cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjunctive Use of a Standardized Extract of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to Treat Symptom Exacerbation in Schizophrenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Objective To determine if adjunctive treatment with a standardized extract of Withania somnifera (WSE), with known anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties, improves psychopathology and stress in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-IV-TR). Methods Patients experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms were assigned to WSE (1,000 mg/d) or placebo for 12 weeks, added to their antipsychotic medication, in a random-assignment, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted from April 2013 to July 2016. Primary outcomes were change from baseline to end of treatment on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS total, positive, negative, and general symptoms) between treatment groups. Secondary outcomes evaluated stress and inflammatory indices using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Results Sixty-six randomized patients (n = 33 per group) provided efficacy data. Beginning at 4 weeks and continuing to the end of treatment, WSE produced significantly greater reductions in PANSS negative, general, and total symptoms (Cohen d: 0.83, 0.76, 0.83), but not positive symptoms, when compared to placebo. PSS scores improved significantly with WSE treatment compared to placebo (Cohen d: 0.58). CRP and S100B declined more in the WSE group but were not significantly different from placebo. Adverse events were mild to moderate and transient; somnolence, epigastric discomfort, and loose stools were more common with WSE. No significant between-treatment differences were noted in body weight, vital signs, or laboratory measures, which remained stable. Conclusions This early study suggests that adjunctive treatment with a standardized extract of Withania somnifera provides significant benefits, with minimal side effects, for negative, general, and total symptoms and stress in patients with recent exacerbation of schizophrenia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01793935.
Hospital readmission rates are similar between patients with mechanical versus bioprosthetic aortic valves.

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate hospital readmission rates and clinical outcomes between bioprosthetic (bAVR) and mechanical (mAVR) aortic valve replacements (AVR). Methods Adults aged 50 years or older undergoing isolated or concomitant AVR between 2011 and 2017 were included. The primary outcome was 5-year hospital readmission. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk-adjusted impact of bAVR versus mAVR on outcomes. Results A total of 2981 patients were included: 406 (14%) mAVR and 2575 (86%) bAVR. Mean follow-up was 2.9 ± 1.9 years. Operative mortality was comparable (4% bAVR vs 3% mAVR; P = 0.30). There was no risk-adjusted difference in 30-day (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, P = 0.46), 1-year (HR 1.17, P = 0.52), or 5-year mortality (HR 0.99, P = 0.93). Aortic valve 5-year reoperation rates were comparable (1%, P = 0.32). Risk-adjusted hospital readmissions were similar at 30 days (14% vs 15%; P = 0.63), 1 year (30% vs 27%; P = 0.43), and 5 years (55% vs 53%; P = 0.83) in the bAVR and mAVR groups, respectively. Similar findings were demonstrated when evaluating readmissions for bleeding (5-year readmission: 8% bAVR vs 10% mAVR; P = 0.36). Conclusions In this analysis of over 2900 AVRs, readmissions within 5 years were comparable between groups at approximately 50%, with patients being at highest risk in the early postdischarge period. Readmissions for bleeding constituted a minority of all readmissions for both cohorts.
Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatments for Unicompartmental Knee Arthritis: A Markov Model.

