cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extravascular toxicity of two magnetic resonance contrast agents. Preliminary experience in the rat.

Abstract We compared the relative toxicities of standard concentrations of two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, ionic gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) and low-osmolar gadolinium-1, 4, 7 tris (carboxymethyl)-10-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-1, 4, 7, 10 tetra-azacyclododecane (HP-DO3A) with that of the conventional radiographic contrast medium meglumine diatrizoate, when extravasated into the deep dermal tissues of laboratory rats. Gadolinium-DTPA caused moderate necrosis, hemorrhage, and edema which was not statistically different than meglumine diatrizoate. In contrast, gadolinium HP-DO3A was significantly less toxic than meglumine diatrizoate. Additional experience will be needed in order to determine whether these laboratory results will be clinically relevant in humans.
The influence of social determinants on sexual risk among out-of-school African American female adolescents

Formative research was conducted to understand the social determinants of HIV risk among African American female adolescents as part of a systematic adaptation of an evidence-based behavioral HIV prevention intervention, the Women's CoOp. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between November 2008 and April 2009 with 20 African American female adolescents aged 16-18 who reported engaging in sex, using alcohol or other drugs, and dropping out of school. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded for key themes and emergent content patterns. The findings indicate that while female adolescents are knowledgeable about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), myriad social factors relate to their level of risk. Interpersonal relationships, primarily with older boyfriends and friends, played a pivotal role in their decision-making regarding sex risk behavior, substance use, and educational attainment. A lack of viable employment opportunities, exacerbated by the lack of a high school education, resulted in some young women trading sex to make money. In addition, violence, victimization, and gang involvement are pervasive in their communities. Out-of-school African American female adolescents face a plethora of issues that are directly and indirectly related to their sex risk behaviors and consequently their HIV/STI risk. To reach a vulnerable population disproportionately affected by HIV and other STIs, these factors must be addressed in prevention interventions, when feasible. The findings were incorporated into the intervention adaptation that is currently being tested in a randomized controlled trial.
Nasal Airflow as an Index of Success of Prosthetic Management of Cleft Palate

Nasal airflow measures, articulation test scores, breath-pressure ratios, and listener judgments were obtained for 30 prosthetically managed cleft-palate speakers and noncleft controls. Results indicate nasal airflow measures will not provide accurate prediction of velopharyngeal function, although they permit some gross differentiation.
Quantification of the Induced Electric Field in a Material Sample Placed Within an Energized Cylindrical Cavity - Abstract

In the study of the heating mechanism of a material sample in an energized electromagnetic cavity, it is essential to quantify the induced electric field in a material sample placed within the cavity. In this paper, an Electric Field Integral Equation (EFIE) and a Magnetic Field Integral Equation (MFIE) for the induced fields in the material sample are derived and solved numerically. Relevant dyadic Green's functions are also derived. A complete set of vector wave functions which include both solenoidal and irrotational functions are employed to represent the induced electric field in the material sample. When solving the integral equation, due to the slow convergence rate of the dyadic Green's function, the infinite triple summation over the cavity eigenfunctions is reduced to the infinite double summation. For some material samples with specific geometries, a scheme of separating the material sample into the boundary layer region and the interior volume region is proposed. This scheme tends to improve t...
Electron-longitudinal-phonon coupling in a transition metal: Ta

Abstract Recent tunneling studies of tantalum using a proximity technique reveal stronger coupling to the longitudinal modes relative to the transverse modes than observed previously for any transition metal. This result has implications for modeling the electron-phonon coupling mechanism and for future tunneling investigations. We obtain parameter values for Ta of λ = 0.73, μ ph ∗ = 0.10 ,in agreement with optimized conventional results.
Characterization of preform permeability in the presence of race tracking

For realistic simulation of resin flow in a stationary fibrous porous preform during Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) processes, it is necessary to input accurate material data. Of great importance in simulating the filling stage of the LCM process is the preform permeability; a measure of the resistance the preform poses to the flowing fluid. One method to measure permeability values is by conducting one-dimensional flow experiments, and matching the flow behavior to known analytical models. The difficulty is the edge effects such as race tracking disrupt the flow and violate the one-dimensional flow assumption. The new approach outlined in this paper offers a methodology to obtain accurate bulk permeability values despite any race tracking that may be present along the edges of the mold containing isotropic fabrics. Further, a method of approximate equivalent isotropic scaling is explained to extend the use of this method to determine permeability of anisotropic materials with race tracking present. Both approaches are validated with computer simulations, and then utilized in laboratory experimentation. The values calculated from this approach compare well with permeability values obtained from one-dimensional permeability experiments without the presence of race tracking.
Sulphur dioxide sorption by humic acid-fly ash mixtures

