cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ghrelin concentrations in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) infants and children : changes during development

Background Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is associated with failure to thrive in infancy and progressive hyperphagia and obesity in childhood. This progressive weight gain is associated with hyperghrelinaemia and increased insulin sensitivity. The role of ghrelin excess in the pathogenesis of obesity is unclear.
Epithelial-stromal junction of intraductal carcinoma of the breast.

An ultrastructural study of intraductal carcinomas of the breast disclosed profound alterations along the epithelial-stromal junction of the neoplastic ducts. These alterations included straightening of plasma membranes, dilatation of intercellular spaces, defective basal laminae, inconstant and uneven increase or decrease in collagen and elastic fibers, and disarray of delimiting fibroblasts. The earliest detectable stages of invasion were characterized by neoplastic cytoplasmic protrusions into the stroma through gaps in the basal laminae. Frequently, these invasive foci could not be resolved by the light microscope. These ultrastructural findings, along with previous clinical and histochemical observations, indicate that the histologic diagnosis of “intraductal carcinoma in situ” is currently a hazardous one to make. No clear-cut causal relationship between invasive process and absence of basal laminae was demonstrated. Possibly as a result of estrogenic stimulation, stromal fibroblasts frequently showed a prominent ergastoplasm, and venules had an unusually large number of endothelial fenestrations.
Neutrino mass and detection of neutrino supernova bursts

Abstract A neutrino mass will cause a dispersion in the arrival time of a neutrino burst from a supernova explosion. Such a dispersion may reduce the sensitivity of neutrino detectors to such bursts. Detection of a dispersed neutrino burst could yield a direct measurement of the neutrino mass if it is in the range m ν ≳0.1 eV .
Citrus flavonoid represses Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 and motility in S. Typhimurium LT2

Salmonellosis is one of the leading health problems worldwide. With the rise of drug resistance strains, it has become imperative to identify alternative strategies to counter bacterial infection. Natural products were used historically to identify novel compounds with various bioactivities. Citrus species is a rich source of flavonoids. Naringenin, a flavonone, is present predominantly in grapefruit. Previously we have demonstrated that naringenin is potent inhibitor of cell-cell signaling. The current study was undertaken to understand the effect of naringenin on Salmonella Typhimurium LT2. The cDNA microarrays were employed to study the response of S. Typhimurium to naringenin treatment. Naringenin specifically repressed 24 genes in the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 and down-regulated 17 genes involved in flagellar and motility. Furthermore, phenotypic assays support the result of microarray analysis. In addition, naringenin seems to repress SPI-1 in pstS/hilD-dependent manner. Altogether the data suggest that naringenin attenuated S. Typhimurium virulence and cell motility. This is the first molecular evidence to demonstrate effect of naringenin on bacterial virulence and cell motility.
Statistical Structure Learning to Ensure Data Integrity in Smart Grid

Robust control and management of the grid relies on accurate data. Both phasor measurement units and remote terminal units are prone to false data injection attacks. Thus, it is crucial to have a mechanism for fast and accurate detection of tampered data—both for preventing attacks that may lead to blackouts, and for routine monitoring and control of current and future grids. We propose a decentralized false data injection detection scheme based on the Markov graph of the bus phase angles. We utilize the conditional covariance test CMIT to learn the structure of the grid. Using the dc power flow model, we show that, under normal circumstances, the Markov graph of the voltage angles is consistent with the power grid graph. Therefore, a discrepancy between the calculated Markov graph and learned structure should trigger the alarm. Our method can detect the most recent stealthy deception attack on the power grid that assumes knowledge of the bus-branch model of the system and is capable of deceiving the state estimator; hence damaging power network control, monitoring, demand response, and pricing scheme. Specifically, under the stealthy deception attack, the Markov graph of phase angles changes. In addition to detecting a state of attack, our method can detect the set of attacked nodes. To the best of our knowledge, our remedy is the first to comprehensively detect this sophisticated attack and it does not need additional hardware. Moreover, it is successful no matter the size of the attacked subset. Simulation of various power networks confirms our claims.
The effect of mercaptoethanol and urea on the molecular weight of hemoglobin.

Abstract 1. 1. Unlike horse hemoglobin, human hemoglobin is not dissociated by concentrated urea, although its shape is considerably altered. 2. 2. Horse and human hemoglobins are equally dissociated by mercaptoethanol, and even further, but still equally, by a combination of mercaptoethanol and urea. 3. 3. The mechanism of mercaptoethanol action is not clear, but the data suggest that it attacks bonds other than those sensitive to urea. 4. 4. Sedimentation-diffusion measurements, in this study, indicate that dissociation of horse hemoglobin by concentrated urea is less complete than that found in previous reports. An explanation in terms of heterogeneity and a rapid dissociation-association equilibrium is suggested.
A theoretical and numerical study of a thin clamped circular film under an external load in the presence of a tensile residual stress

