cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Programmable Smart Machines: A Hybrid Neuromorphic approach to General Purpose Computation

We describe our research on integrating neuromorphic devices into a new computing system, where the system is not approximate by default and its operation automatically improves as a function of its resources and “experience”. We focus on communicating key insights and observations and then sketch our research agenda. We use the term neuromorphic broadly to mean any hardware specifically designed for machine learning or inspired by biological neural networks. There appear to be two basic modes of computing: (1) by logic, and (2) by pattern recognition. To date, there has generally been a gulf between these two modes, with the exception of work on approximate computing [2, 4, 1]. We seek to define and exploit a closer bridge between the two. We define Programmable Smart Machines (PSMs) as hybrid computing systems that behave as programmed but transparently learn and automatically improve their operation. The PSM research agenda explores the use of neuromorphic devices in addressing the challenges set forth by Michie in the Nature ’68 paper that introduced memoization [3]:
What Are Human Rights

Azoulay argues that human rights discourse is based on a separation between a closed past, in which what was robbed is no longer contested because the violent dispossession has been legalized and naturalized, and an indefinite future in which the rights of “everyman,” as it were—the typical protagonist of a common declarations of rights—would not be violated. This separation is at the basis of the common discourse of human rights and justifies us calling such a discourse a sovereign discourse of rights. For this sovereign discourse, the state of historical inequality as well as people’s coming together in public to perform their rights are neither points of departure nor concrete bids for reparation and compensation. When people perform their rights in concrete situations of harm and deprivation their performance is usually interpreted as a protest, and they are often blamed with the disturbance of public order and are responded to in kind. Based on Azoulay’s work on revolutionary moments, the essay works to reconstruct a civil discourse of human rights from these sites where people perform together.
Quality assessment/assurance activities in U.S. dental schools.

Quality of health care services has become a major social issue. Accordingly, activities directed toward the assessment and assurance of quality are receiving increased attention in dentistry and dental education. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of quality assessment/assurance (QA) programs in U.S. dental schools. Responses from 48 U.S. schools identify a range of institutional QA activities currently being conducted in dental education. The evaluation and remedial action elements of the QA process are being addressed in a majority of schools; however, the establishment of criteria delineating those elements of a given QA activity area that should be measured is lacking.
Mathematics achievement of Chinese, Japanese, and American children: Ten years later.

Author(s): Stevenson, HW; Chen, C; Lee, SY | Abstract: A decade of heightened emphasis in the United States on mathematics and science education has had little influence on academic achievement or parental attitudes. American elementary school children in 1990 lagged behind their Chinese and Japanese peers to as great a degree as they did in 1980. Comparison of the performance of elementary and secondary school students between 1980 and 1990 reveals a decline from first to eleventh grade in the relative position of American students in mathematics. Parental satisfaction with American students' achievement and education remains high and standards remain low. Innate ability continues to be emphasized by Americans as a basis for achievement. American eleventh graders report more indications of stress than do their Chinese and Japanese counterparts.
Estimates of luminous flame radiation from fires

Abstract Luminous radiation from the soot particles of a flame propagating vertically downward on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) rod is investigated by using exact and approximate analyses. Investigation shows that for vertically downward burning of a 0.5 in. diam PMMA rod, the luminous radiative heat transfer from the flame to the fuel rod is well within the optically thin limit. The approximate analysis is extended to conventional hydrocarbon fuels. A simple optically thin approximation in terms of flame temperature T f and mean beam length L m is obtained for the luminous radiation from soot particles. The thin approximation gives errors of less than 5% from exact values for L m T f
Variational theory of nuclear matter at finite temperatures

Abstract Variational methods developed for the ground-state are extended to the calculation of the finite temperature properties of nuclear matter. Results for the effective mass and free energy are given, and the behavior of m ∗ (ϱ, T) is compared with the predictions of Skryme models.
Measuring problem drinking in first time offenders Development and validation of the College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS)

Research on college drinking continues to justify serious concerns for the psychological, social, and physical well-being of young persons who abuse alcohol. However, despite considerable interest and research in this regard, there are few valid, reliable and clinically useful brief screening instruments available to measure youthful drinking problems. The current study of 315 college students cited their first time for breaking university drinking rules describes the development and validation of the College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS) for measuring different psychosocial dimensions of problem drinking in college students. Two related but distinct factors emerged defining Socio-Emotional and Community Problems. These two factors explained almost two thirds of the variance, and showed very good internal reliabilities. MANOVA analysis demonstrated concurrent validity for the CAPS with both a measure of heavy drinking derived from the QFI and a modified version of the MAST. Implications for using the CAPS for identifying potential drinking problems in young persons are emphasized.
Sergei Winogradsky: a founder of modern microbiology and the first microbial ecologist

