cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A self-administered rating scale for pubertal development

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a new self-rating scale to measure children's pubertal status without pictorial representations or interviews. The scale is an adaptation of an interview-based puberty-rating scale by Petersen, and included scores for each of five items rating physical development, an overall maturation measure, and a categorical maturation score designed to be similar to Tanner staging categories. Each measure was obtained from independent ratings by students and parents, and a 3-point categorical scale was also obtained from teachers. Subjects included 698 5th- and 6th-grade students (323 boys and 375 girls) from 61 schools and their parents and teachers. Fifth-grade students rated themselves and were rated by parents as less mature than 6th graders; 6th-grade girls were consistently rated more mature than boys of the same age. Significant correlations were found between parents and students for all of the measures for 6th-graders and 5th-grade girls and several measures for 5th-grade boys. This new scale is a useful tool for assessing pubertal status in settings that require noninvasive measures.
Moving up or moving down? Malpositioned cerebellar unipolar brush cells in reeler mouse.

Cerebellar morphogenesis occurs through a complex interplay of cell proliferation and migration that in mouse and rat begins about midgestation and ends in the third postnatal week. Cerebellar cells derive from germinative matrices in the ventricular zone and the external granular layer. Like granule cells, unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are excitatory interneurons situated in the granular layer of the cortex and innervated by mossy fibers. While granule cells are produced from the external granular layer, the generation of UBCs is still controversial. We utilized the reeler mutant mouse, which has widespread misplacement of neurons due to lack of Reelin protein, to ascertain the origin of UBCs. In the reeler cerebellum, which is small and lacks foliation, Purkinje cells are greatly reduced in number and in large part are located ectopically in deep cerebellar masses. Granule cells are also reduced in number and form an irregular granule cell layer. In this study we demonstrate that the reeler mutation influences the positioning of UBCs and also significantly reduces their number. Both subsets of UBCs identified in normal mouse, the calretinin-positive and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1α-positive subsets, are affected in the reeler. About 40% of the calretinin-positive UBCs are ectopically situated in the deep cerebellar regions and the immediate vicinity of the ependyma of the fourth ventricle. Ectopic UBCs have discrete, although somewhat looser brushes than granular layer UBCs, but form synaptic junctions with complex axon terminals, possibly belonging to mossy fibers and UBC axons, like their normally situated counterpart. The observed displacement of UBCs in the reeler suggests that they originate from the ventricular zone.
Neurotoxicity produced by intracranial administration of methylmercury in rats

Abstract Methylmercuric chloride administered as a single intracranial injection in μg quantities produced a neurological syndrome in rats within 24 hr that resembled the effects produced by repeated sc injections of 10 mg/kg over a period of 7–14 days. Neuromuscular function evaluated semiquantitatively by graded performance in simple strength and coordination tests showed severe impairment at 24 hr in intracranially methylmercury-treated animals, with recovery taking place by 72 hr. Body weight decreased and recovered during a similar time course. Incorporation of tritiated leucine into brain protein was increased significantly at 24 hr as measured in vitro in brain homogenates and in vivo by administering the labeled amino acid ip. Incorporation returned to control values by 72 hr after the methylmercury injection. Residual brain mercury concentrations at 24 hr were about 5-fold lower than those accompanying overt neurological signs in rats produced by sc administration. Histological examination of brains from intracranially and subcutaneously dosed rats revealed that the lesions produced by the 2 methods were substantially different. Intracranial injection of methylmercury was found to produce an isolated neurotoxic syndrome similar in some respects to the neurotoxicity seen in systemic intoxications but dissimilar histopathologically.
A thermodynamic evaluation of the U–O system from UO2 to U3O8

Abstract Thermodynamic constraints and a modified form of Sieverts law were utilized to evaluate the partial thermodynamic functions of the U–O system from UO 2 to U 3 O 8 in the temperature range of 500–1800 K. The p – C – T relationships for each phase region obtained in the literature were reassessed and new p – C – T relationships in regions where data were scarce in the literature were proposed. The results are presented as the oxygen isobars superimposed on the phase diagram to characterize the system.
Positive automatic cognitions as moderators of the negative life event-dysphoria relationship

In this study, the author tested the hypothesis that positive automatic thoughts and the Positive Automatic Thoughts×Negative Life Stress interaction would predict dysphoria. The Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire—Positive, the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, the Life Experiences Survey, and the Beck Depression Inventory, were administered to 71 undergraduate volunteers. In hierarchical regression analyses, positive thoughts accounted for unique variance in dysphoria, over and above the variance accounted for by negative life stress and negative thoughts. Furthermore, for higher levels of positive cognitions, negative life stress had a reduced association with dysphoria, which suggested that, as hypothesized, positive cognitions may serve as stress-buffers. Positive automatic cognitions appear to be conceptually viable and may help to account for varied emotional reactions to life stress.
Issues regarding study design for initial clinical trials using decitabine

