cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A design technique for circularly symmetric low-pass filters

The design of two-dimensional (2-D) circularly-symmetric low-pass digital filters by cascading several rotated filters (a rotated filter is defined to be one produced by rotating a one-dimensional (1-D) continuous filter into a two-dimensional continuous filter which is in turn bilinearly transformed into a two-dimensional digital filter) is a well-known and useful technique. An alternate approach which is an extension of the above technique is presented. This new method is based on a spectral transformation from the one-dimensional discrete domain into the two-dimensional discrete domain. This approach retains most of the advantages of the original technique while permitting design entirely in the discrete domain, yielding filters with better stability characteristics, and facilitating frequency response optimization via nonlinear programming.
Perturbative approach to impurity states in anisotropic crystals

Abstract Two perturbative schemes have been developed to solve the anisotropic effective-mass Hamiltonian H = (p2x + p2y)/2mt + p2z/2m1 − e2/(Kr) for an impurity in a crystal. One is for the case mt/m1 ⪡ 1. A combination of an adiabatic approach with the usual power series expansion shows that the actual expansion parameter is (mt/ml) 1 3 rather than the (mt/ml) 1 2 that one might expect on intuitive ground. The other case is for mt ≈ ml. Good accuracy can be achieved by including terms of higher order in the expansion parameter ∥1 − mt/ml∥. Numerical examples are given.
Indirect Fourier Transform and Model Fitting of Small Angle Neutron Scattering from Silica Nanoparticles

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) patterns from spheroidal silica nanoparticles (〈 D 〉 = 27.5 nm) dispersed in water at volume fractions ranging from 0.01 to 0.315 were interpreted using model fitting and indirect Fourier transform methods. By modeling the effective structure factor using a two-Yukawa potential it was determined that the particles interact through weak long range attractive and shorter range repulsive inter-particle forces. For weakly-interacting particles (∼ 0.01 v/v) analysis of SANS patterns using a polydisperse spheres form factor is simple and accurate. However, we find that the indirect Fourier transform is a more robust method to calculate the radial distribution function for interacting particles over a broad range of particle concentrations.
Nociceptive thresholds following food restriction and return to free-feeding

Nine rats were placed on a restricted food diet for 14 days and nociceptive thresholds were measured by the tail-flick procedure. After 24 hr of food restriction nociceptive thresholds increased. This initial increase in nociceptive threshold was followed by a decrease in pain threshold on the second day of food restriction. Nociceptive thresholds returned to pre-deprivation levels on the remaining 11 days of food restriction. When the rats were given free access to food after 14 days of food restriction, nociceptive thresholds increased 24 hr after the reintroduction of food and decreased during the next 24 hr. Thus, the results of the present experiment demonstrate that both food restriction and a return to free feeding after 14 days of food restriction produced the same biphasic pattern of changes in nociceptive thresholds.
The Gas-Phase Kinetics of Reactions of Alkali Metal Atoms with Nitric Oxide

Time-resolved atomic resonance absorption spectroscopy was employed, with flash-photolysis generation of atomic potassium and sodium at 734 K, to investigate the kinetics of K + NO + Ar and Na + NO + Ar. The low-pressure limit recombination rate constants are (1.0 {+-} 0.2) x 10{sup {minus}31} and (1.9 and 0.5) x 10{sup {minus}32} cm{sup 6} molecule{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}, respectively. Mainly ionic, triplet state adducts are predicted. RRKM modeling yielded K-NO and Na-NO bond dissociation enthalpies of 104 and 66 kJ mol{sup {minus}1}, which compare well with UQCISD(T)/6-311+G(2d) ab initio values of 81 and 68 kJ mol{sup {minus}1}, respectively. For Li + NO + Ar, the predicted binding energy is 134 kJ mol{sup {minus}1}, which yields a predicted rate constant of 1.4 x 10{sup {minus}31} cm{sup 6} molecule{sup {minus}2} s{sup {minus}1}.
The evolving utility of intracoronary ultrasound.

Abstract We conclude that IVUS imaging has become a method for supporting interventional decision making in our laboratory. By selecting patients for IVUS imaging who are undergoing stent placement, DCA, and laser angioplasty, and who have coronary angiographic lesions of uncertain severity, there has been an increase in the clinical utility of IVUS imaging in our laboratory.
Nonlinguistic auditory capabilities in aphasia

Nonlinguistic auditory capabilities were assessed through psychophysical tests in 11 left-CVA aphasic, four right-CVA nonaphasic, and eight normal male subjects selected from the same age group. The tests included frequency discrimination, gap detection, gap discrimination, frequency sweep discrimination, assessment of the magnitude of the frequency uncertainty effect in the detectability of tones in noise, and assessment of frequency selectivity through simultaneous masked thresholds. Results of these tests were compared to measures of auditory comprehension obtained from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, the Porch Index of Communicative Ability, and the Token Test. Nonlinguistic auditory performance of the three subject groups differed significantly from each other. For the left-CVA subjects, frequency sweep discrimination, frequency discrimination, and the frequency uncertainty effect in tone-in-noise detection were the best predictors of verbal auditory comprehension. The right-CVA subjects displayed marked deficits with regard to all pitch-related tests. The findings stress the importance of considering the presence of nonlinguistic auditory dysfunctions when evaluating linguistic auditory capabilities in aphasia.
Fast constructive recognition of black box symplectic groups

