cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disaggregation and reaggregation of 'irreversibly' aggregated platelets: a method for more complete evaluation of anti-platelet drugs.

Anti-platelet drugs are generally screened by evaluating their ability to influence initiation and development of irreversible aggregation of platelets. However, to fully characterize the inhibitory effects of an agent, it is essential to determine if it can also disperse irreversibly aggregated cells, whether drug-treated, dispersed platelets are refractory, sensitive to some but not all aggregating agents, as sensitive to all agents as before initial exposure, hypersensitive or whether they can be restored to a sensitive state by modulation of the platelet membrane. We have developed anvitro system for evaluating the influence of a variety of agents on disaggregation and reaggregation of aggregated blood platelets. Results demonstrate that some agents which inhibit aggregation can also cause disaggregation, while others cannot. The ability to disaggregate is often selective, revealing a dependence on the nature of the agent causing aggregation, and the time after irreversible aggregation that the inhibitor is added. Agents that elevate intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels were potent inducers of platelet dissociation in aggregates caused by adenosine diphosphate. On the other hand, antimalarials, calmodulin complexing agents and phospholipase inhibitors caused dissociation of platelet aggregates, irrespective of the agonist used. By and large, the dissociated cells were refractory to the action of agonists. Restoration of the sensitivity of disaggregated platelets by treatment with epinephrine demonstrate an ability of inhibitor treated, refractory platelets to recover full functional capacity almost immediately. Thus, careful study of the effects of inhibitors on disaggregation, recovery and reaggregation may reveal features critical to the selection of anti-platelet drugs for clinical utilization.
Interface stability in temperature gradient zone melting

Abstract Planar zones of saturated water were migrated up a thermal gradient in the 〈100〉 direction in KCl crystals to determine the stability of the forward and rear solid-liquid interfaces of the zone. Except in the vicinity of impurity particles and gas bubbles, thin zones ( 15 μ) during zone migration. A stability analysis including thermal, surface energy and interface kinetic effects confirms that below and above a critical thickness of 15μ in the H 2 O-KCl system, liquid zones are intrinsically stable and unstable, respectively.
Preferential Formation of Benzo[a]pyrene Adducts at Lung Cancer Mutational Hotspots in P53

Cigarette smoke carcinogens such as benzo[a]pyrene are implicated in the development of lung cancer. The distribution of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) adducts along exons of the P53 gene in BPDE-treated HeLa cells and bronchial epithelial cells was mapped at nucleotide resolution. Strong and selective adduct formation occurred at guanine positions in codons 157, 248, and 273. These same positions are the major mutational hotspots in human lung cancers. Thus, targeted adduct formation rather than phenotypic selection appears to shape the P53 mutational spectrum in lung cancer. These results provide a direct etiological link between a defined chemical carcinogen and human cancer.
The response of balanitis xerotica obliterans to local steroid application compared with placebo in children.

Purpose: We evaluated the clinical effectiveness of topical steroid application for balanitis xerotica obliterans in children and analyzed the association of any clinical response with histological findings.Materials and Methods: Our double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study included 40 boys in whom balanitis xerotica obliterans was diagnosed clinically by cicatricial phimosis. The severity of phimosis was graded into 4 groups. Patients were randomized to receive the topical application of 0.05% mometasone furoate or placebo. After 5 weeks phimosis severity was reevaluated and all patients underwent circumcision. Surgical specimens were histologically typed as an early, intermediate or late form of balanitis xerotica obliterans.Results: Seven patients were withdrawn from the study. In the steroid group 7 boys had clinical improvement and 10 had no change. Histological study showed an early, intermediate and late form of balanitis xerotica obliterans in 5, 5 and 7 cases, respectively. Of cases wit...
Glycosylated neurotensin analogues exhibit sub-picomolar anticonvulsant potency in a pharmacoresistant model of epilepsy.

The glycosylation of neuroactive peptides is a promising strategy to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. Herein we investigated the effects of site-specific glycosylation of neurotensin (NT). The glycosylated analogues have low-nanomolar affinities and agonist activities toward NTS1, and suppress seizures with sub-picomolar potency. Our work points to a new research direction of exploring BBB-permeable NT analogues as potential first-in-class antiepileptic drugs. Neurotensin (NT) is an endogenous neuropeptide involved in a variety of central and peripheral neuromodulatory effects. Herein we show the effects of site-specific glycosylation on the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of this neuropeptide. NT analogues containing O-linked disaccharides (β-melibiose and α-TF antigen) or β-lactose units linked by a PEG3 spacer were designed and chemically synthesized using Fmoc chemistry. For the latter analogue, Fmoc-Glu-(β-Lac-PEG3-amide) was prepared. Our results indicate that the addition of the disaccharides does not negatively affect the sub-nanomolar affinity or the low-nanomolar agonist potency for the neurotensin receptor subtype 1 (NTS1). Interestingly, three glycosylated analogues exhibited sub-picomolar potency in the 6 Hz limbic seizure mouse model of pharmacoresistant epilepsy following intracerebroventricular administration. Our results suggest for the first time that chemically modified NT analogues may lead to novel antiepileptic therapies.
Pathologic diagnosis as the gold standard

