cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of cyclotron-resonance absorption by conduction electrons in indium antimonide

Abstract A semi-classical theory of cyclotron resonance by conduction electrons in InSb is presented. It is assumed that the conduction band is a simple band with a minimum at k = 0, and spin interactions are neglected. Terms up to the fourth order in the expansion of E in powers of k about the band edge are taken into account in a computation of the energy levels and wave functions of an electron in a constant magnetic field, using a simplified form of the effective mass equation of Kjeldaas and Kohn in which warping of the conduction-band energy surfaces is neglected. An expression for the absorption coefficient has been obtained which is accurate to terms linear in the fourth-order energy coefficient. Collision broadening is incorporated, using a single relaxation time. The fourth-order coefficient in the energy results in a splitting of the cyclotron-resonance absorption band into a series of peaks, each broadened towards the low-frequency side. The frequencies of the maxima of these peaks are shifted towards lower values by an amount which is proportional to the magnetic field and to the fourth-order coefficient in the energy and increases with magnetic quantum number. Using the energy-band parameters computed by Kane , the theoretical frequency shift is larger than that observed in infra-red cyclotron-resonance experiments, but it is of the right order of magnitude.
Lycopene in atherosclerosis prevention: An integrated scheme of the potential mechanisms of action from cell culture studies

Increasing evidence suggests that lycopene may protect against atherosclerosis, although, the exact mechanism(s) is still unknown. Because lycopene is an efficient antioxidant, it has been proposed for a long time that this property may be responsible for its beneficial effects. Consistent with this, the carotenoid has been demonstrated to inhibit ROS production in vitro and to protect LDL from oxidation. However, recently, other mechanisms have been evoked and include: prevention of endothelial injury; modulation of lipid metabolism through a control of cholesterol synthesis and oxysterol toxic activities; reduction of inflammatory response through changes in cytokine production; inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation through regulation of molecular pathways involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Focusing on cell culture studies, this review summarizes the experimental evidence for a role of lycopene in the different phases of atherosclerotic process.
Influence of Body Composition on the In Vivo Response to Acute Hypercapnia

Extract: Changes in the acid-base status of blood in vivo have been investigated in anesthetized, nephrectomized, artificially ventilated dogs during acute hypercapnia before and after induced changes in body composition. The experiments were designed to study factors influencing the redistribution of bicarbonate generated by buffers in the blood compartments and the interstitial fluid volume. The first series of experiments was designed to determine the best linear fit to data collected in vivo in dogs with acute steady state hypercapnia (the so-called in vivo CO2 equilibration curve). Three groups were studied: a control group, a group with expanded extracellular fluid (ECF), and a group with expanded blood volume. A linear relation was found between pH-log Pco2 and [H+]-Pco2, the correlation coefficients being 0.98 for both pairs of variables in all three groups. The pH-log Pco2 coordinate system was adopted. The linear relation between pH and log Pco2 allows the slope (Δlog Pco2 ΔpH) of the in vivo CO2 equilibration curve to be determined by measuring only two points on the line. In the second series of experiments, the slope of the in vivo CO2 equilibration curve was determined before and after body composition was altered so that each dog served as his own control. Six groups of dogs were studied: group 1 (six dogs) was control and had no change in body composition; groups 2 and 3 (six dogs each), ECF volume was increased by infusing 100 and 200 ml/kg, respectively, of a mock ECF solution; group 4 (eight dogs), blood volume was increased by infusing 50 ml/kg fresh, heparinized whole blood; group 5 (eight dogs), hemoglobin concentration was decreased by replacing blood with plasma; and group 6 (four dogs), hemoglobin concentration was increased by infusing 25–30 ml/kg packed erythrocytes. Statistical analysis of the changes in slopes caused by these changes in body composition (Table V) showed the following results: slope increased significantly as plasma bicarbonate concentration fell; slope decreased significantly as ECF volume increased; slope increased significantly as blood volume increased; slope did not change significantly with acute changes in hemoglobin concentration. Speculation: This study indicates that the slope of the in vivo CO2 equilibration curve is dependent upon certain variables of body composition, especially the volume of the extracellular fluid (ECF) and blood. Thus, correct interpretation of blood acid-base data in acute hypercapnia must take account of the redistribution of bicarbonate as a function of the body composition. For example, an infant born prematurely presenting.
Analysis of Salvinorin A in plants, water, and urine using solid-phase microextraction-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Abstract Salvinorin A, a psychoactive hallucinogen, and related compounds, were analyzed in plants, water, and urine using liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–ToFMS). A semi-qualitative study of the extraction of Salvinorin A and analogs from Salvia divinorum plants by LLE showed ppb levels of Salvinorin A and several analogs in the leaves and stems of S. divinorum plants, much lower than expected. Quantitative analysis of Salvinorin A spiked into water and urine showed much better figures of merit for SPME than LLE, with limit of detection of about 5 ng/mL, linear range from 8 to 500 ng/mL and precision about ±10% for the SPME-based analyses using external standard quantitation. GC × GC–ToFMS was especially effective in separating the peaks of interest from matrix and chromatographic interferences.
Loss of one HuD allele on chromosome #1p selects for amplification of the N- myc proto-oncogene in human neuroblastoma cells

