cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum iron and iron-binding capacity of the serum in children with severe Mediterranean (Cooley's) anemia.

The blood of children with severe Mediterranean anemia was found to have a high serum iron and an absence of a latent or unbound iron capacity of the serum. Whereas serum iron levels comprise approximately one third of the total iron-binding capacity in normal children and adults, the two values are equal in the severe form of Mediterranean anemia. The iron-binding capacity of the serum in this condition is therefore fully saturated and quantitatively lower than in normal children. The absence of a measurable latent iron-binding capacity does not depend entirely on the liberation of iron from exogenously administered blood. Comparable changes were also noted in two nonanemic adult carriers possessing the trait of the disease, in two children with the mild form not requiring transfusions, and in one severely anemic child with Mediterranean anemia who had never been transfused. Similar changes occurred in three patients with spherocytic anemia and in five children with sickle cell anemia, one of whom had never been transfused. In every instance therefore of the advanced form of Mediterranean anemia and in some of the nonanemic and mildly anemic forms of this disease, a fully saturated metal-binding protein is present in total amounts usually less than those found in normal children. In contrast, children with iron deficiency anemia manifest a reduction in percentage saturation of iron-binding protein, an increased level of unbound latent iron-binding capacity and a markedly elevated total iron-binding capacity. The failure to demonstrate a latent iron-binding capacity of the serum in asymptomatic persons adds another criterion to those already established for the identification of carriers of the trait of Mediterranean anemia who constitute the source of its transmission. The presence of bilirubin in increased concentrations in the serum of patients with severe Mediterranean anemia does not interfere with its capacity to combine with iron. The capacity for binding iron was restored when Fraction IV-7 was added to samples of icteric sera of patients in whom no capacity had previously been demonstrated. The high serum iron and absence of latent iron-binding capacity observed in children with severe Mediterranean anemia receiving multiple transfusions correspond to the changes regarded as diagnostic of transfusion hemosiderosis and hemochromatosis. While these changes remain unaltered in Mediterranean anemia, their reversibility has been demonstrated in two children with hemophilia who received weekly transfusions of small amounts of blood. Following cessation of this form of therapy a decrease of serum iron and a gradual restoration of iron-binding capacity were noted.
Selective Inhibition of Photosynthetic Reactions by Polycations

Abstract Histone inhibits the photosystem 1 activities of isolated chloroplasts. This inhibition can be prevented by prior exposure of the chloroplasts to moderate concentrations of inorganic salts. However, even very high concentrations of inorganic salts will not reverse the inhibition, nor is the inhibition reversed by washing the chloroplasts. Exogenous plastocyanin causes a partial reversal of histone inhibition. Histone inhibits photosystem 1 activity in chloroplasts from a variety of higher plants but is not inhibitory to photosystem 1 in cell-free preparations of several algae. Synthetic polylysines inhibit in the same fashion as histones. Histone causes partial inhibition of indophenol dye photoreduction by chloroplasts. Histone inhibits the activity of photosystem 1 particles prepared from chloroplasts but has little effect on indophenol photoreduction by photosystem 2 particles.
Climate Disruption: Are We Beyond the Worst Case Scenario?

Abstract The inability of world governments to agree on and implement effective mitigation response policy for anthropogenic climate change has resulted in the continuation of an exponential growth in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) that averages 3.1 per cent per year since 1870. With the exception of 2009, world GHG emission levels surpassed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2000) worst case scenario every year since 2004. Because of increasing temperatures due to GHG emissions a suite of amplifying feedback mechanisms, such as massive methane leaks from the sub-sea Arctic Ocean, have engaged and are probably unstoppable. These processes, acting in concert with the biological and physical inertia of the Earth system in responding to atmospheric loading of GHGs, along with economic, political and social barriers to emission reduction, currently place Earth’s climate trajectory well within the IPCC’s A1FI future climate change scenario. There is a rapidly diminishing chance of altering this trajectory as time goes on. There is also now a very real risk of sudden climate change. The pace of this quickly advancing situation, along with our scientific understanding of it, has substantially outstripped policy discussion. This article examines current primary science literature and data on today’s climate condition in a policy relevant context. Policy Implications • An all out shift to a broad range of adaptive response policies is urgently needed. Climate change will force reevaluations of present day governance agreements on trade, finance, food supply, security, development, environment, and similar sectors. • Easy to understand scientific data driven visualizations and culturally appropriate interpretations of probable future conditions are needed to facilitate realistic adaptive policy responses from all levels of governance. • Multilateral policies for an international crop seed cooperative could significantly lessen the impacts of crop failures and low yields, reducing the risk of famine and economic effects of unstable food prices. There is a need to store a large enough volume of crop seed varieties to allow for quick switching of varieties one year to the next based on dynamic forecasts of seasonal climates. • Harmonization of international, national, subnational, and local policies for the orderly resettlement of coastal populations should begin now. This will become a chronic condition involving very large numbers of people. Improved and coordinated policies are needed for refugee services and related issues of migration and integration as well as planning for land use change and infrastructure development.
Statistical analysis of power spectra of signals governed by Markov chains

