cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entecavir in decompensated HBV cirrhosis: The future is looking brighter

Practice guidelines recommend treatment of selected patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who are at risk of developing progressive liver disease based upon their serum ALT and HBV DNA levels and/or liver histology [1,2]. The seven approved medications for chronic HBV consistently lead to histological improvements in patients that suppress HBV replication during short-term treatment [3]. In addition, the rate of developing clinical outcomes and decompensation can be significantly reduced by using prolonged lamivudine therapy in patients with advanced but compensated fibrosis compared to no treatment [4]. However, the clinical and histological benefit with the oral nucleos(t)ide analogues is substantially reduced when drugresistant variants of HBV emerge [3,4]. As a result, the oral agents that most effectively suppress HBV replication with the lowest rate of drug resistance during prolonged use (entecavir, tenofovir) have emerged as preferred first line agents over the other available drugs (lamivudine, adefovir, telbivudine) [1,2]. Practice guidelines also recommend prescribing an oral nucleos(t)ide analogue (but not the interferons) for patients with decompensated HBV cirrhosis independent of the patients serum ALT, HBV DNA level, and eAg status [1,2]. These latter recommendations are largely based upon open-label studies of lamivudine and adefovir in decompensated HBV patients wherein antiviral therapy was associated with improved outcomes including a delay or prevention in the need for liver transplantation (Table 1) [5–8]. For example, a prospective study of 154 decompensated HBV patients treated with lamivudine demonstrated improved laboratory and clinical parameters with treatment compared to baseline values. A biphasic survival pattern was also noted with most deaths occurring within the first 6 months of treatment; patients with higher pretreatment bilirubin, creatinine, and HBV DNA levels were at greatest risk for early death while early suppression of HBV replication was not associated with more favorable outcomes [6]. Adefovir treatment in 226 patients with lamivudine refractory decompensated HBV also led to significant
The decay of the 11.80 MeV isobaric analog resonance in 93 Tc to negative parity states in 92 Mo

The 2,524 keV 5− state and 2,848 keV3− state in92Mo were excited by inelastic proton scattering going through the 11.80 MeV isobaric analog resonance in93Tc. Angular distributions of the 3−→ 2+ and 5−→ 4+γ-rays were measured and analyzed in order to obtain the partial waves of the outgoing protons.
Large format short-wave infrared (SWIR) focal plane array (FPA) with extremely low noise and high dynamic range

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) has obtained the initial performance data on a 1280x1024 format short wave infrared (SWIR) sensor with a dark current of 1 nA/cm2 and low noise input circuit of five noise electrons (5 e-), which is 2× lower electronic read-out noise and 2× lower dark current than previous designs. A remarkable feature of the sensor is that a novel high dynamic range circuit is also designed into the 15 × 15 μm pixel unit cell, in a large format, high density 1280×1024 SWIR FPA. The integration of the conflicting design requirements of extremely low noise with high dynamic range allows recognition of low contrast targets, without saturation from bright sources within the same frame of information. This enables operation in urban environments at low levels of ambient illumination, and simultaneously with bright sources that saturate conventional sensors.
An examination of methodological refinements, clozapine and fluphenazine in the anhedonia paradigm

Abstract Previous work has shown that the reduction in operant response rate in rats treated repeatedly with pimozide is similar to the pattern of decline in rate occasioned by nonreward. This similarity, usually observed with a continuous reinforcement (CRF) schedule, has been interpreted in terms of the neuroleptics' reducing the rewarding quality of the reinforcer, i.e., anhedonia. Although retaining the CRF schedule, the present work departs from earlier methodologies in three major ways: retraining days were not interposed between drug or extinction days; the operant measure, response duration, was used to complement response rate in describing the drug and extinction effects; and, in addition to using pimozide (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg), two other neuroleptics, clozapine (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) and fluphenazine hydrochloride (0.125 mg/kg), were examined in the anhedonia paradigm. Omission of the retraining days still resulted in declines in response rate and increases in response duration that were graphically similar for pimozide and extinction, but were significantly different in degree, with pimozide producing greater reductions in rate and lesser increases in duration than did extinction. Although clozapine, a low-motor-effect neuroleptic, reduced rate and elevated duration, no change was observed for repeated dosing at the 5.0 mg/kg dose level. The 10.0 mg/kg dose yielded a significant across-session increase (i.e., tolerance effect) in rates, an effect entirely the opposite of what would be indicative of anhedonia. Fluphenazine, a high potency, high-motor-effect phenothiazine, did produce a pattern of declining rate and increasing duration across the four days of dosing, and the 0.125 mg/kg of fluphenazine hydrochloride yielded greater effects than 1.0 mg/kg of pimozide. The extinction-like pattern of responding produced by fluphenazine and pimozide, but not by clozapine, suggests that anhedonia per se is insufficient to account for these results and that an as-yet-to-be-elucidated motor and/or associative process is involved.
Effects of Reasonable Doubt Definition and Inclusion of a Lesser Charge on Jury Verdicts

