cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Embolism Secondary to Silicone Injection

Background: The use of silicone for synthetic enhancement in cosmetic procedures has been established for decades but is questionable in safety as it is associated with a range of possible complications. Incidental injection of this polymer into the venous system is not uncommon and can result in the formation of microemboli, which can travel to the lungs. This occurrence can result in a rapid decline of respiratory function and send a patient into severe acute distress. The Case: This report details a female patient presenting with hemoptysis, presumed to have severe pneumonia until her history of cosmetic treatment was revealed and correlated. Her rapid respiratory decline is followed in inflammatory response markers and radiograph imaging. Conclusion: A unique treatment approach with prone positioning was used and may play a key role in decreasing mortality in these patients. This report draws attention to the dangers of cosmetic enhancement and raises clinical awareness for associated complications.
Peptidergic induction of endothelin 1 and prostanoid secretion in human cerebromicrovascular endothelium.

Angiotensin (Ang II) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), known vasoconstrictive agents, have been implicated as playing a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. These peptides are among a number of neurotransmitters, hormones or cytokines that have been shown to induce endothelin 1 (ET-1) (a potent vasoconstrictor) or prostaglandins, in a variety of cellular systems including endothelium (1-4). None of the previous investigations, using either in vitro or in vivo model systems, have demonstrated a concomitant Ang II- or AVP-stimulated production of ET-1 and prostanoids. Since vascular diseases such as hypertension and vasospasm may be the result of an altered vascular balance between vasodepressors [vasodilatory peptides, prostanoids, endothelial-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)] and vasopressors [vasoconstrictive peptides, prostanoids, endothelial-derived constrictive factor (EDCF)] produced by the endothelium (5-8), we studied the type and possible mechanism of some mediators simultaneously elicited by AVP or Ang II in endothelium derived from capillary and microvessels of human brain (HBEC). This report describes an interrelationship between AVP- and Ang II-induced formation of ET-1 and prostanoids which can be modulated by either inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), cyclooxygenase, or lipoxygenase.
Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Safely Reduces Hematoma without Thromboembolic Events.

Background Antifibrinolytic medications, such as tranexamic acid, have recently garnered increased attention. Despite its ability to mitigate intraoperative blood loss and need for blood transfusion, there remains a paucity of research in breast reconstruction. The authors investigate whether intravenous tranexamic acid safely reduces the risk of hematoma following implant-based breast reconstruction. Methods A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze all consecutive patients undergoing immediate two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction following mastectomy between 2015 and 2016. The incidence of postoperative hematomas and thromboembolic events among all patients was reviewed. The patients in the intervention group received 1000 mg of intravenous tranexamic acid before mastectomy incision and 1000 mg at the conclusion of the procedure. Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test were used. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to study the impact of intravenous tranexamic acid after adjusting for possible confounders. Results A total of 868 consecutive breast reconstructions (499 women) were reviewed. Overall, 116 patients (217 breasts) received intravenous tranexamic acid, whereas 383 patients (651 breasts) did not. Patient characteristics and comorbidities were similar between the two the groups. Patients who received tranexamic acid were less likely to develop hematomas [n = 1 (0.46 percent)] than patients who did not [n = 19 (2.9 percent)] after controlling for age, hypertension, and type of reconstruction (prepectoral and subpectoral) (p = 0.018). Adverse effects of intravenous tranexamic acid, including thromboembolic phenomena were not observed. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age and hypertension independently increase risk for hematoma. Conclusions Intravenous tranexamic acid safely reduces risk of hematoma in implant-based breast reconstruction. Further prospective randomized studies are warranted to further corroborate these findings. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, III.
Stroke early supported discharge: the impact of patients' characteristics and clinical profile on rehabilitation goal attainment and clinical outcomes

Background/aims Stroke early supported discharge services were introduced to provide a comprehensive stroke specialist therapy input, while reducing cost of acute care. Early supported discharge se...
Bayesian Inference of State-Level COVID-19 Basic Reproduction Numbers across the United States

Although many persons in the United States have acquired immunity to COVID-19, either through vaccination or infection with SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 will pose an ongoing threat to non-immune persons so long as disease transmission continues. We can estimate when sustained disease transmission will end in a population by calculating the population-specific basic reproduction number R_0, the expected number of secondary cases generated by an infected person in the absence of any interventions. The value of R_0 relates to a herd immunity threshold (HIT), which is given by 1-1/R_0. When the immune fraction of a population exceeds this threshold, sustained disease transmission becomes exponentially unlikely (barring mutations allowing SARS-CoV-2 to escape immunity). Here, we report state-level R_0 estimates obtained using Bayesian inference. Maximum a posteriori estimates range from 7.1 for New Jersey to 2.3 for Wyoming, indicating that disease transmission varies considerably across states and that reaching herd immunity will be more difficult in some states than others. R_0 estimates were obtained from compartmental models via the next-generation matrix approach after each model was parameterized using regional daily confirmed case reports of COVID-19 from 21-January-2020 to 21-June-2020. Our R_0 estimates characterize infectiousness of ancestral strains, but they can be used to determine HITs for a distinct, currently dominant circulating strain, such as SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta (lineage B.1.617.2), if the relative infectiousness of the strain can be ascertained. On the basis of Delta-adjusted HITs, vaccination data, and seroprevalence survey data, we find that no state has achieved herd immunity as of 20-September-2021.
Shared memory and distributed shared memory systems: A survey

