cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of 11C-Choline positron emission tomography (PET) for evaluation of nodal and distant metastases in patients with prostate cancer

2017 Objectives To evaluate the usefulness of 11C-Choline PET/CT for detecting nodal and distant metastases in patients with prostate cancer. Methods A clinical database was used to identify 131 male patients (age: 65.2± 8.45, range 44 to 85)who had been imaged with 11C-Choline PET/CT. Clinical and imaging data were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were injected with an average dose of 618.23 MBq(16.71 mCi) 11C-choline with a range of 312.7 MBq to 833.98 MBq. The patients were scanned within 5 minutes from injection on an integrated PET/CT system. The PET/CT scans were evaluated for the presence of nodal and extranodal uptake. A physician reviewed the medical record to determine whether or not there was knowledge of metastases prior to the original interpretation the 11C-choline scans. Prostate specific antigen levels prior and/or at time of scan were also reviewed for correlation. Results 138 11C-Choline scans were reviewed for 131 subjects. The mean PSA prior to scanning was 12.1 ± 62.2 ng/ml with a range of 0-713 ng/ml. In 61 of 138 scans, abnormal 11C-Choline uptake was found suggesting metastatic disease. Of these 61 subjects, 53 (86.8%) were unknown for metastatic disease and 8 (13.1%) were known prior to PET scan. Forty-seven subjects had positive nodal uptake typical for metastases. Of these 44 (93.6%) were unknown and 3 (6.4%) were known. Twelve (25.5%) subjects with nodal disease had bone abnormalities as well. While the majority of the nodal metastases were confined to the pelvic area, 7(14.8%) subjects had nodal uptake above the diaphragm. Bone abnormalities were seen in 25 subjects of which 20(80%) were unknown and 5(20%) were known prior to PET imaging. Sixteen(64%)of these subjects had abnormalities in the spine. Thirteen(52%) scans showed bone disease but had negative nodes. Other significant findings included 3 subjects with metastatic prostate cancer to sacral nerves. Conclusions 11 C-Choline PET is a useful technique for demonstrating the presence and extent of nodal and distant abnormalities with prostate cancer
Voltage-morphology coupling in biomimetic membranes: dynamics of giant vesicles in applied electric fields

An electric potential difference across the plasma membrane is common to all living cells and is essential to physiological functions such as the generation of action potentials for cell-to-cell communication. While the basics of cell electrical activity are well established (e.g. the Hodgkin-Huxley model of the action potential), the reciprocal coupling of voltage and membrane deformation has received limited attention. In recent years, studies of biomimetic membranes in externally applied electric fields have revealed a plethora of intriguing dynamics (formation of edges, pearling, and phase separation) that challenge the current understanding of membrane electromechanics.
Compliance with Results Reporting at ClinicalTrials.gov

Background The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) mandates timely reporting of results of applicable clinical trials to ClinicalTrials.gov. We characterized the proportion of applicable clinical trials with publicly available results and determined independent factors associated with the reporting of results. Methods Using an algorithm based on input from the National Library of Medicine, we identified trials that were likely to be subject to FDAAA provisions (highly likely applicable clinical trials, or HLACTs) from 2008 through 2013. We determined the proportion of HLACTs that reported results within the 12-month interval mandated by the FDAAA or at any time during the 5-year study period. We used regression models to examine characteristics associated with reporting at 12 months and throughout the 5-year study period. Results From all the trials at ClinicalTrials.gov, we identified 13,327 HLACTs that were terminated or completed from January 1, 2008, through August 31, 2012. Of these trials, 77.4% were classified as drug trials. A total of 36.9% of the trials were phase 2 studies, and 23.4% were phase 3 studies; 65.6% were funded by industry. Only 13.4% of trials reported summary results within 12 months after trial completion, whereas 38.3% reported results at any time up to September 27, 2013. Timely reporting was independently associated with factors such as FDA oversight, a later trial phase, and industry funding. A sample review suggested that 45% of industryfunded trials were not required to report results, as compared with 6% of trials funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and 9% of trials that were funded by other government or academic institutions. Conclusions Despite ethical and legal obligations to disclose findings promptly, most HLACTs did not report results to ClinicalTrials.gov in a timely fashion during the study period. Industry-funded trials adhered to legal obligations more often than did trials funded by the NIH or other government or academic institutions. (Funded by the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative and the NIH.)
Crystallographic studies of Xe and Kr binding within the large internal cavity of cytochrome ba3 from Thermus thermophilus: structural analysis and role of oxygen transport channels in the heme-Cu oxidases.

