cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deficits in initial feature registration of schizophrenics and substance abusers

Information processing deficits are consistently reported for schizophrenics. The present study evaluated if the longer duration required by schizophrenics to visually recognize a target may qualify, as proposed by previous studies, as a vulnerability and/or trait biological marker. Critical stimulus duration (CSD) was used as the index of initial target registration and recognition. The CSD is the minimal duration, in ms, to meet task criterion, which in the present study was seven consecutive identifications of the target letter 'T' or 'A'. There were 13 normal controls, 11 methadone maintenance experimental controls, 21 chronic schizophrenics and 12 subacute schizophrenics. Analysis of variance revealed that the CSDs of normal controls and subacute schizophrenics were not statistically different (p > 0.05); the CSDs of chronic schizophrenics were not statistically different from methadone controls (p > 0.05), while the chronic schizophrenics and the methadone controls' CSDs were statistically different from the normal controls and the subacute schizophrenics. The results support earlier reports of long target duration required by chronic schizophrenics for feature recognition. Since retarded CSDs were obtained for methadone control but not for acute schizophrenics, the CSD does not qualify as a specificity or a vulnerability index for schizophrenia. A neurophysiological explanation is proposed for the findings.
Control of Subsea Satellite Wells at Extreme Offset Distances

As the offshore industry extends the use of subsea production technology, more complex systems are being considered for their economic viability. Deeper water, longer offsets, multiple well templates and clusters, manifolds, and system combinations demand control systems of higher performance levels. The electrical cable is an important component of the control system affecting performance levels and system cost. Refinements and upgrade of cable design and materials have resulted in cables with lower circuit loss and constructions that minimize circuit degradation that can result when the likely seawater flooding of the cable occurs during the fifteen to twenty-five (15--25) year system design life. Component design geometry coupled with material selections result in cables having lower circuit capacitance while sealing insulated conductors against the radial water entry that degrades circuit performance of components of conventional design/construction cables. These low loss cables can provide system savings when the most cost friendly electronic system/cable combination are brought together.
MILITARY TRAINING EFFECTS ON TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC COMMUNITIES ON A GRASSLAND MILITARY INSTALLATION

Understanding the link between terrestrial and aquatic systems is important because disturbance to terrestrial systems may also influence stream processes. Military training lands provide a unique opportunity to examine the influence of large-scale disturbance on terrestrial and aquatic communities in the absence of other anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of past mechanized infantry training on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem properties on Fort Riley Military Reservation in northeastern Kansas. We used a long-term data set and supplemental study plots to determine the effects of military training use on terrestrial systems. Headwater and middle stream reaches were also sampled to determine the effects of watershed training use on habitat and fish community structure. High military training use was associated with increased bare soil, reduced total plant cover, and compositional shifts in plant communities. Reduced cover of perennial, matrix-forming grasses and native species, and increased cover of annuals and introduced species were also associated with high training activity. High military training use in study watersheds was associated with increased sediment in pools and riffles and reduced abundance of benthic insectivores, herbivore–detritivores, and silt-intolerant species. Sites in watersheds receiving high training use were also characterized by an abundance of trophic generalists and tolerant species. Our results suggest that military training activities had significant ecological effects on the properties of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, both with respect to recovery from past disturbance and resilience to future disturbance. Corresponding Editor: M. G. Turner.
The Demilitarization of Thai American Marriage Migration, 1980–2000

In this study, we look at marriage migration patterns among Thai Americans using US Census data drawn from 5% PUMS sets made available through the IPUMS project. Marriage is one of the most important means of migration to the USA and the overwhelming majority of Thai Americans are foreign-born women married to non-Thai men. Therefore, the sources and nature of Thai marriages to non-Thai men constitute essential elements of contemporary Thai migration and can provide valuable insight into how this key process of marriage migration can be established and maintained. Analyzing data from 1980, 1990, and 2000, our results are consistent with the argument that much of the marriage of Thai Americans to non-Thai is historically rooted in the military connection between the USA and Thailand. However, there is evidence that the marriages of Thai women to non-Thai men have been “demilitarized.” The military background of spouses has become much less compelling over the years as a predictor of the types of marriages resulting from marriage migration. Therefore, we argue that the American military presence in Southeast Asia established a pattern that continued to contribute to marriage migration even as that presence greatly diminished.
Verbal advice plus an information leaflet reduced antibiotic use in patients presenting with acute bronchitis.