Decitabine offers a reasonable treatment alternative to hydroxyurea for individuals with sickle cell disease who have experienced multiple painful episodes. Despite the promise that the use of decitabine holds, several issues linger with regards to early trial design, such as what age group should be included and what trial design should be used in studies assessing its safety and clinical efficacy. Other issues that must be considered include determination of which primary clinical outcomes should be evaluated, what route of administration should be tested, and to how to assess toxicity of this novel therapeutic agent. This article will discuss issues regarding the factors that must be considered prior to initiating a phase III trial of decitabine for individuals with sickle cell anemia.
Analysis of long rods impacting ceramic targets at high velocity

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of recently reported experimental data on penetration of semi-infinite ceramic and metal targets by long rods at relatively high velocity (up to 4,500 m/s). Data examined were for pure tungsten rods having length-to-diameter ratios of 15 and 20. The rods were impacted by confined aluminum nitride (AIN), alumina (Al2O3), and a metal target of aluminum in reverse ballistic tests. Penetration rates were reported to be essentially constant throughout the penetration process at all impact velocities considered. Further, depths of penetration characterized as “primary penetration” agreed with expected levels based on measured penetration rates and rod erosion rates. However, above an impact velocity of about 2,000 m/s, considerably more penetration was observed in AIN and aluminum targets. In this effort, established techniques were used to treat penetration into semi-infinite ceramic, to include the high initial strength of the ceramic and its degradation, in time, through time-dependent damage mechanisms. The model results agreed with reported primary penetrations for AIN and aluminum targets. Further, additional “secondary penetration” by the rod erosion products at these high impact velocities was explored. The paper includes detailed descriptions of the analysis and some physical interpretations for the observations.
Polinices Predation Patterns and Mercenaria Morphology Models

DeAngelis et al. (1985) have described a model of the evolutionary response of bivalve prey to size-selective naticid snail predation. The model analyzed "the allocation of bivalve energy among reproduction, overall growth in size, and supplementary growth in shell thickness" (p. 818). Using parameter values for Polinices duplicatus as the predator and Mercenaria mercenaria as the prey, the model predicted three optimal strategies for bivalves faced with naticid predation: (1) delayed reproduction with energy diverted into rapid growth in order to reach a size refuge; (2) early reproduction, possibly with some extra shell thickness; and (3) greatly increased shell thickness for deterring predator attacks. This model and an earlier one (DeAngelis et al. 1984) are elaborations on a general qualitative model for bivalve prey (Seed and Brown 1978). [excerpt]
Forbidden subgraphs for graphs with planar line graphs

Let G be a graph Sedlacek [2] has shown that the line graph of G is planar if and only if G is planar, the degree of each point is at most four and all points of degree four are cutpoints. In this paper, we use this result to show that G has a planar line graph if and only if G has no subgraph homeomorphic to K"3"."3, K"1"."5, P"4 + K"1 or K"2 + K"3.
Estrogen replacement therapy after breast cancer: a 12-year follow-up.

Background: In the United States, estrogen replacement therapy ERT is discouraged in breast cancer survivors because of concerns that hormones may reactivate the disease. Because ERT can improve quality of life and decrease morbidity from osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, however, this policy is increasingly being challenged.
Subnanosecond 32 BIT multiplier using negative differential resistance devices

Negative differential resistance devices such as resonant tunnelling transistors have been used to design bistable logic circuits. A subnanosecond pipelined multiplier has been designed taking advantage of the fact that the bistable logic circuits simultaneously provide both the logic and the latching functions without any overhead.
Teaching and medical errors: primary care preceptors' views.

Purpose To assess primary care preceptors' perceptions of the issues involved in teaching when medical errors occur. In particular, we examined preceptors' responses to trainees involved in medical errors, factors influencing their response, and their perceptions of barriers to teaching from medical errors. Methods A total of 38 primary care preceptors participated in 7 focus groups on teaching and medical errors. Participants were drawn from medical schools throughout the northeastern USA. Content analysis of transcripts identified major themes. Results We developed a framework describing how preceptors and learners respond to medical errors, the factors that influence these responses, and the relationships between these. We also identified barriers to teaching from medical errors. Preceptors are especially sensitive to learners' distress as a result of errors. Emotional distress and self-doubt are seen as inimical to learning, possibly causing more attention to be directed to emotional support than to correction and instruction. At the same time, accepting responsibility for errors was seen as prerequisite to learning. For many preceptors, vivid recollections of their own errors during training were influential in determining how they in turn responded as preceptors; none reported having received training in this area. Conclusion This study describes preceptors' experiences of responding to trainees' medical errors, and identifies barriers to teaching from errors. The intersection of patient safety and medical education is a critical area for future research. We propose a framework that may help guide future research efforts, which should focus on identifying factors that promote faculty development to optimise learning and reduce the likelihood of future errors.
Indexing left ventricular mass to account for differences in body size in children and adolescents without cardiovascular disease