Cytochrome ba3 is a cytochrome c oxidase from the plasma membrane of Thermus thermophilus and is the preferred terminal enzyme of cellular respiration at low dioxygen tensions. Using cytochrome ba3 crystals pressurized at varying conditions under Xe or Kr gas, and X-ray data for six crystals, we identify the relative affinities of Xe and Kr atoms for as many as seven distinct binding sites. These sites track a continuous, Y-shaped channel, 18–20 A in length, lined by hydrophobic residues, which leads from the surface of the protein where two entrance holes, representing the top of the Y, connect the bilayer to the a3−CuB center at the base of the Y. Considering the increased affinity of O2 for hydrophobic environments, the hydrophobic nature of the channel, its orientation within the bilayer, its connection to the active site, its uniform diameter, its virtually complete occupation by Xe, and its isomorphous presence in the native enzyme, we infer that the channel is a diffusion pathway for O2 into the di...
Radiation carcinogenesis at high dose-response levels: a hypothesis.

It is postulated that carcinogenesis and cytotoxicity induced by radiation act in opposition and together produce the over-all relationship between radiation dose and tumor incidence that is found experimentally. The carcinogenic cytotoxic potencies for Ra, Sr90 and Ca45 were calculated. Finally, applications of the determinations of optimum tumor dose are discussed.
Self‐absorption by vibrationally excited H2 in the Astro‐2 Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope spectrum of the Jovian aurora

Observed H2 band intensities in the spectrum of the northern Jovian aurora, obtained by the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) during the Astro-2 mission in March 1995, are shown to be consistent with attenuation due to absorption by vibrationally excited H2 (ν≤2) in the overlying atmosphere. Strong Werner band transitions near 1050 and 1100 A, in a region of the spectrum not accessible to IUE or HST, have intensities significantly weaker than those predicted by the theoretical branching ratios for optically thin emission. Absorbed photons escape primarily by fluorescent scattering in transitions which connect to unpopulated vibrational levels at longer wavelengths. A spectrum of the Jovian day glow (produced by a combination of solar and electron-impact fluorescence) obtained a few days earlier displays considerably less attenuation in the 1050–1100 A region. We present synthetic H2 fluorescence spectra which include the effects of self-absorption and demonstrate the ability to reproduce the features observed in the HUT spectra.
Control of electron transfer between the L- and M-sides of photosynthetic reaction centers

An aspartic acid residue has been introduced near ring V of the L-side accessory bacteriochlorophyll (BCHlL) or the photosynthetic reaction center in a rhodobacter capsulatus mutant in which a His also replaces Leu 212 on the M-polypeptide. The initial stage of charge separation in the G(M201)D/L(M212)H double mutant yields approximately 70 percent electron transfer to the L-side cofactors, approximately 15 percent rapid deactivation to the ground state, and approximately 15 percent electron transfer to the so-called inactive M-side bacteriopheophytin (BPhM). It is suggested here that the Asp introduced at M201 modulates the reduction potential of BCHlL, thereby changing the energetics of charge separation. The results demonstrate that an individual amino acid residue can, through its influence on the free energies of the charge-separated states, effectively dictate the balance between the forward electron transfer reactions on the L-side of the RC, the charge-recombination processes, and electron transfer to the M-side chromophores.
Thermal conductivity of high polymers

Thermal conductivity theory based on molecular structure model to study linear amorphous high polymers, specifically polyethylene
Growth responses of young Douglas-fir and tanoak 11 years after various levels of hardwood removal and understory suppression in southwestern Oregon, USA

Abstract At two sites in southwestern Oregon, height, diameter, and crown width of young Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) and sprout-origin tanoak ( Lithocarpus densiflorus ) were measured 1–11 years after reducing the density of a 2-year-old tanoak stand to 0%, 25%, 50%, and 100% of its initial cover. Some plots also included suppression of understory vegetation. Tanoak cover developed linearly with time, with steepness of the growth trajectory increasing at a diminishing rate with increasing percentage of initial tanoak cover. Fifth-year cover of understory vegetation declined linearly with increasing percentage of initial tanoak cover ( R 2 = 0.29). Survival of Douglas-fir (96–100%) differed little among initial abundances of tanoak, while growth trajectories for its size became increasingly exponential with decreasing percentage of initial tanoak cover. Eleventh-year heights of Douglas-fir were similar for 0%, 25%, and 50% of initial tanoak cover; however, diameter increased linearly with decreasing percentage of initial tanoak cover ( R 2 = 0.73), and the slope of the relationship steepened with understory suppression. Our results indicate that young stands exhibiting a wide range of stand compositions and productivities can be established by early manipulations of tanoak and understory abundance. Complete removal of tanoak plus understory suppression are necessary to maximize Douglas-fir growth, while productive, mixed stands can be achieved by removing 50% or more of tanoak cover.
A thermal denaturation study of the genomic DNAs from the North American genera of the fish family Percidae