Tensile residual stress in a plate or membrane clamped at the perimeter can be measured by either applying a uniform hydrostatic pressure or a central load via a cylindrical punch (with several different loading configurations). Analytical constitutive relations are derived here based on an average membrane stress approximation and are compared to finite element analysis results. The thickness and flexural rigidity of the film are not confined to a small range but will span a wide spectrum. The elastic responses of the blistering films are shown to be linear when the film is thick, relatively rigid, or subjected to a large residual stress, and cubic when the film is thin, flexible, or under a small residual stress. The linear-to-cubic transition is formulated.
Teaching direct select color encoding to an adolescent with multiple handicaps

An 18-year-old woman who was severely intellectually delayed and physically handicapped was taught a direct select color encoding strategy as a potential means of increasing the available vocabulary on her communication board. Teaching procedures involved the establishment of a “chained matching-to-sample” procedure. This procedure eventually resulted in the learner selecting a color, followed by the selection of an explicit symbol that corresponded to an object sample. The encoding was maintained and generalized to untrained exemplars. Implications for augmentative and alternative communication intervention are discussed.
Synthesis and Kinetic Analysis of Some Phosphonate Analogs of Cyclophostin as Inhibitors of Human Acetylcholinesterase

Two new monocyclic analogs of the natural AChE inhibitor cyclophostin and two exocyclic enol phosphates were synthesized. The potencies and mechanisms of inhibition of the bicyclic and monocyclic enol phosphonates and the exocyclic enol phosphates toward human AChE are examined. One diastereoisomer of the bicyclic phosphonate exhibits an IC(50) of 3 microM. Potency is only preserved when the cyclic enol phosphonate is intact and conjugated to an ester. Kinetic analysis indicates both a binding and a slow inactivation step for all active compounds. Mass spectrometric analysis indicates that the active site Ser is indeed phosphorylated by the bicyclic phosphonate.
Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Laser Filamentation Measured via Impulsive Raman Scattering

The spatio-temporal dynamics of laser filamentation in air probed using impulsive Raman excitation reveals the formation of a sub 9fs pulse. The shortest feature corresponds to the formation of bandwidth between 450 and 330nm.
On the dynamics of propagating buckles in pipelines

Abstract A combined experimental and analytical study of the dynamic propagation of buckles initiated in long pipes under external pressure is presented. The experiments involve measurement of the steady-state velocity of buckles initiated in stainless steel tubes with D/t=27.9. Results from tubes pressurized by air or water are presented for pressure levels ranging from the propagation pressure to the collapse pressure of the tube. The buckle velocity in air was found to be significantly higher than in water at the same pressure. The flip–flop mode of buckle propagation was found to take place for pressure levels 13% below the collapse pressure and higher. A finite element model, capable of simulating the dynamic initiation and propagation of such buckles has been developed. The model accounts for the inertia of the pipe, the nonlinearity introduced by contact between the collapsing walls of the pipe while the material is modeled as a finitely deforming elastic–viscoplastic solid. The buckling and collapse are assumed to take place in vacuum. The model is shown to reproduce well the dynamic initiation and propagation of buckles in air and the predicted velocities are in good agreement with those measured in this medium. The buckle was found to sharpen significantly with pressure. This sharpening, coupled with higher pressure, causes an increase in the amplitude of reverse ovality in a zone just ahead of the propagating buckle front. At higher pressures, the reverse ovality is shown to be high enough to initiate collapse at a new site. The new collapse is at 90° to the original one. This sequence of events is repeated, resulting in the flip–flop mode of buckle propagation.
The Map Problem: A Comparison of Genetic and Sequence-Based Physical Maps

The genetic order of autosomal genome-scan markers from Marshfield panels 9 and 10 were compared with their physical order, on the basis of the assembled nonredundant human genome sequence from the Human Genome Project–Santa Cruz (HGP-sc; October 2000 and April 2001 releases) and Celera (CEL; February 2001 release) databases. The genetic order of 96% of the markers on the Marshfield map for panel 10 is supported by a likelihood ratio of ⩾3 (odds ratio of 1,000:1). Inconsistencies with the genetic panel 10 map were found for 5% and 2% of the markers in the CEL and HGP-sc sequences, respectively. These inconsistencies consisted of both positional and chromosomal-assignment disagreements. For the majority of these inconsistent markers, the genetic order was supported by a likelihood ratio of ⩾3, and the physical order in the other assembly matched the genetic order. The majority of the inconsistencies between the physical- and genetic-map order point to errors in the physical-map order. A Web site is made available that displays inconsistencies for genetic markers from Marshfield panels 9 and 10 between their genetic-map positions and sequence-based physical-map positions, as well as inconsistencies between their sequence-based physical position. This Web site also contains genetic-map distances, physical-map positions from the Celera and Human Genome Project sequence, and likelihood-ratio support for the genetic maps.
Alcohol Abuse in Asian Americans: Epidemiological and Treatment Issues