(2002) BMJ 324, 91. Macfarlane J, Holmes W, Gard P, et al. . Reducing antibiotic use for acute bronchitis in primary care: blinded, randomised controlled trial of patient information leaflet. . Jan 12; . : . –4 . [OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] QUESTION: In patients presenting with acute bronchitis, does verbal advice plus an information leaflet describing the uncertain value of antibiotics for this condition reduce antibiotic use more than verbal advice alone? Randomised (unclear allocation concealment), blinded (clinicians and data collectors) controlled trial with 4 weeks of follow up. 3 general practices in Nottingham, UK. 259 consecutive adults ≥16 years of age presenting with acute bronchitis, defined as a new acute lower respiratory tract illness (ie, illness for ≤21 d; main symptom of cough; ≥1 symptom of sputum production, dyspnoea, wheeze, or chest discomfort or pain; and no alternative explanation), who were not under medical supervision for an underlying disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, or diabetes. 47 patients were judged to need antibiotics immediately. 212 patients were judged to not need antibiotics immediately and were subsequently randomised (median age … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft.stitle%253DBMJ%26rft.issn%253D0007-1447%26rft.aulast%253DMacfarlane%26rft.auinit1%253DJ.%26rft.volume%253D324%26rft.issue%253D7329%26rft.spage%253D91%26rft.epage%253D91%26rft.atitle%253DReducing%2Bantibiotic%2Buse%2Bfor%2Bacute%2Bbronchitis%2Bin%2Bprimary%2Bcare%253A%2Bblinded%252C%2Brandomised%2Bcontrolled%2Btrial%2Bof%2Bpatient%2Binformation%2Bleaflet%2B%2A%2BCommentary%253A%2BMore%2Bself%2Breliance%2Bin%2Bpatients%2Band%2Bfewer%2Bantibiotics%253A%2Bstill%2Broom%2Bfor%2Bimprovement%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.324.7339.S91%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F11786454%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=324/7329/91&atom=%2Febnurs%2F5%2F3%2F79.atom
Adolescent Psychopathy and the Big Five: Results from Two Samples

The present study examines the relation between psychopathy and the Big Five dimensions of personality in two samples of adolescents. Specifically, the study tests the hypothesis that the aspect of psychopathy representing selfishness, callousness, and interpersonal manipulation (Factor 1) is most strongly associated with low Agreeableness, whereas the aspect of psychopathy representing impulsivity, instability, and social deviance (Factor 2) is associated with low Agreeableness, low Conscientiousness, and high Neuroticism. Data from 13- and 16-year-old boys and their mothers from two samples of the Pittsburgh Youth Study are used to test these hypotheses. Results were consistent across age and rating source in supporting the initial hypotheses, providing support for the construct of juvenile psychopathy and the interpretation of psychopathy as a constellation of traits drawn from a general model of personality functioning.
The use of differential photoionization cross sections as a function of excitation energy in assigning photoelectron spectra

Abstract A criterion for spectral assignments employing the variation in the differential photoionization cross section as a function of the incident photon energy is described. The He I and He II photoelectron spectra of N 2 , CO, CH 3 SH, ClHCCHCH 3 , H 2 CCBrCH 3 , and trans ClHCCHCl are presented and discussed in terms of this criterion.
Stable isotope constraints on the nitrogen cycle of the Mediterranean Sea water column

We usedthe nitrogen isotope ratio of algae, suspend edparticles andnitrate in the water column to track spatial variations in the marine nitrogen cycle in the Mediterranean Sea. Surface PON (5–74 m) was more depleted in 15 Ni n the eastern basin (� 0.370.5%) than in the western basin (+2.471.4%), suggesting that nitrogen suppliedby biological N 2 fixation may be an important source of new nitrogen in the eastern basin, where preformednitrate from the Atlantic Ocean could have been depleted during its transit eastward. The d 15 N of nitrate in the deep Mediterranean (B3% in the western-most Mediterranean and decreasing toward the east) is significantly lower than nitrate at similar depths from the North Atlantic (4.8–5%), also suggesting an important role for N2 fixation. The eastwardd ecrease in the d 15 No f surface PON is greater than the eastwarddecrease in the d 15 N of the subsurface nitrate, implying that the amount of N2 fixation in the eastern Mediterranean is great enough to cause a major divergence in the d 15 N of phytoplankton biomass from the d 15 N of the nitrate upwelledfrom below. Variations in prod uctivity associatedwith frontal processes, including shoaling of the nitracline, did not lead to detectable variations in the d 15 N of PON. This indicates that no differential fertilization or productivity gradient occurred in the Almerian/Oran area. Our results are consistent with a lack of gradient in chlorophyll-a (chl-a) andnitrate concentration in the Alboran Sea. 15 N enrichment in particles below 500 m depth was detected in the Alboran Sea with respect to surface PON, reaching an average value of +7.470.7%. The d 15 N in sinking particles caught at 100 m depth (4.9–5.6%) was intermediate between suspended surface and suspended deep particles. We found a consistent difference in the isotopic composition of nitrogen in PON compared with that of chlorophyll (Dd 15 N[PON-chlorin]=+6.471.4%) in the surface, similar to the offset reportedearlier in cultures for cellular N andchl- a. This indicates that d 15 N of phytoplankton biomass was retainedin surface PON, and that alteration of the isotopic signal of PON at depth was due to heterotrophic activity. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The effect of two types of baseline training on behavioral contrast and the peak shift