Issues involving brain tumor diagnosis are discussed in light of the frequently observed discrepancies between the diagnoses of general pathologists and neuropathologists. Accuracy of diagnoses could be improved if definitions or criteria for specific categories of tumors were simplified, clearly established, and consensually accepted.
Catastrophic degradation in high-power InGaAs-AlGaAs strained quantum well lasers and InAs-GaAs quantum dot lasers

Reliability and degradation processes in broad-area InGaAs-AlGaAs strained quantum well (QW) lasers are under investigation because these lasers are indispensible as pump lasers for fiber lasers and amplifiers that have found an increasing number of industrial applications in recent years. Extensive efforts by a number of groups to develop InAs-GaAs quantum dot (QD) lasers have recently led to significant improvement in performance characteristics, but due to a short history of commercialization, high power QD lasers lacks studies in reliability and degradation processes. For the present study, we investigated reliability and degradation processes in MOCVD-grown broad-area InGaAs-AlGaAs strained QW lasers as well as in MBE-grown broad-area InAs-GaAs QD lasers using various failure mode analysis (FMA) techniques. Dots for the QD lasers were formed via a self-assembly process during MBE growth. We employed two different methods to degrade lasers during accelerated life-testing: commercial lifetester and our newly developed time-resolved electroluminescence (TR-EL) set-up. Our TR-EL set-up allows us to observe formation of a hot spot and subsequent formation and progression of dark spots and dark lines through windowed n-contacts during entire accelerated life-tests. Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) and time resolved photoluminescence (TR-PL) techniques were employed to study trap characteristics and carrier dynamics in pre- and post-stressed QW and QD lasers to identify the root causes of catastrophic degradation processes in these lasers. We also employed electron beam induced current (EBIC), focused ion beam (FIB), and high resolution TEM to study dark line defects and crystal defects in post-aged QW and QD lasers at different stages of degradation.
Low-lying negative-ion states of calcium.

Studies of electron transmission through Ca vapor reveal two prominent resonances in the range 0--4 eV. The energies and widths of these temporary anion states suggest that they may be assigned to the strongly mixed (4${s}^{2}$3d${)}^{2}$D and (4s4${p}^{2}$${)}^{2}$D states of ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$. This interpretation is supported by ab initio configuration-interaction calculations and is consistent with previously unassigned structure observed in the photodetachment cross section.
In situ XAS and FTIR studies of a multi-component Ni/Fe/Cu catalyst for hydrogen production from ethanol

Abstract Multicomponent catalysts containing Ni, Fe, Cu active for ethanol reforming reactions, prepared by solution combustion synthesis are characterized by multiple techniques such as ex situ XRD, XPS, and in situ XAFS and FTIR. XRD results indicate copper to be present in the reduced state as Cu Ni bimetal while nickel and iron are observed to be partially in a spinel NiFe 2 O 4 structure. In situ XANES and XAFS analysis show a change in Ni, Fe and Cu oxidation states during reaction. Cu, which was fully reduced before reaction, became partly oxidized upon exposure to ethanol and oxygen. Ni is mostly (75%) reduced and does not seem to change its oxidation state during the reaction. Fe is not present in metallic form after reduction and during the reaction, but some change in the oxidation state from Fe(II) to Fe(III) occurred during the reaction. XPS and SEM images indicate the formation of carbon filament on the spent catalyst. XPS results also indicate the enrichment of surface by Fe and Cu during the reduction of the catalyst. Based on the activity and characterization results obtained, and literature review, the role of predominant phases during ethanol decomposition reaction is proposed.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Optical Properties of Ordered Arrays of III-Nitride Nanocrystals

A new approach involving self-assembling block copolymer micellar templates and gas-phase reactions to synthesize arrays of monodisperse III-nitrides nanocrystals in the size range of 1−5 nm with uniform spacings between the nanoparticles is demonstrated. The photoluminescence emission spectra revealed the GaN nanocrystals are in the quantum-confined regime. This method not only offers great promise for the controlled synthesis of arrays of ternary III-nitride nanocrystals but may also enable doping in binary nitrides.
The impact of privatizing agricultural research in Great Britain: an interim report on PBI and ADAS

Abstract The British government's sale of the Plant Breeding Institute (PBI) to Unilever and privatization of research funding at the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) present a rare opportunity to examine the impact of privatization of agricultural research. Privatization led to an increase in resources for both the biotechnology part of PBI which was not privatized and the plant breeding research which was. Privatization of ADAS led to a large decline in the applied crop research conducted by ADAS. Privatization has been successful in shifting some of the cost of financing agricultural research from taxpayers to farmers. It is too early to measure privatization's impact on research output and research efficiency.
The Practice of Surgical Staging and Its Impact on Adjuvant Treatment Recommendations in Patients with Stage I Endometrial Carcinoma

