cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative reflection electron diffraction in an ultra high vacuum camera

Abstract An ultra high vacuum electron diffraction camera for intermediate energies (10–50 kV) is described. A Faraday cup scans the diffraction pattern while another monitors the incident beam, reading out the intensities with high accuracy. The performance of the instrument is illustrated with typical diffraction patterns and scans. Reasons are discussed for expecting that the intensity data from high-energy electron diffraction is more satisfactory than from low-energy electron diffraction for the determination of surface structure, since dynamical theory must be used.
Experiential Avoidance Mediates the Relationship Between Sexual Victimization and Psychological Symptoms: Replicating Findings with an Ethnically Diverse Sample

Studies have found experiential avoidance mediates the relationship between sexual victimization and psychological symptoms; however, this work has been conducted primarily with Caucasian samples. The purpose of this study was to examine whether this model is applicable to a more ethnically diverse sample. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model in which avoidance mediated the relationship between sexual victimization and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. The model was tested simultaneously in a sample of ethnic minority women (n = 190) and in a sample of Caucasian woman (n = 473), with parameter estimates specifying the relationships among the variables fixed to be equal in both samples. The results indicated that the model was an excellent fit for the data, and support the hypothesis that sexual victimization influences depression and post-traumatic stress disorder via the same mechanisms in both Caucasian and minority samples. Findings add to the growing literature suggesting that chronic experiential avoidance may be a maladaptive process underlying the relationship between sexual victimization and negative psychological outcomes.
Adapting cognitive processing therapy for child sexual abuse survivors

With the advent of managed care, there is an increasing need for short-term, empirically based treatments. This article presents a cognitive behavioral therapy protocol for the treatment of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Cognitive Processing Therapy for Sexual Abuse (CPT-SA). Based on information processing, developmental and self-trauma theories, this 26-session model combines group and individual therapy over a 17-week period. Clients are asked to write about the trauma, and explore adaptive, schema congruent, and discrepant beliefs that developed during and after the abuse. Focus is placed on beliefs related to safety, trust, power/control, self-esteem, and intimacy, with individual modules for each of these areas. Initial pilot data (N = 15), clinical implications, and two client case studies are also discussed.
Consideration of the relative frequency performance potential of inverted heterojunction n-p-n transistors

A recent study by Tan and Milnes of the expected frequency performance of GaAs homojunction and "conventional" AlGaAs-GaAs heterojunction transistors is here extended to include inverted configuration collector-up heterojunction transistors. It is shown that use of this configuration yields significant increases in high-frequency performance potential and results in a clear superiority for heterojunction devices over homojunction transistors.
Conformation and Dynamics of Atactic Poly(acrylonitrile). 2. Torsion Angle Distributions in Meso Dyads from Two-Dimensional Solid-State Double-Quantum 13C NMR

The average trans torsion angles and their distributions have been investigated for meso dyads in a disordered crystalline polymer, atactic poly(acrylonitrile) (aPAN), by two-dimensional (2D) solid-state 13C double-quantum NMR spectroscopy (DOQSY). The 2D DOQSY spectra of an aPAN sample with 13C-labeled nitrile side groups show significant deviations from the ideal trans conformations. The 13C⋮N bonds in meso trans−trans dyads make an average angle of 20° with each other, with distributions of 25° standard deviation. This translates into standard deviations of σ = 20° for the two successive torsion angles in these dyads. The experimental spectrum constrains the average torsion angles to a line between (+160 ± 10°, +160 ± 10°) and (±170 ± 5°, ∓170 ± 5°), with distributions of standard deviation σ = 20 ± 5° for both torsion angles. It is also confirmed that the trans:gauche ratio of backbone bonds in aPAN is 90:10 (±5%). The high trans content is apparently enabled by the torsion angle deviations from the i...
The relation of scent-marking, olfactory investigation, and specific postures in the isolation-induced fighting of rats

The temporal sequences of acts and postures of rats during tests for isolation-induced fighting were recorded and analyzed. Scent-marking and olfactory investigation, which have been related to fighting by previous studies, were particularly emphasized. From the data a model was constructed for the sequence of behaviors which lead to and maintain isolation-induced fighting. The typical sequence begins with olfactory investigation and scent-marking; the home rat initially investigates the intruder, and the intruder initially investigates the cage. The combination of olfactory perception of a strange male and a familiar environment, it was suggested, serves to trigger an offensive mechanism in the home rat which leads to bite-and-kick attack and offensive sideways posture. The pain of the attack then triggers defensive mechanism in the intruder rat which leads to defensive upright posture and submissive posture. Whereas the functional role of the bite-and-kick attack appears to be simply the infliction of pain and elicitation of defense in the intruder, the function of offensive sideways posture as a threat behavior may be more complex. It is possible that it becomes a conditioned pain stimulus due to its close temporal pairing with bite-and-kick attack, but it is more likely that it produces defense by a process of sensitization. In any case, following the initial attack, the offensive sideways posture continues to elicit defensive behavior by the intruder even when there are no further attacks. The functional roles of the defensive postures were interpreted as positioning the intruder in such a way that the home rat cannot assume the aggressive posture from which attack is launched. Scent-marking behavior was consistent within strains, within individuals, and across different types of measures (accumulation of scent-marking marking material and performance of the stereotyped scent-marking act, crawl-over-dish). Amount of scent-marking was not correlated with attack, however, and its role in isolation-induced fighting remains unclear. In parallel to findings in other rodents, it was observed that scent-marking was diminished in animals after they had been subjected to attack.
Effective thermo-mechanical properties of aluminum–alumina composites using numerical approach

