cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Al on the hydrogenation characteristics of nanocrystalline Mg powder

Abstract We have fabricated nanocrystalline Mg–Al powders with nominal Al compositions of 4 and 8 at% by the electrodeposition technique and have compared their hydrogenation characteristics with those for a commercially available pure Mg powder. It is elucidated that interestingly the amount of Al incorporated in MgH2 increases with decreasing the hydrogenation temperature. This observation indicates that the magnesium hydride phase has a limited solubility for aluminum and the supersaturation of hydride with Al is attributed to the slower mobility of aluminum at low temperatures. The rejection of Al during hydride formation is shown to result in a higher fraction of the intermetallic phase, thus reducing the hydrogen capacity. It is suggested that the presence of the intermetallic phase prior to hydrogenation enhances the hydride nucleation rate, which further decreases the hydrogen capacity in comparison to pure Mg.
Applying active learning at the graduate level: merger issues at Newco

Abstract Most of the active learning literature focuses on approaches in undergraduate courses. However, active learning also can benefit students in public relations and integrated communication courses at the graduate level. This case report describes how three active learning approaches—research and field work, student accountabilities for learning, and student reflection and reflexive exercises—were used in a graduate class project to help a Fortune 50 consumer products company identify and address real-time merger communication issues.
Combination of the Chorionic Gonadotropin Free β-Subunit with α

The rate-limiting event for combination of hCG α- and β-subunits in JAR choriocarcinoma cells is the rate of disulfide bond formation in the β-subunit. This is accompanied by a conformational change that produces a combination-competent form of the β-subunit. The combination reaction, however, is incomplete, and 50% of the synthesized β molecules remain uncombined (free). In addition, 70% of biosynthetically labeled free β is degraded in the cell. Possible explanations for incomplete dimer formation include 1) biochemical differences between the free and combined β-subunits that limit combination of free β, and 2) an inefficient combination reaction due to low intersubunit affinities or limiting concentrations of combination- competent subunits within the cell. To examine whether the biochemical differences between free and combined β-subunits that we have previously observed affect the combination competence of free β, free and dimer β-subunits were purified from the culture medium and lysates of JAR cel...
Emergency Response Planning – Does Your Plan Address a Sound Sampling, Analytical, and Quality Assurance Program?

As a result of recent highly publicized incidents, energy producers have recognized the need to place an emphasis on the preparation and planning for the services required to successfully guide the...
Dependence of the γ carbon-13 shielding effect on electronegativity

Three γ effects on 13C shielding in 3,3-dimethylheteracyclohexanes as a function of the hetero-atom X have been examined. The γ-anti effect on the equatorial 3-methyl group is small in absolute magnitude but strongly dependent on the polar properties of X. The plot of the 13C shielding of this carbon vs the electronegativity of X is linear, with a slope of −5.8 ppm/electronegativity unit. The γ-gauche effects on the axial 3-methyl group and on the 4-carbon are large in absolute magnitude but have quite different dependences on the polar properties of X. Whereas the shielding of the 4-carbon exhibits a linear dependence on electronegativity (slope −3.5), the axial 3-methyl group shows little dependence (slope crudely −0.7), even though the geometric relationship between X and either carbon is almost the same. Neither gauche carbon shielding appears to be related to the steric properties of X. The polar component of both the γ-anti effect and the γ-gauche effect is interpreted as arising from overlap of appropriately positioned parallel orbitals. For the anti case, the pathway is the familiar zigzag arrangement of bonds. For the gauche case, the pathway may be either through space (the orbitals would be only on X and C-α; for the 4-carbon, this interaction would be through the center of the ring) or through bonds (there are parallel axial orbitals on all four atoms). The absence of a significant polar effect for the axial 3-methyl group suggests that the gauche interaction requires a rigid pathway. The polar component of the general γ-gauche effect is superimposed upon a larger contribution that is essentially independent of the nature of X and may be associated with the removal of the hydrogen on the β-carbon and replacement with the γ-X group.
IMPLEMENTING THE OPRC—TRANSLATING DIPLOMATIC CONCEPTS INTO REALITY

ABSTRACT The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC) was successfully negotiated at a diplomatic conference in November 1990. While the convention has been ratified by only two countries to date, some of the basic provisions have already been put to the test. The most notable example was the international effort in support of the government of Saudi Arabia during the massive release of oil into the Persian Gulf in 1991. The means of translating the requirements of a new convention into a viable system has always been a challenge for individual governments. The OPRC raises particularly difficult issues in its implementation because it represents the “internationalization” of preparedness and response to massive oil spills. The difficulty lies in the fact that these issues have traditionally been the purview of individual states or, at most, of regional associations of states with similar economic standing. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) ...
Impact of Body Mass Index on Functional Performance After Total Knee Arthroplasty