Abstract We present an algorithm which, for any given black box group G isomorphic to Sp ( d , q ) , constructs explicit inverse isomorphisms between G and the standard copy of Sp ( d , q ) . We also report on the performance of an implementation of this algorithm in the group theory system GAP .
50 years ago The cautious recognition of the protein nature of some hormones

Abstract Professor Dorothea Raacke, Boston University, is well known for her research on protein hormones and on protein synthesis, starting at the University of California, Berkeley. She pioneered in studies of the function of ribosomes. More recently she has written extensively in the history of biology, and the lives of biologists.
Multicenter Surveillance of Invasive Meningococcal Infections in Children

OBJECTIVES. Meningococcal disease continues to result in substantial morbidity and mortality in children, but there is limited recent surveillance information regarding serogroup distribution and outcome in children in the United States. The objective of this study was to collect demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome information for infants and children who had Neisseria meningitidis infections of various serogroups and were cared for in 10 pediatric hospitals. METHODS. Investigators at each of the participating hospitals identified children with meningococcal infections and collected demographic and clinical information using a standard data form. Meningococcal isolates were sent to a central laboratory for serogrouping by slide agglutination and penicillin susceptibility. RESULTS. From January 1, 2001, through March 15, 2005, 159 episodes of systemic meningococcal infections were detected. The greatest numbers of children were younger than 12 months (n = 41) or were 12 to 24 months of age (n = 22). Meningitis was the most common clinical manifestation of disease accounting for 112 (70%) cases; 43 (27%) children had bacteremia only. Children who were younger than 5 years (17 of 102) were significantly less likely to require mechanical ventilation than children who were 5 to 10 years of age (12 of 24) or children who were older than 10 years (13 of 33). Overall, 55 (44%) isolates were serogroup B, 32 (26%) were serogroup C, and 27 (22%) were serogroup Y. All but 1 isolate (intermediate) were susceptible to penicillin. The overall mortality rate was 8% (13 of 159) but was greater for children who were ≥11 years of age (7 [21.2%] of 33) than for children who were younger than 11 years (6 [4.8%] of 126). Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss occurred in 14 (12.5%) of 112 children with meningitis. CONCLUSIONS. The morbidity and the mortality of meningococcal infections are substantial. With the recent licensure of meningococcal conjugate vaccines, our baseline trends in meningococcal disease can be compared with those seen after widespread vaccination to assess the success of routine immunization.
Electrochemical Insertion of Sodium into Carbon

Electrochemical insertion of sodium ions into carbon using solid polymer electrolytes or organic liquid electrolytes is described. Cells with the configuration Na/P(EO)sNaCF3SOJCP(EO) = polyethylene oxide) or Na/liquid electrolyte/C were galvanostatically discharged, charged, and cycled. The extent of insertion into C (Le., x in Na§ was found to be a strong function of the type and particle size of the carbon used, and the reversibility of the process was highly dependent upon the type of electrolyte used. The possibility of designing a sodium ion rocking chair cell is discussed, and a first-generation example, using a petroleum coke anode, polymer electrolyte, and sodium cobalt bronze cathode is described. Rocking chair batteries, in which both the anode and cathode are intercalation materials, have recently been commercialized. Because the anodes are commonly inexpensive carbons such as petroleum coke or graphite, reductive intercalation of lithium into these materials is now the subject of intense scrutiny] Similar sodium insertion reactions into carbons have been observed, 2 but have not yet been exploited for use in batteries. We now describe a preliminary study of these insertion reactions and discuss the possibility of developing a sodium ion cell analogous to the wellknown lithium ion systems. Experimental Conoco petroleum coke, Shawinigan black, and JohnsonMatthey microcrystalline graphite were either ground in an attritor mill or used as received after heat-treatment. Polymer electrolytes of composition P(EO)sNaCF3SO3 (PEO = polyethylene oxide) and composite cathodes containing the carbon of interest, PEO, and NaCF3SO3 were made as described previously. 3 Electrodes for use in cells with liquid electrolytes consisted of carbon and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) binder (2% by weight) and were vacuum dried prior to use. Battery-grade solvents from Mitsubishi Petrochemical Company were stored in an inert atmosphere glove box (02 < 1 ppm) and used as supplied. Sodium was purified as described previously?
Network structure and properties of platinum-catalyzed addition cure release coatings