The genomic DNAs of 1 1 species of percid fishes representing the five recognized North American genera are characterized using data from thermal denaturation assays. Base compositions were estimated from the transitional melting temperature of native and sonicated DNA and expressed as per cent guanine-cytosine (%GC) values. Among genera, %GC values for native DNAs (c, 23,000 base pairs in length) range between 38.3% GC for yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), to 43.2% GC for sauger, Stizostedion cunadense (Smith). Significant variation in %GC values was observed among surveyed genera of the subfamily Percinae, which include Perca, Percinu, Etheostoma and Ammocrypfa. Melting profiles were generated for each species, and distinct GC rich regions were identified within the genomes of walleye, Sfizostcdion virreum (Mitchill) and Etheostoma spp. Compositional heterogeneity (CH) and asymmetry values were calculated from melting profile data. Patterns of variation in genomic characters differed among the genera surveyed. Members of the speciose genus Etheostomu showed relatively little variation in genomic characters, whereas Stizosredion exhibited significant interspecific variation.
Extending virtualization services with trust guarantees via behavioral monitoring

Today's virtualized platforms enable virtualization services (VSs) that can offer enhanced functionalities to guest virtual machines (VMs) based on behavioral monitoring. One such set of functionality concerns protected service access, by having a VS impose access controls that can be altered and refined at runtime. Changes are made in accordance with the levels of "trust" associated with certain VMs - where VSs use runtime monitoring to derive current "trust" levels from observed guest VM behavior. This paper develops and evaluates implementation methods for trust enhancements of virtualization services and demonstrates their utility for a storage virtualization service, termed protected object store (POS). An implementation of POS based on the PVFS file system as a backend and using the Xen VMM as a virtualization infrastructure is shown effective in its ability to enforce fine-grained, role-based access controls on storage usage based on the VM's dynamic level of "trust", while minimally impacting the overall performance of the storage service.
Ancient Settlement, Urban Gardening, and Environment in the Gulf Lowlands of Mexico

Urban settlement in the western lower Papaloapan River basin in the Gulf lowlands was dispersed and likely employed intensive gardening near domiciles. Land surrounding homes also may have played a symbolic role in these agrarian societies. Water works—formal ponds associated with temple platforms and other prominent structures as well as with many residential mounds—support the idea of symbolic as well as practical functions in land use around buildings. Dispersed occupation occurs in low elevations suited to recessional planting, a technique that takes advantage of dry season ground moisture in low areas where rain and flood waters recede as the water table drops. We analyze elevational zones to show greater settlement density in the low-lying Blanco River delta than in higher elevations upriver. Analysis of distances between archaeological residences and wetlands and drainages shows that residences generally were close to seasonally flooded areas. We also highlight anthropogenic qualities in the alluvial landscape, offering a land use perspective distinct from other views of agricultural intensification. The settlement pattern is compatible with Mesoamerican forms of urbanism.
Rapid Coordination Extends Space‐Based Sun‐Climate Record

Total solar irradiance (TSI), a measure of how much solar radiative energy hits the entirety of Earth, is the principle energy input to the global climate system. Collecting accurate TSI data spanning multiple years helps scientists understand how much solar radiation is deposited in the atmosphere and at the surface and thus how much energy is available to influence weather, climate, the cryosphere, atmosphere dynamics, and ocean currents.
Relationship Between Provider Volume and Outcomes For Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Recent data suggests that the previously demonstrable relationship between hospital volume and outcomes for liver transplant procedures may no longer exist. Furthermore, to our knowledge, no study has been published examining whether individual surgeon volume is associated with outcomes in liver transplantation. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to obtain early clinical outcome and resource utilization data for liver transplant procedures performed in the USA from 1988 through 2003. The relationship between surgeon and hospital volume and early clinical outcomes was analyzed with and without adjustment for certain confounding variables such as patient age and presence of co-morbid disease. The in-hospital mortality rate, major postoperative complication rate, and length of hospital stay after liver transplantation did not differ significantly based on hospital procedural volume. These outcome variables did, however, exhibit a statistically significant inverse relationship with individual surgeon volume of liver transplant procedures. A significant relationship between procedure volume and outcomes for liver transplantation cannot be demonstrated at the level of transplant center, but does appear to exist at the level of the individual transplant center. Minimal volume requirements for individual liver transplant surgeons may be justified, pending validation of this volume–outcomes relationship using a clinical data source.
A unifying hypothesis of multiple systems organ failure : failure of host defense homeostasis

Multiple systems organ failure (MSOF) represents the culmination of a process of progressive remote organ system dysfunction that evolves following numerous forms of critical illness. The process is pathogenstically related to sepsis; if a septic nidus exists and is not eradicated, organs remote from the initial site of tissue injury fail and the disease process ultimately ends in death. We hypothesize that the underlying process is an uncontrolled (malignant) intravascular inflammatory response, usually to a septic challenge. Dysfunction of individual organs appears to be less important than global cellular function. Thus, single organ-directed treatments during systemic sepsis do little to reverse the process that initially created the organ dysfunction. Since the liver plays a central role in host-defense homeostasis, its performance is primary in determining the systemic expression of MSOF and its outcome. Both the level of intravascular inflammation and its duration may be equally important in the development of MSOF. Accordingly, therapeutic strategies that minimize the systemic nature of the host inflammatory response, while eradicating the stimulus and maintaining tissue viability, should be more successful at improving survival in MSOF than the present organ-specific approach.
Assessing policy stability in Iraq: a fuzzy approach to modeling preferences

