cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methodological issues in child sexual abuse research

The amount of research concerning the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse has increased dramatically during the past decade. Too little attention has been paid to possible methodological influences on this research. This investigation reports on the influences of response rate, ordering of questions, and definition of child sexual abuse on the results of a survey of college students' childhood and adolescent sexual experiences. Response rates affected prevalence rate estimates, and the use of varying definitions of child sexual abuse affected estimates of both prevalence and consequences. The importance of the awareness of these methodological issue in future research efforts is discussed.
Jitter considerations for FDDI PMD

The Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI ) will provide convenient high speed transmission ( 100Mb/s ) network among the various computers. For the optical data link which has been standardized for FDDI the jitter performance is one of the most important items from a view point of interoperability . We analyze the relation between the jitter characteristics and the circuit design of optical data links by using a computer simulations and compare it with the experimental data. And also we consider the performance of optical data link which is satisfies FDDI PMD requirments*. ( * FDDI jitter requirment of optical receiver : DCDDDJ 1. 4 nsec RJ 2. 13 nsec)© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Relationship of an Early Measure of Intelligence to the Ability to Learn Sight Vocabulary Words and to Later Reading Achievement.

The Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) was administered to a group of kindergarten children. Scores were correlated with a measure of Sight Vocabulary achievement in kindergarten and reading achieve ment (Stanford Achievement Test) scores at the end of the first and second grade. Correlation coefficients involving the SIT ranged from a low of .61 to a high of .87.
Intracellular budding into rodent myocardial cell.

DURING a study on the sub-microscopic appearance of the myocardium of rats, we have observed well delineated membrane bound structures, circular to elliptical in shape, entering into myocardial cells in the area of the intercalated disk. These contours appeared to assume an intimate relationship with elements of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
A memory optimization technique for software-managed scratchpad memory in GPUs

With the appearance of massively parallel and inexpensive platforms such as the G80 generation of NVIDIA GPUs, more real-life applications will be designed or ported to these platforms. This requires structured transformation methods that remove existing application bottlenecks in these platforms. Balancing the usage of on-chip resources, used for improving the application performance, in these platforms is often non-intuitive and some applications will run into resource limits. In this paper, we present a memory optimization technique for the software-managed scratchpad memory in the G80 architecture to alleviate the constraints of using the scratchpad memory. We propose a memory optimization scheme that minimizes the usage of memory space by discovering the chances of memory reuse with the goal of maximizing the application performance. Our solution is based on graph coloring. We evaluated our memory optimization scheme by a set of experiments on an image processing benchmark suite in medical imaging domain using NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 and CUDA. Implementations based on our proposed memory optimization scheme showed up to 37% decrease in execution time comparing to their naive GPU implementations.
Turbulence in combustion processes: Modeling challenges

The interaction of turbulent fluid motion with molecular transport and reaction processes in combustionsystems encompasses a wide variety of phenomena and process couplings. Modeling efforts to date have achieved considerable success by focusing on the most important couplings as progressively more challenging problems are addressed. Further progress will require additional focus on turbulence effects that are presently either poorly understood or not represented adequately by available models. In this review, some attributes of turbulence that are relevant to combustion processes are described, applicable modeling approaches are noted, and implications for the development of improved predictive capabilities are discussed.
Prediction of limb lean tissue mass from bioimpedance spectroscopy in persons with chronic spinal cord injury

Background Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is a non-invasive, simple, and inexpensive modality that uses 256 frequencies to determine the extracellular volume impedance (ECVRe) and intracellular volume impedance (ICVRi) in the total body and regional compartments. As such, it may have utility as a surrogate measure to assess lean tissue mass (LTM). Objective To compare the relationship between LTM from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and BIS impedance values in spinal cord injury (SCI) and able-bodied (AB) control subjects using a cross-sectional research design. Methods In 60 subjects (30 AB and 30 SCI), a total body DXA scan was used to obtain total body and leg LTM. BIS was performed to measure the impedance quotient of the ECVRe and ICVRi in the total body and limbs. Results BIS-derived ECVRe yielded a model for LTM in paraplegia, tetraplegia, and control for the right leg (RL) (R2 = 0.75, standard errors of estimation (SEE) = 1.02 kg, P < 0.0001; R2 = 0.65, SEE = 0.91 kg, P = 0.0006; and R2 = ...
Neuroprotective effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine in focal stroke in the 7-day old rat

Recent evidence in primary neuronal cell culture implicates nitric oxide (NO) as a mediator of glutamatergic neurotoxicity acting via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. We find that administration of the potent nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (NO-Arg) at 50 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg i.p. to 6-day old Sprague-Dawley rat pups results in prompt and long-lasting in vivo inhibition of NOS. Fifteen hours after administration, NO-Arg produces essentially complete neuroprotection against hypoxic-ischemic in a standard (Rice-Vanucci) model. These results support the hypothesis that NO may play a key mediatory role in brain damage attending focal ischemic stroke.
Stimulus control of aggressive behavior in androgenized female mice