The paper presents a novel derivation of the average autocorrelation and the average power spectrum for Markov renewal processes. Motivated by a practical problem arising in randomized switching in power electronic circuits, we provide a linear filtering interpretation of the process that forms continuous switching waveforms by concatenation of segments that are associated with various states of a Markov chain. This new, streamlined derivation of formulas for autocorrelation and power spectrum is of interest for optimized synthesis of randomized switching waveforms.
Integrative review utilizing dexmedetomidine as an anesthetic for monitored anesthesia care and regional anesthesia

BACKGROUND. Dexmedetomidine is increasingly being used as a sedative for monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with regional anesthesia. This literature review critiques 12 studies that used dexmedetomidine as the primary anesthetic. Study designs include prospective, retrospective case studies and randomized double-blind and randomized single-blind studies. METHODS. Twelve studies utilizing dexmedetomidine as the primary anesthetic that were found via electronic databases including CINAHL, Ovid, and MEDLINE. All studies were completed within the past 10 years and met inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS. The results of dexmedetomidine efficacy as a primary anesthetic agent for MAC procedures varied. There is significant evidence showing that dexmedetomidine is not an appropriate anesthetic for colonoscopies, though there were mixed results showing its efficacy in ENT and dental procedures. Despite that, dexmedetomidine has been shown to be successful in orthopedic, vascular, plastic, lithotripsy, and diagnostic procedures, though patients are at increased risk of recall. CONCLUSION. Dexmedetomidine is an effective MAC anesthetic for specific procedures. Further research is needed to determine which specific procedures are appropriate for dexmedetomidine. Lastly, dexmedetomidine is more costly than current MAC anesthetics, making it difficult to justify its use.
Wheal and flare responses to muscl relaxants in humans

Chemically and pharmacologically unrelated molecules release histamine in humans to produce both cutaneous and systemic responses. It has been suggested that molecular changes in the new benzylisoquinoline-derived muscle relaxant, atracurium, make it less likely to cause histamine release. We therefore injected volunteers intradermally with equimolar concentrations of various muscle relaxants, morphine, papaverine (a benzylisoquinoline), and histamine, to evaluate the relative ability of these drugs to cause wheal and flare responses, and mast-cell degranulation. There were no significant differences in wheal and flare responses among the three benzylisoquinoline-derived muscle relaxants,d-tubocurarine, metocurine, and atracurium. The cutaneous effects of morphine were significantly greater than those of the benzylisoquinoline muscle relaxants, suggesting both direct vascular changes and histamine release. Papaverine injection was followed by a significant wheal but no flare. Skin biopsies from vecuronium- and papaverine-induced wheals revealed normal intact mast-cell granules, suggesting a direct cutaneous vascular response rather than histamine release. Skin biopsies after morphine and atracurium injections revealed mast-cell degranulation. All evaluated benzylisoquinoline muscle relaxants are equipotent histamine releasers at equimolar concentrations. A hydrogenated, benzylisoquinoline-nitrogen-containing ring, present in atracurium but not in papaverine, appears to be the molecular conformation responsible for mast-cell degranulation by atracurium.
Can Bartlett's repeated reproduction experiments be replicated?

Surprisingly, Bartlett’s (1932) famous repeated reproduction experiments, in which he found systematically increasing errors in recall from the same people tested over time, have never been successfully replicated. Several studies have attempted partial replications, which were unsuccessful, and their authors concluded that the original observations might not be replicable. We conducted a study modeled closely after Bartlett’s procedures: Subjects studied “The War of the Ghosts,” took an initial test 15 min later, and then took a delayed test after 1 week. A follow-up test was conducted 6 months later on as many subjects as could be obtained. We did replicate Bartlett’s results, in that (1) subjects forgot the story over delays but (2) introduced rationalization and distortion into their accounts of the story, with increases in the proportion of material distorted as retention interval increased. Subjects also imported new propositions at long delays, further confirming Bartlett’s empirical observations and conclusions. Bartlett’s repeated reproduction results can be replicated.
High-field scaling behavior of thermodynamic and transport quantities of YBa2Cu3O7- delta near the superconducting transition.

The superconducting contribution to the magnetization and resistivity of twinned and untwinned YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ crystals which are presented here, as well as to the specific heat (Inderhees et al.) and Ettinghausen coefficient (Palstra et al.), displays scaling behavior in the variable [T-T c (H)]/(TH) 2/3 . This is consistent with Ginzburg-Landau fluctuation theory for a 3D system in a high magnetic field
The mammalian circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus exhibits rapid tolerance to ethanol in vivo and in vitro.