Pigeon Ss were given discrimination training between two wavelength stimuli following either a single stimulus or a nondifferential baseline training condition. The birds were then administered a postdiscrimination generalization test. This was followed by a return to the baseline training condition. Two levels of task difficulty were used. The results indicated that neither behavioral contrast nor the peak shift vary systematically as a function of either baseline training condition or task difficulty. The results further show the use of the postdiscrimination baseline training condition to be a weak procedure.
Iron isotope analysis of red and black pigments on pottery in Nasca, Peru

The Nasca culture of the south coast of Peru developed during the first millennium ad and is known internationally for its elaborately decorated polychrome pots. Despite decades of iconographic analysis, little is known about the more technological aspects of Nasca pigment production and application. We present results from a pilot study on iron isotopes as a potential line of inquiry into the differences between red and black pigments in Nasca pigments. As well, we conduct a small firing experiment to examine potential changes in isotope composition. Our analyses show three significant results. First, firing does not change the isotopic ratios of Fe in pigments. Second, red and black pigments show differences in their iron isotope composition, which relate to differences in the minerals used to make the different colors. Third, naturally available hematite samples show greater isotopic variation than pigment samples, suggesting that people selected a limited range of iron oxides to produce pigments.
Similarity of genes horizontally acquired by Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica is evidence of a supraspecies pangenome

Most bacterial and archaeal genomes contain many genes with little or no similarity to other genes, a property that impedes identification of gene origins. By comparing the codon usage of genes shared among strains (primarily vertically inherited genes) and genes unique to one strain (primarily recently horizontally acquired genes), we found that the plurality of unique genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica are much more similar to each other than are their vertically inherited genes. We conclude that E. coli and S. enterica derive these unique genes from a common source, a supraspecies phylogenetic group that includes the organisms themselves. The phylogenetic range of the sharing appears to include other (but not all) members of the Enterobacteriaceae. We found evidence of similar gene sharing in other bacterial and archaeal taxa. Thus, we conclude that frequent gene exchange, particularly that of genetic novelties, extends well beyond accepted species boundaries.
Personality correlates of proximity preferences.

Summary Each of 35 male Ss entered a room and was greeted by a male interviewer seated at the opposite end of the room, who asked him to pull up a chair. A measurement was taken of the distance at which S positioned his chair from E's (proximity measurement). Following a brief orientation on the alleged purpose of the experiment, S was given the Personality Research Form (PRF) and asked to complete it at home. Correlations were computed between scores on the 22 scales of the PRF and proximity measurements. Significant negative correlations were obtained between proximity measures and scores on the “Exhibition” scale (r = −.43 p < .01) and the “Impulsivity” scale (r = −.36, p < .05). The reliability of such proximity measures is reported from a previous study. The results are discussed in terms of Hall's classification system of interpersonal space.
Coverage-mediated suppression of blinking in solid state quantum dot conjugated organic composite nanostructures.

Size-correlated single-molecule fluorescence measurements on CdSe quantum dots functionalized with oligo(phenylene vinylene) (OPV) ligands exhibit modified fluorescence intermittency (blinking) statistics that are highly sensitive to the degree of ligand coverage on the quantum dot surface. As evidenced by a distinct surface height signature, fully covered CdSe−OPV nanostructures (∼25 ligands) show complete suppression of blinking in the solid state on an integration time scale of 1 s. Some access to dark states is observed on finer time scales (100 ms) with average persistence times significantly shorter than those from ZnS-capped CdSe quantum dots. This effect is interpreted as resulting from charge transport from photoexcited OPV into vacant trap sites on the quantum dot surface. These results suggest exciting new applications of composite quantum dot/organic systems in optoelectronic systems.
Formation of malonaldehyde from lipid oxidation products

Abstract An acetalation-acid decomposition procedure was developed to investigate the formation of malonaldehyde from a wide assortment of primary and secondary lipid oxidation products. The formation of malonaldehyde as the tetramethyl acetal derivative was determined quantitatively by gas chromatography with an internal standard technique and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five-membered hydroperoxy epidioxides and 1, 3-dihydroperoxides were found to be the most important precursors of malonaldehyde. 1, 4-Dihydroperoxides were less important, and monohydroperoxides were the least significant sources of malonaldehyde. No malonaldehyde was produced from either a six-membered hydroperoxy epidioxide or 1,7-and 1,8-dihydroperoxides. No correlation was found between the thiobarbituric acid values of the lipid oxidation products and analyses of malonaldehyde by the acetalation-acid decomposition procedure. By the specific methodology presented in this paper, the potential of lipid oxidation products to form malonaldehyde and its biological effect due to crosslinking can better be evaluated than the extensively used thiobarbituric acid test, which is not specific for most of the oxidation lipid products examined in this study.
CMOS-compatible, athermal silicon ring modulators clad with titanium dioxide.