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates distributed shared memory (DSM) systems that are intended to combine the ease of programming of the shared-memory model with the scalability of the distributed-memory system. DSM systems aim to unify parallel processing systems that rely on message passing with the shared-memory systems. The chapter explores the design space for such systems and includes descriptions of both hardware- and software-supported DSM systems. The implementation prototypes of some of the systems are based on older technology and older software designs, making them appear to perform poorly.
Bottom-up induction of oblivious read-once decision graphs

We investigate the use of oblivious, read- once decision graphs as structures for representing concepts over discrete domains, and present a bottom-up, hill-climbing algorithm for inferring these structures from labelled instances. The algorithm is robust with respect to irrelevant attributes, and experimental results show that it performs well on problems considered difficult for symbolic induction methods, such as the Monk's problems and parity.
The Pi-Electron Approximation

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the pi-electron approximation. The appropriate basis for a discussion of the pi-electron approximation is in terms of quantum mechanics. Pi-electron systems represent the most fruitful class of molecular systems to which quantum mechanics can be applied using a semi empirical approach. There are countless numbers of them, and pi-electron can be classified by forming homologous series where many variables can be suppressed, thus these electrons lend themselves well to theoretical approximation methods. The quantum mechanical approach to them can be related to solid state physics as well as to atomic and molecular physics. The study of pi-electron systems constitutes an important part of the history of quantum chemistry. Any analysis which does not relate to that underlying structure cannot provide firm footing for any a priori predictions about chemical or physical behavior. Some attention is given to the pi-electron approximation on that basis and its essential features seem to be fairly well understood.
Gubernatorial Electoral Coalitions in the Great Plains

This paper examines the nature of the electoral coalitions that develop surrounding gubernatorial candidates in the states of the Great Plains. It focuses on the contribution various groups make toward the electoral success orfailure ofgubernatorial candidates, highlighting the underlying political divisions within a state's population. This paper marks afirst step into the study ofthese coalitions by offering a basic description ofthem. Some discussion ofhow electoral coalitions respond to candidate and campaign-related factors is presented. The implications of these findings are discussed, along with several considerations for further research. The data used for this analysis come from election day exit polls and a content analysis of the newspaper coverage of each campaign. It is often said of politicians that if you want to know what they stand for, simply look at the people who support them. Such a statement carries with it a slightly negative connotation in contemporary politics as it suggests somehow that politicians are controlled like puppets by special interests. However, the notion of responsiveness to a constituency and of politicians acting as delegates as opposed to trustees is equally consistent with our initial assertion. In this sense, if you want to know what a politician stands for, you should look at the people who elected him or her. Thus, one justification for considering the composition of a candidate's electoral coalition is that there are clear implications for policy representation. In that sense, we examine electoral coalitions because we believe that there will be some connection between the shape of that coalition and the behavior of elected officials following the election (Brown 1995; Wright 1993b; Wright and Berkman 1986). There are certainly long-term components to the nature of group support for political parties (Brown 1995; Erikson et al. 1993) and candidates (Axelrod 1970,1974,1978,1982,1986). Yet, there remains the question of how electoral coalitions respond to short-term forces. If politicians respond
Endotoxin responsiveness and grain dust-induced inflammation in the lower respiratory tract

To identify the role of endotoxin responsiveness in grain dust-induced airway disease, we used two models of extotoxin hyporesponsiveness to perform inhalation exposure studies in mice. In the first model, we investigated whether genetic resistance to endotoxin would alter the inflammatory response to inhaled grain dust by comparing the inflammatory response in the lower respiratory tract of endotoxin-sensitive and -resistant male mice after inhalation of pyrogen-free saline, corn dust extract (CDE), sterile CDE (SCDE), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Endotoxin-sensitive and -resistant mice were exposed for 4 h to nebulized solutions of LPS, SCDE, or CDE. Another group of endotoxin-sensitive and -resistant mice was sham exposed for 4 h to nebulized sterile saline. Dose-response relationships for endotoxin were explored for LPS, SCDE, and CDE. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 5 h after the start of exposure demonstrated a higher concentration of total cells, neutrophils (PMNs), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in BAL fluid after inhalation of CDE, SCDE, or LPS in endotoxin-sensitive than in endotoxin-resistant mice. Whereas endotoxin-sensitive mice demonstrated a dose-response relationship between the endotoxin concentration in each of the solutions and the concentration of cells, PMNs, and TNF-alpha in BAL fluid, concentrations of TNF-alpha were significantly higher only in BAL fluid of endotoxin-resistant mice exposed to higher concentrations of SCDE or CDE. In the second model, we investigated whether acquired endotoxin tolerance would alter the inflammatory response to SCDE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Uses of Argument: Preface to the Updated Edition

