cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leukoencephalopathy: “Before concluding treatment efficacy…”

Just 11 years ago, a new genetic white matter disease, leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and elevated lactate (LBSL), was described in 7 children and 1 teenager.1 Clinical features were dominated by progressive motor deterioration without sphincter dysfunction; half of the patients had loss of position and vibratory sensation and learning problems, but no vision or hearing loss. CSF was acellular without oligoclonal bands. Somatosensory evoked potentials, nerve conduction velocities, and a single sural nerve biopsy were normal. MRI showed a symmetrical leukoencephalopathy (figure, top) with a predilection for the brainstem and spinal cord. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed decreased N -acetylaspartate and elevated lactate levels in brain white matter. Disease was due to a deficiency in mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase.2
The synthesis and crystal structure of tetramethylammonium acetatotrimethylaluminate

Abstract The crystal structure of [N(CH3)4][Al(CH3)3CH3COO] has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected by counter methods. Tetramethylammonium acetatotrimethylaluminate crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with lattice dimensions a  6.949(5), b  22.022(9), c  9.576(6)A, β  94.40(5)°, and pcalc  0.93 g cm-3 for Z  4. Least-squares refinement gave a final conventional R value Of 0.092 for 729 independent observed reflections. The aluminum atom is coordinated in a tetrahedral fashion with an Al-O bond length of 1.83(1)A, and an average Al-C distance of 2.02(2)A. The C-O-AL bond angle is 137(1)°. The compound was prepared from [N(CH3)4][Al2(CH3)6CH3COO].n-C6H5CH3.
Family Characteristics and Child Care Arrangements

Child care has become increasingly problematic for many families as more women have entered the work force, both in single earner and dual earner families. This study expands on previous studies of child care arrangements by determining the demographic variables that predict child care arrangements. The data used in this study are part of the United States Bureau of the Census Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). The sample consists of 1,413 preschool children. Results show that significant predictors of location of child care are age of child, family income, race of respondent and family type. Significant predictors of provider of child care are age of child, family income, and family type. Significant predictors of number of child care arrangements are age of child and race of respondent. In home care versus non-home care by nonrelatives, age of child and race of respondent are significant predictors.
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies in a child with pauci-immune necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

We report a case of pauci-immune, necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis in a 10-year-old child initially thought to have Henoch-Schonlein purpura. The diagnosis of a Wegener's granulomatosis-microscopic polyarteritis disorder was made on the basis of clinical presentation and a positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA). This case illustrates the usefulness of the ANCA in the diagnosis and management of childhood vasculitides.
THE NATURE OF THE SURFACE CARBOHYDRATES ON PORCINE CELLS WHICH ARE NOT RECOGNIZED BY HUMAN NATURAL ANTIBODIES. • 125

There is a severe shortage of donor organs in the United States. This shortage is even more pronounced in Pediatric patients. A possible solution to this problem may be xenotransplantation using porcine organs. However, a barrier to cross-species transplantation exists in which naturally occurring antibodies bind predominantly to Galα1-3Gal, initiating a rapid and severe rejection of the porcine graft. Even though this initial rejection may be avoided by current therapies, another complication is that the presence of Galα1-3Gal stimulates the production of a very strong elicited humoral response. The initial barrier may be smaller in young patients because natural antibodies in these patients are present in only very low levels. For this reason, xenotransplantation is thought to be more feasible for young patients. However, the presence of the predominant xenogeneic antigen, Galα1-3Gal, poses a threat even in pediatric patients, as it may stimulate the production of elicited antibodies. One possible way to alleviate the humoral barrier posed by xenotransplantation is to use pigs which possess very little Galα1-3Gal recognized by natural human antibodies. Such pigs have been found to exist naturally. Although very little antibody binds to the cells of“low-antigen” pigs, the cells were found to express normal levels of Galα1-3Gal. The mechanism underlying this surprising observation was explored using an enzyme linked dot blot assay and photodensiometric scanning to determine binding of human natural antibodies and lectins to porcine cells. Using this assay, xenoreactive IgM showed greater binding to“high-antigen” cells than low-antigen cells, while the lectin GS-I-B4, which is specific for Galα1-3Gal, bound to high-antigen cells the same as to low-antigen cells. When low-antigen platelets were digested with neuraminidase followed by β-galactosidase, greater binding to low-antigen platelets was seen, suggesting that other non-antigenic carbohydrates may hinder antibody binding to low-antigen porcine cells. The reduced immunologic response to low-antigen organs may be attributed in some degree to the arrangement of the determinant on the organ rather than a reduced amount of antigen. This information may be used to specifically modify porcine organs by transgenic technology which is already available.
The role of solar local time in polar cap magnetic variations

