cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drug-drug interaction between clobazam and cannabidiol in children with refractory epilepsy.

SummaryObjective Under an expanded access investigational new drug (IND) trial, cannabidiol (CBD) is being studied as a possible adjuvant treatment of refractory epilepsy in children. Of the 25 subjects in the trial, 13 were being treated with clobazam (CLB). Because CLB and CBD are both metabolized in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) pathway, we predicted a drug–drug interaction, which we evaluate in this article. Methods Thirteen subjects with refractory epilepsy concomitantly taking CLB and CBD under IND 119876 were included in this study. Demographic information was collected for each subject including age, sex, and etiology of seizures, as well as concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). CLB, N-desmethylclobazam (norclobazam; nCLB), and CBD levels were measured over the course of CBD treatment. CLB doses were recorded at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8 of CBD treatment. Side effects were monitored. Results We report elevated CLB and nCLB levels in these subjects. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) increase in CLB levels was 60 ± 80% (95% confidence interval (CI) [−2–91%] at 4 weeks); the mean increase in nCLB levels was 500 ± 300% (95% CI [+90–610%] at 4 weeks). Nine of 13 subjects had a >50% decrease in seizures, corresponding to a responder rate of 70%. The increased CLB and nCLB levels and decreases in seizure frequency occurred even though, over the course of CBD treatment, CLB doses were reduced for 10 (77%) of the 13 subjects. Side effects were reported in 10 (77%) of the 13 subjects, but were alleviated with CLB dose reduction. Significance Monitoring of CLB and nCLB levels is necessary for clinical care of patients concomitantly on CLB and CBD. Nonetheless, CBD is a safe and effective treatment of refractory epilepsy in patients receiving CLB treatment.
Stability analysis of a double fed induction generator with the PLL controller

In the paper, a stability analysis of a double fed induction (DFM) generator with a phase locked loop (PLL) controller is presented. The stator of the machine is connected to the grid and the rotor is fed by a voltage source inverter with a current regulated PWM. The machine is controlled from the rotor side. The PLL controller which makes it possible to overcome variables transformation from the stator to the rotor side is introduced in the control system. The control system can work without a shaft encoder. The PLL controller controls the angle between two chosen vectors e.g. the rotor current vector and a stator flux/voltage vector; at the controller output a frequency of the rotor current exists. The machine and the proposed control system are nonlinear. The transfer functions (after linearization) of the open-loop and closed-loop control systems are presented and a stability analysis of the system is investigated. Experimental results of a DSP controlled 30 kW DFM are presented. >
Teaching Nutrition Skills to Primary Care Practitioners

Primary care physicians have the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality for many chronic diseases if they provide effective nutrition counseling. Given the time constraints of primary care practice, nutrition counseling needs to be brief, be part of an organized office system and refer appropriate patients to qualified nutrition professionals to be effective. This paper reviews a system of primary care nutrition counseling using the 5A's of patient-centered counseling, the elements necessary to develop an office-based system and some successful tools developed by nutrition researchers for the primary care setting to be used in an office-based system.
The medium and the message: art and politics in the work of Joseph Beuys

This article explores the political implications of the work of German artist Joseph Beuys (1921–86). Focusing on a selection of the artist’s political projects between 1967 and 1983, this article considers his work in the context of contemporaneous art movements that sought to merge art and life. It argues that what set Beuys apart from his peers was his use of politics as a medium by which to communicate a message about the revolutionary potential of art. It further argues that while Beuys’s political efficacy was limited in his lifetime, his approach, termed “social sculpture,” has been influential for successive generations of artists.
A Real-Time Computational Learning Model for Sequential Decision-Making Problems Under Uncertainty

Modeling dynamic systems incurring stochastic disturbances for deriving a control policy is a ubiquitous task in engineering. However, in some instances obtaining a model of a system may be impractical or impossible. Alternative approaches have been developed using a simulation-based stochastic framework, in which the system interacts with its environment in real time and obtains information that can be processed to produce an optimal control policy. In this context, the problem of developing a policy for controlling g the system's behavior is formulated as a sequential decision-making problem under uncertainty. This paper considers the problem of deriving a control policy for a dynamic system with unknown dynamics in real time, formulated as a sequential decision-making under uncertainty. The evolution of the system is modeled as a controlled Markov chain. A new state-space representation model and a learning mechanism are proposed that can be used to improve system performance over time. The major difference between the existing methods and the proposed learning model is that the latter utilizes an evaluation function, which considers the expected cost that can be achieved by state transitions forward in time. The model allows decision-making based on gradually enhanced knowledge of system response as it transitions from one state to another, in conjunction with actions taken at each state. The proposed model is demonstrated on the single cart-pole balancing problem and a vehicle cruise-control problem.
Terahertz transmission properties of metamaterials composed of split ring resonators and wires