The impact of two procedural factors on jury verdicts was assessed in a mock jury study: (1) definition of the term “reasonable doubt” and (2) inclusion of a “lesser” charge against the defendant in addition to a primary charge. Mock juries of 4-7 persons read an edited transcript from a real murder trial and deliberated to a unanimous verdict. Juries with the option to convict on a lesser charge produced more overall convictions than juries receiving only the primary charge, but only when “reasonable doubt” was undefined. Conversely, more murderconvictions resulted when the reasonable doubt criterion was defined in relation to being “firmly convinced” of the defendant's guilt. Parallel analyses of the effects of these two procedural factors on individual juror predeliberation verdict preferences differed in several important ways, highlighting the need for group-level research on juries. Implications, limitations, and a preliminary integrated model of jury decision making are discussed.
A defense of vitalism.

Abstract The distribution of living systems cannot be predicted in terms of chemistry and physics because there are relationships in living systems that cannot be understood in terms of energy, but only in terms of advantage. It is proposed that the drive toward the maximum advantage be defined as the vitalistic principle.
An approach to the design of a skill adaptive interface

Computer users vary greatly in their abilities to use a software interface efficiently. One factor that apparently affects users’ efficiency in using an interface is the changes in their skill levels. In this study, an adaptive interface (of menu and command) is presented that dynamically adjusts to users’ changing skill levels. The mechanism of an adaptive interface is described and discussed. The validity and usability of the adaptive interface is tested with 40 participants in an experiment that used a between‐subject experimental design for interface style. The independent variables were interface style (menu, command, hybrid, and adaptive) and skill level (starting session and ending sessions). The dependent variables were task completion time, number of steps used, ratio (of using menu mode over menu and command modes), perceived memory load, and satisfaction with the interface styles. The task‐completion time and ratio data indicate that the adaptive interface produced significantly better performa...
Recall of dreams and the probability of stage 1-REM sleep.

The self-reported recall of night dreams of 762 Ss when asked during the day was 37.5%. The Stage 1-REM state of sleep in the last hour of sleep was obtained for 32 Ss over 3 nights. The probabilit...
Biomedical engineering undergraduate education in Latin America

As in other parts of the World, in recent times there has been an increasing interest on Biomedical Engineering (BME) in Latin America (LA). This interest grows from the need for a larger number of such specialists, originated in a spreading use of health technologies. Indeed, at many universities, biomedical engineering departments have been created, which also brought along discussions on strategies to achieve the best education possible for both undergraduate and graduate programs. In these settings, different positions were taken as regards which subject to emphasize. In such a context, this work aimed to make a survey on the "state-of-the-art" of undergraduate BME education in LA, and to analyze the observed differences. Broadly speaking, similar education profiles are perceived in the entire continent, with main emphasis on electronics and bioinstrumentation, biology and informatics respectively. Much less relevance is given to biomechanics and biomaterials. This tendency is similar in Departments with many decades of experience or in newly opened ones.
Antiproton-proton interaction cross-sections at 45, 90, 145, and 245 MeV

Through the use of the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory 15 in. hydrogen bubble chamber, antiproton-proton cross sections have been measured at lower energies than heretofore accessible. Interactions were studied in four energy intervals by insertion of suitable degraders in an electrostatically separated beam of 245 MeV antiprotons. Approximately 4000 antiprotons were incident in each of the energy intervals (45±20) MeV, (90±20) MeV, (145±17) MeV, and (245±20) MeV. For the total cross sections at these energies, we find (281±46), (185±13), (163±12), and (118±9) mb. The eleastic-scattering cross sections are (80±10), (65±6), (52±6), and (45±5) mb, respectively. The calculations of Ball and Fulco are in reasonable agreement with the measured differential cross sections. The total cross sections at 145 and 245 MeV agree with those recently measured with counters byCoombeset al., while the elastic-scattering cross sections are systematically 15% lower than those obtained in the counter measurements.
Extent of illusory effects for 32 illusions.

The presence of 32 familiar illusions among 39 Ss, about equally divided by sex, was moderate. Although several well-known illusions were found among a significantly high proportion of Ss (e.g., Mu...
Priority pollutant analyses of industrial wastewaters using a microextraction approach

Abstract A methodology based on microextraction, i.e., a one‐step extraction in which the ratio of solvent:wastewater ranged from 1:40 to 1:100, is described for the analysis of priority pollutant volatile aromatics, phthalates, polynuclear aromatics, and phenols. The use of this method for extracting relatively non‐polar analytes is justified from both a theoretical and a practical viewpoint. Results obtained during an EPA verification analysis of a variety of industrial process waters and effluents are discussed with respect to precision, percent recoveries of analytes, specific analytical problems encountered, and the potential for extending this approach to other compound classes.
A proof of Devadze’s theorem on generators of the semigroup of Boolean matrices

In 1968 Devadze described, without a proof, minimal sets of generators of the semigroup of n×n Boolean matrices. We provide a proof of Devadze’s theorem.
Images of Organization

The article reviews the book "Images of Organization: The Executive Decision," by Gareth Morgan.
The dentist's responsibility in the management of the patient with rheumatic heart disease