A survey of American gynecologic oncologists was undertaken to assess their compliance with current surgical staging criteria in patients with early endometrial carcinoma. One hundred forty-four members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists responded to the survey. Respondents treated an average of 22 new cases annually. Tumor grade and intraoperative determination of depth of myometrial invasion were demonstrated to influence the frequency of lymphatic dissection. In grade 1, 2, and 3 lesions, 76, 60, and 34% of responders, respectively, indicated that depth of invasion influenced their decision to perform lymphadenectomy. In addition, depth of invasion was important in determining type and extent of lymphatic resection. Further, the impact of pathologic lymph node status on postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy recommendations was evaluated for various stratifications of endometrial adenocarcinoma confined to the corpus. The greatest differences in treatment recommendations were noted in the 50-66% invasion category. For grade 1 and 2 cancers, adjuvant therapy recommendations were reduced by 23 and 16% respectively when comparing pelvic and combined therapy versus none and vaginal therapy. The effect of surgical staging data on clinical decisions is clearly evident. The knowledge of pathologically negative lymph node status reduces the recommendation for postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with adenocarcinoma otherwise confined to the uterine corpus.
Can Brief Alcohol Interventions for Youth Also Address Concurrent Illicit Drug Use? Results from a Meta-analysis

Brief interventions aimed at reducing alcohol use among youth may interrupt a possible developmental progression to more serious substance use if they can also affect the use of other illicit drugs. This meta-analysis examined the findings of recent research on the effects of brief alcohol interventions for adolescents and young adults on both alcohol and illicit drug use. Eligible studies were those using randomized or controlled quasi-experimental designs to examine the effects of brief alcohol interventions on illicit drug use outcomes among youth. A comprehensive literature search identified 30 eligible study samples that, on average, included participants age 17, with 57 % male participants and 56 % White youth. Three-level random-effects meta-analyses were used to estimate mean effect sizes and explore variability in effects. Overall, brief interventions targeting both alcohol and other drugs were effective in reducing both of these substances. However, the brief interventions that targeted only alcohol had no significant secondary effects on untargeted illicit drug use. The evidence from current research, therefore, shows modest beneficial effects on outcomes that are targeted by brief interventions for youth, but does not show that those effects generalize to untargeted illicit drug use outcomes.
Assessing Global Inequality of Bribery for News Coverage: A Cross-National Study

Bribery for news coverage has a negative impact on the credibility of media; it also restricts the free flow of information and violates the public's right to know. Further, research showed that there exists considerable inequality among countries in terms of the extent to which bribery for news coverage exists in media system. This study provides the first quantitative cross-national assessment of a set of predictors of the likelihood that bribery for news coverage exists in a country's media system and tested competing arguments derived from the literature. Data of this study are drawn from 66 nation states. The analysis shows that 5 groups of political, economic, cultural, educational, and technological variables have direct or indirect impacts on a country's media bribery level. The interactions between these variables are also analyzed. The study concludes by discussing how analyses of the nature of the international media bribery problem contribute to finding multiple approaches to solutions to this...
Quantifying Relationships among the Molecular Weight Distribution, Non-Newtonian Shear Viscosity, and Melt Index for Linear Polymers

This paper presents methodologies to quantify the relationships among the molecular weight distribution (MWD), steady-shear non-Newtonian viscosity (i.e., flow curve), and melt index (MI) of three linear low-density polyethylenes manufactured using the same technology. With the aid of computer-aided process simulation tools (such as POLYMERS PLUS), polymer producers can predict accurately the MWD from manufacturing conditions. Our methodologies help the polymer producers to extend their simulation model to predict flow curves and MI from the MWD. To do this, this paper employs (1) a modified Carreau-Yasuda (CY) model or Bersted's partition model to relate the MWDs and flow curves, (2) Bremner and Rudin's model to relate the weight-average molecular weight (MWW) and MI, and (3) Rohlfing and Janzen's model to relate the flow curve and MI. We show that the Carreau-Yasuda, Bersted, and Bremner and Rudin models work very well for correlating our data, predicting flow curves that average 3−7% error and MI value...
Relationships between drug knowledge and drug attitudes for students in large, intermediate, and small schools.

