cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computer-Assisted Instruction for Teaching Academic Skills to Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Literature

Although legislation mandates that students with autism receive instruction linked to the general education core content, there is limited research supporting the effectiveness of interventions for teaching core content to these students. In this study, the author reviewed research conducted between the years 1997 and 2008 using computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to teach academic skills to students with autism. The author concluded that CAI was effective for teaching a limited set of academic skills to individuals with autism; however, functional relations were found in few of the single-case designs and none of the group designs included a control group. Future researchers should explore the use of CAI in various instructional arrangements, identify critical technology components, and evaluate commercially available software.
Diagrammatic technique for calculating matrix elements of collective operators in superradiance

Adopting the so-called genealogical construction, one can express the eigenstates of collective operators corresponding to a specified mode for an N-atom system in terms of those for an (N-1) atom system. Using these Dicke states as bases and using the Wigner-Eckart theorem, a matrix element of a collective operator of an arbitrary mode can be written as the product of an m-dependent factor and an m-independent reduced matrix element (RME). A set of recursion formulas for the RME is obtained. A graphical representation of the RME on the branching diagram for binary irreducible representations of permutation groups is then introduced. This gives a simple and systematic way of calculating the RME. This method is especially useful when the cooperation number r is close to N/2, where almost exact asymptotic expressions can be obtained easily. The result shows explicity the geometry dependence of superradiance and the relative importance of r-conserving and r-nonconserving processes.
Linkage of a Drosophila melanogaster U1 small nuclear RNA gene to the larval serum protein 1-β gene

Abstract Sequences that hybridize to a small nuclear transcript have previously been described as being in close proximity to the LSP1-β gene at 21 D-E (McClelland et al., 1981). Alonso et al. (1984) have shown that a U1 small nuclear RNA gene is present at this locus. Evidence that this represents the sole U1 gene of Drosophila melanogaster is discussed.
Implementing industrial ecology and design for environment practices: Lawrence livermore national laboratory

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), one of the nation's three national security laboratories, is initiating a major research effort in industrial ecology with the goal of increasing the economic and environmental efficiency of the U.S. and global economies. Closer to home, ongoing efforts to reduce LLNL's environmental impact on the surrounding community provide an example of how the environmental efficiency of a major research facility can be systematically improved. In the late 1980s, LLNL initiated its waste minimization and pollution prevention program, changing its focus from end-of-pipe waste management to a proactive and preventive strategy—total quality environmental management (TQEM). LLNL's success in integrating pollution prevention with R&D and operational activities is well illustrated by the waste reduction and energy and water conservation accomplishments described in this article. LLNL represents a model of how industrial ecology, design for environment, and pollution prevention can be incorporated into a comprehensive R&D and operational program. This article describes LLNL's developing industrial ecology program, gives some specific technical accomplishments that have application to many industrial facilities, and presents a case study of TQEM at LLNL's remote experimental test facility, Site 300. The integration of TQEM philosophy with LLNL's scientific capabilities holds much promise for new ideas and creative solutions to national and international industrial ecology concerns.
The Adhi Kot breccia and implications for the origin of chondrules and silica-rich clasts in enstatite chondrites

Abstract The Adhi Kot EH4 enstatite chondrite breccia consists of silica-rich clasts (12+mn; 5 vol.%), chondrule-rich clasts (55+mn; 10 vol.%) and matrix (35+mn; 10 vol.%). The silica-rich clasts are a new kind of enstatite chondritic material, which contains more cristobalite (18–28 wt.%) than enstatite (12–14 wt.%), as well as abundant niningerite and troilite. The bulk atomic Mg/Si ratios of the clasts (0.22–0.40) are much lower than the average for enstatite chondrites (0.79). Kamacite and martensite (with 8–11 wt.% Ni and a martensitic structure) occur in all three breccia components. The clasts have kamacite-rich rims, and kamacite-rich aggregates occur in the matrix. A unidirectional change in the ambient pS2/pO2 ratio in the region of the solar nebula where Adhi Kot agglomerated can explain many of the breccia's petrologic features. If this region initially had a very high pS2/pO2 ratio in a gas of non-cosmic composition, sulfurization of enstatite and metallic Fe (e.g., MgSiO3 + 2Fe + C + 3H2S = MgS + SiO2 + 2FeS + H2O + CH4) may have occurred, producing abundant niningerite, free silica and troilite at the expense of enstatite and metallic Fe. The Ni content of the residual metal would have increased, perhaps to ∼ 8–10 wt.%. The silica-rich clasts agglomerated under these conditions; a significant fraction of the originally produced niningerite was lost (perhaps by aerodynamic size-sorting processes), lowering the clasts' bulk Mg/Si ratios. The pS2/pO2 ratio then decreased (perhaps because of infusion of additional H2O) and sulfurization of metallic Fe and enstatite ceased. The chondrule-rich clasts agglomerated under these conditions, acquiring little free silica and niningerite. An episode of chondrule formation occurred at this time (by melting millimeter-sized agglomerates of this relatively silica-poor enstatite chondrite material and concomitant fractionation of an immiscible liquid of metallic Fe,Ni and sulfide). The chondrule-rich clasts agglomerated many such chondrules. Subsequently, the matrix agglomerated, acquiring the few remaining chondrules. Kamacite-rich aggregates formed, after the cessation of metal sulfurization, and agglomerated with the matrix. The kamacite-rich clast rims were acquired at this time. The components of Adhi Kot accreted to the EH chondrite parent body, where the breccia was assembled, buried beneath additional accreting material, and metamorphosed at temperatures of ≳ 700°C. Impact-excavation of the breccia and deposition onto the surface caused the formation of martensite from taenite inside the clasts and the matrix. At the surface, impact-melting produced an albite glass spherule, which was incorporated into the matrix. However, the absence of solar-wind-implanted rare gases in bulk Adhi Kot indicates that the breccia spent little time in a regolith.
The Effect of Desalivation Upon Pulpal Function and Dental Caries in Rats