An attempt was made to determine whether olfactory stimuli modulate the aggressive behavior of female mice that are exposed to testosterone propionate (TP) perinatally and as adults. The first experiment showed that olfactory bulbectomy eliminated aggressive behavior of androgenized females. The second experiment demonstrated that androgenized females attacked castrate females treated with TP and bulbectomized males, but seldom attacked castrate or intact females. Experiments 3 and 4 showed that urine from males or urine from TP-treated castrate females enhanced the display of aggression by androgenized females, while an artificial odorant or urine from intact females inhibited aggression. Thus, olfactory stimuli were shown to profoundly influence the aggressive behavior of androgenized female mice and they did so in a manner similar to that reported for males.
Time and depth scales of fine sediment delivery into gravel stream beds: Constraints from fallout radionuclides on fine sediment residence time and delivery

Abstract Particles of fine sediment can clog interstitial pore spaces of coarser grained sediment in river beds and thereby impede the exchange of water, dissolved constituents, and particulate matter with consequent ecological impacts. The extent to which fine sediment reduces connectivity between the stream bed and overlying channel is a function, in part, of sediment residence time. Short residence times imply frequent exchange of matter and reduced impact of fine sediment on stream bed habitat, while long residence times indicate that with respect to fine sediment delivery, the stream bed is more isolated from the overlying channel. Here we present a novel technique to quantify the residence time of river bed sediment at various depths over annual and decadal timescales using the fallout radionuclides (FRNs) 7Be (t1/2 = 53 days) and 210Pbex (t1/2 = 22.3 years). We placed mesh cylinders filled with 7Be-free sediment into a stream bed to quantify the capture of 7Be-tagged particles in the absence of scour and fill. We also took cores to the depth of refusal in alluvial sediment in unregulated and regulated rivers in Vermont and New Hampshire. Sampled watershed areas ranged from 29 to 410 km2, and core depths ranged from 19 to 77 cm. The 210Pbex activity profiles of cores show that bed sediment is exchanged to the depth of refusal at decadal timescales. In contrast, 7Be activity profiles indicate that fine sediment infiltrating into the bed had residence times ranging from 4 to > 300 days in unregulated rivers. Cores from a regulated river are notably different—subsurface sediment residence times were always longer than in unregulated rivers at comparable depths, likely owing to restriction of bed mobilization and clogging of bed material by fine sediment. These results suggest that filtration can be an important component of bed material delivery to stream beds, but filtration does not deliver material as deeply into the bed as scour and fill. We find that fallout radionuclides provide direct measurements of time and depth scales of active exchange of particulate matter, which are key controls on hyporheic function.
Femtosecond energy-transfer processes in the B800-850 light-harvesting complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1.

The B800-to-B850 energy transfer time in the purified B800–850 light-harvesting complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 is determined to be 0.7 ps at room temperature. The electronic state dynamics of the principal carotenoid of this species, spheroidene, are examined, both in vivo and in vitro, by direct femtosecond time-resolved experiments and by fluorescence emission yield studies. Evidence is presented which suggests that carotenoid-to-bacteriochlorophyll energy transfer may occur directly from the initially excited carotenoid S2 state, as well as from the carotenoid S1 state. Further support for this conjecture is obtained from calculations of energy transfer rates from the carotenoid S2 state. Previous measurements of in vivo carotenoid and B800 dynamics are discussed in light of the new results, and currently unresolved issues are described.
Insect sodium channels and insecticide resistance

Voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for the generation and propagation of action potentials (i.e., electrical impulses) in excitable cells. Although most of our knowledge about sodium channels is derived from decades of studies of mammalian isoforms, research on insect sodium channels is revealing both common and unique aspects of sodium channel biology. In particular, our understanding of the molecular dynamics and pharmacology of insect sodium channels has advanced greatly in recent years, thanks to successful functional expression of insect sodium channels in Xenopus oocytes and intensive efforts to elucidate the molecular basis of insect resistance to insecticides that target sodium channels. In this review, I discuss recent literature on insect sodium channels with emphases on the prominent role of alternative splicing and RNA editing in the generation of functionally diverse sodium channels in insects and the current understanding of the interactions between insect sodium channels and insecticides.
Effective treatment of the brachial plexus syndrome in breast cancer patients by early detection and control of loco-regional metastases with radiation or systemic therapy.