Abstract Left ventricular (LV) mass has been established as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. To account for differences in body size, a variety of factors have been proposed for indexing LV mass. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry provides a measure of lean body mass which can be used as a comparison with other more clinically applicable methods of standardization. The study included 192 subjects (100 male, 103 white) aged 6 to 17 years. Lean body mass was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and LV mass was calculated from M-mode echocardiographic measurements. There were significant differences by gender (males 98.7 g, females 80.3g, p 3 (95% confidence interval, 2.8 to 3.1). LV mass/height 3 provided the most consistently high intraclass correlation with LV mass/lean body mass versus indexing with body surface area, height, height 2 , and height 2.7 across the 4 race/gender groups. LV mass indexed by height 3 eliminated differences in LV mass by gender (males 26.1 ± 4.72 g/m 3 , females 25.5 ± 4.8 g/m 3 , p=NS). The proposed method for indexing LV mass by height 3 should be useful in the clinical setting. The 90th and 95th percentiles of LV mass/height 3 provide cutpoints for determining the presence of LV hypertrophy in children and adolescents.
Variation in the Implementation of California's Full Service Partnerships for Persons with Serious Mental Illness

Objective. This study examined variation in the implementation of California's Full Service Partnerships (FSPs), which are supported housing programs that do “whatever it takes” to improve outcomes among persons with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Data Sources/Setting. Ninety-three FSPs in California. Study Design. A mixed methods approach was selected to develop a better understanding of the complexity of the FSP programs. The design structure was a combined explanatory and exploratory sequential design (qual→QUAN→qual) where a qualitative focus group was used to develop a quantitative survey that was followed by qualitative site visits. The survey was used to describe the breadth of variation based on fidelity to the Housing First model, while the site visits were used to provide a depth of information on high- versus low-fidelity programs. Principal Findings. We found substantial variation in implementation among FSPs. Fidelity was particularly low along domains related with housing and service philosophy, indicating that many FSPs implemented a rich array of services but applied housing readiness requirements and did not adhere to consumer choice in housing. Conclusions. There remains room for improvement in the recovery-orientation of FSPs. Fortunately, we have identified several processes by which program managers and counties can increase the fidelity of their programs.
Imaging case study : enlarged superior vestibular nerve canal with sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: We report a new temporal bone anomaly - an enlarged superior vestibular nerve canal - associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Case report: A 10-month-old male infant presented with sensorineural hearing loss together with bilaterally enlarged superior vestibular nerve canals. Compared with published temporal bone computed tomography measurements, our patient's canals were normal in length but approximately double the normal width. In addition, careful review of the imaging did not clearly identify a bony wedge between the superior and inferior vestibular nerve canals. Conclusion: Enlarged superior vestibular nerve canal malformation may be a marker for sensorineural hearing loss. Increased vigilance amongst otologists may establish the prevalence of this anomaly and its possible effects on hearing.
Polyethylene powder as a stationary phase for preparative-scale reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract Polyethylene powder has been shown to function effectively as a stationary phase in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The low cost and durability of this material make it particularly attractive for use in preparative-scale separations. The applicability of preparative reversed-phase techniques to difficult separations of natural products is demonstrated by the isolation and separation of bacteriochlorophylls from green sulfur bacteria.
Analysis of cis- and trans-Acting Factors Involved in Regulation of the Streptococcus mutans Fructanase Gene (fruA)

There are two primary levels of control of the expression of the fructanase gene (fruA) of Streptococcus mutans: induction by levan, inulin, or sucrose and repression in the presence of glucose and other readily metabolized sugars. The goals of this study were to assess the functionality of putative cis-acting regulatory elements and to begin to identify the trans-acting factors involved in induction and catabolite repression of fruA. The fruA promoter and its derivatives generated by deletions and/or site-directed mutagenesis were fused to a promoterless chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene as a reporter, and strains carrying the transcriptional fusions were then analyzed for CAT activities in response to growth on various carbon sources. A dyadic sequence, ATGACA(TC)TGTCAT, located at -72 to -59 relative to the transcription initiation site was shown to be essential for expression of fruA. Inactivation of the genes that encode fructose-specific enzymes II resulted in elevated expression from the fruA promoter, suggesting negative regulation of fruA expression by the fructose phosphotransferase system. Mutagenesis of a terminator-like structure located in the 165-base 5' untranslated region of the fruA mRNA or insertional inactivation of antiterminator genes revealed that antitermination was not a mechanism controlling induction or repression of fruA, although the untranslated leader mRNA may play a role in optimal expression of fructanase. Deletion or mutation of a consensus catabolite response element alleviated glucose repression of fruA, but interestingly, inactivation of the ccpA gene had no discernible effect on catabolite repression of fruA. Accumulating data suggest that expression of fruA is regulated by a mechanism that has several unique features that distinguish it from archetypical polysaccharide catabolic operons of other gram-positive bacteria.
Immunohistochemical characterization of chicken pituitary cells containing the vasotocin VT2 receptor