Asian Americans are proportionately the fastest growing minority in the United States. Once considered a model minority, recent studies have suggested that Asians have a fairly high prevalence of alcoholism. The authors present epidemiological data from the few available surveys involving the Asian American community. An important consideration is that the term “Asian American “ does not represent a homogenous group. It comprises people from many countries, several major religious groups, various socioeconomic levels, and different lengths of time and levels of acculturation in the United States. The presence of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) deficiency also represents a relevant biological difference in some subgroups. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to encompass all relevant parameters in any one study, but each of these factors clearly affects the rates and expressions of alcohol use, and they all represent important considerations for treatment. Culturally sensitive and/or biculturalprograms are...
Deformation mechanisms of near-stoichiometric single phase TiAl single crystals: A combined experimental and atomistic modeling study

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the reason why the room temperature deformation of PST (polysynthetically twinned) crystals of TiAl occurs primarily by twinning while deformation of single phase TiAl occurs by dislocation slip. It is not clear at present whether this difference in deformation behavior is due to differences in microstructure or differences in composition. Since the stress needed to produce twinning in PST crystals is substantially less than the stress required to produce dislocation slip in the single phase material, it would appear that the twinning stress is dramatically increased by increasing the aluminum content. This suggest is indeed supported by the results of atomistic studies of dislocation dissociations and core structures in the L1{sub 0} TiAl presented in this paper. However, since it is impossible to grow single crystals of single phase material having less than 54 at% Al, this finding cannot be easily checked experimentally For this purpose the authors have developed a novel sample preparation technique, Employing solid state diffusion to reduce the Al content, which allows them to produce layers of 51 at% Al single phase TiAl sandwiched between Ti{sub 3}Al andmore » TiAl with a surplus of Al. These samples were then tested in compression and it was, indeed, found that the single phase TiAl with low aluminum content deforms by twinning, in the same way as the PST crystals with a similar aluminum content.« less
Cervical Trauma in Sports

Cervical spine injuries, although uncommon, may occur with sporting activities. Symptoms can vary considerably: from transient peripheral nerve injury (aka ‘burner’) to complete, permanent cord injury. Although typically associated with contact sports, a high level of suspicion should be maintained for all athletes with symptoms. Clinical assessment begins at the time of injury with thorough clinical and radiographic evaluation. Surgical treatment and rehabilitation decisions are based upon the patient’s symptoms as well as underlying pathoanatomy. Principal factors in determining return to play include patient symptoms, duration of symptoms, recurrence of symptoms, cause of symptoms, residual neurologic deficit, and the athlete’s desire to return to competitive sports.
Excitonic Clusters and the Phase Transitions in Fluid Mercury

We review the metal-nonmetal transition in expanded liquid mercury and the dielectric transition in dense mercury vapor. Previous explanations for these transitions are found to be deficient. We propose that the high-temperature, high-pressure fluid is an excitonic insulator phase. The condensation instability of the Frenkel excitons is shown to result from improved coordination within the fluid. The phase diagram for the excitonic insulator naturally explains both the metal-nonmetal and the dielectric transitions.
Incidence and management of cataract after retinal detachment repair with silicone oil in immune compromised patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis

Abstract Purpose To determine the incidence of and risk factors for cataract and to describe the visual outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes with cytomegalovirus-related retinal detachments repaired with silicone oil. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods A prospectively generated database of all patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis examined at a single tertiary care institution was used to identify all cases of retinal detachment between October 1983 and August 1997. Data on retinal detachment repair, development of cataract, and outcomes of cataract surgery were obtained retrospectively. Results Among 904 eyes of 587 immune-compromised patients diagnosed with cytomegalovirus retinitis, 198 eyes of 155 patients developed retinal detachment. Among these, 106 eyes of 90 patients underwent retinal detachment repair with silicone oil. The Kaplan-Meier estimated median time to cataract was 1.8 months after surgery with silicone oil. The adjusted relative risk of cataract in eyes that underwent retinal detachment repair with silicone oil compared with eyes that did not was 6.74 (P Conclusions There is a high incidence of cataract after surgery with silicone oil tamponade for cytomegalovirus-related retinal detachment. Posterior capsule opacification occurs rapidly after cataract surgery in these patients.
Erythropoiesis after withdrawal of enalapril in post-transplant erythrocytosis.