Relationships between attitudes toward seven different drugs—alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, heroin, LSD, marijuana, and tobacco—and general knowledge of drugs were investigated. Subjects were 300 12th-grade students randomly selected from large, intermediate, and small public high schools. Generally, attitudes toward these drugs were significantly related to drug knowledge. Although school size and sex did moderate the magnitude of these relationships in some cases, the correlations for the subjects grouped by sex and school size tended to reflect the correlations for the population.
Pseudotetrahedral manganese complexes supported by the anionic tris(phosphino)borate ligand [PhBPiPr3]

This paper presents aspects of the coordination chemistry of mono- and divalent manganese complexes supported by the anionic tris(phosphino)borate ligand, [PhBPiPr3] (where [PhBPiPr3] = [PhB(CH2PiPr2)3]-). The Mn(II) halide complexes, [PhBPiPr3]MnCl (1) and [PhBPiPr3]MnI (2), have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, SQUID magnetometry, and EPR spectroscopy. Compound 2 serves as a precursor to a series of Mn azide, alkyl, and amide species: [PhBPiPr3]Mn(N3) (3), [PhBPiPr3]Mn(CH2Ph) (4), [PhBPiPr3]Mn(Me) (5), [PhBPiPr3]Mn(NH(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)) (6), [PhBPiPr3]Mn(dbabh) (7), and [PhBPiPr3]Mn(1-Ph(isoindolate)) (8). The complexes 2−8 feature a divalent-metal center and are pseudotetrahedral. They collectively represent an uncommon structural motif for low-coordinate, polyphosphine-supported Mn complexes. Two Mn(I) species have also been prepared. These include the Tl−Mn adduct [PhBPiPr3]Tl−MnBr(CO)4 (9) and the octahedral complex [PhBPiPr3]Mn(CNtBu)3 (10). Some of our initial synthetic efforts to generate [...
Spherical and flat shaped molecules on a mercury surface

Abstract The change in surface tension and surface potential has been measured as a function of surface density for flat and spherical shaped molecules on Hg. Flat molecules were represented by naphthalene, α-Br-naphthalene, anthracene and cholesterol. Spherical molecules were represented by adamantane, 1-adamantanol, 1-Br-adamantane, adamantane-carboxylic acid, adamantane-acetic acid, pentaerythrityl-tetrahalides, and pentaerythrityl-tetrakis-diphenyl phosphite. A two dimensional equation of state is tested, yielding information about molecular configuration on the surface. Dielectric properties of these monolayers are determined with the surface potential difference measurements yielding values for induced and permanent dipole moments.
The Wavelength Diversity Of Speckle

Under monochromatic illumination, objects with a scale of roughness or texture grossly on the order of the wavelength appear to a viewer to be speckled. The occurrence of these speckles, which are rapid intensity variations in the image, often leads to a substantial reduction in the apparent resolution of the imaging system. While the exact speckle structure is, in principle, deterministically related to the specific textural detail of a particular object, still its effect is often deleterous since other feature details are often greatly obscured in the speckled image. The distinction between textural and feature details is rather subjective, and so it may be helpful to describe some specific cases. Thus, holograms of typical biological specimens of microscopic size are usually so speckled in reconstruction as to render them impractical. Boundaries, cell walls and the like, are completely lost in the speckle. And one almost never uses a laser illuminator in a microscope due to the attendant speckle and interference fringes, unless there is an overriding need for the mono-chromaticity, e.g., as in flourescence systems. Some feeling for the effect of speckle can be gained if the reader will glance ahead to the illustrations in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. So for many purposes speckle is troublesome and unwanted, that is the position we take in this paper; however, it is worth noting, as an aside, that others have reported useful applications of speckle in metrology and in surface texture analysis.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Ultrafast Multidimensional Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications to Photosynthetic Systems

We present the utility of 2-D electronic spectroscopy for the investigation of energy transfer dynamics in photosynthetic light-harvesting systems. Elucidating ultrafast energy transfer within photosynthetic systems is difficult due to the large number of molecules and complex environments involved in the process. In many spectroscopic methods, these systems appear as overlapping peaks with broad linewidths, obscuring the details of the dynamics. 2-D spectroscopy is a nonlinear, ultrafast method that yields a correlation map between excitation and emission energies, and can track incoherent and coherent energy transfer processes with femtosecond resolution. A 2-D spectrum can provide important insight into the structure and the mechanisms behind the excited state dynamics. We review the principles behind 2-D spectroscopy and describe the content of a 2-D electronic spectrum. Several recent applications of this technique to the major light-harvesting complex of Photosystem II are presented, including monitoring the time scales of energy transfer processes, investigation of the excited state energies, and determination of the relative orientations of the excited state transition dipole moments.
Toxicology of Autoimmune Diseases

Susceptibility to most autoimmune diseases is dependent on polygenic inheritance, environmental factors, and poorly defined stochastic events. One of the significant challenges facing autoimmune disease research is in identifying the specific events that trigger loss of tolerance and autoimmunity. Although many intrinsic factors, including age, sex, and genetics, contribute to autoimmunity, extrinsic factors such as drugs, chemicals, microbes, or other environmental factors can also act as important initiators. This review explores how certain extrinsic factors, namely drugs and chemicals, can promote the development of autoimmunity, focusing on a few better characterized agents that, in most instances, have been shown to produce autoimmune manifestations in human populations. Mechanisms of autoimmune disease induction are discussed in terms of research obtained using specific animal models. Although a number of different pathways have been delineated for drug/chemical-induced autoimmunity some similarities do exist and a working model is proposed.
Improving safety and quality of care with enhanced teamwork through operating room briefings.