Research in mammals has demonstrated a variety of regulatory effects of vasopressin and oxytocin on endocrine functions of the anterior pituitary gland. Less evidence is available regarding the hypophysiotropic action of arginine vasotocin (AVT) comprising vasopressic and oxytocic activities in birds. Some hypophysiotropic effects of AVT may result from its interactions with brain circuits controlling pituitary functions, whereas others are caused by its direct affect on pituitary cells. Use of an antiserum to the vasotocin receptor VT2 (VT2R) has revealed numerous immunoreactive cells in the anterior pituitary gland of the chicken. The objective of the present study has been to identify endocrine phenotypes of chicken pituitary cells containing VT2R by means of immunohistochemical labeling. VT2R immunoreactivity has been found in all cells immunoreactive for adrenocorticotropin and α-melanotropin. Approximately 10% of labeled lactotropes are also immunoreactive for VT2R and lie around the anatomical boundary dividing the cephalic and caudal lobes. In both corticotropes/melanotropes and lactotropes, immunoreactive VT2R is present in a narrow layer outlining cell bodies. Immunoreactive VT2R is not found in gonadotropes, thyrotropes, or somatotropes. These results provide evidence for the important role of VT2Rs in mediating effects of AVT on endocrine secretion from corticotropes and, partially, from lactotropes.
Are Very Large Cities Successful? Searching for Dynamic Externalities Versus Evidence from Population Movements

This article considers two ways of viewing the successfulness of large U.S. cities. The first, which has been very prominent in the past decade, emphasizes that large cities are successful because the advantages of proximity create dynamic knowledge externalities that, in turn, are a source of increasing returns and higher per capita incomes. It is argued here that empirical evidence concerning the nature and magnitude of the externalities is often conflicting, and in any case they have not been measured directly. An alternative approach is to consider international and domestic population movements, which suggest that large cities have not been successful in the view of many domestic residents. Domestic migration patterns favor intermediate-size cities. Some reasons are given for why domestic population deconcentration has taken place.
Radiative Spectra from Shallow Donor-Acceptor Electron Transfer in Silicon

Radiation associated with shallow donor-acceptor electron transfer in silicon has been examined in the liquid-helium temperature region for various combinations of group-V donors and group-III acceptors. The spectra for all impurities are quite similar, exhibiting TA- and TO-phonon---assisted lines, as well as a no-phonon line in all but the (Sb,B)-doped sample. A (P,In) sample exhibits an unusual extra line which is attributed to an LA-phonon---assisted transition. A theory analogous to that of Thomas, Hopfield, and Augustyniak, modified to take account of anisotropic donor wave functions, is used to analyze the line shapes and determine rate constants and the impurity-pair Coulomb energy for pairs that decay at different times after impurity neutralization. This leads to a direct measurement of the indirect silicon energy gap of 1.166\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0010 eV and an exciton binding energy of 0.0102\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015 eV, when combined with infrared-absorption measurements near the indirect gap. The analysis also indicates that optically determined impurity ionization energies are correct, and that the thermally determined impurity activation energies and their concentration dependence probably result from carrier redistribution effects rather than modification of the impurity ionization energies of the majority of the impurities.
Participation and Learning in Head Start: A Sociopolitical Analysis

An ethnographic methodology was used to investigate Head Start as a setting for adult education. Using grounded theory to analyze the data, the following interpretation emerged. Teaching and learni...
Neuromodulation as a robot controller

This article presents a strategy for controlling autonomous robots, which is based on the principles of neuromodulation in the mammalian brain. Neuromodulatory systems signal important environmental events to the rest of the brain causing the organism to focus its attention on the appropriate object, ignore irrelevant distractions, and respond quickly and appropriately to the event . There are separate neuromodulators that alter responses to risks, rewards, novelty, effort, and social cooperation. Moreover, the neuromodulatory systems provide a foundation for cognitive function in higher organisms; attention, emotion, goal directed behavior, and decision making derive from the interaction between the neuromodulatory systems and brain areas, such as the amygdala, frontal cortex, and hippocampus. Therefore, understanding neuromodulatory function may provide control and action selection algorithms for autonomous robots that effectively interact with the environment.
Powdery Mildew Caused by an Oidium sp. on Twenty-One Annual Medicago spp. in California.

