cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Black Esophagus” and Gastric Volvulus Following Slipped Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band

To review the entity "black esophagus" and sequela of a slipped laparoscopic adjustable band. The patient's history, physical examination, imaging, and endoscopic findings were reviewed. Detailed review of pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, management, and natural history was conducted. "Black esophagus," also known as acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), is a rare condition resulting in black discoloration of the mid to distal esophagus with less than a hundred reported cases. It has not been previously documented in bariatric surgery or following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. The volvulus was reduced at surgery, and the esophageal changes resolved without sequela. "Black esophagus" is an acute, ominous-appearing condition with a spectrum ranging from superficial mucosal disease to transmural involvement with perforation. Fortunately, esophageal resection is rarely required.
Security in Wireless Networks

It is not feasible to discuss security in wireless networks without a thorough understanding of the working of wireless networks. In fact, as we first set out to teach the computer network infrastructure in Chap. 1 in order to teach network security, we are going, in the first parts of this chapter, to discuss the wireless network infrastructure. As was the case in Chap. 1, it is not easy to discuss a network infrastructure in a few paragraphs and expect a reader to feel comfortable enough to deal with the security issues based on the infrastructure. So, although we are promising the reader to be brief, our discussion of the wireless infrastructure may seem long to some readers and sometimes confusing to others. Bear with us as we dispose of the necessary theory for a good understanding of wireless security. A reader with a firm understanding of wireless infrastructure can skip Sects. 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, and 18.4.
Ice Effects: Federal Worksite Non- Enforcement of United States Immigration Laws, 2007-2008

Media reports during the second term of U.S. President George W. Bush gave the distinct impression that government agencies were cracking down on illegal immigration by raiding businesses suspected of employing illegal workers. At the same time, the U.S. Congress, along with many smaller political subdivisions, passed new or amended existing immigration laws; and federal and local police agencies entered into agreements to share enforcement powers in detaining or arresting suspected illegal immigrants. Despite the publicity of these workplace raids and the subsequent Congressional reaction, federal worksite enforcement of U.S. immigration laws has largely been superficial. From the start of 2007 through the end of 2008, armed officers of ICE raided only eighty-six workplaces. Less than a quarter of the raided employers were involved in the nation’s critical infrastructure; and employees, not employers, were the overwhelming majority of those arrested in raids. In addition, the raids were criticized for exhibiting institutional racial bias, reflected in the fact that a disproportionate number of those employers that were arrested had minority surnames. ICE had few resources to devote to these cases, and most of the raids were at restaurants or construction sites, rather than employers whose businesses affect homeland security. Overwhelmingly, the arrestees were undocumented. There is no known nexus between the scope of unauthorized working or hiring and workplace raids. It is far from clear that the tenfold increase in worksite raids since the DHS was created has mitigated either illegal immigration or bolstered employer compliance with immigration laws.
Improve Prefetch Performance by Splitting the Cache Replacement Queue

The performance of a prefetch cache is dependent on both the prefetch technique and the cache replacement policy. Both these algorithms execute independently of each other, but they share a data structure - the cache replacement queue. This paper shows that even with a simple prefetch technique, there is an increase in hit rate when the LRU replacement queue is split into two equal sized queues. A more significant performance improvement is possible with a sophisticated prefetch technique and by splitting the queue unequally.
Hydration of alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag

The hydration of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) at 25 °C in controlled pH environments was investigated during 28 days of hydration. GGBFS was activated by NaOH, and it was found that the rate of reaction depends on the pH of the starting solution. The main product was identified as C-S-H, and, in the pastes with high pH, hydrotalcite was observed at later stages of hydration. The pH of the mixing solution should be higher than pH 11.5 to effectively activate the hydration of GGBFS. As deduced from very low electrical conductivity measurements, GGBFS pastes had very tortuous and disconnected pores. The effect of the pH of the aqueous solution on the composition, microstructure and properties of alkali-activated GGBFS pastes are also discussed.
Evaluating High Impact Papers: Are We Missing Something?

The bibliographic science papers with high citations rates are often used as an indication of the science impact of an observatory. These high impact papers are presented as examples of the best science being done with an observatory’s data. But, is the number of citations by itself a good indicator of the scientific impact of the paper, and is impact a good indicator of the scientific impact of the observatory? In this paper we will present results from a recent study of Chandra high impact papers and suggest some alternative methods for identifying such papers.This work has been supported by NASA under contract NAS 8-03060 to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for operation of the Chandra X-ray Center.
Party Autonomy and the Presumption Against Extraterritoriality

What happens when contracting parties attempt to use a choice-of-law clause to bring about the extraterritorial application of statutes that would ordinarily be subject to the presumption against extraterritoriality? Should the choice-of-law clause trump the presumption? Or should the presumption take precedence over the clause? This symposium Essay aspires to answer these questions. It begins by surveying the ability of parties under existing doctrine to utilize choice-of-law clauses to bring about the extraterritorial application of state statutes. Next, it lays out a framework for thinking through the relationship between the presumption and the principle of party autonomy. It then utilizes this framework to determine how courts should resolve conflicts between the two doctrines in the context of state statutes that are silent or ambiguous as to their geographic scope. The Essay concludes by discussing the implications of this analysis for state common law and for federal statutes.
The Relationship of Candida albicans with the Oral Bacterial Microbiome in Health and Disease