The sulphur dioxide absorption capabilities of aqueous humic acid-fly ash mixtures were investigated. Humic acid (HA) promotes the dissolution of basic material in fly ash, resulting in the formation of humate salts. These salts absorb SO2 effectively via an acid-base reaction resulting in formation of metal bisulphites and HA as products. The extent of fly ash dissolution in HA is a function of the HAfly ash ratio, with greater dissolution occurring as the ratio increases, until an excess of HA is present. The utilization of base from fly ash for neutralization of S02 is a function of its dissolution, and hence is also dependent on the HAfly ash ratio. Besides neutralization to bisulphite, HA-fly ash mixtures can also absorb SO2 through a specific HA-SO2(aq) interaction. However, the importance of this reaction is relatively small. On the basis of this work, it can safely be predicted that HA-fly ash mixtures would greatly outperform water-fly ash slurries in stack gas scrubbing applications.
Screening for Residual Disease in Pediatric Burkitt Lymphoma Using Consensus Primer Pools

Assessing molecular persistent or minimal residual disease (PD/MRD) in childhood Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is challenging because access to original tumor is usually needed to design patient-specific primers (PSPs). Because BL is characterized by rearranged immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgVH) genes, IgVH primer pools from IgVH1–IgVH7 regions were tested to detect PD/MRD, thus eliminating the need for original tumor. The focus of the current study was to assess the feasibility of using IgVH primer pools to detect disease in clinical specimens. Fourteen children diagnosed with B-NHL had follow-up repository specimens available to assess PD/MRD. Of the 14 patients, 12 were PD/MRD negative after 2 months of therapy and remained in remission at the end of therapy; 2/14 patients were PD/MRD positive at 2-3 months and later relapsed. PSP-based assays from these 14 patients showed 100% concordance with the current assay. This feasibility study warrants further investigation to assess PD/MRD using IgVH primer pools, which could have clinical significance as a real-time assessment tool to monitor pediatric BL and possibly other B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma therapy.
Proteomic analysis of endothelial cold-adaptation

Understanding how human cells in tissue culture adapt to hypothermia may aid in developing new clinical procedures for improved ischemic and hypothermic protection. Human coronary artery endothelial cells grown to confluence at 37°C and then transferred to 25°C become resistant over time to oxidative stress and injury induced by 0°C storage and rewarming. This protection correlates with an increase in intracellular glutathione at 25°C. To help understand the molecular basis of endothelial cold-adaptation, isolated proteins from cold-adapted (25°C/72 h) and pre-adapted cells were analyzed by quantitative proteomic methods and differentially expressed proteins were categorized using the DAVID Bioinformatics Resource. Cells adapted to 25°C expressed changes in the abundance of 219 unique proteins representing a broad range of categories such as translation, glycolysis, biosynthetic (anabolic) processes, NAD, cytoskeletal organization, RNA processing, oxidoreductase activity, response-to-stress and cell redox homeostasis. The number of proteins that decreased significantly with cold-adaptation exceeded the number that increased by 2:1. Almost half of the decreases were associated with protein metabolic processes and a third were related to anabolic processes including protein, DNA and fatty acid synthesis. Changes consistent with the suppression of cytoskeletal dynamics provided further evidence that cold-adapted cells are in an energy conserving state. Among the specific changes were increases in the abundance and activity of redox proteins glutathione S-transferase, thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase, which correlated with a decrease in oxidative stress, an increase in protein glutathionylation, and a recovery of reduced protein thiols during rewarming from 0°C. Increases in S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase implicate a central role for the methionine-cysteine transulfuration pathway in increasing glutathione levels and the NAD salvage pathway in increasing the reducing capacity of cold-adapted cells. Endothelial adaptation to mild-moderate hypothermia down-regulates anabolic processes and increases the reducing capacity of cells to enhance their resistance to oxidation and injury associated with 0°C storage and rewarming. Inducing these characteristics in a clinical setting could potentially limit the damaging effects of energy insufficiency due to ischemia and prevent the disruption of integrated metabolism at low temperatures.
Motivation to Obtain Self-Relevant Feedback in Depressed College Students.

Thirty depressed and 30 nondepressed college students completed a social judgment task. Students initially received either positive, negative, or no preliminary feedback and were told that they could obtain more extended feedback about their performance at a cost of $.20 for each unit of feedback. As predicted, depressed students were willing to relinquish a greater amount of money to obtain self-relevant feedback. Additionally, depressed and nondepressed Ss were more motivated to obtain additional feedback after they had received positive or no preliminary feedback than after they had received negative preliminary feedback. Results support Rehm's (1977) description of a heightened need for external reassurance among depressed persons.
Effects of C, Cu, and Be substitutions in superconducting MgB 2