The role of pulp and saliva in caries susceptibility and resistance was evaluated using a combination of endodontic treatment and desalivation. Evidence was presented that the pulp plays a major role in caries susceptibility. It is suggested that pulpal function is modified by hormonal factor(s) originating from salivary glands. In the rat, saliva appears to play a minor role in resistance to caries.
Effects of general anesthetic agents in adults receiving electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review

Objectives: Our primary objective was to conduct a systematic review to determine the differential effects of general anesthetic agents on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) induced motor and electroencephalogram seizure duration. Our secondary objective was to determine the differential effects of induction agents on emergence time, recovery time, and the occurrence of adverse cardiac events and drug effects. Materials and Methods: We searched 4 electronic databases for randomized, crossover, and parallel trials. The weighted mean difference was calculated for continuous variables, whereas the risk difference was assessed for dichotomous variables. We combined crossover- and parallel-designed trials using the inverse variance method, and the random-effects model was used throughout. Results: Forty-one randomized trials involving 14 induction agents were included. The quality of trials was poor. Clinical and statistical heterogeneity were identified throughout. The most commonly studied comparison was methohexital versus propofol, where the mean motor seizure duration with methohexital was longer compared with that of propofol (weighted mean difference, 9.06 seconds; 95% confidence interval, 5.72-12.40). However, combining methohexital or propofol with a short-acting opioid prolonged seizure duration. Small but significant variations in emergence and recovery times were identified. Inadequate data were available to draw conclusions regarding adverse cardiac events and drug effects. No deaths were reported. Conclusions: Whereas the relationship between ECT seizure length and efficacy remains unclear, all of the available induction agents in this review would be appropriate for ECT. When the clinician needs to prolong seizure length, methohexital or the addition of a short-acting opioid to methohexital or propofol should be considered. The small variations in emergence and recovery times should not govern the choice of an induction agent.
Radiative lifetime and quenching constants of the PF(A3II) state

determined for a 300 K Boltzmann distribution of rotational and spin-orbit states of PF(A,v'=O).The two-body quenching rate constants for PF(A311) by diatomic and polyatomic molecules andrare gases were determined at 300 K from the pressure dependence of the first-order decayconstants. Electronic quenching by He, Ar, CFand SF6 is inefficient and upper limits to these
Traumatic lacerations of the aorta and great vessels with a normal mediastinum at radiography.

The possibility of a "normal" mediastinum at conventional chest radiography in a patient with a lacerated aorta or great vessel from blunt thoracic trauma has not been evaluated objectively. All 1991 members of the Society of Thoracic Radiology were sent a questionnaire asking for examples of such cases. A similar questionnaire was placed in the newsletter of the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology. The literature also was reviewed for cases. Seventy-eight of 327 questionnaires were returned with responses. Eight responders reported 12 examples of a normal mediastinum radiograph in a patient with a lacerated aorta. Review of the same radiographs by the authors yielded three normal and nine subtly abnormal mediastina. One additional normal radiograph was obtained of a patient with a lacerated great vessel. Another 16 cases of lacerated aortae ( n = 12) and great vessels ( n = 4) in patients with normal mediastina were found through a literature search; images from three of these were reviewed by the authors. Although this is an infrequent event, the mediastinum can be normal at plain chest radiography with traumatic lacerations of the aorta and great vessels.
Effect of spermine on hepatic polyribosomes and protein synthesis in rats

Abstract The effect of a single administration of spermine (0.15 mmole/100 g body wt) on hepatic polyribosomes and protein synthesis of rats was investigated. The results revealed that there was a significant shift toward heavier aggregation of hepatic polyribosomes of the spermine-treated rats in comparison to control rats. In vitro [ 14 C]leucine incorporation into protein was significantly increased when using hepatic microsomes of experimental compared with control rats. The effects were present from 30 to 120 min after the administration of spermine. Doses of 0.0188 to 0.15 mmole spermine/100 g body wt tube-fed for 1 hr induced the effects. Only from 0.78 to 1.33% of the spermine administered by stomach tube was present within the liver after 1 hr. In assaying for nucleocytoplasmic translocation of RNA, nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase activity became increased and the dialyzed cell sap stimulated in vitro release of labeled [ 14 C]orotate RNA from control nuclei when using livers of rats treated with spermine 10 min before killing compared to controls. The results of this study indicate that the oral administration of spermine has stimulatory effects on hepatic polyribosomes and protein synthesis.
A cell stress signaling model of fetal hemoglobin induction: what doesn't kill red blood cells may make them stronger.

