cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Powerful Medicines: The Benefits, Risks, and Costs of Prescription Drugs

This book is enriched by the author’s lifetime of research addressing the responsible use of medicines. Written for a lay audience, Dr. Avorn explains how medications are assessed, delving into technical minutiae such as p values and differences between controlled randomized trials and
Functional characterization of AtATM1, AtATM2, and AtATM3, a subfamily of Arabidopsis half-molecule ATP-binding cassette transporters implicated in iron homeostasis

The functional capabilities of one of the smallest subfamilies of ATP-binding cassette transporters from Arabidopsis thaliana, the AtATMs, are described. Designated AtATM1, AtAATM2, and AtATM3, these half-molecule ABC proteins are homologous to the yeast mitochondrial membrane protein ATM1 (ScATM1), which is clearly implicated in the export of mitochondrially synthesized iron/sulfur clusters. Yeast ATM1-deficient (atm1) mutants grow very slowly (have a petite phenotype), are respiration-deficient, accumulate toxic levels of iron in their mitochondria, and show enhanced compensatory high affinity iron uptake. Of the three Arabidopsis ATMs, AtATM3 bears the closest functional resemblance to ScATM1. Heterologously expressed AtATM3 is not only able to complement the yeast atm1 petite phenotype but is also able to suppress the constitutively high capacity for high affinity iron uptake associated with loss of the chromosomal copy of ScATM1, abrogate intra-mitochondrial iron hyperaccumulation, and restore mitochondrial respiratory function and cytochrome c levels. By comparison, AtATM1 only weakly suppresses the atm1 phenotype, and AtATM2 exerts little or no suppressive action but instead is toxic when expressed in this system. The differences between AtATM3 and AtATM1 are maintained after exchanging their target peptides, and these proteins as well as AtATM2 colocalize with the mitochondrial fluor MitoTracker Red when expressed in yeast as GFP fusions. Although its toxicity when heterologously expressed in yeast, except when fused with GFP, precludes the functional analysis of native AtATM2, a common function, mitochondrial export of Fe/S clusters or their precursors for the assembly of cytosolic Fe/S proteins, is inferred for AtATM3 and AtATM1.
Is photobleaching necessary for Raman imaging of bone tissue using a green laser

Raman microspectroscopy is widely used for musculoskeletal tissues studies. But the fluorescence background obscures prominent Raman bands of mineral and matrix components of bone tissue. A 532-nm laser irradiation has been used efficiently to remove the fluorescence background from Raman spectra of cortical bone. Photochemical bleaching reduces over 80% of the fluorescence background after 2 h and is found to be nondestructive within 40 min. The use of electron multiplying couple charge detector (EMCCD) enables to acquire Raman spectra of bone tissues within 1-5 s range and to obtain Raman images less than in 10 min.
An observer study comparing spot imaging regions selected by radiologists and a computer for an automated stereo spot mammography technique

We are developing an automated stereo spot mammography technique for improved imaging of suspicious dense regions within digital mammograms. The technique entails the acquisition of a full-field digital mammogram, automated detection of a suspicious dense region within that mammogram by a computer aided detection (CAD) program, and acquisition of a stereo pair of images with automated collimation to the suspicious region. The latter stereo spot image is obtained within seconds of the original full-field mammogram, without releasing the compression paddle. The spot image is viewed on a stereo video display. A critical element of this technique is the automated detection of suspicious regions for spot imaging. We performed an observer study to compare the suspicious regions selected by radiologists with those selected by a CAD program developed at the University of Michigan. True regions of interest (TROIs) were separately determined by one of the radiologists who reviewed the original mammograms, biopsy images, and histology results. We compared the radiologist and computer-selected regions of interest (ROIs) to the TROIs. Both the radiologists and the computer were allowed to select up to 3 regions in each of 200 images (mixture of 100 CC and 100 MLO views). We computed overlap indices (the overlap index is defined as the ratio of the area of intersection to the area of interest) to quantify the agreement between the selected regions in each image. The averages of the largest overlap indices per image for the 5 radiologist-to-computer comparisons were directly related to the average number of regions per image traced by the radiologists (about 50% for 1 region/image, 84% for 2 regions/image and 96% for 3 regions/image). The average of the overlap indices with all of the TROIs was 73% for CAD and 76.8%+/−10.0% for the radiologists. This study indicates that the CAD determined ROIs could potentially be useful for a screening technique that includes stereo spot mammographyimaging.
A central mesencephalic reticular formation projection to the supraoculomotor area in macaque monkeys

