cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designs for population pharmacodynamics: value of pharmacokinetic data and population analysis.

Analyses of simulated data from pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies varying with respect to the amount and timing of observations were undertaken to assess the value of these design choices. The simulation models assume mono- or biexponential drug disposition, andEmax-type pharmacodynamics. Data analysis uses a combined PK/PD population analysis or a hybrid, individual-PK/population-PD analysis. Assuming that the goal of the PK/PD studies is to estimate population PD, performance of designs is judged by comparing the precision of estimates of population mean PD parameters and of their interindividual variability. The simulations reveal that (i) PK data, even in small number (2 points per person from as few as 25–50% of persons) are very valuable for estimating population PD; (ii) designs involving more individuals, even if many are sparsely sampled, dominate designs calling for more complete study of fewer persons; (iii) the population analysis is generally superior to the hybrid analysis, especially when the PK model is misspecified (biexponential assumed to be monoexponential for analysis); (iv) varying sampling times and doses among subjects protects against the ill effects of model misspecification. In general, the results are quite encouraging about the usefulness of sparse data designs to estimate population dose response.
The relationship between plasma histamine concentrations and bronchial obstruction to antigen challenge in allergic rhinitis

Abstract Antigen activation of pulmonary mast cells causes mediator release and airway obstruction in allergic patients with asthma. Concomitant measurements of airway mediators and pulmonary function are technically difficult, even with bronchoalveolar lavage. Thus, a procedure was developed to evaluate further the relationship between mediator release, as measured by plasma histamine concentrations, and airway obstruction in patients with allergic rhinitis challenged with inhaled ragweed antigen. At an initial challenge, the cumulative antigen dose to decrease the FEV 1 by approximately 20% was determined. Approximately 4 weeks later, the entire predetermined cumulative antigen dose to decrease the FEV 1 by approximately 20% was administered in five consecutive inhalations with simultaneous monitoring of plasma histamine. We found the percent fall in FEV 1 (24.3 ± 2.3 versus 30.4 ± 4.0; p > 0.05; n=7) was similar whether antigen was administered by a cumulative or single-dose challenge. With the single-dose antigen challenge and monitoring blood samples frequently, we found plasma histamine (picograms per milliliter) values to increase from 73 ± 17 to 1071 ± 377 ( p = 0.022) with peak values 5 minutes after challenge. Furthermore, we found that the intensity of airway obstruction to antigen corresponded to both the patient's baseline airway responsiveness to histamine and the absolute changes in plasma histamine after antigen challenge. Thus, the degree of airway obstruction to inhaled antigen is determined by both the intensity of the allergic reaction (as reflected by the plasma histamine value) and bronchial responsiveness.
Heidegger's Last God

Abstract In this paper, we discuss Martin Heidegger's position on the so-called godlessness of our current age. Rather than holding that we must either await the advent of god or enthusiastically embrace our godlessness, Heidegger holds that a third option is available to us: we could fundamentally change the way we experience the world by leaving behind all remnants of metaphysical thinking. In Section II, we show that, despite the absence of god, our current historical moment shares a metaphysical structure with the god-oriented epochs that preceded it. A metaphysical epoch involves a single, all-encompassing understanding of the entities in the world and how they ought to be arranged, usually established by a God who serves as a paradigm for those entities. In Section III, we discuss how the metaphysical age arose in the first place; the polytheistic world of the ancient Greeks was tumultuous and unpredictable, such that its inhabitants began to desire a stable, planned-out world that could be establis...
Minimal Incision Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Minimally invasive techniques have had limited application in congenital cardiac surgery, primarily due to the complexity of the defects, small working area, and the fact that most defects require exposure to intracardiac structures. Advances in cannula design and instrumentation have allowed application of minimal incision techniques but in most cases, cardiopulmonary bypass is still required. Image guided surgery, which uses noninvasive imaging to guide intracardiac procedures, holds the promise of permitting performance of reconstructive surgery in the beating heart in children.
Population-conflict models: blaming the poor for poverty

Abstract International security is increasingly concerned with environmentally-induced regional conflicts. The standard approach to this field posits population growth as the primary cause of environmental scarcity and/or degradation, which then results in violence. This paper seeks to demonstrate how a limited focus on population growth per se disguises the violence that is inherent within the unequal distribution of social resources. The focus on population growth thus ends in blaming the poorest of the earth’s citizens for environmental scarcity. We draw on the agent/structure debate on violence in addition to ecofeminist and feminist critiques of the population-conflict models to draw attention to how the dominant culture maintains and normalizes the violence of social domination.
Use of the Hamilton rating scale for classification of depressive disorders

