cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Perceptions of Torture: Genuine Disagreement, Subtle Malleability, and In-Group Bias

This article explores whether people agree on what acts do and do not constitute torture and, if not, what social and contextual factors affect such perceptions. Some have suggested that there is a shared, commonsense definition of torture. If so, people should agree on whether particular acts constitute torture, and judgments should be unaffected by extraneous factors. In Study 1, however, American undergraduates disagreed about whether many acts constitute torture. In Study 2, they judged fewer acts as torture when they were embedded among more aversive acts. In Study 3, conservatives considered fewer acts torture when they were performed by Americans upon Iraqis than when they were performed by Iraqis upon Americans. This article discusses the implications of differing definitions of torture and recent controversies over treatment of detainees, recognizing that peaceful negotiations may well depend on how negotiating entities view their treatment at the hands of the adversary.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer vs superovulation with intrauterine insemination for the treatment of infertility

Superovulation with intrauterine insemination (SO-IUI) has been suggested as an alternative to gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), despite the absence of controlled or comparative trials. We retrospectively analyzed all GIFT and SO-IUI cycles performed concurrently from January 1985 to August of 1987 at a single university center. Pregnancy rates were significantly better for GIFT than SO-IUI (P<0.001), with an odds ratio of 3.25 (P=0.001). Stepwise multiple logistic regression identifield factors that correlate with pregnancy: absence of endometriosis (P=0.05), infertility<3 years' duration (P=0.002), TMS ≧30×106 (P=0.005), and treatment with GIFT rather than SO-IUI (P=0.001). These data give a first approximation of the increased efficacy of GIFT versus SO-IUI and provide valuable insight into significant confounding variables to be considered when planning a randomized, prospective trial to evaluate these techniques.
VESTIGIAL STRUCTURES AND THE FLOWER

Overemphasis upon well-established correlations between floral morphology and pollination agents and mechanisms may lead to a neglect of certain aspects of the vascular anatomy of the flower. Thus statements have been made that the anatomy of flowers can be studied meaningfully only in relation to particular modes of pollination, dispersal, and allied functions; that all vascular bundles in the flower are physiologically useful; and that no vestigial bundles offer clues to past evolutionary events. Such statements are here controverted by calling attention to examples of vestigial and presumably functionless vascular bundles in the flower. These are of two general kinds: 1) Vascular "stubs," bundles that persist after the structures they formerly supplied have disappeared. Although the existence of such stubs has been questioned or denied, they do exist. Their number (except for the relatively common strands leading to lost ovules) has been exaggerated, however, and they are not usually found where they might be expected. 2) Longer vascular bundles associated with, or a part of, highly reduced floral organs. Examples of both of the above categories are provided. A VESTIGIAL STRUCTURE could be defined as a tissue or an organ modified during descent from one more fully developed and functional. Vestigial structures of the flower may be placed
Effects of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I and growth hormone on bone turnover in elderly women

We evaluated the effects of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and growth hormone (GH) on calciotropic hormones and bone turnover markers in 16 healthy elderly women 71.9 +/- 1.3 years of age (mean +/- SEM). Subjects consumed a fixed diet providing 1000 mg of calcium and 0.9 g/kg of protein for 10 days before starting baseline 24-h urine and blood collections. Specimens were collected for 6 consecutive days before initiating subcutaneous injections of GH (25 micrograms/kg/day, n = 5) and IGF-I at 60 micrograms/kg b.i.d. (high-dose, n = 5) or at 15 micrograms/kg b.i.d. (low-dose, n = 6) for 28 days. Resorption markers included urine hydroxyproline (OHP), total pyridinolines (PYD), and N-telopeptide; formation markers include osteocalcin, skeletal alkaline phosphatase (sALP), and type I procollagen carboxy-terminal extension peptide (CICP). For each subject, baseline daily turnover markers varied substantially (DV = 16-22%). With GH and high-dose IGF-I, resorption and formation markers increased progressively to maximum levels at day 21. For GH, the increase in day 21 PYD, N-telopeptide, osteocalcin, and CICP was 143, 111, 53, and 81%, respectively (p < 0.96-0.02). For high-dose IGF-I, these increases were 108, 81, 77, and 111% (p < 0.02-0.002). However, with low-dose IGF-I no change was observed in resorption markers while osteocalcin and CICP increased progressively (day 21, % increases = 88 +/- 51, 36 +/- 14). Twenty-four hour urine collections during the last days of baseline and of study drug were taken as six 4 h aliquots. When deoxyPYD was measured on these samples in the low-dose IGF-I group, a significant increase was observed only on the 0800-1200 h aliquot. Serum phosphorus concentrations increased with GH (21.2 +/- 3.3%) and high-dose IGF-I (8.8 +/- 3.6%) by day 21 but actually decreased by day 28 (-9.7 +/- 2.7, p < 0.02) with low-dose IGF-I. Urinary phosphorus excretion decreased with high-dose IGF-I only. Twenty-four hour calcium excretion increased with all treatments. These results indicate that both GH and high-dose IGF-I activate remodeling osteons. By contrast, low-dose IGF-I may directly increase osteoblastic function with only a minimal increase in bone resorption and may therefore provide a useful means to increase bone mass. The results also suggest some of the GH action on renal phosphorus handling represents a direct action of GH on the nephron which does not involve the intermediacy of IGF-I. Finally, even under controlled conditions bone turnover markers exhibit substantial daily variation so that a very large treatment effect will be required for these markers to have clinical utility.
DICKCISSELS AND CROP DAMAGE IN VENEZUELA: DEFINING THE PROBLEM WITH ECOLOGICAL MODELS