Objectives To describe the current state of the science for operating room (OR) briefings and debriefings, including an overview of key definitions, a review of the evidence of effectiveness, and a summary of our experiences as part of a comprehensive unit–based safety program. Overview Use of preoperative briefings has been shown to improve team communication, decrease disruptions to surgical workflow, improve compliance with antibiotic and deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, and improve overall perceptions about the safety climate in the OR. Studies have demonstrated that an effective briefing can be performed in less than 2 minutes and reduce delays by more than 80%. Effective implementation involves changing workflows and expectations of interaction among OR team members, including participation from leaders at all levels. Briefings and debriefings are a strategy for revealing defects and facilitating adaptive change in the OR. Conclusions and Relevance Briefings and debriefings are a good method for improving teamwork and communication in the OR. Effective implementation may be associated with improved patient outcomes. Commitment by the participating providers is essential for effective briefings, which include discussion of relevant information pertaining to the procedure.
Identification of NF-κB-regulated genes induced by TNFα utilizing expression profiling and RNA interference

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine with important roles in regulating inflammatory responses as well as cell cycle proliferation and apoptosis. Although TNFalpha stimulates apoptosis, it also activates the transcription factor NF-kappa B, and studies have shown that inhibition of NF-kappa B potentiates the cytotoxicity of TNFalpha. Since several chemotherapy agents act like TNFalpha to both promote apoptosis and activate NF-kappa B, understanding the role of NF-kappa B in suppressing apoptosis may have significant clinical applications. To understand the effects of stimulation with TNFalpha and the role of NF-kappa B in regulating this response, a 23k human cDNA microarray was used to screen TNFalpha-inducible genes in HeLa cells. Real-time PCR verified expression changes in 16 of these genes and revealed three distinct temporal patterns of expression after TNFalpha stimulation. Using RNA interference to disrupt expression of the p65 subunit of NF-kappa B, all but two of the genes were shown to depend on this transcription factor for their expression, which correlated well with the existence of NF-kappa B binding sites in most of their promoters. Inflammatory, proapoptotic, and antiapoptotic genes were all shown to be regulated by NF-kappa B, demonstrating the wide variety of targets activated by NF-kappa B signaling and the necessity of differentiating among these genes for therapeutic purposes.
Saturation wind power potential and its implications for wind energy

Wind turbines convert kinetic to electrical energy, which returns to the atmosphere as heat to regenerate some potential and kinetic energy. As the number of wind turbines increases over large geographic regions, power extraction first increases linearly, but then converges to a saturation potential not identified previously from physical principles or turbine properties. These saturation potentials are >250 terawatts (TW) at 100 m globally, approximately 80 TW at 100 m over land plus coastal ocean outside Antarctica, and approximately 380 TW at 10 km in the jet streams. Thus, there is no fundamental barrier to obtaining half (approximately 5.75 TW) or several times the world’s all-purpose power from wind in a 2030 clean-energy economy.
Finite Difference Method for Computing Sound Propagation in Nonuniform Ducts

Conclusion Compared to the rigorous procedures the solution to the previously stated problem, given by Eqs. (4) and (5) is approximate, but avoids the cumbersome calculations involved in the former. In this connection, the stochastic analysis of a single degree of freedom system subjected to random wind and seismic excitations to study the response characteristics was undertaken by the authors. The exciting force was assumed to be nonstationary in character, and was represented by the product of a deterministic shape function and a stationary random process characterized by its power spectral density. The choice of deterministic function and power spectral density was based on certain characteristics observed in a large number of past records of excitation process. The application of Eqs. (4) and (5) to study the peak response characteristics of the system revealed that the probability estimates for various appropriate values of X are about 0.5% below those obtained by an exact procedure.
HIV/AIDS in Asia: introduction.

The objective of this special issue of AIDS Education and Prevention is to familiarize interested health professionals with the history and the nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia Southeast Asia and South Asia including the intervention approaches that have been used and opinions on the future of the epidemic in these countries. We have been fortunate to obtain articles from leading experts in HIV/AIDS in each of the countries represented in this special issue. This introduction provides an overview of the epidemic in the region and analyzes key factors in confronting the epidemic successfully in Asia. (excerpt)
Website Quality Evaluations: Criteria and Tools