Abstract The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) is an instrument for recording ratings of severity for some 21 symptoms that are often present in depressive disorders. Each patient does not have all symptoms. Empirical cluster analysis methods applied to a sample of 420 HAM-D profile patterns revealed five distinct subtypes within the population of patients treated with antidepressant drugs. The empirically-identified syndromes are designated anxious depression, suicidal depression, somatizing depression, vegetative depression, and paranoid depression. Discriminant functions that can be used to assign new patients among the five classification categories are presented.
Peer Responses to Low Performers: An Attributional Model of Helping in the Context of Groups

We propose that low performer characteristics (cognitive ability, conscientiousness, and job experience) inlluence peer attributions for low performer behavior (locus ol causality, controllability, and stability) and that these attributions influence the form of helping intended to benefit the group (compensating, training, motivating, and rejecting the low perlormer). Our model complements organizational citizenship behavior research by suggesting a new set of helping antecedents and extends applications of attributional theory by focusing on peer attributions of coworkers.
On the connection between tidal friction and plate tectonics

Abstract The tectonic plate motion is considered as resulting from the interaction of lunar and solar tides with the non-linear elastic behavior of the mantle in the regions of phase transitions. The cumulative motion is generated by asymmetries of stress and strain at plate boundaries.
Recent advances in studies on estrogen biosynthesis

Studies show that aromatization (a reaction sequence unique in steroid biosynthesis) of androgens to estrogens is not limited to the female reproductive organs but also occurs in extragonadal tissue. Aromatization involves the loss of the angular C-19 methyl group and cis elimination of the 1beta and 2beta hydrogens from the androgen precursors androstenedione and testosterone to yield estrone and estradiol respectively. In men the production of estrone is 18 ug/day and is mainly extraglandular. Aromatase activity has also been shown in a variety of tissues in mammalian and other species. The production of estrogens by the testis is not clear but it may modify testosterone secretion. Estrogen produced locally in the brain may play an important role in male and female sex differentiation and sex behavior. Extraovarian estrogen has been known to maintain growth of estrogen-dependent tumors. Recently developed inhibitors have been used to identify aromatization reaction and to elucidate roles of estrogen in various tissues. They also have the potential of controlling estrogen production in estrogen-dependent diseases.
A Compiler-Runtime Application Binary Interface for Pipe-While Loops

Pipe-while loops have been proposed as a language construct for expressing pipeline parallelism in task-parallel languages. However, this loop construct has only been prototyped in research systems that lack compiler support. We demonstrate how to extend Intel® Cilk™ Plus, a production-quality task-parallel language, to implement pipe-while loops. We propose an extension to the compiler-runtime application binary interface (ABI) of Cilk Plus to support pipe-while loops. This extension maintains compatibility with existing language constructs and existing Cilk Plus binaries. We validate this ABI by prototyping the required runtime modifications and simulating the required front-end compiler transformations using preprocessor macros and C++ lambda functions.
Acute exposure of toluene transiently potentiates p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity in cultured rat cortical astrocytes.

It has been shown that the inhalation of toluene in rats can cause neuronal apoptosis in the central nervous system. However, the cellular and molecular effects of toluene directly on astrocytes are relatively unknown. We used primary cultures of astrocytes isolated from the neonatal rat cortex as a model to study the toluene effects on cell outcome and associated signal transduction pathways using immunostaining and Western blotting. We observed that acute toluene exposure significantly induced caspase-dependent cell apoptosis and transiently stimulated the activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the primary astrocytes. Interestingly, the inhibition of the p42/44 MAPK signaling cascade by PD98059 in conjunction with the toluene treatment evoked more cellular apoptosis than toluene alone, suggesting that the toluene-induced transient MAPK activation may play a role in promoting cell survival during the toluene exposure.
DIGIT PATTERNS AND THE FORMAL ADDITIVE GROUP

We prove an elementary result concerning the relationship between the multiplicative groups of the coordinate and endomorphism rings of the formal additive group over a field of characteristic p > 0. Both statement and proof of the main result involve the combinatorics of base p representations of positive integers in a striking way.
Contraction-Mediated Damage in mdx Mice Trabeculae: A Model for Cardiomyopathy in Duchene Muscular Dystrophy

Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited and progressive disease of striated muscle deterioration. Studies on skeletal muscle using an eccentric contraction model have provided great insight of the contraction-mediated damage in skeletal muscle in DMD. Because of different contraction mechanics in the cardiac vs. skeletal muscle, the protocols used to gain understanding in skeletal muscle pathology cannot be readily applied to the myocardium. To investigate contraction-mediated damage in dystrophin-deficient myocardium under physiological conditions, we developed an in vitro model of myocardial mechanics-induced injury. We employed computer-programmed protocols to trigger consecutive lengthening ramps during the twitch contraction at 4 Hz in age matched (young and adult) mdx and wild type mice right ventricular trabeculae. These ultra-thin muscles possess all major cardiac cell types and their contractile behavior very closely mimics that of the whole heart. In the first group of experiments, 10 lengthening contractions of various (1-10%) magnitude of stretch were performed in trabeculae from 10 week old mdx and wild type mice. In the second group, 100 lengthening contractions at each magnitude were conducted in trabeculae from 20 weeks old mice. The peak isometric active developed tension (Fdev, in mN/mm2), diastolic tension (Fdia), and force kinetics were measured throughout the protocol, and the rate of decline of these parameters can be taken as a relative measurement of how susceptible the myocardium is to lengthening-induced dysfunction. Our results indicate dystrophin deficient myocardium in older mdx mice is more sensitive to severe mechanical stress compared to age-matched wild type controls. This suggests that lengthening contraction in myocardium is an appropriate model to study contraction-mediated damage in DMD associated cardiomyopathy.
Co-grafts of embryonic dopamine neurons and adult sciatic nerve into the denervated striatum enhance behavioral and morphological recovery in rats.