Silicone-release coatings are used by the pressure-sensitive adhesive industry for labeling applications. Typical release coatings are prepared by the platinum-catalyzed addition reaction of a silicone hydride fluid with a silicone vinyl polymer. Methodology has been developed to determine the network structure of cured release coatings, which involves degradation of the network with trifluoromethane sulfonic acid in excess hexamethyldisiloxane. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography (GC) were employed to identify and quantify residual functionality and cross-links. Residual hydride functionality was also determined by attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATRFTIR). The observation of network structure by solid-state 29Si-NMR using cross polarization (CP) and magic angle spinning (MAS) is also discussed. The networks underwent a postcure as evidenced by a decrease in residual hydride functionality and an increase in silane content and/or cross-links. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A NEW SEARCH FOR A NEUTRON ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENT

The possible existence of a non-zero neutron electric dipole moment directly impacts our understanding of the nature of the electroweak and strong interactions. Experimental efforts over the past fifty years have increased the sensitivity to this very small quantity by eight orders of magnitude. An overview of a proposed experiment with the goal of a further two orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity to the level of 10-28 e-cm is presented. Progress towards the solution of various technical challenges associated with the experiment is discussed, and a timeline for the experiment is outlined.
EUS-FNA of Recurrent Postoperative Extraluminal and Metastatic Malignancy

Abstract Background EUS-guided FNA is safe and accurate for the diagnosis of benign or malignant neoplasia and lymphadenopathy; however, its role in the diagnosis of recurrent malignancy is not well described. Methods A prospectively updated EUS-guided FNA cytology database was used to identify patients in whom a diagnosis of postoperative, recurrent, extraluminal, or metastatic malignancy was made over a 5-year period. Only patients with a positive EUS-guided FNA were included in the analysis. All had undergone surgery for the primary malignancy and were in clinical and/or radiographic remission before the initial suspicion of tumor recurrence. Results Twenty-one patients underwent EUS-guided FNA of 21 lesions (19 masses, 2 lymph nodes) because of a suspicion of recurrent malignancy based on CT (n = 17) or EUS (n = 4) findings. Median time from the initial diagnosis to recurrence was 26 months (range 5–276 months). Lesions were located in the pancreas (9 patients), mediastinum (7), liver (3), perigastric region (1), and liver hilum (1). EUS-guided FNA (mean number of needle passes, 4.5; range 2–8) obtained diagnostic material for recurrent malignancy in all patients as follows: esophageal (6 patients), renal cell (6), pancreatic (2), breast (2), colon (2), bile duct (1), Ewing's sarcoma (1), and lung (1) cancer. No complication was encountered. Transgastric EUS-guided FNA (4 patients), distal, or transesophageal EUS-FNA (2) proximal to a surgical anastomosis was required to confirm recurrence in all 6 patients with esophageal cancer. The initial cytologic diagnosis of recurrent malignancy was made by EUS in 20 of 21 (95%) patients. One patient with recurrent breast cancer had CT-guided FNA of a right lung mass preceding EUS-guided FNA of an AP window lymph node. Conclusions EUS-guided FNA can detect and safely diagnose recurrent malignancy in the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and liver. When possible, correlation between EUS-guided FNA cytology and original tumor histopathology/cytology, or the use of immunostaining to confirm the diagnosis, is recommended. (Gastrointest Endosc 2003;58:542-8.):EUS-guided FNA is safe and accurate for the diagnosis of benign or malignant neoplasia and lymphadenopathy; however, its role in the diagnosis of recurrent malignancy is not well described.
Process mechanics in ball burnishing biomedical magnesium–calcium alloy

Magnesium–calcium (MgCa) alloys have received considerable attention recently in making biodegradable bone implants. However, the fast corrosion rate of MgCa materials imposes a challenging issue for clinical applications. Ball burnishing has emerged as a promising manufacturing alternative to tailor surface integrity of implants with the ultimate goal to increase their corrosion resistance. Ball burnishing mechanics is essential to understand the process. The process mechanics is further complicated by the normal force reduction due to unavoidable hydraulic pressure loss at the tip of the burnishing tool, and the penetration depth reduction due to elastic recovery of the workpiece material. In this study, the measured normal force shows a maximum 23 % reduction compared to theoretical value. The normal force drop is not uniform but increases with increasing applied pressure. A 2D axisymmetric and semi-infinite finite element analysis (FEA) model has been developed and validated to predict the amount of elastic recovery after burnishing. The dynamic mechanical behavior of the material is simulated using the internal state variable plasticity model and implemented in the FEA simulation using a user material subroutine. The simulated dent geometry agrees with the measured ones in terms of burnishing profile and depth. Simulation results suggest an 8 % elastic recovery on average. Acoustic emission signals are also recorded and the likely correlation with predicted residual stress, plastic strain, and temperature distributions are studied to achieve an in-process monitoring.
Influence of Female Hormonal State on Rhesus Sexual Behavior Varies with Space for Social Interaction