A major goal of hemoglobinopathy research is to develop treatments that correct the underlying molecular defects responsible for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. One approach to achieving this goal is the pharmacologic induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). This strategy is capable of inhibiting the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin and correcting the globin chain imbalance of β-thalassemia. Despite this promise, none of the currently available HbF-inducing agents exhibit the combination of efficacy, safety, and convenience of use that would make them applicable to most patients. The recent success of targeted drug therapies for malignant diseases suggests that this approach could be effective for developing optimal HbF-inducing agents. A first step in applying this approach is the identification of specific molecular targets. However, while >70 HbF-inducing agents have been described, neither molecular mechanisms nor target molecules have been definitively verified for any of these compounds. To help focus investigation in this area, we have reviewed known HbF-inducing agents and their proposed mechanisms of action. We find that in many cases, current models inadequately explain key experimental results. By integrating features of the erythropoietic stress model of HbF induction with data from recent intracellular signaling experiments, we have developed a new model that has the potential to explain several findings that are inconsistent with previous models and to unify most HbF-inducing agents under a common mechanism: cell stress signaling. If correct, this or related models could lead to new opportunities for development of targeted therapies for the β-hemoglobinopathies.
Dispensing home nebulizers for acute wheezing from the hospital is cost-effective.

Abstract The objective was to investigate the use characteristics of home nebulizers and to measure the benefit gained from dispensing home nebulizers (compared with their cost) to patients from the hospital. During the study period, August 28, 1996 to May 17, 1997, a sample of 232 of the 291 entries from a log of home nebulizers dispensed by the hospital respiratory care department were surveyed over the telephone. Of the 232 study subjects under the age of 21, a telephone interview of a guardian or supervising adult was completed in 106 subjects (46%) a mean of 43 weeks after the home nebulizer was prescribed (47% of the cohort received their home nebulizers from the inpatient service and another 47% were discharged with home nebulizers from the emergency department (ED)). An average of 3.6 estimated additional ED visits and 5.4 office/clinic visits for each patient were prevented by the home nebulizer. The benefit (savings from reduced ED and office visits alone) to cost ratio estimates range from $855:$90 to $1710:$90 or more. The overwhelming majority of the patients felt that the home nebulizer was a good idea, it was easy to use, they had no problems with the nebulizer and they received adequate training for home nebulizer use. Home nebulizers are a cost-effective means of providing home nebulized albuterol for selected outpatients. Hospital inpatient units and EDs which have the ability to dispense a home nebulizer, have an additional therapeutic option available for selected patients who may benefit from it. Medical insurance companies should fully support (ie, pay for) home nebulizers because it is cost effective. If there is any concern about the reliability of the patient to follow-up with their primary physician, the patient's primary physician should be contacted to discuss the feasibility of discharging the patient with a home nebulizer.
Performance model of a multiprocessor interconnection network: theory and simulation

We present theoretical and numerical results for performance of a multiprocessor network modeled as a ring and as a 2-dim wrapped around square lattice of nodes with local processors that generate messages with rate λ per clock cycle and two or, respectively, four output ports/buffers. Output buffers assumed to have infinite capacity and service time is deterministic. Explicit expressions for the distribution of queue length, the average number of messages in buffers, the average latency and the critical network load depending on distance between the source and the destination are obtained. Simulation results show an excellent agreement with theoretical predictions based on the assumption of independent queues.
The effect of fetal urine on arachidonic acid metabolism in human amnion cells in monolayer culture