Abstract We have recently demonstrated that a diffusible factor(s) derived from explanted adult rat sciatic nerve can increase the number and neurite outgrowth of embryonic rat dopamine (DA) neurons in culture. The present study extends this finding to compare DA neuronsciatic nerve co-grafts to grafts of DA-rich neural tissue alone for behavioral and morphological effects in rats with unilateral nigrostriatal lesions of the DA pathway. Our results indicate that the presence of a co-grafted segment of sciatic nerve increased the likelihood of rapid behavioral recovery and promoted complete recovery mediated by small grafts that yielded only modest behavioral changes in the absence of co-grafted nerve. These behavioral effects were accompanied by a modest increase in survival of grafted tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the striatum and a more pronounced increase in the area and density of striatal reinnervation provided by grafted DA neurons in co-grafted animals. This evidence supports the view that a diffusible product of explanted peripheral nerve acts as a growth-promoting factor for embryonic DA neurons and that the presence of this factor augments the behavioral efficacy of grafted DA neurons.
Portal venous thrombosis after distal pancreatectomy: clinical outcomes

Aim Outcomes of patients developing portal vein (PV) thrombosis (PVT) after distal pancreatectomy (DP) are unknown. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for PVT and describe the long-term outcomes in these patients.
Dimeric chlorohydrido(tris-triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II), {[C6H5)3P]3RuHCl}2, its preparation, characterization, ad chemical reactivity

Abstract Treatment of dihydridotetrakis(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II), I, with 1,4-dichlorooctaphenyltetrasilane, II, in the presence of triethylamine afford dimeric chlorohydrido(tris-triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II), III. The combined analytical and spectroscopic characterizationof III are consistent with a bis(μ-chloro) geometry with structurally equivalent PPh 3 moieties on the NMR time scale. III undergoes spontaneous decomposition in benzene and THF with quantitative evolution of dihydrogen and formation of [(PPh 3 ) 3 RuCl] x . The hydrolysis of III is described at both 80 °C and 100 °C with the former temperature affording a stoichiometric quantity of dihydrogen while the latter temperature affords additional dihydrogen,
Clines, clusters, and the effect of study design on the inference of human population structure.

Previously, we observed that without using prior information about individual sampling locations, a clustering algorithm applied to multilocus genotypes from worldwide human populations produced genetic clusters largely coincident with major geographic regions. It has been argued, however, that the degree of clustering is diminished by use of samples with greater uniformity in geographic distribution, and that the clusters we identified were a consequence of uneven sampling along genetic clines. Expanding our earlier dataset from 377 to 993 markers, we systematically examine the influence of several study design variables—sample size, number of loci, number of clusters, assumptions about correlations in allele frequencies across populations, and the geographic dispersion of the sample—on the “clusteredness” of individuals. With all other variables held constant, geographic dispersion is seen to have comparatively little effect on the degree of clustering. Examination of the relationship between genetic and geographic distance supports a view in which the clusters arise not as an artifact of the sampling scheme, but from small discontinuous jumps in genetic distance for most population pairs on opposite sides of geographic barriers, in comparison with genetic distance for pairs on the same side. Thus, analysis of the 993-locus dataset corroborates our earlier results: if enough markers are used with a sufficiently large worldwide sample, individuals can be partitioned into genetic clusters that match major geographic subdivisions of the globe, with some individuals from intermediate geographic locations having mixed membership in the clusters that correspond to neighboring regions.
Evaluation of zinc and selenium alterations in children with acute infections: Correlation with markers of inflammation

Abstract Objectives: To investigate and assess selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) serum alterations in children with acute infections. Material and Methods: We determined Se, Zn, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and procalcitonin (PCT) in 80 children hospitalized with acute infections. The patients were divided in two groups: Bacterial infections: 40 children (mean age 4.8 years); viral infections: 40 children (mean age 5.7 years). Morning blood samples were collected from each patient in three different periods: (a) in the acute phase (admission), (b) during the inflammatory process (4th day of hospitalization), and (c) after recovery (28–33 days after the first sampling). Results: We found that patients with bacterial infections had significantly lower levels of Se (48.9±16.4 mg/L vs. 58.1±13.7 mg/L, p=0.014) and Zn (69.3±19.4 mg/dL vs. 79.9±13.1 mg/dL, p=0.008) than those with viral infections on admission. Zn and Se levels were significantly increased after remission and the 4th day of hospit...
The Vibrational Spectra and Structure of Mucochloric and Mucobromic Acids

