cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Negative affect promotes encoding of and memory for details at the expense of the gist: Affect, encoding, and false memories

I investigated whether negative affective states enhance encoding of and memory for item-specific information reducing false memories. Positive, negative, and neutral moods were induced, and participants then completed a Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) false-memory task. List items were presented in unique spatial locations or unique fonts to serve as measures for item-specific encoding. The negative mood conditions had more accurate memories for item-specific information, and they also had fewer false memories. The final experiment used a manipulation that drew attention to distinctive information, which aided learning for DRM words, but also promoted item-specific encoding. For the condition that promoted item-specific encoding, false memories were reduced for positive and neutral mood conditions to a rate similar to that of the negative mood condition. These experiments demonstrated that negative affective cues promote item-specific processing reducing false memories. People in positive and negative moo...
Variability in the Evaluation and Management of Opiate-Exposed Newborns in Maryland

During 2003 and 2004 an estimated 2000 pregnant women and 31 000 nonpregnant women aged 15 to 44 reported using heroin. The majority of those newborns exposed in utero to opioids will develop symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Standardized guidelines for the evaluation and management of opiate-exposed newborns are lacking. The objective of this study was to document variations in the evaluation and management of opiate-exposed newborns among Maryland hospitals using a 13-item phone survey. Twenty-seven (82%) of the hospitals completed the survey. Staff at every hospital reported that they delivered opiate-exposed infants, however only 52% reported using a standardized evaluation and treatment protocol for this population consisting of guidelines for maternal toxicology screening, length-of-stay criteria and a monitoring tool for drug-exposed infants, infant supportive care techniques, and pharmacologic treatment guidelines. Significant variability exists in the evaluation and management of opiate-exposed newborns in Maryland. Validated, evidence-based guidelines are needed to standardize the care of these vulnerable newborns across all hospital settings.
Antioxidant effects of ginsenoside Re in cardiomyocytes

We have previously demonstrated that American ginseng berry extract exhibited significant protection against oxidant-mediated injury in cardiomyocytes. To extend this work, we sought to investigate the antioxidant effects of Re, a protopanaxatriols-type and single chemical integrant present in American ginseng berry extract, using the same chick cardiomyocyte model of oxidant injury as well as ESR spectroscopy in a cell-free chemical system. In cells exposed to 2 h of H2O2 (0.5 mM), pretreatment with Re (0.05, 0.1, or 0.5 mg/ml for 2 h) significantly attenuated 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence by 51% (from 1345+/-67 to 658+/-46 a.u., P<0.001), and remarkably reduced cell death (from 51.5+/-3.0% to 11.8+/-1.5%, P<0.001, compared to the control). Similar results were also observed in cells exposed to antimycin A (100 microM), a mitochondrial electron transport chain site III inhibitor which increases endogenous oxidative stress. In the ESR study, however, Re failed to reduce the formation of the superoxide/DMPO adduct and DPPH radicals. These results suggest that ginsenoside Re functions as an antioxidant, protecting cardiomyocytes from oxidant injury induced by both exogenous and endogenous oxidants, and that its protective effects may be mostly attributed to scavenging H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals.
Development of an advanced failure detection algorithm for the SSME

Since ground testing of the Space Shuttle Main Engine began in 1975, a multifaceted detection/shutdown system has been used to detect engine anomalies and initiate shutdown. In spite of this system, 27 major incidents have occurred since testing began. Although a small percentage of over 1200 successful hot fire tests, such incidents can result in significant cost and schedule impacts. Therefore, an advanced failure detection algorithm has been developed which consists of three detection approaches designed for a failure characteristic that has been previously documented. Simulations using sensor data from five incident tests show the algorithm detecting an anomally and signalling shutdown prior to the redline cutoff time. The foundation elements of the algorithm and its functioning are described.
Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure at school age. I. Physical and cognitive development

Alcohol is a potent teratogen associated with dysmorphology, growth retardation, and neurological damage in children with the full fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); alcohol is also associated with growth retardation and behavioral alterations in neonates prenatally exposed to various dosages. Questions remain about the long-term consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. This study reports on the follow-up of a subsample of 68 children, the majority of whom were low income and black (mean age: 5 years, 10 months) who were first evaluated as neonates. Physical and cognitive outcomes of 25 children of women who drank throughout pregnancy [absolute alcohol (AA)/week: mean = 11.80 oz), even after receiving an educational intervention to stop drinking, were compared with outcomes of children in two contrast groups: a) women (n = 22) who stopped drinking (AA/week: mean = 11.46 oz) in the second trimester after an educational intervention but resumed postpartum; and b) women who did not drink during pregnancy and who drank little postnatally (n = 21). Children were compared for alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs), growth (height, weight, and head circumference), and cognitive, academic, and adaptive measures. Neonatal and current physical measures were correlated to determine predictability of neonatal status. When the effects of age and gender were controlled, children in the continued-to-drink group showed significantly more ARBDs and had smaller head circumferences than those in the other two groups. When current drinking reported by caretakers was controlled, the children who were exposed throughout pregnancy also showed significant and consistent deficits in several areas of intellectual functioning including sequential processing (short-term memory and encoding) and overall mental processing. Alcohol-exposed children displayed significant deficits in preacademic skills when compared with children of nondrinkers, with both alcohol groups deficient in premath and reading skills. There were no differences in adaptive behavior at follow-up. These data suggest that alcohol exposure throughout pregnancy is correlated with persistent physical differences as well as identifiable deficits in sequential memory processes and specific academic skills. However, even when alcohol use is limited to the first part of pregnancy, significant deficits in academic skills and growth parameters are measurable.
Reinforcement of esophageal anastomoses with an extracellular matrix scaffold in a canine model.