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether functional performance and self-report outcomes are related to body mass index (BMI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that higher BMIs would negatively affect functional performance as assessed by the timed up-and-go test, stair climbing test, 6-minute walk test, and self-report questionnaires. A total of 140 patients with BMIs ranging from 21.2 to 40.0 kg/m2 were followed over the first 6 months after unilateral TKA. Hierarchical linear regression was used to evaluate the impact of BMI on functional performance at 1, 3, and 6 months after TKA, while taking into account preoperative functional performance. There were no meaningful relationships between BMI and functional performance in the subacute (1 and 3 months) and intermediate (6-month) stages of recovery.
Macroeconomic uncertainty, precautionary saving, and the current account

Abstract The relationship between current account developments and changes in the macroeconomic environment is a key issue in open economy macroeconomics. This paper extends the standard intertemporal model of the current account to incorporate the effects of macroeconomic uncertainty on external saving behavior. It is shown that the greater the uncertainty in national cash flow, defined as output less investment less government consumption, the greater will be the incentive for precautionary saving and, ceteris paribus , the larger the current account surplus. Empirical support for the model is found using post-war quarterly data for the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, as well as a long time series (1919–1990) for the United States.
Surface damage in machining red brass

The effect of cutting speed, tool rake angle, and wearland length on the nature of the surface generated in machining annealed red brass under unlubricated and lubricated conditions is studied. The machined surfaces are examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The machined surfaces were observed to have defects such as microcracks and macrocracks perpendicular to the direction of relative work-tool motion, cavities and plastically deformed regions. The surface damage decreases with an increase in the cutting speed and/or the positive tool rake angle. The presence of lubricant in the cutting region results in a surface of high quality.
Building Organizational Knowledge and Value: Informed Decision Making in Kansas Children’s Community-Based Mental Health Services

Knowledge is managers’ principal asset and knowledge building is managers’ primary work. This qualitative study explores knowledge building by directors of children’s community-based mental health services in Kansas. Of the state’s 27 directors, 25 completed a survey about knowledge building, in their preference of online or telephone format. Fourteen participants took part either in preliminary interviews for study development, or in follow-up interviews for further detail and member checking. Study findings indicate that with requisite resources, directors inform their decision making with streams of information, which they manage and generate to build organizational knowledge and value for local practice effectiveness.
Teaching design of optimal business information systems

The approach discussed in this paper shows one way in which students may be shown how to design optimal information systems (IS) solutions for business applications. Using a generalised requirements – analysis – design – development (RADD) framework, students are shown how they can acquire and sharpen skills necessary for the design of optimal solutions by appropriate selection of data structures and algorithms. The RADD framework enables students to systematically move through the stages of IS design and development.
Comparison between confidence intervals of linear regression models with and without restrication

In many applications of regression analysis we are interested in curve fitting with some prior knowledge about the structure. For example, this occurs when the experimenter has a strong belief that the regression function changes monotonically with some or all of the predictor variables in a region of interest. The analyses needed for statistical inferences under such constraints are nonstandard. We have considered the statistical inference of a linear regression model with a monotone constraint in Murkerjee and Tu(1995). A natural question is: “What is the difference between the cases of with and without the constraint?” In this article we compare the width of the confidence intervals of a linear regression model with and without the constraint.
Working Memory and Aphasia

This study investigated the relationship between working memory capacity and reading comprehension in aphasia. A measurement of working memory capacity was obtained using a modified version of Daneman and Carpenter's (1980) Reading Span Task. Sets of sentences ranging in length from one to six words were presented to 22 aphasic subjects who were required to retain the terminal words following each sentence for subsequent recognition. The maximum number of words retrieved was used as an index of working memory capacity. Two versions of the task (listening and reading) were presented depending on the subjects' ability to read. Strong positive correlations were found between working memory capacity, reading comprehension, and language function. These results support the notion that the ability of aphasic individuals to comprehend language is predictable from their working memory capacities.
Catatonia Mimicking Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus

Summary: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) and catatonia share many clinical features and distinguishing between them on the basis of the physical examination may be difficult and even impossible. Although several reports have been made of NCSE simulating catatonia, there are no published cases of catatonia mimicking NCSE. We report a 24-year-old woman whose initial examination was notable for a fixed stare, no response to voice or command, gaze preference, tonic head posturing, constant stereotypic chewing movements, profuse foamy salivation, and a dramatic response to the parenteral administration of benzodiazepines (BZDs). She was initially misdiagnosed as having NCSE. EEG, however, was normal. We believe this is the first published report of catatonia simulating NCSE. The EEG may be more useful than the clinical examination in distinguishing NCSE from catatonia.
Medication for Complex Posttraumatic Disorders