Abstract Human amnion cells in primary monolayer culture were used as a model system to evaluate the regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and prostaglandin E 2 production in amnion. Amnion cells were incubated with carbon 14—labeled arachidonic acid, and after various times the distribution of radiolabeled arachidonic acid in the lipids of these cells were determined. After incubation for 72 hours, 91% of the total radiolabeled arachidonic acid incorporated into cellular lipids was present in glycerophospholipids, and 9% was present in neutral lipids. The formation of [ 14 C]prostaglandin E 2 from [ 14 C]arachidonic acid was maximal after 8 hours. In these studies the effect of human fetal urine on arachidonic acid metabolism in these cells was investicated (the production of prostaglandin E 2 by amnion cells is increased by treatment with fetal urine). In cells incubated with [ 14 C]arachidonic acid in the incubation medium, treatment with fetal urine for 4 hours caused a threefold to fourfold increase in [ 14 C]prostaglandin E 2 production, yet there were no detectable differences in the content of [ 14 C]arachidonic acid in specific glycerophospholipids or neutral lipids of the cells after such treatment. In other studies, amnion cells were preincubated for 72 hours with [ 14 C]arachidonic acid, and thereafter the cells were treated with fetal urine for 24 hours. With fetal urine treatment the amount of [ 14 C]arachidonic acid in triacylglycerols decreased significantly compared with that in nontreated cells, but the formation of [ 14 C]prostaglandin E 2 was not increased. Thus we suggest that in response to fetal urine, prostaglandin E 2 is formed from arachidonic acid that is released from a highly specific, stimulus-sensitive lipid pool or else from arachidonic acid that is derived from extracellular sources.
Idiopathic atrial fibrillation.

Abstract The records of five patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation were reviewed. These cases were selected on the basis of the absence of any heart disease or other condition that might have accounted for the arrhythmia. No significant changes were present in the coronary arteries in any of the cases. No symptoms marked the onset of the fibrillation. Anatomically, the weight of the heart was greater than normal in all five cases. Left atrial enlargement and endocardial thickening were also present in all cases. Intracardiac thrombosis was noted in only one case and was associated with multiple peripheral emboli. In two cases the cause of death was thought to be related to the chronic atrial fibrillation. It is suggested that idiopathic atrial fibrillation may go unrecognized in some persons until later life, when some form of heart disease develops that is then taken to be the cause of the arrhythmia.
A Binary Tree Feature Selection Technique for Limited Training Sample Size

Abstract In cases where there are larger numbers of features available than should be used for a given classification task, current practice is to arbitrarily pick the number of features to be used and then to use a feature selection algorithm to determine the specific feature subset to be used. An algorithm is presented that predicts the best feature dimensionality, taking into account the number of training samples. It is demonstrated that rather small training set sizes are still practical using these techniques. Several experiments are presented to assess the algorithm's performance, and a binary tree classification procedure with two examples that utilize the algorithm is shown to demonstrate its usefulness.
Corticotropin-releasing factor: central nervous system effects on baroreflex control of heart rate.

The effects of intracerebroventricular injections of corticotropin-releasing factor on baroreflex control of heart rate were examined in conscious, unrestrained rats. Baroreflex control of heart rate was tested by generating stimulus-response curves relating arterial pressure to pulse interval over a wide range of arterial pressures. Administration of corticotropin-releasing factor produced dose-related alterations of pressure-dependent curve parameters, e.g., range, gain and pressure at midrange. These results suggest that corticotropin-releasing factor alters transmission in neural pathways that process baroreceptor information.
Stemming a tumor with a little miR

A microRNA decreases the expression of the adhesion molecule CD44 in prostate cancer stem cells (CSCs), blocking tumor growth and metastasis in mice (pages 211–215 ). Systemic delivery of this negative regulator may open new avenues for targeting CSCs to halt cancer.
SOAR versus SQ3R: a test of two study systems

Although researchers have long investigated ways to improve study habits and raise achievement, few studies compare study strategy systems with one another. No study to date has compared the long popular SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review) system with the more modern SOAR (Select, Organize, Associate, Regulate) system. This study directly compared SQ3R and SOAR to determine which is most effective. College students trained in the SQ3R or SOAR system and given corresponding study materials used their respective method to study a text in preparation for a test assessing fact, relationship, and concept learning. Results confirmed that students who used the SOAR system outperformed those who used the SQ3R system and learned 20 % more relationships, 14 % more facts, and 13 % more concepts. Results were attributed to SOAR’s cognitive processing advantages over SQ3R.
Sources of Bacteria in Outdoor Air across Cities in the Midwestern United States

Bacteria are abundant in the atmosphere, where they often represent a major portion of the organic aerosols. Potential pathogens of plants and livestock are commonly dispersed through the atmosphere, and airborne bacteria can have important effects on human health as pathogens or triggers of allergic asthma and seasonal allergies. Despite their importance, the diversity and biogeography of airborne microorganisms remain poorly understood. We used high-throughput pyrosequencing to analyze bacterial communities present in the aerosol fraction containing fine particulate matter of ≤2.5 μm from 96 near-surface atmospheric samples collected from cities throughout the midwestern United States and found that the communities are surprisingly diverse and strongly affected by the season. We also directly compared the airborne communities to those found in hundreds of samples representing potential source environments. We show that, in addition to the more predictable sources (soils and leaf surfaces), fecal material, most likely dog feces, often represents an unexpected source of bacteria in the atmosphere at more urbanized locations during the winter. Airborne bacteria are clearly an important, but understudied, component of air quality that needs to be better integrated into efforts to measure and model pollutants in the atmosphere.
A PC-based simulated-liver tissue classification using artificial neural net classifier