We present the design, fabrication and characterization of athermal nano-photonic silicon ring modulators. The athermalization method employs compensation of the silicon core thermo-optic contribution with that from the amorphous titanium dioxide (a-TiO2) overcladding with a negative thermo-optic coefficient. We developed a new CMOS-compatible fabrication process involving low temperature RF magnetron sputtering of high-density and low-loss a-TiO2 that can withstand subsequent elevated-temperature CMOS processes. Silicon ring resonators with 275 nm wide rib waveguide clad with a-TiO2 showed near complete athermalization and moderate optical losses. Small-signal testing of the micro-resonator modulators showed high extinction ratio and gigahertz bandwidth.
The Effects of Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (TNB) on Colonocyte Arachidonic Acid Metabolism

In previous studies we found that luminal perfusion of the isolated left colon of the rabbit with the hapten, trinitrobenzene, resulted in the production of an acute inflammatory process associated with alterations in eicosanoid metabolism. As the colitis was attenuated by cyclooxygenase inhibitors it is possible that the inflammation was mediated by arachidonic acid metabolites. In the present study it was intended to evaluate the effect of trinitrobenzene on eicosanoid metabolism in transformed human colonic cells by exposing Caco-2++ cells to various doses of trinitrobenzene. Cell injury was evaluated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase levels and cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activity was evaluated by measuring prostanoid and leukotriene production. In separate experiments resting and trinitrobenzene stimulated cells were treated with indomethacin and dexamethasone. Trinitrobenzene produced increased prostaglandin E2 and 6-keto prostaglandin F1alpha++ and increased lactate dehydrogenase levels. Leukotriene B4 was significantly increased compared to control values at the highest TNB concentration administered. Indomethacin inhibited the lactate dehydrogenase and prostanoid changes, suggesting that the inflammatory changes produced were mediated by the prostanoids. Dexamethasone administered for 1 hr prior to trinitrobenzene decreased the 6-keto prostaglandin F1alpha but did not alter trinitrobenzene produced changes in lactate dehydrogenase concentrations. Exposure of Caco-2 cells to dexamethasone for 24 hr decreased the trinitrobenzene produced lactate dehydrogenase and eicosanoid changes. The results suggest that trinitrobenzene produces an acute injury to Caco-2 cells that may be mediated by the cyclooxygenase enzymes.
Seasonal climate forecasts of the South Asian monsoon using multiple coupled models

This study addresses seasonal climate forecasts using coupled atmosphere–ocean multimodels. Using as many as 67 different seasonal-forecast runs per season from a variety of coupled (atmosphere–ocean) models consensus seasonal forecasts have been prepared from about 4500 experiments. These include the European Center’s DEMETER (Development of a European Multi-Model Ensemble System for Seasonal to Inter-Annual Prediction) database and a suite of Florida State University (FSU) models (based on different combinations of physical parametrizations). This is one of the largest databases on coupled models. The monsoon region was selected to examine the predictability issue. The methodology involves construction of seasonal anomalies of all model forecasts for a number of variables including precipitation, 850 hPa winds, 2-m/surface temperatures, and sea surface temperatures. This study explores the skills of the ensemble mean and the FSU multimodel superensemble. The metrics for forecast evaluation include computation of hindcast and verification anomalies from model/observed climatology, time-series of specific climate indices, and standard deterministic ensemble mean scores such as anomaly correlation coefficient and root mean square error. The results were deliberately prepared to match the metrics used by European DEMETER models. Invariably in all modes of evaluation, the results from the FSU multimodel superensemble demonstrate greater skill for most of the variables tested here than those obtained in earlier studies. The specific inquiry of this study was on this question: is it going to be wetter or drier, warmer or colder than the long-term recent climatology of the monsoon; and where and when during the next season? These results are most encouraging, and they suggest that this vast database and the superensemble methodology are able to provide some useful answers to the seasonal monsoon forecast issue compared to the use of single climate models or from the conventional ensemble averaging.
Oxazolone and diclofenac-induced popliteal lymph node assay reactions are attenuated in mice orally pretreated with the respective compound: potential role for the induction of regulatory mechanisms following enteric administration.