The central mesencephalic reticular formation is physiologically implicated in oculomotor function and anatomically interwoven with many parts of the oculomotor system's premotor circuitry. This study in Macaca fascicularis monkeys investigates the pattern of central mesencephalic reticular formation projections to the area in and around the extraocular motor nuclei, with special emphasis on the supraoculomotor area. It also examines the location of the cells responsible for this projection. Injections of biotinylated dextran amine were stereotaxically placed within the central mesencephalic reticular formation to anterogradely label axons and terminals. These revealed bilateral terminal fields in the supraoculomotor area. In addition, dense terminations were found in both the preganglionic Edinger-Westphal nuclei. The dense terminations just dorsal to the oculomotor nucleus overlap with the location of the C-group medial rectus motoneurons projecting to multiply innervated muscle fibers suggesting they may be targeted. Minor terminal fields were observed bilaterally within the borders of the oculomotor and abducens nuclei. Injections including the supraoculomotor area and oculomotor nucleus retrogradely labeled a tight band of neurons crossing the central third of the central mesencephalic reticular formation at all rostrocaudal levels, indicating a subregion of the nucleus provides this projection. Thus, these experiments reveal that a subregion of the central mesencephalic reticular formation may directly project to motoneurons in the oculomotor and abducens nuclei, as well as to preganglionic neurons controlling the tone of intraocular muscles. This pattern of projections suggests an as yet undetermined role in regulating the near triad.
Neonatal exendin-4 leads to protection from reperfusion injury and reduced rates of oxidative phosphorylation in the adult rat heart.

Purpose Glucagon like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone with multiple salutary cardiovascular effects. A short course of the GLP-1 analogue Exendin-4 (Ex-4) in the neonatal period prevents the development of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in a rat prone to obesity and diabetes. We sought to evaluate whether neonatal Ex-4 can exert the same effect in the normal rat heart, as well as whether Ex-4 could affect susceptibility to cardiac reperfusion injury.
Process monitoring for multiple count data using generalized linear model-based control charts

A procedure for monitoring multiple discrete counts is proposed. This procedure is based on the likelihood ratio statistic for Poisson counts when input variables are measurable. This statistic is the deviance residual resulting from a generalized linear model. The likelihood ratio statistic is derived and shown to be more effective than using a C chart on the raw counts.
RAPD Marker Diversity among Cultivated and Wild Soybean Accessions from Four Chinese Provinces

Wild soybean (Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc.) is the ancestor of cultivated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and is widely distributed in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and eastern Russia. In North America, modern soybean cultivars are derived from a very limited germplasm base. Use of more soybean introductions and G. soja lines in breeding programs to expand the genetic base of and incorporate specific traits into commercial soybean cultivars could be beneficial. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic variation between and within annual Glycine spedes and to determine geographical patterns of variation within and between the annual Glycine species. Forty G. max and 40 G. soja accessions from four Chinese provinces, Heilongjiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Shanxi, were surveyed with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs). The results indicated that the genetic distance (GD) within the G. soja group was larger than that within the G. max group, but smaller than that between the G. max and G. soja groups. Twenty-three more polymorphic RAPD fragments were detected within the G. soja group than within the G. max group. Nine fragments were present only in G. soja lines. On the basis of AMOVA analysis,18% of the total variation could be accounted for by species, 15% by populations within species, and 67% by individuals within populations. Cluster and principal component analyses completely separated the G. max and G. soja groups. The groups formed by cluster analyses generally reflected the geographical regions of origin. Glycine max and G. soja lines for the same province were not more genetically related than were accessions of different species from different provinces, but the GDs between the G. soja lines from Heilongjiang and the G. max accessions from all other provinces were less than for the G. soja accessions from any other provinces. The results of this study could be used for exploiting the genetic diversity in the two species in breeding programs and in sampling and managing germplasm collections.
The reproductive phenology of an Amazonian ant species reflects the seasonal availability of its nest sites

In saturated tropical ant assemblages, reproductive success depends on queens locating and competing for scarce nest sites. Little is known about how this process shapes the life histories of tropical ants. Here I investigate the relationship between nest site availability and an important life history trait, reproductive phenology, in the common Amazonian ant species Allomerus octoarticulatus. A. octoarticulatus is a plant-ant that nests in the hollow, swollen stem domatia on Cordia nodosa. I provide evidence that nest sites are limiting for A. octoarticulatus. Most queens produced by A. octoarticulatus colonies died before locating suitable host plants, and most queens that located hosts died before founding colonies, probably from intraspecific competition among queens for control of host plants. I further show that the reproductive phenology of A. octoarticulatus closely matches the seasonal availability of its nest sites, domatia-bearing C. nodosa saplings. Both the production and flight of A. octoarticulatus reproductives, and the number of C. nodosa saplings available for colonization by ants, peaked from March to May. There was correlative evidence that A. octoarticulatus colonies use temperature as a cue to synchronize their reproduction to the availability of C. nodosa saplings: both the production of reproductives by ant colonies and the number of C. nodosa saplings available for colonization were correlated with temperature, and not with rainfall. All of these results suggest that nest site limitation constrains the reproductive phenology of A. octoarticulatus.
Nuclear Receptors as Drug Targets: New Developments in Coregulators, Orphan Receptors and Major Therapeutic Areas