Background The gastric pull-up procedure, a standard intervention after radical esophagectomy, is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to leaks and stricture. A previous preclinical study showed that an extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold with autologous muscle tissue could be used to repair a complete circumferential defect in the cervical esophagus. The aim of the present study was to determine if healing of end-to-end anastomoses of the esophagus could be improved by reinforcement with an ECM scaffold. Methods Twelve female mongrel dogs underwent a complete transection of either the cervical esophagus (n = 6) or the gastroesophageal junction (n = 6). A portion of the endomucosa at the anastomotic site was resected and replaced with an ECM scaffold in contact with the subjacent muscle and the muscle was anastomosed. The measured end points included macroscopic and microscopic evaluation and quantification of the esophageal diameter at the anastomotic site. Results No anastomotic leaks or systemic complications were observed in the ECM-treated animals. Morphologic findings in both groups showed complete mucosal covering of the surgery site. The remodeled esophageal tissue showed angiogenesis and complete epithelialization. Intact, organized layers of muscle tissue were present between the native muscularis externa and the submucosal layer and effectively bridged the transected ends. Conclusions The ECM scaffold altered the default mechanism of esophageal repair. Scar tissue formation with associated stricture was virtually eliminated, and the esophageal healing response was characterized by the replacement with structurally normal tissue layers. These findings suggest that the high morbidity rate associated with esophagectomy procedures may be reduced by this ECM augmentation procedure at the anastomotic site.
Coenzyme binding ability of homologs of M4-lactate dehydrogenase in temperature adaptation.

Abstract Temperature effects on dissociation constant ( K d ), binding enthalpies and apparent Michaelis constants ( K m ) for NADH, plus Arrhenius activation energies ( E a ), substrate turnover number ( k cat ), and NADH ‘on’ constants ( k 1 ) were measured or calculated for M 4 -lactate dehydrogenase homologs from deep-sea, midwater, shallow-water temperate, and shallow-water tropical teleost fishes, and a mammal. At any single measurement temperature, K m and k cat values were significantly higher for groups adapted to lower temperatures. This pattern of K m values and temperature illustrates a strong evolutionary conservation of K m of NADH. When determined at the average body temperature of each species, the K m values are very similar, resulting in the preservation of the catalytic and regulatory properties of these enzyme homologs at their in situ temperatures. In contrast, K d values, while varying considerably among species, are not significantly different among the different groups at any one temperature. The ratio of K m to K d tends to follow a phylogenetic pattern rather than a pattern of environmental adaptation. Thus, evolutionary adjustments in K m are not directly the result of changes in cofactor binding. All the rate constants involved in determining the K m and K d of NADH ( k cat , k 1 and k −1 ) can be modified.
Relativistic Wave Equation and Mass Spectrum of Gluonium

A relativistic wave equation is derived for gauge-invariant J=0 gluonium amplitudes, and show that its reduced eigenvalue equation is identical with that for a quark-antiquark system in /sup 3/P/sub 1/ states. Analysing relations between potentials in the two respective systems, I obtain an upper limit of 2 GeV to the ground-state mass if I take light quarkonium as a reference system, whereas I estimate the ground state to lie between 2.5 and 3 GeV if I use charmonium potential parameters. The scalar and the pseudoscalar gluonium states are degenerate in the present approach.
Dermatitis herpetiformis: autoimmune disease associations.