We present the transmission properties of terahertz pulses through metamaterials composed of an array of split ring resonators and strip wires. We also present 3-D simulation results to support the experimentally observed transmission behavior.
Numerical studies of semiconductor nanowire electrostatics

We present finite-element calculations of the electrostatics of NWFETs and numerical simulations of band bending, charge distributions, and dopant ion diffusion in NWs. For NWFETs, we find that the semiconducting nature and finite length of the NW warrant sizeable corrections to capacitance calculations using the standard analytical formula and simulations that assume a metallic NW. We thus provide a comprehensive set of correction factors to these approximations. We also present a possible mechanism for explaining non-uniform dopant distributions involving electrodiffusion of charged dopant ions at high temperatures. We find that changes in the internal NW electrostatics due to non-uniform dopant distributions can have significant effects on the free carrier concentration and therefore conductivity of semiconductor NWs.
Double-quantum dipolar recoupling at high magic-angle spinning rates.

Abstract A full investigation of the possible homonuclear double-quantum recoupling sequences, based on the RN family of sequences with N ≤20, is given. Several new RN sequences, R 16 6 5 , R 18 8 5 , and R 18 10 5 , were applied at high magic-angle spinning rates and compared with theory. The R 18 10 5 technique can be used to recouple dipolar couplings at spinning rates up to 39 kHz, and the application of the sequence in an INADEQUATE experiment is shown for a spinning rate of 30 kHz.
On-Premise Commercial Sign Lighting and Light Pollution

AbstractThe present study explored light pollution as it may be produced by on premise identification signs. More than just “storefront” signs, on premise identification signs can also be found on the property of professional offices, financial institutions, corporate headquarters, governmental agencies, and medical offices. The present study did not examine off premise signs, such as billboards or outdoor advertising. Relevant literature and light pollution standards as they pertain to on premise sign lighting were reviewed and photometric measurements were taken of light emitted by in-service on premise signs representative of the various sign illumination modes and sign designs employed by the on premise sign industry. Data were collected on 58 internally illuminated, externally illuminated, neon, and channel letter signs. While there were some particularly bright signs, the majority of the signs tested fell below the photometric levels believed to be associated with light pollution.
The production of a monoclonal antibody to 18-hydroxycortisol and other 18-hydroxylated steroids.

Abstract Four strains of mice were immunized with 6 different conjugates of 3-O (carboxymethyl-oximino)-18-hydroxycortisol to bovine serum albumin (3 preparations), turkey serum albumin, porcine thyroglobulin, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Spleens from 7 of 48 mice immunized were fused with Fox/NY and/or HL-1 Friendly myeloma cell lines, yielding many positive clones for antibody formation. Short cross-reactivities were done in 293 culture supernatants and were found to have low cross-reactivity (less than 0.001%) to cortisol, but very high cross-reactivity to 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycortisol (70 to 140%). One clone showed over 100% cross-reactivity with all the 18-hydroxylated steroids studied. The major problem encountered in the generation of monoclonal antibodies was the low antibody response in the vast majority of mice injected. Half the mice developed no measurable titer, and the clones evaluated from those that did produce antibodies cross-reacted with other 18-hydroxylated steroids. Nevertheless, the antibody developed could serve in a radioimmunoassay for 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycortisol separated chromatographically from other cross-reacting steroids. This is important as no synthetic 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycortisol is available.
Using REBT in the Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome: A Case-Study

This paper describes a case study of a middle-aged woman with restless leg syndrome (RLS) and the course of her treatment using rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Although the empirical support is somewhat limited, published literature suggests the potential effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating clients with RLS. This client sought treatment for chronic pain consistent with RLS which had affected her quality of life and daily functioning. She was assessed using a battery of quantitative measures. Conceptualization and treatment from an REBT perspective is discussed. The client was seen for six sessions. Treatment involved a combination of REBT disputing and cognitive restructuring techniques and behavioral interventions. Homework was given after each session. Between-meeting progress was assessed at each session using the Outcome Questionnaire and a scale measuring the client’s rational and irrational beliefs. The client reported a steady reduction in symptoms with associated improvements in sleep and daily functioning over the course of the six-session intervention. Therapeutic gains were maintained at 8-months follow-up.
Comparable study of optical coherence tomography with the wavelength of 940 nm and 1320 nm

In this paper, a fiber OCT system illumined by a superluminescent diode in the 940 nm wavelength region is reported. To test the 940nm OCT system, ex-vivo rabbit bladder, porcine bladder and rat bladder with tumor were imaged and compared with 1320nm OCT. The results demonstrate that the 940nm OCT system provides higher axial resolution up to 5 μm and less speckle noise, but the experimental results showed that the image depth for bladder samples in the 940 nm OCT system is slightly lower than the 1300nm OCT due to water absorption. During experiments, it was found that the fiber caused more dispersion at the wavelength of 940 nm than 1320 nm.
A High-Voltage Output Driver for Implantable Biomedical Stimulators and I/O Applications