The infrared spectra of mucochloric acid (2,3-dichloro-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid), mucochloric acid-d1 and mucobromic acid (2,3-dibromo-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid) have been recorded in the solid and liquid phases in the region 4000 to 50 cm−1. The solid phase Raman spectral data of mucochloric and mucobromic acids are also reported. It has been found that mucochloric acid exists in the solid and liquid phases in the hydroxylactone configuration (2,3-dichloro-4-hydroxybut-2-enelactone) rather than the chain configuration indicated by the name.
Counterfactual reasoning and the problem of selecting antecedent scenarios

A recent group of social scientists have argued that counterfactual questions play an essential role in their disciplines, and that it is possible to have rigorous methods to investigate them. Unfortunately, there has been little (if any) interaction between these social scientists and the philosophers who have long held that rigorous counterfactual reasoning is possible. In this paper, I hope to encourage some fresh thinking on both sides by creating new connections between them. I describe what I term “problem of selecting antecedent scenarios,” and show that this is an essential challenge in real-life counterfactual reasoning. Then, I demonstrate that the major extant theories of counterfactuals (especially the Lewis/Stalnaker theory and Igal Kvart’s rival account) are unable to solve this problem. I show that there are instances of real-life counterfactual reasoning in the social sciences that are counterexamples to both of these accounts. And finally, I develop a new theory of how to select antecedent scenarios that overcomes these difficulties, and so would be part of a more adequate theory of counterfactuals (and counterfactual reasoning).
In situ lithiation of TiS2 enabled by spontaneous decomposition of Li3N

Abstract We report on a novel method for in situ lithiation of lithium free TiS 2 using Li 3 N in an all-solid-state battery configuration. This method was tested using a Li 3 N–TiS 2 –80Li 2 S:20P 2 S 5 composite positive electrode and an indium metal negative electrode. It is shown that approximately 37% of Li 3 N spontaneously decomposes during composite preparation regardless of the composition. Solid-state battery cells built with a 3:1 stoichiometric ratio of Li:Ti demonstrated a high 1st cycle charge capacity of 287 mAh g −1 , 20% greater than the theoretical capacity of TiS 2 at 239 mAh g −1 . The difference provides an excess capacity in the indium metal negative electrode.
Gas chromatography and detection of microquantities of gibberellins and indoleacetic acid as their fluorinated derivatives.

Abstract Gas chromatographic analysis of halogenated derivatives of the plant hormones IAA and gibberellins is described, employing an electron capture detector. Heptafluorobutyryl (HFB) and trifluoroacetyl (TFA) derivatives of the gibberellin and IAA methyl esters have excellent chromatographic properties and allow quantitative and qualitative analysis on the nanogram to picogram level. The methods have been used in analysis of apple seed hormones.
HPLC of cephalosporins and their oxa-derivatives

The presence of the oxygen atom in place of the sulfur atom has significant impact on the polarity of the β-lactam derivative. This has been illustrated by direct comparison of HPLC data of 4 different cephalosporin derivatives and their oxa analogues.
QCD and instantons at finite temperature

The current understanding of the behavior of quantum chromodynamics at finite temperature is presented. Perturbative methods are used to explore the high-temperature dynamics. At sufficiently high temperatures the plasma of thermal excitations screens all color electric fields and quarks are unconfined. It is believed that the high-temperature theory develops a dynamical mass gap. However in perturbation theory the infrared behavior of magnetic fluctuations is so singular that beyond some order the perturbative expansion breaks down. The topological classification of finite-energy, periodic fields is presented and the classical solutions which minimize the action in each topological sector are examined. These include periodic instantons and magnetic monopoles. At sufficiently high temperature only fields with integral topological charge can contribute to the functional integral. Electric screening completely suppresses the contribution of fields with nonintegral topological charge. Consequently the $\ensuremath{\theta}$ dependence of the free energy at high temperature is dominated by the contribution of instantons. The complete temperature dependence of the instanton density is explicitly computed and large-scale instantons are found to be suppressed. Therefore the effects of instantons may be reliably calculated at sufficiently high temperature. The behavior of the theory in the vicinity of the transition from the high-temperature quark phase to the low-temperature hadronic phase cannot be accurately computed. However, at least in the absence of light quarks, semiclassical techniques and lattice methods may be combined to yield a simple picture of the dynamics valid for both high and low temperature, and to estimate the transition temperature.
Inflammation and Carcinogenesis of the Biliary Tract: Update On Endoscopic Treatment