Background: Ethanol (EtOH) triggers cellular adaptations that induce tolerance in many brain areas, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the site of the master circadian clock. EtOH inhibits light-induced phase shifts in the SCN in vivo and glutamate-induced phase shifts in vitro. The in vitro phase shifts develop acute tolerance to EtOH, occurring within minutes of initial exposure, while the in vivo phase shifts exhibit no evidence of chronic tolerance. An intermediate form, rapid tolerance, is not well studied but may predict subsequent chronic tolerance. Here, we investigated rapid tolerance in the SCN clock. Methods: Adult C57BL/6 mice were provided 15% EtOH or water for one 12-hour lights-off period. For in vitro experiments, SCN-containing brain slices were prepared in the morning and treated for 10 minutes with glutamate +/ EtOH the following night. Single-cell neuronal firing rates were recorded extracellularly during the subsequent day to determine SCN clock phase. For in vivo experiments, mice receiving EtOH 24 hours previously were exposed to a 30-minute light pulse immediately preceded by intraperitoneal saline or 2 g/kg EtOH injection. Mice were then placed in constant darkness and their phase-shifting responses measured. Results: In vitro, the SCN clock from EtOH-exposed mice exhibited rapid tolerance, with a 10-fold increase in EtOH needed to inhibit glutamate-induced phase shifts. Co-application of brain-derived
Monitoring Susceptibility to Azinphosmethyl in Field Populations of the Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) with Pheromone Traps

A procedure was developed to screen field populations of Cydia pomonella (L.) directly for resistance to azinphosmethyl or other toxicants. Male moths were collected in the field with pheromone traps and assayed with azinphosmethyl by topical application to the dorsal thorax directly on the adhesive-coated trap surface. The first flight had a steeper concentration-mortality regression than the second flight, indicating an increase in variability of the toxicological response over the season. The LC50 of moths trapped during the spring flight was somewhat higher (0.22 µg/moth) than during the summer (0.08–0.16 µg). Assays of laboratory-reared moths from the same location kept in plastic cages or on sticky trap surfaces to simulate the test procedure with field-collected moths yielded LC50’s in the same range (0.10–0.14 µg/moth). The longevity of moths and their toxicological response was not affected by the polybutene adhesive provided it was applied as a thin uniform film to the trap surface. Susceptibility to azinphosmethyl increased considerably with age in both sexes and was not correlated with loss in body weight. Female moths were slightly more susceptible when azinphosmethyl was applied to the thoracic venter instead of the dorsum. Males were equally susceptible to either application.
Residential wood combustion for space heating in the Pacific northwest difficulties for electric utilities

Abstract Wood use for residential space heating has become an important topic of study in the US Pacific northwest. This article presents wood use profiles, estimates on the amount of electricity (kWh) wood use displaces and reasons that house-holds use wood. The data indicate that many households can easily switch between wood and electricity for space heating. One conclusion is that utilities in this region should be cognizant of large possible swings in electricity demand resulting from changes in electricity prices and availability of wood. In general, wood use has the potential to complicate regional energy planning efforts to fashion cost-effective residential conservation programmes.
Multigrid approach to predictive wave-front reconstruction in adaptive optical systems.

A computationally efficient approach, based on the principles of multigrid methods, to predictive wave-front reconstruction in adaptive optical systems is described. Local predictive estimators are computed by use of recursive least squares on multiple grids. Each grid is increasingly coarse, allowing for temporal prediction of the behavior of both high- and low-spatial-frequency aberrations. Example numerical simulation results are given, showing that implementing the recursive least-squares algorithm for predictive estimation in a multigrid fashion greatly accelerates convergence to the steady-state optimal estimator condition. By implementation of the multigrid predictive reconstructor in parallel, the computational cost of implementing a predictive wave-front reconstruction scheme that uses recursive least squares for each processor at each cycle can be reduced from O(m2) to O(2m), where m is the number of actuators.
Effect of enteral formulas on methotrexate toxicity

Type of diet influences toxic effects of the chemotherapeutic drug methotrexate (MTX) on the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract. In this study, commercial enteral products containing various protein types were tested to determine whether they exacerbated or alleviated MTX-induced GI toxicity in a non-tumor-bearing animal model receiving a single injection of MTX (20 mg/kg). Five enteral products containing casein or soy isolate in various forms as the primary source of protein were used. One casein-based product also contained soy fiber. These diets were compared with a soy concentrate-based diet and a casein-based diet prepared by the authors. Each diet was fed to 10 rats for seven days before injection and seven days after injection. In animals fed soy isolate or hydrolyzed or intact casein without added soy fiber, food intake was < 30% of pre-MTX injection levels on Days 3 and 4 after injection. These animals also lost weight and had diarrhea. Rats consuming the casein-based diet with fiber experienced some protection against MTX toxicity. Food intake only dropped to 63% of preinjection levels, weight was maintained, and no diarrhea occurred. Rats fed soy concentrate maintained food intake above 90% of preinjection levels, which was greater than all other groups at Day 3 and those receiving hydrolyzed or intact casein without fiber on Day 4 (p < 0.05). Weight gain in the soy concentrate group was also different from that in groups fed hydrolyzed or intact casein without fiber (p < 0.05). Rats consuming soy concentrate had no diarrhea. A second experiment was conducted to evaluate histological damage to the intestine when these diets were fed to animals injected with MTX. This experiment was conducted in the same manner as the first experiment, except animals were sacrificed on Day 3 after injection and samples were obtained from the jejunum. Crypt necrosis occurred in all groups except those consuming the soy concentrate diet or the enteral product containing soy fiber. Results indicate that soy concentrate is superior in alleviating MTX toxicity compared with commercial enteral products.
Exploring ways to provide diagnostic feedback with an ESL placement test: Cognitive diagnostic assessment of L2 reading ability

