cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paired associate learning in children as a function of type of syntactic relationship and associative relationship

At each of three grade levels one group of Ss received a list of 12 syntaginatic word pairs, while another group of Ss received a list of 12 paradigmatic word pairs. Each list consisted of bidirectional, unidirectional, and nonassociated pairs. Free-association strengths for the unidirectional and bidirectional pairs were equated within and between grade levels. The syntagmatic pairs were learned faster than the paradigmatic pairs. Comparisons within each grade level yielded similar results. The facilitating effect of the syntagmatic relationship was found with the unidirectional and nonassociated pairs, but ont with the bidirectional pairs. Overall bidirectional and unidirectional pairs were learned faster than nonassociated pairs and bidirectional pairs were learned faster than unidirectional pairs. The latter result was true for Grades 8 and 12, but in Grade 4 no difference was found between the bidirectional and nonassociated pairs.
Novel Endocrine Disrupter Effects of Classic and Atypical Antipsychotic Agents and Divalproex: Induction of Adrenal Hyperandrogenism, Reversible with Metformin or Rosiglitazone

ABSTRACT Objective To ascertain an association between the a priori known insulin resistance caused by antipsychotic agents and divalproex and adrenal hyperandrogenism and to determine whether the associated hyperandrogenism is reversible with insulin sensitizers. Methods We studied 26 consecutive psychiatric inpatients (22 women and 4 men) receiving the aforementioned medications, who were referred to us for a consultation. They ranged in age from 19 to 79 years and had a mean body mass index (SEM) of 32.35 ± 1.26 kg/m2. Between 8 AM and 9 AM, blood samples were collected for 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, 11-deoxycortisol, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (in reproductive age women), estrone, estradiol (in reproductive age women), free testosterone (in women), deoxycorticosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which were measured by radioimmunoassay, after chromatography if necessary. For intact, premenopausal women, measurement of the abnormal steroid metabolite or SHBG level was repeated during prednisone therapy (5 mg at bedtime) to document the likely adrenal origin of the abnormality. Men, women who had undergone bilateral oophorectomy, and postmenopausal women had hyperandrogenism of adrenal origin by default. Clinical features included central obesity, acanthosis, hirsutism, alopecia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and oligomenorrhea. Results We found reversed estrone/estradiol ratios in 4 patients, decreased SHBG in 4, increased 17-hydroxypregnenolone in 8, increased 17-hydroxyprogesterone in 2, increased deoxycorticosterone in 2, increased DHEA sulfate in 1, increased 11-deoxycortisol in 4, increased androstenedione in 1, and reversed ratios of luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone in 2. The biochemical abnormalities were corrected in 8 of 8 patients receiving metformin and in 2 of 2 patients receiving rosiglitazone. Conclusion Insulin resistance caused by antipsychotic agents and divalproex is associated with adrenal hyperandrogenism. Metformin and rosiglitazone correct the biochemical abnormalities detected without compromising their psychotropic effect. Adrenal androgen synthesis may be increased by hyperinsulinemia-induced hyperphosphorylation of P450c17α, resulting in an increase in its 17,20-lyase activity, which magnifies the effects of any distal steroidogenic enzyme defects. Treatment with metformin or rosiglitazone prevents excess adrenal androgen synthesis. (Endocr Pract. 2007; 13:601-608)
Antibodies to the Carboxyl Terminus of Mouse Interferon-γ Neutralize its Immunoregulatory and Antiviral Activities

Antibodies to a synthetic carboxy-terminal peptide (Cys-Ser-Leu-Arg-Lys-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser-Arg-Abu) (gamma-C-TP) of mouse interferon-gamma (MuIFN-gamma) were produced in rabbits. They neutralized the antiviral activity of MuIFN-gamma but not that of MuIFN-alpha/beta or human (Hu) IFN-alpha/beta or -gamma. They also inhibited the IFN-dependent enhancement of natural cytotoxic cells (NCC) and the in vivo plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Thus, our results indicate that polyclonal antibodies specific for the nine carboxy-terminal amino acids of MuIFN-gamma can specifically inhibit the antiviral and immunoregulatory activities of this IFN in vitro. In addition, our findings indicate that endogenous production of MuIFN-gamma in vivo plays a role in development of the full antibody response to SRBC surface antigens.
ECG manifestations in submassive and massive pulmonary embolism. Report of 4 cases and review of literature

ECG findings suggestive of right ventricular (RV) hemodynamic derangement, in the appropriate clinical setting, can lead to further diagnostic consideration and earlier institution of treatment, aiming to decrease the high morbidity and mortality associated with submassive and massive pulmonary embolism (PE). In this paper, we review 4 cases with chest computed tomography (CT) confirmed PE with their respective ECG findings. In all the cases patients had an RV strain pattern on ECG, although in different clinical scenarios, including one with an initial diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In one case, a transitory short PR interval was seen, a finding not previously reported, in the literature. The most common finding was T wave inversion (Twi) in the anterior leads.
Hallux valgus interphalangeus deformity: A case series in the pediatric population