Sergei Winogradsky, was born in Russia in 1856 and was to become a founder of modern microbiology. After his Master's degree work on the nutrition and growth physiology of the yeast Mycoderma vini at the University of St. Petersburg, he joined the laboratory of Anton DeBary in Strassburg. There he carried out his studies on the sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Beggiatoa which resulted in his formulation of the theory of chemolithotrophy. He then joined the Swiss Polytechnic Institute in Zurich where he did his monumental work on bacterial nitrification. He isolated the first pure cultures of the nitrifying bacteria and confirmed that they carried out the separate steps of the conversion of ammonia to nitrite and of nitrite to nitrate. This led directly to the concept of the cycles of sulfur and nitrogen in Nature. He returned to Russia and there was the first to isolate a free-living dinitrogen-fixing bacterium. In the flush of success, he retired from science and spent 15 years on his familial estate in the Ukraine. The Russian revolution forced him to flee Russia. He joined the Pasteur Institute in Paris where he spent his remaining 24 years initiating and developing the field of microbial ecology. He died in 1953.
The Effect of Supervisor-Subordinate Language Similarity on Subordinates' Perceived Organizational Support in the U.S. Lodging Industry

The oblique relationship between Perceived Organization Support (POS) and Affective Commitment (AC) on the part of organizational subordinates is well documented. Moreover, several studies have demonstrated the organizationally critical role these constructs play. There has been little empirical attention given, however, to the antecedents to POS. Extending existing POS-related theory, this study focuses on the role of language similarity between managers and their subordinates. More specifically, we provide theoretical support and empirically assess the role of language similarity as a primary driver of subordinate POS in the causal linkage leading to positive AC.
A comparative study of susceptibility of tubercle bacillus (H37RV) to aureomycin, streptomycin, and para-aminosalicylic acid.

SummaryIn vitro, aureomycin compares favorably with streptomycin and para-amino-salicylic acid in its antibiotic activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37RV. In vivo, aureomycin proved ineffective as a therapeutic antibiotic agent in experimental tuberculosis of dba mice.
Geometric Sensitivity of a Pinhole Collimator

Geometric sensitivity for single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is given by a double integral over the detection plane. It would be useful to be able to explicitly evaluate this quantity. This paper shows that the inner integral can be evaluated in the situation where there is no gamma ray penetration of the material surrounding the pinhole aperture. This is done by converting the integral to an integral in the complex plane and using Cauchy's theorem to replace it by one which can be evaluated in terms of elliptic functions.
Validation of Surgical Intensive Care–Infection Registry: A Medical Informatics System for Intensive Care Unit Research, Quality of Care Improvement, and Daily Patient Care

Background We developed a prototype electronic clinical information system called the Surgical Intensive Care-Infection Registry (SIC-IR) to prospectively study infectious complications and monitor quality of care improvement programs in the surgical and trauma intensive care unit. The objective of this study was to validate SIC-IR as a successful health information technology with an accurate clinical data repository. Study Design Using the DeLone and McLean Model of Information Systems Success as a framework, we evaluated SIC-IR in a 3-month prospective crossover study of physician use in one of our two surgical and trauma intensive care units (SIC-IR unit versus non SIC-IR unit). Three simultaneous research methodologies were used: a user survey study, a pair of time-motion studies, and an accuracy study of SIC-IR's clinical data repository. Results The SIC-IR user survey results were positive for system reliability, graphic user interface, efficiency, and overall benefit to patient care. There was a significant decrease in prerounding time of nearly 4 minutes per patient on the SIC-IR unit compared with the non SIC-IR unit. The SIC-IR documentation and data archiving was accurate 74% to 100% of the time depending on the data entry method used. This accuracy was significantly improved compared with normal hand-written documentation on the non SIC-IR unit. Conclusions SIC-IR proved to be a useful application both at individual user and organizational levels and will serve as an accurate tool to conduct prospective research and monitor quality of care improvement programs.
Mucormycosis in immunochallenged patients

Mucorales species are deadly opportunistic fungi with a rapidly invasive nature. A rare disease, mucormycosis is most commonly reported in patients with diabetes mellitus, because the favorable carbohydrate-rich environment allows the Mucorales fungi to flourish, especially in the setting of ketoacidosis. However, case reports over the past 20 years show that a growing number of cases of mucormycosis are occurring during treatment following bone marrow transplants (BMT) and hematological malignancies (HM) such as leukemia and lymphoma. This is due to the prolonged treatment of these patients with steroids and immunosuppressive agents. Liposomal amphotericin B treatment and posaconazole are two pharmacologic agents that seem to be effective against mucormycosis, but the inherently rapid onset and course of the disease, in conjunction with the difficulty in correctly identifying it, hinder prompt institution of appropriate antifungal therapy. This review of the literature discusses the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of mucormycosis among the BMT and HM populations.
Applications of Fourier transform spectrometry in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-IR