The role of the earth's main field in controlling the morphology of magnetic disturbance is usually accounted for by use of invariant latitude and MLT (magnetic local time) as a coordinate system. Magnetic disturbance from ionospheric currents is also controlled by ionospheric conductivity. At high latitudes, where SLT (solar local time) can be very different from MLT, the use of only MLT can give misleading results. In particular, those diurnal magnetic variations in the polar cap that change characteristics between interplanetary magnetic sectors have a tendency to peak near noon SLT rather than noon MLT at Alert, where noon MLT and noon SLT differ by more than 10 hours. Because of the sparsity of magnetic observatories it is not possible to completely separate SLT and MLT effects.
Applications of Adjoint-Based Techniques in Continuous-Energy Monte Carlo Criticality Calculations

The method for performing adjoint-weighted tallies in MCNP is discussed along with the applications of point kinetics, perturbation theory, and nuclear data sensitivities. Future applications and extensions such as localized adjoint-weighted fluxes, more sophisticated kinetics models, higher-order perturbation theory, and temperature coefficients.
Further evidence for masculinization of female rats by males located caudally in utero

The morphology and behavior of female rodents is partially masculinized as a result of residence near males in the same uterine horn (Clemens effect). Two hypothetical mechanisms have been proposed to account for this effect. In the first hypothesis ("contiguity") androgens secreted by males in utero are proposed to diffuse across the amniotic membrane, reaching adjacent fetuses. In the second hypothesis ("caudal male") androgens are transported via the cervical-to-ovarian blood flow and may diffuse directly between closely apposed uterine veins and arteries. This study was designed to test directly which of these mechanisms appears more influential in masculinizing the morphology of female rats. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were decapitated early on Day 22 of gestation and pups were Caesarean delivered. Their anogenital distance and body weight were recorded, location in utero coded by means of footpad tatooing, and each litter fostered to a maternal female. Measurements were taken again when the animals were weaned. Statistical analysis revealed that the presence of one or more males caudal to a female in the uterine horn has a more critical influence on that female's morphology than contiguity per se. Such a mechanism may result in partial masculinization of dimorphic behaviors later in life.
Some results on the minimum weight of primitive BCH codes (Corresp.)

For 1 \leq i \leq m - s- 2 and 0 \leq s \leq m -2i , the intersection of the binary BCH code of designed distance 2 ^{m-s-1} - 2 ^{m-s-t-1} - 1 and length 2^m - 1 with the shortened (s + 2) th-order Reed-Muller code of length 2^m -- 1 has codewords of weight 2^{m-s-1} - 2^{m-s-t-1} - 1 .
Test-Retest Reliability of Cortical Evoked Potentials Using Naturally Produced Speech Sounds

ObjectiveTo determine if naturally produced speech stimuli evoke distinct neural response patterns that can be reliably recorded in individuals.DesignAuditory cortical evoked potentials were obtained from seven normal-hearing young adults in response to four naturally produced speech tokens (/bi/, /
Comments on the electrostatic energy of a Wigner solid

A recent contention by Hall that Fuchs's calculation of the electrostatic energy of an infinite Wigner solid contains a fundamental error is not true. Fuchs calculated the average electrostatic energy per electron ${\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{i}$, while Hall derived this quantity from the energy of the interaction of one electron with the rest of the lattice ${\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{\mathrm{el}}$ by use of the relation ${\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{i}=(\frac{1}{2}){\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{\mathrm{el}}$; however, this relation is not valid in the case studied by Hall. Preliminary results for finite Wigner solids are discussed.
Local government in post-communist poland: A study of federalism and executive authority in plock

This article examines the establishment of local government in post-communist Poland. Its purpose is to examine the realignment of central state and local government authority established through the Polish National Assembly's (Sejm) 1990 reforms and to provide an assessment of developing local government autonomy and executive authority in the new city government structure. The conceptual framework is comparative, using an American perspective to examine issues of local government autonomy and executive authority.
The distribution of voltage losses among components of a battery

An approach to identify the contribution of each individual component to the total voltage loss of a battery is presented. This approach combines experimental measurements with a mathematical model of the grid geometry to assess voltage losses due to: (a) terminal post; (b) intercell connector; (c) separator; (d) positive and negative electrodes; (e) positive and negative grids. A circuit model is used to relate the component resistances to the resistance of the battery. The versatile grid geometry model also allows one to predict the effect of a grid design change to the overall performance of a battery.
"Trace metabolites"--effect of high concentrations on Leishmania tarentolae promastigotes.