The Dickcissel (Spiza americana) is a neotropical migratory bird that has declined 40% over the years since it was first censused in 1966 throughout its breeding range in North America. The decline has been caused by excessive overwinter mortality resulting from control programs on the wintering range in Venezuela, where the bird is considered to be an agricultural pest. Rice and sorghum farmers kill the birds because they damage crops, but the relationship between the birds and crops has been poorly described. We use demographic, physiological, and ecological data to develop descriptive models that allow us to understand the scope of Dickcissel crop damage. These models show that Dickcissels actually consume relatively small proportions of Venezuela's rice and sorghum production, suggesting that farmers' general perceptions of the magnitude of the problem are exaggerated, even though some individual farmers do suffer greater than average losses. Our data and models can be used as the basis for negotiating a solution to the conflict between farmers and Dickcissels.
The bowed catheter sign: a risk for pericardial tamponade

The use of a central venous catheter (CVC) has become commonplace in the care of children with a wide variety of medical and surgical problems. Complications resulting from the insertion of these catheters are well recognized and can be life-threatening. When a temporary CVC or other catheter is inserted into the central venous system it is secured to the skin with a combination of sutures and sterile dressing. This fixes the catheter in place and does not allow it to retract, thereby putting pressure on the right atrial wall via the catheter tip if it is too long. The probability of wall penetration is increased if a catheter or device is tapered at the point of contact. The purpose of this case report is to present the bowed catheter sign and to review the anatomy of the cavotricuspid isthmus, a possible predisposing factor to cardiac perforation and tamponade.
WE‐D‐210A‐03: Systems and Probes for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging

Specialized ultrasound systems and targeted microbubbles optimized for vascular molecular imaging continue to advance. The development of methods for sensitive and selective imaging of adherent, targeted contrast agents requires improvements in both the physical systems and probes. We have developed transducers and signal processing techniques to maximize transducer bandwidth and integrated the components with a clinical ultrasoundscanner. The transducer integrates low and high‐frequency arrays; the center‐row high‐frequency array is surrounded on each side with confocally‐focused low‐frequency arrays. By transmitting from the low‐frequency (1.6 MHz) arrays and receiving through the high‐frequency (7 MHz) array, harmonic microbubble echoes can be detected and distinguished from the surrounding tissue. Further, by combining echoes over a pulse train, a targeted agent to free agent signal ratio of 15∼22 dB can be obtained without waiting for agent clearance. Further, we report on radiolabeling methods to fully assess microbubble biodistribution with and without molecular targeting or insonation. We find that microbubbles are rapidly accumulated within the liver and spleen, although a small (but significant) mass of the microbubble shell accumulates as a result of local insonation. We acknowledge the support of NIH CA 103828 and CA 112356.
Compensation schemes for an experimental solenoid installed in an anti-symmetric lattice☆

Abstract Linear coupling produced by an experimental solenoid placed in an antisymmetric lattice can be compensated by symmetrically located and equally powered pairs of skew-quadrupoles. Decoupling schemes with one, two and three pairs of compensating skew-quads are considered in detail. The first of two schemes require existence of special locations where special conditions for phase-advances are satisfied (Magic Phases).
The external indebtedness and creditworthiness of countries in the east Asian and pacific region

This article examines recent trends in the East Asia and Pacific region's external indebtedness, debt servicing capability, and creditworthiness. Despite the fact that the East Asia and Pacific region is regarded as the most creditworthy of all developing country regions, there are some indications that if borrowings continue to grow at the current pace, particularly in relation to debt servicing ability, the region may begin to encounter more debt repayment problems. In addition, this paper investigates the relationship between country credit ratings for the twenty largest developing country borrowers and interest rates on new obligations. The observed relationship between country creditworthiness and interest rates, while inverse, was not as strong as financial theory would suggest.
A semi-quantitative method for determining the levels of carbonic anhydrase isozymes in individual red blood cells