Erythropoiesis after withdrawal of enalapril in post-transplant erythrocytosis. Enalapril effectively decreases hematocrits in patients with postrenal transplant erythrocytosis (PTE). We studied the effect of enalapril withdrawal on erythropoiesis in 18 patients with PTE who had been treated for 13 ± 8 months. Hematocrit, reticulocyte count, plasma erythropoietin, and plasma insulin-like growth factor I were measured biweekly for six weeks. Red cell mass, plasma volume, transferrin saturation, and plasma angiotensin II were measured at withdrawal and six weeks later. Hematocrit increased by at least 0.04 in 13 patients (‘responders') but changed by -0.08 to 0.01 in five patients (‘nonresponders'). In the responder subgroup, hematocrit increased from 0.43 ± 0.05 to 0.51 ± 0.05 (P
Co-crystal structure of the HNF-3/ fork head DNA-recognition motif resembles histone H5

The three-dimensional structure of an HNF-3/fork head DNA-recognition motif complexed with DNA has been determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.5 A resolution. This alpha/beta protein binds B-DNA as a monomer, through interactions with the DNA backbone and through both direct and water-mediated major and minor groove base contacts, inducing a 13 degrees bend. The transcription factor fold is very similar to the structure of histone H5. In its amino-terminal half, three alpha-helices adopt a compact structure that presents the third helix to the major groove. The remainder of the protein includes a twisted, antiparallel beta-structure and random coil that interacts with the minor groove.
(K 0.44 ,Na 0.52 ,Li 0.04 ) (Nb 0.84 ,Ta 0.10 ,Sb 0.06 )O 3 Ferroelectric Ceramics

Recent progress in (K0.44,Na0.52,Li0.04)O3-based ceramics (KNN) with special emphasis on (K0.44, Na0.52, Li0.04 (Nb0.84,Ta0.10,Sb0.06)O3 (KNN-LT-LS) is reviewed concisely. The base KNN and its compositional derivatives are analyzed in terms of dopant-property relationships, which are then extended to the ternary derivatives. The effects of processing conditions such as humidity, precursor purity, and oxygen partial pressure during sintering are elaborated on from a phenomenological perspective. It is also shown that the spontaneous polarization is sensitive to the processing route chosen for synthesis (mixed oxide versus perovskite routes). Special attention is devoted to the discussion of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) dilemma in the KNN-LT-LS system, where it is shown that the origin of high piezoelectric activity is actually due to a polymorphic transition at room temperature. It is shown that prototype transducers based on pure and 1 mol% Ba2+ doped KNN-LT-LS exhibit performance metrics comparable to those fabricated using PZT-5H. Overall, KNNLT-LS ceramics show great promise for lead-free applications, although issues such as temperature dependence of properties and strong sensitivity to processing conditions remain as the 2 major challenges.
Stripping voltammetry of copper and lead using gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers

One problem associated with using bare solid metal electrodes, such as gold and platinum, in stripping analysis to determine heavy metal ions such as lead and copper ions in dilute solutions is that underpotential deposition (UPD) gives multiple stripping peaks in the analysis of mixtures. These peaks are often overlapped and cannot be conveniently used for analytical purposes. Bifunctional alkylthiols, such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid, with an ionizable group on the other terminal end of the thiol can form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the surface of the gold electrode. It is shown that such an SAM-modified gold electrode minimizes the UPD effects for the stripping analysis of lead and copper. The anodic peak potential shifts and the peak shape changes, indicating that the SAM changes the deposition and stripping steps of these heavy metal ions. Thus, the sensitivity levels for both single species and mixtures can be significantly improved for the conventional solid electrodes. The mechanism of the deposition reaction at the SAM-modified gold electrodes is discussed.
Adaptive Gate Bias for Power Amplifier Temperature Compensation

Mixed-mode device and circuit simulation is used to examine device self-heating during power amplifier (PA) transient response. Lattice temperature increases with time and eventually saturates beyond the thermal time constant. Temperature variation on the effect of PA performances has been modeled and analyzed. Different gate biasing schemes that reduce the temperature drift of PA output power and power-added efficiency are evaluated. A simple adaptive gate bias technique effectively provides temperature compensation of PA performances over a wide range of temperatures.
Alcohol vapor by inhalation in the treatment of acute pulmonary edema.

Accepted therapy of pulmonary edema is contraindicated in shock, central nervous system lesions, or pregnancy. Diagnosis of the underlying disease is not always immediately possible. Alcohol inhalation, previously tested in animals, changes surface tension of the foam and has beneficial effects. Clinical experience has revealed prompt relief in over one-half of the acute cases, definite improvement in another 29 per cent. Some cases with subacute edema also exhibited decreased foaming. The absence of contraindications and the possibility of using the method in conjunction with other procedures are favorable elements of alcohol therapy by inhalation.
The anticholinesterase effect of the cotton defoliant S,S,S-tri-n-butyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) on channel catfish

Abstract The anticholinesterase activity of the organophosphorus cotton defoliant DEF towards channel catfish was investigated using in vivo and in vitro techniques. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and tissue concentrations of DEF were determined during and following 96 h exposures of catfish to a sublethal dose of DEF using aerated, static aquaria. The results indicated a progressive decrease in brain and muscle AChE activity during the exposure, but the maximum anticholinesterase effect occurred several days following transfer to DEF-free aquaria. However, maximum tissue concentrations of DEF typically occurred at 48 h of exposure, suggesting that DEF undergoes metabolic activation. In vitro incubations of DEF with catfish brain tissue indicated that parent DEF does not interact with brain AChE. Inclusion of a microsomal activation system in the incubation mixture indicated that DEF is converted into a potent anticholinesterase agent by rat liver and catfish liver microsomes. Activation is dependent on oxygen and is primarily mediated by cytochrome P-450.
Susceptibility of selected strains of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) to chikungunya virus