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen colonizing the oropharyngeal, esophageal, and gastrointestinal mucosa in most healthy humans. In immunocompromised hosts, this fungal organism can cause mucosal candidiasis in these sites. C. albicans also causes fungemia, a serious consequence of cancer cytotoxic chemotherapy, which is thought to develop from fungal translocation through compromised mucosal barriers. Changes in endogenous bacterial population size or composition as well as changes in the host environment can transform fungal commensals into opportunistic pathogens in the upper and lower GI tract. Pioneering studies from our group have shown that a ubiquitous oral commensal of the mitis streptococcal group (Streptococcus oralis) has a mutualistic relationship with C. albicans, with C. albicans enabling streptococcal biofilm growth at mucosal sites, and S. oralis facilitating invasion of the oral and esophageal mucosa by C. albicans. In these studies, we used a cortisone-induced immunosuppression mouse model. More recently, the development of a novel mouse chemotherapy model has allowed us to examine the interactions of C. albicans with the endogenous bacterial microbiota in the oral and small intestinal mucosa, two sites adversely affected by cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this model, oral inoculation with C. albicans causes severe dysbiosis in the mucosal bacterial composition in both sites. We also found that antibiotic treatment ameliorates invasion of the oral mucosa but aggravates dissemination through the intestinal mucosa. In this chapter, we discuss work from our laboratory and others examining the relationships of C. albicans with oral bacteria and their role in mucosal homeostasis or disease.
Grammatical Ability Predicts Relative Action Naming Impairment in Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Background: Findings from several studies have indicated that participants with nfvPPA and participants with svPPA exhibit different patterns on action and object naming tasks, while other recent s...
PHENIX measurements of 3D emission source functions in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV

A state-of-the-art 3D source imaging technique is used to extract the 3D two-pion source function in central and mid-central Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV. The source function indicates a previously unresolved non-Gaussian tail in the directions of the pion pair transverse momentum (out) and along the beam (long). Model comparisons give robust estimates for several characteristics of the emission source, including its transverse size, its mean proper breakup time $\tau$ and its emission duration $\Delta\tau$. These estimates are incompatible with the predictions for a first order phase transition. However, they point to significant relative emission times which could result from a crossover phase transition.
Solution-phase p-type doping of highly enriched semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes for thermoelectric thin films

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are attractive materials for next-generation energy-harvesting technologies, including thermoelectric generators, due to their tunable opto-electronic properties and high charge carrier mobilities. Controlling the Fermi level within these unique 1D nanomaterials is often afforded by charge transfer interactions between SWCNTs and electron or hole accepting species. Conventional methods to dope SWCNT networks typically involve the diffusion of molecular redox dopant species into solid-state thin films, but solution-phase doping could potentially provide routes and/or benefits for charge carrier transport, scalability, and stability. Here, we develop a methodology for solution-phase doping of polymer-wrapped, highly enriched semiconducting SWCNTs using a p-type charge transfer dopant, F4TCNQ. This allows doped SWCNT inks to be cast into thin films without the need for additional post-deposition doping treatments. We demonstrate that the introduction of the dopant at varying stages of the SWCNT dispersion process impacts the ultimate thermoelectric performance and observe that the dopant alters the polymer selectivity for semiconducting vs metallic SWCNTs. In contrast to dense semiconducting polymer films, where solution-phase doping typically leads to disrupted morphologies and poorer TE performance than solid-state doping, thin films of solution-doped s-SWCNTs perform similarly to their solid-state doped counterparts. Interestingly, our results also suggest that solution-phase F4TCNQ doping leads to fully ionized and dimerized F4TCNQ anions in solid-state films that are not observed in films doped with F4TCNQ after deposition. Our results provide a framework for the application of solution-phase doping to a broad array of high-performance SWCNT-based thermoelectric materials and devices that may require high-throughput deposition techniques.
Minimizing false positives in ion mobility spectrometry by changing the field or pressure

A method is proposed for minimizing false positives in ion mobility spectrometry by changing the value of $$ E/N $$ , the ratio of the electrostatic field strength to the gas number density. The feasibility of this method is demonstrated by simulation of the mobilities of 2,4,6-trinitrotolune and 2-methyl-3,5-dinitrophenol in helium. The zero-field mobilities of these ions are nearly the same, while their dependences upon E/N are so different that the ions can be distinguished by modest changes in E/N at 473 K and by somewhat larger changes at 300 K.
Cone-Probe Rake Design and Calibration for Supersonic Wind Tunnel Models