SYNOPSIS. Relatively high concentrations (10–100 μM) of chromate, selenate, and vanadate ions accelerated growth of Leishmania tarentolae in a chemically defined medium containing taurine as the sole sulfur source. These ions also enhanced the incorporation of [35S]taurine label in whole cell, 10% trichloroacetic acid insoluble, and 10% trichloroacetic acid soluble cell fractions.
Cessation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy combined with high-dose gonadotropin stimulation yields favorable pregnancy results in low responders.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy results of an ovarian hyperstimulation protocol for IVF-ET that combines GnRH agonist down-regulation, cessation of GnRH agonist therapy with the onset of menstruation, and high-dose gonadotropin administration in low responders. Design: Prospective analysis. Setting: Academic IVF program. Patient(s): One hundred eighty-two low responders undergoing 224 IVF-ET cycles. Intervention(s): Down-regulation was obtained with the administration of leuprolide acetate beginning in the midluteal phase and ending with the onset of menses. Daily administration of 6 ampules of FSH alone or in combination with hMG was initiated on cycle day 3. Main Outcome Measure(s): Stimulation characteristics and pregnancy rates (PRs) were compared between fresh cycles in which pure FSH alone was used and 35 cycles in which a combination of FSH and hMG was administered. Result(s): The clinical PR per transfer, the ongoing PR per transfer, and the implantation rate were 32%, 24%, and 9%, respectively. No differences were noted between cycles in which pure FSH alone was used in comparison with cycles in which a combination of FSH and hMG was administered. Conclusion(s): Short-term ovarian suppression begun in the luteal phase and discontinued with the onset of menses followed by high-dose stimulation with gonadotropins yields favorable pregnancy results in low responders.
Use of the viabil covered stent in the treatment of a benign biliary stricture with the subsequent development of acute pancreatitis

The use of bare metal stents for benign biliary strictures is typically avoided due to historically poor long-term patency. Thus, in patients who are not surgical candidates, the management of benign biliary strictures can be a frustrating process. This article describes a patient who developed a common bile duct stricture following a complex endovascular thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair. The stricture was treated with the placement of a covered metallic biliary stent; a procedure complicated by the development of acute pancreatitis.
Geochronology of late Pleistocene to Holocene speleothemsfrom central Texas: Implications for regional paleoclimate

A detailed chronology for four stalagmites from three central Texas caves separated by as much as 130 km provides a 71 000-yr record of temporal changes in hydrology and climate. Mass spectrometric 238 U230 Th and 235 U231 Pa analyses have yielded 53 ages. The accuracy of the ages and the closedsystem behavior of the speleothems are indicated by interlaboratory comparisons, concordance of 230 Th and 231 Pa ages, and the result that all ages are in correct stratigraphic order. Over the past 71 000 yr, the stalagmites have similar growth histories with alternating periods of relatively rapid and slow growth. The growth rates vary over more than two orders of magnitude, and there were three periods of rapid growth: 71‐60 ka, 39‐33 ka, and 24‐12 ka. These growth-rate shifts correspond in part with global glacial-interglacial climatic shifts. Paleontological evidence indicates that around the Last Glacial Maximum (20 ka), climate in central Texas was cooler and wetter than at present. This wetter interval corresponds with the most recent period of increased growth rates in the speleothems, which is consistent with conditions necessary for speleothem growth. The temporal shift in wetness has been proposed to result
Impact of Very Rapid Irradiation on Clonogenic Survival

probability of tumors, organ toxicity and overall prognosis of the SIB and SqIB treatments of head and neck cancer using the selective radiobiological models. Similar agreements were also reported in the SqIB treatments of head and neck cancer. A large cohort group of study is warranted to increase to power of observations to these models which will strengthen our conclusions. That can help to take preventive measures for the critical organs in such types of treatments, as well as in ranking different types of treatment techniques. Author Disclosure: A. Pyakuryal: None. S. Pandit: None. G. Narayanasamy: None. S. Jang: None. S. Lee: None. T.T. Sio: None.
It’s a Trap! Clinical Similarities and Subtle ECG Differences between Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Myocardial Infarction

We describe a 65-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and smoking who presented with an acute episode of chest pain precipitated by severe emotional stress. Her initial electrocardiogram done in the emergency room showed non-specific T wave changes in the lateral leads and her cardiac troponin levels were mildly elevated. Because of her clinical presentation, she was admitted with a presumptive diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and managed with antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy. Coronary angiogram did not reveal coronary artery disease and left ventriculography showed findings consistent with apical ballooning syndrome or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Subsequent electrocardiograms displayed dramatic changes including T wave inversions, QT interval prolongation and U waves. The patient remained asymptomatic and recovered uneventfully. Three weeks post-discharge, an echocardiogram documented resolved left ventricular dysfunction. We describe the clinical features and highlight the electrocardiographic findings that may help differentiate takotsubo cardiomyopathy from myocardial infarction.
An Energy Management Controller to Optimally Trade Off Fuel Economy and Drivability for Hybrid Vehicles

Hybrid vehicle fuel economy performance is highly sensitive to the energy management strategy used to regulate power flow among the various energy sources and sinks. Optimal non-causal solutions are easy to determine if the drive cycle is known a priori. It is very challenging to design causal controllers that yield good fuel economy for a range of possible driver behavior. Additional challenges come in the form of constraints on powertrain activity, such as shifting and starting the engine, which are commonly called “drivability” metrics and can adversely affect fuel economy. In this paper, drivability restrictions are included in a shortest path stochastic dynamic programming (SP-SDP) formulation of the real-time energy management problem for a prototype vehicle, where the drive cycle is modeled as a stationary, finite-state Markov chain. When the SP-SDP controllers are evaluated with a high-fidelity vehicle simulator over standard government drive cycles, and compared to a baseline industrial controller, they are shown to improve fuel economy more than 11% for equivalent levels of drivability. In addition, the explicit tradeoff between fuel economy and drivability is quantified for the SP-SDP controllers.
Gender, recovery from late life heart attack, and medical care.