Abstract This study examines the effect of microstructural characteristics on the effective thermo-mechanical properties, i.e., elastic moduli, Poisson’s effect, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), of ceramic particle-reinforced metal–matrix composites. Two-dimensional (2D) micro-structures for composites with 10% and 20% alumina volume contents dispersed in aluminum matrix are constructed from the micrograph images of the composite samples taken at various locations. A representative area element approximately of size 50 μm × 50 μm is chosen to represent the microstructure of the composite. For each of the selected square regions, ceramic content and porosity are first determined in order to examine the validity of the represented microstructure. These microstructures are implemented in finite element (FE) in order to numerically characterize the effective thermo-mechanical properties of the composites. The alumina constituent is assumed to behave as linearly elastic solid, while the aluminum constituent is modeled as an elastic–plastic solid with material parameters varying with temperatures. The effect of loading directions, porosity, properties of the constituents, particle sizes, and thermal (residual) stresses developed during cooling from the sintering temperature to room temperature, on the overall thermo-mechanical properties of the composites are further discussed.
A fast, free-form rubber-sheet algorithm for contiguous area cartograms

This article presents a fast, free-form rubber-sheet Carto3F algorithm for the construction of contiguous area cartograms. Rubber-sheet algorithms are influential and popular because of their conceptual simplicity. Existing rubber-sheet algorithms, however, tend to be algorithmically inefficient and computationally slow. More critically, they cannot completely preserve topology. Carto3F specifically improves rubber-sheet algorithms in these two aspects. First, with a spatial structure of quadtree and a mathematical condition for topological equivalence, Carto3F can prevent topological errors and guarantees topological integrity. Second, Carto3F is designed with efficiency as a priority. Its efficiency is primarily gained through using the auxiliary quadtree to reduce the number of points to be transformed. Furthermore, Carto3F allows parallel computation and can fully take advantage of the increasingly common multi-core, multi-thread processors. Based on the mathematical analysis, Carto3F also mitigates the effect of force cancellation that is inherent in rubber-sheet algorithms. On a computer equipped with a 2.4-GHz quad-core CPU, Carto3F can produce quality population cartograms of the United States, China, and the world within 1 second, 18 seconds, and 8 minutes, respectively. Quantitative measures show that Carto3F outperforms the optimized rubber-sheet algorithm and the diffusion algorithm in both transformation effectiveness and computational efficiency.
Arginine vasotocin effects on courtship behavior in male white perch (Morone americana).

Arginine vasotocin (AVT) and its mammalian homologue, arginine vasopressin (AVP), have been shown to have widespread behavioral effects in vertebrates. AVT was evaluated for its effectiveness in stimulating an important courtship behavior termed ‘attending’ in male white perch, Morone americana. Attending consists of close and continuous following of the female with occasional contact in the abdominal area. We tested the behavioral effectiveness of AVT in stimulating attending when administered either intraperitoneally (IP) or intracerebroventricularly (ICV). We also tested IP injections of AVT alone and in combination with an AVP V1 receptor antagonist (Manning compound). None of the IP injections of either AVT or Manning compound produced consistent effects on attending behavior. In contrast, ICV injections of AVT did significantly increase attending behavior and at low dosages. Circulating levels of testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone were not affected approximately 80 min following injection by any of the treatments. The strong behavioral effects observed with ICV administration support a central site of action for AVT in stimulating attending behavior. This is a complex behavior that shows similarities to behaviors mediated by AVT and AVP in other vertebrates, providing further evidence of a conserved behavioral role for these peptides.
Definition of the antigenic polypeptides in the Sm and RNP ribonucleoprotein complexes

Abstract The antigenically-active polypeptides of the Sm and RNP autoimmune ribonucleoprotein complexes from rabbit thymus were distinguished using protein blots. The complexes were fractionated electrophoretically by SDS gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose and probed with individual autoimmune sera. Anti-Sm sera recognized a 13,000 molecular weight protein almost exclusively. Anti-RNP sera consistently recognized proteins of 70,000 (a doublet) and 40,000 molecular weight. Reactivities of the immobilized proteins were not dependent on RNA. RNA was necessary for activity when assayed by counterimmunoelectrophoresis, as demonstrated by RNase sensitivity, suggesting a role for RNA in mediating a precipitin reaction of the two antigens.
Estimation for discrete time nonhomogeneous Markov chains

