cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does the association between depression and smoking vary by body mass index (BMI) category

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore how weight might influence the relationship between depression and smoking.
High resolution MR technique in the diagnosis of mesial temporal sclerosis correlative MRI and pathological features

Mesial temporal sclerosis, otherwise known as hippocampal sclerosis, is the most common entity associated with medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. The neuronal loss and gliosis of the hippocampus that is pathologically characteristic of this disorder is thought to serve as an epileptogenic substrate. Accurate identification and localization of this pathology is crucial before surgery is considered to potentially cure medically intractable seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a central role in the presurgical work-up. We present a 44-year-old man with a history of intractable partial complex seizures secondary to right-sided mesial temporal sclerosis and discuss the magnetic resonance imaging findings utilizing a high resolution technique.
Management of disk space with REBATE

The past decade has witnessed a proliferation of respositories whose workload consists of queries that retrieve information. These repositories provide on-line access to vast amount of data and serve as an integral component of many application domains (e.g., library information systems, scientific applications, entertainment industry). Their storage subsystem is expected to be hierarchical consisting of memory, disk drives, and one or more tertiary storage devices. The database resides permanently on the tertiary storage devices and objects are swapped onto the magnetic disk drives on demand (and deleted once the disk storage capacity is exhausted). This may fragment the disk space over a period of time, resulting in a non-contiguous layout of an object across the surface of a disk drive. This is undesirable because, once the object is referenced, the disk drive is required to reposition its read head multiple times (incur seek operations) when retrieving the object, resulting in a low performance.This paper presents the design of REBATE. REBATE ensures the contiguous layout of each object across the surface of a disk drive by partitioning the available disk space into regions where each region manages objects of approximately the same size. We describe the tradeoffs of using REBATE and its possible limitations.
A superior synthesis of aspartame

Abstract The dipeptide sweetener, aspartame, has been prepared in high yield via the coupling of L-phenylalanine methyl ester and L-aspartic acid N-thiocarboxyanhydride.
Integration of chemical-mechanical polishing into CMOS integrated circuit manufacturing

Abstract Planarization by chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) has been exploited by IBM in the development and manufacture of CMOS products since 1985. Among the products that use this technology are the 4-Mbit DRAM (which uses polysilicon, oxide, tungsten-line and tungsten-stud planarization) and its logic family (which uses four oxide and four tungsten-stud planarization steps). CMP is also used in the planarization of oxide shallow isolation trenches, as in the 16-Mbit DRAM. Reduced sensitivity to many types of defects is possible with CMP. A wafer that is truly flat is easier to clean, eliminates step coverage concerns, provides for better photolithographic and dry etch yields, and generally minimizes complications from prior level structures. Oxide CMP reduces sensitivity to certain pre-existing defects, such as crystalline inclusions or foreign material in an interlevel dielectric. Metal CMP can reduce the incidence of intralevel shorts relative to conventional RIE processing. Random defects associated with CMP, such as slurry residues and mechanical damage, are controlled by careful optimization of the post-polish clean and of the polish process itself. Systematic defects, such as incomplete planarization over very large structures, are controlled by process optimization and prudent design limitations. These include such things as constraints on the image size, the distance between images, and/or the local pattern density. Since its introduction in the 4-Mbit DRAM, there has been a steady increase in the use of chemical-mechanical polishing in IBM CMOS products. The number of steps, processes and materials polished continue to rise, both in current and planned future products. Individual applications range from the simple removal of back-side films to complex insulator or metal planarization requiring high removal uniformity. The process tolerances delivered by CMP have decreased faster than image size, even in the face of dramatic increases in circuit and layout complexity. CMP tools are installed in IBM semiconductor manufacturing and development sites worldwide. Chemical-mechanical polish processes and applications provide unique leverage to IBM products, and are a crucial part of both current and planned IBM CMOS technologies.
An overview of pancreatic exocrine secretion.

Abstract 1. 1. Genes for all proteins have encoded in their DNA sequences, information that specifies where these proteins will localize within the cell. Nascent translation products of transcripts of these genes, that possess a specific NH 2 -terminal signal sequence, are able to translocate into a specialized membranous conducting system called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), or can be incorporated directly into a target organelle (i.e. mitochondrion). Nascent polypeptides lacking this signal sequence remain in the cytosol. 2. 2. Once segregation into the ER has occurred each protein appears to migrate at a characteristic rate to a connecting organelle; the Golgi Complex. Here, enzymatic modifications of these proteins determines the organelle with which each will eventually become associated. 3. 3. In secretory tissues such as the exocrine pancreas, many different proteins are directed into specialized secretory structures called zymogen granules. These granules are maintained in a “ready-to-release” state by steroid hormones. In the absence of estrogens and glucocorticoids the zymogen granules disappear. 4. 4. Physiologically, secretion from the exocrine pancreas is brought about by parasympathetic nerve stimulation, or by the gut hormone cholecystokinin (CCK). Interaction of acetylcholine or CCK with specific receptors on pancreatic acinar cells initiates the process of exocytosis; that is, fusion of the zymogen granule membrane with the plasma membrane resulting in extracellular release of the contents of the secretory granule.
A multi-level view of dependable computing

