cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of lung allograft rejection.

Objectives Acute and chronic rejection continue to limit the survival of lung transplant recipients. Extracorporeal photopheresis has evolved as a possible therapy for patients with acute nd chronic lung allograft rejection. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 14 patients diagnosed with BOS who underwent therapy with extracorporeal photopheresis. Results Three patients were classified as BOS 0'b', five as BOS 1, three as BOS 2, and, three as BOS 3 at the time of diagnosis. Of the patients with BOS 0'b' or BOS 1 seven remain alive and one died of lung cancer. Two have progressed to BOS 2. Of the patients with BOS 2 or 3, four have died of BOS, one died of lung cancer, and one was re-transplanted. In three patients with BOS and concurrent acute rejection, therapy with extracorporeal photopheresis led to the resolution of the acute rejection episode. Two of the 14 patients developed line related sepsis. Conclusion Extracorporeal photopheresis appears to be a promising therapy for patients with early BOS. It may also have a role in the treatment of acute lung allograft rejection.
Fallopian Tube Torsion.

Fallopian Tube Torsion A 19-year-old woman presented with severe abdominal pain. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, revealing torsion of the left fallopian tube.
Benefits of an International Volunteer Experience in Residency Training

In this article, we review the literature describing the benefit of international surgical volunteerism on resident training. Review of recent data demonstrates a resident benefit by decreasing burnout and improving clinical skill, cost-containment strategies, and personal and professional development. There is also a demonstrable benefit to institutions by way of improved resident recruitment and additional philanthropic funding sources. Finally, benefits to healthcare systems have been documented by way of “reverse innovation” and increased healthcare worker productivity. We provide data to support that international volunteerism reaches beyond the patients and providers at the individual level to also provide domestic benefit to practices, institutions, and the healthcare system as well.
Pregnancy alters interleukin-1 beta expression and antiviral antibody responses during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the disease-causing pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, has resulted in morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe coronavirus disease 2019 and are at higher risk of preterm birth than uninfected pregnant women. Despite this evidence, the immunologic effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during pregnancy remain understudied. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during pregnancy on inflammatory and humoral responses in maternal and fetal samples and compare antibody responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among pregnant and nonpregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: Immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were analyzed using samples from pregnant (n=33) and nonpregnant (n=17) women who tested either positive (pregnant, 22; nonpregnant, 17) or negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (pregnant, 11) at Johns Hopkins Hospital. We measured proinflammatory and placental cytokine messenger RNAs, neonatal Fc receptor expression, and tetanus antibody transfer in maternal and cord blood samples. In addition, we evaluated antispike immunoglobulin G, antispike receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G, and neutralizing antibody responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in serum or plasma collected from nonpregnant women, pregnant women, and cord blood. RESULTS: Pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection expressed more interleukin-1 beta, but not interleukin 6, in blood samples collected within 14 days vs >14 days after performing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test. Pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection also had reduced antispike receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G titers and were less likely to have detectable neutralizing antibody than nonpregnant women. Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection did not disrupt neonatal Fc receptor expression in the placenta, maternal transfer of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 neutralizing antibody was inhibited by infection during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection during pregnancy was characterized by placental inflammation and reduced antiviral antibody responses, which may impact the efficacy of coronavirus disease 2019 treatment in pregnancy. In addition, the long-term implications of placental inflammation for neonatal health require greater consideration.
A minimally disruptive method for measuring water potential in planta using hydrogel nanoreporters.

Leaf water potential is a critical indicator of plant water status, integrating soil moisture status, plant physiology, and environmental conditions. There are few tools for measuring plant water status (water potential) in situ, presenting a critical barrier for developing appropriate phenotyping (measurement) methods for crop development and modeling efforts aimed at understanding water transport in plants. Here, we present the development of an in situ, minimally disruptive hydrogel nanoreporter (AquaDust) for measuring leaf water potential. The gel matrix responds to changes in water potential in its local environment by swelling; the distance between covalently linked dyes changes with the reconfiguration of the polymer, leading to changes in the emission spectrum via Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). Upon infiltration into leaves, the nanoparticles localize within the apoplastic space in the mesophyll; they do not enter the cytoplasm or the xylem. We characterize the physical basis for AquaDust's response and demonstrate its function in intact maize (Zea mays L.) leaves as a reporter of leaf water potential. We use AquaDust to measure gradients of water potential along intact, actively transpiring leaves as a function of water status; the localized nature of the reporters allows us to define a hydraulic model that distinguishes resistances inside and outside the xylem. We also present field measurements with AquaDust through a full diurnal cycle to confirm the robustness of the technique and of our model. We conclude that AquaDust offers potential opportunities for high-throughput field measurements and spatially resolved studies of water relations within plant tissues.
Combining Optical Character Recognition With Paper ECG Digitization