Previous research in cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA) of L2 reading ability has been frequently conducted using large-scale English proficiency exams (e.g., TOEFL, MELAB). Using CDA, it is pos...
A molecular dynamics simulation study of the α- and β-relaxation processes in 1,4-polybutadiene

Abstract We have conducted molecular dynamics simulation studies of melts of 1,4-polybutadiene (PBD) using a quantum chemistry-based force field where the rotational energy barriers between conformational states have been reduced (LB-PBD model, where LB indicates lowered barrier). Segmental relaxation in the LB-PBD melts was investigated over a wide range of temperature by monitoring the decay of the torsional autocorrelation function (TACF). The decay of the TACF could not be well-represented by a single stretched (Kohlrausch–William–Watts) exponential indicating the presence of resolvable α - and β -relaxation processes even at the highest temperatures investigated. We found that all or nearly all dihedrals undergo conformational transitions on the time scale of the β -relaxation process. The β -relaxation process was observed to weaken with decreasing temperature due to an increasingly heterogeneous population of conformational states with decreasing temperature on time scales longer than the β -relaxation time but shorter than the α -relaxation time. The heterogeneity in conformational populations is imposed by the matrix which biases the conformational states of individual dihedrals (but not the average over all dihedrals) on time scales shorter than the α -relaxation time. Complete segmental relaxation ( α -relaxation) occurred on longer time scales over which all dihedrals are able to populate each conformational state with near-equilibrium probability, a process that requires cooperative motion of the matrix. The β -relaxation process as monitored by the TACF was also found to broaden with decreasing temperature, consistent with an increasingly broad distribution of times required for individual dihedrals to visit each conformational state.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Polymorph of the DMF Solvate of the Dicoppertetracarboxylate Paddlewheel Complex Cu2(p-aminobenzoate)4(DMF)2

Reaction between p-aminobenzoic acid (HpABA) and Cu(NO3)2 · 2.5H2O in basic MeOH/DMF affords green crystals of the dicopper paddlewheel complex, Cu2(pABA)4(DMF)2 · 2DMF, 1, identified by single crystal X-ray crystallography: triclinic P-1, with a = 10.3728(2) A, b = 10.617(2) A, c = 11.128(2) A, α = 81.705(3)°, β = 79.984(2)°, γ = 65.965(2)° and Z = 2. The crystal structure of 1 reveals that it is the second polymorph of Cu2(pABA)4(DMF)2 · 2DMF and experiments on the stability of 1 indicate that it can be converted to Form I through desolvation followed by exposure to DMF. Crystal structure of a polymorphic discrete dicoppertetracarboxylate is investigated for the conversion between the two forms influenced by hydrogen bonds.
The Global Solution Set for a Class of Semilinear Problems

We use bifurcation theory to study positive, negative, and sign-changing solutions for several classes of boundary value problems, depending on a real parameter λ. We show the existence of infinitely many points of pitchfork bifurcation, and study global properties of the solution curves.
Analysis of airline operating strategies under stochastic demand

Abstract Variability in the demand for air travel is studied with respect to stochastic and time varying components which affect the distribution of passengers who will want to travel on a particular day. The problem is then cast as one of optimizing the total capacity offered in a given time period using operating net revenues as the objective. The distribution of demand is assumed to be normal, and passengers lost on those days when demand is high are assumed to travel on another airline or a different mode. An airline must therefore balance the costs of increased capacity against the benefits of carrying more people. Tradeoffs are studied parametrically, with particular emphasis on the effect the variance of the distribution of demand has on different relationships. Also shown is a simple procedure for estimating actual market mean and variance given the mean and variance of the number of passengers actually flown, which has a truncated distribution.
Shared maternal influences in the development of high blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) rat strains.

The influence of maternal environment on the development of high blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) rats was examined using the technique of reciprocal cross-fostering. Previous experiments from this laboratory demonstrated that adult blood pressures of the SHR and SS/Jr strains were significantly attenuated when hypertensivestrain pups were fostered to a dam of the respective normotensive control strain during the preweaning period. In this study, SHR and SS/Jr pups were assigned to either a cross-fostered (fostered to a dam of the opposite hypertensive strain) or control-reared condition within 24 h of birth. Adult resting blood pressures were similar in control and cross-fostered SHR rats and in control and cross-fostered SS/Jr rats. Heart rates and heart, adrenal, and kidney weights were also similar in control and cross-fostered rats of each strain. However, body weights of SHR rats reared by an SS/Jr dam were somewhat lower compared to control-reared SHR rats. These data indicate that the maternal environments provided by SHR and SS/Jr mothers are similar in some way such that they permit the development and full expression of the hypertensive phenotype in both same-strain and oppositestrain pups.
Evidence for a subunit structure of chromatin in mouse myeloma cells.