Abstract This paper serves a dual purpose. It presents a unified framework and terminology for the study of computer system dependability. It also surveys the field of dependable computing in light of the proposed framework. Specifically, impairments to dependability are viewed from six levels, each being more abstract than the previous one. It is argued that all of these levels are useful, in the sense that proven dependability assurance techniques can be applied at each level, and that it is beneficial to have distinct, precisely defined terminology for describing impairments to, and procurement strategies for, computer system dependability at these levels. The six levels are: 1. Defect level or component level, dealing with deviant atomic parts. 2. Fault level or logic level, dealing with deviant signal values or path selections. 3. Error level or information level, dealing with deviant data or internal states. 4. Malfunction level or system level, dealing with deviant functional behavior. 5. Degradation level or service level, dealing with deviant performance. 6. Failure level or result level, dealing with deviant outputs or actions. Briefly, a hardware or software component may be defective (hardware may also become defective due to war and aging). Certain system states will expose the defect, resulting in the development of faults defined as incorrect signal values or decisions within the system. If a fault is actually exercised, it may contaminate the data flowing within the system, causing errors. Erroneous information or states may or may not cause the affected subsystem to malfunction, depending on the subsystem's design and error tolerance. A subsystem malfunction does not necessarily have a catastrophic, unsafe, or even perceivable service-level effect. Finally, degradation of service could eventually lead to system failure. At each of these six levels, the complementary approaches of prevention (avoidance or removal) and tolerance are discussed in relation to inter-level transitions.
Quantitative measurement of repetitive impact damage on ground silicon nitride surfaces

Abstract Structural ceramics are finding application in automotive and truck engines. Poppet valves and valve seats, for example, require resistance to surface damage from repetitive impacts. Grinding and finishing processes can leave microcracks or residual stresses in the surfaces of ceramics which can accelerate surface-initiated degradation processes. A ball-on-inclined plane, repetitive impact testing system has been developed to study the effects of finishing method on surface durability. Tests were performed by repeatedly striking ground alumina and silicon nitride flat specimens with a silicon nitride sphere and measuring the impact damage as a function of the number of strikes. One type of alumina and three types of silicon nitride ceramics were tested. A quantitative impact damage parameter (IDP), based on mechanical stylus profiling data, was developed for use in measuring small amounts of wear. When damage did not extend beyond the depth of valleys in the machined surfaces, the IDP exhibited an excellent linear correlation with the number of impacts of silicon nitride on both silicon nitride and alumina materials. When more extensive damage occurred, a method involving digitizing the area of the contact damage from photomicrographs provided a reasonable correlation with number of impacts. These two methods are compared. Scanning electron microscopy revealed features which can affect the accuracy of impact damage measurement. Implications of the technique are discussed.
Carotenoids and cardiovascular disease: what research gaps remain?

Purpose of reviewDietary and blood carotenoids, including α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin, have been examined in a number of epidemiological studies in recent years for the risk of cardiovascular disease. This review assimilated the existing and recent lit
1249 CELLULAR METABOLISM OF LEAD: A KINETIC ANALYSIS IN CULTURED OSTEOCLASTIC BONE CELLS

Detailed characterization of the modulation of lead metabolism in bone is necessary to understand the role of skeletal lead in the expression of clinical and biochemical effects of lead. The metabolism of lead in osseous tissue is also important clinically because it is the major site of chelation by therapeutic agents, such as CaNa2EDTA and d-penicillamine. Experiments were conducted to characterize the steady-state kinetic distribution and behavior of 210pb, and to identify the biological structures or functions associated with the kinetic pools. Bone cells, derived from mouse calvaria, were enriched for osteoclasts by a sequential collagenase digestion and maintained in primary culture for 1 week. Cultures were labeled with 210pb as 5 μM lead acetate for 20 hr and the kinetic parameters were obtained by analysis of 210pb washout curves. Cellular metabolism was defined by three kinetic pools of intracellular lead containing ∼10% (Sl), ∼15% (S2) and ∼757. (S3) of total cellular lead (1.7-2.2 nmol/mg cell protein). The halftimes for isotopic exchange were 1, 40 and 1000 minutes, respectively. Less than one half of S1 was labile to chelation by EGTA and thus defined as extracellular. KCN, DNP and DBcAMP decreased S3, whereas increasing medium PO4 to 4 mM increased S3, thereby suggesting that S3 includes mitochondrial 210Pb. These data indicate that lead is readily mobilized from osteoclastic bone cells and, like soft tissues (hepatocytes), the bulk of cellular lead is associated with mitochondria.
Indoor pollutant mixing time in an isothermal closed room: An investigation using CFD