The quantity of information distributed today on the Internet, especially through the World Wide Web, is rising much more quickly than the quantity of information available through other mass media. Just as we do not like or believe everything we read in the newspapers, see on TV, or hear on the radio, we cannot like or believe everything on the Internet. Consequently, it is necessary to critically assess the quality of websites and to determine the extent to which they meet our needs and requirements. This paper is an attempt to analyze information evaluation concept and process-based on some quality management concepts, rools and methods in order to propose some basic criteria to evaluate website quality and to select suitable websites.
The Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a clinicopathologic, chronic esophageal inflammatory disease resistant to acid suppressive therapy and is associated with variable symptoms indicative of upper gastrointestinal dysfunction. Per current guidelines established by The International Group of Eosinophil Researchers (TIGERS), the diagnosis is made in symptomatic patients after a biopsy that confirms a peak eosinophil level of ≥15 eosinophils/high-powered field (HPF). The esophagus is distinguished by pronounced tissue eosinophilia in which dietary antigens are key inciting factors for disease pathogenesis; EoE being reversed by elimination of triggering food allergens suggests that the disease is mediated in part by allergic sensitization to foods. Moreover, experimental EoE in mice can be induced not only via food exposure but also via aeroallergen exposure. Consistent with an allergic etiology rather than an acid-induced esophagitis, swallowed glucocorticoids are effective for the treatment of EoE. Evaluation by an allergist is a recommended part of the diagnostic workup, especially for management of allergic comorbidities. Clinical practice for the evaluation of patients with EoE mainly relies on prick skin tests due to the ease and validation of these tests in the context of immediate hypersensitivity. However, both atopy patch testing and serum IgE testing have been used in EoE. Herein, we reviewed the basic clinical features of EoE with a focus on the approach to diagnosing causative food allergens and to dietary therapy.
A test of the Wagner-Rescorla model’s prediction of no response decrement in a nondifferential following a differential schedule of reinforcement

When the pigeons are trained with a multiple variable time (VT) 30-sec VT 60-sec EXT (30-60-EXT) schedule with key colors A, B, and C (respectively), response to A is greater than response to B, and response to B is greater than response to C. When the birds are switched to multiple VT 60-sec VT 60-sec VT 60-sec (60-60-60) with A, B, and C, response to A and B falls to the level previously seen for C. The Wagner-Rescorla model predicts this pattern of results. The model also predicts no decrement in response to B if the switch is to 60-60 training with A and B only (omitting C). The present experiment showed a severe decrement of keypecking in 60-60 with A and B, equivalent to that seen in 60-60-60 with A, B, and C. Other explanations of the performance-failure appear necessary. An alternative description of VT-VT schedules, that they contain no signal for no reward, is considered in terms of the notion that no-reward periods are necessary for the elimination of behaviors that compete with keypecking.
Real-time quantitation of Cu(II) by a fluorescence-based biosensing approach

Recently, there has been substantial interest in reducing the levels of toxic heavy metals in wastewater effluents from activities such as shipyards. Of particular interest is copper, which comprises tens of percent by weight of the hundreds of pounds of antifouling paint coating the bottom of a large vessel, but which is toxic to commercially important shellfish at sub-part per billion levels. As a result wastewater effluents must be monitored closely with sensor(s) capable of rapidly and accurately detecting excess copper in time to prevent release. We have pursued a fluorescence-based biosensing approach to obtain sub-ppb sensitivity for Cu(II) and immunity from interference from other cations abundant in sea water, such as Ca, Mg, and Sr. Our approach uses a protein, apocarbonic anhydrase II, as a very sensitive and selective ligand for Cu(II) which transduces the (reversible) binding of the metal as a change in fluorescence intensity, lifetime, or anisotropy, the first two of which may be conveniently measured through optical fiber. Thus we have been able to measure sub-ppb levels of Cu added to sea water, and to characterize the speciation of the Cu(II) to some degree, due to the presence of other ligands.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Heterosis among Hybrids Derived from Genetically Improved and Unimproved Alfalfa Germplasm

Commercially competitive forage yields, and in some cases high-parent heterosis, were previously reported for several alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) diallel hybrids derived from nine unimproved germplasm sources that have been important contributors to North American cultivars. This study evaluated biomass production of genetically unimproved and improved sets of nine of those hybrids, and their respective parents, over three years near Las Cruces, NM. Our objectives were to determine if the performance of unimproved ancestral populations provided useful information to construct superior hybrids using more elite descendant materials, and if such improved hybrids exhibited high-parent heterosis. All improved hybrids performed either similar to, or superior to, five check cultivars. High-parent heterosis was detected among the top four yielding improved hybrids. Unimproved hybrid performance and midparent value rankings provided reasonable indicators of potential hybrids that should be attempted among related elite populations. The results indicated that opportunities to exploit hybrid vigor still appear to exist among some elite alfalfa populations that possess a predominating germplasm source.
More on pharmacogenomics and warfarin

Since the recent publication in AJHP of an article on the pharmacogenomic dosing of warfarin,[1][1] two studies have been published that add to the discussion. The first was published by Eckman and colleagues,[2][2] who presented a meta-analysis evaluating the cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomic
Solution Behavior of Temperature‐Responsive Molecular Brushes Prepared by ATRP