Abstract The murine popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) was examined as a preclinical assay with the potential to identify low-molecular-weight compounds (LMWCs) that are likely to be associated with immune-mediated drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) in humans. We hypothesized that the contact sensitizer oxazolone (OX) would cause a strong PLN reaction in naive mice and that the PLN reaction would be attenuated in mice orally pretreated with OX due to the induction of oral tolerance. In naive mice, OX induced a strong PLN reaction and caused dose-dependent increases in PLN size, weight, cellularity, percentage of CD4 + PLN T cells, and percentage of PLN B cells, with a concomitant decrease in the percentage of CD8 + PLN T cells. Next, the PLNA was conducted in mice gavaged three times with either OX or vehicle alone (olive oil). Mice pretreated with OX had suppressed PLN reactions following the footpad injection of OX (decrease in PLN size, weight, and cellularity), which was associated with an increase in the percentage of PLN CD8 + T cells. In contrast, oral pretreatment with OX had no observable effect on the PLN reaction induced following footpad injection of the irrelevant hapten dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Adoptive transfer studies were conducted to examine the mechanism of PLN hyporesponsiveness. It was found that either (1) unfractionated splenocytes or (2) purified CD8 + splenocytes, but not (3) purified CD4 + splenocytes isolated from mice gavaged with OX adoptively transferred PLN suppression to naive BALB/c mice. Because OX is not a pharmaceutical, we also examined the NSAID diclofenac (DF) (Voltaren). Like OX, DF caused dose-dependent increases in PLN size, weight, and cellularity in naive mice. Furthermore, like OX, the diclofenac-induced PLN reaction was attenuated in mice that had been orally pretreated three times with DF. However, splenocytes from mice orally treated with DF were not able to adoptively transfer PLN hyporesponsiveness. Collectively, these observations demonstrate that both OX and DF are potent immunostimulators in the PLNA. As importantly, these results demonstrate that the immunostimulating potential of OX and DF in the PLNA is significantly decreased in mice orally exposed to the respective drug, possibly due to the presence of a cellular mechanism of oral tolerance. For OX, the mechanism appears to involve, in part, CD8 + T cells, whereas the mechanism(s) associated with PLN hyporesponsiveness using DF remain to be defined.
Depression: The Case for a Monoamine Deficiency

The monoamine hypothesis of depression predicts that the underlying pathophysiologic basis of depression is a depletion in the levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine in the central nervous system. This hypothesized pathophysiology appears to be supported by the mechanism of action of antidepressants: agents that elevate the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain have all been shown to be effective in the alleviation of depressive symptoms. However, intensive investigation has failed to find convincing evidence of a primary dysfunction of a specific monoamine system in patients with major depressive disorders. Understanding of the etiology of depression has been hampered by the absence of direct measurements of monoamines in humans. However, the monoamine depletion paradigm, which reproduces the clinical syndrome, allows a more direct method for investigating the role of monoamines. Results from such studies show that antidepressant responses are transiently reversed, with the response being dependent on the class of antidepressant. In contrast, monoamine depletion does not worsen symptoms in depressed patients not taking medication, nor does it cause depression in healthy volunteers with no depressive illness. In conclusion, it is clear that antidepressant agents in current use do indeed require intact monoamine systems for their therapeutic effect. However, some debate remains as to the precise role that a deficiency in monoamine system(s) may play in depression itself.
Effects of canning on total mercury, protein, lipid, and moisture content in troll-caught albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga)

Abstract Fifty-six cans containing meat from either the dorsal loin or the ventral flap of 10 troll-caught albacore tuna were tested for total mercury concentration prior to and after canning and retort cooking. The albacore tuna were harvested off the US Pacific Coast during the 2004 season and weighed between 5.4 and 10.2 kg. Tuna meat was packed in cans raw or in water or olive oil, and cans were drained before post-canning analysis. The average concentrations of total mercury were: 0.17 ppm (range 0.09–0.24 ppm) in the pre-canned samples and 0.21 ppm (range 0.10–0.33 ppm) in the post-canned samples. Although the mercury concentration per gram of tissue was significantly higher following canning, the overall amount of mercury in the samples did not change significantly.
Pupil configurations for an interferoinetric tpf mission

The primary goal of the proposed Terrestrial Planet Finder mission is the direct detection of radiation from potential terrestrial planets orbiting around nearby stars. However, the faintness of the expected signals leads to very stringent technical requirements on the optical performance. As a result, both of the candidate approaches currently under active development by the TPF project, infrared nulling interferometry with separated aperture telescopes, and optical coronagraphy with a large singl aperture telescope, require complex optical systems which push the state of the art.
The Persistence of American Indian Health Disparities

Disparities in health status between American Indians and other groups in the United States have persisted throughout the 500 years since Europeans arrived in the Americas. Colonists, traders, missionaries, soldiers, physicians, and government officials have struggled to explain these disparities, invoking a wide range of possible causes. American Indians joined these debates, often suggesting different explanations. Europeans and Americans also struggled to respond to the disparities, sometimes working to relieve them, sometimes taking advantage of the ill health of American Indians. Economic and political interests have always affected both explanations of health disparities and responses to them, influencing which explanations were emphasized and which interventions were pursued. Tensions also appear in ongoing debates about the contributions of genetic and socioeconomic forces to the pervasive health disparities. Understanding how these economic and political forces have operated historically can explain both the persistence of the health disparities and the controversies that surround them.
Gender-related variations in iron metabolism and liver diseases