Books are like children. They leave home, make new friends, but rarely call home, even collect. You find out what they have been up to only by chance. A man at a party turns out to be one of those new friends. ‘So you are George's father? – Imagine that!’ So has been the relation between The Uses of Argument and its author. When I wrote it, my aim was strictly philosophical: to criticize the assumption, made by most Anglo-American academic philosophers, that any significant argument can be put in formal terms: not just as a syllogism , since for Aristotle himself any inference can be called a ‘syllogism’ or ‘linking of statements’, but a rigidly demonstrative deduction of the kind to be found in Euclidean geometry. Thus was created the Platonic tradition that, some two millennia later, was revived by Rene Descartes. Readers of Cosmopolis , or my more recent Return to Reason , will be familiar with this general view of mine. In no way had I set out to expound a theory of rhetoric or argumentation: my concern was with twentieth-century epistemology, not informal logic. Still less had I in mind an analytical model like that which, among scholars of Communication, came to be called ‘the Toulmin model’. Many readers in fact gave me an historical background that consigned me to a premature death.
The role of nutrition in gene expression: a fertile field for the application of molecular biology.

In the past 20 yr, enormous strides have been made in the field of molecular biology. We are now in a period characterized by rapid progress in the understanding of the fundamentals of metabolic regulation as well as a deepening appreciation of the potential for biotechnological applications in research. Moreover, there has been an increase in the use of concepts evolved from molecular biology in the study of food components and essential nutrients as factors in control of gene expression. In this review, several examples are described that point out the utility of using the techniques of molecular biologists for nutrition-related problems. Many of the methods currently available for directly examining gene expression are often more simple than the indirect methods traditionally used, e.g., indirect methods involving specific protein or product isolation following appropriate labeling. Also, many of the methods used in molecular biology require less tissue for analyses than conventional methods, are less complex and less expensive than conventional methods.
Clinical application of genomic profiling in breast cancer and the TAILORx trial

Breast cancer is characterized by clinical and molecular heterogeneity. Microarray-based gene expression has identified distinct expression profiles associated differing prognosis and response to therapy. Newer technologies now permit evaluation not only of gene expression, but also single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene copy number, genomic mutations, and epigenomic or microRNA patterns that modulate gene expression. These state-of-the-art molecular approaches offer new insights into the pathogenesis of breast cancers, and offer the promise to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease. Although many gene expression assays have been shown to provide prognostic information that is complementary to classical clinicopathologic features, the clinical utility of such assays is uncertain — that is, how do the results alter patient care, and do patients benefit from that change? Most attention has focused on using these assays to reduce overtreatment in patients with estrogen-receptor positive, lymph node negative breast cancer, which accounts for about one-half of all breast cancers, and about 8% of all cancers in the United States. Evidence suggest that some assays do have clinical utility when used appropriately, usually by reducing overtreatment with chemotherapy in patients who may otherwise have an excellent prognosis with local therapy plus endocrine therapy alone — or “treatment sparing”. Other potential examples of clinical utility include “treatment selection” (selecting individuals for chemotherapy when standard clinicopathologic features would have suggested otherwise) and “treatment direction” (selecting individuals for chemotherapy when clinicopathologic features suggested therapeutic equipoise). There are three breast cancer clinical trials which have integrated multiparameter assays into the clinical decision making, including the TAILORx and CHORUS trials (which use the 21 gene assay) and the MINDACT trial (which uses the 70 gene assay). The results of these trials will inform us regarding the clinical utility of these assays, and provide a valuable resource for evaluating other clinical cancer tests in the future.
EXAMINING SELECTION ON THE MULTIVARIATE PHENOTYPE: PLANT RESISTANCE TO HERBIVORES.

Cost-benefit theory posits that stabilizing selection, produced by a trade-off between associated costs and benefits, often maintains phenotypic traits at intermediate equilibrium values. Measurement of selection on one type of trait, resistance to herbivory, should provide evidence to test this prediction. However, most plants host more than one species of herbivore, and resistance to various herbivores may be phenotypically correlated. Consequently, selection must be measured on a multivariate phenotype, which may produce a very complex selection gradient. Canonical analysis of the matrix of quadratic coefficients of the phenotypic selection gradient is presented as a method to simplify the interpretation of the estimated multidimensional adaptive surface. Because this analytical method finds the canonical axes of second-order effects on the selection surface, it shows where nonlinear, and possibly stabilizing, selection is strongest. The resulting index traits may generate hypotheses regarding underlying resistance traits to which more than one type of herbivore responds.
Coronary artery aneurysm and fistula with left ventricular drainage.