Both diagnosis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma are suboptimal. From the former standpoint, fluorescence in situ hybridization, direct cholangioscopy, endocystoscopy, and optical coherence tomography are just a few of the myriad technologies being studied or employed to improve diagnostic yield. From the latter standpoint, most series suggest that fewer than 1 third of patients are resectable for cure, although liver transplantation has increasingly been used in a subset of cholangiocarcinoma patients with extrahepatic disease. Palliation has included chemotherapy which is of dubious value in most series. Instead, a majority of therapies have addressed mechanisms to improve biliary drainage to delay and preclude hepatic failure and minimize the risk of cholangitis. Although the latter has been accomplished with surgery and attempted with external beam irradiation and brachytherapy, percutaneous and/or endoscopic drainage are the most commonly employed methods in widespread use. There are prospective, randomized studies that suggest that bilateral stenting is associated with improved outcomes in bifurcation lesions if plastic stents are placed, that percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is more successful than endoscopic stenting in Klatskin tumors, that self-expandable biliary stents have prolonged patency compared with plastic prostheses, and that, if approached with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging guidance to preclude contamination of the contralateral undrained system, outcomes are comparable in patients treated with unilateral as opposed to bilateral self-expandable metal stents. There is a single prospective, randomized study suggesting that patients treated with endoscopic or percutaneous stenting in conjunction with photodynamic therapy have prolonged survival compared with stent placement alone.
Farmers' past choices enhance mitigation potential of reforestation

Land cover changes such as clearing forests to create farmland influence climate not only by changing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbed by the vegetation but also by changing the albedo, the fraction of sunlight reflected back to space. These two effects often oppose each other. For instance, farmland may absorb less CO2 than forests, contributing to warming; but at the same time, farmland tends to reflect more light than forests, contributing to cooling. This cooling is strongest in northern latitudes because highly reflective snow is hidden under dark trees when covering agricultural fields.
Effects of high temperature on physiological processes leading to sexual reproduction in Phytophthora parasitica

Sensitivities of various physiological pro? cesses to elevated temperature were investigated to determine the mechanisms of inhibition of oospore production by high temperature in Phytophthora. The production of a hormones and their receptors by A1 and A2 isolates of Phytophthora parasitica was inhibited at high temperature. However, after being produced, a hormones and their receptors were stable at high temperature. No oospores were produced when A1 and A2 cultures were exposed to high temperature during hormone reception or oospore formation after hormone induction. Results suggest that the inhibition by high temperature of sexual reproduction in P. par? asitica was through inhibition of hormone production, hormone reception, receptor formation, and oospore formation after hormone induction of sexual repro? duction.
HIV-1 Capsid Protein Forms Spherical (Immature-Like) and Tubular (Mature-Like) Particles in Vitro: Structure Switching by pH-induced Conformational Changes

The viral genome and replicative enzymes of the human immunodeficiency virus are encased in a shell consisting of assembled mature capsid protein (CA). The core shell is a stable, effective protective barrier, but is also poised for dissolution on cue to allow transmission of the viral genome into its new host. In this study, static light scattering (SLS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to examine the entire range of the CA protein response to an environmental cue (pH). The CA protein assembled tubular structures as previously reported but also was capable of assembling spheres, depending on the pH of the protein solution. The switch from formation of one to the other occurred within a very narrow physiological pH range (i.e., pH 7.0 to pH 6.8). Below this range, only dimers were detected. Above this range, the previously described tubular structures were detected. The ability of the CA protein to form a spherical structure that is detectable by DLS but not by electron microscopy indicates that some assemblages are inherently sensitive to perturbation. The dimers in equilibrium with these assemblages exhibited distinct conformations: Dimers in equilibrium with the spherical form exhibited a compact conformation. Dimers in equilibrium with the rod-like form had an extended conformation. Thus, the CA protein possesses the inherent ability to form metastable structures, the morphology of which is regulated by an environmentally-sensitive molecular switch. Such metastable structures may exist as transient intermediates during the assembly and/or disassembly of the virus core.
Measuring Neighborhood: A Conundrum for Human Services Researchers and Practitioners

This article contributes to the knowledge base of neighborhood intervention and research by reviewing the myriad ways the construct neighborhood is operationalized. The interdisciplinary review presents a critical examination of each measurement genre from quantitative to qualitative. The discussion of neighborhood measures includes (a) census and other administrative data, (b) windshield surveys, (c) rating scales, (d) structured/unstructured interviews (including ethnographies), (e) residents' written descriptions, (f) photographs, (g) drawings, and (h) mixed method constructions. When pertinent, the role of children's voices in these measures is discussed. In addition, the conceptual nature of neighborhood is examined from the perspective of environment and place. This environment-place duality is presented as a framework for choosing the type of measure one plans to use for research or practice. Conclusions suggest that research and practice are enhanced by building bridges between measures representing environment and measures representing place. Such bridges offer opportunities to develop interventions that are viable for creating lasting change.
Nanowires Synthesis and Characterization for Their Chemical Sensor Application