In breast cancer (BC) patients the brachial plexus syndrome (BPS) has been reported to be due to loco-regional metastases or radiation plexopathy. Associated arm edema is considered more suggestive of the latter. Radiation therapy is the only effective treatment for BPS reported. The charts of all BC patients who presented to our clinic from 1982 to 2006 with homolateral arm pain and neurological deficits, without humerus, cervical spine, or brain metastases, were reviewed. There were 28 patients fulfilling these criteria for BPS. Supraclavicular, axillary or chest wall metastases developed synchronously with the BPS in 26 patients; in 21 they were recurrences, found 6–94 months (median 34 months) after primary BC treatment, while in 5 others they were progressing inoperable primary tumors and nodes. Arm edema first occurred at the same time as loco-regional metastases in 19 patients. Treatment for the BPS was administered to 22 patients; it was directed at their locoregional metastases. The BPS was initially treated with radiation (8 patients) or chemo- or endocrine therapy (14 patients); 19 (86%) had partial or complete remission of pain and neurologic deficits, with an 8-month median duration. The BPS in BC patients is due to loco-regional metastases and is often associated with arm edema. Chemoor endocrine therapy induced the remission of pain and deficits as frequently as radiation therapy.
14 MeV INAA nitrogen determination in coal conversion liquids

Fast neutron activation analysis has been used for the direct determination of nitrogen in coal conversion liquids. In our previous work on coals, solid standards such as N-1-naphthylacetamide. NBS SRM 912 urea and NBS SRM 148 nicotinic acid were used for nitrogen determinations. In this work, a set of organic liquids was selected and evaluated for use as nitrogen standards in the analysis of coal-derived liquids. The use of the liquid standards minimizes problems associated with maintaining uniform irradiation and counting geometries and self absorption differences related to varying matrix densities. The standard liquids were selected using criteria of high boiling point, well-defined stoichiometry, high-purity, non-hygroscopic nature and simple C−H−N elemental compositions. Excellent agreement between the 14 MeV INAA data and calculated stoichiometric values has been demonstrated for liquids with nitrogen contents from 1.89 to 39.95%. The liquid standards have been used to determine nitrogen in a set of typical coal conversion liquids and several international standards.
Testing Intelligently Includes Double-Checking Wechsler IQ Scores

The rigors of standardized testing make for numerous opportunities for examiner error, including simple computational mistakes in scoring. Although experts recommend that test scoring be double-checked, the extent to which independent double-checking would reduce scoring errors is not known. A double-checking procedure was established at a psychology training clinic in an effort to improve intelligence test scoring accuracy. The authors examined 50 archival protocols to determine the effects of independent double-checking on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Third Edition scores. As expected, these procedures significantly changed IQ scores, increasing their accuracy. Anonymous trainee feedback supported the utility of these efforts and endorsed it as making a useful contribution to professional development. Recommendations for instituting such procedures in training settings are discussed, and a sample checklist to guide double-checking is provided.
The unconscious processing information

The unconscious processing of information is explored by drawing on contributions from psychoanalysis, clinical and cognitive psychology, and neuroscience. A theory is constructed to explain why a ...
Dopamine-β-Hydroxylase: Evidence for Increased Activity in Sympathetic Neurons during Psychotic States

Tritiated dopamine was infused into psychiatric patients during acute psychotic episodes and in remission. An index of the activity of dopamine-β-hydroxylase of salivary gland sympathetic neurons was determined by measuring the distribution of tritiated metabolites in salivary fluid. Increased synthesis of norepinephrine occurred in acute schizophrenia and in the manic state of manic-depressive psychosis but not in the depressed phase.
Prospects for pluripotent stem cell therapies: into the clinic and back to the bench.

Pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, both hold great promise for the understanding and treatment of disease. They can be used for drug testing, as in vitro models for human disease progression, and for transplantation therapies. Research in this area has been influenced by the ever-changing political landscape, particularly in the United States. In this review, we discuss the prospects for clinical application using pluripotent cells, focusing on an evaluation of iPS cell potential, the continuing concern of tumor formation, and a summary of in vitro differentiation protocols and animal models used. We also describe the current clinical trials underway in the United States, as well as the ups and downs of funding for ES cell work. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 381–387, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Piperonyl butoxide enhances the bioconcentration and photoinduced toxicity of fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene to larvae of the grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)

Abstract Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is a commonly used synergist in many pyrethroid formulations due to its ability to interfere with cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenases. Because PBO can co-occur in the estuarine environment with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of compounds metabolized by CYP isozymes, the overall objective of this study was to investigate the influence of PBO on the bioconcentration and photoinduced toxicity of two common PAH contaminants, fluoranthene (FLU) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), on the larvae of the grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio). PBO alone was not particularly toxic to grass shrimp larvae. In dark exposures and under simulated sunlight (UV-A = 211.0 ± 7.0 μW/cm2, UV-B = 9.8 ± 2.4 μW/cm2), 96-h LC50 values were similar (814.4 and 888.6 μg/L, respectively), suggesting that PBO toxicity is not enhanced in the presence of sunlight. The presence of sublethal concentrations of PBO in single PAH toxicity tests increased the bioconcentration of the two tested PAHs, and these increases were greatest at the lowest tested PAH concentrations. Mean bioconcentration factors (BCF) at the three lowest FLU and BaP treatments increased 14.3- and 7.1-fold, respectively, in the low PBO (127 μg/L) exposure compared to that of the no PBO exposure. Under simulated sunlight, PBO exposure also increased the photoinduced toxicity of the two tested PAHs, and this increase occurred in a PBO concentration-dependent fashion. For FLU, 96-h LC50 values decreased from 2.35 μg/L in the absence of PBO to 0.76 μg/L in the high PBO (256 μg/L) exposure. For BaP, 96-h LC50 values similarly decreased from 1.02 μg/L in the absence of PBO to 0.30 μg/L in the high PBO exposure. The presence of PBO also influenced the PAH tissue residue–response relationship, but in different ways for FLU and BaP. For FLU, slopes of the tissue residue–response relationship decreased in the presence of PBO, and for BaP, there was a trend towards increased slopes in the presence of PBO. These results demonstrate that sublethal levels of PBO increase the bioconcentration and photoinduced toxicity of certain PAH in grass shrimp larvae, and underscore the need to consider the potential for PBO to synergize the toxicity of co-occurring environmental contaminants in future risk assessments.
1141424444 Detection of a2V‐ATPase in T regulatory cells of women with recurrent spontaneous abortions or implantation failures