This work presents a high voltage output driver stage for implantable microelectronic stimulators implemented in AMI 1.5-?m standard CMOS technology. Stacked device topology is used to implement a high voltage output driver capable of delivering output voltages up to three times the nominal supply voltage. Oxide stress and hot carrier effects are minimized as the voltage across any two terminals of all devices in the output stage are kept below the nominal supply voltage for the utilized technology. Novel techniques are used for level shifting and delay equalization of the complementary inputs to the output driver. The unloaded driver has negligible static power consumption. The output stage is capable of delivering 8.6 V output with a 9 V supply to a 1 k? load at an operating frequency of 100 kHz. This corresponds to a driver efficiency of 95.6%. Further improvements and experiments are underway.
Pi-conjugated chain extenders for the synthesis of optoelectronic segmented polyurethanes

The optical properties of mechanochromic materials change under mechanical stress. Segmented polyurethanes are elastomers composed of amorphous, saturated chain soft segments, and rigid pi-conjugated hard domains. Within aggregates of hard domains pi–pi interactions may form and result in perturbation of the optoelectronic properties of the system. Disruption and restoration of these electronic interactions within the material may lead to observable mechanochromic response. A series of oligothiophene diols and diamines, as well as a naphthalene diimide diol, have been synthesized for incorporation into the hard domains of segmented polyurethanes and polyureas using long poly(tetramethylene oxide) chains as soft segments. The resulting polymers were evaluated to determine their extent of polymerization and their thermal stability. The optical properties of the materials were studied in solution and as thin films. Where possible the electrochemical properties of the polymers were also explored. The length of the soft segment chains in the segmented polyurethanes hindered electronic coupling of hard domains. Future work involving smaller, more solubilizing soft segments may allow for easier material characterization and mechanochromic response. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.
In vitro translation of cutinase mRNA: Evidence for a precursor form of an extracellular fungal enzyme

Abstract The extracellular fungal enzyme, cutinase, has been synthesized in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free translation system primed with poly(A) + mRNA isolated from glucose-grown Fusarium solani f. s. pisi in which cutinase synthesis was induced with cutin hydrolysate. Optimum translation rates were obtained with 4–10 μg of mRNA, 40–80 m m K + , and 0.49 m m Mg 2+ . Total translation products of mRNA from induced and noninduced cultures showed no observable differences, except for a protein of 25–27K daltons which was found only when the mRNA from the induced culture was used. Immunoprecipitation of the translation products with antibodies prepared against cutinase resulted in the recovery of a 25.5K-dalton peptide. This peptide was obtained only when the translation mixture was primed with mRNA from the induced culture. Translation of the mRNA in a wheat germ cell-free system also gave a 25.5K-dalton peptide. This primary translation product was 2100 daltons larger than the mature extracellular enzyme. It is concluded that cutinase is synthesized as a precursor which is processed by proteolysis and glycosylation before excretion.
An effective, orthogonal deprotection strategy for differentially functionalized, linear and Y-shaped oligo phenylene ethynylenes

Abstract Several methodologies for the selective deprotection acetylenes have been reported previously. However, as is shown here, they are often not reliable or convenient. Here, an approach is reported that is efficient and general. Use of this approach to synthesize several two- and three-armed oligo(phenylene ethynylene) molecules with differentiated end groups is reported. In addition, preliminary characterization of the fluorescent properties of some of these molecules and their ability to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is reported.
Composition of pH-sensitive triad in C-lobe of human serum transferrin. Comparison to sequences of ovotransferrin and lactoferrin provides insight into functional differences in iron release.

The transferrins (TF) are a family of bilobal glycoproteins that tightly bind ferric iron. Each of the homologous N- and C-lobes contains a single iron-binding site situated in a deep cleft. Human serum transferrin (hTF) serves as the iron transport protein in the blood; circulating transferrin binds to receptors on the cell surface, and the complex is internalized by endocytosis. Within the cell, a reduction in pH leads to iron release from hTF in a receptor-dependent process resulting in a large conformational change in each lobe. In the hTF N-lobe, two critical lysines facilitate this pH-dependent conformational change allowing entry of a chelator to capture the iron. In the C-lobe, the lysine pair is replaced by a triad of residues: Lys534, Arg632, and Asp634. Previous studies show that mutation of any of these triad residues to alanine results in significant retardation of iron release at both pH 7.4 and pH 5.6. In the present work, the role of the three residues is probed further by conversion to the residues observed at the equivalent positions in ovotransferrin (Q-K-L) and human lactoferrin (K-N-N) as well as a triad with an interchanged lysine and arginine (K534R/R632K). As expected, all of the constructs bind iron and associate with the receptor with nearly the same KD as the wild-type monoferric hTF control. However, interesting differences in the effect of the substitutions on the iron release rate in the presence and absence of the receptor at pH 5.6 are observed. Additionally, titration with KCl indicates that position 632 must have a positively charged residue to elicit a robust rate acceleration as a function of increasing salt. On the basis of these observations, a model for iron release from the hTF C-lobe is proposed. These studies provide insight into the importance of charge and geometry of the amino acids at these positions as a partial explanation for differences in behavior of individual TF family members, human serum transferrin, ovotransferrin, and lactoferrin. The studies collectively highlight important features common to both the N- and C-lobes of TF and the critical role of the receptor in iron release.
Influence of remote asymmetric centers in reversible encapsulation complexes.

