cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase equilibria and transformations in intermediate titaniumaluminum alloys

The phase equilibria and solid state phase transformations observed in TiAl alloys between 40 and 50 at.% Al are reported. It is shown that the three-phase invariant between the high temperature α phase (disordered h.c.p.) and the lower temperature ordered α2-Ti3Al (D019) and γ-TiAl (L10) phases is eutectoid in nature (α → α2 + γ) but that it is difficult to impossible to produce this reaction experimentally due to differences in the transformation kinetics of the two product phases. The decomposition of the high temperature α phase is shown to be a strong function of composition and cooling rate and the results are used to construct schematic CCT diagrams. It is also shown that γ precipitation can be suppressed in 40, 42 and 45Al alloys by rapid quenching from the α field but not in the 48 and 50Al alloys; in the latter, the γ tends to be either lamellar or massive in nature. Finally, the nature of the discontinuous coarsening of the lamellar (α2 + γ or α + γ) structures to produce serrated, interlocking grain boundaries and the lack of heterogeneous nucleation of γ at grain boundaries is described and related to the thermal histories, driving forces, and crystallography of the system. The various results are then used to shed light on the behavior observed in previous studies on alloys in this system.
On the determination of the ferromagnetic exchange constant in thin films

Abstract The exchange constant in ferromagnetic thin films is calculated by comparing the intensity distribution of Lorentz micrographs with the Feldtkeller-Fuchs relation for the spin distribution through 180° Neel walls.
NMDA Receptors: what do they do?

Abstract The function of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has been puzzling for some time, since these receptors are present on many neurons but are not responsible for conventional fast synaptic excitation. Two recent studies have cast new light on the possible functions of NMDA receptors in the mammalian central nervous system. First, an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) sensitive to d-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (d-APV), an NMDA receptor antagonist, can be revealed in rat hippocampal slices after GABAergic inhibition is blocked or the concentration of extracellular Mg 2+ is reduced 1,2 . Each of the latter treatments results in epileptiform discharges in the hippocampus that are also reduced by d-APV. Second, a voltage-dependent EPSP with properties reflecting mediation by NMDA receptors has been demonstrated in neocortical slices 3,4 . These findings can be explained by relief of the well known voltage-dependent block by Mg 2+ of NMDA-activated channels 5,6 . Together these observations indicate that NMDA receptors can be activated synaptically, and that their activation is modulated by a variety of physiological controls.
The Kamin effect in fish

The effect of intersession interval on the relearning of an incompletely learned shuttlebox avoidance response in fish was investigated. The results revealed a U-shaped function, with the poorest performance occurring 24 hr. after original learning.
Variations in eddy diffusion and associated transport processes

Variation in the eddy diffusion coefficient constitutes a momentum source. This variation near the turbopause affects both the composition and the wind and temperature fields of the thermosphere. Two types of calculations are carried out, for horizontal winds considered self-consistently in a three-dimensional dynamic model and horizontal winds artificially suppressed to simulate a one-dimensional model. Momentum transfer associated with variations in eddy diffusion coefficients represents the source function in the analysis presented. It is shown that for long-term variations in the thermosphere, the compositional dependence on variations in eddy diffusion coefficients can be entirely different in one and three dimensional models with horizontal winds included. Horizontal winds can greatly reduce the effects of eddy diffusion in general and the ratio between He and O amplitudes in particular.
ALGORITHMS FOR THE CONSTRAINED LONGEST COMMON SUBSEQUENCE PROBLEMS