An 86-year-old woman with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia was admitted to our institution with chest pain and dyspnea. Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography showed tortuous and aneurysmal coronary arteries. The left main coronary artery has a diameter of 10.1 mm (Fig. 1A). The left anterior descending artery and first diagonal branch course through the myocardium (Fig. 1, B and C) and appear to communicate with the left ventricular cavity through multiple small arterial tributaries (Fig. 1, D and E, arrows). There is also an 11.5 mm 10.5 mm aneurysm of the posterior lateral branch of the right coronary artery (Fig. 1F, arrow). Coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) is an anomalous communication between coronary arteries and the cardiac chambers or vessels. Connections involving the coronary arteries and a cardiac chamber may represent persistence of embryonic intratrabecular spaces and sinusoids. The incidence of CAVF is estimated to be 0.4% of congenital heart disease or roughly 1 in 50,000 patients with congenital heart disease. Fistulous drainage occurs into the right ventricle in 40%, into the right atrium in 26%, into the pulmonary artery in 17%, into the coronary sinus in 7%, into the left ventricle in 3%, and into the superior vena cava in 1% of cases. Symptoms and complications develop with increasing age and depend on the size and location of the
Study on reactions of 10 cultivars of tomato to the aggressive isolate of tomato spotted wilt virus in North-East of Iran

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a causal agent of a devastating disease of many crops including tomato in Iran, but there is not enough information on disease control especially by using resistant cultivars. Twenty isolates of TSWV collected in North-east of Iran (Mashhad area) were evaluated for symptom severity. One severe isolate (M-5) was selected because of the distinct differences in its virulence and symptomatology on tobacco. M-5 isolate produced severe systemic necrosis, deformation and a lot of local lesions whereas the other isolates caused a few chlorotic spots and mild systemic symptoms. Distinct differences in the response of 10 selected commercial cultivars of tomato to this isolate were observed. BHN 555, showed a resistant reaction, whereas the other tomato cultivars; Cheff, Early urbana-y, Primo, Fallat III, Kingstone, Kal G early, Petopride-2, Petropride-5 and Super-H were susceptible to M-5 isolates. More isolates of TSWV and commercial cultivars of tomato should be studied to scre...
Teaching academic discussion skills with a card game

This article describes a game used for teaching discussion skills to English as a Second Language (ESL) students. It was originally designed for students wanting to prepare for graduate study at U.S. universities has been since used for other ESL students wanting to improve conversation skills. The game focuses on common phrases helpful for participating in seminar-style classes common to graduate school settings. The authors explain the rationale for choosing to teach skills using a game. They describe the procedures, benefits, and weaknesses of the game and students' experiences using the game.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR TWO TYPES OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Abstract Patients with trigeminal neuralgia and control subjects were compared in respect of several risk factors for trigeminal neuralgia, to determine if these risk factors were related more specifically to the anatomical divisions of the trigeminal nerve. The vertical location of the pain was strongly related to age at diagnosis. Non-Jewish religion was a risk factor primarily for trigeminal neuralgia of the lower face (any third-division involvement), whereas non-drinking and non-smoking were risk factors for trigeminal neuralgia of the upper face (no third-division involvement). The tendency for trigeminal neuralgia to occur on the right side of the face can be attributed mostly to the right-sided predominance of trigeminal neuralgia of the upper face. The epidemiological evidence suggests that different aetiological mechanisms may operate for trigeminal neuralgia of the lower face and upper face.
An axiomated family of power indices for simple n-person games

In this probabilistic generalization of the Deegan-Packel power index, a new family of power indices based on the notions of minimal winning coalitions and equal division of pay offs is developed. The family of indices is parameterized by allowing minimal winning coalitions to form in accordance with varying probability functions. These indices are axiomatically characterized and compared to other similarly characterized indices. Additionally, a dual family of minimal blocking coalition indices and their characterization axioms is presented.
SEASONAL PATTERN OF NET PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA

Gas exchange studies were carried out on Artemisia tridenztata during the course of a growing season using microclimatically controlled cuvettes and infrared gas analysis. A definite seasonal pattern of net photosynthesis emerged. This pattern was influenced by the interaction of four major factors: plant water potential, leaf temperature, irradiation, and stage of phenological development. In spring and early summer, when plant water stress was minimal, photosynthesis rate was mainly correlated with leaf temperature and irradiation. During mid and late summer, increased plant water stress and phenological changes assumed at least equal importance with temperature and irradiation in limiting net photosynthesis. Indeed, plant water potential, mainly through its influence on stomatal aperture, r,', was probably the single most important factor influencing assimilation rate of this species on a seasonal basis. However, variations in mesophyll resistance to CO2 flux, rm', in response to temperature, water stress, or phenological changes also were involved. Sagebrush photosynthesis under field conditions was highest in late May and early June, and declined thereafter, minimum rates occurring in August during the driest period. Optimal temperatures for net photosynthesis were higher later in the season, indicating a change in gas exchange capacity more suitable to the warmer temperatures later in the
Screening for Antifibrotic Compounds Using High Throughput System Based on Fluorescence Polarization