The first Council of Representatives elected under the new Iraqi Constitution was unable to pass legislation required to achieve the political benchmarks set by the government. We argue that the exercise of a qualified veto by the three-member Presidency Council essentially required near unanimity among the nine parties of the governing coalition. Given the policy positions of these parties, unanimity was not possible. Our analysis makes use of a fuzzy veto players model. The placement of the government parties along a single dimension based on fuzzy preference measures derived from party text data reveals no common area of agreement.
Teaching Large Classes with Clickers: Results from a Teaching Experiment in Comparative Politics

Instant-response technologies, or clickers, are student response devices that help address some of the challenges involved in teaching large classes, namely student motivation and engagement with the material. This article evaluates a diverse set of teaching and learning strategies enabled by clicker technology and their impact on student learning. We highlight five aspects of teaching that are enhanced by the use of clickers, describe an experiment comparing student performance in traditional and clicker lectures, and report results of a survey of student perception about the effects of this technology on motivation, learning, and engagement. We argue that while the use of clickers is time-consuming for the instructor and presents a steep learning curve, clickers improve teaching effectiveness in large classes and hold promise for increasing student learning.
Abstract 1209: Par-4 as therapy for colon cancer

Par-4 (Prostate apoptosis response-4) is a tumor suppressor that induces apoptosis in tumor cells in response to apoptotic stimuli. It has been reported to be reduced in a number of human cancers. We examined the expression levels of Par-4 in human colon cancers and explored the possibility of using Par-4 as a treatment for colon cancer. We found that expression of Par-4 is reduced in human colon cancers 2.65-fold compared to paired normal colon. To assess the role of Par-4 in colon cancer growth, the human colon cancer cell line, HT29, with low native Par-4 expression, was transfected to overexpress Par-4. It has been shown that apoptosis was higher in the transfected cells than in the mock transfected cells. It was also shown that tumors growing in nude mice were smaller when the cells were transfected to overexpress Par-4. Importantly for therapeutic considerations, it has been reported that Par-4 expressing cells can have a bystander effect on tumor cells that are not transfected, also inducing apoptosis in the untransfected cells. We hypothesized that HT29 colon cancer cells producing Par-4 in vivo would secrete Par-4 into the animal system and result in lower tumor volume of tumors created with wild type cells growing distally. Methods: To show proof of concept, nude mice were injected subcutaneously with wild type HT29 cells. Half of the mice were also injected with HT29 cells overexpressing Par-4 in the opposite flank. Mice were treated with 5-fluorouracil to test the sensitivity of tumors to the chemotherapy. Results: At the end of the first week, the wild type tumors in the mice with Par-4 tumors also were 1.8-fold smaller (p=0) than those tumors in mice who received only wild type tumor cell injections. Over the course of three weeks, the wild type tumors growing in mice without Par-4 tumors increased in volume 12-fold more than those wild type tumors growing in mice with Par-4 tumors. In addition, in the event that Par-4 tumors resolved completely (5% of the cases) the wild type tumors in those mice showed increased growth rates. This data suggests that overexpression of Par-4 in tumor cells in vivo not only sensitized those cells to chemotherapy, but had a bystander effect on tumor cells growing distally to the Par-4 overexpressing cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1209.
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION AND AMYLASE ACTIVITY

THE PREVAILING concept among clinicians regarding the enzyme amylase in the blood serum is that the enzyme is a functionless product of the acinar cells of the pancreas.2 This concept is based on the earlier physio' logical work which considered changes in serum amylase activity as resulting from alterations in the external secretory function of the pancreas. Thus the abrupt transient rise in serum amylase activity seen in acute pancreatitis in the human being or following pancreatic duct ligation in the dog,has been considered to result from the backing up in the blood of unexcreted amylase intended for the duodenum. The early attempts to discover an endocrine relation to amylase function in blood were confusing. For example, changes in function were reported in humandiabetes mellitus by some observers only. Pancreatectomy in the dog was reported to be followed by a rise in serum amylase activity (3);
Differences by Course Discipline on Student Behavior, Persistence, and Achievement in Online Courses of Undergraduate General Education