Abstract The management of the “cardiac” requires certain fundamental knowledge and the need for closer cooperation between the physician and dentist. This discussion limits consideration specifically to the management of the patient with rheumatic heart disease. Bacteremias have been shown frequently to follow manipulation and trauma of surgical procedures, especially following the extraction of teeth. From such a bacteremia the patient with valvular heart disease (usually resulting from rheumatic fever) may develop subacute bacterial endocarditis as a result of the localization of bacteria on previously damaged heart valves. The prophylactic use of sulfathiazole, if given in doses sufficient to raise the blood levels above 4 mg. per 100 c.c., reduces markedly the incidence of positive blood cultures. It is in a large part the dentist's responsibility to manage the patient with valvular heart disease by treatment with sulfonamides. It is thought that prophylactic premedication with sulfathiazole may prevent the individual with valvular heart disease from developing a subacute bacterial endocarditis.
Structure Variation Due to Ligand Flexibility: Syntheses and Structures of the Copper(II) Complexes [Cu(APPy)] and [Cu2(AEPy)2] Where APPyH2 = Bis[3-(2-pyridinecarboxamido)propyl]- methylamine and AEPyH2 = Bis[3-(2-pyridine- carboxamido)ethyl]methylamine

Two new pentacoordinate ligands containing two pyridine 2-carboxamide units connected by −(CH2)n−N(Me)−(CH2)n− links have been synthesized. The ligand with n = 3 affords a monomeric Cu(II) complex, while the one with n = 2 gives rise to a ligand-shared dimer.
Thirty-Five Years of End-of-Life Issues in US Medical Schools

The objective of this study was to examine US medical school offerings on end-of-life issues between 1975 and 2010. Data were obtained from a mailed survey to the US medical schools in 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. Survey response rates for the 8 points in time (in percentages) were 95, 96, 90, 90, 93, 92, 81, and 79, respectively. Between 1975 and 2010, the overall offerings in death and dying increased so that 100% of US medical schools, beginning in 2000, offered something on death and dying. A multidisciplinary-team approach continued over the 35-year period. Palliative care is offered to some extent in 99% of US medical schools today. Numerous end-of-life topics are currently covered in the curriculum. Increased attention to end-of-life issues in medical schools should enhance medical students' relationship with terminally ill patients and their families.
Origin of 'normal-branch' quasiperiodic oscillations in low-mass X-ray binary systems

QUASIPERIODIC intensity oscillations with frequencies in the range 6–10 Hz have recently been discovered in luminous low-mass X-ray binary systems1,2. These so-called 'normal-branch' oscillations (NBOs) seem to be a nearly universal feature of those systems with luminosities near the Eddington critical luminosity LE (refs 3,4), at which the outward force of radiation balances gravity. Here we report the results of numerical simulations of the approximately radial accretion flow expected near the neutron-star component, which show that the flow becomes overstable (that is, the flow oscillates, with increasing magnitude) when the luminosity rises to within a few per cent of LE. If the radial inflow begins ∼300 km from the neutron star (as expected), the frequency of the oscillations is ∼5–10 Hz, comparable to the observed frequencies of NBOs. The time variation in optical depth is substantial, whereas the variation in luminosity is relatively small. The predicted amplitudes and phases of the resulting intensity oscillations agree with observations5 of the NBOs. We suggest that the 10–20 Hz oscillations in intensity observed in Scorpius X-l when it is on the flaring branch3,4 are caused by photohydrodynamic modes that are excited by the oscillations in the radial flow and grow when the luminosity exceeds LE.
Synthesis and Evaluation of a Well-defined HPMA Copolymer–Dexamethasone Conjugate for Effective Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose To develop a pH-sensitive dexamethasone (Dex)-containing N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer conjugate with well-defined structure for the improved treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Decarboxylation of mevalonate pyrophosphate is one rate-limiting step in hepatic cholesterol synthesis in suckling and weaned rats.

Summary The phosphorylation and decarboxylation of mevalonate by 105,000g supernatant fractions from livers of suckling and weaned rats was studied. The rate of mevalonate phosphate formation by S105 fraction from suckling rats was not significantly different from that observed in rats weaned on control (Purina Chow) diet. The decarboxylation of mevalonate by preparations from weaned rats, however, was 5 – 20 times higher than the decarboxylation by preparations from suckling rats. In spite of the fact that the amount of mevalonate pyrophosphate (MVAPP) is slightly lower in preparations from suckling rats, the ratio of MVAPP/CO2 formed was considerably higher. In preparations from rats weaned on diet supplemented with 1% cholesterol the decarboxylation of mevalonate was reduced by 50 – 80%, while the rate of MVAP formation and the ratio of MVAPP/CO2 produced were similar to those observed in the preparations from suckling rats. These results hence indicate that decarboxylation of MVAPP is a key rate-limiting step in the conversion of mevalonate to squalene.
Dipeptide vinyl sulfones suitable for intracellular inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase I.