Objective: We propose a MATLAB-based tool to convert electrocardiography (ECG) waveforms from paper-based ECG records into digitized ECG signals that is vendor-agnostic. The tool is packaged as an open source standalone graphical user interface (GUI) based application. Methods and procedures: To reach this objective we: (1) preprocess the ECG records, which includes skew correction, background grid removal and linear filtering; (2) segment ECG signals using Connected Components Analysis (CCA); (3) implement Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for removal of overlapping ECG lead characters and for interfacing of patients’ demographic information with their research records or their electronic medical record (EMR). The ECG digitization results are validated through a reader study where clinically salient features, such as intervals of QRST complex, between the paper ECG records and the digitized ECG records are compared. Results: Comparison of clinically important features between the paper-based ECG records and the digitized ECG signals, reveals intra- and inter-observer correlations of 0.86–0.99 and 0.79–0.94, respectively. The kappa statistic was found to average at 0.86 and 0.72 for intra- and inter-observer correlations, respectively. Conclusion: The clinically salient features of the ECG waveforms such as the intervals of QRST complex, are preserved during the digitization procedure. Clinical and Healthcare Impact: This open-source digitization tool can be used as a research resource to digitize paper ECG records thereby enabling development of new prediction algorithms to risk stratify individuals with cardiovascular disease, and/or allow for development of ECG-based cardiovascular diagnoses relying upon automated digital algorithms.
Questions and explanations in the classroom: Examining variation in early childhood teachers’ responses to children's scientific questions

Abstract In the current study, we provide a systematic understanding of how early childhood educators (N = 209) believe that they would respond to children's scientific questions. We compared 105 inservice preschool and early elementary grade teachers’ and 104 preservice teachers’ responses on an online survey consisting of 3 parts: (a) responses to children's scientific questions (b) personal epistemologies and (c) demographic information. Results are consistent with naturalistic classroom data demonstrating that inservice and preservice teachers are more likely to answer children's questions with explanations rather than other types of responses when responding to children's science questions. We also explored possible relations between teachers’ responses, demographic variables, and personal epistemologies. We discuss implications of these findings for how teachers’ responses to children's questions may send a message to children about how to construct and reason about knowledge in the world.
Alligator appendicular architecture across an ontogenetic niche shift

A variety of species undergo ontogenetic niche shifts in either diet, habitat, or both. As a result, multiple ontogenetic stages are able to take advantage of different resources and live in sympatry without competing with one another. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) begins to undergo an ontogenetic niche shift in both diet and habitat at a length of 1.2 m. They transition from a terrestrial wetland environment to a riverine environment and take advantage of different dietary resources. At 1.8 m, A. mississippiensis reaches sexual maturity. Ontogenetic shifts in habitat have the capacity to alter morphology, especially limb morphology, as different age classes traverse different ecological systems. We evaluated shape trends in the scapulae, humeri, ilia, and femora using geometric morphometrics to test whether there were punctuated changes in limb shape, shape disparity, and integration corresponding to either the ontogenetic habitat shift or onset of sexual maturity. We found size to strongly correlate with limb shape but found a continuous size gradient rather than punctuated changes in size. Furthermore, we found that adults (total length > 1.8 m) had significantly higher limb shape disparity than juveniles or subadults, likely related to ontogenetic decreases in limb use and a reduction in limb constraints. Finally, we found that the forelimb and hindlimb acted as a single integrated unit and that neither the forelimb nor hindlimb was significantly more integrated than the other. Therefore, the ontogenetic niche shift itself did not impact limb morphology in A. mississippiensis.
Spectral Classification: The First Step in Quantitative Spectral Analysis

Classification lies at the foundation of many sciences, and that is true for Astronomy as well. However, many stellar spectroscopists neglect this vital first step when carrying out a spectral analysis. This chapter discusses and illustrates the ways that spectral classification can contribute to spectroscopic analysis at every step of the process.
Neutrality in Education and Derrida's Call for "Double Duty"

A number of scholars have declared that if “the political neutrality of [schools, education, and] school curriculum was a commonplace assumption in the pre1970s,” it is obvious that it is no longer the case to anyone who cares to look at the development of education in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, many authors express a general consensus that the fates of society and education are tightly intertwined. Richard Brosio reports that “from the time of Horace Mann and the‘common school’ crusade of the 1840s, schools have had to deal with the conflicting imperatives of democracy and capitalism.” Effects of this conflict on education have been recorded through the years. Brosio confirmed that “the complex relationships between the school system and the larger host society have been described and analyzed quite effectively by educational historians, philosophers, and sociologists.” Yet attempts at exclusions of various types are reported regularly.
Making a Deal with the Devil: A Mediation Approach to Mitigating the Negative Effects of Church Conflict

