cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Russian Industry 2018: Stagnant but Not in Crisis

2018 was a tough year for the Russian industry, according to surveys. On the one hand, there were no visible crisis-related changes, but on the other hand, positive trends of 2017 slowed in 2018, affecting industrial enterprises’ assessments of the situation in the industry. The pace of recovery from stagnation slackened.
Aortic Root Dilation in Patients with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Without Intracardiac Anomalies.

Aortic root dilation (ARD) has been reported in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) with and without congenital heart defects (CHDs). However, the long-term implications of isolated ARD in 22q11.2DS remain undefined. In this study, we measured aortic root size and estimated the probability of changing between normal aortic root size and ARD during follow up to understand the prevalence, longitudinal course, and clinical risk factors for ARD in patients with 22q11.2DS without intracardiac CHDs. Aortic root size was measured in 251 patients with 432 studies. Forty-one patients (16.3%) had ARD on at least one echocardiogram and the cohort sinus Z-score was increased on the last echocardiogram [mean (1.09, SD 1.24) and median (1.20, min − 1.90 and max 5.40)]. Transition probability analysis showed that 8.1% of patients developed ARD and 45.4% of patients with ARD reverted to normal at the next echocardiogram. The risk of ARD over time was significantly associated with male sex (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.41–6.65; p = 0.004), but not with age or presence of an aortic arch anomaly. Compared to a sinus Z-score ≥ 2, initial Z-score 4, and patients with initial Z-scores < 2 seem unlikely to develop clinically significant disease, screening practices remain incompletely defined such that periodic evaluation appears warranted.
Quality Management Systems: A Practical Guide

A Quality Management System Purpose of this Chapter Dr. Deming's Theory of Management Paradigms Japanese Total Quality Control A Model for Quality Management Summary The Handle: Management's Commitment to Transformation Purpose of this Chapter Starting Quality Management Responding to a Crisis Creating a Crisis Creating a Vision Initiating Action for the Transformation Retaining Outside Counsel Window of Opportunity Opens Collecting Data to Develop a Transformation Plan Planning the Transformation Forming the Executive Committee Training the Executive Committee and Beyond Window of Opportunity Begins to Close Decision Point Questions for Self-Examination Summary The Neck: Management's Education Purpose of this Chapter Management's Fears Concerning Education and Self-Improvement Education and Self-Improvement Groups Studying the System of Profound Knowledge Identifying and Resolving Personal Barriers to Transformation The Quality Management Leader Summary Prong One: Daily Management Purpose of this Chapter Selecting Initial Project Teams Doing Daily Management Summary Prong Two: Cross-Functional Management Purpose of this Chapter Selecting Initial Cross-Functional Teams Doing Cross-Functional Management Coordinating Cross-Functional Teams Some Common Problems Implementing Cross-Functional Management A Generic Example of Cross Functional Management Application of the Cost Cutting Process in Human Resources A Manufacturing Application: Toyota Forklift A Service Application: Field of Flowers Summary Prong Three: Policy Management Purpose of this Chapter Background Initial Presidential Review. Policy Setting Policy Deployment. Policy Implementation Policy Feedback and Review Presidential Review Flowchart of Policy Management Personal Example of Policy Management. Business Example of Policy Management Summary Resource Requirements of the Fork Model Introduction The Template Summary Index
N,N,N′,N′-Tetra­methyl­ethylene­diammonium tetra­chloridocobaltate(II)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [(CH3)2NH(CH2)2NH(CH3)2][CoCl4], contains a tetra­chlorido­cobalt­ate(II) dianion and two halves of two centrosymmetric, crystallographically-independent, dications. One independent dication is disordered between two conformations in a 0.784 (13):0.216 (13) ratio. In the crystal, inter­molecular N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link cations and anions into chains propagated in [0\overline{1}1]. These hydrogen bonds contribute to the distorted tetra­hedral geometry at the CoII atom.
Movement Disorders Induced by Psychotherapeutic Agents

The antipsychotic drugs (APD) are a group of compounds that are effective in a wide variety of psychotic disorders, produce characteristic extrapyramidal syndromes in man, and profoundly affect muscle tone, posture, and movement of laboratory animals. Their effect on motor behavior led to their designation as “neuroleptic” drugs and distinguishes them from the sedative-hypnotics, anxiolytics, and other centrally active agents. Several classes of antipsychotic drugs have been developed, including phenothiazines, butyrophenones, diphenylbutylpiperidines, indolones, and dibenzoxazepines, as well as reserpine and its congeners. All produce similar, distinctive extrapyramidal syndromes, although reserpine has been associated with a more limited variety of neurological effects, and clozapine, a dibenzodiazepine, has a particularly low incidence of such effects. Early extrapyramidal effects (occurring within several hours or days to weeks) include acute dyskinesias (acute dystonias), parkinsonism, and akathisia (motor restlessness) and are quickly reversible with reduction or discontinuation of APD drug treatment. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) refers to involuntary movements which appear later (typically after at least 3 months) and are sometimes irreversible.
Place de l'échoendoscopie œsophagienne (EUS) et bronchique (EBUS) dans l'évaluation des adénopathies médiastinales

