cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of disease progression in INCL by MR spectroscopy.

Objective Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a devastating neurodegenerative storage disease caused by palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1 deficiency, which impairs degradation of palmitoylated proteins (constituents of ceroid) by lysosomal hydrolases. Consequent lysosomal ceroid accumulation leads to neuronal injury. As part of a pilot study to evaluate treatment benefits of cysteamine bitartrate and N-acetylcysteine, we quantitatively measured brain metabolite levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Methods A subset of two patients from a larger treatment and follow-up study underwent serial quantitative single-voxel MRS examinations of five anatomical sites. Three echo times were acquired in order to estimate metabolite T2. Measured metabolite levels included correction for partial volume of cerebrospinal fluid. Comparison of INCL patients was made to a reference group composed of asymptomatic and minimally symptomatic Niemann-Pick disease type C patients. Results In INCL patients, N-acetylaspartate (NAA) was abnormally low at all locations upon initial measurement, and further declined throughout the follow-up period. In the cerebrum (affected early in the disease course), choline and myo-inositol were initially elevated and fell during the follow-up period, whereas in the cerebellum and brainstem (affected later), choline and myo-inositol were initially normal and rose subsequently. Interpretation Choline and myo-inositol levels in our patients are consistent with patterns of neuroinflammation observed in two INCL mouse models. Low, persistently declining NAA was expected based on the progressive, irreversible nature of the disease. Progression of metabolite levels in INCL has not been previously quantified; therefore the results of this study serve as a reference for quantitative evaluation of future therapeutic interventions.
Accounting Issues: An Essay Series Part IV-Property, Plant, & Equipment

This fourth article in a series of theoretical essays intended to supplement the introductory financial accounting course is dedicated to the topic of property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), including both the accounting treatment and its related conceptual connections. The paper also addresses the measurement dilemmas, scandalous accounting episodes that have made the headlines, and both theoretical and empirical studies about PP&E that might be of interest to both students and professors.
Comparison between electromagnetic And electromechanical transient simulation for large-scale multi-infeed DC system

Considering the commutation failure characteristics and control performance of DC system, electromagnetic transient simulation for large-scale MIDC system is unavoidable. This paper gives an electromagnetic transient simulation application using PSCAD/EMTDC for large-scale MIDC system. To study the difference between electromagnetic and electromagnetic transient simulation methods for MIDC systems, electromagnetic simulation results of the equivalent system are compared with electromechanical transient simulation results of the original system in symmetric and asymmetric fault cases. The reasons of simulation difference between two simulation methods for MIDC system are discussed. Finally, the paper presents the application condition for electromechanical and electromechanical transient simulation methods.
Abstract C171: Novel therapeutic strategies targeting the hedgehog signaling pathway and mTOR pathway in biliary tract cancer (BTC).

Background: BTC represents the second most common primary cancer of the hepatobiliary system and is associated with a poor prognosis. Activation of PI3K/mTOR and hedgehog pathways has been demonstrated in biliary cancer. Activated mTOR/S6K1 pathway promotes Gli1 transcriptional activity and oncogenesis through S6K1-mediated Gli phosphorylation. Recently, synergistic antitumor efficacy was demonstrated with the combination of hedgehog and mTOR inhibitors, particularly in cases with mTOR/S6K pathway in esophageal cancer (Cancer Cell 2012; 21(3):374-87). Methods: Gene expression profiling was performed on 10 human biliary tract cancer cell lines (MMNK-1, Mz-ChA-1, Sk-ChA-1, KKU-M213, KKU-M214, KKU-M055, KKU-M139, M213L5H, and M213LOH) by real-time qRT-PCR. CellTiter-Glo® luminescent cell viability assay, colony formation, and stem cells morphology spheres were conducted to examine the effects of the combination of Rapamycin and Vismodegib on cell proliferation. Western-blot assay was used to examine the related protein expression. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to examine the effects of the combination on BTC stem cells. Results: Based on Gli1 and S6K gene expression, the Mz-ChA-1 and Sk-ChA-1 cell lines were chosen to investigate the effects of the combination of Rapamycin and Vismodegib on BTC (Table 1). Combination of Rapamycin and Vismodegib exhibited the synergistic antiproliferative effect on Mz-ChA-1 cells. The combination of Rapamycin and Vismodegib inhibited the Mz-ChA-1 cell proliferation, colony formation and stem cell sphere formation. This combination therapy decreases the NANOG, OTC3/4, and E-Cadherin gene expression in Mz-ChA-1 stem cells. Furthermore, the drug combination can decrease the phospho-p70S6K and Gli1 protein and increase cleaved caspase-3 expression in Mz-ChA-1 cells. No such effect was observed in Sk-ChA-1 cells.Conclusions: Crosstalk between the mTOR pathway and HH pathway provides a new avenue for combination therapy in BTC with hedgehog and mTOR inhibitors. ![Figure][1] Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C171. Citation Format: Mingxin Zuo, Asif Rashid, Chaitanya Churi, Mien-Chie Hung, Milind Javle. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting the hedgehog signaling pathway and mTOR pathway in biliary tract cancer (BTC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C171. [1]: pending:yes
COMPARISON OF COMPREHENSIVE AND LIMITED METABOLIC EVALUATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RECURRENT CALCIUM UROLITHIASIS