Molecular brushes, with side chains consisting of two copolymers: 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate with methyl methacrylate, and N,N-dimethylacrylamide with butyl acrylate were prepared by grafting-from via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Poly(2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate) and poly(2-(2-bromopropionyloxy)ethyl methacrylate) were used as macroinitiators. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies were performed for aqueous solutions of molecular brushes below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and an unusual concentration-dependent LCST was observed. Due to the compact structure of molecular brushes, intramolecular collapse can occur when the average distance between molecules is much larger than the hydrodynamic dimensions of the individual macromolecules. However, if the concentration of the solution of molecular brushes is increased to the level in which the separation distance is comparable with the brush hydrodynamic dimensions, intermolecular aggregation occurs, as typically observed for solutions of linear polymers.
A computer simulation for behavior therapy training

Computer simulation technology has been applied to a wide variety of learning tasks; however, behavior therapy training has not been among them. A computer simulation has recently been developed for use in behavior therapy training. The simulation written for Apple II microcomputers reflects possible referral, assessment, and intervention procedures encountered by a behavior therapist in a mental health center. Forty-two pieces of assessment information may be drawn from 8 general areas, while 6 different interventions may be chosen after a diagnosis is reached. Simulation content and utility were rated highly by both practicing behavior therapists and trainees.
Academic general pediatrics: from endangered species to advanced scholars of general pediatrics: the report of a consensus conference.

The discipline of academic general pediatrics (AGP) has been the foundation of the medical specialty of pediatrics since those caring for children became differentiated from practitioners of internal medicine. Virtually every academic medical center has been populated with generalist physicians who engage in patient care, teaching, research, administration, and advocacy. Often these individuals served as wise mentors who saw the need for further subspecialization in pediatrics and encouraged the development of academic careers that have resulted in advancing care for infants, children, and adolescents. Beginning with the certification of pediatric cardiology in 1961 to the certification of developmental-behavioral pediatrics in 2000, pediatrics has become increasingly subspecialized and focused. Yet however beneficial the forces of medical specialization have been 1 , the value of those pediatricians who have maintained a generalist approach to their work has also been recognized. The role of the academic generalist has undergone change and challenge. A consensus conference was held to explore the evolution of AGP and to plan future directions of the discipline.
A periodic voltage modulation effect on the corrosion oF Cu-Ni Alloy

Abstract It is suggested in the literature that the application of A.C. fields results in enhanced corrosion rates of materials while the mechanism of corrosion is changed. In this study, corrosion caused by sinusoidal alternating voltage (A.V.) fields in Cu-10Ni alloy (CDA706) in simulated seawater is investigated by: (i) immersion tests and (ii) characterization of corrosion products. The experimental data show that under the influence of alternating voltage (60 Hz) applied between Cu-Ni alloy and a platinum mesh counter electrode, the corrosion rate of the alloy increases with the applied voltage. It was also found that the corrosion rate of the alloy decreased with frequency and time. D.C. polarization curves revealed that passivity was insignificant in the alloy/seawater corrosion system studied. A cuprous oxide film which acts as a diffusion barrier layer to the dissolution of metals protected the alloy from corrosion. Preferred dissolution of nickel was the major anodic reaction causing pitting. The data suggest that application of A.V. signals does not change the mechanism of corrosion of Cu-Ni alloy in simulated seawater.
Multi-criteria simulation of program outcomes

Programs that develop and deploy complex systems typically have multiple criteria by which they are judged to be successful. Categories of such criteria include schedule, cost, technical system performance, quality and customer expectations. Criteria are operationalized via particular metrics, and often there are complex relationships between metrics, e.g., correlations or trade-offs. In an acquisition program, it is critical that systems engineers understand the implications of their actions and decisions with respect to these metrics, since the metrics are used to report the performance and eventual outcome of the program. However, such understanding usually takes many years of on-the-job experience. This paper describes an approach to simulation modeling of program behavior and performance whereby program outputs expressed in these metrics can be studied by systems engineers. An example program simulation model is presented that currently is used in an educational technology system for training systems engineers. The decisions and actions that can be taken by a systems engineer are described, and the impacts of various actions and decisions on program metrics and metric relationships are illustrated. The model is validated via subject matter experts with extensive experience in the program domain.
An endolaryngeal brachytherapy mould for a carcinoma of the larynx recurrent after surgery and radiation.

The OBI is commercially available in the United States through the Storz Instrument Co., and was specifically designed for the biopsy of human OE. OE on biopsy specimens obtained with this instrument are meant to be free of crush artifact and therefore are satisfactory for electron microscopic (EM) analysis (Figs. 1 and 2). The technique which uses this instrumentation is routinely performed with magnification but without direct visualization of the superior turbinate. This currently represents one of the most popular techniques for the purpose of harvesting human olfactory mucosa.
Coping with a Diagnosis of C Trachomatis or N Gonorrhoeae Psychosocial and Behavioral Correlates

The current study sought to add to the stress and coping literature by examining whether coping responses are elicited from a diagnosis of chlamydia or gonorrhea and, if so, whether active or passive coping responses are associated with particular psychological factors and prevention behaviors. Data from 259 urban, minority participants recently diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea were analyzed. Results indicated that denial was associated with having more baseline depressive symptoms and with having more one-time partners at follow-up. Problem-focused coping was associated with more consistent condom use at follow-up. Important sex and ethnicity differences were found. Intervention implications are discussed.
Production of xylitol by recombinant microalgae.