“IT’S BEAUTIFUL when the congregational system is humming along . . . ,” when everyone loves each other and there is peace among a fellowship of Christians. “But sometimes [that system] hits a pothole.” Internal church conflict is no longer a new phenomenon. Modern church culture is suffering from an identity crisis. Controversial social issues in the secular arena have found their way into religious communities and stimulated debate. Battle lines are drawn between the pulpit and the pews when those issues are not received the same way. And unfortunately, most churches are ill-equipped to handle these conflicts on their own. Modern churches are looking for the most efficient and effective means of restoring peace. That peace can come in the form of complete resolution:
KrF lasers for inertial confinement fusion

Los Alamos National Laboratory is engaged in a long range program designed to investigate the merits of krypton-fluoride (KrF) lasers as ICF drivers. Because of their intrinsic short wavelength (0.25 μm), broad bandwidth (~0.5%), smooth spatial beam profile, and precise and flexible temporal pulse shaping capabilities, KrF lasers appear to be an attractive ICF driver candidate from the laser-target interaction physics standpoint. Additionally, use of a gaseous lasing medium with the potential of high overall system efficiency preserves a direct path to energy production. Current cost projections for MJ class KrF systems show it to be affordable.
Crowd detection with a multiview sampler

We present a Bayesian approach for simultaneously estimating the number of people in a crowd and their spatial locations by sampling from a posterior distribution over crowd configurations. Although this framework can be naturally extended from single to multiview detection, we show that the naive extension leads to an inefficient sampler that is easily trapped in local modes. We therefore develop a set of novel proposals that leverage multiview geometry to propose global moves that jump more efficiently between modes of the posterior distribution. We also develop a statistical model of crowd configurations that can handle dependencies among people and while not requiring discretization of their spatial locations. We quantitatively evaluate our algorithm on a publicly available benchmark dataset with different crowd densities and environmental conditions, and show that our approach outperforms other state-of-the-art methods for detecting and counting people in crowds.
Estimation and Aggregation in Econometrics: An Application of the Theory of Generalized Inverses

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a linear regression model in which X is the n × k matrix of n observations on k independent variables and V is the n × n sample covariance matrix of the residual errors in the regression. Multicollinearity refers to circumstances in which X has rank less than k; approximate multicollinearity is very common and is generally expected except in cases, where variables have been either omitted or aggregated expressly to avoid it. Singularity of V could result from certain types of sampling covariance patterns and sometimes is inherent in the economic structure of the problem. The k × k matrix U is interpreted in the chapter as the prior variance of the k × 1 vector β of regression coefficients, the latter being considered as a random variable in the Bayesian sense, with a subjective probability distribution. The formulation of the problems of best approximate aggregation and disaggregation presented in the chapter differs from W. D. Fisher's in a number of essential respects.
Metapodial or phalanx? An evolutionary and developmental perspective on the homology of the first ray's proximal segment.

The first mammalian metapodial (MP1) has periodically been argued to actually be a phalanx, because the first ray has one less element than the four posterior rays, and because the MP1 growth plate is proximal like those of all phalanges, rather than distal as in metapodials 2–5. However, growth plates are formed at both ends in non-therian tetrapod metapodials, and phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that growth plate loss is a therian synapomorphy that postdates the establishment of the mammalian phalangeal formula. These data, along with results of developmental and morphological studies, suggest that the MP1 is not a phalanx. The singular, proximal growth plates in MPs 2–5 are likely to be an adaptation to dynamic erect quadrupedal gait which was characterized by conversion of the posterior metapodials into rigid struts with the carpus/tarsus. While the adaptive significance of the reversed ossification of MP1 is less clear, we present three functional/developmental hypotheses. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:276–285, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Suicide ideation and attempts among inpatient adolescents with borderline personality disorder: Frequency, intensity and age of onset

Suicide ideation and attempts are a major health concern among adolescents, and recently, evidence has emerged suggesting that borderline personality disorder (BPD) may put individuals at even greater risk than depression alone. This is not surprising given that within adult samples, 8–10% of those diagnosed with BPD commit suicide. However, only a handful of studies have assessed the relation between BPD and suicide attempts among adolescents, and currently, nothing is known about the characteristics of suicide ideation among adolescents with BPD. Against this background, the aim of the present study was to examine the relation between BPD and the characteristics of suicide ideation and attempts (frequency, intensity and age of onset) in N = 106 adolescent inpatients. This question was examined using both clinician-rated and adolescent-rated measures of suicide ideation and attempts and both dimensional and categorical measures of BPD. The results of the present study indicate that adolescents with BPD experience suicide ideation earlier in life and more frequently than psychiatric controls. Notably, the groups did not differ with regard to adolescent-rated intensity of suicide ideation nor frequency, intent to die or age of onset of suicide attempts. A number of possible explanations for the absence of these group differences are presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new candidate orbital period for KO Velorum (E1013-477)