Background There has been increased utilization of surgical options for the treatment of end-stage unicompartmental arthritis in patients at both extremes of the age spectrum. The purpose of this study was to determine how these changing paradigms affected the lifetime cost-effectiveness of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), and nonsurgical treatment (NST). Methods Using a Markov decision analytic model, we assessed how lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) vary as a function of age at the time of initial treatment (ATIT) of patients with end-stage unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis undergoing TKA, UKA, and NST. Separate models were estimated for ATITs at 5-year intervals from 40 through 90 years. Direct medical costs, QALYs, and transition probabilities were determined from the published literature. Indirect costs (lost wages, Social Security disability collections, and value of missed workdays) were calculated. Cost-effectiveness and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each treatment at each ATIT. The model assumed no crossover from NST to UKA or TKA. ICERs were compared with a willingness-to-pay threshold of 50,000 U.S. dollars, and a 1-way sensitivity analysis was used to assess the robustness of ICER-based treatment decisions. Societal savings were estimated. Results In the base-case model, surgical treatments were less expensive and provided a greater number of QALYs than NST from 40 to 69 years of age. From 70 years of age and onward, surgical treatments remained cost-effective compared with NST, with ICERs remaining below the societal willingness-to-pay threshold. When surgical treatments were compared, UKA dominated TKA for all ATITs. The preferential use of UKA in all U.S. patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis would result in an estimated lifetime societal savings of 987 million to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars per annual wave of patients undergoing treatment. Conclusions In this preliminary assessment, recent expansion of surgical treatments into younger and older age demographics appears to be cost-effective in the setting of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. Our findings suggest that NST should be used sparingly in patients below the age of 70 years and UKA should be chosen over TKA in order to maximize cost-effectiveness. Level of evidence Economic and decision analysis Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Nocturnal Hypoxia Activation of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Affects Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Severity.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia and hedgehog (Hh) pathway dysregulation are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression. In this study, we determined the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)/nocturnal hypoxia and Hh signaling in pediatric NAFLD. Adolescents with histologic NAFLD (n = 31) underwent polysomnogram testing, laboratory testing, and Sonic Hh (SHh), Indian hedgehog (IHh), glioblastoma-associated oncogene 2 (Gli2), keratin 7 (K7), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) immunohistochemistry. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) correlated with SHh, r = 0.64; Gli2, r = 0.4; α-SMA, r = 0.55; and K7, r = 0.45 (P < 0.01), as did alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (SHh, r = 0.51; Gli2, r = 0.43; α-SMA, r = 0.51; P < 0.02). SHh correlated with NAFLD activity score (r = 0.39), whereas IHh correlated with inflammation (r = -0.478) and histologic grade (r = -0.43); P < 0.03. Subjects with OSA/hypoxia had higher SHh (4.0 ± 2.9 versus 2.0 ± 1.5), Gli2 (74.2 ± 28.0 versus 55.8 ± 11.8), and α-SMA (6.2 ± 3.3 versus 4.3 ± 1.2); compared to those without (P < 0.03). OSA severity correlated with SHh (r = 0.31; P = 0.09) and Gli2 (r = 0.37; P = 0.04) as did hypoxia severity, which was associated with increasing SHh (r = -0.53), Gli2 (r = -0.52), α-SMA (r = -0.61), and K7 (r = -0.42); P < 0.02. Prolonged O2 desaturations <90% also correlated with SHh (r = 0.55) and Gli2 (r = 0.61); P < 0.05. Conclusion: The Hh pathway is activated in pediatric patients with NAFLD with nocturnal hypoxia and relates to disease severity. Tissue hypoxia may allow for functional activation of HIF-1α, with induction of genes important in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, including SHh, and NAFLD progression.
Convection heat transfer with internal heat generation in porous media: Implementation of thermal lattice Boltzmann method

AbstractEvaluation of lattice parameters for convection heat transfer in porous media with internal heat generation from physical and macroscale properties was described. A hierarchical process was...
Participation in Part C Early Intervention: One Key to an Earlier Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Objective To determine whether participation in a state early intervention program is associated with reduction in the age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Study design State agency, Medicaid, and Census data were integrated for children with ASD enrolled in a Medicaid waiver between February 2007 and March 2015 (N = 1613). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the relationship between participation in a state early intervention program and their age of diagnosis of ASD. Results The model explained 34% of variation in age of diagnosis (F[17,1595] = 49.20, P Conclusions Although conducted in only 1 state, this study suggests that participation in early intervention programs may be instrumental in earlier diagnosis of ASD. These findings underscore the importance of identifying children who qualify for early intervention programs, the value of encouraging childhood professionals (eg, early care providers and educators) to refer given documented barriers to pediatrician referral, and the need for research that identifies the mechanisms by which programs may promote earlier diagnosis (eg, service coordination, parent support).
Peoples, Nations, and Communication

Social scientists have collected a vast number of facts on the changing alignment of individuals in peoples, national cultures, and national political movements. We know that these problems are important, that even experienced statesmen have often seriously misjudged them, and that we need to understand them better. But what is meant by understanding?
Dynamics of Physicians' Trust in Fellow Health Care Providers and the Role of Health Information Technology

Physicians are expected and incentivized to coordinate patient care with other providers, including nonphysician clinician (NPC) members of care teams, requiring trust. Trust in the context of care teams has not been well-studied; even less is known about how health information technologies (HIT) may modify trust in these relationships. We conducted semistructured interviews with 30 physicians at a Midwestern academic center to examine how physicians determine they can trust NPCs, and how technology modifies these relationships. A majority of physicians base trust in NPCs on cognitive factors such as competence and reliability. Technology enhances trust between physicians and NPCs by supporting evidence-based decision making; it can also erode trust by limiting opportunities for developing familiarity and comfort with fellow providers. Our work has implications for enhancing HIT to promote trust between providers, and for developing more robust measures of trust that can be used in evaluating and improving teamwork within practices.
Controls on and consequences of specific leaf area variation with permafrost depth in a boreal forest

Specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per unit dry mass) is a key canopy structural characteristic, a measure of photosynthetic capacity, and an important input into many terrestrial process models. Although many studies have examined SLA variation, relatively few data exist from high latitude, climate-sensitive permafrost regions. We measured SLA and soil and topographic properties across a boreal forest permafrost transition, in which forest composition changed as permafrost deepened from 54 to >150 cm over 75 m hillslope transects in Caribou-Poker Creeks Research Watershed, Alaska. We characterized both linear and threshold relationships between topographic and edaphic variables and SLA and developed a conceptual model of these relationships. We found that the depth of the soil active layer above permafrost was significantly and positively correlated with SLA for both coniferous and deciduous boreal tree species. Intraspecific SLA variation was associated with a fivefold increase in net primary production, suggesting that changes in active layer depth due to permafrost thaw could strongly influence ecosystem productivity. While this is an exploratory study to begin understanding SLA variation in a non-contiguous permafrost system, our results indicate the need for more extensive evaluation across larger spatial domains. These empirical relationships and associated uncertainty can be incorporated into ecosystem models that use dynamic traits, improving our ability to predict ecosystem-level carbon cycling responses to ongoing climate change.
Microglia depletion rapidly and reversibly alters amyloid pathology by modification of plaque compaction and morphologies.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prominent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ)-containing extracellular plaques, accompanied by a microglial-mediated inflammatory response, that leads to cognitive decline. Microglia perform many disease-modifying functions such as phagocytosis of plaques, plaque compaction, and modulation of inflammation through the secretion of cytokines. Microglia are reliant upon colony-stimulating factor receptor-1 (CSF1R) activation for survival. In AD mouse models, chronic targeted depletion of microglia via CSF1R antagonism attenuates plaque formation in early disease but fails to alter plaque burden in late disease. It is unclear if acute depletion of microglia during the peak period of plaque deposition will alter disease pathogenesis, and if so, whether these effects are reversible upon microglial repopulation. To test this, we administered the CSF1R antagonist PLX5622 to the 5XFAD mouse model of AD at four months of age for approximately one month. In a subset of mice, the drug treatment was discontinued, and the mice were fed a control diet for an additional month. We evaluated plaque burden and composition, microgliosis, inflammatory marker expression, and neuritic dystrophy. In 5XFAD animals, CSF1R blockade for 28 days depleted microglia across brain regions by over 50%, suppressed microgliosis, and reduced plaque burden. In microglial-depleted AD animals, neuritic dystrophy was enhanced, and increased diffuse-like plaques and fewer compact-like plaques were observed. Removal of PLX5622 elicited microglial repopulation and subsequent plaque remodeling, resulting in more compact plaques predominating microglia-repopulated regions. We found that microglia limit diffuse plaques by maintaining compact-like plaque properties, thereby blocking the progression of neuritic dystrophy. Microglial repopulation reverses these effects. Collectively, we show that microglia are neuroprotective through maintenance of plaque compaction and morphologies during peak disease progression.
Radiative Pion Capture and Charged Photo-Pion Production in the Threshold Region

There are three experiments in the history of this subject up to the Santa Fe Conference (1975) which might be taken as benchmarks from which to view the many results of the past two years, (i) There is the measurement in 1950 with a pair spectrometer by Panofsky et al. 1) of what is now called the Panofsky ratio, which opened the field of radiative pion capture. In the past year this ratio was measured with Nal crystals for 1H, 2H, 3He, and 6Li with highest accuracy and a new level of sensitivity to rare π0, s. (ii) In 1970 there was the measurement of 12C(π-, γ) 12B by Crowe et al. 2) which showed sharp lines in the photon spectrum near 125 MeV and thereby demonstrated nuclear structure sensitivity. In the past two years the spectroscopy of high energy photons was pushed to 0. 9 MeV (FWHM) and applied to nuclei from throughout the periodic table with many new levels resolved. Moreover, high resolution γ spectra in coincidence with 2p → 1s pionic X-rays were obtained.
Winning the Game of Thrones: Leadership Succession in Modern Autocracies:

Under what conditions can dictatorships manage peaceful leadership transitions? This article argues that constitutional succession rules are critical for modern dictatorships, contrary to the predo...
Allocating COVID-19 Vaccines: Save One for the Second Dose?

The two main COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S. are typically administered in two doses, with a prescribed number of weeks separating the two doses. Because of uncertainty in vaccine supply, many vaccination centers are saving doses in inventory to ensure on-time second doses. However, saving doses in inventory slows the administration of first doses and potentially delays completing the vaccination of the target population. In this paper, we use a mathematical model to explore the performance of policies to manage the administration of first and second doses in the face of supply uncertainty. The structure of the model suggests simple ``set-aside'' policies that reserve doses for second doses that are due in the coming weeks. For example, using parameters based on data collected from a hospital-run vaccination center, we recommend that each week: (i) the vaccination center should complete all second doses due, if possible, and (ii) if doses remain, they should set aside vaccine for second doses scheduled for the following one to two weeks. Any doses beyond this should be used for first doses. A policy that ensures no second doses will be delayed appears to be overly conservative. In our experiments, the performance of the recommended set-aside policy is close to a bound generated by the optimal allocation given perfect information about vaccine supply; this set-aside policy is thus nearly optimal given uncertainty in supply. We also show that set-aside policies perform well for larger-scale vaccination centers and centers with supply parameters based on state-level data. Finally, we use the model to quantify the value of reducing the variability and uncertainty in vaccine supply.
Standard source for skin type clinical thermometers