Fibroproliferative diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. They are characterized by reactive fibrosis caused by uncontrolled synthesis of type I collagen. There is no cure for fibrosis and development of therapeutics that can inhibit collagen synthesis is urgently needed. Collagen α1(I) mRNA and α2(I) mRNA encode for type I collagen and they have a unique 5' stem-loop structure in their 5' untranslated regions (5'SL). Collagen 5'SL binds protein LARP6 with high affinity and specificity. The interaction between LARP6 and the 5'SL is critical for biosynthesis of type I collagen and development of fibrosis in vivo. Therefore, this interaction represents is an ideal target to develop antifibrotic drugs. A high throughput system to screen for chemical compounds that can dissociate LARP6 from 5'SL has been developed. It is based on fluorescence polarization and can be adapted to screen for inhibitors of other protein-RNA interactions. Screening of 50,000 chemical compounds yielded a lead compound that can inhibit type I collagen synthesis at nanomolar concentrations. The development, characteristics, and critical appraisal of this assay are presented.
Psychological Androgyny in Later Life: A Psychocultural Examination

This paper discusses the manifestation of the psychological androgynous potential in men and women in later life from a psychocultural perspective. I will present evidence from data collected during fieldwork in southern Lebanon. The aims of this paper are the following: (1) To further document the move toward psychological androgyny in later life, especially in a non-Western setting; (2) To delineate the cultural, social, and psychological life-cycle factors that encourage the expression of psychological androgyny later rather than earlier in the adult life cycle in the setting investigated; and (3) To bring the anthropological method of investigation in naturalistic settings to the study of psychological androgyny.
IgA Antibodies in Chronic Bullous Disease of Childhood React with a 97 kDa Basement Membrane Zone Protein

Chronic bullous disease of childhood (CBDC) is an autoimmune blistering disease occurring in prepubertal children. Both CBDC and its adult counterpart, linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD), are characterized by linear deposition of IgA along the cutaneous basement membrane zone (BMZ). Circulating IgA antibody in LABD has been found to bind to a 97-kDa BMZ antigen, whereas the antigen in CBDC has not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immunoreactivity of BMZ IgA antibodies in a series of CBDC patients. We evaluated 12 sera from patients with CBDC with circulating IgA anti-BMZ antibodies on indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), which stained the epidermal side of split skin with titers ranging from 1:20 to 1:640. Immunoblotting was performed against two preparations of BMZ proteins: one enriched with the two bullous pemphigoid antigens (BP230, BP180) and one enriched with the LABD antigen (LARD97). Eight of the twelve sera reacted with a 97-kDa protein that co-migrated with the protein detected in many LABD sera. The intensity of the reaction on immunoblot correlated with serum antibody titers. There was no consistent pattern of reactivity of the IgA anti-BMZ antibodies with either the BP230 or BP180 antigens, although two sera reacted with several higher molecular mass proteins (160–200 kDa). The significance of this reactivity was examined with immunoblotting using BMZ-affinity-purified antibodies, and IIF using nitrocellulose-eluted antibodies. One serum also contained anti-BMZ IgA antibodies that reacted with a 180-kDa protein, corresponding to BP180. We conclude that IgA antibodies in CBDC sera recognize a 97-kDa BMZ antigen present on the epidermal side of BMZ split skin that co-migrates with the antigen previously identified in LABD. These findings suggest that CBDC and LABD are the immunologically related disorders occurring in different age groups.
Beneficial compressive strain for oxygen reduction reaction on Pt (111) surface

We investigated the influence of compressive surface strain on the progression of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on Pt(111) surface using the density functional theory (DFT) calculation method. Specifically, we calculated the binding energies of all the chemical species possibly involved in ORR and the reaction energies (heat of reaction and activation energy) of all the possible ORR elementary reactions on the Pt(111) surfaces with −2% and −3% strain. Our DFT results indicate that all the ORR species bind more weakly on the compressively strained surfaces than on an unstrained surface owing to strain-induced d-electron band broadening. Our DFT calculations further predict that both OOH dissociation and HOOH dissociation pathways could be active for ORR on the Pt(111) surface with compressive strain between −2% and −3%. Moreover, the activation energies of the ORR rate-determining steps on the compressively strained Pt(111) surfaces were found to be lower than that on the unstrained Pt(111) surface. It was thus inferred that a −2% to −3% surface strain could lead to enhanced ORR activity on the Pt(111) catalysts. Consequently, our study suggests that tuning surface strain is an effective way to improve the performance of Pt-based electrocatalysts for ORR.
Reliability of the diffusion-multiple approach for phase diagram mapping