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy may be detected by CT-scan or positron emission tomography. Malignant (e.g, lung cancer, metastatic cancer, lymphoma), infectious (e.g, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis), and systemic processes (e.g, sarcoidosis) can cause mediastinal adenopathy. In the posterior and inferior mediastinum, endoscopic ultrasound visualizes and directs transesophageal fine needle aspiration of adenopathy. In the anterior mediastinum, endobronchial ultrasound visualizes and directs transbronchial fine needle aspiration of adenopathy. We discuss the role of EUS and EBUS in the evaluation of mediastinal adenopathy according to their anatomical localization.
Identifying Evolutionarily Conserved Protein Interaction Modules Using GraphHopper

We study the question of detecting Conserved Protein Interaction Modules (CPIMs) in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. We propose a novel algorithm called GraphHopper that analyzes two PPI networks to find CPIMs. GraphHopper finds CPIMs by "hopping" from one network to another using orthology relationships. By decoupling the degree of evolutionary conservation in a CPIM from the reliability of the PPIs in a CPIM, GraphHopper finds CPIMs with a wide variety of topologies that previous algorithms cannot detect. GraphHopper is competitive with NetworkBlast and Match-and-Split, two state-of-the-art algorithms for computing CPIMs, on the task of recapitulating MIPS processes and complexes. Upon applying GraphHopper to human, fly, and yeast PPI networks, we find a number of CPIMs involved in fundamental processes of the cell that are conserved in all three species. We present the first global map of human-fly CPIMs. This map sheds light on the conservation of protein interaction modules in multi-cellular organisms. CPIMs related to development and the nervous system emerge only in the human-fly comparison. For example, a set of 10 interconnected CPIMs suggest that fly proteins involved in eye development may have human orthologs that have evolved functions related to blood clotting, vascular development, and structural support.
Infra-red emission from classical novae

During the evolution of a classical nova outburst, there are four times at which a significant infra-red (IR) flux is expected. The first Isothermal Dust Phase has been observed in a number of novae and analyses of this phase give valuable information on the properties of the emitting dust. In order of time from visual maximum, the three later phases are due to IR emission from X-ray heated grains, fine-structure line emission from a cold phase of the nova nebula, and grain cooling from shocked gas at the interface between the nova ejecta and the interstellar medium. In the next sections, theoretical estimates of the peak IR luminosity, flux distribution and time of peak emission for each of these phases are discussed.
Enhanced proliferation of murine T cell lines following interaction of poly(Glu60,Phe40) (GPhe) and antigen-presenting accessory cells. I. GPhe-stimulated enhancement of antigen-dependent proliferative responses.

Abstract Following interaction of the random polymer (Glu60,Phe40)n (GPhe) with antigen-presenting accessory cells (APC), unusual costimulatory activities were noted in several murine T cell systems. When GPhe, in contrast with other random copolymers (GT,GL), was added during “inhibition” and T cell “repertoire” studies as a (negative) control to GLA-reactive nonclonal T cell lines of haplotypes H-2d (DCL-2) or H-2bm12, augmentation of T cell proliferation ([3H]thymidine incorporation ([3HT])) to homologous antigen was observed. Augmentation by GPhe was also observed in the response of a GLPhe-reactive (H-2s X H-2d)F1 T cell line and the allogeneic response of the clonal T cell line D10.G4.1. This augmentation was critically dependent on the concentration of adherent accessory cells. Although the mechanism of action of GPhe remains, as yet, undefined, the GPhe-mediated enhancement of DCL-2 (a TH2, H-2d anti-GLA, T cell line) proliferation was not dependent upon the production of either IL-1 or IL-6 by accessory cells. In addition, enhanced DCL-2 proliferation was not accompanied by a significant increase in detectable IL-4 release.
Long-term survival probability in men with clinically localized prostate cancer: a case-control, propensity modeling study stratified by race, age, treatment and comorbidities.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We used a propensity risk scoring approach to model long-term survival for men with clinically localized prostate cancer. We developed comprehensive lookup tables for estimating survival probability stratified by patient age, race, readily available clinical variables, comorbidities and treatment type.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified a cohort of 1,611 men with clinically localized prostate cancer (patients) and 4,538 age, race and comorbidity matched controls. Based on demographic and clinical variables propensity risk scoring was used to develop smoothed survival prediction models for patients and controls. Based on these models tables were created to provide 10-year overall survival estimates. The tables are stratified by patient age, race, comorbidity, prostate specific antigen, cancer grade, and treatment type when applicable.Results: Mean patient age was 67.0 years and median baseline prostate specific antigen was 8.5 ng/ml. Of the patients 68% had biopsy cancer g...
Removal of mirror image using reference beam phase modulation in Dual-Band Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

We propose a novel method to remove the mirror image in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography. The developed spectroscopic image system has been applied to imaging tumors from small animal.
Where the Least Rainfall Occurs in the Sahara Desert, the TRMM Radar Reveals a Different Pattern of Rainfall Each Season