Density functional calculations are used to investigate the effects of partial substitutional alloying of the B site in MgB2 with C and Be alone and combined with alloying of the Mg site with Cu. The effect of such substitutions on the electronic structure, electron phonon coupling and superconductivity are discussed. We find that Be substitution for B is unfavorable for superconductivity as it leads to a softer lattice and weaker electron-phonon couplings. Replacement of Mg by Cu leads to an increase in the stiffness and doping level at the same time, while the carrier concentration can be controlled by partial replacement of B by C. We estimate that with full replacement of Mg by Cu and fractional substitution of B by C, Tc values of 50K may be attainable.
Exciton Diffusion in Pyrene-A Thermally Activated Hopping Process

Abstract Sensitized fluorescence and fluorescence quenching has been studied in pyrene layers, doped with small amounts of coronene, anthraquinone and acenaphthylene. Coronene exhibits strong sensitized fluorescence at room temperature, but not at 77°K. This behaviour is due to decreased exciton mobility. The activation energy of the excition hopping process has been determined to be Ea = 0.055 eV. The lifetime of pyrene excimer fluorescence is decreased by quenchers in accordance with the steady-state measurements of relative quantum efficiencies. Three possible mechanisms of excimer state hopping in jpyrene are discussed
Protection of implanted pacemakers from excessive electrical energy of D.C. shock.

Abstract Studies were performed on implanted pacemakers subjected to electroshock in 55 dogs. With exposure to 400 w.sec., electrical energies of 18 ma. and 29 v. were recorded in the epicardial lead system and energies of 1,000 ma. and 350 v. recorded in the epicardial ground plate lead systems. One of 20 Medtronic pacemakers having the bipolar lead system configuration was damaged in the experiment. Three of five Cordis Corporation pacemakers without protective zener diode circuitry were damaged. The addition of shunt diodes in the Cordis pacemaker input/output terminals provided a significant measure of protection. Implanted pacemakers may be made less vulnerable to electrical shock by incorporating components with adequate transient breakdown ratings and by employing electrodes of small surface area, small interelectrode distance and electrode orientation perpendicular to the defibrillator paddles.
Nitrogen and carbon mineralization of semi-arid shrubland soil exposed to long-term atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Anthropogenic N-deposition represents a significant input of N into semi-arid chaparral and coastal sage scrub (CSS) shrublands of southern California. High levels of atmospheric N deposition have the potential to increase soil C and N mineralization, and we hypothesize that semi-arid shrubland soil exposed to long-term (decades) high N deposition will have significantly higher C and N mineralization potentials. This hypothesis was tested in a laboratory incubation where the inorganic N (NH4+NO3) and CO2 production of soils maintained at a constant temperature of 25°C and a soil moisture of 0.25 g H2O/g (65% water-filled pore space) were sampled sequentially over a 50-week period. The temporal trend in cumulative C and N mineralization was well described by a first- and zero-order model, respectively. Long-term atmospheric N deposition significantly increased potential N mineralization but not C mineralization, and both the rate and total N mineralization were significantly positively correlated with the surface (0–10 cm) soil δ 15N natural abundance and negatively correlated with the surface soil C:N ratio. While the incubation techniques used here do not provide realistic estimates of in situ C or N mineralization, these assays indicate that atmospheric N deposition has significantly altered ecosystem N storage and cycling.
Effect of dental tool surface texture and material on static friction with a wet gloved fingertip

Hand injuries are an important cause of pain and disability among dentists and dental hygienists and may be due to the high pinch forces involved in periodontal work. The pinch forces required to perform scaling may be reduced by increasing the friction between the tool and fingers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether modifying the tool material, surface texture, or glove type altered the coefficient of static friction for a wet gloved finger. Seven tools with varying surface topography were machined from 13 mm diameter stainless steel and Delrin and mounted to a 6-component force plate. The textures tested were a fine, medium and coarse diamond knurled pattern and a medium and fine annular pattern (concentric rings). Thirteen subjects pulled their gloved, wet thumb pad along the long axis of the tool while maintaining a normal force of 40 N. Latex and nitrile gloves were tested. The coefficient of static friction was calculated from the shear force history. The mean coefficients of static friction ranged from 0.20 to 0.65. The coefficient of static friction was higher for a smooth tool of Delrin than one of stainless steel. Differences in the coefficient of static friction were observed between the coarse and medium knurled patterns and the fine knurled and annular patterns. Coefficients of static friction were higher for the nitrile glove than the latex glove for tools with texture. These findings may be applied to the design of hand tools that require fine motor control with a wet, gloved hand.
Spontaneous activity induced in isolated mouse spinal cord by high extracellular calcium and by low extracellular magnesium.