If micrococcal nuclease is allowed to digest chromatin as it exists inside intact nuclei isolated from mouse myeloma tissue culture cells, more than 60% of the DNA can be isolated as a homogeneous fragment on a sucrose gradient. Analytical ultracentrifugation indicates that the protected DNA is native, unnicked, and about 140 ± 10 base pairs long. After less extensive nuclease digestion, the protected DNA migrates in gels in lengths which are integral multiples of this 140 base pair “monomer” band. A submonomer band, 105 ± 10 base pairs long, can also be detected. Similar digestion patterns were obtained by two different nuclear isolation procedures and even when intact cells were gently lysed directly in the digestion medium. These results confirm and extend the chromatin digestion studies of previous investigators and provide support for a subunit model for eukaryotic chromatin. The single strand specific S1 nuclease did not digest intranuclear chromatin under the conditions used.
Management of incidental esophageal uptake on FDG PET/CT.

A 51-year-old Caucasian man with a history of colon carcinoma, status post right hemicolectomy, now with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen underwent positron emission tomography (PET)/CT for evaluation of tumour recurrence. An incidental focal esophageal uptake was noted on PET/CT, without associated mass. Subsequent endoscopy revealed Barrett9s esophagus. The second patient, a 63- year-old Caucasian man, underwent a PET/CT to characterise a 12 mm lung nodule. The PET/CT had linear diffuse uptake within the esophagus. Endoscopy and biopsy findings were consistent with reflux esophagitis. This case report discusses management of incidental esophageal uptake on fludeoxyglucose PET/CT.
Impact of electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation on left atrial appendage function and spontaneous echo contrast: characterization by simultaneous transesophageal echocardiography.

Objectives. This study assessed the function of the left atrial appendage in the pericardioversion period to gain insights into mechanisms involved in thromboembolism after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. Background. Systemic embolization associated with electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is thought to originate from the left atrium or left atrial appendage, or both. However, the mechanism involved is poorly understood. Methods. We studied left atrial appendage function with transesophageal echocardiography in 20 patients with atrial fibrillation before and after successful electrical cardioversion. We measured left atrial appendage emptying and filling velocities by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography, characterized Doppler emptying patterns, measured atrial appendage areas and assessed the presence or absence of spontaneous echo contrast or thrombus. Results. Organized left atrial appendage function returned in 16 (80%) of 20 patients immediately after cardioversion. Atrial appendage emptying velocities before cardioversion were greater in patients without (0.39 ± 0.02 m/s) than in those with (0.25 ± 0.12 m/s) spontaneous echo contrast (p = 0.045). Furthermore, emptying velocities before cardioversion were significantly greater than late diastolic emptying velocities after cardioversion (0.31 ± 0.15 vs. 0.14 ± 0.12 m/s, p = 0.0001), as well as in both the with (0.25 ± 0.12 vs. 0.13 ± 0.13 m/s, p = 0.001) and the group without (0.39 ± 0.02 vs. 0.15 ± 0.12 m/s, p = 0.01) spontaneous echo contrast. In addition, left atrial and atrial appendage spontaneous echo contrast developed in 4 of 20 patients and increased in intensity in 3 of 20 patients in the immediate postcardioversion period. Conclusions. Organized left atrial appendage function returns in most patients immediately after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. However, its function is impaired compared with that before cardioversion. Furthermore, spontaneous echo contrast increased in 7 (31%) of 20 patients after cardioversion. These observations suggest that stunned left atrial function after cardioversion may predispose the chamber to thrombus formation, which may play a role in the mechanism involved in the occurrence of embolization after cardioversion.
Ion beam mixing in ZnSe/CdZnSe strained layer structures

Abstract Ion beam mixing of ZnSe CdZnSe strained layer structures, a possible material system for the fabrication of blue laser diodes, has been investigated as a function of ion irradiation temperature and dose. The ion-induced damage showed an inverse temperature dependence when compared to the trend normally observed in semiconductor materials in that the damage was smaller for LN2 (77 K) temperature implants than those performed at 150°C. At the temperatures required to maintain good crystal quality (temperatures above the 300°C growth temperature) intermixing due to thermal diffusion occurs. The implantation process degrades the optical quality of the material, which also limits the use of ion mixing as a viable technique for photonic device fabrication in this II–VI system.
Single Event Effect Characterization of High Density Commercial NAND and NOR Nonvolatile Flash Memories