A portable standard source for skin type clinical thermometers was developed at CMS for fulfilling industrial and medical demands. It contains a modified a high quality blackbody with large size opening aperture which with large heat capacity and high emissivity. The blackbody is surrounded with heaters and the walls provide good heat conduction. In addition; the horizontal type blackbody was also restricting any excessive air convection. The temperature was measured with thermistors which were calibrated according to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). The blackbody was designed at two fixed temperature points (38 °C and 30 °C). The long term temperature stability of the portable blackbody for two hour at 38 °C is ±0.0007 °C and at 30 °C is ±0.0011 °C which operation ambient temperature was within (22 + 1) °C. The emissivity of the blackbody is designed at 0.95. For converging factor (k) equals to 2, the uncertainties of the whole standard blackbody system, without device-under-test (DUT), at 30 °C and 38 °C are 0.046 °C and 0.059 °C, respectively, which were also traceable to ITS-90.
Corrosion Assessment Of Mechanically Formed Aluminized Steel

Ribbed steel pipes made of Type 2 aluminized steel are commonly used for culverts, which are required to have long service life. However, early corrosion of aluminized steel pipes has been recently observed in some inland locations. Fabrication of sharp bends might cause aluminized coating fissures leading to early corrosion. The extent of brittle failure of the inner, intermetallic aluminized layer as function of simple bending radius was quantified. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to measure corrosion rate of both formed and flat aluminized steel samples in simulated natural waters. Initial findings show that specimens formed by spherical indentation were susceptible to early corrosion development in moderately aggressive simulated natural water, but less so in a more benign, precipitating simulated natural water solution.
Diverse Deformation Patterns of Aleutian Volcanoes from Satellite Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR)

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is capable of measuring ground-surface deformation with centimeter-to-subcentimeter precision at a spatial resolution of tens of meters over a large region. With its global coverage and all-weather imaging capability, InSAR has become an increasingly important measurement technique for constraining magma dynamics of volcanoes over remote regions such as the Aleutian Islands. The spatial distribution of surface deformation data derived from InSAR images enables the construction of detailed mechanical models to enhance the study of magmatic processes. This paper summarizes the diverse deformation patterns of the Aleutian volcanoes observed with InSAR. These include the following: 1) inflation of Mount Peulik Volcano preceding a seismic swarm at nearby Becharof Lake in 1998; 2) persistent volcano-wide subsidence at Aniakchak and Fisher Volcanoes; 3) magmatic intrusion and associated tectonic stress release at Akutan Volcano; 4) magmatic intrusion at Makushin Volcano associated with a small eruption in 1995; 5) complex patterns of transient deformation during and after the 1992-93 eruption at Seguam Volcano; 6) subsidence caused by a decrease in pore fluid pressure in an active hydrothermal system beneath Kiska Volcano; and 7) lack of expected deformation associated with recent eruptions at Shishaldin, Pavlof, Cleveland, and Korovin Volcanoes. We also present preliminary InSAR results for the Katmai Volcano group, and Chiginagak and Dutton Volcanoes. These studies demonstrate that deformation patterns and associated magma supply mechanisms in the Aleutians are diverse and vary between volcanoes. These findings provide an improved understanding of magmatic plumbing systems in the Aleutians.
Study of curing mechanism of epoxy/phenolic system for underfill applications

Underfill technology has been adopted for high reliability in flip-chip on organic board. The epoxy/phenolic resin system is a potential candidate underfill. The curing mechanism of the epoxy/phenolic system is studied using the differential scanning calorimeter and temperature controlled Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The effect of hardener and catalyst type and the catalyst concentration on the curing mechanism is investigated. It is found that 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene has the tendency to catalyze condensation reaction within hydroxyl groups at high temperature during curing. It can be a potential concern in no-flow underfill applications when the resin undergoes high temperature reflow.
Thin film Diamond Microstructure Applications

Selective deposition and abrasion, as well as etching in atomic oxygen or reduced-pressure air, have been used to prepare patterned polycrystalline diamond films which, on further processing by anisotropic Si etching, yield the microstructures of such devices as flow sensors and accelerometers. Both types of sensor have been experimentally tested in the respective functions of hot-wire anemometer and both single- and double-hinged accelerometer.
Axon resealing following transection takes longer in central axons than in peripheral axons: implications for axonal regeneration.