In human neuroblastoma tumors, amplification of the N-myc proto-oncogene and loss of all or part of the short arm of chromosome #1 are both associated with a poor prognosis. Accruing evidence indicates that it is the absence of one allele of the HuD (ELAVL4) gene, encoding the neuronal-specific RNA-binding protein HuD and localized to 1p34, that is linked to amplification. In 12 human neuroblastoma cell lines, N-myc amplification correlates with loss of one HuD allele and decreased HuD expression. Transfection experiments demonstrate that modulating HuD expression affects N-myc gene copy number as well as expression. Introduction of a sense HuD construct into two N-myc amplified cell lines considerably increases N-myc expression whereas gene copy number decreases. Conversely, expression of antisense HuD in N-myc nonamplified SH-SY5Y cells reduces HuD and N-myc mRNA levels even as cells show amplification of the N-myc gene. Thus, N-myc gene copy number is modulated by alteration of HuD expression. We propose that haploinsufficiency of HuD due to chromosome #1p deletion in neuroblastoma selects for cells that amplify N-myc genes. Application of these findings could lead to more effective therapies in the treatment of those patients with the worst prognosis.
Comparison of Ustekinumab With Other Biological Agents for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis.

Objective To compare the efficacy of ustekinumab with that of other biological agents using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) among adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Data Sources We conducted a systematic search of the period January 31, 1992, to February 1, 2012, using MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov. Study Selection We included randomized controlled trials of biological agents compared with placebo or other biological agents using the PASI in patients who had moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Data Extraction Study data were extracted independently by 2 of us, with disagreement resolved by consensus. Data extracted included the size of the trial, follow-up period, age range of patients, disease duration, body surface area involvement, baseline PASI, PASI response, and previous treatment with biological agents. Data Synthesis A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed by fitting 3 regression models: a fixed-effects model, a random-effects model, and a random-effects model with meta-regression coefficients. The random-effects model achieved the best fit for these data. In pairwise comparisons, ustekinumab use was associated with statistically significantly higher odds for achieving a 75% reduction in the PASI compared with adalimumab use (odds ratio [OR], 1.84; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.01-3.54), alefacept use (OR, 10.38; CrI, 3.44-27.62), and etanercept use (OR, 2.07; 95% CrI, 1.42-3.06) but was associated with lower odds compared with infliximab use (OR, 0.36; 95% CrI, 0.14-0.82) . In the therapeutic class comparison, the interleukin-12/23 inhibitor had the highest odds for achieving a 75% reduction in the PASI compared with placebo (OR, 69.48; 95% CrI, 36.89-136.46), followed by tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (OR, 42.22; 95% CrI, 27.94-69.34) and the T-cell inhibitor (OR, 5.63; 95% CrI, 1.35-24.24). Conclusion For the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, ustekinumab may be more efficacious than adalimumab, etanercept, and alefacept but not infliximab.
Influence of friction and adhesion on the onset of plasticity during normal loading of spherical contacts

Increasing contact loading causes early transformation from elastic to elastic–plastic deformations in many conventional systems as well as micro/nano-electro-mechanical systems. The load required for yielding and the location of the onset of plasticity is critical in the robustness of systems with contacts. For frictionless (such as fully-lubricated) contacts, inception of plastic yielding occurs beneath the contact surface. However, frictional slip (contact shear) and adhesion push the inception of plastic yielding toward the contact surface. The influence of elastic mismatch, shear tractions and adhesive normal tractions on the subsurface stress field is studied analytically by superposition of the Hertzian stress field and the stress field created by the shear and additional (due to adhesion) normal tractions. Specifically, three contact conditions have been studied in this work: (i) frictionless, (ii) finite friction, and (iii) infinite friction (full stick). Also, a finite-element model is developed to verify certain assumptions in the analytical solution for the contact with finite friction. The results obtained are applied to two sets of in situ nanoindentation experiments to explain the change in the yielding behavior of submicrometer polycrystalline aluminum grains.
Drugs in pregnancy: anticonvulsants