Spontaneous discharges were observed in recordings from dorsal and ventral roots (DRs and VRs) of hemisected mouse spinal cords in vitro when bath [Ca2+] was raised from the control level of 1.2 to 1.8 or 2.4 mmol/l, and when bath [Mg2+] was lowered resembling drug-induced 'interictal' discharges described earlier. Maximum discharge frequency was reached at 2.4 or 3.6 mmol/l [Ca2+] while at higher concentrations mean frequency diminished but mean amplitude still increased somewhat. The frequency distribution of wave amplitudes suggests recruitment of neurons by groups or assemblies. The pacemaker is located in the dorsal spinal quadrant. The GABAA receptor antagonists picrotoxin and bicuculline in low concentration blocked the spontaneous activity, indicating an obligatory GABAergic link in the pacemaker circuit. The NMDA antagonists D.L-APV and D-APV in high concentration variably depressed but did not abolish spontaneous activity. The propensity of spinal neuron assemblies for self-paced discharge may contribute to the pathologic irritability of injured spinal cords.
The efficacy of intra-articular injections for pain control following the closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The purpose of this single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial was to compare the analgesic efficacy of intra-articular injections of bupivacaine or ropivacaine with that of no injection for postoperative pain control after the operative treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures in a pediatric population. Methods: Subjects (n = 124) were randomized to treatment with 0.25% bupivacaine (Group B) (n = 42), 0.20% ropivacaine (Group R) (n = 39), or no injection (Group C) (n = 43). The opioid doses and the times of administration as well as child-reported pain severity (Faces Pain Scale-Revised) and parent-reported pain severity (Total Quality Pain Management survey) were recorded. Results: The proportion of subjects who required morphine and/or fentanyl injections was significantly (p = 0.004) lower in Group B (10%) as compared with Group R (36%) and Group C (44%). On the basis of the log-rank test, the opioid-free survival rates were significantly greater in Group B as compared to Groups C and R. Total opioid consumption (morphine equivalent mg/kg) in the first seventy-two hours postoperatively was significantly less in Group B as compared with Group C (mean difference, 0.225; [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0152 to 0.435]; p = 0.036). Parent-reported pain scores were also significantly lower in Group B as compared with both Group C (mean difference, 1.81 [95% CI, 0.38 to 3.25]; p = 0.014) and Group R (mean difference, 1.66; 95% CI, 0.20 to 3.12; p = 0.027). There were no significant differences across the three groups in terms of self-reported pain. Differences between Groups R and C were not significant for any of the outcome variables. Conclusions: The intra-articular injection of 0.25% bupivacaine significantly improves postoperative pain control following the closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humeral fractures in pediatric patients. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Characterization of a Viscoplastic Constitutive Model and Its Application for the Finite Element Analyses of a Stirling Space Power Converter Heater Head

NASA has identified the Stirling power converter as a prime candidate for the next generation power system for space applications requiring 60,000 hours of operation. To meet this long-term goal, several critical components of the power converter were analyzed using advanced structural assessment methods. Perhaps the most critical component, because of its geometric complexity and operating environment, was the power converter's heater head. Low-cycle fatigue and creep experiments on a nickel-base superalloy, Udimet 720 LI (low inclusions) and viscoplastic analyses for the Stirling starfish heater head were conducted. All testing was performed at temperatures of 625 to 820°C in air. This work was initiated to generate a unique and consistent database in support of a life prediction modeling effort aimed at characterizing Freed's viscoplastic model and verifying the key damage mechanisms. In general, this paper describes the life assessment of the heater head, which included the characterization of a visco...
Efficacy and safety of herbal stimulants and sedatives in sleep disorders

World-wide use of herbal medicines is increasing, following regulatory and manufacturing developments. Herbs are attractive alternative medications to many patients with sleep disorders, who may be averse to using conventional drugs. We review here the most common herbal stimulants and sedatives. Caffeine, in herbal teas, black tea, coffee, soft drinks and pharmaceuticals, is used widely to control sleepiness, but more research is needed on its use in sleep disorders. Ephedra, and its constituent ephedrine, are used in both stimulant and weight loss preparations, sometimes with caffeine; safety concerns have arisen with this practice. Yohimbe is another herb used in stimulant and body-building preparations which has safety concerns. Asian and Siberian ginseng have been traditionally used for fatigue, and have some supportive experimental evidence for this use. Herbal sedatives also have some evidence for efficacy; the observations that certain plant flavonoid compounds bind to benzodiazepine receptors adds interest to their use. Valerian and kava have received the most research attention; both have decreased sleep onset time and promoted deeper sleep in small studies, and kava also shows anxiolytic effects. German chamomile, lavender, hops, lemon balm and passionflower are reputed to be mild sedatives but need much more experimental examination.
Conversion of batch to molten glass, II: Dissolution of quartz particles