The sexual behavior of rhesus monkeys in 15 male-female pairings was observed in both a large and a small area during the follicular and luteal phases of the female's cycle. Males ejaculated in all tests at the follicular phase of the female's cycle and in 53 percent of tests at the luteal phase. However, a significant decline in ejaculation during tests at the luteal phase occurred in the large, but not in the small area. Thus the degree to which the pair's sexual behavior was influenced by the female's hormonal state depended on the spatial conditions of the test.
Clinical studies of intrathecal autologous lymphocyte infusions in patients with malignant glioma: A toxicity study

The feasibility and toxicity of intrathecal lymphoid cell infusions in patients with glioma were examined in this study. Blood rich in lymphoid cells was obtained using the Haemonetics Model 30 cell separator; the lymphoid cells extracted were further purified on Ficoll-Hypaque gradients. Four patients received a total of eighteen autologous lymphoid cell infusions, with between 1 X 10(6) and 5 X 10(9) lymphoid cells being infused on each occasion. No toxicity was observed, but the CSF glucose declined in 2 patients. In 1 patient examined at autopsy the lymphoid cells appeared to have gained access to the tumor bed as well as to the rest of the subarachnoid space.
ENGLISH IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF FRANCE

Author's summary.— A resume of the official instructions for the teaching of English in French Secondary Schools with a list of the authors and texts suggested for study.
Personal power systems

Abstract The lack of compact, efficient, human compatible, lightweight power sources impedes the realization of machine-enhanced human endeavor. Electronic and communication devices, as well as mobile robotic devices, need new power sources that will allow them to operate autonomously for periods of hours. In this work, a personal power system implies an application of interest to an individual person. The human-compatible gravimetric energy density spans the range from 500 to 5000 Wh/kg, with gravimetric power density requirements from 10 to 1000 W/kg. These requirements are the primary goals for the systems presented here. The review examines the interesting and promising concepts in electrochemical, thermochemical, and biochemical approaches to small-scale power, as well as their technological and physical challenges and limitations. Often it is the limitations that dominate, so that while the technology to create personal autonomy for communications, information processing and mobility has accelerated, similar breakthroughs for the systems powering these devices have not yet occurred. Fuel cells, model airplane engines, and hummingbird metabolism, are three promising examples, respectively, of electrochemical, thermochemical, and biochemical power production strategies that are close to achieving personal power systems' power demands. Fuel cells show great promise as an energy source when relatively low power density is demanded, but they cannot yet deliver high peak powers nor respond quickly to variable loads. Current small-scale engines, while achieving extraordinary power densities, are too inefficient to achieve the energy density needed for long-duration autonomous operation. Metabolic processes of flying insects and hummingbirds are remarkable biological energy converters, but duplicating, accelerating, and harnessing such power for mobility applications is virtually unexplored. These challenges are significant, and they provide a fertile environment for research and development.
Cylindrical coils near self-resonance

We present a model of birdcage resonator operation when the size of the resonator approaches a quarter wave length resulting in significant phase shifts along the current conducting elements. In the model resonators are treated as generalized trainsmission lines. Line termination determines whether the resonator is of the low pass or high pass type. The model correctly describes the dependence of resonant frequency on resonant mode number as well as the distribution of current along the length of the resonator.
Synthesis and Catalytic Activity of Amino Acids and Metallopeptides with Catalytically Active Metallocyclic Side Chains.

Two approaches to prepare amino acids with catalytically active organometallic side chains are presented. These methods are notable in that they provide access either free or N-protected compounds that are structurally analogous to naturally occurring amino acids. The N-protected organometallic amino acids are compatible with standard peptide coupling conditions and can be used to prepare catalytically active metallopeptides.
I, Me, Mine: Variations on the Theme of Selfness

Scholars have often speculated about the nature of the self. In this article I contend that there is no such mythical beast. Instead, I argue that there are likely a number of different mental subsystems that contribute to self-relevant behavior and to selfness. These subsystems contain different structures, reflect the operation of different processes, and may reflect different biological substrates. Accordingly, I contend that research and thinking about the self needs to be very clear about which aspect of selfness lies at their core. I suggest that such specificity is necessary for an orderly accumulation of knowledge in research that explores the topic of the self.
Receptor and non-receptor mediated uptake of chylomicron remnants by the liver