The regulation of iron metabolism involves multiple organs including the duodenum, liver and bone marrow. The recent discoveries of novel iron-regulatory proteins have brought the liver to the forefront of iron homeostasis. The iron overload disorder, genetic hemochromatosis, is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases in individuals of Caucasian origin. Furthermore, patients with non-hemochromatotic liver diseases, such as alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis C or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, often exhibit elevated serum iron indices (ferritin, transferrin saturation) and mild to moderate hepatic iron overload. Clinical data indicate significant differences between men and women regarding liver injury in patients with alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis C or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The penetrance of genetic hemochromatosis also varies between men and women. Hepcidin has been suggested to act as a modifier gene in genetic hemochromatosis. Hepcidin is a circulatory antimicrobial peptide synthesized by the liver. It plays a pivotal role in the regulation of iron homeostasis. Hepcidin has been shown to be regulated by iron, inflammation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, alcohol, hepatitis C and obesity. Sex and genetic background have also been shown to modulate hepcidin expression in mice. The role of gender in the regulation of human hepcidin gene expression in the liver is unknown. However, hepcidin may play a role in gender-based differences in iron metabolism and liver diseases. Better understanding of the mechanisms associated with gender-related differences in iron metabolism and chronic liver diseases may enable the development of new treatment strategies.
Cable Television in Europe

Cable television (CATV) is developing in Europe in response to three primary demands: the improvement of over-over-the-air reception of both television and FM radio channels, the provision of increased program diversity through the reception of additional foreign and domestic signals, and the reduction of numerous unsightly antennas. Technical advantages that cable provides are the primary reason for its success in meeting these demands and will largely determine the direction of the industry's development in the future. An awareness of the technical application of CATV in Europe is therefore important and is the principal focus of this paper.
Drug costs and out-of-pocket spending in cancer clinical trials.

Abstract Objective To estimate the effect of clinical trial participation on drug utilization, drug costs, and out-of-pocket expenditures for cancer patients. Methods The study used a national probability sample of patients participating in cancer clinical trials and a matched cohort of patients not enrolled in trials but receiving treatment for the same cancers from the same providers. Subjects were interviewed about prescription drug utilization and out-of-pocket drug expenditures. We estimated treatment costs based on a large pharmacy transaction database. Multivariate regression was used to estimate the effects of trial participation on drug costs and out-of-pocket expenditures. Results Participants in clinical trials incurred higher prescription drug costs than non-participants: an average of $131 over a six-month period. However, there was no significant difference in out-of-pocket expenditures for the two groups. Conclusions Participation in clinical trials was associated with a modest increase in prescription drug utilization and costs, but these costs did not necessarily impose an economic burden on cancer trial participants.
Enhanced Permeability to Sugar Associated with Muscle Contraction : Studies of the role of Ca++

When contractures were induced in isolated frog sartorius muscles with 4 mM caffeine, there was an increase in permeability of the muscle cells to 3-methylglucose. This observation suggests that the changes in permeability to sugar that are known to occur in electrically stimulated muscles may not be intimately related to the depolarization phase of the tissue response. Contractures that were elicited by exposing the muscles to a high concentration of K+ were also associated with an increased permeability to sugar. As the concentration of 45Ca in the medium was raised, more 45Ca entered the muscles during potassium contractures, and the contractures lasted longer, in agreement with the observations of other investigators. There was also a greater change in permeability to sugar when potassium contractures were elicited in the presence of higher concentrations of Ca++. The possibility that the enhanced permeability to sugar may be related to changes in the intracellular concentration of Ca++ is discussed.
Composition of the diacyl glyceryl ethers and triglycerides of the flesh and liver of the dogfish (Squalus acanthias)

The major lipids of the dogfish (Squalusacanthias) are the diacyl glyceryl ethers and triglycerides. These classes of compounds in the flesh (dorsal section) and liver were separated by thin-layer chromatography. The glyceryl ethers and/or fatty acids resulting from saponification of each of these fractions were analyzed by gas–liquid chromatography as their isopropylidene and methyl ester derivatives, respectively. Few significant differences were apparent between the ether portions of the diacyl glyceryl ethers of the flesh and liver, but the fatty acids were quite different in composition. Those of the flesh contained high percentages of the C20 and C22 polyenoic acids that are characteristic of most fish lipids; those of the liver contained little polyenoic acid but high concentrations of C20 and C22 monoenoic acids. Although the triglycerides of the flesh contained more of the polyenoic acids than the liver, the differences in this fraction between the flesh and liver were less striking. It appears that the over-all unsaturation of the dogfish lipids is largely governed by the relative amounts of monoenoic and polyenoic acids in the C20 and C22 series.
Measurement and modeling of MOSFET's 1/f noise with BSIM3 version 3.2 for an analog circuit design

It has traditionally been known that one of the major noise factors which become an issue in analog circuits in audio frequency band and oscillator circuits in various frequency bands is the 1/f noise from semiconductor devices constituting the circuits. While the measurement and modeling of 1/f noise from semiconductor devices is very important for the design of these analog circuits, the difficulty in its measurement and characterization has been a problem. Also, with the recent progress of noise reduction techniques in MOS transistors, circuit configuration with MOS transistors has become possible in the analog circuits mentioned above. Therefore, in this paper the stable and accurate measurement of 1/f noise in MOS transistors and its modeling technique using BSIM3 Version 3.2, which is the most recent SPICE model for MOS transistors, are described. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(4): 30–36, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.1102
Alteration of retinol-binding-protein concentrations by the synthetic retinoid fenretinide in healthy human subjects.