Quartz dissolution during the batch-to-glass conversion influences the melt viscosity and ultimately the temperature at which the glass forms. Batches to make a high-alumina borosilicate glass (formulated for the vitrification of nuclear waste) were heated as 5°C min-1 and quenched from the temperatures of 400-1200°C at 100°C intervals. As a silica source, the batches contained quartz with particles ranging from 5 to 195 µm. The content of unreacted quartz in the samples was determined with x-ray diffraction. Most of fine quartz has dissolved during the early batch reactions (at temperatures <800°C), whereas coarser quartz dissolved mostly in a continuous glass phase via diffusion. The mass-transfer coefficients were assessed from the data as functions of the initial particle sizes and the temperature. A series of batch was also tested that contained nitrated components and additions of sucrose known to accelerate melting. While sucrose addition had no discernible impact on quartz dissolution, nitrate batches melted somewhat more slowly than batches containing carbonates and hydroxides in addition to nitrates.
Strongyloidiasis presenting as eosinophilic ascites

Approximately 30 million people are thought to harbour Strongyloides stercoralis, a parasitic nematode that is endemic in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, South–east Asia, and south–eastern U.S.A. (Liu and Weller, 1993; Siddiqui and Berk, 2001). Although auto-infection may lead to chronic or intermittent symptoms that last several decades, even in individuals who have not recently travelled to endemic areas, human infection with this nematode is typically asymptomatic or only causes mild gastro-intestinal symptoms (Liu and Weller, 1993). In immunocompromised individuals, however, strongyloidiasis is often devastating and the cause of high mortality, with pneumonia, meningitis and Gram-negative sepsis among the life-threatening conditions that can occur as the St. stercoralis larvae migrate throughout the body. An unusual case of strongyloidiasis in a young, otherwise healthy patient, who presented (in New York, NY) with dysphagia, episodes of diarrhoea alternating with constipation, and increasing abdominal girth (all of which resolved following treatment) is described and discussed below.
Sea ice volume and age: Sensitivity to physical parameterizations and thickness resolution in the CICE sea ice model

Abstract New dynamics parameterizations in Version 5 of the Los Alamos Sea Ice Model, CICE, feature an anisotropic rheology and variable drag coefficients. This study investigates their effect on Arctic sea ice volume and age simulations, along with the effects of several pre-existing model options: a parameter that represents the mean cumulative area of ice participating in ridging, the resolution of the ice thickness distribution, and the resolution of the vertical temperature and salinity profiles. By increasing shear stress between floes, the anisotropic rheology slows the ice motion, producing a thicker, older ice pack. The inclusion of variable drag coefficients, which depend on modeled roughness elements such as deformed ice and melt pond edges, leads to thinner ice and a more realistic simulation of sea ice age. Several feedback processes act to enhance differences among the runs. Notably, if less open water is produced mechanically through ice deformational processes, the simulated ice thins relative to runs with more mechanically produced open water. Thermodynamic processes can have opposing effects on ice age and volume; for instance, growth of new ice increases the volume while decreasing the age of the pack. Therefore, age data provides additional information useful for differentiating among process parameterization effects and sensitivities to other model parameters. Resolution of thicker ice types is crucial for proper modeling of sea ice volume, because the volume of ice in the thicker ice categories determines the total ice volume. Model thickness categories tend to focus resolution for thinner ice; this paper demonstrates that 5 ice thickness categories are not enough to accurately resolve the ice thickness distribution for simulations of ice volume.
Pregnancy rates after transfer of cryopreserved blastocysts cultured in a sequential media

Objective This study was undertaken to determine the pregnancy rate after transfer of cryopreserved blastocysts. Study design Retrospective review of 61 patients from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2003, who were transferred with blastocyst embryos cryopreserved on day 5 or 6 after culture in a sequential media. The cryopreserved blastocysts were thawed by using a 7-step dilution process after rapid thawing half hour to 2 hours before embryo transfer. Results The pregnancy rate after transfer of 61 patients with cryopreserved blastocysts was 66%, with 49% having cardiac activity. The pregnancy rate after transfer of 3 blastocysts was 71% and after transfer of 2 blastocysts was 66%. The pregnancy rate of blastocysts cryopreserved after intracytoplasmic sperm injection was 56%. Conclusion Cryopreservation and transfer of blastocysts appears to be a reliable procedure, and that the human blastocyst can be cryopreserved and thawed without a significant loss of viability.
Unilateral upper and lower subtotal maxillectomy approaches to the cranial base: microsurgical anatomy.