Abstract Certain autoimmune diseases have a tendency to occur together. Polyendocrine failure (thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands) and mixed connective tissue disease (lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis/polymyositis, and scleroderma overlap) are examples of such groupings. Some autoimmune diseases, in part, sort out on the basis of immunogenetics (HLA-B27 or HLA-B8/-DRw3). Dermatitis herpetiformis has been found to be associated with a number of autoimmune conditions as well (Table 1). Those without skin findings include celiac disease, glomerulonephritis, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, pernicious anemia, and splenic atrophy. Those with a skin component include Addison's disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, dermatomyositis/polymyositis, diabetes mellitus, porphyria, Raynaud's disease, relapsing polychondritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, thyroiditis, and ulcerative colitis. Those with only cutaneous disease are vitiligo, lichen planus, alopecia areata, and morphea.
The glomerular capillary wall

Observations of the glomerular capillary wall of rats and rabbits in normal and experimental conditions, including hemoglobin excretion, clarify the fine structure of the different components involved in the process of glomerular filtration. During excretion of large amounts of hemoglobin, the protein fills the inner and outer layers of the basement membrane, indicating a fairly loose gel structure. The lesser density of the central layer of the basement membrane and of the surface coat on the foot processes indicate rather compact structures without much space for hemoglobin to accumulate, although it must pass through both layers. The absence of hemoglobin between most foot processes when other parts of Bowman's space are filled with it, suggest that normally in vivo the surface coats between adjacent foot processes are usually in contact for the entire height of the processes. The glomerular filtrate must pass through the two surface coats filling the slit approximately 240 A wide between the foot processes. Several lines of evidence support the following conclusions. Glomerular endothelial fenestrations offer little or no barrier to filtration. The central layer of the basement membrane is a dense structure normally stopping molecules larger than about 100 A. The slit membrane and the polysaccharide surface coat beyond it appear to act as a finer filter, but are permeable to hemoglobin (64 A in largest diameter) and smaller molecules.
Signal irreproducibility in high-field solution magnetic resonance experiments caused by spin turbulence.

Turbulent spin dynamics arising from the joint action of radiation damping and the distant dipolar field are shown to generate irreproducible measurements in popular high-field, gradient-based magnetic resonance (MR) experiments, undermining the prevailing assumption of essentially predictable observables in MR. Sizeable fluctuations in echo amplitudes are reported and numerically simulated for pulsed gradient spin echo and stimulated echo diffusion measurements. The underlying microscopic dynamical instability is characterized by analysis of the finite-time Lyapunov exponents. Perturbations to the modulated magnetization are shown to render magic-angle gradients ineffective in suppressing signal fluctuations. Alternative approaches are suggested for canceling out the feedback interactions leading to spin turbulence.
Grafting of vinyl monomers to cellulose by ceric ion initiation

Cinetique et mecanisme. Conditions affectant le greffage. Caracterisation des produits greffes. Proprietes des produits greffes
Cell Therapy in Heart Failure

Loss of cardiomyocytes, a result of either ischemia and necrosis after MI or programmed cell death (apoptosis) in hearts subjected to chronic hemodynamic overload, remains central to the pathophysiology of HF [1–3]. In contrast to other muscle tissue, such as smooth muscle and skeletal muscle, the mitotic or regenerative capacity of adult myocardial tissue is limited, and therefore inadequate to compensate for cell loss in acute and chronic cardiac injury. Recent advances in stem cell research, notably the discovery of stem cell populations with myogenic and angiogenic potential, have prompted attempts to regenerate lost myocardium and vasculature by stem cell-based therapies [4–6]. This concept of cellular transplantation, or ‘‘cellular cardiomyoplasty,’’ specifically addresses the underlying issue of cardiomyocyte loss, and therefore has the potential to evolve into a promising new treatment strategy for HF. This article discusses advantages and limitations of specific cell types proposed for cell therapy and gives an overview of the first clinical trials using this novel therapeutic approach in patients who have HF.
Treatment of presumed asystole during pre-hospital cardiac arrest: Superiority of electrical countershock

Standard drug therapy for asystole during cardiac arrest includes epinephrine, atropine, and calcium chloride (CaCl). Recent studies have shown that ventricular fibrillation (VF) can appear to be asystole when recorded from the chest surface. To determine the efficacy of these drugs and electrical countershock for asystole, a group of 83 adult nontraumatic cardiac arrest victims (55 men, 28 women, mean age of 64 +/- 14 years) were studied. Asystole appeared at some time during arrest in 44 patients (53%) and was the initial rhythm in 24 (29%). The rate of survival to hospital discharge was significantly higher in patients whose initial rhythm was VF (46%) than in patients whose initial rhythm was asystole (0%). Epinephrine, CaCl and atropine infrequently changed the rhythm from asystole. Electrical countershock infrequently altered the rhythm from asystole when it appeared as the initial rhythm. However, countershock was significantly more effective than epinephrine (P less than 0.003), atropine (P less than 0.04), or CaCl (P less than 0.03) in altering the rhythm from asystole, which appeared later in resuscitation. Ventricular fibrillation was the most common rhythm appearing after countershock for asystole. Countershock appears to be superior to epinephrine, CaCl, and atropine for treating asystole during the course of resuscitation, suggesting that the rhythm diagnosed as asystole may actually be VF in many cases.
Methylenedioxyamphetamine: neurotoxic effects on serotonergic projections to brainstem nuclei in the rat.