AbstractSome previous studies were unable to detect seasonal organization to the rainfall in the Sahara Desert, while others reported seasonal patterns only in the less-arid periphery of the Sahara. In contrast, the precipitation radar on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite detects four rainy seasons in the part of the Sahara where the TRMM radar saw the least rainfall during a 15-yr period (1998–2012). According to the TRMM radar, approximately 20°–27°N, 22°–32°E is the portion of the Sahara that has the lowest average annual rain accumulation (1–5 mm yr−1). Winter (January and February) has light rain throughout this region but more rain to the north over the Mediterranean Sea. Spring (April and May) has heavier rain and has lightning observed by the TRMM Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). Summer rain and lightning (July and August) occur primarily south of 23°N. At a maximum over the Red Sea, autumn rain and lightning (October and November) can be heavy in the northeastern portion of ...
Large Floating Platform Technology: A Review

The purpose of this study was to review all material relevant to the design, construction, and operation of a large floating columnar platform made of ferroconcrete. Existing platforms, motion analysis, anchoring, powering, assembly and ferroconcrete are discussed. The study indicates that ferroconcrete platforms can be built and that electric power generation sites may be the first application of the idea.
Bayesian state estimation of nonlinear systems using approximate aggregate markov chains

The conditional probability density function (pdf) is the most complete statistical representation of the state from which optimal inferences may be drawn. The transient pdf is usually infinite-dimensional and impossible to obtain except for linear Gaussian systems. In this paper, a novel density-based filter is proposed for nonlinear Bayesian estimation. The approach is fundamentally different from optimization- and linearization-based methods. Unlike typical density-based methods such as probability grid filters (PGF) and sequential Monte Carlo (SMC), the cell filter poses an off-line probabilistic modeling task and an on-line estimation task. The probabilistic behavior is described by the Foias or Frobenius-Perron operators. Monte Carlo simulations are used for computing these transition operators, which represent approximate aggregate Markov chains. The approach places no restrictions on system model or noise processes. The cell filter is shown to achieve the performance of PGF and SMC filters at a fraction of the computational cost for recursive state estimation.
The Enantioselective Synthesis of α-Amino Acid Derivatives via Organoboranes

Optically active (S)-α-amino acids are prepared in 54−95% ee (12 cases) by reaction of the Schiff base acetate of glycine tert-butyl ester with B-alkyl-9-BBN derivatives in the presence of the Cinc...
Age-related changes in the decidual response of the C57BL/6J mouse uterus.

Age-related changes in the uterine decidual response (DCR) were studied in 10-month-old ovariectomized estradiol-17beta-primed C57BL/6J mice and similarly treated 4-month-old mice. Determination of uterine DNA protein glycogen and alkaline phosphatase indicated that DCR was markedly impaired in the 10-month-old animals. The percentage of uterine weight increase in 4- and 10-month-old hormonally primed animals compared with oil-treated controls was 115 and 130% respectively. However decidualization resulted in a 170% uterine weight increase in 4-month-old rats but only a 35% increase in 10-month-old rats when compared with controls. The results suggest that the impairment of DCR observed during the period of early reproductive decline in C57BL/6J mice may be partially responsible for the age-related impairment of the uterus in maintaining implantation and early pregnancy.
Homogeneous catalysis. transition metal based lewis acid catalysts.

Abstract Transition metal based Lewis acids provide catalysts for the Diels-Alder and Mukaiyama reactions. These catalysts must possess an electron deficient axophilic metal center and a labile coordination position. Unlike traditional Lewis acids, those derived from transition metals can function in the presence of water and have well defined structures. It is shown how a normally electron rich ruthenium atom can be converted to a Lewis acid by incorporation of electron withdrawing ligands and ligands with hard donor atoms. This ruthenium complex, [Ru(salen)(NO)(H2O)]+, is an efficient catalyst for the Diels-Alder reaction, but in the Mukaiyama reaction, it tends to be reduced and thereby deactivated by the silyl enol ether. It is shown that the complex [TiCp*2(H2O)2]2+ (Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) is an efficient catalyst for the Diels-Alder reaction even when water is present. Similarly, the triflato complexes [TiCp2(CF3SO3)2] and [ZrCp2(CF3SO3)2] (Cp is cyclopentadienyl) are efficient catalysts for both the Diels-Alder and Mukaiyama reactions. All of these catalysts are effective at very low loadings of ≈ 1 mol%. Catalysis has been shown to occur via substrate-catalyst adducts and moreover these adducts are formed rapidly and reversibly as required for efficient catalysis.
Aporias, Webs, and Passages: Doubt as an Opportunity to Learn

AbstractThis article offers an exploration of the idea, and the experience, of aporia (usually translated as “doubt”) in Plato’s dialogue, the Meno, and in other teaching/learning contexts. A metaphor that moves throughout the article is the experience of being lost when exploring the World Wide Web and other weblike or hypertextual environments. The article represents the experience of movement, following uncertain connections, and cycling back through certain points by way of the form in which it is written. Through a series of interlinked passages, the article explores the ideas of webs, passages, and paths of connection as models of discovery, getting lost, making unexpected connections, and learning. It explores different types of aporia and shows how aporia can be seen, not as a barrier to knowledge, or as simply “clearing the ground” for new learning, but as an integral dimension of learning (and of teaching) itself. By design, it offers not an argument but a way of exploring complex ideas; in a di...
Top-crossing with paternal inheritance testing of 4-month-old common carp Cyprinus carpio L. progeny in three altitude conditions