We report on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions of mixing time of a pollutant in an unventilated, mechanically mixed, isothermal room. The study aims to determine: (1) the adequacy of the standard Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes two-equation ({kappa}-{var_epsilon}) turbulence model for predicting the mixing time under these conditions and (2) the extent to which the mixing time depends on the room airflow, rather than the source location within the room. The CFD simulations modeled the 12 mixing time experiments performed by Drescher et al. (Indoor Air 5 (1995) 204) using a point pulse release in an isothermal, sealed room mechanically mixed with variable power blowers. Predictions of mixing time were found in good agreement with experimental measurements, over an order of magnitude variation in blower power. Additional CFD simulations were performed to investigate the relation between pollutant mixing time and source location. Seventeen source locations and five blower configurations were investigated. Results clearly show large dependence of the mixing time on the room airflow, with some dependence on source location. We further explore dependence of mixing time on the velocity and turbulence intensity at the source location. Implications for positioning air-toxic sensors in rooms are briefly discussed.
The 27-day variations of plasma densities and temperatures in the topside ionosphere

[1] Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft at 840 km observe a 27-day variation in plasma density and temperature at all subauroral latitudes. At the peak of the solar cycle, evening-sector variations are ∼40–50% in plasma density and ∼5–10% in electron temperature. The percent of variation decreases with decreasing solar activity to or below the threshold of detectability for the DMSP sensors. We compare in situ densities with simultaneous observations of total electron content but find that similar variations are not present in a consistent manner. Thus we conclude that the variations exist mostly as topside phenomena. However, comparisons with variations in the radio flux at 10.7 cm (F10.7), a standard proxy for solar EUV, indicate that the topside variations are driven by the solar EUV flux. When compared with the variations of several alternative proxies for the solar EUV flux, we find that only one of them correlates better than F10.7. Because the topside ionosphere couples with the plasmasphere, we suggest that similar 27-day variations should appear in plasmaspheric parameters.
Epilepsy research gets new guidance

The leucine-rich repeat-containing gene, LGI1, was identified as a possible tumor suppressor gene involved in brain tumor development. It now appears that it also plays a role in abnormal brain development that leads to epilepsy.
Systemic lithium administration alters rat cerebral cortex phospholipids

Systemic lithium administration is known to alter the metabolism of myo-inositol and choline, both of which are precursors for phospholipid synthesis. We report that systemic administration also induces a number of changes in the relative levels of rat cerebral cortex phospholipids, including phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylethanolamine. As phospholipids play an integral role in the maintenance of biological membranes, these changes are functionally quite significant and may have implications for a better understanding of lithium's therapeutic actions.
An evaluation of incentive regulation: Corrections

This note re-estimates our model of the determinants and impacts of cost component incentive regulation using an improved data set which avoids double-counting firm observations. It also tests alternative specifications of the relationships. While cost component incentive regulation improves engineering efficiency (heat rates), it does not improve economic efficiency. Thus, our earlier findings are not altered by the smaller data set or by model respecification.
In vivo detection of apoptotic cell death: a necessary measurement for evaluating therapy for myocarditis, ischemia, and heart failure.

If life is to continue, cells that have completed their useful function(s) must die in a timely manner. Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is a natural, orderly, energy-dependent process that causes cells to die without inducing an inflammatory response. In the heart, apoptosis plays pivotal roles in the development of myocarditis, cardiomyopathies, transplant rejection, the periinfarct zone in myocardial infarction, and reperfusion injury. Apoptosis is triggered either by a decrease in factors required to maintain the cell in good health or by an increase in factors which cause damage to the cell. When these factors tilt in the direction of death and the cell has sufficient time to respond, a common proteolytic, cascade involving cysteine aspartic acid-specific proteases (caspases) is activated to initiate apoptosis. Cells that die by apoptosis autodigest their DNA and nuclear proteins, change the phospholipid composition on the outer surface of their cell membrane, and form lipid enclosed vesicles, which contain noxious intracellular contents, organelles, autodigested cytoplasm, and DNA. The compositional cell membrane phospholipid change that occurs with the onset of apoptosis is marked by the sudden expression of phosphatidylserine (PS), a phospholipid that ordinarily appears on the inner leaflet of the membrane, on the external leaflet of the membrane. The constant exposure of PS during apoptosis makes it an attractive target for radiopharmaceutical imaging. An endogenous human protein, annexin V, has a high affinity (kd=7 nmol/L) for PS bound to the cell membrane. Fluorescence-labeled annexin V is used for histologic and cell-sorting studies to identify apoptotic cells. Annexin has been radiolabeled and binds to cells undergoing apoptosis in vivo. This review outlines some of the key features of apoptosis as contrasted to necrosis (unregulated cell death) and describes how these processes can be imaged with radionuclide techniques.
Radiation protection and monitoring for well-drilling operations

