cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy expenditure during treadmill walking before and after vertical banded gastroplasty: a one-year follow-up study in 11 obese women.

Objective: To find out whether weight reduction induced by vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) alters the energy expenditure in severely obese women during treadmill walking. Design: A prospective one year follow-up study, patients being their own controls. Setting: University hospital, Sweden. Subjects: A consecutive series of 11 women who had VBG. Main outcome measures: Indirect calorimetry, body mass index (BMI), preset and comfortable walking speeds, heart rate, perceived exertion, and quality of life. Results: 11 patients were evaluated. Mean BMI (kg/m 2 ) decreased from 41 (range 36-46) before to 32 (range 25-37) 12 months postoperatively. The energy expenditure decreased significantly both at comfortable and preset walking speeds. The comfortable walking speed increased from 2.7 km.h -1 (range 1.3-3.4) before operation to 3.8 (range 2.0-4.2) one year postoperatively ( p = 0.003). All bodily variables in the SF-36 questionnaire showed improvement from 6 months onwards. Conclusion: Weight reduction in...
Ultrasonic mechanical relaxation imaging of pH in biopolymers

Ultrasonic Mechanical Relaxation (UMR) imaging is a new research technique for visualizing viscoelastic properties of tumors. Tissues behave mechanically as water-based polymers, similar to gelatin, with time-varying viscoelastic properties that depend on the chemical environment. We hypothesized that changes in pH, alter the polymer-fiber surface charge density that determines extent of polymer cross-linking. Gelatin samples with similar material properties and variable pH were prepared. A cone-plate viscometer measured the elastic as well as the viscous response of the polymer to a shear stress stimulus in the pH range of 6 to 8. To image local pH changes, two homogeneous gelatin samples were constructed, one made from buffered saline and the other was unbuffered. 0.05ml NaOH (pH 12) was injected into both samples and subsequent dynamic changes were imaged using UMR methods at 5, 20 and 50 minutes. UMR images include elastic strain and viscous creep relaxation maps produced by applying a compressive step-stress stimulus while recording RF echo frames at a high rate. Estimated local displacements occurring between frames in the echo sequence yield strain images. Relaxation parameters are estimated and mapped for each pixel using the strain time series to produce parametric UMR images. Viscometer experiments indicate that the viscoelastic properties of gelatin vary with pH. Also, elastic strain and viscous creep UMR images show contrast in the region of pH change. These results suggest that UMR methods can be used to explore the microenvironments of living tumors, where their viscoelastic properties are influenced by changes in pO 2 , pH and collagen density that predict metastatic potential and resistance to treatments.
Exposure Guidelines for Magnetic Fields

The powerful magnetic fields produced by a controlled fusion experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) necessitated the development of personnel-exposure guidelines for steady magnetic fields. A literature search and conversations with active researchers showed that it is currently possible to develop preliminary exposure guidelines for steady magnetic fields. An overview of the results of past research into the bioeffects of magnetic fields was compiled, along with a discussion of hazards that may be encountered by people with sickle-cell anemia or medical electronic and prosthetic implants. The LLNL steady magnetic-field exposure guidelines along with a review of developments concerning the safety of time-varying fields were also presented in this compilation. Guidelines developed elsewhere for time varying fields were also given. Further research is needed to develop exposure standards for both steady or time-varying fields.
The Holistic Way: John Wesley’s Practical Piety as a Resource for Integrated Healthcare

In the midst of the multifarious healthcare of the 21st century an Anglican clergyman from the 18th century named John Wesley can serve as a valuable resource for contemporary Christians seeking to faithfully live a life of well-being which incorporates different forms of medicine. In order to explore Wesley’s contributions to integrative care this essay will first situate Wesley in his 18th century context—a time period not completely unlike our own in which medicine was also experiencing dramatic shifts in practice and philosophy. In order to demonstrate his integration of the medical knowledge of his day the essay will look at Wesley’s own medical practices and his relationships to physicians as forging a “middle way” between physic and empiricism. The essay will examine Wesley’s theology as a practical piety which is grounded in a holistic sotieriology that sustains an integrative medicine (caring for body, mind, and spirit). Finally, the essay concludes with possibilities for integrated medicine in our own day as informed by a Wesleyan “way” of holistic practice.
Stochastic modeling of systems mapping in pharmacogenomics

As a basis of personalized medicine, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics that aim to study the genetic architecture of drug response critically rely on dynamic modeling of how a drug is absorbed and transported to target tissues where the drug interacts with body molecules to produce drug effects. Systems mapping provides a general framework for integrating systems pharmacology and pharmacogenomics through robust ordinary differential equations. In this chapter, we extend systems mapping to more complex and more heterogeneous structure of drug response by implementing stochastic differential equations (SDE). We argue that SDE-implemented systems mapping provides a computational tool for pharmacogenetic or pharmacogenomic research towards personalized medicine.
Successful termination of a ventricular arrhythmia by implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in a patient with cardiac amyloidosis: Insight into mechanisms of sudden death