Abstract A procedure is presented which can be used to analyse the isozymes of carbonic anhydrase (CA I and CA II) as well as other specific soluble proteins of individual erythrocytes. The concentration of red cell CA I in the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) was estimated by the technique employed, as well as the relative concentration in individual cells. In addition, the basic technique was modified to include electrophoresis of the carbonic anhydrases of the individual cells.
Ferroelectric/ferroelastic interactions and a polarization switching model

Abstract Ferroelectric and ferroelastic switching cause ferroelectric ceramics to depolarize and deform when subjected to excessive electric field or stress. Switching is the source of the classic butterfly shaped strain vs electric field curves and the corresponding electric displacement vs electric field loops [1]. It is also the source of a stress—strain curve with linear elastic behavior at low stress, non-linear switching strain at intermediate stress, and linear elastic behavior at high stress [2, 3]. In this work, ceramic lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) is polarized by loading with a strong electric field. The resulting strain and polarization hysteresis loops are recorded. The polarized sample is then loaded with compressive stress parallel to the polarization and the stress vs strain curve is recorded. The experimental results are modeled with a computer simulation of the ceramic microstructure. The polarization and strain for an individual grain are predicted from the imposed electric field and stress through a Preisach hysteresis model. The response of the bulk ceramic to applied loads is predicted by averaging the response of individual grains that are considered to be statistically random in orientation. The observed strain and electric displacement hysteresis loops and the nonlinear stress—strain curve for the polycrystalline ceramic are reproduced by the simulation.
Stable isotope composition (δ13C and δ15N) of larval krill, Euphausia superba, and two of its potential food sources in winter

A h c t . Natural abundances of I3C (6I3C) and IsN (6IsN) were measured in larval krill (Euphnusio supcrba), suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and ice-associated POM during early and late winter along the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Larval krill were enriched in I3C (8°C 2 n%D) relative to both larvae and adults sampled during summer months ( 6 ' T generally S 27%). Elevated 6'3C values were also recorded in suspended POM (6°C 2 21%) during early winter.'Ihese data imply that (i) seasonal shifts in the isotopic composition of larval krill need not result from changes in diet and (ii) mechanisms other than (2% limitation in the ice can account for 'T enrichments in ice-associated POM. Stable carbon isotopes could not be used, in this study, to discern between suspended POM and ice-associated POM as alternative food sources for larval krill. During one early winter sampling period, larval krill were markedly depleted in I5N (615N < I%), suggesting that they are primarily herbivorous prior to exploiting ice-associated food resources Mechanisms are proposed to explain variation in the isotopic composition of POM and larval krill, and will be of particular interest to those investigating f d web dynamio, and biogeochemical processes in the region.
Spotting a market gap for a new product.

Abstract Many new products and substitute technologies fail because they enter markets too late or with too little price/performance advantage. Essentially, these products have missed their window for successful market entry. To avoid this type of product entry error, management should locate and define the boundaries of the strategic entry window for their products or technologies.
Student performance in solving linear equations

The paper presents a first approximation for a model of student performance in solving linear equations. General characteristics of a model are related to the extant research on equation solving. Terminology is denned and used to reconceptualize published research results. The model is presented and is followed by an examination, in terms of the model, of one student's attempts to solve a particular equation. Finally, questions for future research are posed which might lead to the elucidation of the model. The model relates levels of control (i.e., task, method, strategy, process, operation, tactic) to the features (i.e., remote and near) of equations. The control levels are viewed from an information processing perspective; a hierarchal organization is proposed with higher levels influencing activities at lower levels. The model is created to capture the school mathematics approach to solving linear equations, though it is expected that it will generalize to other contexts. † Revision of paper presented ...
Autonomous aero-visual and sensor based inspection network for asset monitoring

This article introduces a theoretical and experimental program to develop the inspection and fault detection technology needed to integrate MAVs for persistent intelligence, reconnaissance, maintenance and surveillance for obscured or logistically challenging assets in non-urban environments. The design is explained using a context of heterogeneous deployment of wireless sensors for real-time asset monitoring by anticipating exceptional conditions and building the system to cope with them. The system converges towards an error-free state with self-stabilization, the ability to fall back to a safe mode in a financially feasible manner. This sophisticated mechanism requires a real-time capacity estimation capability to sustain the quality-of-service, which can be achieved by a distributed sensor network. We discuss issues in design and information propagation in such sensor clustered topology, optimization for power-aware networking, and link and node capacity assignment to achieve the desired goals.
Luteinizing hormone induction of ovarian tumors: Oligogenic differences between mouse strains dictates tumor disposition

The use of fertility drugs has continued to grow since their introduction in the 1960s. Accompanying this increase has been the speculation that repetitive use of these drugs can cause ovarian tumors or cancer. We recently reported that transgenic mice with chronically elevated luteinizing hormone (LH), an analog of which is commonly used in fertility regimens, develop granulosa cell (GC) tumors. In this report we show that LH induction of these tumors is highly dependent on genetic background. In CF-1 mice, chronically elevated LH invariably causes GC tumors by 5 months of age. However, in hybrid mice generated by crossing CF-1 males with C57BL/6, SJL, or CD-1 females, elevated levels of this same hormone cause a completely different phenotype resembling a luteoma of pregnancy. We also show that three genes likely control these alternative hormonal responses. This clinical correlate of elevated LH reveals remarkably distinct, strain-dependent, ovarian phenotypes. In addition, these results support the rare incidence of GC tumors in the human population, and suggest that the ability of certain fertility drugs to cause ovarian tumors may depend on an individual's genetic predisposition.
Dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium with age: increased iron decreases phagocytosis and lysosomal activity.