Abstract An extensive well installation program of approximately 600 wells in the ORNL area was initiated in December, 1985. At that time it was recognized that subcontractor personnel involved in the Laboratory's characterization effort might encounter radioactive or other hazardous materials that could result in significant levels of exposure. A program was established to provide for categorization of health hazard protection for those individuals involved in the characterization effort. This paper will address the steps that were taken to evaluate proposed sites for subcontractor activity, assumptions used to categorize the level of health risk, and the procedures established for assignment of appropriate protective equipment.
Interpolatory properties of best L2-approximants

Abstract Let ƒbe a continuous function and sn be the polynomial of degree at most n of best L2(μ)-approximation to ƒon [-1,1]. Let Zn(ƒ):=\s{xϵ[-1,1]:ƒ(x)−sn(x) = 0\s}. Under mild conditions on the measure μ, we prove that ∪ Zn(ƒ) is dense in [-1,1]. This answers a question posed independently by A. Kroo and V. Tikhomiroff. It also provides an analogue of the results of Kadec and Tashev (for L∞) and Kroo and Peherstorfer (for L1) for least squares approximation.
Gut microbiome composition is linked to whole grain-induced immunological improvements

The involvement of the gut microbiota in metabolic disorders, and the ability of whole grains to affect both host metabolism and gut microbial ecology, suggest that some benefits of whole grains are mediated through their effects on the gut microbiome. Nutritional studies that assess the effect of whole grains on both the gut microbiome and human physiology are needed. We conducted a randomized cross-over trial with four-week treatments in which 28 healthy humans consumed a daily dose of 60 g of whole-grain barley (WGB), brown rice (BR), or an equal mixture of the two (BR+WGB), and characterized their impact on fecal microbial ecology and blood markers of inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism. All treatments increased microbial diversity, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and the abundance of the genus Blautia in fecal samples. The inclusion of WGB enriched the genera Roseburia, Bifidobacterium and Dialister, and the species Eubacterium rectale, Roseburia faecis and Roseburia intestinalis. Whole grains, and especially the BR+WGB treatment, reduced plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and peak postprandial glucose. Shifts in the abundance of Eubacterium rectale were associated with changes in the glucose and insulin postprandial response. Interestingly, subjects with greater improvements in IL-6 levels harbored significantly higher proportions of Dialister and lower abundance of Coriobacteriaceae. In conclusion, this study revealed that a short-term intake of whole grains induced compositional alterations of the gut microbiota that coincided with improvements in host physiological measures related to metabolic dysfunctions in humans.
MRI Assessment of Early Tumor Response in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated With Sorafenib

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to examine early MRI changes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with the antiangiogenic agent sorafenib and to identify MRI biomarkers of RCC response to sorafenib. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Sixteen patients with RCC were evaluated by MRI before and 3–12 weeks after commencing treatment with sorafenib. Two experienced MR radiologists, blinded to treatment status, independently graded tumor appearance on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and gadolinium-enhanced images. The proportional odds mixed model was used to compare qualitative appearance of tumors before and after therapy. Time-to-progression was correlated with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.0 and MR-modified Choi criteria, incorporating changes in both tumor enhancement and size. RESULTS. After sorafenib therapy, there was a significant increase in T1 signal intensity of tumors (p < 0.0001) and a significant decrease in degree of tumor enhancement (p < 0.0001). The sum of unidimensional tum...
Stable actions of groups on real trees

This paper further develops Rips's work on real trees. We study a class of actions called ‘stable’ which includes actions with trivial arc stabilizers and small actions of hyperbolic groups.
Clinicians and outcome measurement: what's the use?

The goal of this study was to learn more about clinicians' experiences with, and perceptions of the utility, validity, and feasibility of standardized outcome measures in practice. Fifty randomly selected clinicians from multiple disciplines and multiple service agencies in a large children's public mental health service system were interviewed individually (n=30) or in focus groups (n=20) using semistructured interviews. There was great variability across clinicians in attitudes about empirical methods of treatment evaluation. There was consensus regarding feasibility challenges of administering standardized measures, including time burden and literacy barriers. Although all participants had received scored assessment profiles for their clients, the vast majority reported that they did not use the scores in treatment planning or monitoring. Their suggestions for improved clinical utility of outcome measurement are included. With increased attention and resources devoted to performance outcome assessment, it is concerning that most clinicians perceive little clinical utility of outcome measurement.
Expression and characterization of a thermostable penicillin G acylase from an environmental metagenomic library