The breeding goal of the Genetic and Breeding Department, University of South Bohemia, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology at Vodňany along with the testing stations was to test weight, survival and heterosis effect in low, medium and high altitudes (250, 400 and 750 m respectively) above sea level. The breeding programme is focused to search for heterosis effect of hybrids by means of top-crossing. A newly established Hungarian synthetic mirror carp strain (HSM) was chosen for testing as a maternal strain. The HSM, as well as wild Amur carp (AC), Ropsha carp (ROP) and Tata carp (TAT) were used as paternal strains. The genetic distance between the maternal strain and the paternal ones according to Roger’s test was 0.19 for AC, 0.15 for ROP and 0.12 for TAT. The first season of the top-crossing test on up to 4-month-old carp was performed by means of separate rearing of each group of fry with controls. The cross-bred HSM × ROP gained the best survival of 65.80 ± 38.45% compared with 53.40 ± 30.63%, 49.00 ± 45.95% and 34.90 ± 23.22% for HSM × AC, HSM × TAT cross-breds and purebred HSM respectively. The highest significant corrected weight was obtained with HSM × ROP cross-bred (43.95 ± 1.33 g), compared with HSM × AC cross-bred (38.96 ± 0.93 g), and significantly low corrected weights were obtained with HSM × TAT cross-bred and HSM purebred (28.08 ± 1.31 and 27.82 ± 0.97 respectively. Significantly, the highest heterosis effect was obtained in both HSM × AC, 62%, and HSM × ROP cross-breds, 58%, compared with HSM × TAT crossbred, 18%), as predicted from the highest genetic distances. Also, a HSM × ROP cross-bred was very adaptive to three different altitudes, regions and management in pond stations and meteorological conditions, in accordance with the best results in total altitude conditions.
Redundancy: a similar principle in independent adaptation techniques.

Abstract The present study examined the similarities between four auditory adaptation techniques to determine whether the effects were correlated. The four adaptation techniques compared were: Simultaneous Dichotic Loudness Balance technique (SDLB; Hood, 1950), Magnitude Estimated Binaural technique (MEB; Botte, Canevet, & Scharf, 1982), Magnitude Estimated Monaural technique, (MEM; Weiler, Sandman, & Pederson, 1981), and the Monaural Reaction Time technique (RT; Davis & Weiler, 1976). Results did not show significant correlations between the four techniques, except (r = 0.39) between MEB and MEM procedures. This correlation was much less than the reliability of the measures would allow (r = 0.98 and r = 0.99, respectively). Thus, it appears that the different methods either produced different adaptation effects or measured different aspects of auditory adaptation. The normal ear apparently shows several forms of adaptation, which reduces the perceptual strength of a continuing stimulus, in favor of an in...
CALCULATION OF ELASTIC AND INELASTIC PROTON SCATTERING WITH A GENERALIZED OPTICAL MODEL

An extension of the optical model is considered in which a state of quadrupole collective motion is strongly coupled to the nuclear ground state. The calculations include a spin-orbit potential and the simultaneous coupled differential equations of the problem are solved numerically on a high-speed computer. Experimental data on the scattering of medium energy protons from Ti, Cr, fe, Ni, and Zn are analyzed. A good average optical potential is determined and conclusions are drawn about the energy dependence of the parameters. Evidence is presented for the validity of the collective model. Nuclear deformabilities derived by fitting the inelastic differential cross sections are in agreement with those determined by electromagnetic methods. Various limitations and ambiguities of the model are discussed and possible improvements are indicated. (auth)
Mitigation of optical bistability in Si-based mid-infrared photonic crystal cavities using surface treatments

We present evidence of thermally-induced optical bistability in our mid-infrared photonic crystal cavities operating at 4.5 μm. Surface treatments are used to mitigate bistability and improve device Q-factor, with the highest measured Q ∼ 45,000 at 4.48 μm.
Multiple influences of nitrate on uranium solubility during bioremediation of uranium-contaminated subsurface sediments