It has only recently been recognized that there are sigmfkant gender effects on heart disease and that women face increasing risks as they age. A longitudinal study of 246 older myocardial infarction (MI) patients included a 113 sample of women Findings indicate that over the first post-MI year, women had greater risk of death, cardiac distress and reinfarction. Cardiac symptoms of men declined while those of women increased. Several medical care and social disadvaatages were found among the post-MI women, including less aggressive cardiac care. Furthermore, since morbidity and mortality were related to medical care aad social disadvantages, the results support gender-age stratification theories.
A crystal-chemical classification of borate structures with emphasis on hydrated borates

The rules governing formation of hydrated borate polyanions that were proposed by C.L. Christ in 1960 are critically reviewed and new rules added on the basis of recent crystal structure determinations. Principles and classifications previously published by others are also critically reviewed briefly. The fundamental building blocks from which borate polyanions can be constructed are defined on the basis of the number n of boron atoms, and the fully hydrated polyanions are illustrated. Known structures are grouped accordingly, and a shorthand notation using n and symbols Δ = triangle, T = tetrahedron is introduced so that the polyanions can be easily characterized. For example, 3:Δ+2T describes [B3O3(OH)5]2−. Correct structural formulas are assigned borates with known structures whereas borates of unknown structure are grouped separately.
Fabrication of Superconducting Niobium Radio Frequency Structures

During the last several years a variety of superconducting radio frequency structures have been designed, fabricated and tested. The diverse structures and fabrication techniques will be described, For much of the work described, no claim is made as to the original conception having taken place in our laboratory. This paper is a description of our experiences in this field.
Effects of Content Acquisition Podcasts to Develop Preservice Teachers' Knowledge of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

A critical issue facing the field of education is the need to improve teachers' preparation to effectively manage student behavior in the classroom. Many pre- and in-service teachers receive exposure to evidence-based behavioral interventions, such as schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports, during teacher preparation programs; however, face-to-face instructional time is always at a premium given the range of learning experiences that must be acquired prior to licensure. Consequently, many educators begin their careers without strong classroom management skills, which has many unfortunate consequences, including the decision for some to leave the field within the first three to five years. In this study, we evaluated content acquisition podcasts based on validated instructional design principles. We focused on determining the extent to which preservice teachers could learn core information related to schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports using a short multimedia vigne...
Party realignments and the growth of federal economic regulation, 1861–1986

This article explains when and why the federal government passed laws with the intended goal of maintaining or improving a particular industry or segment of an industry. The adoption of regulatory laws across time will be described, and the surges and declines in the distribution explained. The empirical analysis covers the years 1861–1986.
Long-term follow-up of high-risk patients in the National Emphysema Treatment Trial.

Background The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) was a randomized clinical trial designed to compare lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) with maximal medical care for patients with severe emphysema. The trial was halted early for a subgroup of patients with severe lung disease. We report longer term follow-up for this high-risk subgroup. Methods In a randomized clinical trial, patients with moderate to severe emphysema were assigned to LVRS plus maximal medical care or to maximal medical care alone and followed prospectively for vital status over 15 years. We focus on 140 high-risk patients. Quality of life data were available through 6 years of follow-up and were assessed using the University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire and the Self-Administered Quality of Well-Being Scale. Results Through the first 3 years of follow-up, surgical patients in the high-risk subgroup had a significantly higher probability of death. However, the mortality curves crossed and there was a trend favoring surgical treatment through the remainder of the follow-up. The log-rank test suggested that the 2 groups were not significantly different ( p = 0.95) in survival. Quality of life data suggested an advantage of LVRS through the first 5 years of follow-up ( p Conclusions The NETT was stopped early for high-risk patients with severe lung disease. Longer term follow-up suggests that surgical patients in this high-risk subgroup ultimately achieved comparable outcomes. The high risk of death within 30 days of the surgery may discourage use of the procedure for high-risk patients despite the potential for better long-term outcomes.
Hypnotic suggestibility and absorption: revisiting the context effect

Measures of hypnotic suggestibility and absorption were administered to 150 participants in the context of a single experiment and to 146 participants in the guise of different experiments. Half of the participants received the absorption scale before being tested for suggestibility and half after. In both orders of administration, associations between suggestibility and absorption were significantly stronger when assessed in the same experimental context than when assessed in different contexts, and both variables were significantly affected by testing context. Overall, the findings indicate that relations between absorption and suggestibility are moderated by context and that this effect is not an artefact of non-random sampling or of differences in time intervals between testing sessions. The results suggest that the association between absorption and suggestibility is modest at best and challenge the contention that absorption is a reliable personality trait marker of suggestibility. Copyright © 2000 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Effects of Modified Deletion Strategies and Scoring Procedures on Cloze Test Performance.