The uptake of chylomicron remnants by rodent liver is mediated by proteins residing on the microvillous surface of hepatocytes and occurs in two steps. First, initial removal of the remnants from the blood occurs through binding to the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor via apo E and to hepatic lipase via polar lipids and proteins on the remnant surface. Second, chylomicron remnants are taken up into the cell mainly by the LDL receptor and follow the classical receptor-mediated pathway of endocytosis. The LDL receptor-related protein (LRP), which binds weakly to chylomicron remnants via apo E, does not appear to have a significant role in the initial removal process. The remnant particles can, however, be enriched with proteoglycan-bound apo E present on hepatocytic microvilli, which increases their affinity for LRP to the extent that they are subject to endocytosis by this receptor, particularly when the LDL receptor is deficient or down-regulated. Hepatic lipase can also mediate binding of remnants to LRP, for which it has high affinity. Lipolysis of remnant lipids by hepatic lipase may promote but is not required for interaction of remnants with the endocytic receptors. Proteoglycan-bound hepatic lipase may also mediate endocytosis of chylomicron remnants independent of apo E, so that hepatic catabolism of these particles is not completely dependent upon this apoprotein. Available data from experiments in vivo thus indicate redundancy of both steps of hepatic uptake of chylomicron remnants, consistent with the centrality of this process in nutrient delivery.
Ecto-5-′-nucleotidase deficiency: Association with adenosine deaminase deficiency and nonassociation with deoxyadenosine toxicity

Abstract A patient with severe combined immunodeficiency due to adenosine deaminase deficiency was also found to be deficient in lymphocyte ecto-5′-nucleotidase activity. The ecto-5′-nucleotidase deficiency was probably secondary to the presence of predominantly immature lymphocytes. Three of eight lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from other patients with adenosine deaminase deficiency were also found to be deficient in ecto-5′-nucleotidase activity. None of these three adenosine deaminase and ecto-5′-nucleotidase-deficient lymphoblastoid cell lines exhibited increased sensitivity to growth inhibition by deoxyadenosine. Therefore, in contrast to previous reports, deoxyadenosine-mediated growth inhibition does not appear to be controlled by the activity of ecto-5′-nucleotidase.
Microbiological Characteristics of Enhancement Solutions

The objective of this study was to assess the survival of Escherichia coli K-12 in solutions of ingredients used for enhancing meat products and to evaluate the effect of potentially lethal temperatures. Enhancement solutions were prepared to contain water only (W); water + salt + phosphate (control, C); water + salt + phosphate + sodium lactate (SL); water + salt + phosphate + sodium acetate (SA); or water + salt + phosphate + lactate + diacetate (SLDA). The SLDA solution resulted in the highest log reduction of E. coli K-12 followed by SL. Heating solutions to 70 °C resulted in about a 4 log reduction, whereas heating to 60 °C produced about a 2 log reduction. For samples with an initial microbial load of 10 6 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, addition of SL and heating to 50 °C resulted in about a 2 log reduction, addition of SA gave 4.0 log reduction. The SLDA combination could allow for lower heating temperatures to achieve similar microbial reductions.
Analytical validation of a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction quantitation of different transcripts of the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (WT1).

Abstract Transcript variants of the same gene may play distinct functions in the tissue where they are expressed. Absolute quantitation of different transcript variants in malignant and normal tissues can address the specific role of each particular isoform in cancer development and progression. We have recently demonstrated differential expression of the wild-type Wilms’ tumor transcript (wtWT1) and a novel truncated WT1 transcript (trWT1) which lacks the first five exons of wtWT1, among human prostate cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer cell lines. Here we report the analytical validation of a real-time RT-PCR assay for the absolute quantitation of these two different WT1 transcripts with specific primers and probes that ensure specificity for each WT1 variant. By cloning each WT1 transcript in a T3 promoter-containing plasmid, we obtained two WT1 transcript-specific in vitro-generated RNA calibrators for absolute quantitation. Serial dilution of each RNA calibrator demonstrated a 5 log linear dynamic range (5×10 1 to 5×10 6 copies/reaction, R 2 =0.9963 for wtWT1 and R 2 =0.9993 for trWT1). Dilution of the calibrators in total RNA from 1×10 3 non-WT1-expressing cells showed a decreased sensitivity without affecting the linear dynamic range. Precision studies for values within the linear dynamic range showed a coefficient of variation of less than 4% for both transcripts. The described method provides a sensitive and reliable technique for quantitating different WT1 mRNA transcripts.
Reading between the lines: Object localization using implicit cues from image tags

Current uses of tagged images typically exploit only the most explicit information: the link between the nouns named and the objects present somewhere in the image. We propose to leverage “unspoken” cues that rest within an ordered list of image tags so as to improve object localization. We define three novel implicit features from an image's tags-the relative prominence of each object as signified by its order of mention, the scale constraints implied by unnamed objects, and the loose spatial links hinted at by the proximity of names on the list. By learning a conditional density over the localization parameters (position and scale) given these cues, we show how to improve both accuracy and efficiency when detecting the tagged objects. Furthermore, we show how the localization density can be learned in a semantic space shared by the visual and tag-based features, which makes the technique applicable for detection in untagged input images. We validate our approach on the PASCAL VOC, LabelMe, and Flickr image data sets, and demonstrate its effectiveness relative to both traditional sliding windows as well as a visual context baseline. Our algorithm improves state-of-the-art methods, successfully translating insights about human viewing behavior (such as attention, perceived importance, or gaze) into enhanced object detection.
Optical measurements on solvated electrons in pulse-irradiated liquid propane