Reversible coencapsulation provides a means of fixing the orientation, increasing the effective concentration and expanding the time scale on which small molecules can interact. These features allowed us to look beyond steric asymmetric interactions. Isopropanol and other small molecules can sense the handedness of a remote asymmetric center even in the presence of a local one.
Local signals induce CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-δ (C/EBP-δ) and C/EBP-β mRNA expression in the involuting mouse mammary gland

The repeated lactation cycles in the mammary gland offer a unique environment for the study of cell growth, differentiation, and death. The CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) are a family of transcription factors important in growth control and differentiation in many tissues. Our laboratory and others have shown that C/EBP-δ and C/EBP-β mRNA expression is closely associated with normal mouse mammary gland involution. To examine the relative influence of local versus systemic factors in C/EBP expression and tissue remodeling, a gland sealing mouse model was used. Mice with unilateral sealing continue to lactate and nurse pups via nonsealed glands, while sealed glands initiate involution. The expression of C/EBP-α, β and δ mRNA was investigated in sealed and nonsealed nursing glands. In situ apoptosis was documented and glandular morphology was also examined. C/EBP-δ mRNA levels are low in nonsealed glands, but are rapidly and transiently induced in sealed glands by 24 h. C/EBP-β mRNA expression is also relatively low in nonsealed glands, but is induced in sealed glands within 72 h. Expression of the apoptosis-associated mRNAs encoding bax and TRPM-2 is also induced in sealed glands by 24–48 h. Apoptosis and a moderate degree of tissue remodeling occur within the sealed glands in spite of systemic hormone levels capable of sustaining lactation. These data demonstrate that local factors are sufficient to induce C/EBP-β and C/EBP-δ in the mouse mammary gland. In addition, mammary epithelial apoptosis and glandular remodeling occur in sealed glands, confirming a critical role for local factors in mammary involution.
Erosion of strip-mine spoil in Iowa and its implications for erosion models

Abstract Spoil banks of abandoned strip mines in southern Iowa are composed of crushed shale and are sufficiently acid and steep to preclude the establishment of vegetation over decades. Rates of sheetwash erosion were studied for different slope components by using erosion pin arrays over a three year period. Small watersheds lacking gully development were monitored simultaneously with sediment traps and additional erosion pin arrays. The frequenct of small landslides was estimated throughout the mine and one landslide was captured in a sediment trap, permitting some quantification of this component of erosion. Slopes affected by landslides erode at a rate about four times greater than areas not affected by landslides and sediment from landslides contributes approximately 11% of the total material delivered to interbank basins (excluding sediment from gully erosion which was not quantified in this study). Rates of sheetwash erosion are rapid, with denudation proceeding at 1.5–2.8 cm yr−1. However, the slope angle has little influence on rates of erosion and we evaluate the difficulties in applying predictive models, such as the USLE, to these conditions. The slopes appear to be undergoing parallel retreat at their angle of repose (about 33°).
Tools to Simplify and Demonstrate the New Food Label

The latest nutrition labeling format, which became law in 1994, uses the "Nutrition Facts" panel to display information on the side or back of the package of most foods.The goal of revising the food label is to help consumers select more healthful diets by making the label more user friendly. Unfortunately, studies indicate that manv label readers often do not understand or correctly apply the nutrition information provided.'-3 As part of a National Nutrition Month project entitled "Are You Label Able? Ask Me!," the authors developed teaching tools to simplifi and demonstrate some of the label concepts. The tools included a hand-held flip chart that incorporated a "dollars and cents" theme to explain the % Daily Value concept, a major food label component that is often misunderstood.We also vroduced t-shirts, aprons, and canvas bags imprinted with the Nutrition Facts panel. These tools were used by students in our Coordinated Dietetics Program for a project conducted at two local Department of Motorvehicles (DMV) facilities (with managers' prior approval) over a 2-day period. Eight students intercepted individual customers who were waiting in line to renew their automobile license plate tags or driver's licenses. The students, wearing the Nutrition Facts tshirts, offered to answer questions a prompt for answering customer questions (Fig. l ) .The flip chart contained 11 pages and covered the following label components: explanation of serving sizes, definition of DailyValues, adjustment of percent Daily Value to calorie need, nutrient claims, metric measures, and explanation of health claims. A cancer-related message was used for the health claims information.The flip chart cover was developed using some of the camera-readv artwork available from the National Exchange for Food Labeling Education. Pages were printed on card stock to improve durability and were spiral bound to provide flexibility. We designed a flip chart page entitled "Making 'Cents' of the % Daily Value" to simplify the concept of the % DailyValue (Fig. 2).This used a money scheme as a means of interpreting the percentages. For example, a DailyValue of 1% was compared to a penny's worth of nutrient, 5% was compared to a nickel's worth, and so on. Since most adults can relate to the value of money, this made for a useful and understandable way to convey the % Daily Value concept. Participants' comments indicated a recevtiveness to the dollar and MAKING "CENTS" of DAILY VALUES
Energetic oxygen and sulfur ions in the Jovian magnetosphere and their contribution to the auroral excitation