Abstract This study employed immunocytochemistry to visualize the neurotoxic effects of methylenedioxyamphetamine hydrochloride (MDA) on serotonergic projections to brainstem structures. Separate groups of animals were injected twice a day, for 4 consecutive days, with: saline; MDA (40 mg/kg/day); or fluoxetine hydrochrolide (10 mg/kg) prior to each injection of MDA. In agreement with previous reports, MDA produced a pronounced loss of 5-HT immunoreactivity in the forebrain, most notably in neocortex and hippocampus. However, our results revealed that MDA also produced a loss of 5-HT fibers in brainstem that was as severe as that seen in any region of forebrain. Regions most severely affected included: superior colliculus; superior olivary complex; trigeminal sensorycomplex and vestibular nuclei. The brains of animals treated with MDA demonstrated a relative absence of fine 5-HT axon terminals within these forebrain and brainstem regions, while thicker axonal elements were still present. The neurotoxic effects of MDA on serotonergic projections to forebrain and brainstem were completely blocked by the prior administration of the 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine. It was suggested that the denervation of the superior colliculus, superior olive and vestibular nuclei could alter visually guided eye movements and the vestibulo-ocular reflex while the loss of serotonergic inputs to the trigeminal sensory complex might be expected to alter tactual reflexes.
Diabetic macular edema: Current and emerging therapies

Diabetic macular edema is a leading cause of vision impairment among people within the working- age population. This review discusses the pathogenesis of diabetic macular edema and the treatment options currently available for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, including for focal/grid photocoagulation, intravitreal corticosteroids and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents. The biologic rationale for novel therapeutic agents, many of which are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, also is reviewed.
Ten reasons why it's different this time

Biofuels will continue to hit bumps in the road… but we are still moving forward…. © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Conceptual Design of a Supersonic Business Jet Propulsion System

NASA's Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Program (UEETP) is developing a suite of technology to enhance the performance of future aircraft propulsion systems. Areas of focus for this suite of technology include: Highly Loaded Turbomachinery, Emissions Reduction, Materials and Structures, Controls, and Propulsion-Airframe Integration. The two major goals of the UEETP are emissions reduction of both landing and take-off nitrogen oxides (LTO-NO(x)) and mission carbon dioxide (CO2) through fuel burn reductions. The specific goals include a 70 percent reduction in the current LTO-NO(x) rule and an 8 percent reduction in mission CO2 emissions. In order to gain insight into the potential applications and benefits of these technologies on future aircraft, a set of representative flight vehicles was selected for systems level conceptual studies. The Supersonic Business Jet (SBJ) is one of these vehicles. The particular SBJ considered in this study has a capacity of 6 passengers, cruise Mach Number of 2.0, and a range of 4,000 nautical miles. Without the current existence of an SBJ the study of this vehicle requires a two-phased approach. Initially, a hypothetical baseline SBJ is designed which utilizes only current state of the art technology. Finally, an advanced SBJ propulsion system is designed and optimized which incorporates the advanced technologies under development within the UEETP. System benefits are then evaluated and compared to the program and design requirements. Although the program goals are only concerned with LTO-NO(x) and CO2 emissions, it is acknowledged that additional concerns for an SBJ include take-off noise, overland supersonic flight, and cruise NO(x) emissions at high altitudes. Propulsion system trade-offs in the conceptual design phase acknowledge these issues as well as the program goals. With the inclusion of UEETP technologies a propulsion system is designed which performs at 81% below the LTO-NO(x) rule, and reduces fuel burn by 23 percent compared to the current technology.
Effect of herpesvirus infection on the synthesis of cell-specific RNA.

Abstract The effect of infection with pseudorabies virus on the synthesis and turnover of rapidly labeled rabbit kidney cell RNA was investigated. Infection decreases the rate of synthesis of RNA that anneals to cellular DNA (C-RNA); however, this RNA does not turn over as it does in uninfected cells but accumulates in the infected cells. At least part of this RNA is synthesized as larger molecules which are then degraded to molecules of 4–8 S, and a large proportion is found in the cytoplasmic fraction after fractionation of the cells. The cytoplasmic C-RNA contains regions of polyadenylic acid; however, little of this RNA is functional cell-specific mRNA. Competition hybridization experiments show that the population of C-RNA molecules, which is synthesized by and accumulates in the infected cells, differs from that in uninfected cells. These experiments indicate that either: (1) RNA not normally transcribed in uninfected cells is transcribed in the infected cells, or that (2) the mechanisms regulating the processing of cellular RNA are impaired in the infected cells, and that RNA that normally turns over in uninfected cells is adenylated and may be transferred to the cytoplasm of infected cells. It has been found that cytoplasmic virus-specific RNA also contains regions of polyadenylic acid.
Purification of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Proteins by Modified Triton X-114 Partitioning and Preparative Gel Electrophoresis