Purpose Iron accumulation with age in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) may be one important source of oxidative stress that contributes to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Young and old rodent RPE/choroid were compared to assess iron homeostasis during normal aging and the effects of increased iron on the functions of retinal pigment epithelial cells. Methods The iron level, mRNA expression, and protein level of iron-regulatory molecules in RPE/choroid were quantitatively compared between young and old animals. To test the effects of increased intracellular iron on the functions of retinal pigment epithelial cells, in vitro ARPE-19 cells were treated with high levels of iron and assessed for phagocytosis activity and lysosomal activity. Results Iron level was significantly increased in the aged RPE/choroid. Ferritin and ceruloplasmin mRNAs were significantly increased in the aged RPE/choroid, whereas transferrin, transferrin receptor, and ferroportin mRNAs did not change with age. At the protein level, decreased transferrin and transferrin receptor, increased ferritin and ceruloplasmin, and unchanged ferroportin were observed in the aged RPE/choroid. Exposure of ARPE-19 cells to increased iron markedly decreased phagocytosis activity, interrupted cathepsin D processing, and reduced cathepsin D activity in retinal pigment epithelial cells. Conclusions The RPE/choroid of aged animals demonstrates iron accumulation and associated alterations in iron homeostasis. Iron accumulation with age may impair the phagocytosis and lysosomal functions of retinal pigment epithelial cells in the aged RPE/choroid. Therefore, age-related changes of iron homeostasis in the RPE could increase the susceptibility of the tissue to genetic mutations associated with AMD.
Screen detected, low volume prostate cancer: The case for active treatment

There has been a significant increase in prostate cancer identification due to current detection methods, especially in the proportion of men with low volume, often potentially clinically indolent disease (<0.5 ml). Physicians are struggling to find an appropriate balance between undertreatment and overtreatment for men with low volume prostate cancer. Both physicians and patients alike face tough treatment decisions about the appropriate balance between the risks and benefits of therapy. Treatment decisions regarding either active surveillance or targeted focal therapy must be made with as much information as can be garnered safely. As active surveillance or targeted focal therapy protocols are developed, it would seem prudent to prospectively employ a more stringent biopsy sampling strategy. Without better tumor sampling methodologies, physicians may occasionally underestimate the extent of a patient's disease and potentially make ill-advised treatment recommendations. In the future, intraprostatic imaging models with high sensitivity could improve treatment management and outcomes. Currently, periodic PSA values and biopsies are key components of monitoring disease progression, which will likely continue into the foreseeable future. Both PSA velocity and PSA doubling time are diagnostic tools that have proven to be useful for prostate cancer detection and provide prognostic information for both localized and metastatic disease. Our goal should be to use all of these treatment tools to improve patient life expectancy and quality of life no matter what the burden level of disease happens to be.
Postinsemination administration of receptal: follicular dynamics, duration of cycle, hormonal responses, and pregnancy rates.

In experiment 1, concentrations of LH, FSH, and progesterone, but not estradiol-17 beta, in blood serum were increased during 6 to 12 h after injection of 8 micrograms of receptal (GnRH agonist) administered on d 11 to 14 after estrus (d 0) and at first AI compared with saline treatment in lactating Holstein cows. Beginning 2 to 3 d after injection of receptal, concentrations of progesterone were increased for 3 d in nonpregnant cows and for 12 d in pregnant cows compared with controls of similar pregnancy status. Number of ovarian follicles determined by ultrasonography during 10 d after receptal was reduced, specifically those with antral diameters of > or = 10 mm. The dominant follicle in both groups began to decrease in diameter on the day following treatment, but the next dominant follicle began to increase in diameter 2.3 +/- .7 d later in receptal-treated cows than in controls, accounting for an increase in cycle duration of 2.5 +/- .8 d. In Experiment 2, a double-blinded study was conducted in eight herds in which cows (n = 1013) were AI at first detected estrus after 50 d postpartum and assigned randomly to receive either saline or 4, 8, or 12 micrograms of receptal on d 11 to 14 after first AI. Pregnancy rates were improved in one herd at all doses of receptal, but dose responses were inconsistent in remaining herds. A greater proportion of cows given receptal than controls returned to estrus after 24 d. Administration of a potent GnRH agonist altered number and distribution of ovarian follicles, increased cycle duration, and increased concentrations of progesterone without a consistent increase in pregnancy rates.
Learning, working memory, and intelligence revisited