Abstract Purpose The objective of this report is to describe three cases (four feet) of hallux valgus interphalangeus deformity in the pediatric population. Methods A retrospective review was completed to identify three patients (four feet) with a deformity consistent with hallux valgus interphalangeus. Patients were followed at regular intervals for a minimum of 6 months. Treatment modalities and clinical results were reviewed for all patients for this relatively rare entity in the skeletally immature population. Results All patients in this report had a deformity that was not consistent with a traumatic etiology. Case number 1 had a significantly symptomatic deformity that failed conservative treatment, and eventually necessitated full surgical correction of the deformity. Symptom free unrestricted activity was obtained post-operatively, however final follow-up radiographs have demonstrated early changes consistent with arthritis. Case numbers 2 & 3 were relatively asymptomatic throughout their course of treatment, and responded well to non-operative intervention. Conclusion Based on these findings excision of the exostosis and soft-tissue realignment appears to be a reliable option for symptom relief for patients who present with a painful symptomatic hallux valgus interphalangeus deformity. However, the risk of degenerative changes following spur removal must be entertained prior to the procedure. On the contrary a pain free deformity that does not impact functionality of toe, or impair shoe ware may be treated successfully with conservative measures.
Growth and characterization of graphite single crystals

Abstract Graphite single crystals were grown by precipitation from carbon-saturated molten iron and nickel. They were grown with low nucleation and growth rates under conditions of low supersaturation, using slow-cooling and steady-state thermal gradient methods. Crystals that were produced included thin platelets up to 3 cm across and a fraction of a millimeter thick, tabular crystals measuring several millimeters across, and a form not previously reported: columnar crystals up to 2 mm long. Details of crystal characterization, including crystal morphology, cleavage, twinning, etching, dislocation geometry and lattice distortions were examined and are reported. The crystals most nearly approaching ideality were the columnar crystals. Those with the greatest amount of mosaic substructure were the thin platelet crystals. The characterization details are correlated with growth conditions. It is concluded from this work that with sufficient attention to details and abundant patience, growth of high quality graphite crystals with substantial size has been demonstrated to be feasible.
Evolution, Structure, Cloud Microphysical, and Surface Rainfall Processes of Monsoon Convection during the South China Sea Monsoon Experiment

Abstract A two-dimensional cloud-resolving simulation is combined with dual-Doppler and polarimetric radar analysis to study the evolution, dynamic structure, cloud microphysics, and rainfall processes of monsoon convection observed during the South China Sea (SCS) summer monsoon onset. Overall, the model simulations show many similarities to the radar observations. The rainband associated with the convection remains at a very stable position throughout its life cycle in the northern SCS. The reflectivity pattern exhibits a straight upward structure with little tilt. The positions of the convective, transition, and stratiform regions produced by the model are consistent with the observations. The major difference from the observations is that the model tends to overestimate the magnitude of updraft. As a result, the maximum reflectivity generated by the model appears at an elevated altitude. The surface rainfall processes and associated thermodynamic, dynamic, and cloud microphysical processes are examine...
The binding of adenosine to polyuridylic acid in which uracil residues are chemically altered.

The binding of adenosine-14C to polyuridylic acid (poly(U)) and several modified poly(U)s has been studied by equilibrium dialysis. The poly(U) was modified by addition of appropriate reagents across the 5,6-double bond of the uracil ring to form the photohydrate, photodimer, dihydrouracil, the HOBr addition product and the HSO3− addition product. Modification of the uracil rings decreases the amount of adenosine which can be bound to the poly(U); the decrease in binding is a function of the fraction of uracil rings which have been changed. Using the expression S = S0(1 − αr)2 to relate the fraction of uracil rings modified (r) to the number of binding “sites” remaining (S), it is found that α is about 1 for all the modifications except photodimer where it is about 2. These observations are taken to mean that the loss of binding capacity of the poly(U) resulting from modifications of the uracil ring is caused by loss of planarity of the uracil rings caused by the modifications, and consequent loss of double helix structure, but that for all modifications except photodimer there is no disruption of the poly(U) double helix on either side of the leison. There does appear to be local melting on either side of the photodimer lesion. The sigmoidal binding isotherms (Ab versus Ca) of modified and unmodified poly(U) can be approximated closely by the following equation: ((1)) (1) where Ab = bound A, Ca = free A, n = minimum number of adjacent A′s in complex, S = concentration of sites on poly(U), and K1 = (Km)1/m for all m ≥ n. The stacking energy of adenosine (w) can be calculated accurately using the following equation, where dθ/d ln Ca is obtained from Eq. (1). ((2)) (2) For unmodified poly(U), w is −2.0 kcal/mole and ΔG° (−;RT ln K1) is −3.2 kcal/mole. The difference (−1.2 kcal/mole) is attributed to hydrogen bonding. Heavily photohydrated poly(U) does not bind guanosine or guanosine-5′-phosphate.
Paramagnetic relaxation assisted docking of a small indole compound in the HIV-1 gp41 hydrophobic pocket