Problem: T regulatory cells (Tregs) have recently been shown to play a critical role in maternal tolerance to the fetus. Tregs are decreased in women with recurrent miscarriages. a2V-ATPase (previously referred to as Regeneration and Tolerance Factor) is expressed in activated lymphocytes and plays a role in immune regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of a2V-ATPase on CD4+/CD25bright Tregs. Method of Study: Whole blood from women with RSA or implantation failures was reacted with anti-CD4 and anti-CD25 mAbs for the identification of CD4+/CD25bright and CD4+/CD25neg T cells by flow cytometric analysis. Subsequently, these two T-cell populations were analyzed for the expression of a2V-ATPase using PE-conjugated 2C1 mAb (specific for the membrane portion of a2V-ATPase). These two cell populations were also analyzed for the expression of CD71, CD62L, CD45RO and CD58 (Treg markers). Results: a2V-ATPase was more highly expressed on CD4+/CD25bright Tregs (22.8 ± 16.4%) than on CD4+/CD25neg T cells (2.4 ± 3.8%) in women with RSA (P < 0.0001). Additionally, a2V-ATPase was more highly expressed on CD4+/CD25bright Tregs (18.0 ± 18.2%) than on CD4+/CD25neg T cells (1.5 ± 1.4%) in women with implantation failures (P < 0.0001). a2V-ATPase expression also coincided with the expression of CD71, CD62L, CD45RO and CD58 in Tregs, as opposed to the conventional CD4+/CD25neg T cells. Conclusions: The expression of a2V-ATPase in Tregs of women with RSA or implantation failures is a novel finding and suggests that this vacuolar ATPase plays an important role in suppression. a2V-ATPase may be a unique molecule in the identification of Tregs among peripheral blood lymphocytes and may also explain the tolerogenic activity of these cells.
Antihypertensive Properties of Cryptenamine Used with Reserpine and Methyclothiazide

Abstract By a double‐blind crossover method, the hypotensive effects and side effects of cryptenamine were studied in 22 patients with Group 1 or 2 essential hypertension. The dosage administered was 2.5 mg. of methyclothiazide alone and a combination of 2.5 mg. of methyclothiazide and: (a) 2.0 mg. of cryptenamine, (b) 0.1 mg. of reserpine, and (c) 1.0 mg. of cryptenamine and 0.1 mg. of reserpine. Each preparation was administered four times each day for 8 weeks. The mean decrease in diastolic blood pressure with methyclothiazide alone was 10.5 mm. Hg; with methyclothiazide and cryptenamine, 15 mm. Hg; with methyclothiazide and reserpine, 21.6 mm. Hg; and with methyclothiazide, reserpine, and cryptenanmine, 23.5 mm. Hg. Two patients receiving methyclothiazide and cryptenamine were unable to complete the study because of nausea or depression. Mild side effects were more frequent with the combinations. Hypokalemia was noted in 50% of the patients, and small increases in levels of uric acid, urea, and blood sugar were without complication.
An empirical study of behavioral characteristics of spammers: Findings and implications

In this paper we present a detailed study of the behavioral characteristics of spammers based on a two-month email trace collected at a large US university campus network. We analyze the behavioral characteristics of spammers that are critical to spam control, including the distributions of message senders, spam and non-spam messages by spam ratios; the statistics of spam messages from different spammers; the spam arrival patterns across the IP address space; and the active duration of spammers, among others. In addition, we also formally confirm an informal observation that spammers may hijack network prefixes in sending spam messages, by correlating the arrivals of spam messages with the BGP route updates of the corresponding networks. In this paper we present the detailed results of the measurement study; in addition, we also discuss the implications of the findings for the (content-independent) anti-spam efforts.
Meso-Synoptic Scale Interactions during AVE/SESAME I, 10–11 April 1979. Part I: Theoretical Development of Interaction Equations