Although 90% of patients using anticonvulsant drugs can expect a favorable pregnancy result, this outcome can be maximized by careful preconceptional, antepartum, and postpartum management. There is no clearcut agreement that any one of the four major drugs used for the treatment of seizure disorders (phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproic acid, and carbamazepine) is more teratogenic than others. Patients should be counseled that the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes from recurrent seizures during pregnancy is greater than the risk of teratogenicity with anticonvulsant drugs. The lowest possible dose of one of the four front-line agents is recommended for seizure control in pregnancy. The interaction of epilepsy and pregnancy, as well as the possible mechanisms of anticonvulsant teratogenesis, are reviewed. The use and toxicity of individual, commonly used, anticonvulsant drugs are described. Detailed consensus recommendations for preconceptional, antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum management of patients using anticonvulsant drugs are discussed.
Infrared-Warmed and Unwarmed Wheat Vegetation Indices Coalesce Using Canopy-Temperature–Based Growing Degree Days

To determine the likely effects of global warming on field-grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a “Hot Serial Cereal” experiment was conducted—so-called “Cereal” because wheat was the crop, “Serial” because the wheat was planted about every 6 wk for 2 yr, and “Hot” because infrared heaters were deployed on six of the planting dates in a temperature free-air controlled enhancement (T-FACE) system, which warmed the canopies of the Heated plots. During the experiment, measurements of canopy reflectance were made two to five times per week from which values of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were calculated. As expected, curves of NDVI from the Heated plots vs. time and vs. growing degree days (GDD) computed from air temperatures generally were ahead of those from Reference plots. However, when plotted against GDD computed from canopy temperatures the curves coalesced, which gives confidence that the infrared-heater treatment simulates natural warming and will produce plant responses not unlike those expected with future global warming. Biomass and grain yields were correlated with the areas under the NDVI vs. GDD curves for the air-temperature-based GDDs, but high variability prevented such a correlation to be detected using canopy-temperature-based GDD. Large differences existed between the total amounts of air or canopy temperature-based GDDs required for wheat to mature in our irrigated fields in an arid region. This implies that GDD based on air temperatures should be regarded only as a local guide to plant development rates, whereas those based on canopy temperatures would be more universal.
Frameless Image-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Lung Tumors with 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography or 4-Dimensional Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography

Abstract Background/Purpose To augment the accuracy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a variety of image guidance systems are used for patient positioning and target localization. Clinical outcomes evaluating these systems, especially frameless image-guided systems, are still limited. This article aims to describe and evaluate our frameless image-guided SBRT technique for lung tumors. Methods Between 2007 and 2009, 85 pulmonary tumors (50 primaries and 35 metastases) were treated with SBRT using daily image guidance for patient positioning and target localization in lieu of a body frame. Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) or an in-house protocol for integrated 4D positron emission computed tomography (4DPET/CT) was used for planning simulation. Results Median follow-up was 17 months (range, 4-42). Median overall survival (OS) was 31 months (95% CI, 26-34), and median local failure-free survival was 30 months (95% CI, 18-32). At last follow-up, 9 of 83 evaluable lesions failed locally. Actuarial local control at 24 months was 87% (95% CI, 75-98) and was significantly worse for metastatic lesions (95% vs. 74%; P = .045; log-rank test). No acute or late toxicities (grade ≥ 4) were observed. Conclusions Frameless image-guided SBRT is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment for lung tumors.
Double-barrel bypass for cerebral ischemia: technique, rationale, and preliminary experience with 10 consecutive cases

Background In selected patients, extracranial-intracranial bypass remains an important treatment for the prevention of stroke. Traditionally, superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass uses 1 STA branch. We have adopted a "double-barrel" technique in which both branches are joined with MCA recipients in distinct vascular territories. Objective To assess the feasibility of routinely using both branches of the STA for cerebral revascularization. Methods Ten consecutive patients underwent double-barrel bypass. Patients were selected if they demonstrated symptomatic MCA hypoperfusion resistant to medical therapy or had symptomatic moyamoya disease. Flow-directed bypass was performed to augment flow to the territories most at risk in each case, based on preoperative and intraoperative data. Computed tomography perfusion was routinely performed to evaluate baseline deficits and postoperative augmentation. Clinical data were analyzed to assess patient demographics and outcomes. Results The double-barrel bypass was no more difficult technically than the traditional approach, with the second branch harvested through a small satellite incision. By isolating temporary occlusion to each territory, there was no additional ischemia to each brain region. No intraoperative complications or wound-healing issues occurred. Postoperative computed tomography perfusion studies all showed improvement, and delayed vascular imaging demonstrated universal graft patency. Nine of 10 patients have been asymptomatic since surgery, whereas 1 patient demonstrated symptoms in a separate vascular distribution. Conclusion Double-barrel STA-MCA bypass is both feasible and potentially advantageous. In our series, both bypass branches remained patent, augmenting flow to the territories most at need.
Wavelet-based algorithm for mesocyclone detection