Abstract Using the maximum likelihood principle, nonparametric estimators are derived for discrete time nonhomogeneous Markov chains. As the number of observed chains becomes large, asymptotic unbiasedness and strong consistency of the estimators are proved, as well as asymptotic distribution results. Finally the estimators are compared with ones which have been proposed in continuous time.
Empowerment and Participatory Evaluation of a Community Health Intervention: Implications for Occupational Therapy

Community-based organizations have experienced an increased demand for new and expanded programs, as well as pressure from private and public sources of funding to document the impact of their serv...
Digital Additive Manufacturing: A Paradigm Shift in the Production Process and Its Socio-economic Impacts

The most simple and sweeping proposition with respect to 3D printing is that it will change everything because it can print everything. 3D printing (also known as digital additive manufacturing) is a key driver behind the on-going paradigm shift from 20th century industrial production and economics to the 21st century post-industrial order defined by open-source collboration, intelligent, nanoscale and bio technologies. This paper examines four distinct characteristics of 3D printing that define and predict its revolutionary ramifications on manufacturing processes and the geo-economic contours of global trade. Digital additive manufacturing renders the established manufacturing process obsolete. 3D printing’s rapid diffusion is a consequence of its vast assortment of applications being freely available on open crowd-sourced websites. When one combines the ability and convenience of producing one’s own customized goods with the savings accrued through the elimination of labor, re-tooling, assembly, shipping and inventory carrying costs, the consequences are most ominous for any and all engaged in traditional manufacturing and dependent on the relative cost-efficiencies of out-sourcing. 3D printing not only renders factories obsolete but threatens whole country’s economies as production is taken up by the consumer and distribution is de-globalized.
The biosynthesis of plasma lipoproteins in higher animals.

Abstract 1. 1. The distribution of lipoproteins was determined in the plasma or serum of five animal species. 2. 2. The incorporation, in vivo, of radioactive lysine into ultracentrifugally isolated plasma lipoproteins and other plasma of these animals was measured. 3. 3. The specific activities of the lipoproteins were highers than those of albumin or other plasma proteins and reached a maximum and declined earlier indicating more rapid synthesis and turnover. 4. 4. The lowest density lipoproteins appeared to be synthesized and metabolized most rapidly, consistent with their role in lipiod transport.
Effects of warm and neutral models on the attention of observational learners

Abstract The study was conducted to examine observers' attention to adults following warm and neutral interactions with them. Forty-two preschool and 36 third grade girls interacted with a pair of female models in one of three treatment conditions in which models were, respectively, warm and neutral, neutral and neutral, or warm and warm. Subiects then witnessed the models play a picture-preference game and were asked to recall the models' responses. Analyses of the children's overt attention to the models' responses revealed a greater attention to a warm model when in the presence of both a warm and neutral model and less distraction by nonsocial stimuli when at least one warm model was present. A significant positive correlation was obtained between attention to and recall of the models' responses.
Conversation analysis, doctor–patient interaction and medical communication

Introduction This paper introduces medical educators to the field of conversation analysis (CA) and its contributions to the understanding of the doctor−patient relationship. The conversation analysis approach Conversation analysis attempts to build bridges both to the ethnographic and the coding and quantitative studies of medical interviews, but examines the medical interview as an arena of naturally occurring interaction. This implies distinctive orientations and issues regarding the analysis of doctor−patient interaction. We discuss the CA approach by highlighting 5 basic features that are important to the enterprise, briefly illustrating each issue with a point from research on the medical interview. These features of conversation analytic theory and method imply a systematic approach to the organisation in interaction that distinguishes it from studies that rely on anecdote, ethnographic inquiry or the systematic coding of utterances. Conversation analysis and the medical interview We then highlight recent CA studies of the ‘phases’ of the internal medicine clinic and the implications of these studies for medical education. We conclude with suggestions for how to incorporate CA into the medical curriculum. It fits with biopsychosocial, patient-centred and relationship-centred approaches to teaching about medical communication.
The metal content of the eucrite parent body: constraints from the partitioning behavior of tungsten

The solid metal/silicate melt partition coefficient for W has been determined experimentally to have a value of 25 ± 5 at 1190°C and an oxygen fugacity of 10−13.4, the temperature and oxygen fugacity conditions at which eucritic basalts formed. Given this partition coefficient, scenarios for the metal content and evolution of the eucrite parent body (EPB) are constructed to explain the reduction by a factor of 30, relative to the chondrites, of the WLa ratio in the eucrites. A possible model for the early geologic history of the EPB begins with accretion of a parent body, chondritic in composition with respect to nonvolatile siderophile and lithophile elements. The solid metal content was between 2% and 10%, which is within the range observed in the ordinary chondrites. Subsequent heating of the EPB caused the metal phase to separate and become isolated from the silicate phases before the degree of partial melting of the silicates reached 4% to 5%. Equilibrium partitioning of most of the W into the solid metal phase at low degrees of partial melting reduced the WLa ratio in the remaining silicates. Continued partial melting of the silicates generated primary eucritic magmas which recorded the reduced WLa ratio.
Interface roughness broadening in intersubband lasers: Homogeneous or not?