A series of experimental investigations were conducted at the NASA Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT) to calibrate cone-probe rakes designed to measure the flow field on 1-2% scale, high-speed wind tunnel models from Mach 2.15 to 2.4. The rakes were developed from a previous design that exhibited unfavorable measurement characteristics caused by a high probe spatial density and flow blockage from the rake body. Calibration parameters included Mach number, total pressure recovery, and flow angularity. Reference conditions were determined from a localized UPWT test section flow survey using a 10deg supersonic wedge probe. Test section Mach number and total pressure were determined using a novel iterative technique that accounted for boundary layer effects on the wedge surface. Cone-probe measurements were correlated to the surveyed flow conditions using analytical functions and recursive algorithms that resolved Mach number, pressure recovery, and flow angle to within +/-0.01, +/-1% and +/-0.1deg , respectively, for angles of attack and sideslip between +/-8deg. Uncertainty estimates indicated the overall cone-probe calibration accuracy was strongly influenced by the propagation of measurement error into the calculated results.
In vitro and in vivo radiation sensitization by the halogenated pyrimidine 5-chloro-2'-deoxycytidine.

5-Chloro-2′-deoxycytidine (Cld/Cyd) is hypothesized to have preferential incorporation into tumor DNA on the basis of elevated deoxycytidine-5′-phosphate deaminase and deoxycytidine kinase levels in tumors. Radiosensitization by Cld/Cyd was evaluated in exponentially growing Chinese hamster ovary cells by determining the ratio of radiation doses in control and treated cells to produce the same degree of cell killing (sensitizer enhancement ratio). Sensitizer enhancement ratios of 1.2–1.8 are seen at Cld/Cyd concentrations of 3–100 µm, 64 h incubation, and 200–600 cGy irradiation. Coincubation with tetrahydrouridine (H4Urd), a proposed inhibitor of Cld/Cyd catabolism by plasma cytidine deaminase resulted in no enhanced drug or radiation cytotoxicity. C3H mice given implants of RIF-1 tumors received 72-h continuous i.p. infusions of Cld/Cyd with or without H4Urd, or 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd). Excised tumors were irradiated as single cell suspensions in vitro . Infusions of equimolar (0.4 mmol/kg/day) Cld/Cyd or BrdUrd resulted in greater radiosensitization by BrdUrd with no potentiation of Cld/Cyd by coinfusion with 0.8 mmol/kg/day H4Urd. Infusions with equitoxic doses of Cld/Cyd (0.8 mmol/kg/day) or BrdUrd (0.4 mmol/kg/day) yielded equal BrdUrd and Cld/Cyd sensitizer enhancement ratios of 1.6, without H4Urd potentiation of Cld/Cyd. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis of tumor cell suspensions using a monoclonal antibody reactive with BrdUrd and Cld/Cyd disclosed a population of noncycling cells in tumors treated with Cld/Cyd/H4Urd that is not seen in tumors exposed to either BrdUrd or Cld/Cyd alone.
Racial Resentment and Targeted Anger at Barack Obama and the Federal Government

We use a survey experiment embedded in the 2010 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) to examine the extent to which anger towards the federal government and President Barack Obama are affected by racial resentment. We randomized two questions asking CCES respondents their personal anger at the Obama and the federal, and their anger at the actions of Obama and the federal government. While media accounts suggested the American public was extremely “angry” during the first years of the Obama administration, we find significantly more anger targeted at government and its actions than Obama and his actions. However, racial resentment colored personal anger toward Obama but not personal anger at the federal government. Resentment affected anger at the actions of both Obama and the federal government. These results suggest that angry sentiments toward Obama and his actions, as well as the actions of the federal government while he is the commander-in-chief, are all affected by racial attitudes.
Reflection on Training, Experience, and Introductory Statistics: A Mini-Survey of Tertiary Level Statistics Instructors.

Instructors of statistics who teach non-statistics majors possess varied academic backgrounds, and hence it is reasonable to expect variability in their content knowledge, and pedagogical approach. The aim of this study was to determine th e specific course(s) that contributed mostly to instructors' understanding of statistics. Courses r eported were described as advanced or graduate level, and classified as application-based , math, multivariate, probability, and research. The majority, 9 (56%) attributed their understandin g of statistics to either an application-based or research course, and of those, 7 (44%) reported negative feelings about their introductory courses. These findings underscore the importance oauthentic activities, and constructivist pedagogy toward facilitating statistical literacy. Research is needed to determine the effect of instructors' academic preparation on their knowledg e, attitudes, and practices.
Mitigation of atmospheric phase delays in InSAR data, with application to the eastern California shear zone

We present a method for estimating radar phase delays due to propagation through the troposphere and the ionosphere based on the averaging of redundant interferograms that share a common scene. Estimated atmospheric contributions can then be subtracted from the radar interferograms to improve measurements of surface deformation. Inversions using synthetic data demonstrate that this procedure can considerably reduce scatter in the time series of the line-of-sight displacements. We demonstrate the feasibility of this method by comparing the interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) time series derived from ERS-1/2 and Envisat data to continuous Global Positioning System data from eastern California. We also present results from several sites in the eastern California shear zone where anomalous deformation has been reported by previous studies, including the Blackwater fault, the Hunter Mountain fault, and the Coso geothermal plant.
Chemical Composition of the Cell Walls of Bacillus stearothermophilus