The diffusion-multiple approach can be used to map phase diagrams at an efficiency orders of magnitude faster than the conventional equilibrated alloy method. This paper addresses a concern about the reliability of the results, especially whether the data obtained from diffusion multiples can produce reliable equilibrium phase diagrams. The following topics will be discussed: (a) establishment of local equilibrium at the phase interfaces, (b) X-ray interaction volume vs. thickness of the phases (microprobe related issues), (c) reliability of phase diagrams from equilibrated alloys, (d) usefulness of electron backscatter diffraction, (e) impurity-induced stabilization of metastable phases, and, (f) missing phase situations. A direct comparison of several ternary systems obtained from both diffusion multiples and equilibrated alloys was made. The good agreement between them clearly demonstrates the reliability of phase diagrams determined from diffusion multiples.
Mutation of Chinese hamster cells by near-UV activation of promutagens.

Abstract A tissue-culture assay for mutagenesis and cytotoxicity incorporating near ultraviolet (NUV) light activation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) has been developed. Cultures of Chinese hamster cells (line CHO) growing in suspension culture were inoculated with benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a ]P), 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) or shale-oil retort-water and exposed to light from a high-pressure mercury lamp fitted with a Corning NUV bandpass filter. This light source both permitted activation of PAH and the shale-oil water and preculded detectable damage to DNA. Neither the PAH nor the NUV alone had any effect on cell survival or mutation frequencies but the chemicals plus NUV were extremely effective in producing mutations to 6-thioguanine resistance ( hgprt gene).
Methyllysine analogs: rewriting the code

Lysine methylation has been implicated in gene transcription and epigenetic control. Chemical modification of cysteine residues results in a highly similar structural and functional analog of methylated lysine and provides a means to study this important modification in nucleosomes.
Compliance with Sarbanes‐Oxley and do not call regulations is interdependent when telemarketing is a core part of a sales strategy

Purpose – This paper aims to explain the importance of a do not call (DNC) regulations compliance program for broker‐dealers and other investment companies as part of an overall Sarbanes‐Oxley (SOX) compliance strategy.Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains why an effective DNC Regulations compliance program is needed, the consequences of violations, and the control objectives an effective DNC solution should address.Findings – A DNC solution needs to address the risks of a lack of necessary functionality, circumvention, security, failure, and insufficient monitoring. In 2004, the SEC approved amendments to Rule G‐39 that require broker‐dealers to comply with the Federal Trade Commissions DNC rules. In conjunction, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board also issued clear guidance on required DNC compliance. Thus, this topic is of key importance to broker‐dealers and other investment professionals, especially publicly traded firms. In light of current events, control structures within investme...
Roles of interstitial cells of Cajal in regulating gastrointestinal motility: in vitro versus in vivo studies

The aim of this article is to provide a better understanding of the roles of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in regulating gastrointestinal motility by reviewing in vitro and in vivo physiological motility studies. Based on the in vitro studies, ICC are proposed to have the following functions: to generate slow waves, to mediate neurotransmission between the enteric nerves and the gastrointestinal muscles and to act as mechanoreceptors. However, there is limited evidence available for these hypotheses from the in vivo motility studies. In this review, we first introduce the major subtypes of ICC and their established functions. Three Kit mutant mouse and rodent models are presented and the loss of ICC subtypes in these mutants is reviewed. The physiological motility findings from various in vitro and in vivo experiments are discussed to give a critical review on the roles of ICC in generating slow waves, regulating gastrointestinal motility, mediating neural transmission and serving as mechanoreceptors. It is concluded that the role of ICC as pacemakers may be well established, but other cells may also be involved in the generation of slow waves; the theory that ICC are mediators of neurotransmission is challenged by the majority of the in vivo motility studies; the hypothesis that ICC are mechanoreceptors has not found supportive evidence from the in vivo studies yet. More studies are needed to explain discrepancies in motility findings between the in vitro and in vivo experiments.
THE SMITH–HAYEK ECONOMIST: FROM CHARACTER TO IDENTITY

It would be beneficial for economists who follow in the tradition of Smith and Hayek to establish an identity whilst accentuating heterogeneity. Existing labels do not really adequately describe the Smith–Hayek character.
Synthesis, X-ray Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Copper(II) Pyridinecarboxylate Coordination Networks

The three-dimensional Cu(II) coordination polymers [Cu(isonicotinate)2][EtOH] (1) and Cu(nicotinate)2 (2) were synthesized by treating copper nitrate with isonicotinic acid and nicotinic acid under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions, respectively. X-ray single-crystal structure determinations reveal that the Cu(II) centers in 1 adopt a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry, while the Cu(II) centers in 2 exhibit a coordination geometry intermediate between square pyramid and trigonal bipyramid. The Cu(II) centers in 1 and 2 coordinate to both the pyridyl and carboxylate functionalities of the isonicotinate and nicotinate bridging ligands, respectively, to result in complicated 3-D framework structures. Compound 1 exhibits rhombic open channels that are occupied by removable ethanol molecules. Magnetic measurements indicated that 1 is a simple paramagnet with only very weak antiferromagnetic interactions, while 2 exhibits more pronounced antiferromagnetic interactions with J/k = −6.4 K. Crystal data for ...
DRUG-INDUCED AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS

