher maternal education, smaller family size, fewer siblings, and urban residence. Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of Jordanian education reform, one aim of which is to improve the school readiness of all children by implementing public kindergartens, especially in poor, rural areas.
Antibacterial Performance of Polydopamine-Modified Polymer Surfaces Containing Passive and Active Components

A growing number of device-related nosocomial infections, elevated hospitalization costs, and patient morbidity necessitate the development of novel antibacterial strategies for clinical devices. We have previously demonstrated a simple, aqueous polydopamine dip-coating method to functionalize surfaces for a wide variety of uses. Here, we extend this strategy with the goal of imparting antifouling and antimicrobial properties to substrates, exploiting the ability of polydopamine to immobilize polymers and induce metal nanoparticle formation. Polydopamine was deposited as a thin adherent film of 4 nm thickness from alkaline aqueous solution onto polycarbonate substrates, followed by grafting of antifouling polymer polyethylene glycol and in situ deposition of silver nanoparticles onto the polydopamine coated polycarbonate substrates. Elemental and morphological surface analyses confirmed successful grafting of polyethylene glycol brushes onto polydopamine-coated substrates, as well as spontaneous silver na...
Project management in the North Sea

Abstract A brief summary of the history of North Sea oil projects is presented. The major objectives being pursued by the operators are examined, together with the way in which these have changed and will change in the future. The means of achieving these objectives in management terms is discussed, and the role of the key players, operators, partners, government, contractors, consultants and workers is considered. The essential elements of leadership, teamwork across all boundaries, decisionmaking and the creation of the right environment for success are then discussed. The keys for success are stated in terms of good engineering, planning and contractual relationships, without which real success is not possible.
Comparative kinetic studies of the dealkylation reaction and steroid hydroxylations in various oxygen and carbon monoxide:oxygen atmospheres

Abstract The time-course kinetics of the cytochrome P -450-catalyzed dealkylations of the exogenous compounds benzphetamine, ethylmorphine, codeine, and 7-ethoxycoumarin were compared to the hydroxylation of the endogenous compound testosterone. Using liver microsomes from phenobarbital-induced rats, the time course of the demethylations of ethylmorphine, codeine, and especially benzphetamine was characterized by a fast initial phase of enzymatic activity and then a steady decline in the rate throughout the remainder of the reaction. In contrast, under the same experimental conditions, both the dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and the hydroxylation of testosterone showed no initial fast phase of activity and a constant rate of product formation for most of the remainder of the time course. The difference also held for the carbon monoxide inhibition studies in which the degree of inhibition of the demethylation reactions by a variety of CO:O 2 mixtures was time dependent, in contrast to the constant, time-independent degree of CO inhibition of the other two reactions. The kinetics of the demethylation reactions could not be explained by enzyme destruction, back reaction, or product adduct formation and were further confirmed by measurements of the rate of O 2 utilization and NADPH oxidation. The complexity of the demethylation reaction should be taken into consideration in any detailed studies of the monooxygenation reaction system.
Frequency of spontaneous BOLD signal shifts during infancy and correlates with cognitive performance

Numerous studies have been conducted to delineate the early development of different functional networks, based on measuring the temporal synchronization of spontaneous blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals acquired using resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI). However, little attention has been paid to the change of the frequency properties of these signals during early brain development. Such frequency properties may reflect important physiological changes and potentially have significant cognitive consequences. In this study, leveraging a large (N=86 subjects), longitudinal sample of human infants scanned during the first two years of life, we aimed to specifically delineate the developmental changes of the frequency characteristics of spontaneous BOLD signals. Both whole-brain and network-level examinations were carried out and the frequency-behavior relationship was explored. Our results revealed a clear right-ward shift of BOLD signal frequency during the first year of life. Moreover, the power at the peak-frequency for sensorimotor and lateral visual networks correlates with domain-specific Mullen Scales in 1-year-olds, suggesting the behavioral significance of the BOLD signal frequency during infancy. Findings from this study shed light into early functional brain development and provide a new perspective for future searches for functional developmental abnormalities.
Consequences of phosphate-arginine complexes in voltage-gated ion channels.

There are two reasons for suspecting that phosphate complexes of arginine make it very difficult to derive gating charge in voltage gated potassium (and presumably sodium) channels from the motion of charged arginines. For one thing, the arginines should be complexed with phosphate, thereby neutralizing the charge, at least partially. Second, Li et al1 have shown that there is a large energy penalty for putting a charged arginine into a membrane. Ion channel gating current is generally attributed to S4 motion, in that the S4 segment of the voltage sensing domain (VSD) of these channels contains arginines, some of which are not (or at least not obviously) salt bridged, or otherwise charge compensated. There is, however, good reason to expect that there should be a complex of these arginines with phosphate, very probably from lipid headgroups. This has consequences for gating current; the complexed arginines, if they moved, would carry too little charge to provide the observed gating current, if they carrie...
A century and a half of psychiatric rehabilitation in the United States.