AbstractPurpose: We compared diagnostic information from limited and comprehensive metabolic evaluations of recurrent calcium stone formers.Materials and Methods: A total of 74 men and 45 women with recurrent calcium stones underwent comprehensive metabolic evaluation. The number of specific and total metabolic abnormalities diagnosed on 1 or 2 random 24-hour urinalyses were compared to those obtained on a comprehensive metabolic evaluation. We also examined the ability of the comprehensive evaluation to detect dietary calcium sensitive oxaluria.Results: The comprehensive metabolic evaluation yielded a specific metabolic diagnosis in 90% of the patients compared to 68% for 1 and 75% for 2 urinalyses. Average total number of specific metabolic abnormalities for each patient was approximately 50% higher on a comprehensive metabolic evaluation compared to 1 urinalysis (1.59 +/− 0.08 versus 0.94 +/− 0.07, p <0.05). Hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria and hypocitruria were diagnosed significantly more often by the c...
Marine Energy Harvesting Using Magnetohydrodynamic Power Generation

Energy harvesting is widely used in terrestrial and aerial sensor applications but is conspicuously absent in the marine environment despite several possible harvesting modalities and numerous applications. One such energy harvesting modality is to use magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generators to directly produce electricity from flowing seawater. Fundamentally, MHD generators convert the kinetic energy of a conductive fluid directly into electricity by separating charged particles, thereby generating an electric field transverse to the direction of fluid flow and the magnetic field. The electric field is then accessed with an external circuit to provide power to a load. Since the power output from an MHD generator is linearly related to the conductivity of the flowing fluid and to the square of both the magnetic field strength and the fluid velocity, strong magnets and high fluid velocity are desirable. Thus, there are a myriad of possible MHD generator configurations available to maximize power output under various conditions and constraints. These include configurations of permanent magnets that offer localized high magnetic fields or geometries of the fluid duct that can be used to increase thefluid velocity through the magneticfield. One novel application for MHD generators is to power sensors and bio-loggers used in marine animal telemetry. The animal sensors are designed to take time-series measurements and store the data on the logger for transmission to satellite networks or human retrieval. These sensors and loggers are often battery-limited which constrains either the data fidelity or the longevity, or both. An MHD generator attached to a marine animal can help to sup
Low-rank solutions of matrix inequalities with applications to polynomial optimization and matrix completion problems

This paper is concerned with the problem of finding a low-rank solution of an arbitrary sparse linear matrix inequality (LMI). To this end, we map the sparsity of the LMI problem into a graph. We develop a theory relating the rank of the minimum-rank solution of the LMI problem to the sparsity of its underlying graph. Furthermore, we propose two graph-theoretic convex programs to obtain a low-rank solution. The first convex optimization needs a tree decomposition of the sparsity graph. The second one does not rely on any computationally-expensive graph analysis and is always polynomial-time solvable. The results of this work can be readily applied to three separate problems of minimumrank matrix completion, conic relaxation for polynomial optimization, and affine rank minimization. The results are finally illustrated on two applications of optimal distributed control and nonlinear optimization for electrical networks.
Connecting differential responses of native and invasive riparian plants to climate change and environmental alteration

Climate change is predicted to impact river systems in the southeastern United States through alterations of temperature, patterns of precipitation and hydrology. Future climate scenarios for the southeastern United States predict (1) surface water temperatures will warm in concert with air temperature, (2) storm flows will increase and base flows will decrease, and (3) the annual pattern of synchronization between hydroperiod and water temperature will be altered. These alterations are expected to disturb floodplain plant communities, making them more vulnerable to establishment of invasive species. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether native and invasive riparian plant assemblages respond differently to alterations of climate and land use. To study the response of riparian wetlands to watershed and climate alterations, we utilized an existing natural experiment imbedded in gradients of temperature and hydrology found among dammed and undammed rivers. We evaluated a suite of environmental variables related to water temperature, hydrology, watershed disturbance, and edaphic conditions to identify the strongest predictors of native and invasive species abundances. We found that native species abundance is strongly influenced by climate-driven variables such as temperature and hydrology, while invasive species abundance is more strongly influenced by site-specific factors such as land use and soil nutrient availability. The patterns of synchronization between plant phenology, annual hydrographs, and annual water temperature cycles may be key factors sustaining the viability of native riparian plant communities. Our results demonstrate the need to understand the interactions between climate, land use, and nutrient management in maintaining the species diversity of riparian plant communities. Future climate change is likely to result in diminished competitiveness of native plant species, while the competitiveness of invasive species will increase due to anthropogenic watershed disturbance and accelerated nutrient and sediment export.
KEY-PECK PROBABILITY AND TOPOGRAPHY IN A CONCURRENT VARIABLE-INTERVAL VARIABLE-INTERVAL SCHEDULE WITH FOOD AND WATER REINFORCERS