Treatment guidelines and reviews of outcome studies agree that drugs are valuable for moderation of irrational moods and impulsivity that interfere with thoughtfulness and cooperativeness. As such, they empower patients to make good use of psychotherapy for mastery of the risk of betrayal in intimate relationships, which is the typical recurrent traumatic event in complex posttraumatic disorders. Psychotherapy, for its part, has demonstrated correction and lasting remission of disorder in the aftermath of certain kinds of single trauma and promises further development to achieve similar efficacy for complex posttraumatic disorders. This article summarizes the strengths and limitations of each class of psychiatric drugs. It explains how the natural course of complex posttraumatic disorders greatly contaminates observations of medication efficacy and fosters unrealistic expectations for drug development.
Cannabinoid-induced motor incoordination through the cerebellar CB1 receptor in mice

Abstract Cannabinoids are known to impair motor function in humans and laboratory animals. We have observed dose-dependent motor incoordination in mice evaluated by rotorod following direct intracerebellar (icb) microinjection of synthetic cannabinoid agonists CP55,940 (5–25 μg) and HU-210 (1.56–6.25 μg), through permanently implanted stainless steel guide cannulas. The motor incoordination was marked at 15, 35 and 55 min post-microinjection. The motor incoordination elicited by HU-210 (6.25 μg) and CP55,940 (20 μg) was significantly blocked by the CB1 receptor-selective antagonist SR141716A (25 μg icb), indicating mediation by a cerebellar CB1 receptor. Further direct evidence of CB1 mediation was obtained through a CB1 receptor antisense/mismatch oligodeoxynucleotide approach (3 μg/12 h; total of six doses). Mice treated with intracerebellar antisense had a significantly diminished motor incoordination response to intracerebellar CP55,940 15 μg compared to mice that received intracerebellar mismatch or no prior treatment. Also, the response to intracerebellar CP55,940 in the CB1 mismatch-treated mice did not differ from the mice that received only CP55,940. A separate study using a cerebellar tissue punching technique, following intracerebellar [3H]-CP55,940 microinjection, confirmed that cannabinoid drug dispersion following microinjections was exclusively confined to the cerebellum. Microinjection of CP55,940 (20 μg) into the hippocampus, an area with a large density of CB1 receptors, did not impair motor coordination. Taken together, these results indicate that cannabinoid-induced motor impairment occurs by activation of a CB1 receptor in the cerebellum. The participation of other brain motor areas in cannabinoid-induced motor incoordination will require future study.
Activating mutation in the c-MPL gene and FET

HEMOSTASIS, THROMBOSIS, AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY ![Figure][1] Since the identification of the cellular homolog of viral oncogene v- mpl (c-MPL) and its ligand thrombopoietin (TPO) as major regulators of megakaryopoiesis and, hence, of circulating platelet numbers, several naturally occurring
Putting numbers on the network connections.

DNA–protein interactions are fundamental to many biological processes, including the regulation of gene expression. Determining the binding affinities of transcription factors (TFs) to different DNA sequences allows the quantitative modeling of transcriptional regulatory networks and has been a significant technical challenge in molecular biology for many years. A recent paper by Maerkl and Quake1 demonstrated the use of microfluidic technology for the analysis of DNA–protein interactions. An array of short DNA sequences was spotted onto a glass slide, which was then covered with a microfluidic device allowing each spot to be within a chamber into which the flow of materials was controlled by valves. By trapping the DNA–protein complexes on the surface and measuring their concentrations microscopically, they could determine the binding affinity to a large number of DNA sequences that were varied systematically. They studied four TFs from the basic helix–loop–helix family of proteins, all of which bind to E-box sites with the consensus CAnnTG (where “n” can be any base), and showed that variations in affinity for different sites allows each TF to regulate different genes. BioEssays 29:717–721, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recent advances in echocardiography for valvular heart disease

Echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice for the assessment of patients with valvular heart disease. Echocardiographic advancements may have particular impact on the assessment and management of patients with valvular heart disease. This review will summarize the current literature on advancements, such as three-dimensional echocardiography, strain imaging, intracardiac echocardiography, and fusion imaging, in this patient population.
A self-aligned process for high-voltage, short-channel vertical DMOSFETs in 4H-SiC

In this paper, we describe a self-aligned process to produce short-channel vertical power DMOSFETs in 4H-SiC. By reducing the channel length to /spl les/0.5 /spl mu/m, the specific on-resistance of the MOSFET channel is proportionally reduced, significantly enhancing performance.
Studies in the GenusHevea. VIII. Notes on infraspecific variants ofHevea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae)