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ideal targets for drug discovery. Not only do they control a myriad of biological and disease processes, but they are also regulated by small lipophilic molecules that can be easily exchanged with a drug of choice. All 48 of the NR genes in the human genome have been identified, many of their structures have been solved and their ligands identified. Their mechanism of action has been elucidated and many of their target genes have been identified. Nonetheless, presentations at the recent conference sponsored by IBC Life Sciences indicated that, while many NRs already have marketable drugs, the latest tools in robotics, genomics, proteomics, and informatics are helping to identify more selective drugs.
Cholera toxin and wheat germ agglutinin conjugates as neuroanatomical probes: Their uptake and clearance, transganglionic and retrograde transport and sensitivity

Abstract Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugates of 6 different lectins and cholera toxin (CTHRP) were quantitatively compared with respect to: (a) their behavior at the injection site and (b) their ability to label, by means of transganglionic and retrograde axonal transport, axon terminals and neurons in the medulla of the rat subsequent to injections of each probe into the anterior two thirds of the tongue. HRP conjugates of wheat germ agglutinin (WGHRP) and CTHRP were more sensitive than any of the other lectin-HRP conjugates. Both were far superior to free-HRP (FHRP) in demonstrating these projections and CTHRP was the most sensitive transganglionic and retrograde probe. Additional experiments demonstrated that this superiority was not an artifact of the volume of material injected into the tongue nor of the injection site area or survival time selection. These experiments demonstrated further that CTHRP and WGHRP remain at the injection site approximately twice as long as FHRP and that their removal from or degradation in retrogradely labeled neurons requires approximately twice as much time as that required for FHRP. These observations, together with earlier studies from this laboratory, suggest the following conclusions: (1) CTHRP and WGHRP are superior in sensitivity to FHRP for studies of neuronal connectivity; and (2) HRP conjugates of ligands such as CTHRP and WGHRP are internalized, transported and/or degraded by mammalian neurons in a manner which differs from that of FHRP, a macromolecule for which neuronal plasma membrane ‘receptors’ are lacking.
Multiple probable situation: A study of a five one-armed bandit problem

Decision making of 14 adult Ss in a multiple-probable situation analogous to a gambling situation was studied. On each of 250 trials, S selected one of five probable alternatives. Occurrences of each alternative, Πi, were:.00,.125,.25,.25, and.50. The results indicate that (1) slight overshooting occurred to the most probable alternative, and undershooting to the less probable alternatives, (2) learning to select the most probable alternative resulted from Ss’ experiences in the situation, (3) significant effects of different sizes of trial sequences were noted, and (4) significant relationships between repetition of responses on Trial n + 1, if Πi occurred on Trial n, with total number of probable alternatives selected and total number of reinforcements significant.
Analysis of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport and Ca2+ ATPase enzymatic properties using mouse cardiac tissue homogenates.

Recent studies have focused on developing transgenic mouse models to explore the physiological roles of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium handling proteins. The goal of this study was to develop methodology to measure SR Ca2+ transport function and enzymatic properties of SR Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) in individual mouse hearts. We describe here the procedures to specifically measure SR Ca2+ uptake, the formation and decomposition of SERCA phosphoenzyme intermediate (E-P) in mouse cardiac homogenates. The specificity of SERCA enzymatic activity in cardiac homogenates was established by (a) the selective inhibition of SERCA enzyme by inhibitor-thapsigargin, and (b) comparison of the kinetic parameters of SERCA activity between homogenates and isolated microsomes. Here we show that the apparent affinity of SERCA for Ca2+ and ATP, the time to reach steady-state levels of E-P, and the rate of E-P decomposition (turnover rate of SERCA enzyme) are similar in homogenates and microsomes. These studies demonstrate that SERCA Ca2+ transport and enzymatic properties can be accurately measured in mouse cardiac tissue homogenates. Additionally, we show that frozen cardiac homogenates can be used without significant loss of enzymatic activity. In conclusion, we have developed and established the methods to employ tissue homogenates to study SR Ca2+ transport function in individual mouse hearts.
Turning observers into actors: Differential causal attributions as a function of “empathy”

Abstract After being instructed either to “empathize with the actor” or to “picture the events clearly,” two groups of observers read a story describing an actor's behavior, and then gave free-response explanations of that behavior, and rated the importance of personal and situational causal factors. The hypothesis that causal attributions of empathizing observers would be less personal and more situational than those of nonempathizing observers received strong support, both from subjects' free responses and from their scale ratings. These findings provide evidence for an information-processing explanation of actor/observer attributional differences. Some practical applications of increasing the situationality of observers' causal attributions are discussed. The results also suggest a novel operational definition of “empathy”; and are interpreted as evidence for the effectiveness of “interpersonal simulations”.
SU-E-T-342: Evaluation of Volumetric Change and Dosimetric Discrepancy with Daily Cone-Beam CT for Patients with Head-And-Neck Cancer