Triton X-114 phase partitioning has frequently been used to obtain preparations enriched in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins and other hydrophobic proteins from crude cellular homogenates. We have developed a new modification of this phase-partitioning technique which allows two distinct GPI-anchored proteins of Tetrahymena mimbres to be separated from other hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic proteins and recovered in approximately 90% yield. The unique feature of the new method is a 24-h incubation of the first Triton X-114 extract at -20 degrees C. This improves the partitioning of GPI-anchored proteins into the detergent phase while promoting the aggregation of other hydrophobic proteins. Individual GPI-anchored proteins in the detergent phase are then purified to near homogeneity by one-step preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By substituting Triton X-114/water mixtures for the conventional SDS buffer used to collect proteins eluting from the preparative gel, the purified GPI-anchored protein can be rapidly concentrated from relatively large volumes of eluate by phase partitioning at 32 degrees C. The method is also effective in separating mammalian GPI-anchored alkaline phosphatase from other proteins. It is likely to be of general utility in characterizing the GPI anchor structures associated with nonabundant and abundant GPI-anchored proteins coexisting within the same cell type.
Recognizing Complexity in Eastern Europe : a Case for Differentiating Among Communist States

Although Moscow's security interests define the limits of foreign policy behavior and domestic liberalization in Eastern Europe. American relations with communist Europe in the 1960s and 1970s differentiated between and among member states of the Warsaw Pact. A policy of differential relations with communist Europe is a policy of sensitivity to complexity—to the differences between, for example, the role of Romania vis-a-vis the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the Warsaw Pact. A finely tuned foreign policy requires such sensitivity to avoid broad and erroneous categorizations that portray American international views as irretrievably simple. Were we to distance ourselves as far from Bucharest as from Moscow, we would be ignoring the qualities that led to visits by Presidents Nixon and Ford to Bucharest and which encouraged Most Favored Nation (MFN) status for Romania. A policy which distinguishes among communist states and leaders contrasts with the simplistic view that Soviet manipulation is total, and rejects the dichotomy that East Europeans are either puppets or national patriots, with no choice between. The political worlds of leaders and citizens in these states are much more complex, and we require a policy premised on such complexity.
JET-CORRELATIONS FROM STAR

We present recent results on particle spectra and azimuthal di-hadron correlations at intermediate and high pT in p+p, d+Au and Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200\, {\rm GeV}$ from the STAR collaboration. The implications for parton energy loss and hadronisation in hot and dense QCD matter are discussed.
Meta-Assessment: Evaluating Assessment Activities.

Given the breadth and depth of assessment activity in higher education today there is a need for a set of standards to follow in its conduct. This paper briefly describes theStandards of the Joint Committee (1981) developed for educational evaluation and demonstrates their application in conducting assessment and meta-assessment activities.
FxJj50: An early Pleistocene site in northern Kenya

Abstract Excavation in the Upper Member of the Koobi Fora Formation in Kenya has revealed a cluster of stone artefacts and broken up bones which accumulated 1–5 million years ago on the banks of a water course. The assemblage had been preserved by layers of silt. The stone artefacts consist of flakes and flake fragments plus simple flaked cobbles. It has been possible to conjoin individual pieces linking about 10 per cent of the artefacts and 4 per cent of the identifiable bones in pairs or sets. In some cases it seems likely that the specimens were fractured on the spot. Some of the fracture patterns on the bones suggest breakage with hammers, and apparent cut marks have also been found on some bones. There are signs of the presence of scavenging carnivores as well as of tool‐making hominids, and both could have contributed to the workings of a complex input‐output system. Whether the site was a home‐base camp or simply a locality used for meat‐eating and tool‐making remains uncertain. Experimental work ...
A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF BENTHIC FAUNAL PATTERNS WITHIN THE PENNSYLVANIAN AND EARLY PERMIAN

Abstract Using abundance data, this study explores quantitative patterns from marine benthos, including implications for paleogeography, depositional environment, stratigraphic position, taxonomic groups (brachiopod or mollusc), substrate preferences, and ecological niches. Twenty-nine brachiopod- and bivalve-dominated fossil assemblages from the Pennsylvanian and Early Permian of North and South America, Thailand, and Australia were analyzed from carbonate-platform environments; specifically, Nevada, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Venezuela, Kanchanaburi (Thailand), and Queensland (Australia). Samples were categorized by paleogeographic location, depositional environment, and age to help differentiate factors controlling the faunal patterns. Pooled from primary and summary literature resources, 336,321 specimens were identified to genus level and classified in terms of taxonomic membership, substrate preference, and ecological niche. Data were analyzed using detrended correspondence analysis ...
Salvage percutaneous vertebral augmentation in failed spinal interbody fusions associated with multiple myeloma