Supplying 98% of the world's natural rubber,Hevea brasiliensis has transformed life around the world in only a century. This species-one of 10 in its genus-gives the best natural rubber, but much more remains to be studied concerning the numerous localised strains of the species. The British introduced to the Orient seeds from the lower Amazon-representatives of a not superior ecotype of the species but, at that time a century ago, the only available germ plasm. The time for study of the intraspecific variants ofH. brasiliensis and their use in programmes of genetic manipulation of the genus is long overdue. But basic to this desired programme is a clear taxonomic understanding of infraspecific variants, still awaiting evaluation. Although numerous taxonomic treatments of subspecific variants have been offered, there is little available to give genetic programmes concrete information.
Technology mapping and architecture evalution for k/m-macrocell-based FPGAs

In this article, we study the technology mapping problem for a novel field-programmable gate array (FPGA) architecture that is based on k-input single-output programmable logic array- (PLA-) like cells, or, k/m-macrocells. Each cell in this architecture can implement a single output function of up to k inputs and up to m product terms. We develop a very efficient technology mapping algorithm, klmlflow, for this new type of architecture. The experimental results show that our algorithm can achieve depth-optimality on almost all the testcases in a set of 16 Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC) benchmarks. Furthermore it is shown that on this set of benchmarks, with only a relatively small number of product terms (m ≤ k p 3), the k/m-macrocell-based FPGAs can achieve the same or similar mapping depth compared with the traditional k-input single-output lookup table- (k-LUT-) based FPGAs. We also investigate the total area and delay of k/m-macrocell-based FPGAs and compare them with those of the commonly used 4-LUT-based FPGAs. The experimental results show that k/m-macrocell-based FPGAs can outperform 4-LUT-based FPGAs in terms of both delay and area after placement and routing by VPR on this set of benchmarks.
Binding of porcine sperm plasma membrane proteins to sheep, hamster and mouse oocyte plasma membrane

Four porcine sperm plasma membrane proteins were previously identified as putative ligands for the oocyte plasma membrane. The present study examined the binding of these proteins and two additional porcine sperm membrane proteins to oocytes from sheep, mice and hamsters as a first step in assessing potential conservation of these putative sperm ligands across species and across mammalian orders. Plasma membrane vesicles were isolated from porcine sperm, solubilised, and the proteins separated by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The 7, 27, 39 and 62 kDa porcine sperm protein bands demonstrating predominant binding of the porcine oocyte plasma membrane on ligand blots, a 90 kDa protein band demonstrating minor binding, and a 97 kDa protein band that did not bind the oocyte plasma membrane probe were electroeluted. Proteins were biotinylated, and incubated with zona-free oocytes. Bound biotinylated protein was labelled with fluorescent avidin and the oocytes examined with a confocal microscope. The 7 kDa, 27 kDa and the 39 kDa proteins bound to the sheep oocytes but not to a majority of the hamster or mouse oocytes. The 62 kDa protein bound to sheep oocytes and mouse oocytes but not to a majority of the hamster oocytes. The 90 kDa protein bound to oocytes from all three species. The 97 kDa protein, which did not recognise the porcine oocyte probe on a Western ligand blot, did not bind to oocytes from any species and served as a negative control. These observations are consistent with significant conservation of molecule and function among species within the same mammalian order. Hence, one species may be a good model for other species from the same order. Only limited conservation of binding activity of porcine sperm plasma membrane proteins to rodent oocytes was observed, suggesting a greater divergence either in molecular structure or in function among species from different orders.
Mechanical tissue optical clearing technique increases imaging resolution and contrast through Ex vivo porcine skin

Background and Objectives Mechanical tissue optical clearing permits light delivery deeper into turbid tissue, which may improve current optical diagnostics and laser-based therapeutic techniques. We investigated the effects of localized compression on brightfield imaging through ex vivo porcine skin by evaluating resolution and contrast of a target positioned beneath native, mechanically compressed, or chemically cleared specimens. We also evaluated the effects of indentation on dynamic tissue thickness and light transmission. Study Design/Methods A 5 mm diameter, hemispherically tipped, manual load transducer was used to compress specimens using 2–44 N for 60 seconds. Chemically cleared specimens were immersed for 1 hour in glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide. A USAF 1951 resolution target was positioned beneath specimens and imaged using brightfield microscopy. Resolution and contrast of target features were analyzed. In separate experiments, a mechanical test instrument was used to compress and hold specimens at a final thickness while measuring applied load and light transmission. Results Image intensity profiles showed that while uncompressed skin did not allow resolution of any target, localized compression allowed maximum resolution (least line width) of 173 ± 21 µm. Mechanical clearing achieved up to four times higher maximum resolution and 2–3 times higher contrast sensitivity than chemical immersion. Resolving capability was highly correlated with compressive tissue strain. Light transmission increased during tissue compression, but also increased while holding final thickness constant. Conclusion Localized compression is an effective technique for increasing resolution and contrast of target features through tissue and may improve light-based diagnostics. Thickness reduction and other mechanisms appear to contribute to this effect. Lasers Surg. Med. 43: 814–823, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Implications of cytochrome P450 interactions when prescribing medication for hypertension