Recently, we have synthesized different nanowires for chemical sensor application. They are SnO2, SiO2 and Ga2O3 nanowires using the VLS method for synthesis. Their structural, chemical composition and electrical properties have been characterized by using SEM, EDS, X-ray diffraction, and the I-V curves. We have tested sensors with these materials and sensing matrix for ammonia and methane. Sensors are read out by resistance (I/V) measure¬ments. These sensors are operated at room temperature for applications that requires low power consumption, low cost and high sensitivity.
Safety of Diastat, a rectal gel formulation of diazepam for acute seizure treatment.

Diazepam rectal gel (Diastat®) is the only medication approved by the US FDA for the management of selected, refractory patients with epilepsy, on stable regimens of antiepilepsy drugs, who require intermittent use of diazepam to control bouts of increased seizure activity. An analysis of the safety of diazepam rectal gel reveals that this formulation has certain advantages over intravenous diazepam administration: most notably a very low incidence of respiratory depression, low potential for abuse and the opportunity for out-of-hospital use by non-professional caregivers. Sedation is the most common adverse effect of rectal diazepam treatment, occurring in approximately one-quarter of patients, although drug-induced somnolence is difficult to distinguish from normal post-ictal sedation. Overdosage of diazepam rectal gel is rarely associated with serious clinical consequences, and overdoses of up to 330% of the maximum recommended dosage have been reported without any respiratory or cardiac depression. Under-administration may be a serious safety issue because of morbidity that may result if seizures are not terminated. Chronic administration may cause tachyphylaxis and should be avoided.
Kappa opioid receptor contributes to EGF-stimulated neurite extension in development.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mitogen, also stimulates neurite extension during development, but the underlying mechanism is elusive. This study reveals a functional role for kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in EGF-stimulated neurite extension, and the underlying mechanism. EGF and activated EGF receptor (EGFR) levels are elevated in embryonic spinal cords during late gestation stages, with concurrent rise in protein levels of KOR and axon extension markers, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), and transient axonal glycoprotein-1 (TAG-1). Both GAP43 and TAG-1 levels are significantly lower in KOR-null (KOR−/−) spinal cords, and EGFR inhibitors effectively reduce the levels of KOR, GAP43, and TAG-1 in wild-type embryonic spinal cords. For KOR−/− or KOR-knockdown dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, EGF can no longer effectively stimulate axon extension, which can be rescued by introducing a constitutive KOR expressing vector but not by a regulated KOR vector carrying its 5′ untranslated region, which can be bound and repressed by growth factor receptor-bound protein 7 (Grb7). Furthermore, blocking KOR activation by application of anti-dynorphin, KOR antagonist, or EGFR inhibitor effectively reduces axon extension of DRG neurons. Thus, EGF-stimulated axon extension during development is mediated, at least partially, by specific elevation of KOR protein production at posttranscriptional level, as well as activation of KOR signaling. The result also reveals an action of EGF to augment posttranscriptional regulation of certain mRNAs during developmental stages.
Voltage-dependent, monomeric channel activity of colicin E1 in artificial membrane vesicles

The dependence of colicin channel activity on membrane potential and peptide concentration was studied in large unilamellar vesicles using colicin E1, its COOH-terminal thermolytic peptide and other channel-forming colicins. Channel activity was assayed by release of vesicle-entrapped chloride, and could be detected at a peptide: lipid molar ratio as low as 10−7. The channel activity was dependent on the magnitude of atrans-negative potassium diffusion potential, with larger potentials yielding faster rates of solute efflux. For membrane potentials greater than −60mV (K in + /K out + ≥10), addition of valinomycin resulted in a 10-fold increase in the rate of Cl− efflux. A delay in Cl− efflux observed when the peptide was added to vesicles in the presence of a membrane potential implied a potential-independent binding-insertion mechanism. The initial rate of Cl− efflux was about 1% of the single-channel conductance, implying that only a small fraction of channels were initially open, due to the delay or latency of channel formation known to occur in planar bilayers. The amount of Cl− released as a function of added peptide increased monotonically to a concentration of 0.7 ng peptide/ml, corresponding to release of 75% of the entrapped chloride. It was estimated from this high activity and consideration of vesicle number that 50–100% of the peptide molecules were active. The dependence of the initial rate of Cl− efflux on peptide concentration was linear to approximately the same concentration, implying that the active channel consists of a monomeric unit.
Sympathomimetic drugs and repolarization of ventricular myocardium of the dog