Severe weather such as tornadoes and large hail often emanates from thunderstorms that have persistent, well organized, rotating updrafts. These rotating updrafts, which are generally referred to as mesocyclones, appear as couplets of incoming and outgoing radial velocities to a single Doppler radar. Observations of mesocyclones reveal useful information on the kinematics in the vicinity of the storm updraft that, if properly interpreted, can be used to assess the likelihood and intensity of the severe weather. Automated algorithms for such assessments exist, but are inconsistent in their wind shear estimations and are prone to high false alarm rates. Reported here are the elements of a new approach that we believe will alleviate the shortcomings of previous mesocyclone detection algorithms. This wavelet-based approach enables us to focus on the known scales where mesocyclones reside. Common data quality problems associated with radar data such as noise and data gaps are handled effectively by the approach presented here. We demonstrate our approach with a 1D test pattern, then with a 2D synthetic mesocyclone vortex, and finally with a case study.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Architecture of the IBM system/370

This paper discusses the design considerations for the architectural extensions that distinguish System/370 from System/360. It comments on some experiences with the original objectives for System/360 and on the efforts to achieve them, and it describes the reasons and objectives for extending the architecture. It covers virtual storage, program control, data-manipulation instructions, timing facilities, multiprocessing, debugging and monitoring, error handling, and input/output operations. A final section tabulates some of the important parameters of the various IBM machines which implement the architecture.
Transitional cell ovarian carcinoma in a BRCA1 mutation carrier.

Abstract BACKGROUND: BRCA1 mutation carriers are at high risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer, but the transitional cell variant has not been previously reported in these patients. CASE: A nulligravid, perimenopausal woman underwent exploratory laparotomy for a pelvic mass, ascites, and omental caking. Intraoperatively, frozen section of a tumor implant revealed high-grade epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Optimal surgical cytoreduction was performed. The final surgical pathology confirmed International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIC transitional cell ovarian carcinoma. Her family history was significant for a sister with premenopausal breast cancer and a paternal aunt with ovarian cancer. The patient was counseled and elected to undergo genetic testing. Comprehensive gene sequence analysis detected the germline BRCA1 5382insC mutation. CONCLUSION: Transitional cell ovarian carcinoma is a rare histologic variant of epithelial ovarian cancer that may occur in BRCA1 mutation carriers.
Evaluating Capacity Building for Policy Research Organizations.

The international community has identified a positive link between good governance and economic development. There is an increasing appreciation of the effective role that local policy research organizations (PROs) can play in providing evidence-based policy recommendations as the basis for sound legislation and in assessing the efficacy of existing programs. Capacity building programs for PROs are seen as a key component of growth strategies. The donor community has responded with support for such efforts, which take many forms. The evaluation of the impact of these capacity building and mentoring programs has been inadequate. This paper sets out some general points for the development of effective program evaluation and suggests concrete ways to measure two more important capacity building program outcomes: improved research capacity and greater effectiveness in the policy arena.
CASA UNO GPS orbit and baseline experiments

CASA Uno data from sites distributed in longitude from Australia to Europe have been used to determine orbits of the GPS satellites. The characteristics of the orbits determined from double difference phase have been evaluated through comparisons of two-week solutions with one-week solutions and by comparisons of predicted and estimated orbits. Evidence of unmodeled effects is demonstrated, particularly associated with the orbit planes that experience solar eclipse. The orbit accuracy has been assessed through the repeatability of unconstrained estimated baseline vectors ranging from 245 km to 5400 km. Both the baseline repeatability and the comparison with independent space geodetic methods give results at the level of 1-2 parts in 100,000,000. In addition, the Mojave/Owens Valley (245 km) and Kokee Park/Ft. Davis (5409 km) estimates agree with VLBI and SLR to better than 1 part in 100,000,000.
Review of Current and Future Neutrino Cross-Section Experiments

There has been a surge of progress and published results in neutrino cross-section physics in recent years. In many cases, absolute differential cross-sections are being measured for the first time and can be compared to interaction models first developed decades ago. These measurements are important input for the next generation of accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments where precise understanding of both signal and background channels will be critical to the observation of sub-dominant oscillation effects. This paper discusses recent results from several experiments and describes new experiments currently under construction dedicated to making these measurements with unprecedented precision.
Effect of Vitamin A on Growth, Egg Production and Reproduction of Japanese Quail

Abstract THE Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) continues to receive increasing emphasis as a research animal since it grows rapidly, matures at an early age, and is a prolific egg producer. Although the Japanese quail has been advocated for many areas of avian research (Shellenberger and Newell, 1965), only limited information is available on its nutritional requirements. Fox and Harrison (1964) and Kienholtz et al. (1965) used these birds in a study of zinc deficiency and absorption. Nelson et al. (1964) have investigated calcium and phosphorus requirements of the adult bird, while Howes (1965) reported on the protein-energy interrelationships for the growing and adult Japanese quail. However, vitamin requirements of this species apparently have not been reported. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of vitamin A on growth, egg production, and reproduction of the Japanese quail. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Newly hatched Japanese quail chicks from a stock colony maintained at …
Candida-specific antibodies during experimental vaginal candidiasis in mice.