Summary form only given, as follows. An algorithm and instrumentation for classifying liver tissue abnormalities have been developed. The instrumentation used is a 50 MHz microcomputer-based data acquisition and analysis system. The primary functions of the system are to digitize the backscattered ultrasound signal from a human liver tissue phantom; process these digitized data in the frequency domain; and apply pattern recognition algorithms to classify the abnormalities of simulated liver tissues. The pattern recognition algorithm is based on a three-layer backpropagation artificial neural network. The results show that the algorithm is working satisfactorily for classifying simulated normal liver tissue and three types of simulated abnormalities. >
Structured interior point methods for optimal control

It is shown that primal-dual potential reduction algorithms for linear and quadratic programming can be put to use in solving problems in the optimal control of discrete-time systems, with general pointwise constraints on states and controls. The author describes an interior point algorithm for a discrete-time linear-quadratic regulator problem, and shows how it can be efficiently incorporated into a sequential quadratic programming algorithm for nonlinear problems. The key to the efficiency of the interior-point method is the banded structure of the coefficient matrix which is factorized at each iteration. This same feature makes it suitable for implementation on parallel computers. >
Outsourcing and the Contracting of Responsibility*: OUTSOURCING AND THE CONTRACTING OF RESPONSIBILITY

Outsourcing is becoming an increasingly prevalent phenomenon not only in business life, but also in the affairs of governments and in the lives of individuals and families. But what exactly is outsourcing and what are its consequences? I will argue that outsourcing offers entities a set of freedoms (i.e., possibilities of action and non-action) that are not considered possible in this practice’s absence. However, many of these freedoms are precarious in that they involve a multitude of risks and dangers both for those outsourcing their affairs and for those who take them on. Although there are multiple freedoms of this sort, one is focused upon here; how outsourcing allows entities to contract, in the sense of limiting, their responsibilities. Three specific ways in which outsourcing allows entities to do this are detailed. Recognizing this precarious aspect of the freedoms associated with outsourcing is important because it highlights the social risks involved in this practice.
Experimental Designs for Model Discrimination

Abstract We present designs that perform well for several objectives simultaneously. Three different approaches are discussed: to augment a given design in an optimal way, to evaluate a mixture of the various criteria, and to optimize one objective subject to achieving a prescribed efficiency level for the others. Our sample designs are for the situation of discriminating between a second- and third-degree polynomial fit, under the D-criterion and geometric mixtures of D-criteria.
Identification of Transcriptional Regulatory Elements in Chemosensory Receptor Genes by Probabilistic Segmentation

Abstract Genome sequencing has allowed many gene regulatory elements to be identified through cross-species comparisons [1–5]. However, the expression of genes in multigene families can diverge rapidly between related species [6–9]. An alternative approach to characterizing multigene families utilizes the fact that genes within the group are likely to share aspects of their regulation. Here, we use a statistical approach, probabilistic segmentation [10], to identify sequences that are overrepresented in the regions upstream of C. elegans chemosensory receptor genes. Although each of these elements is present in only a subset of the genes, their distribution across and within the promoters of chemosensory receptor genes makes it possible to detect them. Many of the motifs show positional preference with respect to the translational start site and correspond to the binding sites of known families of transcription factors. We verified one motif, the E-box sequence WWYCACSTGYY, by showing that it directs expression of reporter genes to the ADL chemosensory neurons. Thus, probabilistic segmentation can be used to identify functional regulatory elements with no previous knowledge of gene expression or regulation. This approach may be of particular value for rapidly evolving genes in the immune system and the nervous system.
A simple algorithm to infer gene duplication and speciation events on a gene tree.

MOTIVATION When analyzing protein sequences using sequence similarity searches, orthologous sequences (that diverged by speciation) are more reliable predictors of a new protein's function than paralogous sequences (that diverged by gene duplication), because duplication enables functional diversification. The utility of phylogenetic information in high-throughput genome annotation ('phylogenomics') is widely recognized, but existing approaches are either manual or indirect (e.g. not based on phylogenetic trees). Our goal is to automate phylogenomics using explicit phylogenetic inference. A necessary component is an algorithm to infer speciation and duplication events in a given gene tree. RESULTS We give an algorithm to infer speciation and duplication events on a gene tree by comparison to a trusted species tree. This algorithm has a worst-case running time of O(n(2)) which is inferior to two previous algorithms that are approximately O(n) for a gene tree of sequences. However, our algorithm is extremely simple, and its asymptotic worst case behavior is only realized on pathological data sets. We show empirically, using 1750 gene trees constructed from the Pfam protein family database, that it appears to be a practical (and often superior) algorithm for analyzing real gene trees. AVAILABILITY http://www.genetics.wustl.edu/eddy/forester.
A Validated Liquid Chromatography-Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Quantitation of Cocaine and Benzoylecgonine in Human Plasma