CCD photometry of KO Vel obtained on five nights in April 1987 is reported. From this and the two previously published sets of CCD photometry, a new candidate orbital period of 0.422 d (10.12 h) is derived. The shape of the folded light curve is nonsinusoidal, which has made the Fourier transform method less effective than usual. It is shown that all three sets of light curves examined here are consistent with the proposed period. All three data sets for the presence of a shorter period are examined, and no conclusive evidence for a periodic variation on an approximately 1 hr time scale is found. The nature of KO Vel therefore still remains an open question.
Measuring kinaesthetic sensitivity in typically developing children

This study presents a method to quantify a child's sensitivity to passive limb motion, which is an important aspect of kinaesthesia not easily examined clinically. Psychophysical detection thresholds to passive forearm motion were determined in a group of 20 typically developing pre-adolescent children (mean age 12y 6mo, SD 10mo, range 11-13y) and a group of 10 healthy adults (mean age 29y 10mo, SD 10y 7mo, range 18-50y). A newly designed passive motion apparatus was used to measure the time to detection of forearm motion and the errors in determining movement direction. Results showed that limb motion sensitivity became increasingly variable below 0.3 degrees /s in children and adults. In comparison with adults, movement detection times in the pediatric group were increased by between 4% and 108% for the range of tested velocities (0.075-1.35 degrees /s). At 0.075 degrees /s, 5% of the children, but 50% of the adults, made no directional error, indicating that motion perception became unreliable at such low velocity in both groups. The findings demonstrate that sensitivity to passive forearm motion in children should be tested at a range between 0.075 and 0.3 degrees /s. They further suggest that passive motion sensitivity may not be fully developed in pre-adolescent children.
β‐ENDORPHIN: SYNTHESIS AND MORPHINE‐LIKE ACTIVITY OF ANALOGS WITH D‐AMINO ACID RESIDUES IN POSITIONS 1, 2, 4 AND 5

The solid-phase syntheses of [D-Tyr1]-, [D-Ala2]-, [D-Phe4]- and [D-Met5]-beta c-endorphins are described. A comparison of certain methods of purification and criteria of homogeneity is made with the use of these compounds. Bioassay of these synthetic analogs both in vitro and in vivo show that [D-Ala2]-beta c-endorphin possesses significant opiate activity whereas the other analogs have minimal activity.
LWIR (long wave infrared) and quantum dot research at the U.S.Army Research Laboratory (ARL)

This paper reviews the work of several teams at ARL. In the quantum well arena we are developing bulk InAsSb material for LWIR detectors type for high performance focal plane array applications, so far we have observed that the minority carrier lifetimes in the type II SLS material have been short. Short lifetimes present a major barrier towards the realization of high performance focal plane arrays. This paper discusses photoluminescence observed in InAsSb materials and our observation that the bandgap bowing parameter is much bigger than earlier studies have shown, opening up the possibility that up to 12 micron wavelength cut-off can be achieved in InAsSb alloys. In the second section a summary of the work done by the III-V and IR device team is presented, the team is using quantum dots to enhance the efficiency of solar photovoltaic devices. We have discovered that doping the quantum dots is critical in enhancing the efficiency of the solar cells.
Effect of neu differentiation factor isoforms on neonatal oligodendrocyte function

Previous studies have suggested that neu differentiation factor (NDF), a member of the neuregulin (NRG) family of growth factors, may regulate the development of PNS and CNS glial cells. There is limited information concerning the potential role of NDF on the development of neonatal (immature) oligodendrocytes (OLG) into adult OLG. We now report the effect of the two major isoform families of NDF (NDF alpha and NDF beta) on the development of cultured rat neonatal OLG. Immunocytochemical and western blot analyses of neonatal OLG using anti-erb-B antibodies revealed that these immature OLG express all four members of NRG (erb-B) receptors. Treatment of neonatal OLG with varying concentrations of either NDF alpha or NDF beta did not have a mitogenic effect on cultured neonatal OLG. Pretreatment of immature OLG with either of the NDF isoforms also did not influence the subsequent mitogenicity of other known OLG mitogens. However, treatment of neonatal OLG with either isoform of NDF influenced the survival of these cells by protecting the cells from apoptosis. Additionally, treatment of neonatal OLG with either NDF alpha or NDF beta resulted in more extensive process formation compared to control, non-treated OLG.
Electron microscopic and fluorescent antibody studies on islets of Langerhans

Abstract The ultrastructure of the beta granules is distinctly different in the islets of the rat, dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig and chicken. The variations are so characteristic that each species can be identified on the basis of the ultrastructure of its beta granules. Endogenous insulin was demonstrated in the beta cells by means of fluorescent-labelled antibodies to beef insulin. The beta cells of the rat, dog, cat, rabbit and chicken were stained with the labelled antibodies to insulin, indicating that the endogenous insulin of these species was not immunologically different from beef insulin. The beta cells of the guinea pig did not react with the fluorescent-labelled antibodies to insulin. A uniform ultrastructure of secretory granules of alpha cells was observed in the different species.
Establishing Robust Left-Right Asymmetry in the Vertebrate Embryo