Normal subjects received fenretinide (HPR), 200 mg/d, on three schedules. Schedule 1 was treatment for 28 d. Schedule 2 consisted of 14 d of treatment, 3 d hiatus, and a second drug course of 14 d, 10 000 IU vitamin A was administered during the 3-d hiatus. Schedule 3 was 14 d of treatment followed by a rest period of 7 d and then 14 d of treatment. Increase in plasma HPR was accompanied by an even higher increase in the metabolite N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-all-trans-retinamide (MPR). The administration of HPR was associated with a significant reduction in retinol-binding protein (RBP), which returned to pretreatment values after the drug treatment was discontinued. Reduction of plasma retinol was also observed. Use of interrupted schedules with resting periods of 3 and 7 d changed HPR, MPR, and RBP concentrations in plasma. Addition ofvitamin A did not affect the pattern of the measured variables in the plasma. Am J Clin Nuir 1990;5 1: 1082-7.
Newly emerging pharmacologic differences in angiotensin II receptor blockers

Several angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are currently available for the treatment of hypertension. These drugs share a common mechanism of action-antagonism of angiotensin II AT1 receptors; however, their receptor binding kinetics differ. Candesartan has a higher affinity for the AT1 receptor than all the other ARB. In addition, candesartan and irbesartan block the AT1 receptor with insurmountable antagonism, whereas losartan, valsartan, and eprosartan are competitive antagonists. The pharmacokinetics of these ARB also differ in terms of oral bioavailability, rate of absorption, metabolism, and route and rate of elimination. Both losartan potassium and candesartan cilexetil are prodrugs; however, losartan is partially converted into EXP3174 in the liver, whereas candesartan cilexetil is converted completely into candesartan during gastrointestinal absorption. On the basis of elimination half-lives, losartan, valsartan, and eprosartan may be classified as shorter acting and candesartan cilexetil and irbesartan as longer acting. Each drug effectively lowers blood pressure during once daily administration to patients with mild to moderate hypertension, with candesartan cilexetil requiring the lowest dosage and providing dose-dependent efficacy. Initial comparative clinical trials suggest that both candesartan cilexetil and irbesartan in the doses used are significantly more effective than losartan in lowering trough sitting diastolic blood pressure. It remains to be determined, however, whether the observed pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic differences among the members of the ARB class will have a clinically significant impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes and reductions of cardiovascular mortality.
Effect of Release Holes on Micro-Scale Solid-Solid Phononic Crystals

Solid-solid phononic crystals (solid inclusions in a solid matrix) exhibit wider bandgaps than those observed with air-solid phononic crystals (air inclusions in a solid matrix). In a solid-solid phononic crystal operating in the low MHz range, it is essential to place release holes in the center of the inclusions to release devices from the substrate. It is necessary to release, and therefore suspend the phononic crystal to avoid propagation losses through the substrate. In this report we investigate the effect of release holes on phononic bandgaps and highlight the need for careful design to avoid compromising the phononic bandgap. Studying release issues for solid-solid phononic crystals is essential for the successful fabrication of such devices.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Left ventricular assist device thrombosis in the setting of left ventricular recovery