The relation between variables that modulate the probability and the topography of key pecks was examined using a concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedule with food and water reinforcers. Measures of response probability (response rates, time allocation) and topography (peck duration, gape amplitude) were obtained in 5 water- and food-deprived pigeons. Key color signaled reinforcer type. During baseline, response rates and time allocations were greater to the food key than to the water key, and food-key pecks had larger gapes and shorter durations. Relative probability measures (for the food key) were increased by prewatering and decreased by prefeeding. Deprivation effects upon topography measures were apparent only when food- and water-key pecks were analyzed separately. Food-key gape amplitudes increased with prewatering and decreased with prefeeding. The clearest effect occurred with prewatering. There were no consistent effects upon water-key gapes. The key color-reinforcer relation was reversed for 3 pigeons to determine how response topography was modulated during the transition from food- to water-key pecks. Reacquisition was faster for the probability than for the topography measures. Analysis of gape-amplitude distributions during reversal indicated that response-form modulation proceeded through the generation of intermediate gape sizes.
Case Studies of Tropical Atlantic Surface Circulation Patterns During Recent Sub-Saharan Weather Anomalies: 1967 and 1968

Abstract Sub-Saharan West Africa (10–20°N) receives moisture from the tropical Atlantic via low-level south-westerly flow across the southwestern coast of West Africa. This paper utilizes a 1arge data set to identify the tropical Atlantic (30°N–30°S) surface atmospheric and oceanic patterns for two years when sub-Saharan West Africa experienced anomalous weather. Comparison is made with 60-year (1911–70) average fields. The following tropical Atlantic surface features were located/centered 300–500 km further south in the deficient sub-Saharan rainy season (July-September) of 1968 than the more abundant 1967 rainy season— the kinematic axis between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere trades, the near-equational convergence tune, the near-equatorial pressure trough, the zone of maximum sea surface temperature (SST), the mid-Atlantic maxima of precipitation frequency and total cloudiness, and the center of the North Atlantic subtropical high. Sixty-year mean positions of these features were generally interm...
Soil order and management practices control soil phosphorus fractions in managed wetland ecosystems

Phosphorus, an essential element for plant and animal growth, can also impair water quality. Understanding management effects on P dynamics can aid in the management of these systems to reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve fertilizer use efficiency. A sequential P fractionation procedure was used to evaluate labile to recalcitrant inorganic (Pi) and organic (Po) fractions in wetland rice soils. In this study we evaluated 71 wetland soils in the Sacramento Valley, California, consisting of different soil orders (Alfisols, Entisols, Mollisols and Vertisols) and different management systems (conventional rice, organic rice and natural wetlands). Total soil P ranged from 165 to 784 μg g−1 and averaged 415 μg g−1. Mollisols contained significantly more Pi and Po than all other soils; especially more HCl-Pi and Po. Although most studies ignore Po in the HCl fraction, 9% of total P was recovered in this fraction, suggesting that this fraction should not be ignored in studies aimed at quantifying and understanding organic P. The HCl-Po fraction was closely correlated with HCl-Pi, suggesting that it may be Ca bound P. Soils managed under organic rice production had higher NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi levels than conventional rice systems; while the natural wetland systems showed intermediate amounts. Organic or synthetic P fertilizers applied in excess of the amount of P that is removed during harvest was recovered as NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH-Pi.
Does birth spacing affect maternal or child nutritional status? A systematic literature review

This review addresses the question of whether a short birth interval is associated with adverse nutritional outcomes for the mother or the child. Indices of anthropometric status (maternal weight or body mass index; child growth) and micronutrient status (e.g. iron or vitamin A) were included as outcomes. A computerized search of all relevant papers published since 1966 was completed, and the 'snowball' method was used to identify additional relevant published or unpublished papers. In total, 57 papers were found to contain data regarding the relationship between birth spacing and nutritional outcomes (35 for child nutrition, 11 for maternal anthropometric status, and 11 for maternal anaemia or micronutrient status). Of these, 23 papers were excluded from further consideration because they did not include any multivariate analysis, leaving 34 papers that met the criteria for the review (22 for child nutrition, eight for maternal anthropometric status, and four for maternal anaemia or micronutrient status). The studies on child nutrition outcomes indicate that a longer birth interval is associated with a lower risk of malnutrition in some populations, but not all. In those countries in which the relationship was significant, the reduction in stunting associated with a previous birth interval >or=36 months ranged from approximately 10% to 50%. Some of this reduction may be due to residual confounding, i.e. to factors not included in the analysis (such as breastfeeding and maternal height). The studies on maternal anthropometric outcomes yielded mixed results. Because the nutritional burden on the mother between pregnancies depends on the extent of breastfeeding, the interpregnancy interval is not the best measure of whether the mother has had a chance to recover from the pregnancy, in terms of repleting her nutritional status. Therefore, some studies examined the 'recuperative interval' (duration of the non-pregnant, non-lactating interval) instead. Taken as a whole, the studies do not provide clear evidence of a link between interpregnancy or recuperative interval and maternal anthropometric status. This may be due, in part, to changes in the hormonal regulation of nutrient partitioning between the mother and the fetus when a mother is malnourished. Only four papers were identified that related to micronutrient status, three of which examined maternal anaemia. One study showed an increased risk for maternal anaemia when the interpregnancy interval was <6 months, but the analysis did not control for iron supplementation during pregnancy. The other two studies did not show a significant association between interpregnancy interval and maternal anaemia. One study of micronutrient status indicated no significant relationship between interpregnancy interval and maternal serum zinc, copper, magnesium, ferritin, folate or thyroid-stimulating hormone. Important methodological limitations were apparent in most of the studies. Thus, further research with more comprehensive control of potentially confounding variables is needed.
Regulation of tryptophan biosynthesis: Trp‐ing the TRAP or how Bacillus subtilis reinvented the wheel