One clone (ACPGA001) exhibiting penicillin G acylase (PGA) activity was screened from a metagenomic library by using a medium containing penicillin G. A novel PGA gene from the inserted fragment of ACPGA001 was obtained by sequencing. The amino acid sequence of ACPGA001 PGA exhibited <33 % similarity to PGAs retrieved from GenBank. This gene was expressed in Escherichia coli M15 and the recombinant protein was purified and characterized. The ACPGA001 PGA exhibited a maximum activity at 60 °C and showed high activity at pH 4–10 with an optimum pH of 8.0. This enzyme was stable at 40 °C for 70 min with a half-life of 60 min at 55 °C. These beneficial characteristics of ACPGA001 PGA provide some advantages for the potential application of ACPGA001 PGA in industry.
Reducing global address recognition delays in local area networks with spatial bandwidth reuse

Abstract A special class of local area networks have recently received much attention in which destination nodes remove packets from the network, allowing spatial bandwidth reuse or concurrent transmission of packets without collision. Destination removal requires that each node delay packets long enough so it can decode the destination address. If the address is a short label (say, 8-bit) the decoding time is short, but if we want to use global or MAC addresses of 48 or 64 bits, the sum of decoding times encountered by packets may result in unacceptably long delays, even at light traffic loads. In this paper, we propose protocols for reducing global address recognition delays which are designed to supplement existing protocols for local area networks with spatial bandwidth reuse. They are also designed to coexist with other addressing modes used for individual LANs, which are based on the use of very short, locally administered labels. Of particular interest is a completely decentralized protocol which achieves the low global address recognition delays of multi-access protocols and yet seamlessly reverts to efficient spatial bandwidth reuse at high loads. We focus on the MetaRing and MetaNet architectures and apply our methods to these local area networks. A simple probabilistic model is presented which demonstrates significant improvement in delay when our protocols are used.
The effects of pharmaceutical consumption and obesity on the quality of life in the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries

Objective: The objective of this study is to validate our earlier work on life expectancy with more recent data and, more importantly, to extend it to examine quality of life, not only the length of life.
Language outcome after perinatal stroke: does side matter?

The goal of this study was to examine structured language skills in children with perinatal strokes. Participants were 28 school-age children with early focal brain lesions (17 with left hemisphere [LH] damage, 11 with right hemisphere [RH] damage), and 57 controls. A standardized test of language (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals–Revised) was administered. Receptive, Expressive, and Total Language scores, as well as subtest scores, were analyzed. Control participants scored within the normal range, whereas the LH and RH groups scored significantly more poorly than did controls. There were no differences between the LH and RH groups on any of the language scores, and all scores were below the 14th percentile. Within the lesion group as a whole, scores were not related to lesion laterality, site, or severity. Results also were not accounted for by socioeconomic status or IQ. However, children who experienced seizures demonstrated significantly poorer performance than did children who did not ex...
Tautomerism in complexes with neutral tetradentate Schiff base ligands: the X-ray structures of cadmium(II) nitrate complexes of bis(acetylacetone)-m-phenylenediimine and bis(acetylacetone)-p-phenylenediimine ☆

Abstract The Schiff base ligands bis(acetylacetone)-m-phenylenediimine (L1) and bis(acetylacetone)-p-phenylenediimine (L2) can be made to coordinate to Cd(II) without deprotonation. The products have the stoichiometries Cd(L1)2(NO3)2 and Cd2(L2)3(NO3)4. Characterization by X-ray crystallography reveals polymeric structures in which Cd is eight-coordinate in the former and seven-coordinate in the latter. The nitrate groups are bidentate. The Schiff base ligands coordinate to Cd only through oxygen atoms and function as bridging bidentate keto-amine tautomers such that the NH⋯O hydrogen bonding networks present in the free ligands are preserved.
Maternal substance use during pregnancy and developmental outcome at age three.

Abstract Purpose: The data from the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey (NMIHS) and its 3-year follow-up offer a unique opportunity to study the effects of substance (alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco) use during gestation on development at age three in a nationally representative sample. Using this data, the relationship of development (language, gross motor, fine motor, and adaptive behavior) and specific behaviors (eating problems, length of play, activity level, difficulty of management, level of happiness, fearfulness, ability to get along with peers, tantrums, eating nonfood) and maternal drinking, marijuana use, and cigarette smoking was studied in a sample of live births who had been followed up at age three. Methods: The data were analyzed using a cumulative logit model of ordinal responses. Results: Higher activity level, greater difficulty of management, tantrums, eating problems, and eating nonfood were related to maternal drinking during pregnancy. Increased fearfulness, poorer motor skills, and shorter length of play were associated with maternal marijuana use during pregnancy. Less well developed language, higher activity level, greater difficulty of management, fearfulness, decreased ability to get along with peers, and increased tantrums were associated with maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy. The preponderance of significant effects involved the behaviors studied rather than the developmental indices. Implications: It may be that the effects of substance use during pregnancy, especially more subtle ones, show up in behavior before they can be measured by developmental scales.
Cation exchangers: their use and hazards as aids in managing edema.