Based on early findings showing low correlations between intelligence test scores and learning on laboratory tasks, psychologists typically have dismissed the role of learning in intelligence and emphasized the role of working memory instead. In 2006, however, B.A. Williams developed a verbal learning task inspired by three-term reinforcement contingencies and reported unexpectedly high correlations between this task and Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) scores [Williams, B.A., Pearlberg, S.L., 2006. Learning of three-term contingencies correlates with Raven scores, but not with measures of cognitive processing. Intelligence 34, 177-191]. The present study replicated this finding: Performance on the three-term learning task explained almost 25% of the variance in RAPM scores. Adding complex verbal working memory span, measured using the operation span task, did not improve prediction. Notably, this was not due to a lack of correlation between complex working memory span and RAPM scores. Rather, it occurred because most of the variance captured by the complex working memory span was already accounted for by the three-term learning task. Taken together with the findings of Williams and Pearlberg, the present results make a strong case for the role of learning in performance on intelligence tests.
Mthfs is an Essential Gene in Mice and a Component of the Purinosome

Tetrahydrofolates (THF) are a family of cofactors that function as one-carbon donors in folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism, a metabolic network required for the de novo synthesis of purines, thymidylate, and for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine in the cytoplasm. 5-FormylTHF is not a cofactor in one-carbon metabolism, but serves as a storage form of tetrahydrofolate cofactors. 5-formylTHF is mobilized back into the THF cofactor pool by methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFS), which catalyzes the irreversible and ATP-dependent conversion 5-formyltetrahydrofolate to 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate. Mthfs is not an essential gene in Arabidopsis, but MTHFS expression is elevated in animal tumors, enhances de novo purine synthesis, confers partial resistance to antifolate purine synthesis inhibitors and increases rates of folate catabolism in mammalian cell cultures. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects of MTHFS expression have yet to be established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and essentiality of MTHFS in mice. Mthfs was disrupted through the insertion of a gene trap vector between exons 1 and 2. Mthfsgt/+ mice were fertile and viable. No Mthfsgt/gt embryos were recovered from Mthfsgt/+ intercrosses, indicating Mthfs is an essential gene in mice. Tissue MTHFS protein levels are decreased in both Mthfsgt/+ and Mthfs+/+ mice placed on a folate and choline deficient diet, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts from Mthfsgt/+ embryos exhibit decreased capacity for de novo purine synthesis without impairment in de novo thymidylate synthesis. MTHFS was shown to co-localize with two enzymes of the de novo purine synthesis pathway in HeLa cells in a cell cycle-dependent manner, and to be modified by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protein. Mutation of the consensus SUMO modification sites on MTHFS eliminated co-localization of MTHFS with the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway under purine-deficient condit
Multiview: A Methodology for Supporting Multiple Views in Object-Oriented Databases

Author(s): Rundensteiner, Elke A. | Abstract: It has been widely recognized that object-oriented database (OODB) technology needs to be extended to provide a mechanism similar to views in relational database systems. We define an object-oriented view to be an arbitrarily complex virtual schema graph with possibly restructured generalization and decomposition hierarchies - rather than just one virtual class as has been proposed in the literature. In this paper, we propose a methodology, called MultiView, for supporting multiple such view schemata. MultiView breaks the schema design task into the following independent and well-defined subtasks: (1) the customization of type descriptions and object sets of existing classes by deriving virtual classes, (2) the integration of all derived classes into one consistent global schema graph, and (3) the definition of arbitrarily complex view schemata on this augmented global schema. For the first task of MultiView, we define a set of object algebra operators that can be used by the view definer for class customization. For the second task of MultiView, we propose an algorithm that automatically integrates these newly derived virtual classes into the global schema. We solve the third task of MultiView by first letting the view definer explicitly select the desired view classes from the global schema using a view definition language and then by automatically generating a view class hierarchy for these selected classes. In addition, we present algorithms that verify the closure property of a view and, if found to be incomplete, transform it into a closed, yet minimal, view. In this paper, we introduce the fundamental concept of view independence and show MultiView to be view independent. We also outline implementation techniques for realizing MultiView with existing OODB technology.
Effect of Barrel Material on Critical Current Measurements of High- ${\rm J}_{\rm c}$ RRP ${\rm Nb}_{3}{\rm Sn}$ Wires