Sympathomimetic drugs infused into the left anterior descending coronary artery of unanaesthetized dogs produce two distinct electrocardiographic responses. Compounds with two or three hydroxyl groups cause depressed ST segments and tall peaked T waves of precordial leads. Agents with one or no hydroxyl group, or with an oxymethyl group, cause coved ST segments and inverted T waves. The tall peaked T wave elicited by noradrenaline is associated with an increased rate of fall of phase 3 of the monophasic action potential of openchest animals, whereas the inverted T wave is associated with a decreased rate of fall of phase 3.
Multi-Level Weighted Combining of Retransmitted Vectors in Wireless Communications

This paper proposes weighted combining of retransmitted vectors for improved data recovery in single and multiple-antenna wireless LAN transceivers. Combining is suggested at multiple levels in the receiver design: at the post-equalizer, post-demapper and post-decoder stages. The best performance is obtained by exploiting diversity in time, equivalent to performing maximal-ratio combining of the information from repeated transmissions of the same data packet, separated in time (MRC-In-Time), over a SISO or MIMO WLAN channel. The proposed schemes can also be applied to a cooperative-diversity scenario where a receiver combines transmissions of the same message from multiple sources.
Older adults' concerns about cognitive health: commonalities and differences among six United States ethnic groups

We studied concerns about cognitive health among ethnically diverse groups of older adults. The study was grounded in theories of health behaviour and the representation of health and illness. We conducted 42 focus groups (N=396, ages 50+) in four languages, with African Americans, American Indians, Chinese Americans, Latinos, Whites other than Latinos (hereafter, Whites) and Vietnamese Americans, in nine United States locations. Participants discussed concerns about keeping their memory or ability to think as they age. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Constant comparison methods identified themes. In findings, all ethnic groups expressed concern and fear about memory loss, losing independence, and becoming ‘a burden’. Knowing someone with Alzheimer's disease increased concern. American Indians, Chinese Americans, Latinos and Vietnamese Americans expected memory loss. American Indians, Chinese Americans and Vietnamese Americans were concerned about stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease. Only African Americans, Chinese and Whites expressed concern about genetic risks. Only African Americans and Whites expressed concern about behaviour changes. Although we asked participants for their thoughts about their ability to think as they age, they focused almost exclusively on memory. This suggests that health education promoting cognitive health should focus on memory, but should also educate the public about the importance of maintaining all aspects of cognitive health.
Participation of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities and Families on Advisory Boards and Committees

A participatory action research approach was adopted to explore supports that enhance participation of individuals with developmental disabilities and family members on advisory committees. Focus g...
FREQUENCY OF γ-RAY INDUCED SPECIFIC LOCUS AND RECESSIVE LETHAL MUTATIONS IN MATURE GERM CELLS OF THE ZEBRAFISH, BRACHYDANIO RERIO

Specific locus and recessive lethal mutations are induced by gamma-rays with approximately first order kinetics in the zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) with frequencies of 4 x 10(-5) r(-1 ) and 4 x 10(-3) r(-1), respectively. The surprisingly low ratio (100:1) of recessive lethals to specific locus mutations may be due to the induction of large deficiencies by gamma-rays.
Architectural support for scalable speculative parallelization in shared-memory multiprocessors

Speculative parallelization aggressively executes in parallel codes that cannot be fully parallelized by the compiler. Past proposals of hardware schemes have mostly focused on single-chip multiprocessors (CMPs), whose effectiveness is necessarily limited by their small size. Very few schemes have attempted this technique in the context of scalable shared-memory systems.In this paper, we present and evaluate a new hardware scheme for scalable speculative parallelization. This design needs relatively simple hardware and is efficiently integrated into a cache-coherent NUMA system. We have designed the scheme in a hierarchical manner that largely abstracts away the internals of the node. We effectively utilize a speculative CMP as the building block for our scheme.Simulations show that the architecture proposed delivers good speedups at a modest hardware cost. For a set of important non-analyzable scientific loops, we report average speedups of 4.2 for 16 processors. We show that support for per-word speculative state is required by our applications, or else the performance suffers greatly.
The Effect of Growth in D2O on the Metabolism of Winter Rye

The metabolism of winter rye seedlings (Secole cereale, L. cv. Winter) cultured in 99-8 per cent DgO was investigated. Compared with water-grown seedlings, the protein content was much lower in the D2U-cultured seedlings and the pattern of incorporation of [3H]leucine and [3H]phenylalanine into protein was substantially different. Seedlings cultured in D2O incor porated [3H]thymidine into DNA, but did not take up [3H]uridine. The results suggest that some of the toxic effects of D2O culture on higher plants can be attributed to a partial block of protein synthesis.
Rapid analysis of mandibular margins