Abstract While no cationic exchangers are available for general use, clinical studies and animal experiments have been made with several types of high capacity resins. Unless given as a potassium exchanger, acidosis and potassium depletion are inevitable results of continued ingestion of these materials, which carry out sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the feces. When the potassium form is used, sodium uptake per gram is reduced, and there is some danger of hyperpotassemia. Investigators now tend to favor 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 mixtures of hydrogen or ammonium and potassium exchanger. It is essential to follow the effects produced by exchangers with frequent determination of serum sodium, potassium, and CO 2 capacity. Supplementary use of calcium and magnesium seem advisable, although loss of these elements is slow and blood levels usually unchanged. Demineralization of bone, rather than tetany, is the hazard. The uptake of sodium, when subjects are on normal diets, rarely exceeds 1 meq. per gram of exchanger, or 2 per cent by weight. On diets low in sodium or rich in potassium and calcium, the uptake may fall to one-third this amount as the uptake of the other cations rises. In cardiac, nephrotic, and cirrhotic patients, cation exchangers sometimes fail to mobilize edema, but in most cases sodium depletion and weight loss occur when 40 to 100 Gm. are given daily. The safest use, and that which gives the highest removal of sodium per gram of exchanger, is in patients on normal diets with 3 to 6 Gm. of salt per day. The exchange resins also are of value in potentiating mercurial diuresis and in patients sensitive or resistant to such diuretics. Further improvement in the resins and more intensive study of them is expected before they become generally available. There is no reason to suppose resins will replace those diuretics which, acting on the distal part of the nephron, cause loss of both anionic and cationic electrolytes in the urine.
Renal adaptations to macro- and micro-habitats in the family cricetidae

Abstract 1. 1. Among cricetids there appears to be a direct relationship between the percentage medullary thickness and the ability to concentrate urine, at least congenerically. 2. 2. A correlation was established between a renal index and the rainfall within the geographic range of each taxon. 3. 3. A pattern was found relating renal structure to the speculated relative moisture availability among environmental associates within specific geographic areas.
Persistence of DDT in wild populations of small mammals.

THE protracted persistence of DDT and some other organochlorine insecticides in soils is well documented1,2. While it has also been shown that these persistent residues can contaminate a resident fauna3, there has been little indication of the duration of this relationship once treatment ceases, except for observations covering a year or two4,5. We now present data of pesticide residues from small mammals covering a period of 9 years after single applications of DDT applied to forests at a rate of 0.89 kg/hectare (1 pound/acre). These treatments were for control of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), in northern Maine, United States.
Comparison of interpolated vs. calculated micro-multileaf settings in dynamic conformal arc treatment

Abstract Stereotactic radiosurgery has developed into a technique where patient positioning and treatment delivery can be performed with submillimeter precision. Achievement of this level of precision has allowed margins to be significantly reduced, and in some cases, removed altogether. Joined with these reductions in treatment margin has come a desire to shape the radiation beam, further limiting dose to normal tissues. Initial applications of shaped radiosurgery fields utilized circular blocking apertures in an attempt to shape the beam to these small volumes. The resultant dose distributions conformed well to spherical treatment volumes but were inadequate for situations where the volume of interest was irregular in shape. Other techniques, such as applying these circular apertures through multiple isocenter positions to a single volume, have been investigated as possible ways to better conform dose distributions to these irregularly-shaped volumes. Recent technological advances allow the use of micromultileaf collimators which dynamically shape the beam by adjustment of individual leaves as the gantry rotates through the arc. With margins potentially so tight, accurate evaluation of these dynamically adjusting treatment parameters becomes critical. Our current treatment planning software evaluates adjustments of the leaf positions in increments of 10° and then does a linear interpolation between increments. Treatment delivery, however, is performed with adjustment in leaf position more consistent with a 1° increment. This paper compares the individual position of each leaf as determined for the 10° interpolation to required changes in leaf position when the calculation is performed at increments of less than 10°. Our data suggest that there are instances where improvements can be seen when corrections in leaf positions are made at these smaller increments.
Proximal Junctional Kyphosis After Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib Insertion