Figure 1 A ring of thrombus can be seen at pump bearing near the inflow cannula. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) thrombosis has become increasingly recognized as a complication of mechanical circulatory support. Morbidity, including increased rate of stroke, and a marked increase in mortality are seen with LVAD thrombosis. Current management strategies for LVAD thrombosis include pump exchange, urgent transplantation, medical management, and pump explantation to recovery. The following report is a description of LVAD thrombosis occurring in the setting of left ventricular (LV) recovery. A 51-year-old white woman with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent placement of a HeartMate II (Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA) LVAD as destination therapy and, after discharge, was enrolled in the RESTAGE clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01774656 [http://clinicaltrials. gov/ct2/show/NCT01774656?term=RESTAGE]. Her medica tions had been optimized per protocol, and serial cardiac echocardiograms demonstrated improving LV function. As the LV cavity size decreased and ventricular tachycardia was noted, the LVAD speed was reduced to 8,400 rpm 2 months after implantation. Approximately 9 months after LVAD placement, the patient presented to the emergency department following 3 firings of her implantable cardiac defibrillator for ventricular tachycardia. The patient was hemodynamically stable without signs or symptoms of heart failure, but laboratory analysis was suggestive of hemolysis, including anemia (hemoglobin 8 g/dl), elevated lactate dehydrogenase of 2,100 IU/liter, and a serum free hemoglobin of 43.5 mg/dl. International normalized ratio was 2.0. The patient was admitted for suspected LVAD thrombosis. Low-flow alarms were present on LVAD interrogation, and urinalysis confirmed hematuria. Intravenous heparin therapy was initiated. Computed tomography angiography confirmed satisfactory positions of the LVAD cannulas. Right heart catheterization and echocardiography were performed to assess for hemodynamic dependence on LVAD. On right heart catheterization, cardiac index was 2.34 liter/min/m by
Three‐dimensional computed tomography of the hip in the assessment of femoroacetabular impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement secondary to the cam effect is thought to be associated with an insufficient anterior concavity in the sagittal/axial plane of the femoral head-neck junction. Using three-dimensional computed tomography the anterior and posterior concavity of the femoral head-neck junction was assessed in 36 painful non-dysplastic hips (30 patients). The mean age of the symptomatic hips was 40.7 with 13 females and 17 males. Eighteen out of the 36 hips had a pistol grip deformity. Magnetic resonance gadolinium arthrography was performed to assess for labral and cartilage lesions. Alpha and beta angles measuring the anterior and posterior femoral head-neck junction concavities were also determined in 20 asymptomatic hips (12 patients; mean age 37, 5 females and 7 males) using three-dimensional computed tomography. The mean alpha angle for the symptomatic and the control group were: 66.4 versus 43.8 (p=0.001), and for the beta angle 40.2 versus 43.8 (p=0.011), respectively. All but one of the symptomatic hips had a labral tear with 61% of these hips having associated cartilage damage. Three-dimensional computed tomography represents an accurate tool to quantify the femoral head-neck concavity providing a non-invasive assessment of hips at risk of femoroacetabular impingement.
Secondary Teachers' Perceptions Toward Inclusion of Students with Severe Disabilities

The current movement to educate students with severe disabilities in their neighborhood high schools creates a new classroom environment for teachers. How do secondary teachers view the inclusion of students with severe disabilities in their neighborhood school and/or in the reg ular education classroom?
The Two Steps of Poly(A)-Dependent Termination, Pausing and Release, Can Be Uncoupled by Truncation of the RNA Polymerase II Carboxyl-Terminal Repeat Domain

The carboxyl-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II is thought to help coordinate events during RNA metabolism. The mammalian CTD consists of 52 imperfectly repeated heptads followed by 10 additional residues at the C terminus. The CTD is required for cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro. We studied poly(A)-dependent termination in vivo using CTD truncation mutants. Poly(A)-dependent termination occurs in two steps, pause and release. We found that the CTD is required for release, the first 25 heptads being sufficient. Neither the final 10 amino acids nor the variant heptads of the second half of the CTD were required. No part of the CTD was required for poly(A)-dependent pausing—the poly(A) signal could communicate directly with the body of the polymerase. By removing the CTD, pausing could be observed without being obscured by release. Poly(A)-dependent pausing appeared to operate by slowing down the polymerase, such as by down-regulation of a positive elongation factor. Although the first 25 heptads supported undiminished poly(A)-dependent termination, they did not efficiently support events near the promoter involved in abortive elongation. However, the second half of the CTD, including the final 10 amino acids, was sufficient for these functions.
Development of synthetic GOES-R ABI aerosol products

Abstract. An Observing Systems Simulation Experiment (OSSE) for GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) aerosol products has been carried out. The generation of simulated data involves prediction of aerosol chemical composition fields at one-hour resolution and 12 km × 12 km spacing. These data are then fed to a radiative transfer model to simulate the on-orbit radiances that the GOES-R ABI will see in six channels. This allows the ABI aerosol algorithm to be tested to produce products that will be available after launch. In cooperation with a user group of 40+ state and local air quality forecasters, the system has been tested in real-time experiments where the results mimic what the forecasters will see after 2016 when GOES-R launches. Feedback from this group has allowed refinement of the web display system for the ABI aerosol products and has creatively called for new products that were not envisaged by the satellite team.
Regenerative medicine: a radical reappraisal of the spleen

The spleen has long been considered a dispensable organ. Recent research, however, has found that the spleen of adult mice holds a reservoir of stem cells that can rapidly and robustly differentiate into functional cells of diverse lineages. Splenic stem cells express Hox11, a key embryonic transcription factor that regulates organogenesis. The presence of multi-lineage stem cells in the spleen might represent lifelong persistence of cells from a primitive embryonic region called the aorta-gonad-mesonephros. By bringing together findings from diverse disciplines, we propose that the adult spleen is an important source of multi-lineage stem cells for future cellular therapies for diabetes and other diseases.