Nb3Sn strands extracted from a 20-strand rectangular Rutherford cable were reacted on either stainless steel or Ti-alloy barrels and the critical current, Ic , in the field range of 8-11.5 T was measured on ITER-type barrels made from Ti-6Al-4V alloy, 304 stainless steel and G-10. Measurements on the “standard” Ti-alloy barrel using the test procedure employed at BNL are shown to reproduce Ic for extracted strands to ±2%. The Ic data for the sample mounted on the “standard” Ti-alloy are fit to the deviatoric strain scaling model developed for Nb3Sn by the University of Twente group using an arbitrary pre-strain. Using the parameters for this fit, the Ic data for the other barrels are fitted by only adjusting the strain. Using this procedure, the strain difference due to the barrel material is determined. Assuming a thermal pre-strain of -0.2% for the sample measured on the Ti-alloy barrel, the use of stainless steel barrel increases the compressive strain by -0.07%, that of G-10 by -0.10%. With the wire soldered to the stainless steel barrel, the strain increases to -0.15%. Details of this study are presented.
Abdominal adipose tissue quantification on water-suppressed and non-water-suppressed MRI at 3T using semi-automated FCM clustering algorithm

Accurate measurements of human body fat distribution are desirable because excessive body fat is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we hypothesized that the performance of water suppressed (WS) MRI is superior to non-water suppressed (NWS) MRI for volumetric assessment of abdominal subcutaneous (SAT), intramuscular (IMAT), visceral (VAT), and total (TAT) adipose tissues. We acquired T1-weighted images on a 3T MRI system (TIM Trio, Siemens), which was analyzed using semi–automated segmentation software that employs a fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm. Sixteen contiguous axial slices, centered at the L4–L5 level of the abdomen, were acquired in eight T2DM subjects with water suppression (WS) and without (NWS). Histograms from WS images show improved separation of non-fatty tissue pixels from fatty tissue pixels, compared to NWS images. Paired t-tests of WS versus NWS showed a statistically significant lower volume of lipid in the WS images for VAT (145.3 cc less, p=0.006) and IMAT (305 cc less, p<0.001), but not SAT (14.1 cc more, NS). WS measurements of TAT also resulted in lower fat volumes (436.1 cc less, p=0.002). There is strong correlation between WS and NWS quantification methods for SAT measurements (r=0.999), but poorer correlation for VAT studies (r=0.845). These results suggest that NWS pulse sequences may overestimate adipose tissue volumes and that WS pulse sequences are more desirable due to the higher contrast generated between fatty and non-fatty tissues.
Factors Influencing the Health Care Expenditures of Patients with Laryngeal Disorders

ObjectiveTo identify factors related to the health care spending of patients with laryngeal disorders.Study Design and SettingRetrospective analysis of data from a large, nationally representative ...
Analysis of Viroid Pathogenicity by Genome Modification

Viroids are the smallest autonomously replicating pathogenic agents yet described.1 Viroids are low molecular weight RNAs (1.1–1.3 × 105) that can be isolated from certain species of plants afflicted with specific diseases. Although viroids have been discovered because they cause symptoms in some hosts, they are often replicated in other hosts without causing obvious damage.
Campath-1H Treatment of T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia in Patients for Whom at Least One Prior Chemotherapy Regimen Has Failed

PURPOSE: We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Campath-1H, an anti-CD52 humanized monoclonal antibody, in previously treated T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) patients in a compassionate-use program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-six patients with T-PLL (including four chemotherapy-naive patients) received 3, 10, and 30 mg of Campath-1H on sequential days, followed by 30 mg three times weekly, as 2-hour intravenous infusions, for 4 to 12 weeks. RESULTS: Median patient age was 60 years (range, 35 to 84). Spleen liver, lymph node, and skin involvement were present in 64%, 40%, 54%, and 18% of patients, respectively. All tested patients had CD2, CD7, CD4, and/or CD8 positivity, whereas CD5 and CD3 were positive in 98% and 96% of tested patients, respectively. The objective response rate was 51% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40% to 63%), with a 39.5% complete response (CR) rate (95% CI, 28% to 51%). The median duration of CR was 8.7 months (range, 0.13+ to 44.4), and me...
When to Intervene: Elementary School, Middle School or Both? Effects of keepin’ It REAL on Substance Use Trajectories of Mexican Heritage Youth

This article presents the findings of a study exploring two questions: What age is most efficacious to expose Mexican heritage youth to drug abuse prevention interventions, and what dosage of the prevention intervention is needed? These issues are relevant to Mexican heritage youth—many from immigrant families—in particular ways due to the acculturation process and other contextual factors. The study utilized growth curve modeling to investigate the trajectory of recent substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, inhalants) among Mexican heritage students (N = 1,670) participating in the keepin’ it REAL drug prevention program at different developmental periods: the elementary school (5th grade), middle school (7th grade), or both. The findings provide no evidence that intervening only in elementary school was effective in altering substance use trajectories from 5th to 8th grade, either for licit nor illicit substances. Implementing keepin’ it REAL in middle school alone altered the trajectories of use of all four substances for Mexican heritage youth. A double dose of prevention, in elementary and middle school proved to be equally as effective as intervening in 7th grade only, and only for marijuana and inhalants. The decrease in use of marijuana and inhalants among students in the 7th-grade-only or the 5th- and 7th-grade interventions occurred just after students received the curriculum intervention in 7th grade. These results are interpreted from an ecodevelopmental and culturally specific perspective and recommendations for prevention and future research are discussed.
Core Vφ and Ti profiles and transport in TFTR DD and DT plasmas with lithium conditioning