Abstract Study Design Retrospective review of patients who had undergone vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) treatment at a single institution. Objectives To evaluate whether clinically significant proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) occurs after VEPTR insertion. Summary of Background Data PJK is a potential problem after posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion. PJK after VEPTR insertion has not been well-described. Methods A total of 68 patients underwent VEPTR treatment between 1999 and 2009. Diagnosis, age at time of VEPTR insertion, location of VEPTR anchors, preoperative and postoperative scoliosis, T2–T12 kyphosis and PJK, time from VEPTR insertion to development of PJK, revision procedure for significant PJK, change in PJK after the revision procedure, and PJK at final follow-up were recorded. Results Four patients developed PJK (6%). One patient had congenital scoliosis with rib fusions, 1 had scoliosis associated with a syndrome, and 2 had neuromuscular scoliosis. Mean follow-up was 5.7 years. Average T2–T12 kyphosis and PJK before VEPTR insertion were 77° and 14°, respectively. Mean T2–T12 kyphosis and PJK after VEPTR insertion were 63° and 33°, respectively. Average T2–T12 kyphosis and PJK before the recommended revision procedure for treatment of PJK were 89° and 53°, respectively. All patients developed PJK within the first year after VEPTR insertion. Two patients underwent revision to growing rods. One of these patients had preoperative halo-gravity traction. Mean PJK in these 2 patients improved from 39° to 18° after revision and remained stable at 19° at an average follow-up of 2.9 years. Conclusions PJK after VEPTR insertion can occur. Patients with preoperative thoracic hyperkyphosis may be at higher risk. PJK can develop within the first year of VEPTR treatment, and can become progressive and severe enough to require complex interventions. In this small case series, patients were revised to growing rods.
Taxation, Public Borrowing And Economic Development: A Metropolitan Area Analysis

Despite a substantial body of evidence to the contrary, state and local fiscal policy variables loom to many political leaders as important determinants of economic growth. Using instrumental variables regression analysis reveals that prior population growth has a strong and significant influence on subsequent job growth. Differential factor costs, such as earnings per worker and electricity costs, have a statistically significant effect on employment growth. The results for total employment growth and for manufacturing employment growth suggest that factor costs are more important statistically for growth in the 1980s than they were during the 1970s. The degree of labor unionization has had mixed effects on economic growth. Fiscal variables, however, are not generally statistically significant except for the limited effects of per capita state non-property taxes on the change of total employment. There is no demonstrable long term effect of public expenditures on growth patterns over the 20 year period analyzed. Finally, per capita private purpose public bonds do not influence employment growth. The results reveal that, if anything, metropolitan areas with declining employment are more likely to use economic development bonds in unsuccessful attempts to stem employment decline.
1,1',1''-{[4-(3,4-Ethyl-ene-dioxy-thio-phen-2-yl)phen-yl]methane-tri-yl}tris-(1H-pyra-zole).

In the title complex, C22H18N6O2S, two of the pyrazole rings are disordered over two sets of sites with ratios of refined occupancies of 0.58 (2):0.42 (2) and 0.517 (12):0.483 (12). The dioxane ring is in a half-chair conformation and the two –CH2– groups of this ring are disordered over two sets of sites, the ratio of refined occupancies being 0.855 (19):0.145 (19). The essentially planar thio­phene ring [largest deviation = 0.0444 (2) A] forms a dihedral angle of 19.59 (3)° with the benzene ring.
A subspace decomposition method for point source localization in blurred images

We address the problem of resolving blurred point sources in intensity images. A new approach to image restoration is introduced which is a 2-D generalization of techniques originating from the field of direction of arrival estimation (DOA). In the 2-D frequency domain, algorithms, such as MUSIC, may be adapted to search for these point sources. A generalization of array smoothing based on a regularization operator is introduced for 2-D arrays in order to achieve rank enhancement in the signal space of the covariance matrix. >
Needle biopsy of anatomically unfavorable liver lesions with an electromagnetic navigation assist device in a computed tomography environment.

PURPOSE Emerging interventional radiology assistance systems that incorporate electromagnetic navigation (EMN) can help the operator guide a needle or other instrument toward a target along preplanned oblique trajectories while avoiding critical structures. A proof-of-concept study was conducted to assess the use of EMN, and EMN was compared with the standard computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy guidance technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 14 needle passes, seven each with EMN and CT fluoroscopy guidance, were performed into an artificially created liver lesion of a single swine. The accuracy of needle placement for each pass was verified with a confirmatory CT scan. The total radiation dose and time of procedure was compared between the EMN and conventional CT fluoroscopy methods. RESULTS All needle passes were successful, and all passes conducted with EMN were completed with a single insertion, whereas multiple passes (mean, 2.9) with needle repositioning were required with CT fluoroscopic guidance. Statistically significant reduction in procedure time and overall radiation dose for EMN punctures was shown. Accuracy of needle placement was statistically equivalent for the two methods. CONCLUSIONS This proof-of-concept study shows that EMN guidance has equivalent accuracy of needle placement to conventional CT fluoroscopy–guided methods in swine. EMN is also associated with favorable radiation-dose and time-of-procedure profiles for biopsy of liver lesions. Clinical studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technology in the biopsy of lesions in anatomically challenging locations that require steep angles of needle insertion.
Somatic Gene Transfer to Salivary Glands