One of the most surprising things to emerge in the study of left-right asymmetry is that the mechanism by which symmetry is first broken (which was thought of as the most fundamental problem in the field) is actually not conserved across different classes of vertebrates. However, what is conserved is the downstream use of Nodal as a key left-sided inductive signal and of Lefty as a negative feedback inhibitor. This paper, from Hiroshi Hamada and coworkers, provided insight into why the Nodal-Lefty system is so special and evolutionarily maintained as the key determinant of left-right patterning, from snails to echinoderms to birds to mammals. The regulatory and biophysical properties of Nodal and Lefty provide a reaction-diffusion-like mechanism that can amplify a relatively small bias in differential gene expression between the left and right sides of the embryo. Thus, the Nodal-Lefty system enhances the expression activity on the side where it is slightly stronger to begin with while concomitantly repressing the activity on the side where it is initially weaker. This mechanism elucidated by Hamada and colleagues can transform weak asymmetry (derived from any of a number of mechanisms, such as the directional rotation of cilia in mammals) into robust asymmetry. This PaperPick refers to "Generation of robust left-right asymmetry in the mouse embryo requires a self-enhancement and lateral-inhibition system," by Tetsuya Nakamura, Naoki Mine, Etsushi Nakaguchi, Atsushi Mochizuki, Masamichi Yamamoto, Kenta Yashiro, Chikara Meno, and Hiroshi Hamada, published in October 2006. Video Abstract Tetsuya Nakamura discusses the role of a Nodal-Lefty-based reaction-diffusion system in generating left-right asymmetry in the mouse embryo.
Soil organic matter and litter chemistry response to experimental N deposition in northern temperate deciduous forest ecosystems

The effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on organic matter decomposition vary with the biochemical characteristics of plant litter. At the ecosystem-scale, net effects are difficult to predict because various soil organic matter (SOM) fractions may respond differentially. We investigated the relationship between SOM chemistry and microbial activity in three northern deciduous forest ecosystems that have been subjected to experimental N addition for 2 years. Extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DOC aromaticity, C : N ratio, and functional group distribution, measured by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), were analyzed for litter and SOM. The largest biochemical changes were found in the sugar maple–basswood (SMBW) and black oak–white oak (BOWO) ecosystems. SMBW litter from the N addition treatment had less aromaticity, higher C : N ratios, and lower saturated carbon, lower carbonyl carbon, and higher carboxylates than controls; BOWO litter showed opposite trends, except for carbonyl and carboxylate contents. Litter from the sugar maple–red oak (SMRO) ecosystem had a lower C : N ratio, but no change in DOC aromaticity. For SOM, the C : N ratio increased with N addition in SMBW and SMRO ecosystems, but decreased in BOWO; N addition did not affect the aromaticity of DOC extracted from mineral soil. All ecosystems showed increases in extractable DOC from both litter and soil in response to N treatment. The biochemical changes are consistent with the divergent microbial responses observed in these systems. Extracellular oxidative enzyme activity has declined in the BOWO and SMRO ecosystems while activity in the SMBW ecosystem, particularly in the litter horizon, has increased. In all systems, enzyme activities associated with the hydrolysis and oxidation of polysaccharides have increased. At the ecosystem scale, the biochemical characteristics of the dominant litter appear to modulate the effects of N deposition on organic matter dynamics.
Cotunneling thermopower of single electron transistors

We study the thermopower of a quantum dot weakly coupled to two reservoirs by tunnel junctions. At low temperatures the transport through the dot is suppressed by charging effects (Coulomb blockade). As a result the thermopower shows an oscillatory dependence on the gate voltage. We study this dependence in the limit of low temperatures where transport through the dot is dominated by the processes of inelastic cotunneling. We also obtain a crossover formula for intermediate temperatures which connects our cotunneling results to the known sawtooth behavior in the sequential tunneling regime. As the temperature is lowered, the amplitude of thermopower oscillations increases, and their shape changes qualitatively.
Focusing on the Family in the Treatment of Substance Abusing Criminal Offenders.