The precise mechanism of sudden cardiac arrest in patients with AL-type cardiac amyloidosis is not well understood and often attributed to pulseless electrical activity, thereby implying a lack of benefit of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in this patient population. We report on a 60-year-old male undergoing treatment for AL-type biopsy proven …
On the convergence quality of minimum-weight design of large space frames under multiple dynamic constraints*

Weight optimization of large space frames under dynamic constraints requires adaptable design search techniques because of the enormous number of sizing variables, the highly nonlinear frequency constraint surfaces, and the multiple points of local minima. With modern OC procedures, based on alternately satisfying the constraints (scaling) and applying the Kuhn-Tucker (optimality) condition (resizing), the convergence to weight minima is oftentimes oscillatory. Even though the convergence rate for OC methods is initially fast, it gradually slows near local extrema, mainly because the selection of appropriate step sizes (or move limits) in the redesign phase becomes increasingly difficult. The focus here is to create specific criteria based on past scaled designs to “damp out” the oscillatory convergence propensity of OC recursive methods. Several OC recursive strategies, which are frequently worked to resize and to evaluate the Lagrange multipliers, are steered by the present approach to design large space frames under multiple dynamic constraints. Besides this, the design iteration histories obtained by the various recursive strategies are compared graphically. On the whole, the present OC approach achieves a smooth upper-bound convergence to weight minima, as it quickly dissolves the (sometimes violent) oscillations of scaled weights in the iteration history. Most of all, the method eliminates the need for adjustments of internal parameters during the redesign phase.
Degree of polymerization (DP) of polysialic acid (polySia) on neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAMS): development and application of a new strategy to accurately determine the DP of polySia chains on N-CAMS.

α2,8-Linked polysialic acid (polySia) is a structurally unique antiadhesive glycotope that covalently modifies N-linked glycans on neural cell adhesion molecules (N-CAMs). These sugar chains play a key role in modulating cell-cell interactions, principally during embryonic development, neural plasticity, and tumor metastasis. The degree of polymerization (DP) of polySia chains on N-CAM is postulated to be of critical importance in regulating N-CAM function. There are limitations, however, in the conventional methods to accurately determine the DP of polySia on N-CAM, the most serious being partial acid hydrolysis of internal α2,8-ketosidic linkages that occur during fluorescent derivatization, a step necessary to enhance chromatographic detection. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a facile method that combines the use of Endo-β-galactosidase to first release linear polySia chains from N-CAM, with high resolution high pressure liquid chromatography profiling. This strategy avoids acid hydrolysis prior to chromatographic profiling and thus provides an accurate determination of the DP and distribution of polySia on N-CAM. The potential of this new method was evaluated using a nonpolysialylated construct of N-CAM that was polysialylated in vitro using a soluble construct of ST8Sia II or ST8Sia IV. Whereas most of the oligosialic acid/polySia chains consisted of DPs ∼50–60 or less, a subpopulation of chains with DPs ∼150 to ∼180 and extending to DP ∼400 were detected. The DP of this subpopulation is considerably greater than reported previously for N-CAM. Endo-β-galactosidase can also release polySia chains from polysialylated membranes expressed in the neuroblastoma cell line, Neuro2A, and native N-CAM from embryonic chick brains.
Excitation systems for small generators

Many factors contribute to the increasing usage of static voltage regulators and exciters on small industrial and commercial generators. Various excitation and regulating systems are described and illustrated, and their performance compared and evaluated
Inverse estimation of spatially and temporally varying heating boundary conditions of a two-dimensional object

In many dynamic heat transfer situations, the temperature at the heated boundary is not directly measurable and can be obtained by solving an inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP) based on measured temperature or/and heat flux at the accessible boundary. In this study, IHCP in a two-dimensional rectangular object is solved by using the conjugate gradient method (CGM) with temperature and heat flux measured at the boundary opposite to the heated boundary. The inverse problem is formulated in such a way that the heat flux at heated boundary is chosen as the unknown function to be recovered, and the temperature at the heated boundary is computed as a byproduct of the IHCP solution. The measurement data, i.e., the temperature and heat flux at the opposite boundary, are obtained by numerically solving a direct problem where the heated boundary of the object is subjected to spatially and temporally varying heat flux. The robustness of the formulated IHCP algorithm is tested for different profiles of heat fluxes along with different random errors of the measured heat flux at the opposite boundary. The effects of the uncertainties of the thermophysical properties and back-surface temperature measurement on inverse solutions are also examined.
A retrospective evaluation of retigabine in patients with cognitive impairment with highly drug-resistant epilepsy