Abstract Background context Failed posterior spinal interbody fusion is a known phenomenon with clinical consequences. Purpose This technical note of percutaneous vertebral augmentation in patients with failed posterior interbody construct can be used in patients at high risk for repeat surgery, like patients with multiple myeloma. Study design/setting Retrospective analysis of the two procedures was done. Clinical and radiologic follow-up was available for 1.5 years at the time of manuscript preparation. Patient sample Both patients were referred to us after undergoing posterior spinal interbody fusion from outside institutions with persistent pain. The patients had a pain level requiring opioid analgesics and changes in the activities of daily living. The patients had active multiple myeloma at the time of the surgical intervention and vertebral augmentation procedure. Outcome measures Visual analog scales were used to gauge the pain relief after the procedure and during further follow-ups. In addition, radiologic follow-up was obtained by means of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Methods Vertebral augmentation procedures in both patients were done under intravenous conscious sedation with the patient prone. High-quality biplane fluoroscopy was used for the procedure. No immediate- or long-term complications were noted. Results Both patients had an appreciable relief from pain immediately after the procedure and on follow-up. Follow-up radiologic imaging revealed consistent cement distribution around the construct, no further collapse of the vertebra, with no new lucency surrounding the construct. Conclusions This modified technique of vertebral augmentation can be helpful in management of cases with clinical or radiologic evidence of failed posterior spinal interbody fusion. The cage construct can be stabilized with the injection of cement. The cement surrounding the construct provides strength to the axis and prevents further loosening.
Yield and foliar injury responses of mature plum trees to salinity

The salt tolerance of mature ‘Santa Rosa’ plum trees was assessed on 20-year-old trees grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The experimental design consisted of six levels of irrigation water salinity (electrical conductivities of 0.3 to 8 dS/m) replicated five times with each replication consisting of ten trees. Salinity treatments imposed in March 1984 did not influence tree yields harvested in June 1984. In 1985, the second year of treatments, yield from the highest salt treatment (electrical conductivity of irrigation water, EC i , of 8 dS/m) was reduced by half; the number of fruit harvested was reduced 40%, and fruit size was reduced significantly. Foliar damage was so severe by the end of 1985 that nonsaline water was applied to the two highest salt treatments (EC i = 6 and 8 dS/m) in an attempt to restore tree vigor. In 1986 salt effects had become progressively worse on the continuing saline treatments. A linear piece-wise salt tolerance curve is presented for soil salinity values, expressed as the electrical conductivity of saturated extracts (EC e ) integrated to a soil depth of 1.2 m over a 2-year period. The salt tolerance threshold for relative yield (Y r ) based on 3 years of data was 2.6 dS/m and yield reduction at salinity levels beyond the threshold was 31% per dS/m (Y ir=100 − 31 [EC e − 2.6]j). Significant foliar damage occurred when leaf chloride concentrations surpassed 200 mmol/kg of leaf dry weight (0.7%). Sodium concentrations in the leaves remained below 10 mmol/kg (0.02%) until foliar damage became severe. This suggests that chloride was the dominant ion causing foliar damage.
Novel dihydrate formation in p-nitrophenylglyoxal

It is novel that the reaction of p-nitrophenyl-glyoxal with biochemically relevant compounds has a long lag time before the reaction commences. While utilizing NMR spectroscopy to investigate factors that may affect the lag, it has been discovered that a dihydrate form of pNPG is in equilibrium with a monohydrate while in the presence of water. This behavior is not present in the related phenylglyoxal molecule. Quantum chemical computations on the nonhydrated, hydrate, and dihydrate forms of pNPG, as well as phenylglyoxal and its hydrated forms, using both the B3LYP and MP2 levels of theory indicate that nitro group creates the necessary environment for hydration of pNPG whereas this is not present in standard phenylglyoxal. The equilibrium constants and their relationship with temperature as well as the heat of reaction and change in entropy have been determined experimentally. This data should provide new insights into the behavior of this and related systems in biochemical processes.
Building relationships through cooperative learning

Abstract Based upon several years of team‐teaching intensive early childhood education courses, the authors discuss their experiences of building teacher‐learner relationships through cooperative and collaborative learning. After witnessing significant conflict occurring within groups over the years, the authors began to investigate, discuss and integrate notions of cooperative learning, collaboration, conflict and change within their early childhood courses. Considerations for limiting unproductive conflict and encouraging productive conflict among adult learners are highlighted. Guided by current research, the authors developed and applied several practices and strategies to support relationship building, promote respectful interactions, and to assist groups to negotiate conflict and work collaboratively on goals and projects.
Human aflatoxin B1 metabolism: An investigation of the importance of aflatoxin Q1 as a metabolite of hepatic post-mitochondrial fraction