Cell walls were isolated by mechanical disruption of mid-log phase cells of Bacillus stearothermophilus NCA 1503-4R grown in Trypticase-yeast extract-fructose medium at 55 C. The cell walls were purified by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and incubation with deoxyribonuclease and trypsin. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained glucosamine, muramic acid, alpha, epsilon-diaminopimelic acid, and glutamic acid. Low amounts of glycine, galactosamine, serine, aspartic acid, lysine, and valine were also present. The relative mole ratios of glutamic acid-alpha, epsilon-diaminopimelic acid-glycine-alanine were 1.00:1.26:0.08:1.55. The cell walls were free from ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid and contained less than 0.2% chloroform-methanol extractable lipid and 0.09 mumole of phosphorus per mg of cell wall. Teichoic acid was not detected in the cell walls of this organism. Cell walls isolated without treatment with SDS contained 7.5% chloroform-methanol extractable lipid, 0.24 mumole of phosphorus per mg of cell wall, and relatively high concentrations of all amino acids. These results suggest that the extracted lipid is not a cell wall component per se, but a contaminant from the lipoprotein cell membrane.
Association between obesity and patient satisfaction.

Objective: To examine the relationship between BMI and patient satisfaction with health care providers using a nationally representative survey. Research Methods and Procedures: This analysis examined the 9914 adult patients who completed the 2000 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and had visited a health care provider within 12 months of the survey. Linear regression models were employed with patient satisfaction as the dependent variable. The patient satisfaction scale was based on ratings from five questions assessing the quality of provider interactions. The independent variable was BMI, with adjustments for the domains of demographics, social-economic status, health attitudes and behavior, health status, and health care use. BMI (weight in kilograms/square of height in meters) was classified as normal weight (18.5 to 24.9), overweight (25.0 to 29.9), or obese (≥30.0). Hierarchical models were used to evaluate how each domain modified the BMI-satisfaction association. Results: Obese patients reported significantly greater satisfaction with their health care providers than their normal-weight counterparts did (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in satisfaction between normal-weight and overweight patients or between overweight and obese patients. The health status domain produced the largest modification in the BMI-satisfaction relationship. Examination of interaction effects revealed that the association between BMI and satisfaction was confined to older persons. Discussion: In this nationally representative sample of individuals, obese persons were more satisfied than their normal-weight counterparts. This finding counters those of previous studies. Incomplete adjustments for health care use and insurance status may have led to those conclusions.
A site-specific endodeoxyribonuclease from Streptomyces albus CMI 52766 sharing site-specificity with Providencia stuartii endonuclease Pstl

A class II site-specific endodeoxyribonuclease (SalPI) was identified in cell-free extracts of Streptomyces albus CMI 52766 after high speed centrifugation and fractionation through Bio Gel AO.5M. SalPI cleaves lambda DNA into at least 18 fragments. Five cleavage sites were located in the linear lambda map by the use of double and triple restriction enzyme digests involving EcoRI, HindIII, SalGI and another new Streptomyces enzyme, SacI. The results were indistinguishable from those previously obtained for a Providencia stuartii enzyme, PstI, by Smith, Blattner & Davies (Nucleic Acids Res. 1976 3, 343). SalPI and PstI were shown by a double digest test to have the same site specificity. None of 34 phages tested was obviously restricted by S. albus CMI 52766, and correspondingly DNA from two of them was not cleaved in vitro by SalPI. DNA from Streptomyces phage that does not form plaques on S. albus CMI 52766, and plasmid SCP2 DNA from S. coelicolor A3 (2), were both cleaved.
Demonstration Projects Using Wick Drains to Stabilize Landslides

A new method has been developed to stabilize slopes and landslides using driven, geotextile wick drains rather than drilled polyvinyl chloride or steel drains. Compared to drilled horizontal drains, wick drains can be significantly deformed without rupturing. They resist clogging, and they can be installed quickly and economically by workers with no previous training. Since 1998, more than 170 drains, totaling more than 2,600 m (8,600 ft) in length, have been installed at eight sites in Missouri, Colorado, and Indiana. At three of the sites, drains were installed at a density and layout considered to be appropriate for full-scale stabilization: 27 to 44 drains were driven at each site, averaging 15 to 20 m (50–70 ft) in length. A method was developed to accurately estimate the groundwater-table profile after drain installation, and computer slope-stability analysis using this method showed significant increases (10–40 percent) in factors of safety after drain installation. The limitations of the methodology should be recognized: it may be applied in specific situations requiring relatively short (<30–45 m, or <100–150 ft) drains in materials ranging from soft to very stiff (up to 30 blows/ft in standard penetration tests). The potential effectiveness of drainage as a mitigation option should be verified through analysis of site geology and hydrogeology before drain installation.
A fracture mechanics approach to estimate the fatigue endurance of welded t‐joints including residual stress effects