Purpose: To evaluate volumetric changes in the target and critical organs during IMRTtreatment for patients with head‐and‐neck cancer, and investigate discrepancy between the planned doses and doses of the day using daily CBCTs.Methods: Four head‐and‐neck patients with 150 daily kilo‐voltage CBCTs were selected for this study. For each patient, CBCTs were rigidly registered with the planning CT based on the bony structures. Contours of the target and critical organs were then deformed from the planning CT to each CBCT using a commercial deformable registration algorithm. After rigid imaging registration, the planning dose matrix was mapped to the corresponding CBCTimages. The doses of the day to the deformed structures were compared with the planned doses. Results: Significant volume shrinkage in PTV was observed with a mean volume of 27.8 ± 8.1cc (range: 20.7cc – 38.4cc). The volume variations were 2.6 ± 2.4cc (range: 0.2cc – 5.9cc) for the right parotid, and 4.0 ± 4.8cc (range: 0.4cc – 11.0cc) for the left parotid. The differences in D95 between the dose of the day and planned dose were 0.4 ± 1.2% for the GTV and 1.8 ± 2.4% for the PTV. The difference in the mean dose for right parotid and left parotid were from −9.3% to 24.3% (mean 8.4%) and from −11.4% to 26.1% (mean 8.7%), respectively. The average mean dose variations were 1.9 ± 1.2% for the spinal cord, 2.3 ± 3.3% for the mandible, and 2.6 ± 3.7% for the larynx.Conclusions: No significant changes in daily dose coverage of the tumor were observed despite of tumor shrinkage and anatomic changes. The daily mean dose changes in the parotid glands were greater than other sensitive structures. With deformable contours from the planning CT, daily CBCT along with rigid dose transformation can provide quantitative dose guidance for re‐planning.
EFFECT OF IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK AND REVISION ON PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF OPEN‐ENDED SENTENCE‐COMPLETION ITEMS

Registered examinees for the GRE® General Test answered open-ended sentence-completion items. For half of the items, participants received immediate feedback on the correctness of their answers and up to two opportunities to revise their answers. A significant feedback-and-revision effect was found. Participants were able to correct many of their initial incorrect answers, resulting in higher revised scores. In addition, the reliability of the revised scores and their correlation with GRE verbal scores were higher. The possibility of using revision scores as a basis for measuring potential future learning is discussed.
Stimulation of human erythrocyte K-Cl cotransport and protein phosphatase type 2A by n-ethylmaleimide: role of intracellular Mg++.

An increase in the activity of membrane-associated protein phosphatase type 1 (mb-PP1) is associated with stimulation of erythrocyte K-Cl cotransport (KCC). We have recently proposed that membrane-associated protein phosphatase type 2A (mb-PP2A) is also involved in KCC regulation by cell swelling (Bize et al., 1999. Am. J. Physiol. 277:C899–C912). We used two protein phosphatase inhibitors, okadaic acid (OA) and calyculin A (CalA), and two KCC activating treatments, n-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and Mg i ++-depletion, and determined KCC transport activity and mb-PP1 and mb-PP2A activities. OA, an inhibitor of erythrocyte mb-PP2A, partially prevents stimulation of KCC activity by NEM but not by Mg i ++-depletion. CalA, an inhibitor of both mb-PP1 and mb-PP2A prevents stimulation of KCC activity by both treatments. NEM and Mg i ++-depletion inhibit mb-PP1 activity, suggesting that activation of KCC can take place in the absence of mb-PP1 activation. Mb-PP2A activity is stimulated in NEM-treated cells but not in Mg i ++-depleted cells. In NEM-treated cells, Mg i ++-depletion inhibits both KCC and mb-PP2A. In Mg i ++-depleted cells, NEM does not stimulate KCC or mb-PP2A. The strong correlation between KCC stimulation and mb-PP2A stimulation provides further support to the idea that mb-PP2A plays an important role in KCC regulation. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that KCC regulation involves at least two distinguishable phosphorylation sites.
Anatomical evidence for the existence of roots on potato tubers and stolons

Roots on potato tubers and stolons displayed the normal root anatomy which consisted of a central vascular cylinder surrounded by endodermis with Casparian strips, the cortex and epidermis. Tuber roots appear to initiate from the parenchyma cells adjacent to the vascular tissue. Shoot tips were similar to normal apical meristems. These observations support our research demonstrating the growth of functional roots from potato tubers and stolons.
Mixed-Discrete Fuzzy Multiobjective Programming for Engineering Optimization Using Hybrid Genetic Algorithm