We demonstrate the inhomogeneous character of interface roughness broadening in intersubband transitions and analyze its impact on temperature dependence of the gain and absorption spectra in the quantum cascade laser.
End‐of‐life seminar facilitated by an electronic OptionFinder®

Because physician training on managing end-of-life care is frequently inadequate, a seminar was designed to educate health care professionals regarding advance directives, withdrawal/withholding life support, futility, and communication with patients and their families. During 1996 and 1997, End-Of-Life Decision Making seminars were provided at several community and university hospitals. Following the presentation of case studies, questions were posed to encourage audience participation. Also, a survey comprised of five standard statements and questions was presented preseminar and postseminar. This survey was designed to measure changes in knowledge and attitudes toward end-of-life care. Responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale from “strongly disagree” (1) to “strongly agree” (5). Electronic OptionFinder® technology was used to tabulate and display results to the audience. Results from all seminars were recorded; means were calculated and compared preseminar and postseminar by the t-test. Percentages of respondents answering “agree” or “strongly agree” were also determined. This seminar positively influenced the attitudes and knowledge of physicians and the health care team, at least in the short term. Preseminar and postseminar responses demonstrated statistically significant shifts in attitude. Postseminar, more participants selected responses that could enhance communication and promote consensus.
End-of-Life Considerations in Older Patients Who Have Lung Disease

The goal of palliative care is to prevent suffering and manage symptoms, maintain quality of life, and provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support for patients and their loved ones. Research suggests that patients with chronic lung disease receive suboptimal palliative care largely because of inadequate communication with their physicians. When patients have made decisions about life-sustaining therapies, physicians often either do not know patients' wishes or misunderstand them. Clinicians should realize that most patients want more information about end-of-life care and that efforts to initiate and improve communication with their patients are important. This article reviews the potential for enhanced palliative care for older patients with chronic lung disease.
Review Article The immunology and immunotherapy of breast cancer: an update

Adenocarcinomas of the breast behave clinically and epidemiologically in ways that show host resistance factors are important for outcome in addition to grade and stage of malignancy. Immune reactivity to autologous tumors is indicated by the general presence of lymphoid infiltration (LI) and regional lymph node changes; however, these changes predict favorable outcome only in non-metastatic disease. LI is characterized by CD4+ and CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes reflecting latent cell-mediated immunity (CMI). CMI and humoral immune reactivity have been demonstrated to autologous tumor and a variety of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) have been implicated including CEA, HER-2/neu, MAGE-1, p53, T/Tn and MUC-1. Immune incompetence involving CMI is progressive with the stage of breast cancer and is prognostically significant. Immunotherapy of several types has been designed to address this immunodeficiency and the TAAs involved. Animal models have employed drug therapy, cytokine transfection, vaccines with autologous tumor, cytokines like interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), TAA tumor vaccines, and immunotoxins with evidence of tumor regression by immunologic means. Immunotherapy of human breast cancer is a rapidly growing experimental area. Positive results have been obtained with natural IFN and interleukins, particularly in combination strategies (but not with high dose recombinant IFN or IL-2), with autologous tumor vaccine (but not yet with transfected autologous tumor); with a mucin carbohydrate vaccine (Theratope) in a combination strategy (but not with mucin core antigen) and with several immunotoxins. Combination strategies involving immunorestoration, contrasuppression, adjuvant, and immunotoxins are suggested for the future.
William T. Bovie and electrosurgery

For thousands of years human beings have used heat in the form of cautery to treat trauma and disease. By the late nineteenth century, as technology advanced, heat could be produced by electric current. In 1920 William T. Bovie, an eccentric inventor with a doctorate in plant physiology, developed an innovative electrosurgical unit that Harvey Cushing, the founder of modern neurosurgery, introduced to clinical practice. The Bovine unit passes high frequency alternating current into the body allowing the current to cut or coagulate. After 75 years this basic device remains a fundamental tool in the practice of surgery.
Gas-Phase Reactions of Doubly Charged Lanthanide Cations with Alkanes and Alkenes. Trends in Metal(2+) Reactivity

The gas-phase reactivity of doubly charged lanthanide cations, Ln2+ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu), with alkanes (methane, ethane, propane, n-butane) and alkenes (ethene, propene, 1-butene) was studied by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The reaction products consisted of different combinations of doubly charged organometallic ions—adducts or species formed via metal ion induced hydrogen, dihydrogen, alkyl, or alkane eliminations from the hydrocarbons—and singly charged ions that resulted from electron, hydride, or methide transfers from the hydrocarbons to the metal ions. The only lanthanide cations capable of activating the hydrocarbons to form doubly charged organometallic ions were La2+, Ce2+, Gd2+, and Tb2+, which have ground-state or low-lying d1 electronic configurations. Lu2+, with an accessible d1 electronic configuration but a rather high electron affinity, reacted only through transfer channels. The remaining Ln2+ reacted via transfer c...
Effect of High- and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins on Thrombin-Thrombomodulin Interaction and Protein C Activation