The relative susceptibility of selected strains of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) fed on a viremic monkey to infection with chikungunya virus was determined. Infection rates were consistently higher in 10 strains of Ae. albopictus tested than in 7 strains of Ae. aegypti tested, regardless of the geographic location from which the strains originated or the dose of virus ingested. Similarly, virus dissemination rates were higher in the Ae. albopictus strains compared with the Ae. aegypti strains. For nearly all (11 of 12) strains tested of both species, groups of mosquitoes with one or more females with a disseminated infection transmitted virus by bite to weanling mice. Based on these studies, Ae. albopictus appears to be a more competent laboratory vector of chikungunya virus than does Ae. aegypti .
The Use of Expensive Health Technologies in the Era of Managed Care: The Remarkable Case of Neonatal Intensive Care

UNLABELLED The use of neonatal intensive care (NIC) continued to rise rapidly in the 1990s despite the concerns of observers about its cost effectiveness and its successes being mostly in facilities with high volume and capabilities. The objective of this study is to test the effects of insurance type, competition among hospitals, and market pressure from managed care plans on the supply and cost of NIC. The analysis uses logistic and linear models with techniques to avoid bias from (a) market area definitions based on actual patient flows and (b) self-selection of hospitals by patients with unmeasured risk of needing NIC. The data source contains all births in short-term hospitals in New Jersey during 1990 and 1994. Both the number of days and charges for NIC are reported. Key findings are that the decision of a hospital to offer NIC was associated with teaching status, the proportion of infants in the market area with documented high risk, and the market concentration of major competitors. The market share of managed care plans and the concentration of enrollment were not associated with either NIC being offered or with the standardized charges. Whether a particular patient was given to a NIC depended on patient risk factors and whether a NIC unit was present, but not on payer group. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that young insured parents (with the advice of their obstetricians) prefer hospitals with NIC and also are relatively profitable enrollees for health plans. IN CONCLUSION using the results here and in other research, public and private policy makers may consider several ways to strengthen the incentives for health plans to contract for cost-effective birth-related services. The results also raise questions for a number of regulatory and payment policies and call for better public data on costs and outcomes for NIC.
DISINFESTATION OF DRIED FOODS BY FOCUSED SOLAR ENERGY

Temperatures in excess of 50° produced by focused solar dryers can be used for disinfestation of dried foods. All life stages of the hide beetle, Dermestes maculatus, were eliminated from dried mullet in a single exposure of 30–60 min. The same results were obtained with the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella with dried peaches and with the merchant grain beetle, Oryzaephilus mercates on oatmeal. Among packaging materials, black plastic was shown to be most effective followed by clear plastic. Aluminum foil was found to be reflective and resulted in lower temperatures within the container. The lethality of oven, microwave, and infrared heating units were also tested on the life stages of the hide beetles.
Expression and regulation of the novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor neuropilin-1 by epidermal growth factor in human pancreatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND It was recently shown that neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), which was described originally as a receptor for the semaphorins/collapsins (ligands involved in neuronal guidance), is a coreceptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and increases the affinity of specific isoforms of VEGF to its receptor, VEGF-R2. METHODS The authors investigated the expression and regulation of NRP-1 in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens and cell lines. RESULTS Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that NRP-1 was expressed in 12 of 12 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens but was absent in nonmalignant pancreatic tissue. Northern blot analysis revealed NRP-1 mRNA expression in 8 of 11 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. NRP-1 mRNA expression was increased by epidermal growth factor (EGF) but not by tumor necrosis factor α in several of the human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines studied. Treating human Panc-48 adenocarcinoma cells with EGF activated Akt and Erk but not P-38. Blockade of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K)/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/Erk, or P-38 pathways abrogated EGF-induced NRP-1 expression. Finally, EGF receptor blockade in vivo led to a decrease in NRP-1 expression in an orthotopic model of human pancreatic carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS NRP-1 is expressed in most human pancreatic adenocarcinomas and cell lines but not in nonmalignant pancreatic tissue. EGF regulates NRP-1 expression through the PI-3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signaling pathways, and blockade of the EGF receptor is associated with decreased expression of NRP-1 in vivo. NRP-1 may act as a coreceptor for VEGF in pancreatic carcinoma, as it does in other tumor systems, thereby enhancing angiogenesis and the effect of VEGF on the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Cancer 2003;98:720–9. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11560
Ketamine inhibits serotonin synthesis and metabolism in vivo.