Residual stresses and weld defects play a major role in the fatigue behaviour of welded structures, so these effects need to be accounted for in a theoretical analysis. A simplified engineering procedure based on linear-elastic fracture mechanics is applied to estimate the fatigue behaviour, particularly the limit of endurance. Local geometrical irregularities and pre-existing flaws, which are typical for this kind of weld, are covered by an overall notch intensity factor instead of a specific stress intensity factor, so the initial flaw size is not needed explicitly in the analysis. The effect of residual stresses can be easily included. The cut-compliance method was applied to measure the residual stress distribution on the cross-section of the weld. A welded T-joint was used as a benchmark. Unexpectedly, compressive residual stresses were found to prevail in the root region. According to the analysis, they contribute to the endurance limit of the considered joint by about 50%. This result was confirmed by fatigue tests where a significant decrease in the fatigue strength after a post-weld stress relieving heat treatment was observed.
Acid‐Base and Organic‐Water Distribution Equilibria for Symmetrically‐Substituted P,P′‐Dialkyl Alkylenebisphosphonic Acids

Abstract P,P′‐dialkyl alkylenebisphosphonic acids are powerful metal extraction reagents. The acid dissociation constants for a homologous series of aqueous‐insoluble P,P′‐di‐3‐(trimethylsilyl)‐propyl and aqueous‐soluble P,P′‐diethyl methylene‐, ethylene‐ and propylene‐ bisphosphonic acids were determined in a 70∶30 w/w methanol‐water solvent by potentiometric titration and 31P NMR spectrometry. The values obtained for the diethyl‐substituted acids were compared with those determined in water and used to assess the effect of the medium on the aqueous acid dissociation constants of the lipophilic series of P,P′‐di‐3‐(trimethylsilyl)propyl alkylenebisphosphonic acids. The dependence of the organic/aqueous distribution equilibrium on the aqueous acid concentration was also investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The acid dissociation and organic/aqueous distribution properties of the substituted alkylenebisphosphonic acids are discussed in terms of their influence on metal ion extractio...
Commentary on David Rowland's “Will Medical Solutions to Sexual Problems Make Sexological Care and Science Obsolete?”

All medical students study pharmacology to learn about the major drug categories used in the field of medicine and how they work in the body. The small percentages of students who become psychiatry...
Regulation and guidelines for enhanced natural radiation in the United States.

Abstract This paper discusses radiation protection guidelines and standards in the United States for enhanced natural radiation levels. Although no national standards have been developed in the United States, there have been standards and guidelines developed for individual situations throughout the country. These apply to uranium mill sites and land in their vicinity, phosphate lands, land contaminated by radium processing, hazardous waste sites, and related situations. The rationale for these recommendations and standards is discussed along with the health implications and other important factors. The applicability of these recommendations and standards to other situations is also discussed. Finally, the recommendations and standards developed by EPA are compared generally to recommendations and standards of other U.S. organizations.
Crystal structure and electrical conductivity of the solid electrolyte [(CH3CH2)2N(CH3)2]2Ag13I15

Abstract Crystals of [(CH3CH2)2N(CH3)2]2Ag13I15, in which the organic molecule-ion is diethyldimethylammonium, belong to the monoclinic space group C2 c (C62h), with a = 25.151 (10), b = 11.367 (5), c = 21.665 (7) A , β = 120.38 (2)0, and have four formula units per unit cell. The crystals are three-dimensional solid electrolytes, in which the conducting channels are formed by face-sharing iodide tetrahedra. There are double channels along the b and c axes, most probably the easiest conduction directions. The Ag+ ions are distributed nonuniformly over nineteen sets of crystallographically nonequivalent sites, and there is no possibility for the ordering of the Ag+ ions among these sites. The quasi-isotropic, or average, electrical conductivity is 0.079 Ω−1 cm−1 at 296 K and 0.34 Ω−1 cm −1 at 430 K, with an activation enthalpy of 0.15 eV.
Intergenerational associations between a consensual childhood sexual experience and adult substance abuse among Latina mothers and daughters.

Purpose: Early onset of sexual activity has been linked to later substance abuse. Our study aimed to further describe the associations between Latina mothers’ and daughters’ early sexual activity and adult substance abuse.
CP-45,634: a novel aldose reductase inhibitor that inhibits polyol pathway activity in diabetic and galactosemic rats.

Abstract In some tissues containing aldose reductase, increased flux through the polyol pathway has been implicated as being causative in diabetic complications (e.g., cataracts, peripheral neuropathy). We have found CP-45,634 (d-6-fluoro-spiro[chroman-4,4′-imidazolidine]-2′,5′-dione) to be a highly potent, structurally novel, uncompetitive inhibitor of calf lens aldose reductase (IC 50 ∼ 5 × 10 −7 M). In a system in which sorbitol accumulation in isolated rat sciatic nerves was monitored in the presence of high (50 m M ) glucose concentrations, CP-45,634 produced inhibition of polyol accumulation at levels as low as 1 × 10 −6 M. To determine if in vitro activity would translate to in vivo models, sorbitol accumulation in rat sciatic nerves was measured 27 hr after induction of diabetes with streptozotocin. Orally administered CP-45,634 was effective at dose levels as low as 0.25 mg/kg, t.i.d., and at 0.75 mg/kg produced an 85% inhibition of sorbitol accumulation. Two weeks after induction of diabetes by streptozotocin, sorbitol levels in rat lens and the sciatic nerve rose to 21,203 nmole/gm and 1,161 nmole/gm, respectively. Subsequent oral administration of CP-45,634 (2.5 mg/kg, b.i.d.) for 1 wk reduced these levels by 92% in nerves and 90% in lenses. In galactosemic rats, CP-45,634 inhibited the rise in lens galactiol and effectively delayed cataract formation at oral doses as low as 5 mg/kg/day. These high levels of in vivo activity suggest that CP-45,634 has potential for assessing the role of the polyol pathway in diabetic complications.
Pravastatin therapy in primary moderate hypercholesterolaemia: changes in metabolism of apolipoprotein B‐containing lipoproteins