Background—Thrombin-thrombomodulin (TM) interaction, which is critical for accelerating the protein C anticoagulant pathway, involves the heparin-like domain of TM. This study was aimed at investigating the possible effect of heparin on thrombin-TM binding and protein C activation. Methods and Results—The affinity of thrombin-TM interaction was studied by a functional method, based on the ability of thrombin-TM adduct to activate protein C, and by evaluation of the binding of thrombin to immobilized TM. Both experimental approaches showed that the affinity of thrombin-TM interaction was decreased by micromolar heparin concentrations. Heparin had no significant effect when a recombinant TM form, lacking the chondroitin sulfate moiety, was used. Furthermore, it was also shown that the inhibitory effect of heparin was directly proportional to the heparin molecular mass (molecular weight range, 3 to 16 kDa), which suggests that the effect was mediated by formation of electrostatic bonds between heparin and th...
Cystic fibrosis: a disease of vulnerability to airway surface dehydration.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease involves chronic bacterial infection of retained airway secretions (mucus). Recent data suggest that CF lung disease pathogenesis reflects the vulnerability of airway surfaces to dehydration and collapse of mucus clearance. This predisposition is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator ( CFTR ) gene, resulting in (i) the absence of CFTR-mediated Cl − secretion and regulation of epithelial Na + channel (ENaC) function; and (ii) the sole dependence on extracellular ATP to rebalance these ion transport processes through P 2 purinoceptor signaling. Recent clinical studies indicate that inhalation of hypertonic saline osmotically draws sufficient water onto CF airway surfaces to provide clinical benefit.
Neutrinos in a left-right model with a horizontal symmetry

We analyze the lepton sector of a left-right model based on the gauge group SU(2){sub L}xSU(2){sub R}xU(1), concentrating mainly on neutrino properties. Using the seesaw mechanism and a horizontal symmetry, we keep the right-handed symmetry breaking scale relatively low, while simultaneously satisfying phenomenological constraints on the light neutrino masses. We take the right-handed scale to be of order 10's of TeV and perform a full numerical analysis of the model's parameter space, subject to experimental constraints on neutrino masses and mixings. The numerical procedure yields results for the right-handed neutrino masses and mixings and the various CP-violating phases. We also discuss phenomenological applications of the model to neutrinoless double beta decay, lepton-flavor-violating decays (including decays such as {tau}{yields}3{mu}) and leptogenesis.
CLINICAL OUTCOME OF PEDIATRIC STONE DISEASE

Purpose: The natural history of stone disease in children is not well defined. We evaluated the clinical outcome in children with urinary calculi.Materials and Methods: An 8-year retrospective review of 129 pediatric patients with primary urinary lithiasis was performed. Age, renal versus ureteral stone location, stone size, spontaneous passage, recurrence and metabolic evaluation were considered. Patients were divided into groups 1—0 to 5, 2—6 to 10 and 3—11 to 18 years old.Results: Of the 25 group 1 patients 17 (68%) had renal and 8 (32%) had ureteral stones. Of the 36 group 2 patients 13 (36%) had renal and 23 (64%) had ureteral stones. Of the 68 group 3 patients 12 (18%) had renal and 56 (82%) had ureteral stones. These differences in stone location according to age were not due to chance (p <0.0001). In groups 1 to 3 renal calculi an average of 6.7, 9.2 and 6.8 mm. spontaneously passed in 24%, 8% and 50% of cases, while ureteral calculi an average of 4.5, 3.5 and 3.2 mm. passed in 63%, 61% and 64%, r...
Adrenergic nerves and 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing cells in the pulmonary vasculature of the aquatic file snake Acrochordus granulatus.

The adrenergic innervation of the pulmonary vasculature of the file snake Acrochordus granulatus was examined by use of glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence. Perivascular plexuses of blue-green fluorescent nerves are observed around the common pulmonary artery, the anterior and posterior pulmonary arteries, the arterioles leading to the gas exchange capillaries of the lung, the venules draining the lung, and the anterior and posterior pulmonary veins. Adrenergic nerves are also associated with the visceral smooth muscle of the lung septa and other tissues. Thus, adrenergic control of pulmonary blood flow may occur either at the common pulmonary artery or more regionally within the lung. Regional control of blood flow in the elongate lung of this snake may be important in matching pulmonary perfusion with the distribution of respiratory gas. Glyoxylic acid-histochemistry and immunohistochemistry revealed that populations of cells located in the common pulmonary artery contain the indoleamine 5-hydroxy-tryptamine. Many of the cells are intimately associated with varicose blue-green fluorescent nerves. It is proposed that the 5-hydroxytryptamine-containing cells may be involved in intravascular chemoreception.
Radiotherapeutic management of carcinoma of the nasopharynx. An analysis of 170 patients.