Abstract Although Fourier transform spectrometry is now synonymous with infrared spectroscopy, its first applications were in the visible simply because the eye was the only available detector in those early years. Connes [l] has given a particularly readable synopsis of the early history of interferometry in which he traces its beginnings to Fizeau and Foucault and their studies of the solar spectrum in the mid-1800s. Even in those early days using available, optical components, Fizeau built an interferometer capable of reproducibly detecting 1/20th of a fringe of mirror movement in the visible. This system was also used to measure the first infrared interferogram of the sun (using photographic detection). Michelson, in the late 19th century was attempting to improve on Fizeau's measurements when he began his now famous work which resulted in the discovery that the Balmer line of hydrogen was actually a doublet instead of the singlet produced by dispersive spectrometers. He was the first to link spectros...
Invivo phosphorylation of isocitrate lyase from Escherichiacoli D5H3G7

This report describes the in vivo phosphorylation of isocitrate lyase and examines the possible consequences to the control of the Kreb's cycle and glyoxylate bypass. NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from E. coli was the first bacterial protein whose enzymic activity was shown to be modulated by reversible phosphorylation. This enzyme has been thought to be solely responsible for the partitioning of isocitrate between the Kreb's cycle and glyoxylate bypass. No studies to date have examined the possible role of isocitrate lyase in controlling this flux.
The X-ray surface brightness of Kepler's supernova remnant

The first X-ray images of Kepler's supernova remnant (SN Ophiuchi 1604) are presented, and consequences for SNR models are discussed. Observations made with the Einstein Observatory Imaging Proportional Counter and High Resolution Imager show the remnant to be circular, with a strong shell brighter in the north than in the south. A flux of 1.2 x 10 to the -10th ergs/sq cm per sec was measured in the 0.15-4.5 keV region, which corresponds to an X-ray luminosity of 1.0 x 10 to the 36th ergs/sec at a distance of 5 kpc and an interstellar medium density of 2.8 x 10 to the 21st/sq cm. The X-ray observations do not allow the determination of whether the SNR is in the adiabatic or free expansion phase, but in either case it is shown that the mean ISM density must be greater than about 0.1/cu cm. In addition, the density of the X-ray emitting gas must be high, and its electron temperature must be fairly low. The high ISM densities derived for Kepler's SNR and other SNRs thus suggest an atypical ISM, possibly influenced by mass lost from the pre-supernova star.
Recognition and correct responding mediated by first letter of trigram stimuli

Re-examination of previous research reveals that in paired-associate learning, the stimulus-recognition response requisite for association activation depends significantly upon the first letter of trigram stimuli, and that given stimulus recognition on this basis, appropriate associations are activated.
Yo-yo injuries.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to describe pediatric yo-yo injuries as published in the English-language medical literature and in a large national database of emergency department visits in the United States. METHODS: Two search strategies of public data were used. All available materials from January 1993 through December 2002 including accident investigations, reported incidents, death certificates, and data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System involving yo-yos were requested from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Data were also obtained from a search of the English-language medical literature accessing MEDLINE, a database of more than 11 million citations. RESULTS: Fourteen cases of injuries sustained during proper yo-yo use were identified. The injuries were sustained by children 5 to 14 years. Eleven (79%) of the subjects were boys. Most injuries involved minor blows to the face and scalp. None of these injuries were serious. CONCLUSIONS: When properly used, yo-yos appear to be relatively safe toys. Training in the proper use of a yo-yo to avoid being struck in the head, face, or eyes may be helpful for school-aged children. Employing a search strategy using data available from the Consumer Product Safety Commission including information provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and electronically accessing MEDLINE appear to yield useful information when questions about the safety of a consumer product arise.
Dermal cellular responses of helminth-free and Ostertagia ostertagi-infected calves to intradermal injections of soluble extracts from O. ostertagi L3 larvae.

Abstract Twelve calves were raised helminth-free until 9 weeks of age when six were orally inoculated with 100 000 Ostertagia ostertagi infective stage larvae (L3). Three uninfected and three experimentally infected calves received intradermal injections of sterile saline and soluble larval extract (SLE) from O. ostertagi L3 with a protein concentration ranging from 1 to 200 μg ml−1. Biopsies were performed 48 h post-injection. A kinetic study was performed on the remaining six calves, three infected and three uninfected, using a 100 μg ml−1 concentration of SLE and taking biopsies 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 72 h post-injection at both the saline and SLE-injected sites. All calves had an immediate wheal and increase in skin thickness at the SLE-injected sites. The numbers of eosinophils infiltrating SLE-injected sites as comparred to saline-injected sites were significant in both uninfected and infected calves, but the infected calves had significant numbers to a wider range of SLE concentrations and had significantly higher numbers than uninfected calves in the kinetic study. Infected calves also had significant numbers of basophils in the dose response study at concentrations of 5 and 100 μg ml−1 SLE. Neutrophil infiltration was similar in both groups and was significant at SLE-injected sites early in the kinetic study. Detectable mast cells were decreased in SLE-injected sites of infected animals and perivascular accumulation of mononuclear and some polymorphonuclear cells was observed in the deep dermis of infected animals.
Investigation of fast and slow decays in InGaN/GaN quantum wells