Heavy ion single-event measurements on a variety of high density commercial NAND and NOR flash memories were reported. Three SEE phenomena were investigated: SEUs, SEFIs, and catastrophic loss of ability to erase and write to the device. Although for all devices under test SEUs and SEFIs were observed, these commercial high densities devices appear to be much less susceptible than typical flash devices that have been tested lately. A new high current phenomenon in the high density NAND flash memories and charge pump failure in the NOR flash memory are discussed.
Determination of 5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid in Human Serum by Stable-Isotope Dilution High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Abstract The need for specific and sensitive methods for the determination of distinct serum folates is of high priority in clinical research settings. A stable-isotope liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) assay was developed for the quantitative determination of the monoglutamyl form of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHFA) in human serum. Serum samples (0.5 ml) were amended with the internal standard, [5- 13 C 5 ]MTHFA that had been labeled on the glutamic acid portion of the molecule and allowed to equilibrate. The analyte was trapped onto a solid-phase cartridge and then eluted with the HPLC mobile phase. Forty microliters was taken for LC/ESI-MS analysis using electrospray ionization operated in the positive ion mode. Using the standard method of addition of 5-MTHFA to serum, a linear dilution curve ( y = 12.777 x − 1.404; range 0.94–97 ng ml −1 ) was constructed. The precision of the method was 5.3% (CV) based on the analysis of four sample replicates. The mass spectrum produced upon collision induced dissociation of the analyte in serum was used to confirm the identity of the 5-MTHFA. The method was applied to the analysis of a set of serum samples that contained standardized concentrations of 5-MTHFA. The determinations of 5-MTHFA in these samples using the LC/ESI-MS procedure were found to be in good agreement with other folate methods. A highly accurate and specific method for the analysis of 5-MTHFA in serum has been developed utilizing stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry.
The Sources of Dissatisfaction in Educational Administration: A Role-Specific Analysis

Arguing that those factors that hinder task completion will relate to dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction with agents, and dissatisfaction with pay in superintendents and principals. The authors believe that this approach to the study of satisfaction, when applied to specific roles, provides a detailed picture of the constraints of a given role. The results of the studylend support to this line of argument.
The changing picture of cerebral dysfunction in early childhood.

In an anterospective study, 12 infants regarded as neurologically suspicious or abnormal during the first year of life were followed for a period of 1 to 3 years by independent observers. Four of five cases of spastic hemiplegia had resolved. Four of seven cases of delayed development without evidence of cerebral palsy were finally classified as being within normal limits. This changing picture demonstrates the need for caution in the interpretation of neurologic findings in early childhood and emphasizes the need for reappraisal of our present methods of examination.
Simplified prognostic indicators for AIDS-related lymphoma

Comment on Mounier et al, page [3832][1] The final results of one of the largest clinical trials ever conducted for AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma with simplified prognostic indicators are reported by Mounier and colleagues in this issue of Blood. Between 1993 and 1999, 485 patients in 55
Resistance to drug offers among college students

This study investigated the social context of drug offers among college students. The communicative processes involved in drug offers and resistance were examined along with drug use history, gender, family income, relationship to offerer, and location of offer. The prevailing pattern was of simple offers followed by simple statements of no, with no continuing pressure by the offerer. However, some form of pressure was reported in almost half of the cases and most frequently resulted from resisting through statements of dislike for product or lack of desire. The least amount of pressure was associated with marijuana offers.
Bounds on KSVZ axions from high mass star evolution

In this paper we study the effects of axions on the theoretical stellar evolution of a 10 solar mass star from the Main-Sequence stage to a likely final stage. We found that if the axion mass is less than 0.1 eV, an acceptable stellar evolution model which is consistent with observations is derived. If the axion mass is larger than 0.1 eV, such a star has a significantly different behaviour at the later stages of the evolution in the H-R diagram compared with a star without axions. The structure variables change greatly which is in contradiction with the observations.
Effect of substitutional hydride ions on the charge states of oxygen vacancies in thermochemically reduced CaO and MgO.

Different methods of thermochemical reduction of CaO and MgO crystals can yield dramatically different optical-absorption and -emission properties. In general, thermochemical reduction produces oxygen vacancies and substitutional ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ (hydride) ions with the vacancies mainly in the two-electron charge state (F center). Removal of protons before or during thermochemical reduction results in anion vacancies that are primarily in the one-electron ${\mathit{F}}^{+}$ state. Data are presented to relate the effect of hydride concentration on the charge states of the anion vacancies. Photobleaching experiments permit identification of three absorption bands as due to electron donors in thermochemically reduced CaO. Finally, we provide experimental results which indicate that the intrinsic F and ${\mathit{F}}^{+}$ centers in MgO or CaO crystals are not viable candidates for tunable lasers.
On subgroups of minimal topological groups