After a brief history, this chapter describes important modalities and models of psychiatric rehabilitation.
Avidity of cholera antibody.

Abstract IgA, IgA, and IgM of the serum and intestinal wall of chimpanzees, and of human serum, were studied after antigenic stimulation with cholera toxin. Antibody avidity at various pH values was determined. The cholera toxin neutralizing and the haemagglutinating capability of the native Ig-s as well as the Ig-s liberated from antibody-antigen complexes were investigated. The avidity of IgM and non-secretory IgA increased, whereas that of IgG and secretory (intestinal) IgA did no change essentially during 14 days following antigenic stimulation. Relatively large amounts of toxin were bound by IgG and secretory IgA. The haemagglutination titres increased but did not parallel antitoxin formation and Ig-antiboty avidity in the intestinal tissue. The need for antitoxin studies in persons exposed to cholera was emphasized.
The role of free amino acids in nitrogen storage during the annual cycle of a starfish

Abstract 1. 1. A population of Echinaster was sampled at intervals to measure organ indices, free amino acids (FAA), tissue protein amino acids and environmental parameters. 2. 2. A nutritional reproductive cycle was observed in which digestive glands peaked in size in early winter and gonads in spring. 3. 3. High levels of FAA build up in digestive glands in early fall and then decrease as FAA increase in gonads (especially males). After spawning both organs are FAA depleted. This cycle does not correlate with salinity. 4. 4. While different amino acids are rather uniformly represented in tissue proteins, glycine accounts for most of the measured FAA. 5. 5. The trends and patterns observed lead to the conclusion that FAA function primarily in the reproductive process, especially as a store for amino nitrogen over the winter period.
Characterization of super-response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background In patients with chronic systolic heart failure who undergo cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and reductions in left ventricular volume are generally modest. A minority of patients experience a dramatic response to CRT (super-responders), but the attributes associated with these patients have not been fully characterized. Objective The purpose of this study was to identify baseline clinical attributes of super-responders and to assess the survival benefit associated with this response. Methods We reviewed clinical, echocardiographic, and ECG data from a cohort of 233 patients undergoing new implantation of a CRT device between December 2001 and November 2006. All patients had a baseline LVEF ≤40% and New York Heart Association class II to IV symptoms on standard medical therapy. Patients whose absolute LVEF improved by ≥20% were termed super-responders. A multivariate model was constructed to determine factors predictive of super-response, and an assessment of mortality was made. Results In this cohort of 233 patients, 32 (13.7%) met criteria for super-response. In univariate analysis, super-responders were more likely to be female and have a native left bundle branch block, lower preimplant brain natriuretic peptide and red cell distribution width levels, and smaller baseline left ventricular volumes with trends toward having more nonischemic cardiomyopathy and midventricular lead positions. In multivariate analysis, only left bundle branch block remained significantly associated with super-response. Super-responders had a considerably lower incidence of mortality compared to non–super-responders (9.4% vs 43.2%, P = .006) at mean follow-up of 5.5 ± 1.2 years. Conclusion Baseline left bundle branch block is strongly associated with super-response to CRT. Super-responders derive better long-term outcomes with CRT than do non–super-responders.
Condom use with primary partners among injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand and New York City, United States.

Trained interviewers spoke to 957 drug users attending a detoxification program methadone maintenance program or a research storefront in New York City in 1990-91 and to 601 drug users attending 17 drug use treatment clinics in Bangkok Thailand in the autumn of 1989 as part of a study to identify factors linked to the probability or failure of condom use with primary sexual partners among IV drug users. The participants also received HIV counseling and testing. IV drug users in New York City were more likely to be older (36.2 years vs. 30.1 years; p < .001) female (25% vs. 5%; p < .001) more ethnically diverse (p < .001) and inject cocaine more often (33 injections/month vs. 0.5 injections/month) than those in Bangkok. 44% of drug users in New York City and 33% of those in Bangkok engaged in some unprotected penetrative intercourse with a primary heterosexual partner in the previous 6 months. Of drug users having penetrative sexual intercourse with a primary partner in the previous 6 months 20% in New York City and 12% in Bangkok always used condoms (p < .02). The strongest predictors of condom use among IV drug users from both countries were a previous positive HIV test and talking about AIDS with sexual partners (p = .001 for US; p = .0008 for Bangkok and p = .004 for US; p = .0596 for Bangkok respectively). These findings indicated that unsafe sexual behavior with primary sexual partners among drug users is still a major source of HIV transmission in these 2 cities. Nevertheless knowledge of HIV positive status and partner communication concerning AIDS are predictors of condom use shared by both groups. Thus HIV/AIDS prevention programs should provide confidential HIV testing and counseling for drug users and should encourage frank discussions of AIDS between drug users and primary sexual partners. Peer support for risk reduction among drug users has the potential to facilitate such discussions.
Neutral Ceramidase Encoded by the Asah2 Gene Is Essential for the Intestinal Degradation of Sphingolipids