We have measured and analyzed the photoluminescence spectra from InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells. Emission peaks due to recombination of the photogenerated carriers occupying localized states and extended states within quantum wells have been identified through temperature-dependent photoluminescence. Fast and slow decays have been attributed to recombination of carriers in extended states and localized states, respectively, based on time-resolved pump-probe differential photoluminescence.
The organizational implementation of an electronic meeting system: an analysis of the innovation process

Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS) are slowly moving out of university environments into work organizations. They constitute an innovative method of supporting group meetings. This paper reports on the innovation process in one organization that has recently adopted and implemented an EMS. The paper traces the innovation process through four stages: conception of an idea: proposal; decision to adopt; and implementation. Important factors from the innovation literature are considered as explanators of the innovation process involving EMS in this particular organization.
Developments in generalized ranked-order filters

A general formulation of ranked-order filters is developed in two parts: part 1, signal-to-noise-ratio analysis and part 2, construction and analysis of a ranked-order-filter function based on a mathematical logic approach. The filter function is analyzed to define the structure of filter roots for one-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) window filters as data patterns that are invariant of the filter. The 1-D and 2-D coded window filters defined for roots of repeated patterns of binary data are defined and analyzed. The analysis concludes with an application of the coded window filter to a computer-generated 2-D noisy image containing a binary pattern and an application for feature extraction by a 2-D filter constrained by a predicate function to select only fixed-point root data structures.
Untranslated vesicular stomatitis virus messenger RNA after poliovirus infection.

Superinfection of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-infected cells with poliovirus causes a complete inhibition of VSV-directed protein synthesis, followed by normal replication of poliovirus. The “shut-off” of VSV protein synthesis appears similar in all respects to the inhibition of host cell protein synthesis normally induced by poliovirus infection. VSV messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis continues at normal rates after superinfection. This RNA appears to accumulate and to remain intact, although it does not associate with ribosomes. The untranslated RNA is polyadenylated, capped, and methylated normally. Furthermore, when extracted from superinfected cells, it manifests normal biological function, measured by its ability to stimulate the synthesis of VSV proteins by a cell-free wheat germ protein-synthesizing extract. Thus, the inhibition of protein synthesis by poliovirus does not seem to be the result of a modification or inactivation of messenger RNA.
Biosynthesis of a linoleic acid allylic epoxide: mechanistic comparison with its chemical synthesis and leukotriene A biosynthesis

Biosynthesis of the leukotriene A (LTA) class of epoxide is a lipoxygenase-catalyzed transformation requiring a fatty acid hydroperoxide substrate containing at least three double bonds. Here, we report on biosynthesis of a dienoic analog of LTA epoxides via a different enzymatic mechanism. Beginning with homolytic cleavage of the hydroperoxide moiety, a catalase/peroxidase-related hemoprotein from Anabaena PCC 7120, which occurs in a fusion protein with a linoleic acid 9R-lipoxygenase, dehydrates 9R-hydroperoxylinoleate to a highly unstable epoxide. Using methods we developed for isolating extremely labile compounds, we prepared and purified the epoxide and characterized its structure as 9R,10R-epoxy-octadeca-11E,13E-dienoate. This epoxide hydrolyzes to stable 9,14-diols that were reported before in linoleate autoxidation (Hamberg, M. 1983. Autoxidation of linoleic acid: Isolation and structure of four dihydroxy octadecadienoic acids. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 752: 353–356) and in incubations with the Anabaena enzyme (Lang, I., C. Gobel, A. Porzel, I. Heilmann, and I. Feussner. 2008. A lipoxygenase with linoleate diol synthase activity from Nostoc sp. PCC 7120. Biochem. J. 410: 347–357). We also prepared an equivalent epoxide from 13S-hydroperoxylinoleate using a “biomimetic” chemical method originally described for LTA4 synthesis and showed that like LTA4, the C18.2 epoxide conjugates readily with glutathione, a potential metabolic fate in vivo. We compare and contrast the mechanisms of LTA-type allylic epoxide synthesis by lipoxygenase, catalase/peroxidase, and chemical transformations. These findings provide new insights into the reactions of linoleic acid hydroperoxides and extend the known range of catalytic activities of catalase-related hemoproteins.
Effect of insulin on the induction by dexamethasone of glucose-6-phosphohydrolase and translocase activities in cultured hepatoma cells