A study of 170 patients with carcinoma of the nasopharynx was made. Aggressive radiation therapy remains the treatment of choice. The overall 5-year survival was 39% and the disease-free rate 31%. For patients with T1N0 lesions, 69% lived for 5 or more years, and 58% had no disease at 5 years. Patients with unilateral nodal disease had a 5-year survival rate of 38% and a disease-free rate of 31%. Those with extensive local disease and/or with bilateral or fixed cervical nodes generally had a poor prognosis. This study seems to indicate that there have been some radio-therapeutic advances in the past 15 years. Improvements in prognosis were observed in patients with unilateral nodal disease (N1 group) and with massive soft-tissue disease (T3), and a slight improvement was noted in patients with very early lesions (T1No group) and those with far-advanced nodal lesions (N2, N3 group).
Protein Kinase D1 and the β1 Integrin Cytoplasmic Domain Control β1 Integrin Function via Regulation of Rap1 Activation

Summary The functional activity of integrins is dynamically regulated by T cell receptor stimulation and by protein kinase C (PKC). We report a novel function for the PKC effector protein kinase D1 (PKD1) in integrin activation. Constitutively active and kinase-inactive PKD1 mutants lacking the PKD1 pleckstrin homology (PH) domain block phorbol ester- and TCR-mediated activation and clustering of β1 integrins. The PH domain of PKD1 mediates the association of PKD1 with the GTPase Rap1 and is central to Rap1 activation and membrane translocation in T cells. Furthermore, PKD1 and Rap1 associate with β1 integrins in a manner that is dependent on the carboxy-terminal end of the β1 integrin subunit cytoplasmic domain. β1 integrin expression is required for Rap1 activation and membrane localization of the PKD1-Rap1 complex. Therefore, PKD1 promotes integrin activation in T cells by regulating Rap1 activation and membrane translocation via interactions with the β1 integrin subunit cytoplasmic domain.
Polyphosphate Binding and Chain Length Recognition ofEscherichia coli Exopolyphosphatase

Exopolyphosphatase of Escherichia coli (PPX) is a highly processive enzyme demonstrating the ability to recognize polyphosphates of specific lengths. The mechanisms responsible for the processivity and polymer length recognition of the enzyme were investigated in relation to the manner in which polyphosphate is bound to the enzyme. Multiple polyphosphate binding sites were identified on distant portions of the enzyme and were determined to be responsible for the polymer length recognition of the enzyme. In addition, two independently folded domains were identified. The N-terminal domain contained a quasi-processive polyphosphatase active site belonging to the sugar kinase/actin/hsp70 superfamily. The C-terminal domain contained a single polyphosphate binding site and was responsible for nearly all of the PPX affinity for polyphosphate. This domain was also found to confer a highly processive mode of action to PPX. Collectively, these results were used to describe the interaction of polyphosphate with PPX.
Enhanced in vitro anti-cancer activity of curcumin encapsulated in hydrophobically modified starch

Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer properties. However, these benefits of curcumin suffer from its extremely low water solubility and bioavailability. In this study, we demonstrated that hydrophobically modified starch (HMS), a food-grade biopolymer, is able to form micelles and to encapsulate curcumin. Upon encapsulation, curcumin showed increased solubility by about 1670-folds. This may be due to the hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding between curcumin and HMS, as suggested by results from infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy. The synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering results indicated that the addition of curcumin did not alter the structure of HMS, whose radius of gyration remained at 14.1 ± 0.1 nm. Moreover, encapsulated curcumin revealed enhanced in vitro anti-cancer activity compared to free curcumin. This study provides a novel food-grade encapsulation formulation to increase the bioaccessibility of curcumin.
Near-drowning: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and initial treatment

Drowning is a major cause of accidental deaths, especially in children. The most serious pathophysiologic consequence of near-drowning is hypoxemia, which usually is due to aspiration-induced noncardiogenic edema. Therefore, initial resuscitative efforts need to be directed at establishing adequate oxygenation and ventilation, followed by rewarming and fluid administration. Although completely asymptomatic patients with normal vital signs, oxygenation and chest radiographs require only 4 to 6 hours of observation, many near-drowning victims will require at least 24 hours of observation. Despite these measures, approximately 25% of victims presenting to the Emergency Department will die and another 6% will develop neurological sequelae. Therefore, it is vital that better efforts be made by the community in promoting and instituting water safety programs.
The evolution of neuroimaging of spinal cord injury patients over the last decade

A review is presented concerning the development of new neuroimaging techniques in the last decade which have improved the diagnostic exploration of patients with spinal cord injuries, including studies of possible sequelae. A number of technical developments occurred in the 1980s, which have broadened the diagnostic capabilities of neuroimaging and made its investigative techniques more precise and less invasive. In a summarized way the new or upgraded modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and angiography, computed tomography and ultrasound, are considered here with regard to the effect that they have had on the clinical management of patients with a traumatized spinal cord.
Intravascular Source of Adenosine During Forearm Ischemia in Humans: Implications for Reactive Hyperemia