Abstract A broad absorption spectrum with λ max ⩾ 2000 nm has been observed in pulse-irradiated liquid propane at low temperatures, and assigned to the solvated electron. The electron decays by geminate recombination with an initial half-life of ⩽ 95 nsec at −185°C.
Development of IgE in newborn human infants

Abstract Thirty-four maternal-neonatal pairs were skin tested with anti-IgE, and 18 of 34 babies were skin tested again with anti-IgE until they converted from negative to positive skin test reactions. Quantitation of serum IgE by a primary binding blocking technique was accomplished in 13 maternal-neonatal pairs and in some infants' sera during follow-up. Although human newborn skin will passively accept adult atopic serum and respond with a positive reaction to anti-IgE injections, there appears to be a delay (mean 21.7 days) before the baby's skin responds to anti-IgE with a positive wheal and flare reaction. The time of conversion from a negative to a positive skin test response was quite variable and bore no relationship to cord or follow-up serum IgE levels nor to atopic hereditary background. However, breastfed babies developed positive skin reactions to anti-IgE later than the group fed with cow's milk.
Reproducibility of single-subject fMRI language mapping with AMPLE normalization

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of presurgical functional MRI (fMRI) language mapping based on test–retest scans, comparing traditional activation t-maps to relative activation maps normalized by activation mapping as percentage of local excitation (AMPLE). Materials and Methods: Language fMRI scans were performed by 12 healthy volunteer subjects undergoing a standard clinical presurgical mapping protocol in multiple independent scan sessions. Objective relative AMPLE activation maps were generated automatically by normalizing statistical t-value maps to the local peak activation amplitude within each functional brain region. The spatial distribution of activation was quantified and compared across mapping algorithms, subjects, scanners, and pulse sequences. Results: The spatial distribution of traditional blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) t-value statistical activation maps was highly variable in test–retest scans of single subjects, whereas AMPLE normalized maps were highly reproducible in terms of the location, hemispheric laterality, and spatial extent of relative activation. AMPLE map reproducibility was good regardless of scanner, field strength, or pulse sequence used, but reproducibility was best for scans acquired on the same scanner using the same pulse sequence. Conclusion: Reproducibility of the spatial pattern of BOLD activation makes relative amplitude fMRI mapping a useful normalization tool for clinical imaging of language function, where reproducibility and quantitative measurements are critical concerns. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:569–580. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influences of Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium Trimetaphosphates on Dental Caries Activity in the Rat

The caries-inhibiting abilities of the following trimetaphosphates, Na3(PO3)3, NaCa(PO3)3·H2O, Na4Mg(PO 3)6·xH2O, and Ca3(P3O 9)2·10H2O, were compared when added at approximately equal phosphorus concentrations to a cariogenic diet for rats. Each of these four compounds was found to be equally capable of inhibiting carious lesions in the occlusal sulci.
A periodic moment method solution for TM scattering from lossy dielectric bodies with application to wedge absorber

The periodic moment method (PMM) solution for the scattering from two-dimensional lossy dielectric bodies is developed. The purpose is to design a microwave wedge absorber for low reflectivity so that one can improve the performance of anechoic chamber measurements. With PMM, the reflection and transmission coefficients of periodically distributed bodies illuminated by a plane wave have been accurately calculated using a Cray Y-MP supercomputer. Through these studies, some wedge absorber configurations have been designed, fabricated, and then tested in the OSU/ESL compact range measurement facility. Two 8-in commercial wedges, a curved wedge, and a four-layer wedge, were studied. In all cases, good agreement between calculations and measurements was obtained. >
Antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B: past, present, and future

A wide variety of agents has been used to treat chronic hepatitis B, but none has proved effective with the exception of interferon. Toxicity has been a major problem with some drugs whereas in others a lack of antiviral potency has been demonstrated. Alpha-interferon represents a good compromise because it has both immunomodulatory and antiviral properties; moreover, it is generally well tolerated. Loss of HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA may be anticipated in 40–50% of patients who are treated with doses of 5 million units daily or 10 million units thrice weekly for 16 weeks. While drug-related adverse effects occur commonly, the majority of clinically stable patients are able to tolerate this regimen, and withdrawal from drug is necessary in approximately 5% of patients. Unlike the situation with chronic hepatitis C, loss of viral replication tends to be sustained years later. Disappearance of HBsAg only occurs in 10–15% of treated patients within the first year after therapy, but an increasing number of responders demonstrate HBsAg seroconversion upon prolonged follow-up. Hepatitis B virus DNA usually disappears from serum by polymerase chain reaction at the time of HBsAg loss. Low copy numbers of residual viral DNA are still detectable in liver tissue at this time, but this has uncertain significance. Marked improvement in histological features has been observed years after loss of HBsAg. Pre-therapy levels of circulating viral DNA and aminotransferase activity, degree of histologic activity, and HIV status appear to influence the response to therapy. The majority of clinical trials in the United States and Western Europe have focused on clinically stable adults who are positive for HBeAg and hepatitis B virus DNA. However, more information is needed on other groups such as children or those with evidence of hepatic decompensation. Preliminary data indicate that patients with decompensated disease have a relatively high rate of response to interferon, but treatment is more likely to be associated with severe adverse experiences. A U.S. multicenter trial is currently examining the tolerability of a titrated, low-dose regimen. The immediate challenge is to find an effective therapy for the large number of non-responders. Several studies have shown that corticosteroid priming enhances efficacy in patients with relatively low pre-therapy alanine aminotransferase levels. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate other drug combinations with potentially additive or synergistic effects. The use of hepadnavirus-infected animals and HBV productive cell cultures to test antiviral agents are exciting developments that are likely to lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches.
59-Year-Old Man With Aphasia and Proteinuria.