OBJECTIVE The relationship of the maxilla, with its thin walls, to the nasal and oral cavities, the orbit, and the infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae makes it a suitable route for accessing lesions involving both the central and lateral cranial base. In this study, we compared the surgical anatomy and exposure obtained by two unilateral transmaxillary approaches, one directed through an upper subtotal maxillectomy, and the other through a lower subtotal maxillectomy. METHODS Cadaveric specimens examined, with 3 to 40x magnification, provided the material for this study. RESULTS Both upper and lower maxillectomy approaches open a surgical field extending from the ipsilateral internal carotid artery to the contralateral Eustachian tube; however, they differ in the direction of the access and the areas exposed. The lower maxillectomy opens a combination of the transmaxillary, transnasal, and transoral routes to extra- and intradural lesions of the central cranial base. Performing additional osteotomies of the mandibular coronoid process and the sphenoid pterygoid process provides anterolateral access to the lateral cranial base, including the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae, and the parapharyngeal space. The upper maxillectomy opens the transmaxillary and transnasal routes to the central cranial base but not the transoral route. The structures exposed in the lateral cranial base, after removing the coronoid and pterygoid processes, include the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae and the parapharyngeal space. Exposure can be extended by a frontotemporal craniotomy, which provides access to the anterior and middle cranial fossae and the basal cisterns. CONCLUSION The upper and lower subtotal maxillectomy approaches provide wide but differing access to large parts of the central and lateral cranial base depending on the site of the osteotomies.
T cell receptor stimulation, but not CD28 costimulation, is dependent on LFA‐1‐mediated events

Accessory molecules play a crucial role in the development of the T cell response to antigenic challenge. In this manuscript we specifically examine the role of two accessory molecules, CD28 and LFA-1, in modulating the T cell proliferative response to a variety of stimuli. We demonstrate that the proliferation induced by staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B in combination with CD28 costimulation is dependent on LFA-1-mediated events. This requirement for LFA-1 is independent of T cell-accessory cell adhesion. Similarly, an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction, which has previously been shown to be a CD28-dependent response, can be inhibited by blockade of LFA-1. This suggests LFA-1 plays an essential role in these responses, either by enhancing intercellular adhesion or by an independent signal transduction event. In contrast, when the primary activating stimulus is delivered by immobilized anti-CD3 antibody or by PMA, and the secondary stimulus by either alpha-CD28 or cell-bound CD28 ligand B7, there is no requirement for LFA-1. In addition, we demonstrate that cross-linking of LFA-1 with immobilized monoclonal antibody, or engagement of LFA-1 with ICAM-1 expressed on the surface of a CHO cell, provide an insufficient costimulus for T cell proliferation initiated by enterotoxin, immobilized alpha-CD3 or phorbol ester. Our data suggests that LFA-1, in contrast to CD28, functions not as a costimulatory molecule, but serves primarily to modulate the signal delivered through the T cell receptor.
Visceral Adiposity, Insulin Resistance, and Type 2 Diabetes

The worldwide prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases continues to rise. Insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes are all associated with obesity. Visceral fat is ...
Using Personal Narratives for Curriculum Development about Substance Abuse and Older Adults

This article reports on a project to sensitize graduate social work students taking courses in substance abuse to the needs of older adults. Graduate social work students at a major urban school of social work in the Northeast were recruited and trained to interview older adults with a history of substance abuse problems regarding their life experiences. The authors developed educational vignettes based on the interviews and curriculum units based on these vignettes to be incorporated into the substance abuse curriculum. The challenges and rewards of engaging students in the process of developing educational vignettes based on older adults lived experiences are also discussed.
Measuring concentrated poverty: The federal standard vs. a relative standard

Abstract How should concentrated poverty be measured? U.S. scholars have almost universally defined it as census tracts in which 40 percent or more of the population falls below the official federal poverty line. This standard, originally based on a minimally acceptable diet, has become increasingly divorced from the realities of our affluent society and ignores differences across metropolitan areas. We use instead a relative definition of poverty based on 50 percent of median income in each region. We find that the extent, geographic distribution, and trends in concentrated poverty between 1990 and 2000 are very different from those found using the federal poverty standard. For a small sample of metropolitan areas, we show that census tracts of relative concentrated poverty, excluded under the federal definition, rank among the most disadvantaged in their areas. We conclude by recommending that researchers studying concentrated poverty supplement the official federal standard with a relative approach.
UTILIZATION OF BLOOD ACETATE AND BUTYRATE BY THE ISOLATED, PERFUSED GOAT RUMEN.

Abstract The ability of rumen tissue to remove from the blood and to metabolize organic acids was studied by circulating blood containing either labeled acetate or labeled butyrate through the vascular system of the isolated goat rumen maintained in a perfusion apparatus. Both compounds were removed from arterial blood by the rumen tissue. At the same time there were quantitative increases in unlabeled blood volatile fatty acids, indicating absorption from the rumen contents into the blood. Beat-hydroxybutyrate was the main product isolated from the metabolism of butyrate. Only small amounts of C 14 from acetate were incorporated into the organic acids assayed.
Survey of Heartworm Prevention Practices Among Members of a National Hunting Dog Club