Complex sphingolipids are abundant as eukaryotic cell membrane components, whereas their metabolites, in particular ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate, are involved in diverse cell signaling processes. In mammals, degradation of ceramide by ceramidase yields sphingosine, which is phosphorylated by the action of sphingosine kinase to generate sphingosine 1-phosphate. Therefore, ceramidases are key enzymes in the regulation of the cellular levels of ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate. To explore the physiological functions of a neutral ceramidase with diverse cellular locations, we disrupted the Asah2 gene in mice. Asah2 null mice have a normal life span and do not show obvious abnormalities or major alterations in total ceramide levels in tissues. The Asah2-encoded neutral ceramidase is highly expressed in the small intestine along the brush border, suggesting that the neutral ceramidase may be involved in a pathway for the digestion of dietary sphingolipids. Indeed, Asah2 null mice were deficient in the intestinal degradation of ceramide. Thus, the results indicate that the Asah2-encoded neutral ceramidase is a key enzyme for the catabolism of dietary sphingolipids and regulates the levels of bioactive sphingolipid metabolites in the intestinal tract.
Single-factor Hensel lifting and its application to the straight-line complexity of certain polynomials

Three theorems are presented that establish polynomial straight-line complexity for certain operations on polynomials given by straight-line programs of unbounded input degree. The first theorem shows how to compute a higher order partial derivative in a single variable. The other two theorems impose the degree of the output polynomial as a parameter of the length of the output program. First it is shown that if a straight-line program computes an arbitrary power of a multivariate polynomial, that polynomial also admits a polynomial bounded straight-line computation. Second, any factor of a multivariate polynomial given by a division-free straight-line program with relatively prime co-factor also admits a straight-line computation of length polynomial in the input length and the degree of the factor. This result is based on a new Hensel lifting process, one where only one factor image is lifted back to the original factor. As an application we get that the greatest common divisor of polynomials given by a division-free straight-line program has polynomial straight-line complexity in terms of the input length and its own degree.
Why do larger buyers pay lower prices? Intense supplier competition

Abstract The paper provides a theoretical explanation of the common claim that larger buyers pay lower prices. In the model, suppliers compete more aggressively for the business of larger buyers, much as they do in `boom' periods of Rotemberg and Saloner.
Gp38k, a protein synthesized by vascular smooth muscle cells, stimulates directional migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Gp38k is a 383-amino-acid secreted glycoprotein expressed by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells during the time of transition from a proliferating monolayer culture to a nonproliferating multilayered (differentiated) culture. Expression continues as the cell culture forms multicellular nodules. Because this transition period involves active cell migration, we evaluated the effects of exogenously added gp38k on vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration and chemotaxis. Here we demonstrate that gp38k acts as a chemoattractant for HUVECs and stimulates cell migration in Boyden chambers at a level comparable to that achieved with the known endothelial cell chemoattractant bFGF. The migration effect is neutralized by the presence of a polyclonal anti-gp38k antibody. Because gp38k expression is also correlated with changes in culture morphology, we also assessed its ability to act as an agonist of HUVEC morphology using cultures growing on Matrigel. We report that gp38k stimulates endothelial cell tubulogenesis in this assay system. These results provide the first evidence that gp38k may function in angiogenesis by stimulating the migration and reorganization of vascular endothelial cells.
Developing a Cardiology-Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) have become an increasingly common method to assist practitioner and patient decisions about health care for specific medical problems. CPGs generally address a single medical diagnosis or syndrome leaving practitioners and patients with little guidance when two major medical diagnoses exist such as in the case of heart disease and cancer. As cancer and heart disease are both diseases of the elderly and share many common risk factors it is likely they will coexist in many patients. Thus screening for and preventing and treating heart disease in the cancer patient assumes increasing importance as aggressive cancer therapies are applied to older patients and as a growing number of cardiovascular side effects of anti-cancer therapy are described. Careful evaluation of heart disease in the cancer patient will likely improve quality of life but may also improve mortality as the presence or development of heart disease may significantly limit life-saving cancer therapies. The rationale, potential problems, and important steps in developing a cardiology-oncology guideline are discussed.
From a colored glass condensate to the gluon plasma: Equilibration in high energy heavy ion collisions

The initial distribution of gluons at the very early times after a high-energy heavy ion collision is described by the bulk scale ${Q}_{s}$ of gluon saturation in the nuclear wave function. The subsequent evolution of the system towards kinetic equilibrium is described by a nonlinear Landau equation for the single particle distributions [A. H. Mueller, Nucl. Phys. B572, 227 (2000); Phys. Lett. B 475, 220 (2000)]. In this paper, we solve this equation numerically for the idealized initial conditions proposed by Mueller, and study the evolution of the system to equilibrium. We discuss the sensitivity of our results on the dynamical screening of collinear divergences. In a particular model of dynamical screening, the convergence to the hydrodynamic limit is seen to be rapid relative to hydrodynamic time scales. The equilibration time, the initial temperature, and the chemical potential are shown to have a strong functional dependence on the initial gluon saturation scale ${Q}_{s}.$