The hydrophobic pocket contained within the gp41 coiled coil is an important target for small molecules designed to inhibit HIV-1 fusion. While various screening experiments have identified molecules purported to bind in this pocket, few have confirmed details of the interaction, instead relying on computational docking to predict the binding mode. This is made more challenging by the fact that residues lining the hydrophobic pocket are highly flexible, as is typical for a protein-protein interaction site, limiting the predictive power of computational tools. In this study, we report on an NMR method to define the binding mode of 1-5i, a compound in a series of newly developed indole inhibitors. We show that paramagnetic relaxation enhancement of ligand protons due to an MTSL group positioned close to the binding pocket could be applied quantitatively to distinguish between more than 30 different computational poses, selecting a single pose that agreed with the NMR data. In this pose, important hydrophobic and polar contacts occur with pocket lysine, tryptophan, and glutamine residues, including putative hydrogen bonds between the ligand carboxylate and the lysine e-amino group. A study of the ligand orientation suggests directions for optimization.
A Multiscale Agent-Based in silico Model of Liver Fibrosis Progression

Chronic hepatic inflammation involves a complex interplay of inflammatory and mechanical influences, ultimately manifesting in a characteristic histopathology of liver fibrosis. We created an agent-based model (ABM) of liver tissue in order to computationally examine the consequence of liver inflammation. Our Liver Fibrosis ABM (LFABM) is comprised of literature-derived rules describing molecular and histopathologic aspects of inflammation and fibrosis in a section of chemically injured liver. Hepatocytes are modeled as agents within hexagonal lobules. Injury triggers an inflammatory reaction, which leads to activation of local Kupffer cells and recruitment of monocytes from circulation. Portal fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells are activated locally by the products of inflammation. The various agents in the simulation are regulated by above-threshold concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules. The simulation progresses from chronic inflammation to collagen deposition, exhibiting periportal fibrosis followed by bridging fibrosis, and culminating in disruption of the regular lobular structure. The ABM exhibited key histopathologic features observed in liver sections from rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). An in silico “tension test” for the hepatic lobules predicted an overall increase in tissue stiffness, in line with clinical elastography literature and published studies in CCl4-treated rats. Therapy simulations suggested differential anti-fibrotic effects of neutralizing TNF-a vs. enhancing M2 Kupffer cells. We conclude that a computational model of liver inflammation on a structural skeleton of physical forces can recapitulate key histopathologic and macroscopic properties of CCl4-injured liver. This multiscale approach linking molecular and chemomechanical stimuli enables a model that could be used to gain translationally relevant insights into live fibrosis.
Comparison of Two Methods of Scaling Nonsense-Syllable Pairs for Ease of Learning

Current research in verbal behavior has been retarded by a shortage of calibrated verbal materials of a sufficient variety and quantity. An increasing recognition of this need has led several recent investigators to attempt to provide such material. Some of these have involved no more than the reevaluation ' of previously calibrated material (Archer, 1960; Trapp & Kausler, 1959). However, most workers have introduced either new types of material to be
Estimation of accelerometer orientation for activity recognition

Tri-axial accelerometers have been widely used for human activity recognition and classification. A main challenge in accelerometer-based activity recognition is the system dependence on the orientation of the accelerometer. This paper presents an approach for overcoming this challenge by calibrating the accelerometer orientation using pre-defined activities alongside automated correction algorithms. This method includes manipulation of data via rotation matrices estimated from the pre-defined activities. The system is subsequently tested with real data where sensors were placed in the wrong orientation. A control set of correctly oriented sensors were also placed for validation purposes. We show that our approach improves the accuracy from 38% to 92% for the wrongly oriented sensors, when the control sensors achieve 95%. A GUI was also created in order to make the tool easily available to other researchers.
Association of nuclear membrane fragments with metaphase and anaphase chromosomes as observed by whole mount electron microscopy.

Abstract Whole mount preparations of metaphase and anaphase chromosomes from a wide variety of mammalian tissues, prepared with and without hypotonic, with and without colchicine, and with and without critical point drying, all showed that fragments of the nuclear membrane may remain attached at multiple points along the chromosomes. No consistent patterns were observed, indicating that the attachment of these fragments was random and fortuitous. Preparations of purified nuclear membrane showed morphological features identical to that of the fragments attached to the chromosomes. The major significance of these observations is that they indicate that the metaphase chromosomes were attached at multiple sites to the nuclear membrane during interphase.
Genetics and child psychiatry.