Surveillance data indicate that failures have been reported for virtually all heartworm prevention product categories. Resistance of third and fourth stage larvae of Dirofilaria immitis to macrocyclic lactones, lack of compliance, other unknown factors, or a combination of these reasons may be the cause of failure. A survey of members of a national hunting dog club was conducted to identify practices used to prevent canine heartworm infections. Questionnaires were completed by 708 dog owners. Year-round administration of heartworm preventive medication was reported by 208 (88%) respondents residing north of the 37th parallel. Dosing was based on the estimated weight of the dog by 54 (7%) respondents, 389 (55%) did not record the date prophylaxis was administered, and 89 (13%) observed the dogs spit out pills. Heartworm testing at least once per year was done by 556 (79%) respondents and test dates were spread throughout the year. Only 448 (64%) respondents tested newly acquired dogs for heartworm. These f...
Micellar Solubilization of a New Antimalarial Drug, β-Arteether

β-Arteether (1) is a new antimalarial drug derived from artemisinin (2, qinghaosu). Compound 1 is quite water insoluble, but very soluble in a variety of organic solvents. Solubilization in a variety of surfactants was investigated to obtain higher concentrations of 1 in aqueous solutions. Anionic and cationic surfactants exhibited dramatic solubilizing ability for 1, while nonionic surfactants showed significantly lower solubilizing ability. The solubilization data are analyzed on the basis of a pseudo-phase model with 1 exhibiting a high partition coefficient into the micellar phase. An empirical model is presented to identify the possible sites of solubilization of 1 in the micelle.
Using Participatory Learning to Model Human Behavior

We discuss the need for addressing the issue of learning in human behavior modeling and social computing. We introduce and describe the participatory learning paradigm. A formal system implementing this type of learning agent is provided. We then extend this system so that it can learn from interval type observations.
Sketching via hashing: from heavy hitters to compressed sensing to sparse fourier transform

Sketching via hashing is a popular and useful method for processing large data sets. Its basic idea is as follows. Suppose that we have a large multi-set of elements S = {a1, . . . as} ⊂ {1 . . . n}, and we would like to identify the elements that occur “frequently” in S. The algorithm starts by selecting a hash function h that maps the elements into an array c[1 . . .m]. The array entries are initialized to 0. Then, for each element a ∈ S, the algorithm increments c[h(a)]. At the end of the process, each array entry c[j] contains the count of all data elements a ∈ S mapped to j. It can be observed that if an element a occurs frequently enough in the data set S, then the value of the counter c[h(a)] must be large. That is, “frequent” elements are mapped to “heavy” buckets. By identifying the elements mapped to heavy buckets and repeating the process several times, one can efficiently recover the frequent elements, possibly together with a few extra ones (false positives).
CARE ETHICS AND THE GLOBAL PRACTICE OF COMMERCIAL SURROGACY

This essay will focus on the moral issues relating to surrogacy in the global context, and will critique the liberal arguments that have been offered in support of it. Liberal arguments hold sway concerning reproductive arrangements made between commissioning couples from wealthy nations and the surrogates from socioeconomically weak backgrounds that they hire to do their reproductive labor. My argument in this paper is motivated by a concern for controlling harms by putting the practice of globalized commercial surrogacy into the context of care ethics. As I will argue, the unstable situations into which children of global surrogacy arrangements are born is symbolic of the crisis of care that the practice raises. Using the Baby Manji case as my touch point, I will suggest that liberalism cannot address the harms experienced by Manji and children like her who are created through the global practice of assisted reproductive technology. I will argue that, if commissioning couples consider their proposed surrogacy contracts from a care ethics point of view, they will begin to think relationally about their actions, considering the practice from an ethical lens, not just an economic or contractual one.
Impact of Maroon Model On Engineering Education

Maroon model introduced in (Shivakumaraiah, 2006) describes the need to equip engineers with skills to deal with people from diverse backgrounds due to increasing number of international engineering students in US universities and globalization of industry. This paper present an analysis of the impact of Maroon model and increasing number of international engineering students on engineering education in US. The paper illustrates how Maroon model may be used to incorporate qualities identified by "the engineer of 2020" report as required to be a global engineer. The preliminary results of practicing Maroon model are described at the end of the paper. The results showing increased interaction between domestic and international students suggests a new dimension that can be added to the engineering curricula to increase awareness of diversity among engineering students and improved student life of international engineering students. The outcomes of MSU activities are described at the end of paper
Developmental care: The impact of Wee Care developmental care training on short-term infant outcome and hospital costs☆☆☆