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the efficacy and tolerability of retigabine (RTG) in residential patients of an epilepsy center. Method We used an industry-independent noninterventional retrospective evaluation on the basis of paper and electronic records plus interrogation of the treating neurologists. All patients (N = 20; 7 females; mean age: 31.8, range: 18–54 years) started on RTG between May 2011 and March 2012 were included. Evaluation was carried out after 6, 12, and 24 months. Changes in seizure frequency were measured as the number of seizures during three months on RTG compared with a three-month baseline period. The Clinical Global Impression scale was applied to include qualitative changes in seizure severity. All but one patient had symptomatic (structural; one patient: metabolic) or cryptogenic focal or multifocal epilepsy. All had grade III drug-resistant epilepsy and cognitive deficits of different degrees. Results The retention rates were 60% after 6 months, 35% after 12 months, and 20% after 24 months. At 12 months, there were 2 responders (10%): one had a > 90% seizure reduction and the other had a > 50% seizure reduction. Another 5 patients were still on RTG because of minor improvements. The reasons for discontinuation in 13 patients were adverse effects (6), lack of effect (6), and both (1). Cognitive or emotional changes were the side effects that most frequently led to discontinuation. Beyond the 12-month evaluation, 3 patients were discontinued as a consequence of the FDA warning regarding retinal pigmentation and discoloration of skin and nails in patients exposed to RTG. One patient had a moderate blue–gray finger coloring. Ophthalmological changes were not discovered. Conclusion Retigabine proved to be useful only for a small minority of patients in a sample of patients with particularly difficult-to-treat epilepsy.
Long-term changes in the breeding bird populations of a New Jersey forest

Abstract The breeding bird populations at Hutcheson Memorial Forest in central New Jersey, USA, were sampled by mist-netting from 1959 through 1985. Many of the long-distance migrant species, wintering in the neotropics, declined sharply (virtually to zero) during the 1960s. One long-distance migrant species increased as a result of geographical range expansion. One short-distance migrant species, wintering mainly in the southeastern USA, has also increased, whereas resident species (never abundant) seem to have declined slightly. Annual return rates in the first year after banding of long-distance migrants were higher than those for short-distance migrants or resident species. These data are discussed with regard to hypotheses accounting for the declines of neotropical migrants in the northeastern United States. The declines at HMF seem to be a result of ‘leakage’, emigration exceeding immigration of young birds.
Interferometric fluorescent super-resolution microscopy resolves 3D cellular ultrastructure

Understanding molecular-scale architecture of cells requires determination of 3D locations of specific proteins with accuracy matching their nanometer-length scale. Existing electron and light microscopy techniques are limited either in molecular specificity or resolution. Here, we introduce interferometric photoactivated localization microscopy (iPALM), the combination of photoactivated localization microscopy with single-photon, simultaneous multiphase interferometry that provides sub-20-nm 3D protein localization with optimal molecular specificity. We demonstrate measurement of the 25-nm microtubule diameter, resolve the dorsal and ventral plasma membranes, and visualize the arrangement of integrin receptors within endoplasmic reticulum and adhesion complexes, 3D protein organization previously resolved only by electron microscopy. iPALM thus closes the gap between electron tomography and light microscopy, enabling both molecular specification and resolution of cellular nanoarchitecture.
Making Memory Transparent: Design of a Novice Programming Environment for C

Advances in modern novice programming environments (NPEs) have made computer programming more accessible to an increasingly large audience. Unfortunately, 35 percent of the top 125 U.S. universities use C or C++, both of which are widely considered to be challenging for novices because they require one to have a firm understanding of computer memory. To make C and C++ more accessible to introductory programming students at these universities, we are developing TransparenC, a NPE that integrates two key advances in modern NPEs—direct manipulation programming and data visualization.
Membrane Sealant Poloxamer P188 Protects Against Isoproterenol Induced Cardiomyopathy in Dystrophin Deficient Mice

Cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an increasing cause of death in patients. The absence of dystrophin leads to loss of membrane integrity, cell death and fibrosis in cardiac muscle. Treatment of cardiomyocyte membrane instability could help prevent cardiomyopathy. Three month old female mdx mice were exposed to the β1 receptor agonist isoproterenol subcutaneously and treated with the non-ionic tri-block copolymer Poloxamer P188 (P188) (460 mg/kg/dose i.p. daily). Cardiac function was assessed using high frequency echocardiography. Tissue was evaluated with Evans Blue Dye (EBD) and picrosirius red staining. BL10 control mice tolerated 30 mg/kg/day of isoproterenol for 4 weeks while death occurred in mdx mice at 30, 15, 10, 5 and 1 mg/kg/day within 24 hours. Mdx mice tolerated a low dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day. Isoproterenol exposed mdx mice showed significantly increased heart rates (p < 0.02) and cardiac fibrosis (p < 0.01) over 4 weeks compared to unexposed controls. P188 treatment of mdx mice significantly increased heart rate (median 593 vs. 667 bpm; p < 0.001) after 2 weeks and prevented a decrease in cardiac function in isoproterenol exposed mice (Shortening Fraction = 46 ± 6% vs. 35 ± 6%; p = 0.007) after 4 weeks. P188 treated mdx mice did not show significant differences in cardiac fibrosis, but demonstrated significantly increased EBD positive fibers. This model suggests that chronic intermittent intraperitoneal P188 treatment can prevent isoproterenol induced cardiomyopathy in dystrophin deficient mdx mice.
Nonlinear Analysis Catastrophe Theory Modeling and Cobb's Cusp Surface Analysis Program