In order to support studies on various medication protocols for the treatment of cocaine abuse, an accurate, precise, and sensitive (2.5 to 750 ng/mL) liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay was developed to determine cocaine and benzoylecgonine in human plasma. Cocaine-d3 and benzoylecgonine-d3 were added as internal standards and samples were subjected to solid-phase extraction. Cocaine recovery was 94.4% and benzoylecgonine was 80.3% at 2.5 ng/mL. The selected reaction monitoring of parent ions at m/z 304 and 290 resulted in strong fragments at m/z 182 and 168 for cocaine and benzoylecgonine, respectively. The method was fully validated. The mean measured concentration at the 2.5 ng/mL, the lower limit of quantitation, was within 10.8% of the target and the precision determined at the low (5 ng/mL), medium (50 ng/mL), and high (650 ng/mL) quality controls ranged from 0.9 to 6.2 %CV. Cocaine and benzoylecgonine concentrations in plasma treated with 1% NaF showed changes of less than 10% when maintained at room temperature for up to 7 h and no significant changes when subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles. The concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine remained stable in plasma samples stored at -20 degrees C for up to 11 months. Methanolic stock solutions of both analytes are stable, staying within 2% of the freshly prepared stock solutions, when stored at -20 degrees C for up to 235 days. Both extracted analytes reconstituted in methanolic solutions are stable for up to seven days whether stored at -20 degrees C or at room temperature on the autosampler. The method is rugged, rapid, and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of more than 700 samples during pharmacokinetic profiling to assess potential interactions between intravenous (i.v.) cocaine challenge and treament medications. Results from three of these subjects receiving 40 mg (i.v.) cocaine demonstrate the utility of the method.
Cyclic Nucleotide Regulation of Teleost Rod Photoreceptor Inner Segment Length

Retinal rod photoreceptors of teleost fish elongate in the light and shorten in the dark. Rod cell elongation and shortening are both mediated by actin-dependent mechanisms that occur in the inner segment myoid and ellipsoid. The intracellular signaling pathways by which light and dark regulate the actin cytoskeleton in the inner segment are unknown. To investigate the intracellular signals that regulate teleost rod motility, we have been using mechanically isolated rod inner/outer segments (RIS-ROS) obtained from the retinas of green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus. In culture, RIS-ROS retain the ability to elongate in response to light; myoids elongate 15-20 microns in length during 45 min of light culture. A pharmacological approach was taken to investigate the role of cyclic nucleotides, cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases, and protein phosphatases in the regulation of RIS-ROS motility. Millimolar concentrations of cAMP and cGMP analogues were both found to inhibit light-induced myoid elongation and two cyclic nucleotide analogues, SpCAMPS and 8BrcGMP, promoted myoid shortening after RIS-ROS had elongated in response to light. The cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinase inhibitor, H8, mimicked light by promoting myoid elongation in the dark. The effects of H8 were dose dependent, with maximal elongation occurring at concentrations of approximately 100 microM. Similar to the effects of cyclic nucleotide analogues, the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid (0.1-10 microM), inhibited light-induced elongation and promoted shortening. The results presented here suggest that RIS-ROS motility is regulated by protein phosphorylation: phosphorylation in the dark by cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases promotes rod shortening, while dephosphorylation in the light promotes rod elongation.
Priestly Wives: The Role and Acceptance of Clerics' Concubines in the Parishes of Late Medieval Catalunya

Travelling through the foothills of the Pyrenees, the episcopal visitor Guerau Caluet arrived in the parish of Sant Marti de la Vajol on an autumn day in 1314. As in so many parishes visited on his journey, the visitor found that the rector Berenguer kept a concubine, and in this case, was also known to celebrate mass with his grandson and young son. This was not, however, the only blatant violation of canon law and synodal statutes. Berenguer testified that one day in May the sacrist Bernat, from the suffragan church of Agullana, had called on him to deliver the mass for the burial of a female parishioner. The rector recounted that while reciting the gospel for the funeral, he was in need of hosts and was unable to proceed with the mass “until Guillema, the concubine of the sacrist, sent the key to the sacristy where the hosts were.” As it happened, the priest Bernat was out of town and he had entrusted the sacristy keys not to his colleague Berenguer, but to his concubine.
Chromatic correction in the SLC bunch length compressors

The SLC (SLAC Linear Collider) Ring-to-Linac (RTL) transport lines employ intense bending and strong transverse focusing to produce the momentum compaction needed for bunch length compression prior to S-band acceleration. In the presence of the large RF-induced energy spread needed for compression the consequent chromatic effects (i.e. the variation with energy of residual output dispersion and of the RTL transfer matrix) threaten to destroy the small emittances produced by the damping rings. The tuning methods that have been developed and used to implement the sextupole-based chromatic correction scheme are discussed. >
An Interpretation Of Horace, Epodes 13