Most cloze testing research has centered on the traditional model of deleting every-nth word, accepting only exact word replacements in scoring, and providing blanks of standard length. In the present study, alternative cloze forms derived from selected deletion strategies (every-5th versus total random), scoring procedures (verbatim versus synonymic), and blank conditions (standard versus cued) were analyzed for respective effects on the cloze test performance of 80 college-level readers. Increased performance was generally observed across the every-5th, cued, and synonymic levels of the independent variables. Of the eight alternative cloze formats examined, the total random/cued/verbatim condition generated mean scores most similar to the traditional model while averting, in theory, the sampling biases that can accompany approximated deletions. In this format, con- text distances of less than four were as effective in producing correct responses as context distances of four, the equivalent of an every-5th word deletion pattern. High positive correlations were found to exist between verbatim and synonymic scoring systems in total, and for each of four individual cloze formats.
Using iPads for Distraction to Reduce Pain During Immunizations

Objective. To determine if using an iPad as a distraction technique reduces the parent’s perception of their child’s pain and distress during immunizations. Study Design. A total of 103 parents completed a survey regarding their perception of their child’s pain during immunizations. Fifty-seven patients were in the group receiving no distraction intervention, and 46 patients were in the group that were allowed to use an iPad for distraction while receiving their vaccines. Results. Regression analysis showed that the use of iPad distraction significantly reduced the parent’s perception of their child’s level of anxiety, need for being held, and amount of crying during immunizations compared to no distraction. Conclusions. Distraction by using an iPad during immunizations reduces the parent’s perception of their child’s pain and distress. This type of distraction tool can also improve the parent’s satisfaction with the pain control provided for their child while receiving their vaccines.
Crystal structure of NdLiP4O12

Abstract A single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis has been performed on NdLiP4O12 synthesized by a flux method. The structure is monoclinic, with space group C 2/c, Z = 4, and cell parameters a = 16.408 (3), b = 7.035 (4), c = 9.729 (4) A , and β = 126.38 (5)°. A full-matrix, least squares refinement gave R = 0.072, Rw = 0.077 for 590 independent reflections. The basic structural units are helical ribbons, (PO3)n, formed by corner-sharing of PO4 tetrahedra. The NdO8 dodecahedra are isolated from each other in the sense that they do not share any O atoms. This isolation accounts for the marked reduction in the concentration quenching of Nd+3 fluorescence that is observed for NdLiP4O12. The shortest Nd-Nd distance is 5.620 A, and the concentration of Nd+3 ions is 4.42 × 1021 cm−3
Cytokine Gene Expression in Normal Human Lymphocytes in Response to Stimulation

Sequential gene expression of two type 1 cytokines (interleukin 2 [IL-2] and gamma interferon), one type 2 cytokine (IL-10), two monokines (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha), and one cytokine receptor (IL-2 receptor [IL-2R]) in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) following in vitro stimulation was investigated by reverse transcription-PCR methods. Two stimuli were utilized: phytohemagglutinin (PHA), which acts on the CD2 molecule and T-cell receptors, and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, which acts on the CD3 molecule and on T-cell receptors. Increased expression of all studied genes occurred between 1 and 4 hours after stimulation, except for that of the gene encoding IL-10, which was delayed. Expression of all but one of the genes was transient, with a maximal mRNA accumulation at about 8 h on average. IL-2R mRNA expression was an exception, showing a prolonged increase (72 h). The general profiles of expression of the five cytokine genes were similar but not identical, suggesting some shared regulatory mechanisms. When responses to four additional stimuli (pokeweed mitogen, Candida albicans, and IL-2 at high and low doses) were compared, similar profiles of cytokine gene expression were found. Thus, the various stimuli caused induction of all cytokines with quantitative, not qualitative, differences. Altogether, the present data are useful for defining the kinetics of gene expression for key cytokines in response to standard immune-cell stimuli.
Deletion of Prkcz Increases Intermittent Ethanol Consumption in Mice