Abstract A topological group is minimal if it does not admit a strictly coarser Hausdorff group topology. The Roelcke uniformity (or lower uniformity) on a topological group is the greatest lower bound of the left and right uniformities. A group is Roelcke-precompact if it is precompact with respect to the Roelcke uniformity. Many naturally arising non-Abelian topological groups are Roelcke-precompact and hence have a natural compactification. We use such compactifications to prove that some groups of isometries are minimal. In particular, if U 1 is the Urysohn universal metric space of diameter 1, the group Iso ( U 1 ) of all self-isometries of U 1 is Roelcke-precompact, topologically simple and minimal. We also show that every topological group is a subgroup of a minimal topologically simple Roelcke-precompact group of the form Iso ( M ) , where M is an appropriate non-separable version of the Urysohn space.
Older women in Latin America: The health and socioeconomic situation of this important subgroup

The social and health consequences of aging, for women in Latin America, have been largely unexplored. This research reports the results of a review and secondary analysis of existing published and unpublished data. The analytical framework cross-classifies the data into three categories of age: midlife (40-59), young old (60-74), and old old (75+), and three categories of country type: highly rural, mixed, and highly urban. Findings revealed a group at severe disadvantage educationally, economically and, by virtue of their longevity, likely to end up widowed and suffering the physical effects of premature aging. Older women also bear the major burden for economic survival and emotional vitality of the family. The strategies they develop to respond to these necessities are innovative and often involve creation of new family forms based on cooperation among women. These deserve greater study as potential models for interventions to take advantage of the long-neglected ingenuity represented by this group.
Stress caused adverse entanglement of the nervous and autoimmune systems: A case for MS

Abstract The adverse role of stress in daily life, on human health has long been recognized and is being firmly substantiated by scientific investigation. Though many comforts of the modern life are owed to progress in the post-industrial age, increased levels of stress, in daily life, are also attributed to it, as well. Comparing life in the agrarian era with that of post industrial one, the change of the background sustained stress levels, among humans (not to mention Nature), is very dramatic. Variations in overall living conditions and psyche can further aggravate the state of stress. Living with such levels of stress – outside of the realm of evolutionary learned survival preparedness of human beings – is bound to wreak havoc with our mental and biological construct, rendering various levels of unease and diseases. Multiple Sclerosis can be of such origin. Medical Sciences has little to offer in the way understanding of the cause(s) of deterioration of brain cells, other than noting it as a kind of likely attack of the autoimmune system on the nervous system. Following some observations made in the paper, a hypothesis for the onset and prevention of MS is put forward.
Corticothalamic and thalamocortical pathfinding in the mouse: dependence on intermediate targets and guidance axis

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the study of intermediate targets and their relay guidance role in long-range pathfinding. In the present study, mechanisms of corticothalamic and thalamocortical pathfinding were investigated in C57BL/6 mice using in vitro DiI labeling and in vivo cholera toxin labeling. Specifically, three important intermediate targets, the subplate, ganglionic eminence, and reticular thalamic nucleus, were studied for their role in corticothalamic and thalamocortical pathfinding. The results show that the neuroepithelium of the ganglionic eminence is a source of pioneer neurons and pioneer fibers. Through radial and tangential migration, these pioneer neurons and fibers can approach the differentiating field of the ganglionic eminence, the subplate and thalamic reticular nucleus to participate in the formation of these three intermediate targets. Furthermore, the subplate, ganglionic eminence and thalamic reticular nucleus are linked by pioneer neurons and fibers to form a guidance axis. The guidance axis and the three important intermediate targets provide an ideal environment of contact guidance and chemical guidance for the corticothalamic and thalamocortical pathfinding. The concept of a "waiting time" in the subplate and the thalamic reticular nucleus is likely due to the expression of a guidance effect, so that the thalamocortical and corticothalamic projections can be deployed spatially and temporally to the subplate and thalamic reticular nucleus before these projections enter their final destinations, the neocortex and thalamus.
Strongly clean matrix rings over commutative local rings

Abstract We will completely characterize the commutative local rings for which M n ( R ) is strongly clean, in terms of factorization in R [ t ] . We also obtain similar elementwise results which show additionally that for any monic polynomial f ∈ R [ t ] , the strong cleanness of the companion matrix of f is equivalent to the strong cleanness of all matrices with characteristic polynomial f .
Monopsony power and the market for clergy: Some evidence from the census

Abstract Data from the U.S. Census is used to compare Catholic and non-Catholic clergy. Controlling for age, experience and education, it is found that Catholic clergy earn significantly less than non-Catholic clergy despite a condition of employment (celibacy) that would considered undesirable by most. Catholic clergy have a flat earnings-experience profile and no significant return to education. The Catholic church appears to be unable to attract the number of clergy it desires. These results are consistent with the Catholic church exhibiting monopsony power in the employment of clergy.
Simple model for vibration-translation exchange at high temperatures: effects of multiquantum transitions on the relaxation of a N2 gas flow behind a shock.