The articles in this special section of the Journal illustrate some of the approaches used to investigate the role of genetic factors in establishing the constitutional vulnerabilities associated with mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders of childhood onset. The reports focus on disorders for which genetic factors have either been convincingly demonstrated such as fragile-X syndrome, some forms of dyslexia, and Tourette 's syndrome, or where there is strong presumptive evidence, as in childhood affective disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism. Three of the studies focus on efforts to define better the range of phenotypic expression (clinical presentations) associated with certain disorders. Piven et al. (1990) examine the range of abnormal phenotypes seen in the siblings of adult autistic subjects in an effort to define the "lesser variants" of this syndrome. The report builds on the important work of Folstein and Rutter (1977) which provided a clear indication that genetic factors contribute to the development of autism and that lesser variants such as severe social dysfunction and cognitive impairments may be present in close family members. Historically, this report is also of special interest as it contains information concerning that sample of autistic subjects initially described by Kanner (1943) in his classic description of this syndrome. The report of Orvaschel (1990) focuses on children at high risk of developing an affective disorder and reminds us again of the etiological heterogeneity that underlies mood disorders. The study lends further evidence that some forms of recurrent affective disorder are associated with very early onset and are often present with a prominant admixture of anxiety symptoms (Leckman et aI., 1983; Weissman et aI.,
Development of a short pulse Ne-like x-ray laser

We are developing techniques to shorten the time duration of neon-like x-ray Iners while maintaining their high brightness in order to optimize, their usefulness as a plasma diagnostic. Adjusting the duration of the pump laser pulse is shown to directly influence the duration of neon-like x-ray laser transitions. Using slab targets, multiple 100 ps pulses and traveling wave geometry we have shortened the duration of lasing transitions down to 45 ps for both the neon-like germanium and yttrium x-ray lasers. However for the neon-like yttrium laser the intensity of short duration pulses are down two orders of magnitude from the long duration pulses because of limitations of the driving laser. We are presently looking at curved targets and pulse shaping in order to more efficiently pump the Ne-like x-ray laser system and increase the output intensity of the lasing lines. The relative merits of using the germanium x-ray laser at 196 {Angstrom} compared to the yttrium x-ray laser at 155 {Angstrom} are discussed.
The effect of X-rays on the chromosomes of Tradescantia gigantea

1. Meiotic chromosomes of Tradescantia gigantea, after subjection to X-rays, tend to become contracted and clumped. Chromosomes which were irradiated during a premeiotic mitosis show extreme fragmentation, segmental interchange and, in mang Gases, a failure of pairing at the subsequent meiotic divisions.2. Irradiation during the microspore metaphase or anaphase produces fragmentation, and the effect is immediate. Treatment during prophase also produces unbalanced fragments, translocations and occasional interchange rings; also an occasional balanced configuration.3. When cells in the resting stage before the microspore division are treated with X-rays, the subsequent metaphases and anaphases show balanced abnormalities only. The fact that chromosomes irradiated at prophase or later stages show chiefly unbalanced fragments, while those which were in the resting stage when subjected to X-rays show only balanced abnormalities, is evidence that the chromosomes do not split until late in the resting stage.4. No inhibition nor delay of division is found. Actively dividing cells are present continuously after irradiation in both meiosis and microspore divisions at the dosages used.5. Evidence is offered to show that attachment points do not arise de novo and that the contraction of the chromosomes between prophase and metaphase is not due to the action of the attachment points.
The role of synapse elimination in the establishment of neuromuscular compartments

To investigate the specificity of development of initial neuromuscular connections, we examined the compartmental distribution of synapses in neonatal rat lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle. Initial neuromuscular connections might be restricted to the compartmental territories present in adults; alternatively, synapse elimination could establish the compartments from a less precise pattern of innervation. We examined 46 pups of ages 0 to 14 postnatal days using a variety of techniques. The principle method was evoked electromyographic (EMG) activity in response to nerve stimulation. The nerve branch to one neuromuscular compartment was cut and the remainder of the nerve was stimulated. The presence of EMG activity was used to identify the areas of muscle contracting in response to nerve stimulation. After cutting a particular branch, EMG activity generally could not be recorded from the denervated compartment. These results indicate that the pattern of innervation at birth is essentially compartment-specific, and that neuromuscular compartments are not shaped from some less precise pattern by postnatal synapse elimination. The factors which operate prenatally to determine this high degree of specificity in neuromuscular connectivity seen at the time of birth, however, remain unknown.
How metabolic acidosis and oxidative stress alone and interacting may increase the risk of fracture in diabetic subjects

Subjects with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for having fractures, a risk not necessarily improved by better glucose control. In this article, we argue that low grade metabolic acidosis and increased oxidative stress occurring in bone disease in part as a result of complications of diabetes, reinforce each other, and together constitute a double jeopardy for the development of bone fractures in diabetic subjects.
A SUGGESTION FOR TEACHING THE SPANISH TUTEO