Background Prkcz has been identified as a gene whose expression is positively correlated with ethanol (EtOH) consumption in mice and is also induced by EtOH. Two proteins are produced from Prkcz: protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ), which is expressed in the nervous system and protein kinase C zeta (PKCζ), which is expressed in other tissues. We examined Prkcz−/− mice that lack PKCζ and PKMζ to investigate the role of this gene in behavioral responses to EtOH. Methods Male Prkcz−/− and wild-type littermates were tested for EtOH consumption using 4 procedures: 24-hour intermittent access, 4-hour limited intermittent access, 4-day drinking-in-the-dark, and 24-hour continuous access. We also assessed the acute hypnotic effect of EtOH, EtOH reward, and taste preference for sweet-, bitter-, salty-, and umami-flavored solutions. Finally, we determined whether EtOH could increase PKMζ and PKCζ transcripts and protein expression in wild-type mice using quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Results Prkcz−/− mice consumed more EtOH than their wild-type littermates in both intermittent access procedures, but not in the drinking-in-the-dark or 24-hour continuous access procedures. EtOH exposure increased Prkcz transcripts in cultured PC12 cells, and intermittent EtOH consumption increased PKMζ protein in the ventral striatum of wild-type mice. Conclusions Absence of PKMζ in the brain is associated with increased EtOH intake during procedures that incorporate intermittent consumption sessions every other day. Our data suggest that EtOH induces PKMζ, which acts in a negative feedback loop to limit binge-like EtOH consumption.
On the relative importance of hypoxic cells for the radiotherapy of human tumours.

Abstract Various aspects are discussed of the problem whether the presence of hypoxic cells in human tumours adversely influences radiotherapeutic cure rates to a clinically significant extent. Subsequently, the relative advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to deal with hypoxic cells in human tumours are analyzed, not only with respect to their usefulness in curing patients but also with respect to possible evidence in support of the importance of hypoxic tumour cells in radiotherapy. Finally, potential advantages of pion beams and heavy ion beams over fast neutron beams and high energy photons are pointed out with respect to their dose distributions in patients.
A Pulse to Pulse Klystron Diagnosis System

This report describes a system used to study the behavior of SLAC high powered klystrons operating with a twice normal pulse width of 5 ..mu..s. At present, up to eight of the klystrons installed along the accelerator can be operated with long pulses and monitored by this system. The report will also discuss some of the recent findings and investigations.
Evaluation of Onion Cultivars for Resistance to Onion Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Iris Yellow Spot Virus

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a worldwide pest of onion, Allium cepa L., can reduce onion yield by > 50% and be even more problematic when it transmits Iris yellow spot virus (family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus, IYSV). Because T. tabaci is difficult to control with insecticides and other strategies, field studies on onion, Allium cepa L., resistance to T. tabaci and IYSV were conducted in 2007 and 2008 in two locations in New York state. Forty-nine cultivars were evaluated for resistance by counting the number of larvae weekly and recording leaf damage. In another experiment, the impact of T. tabaci and IYSV on plant growth and yield was examined by spraying half of the plants with an insecticide. Eleven of the 49 cultivars had very little leaf damage and were considered resistant to T. tabaci. Visual assessment indicated that all resistant cultivars had yellow-green- colored foliage, whereas the other 38 had blue-green- colored foliage. The visual assessment of color agreed with data on color taken with a HunterLab Ultra Scan XE colorimeter. The onions 'Colorado 6' and 'NMSU 03-52-1' had the lowest numbers of T. tabaci, suggesting strong antibiosis and/or antixenosis. The other nine cultivars had variable numbers of T. tabaci, indicating a possible combination of categories of resistance. In the nonprotected treatments there were significant reductions in plant height and plant weight in most of the resistant cultivars, but there were reductions in bulb weight only in a few of them. The average of plants infected with IYSV was 10% in 2007 and 60% in 2008. Our findings indicate potential for developing onion resistance to T. tabaci as part of an overall integrated pest management strategy but suggest difficulties in identifying resistance to IYSV.
Confronting Ethical and Regulatory Challenges of Emergency Care Research With Conscious Patients.

Barriers to informed consent are ubiquitous in the conduct of emergency care research across a wide range of conditions and clinical contexts. They are largely unavoidable; can be related to time constraints, physical symptoms, emotional stress, and cognitive impairment; and affect patients and surrogates. US regulations permit an exception from informed consent for certain clinical trials in emergency settings, but these regulations have generally been used to facilitate trials in which patients are unconscious and no surrogate is available. Most emergency care research, however, involves conscious patients, and surrogates are often available. Unfortunately, there is neither clear regulatory guidance nor established ethical standards in regard to consent in these settings. In this report—the result of a workshop convened by the National Institutes of Health Office of Emergency Care Research and Department of Bioethics to address ethical challenges in emergency care research—we clarify potential gaps in ethical understanding and federal regulations about research in emergency care in which limited involvement of patients or surrogates in enrollment decisions is possible. We propose a spectrum of approaches directed toward realistic ethical goals and a research and policy agenda for addressing these issues to facilitate clinical research necessary to improve emergency care.
Modeling Regional Radiocarbon Trends: A Case Study from the East Texas Woodland Period