In this paper a simple model is proposed for computation of rate coefficients related to vibration-translation transitions based on the forced harmonic oscillator theory. This model, which is developed by considering a quadrature method, provides rate coefficients that are in very good agreement with those found in the literature for the high temperature regime ($\ensuremath{\gtrsim}10 000$ K). This model is implemented to study a one-dimensional nonequilibrium inviscid ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ flow behind a plane shock by considering a state-to-state approach. While the effects of ionization and chemical reactions are neglected in our study, our results show that multiquantum transitions have a great influence on the relaxation of the macroscopic parameters of the gas flow behind the shock, especially on vibrational distributions of high levels. All vibrational states are influenced by multiquantum processes, but the effective number of transitions decreases inversely according to the vibrational quantum number. For the initial conditions considered in this study, excited electronic states are found to be weakly populated and can be neglected in modeling. Moreover, the computing time is considerably reduced with the model described in this paper compared to others found in the literature.
Further comments on multivariate methods in behavioral research

O'Grady's ( Behavior Therapy , 1978, 9 , 471–473) comments are evaluated as adding, little to our original statement. His defense of univariate follow-up procedures is shown to be unjustified and other issues are discussed. Multivariate methods must still be considered the most appropriate techniques for behavioral research utilizing multiple outcome measures.
Negligible Effect of Perioperative Epidural Analgesia Among Patients Undergoing Elective Gastric and Pancreatic Resections

There are conflicting data regarding improvements in postoperative outcomes with perioperative epidural analgesia. We sought to examine the effect of perioperative epidural analgesia vs. intravenous narcotic analgesia on perioperative outcomes including pain control, morbidity, and mortality in patients undergoing gastric and pancreatic resections. We evaluated 169 patients from 2007 to 2011 who underwent open gastric and pancreatic resections for malignancy at a university medical center. Emergency, traumatic, pediatric, enucleations, and disseminated cancer cases were excluded. Clinicopathologic data were reviewed among epidural (E) and non-epidural (NE) patients for their association with perioperative endpoints. One hundred twenty patients (71 %) received an epidural and 49 (29 %) did not. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in mean pain scores at each of the four days (days 0–3) among the E (3.2 ± 2.7, 3.2 ± 2.3, 2.3 ± 1.9, and 2.1 ± 1.9, respectively) and NE patients (3.7 ± 2.7, 3.4 ± 1.9, 2.9 ± 2.1, and 2.4 ± 1.9, respectively). Within each of the E and NE patient groups, there were significant differences (P < 0.0001) in mean pain scores from day 0 to day 3 (P < 0.0001). Of the E patients, 69 % also received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Ileus (13 % E vs. 8 % NE), pneumonia (12 % E vs. 8 % NE), venous thromboembolism (6 % E vs. 4 % NE), length of stay [11.0 ± 12.1 (8, 4–107) E vs. 12.2 ± 10.7 (7, 3–54) NE], overall morbidity (36 % E vs. 39 % NE), and mortality (4 % E vs. 2 % NE) were not significantly different. Routine use of epidurals in this group of patients does not appear to be superior to PCA.
Room-temperature flow in a metallic glass – Strain-rate dependence of shear-band behavior

Abstract The rate dependence of serrated flow in amorphous Al 86.8 Ni 3.7 Y 9.5 has been investigated by nanoindentation. Three samples, containing different initial amounts and distributions of free volume, were used: as quenched, cold rolled and annealed below the crystallization temperature. When the cold-rolled sample is indented at low rates, no new shear bands form, and stable, time-dependent, flow takes place at pre-existing shear bands, well below the glass transition temperature. Aside from instrumental resolution, factors that likely affect serrated flow include the magnitude of the yield drop and the shear-band propagation velocity. The trends we observe are compared with calculations based on the free-volume theory.
Accelerated Heterologous Prime-boost Adenovirus Vector-based SIV Vaccine in Neonatal Rhesus Monkeys

Background A pediatric HIV-1 vaccine is required to protect infants against HIV-1 transmission from breastfeeding. Such a vaccine would need to induce protective immunity at mucosal surfaces in neonates as soon as possible after birth. Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) vectors have been shown to elicit potent systemic and mucosal virus-specific immune responses in adult non-human primates and humans but have not previously been studied in detail in infants. Methods Newborn rhesus monkeys were injected intramuscular (i.m.) with 10^11 viral particles of rAd serotype 26 or 35 vectors expressing SIVmac239 Gag. Peripheral blood was collected to determine systemic Gag-specific cellular and humoral immune responses. At week 52, peripheral lymph nodes, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pinch biopsies of colorectal, duodenal and oral cavity mucosa were collected to evaluate mucosal Gag-specific T lymphocyte responses. Results A single injection of rAd26 encoding SIVmac239 Gag in rhesus monkeys on the day of birth elicited detectable SIV-specific cellular immune responses, but these responses were transient and waned quickly. In contrast, an accelerated heterologous prime-boost regimen involving administration of rAd35 at birth and rAd26 at 4 weeks of life elicited potent and durable Gag-specific cellular and humoral immune responses in neonatal rhesus monkeys, including mucosal responses that remained detectable at one year of age. Conclusion These results suggest the potential of an accelerated heterologous rAd prime-boost regimen as a candidate neonatal HIV-1 vaccine in newborns.