Aftercare services are acknowledged in the criminal justice system as critical to enabling drug offenders to avoid relapse and reincarceration, but the content too often is unsupported through research. One program funded under the Department of Justice in Maryland interviewed 150 inmates after three months in the community to determine what environmental influences were having the greatest impact on drug reuse. Findings suggest that more emphasis is needed on family relationships before and after release since satisfaction with family life is strongly correlated with drug abuse.
Quantitative assessment of the control capability of the trunk muscles during oscillatory bending motion under a new experimental protocol

Abstract Objective. A new quantitative technique for measuring the trunk control capability/ coordination was to be developed in this study. Design. Fitts' experimental paradigm was employed to quantify the information processing capacity (bits/s) of the trunk as well as dynamic motor performance such as velocity and acceleration during flexion and extension. Background. The quantification of functional capability of the trunk such as range of motion, strength, and endurance have been used to evaluate low back pain patient. Especially, dynamic trunk motion during flexion and extension has been studied not only to quantify the severity of the low-back impairment but to classify patients. Method. A lumbar motion monitor was used to record the time series of range of motion (RoM) and compute the velocity and acceleration of the trunk motion. Twenty male subjects without any back pain in the past 6 months and previous history of back injury participated. Each subject performed 22 controlled flexion/extension at predetermined RoMs as well as one ballistic trunk flexion/extension at a self-selected RoM. Results. The information processing capacity of the trunk among healthy subjects was found to have a mean of 4.23 ( SD 1.43) bits/s based on Fitts' law. Also, the velocity of dynamic trunk motion was measured with a considerable reduction in intersubject variability when the RoMs were controlled. A short but still accurate experimental protocol was suggested via a series of statistical analyses to provide an objective and easy-to-use method to evaluate the functional capacity of low-back pain patients.
Comparison of a Fluorinated Aryl Thiol Self-Assembled Monolayer with Its Hydrogenated Counterpart on Polycrystalline Ag Substrates

The effects of perfluorination of aryl thiols on surface coverage, surface electronic properties, and molecular orientation of self-assembled monolayers of thiophenol (TP) and pentafluorothiophenol (F5TP) on polycrystalline Ag were evaluated using linear sweep voltammetry, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and surface Raman spectroscopy, respectively. Electrochemical reductive desorption by linear sweep voltammetry indicates a surface coverage for the TP monolayer of (5.07 ± 1.29) × 10−10 mol/cm2, equating to a molecular area of 32.8 ± 8.3 A2, and a surface coverage for the F5TP monolayer of (1.95 ± 0.59) × 10−10 mol/cm2, equating to an area of 85.2 ± 25.8 A2/molecule. TP-modified Ag exhibits a change in work function (ΔΦ) of −0.64 eV relative to bare Ag, whereas F5TP-modified Ag exhibits a ΔΦ of +0.54 eV relative to bare Ag. Quantitative analysis of the UPS and reductive desorption results yields molecular pictures of the proposed interfaces with TP molecules tilted <20° from the surface norm...
Pathological Gambling: Psychiatric Models.

Three psychiatric conceptual models: addictive, obsessive-compulsive spectrum and mood spectrum disorder have been proposed for pathological gambling. The objectives of this paper are to (1) evaluate the evidence base from the most recent reviews of each model, (2) update the evidence through 2007 and (3) summarize the status of the evidence for the three models. Structured literature review and evidence grading. The evidence base supporting all three models is limited. The majority of the evidence is controlled, but not randomized studies that provide evidence of association. The addiction model satisfies several of the criteria formulated for the evaluation of associational evidence, but no model coherently explains all of the associational evidence. Heterogeneity among pathological gamblers or confounding could be the factors contributing to failures of the current conceptual models. New models such as multi-component or subtype models may be needed.
Immunosuppressant therapy during gestation

Use of immunosuppressants during pregnancy is indicated for anti-rejection therapy in transplantation patients and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Maternal side effects include nephrotoxocity and hepatotoxicity. All immunosuppressant drugs cross the placenta. Immunosuppressant use during the first trimester is not strongly associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies, although some agents (eg, azathioprine) may be associated with slightly increased frequencies of birth defects. Effects of exposure to this class of drugs during the second and third trimesters affect the fetus' immune system. The result is an infant with a transiently compromised immune system at an increased risk of slightly lower birth weight. Other direct toxic effects of the drugs on the infant's pancreas, liver, and lymphocytes are reported. Certain agents (eg, penicillamine, chloroquine) should be avoided during pregnancy, if possible. However, their use cannot be discontinued during pregnancy given the life-threatening nature of the indication for use of immunosuppressants.
In Vitro Biosynthesis of Violacein from l-Tryptophan by the Enzymes VioA−E from Chromobacterium violaceum†

The purple chromobacterial pigment violacein arises by enzymatic oxidation and coupling of two molecules of l-tryptophan to give a rearranged pyrrolidone-containing scaffold in the final pigment. We have purified five contiguously encoded proteins VioA−E after expression in Escherichia coli and demonstrate the full 14-electron oxidation pathway to yield the final chromophore. The flavoenzyme VioA and the heme protein VioB work in conjunction to oxidize and dimerize l-tryptophan to a nascent product that can default to the off pathway metabolite chromopyrrolic acid. In the presence of VioE, the intermediate instead undergoes on-pathway [1,2] indole rearrangement to prodeoxyviolacein. The last two enzymes in the pathway are flavin-dependent oxygenases, VioC and VioD, that act sequentially. VioD hydroxylates one indole ring at the 5-position to yield proviolacein, and VioC then acts on the other indole ring at the 2-position to create the oxindole and complete violacein formation.
Path tracking of a heavy weight torpedo in diving plane using an output feedback sliding mode controller