Microbiological reduction of soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) has been proposed as a remediation strategy for uranium-contaminated groundwater. Nitrate is a common co-contaminant with uranium. Nitrate inhibited U(VI) reduction in acetate-amended aquifer sediments collected from a uranium-contaminated site in New Mexico. Once nitrate was depleted, both U(VI) and Fe(III) were reduced concurrently. When nitrate was added to sediments in which U(VI) had been reduced, U(VI) reappeared in solution. Parallel studies with the dissimilatory Fe(III)-, U(VI)- and nitrate-reducing microorganism, Geobacter metallireducens, demonstrated that nitrate inhibited reduction of Fe(III) and U(VI) in cell suspensions of cells that had been grown with nitrate as the electron acceptor, but not in Fe(III)-grown cells. Suspensions of nitrate-grown G. metallireducens oxidized Fe(II) and U(IV) with nitrate as the electron acceptor. U(IV) oxidation was accelerated when Fe(II) was also added, presumably due to the Fe(III) being formed abiotically oxidizing U(IV). These studies demonstrate that although the presence of nitrate is not likely to be an impediment to the bioremediation of uranium contamination with microbial U(VI) reduction, it is necessary to reduce nitrate before U(VI) can be reduced. These results also suggest that anaerobic oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI) with nitrate serving as the electron acceptor may provide a novel strategy for solubilizing and extracting microbial U(IV) precipitates from the subsurface.
Not everything that worsens on standing is intracranial hypotension

Objective: We are reporting a patient with pneumocephalus presenting as orthostatic headache. Introduction: Orthostatic headache is a prototypical manifestation of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). A less common and under-recognized cause of post-epidural headache is pneumocephalus, which is characterized by a lack of relief by lying down. However, in a patient with coexisting PDPH, improvement of headache after lying down cannot reliably rule out the possibility of pneumocephalus. Design/Methods: Case report and literature review Results: A 24 year-old man received his first epidural steroid injection for his chronic low back pain. Immediately after the procedure, he complained of bilateral frontal headache that was worse on standing and better in supine position. IV fluids, caffeine and blood patch did not completely alleviate the presumed PDPH. A computed tomography (CT) of head revealed pneumocephalus in the frontal and temporal part of the right lateral ventricle. In the view of unexpected pneumocephalus on CT head, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain with contrast was pursued. MRI brain again showed pneumocephalus. However, MRI brain did not reveal any abnormal leptomeningeal enhancement or subdural hygroma to suggest the presence of intracranial hypotension. His headache was further improved with high-flow oxygen therapy. Repeat head CT at one week post-discharge showed resolution of pneumocephalus. Discussion / Conclusion: Here we report a rare case of coexisting PDPH and pneumocephalus after epidural steroid injection. The lack of MRI brain findings for intracranial hypotension was unexpected, but not surprising as studies have shown up to 20-30[percnt] of patients with intracranial hypotension would have a normal cranial MRI. Since orthostatic headache is not reliable to rule out pneumocephalus, especially in patient with coexisting PDPH, we believe early brain imaging might be indicated in patients with orthostatic headache that is refractory of conventional therapy. Disclosure: Dr. Limaye has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mahuwala has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose.
The Database Imagination of Japanese Postmodern Culture

This article analyzes examples of literature from the 1980s in light of recent critical emphasis in postmodern studies on hypermedia, a medium of information in which texts, data records, and media files are linked together in a non-linear format. Critics such as Azuma Hiroki associate the decentering impulse of hypermedia with consumer habits in the 2000s; these ideas played a central role in the development of postmodern writing in the 1980s and its resistance to the attempts of colloquial movements like genbun itchi to reaffirm the value of the narrative form and the centrality of the author function. The narrative fragmentation encouraged by the work of Tanaka Yasuo, Takahashi Gen'ichirō, and Kobayashi Kyōji enables a form of critical engagement better suited to the decentralized postmodern condition than the previous author-centered literary tradition. Their metafictional writing self-consciously addresses the conventions of fiction in order to demonstrate how technology, information, and the changin...
Upconversion In Rare-Earth Ion-Doped NaYF 4 Crystals and Nanocolloids

Nano-colloids and nano-crystals doped with ions of rare-earth elements have recently attracted a lot of attention of scientific community. This attention is due to unique physical, chemical and optical properties attributed to nanometer size of the particles. They have great potential of being used in applications spanning from new types of lasers, especially blue and UV lasers, phosphorous display monitors, optical communications, and fluorescence imaging. In this paper we investigate the infrared-to-visible upconversion luminescence in bulk crystals doped with ytterbium and holmium co-doped and ytterbium and thulium co-doped NaYF 4 upconversion phosphors. The phosphors were prepared by using simple co-precipitation synthetic method. The initially prepared phosphor has very weak upconversion fluorescence. The fluorescence significantly increased after the phosphor was annealed at a temperature of 600 0 C. Nanocolloids of this phosphor were obtained using methanol as solvents and they were utilized as laser filling medium in photonic crystal fibers. Under 980 nm laser excitation very strong upconversion signals were obtained for ytterbium and holmium co-doped phosphor at 541 nm, 646 nm and 751 nm, and 376 nm, 476 nm, 646 nm, 696 nm and 803 nm for ytterbium and thulium co-doped phosphor. The particle sizes of the nanocolloids were analyzed using Atomic Force Microscope. The reported nanocolloids are good candidates for fluorescent biosensing applications and also as a new laser filling medium in fiber lasers.
Targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in glioblastoma: novel therapeutic agents and advances in understanding