The problem of how to approach the teaching of the varied Spanish equivalents of our second person address form, you, has disturbed English-speaking students of Spanish and their teachers ever since our language lost the contrast in everyday usage between thou , the intimate and familiar form of address, and you, the polite and respectful form. Centuries ago our linguistic ancestors had in their own language patterns a convenient bridge over which they could pass to an understanding of the Spanish contrast between td, intimate and familiar, and usted, polite and respectful. The gulf that separates our contemporary usage from the ustedl't; usage in Spanish seems less serious in the case of u s t e d than in the case of t u , the stranger of the two forms. A s generally happens in other cases where two contrasting forms in Spanish a re equivalent to a single English form, e . g . : por , para and s e r estar, the stranger and, as here expressed, the second of the two forms tends to be over-used by students. In view of this experience noted by many Spanish teachers the most satisfactory approach to this "two-for-one" type problem would appear to be one based on a careful analysis of the more troublesome or stranger member of the individual contrasting pairs, p a r a , es t a r , and t;. The use of td and its galaxy or set of attendant forms (subject, object and possessive pronouns, finite verb forms, possessive adjectives, e tc . ) , all of which correspond to ,a behavior pattern of classifying and modifying speech usgage in contacts with other human beings, is called the t u t e o in Spanish. The presentation of this feature to English speakers has been accomplished o r avoided in a variety of linguistically unsound ways. The purpose of this study is to summarize and criticize the commonly used approaches to the problem of teaching the Spanish tuteoand to offer suggestions for an improved approach.
Alemtuzumab induction and recurrence of glomerular disease after kidney transplantation.

Background. An increase in the incidence of autoimmune diseases has been described in patients receiving alemtuzumab. Methods. To determine whether induction with alemtuzumab increases recurrence of glomerular disease, we performed a retrospective study in 443 patients with biopsy-proven glomerular diseases undergoing kidney transplantation. Patients receiving alemtuzumab (n=161) were compared with those receiving interleukin (IL)-2-receptor antagonists (n=217) or antithymocyte globulin (n=64). Results. Biopsy-proven glomerular disease recurrence was similar in patients induced with alemtuzumab or IL-2 receptor antagonists. Patients receiving antithymocyte antibody had a lower recurrence rate than patients treated with other induction agents, with borderline significance (hazard ratio [HR] 0.13, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.02−0.98, P=0.047). Patients with systemic lupus treated with alemtuzumab had a similar re-emergence of autoreactive antibodies to patients treated with other agents. Recurrent disease increased the risk of allograft failure (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.28−4.32, P=0.0056). The development of acute rejection and the use of deceased (vs. living) donor kidneys were also significant factors influencing graft survival. A greater risk of mortality was detected in those patients with recurrent glomerular disease (HR 3.76, 95% CI 1.37−10.35, P=0.01), whereas increased age at transplantation (HR 1.05) and the use of deceased (vs. living) donor kidneys (HR 3.20) also increased mortality. No specific induction agent significantly affected graft loss or mortality when using adjusted or unadjusted hazard ratios. Conclusions. In this retrospective analysis, induction with alemtuzumab did not increase the rate of re-emergence of autoantibodies or biopsy-proven recurrence of glomerular disease. A slight reduction in the incidence of recurrence was observed in patients treated with thymoglobulin, yet this observation can only be validated in a prospective randomized trial.
Transformation of 15N-labelled leguminous plant material in three contrasting soils

Two soils from Pakistan (Hafizabad silt loam and Khurrarianwala silt loam) and one from Illinois, USA (Drummer silty clay loam) were incubated with 15N-labelled soybean tops for up to 20 weeks at 30°C. Mineralization of soybean 15N was slightly more rapid in the Pakistani soils, and after 20 weeks of incubation, 50%, 53%, and 56% of the applied 15N was accounted for as (NH4 ++NO3 −)-N in Drummer, Hafizabad, and Khurrarianwala soils, respectively. Potentially mineralizable N (determined by anaerobic incubation) varied between 1.5% and 10% of the applied 15N in the three soils at different stages of incubation; somewhat higher percentages were mineralizable in the Pakistani soils than in the Drummer soil. From 3.7% to 9% of the applied 15N was accounted for in the microbial biomass. From 10% to 32% of the applied N was recovered in the humic acid and fulvic acid fractions of the organic matter by sequential extraction with Na4P2O7 and NaOH; from 12% to 49% was recovered in the humin fraction. Of the three soils, Drummer soil contained more 15N as humic and fulvic acids. In all cases, the 15N was approximately equally distributed between the humic and fulvic acid fractions. A significant percentage of the humin 15N (52%–78%, equivalent to 8%–34% of the applied 15N) occurred in non-hydrolyzable (6 N HCl) forms. Of the hydrolyzable 15N, 42%–51% was accounted for as amino acid-N followed in order by NH3 (17%–30%), hydrolyzable unknown forms (20%–22%), and amino sugars (6%–2%). The recovery of applied 15N for the different incubation stages was 87±22%. Recovery was lowest with the Khurrarianwala soil, presumably because of NH3 volatilization losses caused by the high pH of this soil.
Stereoselective Propene Insertion Reactions of rac-(EBI)Zr(η2-pyridyl)+ Complexes