In this paper, a nonlinear robust output feedback control is proposed for a class of autonomous underwater vehicles. In specific, we consider the nonlinear mathematical model of a heavy-weight torpedo and design a sliding mode controller to achieve robust stabilization of the closed-loop system in the presence of environmental disturbances and parametric uncertainties. Lyapunovs method is used to present the closed-loop stability analysis of the system. Then, the state feedback sliding mode control law is extended to an output feedback control design using a fourth order observer. It is highlighted that the performance of the state feedback control is recovered arbitrarily fast by the proposed output feedback controller in the presence of parametric uncertainties and environmental disturbances. Finally, the performance of the proposed control design is shown using simulation.
Antifungal Properties of Esters of Alkenoic and Alkynoic Acids

The antifungal property of the gas phases of a number of alkenoic and alkynoic acids and esters was investigated by placing the compounds in desiccators containing suspended bread. The following compounds inhibited mold development at a concentration of 20 mg per 2.6-liter desiccator: dimethyl fumarate, diethyl fumarate, propenoic acid, methyl and ethyl propenoate, methyl and ethyl propiolate, methyl-2,4-hexadienoate, 2,4- hexadien-1-ol, diethylethylidene malonate, 4-penten-1-ol, and 2-cyclohexen-1-one. Other compounds were active at 200 mg per desiccator: 3-methallyl alcohol; allyl acetone; diallyl ether; propiolic acid; methyl, ethyl, and vinyl crotonate; ethyl-2,4-hexadienoate; methyl and ethyl-2-hexenoate; ethyl-3-hexenoate; 1,5-hexadien-3-01; methylmaleic acid; methylmalonic acid; and 1-penten-3-ol.
Long-term status of TMJ clicking in patients with myofascial pain and dysfunction

This study evaluated the long-term changes in TMJ clicking and general TM disorder symptoms in 190 subjects originally treated by conservative, nonsurgical modalities that were not specifically directed to the problems of TMJ noise or disk derangement. The findings are detailed and support the concept that if the symptoms of pain and dysfunction in patients with clicking can be treated successfully by conservative, nonsurgical modalities, it is generally not necessary to correct the internal derangement with surgery.
Enhanced Adsorption of Mercury(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution by Carbon-Based Adsorbents Containing Cl-, S- and N-functional Groups

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal which occurs in surface and ground waters as the Hg2+ ion. The aim of the present study was to develop carbon-based adsorbents that contain chlorine (Cl), sulphur (S) or nitrogen (N) functional groups in an attempt to enhance the removal of Hg2+ ions from aqueous environments. Thus, activated carbon (AC) was oxidized by treatment with nitric acid and then with thionyl chloride, followed by reaction with ethylenediamine, dithio-oxamide and 1,2-ethanedithiol, respectively. Such chemically-modified activated carbons were characterized by scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and potentiometry. Batch experiments to study the kinetics and equilibrium of Hg2+ ion adsorption were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the functionalized carbon adsorbents. Sample characterizations indicated that chlorine, sulphur or nitrogen functional groups were effectively immobilized onto th...
Regulation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation and interaction with Abl by protein kinase A and cell adhesion

Members of the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) family are important regulators of actin cytoskeletal dynamics whose functions and protein-protein interactions are regulated by phosphorylation by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Herein, we show that phosphorylation of VASP is dynamically regulated by cellular adhesion to extracellular matrix. Detachment of cells stimulated PKA activity and induced PKA-dependent phosphorylation of VASP and the related murine-Enabled (Mena) protein. VASP and Mena were rapidly dephosphorylated immediately following reattachment but showed an intermediate level of phosphorylation during active cell spreading. This pattern correlated closely with adhesion-dependent changes in PKA activity. The in vivo interaction of VASP with the Abl tyrosine kinase, shown here for the first time, was readily apparent in adherent cells, lost following cellular detachment, and induced upon reattachment to matrix. Importantly, inhibition of PKA activity prevented phosphorylation of VASP and dissociation of VASP-Abl complexes after cellular detachment, whereas activation of PKA completely eliminated the co-immunoprecipitation of Abl activity with VASP. These data establish a new biochemical link between cell adhesion and regulation of VASP proteins and provide the first demonstration of a regulated interaction between VASP and Abl in mammalian cells.
CdS thin films prepared by continuous wave Nd:YAG laser