In granules of hematopoetic cells, dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) processes inactive proenzymes into active enzymes, e.g., lymphocyte progranzyme A. Our goal was to develop irreversible inhibitors of intracellular DPPI. First, we identified inhibitors with aqueous stability. Then we determined which inhibitors were nontoxic, could enter cells and inactivate intracellular DPPI. We screened nine dipeptide vinyl sulfone (VS) inhibitors (kobs/[I]>72 M−1 s−1) and found six that were nontoxic. Four affected intracellular DPPI at <25 μM. These compounds contained only uncharged amino acid residues; the two less reactive compounds contained charged Glu residues. The best one, Leu–Phe–VS–CH3, inactivated DPPI in cells with an ID50 of ∼5 μM. This inhibitor was not the best inhibitor of purified DPPI. Longer aqueous stabilities were important predictors of cellular efficacy. Leu–Phe–VS–CH3 had a half life of 97 min at the pH of the extracellular medium (7.5) and 1302 min at pH 5.5 (the intracellular environment of DPPI). This VS had no direct effect on granzyme activities. In contrast, the diazomethyl ketone inhibitor Gly–Phe–CHN2 inhibited chymase activity. Several good intracellular DPPI VS inhibitors lacked reactivity with cathepsins B, H and L. In conclusion, we have identified DPPI inhibitors suitable for cellular applications.
Ca2+/calmodulin is critical for brassinosteroid biosynthesis and plant growth.

Brassinosteroids are plant steroid hormones that couple environmental factors, such as light, with plant growth and development. New work in Arabidopsis shows that to function normally, the DWARF1 protein (DWF1) required for brassinosteroid biosynthesis must bind to the Ca2+ binding protein calmodulin. The DWF1 equivalent proteins from other plants have a similar Ca2+/calmodulin-binding domain. The finding raises the possibility of genetically engineering crop plants of varying sizes to cope with in particular environmental conditions. Brassinosteroids are plant-specific steroid hormones1,2 that have an important role in coupling environmental factors, especially light, with plant growth and development3. How the endogenous brassinosteroids change in response to environmental stimuli is largely unknown. Ca2+/calmodulin has an essential role in sensing and transducing environmental stimuli4,5. Arabidopsis DWARF1 (DWF1) is responsible for an early step in brassinosteroid biosynthesis that converts 24-methylenecholesterol to campesterol6,7. Here we show that DWF1 is a Ca2+/calmodulin-binding protein and this binding is critical for its function. Molecular genetic analysis using site-directed and deletion mutants revealed that loss of calmodulin binding completely abolished the function of DWF1 in planta, whereas partial loss of calmodulin binding resulted in a partial dwarf phenotype in complementation studies. These results provide direct proof that Ca2+/calmodulin-mediated signalling has a critical role in controlling the function of DWF1. Furthermore, we observed that DWF1 orthologues from other plants have a similar Ca2+/calmodulin-binding domain, implying that Ca2+/calmodulin regulation of DWF1 and its homologues is common in plants. These results raise the possibility of producing size-engineered crops by altering the Ca2+/calmodulin-binding property of their DWF1 orthologues.
Nearest-neighbor relationships of the constituent polypeptides in plastoquinol-plastocyanin oxidoreductase.

The nearest-neighbor relationship among the constituent polypeptides of the isolated plastoquinol-plastocyanin oxidoreductase from spinach chloroplasts has been investigated. (1) The isolated plastoquinol-plastocyanin oxidoreductase (the b6f complex) is treated with various concentrations of the cross-linker glutaraldehyde. The treated b6f complexes are then analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis coupled with the immunodecoration of cross-link products by specific antibodies for each of the four prominent constituent polypeptides. Cytochrome b6 is found to be most resistant to forming any intermolecular cross-link products. At low concentrations of glutaraldehyde, the ‘Rieske’ iron-sulfur (Fe-S) protein and subunit IV of the b6f complex, however, appear to form cross-link products with a relative molecular weight of 35000. Dimers of cytochrome f and cytochrome fRieske protein cross-link products can also be detected. (2) When a Rieske Fe-S protein-depleted b6f complex is used in place of the control b6f complex, cytochrome b6 is less resistant to intermolecular cross-linking, while subunit IV does not form any 35 kDa cross-link product, unlike the case in control b6f complex. Subunit IV is concluded to be closely associated with the Rieske Fe-S protein. This provides evidence that subunit IV is a bona fide component of the cytochrome b6f complex, although no function can yet be assigned to it. The results are discussed in relationship to the spatial and functional relationships among the components of the b6f complex.
New high-protein food from milk.