The ten-fold increase in glucose-6-phosphatase, previously reported, in 2S FAZA hepatoma cells exposed to dexamethasone, is completely blocked by low concentrations of insulin. At 3 x 10(-10) M insulin, the activity induced by 10(-6) M dexamethasone is reduced by half. The activity of intact microsomes, which reflects translocation of cytoplasmic glucose 6-phosphate into the endoplasmic reticulum, is induced by dexamethasone, but to a lesser extent than the hydrolase. Insulin also prevents this induction.
The Systems Approach For Applying Artificial Intelligence To Space Station Automation

The progress of technology is marked by fragmentation -- dividing research and development into ever narrower fields of specialization. Ultimately, specialists know everything about nothing. And hope for integrating those slender slivers of specialty into a whole fades. Without an integrated, all-encompassing perspective, technology becomes applied in a lopsided and often inefficient manner. A decisionary model, developed and applied for NASA's Chief Engineer toward establishment of commercial space operations, can be adapted to the identification, evaluation, and selection of optimum application of artificial intelligence for space station automation -- restoring wholeness to a situation that is otherwise chaotic due to increasing subdivision of effort. Issues such as functional assignments for space station task, domain, and symptom modules can be resolved in a manner understood by all parties rather than just the person with assigned responsibility -- and ranked by overall significance to mission accomplishment. Ranking is based on the three basic parameters of cost, performance, and schedule. This approach has successfully integrated many diverse specialties in situations like worldwide terrorism control, coal mining safety, medical malpractice risk, grain elevator explosion prevention, offshore drilling hazards, and criminal justice resource allocation -- all of which would have otherwise been subject to "squeaky wheel" emphasis and support of decision-makers.
Analysis of donor factors affecting human islet isolation with current isolation protocol.

Abstract Background Appropriate donor selection is one of the keys for successful human islet isolation. Previous studies identified several critical donor factors; however, significant improvements in current human islet isolation protocols make reevaluation of donor factors necessary. Study design Review was performed on 31 human islet isolations. Islet isolations were conducted using the standard automated islet isolation method with three protocol revisions that included the two-layer method (TLM) of pancreas preservation prior to islet isolation, usage of purified collagenase mixture Liberase, and continuous density gradient for islet purification. Factors leading to successful isolations (islet yield > 100,000 IE and static incubation stimulation index greater than 2.0) were analyzed. The impacts of various risk factors were also examined. Results Donors in the successful islet isolation group had a significantly lower incidence of elevated peak transaminases and creatinine levels, lower usage of norepinephrine or cardiac arrest, less prolonged hospitalization (> 96 hours), and less prolonged preservation time of donor pancreata (>25 hours). The TLM extended acceptable preservation time of donor pancreata from 8 to 25 hours. When donors had no risk factor, the success rate was 14/16 (87.5%). In sharp contrast, when donors had two or more risk factors, the success rate was 0/7 (0%; P Conclusion Risk factors for human islet isolation with the current islet isolation protocol were identified. The decision to process pancreata based on review of donor factors should improve the consistency of human islet isolations and transplantation for curing type 1 diabetes.
High nuclearity iridium-platinum clusters: synthesis, structures, bonding, and reactivity.

The reaction of Ir4(CO)12 with an excess of Pt(PBut3)2 at room temperature yielded the bis-Pt(PBut3) adduct Ir4(CO)12[Pt(PBut3)]2 (9), which contains two Pt(PBut3) groups bridging opposite edges of a central Ir4 pseudotetrahedron. The same reaction at 110 °C yielded two new higher nuclearity complexes, Ir8(CO)12[Pt(PBut3)]4 (10) and Ir6(CO)10[Pt(PBut3)]4 (11). Compound 10 consists of a central Ir4(CO)4 tetrahedron with four edge-bridging Ir(CO)2 groups and four Pt(PBut3) groups that are each bonded to Ir3 triangles of the Ir4 tetrahedron and two of the Ir(CO)2 groups. Compound 11 consists of a central Ir4(CO)4 pseudotetrahedron with two edge-bridging Ir(CO)2 groups and four Pt(PBut3) groups; one Pt(PBut3) group is bonded to five iridium atoms as found in 10; two are bonded to four iridium atoms, and one is bonded to one of the outer Ir2Pt triangles. Compound 11 reacted with hydrogen at 97 °C to give the new tetrahydrido complex Ir6(CO)8[Pt(PBut3)]4(μ-H)4 (12). Compound 12 is formed by the loss of the two ...
Poppea's Legacy: The Julio-Claudians on the Venetian Stage