Abstract High performance DT plasmas have been obtained using neutral beam heating with lithium (Li) conditioned graphite walls in TFTR. Values of τE > 300 ms have been obtained with neutron source rates of > 1018 n/s and nτT ≈ 1021. Also, ion temperature (Ti) > 40 keV and toroidal velocity (Vφ) > 800 km/s have been obtained. The Ti(R, t) and Vφ(R, t) profiles show strong gradients near the plasma core with ∇Vφ > 3.5 × 106/s and E × B shearing rate > 2 × 105/s realized. This strong E × B flow shear is consistent with formation of a ‘transport barrier’ in the plasma core. Measured Vφ, Ti, and carbon density, nc, profiles from charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy (CHERS) and neoclassical calculations of poloidal velocity, Vθ, are used to assess the roles of the pressure and velocity contributions to Er (or E × B) with varying Li conditioning. The profiles and gradients and resulting confinement and transport are found to vary with the amount of Li applied and the Li deposition technique. Correlations between the Vθ and Ti profiles and recycling and impurity behavior as implied from edge carbon and Dα light and Li deposition are also observed.
Retro-D-Relaxin

When biochemists use abbreviations such as this title, the mean-ing is usually discoverable by contemplation (as opposed to the meaning of abbreviations in molecular biology). ‘Retro’ means the reverse and it is occasionally used exchangeably with ‘inverto’, and both refer to the direction into which the amino acid backbone is pointing. Peptides are always written with the amino group on the left side and the carboxyl group on the right side, and each single amino acid is incorporated into this peptide in the same direction. The retro- or inverto peptide has each amino acid remaining in the same spot relative to the others, but flipped, so that the carboxyl group now points to the left. Thus, the inverto of Leu→Ala→Gly→Ile would be Leu←Ala←Gly←Ile where the arrows point from the amino terminus to the carboxyl terminus. Using the same example and the conventional way of writing the peptide sequence from the N to the C terminus the retro-form of the original peptide Leu-Ala-Gly-Ile would be Ile-Gly-Ala-Leu. Figure 15.1 explains the concept. The reader will notice that ‘retro’ does not refer to a natural property of a peptide but rather to one sequence relative to another, i.e., there is no retro peptide without the reference peptide to which it is ‘retro’.
5-Hydroxytryptamine Modulation of Rat Parotid Salivary Gland Secretion

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been reported to produce significant responses in blowfly salivary glands, but little information is available concerning its action on mammalian salivary glands. When 5-HT (0.1 μmol/L to 10 μmol/L) is infused i. a. into anesthetized rats, no salivary secretion is obtained from either parotid or submandibular glands. However, when 5-HT is infused along with a threshold concentration of acetylcholine (0-1 mmol/L), potentiation of parotid secretory response is seen with 5-HT (1 μmol/L, 260% increase; 10 μmol/L, 146% increase). Substance P (0.3 μmol/L) combined with 5-HT (1 μmol/L) also resulted in a potentiation of parotid secretion (160% increase). Protein and calcium concentrations were not altered during such treatments. No potentiation of submandibular secretion was noted. Experiments in vitro with parotid cell aggregates exhibited no potentiation associated with the combined use of 5-HT and carbachol, as measured by amylase secretion and inositol trisphosphate accumulatio...
DISSOCIATION OF HEMOLYTIC AND LYMPHOCYTE-TRANSFORMING ACTIVITIES OF STREPTOLYSIN S PREPARATIONS

The ability of streptolysin S preparations to induce high percentages of transformation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes was confirmed in a series of apparently healthy donors. Transforming activity was not demonstrated in the two media used for streptolysin S production, nor in control preparations in which a strain each of Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus aureus (nonhemolytic), and Diplococcus pneumoniae was substituted for the beta hemolytic streptococcal strain used for streptolysin S production. The relation of the hemolytic activity to the lymphocyte transforming activity of streptolysin S preparations was studied by means of inactivation and fractionation experiments. Heating produced a loss in both activities, but more in the hemolytic than in the transforming activity. The transformation obtained with a heated preparation had a high degree of correlation with that obtained with the unheated preparation in a series of normal subjects and patients with various rheumatic diseases, whose lymphocytes were often less responsive to stimulation with streptolysin S preparations (both heated and unheated) than the lymphocytes of the normal subjects studied. Treatment of streptolysin S preparations with chymotrypsin, vegetable lecithin, or trypan blue (the latter in minute amounts) resulted in preparations with no detectable hemolytic activity but with undiminished lymphocyte transforming activity. Chromatographic fractionations on DEAE-Sephadex columns yielded fractions endowed with transforming but not with hemolytic activity, and other fractions endowed with hemolytic but not with transforming activity. The recovery of the hemolytic activity was not complete and quantitation of the recovery of the transforming activity was not attempted. These experiments indicate that the hemolytic and transforming activities of streptolysin S preparations are independent of each other, and specifically that they are the attributes of two different streptococcal products, one of which is streptolysin S. The other is a nonhemolytic streptococcal product present in streptolysin S preparations but previously unrecognized. Some implications of these findings are discussed.
A Meta-Analysis of the Fire-Oak Hypothesis: Does Prescribed Burning Promote Oak Reproduction in Eastern North America?