Although much attention has been focused on the development and applications of fuzzy optimization, multiobjective programming, and mixed-discrete optimization methods separately, fuzzy multiobjective optimization problems in mixed-discrete design space have not been addressed in the literature. It is mainly because of the lack of mature and robust theories of mixed-discrete and multiobjective optimization. In most practical applications, designers often encounter problems involving imprecise or fuzzy information, multiple objectives, and mixed-discrete design variables. A new method is presented in which the fuzzy λ formulation and game theory techniques are combined with a mixed-discrete hybrid genetic algorithm for solving mixed-dixcrete fuzzy multiobjective programming problems. Three example problems, dealing with the optimal designs of a two-bar truss, a conical convective spine, and a 25-bar truss, demonstrate that the method can be flexibly and effectively applied to various kinds of engineering design problems to obtain more realistic and satisfactory results in an imprecise environment. Nomenclature D = fuzzy feasible solution domain d =f avorable search direction Fiti(X) = fitness function fi(X) = ith objective function f max i = upper bound of ith objective function f min i =l ower bound of ith objective function G j = allowable interval of the constraint function g j g j(X) = jth inequality constraint function k = number of objective functions M = size of the population m = number of inequality constraints n = total number of design variables nd = number of discrete design variables nq = number of discrete design variables with equal spacing X = design vector X c = centroid of the composite polygon Xw =v ertex with the lowest fitness value xi = ith design variable µD(X) = membership function of the design vector µfi(X) = membership function of the ith objective µgj(X) = membership function of the jth constraint
Wave Form and Amplification of Corona Discharge

Corona forms on a round wire or cable when the voltage is raised to such a point that the voltage gradient near the wire is sufficiently high to break down the insulating properties of the air. The larger the wire the higher the voltage to cause corona. The corona is luminous and ionizes the air, giving it electrical conductiuity; thus corona has the effect of giving the conductor a larger diameter; and since a higher voltage is required for corona on a larger wire, a state of equilibrium is reached and corona is an equilibrium phenomenon not necessarily attended by spark-over. Since corona causes conductivity it is a cause of leakage and consequently of loss of power. It also increases temperature and decomposes the air into chemical constituents which are harmful to insulation. Engineers therefore have usually regarded corona as a dangerous phenomenon and one to be avoided by proper design. Transmission lines, for example, for the most part are designed so that their operating voltage is well below that at which corona would be formed on the conductors. Two suggestions have been made to mnake use of the properties of corona. The first is as a protective device for transmission lines. Since the coronais conducting and dissipates energy, it has been proposed to operate transmission lines relatively close to the coronaforming voltage. Whent abnormal rises of voltage due to lightning or other causes occur, corona begins, the air becomes conducting, and the high voltagre relieved.
Electronic properties of graphite nanotubules from galvanomagnetic effects.

We have measured the magnetoresistance (MR) and Hall coefficient of state-of-the-art graphite nanotubule bundles. The apparent Hall coefficient is positive in the temperature and field ranges studied. At low temperatures, the conductivity \ensuremath{\sigma} shows two dimensional weak localization behavior and the MR is negative; above 60 K and MR is positive and \ensuremath{\sigma} increases approximately linearly with temperature, which is mainly due to an increase in the carrier concentration. The results show that a bundle of graphite nanotubules may best be described as a semimetal.
Seismic Performance of Steel Plate Shear Walls Considering Two Different Design Philosophies of Infill Plates. II: Assessment of Collapse Potential

AbstractAssessment of collapse potential and seismic performance was conducted for steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) having infill plates designed per two different philosophies. This assessment was ...
A Linear Array For Covariance Differencing Via Hyperbolic SVD

We consider a problem pertaining to bearing estimation in unknown noise using the covariance differencing approach, and propose a linear array of processors which exhibits a linear speed-up with respect to a uniprocessor system. Our solution hinges on a new canonic matrix factorization which we term the hyperbolic singular value decomposition. The parallel algorithm for hyperbolic SVD based bearing estimation is an adaptation of a well known biorthogonalization technique developed by Hestenes. Parallel implementations of the algorithm are based on earlier works on one-sided Jacobi methods. It turns out that strategies for parallelization of Jacobi methods are equally well applicable for computing the hyperbolic singular value decomposition.
Nutrition and melanoma prevention

Melanoma has continued to rise in incidence despite public efforts to promote sun protection behaviors. Because sunscreen use does not completely prevent skin cancer induced by ultraviolet radiation, additional chemopreventive methods for protecting against and reversing the effects of ultraviolet photodamage need evaluation. Recent years have brought increased interest in dietary factors, such as natural botanicals and vitamins, for the prevention of melanoma. This contribution provides a narrative review of the relevant, nutrition-related literature found by searching the keywords "melanoma chemoprevention," "nutrition and melanoma," "dietary botanicals and melanoma prevention," "green tea and melanoma," "vitamin D and melanoma," and "vitamin E and melanoma" in the PubMed database. Although randomized controlled trials of humans are lacking, basic science and epidemiologic studies show promising benefits of many natural products in chemoprevention for melanoma. Future studies, hopefully, will yield concrete answers and clarify the role of commonly available dietary nutrients in melanoma chemoprevention.
A spectroscopic and computational study on the effects of methyl and phenyl substituted phenanthroline ligands on the electronic structure of Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes containing 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide.