The East Texas Radiocarbon Database contributes to an analysis of tempo and place for Woodland era (~500 BC–AD 800) archaeological sites within the region. The temporal and spatial distributions of calibrated 14 C ages ( n = 127) with a standard deviation ( Δ T ) of 61 from archaeological sites with Woodland components ( n = 51) are useful in exploring the development and geographical continuity of the peoples in east Texas, and lead to a refinement of our current chronologicalunderstanding of the period. While analysis of summed probability distributions (SPDs) produces less than significant findings due to sample size, they are used here to illustrate the method of date combination prior to the production of site- and period-specific SPDs. Through the incorporation of this method, the number of 14 C dates is reduced to 85 with a Δ T of 54. The resultantdata set is then subjected to statistical analyses that conclude with the separation of the east Texas Woodland period into the Early Woodland (~500 BC–AD 0), Middle Woodland (~AD 0–400), and Late Woodland (~AD 400–800) periods. DOI: 10.2458/azu_js_rc.v54i2.15972
Speed and Accuracy of Movement as Related to Fencing Success

Abstract Sixty-six college women enrolled in fencing classes provided measures of reaction time, response time, and movement accuracy on a specially designed apparatus. The subjects then foil-fenced in round-robin tournaments. Criterion measures of fencing achievement derived from tournament matches correlated little better than zero with reaction time, response time, and movement accuracy.
Si(011)16×2 gas-source molecular beam epitaxy: Growth kinetics

The growth rates RSi of Si layers deposited on Si(011)“16×2” by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy from Si2H6 were determined as a function of temperature Ts (400–975 °C) and Si2H6 flux JSi2H6(5.0×1015–9.0×1016 cm−2 s−1). RSi ranges from 0.0015 μm h−1 at Ts=400 °C to 0.415 μm h−1 at Ts=975 °C with JSi2H6=2.2×1016 cm−2 s−1. In the surface-reaction-limited regime at Ts 900 °C, RSi(Ts) increases with Ts due to surface roughening. Overall, RSi(JSi2H6,Ts) is well described at Ts⩽900 °C by a kinetic model incorporating two competing film growth mechanisms: (1) dissociative chemisorption of Si2H6 onto dangling bonds followed by fast surface dissociation steps and second-order H2 desorption from the surface monohydride phase; and ...
Roll-Yaw Coupling Effect of Jeffcott Rotor With Breathing Crack

A new rotor model is developed in this paper to explore the dynamic coupling effect of roll-yaw motion. The rotor model employs a 6 degree-of-freedom Jeffcott rotor with a breathing crack. Based on the energy method and Lagrange principle, equation of motion is derived in yawing coordinate system with consideration of unbalance mass. The breathing crack model is established by Zero Stress Intensity Factor (SIF) method based on the crack released strain energy concept in fracture mechanics. SIF method is used to determine the crack closure line by computing SIF for opening mode. The vibration responses of the cracked rotor system are solved by Gear’s method. The coupling effect of yawing and rolling motion is studied in this paper to investigate vibration response of cracked rotor system. With the yawing motion, the dynamics of the rotor-bearing system is changed by additional stiffness and force terms. The parametric study is conducted to analyze the effect of yawing rate and acceleration on the crack breathing behavior. Finally, the vibration responses of the nominal and damaged rotor systems are analyzed to find out the indication for the damage detection and health monitoring.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Multi-Colored Slides as Visual Aids

After talks in which colored 35 mm transparencies are used to illustrate presentations, I am routinely asked “How were those slides prepared?” The extent of the inquiries indicates that the slides serve their major purposes, i.e. to attract and hold the attention of the viewer and to concentrate this attention, by use of different colors, on specific points. What follows herein is a description of the rather simple techniques used to prepare charts, tables, outlines, and drawings for photography; the photographic procedures; and the actual coloring of the transparencies for eventual projection.
A Smart Medical Diagnostic Tool using Resistive Sensor Technology

This paper reports on the development of a smart sensor array consisting of selective gas sensing elements for use in disease diagnosis to monitor signaling gases. These are gases typically found in exhaled human breath that can serve as biomarkers for specific diseases. Utilizing the polymorphic selectivity of semiconducting metal oxides and by employing temperature modulation we have developed a smart gas selective sensor array able to identify and discriminate between isoprene, NOx, alcohols and amines/NH3. The sensing elements are thin films based on the various polymorphs of molybdenum trioxide. A breath analysis system based on our smart sensor array can be used for non-invasive monitoring and differential diagnosis of diseases.
Retrofitting Heat Exchanger Networks: A Two Stage Approach

A great deal of effort has been expended during the past two decades in the design of grassroot heat exchanger networks, to improve the heat recovery in chemical processes (e.g., Cerda and Westerberg (1983), Linnhoff and Hindmarsh (1983), Floudas et. al. (1986)). This research effort has resulted in over 200 publications, and a very good review is presented by Gundersen and Naess (1987).
High-level production of replication-defective human immunodeficiency type 1 virus vector particles using helper-dependent adenovirus vectors