Numerous nonlinear phenomena that exhibit discontinuous jumps in behavior have been modeled with catastrophe theory. Cobb's Cusp Surface Analysis Program (CUSP) provides a way to empirically estima...
Shaft Angle Encoder

A miniature shaft angle encoder with intergrated circuit encoding matrix and built in memory potential has been conceived at the IBM Electronics Systems Center. This device opens up new opportunities for small simplified approaches for guidance, control and telemetry systems. This encoder uses only a single static commutation ring, and approaches the ultimate limit of mechanical simplicity and small size.
Abstract 123: DNA methylation of miRNA promoters in breast cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short single-stranded RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and deregulation of their expression is linked to human diseases including cancer. Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation play an important role in the regulation of miRNA expression, and a number of reports describe silencing of miRNA expression linked to the aberrant DNA methylation of individual miRNA genes in cancer. In this study, we have used a comprehensive miRNA custom tiling microarray to evaluate aberrant DNA methylation of miRNA gene promoters in human breast cancer, with selected hypermethylated promoters being validated by Sequenom MassARRAY technology. We found more than 25% of miRNA gene promoters analyzed have significant hypermethylated regions in breast cancer cell lines (CCL) relative to logarithmically growing normal pre-stasis finite lifespan human mammary epithelial cells isolated from healthy individuals. In addition to in vitro grown breast cancer cell lines, we analyzed DNA methylation of miRNA promoters in a dozen breast tumor tissue specimens and five normal breast specimens. Aberrant DNA hypermethylation of miRNA promoters in breast cancer specimens displayed a perfect overlap with those hypermethylated in breast cancer cell lines, albeit the number of miRNAs promoters was smaller in the heterogeneous tissue samples. These aberrantly methylated miRNA promoters readily clustered breast cancer samples and cell lines together, and separate from normal beast tissue and mammary cell strains. Integration of our data with publically-available H3K27me3 ChIP-Seq data from stem cells reveals that miRNA promoters targeted by aberrant DNA methylation in cancer cells significantly overlap with promoters targeted by polycomb repression complexes in stem cells, similar to the results other have seen with protein coding genes promoters in cancer. We have found previously that the proportion of miRNA genes targeted by polycomb repression in normal mammary cell types is about 27% - three times higher than seen in protein coding genes, perhaps explaining why the proportion of miRNA genes with aberrant DNA methylation in our analysis of breast cancer is so high. In summary, our data show that a large fraction of miRNA gene promoters are targets of aberrant DNA methylation in human breast cancer, and that the miRNA promoters aberrantly methylated in breast cancer cell lines are also targeted in tumor tissue samples, indicating that these changes in DNA methylation are not artifacts of cell culture and might thus have clinical relevance. Similar to protein coding genes, miRNA gene promoters targeted by polycomb complexes in stem cells are more prone to hypermethylation in cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 123. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-123
How Do We Use Theory Now? Commentary on Paper by Melanie Suchet

Melanie Suchet's frank and engaging paper exemplifies a narrative-based discourse that is gaining prominence in the analytic literature. Eschewing any definition of terms, this discourse appropriates a wide array of analytic concepts to support a narration of co-creation of meaning and self-restoration in the clinical encounter. I examine a portion of the clinical case material to highlight some perceived pitfalls that arise from an uncritical and unsystematic use of theory. A particular pitfall is revealed in the way the author, while jettisoning the constraints of orthodox clinical theories, ends up overvaluing a singular explanatory model, thus unwittingly imposing a top-heavy, over-saturated interpretation on the clinical material. This unexamined theoretical bias leaves it unclear what should constitute the data of analytic observation: While ascribing crucial explanatory significance to socio-political narratives, which lead the analyst to feel that historical guilt over intercommunal conflicts must...
Effect of epidermal growth factor on the development of rat gastric mucosa.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to stimulate the growth of adult rat gastric mucosa and to increase DNA synthesis of mouse small and large intestinal mucosa. This study examines whether EGF affects the functional and structural development of the rat gastric mucosa. Rats were injected with 20 μg/kg EGF three times/day for 5 days beginning on the 10th day after birth. A control group of animals received saline injections of identical volume. All rats were killed on day 15. EGF significantly increased the weight of the whole stomach and the DNA, RNA, and protein content of the oxyntic gland mucosa, but had no effect on the RNA/DNA ratio, or antral and serum gastrin levels. Two groups of similarly treated rats were anesthetized with ether, pylorus-ligated, and injected with either saline or pentagastrin (250 μg/kg) after they had recovered from anesthesia. EGF-treated rats had significantly higher rates of basal acid secretion and pentagastrinstimulated acid secretion than the saline-treated con...
Influences of atmospheric variations on Mars's record of small craters