Abstract Milk curd precipitated with calcium chloride and fried in deep fat is a new high-protein food. The fried curd is nutritious, has desirable texture and storage stability, and can be flavored for a variety of tastes.
Miscible blends of fluorocarbon copolymer with acrylic copolymer and poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc: new alternatives to low refractive index cladding materials

Abstract A fluorocarbon copolymer (Kynar 7201) was solvent blended and melt blended with acrylic copolymer and PVAc. This opaque Kynar copolymer exhibited enhanced transparency when blended with PMMA and PVAc over a range of concentrations. Transparency low refractive indices and low temperature processibility make these blends novel alternatives to conventional cladding materials used for plastic scintillating fibers.
Effects of endotoxin on the myocardial (Na+ + K+)-ATPase enzyme system: Involvement of lipids in endotoxin-induced changes in enzyme activities

Abstract The in vitro effect of E. coli endotoxin on the canine cardiac (Na + + K + )-ATPase enzyme system was studied using (i) crude membrane preparations; (ii) partially purified enzymes prepared by treatment of crude membranes with sodium dodecyl sulfate and EDTA; and (iii) partially purified enzymes sonicated with phosphatidylcholine either in the absence or presence of Ca 2+ . The results showed that in crude membranes, (Na + + K + )-ATPase activity was latent while its partial activity, K + -activated para -nitrophenylphosphatase (K + -PNPPase), was present. In partially purified enzymes, (Na + + K + )-ATPase and K + -PNPPase activities were both manifested. Endotoxin had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on ouabain-sensitive K + -PNPPase activity in crude membranes; the inhibition was abolished after partial purification of the crude membranes. Endotoxin inhibited (Na + + K + )-ATPase activity in partially purified enzymes, but the inhibition was inversely correlated with the specific activity of the enzyme preparation; the inhibitory action was almost completely abolished when the partially purified enzyme preparation possessed an activity greater than 22 μmole/mg·hr. The inhibitory action of endotoxin on K + -PNPPase and (Na + + K + )-ATPase activities could be restored in partially purified enzymes sonicated with phosphatidylcholine in the presence of Ca 2+ . These results suggest that the inhibitory action of endotoxin on the cardiac (Na + + K + )-ATPase enzyme system is mediated through its lipid microenvironment.
Effects of AKT inhibition on HGF-mediated erlotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

Purpose Acquired resistance to erlotinib in patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer can result from aberrant activation of alternative receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the HGF-driven c-MET receptor. We sought to determine whether inhibition of AKT signaling could augment erlotinib activity and abrogate HGF-mediated resistance.
Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Biomaterials serve as an integral component of tissue engineering. They are designed to provide architectural framework reminiscent of native extracellular matrix in order to encourage cell growth and eventual tissue regeneration. Bone and cartilage represent two distinct tissues with varying compositional and mechanical properties. Despite these differences, both meet at the osteochondral interface. This article presents an overview of current biomaterials employed in bone and cartilage applications, discusses some design considerations, and alludes to future prospects within this field of research.
Operating regimes and performance optimization of the mode-locking dynamics of a laser cavity with passive polarizer

An iterative method is developed to characterize the mode-locking dynamics in a laser cavity mode-locked with a combination of waveplates and a passive polarizer. The method explicitly accounts for an arbitrary alignment of the fast- and slow-axes of the fiber with the waveplates and polarizer, fiber birefringence and saturating gain dynamics. The general averaging scheme results in the cubic-quintic complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (CQGLE), and an extensive comparison shows the agreement between the full model and the CQGLE and allows for a characterization of the stability and operating regimes of the laser cavity.
Ghost problem of quantum field theories with higher derivatives

Second-order theories, i.e., theories described by Lagrangians quadratic in second derivatives of the fields, are carefully examined and their ghost problems are isolated and clearly exhibited. In particular, theories with gauge symmetry are shown to have precisely the same ghost problems as theories without gauge symmetry. It is also shown that massless theories of the same nature are the limit of massive theories containing ghost states. (AIP)
Secure Distributed Data Aggregation

We present a survey of the various families of approaches to secure aggregation in distributed networks such as sensor networks. In our survey, we focus on the important algorithmic features of each approach, and provide an overview of a family of secure aggregation protocols which use resilient distributed estimation to retrieve an approximate query result that is guaranteed to be resistant against malicious tampering; we then cover a second family, the commitment-based techniques, in which the query result is exact but the chances of detecting malicious computation tampering is probabilistic. Finally, we describe a hash-tree based approach that can both give an exact query result and is fully resistant against malicious computation tampering.
W14-03 Enhancing signal detection in clinical trials

Dr. Leon will present the biostatistical considerations that contribute to a clinical trial design and the strategies to enhance signal detection. These include minimizing bias in the estimate of treatment effect while maintaining a nominal level of type I error (i.e., false positive results) and maintaining sufficient statistical power (i.e. reducing the likelihood of false negative results). Particular attention will be paid to reducing the problems of attrition and the hazards of multiplicity. Methods to examine moderators of the treatment effect will also be explored. Examples from psychopharmacologic and psychotherapy trials for the treatment of depression and panic disorder will be provided to illustrate these issues. Following the didactic session, the participants will be encouraged to bring forth their own questions regarding clinical trial design for a 45-minute interactive discussion with the presenters. The objectives of the workshop are to improve the participants’ understanding of the goals of clinical trial design and methods to achieve those goals in order to improve their own research techniques, grantsmanship, and abilities to more accurately judge the results of studies presented in the literature.
The Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: A Concise Guide to Diagnosis and Management