. This study examined the actions of pravastatin on the metabolism of apolipoprotein B (apo B) in very low-, intermediate-, and low-density lipoproteins (VLDL, IDL, and LDL) in 10 patients with primary moderate hypercholesterolaemia. 131I-VLDL apo B was used as a tracer, and appearance of label was followed into IDL apo B and LDL apo B. Compared to placebo, pravastatin therapy reduced levels of cholesterol in total plasma, LDL, VLDL, and IDL cholesterol by 25%, 29%, 31%, and 47%, respectively. Pravastatin treatment also significantly decreased concentrations of apo B in LDL, IDL, and VLDL. The drug significantly reduced the mean production rate for VLDL apo B by 40%, and decreased production rates for LDL apo B in eight of 10 patients. In contrast, fractional catabolic rates (FCRs) were not altered significantly in any of the three lipoprotein fractions on pravastatin therapy. Further, pravastatin produced no consistent changes in LDL particle size, composition, or LDL subclass pattern. Thus pravastatin seemingly reduced input rates for all apo B-containing lipoproteins. Consistent with previous studies, this response was most likely the result of enhanced removal of nascent lipoproteins by increased activity of LDL receptors, although decreased synthesis of apo B in the liver is a possible second action.
Persuasive strategies used by preschool children

The goal of this study was to explore the kinds of persuasion used by preschool children. In two role‐playing tasks, 44 children (45–76 months) tried to convince “mother” or “playmate” to buy or share a toy. The experimenter refused to comply five times following a script of particular reasons for noncompliance. The children's persuasive statements were coded into 23 categories forming five statement types: Norm Invocation, Positive Sanction, Negative Sanction, Request, and Assertion. Children role‐played effectively and persistently, using persuasive statements falling into 22 of the 23 categories. Bargains and Guarantees were the most frequent strategies. As children became older, they increased their use of Positive Sanction (offers, bargain, politeness) and reduced dependence on Assertion (forceful assertion). Boys used Norm Invocation (appeals to rules, fair play, and reason) more than girls did, while girls used Requests (asking through statement or question) more than boys did.
Chloride binding by a polyimidazolium macrocycle detected via fluorescence, NMR, and X-ray crystallography

Abstract Herein, we describe a macrocyclic polyimidazolium receptor that is preorganized for the binding of anionic guests, and particularly chloride. Additionally, diphenylimidazolium units were incorporated into this structure to enhance photophysical properties that were exploited for signal transduction of binding. In subsequent fluorescence binding studies, this receptor was found to bind a range of halides as well as phosphate with high affinity (Ka=1.8×104, and 1.5×104 for phosphate and chloride, respectively) in a competitive solvent mixture (1:1 water/acetonitrile). Results under these conditions were fitted to 1:1 binding curves, and indicated modest selectivity of the host for phosphate and chloride over other halides. Binding studies were also performed using 1H NMR spectroscopy, during which the imidazolium C–H signal was observed to shift downfield upon titration with anions. These experiments were run in less polar solvent (1:9 water/acetonitrile), and could not be fitted to a 1:1 binding curve, suggesting higher order aggregates in this environment. Binding was further probed in the solid state by obtaining an X-ray crystal structure of receptor–iodide complex. In the resulting structure, two iodides were found to bind through interactions with two polyimidazolium hydrogens each. These results show that the described macrocycle is effective for anion-binding in competitive solvent, with modest selectivity for chloride over other halides, and that the nature of the binding interactions varies depending upon the solvent environment.
Structural features and thermodynamics of the J4/5 loop from the Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis group I introns.