Observations of 1 to 20 MeV/nuc oxygen, sodium, and sulfur ions in the Jovian magnetosphere are reported. Measurements made by the cosmic ray subsystem on Voyager 1 and 2 are used to calculate abundances and energy spectra in the region from 5 to 20 Jovian radii (R_J). The phase space density of the oxygen ions calculated from the spectra has a positive radial gradient between 6 and 17 R_J, indicating an inward diffusive flow. The upper limit for the diffusion coefficient D at 9 R_J is ∼10^(−5) s^(−1). This limit, combined with the analysis of Voyager plasma observations by Siscoe et al. (1981), implies an upper limit to the production rate of oxygen and sulfur ions from Io of ∼10^(28) ions/s. If D(9 R_J) is ∼4×10^(−6) s^(−1), then ∼2×10^(24) oxygen and sulfur ions with > 70 MeV/nuc-G are lost per second as they diffuse inward from 12 to 8 R_J. Assuming these ions are scattered into the loss cone, they deliver ∼4×10^(12) W to the Jovian atmosphere. Extrapolations to lower magnetic moments suggest that the 10^(13)–10^(14) W required to produce the observed ultraviolet auroral emissions could result from the precipitation of ∼10^(26) oxygen and sulfur ions/s with magnetic moments ≳10 to 30 MeV/nuc-G (≳35 to 100 keV/nuc at 10 R_J). The ions with ≳70 MeV/nuc-G deposit their energy between ∼67° and ∼72° magnetic latitude at an average depth of ∼10^(19) cm^(−2) of H_2 (∼500-km altitude), which is above the homopause. If the extrapolated spectrum extends down to ∼10 MeV/nuc-G, then 10 times more energy (∼10^(13) W) is carried inward across 10 R_J by the energetic oxygen and sulfur ions than flows outward with the plasma, indicating the presence of an energy source in the middle or outer magnetosphere.
Cellular and molecular biology of chloride secretion in the shark rectal gland: Regulation by adenosine receptors

Cellular and molecular biology of chloride secretion in the shark rectal gland: Regulation by adenosine receptors. The rectal gland of the dogfish shark ( Squalus acanthias ) is a sodium chloride secreting epithelial organ whose function was discovered in 1959 by Wendell Burger. The gland, composed of homogenous tubules of a single cell type, is an important model for secondary active chloride transport. Hormonal stimulation of chloride secretion in this system activates asymetrically arranged transport proteins (apical cAMP-activated CFTR-like Cl − channels, basolateral Na/K/2Cl cotransporters, Na/K-ATPase activity, and K + channels). Five receptors, hormones, and membrane proteins of the shark rectal gland involved in chloride secretion have been cloned recently. Because the intact gland can be perfused via a single artery and vein, it has been possible to examine precisely the metabolic regulation of chloride transport by endogenous adenosine. Rectal gland cells have a high density of both stimulatory A 2 type and inhibitory A 1 type adenosine receptors. When stimulated by secretagogues, chloride secretion and venous adenosine concentrations increase in parallel, with chloride secretion increasing from ∼150 to 2100 µEq/hr/g, and adenosine concentrations increasing from ∼5 to ∼890nM. This work of ion transport is accompanied by a marked fall in intracellular ATP activity and a rise in both intracellular AMP and adenosine activity. Agents that prevent the interaction of endogenous adenosine with extracellular receptors significantly increase the chloride transport response to secretagogues. When chloride transport is inhibited by blocking the Na/K/2Cl cotransporter with bumetanide, both adenosine release and chloride secretion fall to basal values. We recently cloned a unique adenosine receptor subtype that is distinct from previously cloned mammalian adenosine receptors. Because of its highly specialized function, single cell type, and simple vascular system, the shark rectal gland is an ideal model system for examining the metabolic regulation of chloride secretion by adenosine receptors.
A Decrease in Remodeling Accounts for the Accumulation of Arachidonic Acid in Murine Mast Cells Undergoing Apoptosis