Powdery mildew was observed in plots of USDA Plant Introduction accessions of medic plants grown for seed increase at Riverside, CA, from 1995 to 1998. White, diffuse to dense, amphigenous mycelia bearing Oidium conidia appeared on shoots in April each year and remained active until the last plants matured in June. Invaded leaflets became necrotic and dropped prematurely, sometimes leaving a green petiole. However, mildew incidence was low in most plots, and symptomless plants occurred in all species. Conidia were ellipsoid-cylindrical and measured 15 to17 × 39 to 47 µm. A sexual state of the fungus was not observed. Morphological characteristics of the anamorph matched those of Erysiphe pisi (1). In growth chambers, conidia from medic plants caused severe mildew of garden pea (Pisum sativum L. ‘Early Perfection’). Powdery mildew occurred in plots of Medicago ciliaris, M. constricta, M. coronata, M. disciformis, M. doliata, M. granadensis, M. intertexta, M. italica, M. lesinsii, M. littoralis, M. lupulina...
The Fast RODEO for Local Polynomial Regression

An open challenge in nonparametric regression is finding fast, computationally efficient approaches to estimating local bandwidths for large datasets, in particular in two or more dimensions. In the work presented here, we introduce a novel local bandwidth estimation procedure for local polynomial regression, which combines the greedy search of the regularization of the derivative expectation operator (RODEO) algorithm with linear binning. The result is a fast, computationally efficient algorithm, which we refer to as the fast RODEO. We motivate the development of our algorithm by using a novel scale-space approach to derive the RODEO. We conclude with a toy example and a real-world example using data from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite validation study, where we show the fast RODEO’s improvement in accuracy and computational speed over two other standard approaches.
Expression of Mrna for Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-A in Human Liver: Detection Using RT-PCR

cDNA preparations obtained from human liver poly A+ RNA by reverse transcription were subjected to polymerase chain reaction. Primers used in the reaction were designed from the reported cDNA sequence for human placental atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A (ANPRA). Sequence analysis of the amplified product (approximately 700 bp) showed 100% identity to the 2476-3189 bp region of the reported cDNA sequence of human placental ANPRA. Northern blot analysis of human liver poly A+ RNA fractions showed a hybridization signal at approximately 4.4 kb, identical to the signal obtained from the poly A+ RNA fractions of human placenta. These results indicate the possible mRNA expression for atrial natriuretic peptide receptor-A in human liver.
Structure-activity relationships of substituted 1H-indole-2-carboxamides as CB1 receptor allosteric modulators

A series of substituted 1H-indole-2-carboxamides structurally related to compounds Org27569 (1), Org29647 (2) and Org27759 (3) were synthesized and evaluated for CB1 allosteric modulating activity in calcium mobilization assays. Structure-activity relationship studies showed that the modulation potency of this series at the CB1 receptor was enhanced by the presence of a diethylamino group at the 4-position of the phenyl ring, a chloro or fluoro group at the C5 position and short alkyl groups at the C3 position on the indole ring. The most potent compound (45) had an IC₅₀ value of 79 nM which is ∼2.5 and 10 fold more potent than the parent compounds 3 and 1, respectively. These compounds appeared to be negative allosteric modulators at the CB1 receptor and dose-dependently reduced the Emax of agonist CP55,940. These analogs may provide the basis for further optimization and use of CB1 allosteric modulators.
Dominance of the i/sub 13/2/ neutron in Yb backbending

Two decoupled rotational bands in $^{165}\mathrm{Yb}$ are observed in (heavy ion, $\mathrm{xn}$) experiments. The ${i}_{\frac{13}{2}}$ band does not backbend, whereas the ${h}_{\frac{9}{2}}$ band does. This provides strong evidence that only ${i}_{\frac{13}{2}}$ neutrons contribute to backbending in this region.
NONAQUEOUS TERNARY SYSTEMS I: POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL MINERAL OIL AND ETHOXYLATED SORBITAN MONO-OLEATE.

ABSTRACT The surface and interfacial properties of a nonionic emulsifier (Tween 80)were studied in polyethylene glycol/air and polyethylene glycol/oil systems. It was found that micelles are formed, and that the CMC, area per surfactant molecule and free energy of adsorption of surfactant to the interface increased as functions of ethylene oxide (E0) content of the solvent molecules. These changes in the surface and interfacial properties of the surfactant are apparently a result of surfactant-solvent interactions, due to hydrogen bonding. A series of oil-in-solvent emulsions was prepared also, and the stabilities and particle size of the emulsions were found to be mainly dependent on the adsorption energy of the surfactant.
r-Maximal major subsets

The question of which r.e. setsA possess major subsetsB which are alsor-maximal inA (A⊂rm B) arose in attempts to extend Lachlan’s decision procedure for the αe-theory of ℰ*, the lattice of r.e. sets modulo finite sets, and Soare’s theorem thatA andB are automorphic if their lattice of supersets ℒ*(A) and ℒ*(B) are isomorphic finite Boolean algebras. We characterize the r.e. setsA with someB⊂rm A as those with a Δ3 function that for each recursiveR i specifiesR i or\(\bar R_i \) as infinite on\(\bar A\) and to be preferred in the construction ofB. There are r.e.A andB with ℒ*(A) and ℒ*(B) isomorphic to the atomless Boolean algebra such thatA has anrm subset andB does not. Thus 〈ℰ*,A〉 and 〈ℰ*,B〉 are not even elementarily equivalent. In every non-zero r.e. degree there are r.e. sets with and withoutrm subsets. However the classF of degrees of simple sets with norm subsets satisfies\(H_1 \subseteq F \subseteq \bar L_2 \).
Review of acute coronary syndrome diagnosis and management.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) refers to a group of clinical conditions caused by myocardial ischemia including unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and ST-segme...
Spectral function of the Anderson model: A quantum Monte Carlo calculation.