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a grade IV astrocytoma with a median survival of 12 months despite current multi-modal treatment options. GBM is distinguished clinicopathologically into primary and secondary subtypes. Mutations of phosphatase and tensin homolog, and subsequent upregulation of the downstream protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, are commonly seen in primary GBM and less predominantly in secondary GBM. While investigations into targeted treatments of mTOR have been attempted, feedback regulation within the mTOR signaling pathway may account for therapeutic resistance. Currently, rapamycin analogs, dual-targeted mTOR complex 1 and 2 agents as well as dual mTOR and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-targeted agents are being investigated experimentally and in clinical trials. This review will discuss the experimental potential of these agents in the treatment of GBM and their current stage in the GBM drug pipeline. Knowledge obtained from the application of these agents can help in understanding the pathogenesis of GBM as well as delineating subsequent treatment strategies.
Effect of ibuprofen on the healing phase of experimental myocardial infarction in the rat

Abstract The healing phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is initiated by proteolysis of necrotic myocardium, followed by infiltration of fibroblasts and deposition of collagen. To assess whether ibuprofen, a potent antiinflammatory agent, preserves existing collagen and enhances deposition of new collagen during Infarct healing, biochemical and morphologic studies were made of experimentally induced myocardial infarcts in untreated rats and in rats treated with ibuprofen. All treated rats received 12.5 mg/kg of ibuprofen at 1, 6 and 18 hours after AML Group 1 rats underwent measurement of myocardial hydroxyproline (HP) content at 24 hours after AMI. Group 2 rats received ibuprofen, 12.5 mg/kg, twice a day for 2 additional days, with measurement of myocardial HP at 3 days (group 2a) or 21 days (group 2b) after AMI. Group 3 rats received ibuprofen, 12.5 mg/kg, twice a day for 6 additional days with measurement of HP content, or infarct size and degree of thinning at 21 days after AMI. Compared with untreated rats, ibuprofen-treated rats had significantly greater amounts of HP in the infarct at 24 hours (group 1, 8.9 ± 2.2 nmol/mg dry weight vs untreated, 7.1 ± 2.8 nmol/mg dry weight, p
Hormone ontogeny in the ovine fetus. XXVII. Pulsatile and copulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, and prolactin in late gestation: a new method for the analysis of copulsatility

To analyze the secretion patterns of LH, FSH, GH, and PRL in the late gestational sheep fetus in vivo, we measured simultaneous plasma levels of these hormones during a period of frequent sampling under basal conditions (samples every 15 min for 5 h) in 17 chronically catheterized sheep fetuses. To calculate mean plasma levels and areas under the curve, we analyzed hormone pulses and coincident pulse patterns to assess interactions between the release of these pituitary hormones. Mean plasma levels for all fetuses were: LH, 0.8 +/- 0.2 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM); FSH, 4.6 +/- 0.7 ng/ml; GH, 136.6 +/- 16.5 ng/ml; and PRL, 40.5 +/- 10.3 ng/ml. Pulse analysis detected 20 LH pulses during 5100 min of total sampling time, which gave a mean interpulse interval of 255.0 min. For GH, 37 pulses were detected; the mean interpulse interval was 129.7 min. Twenty PRL pulses yielded a mean interpulse interval of 225.0 min. FSH pulses could not be analyzed due to the long half-life of this hormone, but hormone level fluctuati...
Narrowing the focus and broadening horizons: complementary roles for systematic and nonsystematic reviews.

In a recent editorial, Eva discussed the ‘‘limits of systematicity’’ (Eva 2008). His comments highlight a number of legitimate concerns regarding the validity and usefulness of systematic reviews. He notes that bias—‘‘systematic error introduced into sampling or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over others’’ (Merriam-Webster)—is unavoidable. Given this, he posits that we ought to embrace our biases, avoid the pretence of systematicity altogether, and focus instead on nonsystematic syntheses. While I do not disagree with his critique, I believe his solution to the problem swings the pendulum further than needed. In this article, I will argue that both systematic and nonsystematic reviews play vital and complementary roles in advancing the art and science of medical education.
Choline acetyltransferase activity and vesamicol binding in Rett syndrome and in rats with nucleus basalis lesions

Abstract The decline in choline acetyltransferase activity has been identified previously within the brains of patients with Rett syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. The level of [ 3 H]vesamicol binding to a terminal vesicular acetylcholine transporter is inversely related to the decline in cortical choline acetyltransferase activity in Alzheimer's disease, which may be due to compensatory processes within surviving cholinergic terminals. In order to investigate whether similar cholinergic compensatory processes are present in the Rett syndrome brain and are altered by normal aging, we investigated the density of cholinergic vesicular transporters in (i) the brains of Rett syndrome patients, and (ii) young and old rats with experimentally-induced cholinergic cell loss. In Rett syndrome, a significant decline in choline acetyltransferase activity within the putamen and thalamus was directly correlated with a decline in [ 3 H]vesamicol binding. In both young and old rats, basal forebrain lesions decreased cortical choline acetyltransferase activity significantly, while [ 3 H]vesamicol binding was unchanged. In contrast to young and old lesioned rats and patients with Alzheimer's disease, cholinergic cells in the brains of patients with Rett syndrome do not compensate for the loss of cholinergic cells by increasing acetylcholine vesicular storage.
Structural properties of low temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited silicon oxide films using disilane and nitrous oxide