Many of the estimated 50 million Americans with high blood pressure receive medications for hypertension and for other conditions, placing them at risk for adverse drug interactions. The risk for hypertension and for adverse drug reactions is highest in the elderly, who have the greatest need for pharmacologic therapy. The most important class of drug interactions involves the cytochrome P450 microsomal enzyme system, which handles a variety of xenobiotic substances. A potential for interactions with these enzymes exists with calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers but not with diuretic antihypertensives, which are renally eliminated and more vulnerable to drug interactions that occur in the kidney. This article reviews the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, identifies drugs and foods that have been implicated in metabolic interactions with antihypertensive agents, and suggests measures for reducing the risk of adverse events when drugs are coadministered.
Therapeutic Potential of Prion Protein Peptides in the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases are transmissible, neurodegenerative, and inevitably fatal diseases of the central nervous system. There are no sensitive diagnostic tests to detect infection early during disease and no effective treatments are available. Accumulation of an abnormally aggregated and protease resistant form of the mammalian prion protein (PrP) is a key facet of TSE pathogenesis and an obvious target for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Synthetic peptides to certain regions of the PrP gene have been shown to inhibit formation of the abnormal disease-associated PrP isoform. Peptides based on the PrP sequence may be useful as anti-TSE therapeutics. Specific interactions between PrP peptides and the abnormal PrP protein could also form the basis of a specific and sensitive diagnostic test.
Multiple pathways in nuclear transport : the import of U2 snRNP occurs by a novel kinetic pathway

Protein import to the nucleus is a signal-mediated process that exhibits saturation kinetics. We investigated whether signal bearing proteins compete with U2 and U6 snRNPs during import. When injected into Xenopus oocytes, saturating concentrations of P(Lys)-BSA, a protein bearing multiple nuclear localization signals from SV40 large T-antigen, reduce the rate of [125I]P(Lys)-BSA and of [125I]nucleoplasmin import, consistent with their competing for and sharing the same limiting component of the import apparatus. In contrast, saturating concentrations of P(Lys)-BSA do not reduce the rate of HeLa [32P]U2 snRNP assembly or import. The import of U6 snRNP is also competed by P(Lys)-BSA. We conclude that U2 snRNP is imported into oocyte nuclei by a kinetic pathway that is distinct from the one followed by P(Lys)-BSA, nucleoplasmin, and U6 snRNP.
Heat shock protein responses to aging and proteotoxicity in the olfactory bulb

The olfactory bulb is one of the most vulnerable brain regions in age-related proteinopathies. Proteinopathic stress is mitigated by the heat shock protein (Hsp) family of chaperones. Here, we describe age-related decreases in Hsc70 in the olfactory bulb of the female rat and higher levels of Hsp70 and Hsp25 in middle and old age than at 2-4 months. To model proteotoxic and oxidative stress in the olfactory bulb, primary olfactory bulb cultures were treated with the proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG132 or the pro-oxidant paraquat. Toxin-induced increases were observed in Hsp70, Hsp25, and Hsp32. To determine the functional consequences of the increase in Hsp70, we attenuated Hsp70 activity with two mechanistically distinct inhibitors. The Hsp70 inhibitors greatly potentiated the toxicity of sublethal lactacystin or MG132 but not of paraquat. Although ubiquitinated protein levels were unchanged with aging in vivo or with sublethal MG132 in vitro, there was a large, synergistic increase in ubiquitinated proteins when proteasome and Hsp70 functions were simultaneously inhibited. Our study suggests that olfactory bulb cells rely heavily on Hsp70 chaperones to maintain homeostasis during mild proteotoxic, but not oxidative insults, and that Hsp70 prevents the accrual of ubiquitinated proteins in these cells. The olfactory bulb is affected in the early phases of many age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we described the impact of aging on multiple heat shock proteins (Hsps), such as Hsp70, in the female rat olfactory bulb in vivo. Using multiple proteasome and Hsp70 inhibitors (see schematic), we found that proteotoxicity elicited a compensatory increase in Hsp70 in primary olfactory bulb cells in vitro. Hsp70 then reduced the proteotoxic buildup of ubiquitinated proteins and robustly protected against cell death according to three independent viability assays. Thus, olfactory bulb neurons can mount impressive natural adaptations to proteotoxic injury, perhaps explaining why neurodegenerative disorders are so delayed in onset and so slow to progress.
Collaboration as a foundation for advancing research in personalized medicine in cancer care