Abstract This is the first of two companion papers that describe the development and application of a set of kinetic energy budget equations which explicitly account for meso-synoptic scale interactions. The present paper focuses on the theoretical development of the equations and discusses a particular type of dataset to which the equations will be applied in the second paper. The kinetic energy content for the total observable flow (kT) is partitioned into components representing large (synoptic) scales of motion (kL), δ-scales of motion (differences between the total and large-scale flow denoted as kδ), and interactions among features within the two scales. Thus, kT = kL + kδ + (VL·Vδ). The Eulerian form of the kinetic energy budget is derived for each of these components. A Barnes objective analysis scheme is used to obtain two gridded datasets, one of which is based on all the data taken in the AVE/SESAME I regional scale network on 10–11 April 1979. This SES network consisted of 23 NWS and 16 supple...
Sugar transport in enzymatically active proteinaceous membranes and the application of a sorption theory

Abstract The transport of sucrose through lightly crosslinked, reconstituted biopolymeric (i.e., collagen) membranes, blank and enzyme-bound, was investigated. Transient models of the transport mechanism are presented for the following cases: no solute immobilization, and partial solute immobilization, with and without enzymatic reaction. Enzyme-bound collagen membranes were studied through permeation experiments conducted at a system temperature of 25°C so as to examine the effect of reaction on the diffusive transport. The imposed reaction was the enzymatic hydrolysis of sucrose by invertase. An understanding of the sucrose transport mechanism was necessary prior to the analysis of the enzyme membrane permeation data. Through time lag and sorption data collected from blank, unreactive collagen membranes, this mechanism was identified. Upon the elimination of the extramembrane film resistances, a site saturation effect for these membranes was observed. The apparent effective diffusivity was determined from the data collected near system saturation. This value was estimated to be 1.01 × 10−6 cm2/s ± 5%. Thus, a transport pathway on the structural protein is found to control the sugar permeability. The enzyme membrane data reflected a prolonged transient and a significant reduction in the emergent substrate flux. These effects could be important in modeling delays or lags in physiological responses to changes in substrate concentration(s). With the transport mechanism described, the kinetic parameters characterizing these membranes were extractable from these same data.
Protein-tyrosine Kinase Pyk2 Mediates Endothelin-induced p38 MAPK Activation in Glomerular Mesangial Cells

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a member of a family of 21 amino acid peptides possessing vasoconstrictor properties, is known to stimulate mesangial cell proliferation. In this study, ET-1 (100 nm) induced a rapid activation of p21(ras) in human glomerular mesangial cells (HMC). Inhibition of Src family tyrosine kinase activation with [4-Amino-5-(4-methylphenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine] or chelation of intracellular free calcium with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester significantly decreased ET-1dependent p21(ras) activation and suggested the involvement of the cytoplasmic proline-rich tyrosine kinase Pyk2. We have observed that Pyk2 was expressed in HMC and was tyrosine-phosphorylated within 5 min of ET-1 treatment. ET-1-induced activation of Pyk2 was further confirmed using phospho-specific anti-Pyk2 antibodies. Surprisingly, Src kinase activity was required upstream of ET-1-induced autophosphorylation of Pyk2. To determine whether Pyk2 autophosphorylation mediated ET-1-dependent p21(ras) activation, adenovirus-mediated transfer was employed to express a dominant-negative form of Pyk2 (CRNK). CRNK expression inhibited ET-1-induced endogenous Pyk2 autophosphorylation, but did not abolish ET-1-mediated increases in GTP-bound p21(ras) levels. ET-1-induced activation of the p38 MAPK (but not ERK) pathway was inhibited in HMC and in rat glomerular mesangial cells expressing the dominant-negative form of Pyk2. These findings suggest that the engagement of Pyk2 is important for ET-1-mediated p38 MAPK activation and hence the biological effect of this peptide in mesangial cells.
Alternative cerebral generators and circuitry pathways in alpha coma revealed by independent component analysis.

Abstract Objective This study investigates the generators of alpha coma activity and the probable cerebral pathways involved in alpha coma patients. Methods This study uses independent component analysis (ICA) and dipole fitting algorithm to locate the cerebral generators in alpha coma and normal alpha rhythms. Results Distinct distributions of the source generators for alpha activity were noted in alpha coma. They were localized to the anterior neocortical and subcortical regions, which includes caudate nucleus, midbrain and hypothalamus. In addition, the two patients who survive long term have five independent components identified vs. the other five patients who demised only had one or two independent components. Conclusions The findings showed that alpha activity could be generated using alternative generators and pathways. This is probably due to the disinhibition of the normally inhibited pathways in coma. The presence of less independent components is probably a marker of less preserved brain tissue and predicts worse outcome. Significance This is the first known human study using the ICA method to localize the cerebral generators in alpha coma. It might provide a new dimension of interpreting clinical EEGs in patients with alpha coma. It also might have significant application in predicting the clinical outcomes.
Self-reported pain and disability outcomes from an endogenous model of muscular back pain