It is believed that adenosine is released in ischemic tissues and contributes to reactive hyperemia. We tested this hypothesis in the human forearm using microdialysis to estimate interstitial and intravascular levels of adenosine and caffeine withdrawal to potentiate endogenous adenosine and determine its effect on reactive hyperemia. Forearm blood flow response to ischemia was measured by air plethysmography before and 60 hours after the last dose of caffeine (250 mg TID for 7 days, n=6). Forearm blood flow increased by 274+/-66% and 467+/-97% after 3 minutes of forearm ischemia, before and during caffeine withdrawal, respectively (P<0.05). Thus, caffeine withdrawal enhances reactive hyperemia. To determine the source of adenosine, we measured interstitial adenosine with the use of a microdialysis probe inserted into the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle of the forearm, and we measured intravascular adenosine with the use of a microdialysis probe inserted retrogradely into the medial cubital vein. Dialysate samples were collected at 15-minute intervals during resting, forearm ischemia, and recovery periods. Forearm ischemia failed to increase muscle dialysate concentrations of adenosine but did increase intravascular dialysate adenosine 2.1-fold, from 0.61+/-0.12 to 1.28+/-0.39 micromol/L (P<0.01, n=8). Intravascular dialysate concentrations of thromboxane B2 did not increase during ischemia, ruling out platelet aggregation as a source of adenosine. These results support the hypothesis that endogenous adenosine contributes to reactive hyperemia and indicate that the major source of adenosine in the human forearm is intravascular. We speculate that endothelial cells are the source of intravascular adenosine during ischemia.
Evaluation of density-based models for the solubility of solids in supercritical carbon dioxide and formulation of a new model

Abstract Many models have been developed to calculate supercritical solubility behavior and most can be either a semi-empirical relationship or based on an equation of state. In this work, density-based, semi-empirical models were evaluated in terms of their ability to accurately correlate solid solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. The models considered were the methods of Chrastil, del Valle and Aguilera, Adachi and Lu, Mendez-Santiago and Teja, and Bartle. Six binary systems (solid + supercritical carbon dioxide), each with three isotherms, were selected for this evaluation. The average error was calculated for all 18 isotherms with each of the models evaluated. The solid compounds used in this study were naphthalene, anthracene, fluorene, hydroquinone, 1,5-naphthalenediamine, and cholesterol. The solubility data were obtained from literature. Of the previously mentioned models, the Adachi–Lu and del Valle–Aguilera equations provided, in general, lower average error than the other models. Since the Adachi–Lu equation and the del Valle–Aguilera equation correct for different effects, a new model is proposed in this work as a combination of the previous two methods. The proposed equation provided the least overall average error compared to all other models considered in this study. The new model is particularly useful when the reduced density of the solvent is below 1 where previous models tend to fail. This work also emphasizes on the advantages of expressing density-based models in dimensionless form to avoid dimensional inconsistencies in Chrastil-type models. One of the benefits, for example, is that parameters obtained by different authors can be readily compared, regardless of the units used.
Response of Lymphocytes from Multiple Sclerosis Patients to Murine Brain Extract

Forty-seven patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 21 subjects with neurological diseases other than MS (OND), 7 with miscellaneous diseases (MD) and 21 healthy individuals (HI) were examined by the standard procedure of blast transformation for the in vitro response to mouse brain (MB), mouse kidney (MK) and mouse lung (ML) tissue extracts. Increase cellular response to MB was limited to the MS and OND groups, whereas high and low values of stimulation index to MK and ML were similarly observed in all groups of individuals examined. No correlation was found between the clinical activity of the MS patients and the in vitro response to MB. The possibility that low sensitivity of the technique and complexity of the antigenic composition of MS are determining factors in the results obtained in these studies is discussed.
Raman spectra of single crystal Na2SeO4

Abstract The room temperature polarized Raman spectra of single crystal Na2SeO4 are assigned based on a factor group analysis. The internal optic modes of the selenate ion are responsible for Raman bands from 910 to 300 cm−1 and the external optic modes are found between 260 and 60 cm−. The symmetry-based assignments of these bands are discussed.
A fast radix-3 SAR analog-to-digital converter

This paper presents a new radix-3 successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Our proposed radix-3 SAR ADC can generate 1.6N binary bits during N comparison cycles. The radix-3 SAR ADC is 60% faster than the conventional radix-2 SAR ADC. Our prototypes are implemented with 4 and 7 ternary bits using 180nm CMOS technology. They can achieve a signal-to-quantization-noise ratio (SQNR) of 39 dB and 66 dB which are equivalent to 6.2 and 10.7 binary bits respectively.
ASSESSING THE RECOVERY OF COASTAL WETLANDS FROM OIL SPILLS