: Recent developments in gene transfer technology have expanded the range of in vivo experimentation and provided new insights that might be applicable to the treatment of human diseases. Somatic gene transfer may complement conventional transgenic animal experiments by allowing for more restricted gene expression. Salivary glands of rats are readily transduced in vivo by adenovirus vectors. This model has been used to demonstrate the effects of transferring a water channel (aquaporin) gene to glands that have been damaged by radiation. Submandibular glands that receive the aquaporin vector increase the stimulated salivary flow close to normal levels. The possible role of E2F1 in promoting cell regeneration in vivo was also explored. A vector expressing E2F1 was capable of increasing DNA synthesis in rat salivary glands, though complete mitosis was not observed. Future generations of vectors must overcome current limitations of efficiency, immunogenicity, and transient expression.
Analysis of distributed control systems with shared communication and computation resources

We address the analysis and implementation of a distributed control system on a network of communicating control units, resulting in a Networked Control System (NCS). We propose an approach based on three steps: control system analysis in terms of sampling times and delays, mapping of control loops to computation/communication hardware components, and scheduling analysis. This procedure is especially important for applications that place a heavy load on the available computation and communication resources and finds direct application in FlexRay control networks.
FALSIFIABILITY AND TRACTION IN THEORIES OF DIVINE ACTION

. One of the most focused research programs in the science-religion dialogue that has taken place up to the present is the series of volumes published jointly by the Vatican Observatory and the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. Originating with the encouragement of Pope John Paul II, this series has produced seven volumes focusing on how divine action can be understood in light of contemporary science. A retrospective volume published in 2008, Scientific Perspectives on Divine Action: Twenty Years of Challenge and Progress, contains articles reviewing the series as a whole. In this article I analyze the series as a whole as well as some of the pivotal problems discussed throughout the series, such as the zero-sum game, scientific “traction,” falsifiability in theories of divine action, and locating special divine action in the physical world.
Facilitation of cytosolic calcium wave propagation by local calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiac myocytes

The widely accepted paradigm for cytosolic Ca(2+) wave propagation postulates a 'fire-diffuse-fire' mechanism where local Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca(2+) release channels diffuses towards and activates neighbouring release sites, resulting in a propagating Ca(2+) wave. A recent challenge to this paradigm proposed the requirement for an intra-SR 'sensitization' Ca(2+) wave that precedes the cytosolic Ca(2+) wave and primes RyRs from the luminal side to CICR. Here, we tested this hypothesis experimentally with direct simultaneous measurements of cytosolic ([Ca(2+)](i); rhod-2) and intra-SR ([Ca(2+)](SR); fluo-5N) calcium signals during wave propagation in rabbit ventricular myocytes, using high resolution fluorescence confocal imaging. The increase in [Ca(2+)](i) at the wave front preceded depletion of the SR at each point along the calcium wave front, while during this latency period a transient increase of [Ca(2+)](SR) was observed. This transient elevation of [Ca(2+)](SR) could be identified at individual release junctions and depended on the activity of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA). Increased SERCA activity (β-adrenergic stimulation with 1 μM isoproterenol (isoprenaline)) decreased the latency period and increased the amplitude of the transient elevation of [Ca(2+)](SR), whereas inhibition of SERCA (3 μM cyclopiazonic acid) had the opposite effect. In conclusion, the data provide experimental evidence that local Ca(2+) uptake by SERCA into the SR facilitates the propagation of cytosolic Ca(2+) waves via luminal sensitization of the RyR, and supports a novel paradigm of a 'fire-diffuse-uptake-fire' mechanism for Ca(2+) wave propagation in cardiac myocytes.
Axon regeneration mechanisms: insights from C. elegans

Understanding the mechanisms of axon regeneration is of great importance to the development of therapeutic treatments for spinal cord injury or stroke. Axon regeneration has long been studied in diverse vertebrate and invertebrate models, but until recently had not been analyzed in the genetically tractable model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The small size, simple neuroanatomy, and transparency of C. elegans allows single fluorescently labeled axons to be severed in live animals using laser microsurgery. Many neurons in C. elegans are capable of regenerative regrowth, and can in some cases re-establish functional connections. Large-scale genetic screens have begun to elucidate the genetic basis of axon regrowth.
Monocyte and Macrophage Heterogeneity in the Heart

Monocytes and macrophages are innate immune cells that reside and accumulate in the healthy and injured heart. The cells and their subsets pursue distinct functions in steady-state and disease, and their tenure may range between hours and months. Some subsets are highly inflammatory, whereas others support tissue repair. This review discusses current concepts of lineage relationships and crosstalk of systems, highlights open questions, and describes tools for studying monocyte and macrophage subsets in the murine and human heart.