Our purpose was to develop an induced musculoskeletal pain model of acute low back pain and examine the relationship among pain, disability and fear in this model. Delayed onset muscle soreness was induced in 52 healthy volunteers (23 women, 17 men; average age 22.4 years; average BMI 24.3) using fatiguing trunk extension exercise. Measures of pain intensity, unpleasantness, and location, and disability, were tracked for one week after exercise. Pain intensity ranged from 0 to 68 with 57.5% of participants reporting peak pain at 24 hours and 32.5% reporting this at 48 hours. The majority of participants reported pain in the low back with 33% also reporting pain in the legs. The ratio of unpleasantness to intensity indicated that the sensation was considered more unpleasant than intense. Statistical differences were noted in levels of reported disability between participants with and without leg pain. Pain intensity at 24 hours was correlated with pain unpleasantness, pain area and disability. Also, fear of pain was associated with pain intensity and unpleasantness. Disability was predicted by sex, presence of leg pain, and pain intensity; however, the largest amount of variance was explained by pain intensity (27% of a total 40%). The second model, predicting pain intensity only included fear of pain and explained less than 10% of the variance in pain intensity. Our results demonstrate a significant association between pain and disability in this model in young adults. However, the model is most applicable to patients with lower levels of pain and disability. Future work should include older adults to improve the external validity of this model.
Iliopsoas Bursa Injections Can be Beneficial for Pain after Total Hip Arthroplasty

Impingement of the iliopsoas tendon is an uncommon cause of groin pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA). We asked whether selective steroid and anesthetic injections for iliopsoas tendonitis after THA would relieve pain and improve function. We retrospectively reviewed 27 patients with presumed iliopsoas tendinitis treated by fluoroscopically guided injections of the iliopsoas bursa. Pre- and immediately postinjection, questionnaires and telephone followup questionnaires were administered to determine patient outcomes. Four patients were lost to followup and we were unable to obtain information from relatives on an additional four; the questionnaire was administered to the remaining 19 patients, including six who subsequently had surgery at an average of 44.6 months (range, 25–68 months) after their first injection. The average modified Harris hip score in the 19 patients improved from 61 preinjection to 82 postinjection and the average pain improved from 6.4 preinjection to 2.9 postinjection, but eight patients (30%) required a second injection at an average of 8.2 months after the first injection. Ultimately, six patients (22%) had an additional surgical procedure to address the underlying cause of the iliopsoas irritation. Iliopsoas tendonitis is uncommon after THA but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients who present with groin pain after THA. Selective steroid and anesthetic injections of the iliopsoas bursa give adequate pain relief in the majority of patients and should be considered part of the nonoperative treatment plan before surgical release of the iliopsoas tendon or component revision.
Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production with Visible Light over Pt-Interlinked Hybrid Composites of Cubic-Phase and Hexagonal-Phase CdS

A hybrid photocatalytic system, which is based on a mixed-phase cadmium sulfide matrix composed of nanoparticulate cubic-phase CdS (c-CdS) with average particle diameters of 13 nm and a bandgap energy of 2.6 eV, is coupled with bulk-phase hexagonal CdS (hex-CdS) that has a bandgap energy of 2.3 eV and is interlinked with elemental platinum deposits. The resulting hybrid nanocomposite catalysts are photocatalytically efficient with respect to hydrogen gas production from water with visible light irradiation at λ > 420 nm. Rates of H2 production approaching 1.0 mmol-H2 g−1 h−1 are obtained with a c-CdS/Pt/hex-CdS composite photocatalyst, in the presence of a mixed sodium sulfide and sodium sulfite background electrolyte system at pH 14. In contrast, the same composite produces H2 a rate of 0.15 mmol g−1 h−1 at pH 7 in a water-isopropanol solvent system. The relative order of reactivity for the synthesized hybrid catalysts was found to be c-CdS/Pt/hex-CdS > Pt/c-CdS/hex-CdS > Pt/hex-CdS > hex-CdS > c-CdS/hex...
Relaxation selective pulses in fast relaxing systems

Abstract In this work, the selectivity or sharpness of the saturation profiles for relaxation selective pulses ( R ^ rsp s) that suppress magnetization possessing relaxation times of T2 = T 2 rsp and T1 = α T 2 for α ∈ 1 2 , ∞ was optimized. Along with sharpening the selectivity of the R ^ rsp s , the selective saturation of these pulses was also optimized to be robust to both B 0 and B 1 inhomogeneities. Frequency-swept hyperbolic secant and adiabatic time-optimal saturation pulse inputs were found to work best in the optimizations, and the pulse lengths required to selectivity saturate the magnetization were always found to be less than the inversion recovery delay, T1ln(2). The selectivity of the optimized relaxation selective pulses was experimentally demonstrated in aqueous solutions with varying concentrations of the paramagnetic species, [Mn+2], and for use in solvent suppression. Finally, the “rotational” properties of spin relaxation were explored along with an analytical derivation of adiabatic time-optimal saturation pulses.
Effects of visual and verbal sexual television content and perceived realism on attitudes and beliefs