Abstract Planetary atmospheres influence cratering rates at small diameters (∼2–250 m) by filtering impactor populations via ablation, aerobraking and breakup of entering objects. The atmosphere of Mars undergoes rapid and drastic obliquity-driven variations in density, corresponding to pressure variations between zero and several tens of millibars. Here a simulation is used to assess the fate of a large population of impactors interacting with the present and predicted past and future martian atmospheres. We find that even Mars's present atmosphere significantly reduces crater production rates at small diameters (
In Search of an Inhibitor of Thyroid Hormone Binding to Serum Proteins in Nonthyroid Illnesses

To explore why sera of some patients with nonthyroidal illnesses (NTI) show a very high dialyzable fraction (DF) of thyroid hormones, aliquots of sera of five normal subjects and seven severely ill NTI patients with high DF of T4 (DFT4) were added to a pooled normal serum and DFT4 and DF of T3 (DFT3) were determined by equilibrium dialysis after adjustment of the final volume of the test specimens to 5 ml with 0.15 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The control DFT4 of 1.2% with 100 pi pooled normal serum decreased to values of 0.48–0.57% with the addition of 200 /il and to 0.31–0.36% with the addition of 400 nl normal sera to the pooled normal serum. There was a much smaller decrease or an actual increase in DFT4 when NTI sera were added to the pooled normal serum. DFT4 ranged between 0.71–4.8% with the addition of 200 µ1 and between 0.56–4.4% with the addition of 400 /xl NTI sera to the pooled normal serum. Similar differences between sera of patients and normal subjects were observed in studies of DFT3. Thes...
Pesticide Mobility: Determination by Soil Thin-Layer Chromatography

Pesticide movement was evaluated by the comparison of R(F) values on thin layers of soils. Results from the new technique correlated well with existing information on pesticide movement, facilitating the grouping of pesticides into classes on the basis of mobility. Thin-layer chromatography may have broad applicability in soils research.
Empirical Wavelet Transform

Some recent methods, like the empirical mode decomposition (EMD), propose to decompose a signal accordingly to its contained information. Even though its adaptability seems useful for many applications, the main issue with this approach is its lack of theory. This paper presents a new approach to build adaptive wavelets. The main idea is to extract the different modes of a signal by designing an appropriate wavelet filter bank. This construction leads us to a new wavelet transform, called the empirical wavelet transform. Many experiments are presented showing the usefulness of this method compared to the classic EMD.
Extraction of samples from airway and vessel trees in 3D lung CT based on a multi-scale principal curve tracing algorithm

The extraction of airway and vessel trees plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of lung diseases. However, this is a challenging task due to the small size of the anatomical structures, noise, or artifacts in the image. The similar intensity values between the lung parenchyma and airway lumen, the airway wall and the blood vessels make extraction particularly difficult. Our method detailed herein presents an automatic extraction of samples of both the airways and vessels from the three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) based on the multi-scale principal curve algorithm. The image is first thresholded to find airway or vessel candidates according to their corresponding Hounsfield units (HU). The Frangi filter is then used to extract the tubular structures and remove background noise. Finally, a multi-scale principal curve projection and tracing algorithm is applied on the filtered image to identify the centerlines of the airway and vessel trees.
Fourth generation and nucleon decay in supersymmetric theories.

Analysis of nucleon decay in N=1 supergravity unified models including the effect of a fourth generation of matter is given. Experimental constraints from nucleon-lifetime limits on the Kobayashi-Maskawa (KM) matrix that enters nucleon decay are obtained. The decays ${K}_{L}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}$${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and ${K}^{+}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\nu}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} are analyzed under these constraints, since the combination of the KM matrix that enters nucleon decay also enters these rare decays. The branching ratio ${K}^{+}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\nu}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} in four generations is shown to be considerably larger than for the three-generation case except for certain narrow domains of the KM matrix for two of the four branches of solutions. Bounds on ${V}_{\mathrm{ub}}$ and ${V}_{\mathrm{ub}\mathcal{'}}$ are also obtained.
Structures of the NH3HCCCCH and H2OHCCCCH complexes by Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy

Abstract The microwave spectra of the ammonia-diacetylene and water-diacetylene complexes have been observed with a pulsed-beam, Fabry-Perot cavity, Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer. In addition to the normal isotopic forms, we have also observed the spectra of ND3HCCCCH, 15NH3HCCCCH, HDOHCCCCH, and D2OHCCCCH. Rotational analyses of NH3HCCCCH, ND3HCCCCH, and 15NH3HCCCCH provide the rotational constants B = 1067.83088(14) MHz, 959.96176(31) MHz, and 1035.49151(13) MHz, respectively. The observed spectra are consistent with an axially symmetric complex where the diacetylene hydrogen bonds to the nitrogen of ammonia with a hydrogen-bond length of 2.29 A. The electric dipole moment is determined to be 2.3188(21) D. For the water-diacetylene complex, the rotational constants are B = 1065.45177(18) MHz and C = 1062.03011(18) MHz for H2OHCCCCH, (B + C) 2 = 1023.98908(11) MHz for HDOHCCCCH , and B = 990.81650(31) MHz and C = 985.39905(31) MHz for D2OHCCCCH, respectively. Stark effect measurements for H2OHCCCCH give a dipole moment of 2.2971(16) D. The most probable structure of H2OHCCCCH is C2v planar with diacetylene hydrogen bonded to the oxygen of the water. The hydrogen-bond length is calculated to be 2.20 A. Present results derived for the diacetylene complexes are compared with those of the acetylene complexes. It is noteworthy that the induced dipole moment of the ammonia-diacetylene complex is about 50% larger than that of the ammonia-acetylene complex. The effects of the conjugation of the carbon-carbon triple bonds are discussed.
Activity of sulfa drugs and dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors againstCandida albicans