We have obtained the spectral function of the asymmetric Anderson model at low temperature through analytic continuation of quantum Monte Carlo data. While not quantitatively exact, the qualitative features of the spectral function clearly allow us to distinguish between the local-moment, mixed-valent, and empty-orbital regimes. We show how the spectral function changes as a function of particle-hole asymmetry and the Coulomb potential {ital U}.
New Pathways for Formation of Acids and Carbonyl Products in Low-Temperature Oxidation: The Korcek Decomposition of γ-Ketohydroperoxides

We present new reaction pathways relevant to low-temperature oxidation in gaseous and condensed phases. The new pathways originate from γ-ketohydroperoxides (KHP), which are well-known products in low-temperature oxidation and are assumed to react only via homolytic O–O dissociation in existing kinetic models. Our ab initio calculations identify new exothermic reactions of KHP forming a cyclic peroxide isomer, which decomposes via novel concerted reactions into carbonyl and carboxylic acid products. Geometries and frequencies of all stationary points are obtained using the M06-2X/MG3S DFT model chemistry, and energies are refined using RCCSD(T)-F12a/cc-pVTZ-F12 single-point calculations. Thermal rate coefficients are computed using variational transition-state theory (VTST) calculations with multidimensional tunneling contributions based on small-curvature tunneling (SCT). These are combined with multistructural partition functions (QMS–T) to obtain direct dynamics multipath (MP-VTST/SCT) gas-phase rate c...
Developing preschool surveillance tools for adaptive functioning: Lessons for neuro-oncology

Abstract Advances in neuro-oncology have resulted in dramatic increases in the survival of children with pediatric brain tumors, including those with medulloblastoma, the most common early childhood central nervous system (CNS) malignancy. Because of this increased survival, there is heightened awareness and recognition that an understanding of the impact of treatments and interventions on children’s development, learning, and adaptive behaviors is essential for optimization of long-term outcomes. One of the major reasons for studying these outcomes is that the developing nervous system has its unique vulnerabilities with respect to the primary tumor, its complications (hydrocephalus, increased intracranial pressure, hazards of tumor resection), and the late effects of treatments on children’s developmental, learning, and adaptive status. In addition, very young children are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of radiation and other therapies, highlighting the importance of measuring emerging communication, coordination, and social adaptive skills. Lastly, there is increased concern about the long-term consequences of chemotherapy on specific neural populations and neural connectivity that affect memory, learning, and executive function. The purpose of this article is to review ways of conceptualizing CNS adaptive functioning in children diagnosed with brain tumors in early childhood. The international classification of functioning (ICF) model will be used to describe the spectrum of health and developmental outcomes of child neurodisability. An integrated strategy of surveillance for motor, communicative, and adaptive skills that can be linked to neuropsychological assessments will also be highlighted. This health, development, and functional surveillance framework will help us better evaluate how our management impacts on child and family well-being and how our interventions lessen severe multiple motor, communicative, and neurobehavioral morbidities.
Establishment of conditionally immortalized epithelial cell lines from the intestinal tissue of adult normal and transgenic mice

It has proved to be impossible to culture epithelial cells from the gastrointestinal tract of adult animals. Researchers have had to use either cell lines derived from newborn rat small intestine or colon carcinoma cell lines that have retained some of the properties of the gastrointestinal mucosa. We have described a method for establishing conditionally immortalized cell lines from the stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, and liver from tissue obtained from a transgenic mouse strain carrying a temperature-sensitive mutant of the SV40 large T gene (the “Immortomouse”). This immortalizing gene has proved to be useful for establishing cell lines from a number of transgenic mice following crossbreeding of the Immortomouse with the transgenic mouse of interest. These cell lines are being used in numerous studies. In this review we describe the methods for developing such lines and list the range of cell lines that have been developed from colon, small intestine, stomach, liver, and pancreas of a number of transgenic mice.
Operational Research in India: An Evaluation of the Current State of the Art vis-à-vis Potential

India has made a significant investment in industrial development in the last two decades. The infrastructure and physical plant for an advanced industrial base have been created. Simultaneously a comparable investment in technical education has been made. However, the payoffs from this massive effort have been much less than anticipated. It is suggested that a factor contributing to the grave economic malfunction has been the neglect of the critical managerial dimension which has resulted in a serious shortage of trained managers. Operational research has a vital role to play in this situation in terms of increasing managerial productivity and thereby facilitating scarce management resources to be used more effectively. The current state of the art as practiced in India is examined vis-a-vis the potential in the context of the economic incentives and disincentives; social, cultural and political factors; computer availability and usage; availability of operational research personnel; and, current management styles.
A Numerical Method for the Calculation of Nonlinear, Unsteady Lifting Potential Flow Problems