Previous studies of the effects of sexual television content have resulted in mixed findings. Based on the information processing model of media effects, I proposed that the messages embodied in such content, the degree to which viewers perceive television content as realistic, and whether sexual content is conveyed using visual or verbal symbols may influence the nature or degree of such effects. I explored this possibility through an experiment in which 182 college undergraduates were exposed to visual or verbal sexual television content, neutral television content, or no television at all prior to completing measures of sexual attitudes and beliefs. Although exposure to sexual content generally did not produce significant main effects, it did influence the attitudes of those who perceive television to be relatively realistic. Verbal sexual content was found to influence beliefs about women's sexual activity among the same group.
Structured design methodology for a course on computer science in engineering

The design of a course in computer science for engineers is being guided by techniques of instructional technology that facilitate the development of an efficient and effective course. An overview of the methodology and its application to this particular course are described.
The use of the PREPTM system for handling of body fluids

Abstract The Du Pont PREPTM automated sample processor is a centrifugally based, microprocessor controlled instrument that was designed for extraction of samples from biological fluids. Extraction takes place in cartridges containing either organic resins or bonded silica packings as extraction sorbants. This paper will discuss the application of several lipophilic and ion exchange sorbants to the extraction of biological samples from body fluids. The advantages of these different types of sorbants will be compared and their performance with automated sample preparation will be shown. A variety of applications including the extraction of benzodiazepine, barbiturate, aminoglycoside and anticonvulsant drugs and their metabolites from serum, urine, and tissue homogenates will be discussed.
Screening for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency.

In the presence of NADPH, dihydropryimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the catabolism of pyrimidine bases, including uracil, thymine, and the anticancer agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; [Fig. 1][1]). Following bolus and continuous infusion administration of 5-FU, about 90%
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND THE GAINS FROM CRIME

A number of economists recently have applied tools of economics to analysis of crime. The resulting models of criminal activity typically postulate that crime is positively related to gains porn crime and inversely related to the probability of punishment. While empirical studies have confirmed this latter effect, the relation between gains from crime and criminal activity has not been satisfactorily examined. This paper specifically tests the empirical relation between criminal behavior and the gains from crime. The unsettling possibility that decreases in the gains from crime my lead to increases in the number of crimes is discussed.
Evaluation of thermal and kinetic properties suitable for high heating rate computations

Computer codes that model dimensional, weight, and energy changes in ablative or pyrolysis materials, such as ballistic missile re-entry vehicle heat shields or thermal insulators, generally have to use effective rather than measured property values for some of their input. A primary reason for the discrepancy in values is that the properties are a function of the heating rate and conditions in which they will be used. In this study, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric analysis data were generated under heating rate conditions that can provide property data suitable for re-entry. Differences in values between steady-state or low heating rate data and high heating rate data are examined. The Charring Material Ablation Program was used to model heat-shield performance using high heating rate properties to show the improved correlation between computed and flight-test results.
Air–sea CO2 exchange in a subtropical estuarine-coral reef system, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii

Abstract The present study represents the first time-series evaluation of air–sea CO 2 exchange for a coastal marine system of a subtropical high island of the Pacific. From September 2003 through September 2004, surface water total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) data were collected bimonthly throughout the Kaneohe Bay estuarine-coral reef system. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( p CO 2 ) and the air–sea CO 2 exchange flux were calculated using TA, DIC, atmospheric CO 2 at sea level, and five wind speed relationships for gas transfer velocity. p CO 2 values were above the atmospheric level (average: 378 μatm) throughout Kaneohe Bay (400–500 μatm) and Kaneohe Stream waters (600–1300 μatm) during baseline conditions. p CO 2 levels above atmospheric in bay water were driven mainly by calcification while p CO 2 levels above atmospheric in stream water were driven mainly by remineralization of terrestrial organic matter. p CO 2 values above the atmospheric level were observed in surface water that extended almost 4 km beyond the boundary of the bay indicating that processes inside the bay such as calcification affect the inorganic carbon properties of the surrounding near shore open ocean. Precipitation from storm events in the Kaneohe watershed increases stream and land runoff that brings excess nutrients to bay waters. These excess nutrients stimulate phytoplankton blooms which draw down CO 2 in Kaneohe Bay water through photosynthesis. Despite the significant effects of the storms, Kaneohe Bay was a net annual source of CO 2 to the atmosphere of − 0.046 Gmol C year − 1 (− 0.55 kton C year − 1 ) with an area-specific flux of − 1.45 mol C m − 2 year − 1 (− 17.4 g C m − 2 year − 1 ). The source of CO 2 in Kaneohe Bay could be stronger on a long-term basis since dry years may be stronger net annual sources than wet years such as this study period. As shown by Kaneohe Bay data, the dynamic nature of estuarine systems makes closely spaced time-series data imperative for characterizing accurately the inorganic carbon system and the net annual air–sea exchange flux of CO 2 .
Spatial and temporal codes mediate the tactile perception of natural textures