We report new results on continuous wave Nd:YAG laser deposition of cadmium sulfide thin films. Substrates were soda-lime silicate glass, silica glass, silicon, and copper coated formvar sheets. As deposited films were mixtures of cubic and hexagonal phases, with two different grain sizes. As revealed by SEM micrographs, films had smooth surface morphology. As revealed by TEM analysis, grain sizes were extremely small.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Demand for Atlantic Salmon in Canada: A Comment

Due to the successful development of Norwegian salmon farming, major salmon producing countries (such as Canada, the United States, Japan, Chile, Scotland, etc.) have actively attempted to duplicate this practice. This recent development has far reaching implications for the salmon industry. Therefore, a demand analysis of Atlantic salmon products is timely. While we applaud the work by Kabir and Ridler (hereafter, KR), we would like to comment on the specification of their econometric model and elaborate on the implications of KR's findings on fishery management.
Identification of the iron-responsive element for the translational regulation of human ferritin mRNA

Regulated translation of messenger RNA offers an important mechanism for the control of gene expression. The biosynthesis of the intracellular iron storage protein ferritin is translationally regulated by iron. A cis-acting element that is both necessary and sufficient for this translational regulation is present within the 5' nontranslated leader region of the human ferritin H-chain messenger RNA. In this report the iron-responsive element (IRE) was identified by deletional analysis. Moreover, a synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide was shown to be able to transfer iron regulation to a construct that would otherwise not be able to respond to iron. The IRE has been highly conserved and predates the evolutionary segregation between amphibians, birds, and man. The IRE may prove to be useful for the design of translationally regulated expression systems.
Reel Patriotism: The Movies and World War I

Mixing film history with social history, ""Reel Patriotism"" examines the role played by the American film industry during World War I and the effects of the industry's pragmatic patriotism in the decade following the war. Looking at such films as ""Joan the Woman"" and ""Wings"" and at the war-time activities of Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, film distributors including George Kleine and the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, this book shows how heavily publicized gestures of patriotism benefitted the reputation and profits of the movie business. Leslie Midkiff DeBauche shows how the United States government's need to garner public support for the war, conserve food, raise money and enlist soldiers was met by the film industry. Throughout the 19 months of American involvement in World War I, film studios supported the war effort through the production of short instructional films, public speaking activities of movie stars, the civic forum provided by movie theatres, and the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry's provision of administrative personnel to work directly with government agencies. While feature films about the war itself never dominated the release schedules of film distributors, they did become a staple film industry offering throughout the late 1910s and 1920s. The film industry had much to gain, DeBauche demonstrates, from working closely with the US government. Though the war posed a direct challenge to the conduct of business as usual, the industry successfully weathered the war years. After the war, film producers, distributors and exhibitors were able to capitalize on the good will of the movie-goer and the government that the industry's war work created. It provided a buffer against national censorship when the movie stars became embroiled in scandal, and it served as a selling point in the 1920s when major film companies began to trade their stock on Wall Street.
Low-frequency noise in GaAs MESFETs related to backgating effects

The influence of the backgating effect on low-frequency noise in GaAs MESFETs grown by molecular beam epitaxy is investigated. The low-frequency noise is of the 1/f type superimposed on generation-recombination noise. We show that the backgating effect, although it reduces the current, increases current fluctuations and, hence, noise. Furthermore, it is shown that the incorporation of a low-temperature grown GaAs buffer, by MBE, significantly reduces the sensitivity of the noise level of the device to backgate bias.
Urinary levels of triclosan and parabens are associated with aeroallergen and food sensitization

Background Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) have immune-modulating effects. We were interested in determining their association with allergic sensitization. Objective We sought to determine the association between EDCs and allergic sensitization and whether this relationship depends on the antimicrobial properties of the EDCs, sex, or both. Methods Data were obtained from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in which urinary bisphenol A; triclosan; benzophenone-3; propyl, methyl, butyl, and ethyl parabens; and specific IgE levels were available for 860 children. Aeroallergen and food sensitizations were defined as having at least 1 positive (≥0.35 kU/L) specific IgE level to an aeroallergen or a food. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of EDCs and sensitization. Analyses were adjusted for urinary creatinine level, age, sex, ethnicity, and poverty index ratio. Results The odds of aeroallergen sensitization significantly increased with the level of the antimicrobial EDCs triclosan and propyl and butyl parabens ( P ≤ .04). The odds of food sensitization significantly increased with the level of urinary triclosan among male subjects (odds ratio for third vs first tertiles, 3.9; P = .02 for trend). There was a significant interaction between sex and triclosan level, with male subjects being more likely to be food sensitized with exposure ( P = .03). Similar associations were not identified for the nonantimicrobial EDCs bisphenol A and benzophenone-3 ( P > .2). Conclusions As a group, EDCs are not associated with allergen sensitization. However, levels of the antimicrobial EDCs triclosan and parabens were significantly associated with allergic sensitization. The potential role of antimicrobial EDCs in allergic disease warrants further study because they are commonly used in Western society.