Stereoselective propene insertion reactions of chiral zirconocene species of the type rac-(EBI)Zr(η2-pyridyl)+ (EBI = ethylenebis(indenyl)) containing substituted η2-pyridyl ligands are described. The reaction of rac-(EBI)ZrMe2 with B(C6F5)3 followed by addition of 1 equiv of the appropriate pyridine yields [rac-(EBI)Zr(η2-3-R3-5-R5-6-R6-pyrid-2-yl)][MeB(C6F5)3] pyridyl complexes (5a−f; a, R3 = R5 = H, R6 = Me; b, R3 = R5 = H, R6 = Ph; c, R3 = R5 = R6 = H; d, R3 = Me, R5 = H, R6 = Me; e, R3 = H, R5 = R6 = Me; f, R3 = R5 = Me, R6 = H). At 23 °C, 5a−f react with propene to yield the 1,2-insertion products [rac-(EBI)Zr{η2(C,N)-CH2CHMe(pyrid-2-yl)}][MeB(C6F5)3], for which two diastereomers (6/6‘) that differ in the configuration of the metallacycle β-carbon are possible. Propene insertion of 5a−f is under kinetic control at 23 °C and is highly stereoselective when the pyridyl ring contains a 6-substituent (R6 ≠ H; 6a, de = 80%; 6b, de > 96%; 6d, de > 96%; 6e, de = 80%). For these cases, the major diastereomer...
Design and optimization of distributed sensing coverage in wireless sensor networks

For many sensor network applications, such as military surveillance, it is necessary to provide full sensing coverage to a security-sensitive area while, at the same time, minimizing energy consumption and extending system lifetime by leveraging the redundant deployment of sensor nodes. In this paper, we propose a surveillance service for sensor networks based on a distributed energy-efficient sensing coverage protocol. In the protocol, each node is able to dynamically decide a schedule for itself to guarantee a certain degree-of-coverage (DOC) with average energy consumption inversely proportional to the node density. Several optimizations and extensions are proposed to enhance the basic design with a better load-balance feature and a longer network lifetime. We consider and address the impact of the target size and the unbalanced initial energy capacity of individual nodes to the network lifetime. Several practical issues such as the localization error, irregular sensing range, and unreliable communication links are addressed as well. Simulation shows that our protocol extends system lift-time significantly with low energy consumption. It outperforms other state-of-the-art schemes by as much as 50p reduction in energy consumption and as much as 130p increase in the half-life of the network.
Fifth Annual Mario S. Verani, MD Memorial Lecture: evolving challenges and opportunities.

I end my lecture by referring to a proposition put forward by Beller22 for American Board of Internal Medicine certification in noninvasive imaging that requires an additional 1 or 2 years of training beyond the standard 3 years of training in cardiovascular diseases. This would make the candidate certified in nuclear imaging, echocardiography, CT, and magnetic resonance imaging. The results of many large randomized trials that have a nuclear arm or substudy, such as COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation), STICH (Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure), and BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes), are important to the field. Our field, after all, is not stagnant; there is plenty more to be done. Nuclear imaging, in my judgment, will remain the most favorite imaging method in patient care. I believe Dr Verani would be both delighted and supportive of this viewpoint.
Improved Line Heat Source Thermal Conductivity Probe

An improved line heat source thermal conductivity probe was made to simplify the construction and extend the life of thermal conductivity probes. The accuracy of thermal conductivity measurement is also improved. The better linearity of temperature versus logarithm of time was obtained as compared to published techniques. The probe made with the heater wire and thermocouple on the outside of a sewing needle instead of inside of a hypodermic needle was checked by measuring the thermal conductivity of known samples. Results obtained with the improved probe show lower temperature rise and lower standard deviation.
Bioassay of hypophyseal growth hormone in hypophysectomized mice by the tibia test.

THE intact mouse has been found to be quite unresponsive to exogenously administered growth hormone (1, 2). No data, however, have heretofore been published on the effects of growth hormone in the hypophysectomized mouse; in the studies reported here, the responsiveness of hypophysectomized female mice of the C3H, A/He, BALB/c, and C57 BL strains has been assessed on the basis of increases in the width of the proximal epiphyseal cartilage of the tibia and of increases in body weight. Wherever possible, comparisons have been made between the results obtained in the hypophysectomized mouse and those reported for the hypophysectomized rat.
Covalent coupling of peptides to humic acids: Structural effects investigated using 2D NMR spectroscopy

Covalent and non-covalent interaction of proteinaceous materials in soils and sediments has been suggested as an important mechanism for immobilizing nitrogen in numerous types of environments. In a previous study (Hsu P.-H., Hatcher, P.G., 2005. New evidence for covalent coupling of peptides to humic acids based on 2D NMR spectroscopy: A means for preservation. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69, 4521–4533), we provided molecular evidence for covalent, as well as non-covalent, bonding between 15N-labeled peptides and humic acid molecules using the 2D HSQC (heteronuclear single quantum coherence) NMR technique. In this report, we examine the influence of aromaticity and aliphaticity of peptides and humic materials on these covalent and non-covalent interactions. We use 2D NMR techniques to evaluate bonding interactions of 15N labeled peptides, having different aromatic and aliphatic properties, with three humic acids that vary in degree of aromaticity. The peptide containing primarily aromatic amino acid residues is observed to form covalent and non-covalent bonds with mainly aromatic-rich humic acids. The peptide composed of aliphatic amino acid residues shows, on the other hand, only bonding interactions with aliphatic-rich humic acids. These observations provide the first direct molecular evidence that aliphatic functional groups are involved in bonding with proteinaceous materials. The process may play an important role in sequestration of proteinaceous materials in sedimentary systems such as marine systems where the humic materials are mainly aliphatic in nature.
Validities: A political science perspective