In a context already established by Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea and other Venetian treatments of the Julio-Claudians, Giovanni A. Boretti and Aurelio Aureli's opera Claudio Cesare bears the heavy influence of the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus. Aureli took extraordinary care to incorporate specific details from Book 12 of Tacitus' Annals into his libretto, deftly blending fact with fanciful supposition in a manner that echoes many of the concerns about women and monarchy explored in Monteverdi's opera. An aria sung by the young Nero to his mother Agrippina demonstrates the complex ways in which music could teach the lessons of history—both seducing the listener and providing a chilling lesson about the political and moral liabilities of empire.
INTERPARENTAL CONFLICT AS A RISK FACTOR FOR CHILD MALADJUSTMENT: Implications for the Development of Prevention Programs

This article reviews research on the effects of interparental conflict on children and examines its implications for divorce education programs designed to reduce conflict after divorce. Basic research indicates that prevention programs for parents will be most effective in fostering children's adaptation to divorce if they can reduce the level of destructive conflict that children are exposed to, foster good parent–child relationships, and keep children from being caught in the middle of parental tensions and disagreements. Programs for children are likely to be most helpful if they help children learn ways to cope with situations in which they feel pressured to side with one parent against the other and avoid feeling responsible for parental problems. Although psycho-educational programs are widely available and often court-mandated, evaluation studies are rare and support for their efficacy is mixed.
Observation of paramagnetic Meissner effect in niobium disks.

For several superconducting niobium disks, the dc field-cooled magnetization (FCM) shows a paramagnetic response below their superconducting transition temperature ${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}9.2\mathrm{K}$ when the applied magnetic filed is normal to the disk. At 8.6 K, the FCM reaches a maximum in fields of 5 to 10 Oe and becomes diamagnetic for fields larger than 20 Oe. This FCM behavior is qualitatively similar to the paramagnetic Meissner effect (PME) recently observed in high- ${T}_{c}$ cuprate superconductors. Various surface treatments to the Nb disks result in changes in both the zero-field-cooled magnetization and the FCM, including the disappearance of the PME.
Hypothermia preserves myocardial function and mitochondrial protein gene expression during hypoxia.

Hypothermia before and/or during no-flow ischemia promotes cardiac functional recovery and maintains mRNA expression for stress proteins and mitochondrial membrane proteins (MMP) during reperfusion...
The management of cerebrospinal fluid leaks in patients at risk for high-pressure hydrocephalus

Objectives/Hypothesis: The transnasal endoscopic approach has become the preferred technique for the surgical management of patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks of the anterior, sellar, and parasellar skull base. The literature has reported an 85% to 100% success rate for the endoscopic repair of CSF leaks, which compares favorably with that reported after transcranial repair. Despite an adequate repair, a subpopulation of patients remain at high risk for recurrence of the CSF leak attributable to undiagnosed high-pressure hydrocephalus. Patients at high risk for high-pressure hydrocephalus include those who have had a subarachnoid hemorrhage as a result of trauma (accidental or surgical) or stroke and those with spontaneous CSF leaks. Study Design: With the goal of reducing the risk of recurrence, the authors developed a protocol for the identification and management of patients with CSF leaks who are at risk for high-pressure hydrocephalus. Methods: The protocol includes endoscopic repair, temporary CSF diversion, measurement of CSF pressure after the repair, and immediate ventriculoperitoneal shunting if necessary. Results: During the period of September 1999 to April 2002, the authors repaired 25 CSF leaks through an endonasal endoscopic approach. Nineteen patients were considered at high risk for high-pressure hydrocephalus. Using the protocol described, the authors identified six patients (31%) with CSF leaks that could be associated with undiagnosed high-pressure hydrocephalus. All CSF leaks were successfully repaired using a transnasal endoscopic repair. Six patients with high-pressure hydrocephalus underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting after repair of the CSF Leak. No recurrence has been observed at a follow-up ranging from 24 to 84 months (median period, 30 mo). Conclusion: Patients with high-pressure hydrocephalus may be identified in a prospective fashion to prevent recurrence or persistence of the CSF leaks. The presence or absence of high-pressure CSF may be established by means of direct CSF pressure measurement through lumbar puncture postoperatively. This allows early intervention and prevention of recurrence.
Directing DNA Methylation to Inhibit Gene Expression

1. DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification that silences gene transcription, participates in X-chromosome inactivation in females, and regulates genomic imprinting. 2. We have devised a method to inhibit transcriptional initiation by constructing short methylated oligonucleotides which induce DNA methylation at specific loci. 3. The methodology by which we devise these oligonucleotides is described, using oligonucleotides directed against the oncogene, Bcl-2. 4. The human Bcl-2 gene contains two promoters, each of which contains a CpG island in its core region. Oligonucleotides are designed which can inhibit Bcl-2 transcription and lead to decreased mRNA and protein in vitro. When compared to standard anti-sense oligonucleotide action, these methylated oligonucleotides are far more sensitive and potentially, longer acting. 5. In principle, using this methodology, it should be possible to design methylated oligonucleotides that can methylate CpG islands and thereby downregulate any gene.
Concurrent and Prospective Relations Between Distress Tolerance, Life Stressors, and Anger

The current investigation examined relations between distress tolerance (DT), life stressors, and anger using cross-sectional and prospective designs. In Study 1, low DT was uniquely associated with higher levels of trait anger and anger control difficulties. In Study 2, the DT and anger relationship was examined through two assessments, 1 month apart, and using twice-weekly daily diary assessments. Low DT predicted increases in anger 1 month later only among individuals reporting low past-month romantic negative life events; it did not interact with daily stressors in predicting daily anger. Lower daily DT was uniquely associated with greater daily anger. Overall, support was found for unique concurrent relations between low DT and problematic anger, though no support was found for low DT acting as a prospective vulnerability factor for increased angry response to stressors. Theoretical implications are discussed.
Chlamydia and apoptosis: life and death decisions of an intracellular pathogen.

The chlamydiae are important obligate intracellular prokaryotic pathogens that, each year, are responsible for millions of human infections involving the eye, genital tract, respiratory tract, vasculature and joints. The chlamydiae grow in cytoplasmic vesicles in susceptible host cells, which include the mucosal epithelium, vascular endothelium, smooth muscle cells, circulating monocytes and recruited or tissue-specific macrophages. One important pathogenic strategy that chlamydiae have evolved to promote their survival is the modulation of programmed cell death pathways in infected host cells. The chlamydiae can elicit the induction of host cell death, or apoptosis, under some circumstances and actively inhibit apoptosis under others. This subtle pathogenic mechanism highlights the manner in which these highly successful pathogens take control of infected cells to promote their own survival — even under the most adverse circumstances.
Safety and efficacy of simvastatin for the treatment of dyslipidemia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving efavirenz-based highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Study Objectives. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of simvastatin for treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who were receiving efavirenz-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and to evaluate the effect of simvastatin when added to efavirenz on CD4+ count, HIV viral load, and frequency of attainment of patient-specific National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III lipid goals. Design. Retrospective medical record review. Setting. Veterans Affairs health care system in Dallas, Texas. Patients. Thirteen HIV-infected men who received a stable efavirenz-based HAART regimen concurrently with simvastatin 20 mg/day, and 19 HIV-negative men who received simvastatin 20 mg/day (controls). Measurements and Main Results. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected before and after starting simvastatin. Reductions in lipid profile values in the HIV-infected group versus HIV-negative group were as follows: total cholesterol −20% versus −28% (p=0.15), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) −36% versus −41% (p=0.06), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL) −22% versus −33% (p=0.212), and total cholesterol:HDL ratio −33% versus −30% (p=0.26). These effects were seen without any documented adverse drug reactions or changes in viral and immunologic control. However, 28% fewer HIV-infected patients were able to achieve NCEP ATP III LDL goals compared with HIV-negative subjects. Conclusion. These preliminary comparative data suggest that simvastatin can be safely and effectively used to treat dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients receiving efavirenz-based HAART without compromising viral or immunologic control. However, our results are suggestive of slight lessening of the LDL-lowering effects, which might be explained by the known reduction in simvastatin levels with efavirenz. Furthermore, fewer HIV-infected patients were able to meet their NCEP ATP III goals compared with HIV-negative controls, highlighting the difficulty in treating this population to current standards of care.
Prorenin Secretion from Villous Placenta: Regulation by Cyclic AMP and Angiotensin

Summary Renin synthesis and secretion from human chorion and decidua have previously been shown to be stimulated by agents which increase cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). We have now used organ culture of villous placenta, incubated for periods up to 72 h, to investigate the cellular regulation of renin in this tissue. The placental tissues release renin (92–96% in the form of prorenin) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), but not prolactin. We found that cholera toxin and forskolin markedly stimulate the synthesis and release of renin in a time-dependent manner. This stimulation was potentiated by phosphodiesterase inhibitors and inhibited by an angiotensin II agonist, sar-1-angiotensin II. The inhibitory action of the angiotensin agonist on renin release was blocked by sar-1-leu-8-angiotensin II, a selective angiotensin receptor antagonist. The potential for stimulation of renin expression by cyclic AMP-regulated elements is supported by the dramatic (two-orders of magnitude) increase in renin release observed with cholera and forskolin at 72 h. There are several possible candidates for primary signals for adenylyl cyclase-coupled renin secretion from the placenta, including relaxin and epinephrine. The extremely low concentration of renin in term villous placenta may be related to activation of negative regulatory elements on the renin gene. We propose that angiotensin II is one negative regulator of this system.
Volumetric SLSC imaging of vasculature on a clinical matrix array