Abstract Ketamine (160 mg/kg, i.p.) was found to reduce the accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in whole brain following inhibition of l -aromatic amino acid decarboxylase with 50 mg/kg of 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine (NSD-1015). Smaller doses of ketamine did not affect whole brain 5-HTP accumulation. However, in regional studies, 80 mg/kg of ketamine significantly reduced 5-HTP accumulation in the spinal cord and the midbrain-thalamus. A dose of 160 mg/kg ketamine also reduced 5-HTP accumulation in the spinal cord and midbrain-thalamus and in the medulla-pons, striatum and cortex as well. No significant changes in 5-HTP accumulation were observed in the hypothalamus or hippo-campus. Ketamine (160mg/kg) also reduced whole brain 5-hydroxyindoleacelic acid 15-HIAA) levels and slightly elevated whole brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels. Smaller doses did not affect either 5-HIAA or 5-HT levels. Ketamine did not affect whole brain tryptophan levels nor did it inhibit [ 3 H]tryptophan uptake or conversion to [ 3 H]5-HT in vitro . These data demonstrate that ketamine reduced both 5-HT synthesis and metabolism in vivo . Since ketamine did not affect brain tryptophan levels nor did it inhibit 5-HT in vitro , the reduction of 5-HT turnover following ketamine administration appears to be a neuronal, adaptive phenomenon possibly occurring in response to a blockade of 5-HT uptake by ketamine.
Dendritic array growth in the systems NH4Cl-H2O and [CH2CN]2-H2O: steady state measurements and analysis

Abstract Dendrite array dimensions have been measured under steady state growth conditions in the transparent material systems, ammonium chloride–water and succinonitrile–water. The measurements were made as functions of growth rate, V, and temperature gradient, G, and the results compared with the current analysis of Hunt and Lu. Close agreement with the analysis was found for the system [CH2CN]2–H2O, but less so for the system NH4Cl–H2O in which the volume fraction of solid is very small. The data are presented as a reference base for subsequent examination of array behavior under transient conditions following deceleration.
Size assessment and alternative fighting tactics in Elaphrothrips tuberculatus (Insecta: Thysanoptera)

Abstract Elaphrothrips tuberculatus males fight each other and defend individual egg-guarding females. Larger males win fights and secure females more successfully than smaller males. Fights are characterized by three tactics: parallel bouts, stabbing and flipping. Males assess the relative sizes of their opponents during parallel bouts, in which two males line up side-to-side and hit at each other with their abdomens. Small males avoid fighting large ones. Stabbing occurs when a male climbs onto his opponent's back, grasps him with his enlarged, armed forelegs and squeezes. When defenders were larger than challengers, they stabbed their opponents more frequently, and when challengers were larger or the males were of similar size, either the challengers or both males stabbed. Flipping, a tactic in which a male quickly lifts his abdomen into the air, is apparently a defensive behaviour performed to avoid being stabbed. This tactic was used most frequently by small challenger males. Fights that included multiple parallel bouts and stabbing occurred when males were of similar size. However, such escalation was more probable between two small males than between two large males. This may be because fights between small, poorly armed males involve lower injury risk and higher net resource value than fights between large males. The data are interpreted in terms of game theory, and whether these fights qualify as wars of attrition or hawk-dove contests.
Shock waves in the solar wind and geomagnetic storms

Shock waves in solar wind and magnetic storms, deriving equations governing shock, ambient and driver gas velocities
Compact implementation of high-performance CMOS current mirror

A high-performance compact current mirror implementation with very low input resistance, very high output resistance, high copying accuracy, low input and output voltage supply requirements and high bandwidth is proposed. The circuit characteristics are validated with simulations in 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS technology and with experimental results.
The prevalence of emotional and cognitive dysfunction in a general medical population: Using the MMSE, GHQ, and BDI

The Mini Mental Status Examination, General Health Questionnaire-30, and Beck Depression Inventory were administered to 335 randomly selected hospitalized medical patients. Twenty-eight percent of the population had evidence of cognitive dysfunction on the Mini Mental Status Examination, 61% showed emotional dysfunction on the General Health Questionnaire-30, and 36% were depressed as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Only 29% of the patients had no evidence of emotional or cognitive dysfunction. Medical resident diagnostic concordance with these tests was poor. The effects of demographic variables on these test scores were also determined.
A simulation-based sensitivity study of radionuclide angiocardiographic approaches to shunt assessment☆

Abstract There are currently two popular approaches to RNA shunt assessment, the Stewart-Hamilton method and the gamma-variate method. The “goodness” of these methods is generally evaluated by regression analysis against oxygen-saturation data. This method of evaluation is at best uncertain (which variable is independent?), and at worst misleading. In this paper a computer-simulation model for evaluating the accuracy of RNA shunt assessment techniques is described. The model is based on a directed-graph representation of the central circulation, and continuous stochastic flow of tracer. Sensitivity analyses varying just the injection form for the RNA study and the transit time of the shunt loop indicate that RNA shunt assessment cannot yet be considered exact. Substantial variation, up to 10 or 20% of cardiac output, could easily result from repeated measurements on the same patient.
Remembering Anthony (Tony) Galt