[Re(CO)3(CNx)(L)]+, where CNx = 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide, forms complexes with L = 1,10-phenanthroline (1), 4-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (3), 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4), 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5) and 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (6). The metal–ligand-to-ligand charge transfer transition (MLLCT) absorption bands follow the series: 3 (27 800 cm−1) > 1, 2, 4 and 5 (27 500 cm−1) > 6 (26 600 cm−1). Density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimizations reveal elongated Re–N (L) distances of 2.28 and 2.27 A for 5 and 6, respectively, compared to 2.23 A for 1–4. The reversible reduction potentials (E1/2(red)) of 1–4 are linearly dependent on the B3LYP calculated LUMO energies. Time-dependent (TD) DFT and conductor-like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) calculated singlet excited states deviate by 700 cm−1 or less from the experimental absorption maxima and aid in the spectral assignments. The 3MLLCT emitting state energies are within 900 cm−1 of the experimental 77 K emission energies for 1–6. The 77 K emission energies, E1/2(red), and the room temperature emission quantum yields (ϕLUMOem) decrease in the order 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 whereas ELUMO and the room temperature emission energies follow the opposite trend. The emission lifetimes (τem) decrease in the order 3 > 4 > 2 > 1 > 5 with 3 having the highest emission lifetime values of 26.9 µs at room temperature and 384 µs at 77 K and complex 5 having the lowest emission lifetimes of 4.6 µs at room temperature and 61 µs and 77 K.
Some effects of trichloroethylene on mouse lungs and livers.

Repeated administration of trichloroethylene (TCE) to mice by either i.p. injection or by inhalation increased the activity of hepatic microsomal NADPH cytochrome-c reductase. The NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity in microsomes isolated from lungs of animals treated with TCE by inhalation was decreased relative to controls (untreated animals). TCE inhalation was associated with pathologic changes in lungs, but not in livers of the treated animals. The duration of exposure is probably an important factor however, since animals exposed for only 1 hr per day exhibited neither pathologic changes in the lungs nor an alteration of enzyme activity. These findings indicate that inhalation of TCE, without prior treatment with inducers, can enhance activity of the hepatic mixed function oxidase system. The reduced activity of the pulmonary mixed function oxidase system in animals that inhaled TCE may reflect injury to the lungs.
Effect of body mass index on functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty in ambulatory overweight or obese women with osteoarthritis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and functional status after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in ambulatory overweight or obese women with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: The study included 78 women who underwent elective primary TKA for osteoarthritis. Age, height, body weight and BMI were recorded. Functional status was evaluated using the Turkish version of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to evaluate performance-based functional assessment. Results: Mean age of the patients was 66.5±5.8 (range: 56 to 79) years and mean duration of symptoms was 9.56±7.1 years. Body mass index was 30 or higher in 47 patients (60%) and between 25 and 29 in 31 (40%). Body mass index did not correlate with the KOOS or TUG test. Postoperative KOOS scores showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.01). Postoperative TUG test values showed significant improvement (p<0.01). Conclusion: Body mass index had no negative effect on functional recovery and mobility in the ambulatory overweight or obese women undergoing TKA. Physical function improved significantly after knee arthroplasty.
Clinician use of a pediatric cardiology database on a microcomputer

A pediatric cardiology database was designed and implemented on a microcomputer using the MEDUS/A (Harvard School of Public Health) database management system. This database has potential utility in the areas of clinical research, patient management, and administration. Initial uses of the system include a study of ventricular septal defects, and automation of pacemaker clinic and cardiac catheterization laboratory records. Clinicians with little or no programming experience can alter the database structure and tailor complicated applications to their particular needs. Preliminary evaluation of the system is presented.
Relatedness and waking suggestibility.

Abstract Volunteering pairs of Ss took 9 waking tests (WT) of hypnotic susceptibility as one part of a larger study. Pairs included siblings, friends, and strangers. Concordance correlations from 20 sibling pairs were positive for 7 of the 9 WT, 2 significantly so. For 19 pairs of strangers, correlations were insignificant, 5 positive, 4 negative. These data reopen nature-nurture questions about the origins of individual differences in hypnotic aptitude. Concordance data from 27 female friend pairs and 10 male friend pairs are confusing and are not interpreted here. For 20 pairs of cross-sex friends, however, 7 of 9 correlations were negative, 1 significant, and 2 approaching significance. 6 of 9 concordance correlations from 16 spouse pairs were also negative, but none was significant.
Acute Liver Failure in an Obstetric Patient: Challenge of Critical Care for 1 Patient With 2 Subspecialty Needs

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare and life-threatening disease associated with a defect in fatty acid metabolism in the fetus that causes liver disease in the mother. Prompt diagnosis and management are critical to the outcome of both the mother and the fetus and require involvement of several medical specialties, including hepatology, obstetrics, and, possibly, critical care. The included case study describes a woman with acute fatty liver of pregnancy decompensating to acute liver failure complicated by encephalopathy, cerebral edema, and intracranial hypertension. Subsequent management of these conditions, including the woman's progression to liver transplant, is provided.
Complementary Learning Systems in the Brain: A Connectionist Approach to Explicit and Implicit Cognition and Memory