A numerical method is developed for attacking lifting problems of a general three-dimensional wing executing an arbitrary motion in a potential flow. The formulation of the problem is exact in the sense that the boundary conditions are satisfied on the surface of the wing and the geometry of the time-dependent wake is predicted. The problem is then governed by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind which relates the velocity potential doublet distribution to the normal velocity on the surface of the wing, subject to the Kutta condition of smooth flow off the trailing edge and the condition that the wake cannot sustain any pressure difference. The solution of the integral equation is obtained in a step-by-step fashion, and the appearing surface integrals are evaluated by employing a discrete set of approximate surface elements and an assumption of the doublet distribution over the element which is based on a formal expansion of the velocity influence coefficient. Verification of the method is made by comparison with solutions of classical problems. To demonstrate its utility, the method is applied to obtain the airloads due to transient motion of wings with simple planforms. The nonlinear effects due to the wake, aspect ratio, and thickness are discussed. Results of these calculations indicate that the present method can be applied to treat more complicated geometries and motion to obtain accurate and efficient prediction of the airloads.
Quantification of flow during suction feeding in bluegill sunfish.

Summary Nearly all aquatic-feeding vertebrates use some amount of suction to capture prey items. Suction prey capture occurs by accelerating a volume of water into the mouth and taking a prey item along with it. Yet, until recently, we lacked the necessary techniques and analytical tools to quantify the flow regime generated by feeding fish. We used a new approach; Digital Particle Image Velocimetery (DPIV) to measure several attributes of the flow generated by feeding bluegill sunfish. We found that the temporal pattern of flow was notably compressed during prey capture. Flow velocity increased rapidly to its peak within 20 ms of the onset of the strike, and this peak corresponded to the time that the prey entered the mouth during capture. The rapid acceleration and deceleration of water suggests that timing is critical for the predator in positioning itself relative to the prey so that it can be drawn into the mouth along with the water. We also found that the volume of water affected by suction was spatially limited. Only rarely did we measure significant flow beyond 1.75 cm of the mouth aperture (in 20 cm fish), further emphasizing the importance of mechanisms, like locomotion, that place the fish mouth in close proximity to the prey. We found that the highest flows towards the mouth along the fish midline were generated not immediately in front of the open mouth, but approximately 0.5 cm anterior to the mouth opening. Away from the midline the peak in flow was closer to the mouth. We propose that this pattern indicates the presence of a bow wave created by the locomotor efforts of the fish. In this scheme, the bow wave acts antagonistically to the flow of water generated by suction, the net effect being to push the region of peak flow away from the open mouth. The peak was located farther from the mouth opening in strikes accompanied by faster locomotion, suggesting faster fish created larger bow waves.
Practice parameters and strength of recommendation data: a variable compass

Abstract Background Practice parameters and guidelines shape and influence the method and manner in which medicine is practiced. With more than 121 scales and methods of assessing and rating evidence, a comparison of practice parameters can appear daunting. An evaluation of the evidence engenders a sense of the evolution of a specialty and a roadmap for the future. Objective To assess the level of evidence underlying recommendations in allergy-immunology (AI) practice parameters. Methods We analyzed the practice parameters that guide AI (n = 15), otolaryngology (n = 8), pediatrics (n = 13), and internal medicine (n = 10) as they appeared on August 30, 2012. Strength of recommendation data was compared after making adjustments for differences in rating scales. Results The strength of recommendation calculated from strong to weak for the AI practice parameters using a standardized format yielded the following grades: A in 195 (13.9%), B in 342 (24.4%), C in 606 (43.2%), D in 231 (16.4%), and E in 29 (2.1%). Controlled trial–based evidence (A and B) demonstrated considerable variability among individual AI practice parameters (range, 1.3%–100%). Evidence from controlled trials was lower in the subspecialty fields (38.3% in AI and 38.2% in otolaryngology) compared with the primary care fields (55.6% in pediatrics and 86.1% in internal medicine). Conclusion Considerable variability exists in the strength of recommendations within the AI practice parameters. The guidelines created by the primary care fields rest on a larger base of evidence collected from controlled trials. These findings likely reflect the adopted approach of making recommendations for less well-studied conditions and practices in AI to assist practitioners and patients and at the same time highlight the myriad opportunities for future research.
Recent sulfur enrichment in the sediments of Little Rock Lake. Wisconsin