Abstract Anthony Galt left us a legacy of important ethnographic work on Italy. This brief article is a personal remembrance of Tony the person, Tony the Italophile and Tony the scholar. It points to some of his most important anthropological contributions and to one of the major intellectual debates that he had with fellow Mediterraneanist Michael Herzfeld. Tony's contributions to the creation of an internet discussion group on the anthropology of Europe is also noted.
Measurement of the damping constant (the a-parameter) of several elements in several hydrogen and acetylene-oxygen flames using an absorption method

Abstract The a-parameter for twelve elements was experimentally determined from curves of growth prepared from absolute absorption measurements. Measurements in five different flame gas compositions were used in conjunction with a total-consumption aspirator-burner in this study. The method previously described by Hinnov and Kohn was used to determine the a-parameter from the curve of growth. The advantages of preparing curves of growth from absorption rather than emission measurements are discussed. Data for the absolute atom concentration, the atom formation efficiency factor, the total line width, and effective collisional cross section for each atom under investigation are also given.
The effect of the board and executive committee characteristics on the degree of internationalization

Abstract Many corporate governance observers agree that when firms encounter dramatically changed competitive environments, the board of directors may become involved in the strategy formation process. Based on Finkelstein and Hambrick’s (Finkelstein, S., Hambrick, D., 1996. Strategic leadership: top executives and their effects on organizations. West, Minneapolis, MN.) conceptual model, we examine the effects of the board of directors and executive committee characteristics on the degree of internationalization of the U.S. telecommunications industry during the 12 years after AT&T’s 1984 divestiture. We also examine the effects of the regulatory environment and core business growth on the degree on internationalization during this time. We find support linking executive committee characteristics and regulatory environment to the degree of internationalization. Characteristics of the entire board are consistently found to be insignificant.
SU‐E‐J‐150: Investigation of Feasibility of Concurrent Orthogonal KV and MV X‐Ray Imaging for Tagrget Tracking During Dose Delivery for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT): A Pilot Phantom Study

Purpose: To investigate feasibility of motion tracking using concurrent orthogonal kV and MV x‐ray images acquired during dose delivery for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).Method and Materials: The study was performed on a Varian TrueBeam treatment unit, which is equipped with research capability. The research capability allows users to program a procedure of treatment and imaging that are unavailable in conventional clinical environment. The concurrent orthogonal kV and MV x‐ray imaging is novel and provides 3‐dimentional spatial information in real‐time during radiation delivery. In this study, concurrent orthogonal kV and MV x‐ray imaging was programed to be part of 3D‐conformal SBRT delivery and are used for assessment on accuracy of traget motion tracking during radiation delivery. Two experiements were carried out on a CIRS dynamic thorax phantom with a built‐in BB as a tartget: one without motion; the other with motion in a sinusoidal profile with the motion amplitude of 16.0 mm. The motion trajectories acquired by the concurrent orthogonal kV and MV x‐ray imaging were compared against the references. In the work, the discrepancies were quantified using mean and standard deviation (SD). Results: The trajectory profiles acquired by the the concurrent orthogonal kV and MV x‐ray imaging show good agreement with references. A quantitative analysis shows that the average mean discrepancy between kV imaging and known references is 0.0+/−0.2 mm and 0.2+/−0.3 mm for stationary and sinusoidal motion conditions. Similarly, the average mean discrepancy between MV imaging and known references and MV is 0.1+/− 0.2 mm and 0.3+/−0.5 mm for stationary and sinusoidal motion conditions. Conclusion: The results indicate the concurrent orthogonal kV and MV x‐ray imaging can track motion and provide target targeting during radiation delivery with reasonable accuracy. Further work is required to investigate in arc mode and gating delivery mode.
Passionate Pioneers: The Story of Yiddish Secular Education in North America, 1910–1960

The secular Yiddish schools explored by Freidenreich, not including religious schools such as kheyders or yeshivas, reveal the deep desire to educate the Jewish immigrant youth who came to the U.S....
Geologic risk, economic assessment, and optimal decision making of petroleum plays in the Bohaiwan Basin, northern China

A system of play (trap) assessment based on the analysis of geological characteristics of five different types of petroleum plays in the Bohaiwan Basin, northern China, is proposed. The system makes use of conditional probability, fuzzy logic, and Monte Carlo simulation to assess geologic risk for estimating the undiscovered petroleum resources in a region. Combining the estimates of undiscovered resources with the subsequent economic evaluation of discovered resources by using techniques of optimization, the expected monetary value can be estimated to determine the overall benefits of an investment. A software program has been developed to carry out the calculations.
The possible role of thiosulfate in the precipitation of 34 S-rich barite in some Mississippi Valley-type deposits