The goal of this study was to examine arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism by murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) during apoptosis induced by cytokine depletion. BMMC deprived of cytokines for 12-48 h displayed apoptotic characteristics. During apoptosis, levels of AA, but not other unsaturated fatty acids, correlated with the percentage of apoptotic cells. A decrease in both cytosolic phospholipase A(2) expression and activity indicated that cytosolic phospholipase A(2) did not account for AA mobilization during apoptosis. Free AA accumulation is also unlikely to be due to decreases in 5-lipoxygenase and/or cyclooxygenase activities, since BMMC undergoing apoptosis produced similar amounts of leukotriene B(4) and significantly greater amounts of PGD(2) than control cells. Arachidonoyl-CoA synthetase and CoA-dependent transferase activities responsible for incorporating AA into phospholipids were not altered during apoptosis. However, there was an increase in arachidonate in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and neutral lipids concomitant with a 40.7 +/- 8.1% decrease in arachidonate content in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), suggesting a diminished capacity of mast cells to remodel arachidonate from PC to PE pools. Further evidence of a decrease in AA remodeling was shown by a significant decrease in microsomal CoA-independent transacylase activity. Levels of lyso-PC and lyso-PE were not altered in cells undergoing apoptosis, suggesting that the accumulation of lysophospholipids did not account for the decrease in CoA-independent transacylase activity or the induction of apoptosis. Together, these data suggest that the mole quantities of free AA closely correlated with apoptosis and that the accumulation of AA in BMMC during apoptosis was mediated by a decreased capacity of these cells to remodel AA from PC to PE.
Bipolar Electrosurgical Vessel-Sealing Device With Compressive Force Monitoring

Bipolar electrosurgical vessel sealing is commonly used in surgery to perform hemostasis. The electrode compressive force is demonstrably an important factor affecting the vessel seal burst pressure, an index of the seal quality. Using a piezoresistive force sensor attached to the handle of a laparoscopic surgical device, applied handle force was measured and used to predict the electrosurgical vessel compressive force and the pressure at the electrode. The sensor enables the monitoring of vessel compressive force during surgery. Four levels of compressive force were applied to seal three types of porcine vessels (carotid artery, femoral artery, and jugular vein). The burst pressure of the vessel seal was tested to evaluate the seal quality. Compressive pressure was found to be a statistically significant factor affecting burst pressure for femoral arteries and jugular veins. Vessels sealed with low compressive pressure (<300 kPa) have a higher failure rate (burst pressure < 100 mm Hg) than vessels sealed with high compressive pressure. An adequate compressive force is required to generate the compressive pressure needed to form a seal with high burst pressure. A laparoscopic surgical device with compressive force monitoring capability can help ensure adequate compressive pressure, vessel burst pressure, and quality of seal.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: durable responses to chemotherapy associated with low initial white blood cell counts.

To substantiate the reported sensitivity of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) to St Jude-type multiagent chemotherapy and to identify means of selecting patients most likely to benefit from such treatment, we analyzed the clinical and biologic characteristics of 12 patients with classic Ph+ ALL who were treated in either of two total therapy programs at St Jude Children's Research Hospital (1989-1994). Event-free survival estimates for this cohort were compared with historical data on 11 patients from an earlier total therapy study (Lancet 1994; 343: 331-332). The prognostic importance of age, white blood cell count and other presenting features was assessed by the logrank test in all 23 patients. Complete remissions were induced in 92% of the patients treated since 1989, compared with 82% of the historical control group (P > 0.05). There was essentially no difference in event-free survival between the study group and historical controls (4-year Kaplan-Meier estimates, 33 +/- 19% s.e. vs 36 +/- 13%). Further analysis of potentially informative risk factors identified a good-prognosis subgroup defined by an initial white blood cell count of < or =25 x 10(9)/l and a 4-year event-free survival of 73 +/- 19%. In conclusion, intensive multiagent chemotherapy offers an attractive therapeutic option for children and adolescents with Ph+ ALL and low presenting leukocyte count.
Desire for Higher Education in First-Generation Hispanic College Students Enrolled in an Academic Support Program: A Phenomenological Analysis

Numerous empirical studies have been conducted to examine first-generation college students, those individuals whose parents have not attended college. Their personality characteristics, cognitive development, academic preparation, and first-year performance have all been topics of research; yet there appears to be little in the literature exploring the motivation of these individuals to seek higher education. There are even fewer studies targeting academic motivation in Hispanic students. The purpose of this study is to conduct a phenomenological examination of the desire to attend college among first generation Hispanic students participating in an academic support program. One-hour taped interviews were conducted with three volunteer participants enrolled in the Student Support Services program at Sul Ross State University. Meaning units and constituents were extracted, and general structures were developed using the Descriptive Phenomenological Method (Giorgi, 1985). The phenomenological analysis resulted in two structures that address the effectiveness of academic outreach programming and identify the roles of self-efficacy, successful experiences in high school, a desire for improved socioeconomic status, a need to contribute to the well-being of others, a break with tradition, and the influence of respected role models in facilitating a desire for higher education in first-generation Hispanic college students.
Ab initio study of rotation about the Si