Abstract Microalgae have received significant attention recently as a potential low-cost host for the production of next-generation biofuels and natural products. Here we show that the chloroplast genome of the eukaryotic green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can be genetically engineered to produce xylitol through the introduction of a gene encoding a xylose reductase (XR) from the fungi Neurospora crassa. Increased levels of heterologous protein accumulation and xylitol production were achieved by synthesizing the XR gene in the chloroplast codon bias and by driving expression of the codon-optimized XR gene using a 16S/atpA promoter/5′-UTR fusion. These results demonstrate the feasibility of engineering microalgae to produce xylitol, and show the importance of codon optimizing the XR gene and using the 16S/atpA promoter/5′-UTR fusion to express XR in the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii.
Mechanisms of social regulation change across colony development in an ant

Mutual policing is an important mechanism for reducing conflict in cooperative groups. In societies of ants, bees, and wasps, mutual policing of worker reproduction can evolve when workers are more closely related to the queen's sons than to the sons of workers or when the costs of worker reproduction lower the inclusive fitness of workers. During colony growth, relatedness within the colony remains the same, but the costs of worker reproduction may change. The costs of worker reproduction are predicted to be greatest in incipient colonies. If the costs associated with worker reproduction outweigh the individual direct benefits to workers, policing mechanisms as found in larger colonies may be absent in incipient colonies. We investigated policing behaviour across colony growth in the ant Camponotus floridanus. In large colonies of this species, worker reproduction is policed by the destruction of worker-laid eggs. We found workers from incipient colonies do not exhibit policing behaviour, and instead tolerate all conspecific eggs. The change in policing behaviour is consistent with changes in egg surface hydrocarbons, which provide the informational basis for policing; eggs laid by queens from incipient colonies lack the characteristic hydrocarbons on the surface of eggs laid by queens from large colonies, making them chemically indistinguishable from worker-laid eggs. We also tested the response to fertility information in the context of queen tolerance. Workers from incipient colonies attacked foreign queens from large colonies; whereas workers from large colonies tolerated such queens. Workers from both incipient and large colonies attacked foreign queens from incipient colonies. Our results provide novel insights into the regulation of worker reproduction in social insects at both the proximate and ultimate levels. At the proximate level, our results show that mechanisms of social regulation, such as the response to fertility signals, change dramatically over a colony's life cycle. At the ultimate level, our results emphasize the importance of factors besides relatedness in predicting the level of conflict within a colony. Our results also suggest policing may not be an important regulatory force at every stage of colony development. Changes relating to the life cycle of the colony are sufficient to account for major differences in social regulation in an insect colony. Mechanisms of conflict mediation observed in one phase of a social group's development cannot be generalized to all stages.
Fabrication and application of micro thin film thermocouples for transient temperature measurement in nanosecond pulsed laser micromachining of nickel

Abstract In order to investigate the complicated transient thermal phenomena in laser micromachining, it is essential to accurately measure time-resolved temperatures of workpiece resulted from the transient laser–material interaction. While numerous analytic and numerical models have been developed, little experimental results are available for a solid understanding of transient thermal phenomena in nanosecond pulsed laser micromachining. In this paper, micro thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) with a high spatial and temporal resolution were fabricated on electroplated nickel substrates and used to measure transient surface temperatures in nanosecond pulsed laser micromachining by ablation. Transient temperatures were successfully measured, and the effect of laser energy fluences on peak temperatures was experimentally investigated. This study demonstrates that the micro TFTCs can be useful in measuring the transient temperatures micrometers away from the laser–material interaction region on the workpiece during laser micromachining, and the measured data could be utilized to validate and improve existing analytical and numerical models.
Salmonella typhi vaccine strain in vitro; low infectivity in human cell line U937.

Salmonella typhi strain Ty21a has been used for live oral vaccine. The infectivity of Ty21a, in comparison with S. typhi Ty2, was evaluated using the human monocyte-macrophage cell line U937. Assays were performed by quantitative microscopy and viable count technique. Ty2 infected approximately 100% of the cells, multiplied extensively within these cells and caused cell death. The same dose of Ty21a infected only about 15% of the cells, resulting in a low number of intracellular bacilli and cell survival. The use of gentamicin in the test confirmed intracellular multiplication of Ty2 but not Ty21a. The system described may be suitable as a test system for characterization of the degree of virulence of Ty2 la and other live, oral typhoid vaccines.