The precipitation of extremely 34S-rich barite in the late stage of mineralization in the Mississippi Valleytype deposits of the Illinois-Kentucky district (U.S.A.) may be explained by reactions involving thiosulfate (S2O 3 = ). Inorganic processes are known to concentrate 34S in the sulfonate site of thiosulfate and 32S in the sulfate site. In the mineralizing solution, these inorganic processes may have fractionated sulfur between the two sites by about 40 per mil. At the low temperatures of the late barite stage of mineralization, bacteria are known to metabolize thiosulfate by various reactions. In one of these, dissimilatory reduction, hydrogen sulfide and sulfite are produced. Isotopically light sulfite is preferentially reduced to sulfide by bacteria to leave a residual sulfite enriched in 34S. Part of the residual sulfite may be oxidized to form isotopically heavy sulfate; part may recombine with hydrogen sulfide to form thiosulfate. The recombination also enriches the sulfonate site in 34S and the sulfane site in 32S. Recycling the newly formed thiosulfate through the above steps further enriches sulfite and sulfate from oxidation of sulfite in 34S. During genesis of the ores, the aggregate effect of these reactions may have been the precipitation of extremely 34S-rich barite. The sequence of reactions suggested above requires the presence of organic matter. Previously proposed reactions to account for the precipitation of sulfide minerals and fluorite and for the carbonate paragenesis also require the presence of organic matter. Thus, organic matter in the host rocks may cause the various ore-zone reactions and account for the localization of the ores.
Orientation of silk III at the air-water interface.

Abstract A threefold helical crystal structure of Bombyx mori silk fibroin has been observed in films prepared from aqueous silk fibroin solutions using the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The films were studied using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction techniques. Films prepared at a surface pressure of 16.7 mN/m have a uniaxially oriented crystalline texture, with the helical axis oriented perpendicular to the plane of the LB film. Films obtained from the air-water interface without compression have a different orientation, with the helical axes lying roughly in the plane of the film. In both cases the d -spacings observed in electron diffraction are the same and match a threefold helical model crystal structure, silk III, described in previous publications. Differences in the relative intensities of the observed reflections in both types of oriented samples, as compared to unoriented samples, allows estimations of orientation distributions and the calculations of orientation parameters. The orientation of the fibroin chain axis in the plane of the interfacial film for uncompressed samples is consistent with the amphiphilic behavior previously postulated to drive the formation of the threefold helical silk III conformation.
Serious adverse effects from single-use detergent sacs: Report from a U.S. statewide poison control system

AbstractBackground. In recent years, serious adverse effects to children from exposure to single-use detergents sacs (SUDS) have been recognized. While most exposures result in minor symptoms, there have been serious outcomes. This study aims to classify which types of serious outcomes follow SUDS exposures, and to assess, if possible, differences in toxicity between various SUDS products. Methods. An observational case series with data collected retrospectively was performed for cases of SUDS exposures reported to a statewide poison system's records database from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2013. Cases were identified and analyzed for clinical details and trends. A statewide database was queried for cases involving the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) product-specific codes for SUDS products using following search terms: laundry pods, the AAPCC product-specific codes for Tide Pods®, Purex Ultrapacks®, ALL Mighty Pacs®, and a unique agent code (AAPCC ID: 6903138; Generic: 077900) crea...
Wind, Water, and Wi-Fi: New Trends in Community Informatics and Disaster Management

In emergencies, information sharing among and between officials, volunteers, and citizens is essential for effective recovery and management. Recently, volunteers and others have been using community technology centers, community wireless networks, and end-user social technologies such as blogs and Wikis to prepare for emergencies and communicate and coordinate response when they happen. This article argues that there is a need for a research agenda that combines our knowledge of community informatics with the principles of disaster management to understand how social networks form and mobilize in disasters and how information and communication technologies should be designed and deployed to engage, inform, and mobilize those volunteer and citizen networks.
Inhibition of rat adrenal steroidogenesis by adenine containing compounds.

Abstract The succinate-supported synthesis of corticosterone from endogenous precursors in a cell-free system from rat adrenals is inhibited by ADP and ATP. The inhibition is observed at short incubation times followed by a recovery from the inhibition and it appears to be specific for adenine containing compounds. The inhibition by ADP(ATP) requires phosphate, is increased by the presence of glucose plus hexokinase and eliminated by the presence of atractyloside or phosphoenolpyruvate plus pyruvate kinase. The inhibition is also eliminated if ATP is added shortly after the start of the incubation or if succinate is replaced by isocitrate. The inhibition has been found to occur only at the 11β-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone and the inhibition of this reaction shares many of the properties of the inhibition of corticosterone synthesis from endogenous precursors. It is concluded that the inhibition may be attributed to a competition for reducing equivalents between the hydroxylase system and oxidative phosphorylation as well as a direct effect on the hydroxylase system.