The Thirteenth Epode is an intriguing poem. Like Carm . i. 7 it concludes dramatically with a highly condensed episode from epic tradition, in this case drawn from the early life of Achilles; but, unlike the Ode to Plancus, Epodes 13 does not reveal even the name of the addressee. And whether in spite of or because of this, the poem has been highly praised for its purely lyrical qualities. The now famous critique of E. Fraenkel, for example, represents the view of many: ‘A perfect poem,’ he calls it; ‘… its depth of feeling and beauty of expression and the harmonious blending of ideas of very different origin, make this ode superior to Odes 1. 7.’ The general approval of its poetic qualities might encourage a fresh attempt to discover any deeper significance it might have held for Horace's contemporaries.
Outpatient Treatment as an Alternative to Residential Treatment or Inpatient Hospitalization

The clinician who is faced with the need to recommend a particular treatment modality for a severely emotionally or behaviorally disturbed youngster often faces a dilemma. Severely disturbed children may benefit from intensive services in an outpatient setting or may require hospitalization or residential treatment. There are few guidelines and little research to aid the clinician in his or her informed recommendations to these youngsters and their families. Clinical impression, a useful but not infallible tool, is what is most often used in making these types of recommendations.
Design and fabrication of end spacers for a 13 T Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole magnet

A 13 Tesla R&D dipole magnet is being constructed using Nb/sub 3/Sn superconducting cable. The four-layer "cosine-theta" magnet uses a wide cable (/spl sim/15 mm) that will undergo a 650 C reaction after each layer is wound. About 75 bronze spacers at the magnet "ends" separate the winding blocks in such a way that the stored strain energy in the cable is minimized and the integrated field harmonics are reduced. Wax prototypes of the designed spacers were made on a 5-axis milling machine. This method of rapid prototyping required no tooling and enabled us to produce a large number of different end spacers that can be physically inspected and repeatedly modified before final prototypes are made. Spacers were originally machined from wax billets which were later cast in bronze. >
Let's Put Garbage-Can Regressions and Garbage-Can Probits Where They Belong

Many social scientists believe that dumping long lists of explanatory variables into linear regression, probit, logit, and other statistical equations will successfully “control” for the effects of...
Health Literacy and Patient Communication

The purpose of Linking Research to Clinical Practice is to present evidence–based information to clinical dental hygienists so that they can make informed decisions regarding patient treatment and recommendations. Each issue will feature a different topic area of importance to clinical dental hygienists with A BOTTOM LINE to translate the research findings into clinical application.
Abstract 169: IV t-PA May Result in Better Outcomes than Conservative Care in Patients with Mild Acute Ischemic Stroke and Large Vessel Occlusion

Introduction: Most patients with mild acute ischemic stroke (AIS) symptoms are excluded from acute stroke therapy (AST). Studies have shown that patients presenting with large vessel occlusions (LVO) and low NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) may have poorer outcomes than previously presumed. The optimal treatment strategy in this population is unknown. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with AIS presenting to our tertiary care center between 2010 and 2013 was carried out. Inclusion criteria included LVO as cause of AIS and initial NIHSS 24 hours after last known normal were excluded. Patient demographics, administered therapies and short-term clinical outcomes were analyzed. For patients lost to follow up, last known values were imputed. Favorable 30-day outcomes were defined as mRS 2, NIHSS 1 or at least 4 point decrease in NIHSS. Results: A total of 121 patients (56.19% males; mean age 63.85±14.08) met inclusion criteria. Anterior circulation was involved in 69.4% cases [MCA (46.28%), ICA (16.52%), ACA (2.47%), ICA-MCA (4.13%)] vs 33.88% posterior circulation cases [PCA (8.26%), Ba (5.7%), V (19%)]. Median admission NIHSS and pre-admission mRS were 4 & 0 respectively, which were statistically significant predictors of favorable outcome. Only 23 patients (19%) received AST [IV t-PA: 13, intrarterial (IA) therapy: 6, IV + IA: 4]. AST patients had shorter time from onset of symptoms to evaluation (mean: 3.7 vs. 9.9 hours, p < 0.001), higher NIHSS on arrival (median: 5 vs. 3, p = 0.024), and were more likely to have a history of stroke (39% vs. 18%, p = 0.049). The odds of a 30-day favorable mRS were 1.7 times higher in the treated group, although not statistically significant (95% CI: 0.58, 5.7; p = 0.333). Numbers in the subgroup analysis remained too small to reach statistical significance, but 85% of patients who received IV t-PA (and 70% with any treatment) had a favorable 30-day outcome versus 62% of patients with conservative care.Conclusion: Our study suggests that qualifying patients with LVO and mild AIS presenting early may have better outcomes if treated with IV t-PA. We propose that rapid evaluation of vessel status may support more aggressive treatment considerations in patients with mild AIS. Further prospective data is needed.
Abstract 314: Arterial Stiffness and Pulse Pressure Variability