Abstract Injury to axons in the CNS leads to little regenerative repair and loss of function. Conversely, injury to axons in the PNS results in vigorous regrowth of severed axons, usually with restoration of function. This difference is generally attributed to a CNS environment that either cannot support or actively inhibits regeneration and/or a failure of CNS neurons to survive axotomy. One of the earliest responses of neurons to axotomy is the resealing of cut axons. A delay in resealing could affect a neuron's ability to survive axotomy and to regenerate a new axon. In the present experiments, using a dye exclusion technique, we demonstrate that following transection of a peripheral sensory nerve, axons reseal within 8–10 h, whereas following optic nerve transection complete resealing does not occur for more than 20 h. These results show that resealing of cut axons in a CNS environment is significantly delayed compared with axons in the PNS and suggest that this could contribute to the failure of CNS neurons to regenerate following injury.
A tree-ring based late summer temperature reconstruction (AD 1675–1980) for the northeastern Mediterranean

This article presents a late summer temperature reconstruction (AD 1675–1980) for the northeastern Mediterranean (NEMED) that is based on a compilation of maximum latewood density tree-ring data from 21 high-elevation sites. This study applied a novel approach by combining individual series from all sites into one NEMED master chronology. This approach retains only the series with a strong and temporally robust common signal and it improves reconstruction length. It further improved the regional character of the reconstruction by using as a target averaged gridded instrumental temperature data from a broad NEMED region (38–45°N, 15–25°E). Cold (e.g. 1740) and warm (e.g. 1945) extreme years and decades in the reconstruction correspond to regional instrumental and reconstructed temperature records. Some extreme periods (e.g. cold 1810s) reflect European-wide or global-scale climate conditions and can be explained by volcanic and solar forcing. Other extremes are strictly regional in scope. For example, 1976 was the coldest NEMED summer over the last 350 years, but was anomalously dry and hot in northwestern Europe and is a strong manifestation of the summer North Atlantic Oscillation (sNAO). The regional NEMED summer reconstruction thus contributes to an improved understanding of regional (e.g. sNAO) vs. global-scale (i.e. external) drivers of past climate variability. DOI: 10.2458/azu_rc.56.18323 ( Radiocarbon ) DOI: 10.3959/1536-1098-70.3.69 ( Tree-Ring Research )
Dependence of the primary normal-stress difference coefficient on molecular weight for concentrated solutions of rodlike molecules

The primary normal-stress difference has been measured for concentrated solutions of rodlike and flexible chain polyamides. The solutions studied here consist of poly-p-phenyleneterephthalamide (PPT) which is believed to be rodlike in 100% H2SO4 and the flexible chain polyamide, polyhexamethylene adipamide (nylon 6.6), which is also dissolved in 100% sulfuric acid. For the PPT solutions the primary normal-stress difference coefficient in the limit of zero shear rate (ψ 1(0)) is observed to be proportional toM 12.9 whereM w is the weight average molecular weight. For concentrated solutions of nylon 6.6,ψ 1(0) is found to be proportional toM 7.6 which is in reasonable agreement with values reported for other flexible chain polymers. These data point out that there are some interesting differences in the primary normal stress differences for rodlike and flexible chain polymers and at the same time provide support of the recent theoretical predictions ofDoi andEdwards for concentrated solutions of entangled rodlike molecules.
Influence of spinal cord transection on spinal cord blood flow in rats

Abstract 1. 1. [14C] antipyrine accumulation in the spinal cord lumbosacral enlargement of rats with cervical or thoracolumbar cord transection and its accumulation in the enlargement of normotensive and hypotensive rats without cord transection was compared. 2. 2. Overall, the pattern of antipyrine rise and fall in the first 15 min interval after intravenous injection of the compound was similar in all four groups of animals. 3. 3. The results indicate that spinal cord blood flow is qualitatively similar under the experimental conditions studied and thus drugs having physiochemical properties similar to antipyrine would be similarly distributed in the different preparations investigated.
DECREASE IN SWEAT SODIUM CHLORIDE CONCENTRATIONS ON LIMITED DIETS

Serial analyses of sweat NaCl concentrations by iontophoresis in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) commonly show unexplained fluctuations. Some children with previously normal values subsequently develop elevated levels. Some allergic children have values in the high normal range during acute respiratory or gastrointestinal infections and these levels decrease upon recovery. We have measured serially sweat NaCl levels in 22 children with chronic intestinal problems and/or chronic pulmonary disease who had had sweat Cl− concentrations greater than 60 mEq/L. Tests were done before and after periods of 2-13 days on an elemental diet, Vivonex, 1800-2400 cal/day with 2-3 gm Nad/day, and after varying periods on diets excluding foods to which children are commonly sensitive. Daily NaCl intake was kept in a similar range on all diets. Seven of 22 had a striking decrease in sweat Cl− to normal (range 13-60 mEq/L) on one or more diets. (The one patient with a low value of 60 mEq/L had levels on other diets over 100 mEq/L.) Three of these had initial values of 80, 84 and 85 mEq/L. In 4 patients normal concentrations persisted weeks to months while on a limited diet. Four of the 7 were shown by complement (C3) alteration following food challenges to be sensitive to foods. These results support the concept that all children with elevated sweat Cl− levels do not have CF and suggest that sweat NaCl concentrations may be a function of diet composition even when salt intake is kept constant.
COENZYME Q AND PHENYLKETONURIA.