The Bacillus subtilis tryptophan biosynthetic genes are regulated by TRAP. Radiographic crystallography indicates that the TRAP complex contains 11 identical subunits arranged in a doughnut-like structure termed the beta-wheel. The trpEDCFBA operon is regulated by an attenuation mechanism in which tryptophan-activated TRAP binds to 11 (G/U)AG repeats in the trp leader transcript. TRAP binding blocks formation of an anti-terminator structure, thereby promoting the formation of an overlapping terminator, resulting in transcription termination preceding the structural genes. When TRAP is not activated, it is unable to bind to the transcript, which allows anti-terminator formation and, hence, transcription of the operon. TRAP is also responsible for regulating translation of trpEand trpG. TRAP binding to trp operon readthrough transcripts promotes refolding of the RNA such that the trpE Shine-Dalgarno sequence is sequestered in a hairpin, thus inhibiting TrpE synthesis. In the case of trpG, TRAP binds to nine repeats that overlap the ribosome-binding site, thereby blocking translation.
Magnetic field-induced strain in single-crystal Ni-Mn-Ga

magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, stored elastic energy and fractional twin-boundary distribution. Two importantquestions have been raised about field-induced strain in FSMAs. They are 1) the role of body forces (due to action of thefield on the sample), and 2) the role of magnetostriction (stress/strain in a single variant under magnetization rotation) inthe twin boundary motion. These questions are addressed in light of published data and models.Keywords: Ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, field-induced strain, Ni-Mn-Ga, magnetostriction, field-induced stress
Hard pure carbon coatings from a voltage-assisted arc

Abstract A simple apparatus is described that produces hard carbon coatings by accelerating ions produced by a carbon arc operating in vacuum. Coatings up to 1.1 μm thick have been produced on a variety of metals and semiconductors.
Frugivory and Seed Dispersal by Four Species of Primates in Madagascar's Eastern Rain Forest1

In the unique faunal assemblage of the Malagasy rain forest, lemurs appear to play particularly important roles as seed-dispersing frugivores. A three-month study of feeding ecology and seed dispersal by four species of lemurs in Madagascar's eastern rain forest found that three species, Eulemur rubriventer, Eulemur fulvus, and Varecia variegata were seed dispersers, and the fourth, Propithecus diadema, was a seed predator. In germination trials, seeds passed by lemurs sprouted significantly faster and in greater numbers than those not passed by lemurs. Analysis of fruit morphologies of 69 local plant taxa producing fleshy fruits during the study period found that these fruits fell into two well-defined color categories that correlated significantly with fruit size. Seventy seven percent of fleshy fruits greater than 10 mm in diameter were colored green, brown, tan, purplish, or black, while all fruits less than 10 mm in diameter were colored red, yellow, orange, pink, blue, or white. Three introduced exotic plant species provided exceptions to this pattern, producing fruits which were larger than 10 mm and pink or orange. Fruits chosen by the primates in this study were usually larger than 10 mm in diameter and were in nearly all cases colored green, brown, tan, purplish, red, or some combination of these colors. Morphological traits shared by fruits of multiple plant taxa in the diets of seed-dispersing lemurs suggest possible coevolved relationships between Malagasy rain forest plants and lemurs.
MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS OF IATROGENIC INJURIES

Misfortunes one can endure they come from outside, they are accidents. But to suffer from one's own faults—ah! There is the sting of life. OSCAR WILDE Iatrogenic illness is defined as any illness that results from a diagnostic procedure or therapy, so-called physicians as a cause of illness. 26 Routine review of the medical literature suggests that up to 14% of patients experience iatrogenic neurologic complications, 17,27 which is reflected in morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. From a legal perspective, these untoward events and hazards of medical care are called a tort, with allegations of negligence (i.e., medical malpractice ). A strict legal definition is that "malpractice is professional negligence and medical malpractice is the negligence of a doctor. Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances; doing something which a reasonably prudent doctor would not do under the circumstances or failing to do something which a reasonably prudent doctor would do under the circumstances; it is a deviation or departure from accepted practice." The courts have recognized that "in performing a medical service, the doctor is obligated to use his or her best judgement and to use reasonable care." By undertaking to perform a medical service, a physician does not guarantee a good result. In fact, mistakes are an inevitable part of being human, even among physicians who practice high-quality medicine. The challenge physicians face is how to communicate errors to patients and reduce the risk of punitive action. The fact that there was a bad result to the patient, by itself, does not make the physician liable, only whether the physician was negligent. A physician is not liable for an error in judgment after a careful examination, if it is a judgment that a reasonably prudent physician could make under the circumstances. In a disturbing ruling from Rhode Island, 15 however, an honest mistake may represent negligence.
Multiple accessory pathways in the young: The impact of structural heart disease