Protective host defense mechanisms against vaginal Candida albicans infections are poorly understood. Although cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is the predominant host defense mechanism against most mucosal Candida infections, the role of CMI against vaginal candidiasis is uncertain, both in humans and in an experimental mouse model. The role of humoral immunity is equally unclear. While clinical observations suggest a minimal role for antibodies against vaginal candidiasis, an experimental rat model has provided evidence for a protective role for Candida-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies. Additionally, Candida vaccination-induced IgM and IgG3 antibodies are protective in a mouse model of vaginitis. In the present study, the role of infection-induced humoral immunity in protection against experimental vaginal candidiasis was evaluated through the quantification of Candida-specific IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies in serum and vaginal lavage fluids of mice with primary and secondary (partially protected) infection. In naive mice, total, but not Candida-specific, antibodies were detected in serum and lavage fluids, consistent with lack of yeast colonization in mice. In infected mice, Candida-specific IgA and IgG antibodies were induced in serum with anamnestic responses to secondary infection. In lavage fluid, while Candida-specific antibodies were detectable, concentrations were extremely low with no anamnestic responses in mice with secondary infection. The incorporation of alternative protocols-including infections in a different strain of mice, prolongation of primary infection prior to secondary challenge, use of different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay capture antigens, and concentration of lavage fluid-did not enhance local Candida-specific antibody production or detection. Additionally, antibodies were not removed from lavage fluids by being bound to Candida during infection. Together, these data suggest that antibodies are not readily present in vaginal secretions of infected mice and thus have a limited natural protective role against infection.
Effect of Particle Aggregation on the Survival of Irradiated Vaccinia Virus

Galasso, G. J. (University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill), and D. G. Sharp. Effect of particle aggregation on the survival of irradiated vaccinia virus. J. Bacteriol. 90:1138-1142. 1965.-The survival curve (plaque titer versus time) of vaccinia virus irradiated with ultraviolet light was found to be strongly dependent, in both shape and general slope, on the degree of aggregation among the virus particles. When special care was taken to produce completely dispersed virus, a straight steep line resulted. Some severely aggregated preparations produced a straight line also, but of much less slope. Thus, the straight line, often taken as evidence of complete dispersion, is not a reliable measure for vaccinia virus. None of the experimental curves resembled the classical multihit curve predicted by the Poisson function for the behavior of uniformly aggregated virus. The aggregation was observed, by electron microscopy, to be nonuniform, and of such a distribution that the survival curves can be qualitatively accounted for in terms of multiplicity reactivation of irradiated virus within cells that receive groups of two or more particles. The greatly increased survival value of aggregates of virus, which indicates multiplicity reactivation, is worthy of note.
Colorless, surface normal optical modulator based on free carrier effect in gallium arsenide

We demonstrate a surface-normal modulator based on free-carrier effect in GaAs and phase-to-amplitude conversion coupling to a single mode fiber. Operation over 1200–2400nm, modulation depth up to 43% and frequency up to 270MHz is observed.
Nicotinic Modulation of Tone-Evoked Responses in Auditory Cortex Reflects the Strength of Prior Auditory Learning

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) contribute to sensory-cognitive function, as demonstrated by evidence that nAChR activation enhances, and nAChR blockade impairs, neural processing of sensory stimuli and sensory-cognitive behavior. To better understand the relationship between nAChR function and behavior, here we compare the strength of nAChR-mediated physiology in individual animals to their prior auditory behavioral performance. Adult rats were trained on an auditory-cued, active avoidance task over four days and classified as “good,” “intermediate” or “poor” performers based on their initial rate of learning and eventual level of performance. Animals were then anesthetized, and tone-evoked local field potentials (LFPs) recorded in layer 4 of auditory cortex (ACx) before and after a test dose of nicotine (0.7 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline. In “good” performers, nicotine enhanced LFP amplitude and decreased response threshold to characteristic frequency (CF) stimuli, yet had opposite effects (decreased amplitude, increased threshold) on responses to spectrally-distant stimuli; i.e., cortical receptive fields became more selective for CF stimuli. In contrast, nicotine had little effect on LFP amplitude in “intermediate” or “poor” performing animals. Nicotine did, however, reduce LFP onset latency in all three groups, indicating that all received an effective dose of the drug. Our findings suggest that nicotinic regulation of cortical receptive fields may be a distinguishing feature of the best-performing animals, and may facilitate sensory-related learning by enhancing receptive field selectivity.
Neuropsychological function before and after subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Background:Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a pervasive and difficult to treat condition for which deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate white matter (SCCwm) is an emerging therapeutic option. However, neuropsychological safety data for this novel treatment have only been published for a small number of subjects. Moreover, little is known regarding the neuropsychological profile present in TRD patients at baseline, prior to initiation of DBS therapy. This report describes the neuropsychological effects of TRD and acute and chronic DBS of the SCCwm in patients with unipolar and bipolar TRD.Methods:Patients with TRD (N=17) were compared to a healthy control group (N=15) on subtests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery and the Stroop Task. Patients were then tested again at subsequent time points of 1 and 6 months following the initiation of chronic DBS of the SCCwm.Results:Patients with TRD showed similar levels of performance to healthy controls on most neuropsychological measures, with the exception that the TRD group had slower processing speed. Patients with bipolar TRD, relative to those with unipolar TRD, obtained lower scores on measures of executive function and memory only at baseline. With acute and chronic SCCwm DBS, neuropsychological function improved in multiple domains including processing speed and executive function (planning, set shifting, response inhibition), and memory remained stable.Conclusions:Patients with TRD show slowed
Reliability of benign fine needle aspiration cytology of large thyroid nodules.