During the last 20 years, there has been a tremendous growth in our knowledge of disorders that affect the autonomic nervous system. While at first these investigations centered on neurocardiogenic syncope, a subgroup of patients was identified who suffered from a similar, yet distinct, disorder manifested by postural tachycardia and exercise intolerance. This disorder is now referred to as the postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and encompasses a heterogenous group of disorders that share similar clinical characteristics.1 The aim of this brief report is to outline the clinical picture, subtypes, diagnosis, and management of POTS.
Autophagy Gene-Dependent Clearance of Apoptotic Cells during Embryonic Development

Autophagy is commonly observed in metazoan organisms during programmed cell death (PCD), but its function in dying cells has been unclear. We studied the role of autophagy in embryonic cavitation, the earliest PCD process in mammalian development. Embryoid bodies (EBs) derived from cells lacking the autophagy genes, atg5 or beclin 1, fail to cavitate. This defect is due to persistence of cell corpses, rather than impairment of PCD. Dying cells in autophagy gene null EBs fail to express the "eat-me" signal, phosphatidylserine exposure, and secrete lower levels of the "come-get-me" signal, lysophosphatidylcholine. These defects are associated with low levels of cellular ATP and are reversed by treatment with the metabolic substrate, methylpyruvate. Moreover, mice lacking atg5 display a defect in apoptotic corpse engulfment during embryonic development. We conclude that autophagy contributes to dead-cell clearance during PCD by a mechanism that likely involves the generation of energy-dependent engulfment signals.
Employment Intermediaries: A Model of Firm Incentives

This paper introduces a micro-simulation of job-worker matching with intermediaries (i.e., temp agencies). While many suggest that firms hire workers through intermediaries to save money on compensation, this paper finds that in a world of limited information and geographically limited job search, intermediaries' human resources ability could be a strong enough incentive, independent of compensation. The study also has some auxiliary findings showing that traditional fee structures encourage firms to use intermediaries for low-skill hires and that firms are more likely to use intermediaries when there is more worker heterogeneity. In the empirical analysis, it becomes clear that studies' estimates of indirect employment in the United States are inconsistent, partly because individuals are uncertain of their contractual status and their employer.
Facilitation and disruption of the long-term store of memory with neural excitants

Abstract Male hybrid mice (C57BL/6J × DBA/2J) were trained for 2 days in a 6-unit brightness discrimination maze. Beginning 24 hr after training, mice were administered daily injections of strychnine sulphate, Metrazol, d-amphetamine sulphate, caffeine citrate, nicotine alkaloid, or saline for 5 days. Forty-eight hr after the injection series was completed, mice were trained to criterion in the maze. Mice administered strychnine sulphate or Metrazol showed significantly better retention than those administered saline while mice administered d-amphetamine sulphate were significantly poorer. Nicotine alkaloid produced a trend toward facilitation, while caffeine citrate had no effect. The observed facilitation and disruption were not due to enhancement or impairment of learning ability and could not be attributed to effects upon the consolidation process.
Rat liver lipids during ex vivo warm and cold ischemia and reperfusion.

Abstract Rat livers were flushed and stored ex vivo in Krebs-Henseleit buffer at 37°C for 3 hr or in University of Wisconsin solution at 2°C for 48 hr. After this they were perfused with recirculated Krebs-Henseleit solution at 37°C for 1 hr. Levels of phospholipids (PL), free fatty acids (FFA), and conjugated dienes were determined at various times during ischemia and after 1 hr of reperfusion. After 3 hr warm ischemia, total PL content decreased by about 30% primarily because of decreases in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. One hour of reperfusion normalized PL levels. Total PL content was unchanged up to 48 hr of cold ischemia because of offsetting alterations in levels of PL classes. FFA accumulation during warm ischemia was about half that during cold ischemia. Conjugated diene concentration increased fivefold during warm ischemia but was unchanged during cold ischemia. Low PL levels and FFA accumulation along with production of conjugated dienes suggest that lipid oxidation is a major mechanism of PL degradation during warm, but not cold, ischemia of the liver.
Radioautographic Studies on the Site of Radioiodine Metabolism of Rat Thyroid Lobes Incubated in Vitro

It was demonstrated by radioautography that rat thyroid lobes prelabeled with 131I in vivo lose radioiodine during in vitro incubation almost entirely from degenerating central follicles. Non-prelabeled lobes accumulate radioiodine only in the peripheral follicles when incubated in vitro with 131I-. Thus, only the peripheral follicles metabolize radioiodine relatively normally during in vitro incubation. (Endocrinology 79: 469, 1966)
Trace elements in canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) wintering in Louisiana, USA, 1987-1988.