Background The presence of multiple accessory pathways (MultAP) is described in structural heart disease (SHD) such as Ebstein's anomaly and cardiomyopathies. Structural defects can impact the tolerability of tachyarrhythmia and can complicate both medical management and ablation. In a large cohort of pediatric patients with and without SHD undergoing invasive electrophysiology study, we examined the prevalence of MultAP and the effect of both MultAP and SHD on ablation outcomes. Methods Accessory pathway number and location, presence of SHD, ablation success, and recurrence were analyzed in consecutive patients from our center over a 16-year period. Results In 1088 patients, 1228 pathways (36% retrograde only) were mapped to the right side (TV) in 18%, septum (S) in 39%, and left side (MV) in 43%. MultAP were present in 111 pts (10%), involving 250 distinct pathways. SHD tripled the risk of MultAP (26% SHD vs 8% no SHD, P P P P P = .24). Recurrence rate was higher for SHD (17% SHD vs 8% no SHD, P P Conclusions MultAP are found in 10% of pediatric patients, and are more common in SHD compared to those with normal hearts. Both the presence of MultAP and SHD negatively influence ablation outcomes.
Decomposition and protonation of surface ethoxys on TiO2 (110)

The decomposition and protonation of surface ethoxy groups on TiO2(110) has been studied as a function of surface hydroxyl or water coverage by TPD and XPS. Surface ethoxys were produced by dissociative adsorption of deuterated ethanol (EtOD), as well as tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The effects of both preadsorption and post-adsorption of water (and hydroxyls) on the thermal reactions of these ethoxys are studied. Two different types of adsorbed ethoxy species are identified: (1) ethoxys which can readily be removed by combination with surface hydroxyl groups to desorb as ethanol gas from ∼250 to 400 K, and (2) ethoxys which cannot react with surface water or hydroxyls below ∼450 K in TPD, even when recooled, dosed with hydroxyls again and reheated. The first type is attributed to ethoxy groups bound to surface Ti atoms (TiOEt), protonated with a proton from a hydroxyl group formed by a “bridging oxygen” atom of the surface lattice, Obr. The second type is attributed to ethoxy groups bound at “bridging oxygen” vacancies in the surface lattice, Obr-Et. Such vacancies are formed when water is produced from two Obr-H species. The Obr-Et groups are removed at ∼ 650 K by decomposition, giving ethylene and ethanol in a 1:1 ratio. Product yields and a temperature shift found when using CD3CH2OH prove that this decomposition is initiated by β-hydride elimination. Ethylene evolution is, however, not concerted with β-hydrogen elimination. The TiOEt species also follows this path if insufficient hydroxyls are present to allow its full removal below 400 K. Migration of ethoxy and hydroxyl species between Ti4+ sites and surface oxygen vacancies is postulated to explain quantitative yields. Experiments on sputtered TiO2 support this model.
A multichannel seismic study of lithospheric flexure across the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain

Existing models assume that the thickened crust beneath seamounts is the result of a surface volcanic load flexing an elastic plate. New results suggest that flexed oceanic crust beneath the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain is underlain by a 4-km thick deep crustal body. We intepret the body as a deep crustal sill complex associated with the tholeiitic stage of volcano building along the chain.
Cognitive differentiation and affective stimulus value in vocational judgments

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between cognitive differentiation level and the affective stimulus value of various occupations. Previous research in the area of clinical and social judgment has shown that subjects used more cognitive constructs when judging persons with negative stimulus value (i.e., persons they disliked) than when judging persons with positive stimulus value (whom the subjects liked). The findings of the present investigation, conducted with upper-class college males, were consistent with the findings obtained in the clinical and social judgment studies. That is, subjects were cognitively more differentiated when judging occupations they disliked than when judging occupations they liked.
Analysis of Phenobarbital in Pharmaceuticals by Argentimetric Potentiometrie Titration

Phenobarbital and its sodium salt can be rapidly determined in elixirs, parenteral solutions, capsules and tablets by direct titration in the presence of a variety of standard diluents. Stearates, halides, and ammonium salts interfere and special consideration must be given to samples containing polyethylene glycols, alcohol, or methenamine, if present. A procedure for removal of stearates from tablets is presented.
Switched-mode converters for high-power DC-DC applications