Abstract Validity is a central legitimating word in the lexicon of political science, suggesting the connection of scientific theory and research with the political world. Validity is constrained by uncontrollable variance in sampling, context, text, and analysis. Judgements of validity include scientific and political dimensions, implying serious anomalies. These may be partly dissolved by more complex definition and decomposition into multiple, parallel, switchable validities.
Mining Opinions in Comparative Sentences

This paper studies sentiment analysis from the user-generated content on the Web. In particular, it focuses on mining opinions from comparative sentences, i.e., to determine which entities in a comparison are preferred by its author. A typical comparative sentence compares two or more entities. For example, the sentence, "the picture quality of Camera X is better than that of Camera Y", compares two entities "Camera X" and "Camera Y" with regard to their picture quality. Clearly, "Camera X" is the preferred entity. Existing research has studied the problem of extracting some key elements in a comparative sentence. However, there is still no study of mining opinions from comparative sentences, i.e., identifying preferred entities of the author. This paper studies this problem, and proposes a technique to solve the problem. Our experiments using comparative sentences from product reviews and forum posts show that the approach is effective.
Do clinical pathways improve efficiency

NE WOULD HAVE to be a total recluse (or have been shipwrecked on a deserted island) for the past 20 years not to have heard time and time again that the cost of medical care in the United States is too high and getting higher. Whether one believes health care costs are truly increasing--no matter how much we would like to discover some day that it all has been an evil plot designed and perpetrated by a faceless secret organization-providers who practice medicine in the present world must deal with the present reality. And that present reality is managed care medicine. Perhaps the managed care conspiracy theorist may one day have the last laugh. The health maintenance organization (HMO) in its present incarnation has as its origins a number of influential nonmedical economic scholars and lawmakers who saw it as their crusade to solve uncontrolled health care expenditures, "fragmentation, and lack of accountability. ''1 They successfully sponsored the HMO Act of 1973, which provided grant funding and a regulatory structure for HMO development, opening the floodgates for what we all live with today. The final nail in the coffin of traditional fee-forservice followed with the 1975 Supreme Court Decision rejecting the exemption of the "learned professions" from antitrust laws and the enactment of a law in California in 1982 that legalized preferred provider insurance. Naturally, these changes had the overt and covert support from the HMO industry. In its most essential definition, managed care can be characterized as selective health care providers contracting for prespecified health care benefits. In other words, the integration of the financing of health care with the delivery of health
An adaptive grid solution procedure for convection-diffusion problems

Abstract A computationally efficient and stable adaptive grid solution procedure is developed for convection diffusion problems. In this method, grid refinement and adaptation is based on an equidistribution law but is only performed in regions with high error estimates that are flagged from a preliminary coarse grid solution. The equidistribution law is implicit in the grid generation procedure which requires the solution of two Poisson equations with control functions that are obtained directly from the error estimates or weighting functions at the grid points. Solution on the refined, equidistributed mesh in the flagged region is obtained with boundary conditions interpolated from the coarse grid results. Accurate solutions in both the flagged region and the coarse grid regions of the domain are obtained with a multigrid approach that requires successive solutions on the refined, equidistributed mesh in the flagged region and on the coarse mesh in the entire domain. The adaptive grid method including the multigrid calculations can be extended to several levels of refinement. The acronym LAME is coined for this procedure in view of its Local Adaptation, Multigridding, and Equidistribution features. The method is shown to be stable, computationally efficient, and accurate by applying it to three test problems and comparing with conventional calculations on a fixed curvilinear grid.
The use of conscious sedation for outpatient dermatologic surgical procedures.

Background.Dermatologic surgery has undergone increasing levels of sophistication over the past few decades. Commensurate with this demand, an established anesthesia technique called conscious sedation has been employed.Objectives.Methods for performing office-based conscious sedation are described.
Illusions of Learning: Irrelevant Emotions Inflate Judgments of Learning