The J4/5 loop of group I introns has tertiary interactions with the P1 helix that position the P1 substrate for the self-splicing reaction. The J4/5 loop of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis, 5‘GAAGG3‘/3‘UAAUU5‘, potentially contains two A·A pairs flanked by one G·U pair on one side and two G·U pairs on the other side. Results from optical melting, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and functional group substitution experiments with a mimic of the C. albicans and C. dubliniensis J4/5 loop are consistent with the adenosines forming tandem sheared A·A pairs with a cross-strand stack and only the G·U pair not adjacent to an A·A pair forming a static wobble G·U pair. The two G·U pairs adjacent to the tandem A·A pairs are likely in a dynamic equilibrium between multiple conformations. Although Co(NH3)63+ stabilizes the loop by several kilocalories per mole at 37 °C, addition of Mg2+ or Co(NH3)63+ has no effect on the structure of the loop. The tandem G·U pairs provide a pocket of negative charge ...
Actinic prurigo (Hutchinson's summer prurigo)

Summary Actinic prurigo or Hutchinson's summer prurigo is an entirely separate disease from polymorphic light eruption. The former is especially common in Mexico, Central and South America, while the latter is common in Europe. The differences between the two conditions are enumerated. It is emphasized that actinic prurigo is a chronic persistent and recalcitrant eruption which often continues throughout the winter months and affects covered as well as exposed areas of skin. A personal series of 51 patients with actinic prurigo is presented. The efficacy of thalidomide in the treatment of some cases of actinic prurigo is confirmed.
Preparation of [Et2InSb(SiMe3)2]3; a trimeric single-source precursor to indium antimonide

Abstract The 1:1 mole ratio reaction of Et 2 InCl with Sb(SiMe 3 ) 3 results in the formation of [Et 2 InSb(SiMe 3 ) 2 ] 3 ( 1 ), a trimeric compound containing a six-membered indium–antimony ring. An X-ray crystal structure has been obtained for the compound substantiating the trimeric nature of 1 in the solid state, however variable-temperature 1 H-NMR studies show a dimer/trimer equilibrium for this species in solution. Preliminary thermolysis studies demonstrate its utility in the formation of nanocrystalline InSb.
The tandem mass spectrometry newborn screening experience in North Carolina: 1997-2005

North Carolina (NC) was the first US state to initiate universal tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) newborn screening. This began as a statewide pilot project in 1997 to determine the incidence and feasibility of screening for fatty acid oxidation, organic acid and selected amino acid disorders. The MS/MS analyses were done by a commercial laboratory and all follow-up and confirmatory testing was performed through the NC Newborn Screening (NBS) Program. In April 1999, the NC NBS Laboratory began the MS/MS analyses in-house. Between 28 July 1997 and 28 July 2005, 944 078 infants were screened and 219 diagnoses were confirmed on newborns with elevated screening results, for an overall incidence of 1:4300. Ninety-nine infants were identified with fatty acid oxidation disorders, 58 with organic acidaemias and 62 with aminoacidopathies. Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency and disorders of phenylalanine metabolism were the most common disorders detected. Identification of affected infants has allowed retrospective testing of other family members, resulting in an additional 16 diagnoses. Seven neonates died from complications of their metabolic disorders/prematurity despite timely MS/MS screening. In addition, there were six infants who were not identified by elevated NBS results but who presented with symptoms later in infancy. The NC MS/MS NBS Program uses a two-tier system, categorizing results as either ‘borderline’ or ‘diagnostic’ elevated, for both the cutoffs and follow-up protocol. Infants with an initial borderline result had only a repeat screen. Infants with a diagnostic or two borderline results were referred for confirmatory testing. The positive predictive value of the NC MS/MS NBS for those infants requiring confirmatory testing was 53% for 2003 and 2004. The success of the NC MS/MS NBS Program in identifying infants with metabolic disorders was dependent on a comprehensive follow-up protocol integrating the public health laboratory and the academic metabolic centres.
Cosmic radiation may cause dementia

Although space tourism,1 2 cooking in space,2 and ferrying cows (for biofuel and food purposes)2 to space are wonderful ideas, new research data show that galactic cosmic radiation might be more cause for concern …
Photoluminescence spectroscopy of PbSe nanocrystals

The low-energy electronic states of PbSe quantum dots are investigated using photoluminescence spectroscopies. Size-selective photoluminescence measurements produce unexpectedly broad $(\ensuremath{\sim}50\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV})$ emission lines. In addition, significant anti-Stokes luminescence is observed. Finally, we observe a size-dependent splitting of the lowest emission feature. Possible origins of the broad emission lines observed despite size-selective excitation and the splitting of the emission spectrum will be discussed.
Expression of fasciclin I and II glycoproteins on subsets of axon pathways during neuronal development in the grasshopper

Abstract The "labeled pathways" hypothesis predicts that axon fascicles in the embryonic neuropil are differentially labeled by surface recognition molecules used for growth cone guidance. To identify candidates for such recognition molecules, we generated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize surface antigens expressed on subsets of axon fascicles in the grasshopper embryo. The 3B11 and 8C6 MAbs immunoprecipitate 70- and 95-kd membrane glycoproteins called fasciclin I and II, respectively, which are expressed on different subsets of axon fascicles during development. These two glycoproteins are expressed regionally on particular portions of embryonic axons in correlation with their patterns of fasciculation, dynamically during the period of axon outgrowth in a manner consistent with a role in growth cone guidance, and at other times and places during embryogenesis, suggesting multiple developmental roles.
Sustainability of agroecosystems in semi-arid grasslands: simulated management of woody vegetation in the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico

Abstract We describe a model that simulates use of chemical treatments, mechanical treatments (roller chopping and root plowing), and fire to manage woody vegetation in the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. The model consists of two submodels representing dynamics of woody and herbaceous vegetation, respectively. Percent canopy cover of woody vegetation changes as the result of application of management schemes. Aboveground biomass of herbaceous vegetation changes as the result of differences in rates of net primary production, senescence, decomposition, and losses due to grazing and fire. The model is represented as a compartment model based on difference equations with a time step of 1 month. Model predictions of changes in canopy cover of woody vegetation, number of acres required to support a cow, and net production of herbaceous vegetation following application of each of the four treatments are similar to typical 25-year post-treatment response curves for the Rio Grande Plains. Simulation results suggest that the period of opportunity for effective use of fire to manage woody vegetation and sustain production of herbaceous vegetation is longest following root plowing, intermediate following use of chemicals, and shortest following roller chopping. In each case, the efficacy of fire in reducing canopy cover of woody vegetation diminishes rapidly as percent canopy cover increases from roughly 30–50%.
Correlation of catalytic activity and sensor response in TiO2 high temperature gas sensors

The hypothesis that chemical reactivity of the surface for CO oxidation of a titania sensor impregnated with gold or copper oxide is related to the sensing behavior is tested. Results show that the mechanism of the oxidation reaction is more important to the sensing characteristics than the extent of reaction.
Bovine sperm cell volume at various intervals after addition of glycerol at 5 °C

Abstract Sperm cell volume measurements were made by electronic particle sizing equipment and by the determination of packed-cell volume at intervals after glycerol addition to test for glycerol penetration. In the absence of penetration by glycerol, dehydration and shrinkage of the cells through efflux of water would be expected, while if penetration occurred the cells should return to their former size at a rate reflecting the rate of glycerol penetration. No significant changes in cell volume were observed after glycerol addition at 5 °C, but changes could have occurred during the 3–7 min before the volume measurements could be completed. The average mean volumes determined electronically were 25 μ 3 , vs. 26 μ 3 for sperm cells with and without glycerol, respectively. The corresponding modal volumes were 21 μ 3 and 23 μ 3 , respectively. The lack of substantial differences in cell volume in media with and without glycerol, and the absence of size changes with time in the presence of glycerol, suggest that glycerol penetration of bull sperm was very rapid at 5 °C, occurring within the 3 min required for the first volume determination to be made. Packed cell volume determinations gave similar results when glycerol was added at 5 °C and 25 °C. Even when the cells were previously swollen in hyposmotic media so that they had known potential for undergoing shrinkage after glycerol addition, detectable changes in volume were not observed over time. Furthermore, the volume of cells suspended in media with and without glycerol was similar. Thus, glycerol probably penetrated these cells within the 5–7 min required to make the first volume measurement.
Numerical Studies of Tritium and Helium-3 in the Thermocline

Abstract The effects of circulation and lateral mixing on the distributions of tritium and heliurn-3 in the thermocline are investigated using a two-dimensional numerical model. The gyre circulation was approximated by a steady flow with closed streamlines and a western boundary current. Variations of the strength of the circulation and mixing showed that for either very high or very low mixing (relative to the strength of the circulations the distributions are analogous to a one-dimensional model. For very low mixing, the single dimension corresponds to the cross-stream dimension of the gyre. Mixing in the western boundary current increases the rate at which a tracer moves from the exterior streamlines the center of the circulation. The distributions and inventories of tritium and helium-3 are sensitive to the overall ventilation of the gyre and cannot easily resolve diffusive ventilation from direct ventilation. The results of simulations in a small parameter range are consistent with mappings of the di...
The interference model and finite energy sum rules

Abstract The applications of the interference model and finite energy sum rules to intermediate energy hadron scattering are discussed with regard to various limitations of principle and practice.
Achievement and Social Mobility: Relationships among IQ Score, Education, and Occupation in Two Generations

Cyril Burt (1961) has set forth the following hypothesis with regard to social mobility (or “social promotion”): . . . in a highly organized society, the discrepancies between the general intelligence of the children and the occupational class into which they are born is bound to produce a large and fairly constant amount of “basic mobility,” quite apart from any deliberate changes in the political or educational structure of the society.
Food Choice in People with Prader-Willi Syndrome: Quantity and Relative Preference.

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to examine differences between people with Prader-Willi syndrome and an obese comparison group in choosing a larger quantity of food delivered after a delay (15, 30, or 60 seconds) or a small quantity of food delivered immediately. Individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome selected the larger food quantity. Choices by the obese comparison group tended to be equally divided between both options. Relative food preference influenced choosing the larger, delayed option in both groups. This effect appeared to be larger in the non-Prader-Willi syndrome group, but was not statistically significant. These results suggest perceived differences in food quantity may be an important determinant of food choice of people with Prader-Willi syndrome.
Note on Hamiltonian format of Lotka-Volterra dynamics

Abstract It is pointed out that the Hamiltonian form of Lotka-Volterra dynamics, recently observed by Nutku, was worked out many years ago; also that Volterra's many-spicies dynamics had been Hamiltonized, including a novel path to its statistical mechanics.