This article explores the effect of a comprehensive developmental care training program on the medical outcome and cost of care for premature infants. Premature infants less than 34 weeks’ gestation admitted to 2 regional neonatal intensive care units were prospective studies 6 months before and after implementation of the Wee Care program (Children’s Medical Ventures, Norwell, MA). Environment, medical outcome, and hospital charges were recorded. The sample consisted of 242 infants (139 pre- and 103 postintervention). Although the medical outcomes of chronic lung disease, infection rate, mild retinopathy of prematurity, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significantly decreased, there was no change in incidence of severe retinopathy of prematurity. Hospital stay and hospital costs were significantly decreased. The authors conclude that a multidisciplinary, structured program in developmental care can lead to alterations in the neonatal intensive care unit environment associated with improved medical outcome, decreased length of hospitalization, and decreased cost of care.
Comments on the Preceding Paper by Professor M. A. R. Khan

This communication presents comments on Professor M. A. R. Khan's paper concerning the possibility of detecting the strongest radiations of terrestrial polar auroras in the spectrum of the earthshine. It also suggests the desirability of photographing the Moon in infra-red radiation corresponding to the O-O band of the first positive system of N2. The possibility of extending Professor Khan's proposal by studying the lunar ionosphere and by studying other phenomena suggested by known solar-terrestrial relationships is briefly discussed.
Ornithine ingestion and growth hormone release in bodybuilders

Abstract Amino acid supplements are popular among bodybuilders because of unproven, yet attractive claims that pharmacologic dosages can elicit the release of growth hormone, an anabolic substance. Three female and nine male bodybuilders in training served as subjects. After an overnight fast, subjects were administered 40, 100 or 170 mg·kg −1 L-ornithine hydrochloride by mouth (oral route) in a random fashion over three successive Saturdays. Blood samples were drawn at baseline (T=0), 45 and 90 minutes post-administration. Regardless of dosage, mean 45 and 90 minute values for serum ornithine level were significantly (p −1 dosage. The findings indicate that oral ornithine is absorbed and systemic blood levels rise as a direct function of intake level. However, only at the highest dosage did ornithine elicit a predictable rise in serum growth hormone level.
The New NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Median Voter Model, and a Robin Hood Rent Redistribution:

In this article, it is suggested that the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) redistributes rents from the superstars back to the median voters. In particular, it is suggested that portions of the new agreement, such as salary caps, are designed to improve the rather skewed distribution of salaries in the NBA. Evidence from a Lorenz curve analysis of the first 2 years under the new contract suggests that all players with salaries below the median wage gain from the new agreement, and those with salaries closest to the median wage gain the most. The analysis suggests that skewed salary distributions may lead to CBAs that redistribute the rents from the rich (superstars) to the poor (median voters).
Fault coverage of pattern-sensitive fault-detection algorithms for semiconductor memories

Experimental studies have been made on the fault coverage of pattern-sensitive fault-detection algorithms proposed for semiconductor memories. The experiment is carried out on a microprocessor-based system. A comparative study has been made based on the experimental results.
Current Understanding of the Role of the Brd4 Protein in the Papillomavirus Lifecycle

The Brd4 protein is an epigenetic reader that is central to regulation of cellular transcription and mitotic bookmarking. The transcription and replication proteins of many viruses interact with Brd4. We describe the multiple roles of Brd4 in the papillomavirus lifecycle.
Three-point susceptibilities χ n ( k ; t ) and χ n s ( k ; t ) : Mode-coupling approximation

Recently, it was argued that a three-point susceptibility equal to the density derivative of the intermediate scattering function, chi{n}(k;t)=dF(k;t)dn , enters into an expression for the divergent part of an integrated four-point dynamic density correlation function of a colloidal suspension [Berthier, J. Chem. Phys. 126, 184503 (2007)]. We show that, within the mode-coupling theory, the equation of motion for chi{n}(k;t) is essentially identical as the equation of motion for the q-->0 limit of the three-point susceptibility chi{q}(k;t) introduced by Biroli [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 195701 (2006)]. We present a numerical solution of the equation of motion for chi{n}(k;t) . We also derive and numerically solve an equation of motion for the density derivative of the self-intermediate scattering function, chi_{n};{s}(k;t)=dF;{s}(k;t)dn . We contrast the wave vector dependence of chi{n}(k;t) and chi{n};{s}(k;t) .
Functional Significance of Vertebrate lntegumental Pigmentation

SYNOPSIS Pigment cells and their synthesized products play an important functional role in the skin of most all vertebrates, from cyclostomes to man Both dermal and epidermal pigment cells function in physiological and morphological color changes and provide the cellular basis for vertebrate pigment patterns and differences in racial coloration Epidermal melanization is of particular importance in homeotherms in the regulation of seasonal pelage and feather color changes In addition, melanin pigmenta tion may have a photoprotective function, influence vitamin D synthesis in the skin protect or influence neivous system function, affect heat absorption and consenition, play an intracellular homeostatic role in the skin and (by leucocytic transport) elsewhere in the bodv and provide a structural element to the integument A consideration of the comparative evolution of the vertebrate lntegumental pigmental) system may be necessary for a pioper interpretation of the supposed roles ot melanin and other lntegumental pigments