Transforming healthcare through collaborative relationships is the key to making successful advances in personalized medicine. The strategies for building a framework to bring together expertise and resources in order to realize all the possibilities of personalized medicine are discussed in this article. The key to this endeavor is the ability to identify potential collaboration with academic medical centers, research laboratories, biotechnology companies and community cancer centers. Translation of research from bench to bedside is only paradigm changing if it can then be translated to community care. The value of clinical prospective biospecimen collection with high quality clinical annotation will be explored. Recognizing the opportunities for performing clinical trials, beta-testing of new technology especially in community clinical practice will be emphasized. The goal is to expand the realm of personalized cancer care to allow for integration of molecular marker and individualized therapy to the ma...
Fostering Meaningful Racial Engagement Through Intergroup Dialogues

Current attention on improving intergroup relations and participation in diverse societies compels us to understand the requisite values and skills for such participation. An action research approa...
Increasing Military Social Work Knowledge: An Evaluation of Learning Outcomes

Service members and veterans face a myriad of health, mental health, and social challenges stemming from the combat and operational stressors experienced during deployment and the challenges ofreintegration to civilian life. To intervene effectively with this population, social workers must be knowledgeable about these issues and the cultural context within which they occur. Although schools of social work across the country are developing course work in military social work, little is known about the learning outcomes of these courses. This article describes a military social work course that was developed to increase student preparedness to work with a military or veteran population and the learning outcomes achieved. Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, this study compared the learning outcomes of students enrolled in the course with a group of students who had not taken the course. To measure this knowledge, the authors developed a 50-item Military Social Work Knowledge Scale for the study. Significant differences between pre- and posttest scores were found for the social work students enrolled in the course. Specific areas of knowledge that increased for the class participants included knowledge about cultural sensitivity to military populations and knowledge about service and advocacy frameworks.
Morphology of the patent ductus arteriosus does not preclude successful patent ductus arteriosus stent implantation in high-risk patients undergoing hybrid stage I palliation: recommendations to optimize ductal stent positioning.

Objective To describe patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting regardless of ductal morphology in high risk patients with hypoplast physiology undergoing hybrid stage I palliation (PDA stenting and placement of bilateral pulmonary artery bands). Background Hybrid palliation is an accepted alternative for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Patients weighing less than 2.5 kg, history of prematurity, intracranial hemorrhage, and chromosomal abnormality belong to a high-risk group who otherwise might not be ideal candidates for traditional surgical repair (Norwood Operation). Methods Between May 2005 and February 2013, a series of 13 high-risk patients with hypoplast physiology with varying types of ductal morphology underwent PDA stenting as part of hybrid stage I palliation. Results Three major types of ductal morphology were identified: (1) short and semi horizontal, (2) long and semi horizontal, and (3) tortuous. All patients underwent successful PDA stenting. One patient developed proximal coarctation from inadequate coverage of the pulmonary end of the PDA and was successfully treated with a balloon expandable stent 69 days after the initial procedure. Conclusions Mid- to long-term follow-up indicates that PDA stents remain widely patent regardless of ductal morphology until comprehensive stage II repair. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
General sensory innervation of the human tongue

Specimens (obtained during oral and pharyngeal operations) from various regions of 33 normal human tongues were studied by silver staining and cholinesterase technics. The tongue was found to be innervated by three types of endings: nonmyelinated free endings, semiorganized coiled endings, and organized endings. All organized endings are mucocutaneous end organs in various sizes and shapes and are nonspecific-cholinesterase positive. Correlation of new information with pertinent clinical and pathologic observations indicates that biopsy by refined histochemical methods might be useful in diagnosis in cases of tongue neuropathy such as glossodynia and glossopyrosis.
Detecting statistical interactions with additive groves of trees

Discovering additive structure is an important step towards understanding a complex multi-dimensional function because it allows the function to be expressed as the sum of lower-dimensional components. When variables interact, however, their effects are not additive and must be modeled and interpreted simultaneously. We present a new approach for the problem of interaction detection. Our method is based on comparing the performance of unrestricted and restricted prediction models, where restricted models are prevented from modeling an interaction in question. We show that an additive model-based regression ensemble, Additive Groves, can be restricted appropriately for use with this framework, and thus has the right properties for accurately detecting variable interactions.
Expression of glutamate receptor genes in white matter: developing and adult rat optic nerve

We have identified the glutamate receptor genes expressed by developing and adult rat optic nerve. Results from PCR suggested that of the ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) gene family, only GluR1 and GluR3 subunits are expressed by optic nerve. However, Northern blot analysis demonstrated that only the GluR1 subtype is expressed at appreciable levels. In situ hybridization histochemistry of GluR1 was performed and a diffuse pattern of expression was observed in both postnatal day 15 and adult optic nerve. Restriction mapping of the GluR1 PCR product indicated the expression of the flip alternative splice version in optic nerve. The detected GluR1 message was not due to axons because no loss of expression was observed after the degeneration of axons. PCR analysis also revealed the presence of a metabotropic glutamate receptor in optic nerve.
Properties of inactive renin in human plasma