We extended the concept of Short-lag Spatial Coherence imaging to matrix arrays and used it to improve the quality of vessel images. Specifically, we collected signals from the individual channels of a clinical matrix array while imaging a flow phantom and the human livers in vivo. We used this data to reconstruct matched B-mode and SLSC volumes. 2-D and 3-D images created from the SLSC volumes showed suppressed clutter and better visibility of vessels compared to their B-mode counterparts. Vessel contrast and CNR were computed for the volumes using concurrently acquired Doppler data as a gold standard for vessel visualization.
The Budd-Chiari Syndrome: Medical and Surgical Management of 30 Patients

• A retrospective review of 30 patients with documented Budd-Chiari syndrome disclosed an overall mortality of 57%. Medical treatment alone was associated with an 86% mortality; hepatic failure was the most common cause of death. Mortality was 31% overall for the surgical group, but there were long-term survivors among patients undergoing portacaval shunting. From this series, no single surgical procedure was found to be clearly superior. Surgical treatment with a side-to-side portacaval shunt seems to be the preferred operation when it can be performed. Surgical intervention should proceed soon after the diagnosis is made, lest extension of thrombus occur. Medical therapy most often is ineffective. ( Arch Surg 1985;120:657-662)
Novel microelectromechanical systems image reversal fabrication process based on robust SU-8 masking layers

This paper discusses a novel fabrication process that uses a combination of negative and positive photoresists with positive tone photomasks, resulting in masking layers suitable for bulk micromachining high-aspect ratio microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Mi- croChem's negative photoresist Nano TM SU-8 and Clariant's image rever- sal photoresist AZ 5214E are utilized, along with a barrier layer, to effec- tively convert a positive photomask into a negative image. This technique utilizes standard photolithography chemicals, equipment, and processes, and opens the door for creating complementary MEMS structures without added fabrication delay and cost. Furthermore, the SU-8 masking layer is robust enough to withstand aggressive etch chemistries needed for fabrication research and development, bulk micromachining high-aspect ratio MEMS structures in silicon substrates, etc. This processing tech- nique was successfully demonstrated by translating a positive photomask to an SU-8 layer that was then utilized as an etching mask for a series of trenches that were micromachined into a silicon substrate. In addition, whereas the SU-8 mask would normally be left in place after process- ing, a technique utilizing Rohm and Haas Microposit TM S1818 as a re- lease layer has been developed so that the SU-8 masking material can be removed post-etching. C 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
Empire and Exception

Imperial power, and the policies of the Bush administration, are widely perceived as a distinct break with the modern world and the American past. In fact, elements of imperial power have been present since early modernity. The distinct nature of imperial sovereignty remains unclear. Negri and Hardt insist that imperial sovereignty constitutes a sharp break from modern nation-state sovereignty. However, if modern sovereignty is read from the standpoint of the exception, not liberalism, its ground and operation are the same as those of empire. What is new in empire is that global restraints still present in the nation-state order have disappeared. As a result, the state of exception today has become the rule. Only by recognizing that this relation is a product of imperial power, and not an external factor it seeks to counter, can we challenge the legitimating discourse of empire.
Opioid attentional bias and cue-elicited craving predict future risk of prescription opioid misuse among chronic pain patients.

Background Some chronic pain patients receiving long-term opioid analgesic pharmacotherapy are at risk for misusing opioids. Like other addictive behaviors, risk of opioid misuse may be signaled by an attentional bias (AB) towards drug-related cues. The purpose of this study was to examine opioid AB as a potential predictor of opioid misuse among chronic pain patients following behavioral treatment.
Repair response of human fibroblasts to bleomycin damage

The ability of human fibroblasts to repair the specific types of DNA damage caused by bleomycin (BLM) was examined in whole-cell experiments. The method utilized for analysis was alkaline sucrose-gradient centrifugation of DNA. The results of these studies show that a repair pathway exists for the damage produced in DNA by bleomycin. DNA from BLM-treated cells shows a decrease in molecular weight, caused by chemical or enzymatic incision at sites of drug action. If the drug is removed, the DNA rapidly returns to high molecular weight, demonstrating reformation of damaged DNA. This repair response to BLM-damage was also confirmed in fibroblasts isolated from patients with putative DNA-repair defects. We observed that the response (to BLM) of cells from patients with Fanconi anemia was altered in that the fall in molecular weight of DNA from treated cells was not as great as that observed in other cell strains after drug treatment.