INVESTIGATIONS by Olson's group1,2 of the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q9 (ubiquinone-45) in the rat have shown that phenylalanine is a metabolic precursor of the benzoquinoid ring of coenzyme Q. Presumably, hydroxylation of phenylalanine to yield tyrosine would be an intermediate step in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q (ref. 3). If tyrosine is such an obligatory intermediate, the question is raised whether a deficiency of coenzyme Q may occur in phenylketonuria, since impairment of the hydroxylation of phenylalanine to tyrosine in this disease has been demonstrated4.
Migration of Radioactive Wastes: Radionuclide Mobilization by Complexing Agents

Ion exchange, gel filtration chromatography, and gas chromatographymass spectrometry analyses have demonstrated that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), an extremely strong complexing agent commonly used in decontamination operations at nuclear facilities, is causing the low-level migration of cobalt-60 from intermediate-level liquid waste disposal pits and trenches in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory burial grounds. Because it forms extremely strong complexes with rare earths and actinides, EDTA or similar chelates may also be contributing to the mobilization of these radionuclides from various terrestrial radioactive waste burial sites around the country.
THE AXON HILLOCK AND THE INITIAL SEGMENT

Axon hillocks and initial segments have been recognized and studied in electron micrographs of a wide variety of neurons. In all multipolar neurons the fine structure of the initial segment has the same pattern, whether or not the axon is ensheathed in myelin. The internal structure of the initial segment is characterized by three special features: (a) a dense layer of finely granular material undercoating the plasma membrane, (b) scattered clusters of ribosomes, and (c) fascicles of microtubules. A similar undercoating occurs beneath the plasma membrane of myelinated axons at nodes of Ranvier. The ribosomes are not organized into Nissl bodies and are too sparsely distributed to produce basophilia. They vanish at the end of the initial segment. Fascicles of microtubules occur only in the axon hillock and initial segment and nowhere else in the neuron. Therefore, they are the principal identifying mark. Some speculations are presented on the relation between these special structural features and the special function of the initial segment.
Renormalization of the one-loop theory of fluctuations in polymer blends and diblock copolymer melts.

Attempts to use coarse-grained molecular theories to calculate corrections to the random-phase approximation (RPA) for correlations in polymer mixtures have been plagued by an unwanted sensitivity to the value of an arbitrary cutoff length, i.e., by an ultraviolet (UV) divergence. We analyze the UV divergence of the inverse structure factor ${S}^{\ensuremath{-}1}(k)$ predicted by a ``one-loop'' approximation similar to that used in several previous studies. We consider both miscible homopolymer blends and disordered diblock copolymer melts. We show, in both cases, that all UV divergent contributions can be absorbed into a renormalization of the values of the phenomenological parameters of a generalized self-consistent field theory (SCFT). This observation allows the construction of an UV convergent theory of corrections to SCFT phenomenology. The UV-divergent one-loop contribution to ${S}^{\ensuremath{-}1}(k)$ is shown to be the sum of (i) a $k$-independent contribution that arises from a renormalization of the effective $\ensuremath{\chi}$ parameter, (ii) a $k$-dependent contribution that arises from a renormalization of monomer statistical segment lengths, (iii) a contribution proportional to ${k}^{2}$ that arises from a square-gradient contribution to the one-loop fluctuation free energy, and (iv) a $k$-dependent contribution that is inversely proportional to the degree of polymerization, which arises from local perturbations in fluid structure near chain ends and near junctions between blocks in block copolymers.
Negative refraction in Cr doped Indium Oxide in the mid-infrared region

Summary form only given. The magnetic semiconductor, Indium Oxide doped with Chromium (In2-xCrxO3-δ), is fabricated on Si substrate by DC-RF magnetron sputtering deposition technique at room temperature with low stoichiometric oxygen deficiency, δ [10-4-10-2], a carrier concentration of 1022cm-3, and doping concentration of x=3%. These isotropic films are uniformly homogenous and ferromagnetic at room temperature. The sputtered samples are grown using two targets - a d.c. magnetron sputtering gun for the Cr and an r.f. magnetron gun for the In2O3. The sputtering is performed in an Ar atmosphere of around 24 mT, while the oxygen concentration can be enhanced by the inclusion of a small partial pressure of oxygen at around ~0.3×10-3 mT. The structural study of the films were done by using the X-ray diffraction, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. The magnetic characterization was performed by Quantum Design Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer (MPSM XL and SVSM), and the optical properties of the films were investigated by measuring the relative transmission using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) VERTEX 70-BRUKER. Based on the method of the transmitted beam shifting, the films were shown, experimentally, to demonstrate negative refraction in the mid-infrared region by measuring. Here, we introduced the blade method as it is described in A. Boltasseva's paper [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 5 June 2012: 8834-8838.] and measured the relative transmission for the angles 5 to 35 degrees.
VISUALIZING FINLAND: POSTAGE STAMPS AS POLITICAL MESSENGERS