An ab initio SCF computational study of the structural features, relative stabilities and electrostatic potentials of the isomers 1,4- and 1,2-dioxin, and their three isomeric mononitro derivatives is reported. Within each group, the peroxidic systems were found to be the least stable. The electrostatic potentials of the unsubstituted dioxins are dominated by the negative regions due to the oxygen atoms, with only weak negative potentials above the double bonds. These bonds are not therefore expected to show the usual olefinic reactivity toward electrophiles. Among the nitrodioxins, the major negative regions are associated with the oxygens of the nitro groups. Due to the strong electron-withdrawing power of −NO2, the negative potentials near the ring oxygens have been weakened and those above the double bonds completely eliminated. Relatively strong buildup of positive potential is found above the CNO2, bond regions of the nitrodioxins, indicating a susceptibility to nucleophilic attack.
Federal Financial Management Control Systems: An Integrative Framework

The increasingly large and complex web of federal government finances seems to require ever more comprehensive and consistent financial management control systems to achieve managerial responsibility. This article identifies a framework for promoting integrated accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting in order to achieve the goal of providing relevant information to management and policy leaders. The article identifies four central areas in which endeavors to develop effective financial management control systems should concentrate: accounting for funds; assessing the cost of operations; managing cash; and collecting money due the government.
Detection of Explosive and Explosive Related Compounds (ERCs) Using Ultrafast Laser Photoionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

Ultrafast laser photoionization time of flight mass spectrometry has been applied to the detection of explosives and explosive related compounds. The wavelength dependence of the photoionization event and the sensitivity of the technique are discussed.
Stress-induced analgesia prevents the development of the tonic, late phase of pain produced by subcutaneous formalin.

Abstract Subcutaneous injection of formalin produces a biphasic pain response: a transient early phase followed by a tonic late phase. It has recently been suggested that development of the late phase depends upon the presence of the early one. In support of this suggestion, we now demonstrate that blocking the early phase by stress-induced analgesia prevents development of the late phase, whereas the same stressor given after the first phase does not. Both phases are manifested when stress-induced analgesia is blocked by the N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) or opiate antagonists, MK-801 and naloxone.
Current and Future Research Methods in Strategic Management

Early work in strategic management emphasized single case studies, followed by research on corporate diversification strategy, firm heterogeneity, strategic groups, and generic business strategies....
Investigation of nanoporous platinum thin films fabricated by reactive sputtering: Application as micro-SOFC electrode

Abstract Highly porous Pt thin films, with nano-scale porosity, were fabricated by reactive sputtering. The strategy involved deposition of thin film PtO x at room temperature, followed by the subsequent decomposition of the oxide by rapid heat treatment. The resulting films exhibited percolating Pt networks infiltrated with interconnected nanosized pores, critical for superior solid oxide fuel cell cathode performance. This approach is particularly attractive for micro-fabricated solid oxide fuel cells, since it enables fabrication of the entire cell stack (anode/electrolyte/cathode) within the sputtering chamber, without breaking vacuum. In this work, the morphological, crystallographic and chemical properties of the porous electrode were systematically varied by control of deposition conditions. Oxygen reduction reaction kinetics were investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, demonstrating the critical role of nano-pores in achieving satisfactory micro-SOFC cathode performance.
The Internal/External Frame of Reference in Adolescents′ Math and Verbal Self-Concepts: A Generalization Study

Abstract This study examined the generalizability of the internal/external (I/E) frame of reference model which has been applied primarily to Australian and Canadian students. The external part of the model concerns the influence of social comparisions on the formation of math and verbal self-concepts. The internal part is when one infers one′s ability in an area (e.g., math) by comparing one′s performance in that area with one′s performance in another area (e.g., verbal). We examined whether this model was generalizable to American adolescents, across different measures of math and verbal self-concepts, and across gender. Subjects were 152 seventh and eighth graders. LISREL causal modeling and multi-sample analyses were employed. All but one of our findings were consistent with the I/E model. While higher verbal achievement made a significant contribution to lower math self-concept, higher math achievement did not make a significant contribution to lower verbal self-concept. Findings held across different self-concept instruments and across gender.
A Novel Approach to Assessment of Teacher Preparation Program Effectiveness.