Several switched-mode DC-DC converter topologies for high power applications are presented. The method of soft-switching can be utilized in these converters, resulting in dramatically reduced switching losses and improved efficiency. The inverse dual converter is a voltage-regulated current-source DC-DC converter which is capable of continuous voltage step-up or step-down control over a wide range, without the need for a transformer. The capacitor coupled converter is capable of zero current switching and hence high-power converters can be built using high-power devices.
Yeast cell-wall products containing β-glucan plus ascorbic acid affect neonatal Bos taurus calf leukocytes and growth after a transport stressor

The objectives were to ascertain whether a yeast cell-wall derivative that was 1.8% beta-glucan in combination with ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate could improve innate immunity and mediate transportation stress in neonatal calves, and to compare the 1.8% beta-glucan yeast cell-wall derivative with a more purified yeast cell-wall derivative (70% beta-glucan). Treatments were 1) an unsupplemented control (CNT); 2) 113 g of a 1.8% (approximately 2%) beta-glucan derivative of yeast cell walls plus 250 mg of l-ascorbic acid phosphate (BG2); or 3) 150 mg of a purified beta-glucan fraction from yeast cell walls (approximately 70% beta-glucan) plus 250 mg/feeding of l-ascorbic acid phosphate (BG70). Calves (n = 39) were transported for 4 h, placed in outdoor hutches, and randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments (mixed with a milk replacer) were individually fed twice daily for 28 d. Calves were offered calf starter, free choice, throughout the study. Weekly starter intake and BW were measured, and fecal samples were collected for Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 PCR analysis. Blood was collected immediately before transport (d 0) and on d 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 after transport. Starter intake and DMI were less (P < 0.05) at d 28 for the BG2 and BG70 treatments compared with the CNT treatment. Hematocrit percentages increased (P = 0.002) throughout the experiment. White blood cell counts (treatment x time interaction, P = 0.066) were less for the calves supplemented with BG70 than for those supplemented with BG2 (P = 0.01) or for CNT calves (P = 0.04) on d 28. Granulocyte counts changed (P = 0.04) throughout the experiment. A trend (P = 0.077) for a treatment x time interaction was detected for peripheral blood mononuclear cell counts (PBMC). Counts of PBMC were greater (P = 0.006) for the BG2 treatment compared with the CNT treatment on d 3. Calves given the BG70 supplement had fewer PBMC than those given the BG2 supplement on d 21 (P = 0.03) and 28 (P = 0.05). Fibrinogen concentrations were affected only by time (P = 0.002). Time effects were detected for phagocytosis (P = 0.005), oxidative burst (P < 0.001), expression of cluster of differentiation 18 (P = 0.001), and increased cluster of differentiation 18 (P = 0.006). Phagocytosis was less (P = 0.05) for calves in the BG70 group than for those in the CNT group. Percentage of calves positive for E. coli O157:H7 was greatest (P <or= 0.05) for those in the BG2 group on d 7 compared with those in the other treatments. The BG2 and BG70 supplements both increased feed intake, but only the BG2 supplement increased E. coli shedding on d 7, and the BG2 and BG70 supplements varied in modulating immune functions, indicating differences in yeast extract function.
Microwave assisted synthesis of amorphous magnesium phosphate nanospheres

Magnesium phosphate (MgP) materials have been investigated in recent years for tissue engineering applications, attributed to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. This paper describes a novel microwave assisted approach to produce amorphous magnesium phosphate (AMP) in a nanospherical form from an aqueous solution containing Mg(2+) and HPO(4) (2-)/PO(4) (3-). Some synthesis parameters such as pH, Mg/P ratio, solution composition were studied and the mechanism of AMP precursors was also demonstrated. The as-produced AMP nanospheres were characterized and tested in vitro. The results proved these AMP nanospheres can self-assemble into mature MgP materials and support cell proliferation. It is expected such AMP has potential in biomedical applications.
The occurrence of glyphosate, atrazine, and other pesticides in vernal pools and adjacent streams in Washington, DC, Maryland, Iowa, and Wyoming, 2005-2006

Vernal pools are sensitive environments that provide critical habitat for many species, including amphibians. These small water bodies are not always protected by pesticide label requirements for no-spray buffer zones, and the occurrence of pesticides in them is poorly documented. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of glyphosate, its primary degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid, and additional pesticides in vernal pools and adjacent flowing waters. Most sampling sites were chosen to be in areas where glyphosate was being used either in production agriculture or for nonindigenous plant control. The four site locations were in otherwise protected areas (e.g., in a National Park). When possible, water samples were collected both before and after glyphosate application in 2005 and 2006. Twenty-eight pesticides or pesticide degradation products were detected in the study, and as many as 11 were identified in individual samples. Atrazine was detected most frequently and concentrations exceeded the freshwater aquatic life standard of 1.8 micrograms per liter (μg/l) in samples from Rands Ditch and Browns Ditch in DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. Glyphosate was measured at the highest concentration (328 μg/l) in a sample from Riley Spring Pond in Rock Creek National Park. This concentration exceeded the freshwater aquatic life standard for glyphosate of 65 μg/l. Aminomethylphosphonic acid, triclopyr, and nicosulfuron also were detected at concentrations greater than 3.0 μg/l.
Stable alpha- and beta-islet cell function after tolerance induction to pancreatic islet allografts in diabetic primates.