59-year-old man with a medical history including hepatitis C, poorly controlled hypertension, tobacco use, peripheral arterial disease, type 2 diabetes mellitusrequiringinsulinwithalastrecordedhemoglobinA1cof12.3%, and hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplant in 1998 presented for a routine follow-up appointment. Of note, this patient was previously taking tacrolimus but had discontinued all immunosuppressive therapy 5 years previously. He had undergone computed tomography (CT) of his abdomen for routine surveillance after transplant, and the CT revealed circumferential thickening of the aorta as well as the great vessels of the aortic arch, concerning for giant cell arteritis. During the current routine evaluation, he was hypertensive with a blood pressure of 222/97 mm Hg. He also noted a 3-day history of intermittent aphasia and was referred to the emergency department for further evaluation.
Chimeric homeobox gene E2A-PBX1 induces proliferation, apoptosis, and malignant lymphomas in transgenic mice

Expression of the homeobox fusion gene E2A-PBX1 under control of the immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer efficiently induced malignancies in transgenic mice. All animals died before 5 months of age with lymphomas that demonstrated phenotypes consistent with transitional intermediate thymocytes (CD4+/CD8+/CD3med). E2A-PBX1 also markedly altered lymphoid development in pretumorous animals, reducing the number of thymocytes and bone marrow B lineage progenitors to 20% of normal levels. In spite of the observed reductions in lymphoid cells, premalignant animals contained significantly increased numbers of cycling thymocytes, but a higher proportion was also undergoing apoptosis, suggesting that increased cell death resulted in the marked lymphopenias. These data indicate that the chimeric homeodomain protein E2A-PBX1 paradoxically induces both proliferation and apoptosis in lymphoid cells, suggesting an in vivo association between nuclear oncogene-induced cell cycle progression and programed cell death.
Some Effects on Human Behavior of Aversive Events.

Two studies examined aggressive behavior in humans. In Expt 1, 10 adults working on a plunger pulling task could receive a 3.5 mA shock at 75% probability every two min. The shock was unrelated to their plunger pulling behavior. Subjects could press a toggle switch to deliver electric shock to the experimenter, who was visible to the subjects as an alleged observer. Three sessions in which no shock was delivered alternated with two sessions in which shock was delivered. In shock sessions subjects pressed the toggle switch and shocked the observer at an average rate more than nine times higher than in the non-shock sessions. In Expt 2, baselines of aggressive behavior were collected for three consecutive 120 or 90 min segments daily. The subjects were two children, and a single-subject repeated measures multiple baseline design was used. After approximately two weeks of baseline, a brief time-out was made contingent upon aggressive behavior which occurred in the first segment each day, and non-contingent time-outs roughly yoked to the time-outs in the first segment were delivered in the third segment each day. Other conditions included a return to baseline in all three time segments, responsecontingent time-out in the first segment with baselin conditions in the other two segments, response-contingent time-out in the first segment and the first hour of the second segment, with noncontingent time-out in the second hour of the second segment and in the third segment, and responsecontingent time-out in all three segments. Non-contingent time-out seemed to control an above baseline rate of aggressive behavior in the segments in which it was programmed, as well as in the segment adjacent to that in which it was programmed, and in which time-out was not programmed at all. Results were interpreted as replicating the animal laboratory findings relating non-contingent aversive stimulation to aggressive behavior. The specific controlling relationship in the latter case needs further analysis to be interpretable.
Histocompatibility (HL-A) antigens and lymphocytotoxic antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Comparison was made of HL-A phenotypes in 122 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 1289 ethnically matched controls. The only significant association was between the HL-A antigen HL-A5 and the presence of SLE in Black Americans. A similar trend in 40 Caucasian patients did not reach a level of statistical significance. No significant association was present between any HL-A antigen and clinical or laboratory manifestations of the disease. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were present in 36% of the patients and correlated with the presence of low total hemolytic complement and leukopenia.
Towards an Efficient and Extensible Grid-Based Data Storage Solution