Background With increasing use of thyroid ultrasonography, thyroid nodules have been found to be extremely common. For over 25 years, fine needle aspiration (FNA) has been the pivotal diagnostic test to discriminate benign from potentially malignant thyroid nodules. Recently, false negative rates exceeding 10% have led to recommendations that thyroid nodules ≥4 cm should be resected regardless of cytology results. Our aim was to determine the false negative rate of FNA cytology on thyroid nodules ≥3 cm interpreted as benign at our institution. Methods A retrospective review was performed at Mayo Clinic from January 2002 through December 2006. Results From 6,921 ultrasonographic-guided thyroid FNAs, 742 were interpreted as benign and ≥3 cm. A definitive histologic diagnosis was available for 145 (20%) patients who underwent thyroidectomy: 1 (0.7%) was false negative. No additional thyroid malignancies were identified in 550 index nodules with average follow-up of 3 years. Conclusion With precise ultrasonographic-guided aspiration, strict adherence to guidelines for adequacy of the sample, proper cytologic preparation, and most importantly, expert cytologic analysis, a diagnosis of benign is extremely reliable for thyroid nodules, regardless of size. Resection for diagnosis is not necessary, and a size ≥3 cm should not be an independent indication for resection.
Learners Need Purposeful and Systematic Instruction

A science teacher assigns Chapter 14 in the textbook and tells everyone to answer the questions at the end of the chapter (full sentences, please).Are you asking where exactly did the instruction occur? While most agree that teaching is more than simply causing or assigning an activity, the teachers in the examples above moved almost immediately to independent work. Did you notice that students were not given an opportunity to try new content while be-ing supported? If this is common practice, is it any wonder that the needs of so many adolescent students are not being met?Our experience suggests that teachers who are addressing the learning needs of all students employ a recursive instructional process that includes
Miss rate prediction across all program inputs

Improving cache performance requires understanding cache behavior. However, measuring cache performance for one or two data input sets provides little insight into how cache behavior varies across all data input sets. This paper uses our recently published locality analysis to generate a parameterized model of program cache behavior. Given a cache size and associativity, this model predicts the miss rate for arbitrary data input set sizes. This model also identifies critical data input sizes where cache behavior exhibits marked changes. Experiments show this technique is within 2% of the hit rate for set associative caches on a set of integer and floating-point programs.
Design exploration assessment methodology: testing the guidance of design processes

This paper introduces the design exploration assessment methodology (DEAM) for comparing design process impact and outcome. Current practice fails to reliably generate high-performing alternatives in part because it lacks systematic means to compare existing or emerging design processes. Researchers lack empirical methods and data to evaluate design challenges and the strategies available to address them. In this paper, we document and then apply the DEAM to the professional implementation of six design strategies across two design challenges using the charrette test method. The results are used to compare the strategies according to the performance of the solution(s) generated. For the strategies and challenges investigated, more information during design does not always assist the designer to produce better performing alternatives. We discuss possible explanations and conclude with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the DEAM as an evaluation method. Initial findings demonstrate that the DEA...
Bonds: Investment Features and Risks

Bonds are debt instruments that are issued by a wide-range of entities throughout the world. Unlike the investor in common stock who hopes to share in the good fortunes of a corporation through increased dividends and price appreciation in the stock's price, an investor in a bond has agreed to accept a fixed contractual interest rate. The features that may be included in a bond affect both the performance of a bond when market interest rates change and its risk characteristics. An investor in a bond is exposed to one or more of the following risks: interest rate risk, call and prepayment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, exchange rate or currency risk, and inflation or purchasing power risk. There are various yield measures that are quoted for bonds: current yield, yield to maturity, yield to call, yield to put, yield to worst, and cash flow yield. Keywords: bond; global bond market; domestic bond market; foreign bond market; international bond market; offshore bond market; Eurobond market; Eurobonds; maturity; term to maturity; money market instruments; money market; principal; face value; redemption value; maturity value; coupon rate; coupon; step-up notes; zero-coupon bonds; floating-rate securities; fixed-rate bond market; floating-rate bond market; coupon reset date; inverse floaters; reverse floaters; cap; floor; range note; accrued interest; full price; clean price; traded flat; trade date; settlement date; value date; day count conventions; bullet maturity; serial bonds; amortizing securities; sinking fund provision; deferred call; first call date; refunding; first par call date; prepayment; prepayment option; balloon maturity; accelerated sinking fund provision; convertible bond; current yield; yield to maturity; bond-equivalent yield; yield to call; yield to first call; yield to next call; a yield to first par call; yield to refunding; yield to put; yield to worst; cash flow yield; interest rate risk; call risk; prepayment risk; credit risk; default risk; rating agencies; credit spread risk; downgrade risk; liquidity risk. exchange rate risk; currency risk; inflation risk; purchasing power risk
The effects of quinolones on the adherence of type-1 fimbriated Escherichia coli to mannosylated agarose beads