Evaluating surgical margins during composite resection of carcinoma is limited by analysis of the bone margins. The standard pathologic evaluation of bone is by decalcification. A method of analysis was devised based on histologically proven methods of cortical invasion and subsequent spread. Frozen section analysis (FSA) of the cancellous bone was investigated as a rapid method of evaluating adequacy of the mandibular resection. Subjects consisted of 29 patients undergoing full-thickness mandibular resection, with 16 cases of histologically proven mandibular invasion qualifying for evaluation. Results of FSA were then compared to the permanent section analysis of the cancellous bone and to the decalcified specimen. Complete correlation was found between frozen and permanent section results. Frozen section analysis was able to correctly predict adequacy of resection in 32 (97%) of 33 margins.
Corruption control in the United States: law, values, and the political foundations of reform:

The United States is generally regarded as more successful than most other societies at controlling corruption. But how accurate is that picture? I argue that corruption control in the US is more problematical than index scores suggest. Much corruption in the United States flies beneath the radar; while legal institutions are credible the United States often ‘controls’ abusive uses of wealth by removing restrictions that elsewhere are the focus of corruption. That strategy may reduce high-level bribery, but major questions of justice and accountability remain. In liberal democracies such as the US, whose corruption can be seen as ‘influence markets’, value-based controls, many applied through political processes, are crucial. If the political order is perceived by most citizens as inherently corrupt, those kinds of controls may be seriously undermined.Points for practitionersOfficials and others concerned with corruption control in liberal democracies should pay close attention to public opinion and socia...
BROADENING MULTIDISCIPLINARY AWARENESS IN GERONTOLOGY THROUGH FACULTY SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

The authors describe the efforts of a faculty development program in gerontology initiated at a private, nondenominational institution in Central New York State. With the help of an anonymously awarded grant covering a three‐year period, nine summer internships involving 11 faculty members were funded. The projects afforded the awardees, none of whom possessed any formal training in gerontology, the opportunity to work among elderly populations. As a direct result of the experience, each of the faculty members began to infuse gerontology into his or her curricula. Suggestions for replicating this program through existing faculty development efforts are made.
A Motivational First‐year Electronics Lab Course

An elective laboratory course has been developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to motivate freshmen for further study of engineering in general and to spur interest in electrical and computer engineering in particular. The course philosophy is that hands-on laboratory and design experiences build student confidence, stimulate curiosity, and demonstrate the relevance of engineering work — thereby increasing motivation and retention. This paper describes the structure of the new course and reports on the evaluation results, which confirm that carefully structured hands-on experience is an effective way of motivating freshmen. Evaluation results also indicate that the course has increased student creativity and confidence. Since the lab course is just one credit, it appears possible to address the motivation problem without overloading already crowded first-year engineering programs.
Host sex and parasitism in Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ): examining potential causes of infection biases in a sexually dimorphic species

Sex biases in parasitism rates are widely reported in the literature. Among vertebrates in particular, males are more frequently parasitized than females. These sex-linked differences are often attributed to different investment strategies in current versus future reproduction at the ultimate level and to different levels of circulating androgens at the proximate level. But there are other factors that can influence parasitism rates that are often neglected. In this study, we examined multiple measures of parasitism in male and female Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus (L., 1766)) to determine whether sex biases occur and sought to identify physiological and ecological factors that may be shaping such differences. We assessed three groups of parasites (ectoparasites, intestinal parasites, blood parasites), one measure of immune function (bacteria-killing ability), and diet. We found that male-biased infections were common only for intestinal parasites, but could not be attributed to dietary or imm...
Measurements of d, pγ directional correlations in 20F

Abstract The reaction 19 F(d, pγ) 20 F was used to measure the directional correlations of the proton groups in coincidence with subsequent gamma radiations produced in de-excitation of the 2.05, 1.31, 1.06, 0.99 and 0.65 MeV levels of 20 F. The effective deutron energy was 0.448 Mev. For the 2.05 MeV level, the 1–2 correlation between the protons and the 1.40 MeV gamma transition to the first excited state was measured simultaneously with the 1–3 correlation between the same proton energy group and the 0.65 MeV gamma transition, with the intermediate 1.40 MeV gamma radiation unobserved. These correlations were measured in two configurations: one with the protons being detected at an average angle of 170° with the beam passing through a centre hole in an annular-shaped detector, and the other with a disc-shaped detector at 135° and the gamma detector moving in the plane of the reaction. A plane-wave analysis of these data gave essentially identical correlation coefficients for these two configurations. Directional correlations were also measured in the 170° configuration between the proton energy groups and the subsequent ground-state gamma transitions from the 1.31, 1.06, 0.99 and 0.65 and 0.65 MeV levels. A plane-wave analysis of these data is compared with a distorted-wave analysis of related data from a previous experiment. A thorough computational comparison between all of these data and the predicted correlations, based on a plane-wave analysis using postulated spin values which are consistent with the proton angular distribution data, did not yield a unique spin value for any of these levels. It was possible in some cases, however, to put rather stringent conditions on the ratios of the angular-momentum matrix elements associated with the incoming and outgoing radiations which are compatible with the postulated spins.