1. "Inactive" renin in human plasma can be revealed by pH 3.3- or cold-mediated activation and in normal plasma represented 76% of the "total" renin. 2. Pregnancy plasma contained considerably more "inactive" renin and consisted of 93% of "total" renin. 3. "Active" renin in normal plasma had an apparent molecular weight of 43,000 compared with 60,000 for "active" renin in pregnancy plasma by gel filtration. 4. "Inactive" renin in pregnancy plasma also had an apparent molecular weight of 60,000, while in normal plasma there were two peaks of inactive renin at 62,000 and 46,000. 5. After affinity chromatography of a protein preparation from pregnancy plasma on Concanavalin A-Sepharose activation by pH 3.3 could no longer be produced, suggesting that the activating factor had been removed, as would occur if it were not a glycoprotein. When pepsinogen, in a concentration similar to that found in plasma, was added prior to dialysis to pH 3.3 activation was restored. 6. Ion-exchange chromatography demonstrated that at pH 8.4 "inactive" renin bore slightly less negative charges than "active" renin. 7. "Inactive" renin in human plasma therefore appears to be a larger molecular weight species than the "active" renin in normal plasma and is capable of activation during treatment to pH 3.3 or cold with no apparent alteration in size. The results suggest an important role of pepsin (after conversion from pepsinogen) in the activation of "inactive" renin during dialysis at pH 3.3.
Genomics in Latin America: reaching the frontiers.

When an undergraduate student in science from Latin America is asked about career goals, the answer will probably invoke dreams of using cutting-edge technologies to investigate the frontiers of science. For these students, the realities of life in their countries almost always reduce their options for achieving this goal to only one: Emigrate to a developed country. Although many of these countries produce numerous international scientific papers relative to their small research budget (Macilwain 1999a), their access to the latest-generation technology is fairly limited. This is particularly true in the field of genomics, in which the need for automated, high-throughput equipment raises the cost even more. However, when done wisely, genomics research and development has proven to be an affordable reality for developing countries.
A Novel Technique for Visualizing the Intralymphatic Primo Vascular System by Using Hollow Gold Nanospheres.

Abstract Until recently, the primo vascular system (PVS) has been unnoticed by most anatomists due to the small diameter and translucent features of the threadlike network. These properties make primo vessels (PVs) difficult to visualize for harvest and for further characterization. One particular PVS subtype that is located within the lymphatic vessels (LVs) is of strong interest because with a proper contrast, these long PVs can be visualized through the transparent LV wall and can be harvested to provide sufficient sample material for analysis. The most common method to visualize this PVS subtype utilizes Alcian blue as the contrast agent. This technique is effective, but tedious, and has relatively low repeatability. The purpose of this study was to develop a new technique that allows reliable visualization of the intralymphatic PVS (IL-PVS) in a user-friendly manner. The method was designed to provide optical contrast to the PVS by taking advantage of the porous nature of the PV's external wall and interstitial matrix. Turquoise-green-colored hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs) in the size range of 50–125 nm were found to provide excellent optical contrast for the IL-PVS in rats. The PVS was visualized within 10 minutes after HGN administration at a 95% success rate.
Major clinical response to nivolumab in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Major clinical response to nivolumab in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a necro-inflammatory response that ensues when hepatocytes are injured by lipids (lipotoxicity). NASH is a potential outcome of nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), a condition that occurs when lipids accumulate in hepatocytes. NASH may be reversible, but it can also result in cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. We are beginning to learn about the mechanisms of progression of NAFL and NASH. NAFL does not inevitably lead to NASH because NAFL is a heterogeneous condition. This heterogeneity exists because different types of lipids with different cytotoxic potential accumulate in the NAFL, and individuals with NAFL differ in their ability to defend against lipotoxicity. There are no tests that reliably predict which patients with NAFL will develop lipotoxicity. However, NASH encompasses the spectrum of wound-healing responses induced by lipotoxic hepatocytes. Differences in these wound-healing responses among individuals determine whether lipotoxic livers regenerate, leading to stabilization or resolution of NASH, or develop progressive scarring, cirrhosis, and possibly liver cancer. We review concepts that are central to the pathogenesis of NASH.
Field Trial of Cue-Lure + Naled on Saturated Fiberboard Blocks for Control of the Melon Fly by the Male-Annihilation Technique

A solution of 5% naled (wt/wt) in cue-lure, soaked on 2×2×½-inch fiberboard blocks at a rate of about 1 ounce per block reduced populations of male Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett more than 99%, based on trap catches in a 2-square-mile plot in Hawaii when the blocks were suspended 2 to 5 feet above ground in a grid pattern with 0.9 blocks per acre. In a small 5-acre area of the plot with a more favorable habitat, supplementary distribution of blocks at the rate of 5.4 per acre was necessary. The blocks maintained their effectiveness undiminished for over 7 months in the field despite heavy rainfall.
Analysis on Hygiene Quality of Waiting Environment of Hospitals in Zhenjiang Urban Aeras