Bacterial adherence is reported to be antagonized by several classes of antibiotics including quinolones, beta-lactams and tetracyclines, based primarily on in-vitro studies in which bacterial cells are exposed to antimicrobials, incubated in the presence of uroepithelial cells (UECs) and assessed for adherence by light microscopy. Some problems associated with the use of this approach, include low sensitivity, high variability and, in the case of adherence of mannose-sensitive Escherichia coli interference by mannose-containing uromucoid. To avoid these problems, mannosylated agarose beads (MABs) were used as a model for UECs. Adherence of E. coli strain AAEC356, which is constitutive for type-1 fimbrial expression, was maximal with 3 x 10(4) beads/mL and 1 x 10(8) bacterial cells/mL co-incubated for 35 min at 37 degrees C. Those bacterial cultures showed 40-60% adherence to MABs but only 4-10% adherence to UECs. This study reports a novel method to detect mannose-sensitive bacterial adherence, using MABs, in order to determine the effects of quinolones, cefdinir and tetracycline on E. coli adherence. Cefdinir and the quinolones ciprofloxacin, enoxacin and PD131628 caused significant reductions in the adherence of AAEC356 to UECs at concentrations equivalent to 1/2 x MIC, while up to 1 x MIC of these antibiotics had no significant effect on adherence to MABs. A direct comparison of UEC to MAB-based techniques showed that PD131628, at concentrations equivalent to 1/16x, 1/4x, 1/2x and 1 x MIC, had no effect on bacterial adherence to MABs, while reductions of 34%, 38%, 87% and 85% respectively were seen in adherence to UECs. The anti-adherent effect mediated by quinolones may not therefore be related to the specific interaction between type-1 fimbriae and mannosylated receptors. While quinolones and cefdinir had no effect on overall bacterial adherence to MABs, there was a decrease in the ability of alpha-methyl-D-mannoside (alpha-MM) to inhibit competitively this adherence. Concurrent exposure of PD131628 or cefdinir with tetracycline prevented this, suggesting that protein synthesis is required for this effect.
Digital signal processing with digit-serial RNS arithmetic

Although a great deal of attention has been given to residue number system (RNS) arithmetic in the digital-parallel form, little attention has been given to the digit-serial form. The digit serial form results in slower operating speeds, but it also provides many interesting and potentially useful properties due to the nonweighted properties of the RNS code. This paper discusses two particular scenarios where digit-serial RNS arithmetic is useful: (i) in variable word length sum-of-products processing, and (ii) in fault tolerant adaptive digital filtering based on combining digit-serial RNS arithmetic and a block LMS adaptive algorithm.
The Significance of Tooth Form

Abstract No Abstract Available. *The first portion of this essay is to be found in the October, 1934, issue of the Angle Orthodontist.
Surgical removal of a congenital fibrovascular pupillary membrane.

F ibrovascular pupillary membranes have been described in the literature by various names, including congenital pupillary-iris-lens membrane with goniodysgenesis and fibrous congenital iris membrane with pupillary distortion. We describe a technique for surgical removal of congenital fibrous pupillary membrane, demonstrated in a newborn girl treated at Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles. These fibrous membranes differ from the common hyperplastic persistent pupillary membranes that originate from the iris collarette and do not involve the angle or attach to the lens. Congenital fibrous pupillary membranes variably involve the anterior lens capsule and the anterior chamber angle. They are likely to progress, in which case they may cause complete pupillary obstruction, with secondary iris bombe and angle-closure glaucoma; therefore, surgical removal and enlargement of the pupil has been recommended. Surgery to remove the membranes has been described using a vitrector or small-gauge microforceps and scissors. Our technique uses 23-gauge microforceps to continually grasp the iris, which is pulled away from the membrane. To avoid crossing the pupil and potentially damaging the lens capsule, several paracenteses may be
Labeling and Imaging Techniques for Quantification of Therapeutic Biologics