ABSTRACT The impact of oil spills on coastal environments and the ability of these systems to exhibit long-term recovery has received increased attention in recent years. Although oil spills can have significant short-term impacts on coastal marshes, the long-term effects and eventual recovery are not well documented. Estuarine marshes have sometimes been reported to exhibit slow recovery after oil spills, whereas in other instances they appear to have great resiliency, with complete recovery after one or two years. To document and understand this phenomenon better, we have investigated the long-term recovery of a south Louisiana estuarine marsh exposed to an accidental spill of crude oil. Although a pipeline rupture releasing Louisiana crude oil caused the near complete mortality of a brackish marsh dominated by Spartina patens and S. alterniflora, this marsh completely recovered four years after the spill with no differences in plant species cover between oiled and reference marshes. Remotely sensed ima...
Finite Element Analysis of Eustachian Tube Function in Cleft Palate Infants Based on Histological Reconstructions

Abstract Introduction: The prevalence of otitis media with effusion approaches 100% in infants with cleft palate (CP), and disease pathogenesis is believed to be caused by eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction. Objectives: Quantify the functional consequences of ET anatomy in infant CP specimens, and identify the relative importance of various tissue biomechanical properties on ET function in infants with CP. Methods: Finite element models of ET anatomy and physiology were developed by using image analysis and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques. Models were developed using histological images of ET structures obtained from five infant CP specimens. The models were parameterized, and the effects of varying model parameters, which included tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini force, ET cartilage, periluminal mucosal compliance, and hamular position on resistance to airflow through the tubal lumen, were determined. Results: Of the evaluated parameters, only applied tensor veli palatini mus...
Measurement of the single spin asymmetry and polarized structure function σLT′ in the exclusive p(e→,e′K+)Λ reaction

Abstract The single spin beam asymmetry, A L T ′ , and the polarized structure function, σ L T ′ , for the p ( e → , e ′ K + ) Λ reaction in the resonance region have been measured and extracted using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Lab. Data were taken at an electron beam energy of 2.57 GeV. The large acceptance of CLAS allows for full azimuthal angle coverage over a large range of kaon center-of-mass angles. Preliminary results are presented that span a range in Q 2 from 0.4 to 1.4 (GeV) 2 and in W from threshold up to 2.1 GeV. Comparison to existing theoretical calculations are also presented. The fifth structure function is sensitive to the interferences between resonant and non-resonant amplitudes. This measurement is part of a larger CLAS program to measure cross sections and polarization observables for kaon electroproduction in the nucleon resonance region.
Monoamine oxidases regulate telencephalic neural progenitors in late embryonic and early postnatal development

Monoamine neurotransmitters play major roles in regulating a range of brain functions in adults and increasing evidence suggests roles for monoamines in brain development. Here we show that mice lacking the monoamine metabolic enzymes MAO A and MAO B (MAO AB-deficient mice) exhibit diminished proliferation of neural stem cells (NSC) in the developing telencephalon beginning in late gestation [embryonic day (E) 17.5], a deficit that persists in neonatal and adult mice. These mice showed significantly increased monoamine levels and anxiety-like behaviors as adults. Assessments of markers of intermediate progenitor cells (IPC) and mitosis showed that NSC in the subventricular zone (SVZ), but not in the ventricular zone, are reduced in MAO AB-deficient mice. A developmental time course of monoamines in frontal cortical tissues revealed increased serotonin levels as early as E14.5, and a further large increase was found between E17.5 and postnatal day 2. Administration of an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis (parachlorophenylalanine) between E14.5 and E19.5 restored the IPC numbers and SVZ thickness, suggesting the role of serotonin in the suppression of IPC proliferation. Studies of neurosphere cultures prepared from the telencephalon at different embryonic and postnatal ages showed that serotonin stimulates proliferation in wild-type, but not in MAO AB-deficient, NSC. Together, these results suggest that a MAO-dependent long-lasting alteration in the proliferation capacity of NSC occurs late in embryonic development and is mediated by serotonin. Our findings reveal novel roles for MAOs and serotonin in the regulation of IPC proliferation in the developing brain.
Multispectral imaging with type II superlattice detectors

Infrared (IR) focal plane arrays (FPAs) with multispectral detector elements promise significant advantages for airborne threat warning, surveillance, and targeting applications. At present, the use of type II superlattice (T2SL) structures based on the 6.1A-family materials (InAs, GaSb, and AlSb) has become an area of interest for developing IR detectors and their FPAs. The ability to vary the bandgap in the IR range, suppression of Auger processes, prospective reduction of Shockley-Read-Hall centers by improved material growth capabilities, and the material stability are a few reasons for the predicted dominance of the T2SL technology over presently leading HgCdTe and quantum well technologies. The focus of the work reported here is on the development of T2SL based dual-band IR detectors and their applicability for multispectral imaging. A new NpBPN detector designed for the detection of IR in the 3-5 and 8-12 mm atmospheric windows is presented; comparing its advantages over other T2SL based approaches. One of the key challenges of the T2SL dual-band detectors is the spectral crosstalk associated with the LWIR band. The properties of the state-of-the-art T2SLs (i.e., absorption coefficient, minority carrier lifetime and mobility, etc.) and the present growth limitations that impact spectral crosstalk are discussed.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.