Freud's ideas about the role of non-conscious processes relates to contemporary thinking about explicit and implicit memory, and his early efforts to understand cognition and behavior in terms of neural mechanisms share several themes in common with contemporary connectionist models. The present paper presents a connectionist perspective of the neural basis of learning and memory and their organization in the brain. The central claim of the article is that the neocortex and many other forebrain learning systems learn slowly so as to become sensitive to the overall structure of experience. Slow learning is crucial for sensitivity to this structure and for organizing specific information with other information in a structured way. The hippocampus and related areas in the medial temporal lobes complement these slow learning systems by providing a mechanism that allows the rapid learning of arbitrary conjunctions of elements that go together to make up an episodic memory.
Political will and international collaborative frameworks in infectious diseases

Summary The last few decades have been marked by a rapid expansion in the world?s population, along with an increasingly dynamic mobility of individuals. This accelerated global inter-connectedness enabled microorganisms to reach virtually any location worldwide more rapidly and efficiently than ever before, reshaping the global dynamics of pathogens. As a result, a local infectious disease outbreak anywhere in the world may almost instantaneously assume global dimensions, and should therefore be considered a global priority. The history of several infectious diseases illustrates that in addition to prophylactic and therapeutic medical interventions, the interplay of social, economic, and political factors makes a fundamental contribution to the outcome of infectious disease outbreaks. Furthermore, this multi- and cross-disciplinary interconnectedness is a key determinant of the outcome of efforts to eradicate vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. A combined framework that incorporates teachings provided by previous outbreaks, and integrates medical and biomedical interventions with contributions made by social, economic, and political factors, emerges as vital requirement of successful global public health initiatives.
Superstitions of George Bartisch

George Bartisch was a 16th century German ophthalmologist who published the first ophthalmology textbook in the vernacular for laymen and non-university-trained practitioners. His treatments and understanding of diseases rested firmly on Greek tradition, but he also was very involved in the superstitions of the day. This essay looks at the man and his mores. Bartisch believed that much of the suffering of patients had to do with sins they had committed, and that the devil was the active force in the world inflicting this punishment. Often, he believed, witches would carry out the devil's hexes, in the form of either hot or cold witchcraft. Bartisch also felt that astrology played a major role in the outcome of surgery. Because of that he practiced only during certain astrological signs, and in the proper waxing and waning phases of the moon. He also linked many common problems to sins. For example, presbyopia was presented as due to excessive use of alcohol. Glasses were to be avoided because he felt they destroyed vision in themselves. Despite these superstitions and misconceptions, Bartisch was an honorable professional and his books give insight into the making of a good ophthalmologist.
Disease-parasitoid relationships in natural populations of Lymantria dispar [Lep.: Lymantriidae] in the northeastern United States

ImmatureLymantria dispar L. were collected from 6 geographically distinct populations over 2 years to determine correlations between parasitoid and disease incidences. Incidence of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus disease (NPV) was found to be positively correlated with incidences of the parasitoidsApanteles melanoscelus (Ratzeburg) andParasetigena silvestris (Robineau-Desvoidy).
Severe Paroxysmal Hypertension (Pseudopheochromocytoma) Understanding the Cause and Treatment

Severe, symptomatic paroxysmal hypertension always generates suspicion of a pheochromocytoma, a catecholamine-secreting tumor. However, most patients with this disorder do not have this tumor and their condition remains undiagnosed and ineffectively treated. This case series, summarizing the course of 21 such patients, suggests a cause and an effective treatment approach. All 21 patients insisted that the paroxysms were not related to stress or emotional distress, initially discouraging consideration of a link to emotions. Nevertheless, with careful psychosocial interviewing, the disorder could be attributed to emotions patients were not aware of, and, therefore, unable to report. Such emotions were related either to previous severe emotional trauma or to a general tendency to keep distressful emotions out of awareness. With treatment based on this understanding, further paroxysms were eliminated in 13 (62%) of 21 patients. α- plus β-blockade was used, combined, when necessary, with an antidepressant agent, with or without an anxiolytic agent. In 3 cases, the disorder was cured with psychotherapy alone. Because the presenting symptoms are physical rather than emotional, patients present to internists and primary care physicians rather than to psychotherapists. For this reason, more awareness of this disorder in the medical community is needed.
Femtosecond holographic interferometry for studies of semiconductor ablation using vanadium dioxide film

A recording medium based on the phenomenon of phase transition from semiconductor to metal is applied to holography in the femtosecond time domain. The results of holographic interferometry studies of semiconductor ablation are presented.
Modelling and system analysis of multistation closed-loop conveyors†