Summary form only given. Our exquisite tactile sensitivity to surface texture allows us to distinguish silk from satin, or even good silk from cheap silk. We show that the tactile perception of natural textures relies on two neural mechanisms. Coarse textural features, for example the individual elements of Braille, are represented in spatial patterns of activation across one population of mechanoreceptive afferents that densely innervate the fingertip skin. In contrast, our ability to discern fine textural features is mediated by the transduction and processing of vibrations produced in the skin during scanning. Indeed, two other populations of vibration-sensitive afferents produce temporally patterned responses to these vibrations and spiking patterns in these afferent populations convey texture information and shape the way textures are perceived.
Effects of postnatal dietary choline supplementation on motor regional brain volume and growth factor expression in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

Nutritional status during pregnancy and lactation can influence behavioral and anatomical characteristics of several neurological disorders in the offspring, including Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is associated with mutations in the X-linked gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCp2), a transcriptional repressor that binds methylated DNA. In Mecp2(1lox) mice, a model of RTT, enhancing maternal nutrition through choline supplementation attenuates motor coordination deficits in the mutant offspring. Here, we examine alterations in brain volume and growth factor expression in the cerebellum and striatum, motor regions that may contribute to the improved behavioral performance seen with choline supplementation. Mecp2(1lox) dams were given choline in drinking water, and pups nursed from birth to weaning. Brains of male offspring were collected at postnatal day 42 for volumetric and growth factor expression analyses. Compared to wild-type mice, Mecp2(1lox) null mice had decreased whole brain, cerebellar and striatal volume. Choline supplementation had no effect on brain volume. Nerve growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 expression was similar between wild-type and Mecp2(1lox) mice while brain derived neurotrophic factor was reduced in Mecp2(1lox) mice. Choline supplementation increased striatal nerve growth factor expression in wild-type and Mecp2(1lox) mice, suggesting that neuronal proliferation and survival may contribute to improved motor performance in this model of RTT.
Bridging the gap between modelers and experimentalists

Second International Enzymes in the Environment Research Coordination Network Workshop: Incorporating Enzymes and Microbial Physiology Into Biogeochemical Models; Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 15–18 May 2012 Recent studies have provided new insights into the factors controlling the production and activities of extracellular enzymes, the proximate agents of organic matter decomposition. Enzymes and other aspects of microbial physiology have been incorporated into simple models but have not yet been explicitly incorporated into biogeochemical models capable of predicting fluxes of carbon and nutrients. One reason for this is that empirical data collected at one or few locations and time points do not meet the needs of modelers attempting to integrate across spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, there is a disconnect between the types of data measured in observational and experimental studies and the data needed to parameterize biogeochemical models. For example, the most common approach is to measure maximum potential enzyme activities in laboratory assays, whereas models require measurements of enzyme kinetics when substrate is limiting.
Maintenance of Sulfonylurea Responsiveness in NIDDM: Randomized Double-Blind Study of Intermittent Glyburide Therapy

Objective To assess the effectiveness of intermittent administration of sulfonylurea (glyburide) to patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Research Design and Methods A randomized, double-blind, prospective trial compared daily administration with intermittent administration of glyburide to patients who initially responded to the drug. Twenty-eight of 60 patients with NIDDM achieved the predetermined improvement in plasma glucose concentration on glyburide therapy. These 28 responders were enrolled into a 16-wk trial of daily versus intermittent (2 wk on, 2 wk off) glyburide treatment. Laboratory assessment of glycemic control and insulin secretion in fasting and 2-h postprandial states was done every 2 wk. Results Patients on continuous glyburide therapy maintained their glycemic control throughout the study. In contrast, patients on the intermittent schedule lost their glycemic control immediately after being placed on placebo. Despite a significant response to each sulfonylurea pulse, these subjects never regained their baseline glycemic levels. Their fructosamine and HbA 1c concentrations deteriorated and remained significantly higher than those of the continuously treated subjects. Conclusions Results suggest that administration of glyburide on an intermittent basis after a 2-wk drug-free period to patients initially rendered responsive to sulfonylurea therapy is without clinical merit.
Methods for determining the angle of refraction through a mean atmosphere

Abstract A comparison of the optical angle of refraction through the Earth's atmosphere is presented using actual mean atmospheric data up to an altitude of 30 km versus mean data at the surface level. A simple iteration method is developed for calculating the angle through the atmosphere. Three models of the refractive index are discussed and two are used in the iteration method. The results show: 1. (1) the angle of refraction is linearly dependent on the refractivity at the Earth's surface; 2. (2) the iteration method and a previous method based upon data at the surface level produces angle of refraction values to within a few tenths of an arc second of each other at a wavelength of 6328 A.