Gene transfer vectors based upon human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) are widely used in bench research applications and increasingly in clinical investigations, both to introduce novel genes but also to reduce expression of unwanted genes of the host and pathogen. At present, the vast majority of HIV-based vector supernatants are produced in 293T cells by cotransfection of up to five DNA plasmids, which is subject to variability and difficult to scale. Here we report the development of a HIV-based vector production system that utilizes helper-dependent adenovirus (HDAd). All necessary HIV vector components were inserted into one or more HDAds, which were then amplified to very high titers of ∼10 13 vp/ml. These were then used to transduce 293-based cells to produce HIV-based vector supernatants, and resultant VSV G-pseudotyped lentiviral vector (LV) titers and total IU were 10- to 30-fold higher, compared to plasmid transfection. Optimization of HIV-based vector production depended upon maximizing expression of all HIV vector components from HDAd. Supernatants contained trace amounts of HDAd but were free of replication-competent lentivirus. This production method should be applicable to other retroviral vector systems. Scalable production of HIV-based vectors using this two-step procedure should facilitate their clinical advancement.
Co-expression of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor-c in non-small cell lung cancer and their relationship with lymphangiogenesis

Objective To determine expressions of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor-c(VEGF-C) and their relevance,and evaluate the relationship with lymphangiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Applying the immunohistochemical SP method,lymphatic vessels and expressions of HGF and VEGF-C were detected in 72 non-small cell lung cancer tissues and 20 adjacent normal tissues.Lymphatic micro-vessel density(LMVD) was counted with D2-40 as the specific marker of the lymphatic endothelium.The relationship of HGF and VEGF-C with LMVD and the clinicopathological features of NSCLC were then analyzed.Results HGF/VEGF-C positive expression rates were significantly higher than those in adjacent normal tissues(31.94% vs 15.00%,48.65% vs 25.00%,both P0.05),and there was a positive correlation between expressions of HGF and VEGF-C(r=0.170,P0.05).Higher LMVD was found in NSCLC with HGF or VEGF-C positive expression [HGF:(16.98±4.31) vs(13.06±4.28),P0.05;VEGF-C:(19.43±3.24) vs(14.66±3.51),P0.05].Expressionsof HGF and VEGF-C were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis(both P0.05).Conclusion In non-small cell lung cancer,co-expression of HGF and VEGF-C can promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis.
Influence of draft change of floating bridge with vehicles on tension of anchor-cable and critical velocity of flow

To investigate variation of the mooring forces caused by increasing sea gauge and resistance of water,when there are vehicles on floating bridge,an experiential formula was adopted to calculate the effect on the mooring force.And taking roll into account,critical velocity of flow was evaluated.The study conclude that the increase of sea gauge and resistance of water increase mooring forces and reduce critical velocity of flow.And then,some measures were presented for the safety of floating bridges on larger rivers.
Experiment on Uplifting Characters of Micropiles of Tower Foundations in Soft Soil

Micropile has advantages over other types,such as easy to construct,small land occupation,reasonable cost,etc.On site micropile tests are used to analyze its uplifting load-displacement characters and construction technique.Measured limit uplifting loading of single pile is compared with existing criterion.Formula for uplifting limit load bearing capability of single micropile is proposed to provide design basis.
Psychiatric morbidity in the infertile population: a reconceptualization

The understanding of psychiatric morbidity in the infertile population relies to a great extent upon the instruments used to measure psychopathology. The present study investigated the distinction between psychiatric morbidity and infertility strain reactions in a sample of 104 infertile couples using the SCL-90-R. Some symptoms ordinarily indicative of psychopathology can represent normal side effects or reactions to infertility treatment, thus causing spurious estimates of pathology. Alternately, item analyses revealed a profile of infertility strain reflecting tension, depressive symptoms, worry, and interpersonal alienation frequently occurring among both male and female infertility patients. The concept of infertility strain is suggested as a vehicle for understanding the functioning of infertile patients and to circumvent the stigmatizing effects of psychiatric labels while providing appropriate intervention.
Does Your Supply Chain Management System Deliver The Goods? A Case Study

This case describes the outcomes of a post-implementation review of a supply chain management (SCM) project at a large North American manufacturing company. Approximately 15 months after go live, and led by members of the internal audit department, management formed an evaluation team including business process representatives, systems implementation team members, and system users. Their purpose was to conduct a project post-audit to document lessons learned from the project so that company management would know the outcomes of the project. The assessment exercise consisted of reviewing business process changes, conducting a financial analysis of project outcomes, and documenting lessons learned from this project so that future project teams could use this experience. The outcome served to confirm that management made the correct decision to undertake the project and provided a number of valuable lessons.