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Factors determining BPV are unclear. Arterial stiffness manifested by pulse pressure (PP) may be related to BPV, and is reflected in the pulse wave velocity (PWV), as well as the regression of diastolic on systolic pressure determined by the Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index (AASI). We hypothesized that arterial stiffness was associated with PP variability (PPVAR) and determined arterial stiffness using AASI and PWV. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) data from untreated subjects (n=56, 28 men) with SBP >130 to AASI correlated positively with day PPVAR (r=0.57, p The relationship between AASI and PPVAR was only evident when the blood pressure periods were broken down into day and night. The 24 hour regression relationship of diastolic on systolic blood pressure with PPVAR appears different between day or night compared with the 24 hour aggregate, suggesting circadian differences in factors which modify PPVAR. Poor PWV correlation with PPVAR is likely due to relatively young age of our subjects.
Effects of quality of resource and fertilization status on some fitness traits in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch

Four fitness traits, including fecundity, hatchability, duration of oviposition, and longevity, were studied in T. urticae. Comparisons were made between unfertilized and fertilized females reared on good and poor resources. Significant differences in total egg production, duration of oviposition, and longevity were observed with respect to fertilization status. Only total egg production varied significantly between maternal background environments. Hatchability was uniformly high. Fecundity was found to be the most influential character affecting fitness in spider mites. Further analysis of the distribution of daily egg productions was used to determine the various factors affecting intrinsic rates of increase including the rate of development, time of peak egg production, and duration of oviposition. The rate of development was shown to be the most important factor determining the intrinsic rate of increase. The relationships between these findings and the colonizing ability of spider mite populations were discussed.
MITRAL VALVE SURGERY AFTER FAILED MITRACLIP THERAPY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

The MitraClip percutaneous mitral valve repair system is evolving as a minimally invasive technique to repair mitral valve regurgitation in high risk patients. There is very limited data to guide physicians regarding the appropriate approach following unsuccessful mitral valve clipping, whether
Evaluating silicene as a potential cathode host to immobilize polysulfides in lithium–sulfur batteries

AbstractThe internal shuttle effect caused by polysulfides dissolution and migration negatively impacts lithium–sulfur battery performance. In this work, a mesoscale simulation strategy, which involves atomistic calculation and coarse-grained molecular modeling, is employed to evaluate silicene as a potential cathode host material to immobilize polysulfides. Adsorption energies of insoluble polysulfides (Li2Sx with x = 1, 2) and soluble polysulfide Li2S4 on pristine and doped silicene sheets are calculated. Results show that the adsorption is thermodynamically favorable and N-doped silicene is helpful in trapping intermediate discharge products, Li2S2 and Li2S4. The dissociation and reduction of long-chain polysulfides to short-chain polysulfides are observed. Electronic structure analysis shows that Li2Sx molecules interact with silicene via strong chemical bonds. The atomistic structure evolution of Li2S layer formation on silicene is also investigated in this study. It is found that Li2S (110) layer ...
Urethral duct invasion in female urethral melanoma

Abstract Primary melanoma of the genitourinary tract represents ≤1% of all melanomas and is a highly aggressive malignancy, usually presenting at an advanced stage. Primary urethral melanomas are often amelanotic, leading to difficulties in early clinical diagnosis and biopsy delays. Herein, we present the clinical follow-up and histopathology of two female patients with microscopic invasion of the urethral ducts, not illustrated by previous reports. This finding, verified by appropriate immunohistochemical markers, can be a useful clue in diagnosing amelanotic melanoma of the genitourinary tract. The pathology reporting for urethral melanoma should include the depth of invasion, mitotic index, the status of resection margins, perineural invasion and lymphatic invasion since they will likely have a bearing on the tumor's biological behavior. Herein, we report two female patients with urethral melanoma exhibiting urethral duct invasion. Moreover, we discuss pertinent histopathological and immunohistochemical features, along with oncogene mutational typing that may aid in confirming the diagnosis and identifying molecular target(s).
Long-term follow-up of endoscopic band ligation in the treatment of Dieulafoy's lesion hemorrhage

[Objective] To evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic band ligation in the treatment of Dieulafoy's lesion hemorrhage. [Methods] Twenty -eight patients with Dieulafoy's lesion hemorrhage were selected to undergo endoscopic band ligation. Dieulafoy's lesions in 17 patients were located at stomach, 8 at gastrointestinal stoma, 3 at duodenal bulb. The multishot ligation device was used in EBL group. Suction was applied, drawing the Dieulafoy's lesion and the surrounding mucosa into the lumen of the ligator, and preloaded elastic band was fired and the Dieulafoy's lesion was ligated by the elastic band. [Result] The ligated tissue exfoliated from three days to seven days after EBL; The rates of initial hemostasis was 92.9%, the rate of controlling active bleeding 100%, the rate of recurrent bleeding 7.1%, the rate of transfer into surgery 0%, and the rate of complications 3.6%. The following up ranged from 4 to 64 months, averaging 30 months, and the rate of permanent hemostasis was 99.5%. [Conclusion] Endoscopic band ligation is an effective and safe endoscopic treatment for Dieulafoy's, lesion hemorrhage.