Given strings S1, S2, and P, the constrained longest common subsequence problem for S1 and S2 with respect to P is to find a longest common subsequence lcs of S1 and S2 which contains P as a subsequence. We present an algorithm which improves the time complexity of the problem from the previously known O(rn2m2) to O(rnm) where r, n, and m are the lengths of P, S1, and S2, respectively. As a generalization of this, we extend the definition of the problem so that the lcs sought contains a subsequence whose edit distance from P is less than a given parameter d. For the latter problem, we propose an algorithm whose time complexity is O(drnm).
Poly(ethylene glycol)-induced fusion and destabilization of human plasma high-density lipoproteins.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are macromolecular complexes of specific proteins and lipids that mediate the removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. Chemical unfolding revealed that HDL fusion and rupture are the two main kinetic steps in HDL denaturation. Here we test the hypothesis that lipid fusogens such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) may promote lipoprotein fusion and rupture and thereby destabilize HDL. We analyze thermal disruption of spherical HDL in 0−15% PEG-8000 by calorimetric, spectroscopic, electron microscopic, and light scattering techniques. We demonstrate that the two irreversible high-temperature endothermic HDL transitions involve particle enlargement and show a heating rate dependence characteristic of kinetically controlled reactions with high activation energy. The first calorimetric transition reflects HDL fusion and dissociation of lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1), and the second transition reflects HDL rupture and release of the apolar lipid core. Neither transitio...
Enantioselective photocycloaddition mediated by chiral Brønsted acids: asymmetric synthesis of the rocaglamides.

Enantioselective syntheses of methyl rocaglate and the related natural products rocaglamide and rocaglaol are outlined. The approach involves enantioselective [3 + 2] photocycloaddition promoted by chiral Bronsted acids (TADDOLs) to afford an aglain precursor followed by a ketol shift/reduction sequence to the rocaglate core.
Raphael and the Challenge of Evangelical Education

Raphael offers the most complex example of service and ministry among the good angels: his task is at once straightforward and paradoxical. Abdiel responds spontaneously to Satan’s blasphemy; Uriel isn’t aware that he’s facing a test when this bright young cherub appears, but then quickly recovers; Gabriel and the angelic guard fulfill duties that are explicit and circumscribed. Each of these angels undertakes a mission that is straightforward; its successful completion, or at least the angel’s faithful attempt to execute his responsibilities, can be easily defined. But God sends Raphael to earth on a mission of complexity and subtlety. He must engage Adam in conversation, “advise him of his happy state” (5.234), warn him of his danger, and remind him of his freedom. As I argue in the introduction, God sets tasks before his creatures for their benefit, not for his own: “God doth not need” (“When I consider” 9). He expects his creatures to fulfill not the letter, but the spirit of the challenges he presents them. Raphael’s charge, then, should challenge his imagination and its exercise should contribute to his own spiritual development, even as he attends to the spiritual development of Adam and Eve.
Third-Degree Price Discrimination With Interdependent Demands

This paper analyzes the price, output, and welfare effects of third-degree price discrimination for a monopolist who sells in two interdependent markets. The case where the two goods sold by the monopolist are complements is analyzed as well as the more typical case where the two goods are substitutes. The economic effects of price discrimination are shown to depend on the type and strength of demand interdependence, the curvature of the demands and the slope of marginal cost. The circumstances under which price discrimination causes both market prices to either rise or fall are also analyzed.
Haplotype inference for present–absent genotype data using previously identified haplotypes and haplotype patterns

Motivation: Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes vary considerably in their presence or absence on a specific regional haplotype. Because presence or absence of these genes is largely detected using locus-specific genotyping technology, the distinction between homozygosity and hemizygosity is often ambiguous. The performance of methods for haplotype inference (e.g. PL-EM, PHASE) for KIR genes may be compromised due to the large portion of ambiguous data. At the same time, many haplotypes or partial haplotype patterns have been previously identified and can be incorporated to facilitate haplotype inference for unphased genotype data. To accommodate the increased ambiguity of present–absent genotyping of KIR genes, we developed a hybrid approach combining a greedy algorithm with the Expectation-Maximization (EM) method for haplotype inference based on previously identified haplotypes and haplotype patterns. Results: We implemented this algorithm in a software package named HAPLO-IHP (Haplotype inference using identified haplotype patterns) and compared its performance with that of HAPLORE and PHASE on simulated KIR genotypes. We compared five measures in order to evaluate the reliability of haplotype assignments and the accuracy in estimating haplotype frequency. Our method outperformed the two existing techniques by all five measures when either 60 % or 25 % of previously identified haplotypes were incorporated into the analyses. Availability: The HAPLO-IHP is available at http://www.soph.uab.edu/Statgenetics/People/KZhang/HAPLO-IHP/index.html Contact: KZhang@ms.soph.uab.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Learning: Introduction to the Special Issue