Drug-induced autoimmune disorders have been recognized for over 50 years. In 1945, Hoffman 60 reported drug-induced lupus (DIL) in a 19-year-old man receiving sulfadiazine who developed fever, skin rash, myalgia, nephritis, and an elevated sedimentation rate. Since then, over 70 drugs have been reported to cause a lupus-like illness. Recognition of the development of drug-induced autoimmune disorders and the development of alternative drugs to replace common offenders, such as procainamide and hydralazine, have resulted in a reduction of the incidence of DIL. With increasing use of agents that target cytokine and other immunologic pathways, however, it is possible that we may see more drug-induced autoimmune disorders in the future. This article discusses the common nonhematologic, drug-induced autoimmune disorders, including DIL, and some of the newer descriptions of autoimmune disorders believed to be related to the use of some biological agents.
5-18 GHz, 3 dB hybrid coupler

Design parameters and performance are described for a three-section 5–18 GHz, 3 dB hybrid coupler on a quartz substrate.
Blind-ending ureteral duplication : Cause of asymptomatic abdominal mass

Blind-ending ureteral duplication is a rare anomaly. The authors report on a 5-year-old girl who presented with an asymptomatic abdominal mass in which computerized axial tomography was used to make the diagnosis. The embryology of this anomaly is reviewed.
The electrocardiogram in the first two months of life.

Summary A series of seventy electrocardiograms employing twelve leads were taken on fifty-two normal infants in the first two months of life. Analysis of these records revealed that: 1. The mechanism, heart rate, P-R interval, QRS duration, duration of electrical systole, S-T junction, P and Q waves are essentially constant during this period. 2. The T wave has unique characteristics in the first few days of life, but conforms to the hitherto accepted standards of behavior after the end of the second week, the second week being a type of transition period. 3. The relative right ventricular predominance characteristic of the first two months undergoes marked diminution during the third week of life, a change most easily demonstrated by the augmented unipolar extremity leads. 4. The precordial complexes have four characteristic patterns, the appearance of which follows a definite developmental course. The data are presented and discussed in such a manner as to facilitate interpretation of electrocardiograms in the first two months of life.
Defect chemistry of nano-grained barium titanate films

Polycrystalline barium titanate thin films have been prepared with 100 ppm of B-site acceptor dopants Ca, Mg, and Mn via chemical solution deposition on base metal substrates. The films are fired in low pO2 atmospheres at 900 °C to prevent substrate oxidation. All dopant species produce low loss, space-charge free material without secondary reoxidation anneals. We note that the dopant concentrations required to compensate for oxygen non-stoichiometry are substantially greater than expected by equilibrium thermodynamic calculations. This observation is rationalized in the context of a composite oxygen defect model with differing reduction enthalpies for grain interiors and surfaces.
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes increase glomerular albumin permeability via hypohalous acid

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes increase glomerular albumin permeability via hypohalous acid. Acute glomerulonephritis is characterized by the presence of neutrophils within glomeruli and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and other ROS including hypohalous acids have been implicated in PMN mediated injury. To determine the role of specific ROS in PMN mediated glomerular injury, isolated rat glomeruli were incubated for 30 minutes at 37°C with H 2 O 2 , with H 2 O 2 and myeloperoxidase, or with activated PMNs. Scavengers of ROS were included in some experiments. PMNs were harvested from rat peritoneal cavity and activated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Glomerular albumin permeability (P albumin ) was calculated from the volume response to an oncotic gradient. P albumin of glomeruli incubated with H 2 O 2 (10 -3 or 10 -1 M) was not increased, while P albumin after incubation with H 2 O 2 and MPO was markedly increased (0.94 ± 0.004). P albumin after incubation with PMA, or with non-activated PMNs was not different from that of control glomeruli. P albumin of the glomeruli incubated with activated PMNs increased (0.85 ± 0.01, P albumin was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, catalase, or taurine (P albumin = 0.035 ± 0.06, -0.39 ± 0.10, 0.028 ± 0.06, respectively) and ameliorated by sodium azide (P albumin = 0.21 ± 0.03). In contrast, dimethyl sulfoxide did not prevent the increase in P albumin (P albumin = 0.92 ± 0.01). Our results show that the hypohalous acid derived from that of H 2 O 2 -MPO-halide system is capable of increasing P albumin . We conclude that hypohalous acid may be the primary mediator of the immediate increase in glomerular protein permeability induced by PMNs.
Racial group orientation and self‐concept: Examining the relationship using meta‐analysis