This research empirically examined student behavior in online courses and its relationship to persistence and achievement across fields. Eight variables descriptive of student behaviors online were measured for 1) frequency and 2) duration of participation. Twenty-two courses were grouped into three broad fields: English and Communication; Social Sciences; and Math, Science, and Technology. The descriptive data revealed significant differences in student online participation, persistence, and achievement across the fields. Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate how well student participation measures predicted achievement. Depending on the field, different portions of the variability in achievement were accounted for by student participation measures.
Home Treatment for Two Infants Who Witnessed Their Mother's Murder

Abstract A home-based, psychodynamically oriented, approach is used to treat two preschool siblings after they witnessed the murder of their mother by their father, and the father's subsequent suicide attempt. The treatment rationale is discussed with emphasis on the needs, vulnerabilities, and coping skills of preschool children. The intervention provides a clear view of the impact of massive psychological trauma, and the children's subsequent attempts to maintain homeostasis.
Purification of singly PEGylated α‐lactalbumin using charged ultrafiltration membranes

One of the challenges in producing a PEGylated therapeutic protein is that the PEGylation reaction typically generates a mixture of both singly and multiply PEGylated species. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of using ultrafiltration for the purification of a singly PEGylated protein from the multiply PEGylated conjugates. Data were obtained with α-lactalbumin that was PEGylated with a 20 kDa activated PEG, with the ultrafiltration performed over a range of pH and ionic strength using both unmodified and negatively charged composite regenerated cellulose membranes. Purification of the singly PEGylated α-lactalbumin from the multiply PEGylated species was accomplished using a diafiltration process with a negatively charged membrane at pH 5 and an ionic strength of 0.4 mM, conditions that maximized the electrostatic exclusion of the multiply PEGylated species from the charged membrane. The diafiltration process provided more than 97% yield with greater than 20-fold purification between the singly and doubly PEGylated proteins and nearly complete removal of the more heavily PEGylated species. The singly PEGylated α-lactalbumin was recovered as a dilute filtrate solution, although this dilution could be eliminated using a cascade filtration or the final product could be re-concentrated in a second ultrafiltration as part of the final formulation. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrafiltration for the purification of singly PEGylated protein therapeutics.
Effects of Surface Water on Protein Dynamics Studied by a Novel Coarse-Grained Normal Mode Approach

Normal mode analysis (NMA) has received much attention as a direct approach to extract the collective motions of macromolecules. However, the stringent requirement of computational resources by classical all-atom NMA limits the size of the macromolecules to which the method is normally applied. We implemented a novel coarse-grained normal mode approach based on partitioning the all-atom Hessian matrix into relevant and nonrelevant parts. It is interesting to note that, using classical all-atom NMA results as a reference, we found that this method generates more accurate results than do other coarse-grained approaches, including elastic network model and block normal mode approaches. Moreover, this new method is effective in incorporating the energetic contributions from the nonrelevant atoms, including surface water molecules, into the coarse-grained protein motions. The importance of such improvements is demonstrated by the effect of surface water to shift vibrational modes to higher frequencies and by an increase in overlap of the coarse-grained eigenvector space (the motion directions) with that obtained from molecular dynamics simulations of solvated protein in a water box. These results not only confirm the quality of our method but also point out the importance of incorporating surface structural water in studying protein dynamics.
Positive functioning: does it add validity to maladaptive functioning items?

Abstract Examines whether indicators of positive functioning add validity to a previously validated maladaptive functioning index (VFI; [Evaluation Progm Plann. 21(1998) 263]). Twenty-nine face valid positive functioning items were selected from data on a clinical sample of 393 children between the ages of 12 and 17. Thirteen items were found to significantly predict either psychopathology, change in psychopathology, alternate methods of measuring functioning, and/or service utilization. Stepwise and hierarchical regressions were used to determine the relationship between the VFI and positive functioning and the aforementioned criteria. The positive functioning items were found to be mildly negatively correlated with the VFI but the VFI had superior criterion based and incremental validity. Further research and measurement development will be needed before it is recommended that program evaluators use positive functioning as an outcome of services.
Surface Chemical Patterning for Controlled Cell Adhesion

Thin films exhibiting nonfouling behavior toward protein and cell attachment were grafted onto different substrates by plasma polymerization and deposition. By combining nonfouling film grafting and partial film etching by Ar ion sputtering through the windows of a shadow mask (Si or PDMS), chemical patterns of different shapes and sizes were produced on polymer substrates. Results from cell culture studies illustrate the effectiveness of the present fabrication process to produce surface micropatterns for controlling the cell shape and morphology, with direct implications in vascular pathology.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Latest developments in ocean mining: A potential for new conflict