The structural properties of low temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited SiO2 films using Si2H6 and N 2O have been studied. It is observed that the degree of compaction of as‐deposited SiO2 films, upon subsequent annealing, increases up to 4%. The shift of Si‐O‐Si stretching peak wave number of the as‐deposited SiO 2 films (Δω=−20 cm−1) compared to the undensified SiO 2 films is attributed to 9.4% increase in the film density, resulting in smaller Si‐O‐Si bridging bond angle of 138°. It is also believed that the high temperature annealing results in the reduction of hydroxyl containing species in the film and in turn drives the dielectric constant towards that of thermal SiO2 films.
Health beliefs and parenting attitudes influence breastfeeding patterns among low-income African-American women.

Health Beliefs and Parenting Attitudes Influence Breastfeeding Patterns Among Low-income African-American women
The Drell-Yan contribution to massive lepton-pair production

Abstract The Drell-Yan contribution to the massive lepton-pair production in hadron-hadron scattering is calculated using the parton distributions extracted from deep inelastic eN and νN scattering data. The calculated cross sections at BNL energy agree well with the measured data.
Material characterization using a two-wire transmission line

Numerous methods exist for determining the permittivity and permeability of a sample at RF and microwave frequencies, including free-space, coaxial probe, and waveguide measurements. This paper investigates the use of a two-wire transmission line for the characterization of homogeneous, isotropic materials.
Calculations of rotational flows using stream function

The stream function equation is solved for steady two-dimensional (and axisymmetric) rotational flows. Both finite differences and finite volumes discretization techniques are studied, using generalized body fitted coordinates and unstructured staggered grids, respectively. For inviscid transonic flows, a new artificial viscosity scheme which does not produce any artificial vorticity is introduced, for the stability of the mixed flow calculations and for capturing shocks. The solution of Euler equations, in primitive variables, are also considered. The effects of the artificial viscosity and numerical boundary conditions on the total enthalpy and the vorticity distributions are demonstrated.
Cyanide Antidotes and Methods of Their Administration in Dogs: A Comparative Study

To test the efficacies of various antidotes to cyanide (CN) poisoning, the lethal dose of cyanide in dogs was estimated during constant infusion of potassium cyanide at a rate of 0.1 mg/kg/min. Additionally, arterial blood pressure, right ventricular pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, blood-gas and pH values, and whole blood and tissue CN concentrations were measured. The lethal dose in animals whose lungs were ventilated with room air was 2.4 +/- .2 mg/kg (mean +/- SE), while the whole-blood CN concentration was 438 +/- 40 micrograms/dl and the gracilis muscle concentration was 2.0 +/- .3 micrograms/100 g. A low dose of vitamin B12a (100 mg/kg), an infusion of thiosulfate (12 mg/kg/h), or ventilation with 100 per cent O2 increased the amount of CN needed to cause death. A bolus injection of nitrite (5 mg/kg), thiosulfate (150 mg/kg), or cysteine (450 mg/kg) increased the the protection from lethality even further. Protection against CN administration for the total 150-min period of observation was provided by a bolus injection plus a constant infusion of nitrite (5 mg/kg bolus plus 5 mg/kg/h). thiosulfate (30 mg/kg bolus plus 60 mg/kg/h), or vitamin B12a (50 mg/kg bolus plus 100 mg/kg/h). However, nitrite infusion produced high levels of methemoglobin 7.2 +/- 1.1 g/dl, while vitamin B12a infusion and cysteine injection, at the stated doses, did not prevent cyanide-induced circulatory failure. Therefore, thiosulfate appears to be the most effective and safest prophylactic agent against cyanide toxicity in dogs.
Temporal variation in coffee flowering may influence the effects of bee species richness and abundance on coffee production

Accurately estimating the contribution of pollinators to production in crop species is important but could be challenging for species that are widely cultivated. One factor that may influence the pollinator-production relationship across regions is phenology, or the timing of recurring biological events, because crop phenology can be proximately controlled by climatic variables and phenology can affect plant reproductive success. For the economically important crop, coffee (Coffea arabica), at least three aspects of flowering phenology (onset, density and frequency) are influenced by precipitation, which varies across coffee’s cultivated range. Of these aspects of flowering phenology, flower density may particularly impact production in coffee because high-density flowering can severely limit outcrossing which is a major contributor to high yields and larger, high quality beans. We studied the C. arabica coffee plant-pollinator interaction over 3 years and across two distinct types of coffee blooms: (1) low-density, synchronous flowering and (2) high-density, synchronous (mass) flowering. Bee species richness was similar for four out of five flowering periods (9.8 ± 2.7 95% CI), but nearly tripled during one high-density flowering period (26 ± 8.6 95% CI). During low-density flowering coffee fruit set rates were varied, but when coffee flowered at high-density, initial fruit set rates remained close to 60% (the rate obtained from manual self-pollination of coffee flowers in pollination experiments). We discuss how changing precipitation patterns may alter coffee flowering phenology and the coffee plant-pollinator relationship, providing insight into how climate change may influence this interaction as well as the resultant coffee production.
Efficacy and outcomes of dynamic-plated single-level anterior diskectomy/fusion with additional analysis of comparative costs.