Abstract The metabolism of aflatoxin B1 by the post-mitochondrial fraction of human autopsy or biopsy liver and monkey necropsy liver was investigated. Aflatoxin Q1, a hydroxy metabolite of B1, was produced by 18 of 22 human liver samples and by 5 of 7 species of non-human primates investigated. Human specimens from both sexes, ages 20–80 years, with a variety of hepatic histological and historical influences produced this metabolite. Aflatoxin Q1 was of variable quantitative importance. Yields seldom exceeded 10% of initial B1. However, based upon its persistent formation in vitro, these studies identify the need to clarify the role of Q1 in aflatoxin epidemiology.
Evaluation of the Parameter Sensitivities of a Coupled Land Surface Hydrologic Model at a Critical Zone Observatory

AbstractLand surface models (LSMs) and hydrologic models are parameterized models. The number of involved parameters is often large. Sensitivity analysis (SA) is a key step to understand the complex relationships between parameters and between state variables and parameters. SA is also critical to understand system dynamics and to examine the parameter identifiability. In this paper, parameter SA for a fully coupled, physically based, distributed land surface hydrologic model, namely, the Flux–Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Model (Flux–PIHM), is performed. Multiparameter and single-parameter tests are performed to examine the three dimensions of identifiability: distinguishability, observability, and simplicity. Results show that Flux–PIHM model predictions of discharge, water table depth, soil moisture, land surface temperature, and surface heat fluxes are very sensitive to the selection of parameter values. Parameter uncertainties produce large uncertainties in hydrologic and land surface variable pre...
Intrathecal N, N', N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide [thio-TEPA (NSC 6396)] in the treatment of malignant meningeal disease: phase I-II study.

N, N′, N″-Triethylenethiophosphoramide [Thio-TEPA (NSC 6396)] is the third drug to be evaluated for the treatment of meningeal neoplasia. Eleven patients with meningeal leukemia, lymphoma, or ependymoma were treated with intrathecal thio-TEPA in doses from 1 to 10 mg/m2 of body surface area. There was no hematologic toxicity definitely attributable to thio-TEPA, and neurologic toxicity was limited to mild transient paresthesias of the lower extremities during lumbar sac injection in three patients. Two of those experiencing such paresthesias received concentrated drug solutions to decrease the large injected volumes associated with the higher dosages of thio-TEPA. Three patients achieved complete meningeal remission, and five others had a partial response to therapy.
Bloofi: a hierarchical Bloom filter index with applications to distributed data provenance

Bloom filters are probabilistic data structures that have been successfully used for approximate membership problems in many areas of Computer Science (networking, distributed systems, databases, etc.). With the huge increase in data size and distribution of data, problems arise where a large number of Bloom filters are available, and all the Bloom filters need to be searched for potential matches. As an example, in a federated cloud environment, with hundreds of geographically distributed clouds participating in the federation, information needs to be shared by the semi-autonomous cloud providers. Each cloud provider could encode the information using Bloom filters and share the Bloom filters with a central coordinator. The problem of interest is not only whether a given object is in any of the sets represented by the Bloom filters, but which of the existing sets contain the given object. This problem cannot be solved by just constructing a Bloom filter on the union of all the sets. We propose Bloofi, a hierarchical index structure for Bloom filters that speeds-up the search process and can be efficiently constructed and maintained. We apply our index structure to the problem of determining the complete data provenance graph in a geographically distributed setting. Our theoretical and experimental results show that Bloofi provides a scalable and efficient solution for searching through a large number of Bloom filters.
Technical outreach: if the mountain won't come to Mohammed...

Grinnell College is a small, liberal arts college in the Midwest with a student population of approximately 1400. As technology pervaded classrooms and all faculty and staff members acquired their own computers, the Information Technology Services (ITS) division found ourselves wishing for a magical spell to impart users with knowledge and training. Accordingly, the department developed training classes. What a concept that was! For a while, there were many topics offered at varying times to accommodate differences in participants' schedules. Unfortunately, this just didn't work, and the magic was still missing To make matters worse, the ITS staff began especially wishing for a magic charm that would lead participants out of their offices and in to the classrooms for computer-related training and application courses.There are two main problems with offering training to faculty and staff members. The first, is for some reason they just don't attend. Faculty members especially appear to be above sitting in a technology training class with other people, even though the information they would obtain would assist them in their daily work. The second problem is training sessions tend to be too comprehensive. While it is nice to spend three hours learning Microsoft Outlook for example, sometimes all the new skills aren't retained long enough that they can be utilized. That being the case, it is frustrating to teach or participate in training sessions that lead to poor retention due to extended times (sometimes as long as weeks or months), between learning the skill or application and then implementing new skills in a productive manner.In response, one academic support team decided to provide "Desktop Outreach" training for their constituents. The training sessions were designed as customized training lessons to be provided in the offices of trainees for 30-60 minutes. They were goal-focused, and at the end of the sessions, tangible skills or documents were produced. Topics ranged from "Creating a CD" to sessions like "Using Outlook with my Palm Pilot." The training sessions were held at convenient times for the faculty or staff members and they were interactive. The sessions turned out to be valuable. Taking the time to spend with faculty and staff was also a great customer service tool that helped to develop positive relationships with the faculty and staff members for the future.
Effects of an external electromagnetic field on rutile Tio2: A molecular dynamics study