A novel approach to the evaluation of the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs which utilizes judgment of users rather than seeking behavioral correlates between program activities and pupil achievement is presented. Field-derived descriptors of "good teacher" are scaled for value (importance) by both supervisors and graduates. The ability to prioritize areas needing program modification and relate program to field is thus enhanced. Procedures used to obtain the data, some preliminary data analysis, and a discussion of the objectivity of the method and problems incurred in using the behavioral approach to program evaluation are presented.
Implementation of Stable Solutions in a Restricted Matching Market

I analyze the admission mechanism used in Spanish universities. The system is open to strategic manipulation. This is because students are not allowed to express the whole list of available options. However, the mechanism implements the set of stable matchings in Nash equilibrium and the student's optimum in strong equilibrium. The mechanism also implements the students' optimum, in Nash equilibrium, under the class of “non-reverse” preferences. All these properties come from the fact that colleges do not have the opportunity to misrepresent their preferences.
Modeling wood acquisition strategies from archaeological charcoal remains

Archaeological charcoal remains are often used to reconstruct local woodland composition in the past, but rarely address how and why people may have selected specific woody taxa for particular purposes. Models from the field of human behavioral ecology predict that people forage for wood resources by taking into account the relative usefulness, abundance, and handling time related to procuring different wood types. Archaeological and ecological data from the site of Gordion, in Central Anatolia (modern Turkey), were used to test expectations associated with such models. Results suggest that inhabitants of Gordion used wood types for fuel in proportion to their local availability, but that they selected specific, more distant woods for construction. In most occupation periods pine was preferred for construction, perhaps because it produces long, straight timbers for roofing, despite the distance at which it grows from the site. This case study demonstrates that behavioral ecology modeling can help to distinguish between multiple wood acquisition strategies potentially used in the past and improve our understanding of wood use from archaeological charcoal remains.
Comparison of proteases in DNA extraction via quantitative polymerase chain reaction

We compared four proteases in the QIAamp DNA Investigator Kit (Qiagen) to extract DNA for use in multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The aim was to evaluate alternate proteases for improved DNA recovery as compared with proteinase K for forensic, biochemical research, genetic paternity and immigration, and molecular diagnostic purposes. The Quantifiler Kit TaqMan quantitative PCR assay was used to measure the recovery of DNA from human blood, semen, buccal cells, breastmilk, and earwax in addition to low-template samples, including diluted samples, computer keyboard swabs, chewing gum, and cigarette butts. All methods yielded amplifiable DNA from all samples.
Properties of the Grasp Stiffness Matrix and Conservative Control Strategies

In this paper, we present fundamental properties of stiffness matrices as applied in analysis of grasping and dextrous manipulation in configuration spaces and linear Euclidean R3×3 space without rotational components. A conservative-stiffness matrix in such spaces needs to satisfy both symmetric and exact differential criteria. Two types of stiffness matrices are discussed: constant and configuration-dependent matrices. The symmetric part of a constant-stiffness matrix can be derived from a conservative quadratic potential function in the Hermitian form; while the skew-symmetric part is a function of the nonconservative curl vector field of the grasp. A configuration-dependent stiffness matrix needs to be symmetric and must simultaneously satisfy the exact differential condition to be conservative. The theory is most relevant to the Cartesian stiffness control, where the stiffness of the end effector is usually constant, such as that in RCC wrists. Conservative control strategies are proposed for a confi...
Lung partitioning for x-ray CAD applications

Partitioning the inside region of lung into homogeneous regions becomes a crucial step in any computer-aided diagnosis applications based on chest X-ray. The ribs, air pockets and clavicle occupy major space inside the lung as seen in the chest x-ray PA image. Segmenting the ribs and clavicle to partition the lung into homogeneous regions forms a crucial step in any CAD application to better classify abnormalities. In this paper we present two separate algorithms to segment ribs and the clavicle bone in a completely automated way. The posterior ribs are segmented based on Phase congruency features and the clavicle is segmented using Mean curvature features followed by Radon transform. Both the algorithms work on the premise that the presentation of each of these anatomical structures inside the left and right lung has a specific orientation range within which they are confined to. The search space for both the algorithms is limited to the region inside the lung, which is obtained by an automated lung segmentation algorithm that was previously developed in our group. Both the algorithms were tested on 100 images of normal and patients affected with Pneumoconiosis.
Contractionary effects of devaluation

Abstract A simple model is developed to illustrate a number of contractionary effects of currency devaluation, some of which have been noted previously. In a Keynesian model, it is shown that depreciation can lead to a reduction in national output if (i) imports initially exceed exports: (ii) there are differences in consumption propensities from profits and wages; (iii) government revenues are increased by devaluation, e.g. when there are significant export taxes. Similar effects are also shown to exist in monetarist models, via reductions in both real balances and the nominal money supply. A numerical example illustrates the results for an economy ‘typical’ of semi-industrialized countries.
The relative effects of social stories and video modeling toward increasing eye contact of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract The present study evaluated and compared the effects of social stories and video modeling on eye contact of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A multiple baseline design across participants with embedded changing conditions, counterbalanced across groups (A/B/B+C and A/C/C+B) was utilized to investigate the differential effects of social stories, video modeling, and a combination of social stories and video modeling. Results indicate that social stories presented in isolation resulted in moderate improvements in eye contact, with further improvements observed upon introduction of the combined social stories and video modeling intervention. Video modeling in isolation was found to result in strong intervention effects, with the addition of social stories yielding minimal additive effect. Implications for practice, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.