Two opposing trends in the development of an international regime for ocean mining are now evident. The UN Conference on the Law of the Sea created a Preparatory Commission which was assigned the task of developing rules and regulations for ocean mining. On the other hand, the US and seven other States are trying to establish a separate international ocean mining regime. Recently, they adopted the "Provisional Understanding Regarding Deep-Sea Matters" (PU), which was criticized by many members of the Preparatory Commission as an attempt to circumvent the LOS Convention. The USSR and other socialist States took, in political terms, a strongly negative stand toward the PU. Now that the process of resolving overlapping claims for mine sites among the LOS Convention signatories is in progress, it becomes evident that should the overlaps be resolved, this will inevitably single out the US and the USSR for legal and political confrontation over their respective claims in the Pacific. Pressure from the US ocean mining industry, which needs Government-sponsored political risk insurance, and from some strategists who point out the lack of domestic resources of strategic minerals found in manganese nodules, may compel the US Government to involve itself in a new type of political conflict.
EFFECTS OF SYSTEMATIC SENSORY-MOTOR TRAINING ON SENSORY-MOTOR, VISUAL PERCEPTION AND CONCEPT- FORMATION PERFORMANCE OF MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN

St/t~zmary.-This study investigated the effects of an extended, systematic training program of sensory-motor activities on sensory-motor, visual perception and concept-formation tasks. 10 identical criterion measures were utilized as pretests and posttests in conjuncrion with a 2-mo. training program. Both the experimental and control groups' mean scores on all criterion measures reflected improvement from pretest to posttest administrations. However, when the analysis of covariance was applied, no significant differences were evident between the adjusted posttest mean scores of the two groups. There has been a long history of discussion concerning perceptual motor development and the effects this particular developmental stage imposes upon the successive srages in individuals' maturation.
Exhaust energy conversion by thermoelectric generator: Two case studies

Abstract This study reports predictions of the power and fuel savings produced by thermoelectric generators (TEG) placed in the exhaust stream of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a stationary, compressed-natural-gas-fueled engine generator set (CNG). Results are obtained for generators using either commercially-available bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) or quantum-well (QW) thermoelectric material. The simulated tests are at constant speed in the SUV case and at constant AC power load in the CNG case. The simulations make use of the capabilities of ADVISOR 2002, the vehicle modeling system, supplemented with code to describe the thermoelectric generator system. The increase in power between the QW- and Bi2Te3-based generators was about three times for the SUV and seven times for the CNG generator under the same simulation conditions. The relative fuel savings for the SUV averaged around −0.2% using Bi2Te3 and 1.25% using QW generators. For the CNG case the fuel savings was around 0.4% using Bi2Te3 and around 3% using QW generators. The negative fuel gains in the SUV were caused by parasitic losses. The power to transport the TEG system weight was the dominant parasitic loss for the SUV but was absent in the CNG generator. The lack of space constraint and the absence of parasitic loss from the TEG system weight in the CNG case allowed an increase in the TEG system size to generate more power.
The hygrocyst--a stability phenomenon in continuum mechanics.

CONSIDER a long sealed container partially filled with a liquid or completely filled with two immiscible liquids and oriented horizontally. If the container is rotated about a horizontal axis, a laminar secondary flow pattern develops that is characterized by large regular regions of segregated material. The onset of this new flow pattern appears to be the result of a natural instability in the normal flow, and is found to occur in containers of all geometries. The flow instability and the associated laminar secondary flow pattern discussed here are, to my knowledge, being reported and studied for the first time and do not appear anywhere in the published scientific literature. This might seem surprising at first in view of the apparent simplicity of the phenomenon, but when it is viewed in terms of its mathematics, with its difficult boundary conditions and unusual body force orientation, it becomes understandable why it would be unlikely that anyone could predict its existence from mathematical considerations alone. Further, it is rather difficult to demonstrate the instability by experiment with inelastic fluids.
Endoscopic endocrine surgery in the neck-An initial report of endoscopic subtotal parathyroidectomy

Background: The fervor surrounding minimally invasive surgery, which began with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the late 1980s, has spread to nearly all surgical specialties.
A new countermeasure device for long duration space flights

Abstract This paper discusses a conceptual design of a new countermeasure device named Virtual Gravity Artificial Reality (ViGAR). The device was part of a complete concept called The Human Spaceflight Training Recommendations Against Weightlessness Project (H-STRAW Project). The H-STRAW Project was a submission in the Human Missions Category for the European Space Agency's 1st Aurora Student Design Contest. ViGAR is a combined countermeasure concept design for a space station, which includes artificial gravity, exercise and virtual reality. The subsystems of ViGAR are outlined in this report and the potential difficulties are identified. ViGAR is a complete system that could potentially be a key design guide for future space missions beyond low Earth orbit and on to Mars.
Synthesis, characterization, and mechanical properties of PMMA/poly(aromatic/aliphatic siloxane) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks

Semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and aromatic/aliphatic siloxanes have been made via sequential and simultaneous polymerizations. As the percentage of aliphatic siloxane increases, flexibility and, in general, toughness of the IPNs increases and clarity is reduced. This loss in clarity is due to the mismatch of refractive indices (1.49 form PMMA vs. 1.43 for aliphatic siloxane). PMMA is quite transparent. On the other hand, in making aromatic siloxane/PMMA IPNs clarity is retained as aromatic siloxane is increased due to better matching refractive index (1.49 for PMMA and -1.49 for poly(diphenyl siloxane). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) indicates slightly crosslinked IPNs with the THF soluble portions having number-average molecular weight, M n , of 10 5 -10 6 . NMRs of IPNs essentially show peaks for the components, PMMA and the siloxane, which make up the respective IPNs. 29 Si-NMRS indicate crosslinking and grafting. Mechanical properties show increased toughness of IPNs versus PMMA as percentage of siloxane and crosslinker increases, but with a corresponding loss in tensile strength.
Efferent projections of the nucleus of the solitary tract to peri-locus coeruleus dendrites in rat brain: evidence for a monosynaptic pathway.

Locus coeruleus (LC) neurons respond to autonomic influences, are activated by physiological stressors, and discharge in parallel with peripheral sympathetic nerves. The circuitry underlying modulation of LC activity by physiological manipulations (i.e., hemodynamic stress, hypovolumia) remains unclear. Specifically, monosynaptic projections from primary baroreceptor centers to the LC have been suggested by electrophysiological studies but have not been unequivocally established. Light microscopic anterograde tract-tracing studies have previously shown that neurons originating in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) project to a region of the rostrodorsal pontine tegmentum, which contains noradrenergic dendrites of the LC; however, it is not known whether these NTS efferents specifically target LC dendrites. Therefore, we combined peroxidase labeling of biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) or Phaseolus vulgaris–leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) from the NTS with gold–silver labeling for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the rostrolateral peri-LC region. Injections placed into neighboring nuclei (nucleus gracilis, hypoglossal nucleus) served as controls. Only injections centered in the NTS produced anterograde labeling in peri-LC regions containing TH processes. By electron microscopy, BDA- or PHA-L-labeled axon terminals originating from the NTS contained small, clear, and some large dense-core vesicles and formed heterogeneous synaptic contacts characteristic of both excitatory- and inhibitory-type transmitters. Approximately 19% of the BDA and PHA-L axon terminals examined originating from the commissural portion of the NTS formed synaptic specializations with dendrites exhibiting TH immunoreactivity in the peri-LC. These results demonstrate that neurons projecting from the cardiovascular-related portion of the NTS target noradrenergic dendrites, indicating that barosensitive NTS neurons may directly modulate the activity of LC neurons and may serve to integrate autonomic responses in brain by influencing the widespread noradrenergic projections of the LC. In addition, these findings demonstrate that extranuclear dendrites are an important termination site for afferents to the LC. J. Comp. Neurol. 412:410–428, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Role of cardiac pacing in sleep apnea uncertain

Abstract Objectives : To determine the effect of atrial overdrive pacing on sleep apnea severity in patients with sinus node dysfunction. Study design : Unblinded, cross-over study of the effect of atrial pacing on sleep apnea–hypopnea, with randomized order of study conditions (paced versus unpaced). Study population : Fifteen patients (11 men, 4 women), mean age 69 (SD 9) years, with sinus node dysfunction and permanent dual-chamber pacemakers, with polysomnographic evidence of either central or obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea (mean apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) 27 (SD 16)). None had symptomatic heart failure, but 11 (73%) had mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (40–56%). Methods : One hundred and fifty-two patients with pacemakers implanted at least one year previously for symptomatic sinus node dysfunction (including tachycardia–bradycardia syndrome) were screened for symptoms of sleep apnea. Of 47 patients identified, 26 underwent polysomnography and 15 had an apnea index >5/h and an AHI >15/h. Following the baseline polysomnogram, subjects underwent polysomnography on the subsequent two nights under the following conditions, in random order: (1) pacemaker set at a rate 15beats/min higher than the mean heart rate of the diagnostic study (overdrive pacing phase); and (2) pacemaker rate reduced to 40beats/min (no-pacing phase). The main outcome measure was the difference in AHI between the two pacing modes. Results : Mean nocturnal heart rate during the pacing phase was 72/min, versus 51/min during the no-pacing phase. During the no-pacing phase, AHI was unchanged from the baseline night at 28/h (SD 22). During overdrive pacing, however, the AHI was 61% lower at 11/h (SD 14). The AHI was lower on the pacing than the no-pacing night in all 15 subjects, regardless of whether the predominant type of apnea was central or obstructive. The mean central apnea index fell from 13 (SD 17) to 6 (SD 7), and the obstructive apnea index from 6 (SD 4) to 3 (SD 1). Both lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation and the percent time at saturation below 90% also improved on the pacing night. There was little difference in total sleep time between pacing and no-pacing nights; other measures of sleep quality were not reported. Conclusions : The authors conclude that atrial overdrive pacing at a relatively modest rate causes a substantial improvement in both central and obstructive sleep apnea, by mechanisms that are uncertain.
Uncomplicated isolated dextrocardia (dextroversio cordis type).