SUMMARY A discrete-flow, closed-loop conveyor system with multiple loading and unloading stations is considered. An inherent capability of such a system is that certain cyclic variations in the input and output flow rates can be accommodated through the storage feature of the closed loop. The system is reduced to an equivalent one-station system for which the balance of flow is described by a difference equation. The solution of this equation yields feasibility conditions as well as guidelines for conveyor design optimization and for conveyor operation. A numerical example solution for a three-station conveyor is included.
Biosocial Suffering: Order and Illness in Urban West Africa

In the medical literature in the United States and France, sickle cell trait (HbAS) is generally described as a benign condition. Curiously, however, people in Dakar, Senegal, and women in particular, complain of symptoms attributed to this trait, which most doctors in this part of West Africa diagnose as a moderate form of sickle cell anemia—a professional tendency that is now beginning to change. This article draws on ethnographic materials to understand Senegalese sickle cell trait suffering as an instance of social suffering mediated not only through cultural and biological forms, but also through cultural and biological ‘options’ to be sick. It examines the interplay of social distresses caused by sickle cell trait, and disease, diagnoses. It concludes that suffering attributed to sickle cell trait consists of a complex nexus marked by economic privations, social practices that are specifically gendered as female, religious fatalism and various ecological and environmental stressors. Theoretically, this article joins the concept of social suffering to that of biosociality. The resultant assemblage is ‘biosocial suffering’ whereby women with sickle cell trait articulate and manifest social and physical pains through the biological entity of this recessive allele.
Optimization of focusing through scattering media using the continuous sequential algorithm.

The ability to control the propagation of light through scattering media is essential for atmospheric optics, astronomy, biomedical imaging, and remote sensing. The optimization of focusing light through a scattering medium is of particular interest for the case of highly scattering materials. Optical wavefront beam-shaping plays a critical role in optimizing such a propagation; however, an enormous field of adjustable parameters makes the overall task complicated. Here, we propose and experimentally evaluate several variations on the standard continuous sequential algorithm (CSA) that hold a promise of revealing new, faster, and more efficient optimization algorithms for selecting an optical wavefront to focus light through a scattering medium. We demonstrate that the order in which pixels are chosen in the CSA can lead to a two-fold decrease in the number of iterations required to reach a given enhancement.
Dynamic reserve site selection

We analyze the problem of choosing sites through time to include in a network of biological reserves for species conservation. When sites cannot all be protected immediately, and excluded sites are threatened by development, planning should factor in both expected biodiversity benefits of sites and development risk. We formulate this problem as a stochastic dynamic integer-programming problem. We find that the timing of selections is critical; conservation budgets available up front yield significantly greater biodiversity protection. We also compare results using optimal and heuristic algorithms. The theory is applied to vertebrate and development threat data from southwestern California.
The effectiveness of a topical antibiotic irrigating solution in a model of staphylococcal keratitis after lamellar keratectomy

Abstract PURPOSE: To create a model of Staphylococcus aureus keratitis after lamellar keratectomy; to assess the toxicity of an antibiotic irrigating solution on the corneal stromal bed; and to test the chemotherapeutic effectiveness of a topical antibiotic, both alone and with an antibiotic-containing irrigating solution in preventing S. aureus keratitis after lamellar keratectomy. METHODS: The right eye of each of 38 rabbits were used in this study. In 18 eyes, a lamellar flap was created with a microkeratome, and an inoculum of S. aureus (either 1,000, 5,000, or 50,000 CFUs) was instilled under each flap; the eyes were examined for signs of infection and inflammation at 24 and 48 hours. In another five eyes, a lamellar flap was created in the same manner and the stromal bed was irrigated with 0.3% ofloxacin; the eyes were assessed for ocular inflammatory changes and evidence of crystalline deposits. Finally, in each of 15 additional eyes, 1,000 CFUs of S. aureus were instilled under a lamellar flap to create experimental infectious keratitis. The keratitis was treated according to three regimens: irrigation of the stromal bed with sterile balanced salt solution; irrigation of the stromal bed with 0.3% ofloxacin, followed by application of topical ofloxacin four times a day; application of topical ofloxacin only, four times a day. Eyes were examined for infection and ocular inflammatory changes at 24 and 48 hours. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus keratitis can consistently be produced under the stromal flap by inoculation of relatively few organisms. Irrigation of the stromal bed with commercial-strength topical ofloxacin does not appear to be toxic to the stromal bed, with no evidence of crystalline precipitates of the antibiotic. In our model of infectious keratitis after lamellar keratectomy, both topical ofloxacin alone and the combination of topical ofloxacin and irrigation of the stromal bed with 0.3% ofloxacin were effective at preventing S. aureus keratitis. However, the combined treatment of antibiotic irrigation plus topical antibiotic was more effective at preventing inflammation than topical ofloxacin alone. CONCLUSIONS: In this model of S. aureus keratitis after lamellar keratectomy, irrigation of the stromal bed with antibiotic plus topical antibiotic appears to be both safe and effective for preventing infection.