The emergence of data-intensive applications in medical and other fields of study has created the need for increased storage space. It is often the case that these data should not or cannot be placed in the same domain. The data usually requires considerable computational power to process, which has inspired the area of Grid computing. This study proposes a new methodology for sharing storage volumes across distributed domains securely and making them accessible to all members of a grid. The proposed system was designed with the intent to integrate with the Globus Toolkit, which gives it the advantage of having useful features that are commonly necessary for data intensive applications.
The Neuroendocrinology of Social Isolation

Social isolation has been recognized as a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in humans for more than a quarter of a century. Although the focus of research has been on objective social roles and health behavior, the brain is the key organ for forming, monitoring, maintaining, repairing, and replacing salutary connections with others. Accordingly, population-based longitudinal research indicates that perceived social isolation (loneliness) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality independent of objective social isolation and health behavior. Human and animal investigations of neuroendocrine stress mechanisms that may be involved suggest that (a) chronic social isolation increases the activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical axis, and (b) these effects are more dependent on the disruption of a social bond between a significant pair than objective isolation per se. The relational factors and neuroendocrine, neurobiological, and genetic mechanisms that may contribute to the association between perceived isolation and mortality are reviewed.
In Reply: Metronidazole Use

We appreciate the thoughtful comments included in this letter about the possible toxicity of metronidazole and the efficacy of ampicillin for the treatment of nonspecific vaginitis. The concern about carcinogenicity is real, but metronidazole is still believed to be the drug of choice for the treatment of nonspecific vaginitis (NSV) with consistent cure rates of 80% to more than 90%. The data concerning carcinogenesis are not uniform. Studies in mice and rats fed the drug (as 0.05% to 0.06% of the bulk diet) have shown an increase in tumors, however, studies in hamsters have been negative.
Predictors of Moral Reasoning among African American Children: A Preliminary Study

This study examined the ways in which gender, empathy, and cultural orientation (communalism and competitive individualism) influence the moral judgments of urban fifth and eighth grade African Ame...
Abuse, Trauma, and GI Illness: Is There a Link?

Our understanding of the relationship of abuse and trauma history with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders has evolved over the last three decades. Although previously seen within a psychiatric context, ongoing studies continue to show that abuse can have multiple effects on GI symptoms, patient illness behaviors, and clinical outcomes. The prevalence of abuse history is greater among those who have more severe symptoms and who are seen in referral settings. Although abuse history may be present across all diagnostic categories, more severe abuse seems to occur in patients with functional GI disorders. The pathophysiological features that explain this association relate to stress-mediated brain-gut dysfunction and can range from altered stress-induced mucosal immune function to impaired ability of the central nervous system to downregulate incoming visceral or somatic afferent signals. For gastroenterologists and other health-care providers, it is important to understand when to inquire about an abuse history and what to do with that information. This is particularly relevant, as the data indicate that having a co-morbid abuse history leads to adverse health outcomes. Finally, there is growing evidence that centrally targeted interventions may have palliative effects on reducing symptoms, altering brain-gut dysregulation and structure, and improving the clinical outcome. This presentation tracks the history of our understanding of the effect of abuse and trauma on GI illness, provides the scientific rationale for this association, and offers guidelines as to when and how to inquire about this information and implement proper care for the patient. Language: en
Online Training of a Generalized Neuron with Particle Swarm Optimization

Neural networks are used in a wide number of fields including signal and image processing, modeling and control and pattern recognition. Some of the most common type of neural networks is the multilayer perceptrons and the recurrent neural networks. Most of these networks consist of large number of neurons and hidden layers, which results in a longer training time. A generalized neuron (GN) has a compact structure and overcomes the problem of long training time. Due to its simple structure and lesser memory requirements, the GN is attractive for hardware implementations. This paper presents the online training of a GN with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. A comparative study of the GN and the MLP online trained with PSO is presented for function approximations. The GN based identification of the static VAR compensator (SVC) dynamics in a 12 bus FACTS benchmark power system trained online with the PSO is also presented.
Innovative methods for monitoring perinatal health outcomes in cities and in smaller geographic areas.

OBJECTIVES: Monitoring health in small localities such as cities or local communities is important, because rates of adverse outcomes often vary widely by geographic area. This article explores the utility of CUSUM (cumulative summation), a method developed and refined in industry, for monitoring health outcomes in cities and smaller geographic areas. METHODS: CUSUM monitoring methods were applied to rates of late or no prenatal care initiation and very low birthweight for the city of Baltimore as a whole and for a cluster of high-risk areas within the city. The performance of supplementary runs criteria was also assessed. The ability of both methods to flag significant increases or decreases in prenatal care initiation and very low birthweight rates was assessed. RESULTS: CUSUM and runs criteria detected most significant rate changes. The 2 methods performed better in regard to outcomes with higher prevalence and in larger geographic areas. CONCLUSIONS: CUSUM methods are convenient and reliable for use i...