We determined trace element concentrations in livers of canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) collected at Catahoula Lake and the Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana during, the winter of 1987–1988. Forty percent of canvasbacks wintering at Lake Catahoula had elevated concentrations of lead (>6·7 μg g−1 dry weight) in the liver; 33% had concentrations consistent with lead intoxication (>26·7 μg g−1). Based on the number of canvasbacks that winter at Lake Catahoula and the frequency of lead exposure there, more than 5% of the continental population of canvasbacks may be exposed to lead at Lake Catahoula alone. Lead concentrations in livers differed among months and were higher in males than females, but were not different in adults and immatures. Concentrations of selenium and mercury in livers of females differed among months but not by age or location. Cadmium concentrations in livers differed by age, location and month of collection, but not by sex. Frequencies and concentrations of trace elements not commonly associated with adverse effects on avian species (aluminum, arsenic, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silver, vanadium and zinc) are presented. Except for the elevated concentrations of lead at Catahoula Lake, all trace elements were at background concentrations.
R matrix with pseudostates calculation for single and double ionization of helium by photon impact

We have applied the R matrix with pseudostates (RMPS) method to calculate single and double ionization of helium by photon impact. Using the velocity gauge of the dipole operator, excellent agreement with high-precision experimental data is obtained for photon energies between threshold and 200 eV. While some discrepancies remain between results from different gauges, we demonstrate that the RMPS method can produce satisfactory results if either the length, velocity, or acceleration form of the dipole operator is used. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Brachial neuropathy after immunosuppression and stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis

We present a case of brachial neuritis in an adult male who underwent high-dose immunosuppressive therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) for primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Brachial neuropathy following SCT has not previously been reported in patients with MS. The etiology of peripheral nerve dysfunction following SCT remains obscure.
Phenotype severity and genetic variation at the disease locus: an investigation of nail dysplasia in the nail patella syndrome.

Summary The genetic bases underlying the range and severity of phenotypes in Mendelian disorders is poorly understood; however, improvements in this area have the potential to facilitate analysis of oligogenic disorders. The nail dysplasia observed in Nail Patella Syndrome (NPS) was selected as a quantifiable variable within a Mendelian disorder, for which data could be readily obtained, to allow investigation of the genetic basis of variation. Analysis of SNP haplotypes across the LMX1B gene demonstrated association between the haplotype of the mutant allele and the variability in the nail score (p = 0.024). These results are in contrast to those obtained previously, which supported a modifying role for the wild-type allele. Since there is no evidence that particular mutations, or classes of mutation, are associated with the variation (p > 0.5), further work is required to identify the elements associated with the LMX1B gene that mediate phenotypic severity.
Habitat Preference of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in an East Texas Sandy Stream

I identified the habitat types available to macroinvertebrate colonization in an east Texas sandy stream and then described differences in colonization of those habitat types. Six habitat types wer...
Post–national Spain? Post–Spanish Spain?

The term ‘post–nationalism’ has been proposed to designate the emergence of political bodies in the wake of economic globalisation. However, not only is the ‘post–national landscape’ strongly redolent of nationalism, but nations themselves continue to correlate with the political subject in ways that cannot be dismissed. In Spanish political debates the notion of ‘post–nationalism’ has been deployed along with the concept of ‘patriotism of the constitution’, vulgarising their original philosophical use. In this context both terms do ideological duty against the peripheral nationalities in an effort to relegitimise the centralised control of the state. In this article I ‘deconstruct’ the self–serving duality between ‘constitutionalists’ and ‘nationalists’ by showing that traditional state nationalism overlaps with the ‘constitutionalist’ position. Subsequently, I consider whether some form of Habermasian detachment of nation from state can be contemplated for Spain.
The Clock Is Ticking

The “biological clock” serves as a powerful metaphor that reflects the constraints posed by female reproductive biology. The biological clock refers to the progression of time from puberty to menopause, marking the period during which women can conceive children. Findings from two experiments suggest that priming the passage of time through the sound of a ticking clock influenced various aspects of women’s (but not men’s) reproductive timing. Moreover, consistent with recent research from the domain of life history theory, those effects depended on women’s childhood socioeconomic status (SES). The subtle sound of a ticking clock led low (but not high) SES women to reduce the age at which they sought to get married and have their first child (Study 1), as well as the priority they placed on the social status and long-term earning potential of potential romantic partners (Study 2). Findings suggest that early developmental sensitization processes can interact with subtle environmental stimuli to affect reproductive timing during adulthood.
Electromagnetic Interference Reduction Filters

This paper presents the theory and application of lumped-image parameter reactive filter networks, absorptive-type filter networks, and combined absorptive-reactive filter networks as conducted electromagnetic interference reduction circuits. A comparison of the passband characteristics by specific examples is given for filter configurations of the pi, T, absorptive, and absorptive-reactive type under implementation conditions of a fixed source impedance and a varying load impedance as encountered when filtering prime power sources feeding ac to dc converters. This paper illustrates the problem the design engineer faces when applying the usual data given in filter catalogs. The filter characteristics are presented for 50-ohm resistive source and load conditions because of MIL-STD-220A quality control testr equirements. A test configuration is recommended to determine the admittance transfer of a filter network, indicative of the networks performance characteristics under application conditions.
Hot news: temperature-sensitive humans explain hereditary disease.