This chapter discusses considerations on the choice of different labels suitable for various detection and imaging methods. It describes labeling methods of protein therapeutics in terms of direct versus indirect methods and in terms of radiohalogens (e.g., radioiodine), trivalent cation radiometals (e.g., indium, copper, and zirconium), and fluorophores. The chapter provides a guide for scientists to find the optimal combination of labeling techniques and labels suitable for pharmaceutical application. The chapter also discusses the advantages and the limitations of the labeling method. It emphasises on the use of numerous imaging techniques for assessing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and biodistribution of biologic proteins, with a focus on positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and a brief discussion of the role of optical imaging (OI) in this application. Biodistribution studies for biologics are routinely carried out using radioactive iodine isotopes. Keywords: biodistribution; labeling techniques; molecular imaging; optical imaging; pharmacokinetics; positron emission tomography; single-photon emission computed tomography; therapeutic biologics
Securing the Gold: Olympic Security from a Counter-Terrorist Perspective

The Olympic Games are set up to promote the principles of humanity, understanding, and cooperation among the people of the world. The Olympics symbolize the ideals of unity and peace (Czula, 1978; US Olympic committee, 1996). Thousands of athletes from hundreds of countries compete and depict sportsmanship, and all is broadcast to a worldwide audience. Hatred and conflict among groups and nations are supposedly forgotten in the name of the Olympic spirit. With its large audience, the Olympics are considered one of the greatest media events in the world. The popularity of the Olympics is hoped to promote positive ideologies such as those of sportsmanship and goodwill to wide audiences. Yet the games have also been used to promote negative ideologies such as those of hate, as Hitler did in the 1936 Berlin games (Hoberman, 1986). Through television the Olympics have been able to reach an audience of billions around the world that would not be reached otherwise. The 2008 Chinese Olympics were designed to show off a modern albeit totalitarian nation with the aggressive cruelty of the state barely hidden behind the many layers of censorship and intimidation. The large television audience and general international attention the Olympics receive creates a genuine threat of exploitation. In 1972, Palestinian terrorists exploited the publicity and wide audience available through the Olympics kidnapping and murdering Israeli athletes as the situation was broadcast live to millions of homes around the world (Reeve, 2000). The Olympic Games continue to be a target for groups that wish to have their ideological messages broadcast to a large audience. The security of the Olympics is important to ensure that groups that promote hate and who wish to spread terror do not tarnish the message of the Olympics. The purpose of this chapter is to present some data on Olympic security threats
Obesity and menopausal status as determinants of procarcinogenic breast inflammation.

40 Background: Chronic inflammation predisposes to several malignancies. We previously demonstrated an obesity → inflammation → aromatase axis in breast tissue. As obesity is a risk factor for post...
Self-Administration of JWH-018 A Synthetic Cannabinoid in Experimentally Naïve Rats.

A recent study by Dr. Maria Antonietta De Luca demonstrated intravenous (IV) self-administration responding (nose-poking) for the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 [1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole] (Figure 1) in an experimentally naive, adult rat species [1]. This finding is unexpected since the phytocannabinoid (−)-trans-Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC, Figure 1), a primary psychoactive constituent in marijuana, has been reported to not maintain IV selfadministration responding above vehicle levels in rats [2,3] and rhesus monkeys [4-6]. IV self-administration of synthetic cannabinoids is not unprecedented since several synthetic cannabinoids have been found to maintain IV self-administration responding in experimentally naive rats [1,7-10], and mice [11-14]. However, the finding by Dr. De Luca is important because JWH-018 has been frequently found in K2/Spice preparations [15-17] and there continues to be an increase in the abuse and non-medical use of various synthetic cannabinoids worldwide [15-17]. Further, the use of marijuana has been recently legalized in two states of the U.S.
Evidence That COG0325 Proteins are involved in PLP Homeostasis.

Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) is an essential cofactor for nearly 60 Escherichia coli enzymes but is a highly reactive molecule that is toxic in its free form. How PLP levels are regulated and how PLP is delivered to target enzymes are still open questions. The COG0325 protein family belongs to the fold-type III class of PLP enzymes and binds PLP but has no known biochemical activity although it occurs in all kingdoms of life. Various pleiotropic phenotypes of the E. coli COG0325 (yggS) mutant have been reported, some of which were reproduced and extended in this study. Comparative genomic, genetic and metabolic analyses suggest that these phenotypes reflect an imbalance in PLP homeostasis. The E. coli yggS mutant accumulates the PLP precursor pyridoxine 5′-phosphate (PNP) and is sensitive to an excess of pyridoxine but not of pyridoxal. The pyridoxine toxicity phenotype is complemented by the expression of eukaryotic yggS orthologs. It is also suppressed by the presence of amino acids, specifically isoleucine, threonine and leucine, suggesting the PLP-dependent enzyme transaminase B (IlvE) is affected. These genetic results lay a foundation for future biochemical studies of the role of COG0325 proteins in PLP homeostasis.