Pancreatic islet transplantation (PIT) is an attractive alternative for type 1 diabetic patients. PIT is not yet an effective clinical reality due in part to early loss of functional islet mass. In addition, current immunosuppressive drugs have toxic effects on islets and increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. Precise and durable α- and β-cell function is essential for the success of PIT. Therefore, it is important to establish whether PIT can produce adequate long-term metabolic control, especially in the absence of chronic immunosuppressive therapy (CIT). In the present study, the stability of functional α- and β-cell mass and metabolic function was assessed in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic primates following PIT in the absence of CIT. Diabetes was induced in rhesus macaques with STZ, 140 mg/kg. Hyperglycemia was reversed rapidly by PIT coupled with a 14-day tolerance induction protocol based on F(Ab)2-IT and DSG (n = 7). Two diabetic animals received the tolerance induction protocol without PIT. Acute rejection was presented in three animals at 70, 353 and 353 days post transplant in the tolerance induction protocol, whereas the controls [F(Ab)2-IT or DSG alone] showed early 10-day function but all lost islet function by days 15–70. One recipient [F(Ab)2-IT or DSG] died euglycemic after a surgical procedure on day 187. At 2 years, three animals studied had a normal FIM evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test, mixed meal test, acute insulin response to glucose, glucose disposal rate, and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamp. PIT in STZ-induced diabetic primates resulted in restoration of normal α- and β-cell function. Operational tolerance induction was achieved with only peritransplant administration of F(Ab)2-IT and DSG sparing the animals from chronic exposure of diabetogenic immunosuppressive drugs. These results offer an exciting new potential for treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Quantitative histologic factors for grouping childhood supratentorial neuroglial tumors.

The histologic heterogeneity of childhood supratentorial neuroglial tumors, when quantified, identifies relatively homogeneous subgroups for prognostic purposes and for assignment in clinical trials. Our sample consisted of supratentorial tumors in the Childhood Brain Tumor Consortium. The data consist of reliably identified histologic features and demographic, clinical, operative, and survival information. Factor analysis was used to identify uncorrelated “factors,” each represented by a different combination of histologic features in 703 tumors. The defining histologic features were used to label each factor. The heterogeneity of each tumor was summarized using the factor scores for each factor. We compared the survival estimates of subgroups of tumors within common diagnostic classes. We identified five uncorrelated quantitative factors that accounted for much of the histologic variation. Our factor labels were Jumbo, Fibrillary, Proliferative, Spongy, and Oligodendroglial. Two thirds of tumors had hig...
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Eurasian geopolitics: new directions, perspectives, and challenges

This collection of essays on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a product of the initiative of the Stockholm International Program for Central Asian Studies and features numerous contri...
Lanthanide-daunomycin interactions. Predominance of ML2 at low metal to ligand ratios

Spectroscopic investigations have been undertaken on the effects of lanthanide ions on the spectrum of the anticancer agent, daunomycin. The visible spectral perturbations due to the metal ions resulted in hypochromic effects in the 480 nm region and in shifts towards longer wavelength. The different metal ions investigated did not give any significant difference in the, spectral character. Data analysis according to the methods of molar ratio, continuous variation and graphical approaches based on simplex matrix theory indicated the presence of predominantly a ML2 species at metal to ligand ratios, less than one. Data also suggested the presence of ML and ML3 as well.
Sirtuins, metabolism, and cancer.

More than a decade ago, sirtuins were discovered as a highly conserved family of NAD+-dependent enzymes that extend lifespan in lower organisms. In mammals, sirtuins are key regulators of stress responses and metabolism, influencing a range of diseases, including diabetes, neurodegeneration and cancer. In recent years, new functions of sirtuins have been characterized, uncovering the underlying mechanisms of their multifaceted role in metabolism. Here, we specifically review recent progress on the role of sirtuins in DNA repair and energy metabolism, further discussing the implication of sirtuins in the biology of cancer.
Summation of successively established orientation-contingent color aftereffects

Orientation-contingent color aftereffects (CAEs) were studied using a color-cancellation technique for measurement. Procedures involved more than one period of inspection, each of which established CAEs, carried out successively to produce a combined or net CAE (akin to “nullification” used in other studies). When opposite color-orientation pairings were used in successive inspections, the net CAE was predicted faithfully by summation of the constituent CAEs as measured from each period of inspection independently, and thus showed qualitative as well as quantitative changes in coloration over time. This implies that “nullification” does not truly eliminate CAEs as has previously been assumed, and suggests that the units of measure used here may be linearly representative of CAE strengths. When the successive inspections used identical color-orientation pairings, however, summation was poor. This can be explained if inspection alters the mechanisms underlying CAEs, rendering retention of a successively established CAE of the same kind less effective.
The Application of Microdosimetric Principles to Radiation Hardness Testing