Growth ofCandida albicans can be inhibited by sulfa drugs which prevent biosynthesis of folic acid. The dihydrofolate reductase (E.C. 1.5.1.3) inhibitors aminopterin and methotrexate also exhibit anticandidal activity, but trimethoprim does not. Kinetic evaluations withC. albicans dihydrofolate reductase indicate that methotrexate and aminopterin are tight-binding inhibitors whereas trimethoprim binds poorly.
Optical Debye effect

Abstract Intense picosecond pulses of light incident on colloidal suspension of charged polystyrene spheres result in an electrical signal due to sphere double-layer separation. The dependence of the signal on particle size and concentration are explained by radiation pressure forces.
Human retinal pigment epithelial cells possess muscarinic receptors coupled to calcium mobilization

Human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in culture demonstrated saturable specific binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB). Specific binding represents about 75% of total binding. Scatchard analysis yields a Kd of 0.178 nM and Bmax of 42 fmol/mg protein. Atropine and carbachol show typical displacement curves, and a Hill plot has a slope of 0.96, suggesting a homogeneous population of receptors. Muscarinic agonists have no effect on intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in RPE cells measured by radioimmunoassay, nor do they alter the isoproterenol-induced stimulation of adenylate cyclase. However, both acetylcholine and carbachol cause a rapid increase in intracellular calcium concentration measured by the fluorescent indicator quin 2. Atropine reverses the calcium rise when added after agonist and prevents the rise when added prior to agonist. These data suggest that human RPE cells possess muscarinic receptors coupled to calcium mobilization.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION PLANNING USING INTERACTIVE FUZZY LINEAR PROGRAMMING

Any modern industrial manufacturing unit inevitably faces problems of vagueness in various aspects such as raw material availability, human resource availability, processing capability and constraints and limitations imposed by marketing department. Such a complex problem of vagueness and uncertainty can be handled by the theory of fuzzy linear programming. In this paper, a new fuzzy linear programming based methodology using a modified S-curve membership function is used to solve fuzzy mix product selection problem in Industrial Engineering. Profits and satisfactory level have been computed using fuzzy linear programming approach. Since there are several decisions to be taken, a performance measure has been defined to identify the decision for high level of profit with high degree of satisfaction.
Cytochromes of Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract Treatment of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium cells by ordinary procedures failed to extract any soluble cytochrome from the cell. Sonoration produced small fragments which contained the cytochrome complement and were sedimentable in a centrifugal field of 144,000 × g . Difference spectra of such particles showed absorption maxima at 599, 557, 552, 530, and 428 mμ. Digestion of the fragments with lipase liberated a rather typical cytochrome c in that it had absorption maxima in the reduced form at 550, 520, and 415 mμ, formed cyanide and pyridine hemochromogens which were spectroscopically similar to those obtained from mammalian cytochrome c, could be purified in the usual manner by ammonium sulfate fractionation, and had an oxidation potential at pH 7.0 of 0.25 v. As isolated, however, the cytochrome c was readily oxidized by oxygen in the air.
Metal-organic complexes in geochemical processes: Estimation of standard partial molal thermodynamic properties of aqueous complexes between metal cations and monovalent organic acid ligands at high pressures and temperatures