[Objective]To understand the hygiene quality of waiting environment of hospitals in Zhenjiang City,and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of infectious disease.[Methods]According to "Public Place Health Monitoring Technology Criterion" GB/T 17220-1998,hygiene quality of the waiting environment of 5 hospitals were monitored and evaluated annually during 2007—2008.[Results]The total qualified rate of hygiene of 90 monitoring sites was 85.56%.The noise qualified rate was 87.78%,air bacterial content qualified rate was 88.89%,qualified rate of illumination degree was 97.78%.Carbon monoxide,carbon dioxide,temperature,wind speed were all qualified.[Conclusion]Health management of the waiting environment of the hospital in Zhenjiang should be further strengthened.
Prognostic implications of sarcomatoid and rhabdoid differentiation in patients with grade 4 renal cell carcinoma

Sarcomatoid and rhabdoid differentiation are associated with poor outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We examined the impact of differentiation on cancer-specific survival (CSS) in surgically treated patients with grade 4 RCC. Using our institutional database of 1176 nephrectomies from 2005 to 2013, we identified patients with grade 4 RCC or any grade and the presence of sarcomatoid or rhabdoid differentiation. We divided the cohort based on differentiation: no differentiation, rhabdoid only, sarcomatoid only, and sarcomatoid and rhabdoid. CSS was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Of 264 patients with grade 4 RCC, 159 (60.2 %) exhibited differentiation, including 45 (28.3 %) with rhabdoid only, 87 (54.7 %) with sarcomatoid only, and 27 (16.9 %) with rhabdoid and sarcomatoid. Sarcomatoid differentiation, either alone or with rhabdoid differentiation, was associated with worse median CSS than no differentiation (1.1 vs. 3.3 years, p < 0.01, and 0.9 vs. 3.3 years, p < 0.01, respectively). In patients with non-metastatic (HR 1.95, 95 % CI 1.19–3.19, p = 0.008) and metastatic (HR 2.22, 95 % CI 1.45–3.41, p < 0.001) RCC, sarcomatoid differentiation was associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific death. On multivariable analysis, sarcomatoid differentiation was an independent predictor of RCC death in patients with non-metastatic (HR 1.72, 95 % CI 1.04–2.84, p = 0.03) and metastatic (HR 1.74, 95 % CI 1.05–2.90, p = 0.03) disease. Rhabdoid differentiation alone was not associated with worse CSS (p = 0.55). In grade 4 RCC, sarcomatoid differentiation is associated with increased mortality risk across all stages of disease. Rhabdoid differentiation is not associated with additional mortality risk.
Hysterosalpingography in the preoperative evaluation of tubal anastomosis candidates

The value of the hysterosalpingogram (HSG) in the investigation of women requesting reversal of tubal sterilization has never been established. Accordingly, we reviewed the preoperative HSGs performed on 54 women and the surgical findings of these and 27 additional patients who underwent laparoscopy and/or laparotomy for tubal anastomosis. The observation of interstitial, isthmic, and ampullary obstruction by HSG correctly correlated with surgical findings in 12%, 94%, and 69% of cases, respectively. The decision to perform an anastomosis was made in 14 of 17 (82.4%) tubes with interstitial obstruction, 45 of 51 (88.2%) tubes with isthmic occlusion, and 26 of 36 (72.2%) tubes with ampullary occlusion. When distal tubal occlusion was demonstrated by HSG (36/104 tubes, 34.6%), 10 had no repairable ampullary segments. The site of tubal occlusion on HSG was not predictive of a repairable tube. We conclude that the routine HSG is not warranted in the preoperative evaluation of candidates for tubal anastomosis.
Beneficial effects of diltiazem in hemorrhagic shock.

The role of calcium channel blockade on metabolic alterations in a hemorrhagic shock model was studied. Experiments were performed on anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate the effect of diltiazem on hyperglycemia and hyperlacticacidemia following hemorrhagic shock. Rats were bled rapidly to a blood pressure of 40 mm Hg and maintained at that level for 2 hr. At 30 min into hemorrhagic shock, rats received either saline or diltiazem (1.2 mg/kg, i.v.) as treatment. Blood samples were obtained preshock and at 30-min intervals. Plasma glucose and lactate increased significantly in both groups at 30 min. Diltiazem treatment significantly reduced the plasma glucose and heart rate during hemorrhagic shock (P less than 0.05). Plasma lactate increased similarly in both groups. Survival analysis indicates significant (P less than 0.05) improvement in the diltiazem-treated group. These data suggest that diltiazem has a beneficial effect in hemorrhagic shock in rats.