Background: Few studies focus on the fusion rates and outcomes for single-level anterior cervical diskectomy/fusion (1-ACDF) utilizing iliac autograft and dynamic plates.
Modeling artificial synthetic aperture radar clutter scenes using spatial autocorrelation and group statistics

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image scene modeling tools are of high interest to Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm evaluation because they allow the testing of ATR's over a wider range of extended operating conditions (EOCs). Typical EOCs include target aspect, target configuration, target obscuration, and background terrain variations. A baseline terrain image synthesis technique empirically derived probability density functions (pdfs) for various terrain types from measured data to allow the simulation of user defined scenes. Initial full scene simulation experiments that applied this technique to the MSTAR data showed that using measured images as a data source for creating distribution functions in artificial scenes can introduce error, unless the proper spatial autocorrelation is also modeled. Measured SAR scene pixels have non-zero autocorrelation that blurs edges between different terrain types and creates a texture in the clutter regions of the image. Unfortunately, applying simple blurring techniques, such as a moving weighted window, to model autocorrelation mutes the second and higher moments of the pixel amplitude statistics. We propose a technique that models spatial autocorrelation while preserving the desired the amplitude statistics within each defined terrain class group.
Pain control for intrauterine device insertion: a randomized trial of 1% lidocaine paracervical block.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of a 1% lidocaine paracervical block on perceived patient pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. STUDY DESIGN: We randomized 50 women undergoing IUD insertion to receive either a 10-mL 1% lidocaine paracervical block or no local anesthetic before IUD insertion. Women marked their pain on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) (0 mm = no pain 100 mm = worst pain possible) at various points of the procedure (speculum insertion tenaculum placement paracervical block administration IUD insertion and 5 min postprocedure). RESULTS: Twenty-six women received the paracervical block before IUD insertion and 24 received no local anesthesia. Groups were similar in age parity ethnicity education and complications. Women who received the paracervical block reported a median VAS score of 24.0 mm with IUD insertion and women who did not receive local anesthetic reported a median VAS score of 62.0 mm with IUD insertion; p=.09. CONCLUSION: Compared with no anesthetic a 1% lidocaine paracervical block did not result in a statistically significant decrease in perceived pain with IUD insertion. Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
When Familiarity Breeds Respect: The Effects of an Experimental Depolarization Program on Police and Student Attitudes toward Each Other

During student riots at Stanford University in the spring of 1970, 164 students (of whom 95 were control subjects with no contact) and 37 local policemen were brought together to facilitate nonviolent interactions and promote understanding between students and police. Three forms of contact were utilized: students riding in police squad cars, police having dinner and “rap sessions” with students, and encounter groups. Self-report questionnaires assessed the attitudes of members of each group toward the other both before and after contact. Significant attitudinal depolarization toward the other group occurred as a result of the three types of contact. These findings are discussed in terms of the reduction of autistic hostility between groups as well as an increase in self-disclosure. Methodological problems inherent in such social action projects are considered and suggestions made for future projects of this kind.
Organic tracers from biomass burning in atmospheric particulate matter over the ocean

Particulate matter from the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean along the South American and African Continents has been analyzed for organic tracers from natural and biomass burning emissions. The major biomarker compounds characterized are natural products from continental vegetation consisting primarily of epicuticular wax components. For example, n-alkanes ranged from C25 to C35, with an odd carbon number predominance and carbon maxima (Cmax) at 29 or 31. Concentrations of n-alkanes varied from 0.3 to 680 ng/m3. Nevertheless, n-alkanols are the dominant terrestrial tracers in almost all samples (concentrations from 0.1 to 780 ng/m3) and ranged from C22 to C34 with an even carbon number predominance. Despite the major presence of the natural tracers, organic components from biomass burning emissions are also present in the particulate matter. The major tracers from this source are thermal degradation products from the biopolymer cellulose, namely the dianhydromonosaccharide derivatives levoglucosan, galactosan, and mannosan. In general, the concentrations of levoglucosan, the major derivative from this source in all samples, varied from 0.0008 to 0.15 ng/m3 in atmospheric samples collected over the ocean and from 0.04 to 4860 ng/m3 in terrestrial particulate matter, used as reference in this study. Dehydroabietic acid, another marker compound emitted from burning of Gymnosperm fuel, is also detectable in most oceanic samples at concentrations ranging from 0.0001 to 0.4 ng/m3, whereas in terrestrial aerosol particulate matter, this component is present at much higher concentrations (0.23–440 ng/m3). The presence of these tracers in atmospheric particulate matter over the ocean confirms the long-range transport of smoke from biomass burning off the continents.
Action Research: Teachers as Researchers in the Classroom by MERTLER, CRAIG A

The article reviews the book "Action Research: Teachers as Researchers in the Classroom," second edition, by Craig A. Mertler.