. Postage stamps are a very political, territorially grounded and yet overlooked part of visual culture. We argue that the mundane omnipresence of stamps gives them considerable nation-building power and makes them exemplary tools of what Michael Billig calls ‘banal nationalism.’ By focusing on the socially constructed visual qualities of stamps, we argue that their ‘reading’ as political, socioculturally and territorially specific texts offers valuable insights into the evolution and outlook of the issuing state and the ‘imagined community’ within its boundaries. Our examination of 1 457 stamps issued in continental Finland between 1917 and 2000 shows how the desired visual representation of the Finnish state, nation and society has evolved over time, along with the changing outlook of the national elite, its relationship with ordinary citizens and the country's geopolitical context. The stamps illustrate how the state's focus shifted from war to peace, Finland's economy diversified and specialized, and the Finns reached a relatively high level of social welfare and equality. The myth of Finland's cultural homogeneity remained strikingly strong despite dramatic changes in Finland's cultural make-up, suggesting that not only presence but also absence of a narrative from a visual scene can be strongly meaningful. Over the course of the twentieth century, Finnish nationalism grew increasingly ‘banal’ and inclusive in character, but the stamps maintained their central role in citizenship education. Our findings promote the use of postage stamps in the teaching and research of political geography and identity-political iconographies.
Theoretical Investigation of Countercurrent Imbibition in Fractured Reservoir Matrix Blocks

Countercurrent imbibition is an important oil recovery mechanism in fractured reservoirs. The imbibition process can be described by a nonlinear diffusion equation that has self-similar solutions. In this paper, the authors use the diffusion equation to conduct numerical experiments of countercurrent imbibition in a single matrix block to identify flow characteristics. The result demonstrates that the widely-used Aronofsky et al. exponential relationship is only valid for cases where diffusion coefficients are constant. The nonlinear diffusion equations in one and two-dimensions are analytically solved using a relative flow rate concept to simplify the analysis. The result is a new understanding regarding the effects of various parameters such as capillary pressure, relative permeability, mobility ratio, and fractional flow on countercurrent imbibition. The solutions can be directly used to modify an existing single porosity model to a dual porosity model for simulating fractured reservoirs. Results show that their approach provides fairly good accuracy compared to a full-scale dual porosity model with little increase in computation time over single porosity modeling.
Exploring the molecular determinants of substrate-selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by lumiracoxib

Lumiracoxib is a substrate-selective inhibitor of endocannabinoid oxygenation by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). We assayed a series of lumiracoxib derivatives to identify the structural determinants of substrate-selective inhibition. The hydrogen-bonding potential of the substituents at the ortho positions of the aniline ring dictated the potency and substrate selectivity of the inhibitors. The presence of a 5'-methyl group on the phenylacetic acid ring increased the potency of molecules with a single ortho substituent. Des-fluorolumiracoxib (2) was the most potent and selective inhibitor of endocannabinoid oxygenation. The positioning of critical substituents in the binding site was identified from a 2.35A crystal structure of lumiracoxib bound to COX-2.
Therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of HIV-1 infection

Abstract Immune-based therapies for HIV-disease are increasingly investigated as adjuncts to antiretroviral therapy. Despite the dramatic improvement in life expectancy, reversal of morbidity and delay in disease progression afforded by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the high rate of treatment failure and toxicity associated with these regimens has spurred efforts to find alternate approaches to therapy. Although cell mediated immunity seems to be important in suppressing the first burst of plasma viremia following primary HIV-infection, key elements of HIV-specific immunity are rapidly lost, except in the rare cases of long-term non-progressors or those individuals treated with HAART at the time of acute infection. HIV viremia itself seems to lead to loss of HIV-specific immunity. When HIV replication is successfully suppressed by HAART, partial immune reconstitution usually occurs, but if it has already waned, HIV-specific immunity usually remains absent. It is in this setting that therapeutic vaccination to restore and boost HIV-specific immunity is most often tested. In this article, we review the published trials of HIV therapeutic vaccines, discuss new concepts in immunopathogenesis of HIV-disease that may affect the goals of therapeutic vaccination, examine strategies and vaccines in development and consider the challenges of clinical trial design for immune-based therapies in the era of HAART.
Energy dispatch fuzzy controller for a grid-independent photovoltaic system