Abstract Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations of the bulk rutile phase of TiO 2 have been carried out in an intense external electromagnetic field with frequency in the microwave to far-infrared range. Simulations were performed in constant-volume ensembles with and without a thermostat coupled to the atomic degrees of freedom, at 298 K and from 298 K to well above the crystal melting temperature, respectively. Fields were applied along the a and c crystallographic directions. Both the Lekner and Ewald techniques were used to handle long-range electrostatics and the impact of different choices of Ewald parameters on the results has been evaluated. It was found that the ions respond rapidly to the field. The peaks and troughs in the Ti–Ti radial distribution functions were sharpened relative to the zero-field case at the instants of maximum electric field intensity, but little evidence of this was found for the Ti–O or O–O distributions. For pure Newtonian dynamics, the 500 GHz field excited the vibrational modes to the greatest extent, raising the system temperature at the fastest rate. For temperatures above 2000–2500 K, the crystal structure was found to melt. In the canonical ensemble, the 50 GHz field led to the greatest enhancement of ionic translational mobility.
Low-energy antiproton interaction with helium

An {ital ab initio} potential for the interaction of the neutral helium atom with antiprotons and protons is calculated using the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Using this potential, the annihilation cross section for antiprotons in the energy range 0.01 {mu}eV to 1 eV is calculated. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Analysis of peptides and proteins containing nitrotyrosine by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Oxidative damage to proteins can occur under physiological conditions through the action of reactive oxygen species, including those containing nitrogen such as peroxynitrite (ONO2−). Peroxynitrite has been shown in vitro to target tyrosine residues in proteins through free radical addition to produce 3-nitrotyrosine. In this work, we show that mass spectral patterns associated with 3-nitrotyrosine containing peptides allow identification of peptides containing this modification. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry was used to characterize a synthetic peptide AAFGY(m-NO2)AR and several peptides containing 3-nitrotyrosine derived from bovine serum albumin treated with tetranitromethane. A unique series of ions were found for these peptides in addition to the mass shift of +45 Da corresponding to the addition of the nitro group. Specifically, two additional ions were observed at roughly equal abundance that correspond to the loss of one and two oxygens, and at lower abundances, two ions are seen that suggest the formation of hydroxylamine and amine derivatives. These latter four components appear to originate by laser-induced photochemical decomposition. MALDI-MS analysis of the synthetic peptide containing 3-nitrotyrosine revealed this same pattern. Post-source decay (PSD) MALDI-time-of-flight (TOF) and collisional activation using a prototype MALDI quadrupole TOF yielded extensive fragmentation that allowed site-specific identification of 3-nitrotyrosine. Conversion of peptides containing 3-nitrotyrosine to 3-aminotyrosine with Na2S2O4 yielded a single molecular ion by MALDI with an abundant sidechain loss under PSD conditions. These observations suggest that MALDI can provide a selective method for the analysis and characterization of 3-nitrotyrosine-containing peptides.
Testing northwest drainage from Lake Agassiz using extant ice margin and strandline data

Extant data on shorelines and ice margins in the glacial Lake Agassiz basin defines the limits of Lake Agassiz through deglacial time. The ice sheet margin had not retreated far enough northwards by the beginning or end of the Younger Dryas chronozone for the lake to drain northwest. However, once Lake Agassiz reached the Campbell Beach stage at ∼10,800–10,300 cal BP, then projections of Lake Agassiz strandlines were higher than the topography allowing for the first possible pathway to the northwest. This relationship is used to reject the recent assertion that there was northwest drainage from Lake Agassiz at the beginning and end of the Younger Dryas chronozone.
Controlling protein-protein interactions through metal coordination : Assembly of a 16-helix bundle protein

The prediction, design, and control of protein−protein interactions (PPIs) remain great challenges despite recent advances. Here we describe the chemical control of PPIs through the use of metal coordination, which circumvents the requirement of PPIs for an extensive set of weak interactions spread over a large surface. A non-self-associating four-bundle protein, cytochrome cb562, with appropriately engineered metal-binding motifs self-assembles to a 16-helix quaternary structure upon addition of equimolar Zn. The crystal structure of the assembly, combined with PFG diffusion NMR and sedimentation velocity experiments, indicates that the oligomerization properties of cytochrome cb562 are governed entirely by metal coordination without significant thermodynamic bias from specific PPIs.