Regression of standard state equilibrium constants with the revised Helgeson-Kirkham-Flowers (HKF) equation of state allows evaluation of standard partial molal entropies ({bar S}{degrees}) of aqueous metal-organic complexes involving monovalent organic acid ligands. These values of {bar S}{degrees} provide the basis for correlations that can be used, together with correlation algorithms among standard partial molal properties of aqueous complexes and equation-of-state parameters, to estimate thermodynamic properties including equilibrium constants for complexes between aqueous metals and several monovalent organic acid ligands at the elevated pressures and temperatures of many geochemical processes which involve aqueous solutions. Data, parameters, and estimates are given for 270 formate, propanoate, n-butanoate, n-pentanoate, glycolate, lactate, glycinate, and alanate complexes, and a consistent algorithm is provided for making other estimates. Standard partial molal entropies of association ({delta}{bar S}{sub r}{degrees}) for metal-monovalent organic acid ligand complexes fall into at least two groups dependent upon the type of functional groups present in the ligand. It is shown that isothermal correlations among equilibrium constants for complex formation are consistent with one another and with similar correlations for inorganic metal-ligand complexes. Additional correlations allow estimates of standard partial molal Gibbs free energies of association at 25{degrees}C and 1 bar which can be usedmore » in cases where no experimentally derived values are available.« less
Treatment-related toxicities in a phase II trial of dasatinib in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Introduction Advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) of the lung carries a poor prognosis, and new therapeutic targets are needed. Several studies have examined dasatinib in non–small cell lung cancer; these report not only significant toxicities, but also responses in patients found to harbor mutations in discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 or BRAF. An open-label phase II trial with dasatinib was carried out to determine the response rates in patients with SqCC who had previously failed standard chemotherapy and to correlate responses with patient genotype. Methods Patients were treated with dasatinib 140 mg daily in 28-day cycles. Patients were included if they had stage IIIb/IV SqCC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, and for whom treatment with standard chemotherapy had failed. Results The study was halted after enrolling five patients, all of whom were discontinued from the trial because of excess toxicity of dasatinib administered at 140 mg/day. The patients were treated for 9, 14, 24, 40, and 42 days. Three of five patients (60%) experienced grade 3 or more toxicities (dyspnea, fatigue, elevated level of aspartate transaminase, anorexia, nausea). Intolerable grade 2 pleural effusions were noted in two of five patients. Four of five patients died after 44, 52, 127, and 226 days; one patient remains alive at 279 days. No deaths were associated with the study drug. Conclusions Similar to other studies, this study too found that dasatinib administered at 140 mg/day for the treatment of advanced SqCC of the lung is associated with excess adverse events, so is not recommended in unselected patients. Further work to identify patients likely to benefit from dasatinib and to manage dasatinib-related toxicities is needed.
The credibility of children's allegations of sexual abuse

Sexual abuse, the fastest growing type of abuse complaint, often raises issues concerning the credibility of individual allegations. This paper discusses historical, developmental, and societal factors affecting children's credibility and recommended assessment methods that maximize a child's capacity to relate his or her experience. Clinical factors leading to false allegations are discussed. Language: en
Effects of colostrum replacer supplemented with lactoferrin on the blood plasma immunoglobulin G concentration and intestinal absorption of xylose in the neonatal calf

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of lactoferrin (Lf) supplementation of colostrum replacer (CR) fed as 1 or 2 doses on apparent efficiency of IgG absorption, serum IgG concentrations, and xylose absorption/intestinal development in neonatal Holstein bull calves. Eighty bull calves were assigned to a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design. Calves used were from the University of New Hampshire (n = 48) or a commercial dairy (n = 32). All calves were fed CR according to manufacturer's recommendations +/- Lf treatment within 90 min of birth. Lactoferrin treatments were 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 2 g/d of supplemental Lf. At 12 h of age, calves were fed a second feeding of CR +/- supplemental Lf or 2 L of milk replacer +/- supplemental Lf. Calves continued to be fed milk replacer +/- supplemental Lf every 12 h for the duration of study. Blood samples were collected for determination of IgG and total serum protein at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h. Calves, except those fed 1 dose of CR plus 1 or 2 g of Lf, had serum IgG concentrations > or = 10 g/L at 24 h. Lactoferrin supplementation had no effect on serum IgG or total serum protein concentrations. Calves fed 2 doses of CR had greater serum IgG concentrations compared with calves fed 1 dose of CR. Apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG was less in calves fed 2 doses of CR compared with calves fed 1 dose of CR. Lactoferrin supplementation (up to 1 g/d) resulted in decreased apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG. At the sixth feeding (60 +/- 2 h of age), D-xylose (0.5 g/kg BW) was mixed with milk replacer +/- supplemental Lf (n = 48) to determine xylose absorption by the small intestine. Blood was collected at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after feeding xylose for determination of plasma glucose and xylose concentrations. Xylose means and area under the curve resulted in quadratic effects. Feeding calves 0.5 or 1 g/d supplemental Lf resulted in decreased plasma xylose concentrations compared with calves fed 0 or 2 g/d of supplemental Lf. Colostrum replacer or supplemental Lf did not affect plasma glucose concentrations. This study indicates that supplementing Lf at 0.5 or 1 g/d to calves fed CR has a negative effect on apparent efficiency of IgG absorption and xylose absorption.
Coplanar-grid detector with single-electrode readout

The coplanar-grid technique provides substantial spectral performance improvement over that of conventional detector designs and electronics when applied to gamma-ray detectors based on compound semiconductors. The technique realizes this improvement by measuring the difference between the induced charge signals from two interdigitated coplanar-grid electrodes. By adjusting the relative gain between the two grid signals prior to subtraction, the difference signal can be made less sensitive to the poor carrier transport properties of the detector material and thus improve the spectral response of the detector. In this paper, the authors discuss a variation of the coplanar-grid method in which the signal from only one grid electrode is read out. The signal response is optimized by changing the relative areas of the two grid electrodes and the bias applied across the detector. In this scheme, only one preamplifier is needed and signal subtraction is not necessary. This eliminates the electronic noise contribution from the additional preamplifier used in the normal coplanar-grid implementation, and conventional single-amplifier detector electronics can be used. Experimental results using CdZnTe detectors are presented.
Chrome etch solutions for 45-nm and beyond