The skin-cancer-prone hereditary disease xeroderma pigmentosum is typically characterized by defective nucleotide excision repair (NER) of DNA. However, since all subunits of the core basal transcription factor TFIIH are required for both RNA polymerase II basal transcription and NER, some mutations affecting genes that encode TFIIH subunits can result in clinical phenotypes associated with defective basal transcription. Among these is a syndrome called trichothiodystrophy (TTD) in which the prominent features are brittle hair and nails, and dry scaly skin. A recent study provides dramatic support for the so-called transcription hypothesis of TTD.(1) Specifically, several patients have been shown to carry a mutation in the XPD gene, which encodes a thermolabile form of XPD protein, resulting in loss of hair during febrile episodes. BioEssays 23:671–673, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Combinatorial Catalysis Employing a Visible Enzymatic Beacon in Real Time: Synthetically Versatile (Pseudo)Halometalation/Carbocyclizations

Combinatorial approaches to catalysis have made an impact in targeted transformation development, including Ag-mediated carbene insertion,[1] Sc-pybox-based asymmetric cyclopropanation,[2] and Rh/Ir-based asymmetric hydrogenation.[3] Useful design elements have emerged from these studies, e.g. the value of ligand self assembly,[4] or of the inclusion of peptide-like structural elements[5],[6],[7] in building ligand arrays. Efficient screening methods are of paramount importance for such efforts. Methods based on fluorescence,[8] REMPI,[9] MS,[10] NMR,[11] and IR thermography[12] have appeared. A chromophore may be installed into the substrate[13] or product[14] of the reaction under study. Alternatively, one can exploit chromophores inherent in proteins[15] or enzyme-associated reactions,[16] and use these sensors to report back on product formation and composition.
Wireless Intermediate Frequency Signal over Passive Optical Networks: Architecture and Experimental Performance Evaluation

We propose wireless intermediate frequency (IF) signal over wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) passive optical networks (WDM-PON), and experimentally evaluate its feasibility and performance with eight channels of OFDM signals, for both downstream and upstream scenarios.
Strong-field induced optical absorption in ZnO crystal

We report the observation of intensity dependent red shift on the absorption-edge of zinc-oxide driven by a mid-infrared laser pulse. A new regime is identified where the shift is no longer linear to the intensity.
Current practice in designing bottom-entering fermentor drives.

Top entering drives have become almost traditional for fermentor applications, however bottom entering drives have distinct features that merit consideration. The prinicipal advantages of bottom drives are delineated and design criteria discussed. Illustrations based on experience with several hundred fermentors ranging in power from fractional to 100 HP and in scale from 10 to 30,000 gallons are presented. Specific areas dealt with include configuration, alignment, seals, and shaft design.
Breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices of Hispanic women diagnosed with cancer.

Abstract-Background. Cancer survivors' screening participation is important to prevent cancer recurrence and to maintain health for the growing number of Hispanic cancer survivors. Methods. Using a case comparison study design, data from a survey of Hispanic breast (n = 54) and cervical cancer (n=58) survivors were analyzed by bivariate analysis. Results. Knowledge of screening guidelines was low for all participants, especially regarding cervical cancer screening. Breast cancer survivors were most knowledgeable. Although survivors held positive cancer attitudes, participation in preventive cancer screening was low indicating the need for more effective cancer prevention communication processes. Conclusions. Hispanic cancer survivors need culturally sensitive cancer prevention education and the associated communication processes that acknowledges differences among the varying Hispanic subgroups. J Cancer Educ. 2003; 18:230-236.
Estimation of population density of the Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) from the proportion of grain tillers with different tally thresholds of aphids

Sampling summer and fall populations of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis Noxia (Mordvilko), on winter wheat, spring wheat, and barley in the northwestern United States (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) from 1988 to 1991 resulted in 120 estimates of mean aphid density (m aphids per tiller) and the proportion of tillers with ≤ T aphids (PT), where T is defined as the tally threshold. T was set to 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 for the summer populations and 0, 1... 5,8, and 10 for the fall populations. For each T , an empirically determined functional relationship between m and PT was developed using parameters estimated from the linear regression of In(m) on In[-In(PT)]. Variability associated with the m and PT relationship was found to differ greatly among the T values concerned, generally decreasing with increasing T , for the summer populations. Small T values, particularly empty tillers ( T = 0), may lead to spurious estimates of m from PT. The tally threshold of 20 or 25 aphids per tiller is suggested for use in monitoring summer populations of D. noxia to reduce the variability and achieve an acceptable error level. The variability was low for fall populations on winter wheat despite a variable range associated with the values of T, but was minimized when T = 2, 3, or 4. Using these T values, half-widths of the 95% CIs are usually <0.5 (which equals an error level [SE/ m ] of ≈0.25). These T values are also recommended for use in estimating the aphid populations infesting spring grains during the late spring or early summer.
Reducing Amputation Rates After Severe Frostbite.

In patients with severe frostbite, tPA plus a prostacyclin may be used to decrease the risk of digital amputation. tPA can be used alone and is associated with lower amputation rates compared with local wound care.