The fire-oak hypothesis asserts that the current lack of fire is a reason behind the widespread oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration difficulties of eastern North America, and use of prescribed burning can help solve this problem. We performed a meta-analysis on the data from 32 prescribed fire studies conducted in mixed-oak forests to test whether they supported the latter assertion. Overall, the results suggested that prescribed fire can contribute to sustaining oak forests in some situations, and we identified several factors key to its successful use. Prescribed fire reduced midstory stem density, although this reduction was concentrated in the smaller-diameter stems. Prescribed fire preferentially selected for oak reproduction and against mesophytic hardwood reproduction, but this difference did not translate to an increase in the relative abundance of oak in the advance regeneration pool. Fire equalized the height growth rates of the two species groups. Establishment of new oak seedlings tended to be greater in burned areas than in unburned areas. Generally, prescribed burning provided the most benefit to oak reproduction when the fires occurred during the growing season and several years after a substantial reduction in overstory density. Single fires conducted in closed-canopy stands had little impact in the short term, but multiple burns eventually did benefit oaks in the long term, especially when followed by a canopy disturbance. Finally, we identify several future research needs from our review and synthesis of the fire-oak literature.
Toward understanding the recent large reductions in U.S. road fatalities.

Background: From 2005 to 2009, U.S. road fatalities dropped by 22 percent (from 43,510 to 33,963). A reduction of such magnitude over such a short time has not occurred since road safety statistics were first kept (starting in 1913), except for the reductions during World War II. Objective: The study was performed to contribute to our understanding about the mechanisms that could be responsible for this unprecedented drop in road fatalities by analyzing the detailed information from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)—a census of all U.S. crashes that involve a fatality. Method: The study compared the data for 2005 (the recent peak year in terms of road fatalities) with the data for 2008 (the latest year for which detailed data are available). The focus was on identifying those conditions that showed the largest reductions and those that showed the smallest reductions (or increases of any magnitude). The analysis involved an examination of the variables in the FARS database, which is divided int...
Characterization of acoustic vibration modes at GHz frequencies in bulk acoustic wave resonators by combination of scanning laser interferometry and scanning acoustic force microscopy

The application of scanning laser interferometry (SLI) and scanning acoustic force microscopy (SAFM) for the characterization of acoustic vibrations at GHz frequencies in RF resonators is combined and discussed in this work. As a model example, the characterization of a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), including vibration amplitude mapping, decomposition of vibration images into acoustic modes, mode shape reconstruction, dynamic visualization of acoustic vibrations and measurement of dispersion curves, is accomplished by the combination of both techniques.
The Relationship Between Human Field Motion and Preferred Visible Wavelengths

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between human field motion and preferred visible wavelengths. The study was based on the principle of resonancy from Rogers' science of unitary human beings; 201 subjects were tested using a modified version of Ference's human field motion test (HFMT). Two matrices of color were projected to provide an environment for the measurement of preferred visible wavelengths. There was no statistically significant relationship (r = 0.0387, p = 0.293) between scores on the human field motion test and preferred visible wavelengths as measured in nanometers. The Ro gerian concept of accelerated human field rhythms being coordinate with higher frequency environment patterns was not supported in this study. Questions concerning the validity of the HFMT were expressed and were based upon the ambiguity of the terminology of the instrument and the lack of understanding of the concepts used to describe human field motion. Recommendations include the use of other...
The War (on Terror) on Alzheimer’s

In the decade following the tragedies of 9/11, a US-led "War on Terror" has coincided with a US-led "War on Alzheimer's disease". Not only has the rhetoric from these two wars overlapped and produced similar practical and conceptual problems, the campaigns have also become interwoven through the emerging public health issue of war-related head injuries, as well as a shared neglect for environmental contributions to human suffering. This article first explores similarities in the framing and prosecution of both wars, and then considers the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and traumatic environmental injuries (TEI) in the context of a society facing the increased prevalence of dementia. Ultimately, it is argued that addressing the challenges of cognitive aging and preventing violent social conflict both require a vernacular of higher ideals and values--as well as new language patterns rising out of the ecological movement--to trump the more expedient war rhetoric that has disproportionately marked public discourse around terrorism and Alzheimer's disease during the past decade.