Requirements to meet the 45nm technology node place significant challenges on Mask makers. Resolution Enhancement Techniques (RET) employed to extend optical lithography in order to resolve sub-resolution features, have burdened mask processes margins. Also, Yield compromises loom with every nanometer of error incurred on the Mask and the Device platforms. RET techniques, such as Optical Proximity Correction (OPC), require the Mask Etcher to achieve exceptionally tight control of Critical Dimensions (CD). This ensures OPC feature integrity on the mask and resultant image fidelity of OPC structures, as well as, subsequently high and sustainable yields. This paper talks about 45 nm Chrome etch challenges and how Applied Materials next generation mask etcher provides solutions to these challenges.
Terrifying Thoughts, Terrible Materialism? Contemplations on a Terror Management Account of Materialism and Consumer Behavior

This article provides a commentary on Arndt, Solomon, Kasser, and Sheldon's (2004) article on terror management theory and materialism. We focus our response on the two key linkages in their article: (a) the link between death anxiety and materialism and (b) the link between materialism and well-being. Based on our own research, as well as concepts and findings from other scholars across a broad domain of disciplines, we offer a set of ideas and questions in regard to both linkages. In addition, we point to the changing nature of materialism and the implications that these changes hold for consumer psychologists.
Evidence-Based Systematic Review: Effects of Nonspeech Oral Motor Exercises on Speech

Purpose The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the current evidence for the use of oral motor exercises (OMEs) on speech (i.e., speech physiology, speech production, and functional sp...
Coral species richness estimates are sensitive to differences in reef size and regional diversity

Estimates of species richness have been used to assess how community diversity changes across space and time. Here, we elucidate the bias that can arise when applying a popular sampling method (i.e., fixed number of belt-transects) to census coral community richness when the size of the reef and the regional species pools vary. Based on surveys of 148 patch reefs in 3 sub-regions of the Western Atlantic, we show that a fixed subsampling approach underestimated coral species richness of the reef as reef size increased; though this bias is minor for the entire region. The percentage of the true reef richness captured by sub-sampled transects declined by 6% for every 10-fold change in reef size. However, in Belize, the most speciose sub-region sampled, coral richness was underestimated by 15% solely as a result of a 10-fold increase in reef size. Increasing sampling effort (nr of transects) per reef was not able to correct for this underestimation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this sampling bias is not an artifact of larger reefs simply being more diverse, and hence, requiring greater sampling efforts. Rather, these results suggest that coral species in diverse regions are distributed in accordance with the variety of spatially structured microhabitats present on a reef, rather than distributing randomly across the reef surface. Furthermore, these patterns seem to be highly scale-dependent. As such, sampling protocols should consider the size of the reef to be surveyed as well as the regional species pool to ensure accurate estimates of coral diversity.
The respiratory effects of drugs used for conscious sedation and general anesthesia.

Sedation and anesthesia can be performed safely and effectively by dentists with proper training. Respiratory depression is the principal concern when sedative and anesthetic regimens are administered. This article reviews the influence of various drugs on ventilatory control and includes methods for monitoring and assessing respiratory function.
Reply to Boudreau: Morphologic expression of ferromanganese nodules.

The statement that nodule formation, especially morphology, can be predicted by the Boudreau diagenetic model led us to state that “diagenetic models that claim to predict nodule growth rate and morphologies from elemental concentrations (1) are not verified by our data” for Second Connecticut Lake (SCL), New Hampshire (2). Comments on metal gradients and elemental concentration of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) required for accretion and morphologic expression of ferromanganese nodules are in Boudreau's original paper (3). Yet, in his letter (4), Boudreau writes that elemental (metal) concentration is not discussed (1, 3).
Neuropeptide-Y stimulation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion from the median eminence in vitro by estrogen-dependent and extracellular Ca2+-independent mechanisms.

The roles of estrogen and extracellular calcium (Ca2+) in neuropeptide-Y (NPY)-stimulated LHRH release from median eminence (ME) fragments in vitro were examined. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats received one or several sc implants of Silastic tubes containing estradiol benzoate (235 μg/ml sesame oil) or vehicle. Plasma estrogen concentrations were similar to levels during the estrous cycle. These estrogen treatments were equally effective in reducing the elevated plasma levels of LH in vehicle-treated OVX rats. Animals were killed 3 days after implantation, and ME fragments were incubated in medium for 30 min (control), followed by a second 30-min period (test) in medium containing NPY or potassium chloride (K+). Estrogen treatment increased the basal release of LHRH and the ME concentration of LHRH in a dose-related fashion. NPY (0.1-10 μM) increased LHRH secretion in a dose-related manner from ME fragments obtained from estrogen-treated OVX rats, but had no effect on MEs from hormonally untreated OVX rats. Tr...