People use assessments of how much they have learned to choose and recommend instructors, seminars, and weekend trips. How do people assess how much they have learned? Recent theorizing has depicted emotion as a cue for learning, and so people may be misled by recent emotional states to infer that they have learned more than they actually have. Four studies showed that people associated emotion with learning and believed, often falsely, that they learned more when in an emotional than unemotional state. Factual lessons were coupled with manipulations of arbitrary, irrelevant emotional states. Participants rated that they learned more after an emotion had been induced than in emotionally neutral control conditions. These differences remained significant after controlling for actual learning as measured by objective tests, which was unaffected by emotion. This illusion of learning caused by emotion was robust with respect to changes of procedure and sample, including whether the emotion came before or after the information to be learned. Alternative explanations were ruled out, including that emotion would intensify ratings generally, that emotion would make incoming information seem particularly personally relevant, that emotion increased engagement in the research, and that illusory learning would depend on retrospective exaggeration of one’s prior ignorance. Because irrelevant emotions can increase people’s judgments that they have learned something, incidental emotional experiences could increase a person’s likelihood of deciding to take another class with a particular instructor, to sign up for another leadership seminar, or to engage in a risky (but emotion-filled) excursion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shear wave splitting and waveform complexity for lowermost mantle structures with low‐velocity lamellae and transverse isotropy

[1] Shear waves that traverse the lowermost mantle exhibit polarization anomalies and waveform complexities that indicate the presence of complex velocity structure above the core-mantle boundary. Synthetic seismograms for horizontally and vertically polarized shear waves (SH and SV, respectively) are computed using the reflectivity method for structures with low-velocity sheets (“lamellae”), and for comb-like models approximating long wavelength vertical transverse isotropy (VTI). Motivated by evidence for partial melt in the deep mantle, lamella parameter ranges include (1) δVP from −5 to −10%, δVS = 3δVP; (2) 100 to 300 km thickness of vertical stacks of lamella; (3) lamella spacing and thickness varying from 0.5 to 20 km; and (4) lamellae concentrated near the top, bottom, or throughout the D″ region at the base of the mantle. Such lamellae represent, in effect, horizontally emplaced dikes within D″. Excessively complex waveforms are produced when more than ∼20% of D″ volume is comprised of low-velocity lamellae. Many lamellae models can match observed Sdiff splitting (1–10 s delays of SVdiff), but typically underpredict ScS splitting (1–4 s delays of ScSV). VTI model parameters are selected to address D″ observations, and include (1) 0.5 to 3% anisotropy; (2) discontinuous D″ shear velocity increases up to 3%; (3) D″ thicknesses from 100 to 300 km; and (4) VTI concentrated at the top, bottom, or throughout D″. VTI models readily match observed splits of ScS and Sdiff. We discuss lamellae and VTI model attributes in relationship to waveform complexities, splitting magnitude, triplications from a high-velocity D″ discontinuity, and apparently reversed polarity SVdiff onsets. The possible presence of melt-filled lamellae indicates that local chemical or thermal perturbations can produce regions that exceed the solidus within D″. Such melt could occur in the bulk of D″ because the melt is either close to neutral buoyancy, advective velocities exceed percolative velocities, or both.
Vacated niches, competitive release and the community ecology of pathogen eradication

A recurring theme in the epidemiological literature on disease eradication is that each pathogen occupies an ecological niche, and eradication of one pathogen leaves a vacant niche that favours the emergence of new pathogens to replace it. However, eminent figures have rejected this view unequivocally, stating that there is no basis to fear pathogen replacement and even that pathogen niches do not exist. After exploring the roots of this controversy, I propose resolutions to disputed issues by drawing on broader ecological theory, and advance a new consensus based on robust mechanistic principles. I argue that pathogen eradication (and cessation of vaccination) leads to a 'vacated niche', which could be re-invaded by the original pathogen if introduced. Consequences for other pathogens will vary, with the crucial mechanisms being competitive release, whereby the decline of one species allows its competitors to perform better, and evolutionary adaptation. Hence, eradication can cause a quantitative rise in the incidence of another infection, but whether this leads to emergence as an endemic pathogen depends on additional factors. I focus on the case study of human monkeypox and its rise following smallpox eradication, but also survey how these ideas apply to other pathogens and discuss implications for eradication policy.
Isoniazid resistance without a loss of fitness in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The emergence of multi- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB and XDR-TB, respectively) has intensified the critical public health implications of this global disease. The fitness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.) strains exhibiting MDR and XDR phenotypes is of fundamental importance in predicting whether the MDR-/XDR-TB epidemic will be sustained across the human population. Here we describe a potential mechanism of M.tb. resistance to the TB drug isoniazid (INH) conferred by loss of a sigma factor, SigI. We demonstrate that the gain of INH resistance in the M.tb. ΔsigI mutant might not diminish the organism's fitness for causing disease. These findings have significant implications when considering the ability of drug-resistant M.tb. strains to initiate untreatable TB epidemics, as it is possible that loss or alteration of SigI function could have a role in the generation of MDR and XDR M.tb. strains of suitable fitness to spread in a community setting.
Segmenting by consumer time shortage

Investigates whether consumers′ time availability is an important segmentation variable in the convenience and fast‐food markets. Very time‐poor, somewhat time‐poor, and not time‐poor consumers are compared, and three types of food are examined: fast foods, frozen dinners, and ready‐to‐eat foods. For weekday dinners, similarities and differences between the three segments are investigated with respect to usage of each type of food, importance of benefits sought in a weekday dinner, and perceptions of each type of food. Managerial implications of differences between segments and of overall patterns are discussed.