Abstract This paper presents the development of an optimized fuzzy logic based photovoltaic (PV) energy dispatch controller using a swarm intelligence algorithm The PV system considered is grid-independent and consists of a fuzzy logic controller (FLC), PV arrays, battery storage, and two types of loads: a constant critical load and a time-varying non-critical load. The swarm intelligence applied in this paper is the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and is used to optimize both membership functions and rule set of the FLC. By using PSO algorithm, the optimized FLC is able to maximize energy to the system loads while also maintaining a higher average state of battery charge. This optimized FLC is then compared with the standard energy dispatch controller, referred to as the “PV-priority” controller. The PV-priority controller attempts to power all loads and then charge the battery resulting on lesser number of days of power to critical loads unlike the optimized FLC.
The Development of Voicing Categories: A Quantitative Review of over 40 Years of Infant Speech Perception Research

Most research on infant speech categories has relied on measures of discrimination. Such work often employs categorical perception as a linking hypothesis to enable inferences about categorization on the basis of discrimination measures. However, a large number of studies with adults challenge the utility of categorical perception in describing adult speech perception, and this in turn calls into question how to interpret measures of infant speech discrimination. We propose here a parallel channels model of discrimination (built on Pisoni and Tash Perception & Psychophysics, 15(2), 285–290, 1974), which posits that both a noncategorical or veridical encoding of speech cues and category representations can simultaneously contribute to discrimination. This can thus produce categorical perception effects without positing any warping of the acoustic signal, but it also reframes how we think about infant discrimination and development. We test this model by conducting a quantitative review of 20 studies examining infants’ discrimination of voice onset time contrasts. This review suggests that within-category discrimination is surprisingly prevalent even in classic studies and that, averaging across studies, discrimination is related to continuous acoustic distance. It also identifies several methodological factors that may mask our ability to see this. Finally, it suggests that infant discrimination may improve over development, contrary to commonly held notion of perceptual narrowing. These results are discussed in terms of theories of speech development that may require such continuous sensitivity.
Ligand-specific Conformation of Extracellular Loop-2 in the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor

The orientation of the second extracellular loop (ECL2) is divergent in G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) structures determined. This discovery provoked the question, is the ECL2 conformation differentially regulated in the GPCRs that respond to diffusible ligands? We have determined the conformation of the ECL2 of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor by reporter-cysteine accessibility mapping in different receptor states (i.e. empty, agonist-bound and antagonist-bound). We introduced cysteines at each position of ECL2 of an N-terminal epitope-tagged receptor surrogate lacking all non-essential cysteines and then measured reaction of these with a cysteine-reactive biotin probe. The ability of biotinylated mutant receptors to react with a steptavidin-HRP-conjugated antibody was used as the basis for examining differences in accessibility. Two segments of ECL2 were accessible in the empty receptor, indicating an open conformation of ECL2. These segments were inaccessible in the ligand-bound states of the receptor. Using the accessibility constraint, we performed molecular dynamics simulation to predict ECL2 conformation in different states of the receptor. Analysis suggested that a lid conformation similar to that of ECL2 in rhodopsin was induced upon binding both agonist and antagonist, but exposing different accessible segments delimited by the highly conserved disulfide bond. Our study reveals the ability of ECL2 to interact with diffusing ligands and to adopt a ligand-specific lid conformation, thus, slowing down dissociation of ligands when bound. Distinct conformations induced by the bound agonist and the antagonist around the conserved disulfide bond suggest an important role for this disulfide bond in producing different functional states of the receptor.
Expression and Function of a Recombinant PDGF B Gene in Porcine Arteries

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B is a mitogen and chemoattractant for smooth muscle cells in vitro, and expression of a recombinant PDGF B gene in porcine arteries stimulates intimal thickening. To define the mechanisms by which PDGF B gene expression induces intimal thickening in vivo, we examined its effects on smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, extracellular matrix synthesis, and inflammatory cell infiltration in intimal lesions of pig arteries after direct gene transfer of a recombinant PDGF B gene. PDGF B gene expression was associated with rapid formation of an intima, including 3- to 10-fold increases in intimal thickness and intima-to-media area ratio 4 to 21 days after gene transfer compared with control transfected arteries. Intimal smooth muscle cell proliferation was detected at 2 days, peaked at 7 days (P < .01), and declined by 14 days, although the total number of intimal nuclei progressively increased to 21 days (P < .01). Calculations of expected-to-observed ratios of intimal cells, based on BrdC proliferation indexes, demonstrated that the increases in intimal cell number on days 2 through 7 could not be accounted for by proliferation alone, suggesting that recombinant PDGF BB acts to stimulate cell proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells into the intima. Extracellular matrix deposition and procollagen synthesis were observed after 7 days (P < .01) and were associated with a decline in cell density in the intima, suggesting that extracellular matrix synthesis may contribute to progressive intimal thickening in response to PDGF B gene expression. There was minimal accumulation of inflammatory cells, including macrophages and CD3(+) lymphocytes, in transfected arteries. These data suggest that PDGF B gene expression promotes intimal expansion by both proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells followed by synthesis of extracellular matrix and therefore acts through several mechanisms to play a role in the pathogenesis of intimal lesions in vivo.