Multiple sediment cores collected from Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin, prior to experimental acidification show that total sulfur accumulation rates increased during the past century, with most of the increase occurring in the nonacid-volatile inorganic and organic fractions. The increased sulfur accumulation is a result of diagenetic processes within the sediments, rather than changes in seston deposition rates or terrestrial inputs. This enrichment has occurred because atmospheric sulfate deposition rates have increased over the past century, resulting in increased lake-water sulfate concentrations, which has, in turn, increased the diffusional flux to the sediments and increased the extent of diagenetic immobilization. Individual cores had markedly different sulfur accumulation rates, demonstrating the importance of collecting multiple cores to determine lakewide sediment accumulation. Processes that retain sulfate are of considerable interest in the context of lake acidification because they are important in regulating the alkalinity of many soft-water ’ Present address: % U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, Oregon 97333. Acknowledgments We thank Linda Shane for contributing to the pollen analysis, Peter Appleby for the gamma spectroscopy analysis, and Susan Christie for editorial assistance. The use of the University of Wisconsin’s Trout Lake Field Station is appreciated. Carol Kelly, Richard Holdren, and Noel Urban reviewed an earlier draft of this paper and made numerous suggestions. This work was supported through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. EPA and the University of Minnesota (CR 8 11540-01). lakes (see Brezonik et al. 1987). The magnitude of net sulfate retention, as a fraction of input, increases with increasing water residence time (Baker et al. 1986); sulfate retention processes can be the dominant source of acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) in seepage lakes with long residence times in the upper midwest and in Florida (Baker et al. 1991). Sulfate retention can occur by sedimentation, by reduction in anoxic hypolimnia, or through reactions within the sediment. In particular, dissimilatory reduction in surficial sediments at sites with oxic overlying water has been recognized as a major sulfate sink (Kelly and Rudd 1984; Rudd et al. 1986; Baker et al. 1985). The relative importance of these processes and the extent to which increasing sulfate loadings have resulted in increased mass retention have
A Pseudo-Time Constant Approach to Target Discrimination in Airborne Time-Domain Electromagnetic Uxo Surveys

A simple combination of data from three time-domain electromagnetic time gates is used to drastically reduce the total number of picks required to detect a set number of known seed items. This approach takes advantage of the physics of time-domain electromagnetic geophysical systems and signal decay properties in a way that does not require as much data as that needed to calculate the actual delay constant.
Cascade immunoelectrophoresis: combined electrophoretic and solid-phase processing of immunoreactive protein by zonal immobilization.

Abstract A new approach to immunochemical analysis of complex mixtures of proteins has been devised through development of a system for (1) sequentially absorbing, desorbing and cascading antibodies in a profile indicative of both the quantity and electrophoretic characteristics of the antigen, and (2) for carrying out multiple tests of antigenic determinants at sub-picomole levels regardless of the solubility or precipitin forming characteristics of the immunoreactive protein. The procedure employs zonal immobilization in which a novel, aldehyde-rich gel (glyoxyl agarose) is used interchangeably as an inert support for electrophoresis and as an immobilizing matrix to fix the protein for analysis by solid-phase techniques. Proteins may be separated on the gel as with ordinary agarose, and then driven to combine covalently with the gel upon exposure to NaCNBH3. After removing NaCNBH3, the distribution of specified antigens is then established by exposing the gel to antibody and profiling the pattern of antibody uptake by a cross-electrophoretic technique in which the absorbed antibody is (1) desorbed with dodecyl sulfate, then (2) transferred through a gel containing potassium ion to halt migration of the detergent, and (3) displayed by immunoprecipitation with anti-IgG antibodies. To cascade the process further, the IgG may be immobilized and used as a surrogate antigen to bind additional antibody protein. In addition to enhancing sensitivity, the cross-electrophoretic measurement of uptake of antibody by immobilized antigen eliminates dependence on direct immunoprecipitation of the antigen, and may accordingly be of particular advantage with non-precipitin forming antigens and monoclonal antibodies.
Refractive indices of aerosols in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere

A new instrument for simultaneously measuring aerosol diameter from 0.4–10 µm and the refractive index between 1.30–1.60 has recently been flown on the NASA ER-2 aircraft during a stratospheric measurement campaign. Average stratospheric refractive indices varied from 1.40 to 1.42 over a latitude range from 70°S to 50°N and from 1.34 to 1.46 over a vertical range from 4–20 km. The measured stratospheric refractive indices do not agree well with theoretical predictions and vertical profiles suggest the presence of non-spherical or absorbing particles in the altitude range of 7–9 km.
Electromyographic gradients during complex visual discrimination learning

Muscle activity levels during cognitive and motor performances recorded from various electrode placements have, in several studies, been shown to follow monotonically rising gradients throughout the experimental task. A complex match-to-sample visual discrimination task employed in this study demonstrated not only a tonic neuromuscular adjustment during performance, but also the occurrence of phasic shifts in activity corresponding to orienting reactions. These phasic responses tend to habituate rapidly with repetitive performance, and are rarely identified in overleamed Ss.