Chord length distributions for rectangular parallelepipeds of various relative dimensions were studied in relation to radiation hardness testing. For each geometry, a differential chord length distribution was generated using a Monte Carlo method to simulate exposure to an isotropic radiation source. The frequency and dose distributions of chord length crossings for each geometry, as well as the means of these distributions, are presented. In every case, the dose mean chord length was greater than the frequency mean chord length with a 34.5% increase found for the least extreme case of a cube. This large increase of the dose mean chord length relative to the frequency mean chord length demonstrates the need to consider rare, long-chord-length crossings in radiation hardness testing of electronic components.
A policy capturing investigation of battered women's decisions to stay in violent relationships.

Based on theories of social exchange and cognitive decision-making, the current research was an initial attempt to analyze battered and nonbattered women's decision-making processes using a policy capturing methodology. Participants included 28 battered and 30 nonbattered women who responded to several questionnaires and vignettes about violent relationships. Overall, both groups of women reported they would be unlikely to stay in the described relationships. Further, the cue of violence intensity was overwhelmingly the most heavily weighted variable for women in both samples, and a comparison of subjective reports and objective policies found that both groups lacked insight into which variables they were weighing when deciding to stay. Results suggest that when making the intellectual decision to stay in an abusive relationship, battered and nonbattered women respond similarly. Language: en
Biblical Interpretation among African-American New Testament Scholars:

Given the small, but growing, number of ethnic minorities in the field of biblical studies, the issue of African-American biblical hermeneutics has received only marginal attention in scholarly journals. In an effort to discern major themes and objectives among these interpreters, this article surveys published works by African Americans who have attained either a PhD or ThD in the New Testament. In this study, six areas of particular interest emerged: hermeneutics, the black presence in the New Testament, Paul, the Gospels, the epistle of James, and Revelation. Moreover, this investigation will demonstrate that the phenomenon of African-American New Testament hermeneutics is a methodologically diverse one.
Testicular tumors in Carney's complex.

Purpose: Bilateral sex cord stromal testicular tumors are common in the syndrome of myxoma, spotty pigmentation and endocrine overactivity (Carney’s complex). Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor is the particular testicular tumor found in Carney’s complex. A clinicopathological review of 26 patients is presented.Materials and Methods: We report 2 cases of Carney’s complex with testicular tumors. An additional 24 patients with Carney’s complex and testicular tumors were identified by MEDLINE search and review of the literature.Results: Bilateral testicular tumors were found in 16 patients (61%) with a familial occurrence in 10 (38%). A testicular mass was the most common presentation. The associated findings of Carney’s complex included cardiac myxoma in 16 patients, skin myxoma in 16, skin pigmentation in 15, Cushing’s syndrome in 8, acromegaly in 3 and schwannoma in 3. Excisional biopsy, surveillance, bilateral orchiectomy and unilateral orchiectomy were performed in 7, 4, 7 and 8 patients, respecti...
Semiautomated Device for Batch Extraction of Metabolites from Tissue Samples

Metabolomics has become a mainstream analytical strategy for investigating metabolism. The quality of data derived from these studies is proportional to the consistency of the sample preparation. Although considerable research has been devoted to finding optimal extraction protocols, most of the established methods require extensive sample handling. Manual sample preparation can be highly effective in the hands of skilled technicians, but an automated tool for purifying metabolites from complex biological tissues would be of obvious utility to the field. Here, we introduce the semiautomated metabolite batch extraction device (SAMBED), a new tool designed to simplify metabolomics sample preparation. We discuss SAMBED's design and show that SAMBED-based extractions are of comparable quality to extracts produced through traditional methods (13% mean coefficient of variation from SAMBED versus 16% from manual extractions). Moreover, we show that aqueous SAMBED-based methods can be completed in less than a quarter of the time required for manual extractions.
PETRI NET MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF AUTOMATED CONTAINER TERMINAL USING AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE SYSTEMS

Booming world trade, scarcity of land for yard expansion in many ports, and deployment of new, massive megaships have magnified the need to find better ways of performing container terminal operations. Automated guided vehicle systems (AGVS) have been proposed as possible candidates for future automated container operation because of their ability to significantly improve the performance of container terminals. However, before the deployment of AGVS, computer model simulations to investigate the potential problems are necessary to successfully implement the system. Petri net is a well-known modeling tool that, with the advantages of its graphic nature and the availability of mathematical analysis techniques, is clearly suitable for the application of automated container terminal systems (ACTS) modeling. A timed-place petri net (TPPN) model of ACTS using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) is constructed. The TPPN model contains a transportation layout module, two unit submodels, an AGV unit submodel, and a c...
On-line Determination of Diameter and Temperature during Melt Blowing of Polypropylene

An on-line experimental technique was developed for the measurement of fiber diameter and temperature during the melt-blowing process. The experimentally determined diameters and temperatures were compared with a mathematical model for melt-blowing.