Abstract Four cases of isolated dextrocardia without inversion of the cardiac chambers and without evidence of cardiac disability have been reported. Electrocardiographic tracings obtained from patients with this malformation may deviate remarkably little from normal. Considerable variation was noted among the various cases in the precordial complexes, particularly in those obtained from leads over the left side of the thorax. Angiocardiographic study or cardiac catheterization may be indicated in certain instances to ascertain the position and relationship of the great vessels at the base of the heart or to rule out the presence of an occult interatrial shunt from left to right. The alternative simple term “dextrorotation of the heart” may be an applicable synonym in those cases which fulfill the following criteria: (1) the great vessels have a normal basic relationship, (2) the heart is normal functionally, and (3) inversion of the cavities is absent.
Gentamicin diffusion across hydrogel bandage lenses and its kinetic distribution on the eye

Soft contact lenses have been used as therapeutic bandages to aid epithelial healing following pentrating keratoplasty. Often the hydrogel lenses are used in conjunction with topical medications such as gentamicin. A reported complication is the persistence of infectious ulcers even though the eye is being treated with topical antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to measure the gentamicin diffusion coefficients for some hydrogel bandage lenses and to design a kinetic model to estimate the drug distribution on an eye covered with a hydrogel contact lens. The model includes the hydrogel diffusion coefficients and literature values for tear production, tear exchange per blink around the edge of a lens, lens fit, etc. From the computer generated data, it can be shown that the permeability of gentamicin sulfate through the Sauflon-80 hydrogel lens on a normal eye was only 0.002% of the amount of the drug under the contact lens after 10 minute intervals of topical drug application. The important drug dist...
A reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space approach for the online update of Radial Bases in neuro-adaptive control

Classical gradient based adaptive laws in model reference adaptive control for uncertain nonlinear dynamical systems with a Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural networks adaptive element do not guarantee that the network weights stay bounded in a compact neighborhood of the ideal weights without Persistently Exciting (PE) system signals or a-priori known bounds on ideal weights. Recent work has shown, however, that an adaptive controller using specifically recorded data concurrently with instantaneous data can guarantee such boundedness without requiring PE signals. However, in this work, the assumption has been that the RBF network centers are fixed, which requires some domain knowledge of the uncertainty. We employ a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space theory motivated online algorithm for updating the RBF centers to remove this assumption. Along with showing the boundedness of the resulting neuro-adaptive controller, a connection is also made between PE signals and kernel methods. Simulation results show improved performance.
Dietary salt affects fluid intake and output patterns of pregnant rats.

Abstract This study was done to determine how differences in dietary NaCl influence water and electrolyte balance during gestation. Eighteen adult female rats were fed diets containing either 0.12 (low), 1.0 (mid, control), or 3.0% (high) NaCl throughout gestation. On gestation days 1–19, body weight, water and food intakes, urine volume and electrolyte levels were measured. On gestation day 20, amniotic fluid electrolyte levels were determined; litter sizes were assessed 24-hr after birth. Because food intakes were similar throughout gestation, the dams of the three groups ingested different amounts of NaCl. Differences in dietary NaCl were accompanied by large differences in the daily patterns of urine sodium, urine sodium/potassium ratios, water intake, and urine volume. Despite these differences in intake and output, water and electrolyte balance (intake minus output) was the same for the three groups. There were no differences in the dams' body weights, amniotic fluid electrolyte levels, or litter sizes. The long-term consequences of perinatal dietary NaCl for the developing pups are discussed.
Variations of Seasonal Cycle in the Genus Tabanus

Most nearctic species of Tabanus of which the life history is known, require approximately a year for development from egg to adult. Only two species are known to be capable of completing the cycle during the same summer they hatch, and two others occasionally require the most of two years for completing the immature stages. Data presented herewith show variations that sometimes occur in the life histories of Tabanus atratus Fabr., T. lineola Fabr., and T. stygius Say, and the apparently definite seasonal cycles of T. sulcifrons Macq., T. lasiophthalmus Macq., T. benedictus Whit., T. trimaculatus P. de B., and T. costalis Wied.
Transition of care from paediatric to adult rheumatology

The origin of paediatric rheumatology in the UK mainly lies in adult rheumatology and this has proved invaluable in terms of transition provision, education and training, and collaborative research. The last 5 years have seen adolescent rheumatology gather momentum with the creation of an objective evidence base, a sound foundation for future work addressing the many unanswered questions and hypotheses in the area of transitional care. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence supporting the recent developments in transitional care within rheumatology. Acknowledging the non-categorical nature of transition, the author will also refer to evidence from other chronic illnesses which has informed these developments.