This empirical summary of 38 studies considers the relationship between racial group orientation and self‐concept of an individual. This issue represents a fundamental assumption of Afrocentric education practices, that the racial group orientation of the individual is related to the self‐esteem of the individual. The results demonstrate a small positive relationship (r = .138) beteen the degree to which a person has a positive orientation toward his or her own racial group and the person's positive view of self‐concept The implications that such findings have for views of communication, personal relationships, and afrocentrism are discussed.
A High Throughput Optical Accessory for Improved Measurement of the Infrared Spectra of Diffusely Scattering Samples: Description and Assessment

The performance of a high throughput optics bench (HTOB) was compared to the conventional collection optics of an FT-IR spectrometer. Samples were studied as pressed KBr wafers or self-supporting wafers. The former sample preparation suppresses scattering but limits adsorption studies for these samples; in this instance, the HTOB showed no distinct advantage over the straight transmission (STTR) optics. For samples exhibiting significant scattering, the modified optics showed a ~5/1 improvement in signal-to-noise for the transmission spectrum compared to that obtained in the conventional configuration. This offers a 25-fold reduction in data collection time for comparable spectra. This amelioration was graphically demonstrated in the study of adsorption of n-butylamine on titania. The relative contribution of the components of the HTOB to the improvement, the limitations of the accessory, and the range of applicability are discussed.
Field Trial of Transgenic Indian Mustard Plants Shows Enhanced Phytoremediation of Selenium-Contaminated Sediment

Three transgenic Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] lines were tested under field conditions for their ability to remove selenium (Se) from Se- and boron-contaminated saline sediment. The transgenic lines overexpressed genes encoding the enzymes adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase (APS), γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase (ECS), and glutathione synthetase (GS), respectively. The APS, ECS, and GS transgenic plants accumulated 4.3, 2.8, and 2.3-fold more Se in their leaves than wild type, respectively (P < 0.05). GS plants significantly tolerated the contaminated soil better than wild type, attaining an aboveground biomass/area almost 80% of that of GS plants grown on clean soil, compared to 50% for wild type plants. This is the first report showing that plants genetically engineered for phytoremediation can perform successfully under field conditions.
Microcirculation and artificial heart research.

: Small blood vessels may play a more important role in artificial heart (AH) recipients than ever suspected before. Observations of elevated total peripheral resistance, low hematocrit, reduced oncotic pressure, high circulating blood volume, and arterial pulsations with nonpulsatile devices require consideration of peripheral vascular control mechanisms. Establishment of microcirculatory parameters could help in adapting cardiac output to different metabolic states. AH research offers the opportunity to evaluate pure microvascular effects of drugs without any cardiac influences. Furthermore, drugs could be developed to alter microvascular and hence, hemodynamic conditions in patients with AH. However, further development of microcirculatory techniques is imperative in order to examine small blood vessels in large animals or patients.
Does bachelor's-level social work education impact students' knowledge and attitudes regarding substance-abusing clients?

This study compared 248 graduating seniors with 301 beginning juniors at 10 bachelor's-level social work programs in the Northeast concerning their knowledge and attitudes regarding working with substance-abusing clients. Graduating seniors demonstrated modestly higher levels of knowledge and only slightly more positive attitudes toward working with this population. In a multivariate analysis, however, having taken a substance abuse course in college or training in settings outside of school improved students' attitudes in this regard. The students' ethnic/racial identity and personal exposure to substance abuse through family, close friends, or self also had a significant impact on their knowledge and attitudes.
The valuation of options on coupon bonds

Abstract We derive simple closed-form expressions for European options on coupon bonds using the general equilibrium term-structure framework of Cox, Ingersoll, and Ross The properties of these options are very different from those implied by the Black-Scholes model For example, bond call and put values can move in the same direction as the value of the underlying bond changes This has important implications for hedging interest-rate risk with bond options. Furthermore, bond option values can be decreasing functions of interest-rate volatility as well as their time to expiration We also examine the properties of American bond options
On the equivalence between matrix riccati equations and Fredholm resolvents

It is shown that the solution to every matrix Riccati equation can be generated by the resolvent of a certain Fredholm integral operator and, conversely, this resolvent can be determined from the corresponding Riccati solution. This result leads to a computational scheme, based on initial-value methods, for solving a large class of Fredholm integral equations. A connection between this theory and the factorization of integral operators is also described.
Properties of fibers and films of a thiazole polymer: Poly(2-tetramethylene-4-phenylenethiazole)

Fiber formation of tetramethylenephenylenethiazole polymers has been investigated by melt-, wet-, and dry-spinning methods. The effects on fiber properties, the molecular weight of the polymer, the method of spinning, and the amount the fiber is drawn after spinning have been studied. The stability of the fibers to strong acids and alkali was also determined. The physical properties and the resistance to ultraviolet and gamma radiations of films of tetramethylenephenylenethiazole polymers were determined and compared with similar properties of some commercial films.