port the findings of studies on various aspects of second language learning informed by the sociocultural theory of mind developed by the Russian psychologist and psycholinguist Lev S. Vygotsky and his colleagues. Researchers working on educational problems in general, and those of us working on questions relating to second language learning, in particular, have found Vygotsky's ideas challenging, at times perplexing, but always stimulating and informative. Although the details of sociocultural theory are fleshed out in the six papers that follow, it is important to underscore from the outset that Vygotsky's fundamental theoretical insight is that higher forms of human mental activity are always, and everywhere, mediated by symbolic
Heat Emission from Burning Fabrics; Potential Harm Ranking:

A technique for continuous monitoring of the heat released when a freely-suspended fabrie burns under natural con vection is described. The primary responses obtained from this measurement include ...
Effects of Oral Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Dimethyl Sulfone on Murine Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Disease

AbstractThe results from several studies examining the effects of DMSO on autoimmune phenomena have been inconclusive, possibly because of differences in experimental models, treatment regimens and...
Dietary patterns and longevity: expanding the blue zones.

The scientific literature on diet and health is large and burgeoning. Until now, researchers have focused predominantly on the effects of individual nutrients and sometimes foods, but rarely on dietary patterns. Outcomes are often biomarkers, risk factors, or morbidity. Studies with total mortality as an outcome are uncommon, in large part because the sample size must be extremely large and/or the duration of follow-up long. Nonetheless, such studies are important because mortality as an outcome has unequivocal clinical relevance. In this issue of Circulation , Heidemann and colleagues1 document the relationship of 2 dietary patterns with total and cause-specific mortality. Article p 230 The setting is the Nurses’ Health Study. In this large, prospective, observational study of 72 113 female nurses who were free of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, factor analysis identified 2 dietary patterns from data collected on serial food frequency questionnaires. One pattern, called prudent, was characterized by a high consumption of vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains. The other pattern, called Western, corresponded to a high consumption of red meat, processed meat, refined grains, french fries, sweets, and desserts. Individuals were classified by their level of adherence to both the prudent diet and the Western diet. After baseline data collection in 1984, follow-up lasted 18 years, during which time 6011 deaths occurred (3319 [52%] as a result of cancer; 1154 [19%] resulting from cardiovascular disease [CVD]; and 1718 [29%] resulting from …
Vitamin E and prostate cancer: is vitamin E succinate a superior chemopreventive agent?

There is convincing evidence that vitamin E succinate significantly reduces human prostate cancer growth in experimental models compared with α-tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate. Its intact delivery to cancer cells is questionable when administered orally; however, a study in transgenic mice showed a synergistic inhibitory effect of dietary vitamin E succinate, selenium, and lycopene on prostate cancer incidence. Clinical trials have yet to confirm this effect.
Combined Targeting of mTOR and AKT is an Effective Strategy for Basal-like Breast Cancer in Patient-derived Xenograft Models

Basal-like breast cancer is an aggressive disease, for which targeted therapies are lacking. Recent studies demonstrated that basal-like breast cancer is frequently associated with an increased activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, which is critical for cell growth, survival and angiogenesis. To investigate the therapeutic potential of PI3K pathway inhibition in the treatment of basal-like breast cancer, we evaluated the anti-tumor effect of the mTOR inhibitor MK-8669 and AKT inhibitor MK-2206 in WU-BC4 and WU-BC5, two patient-derived xenograft models of basal-like breast cancer. Both models demonstrated high levels of AKT phosphorylation and loss of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression. We observed a synergistic effect of MK-8669 and MK-2206 on tumor growth and cell proliferation in vivo. In addition, MK-8669 and MK-2206 inhibited angiogenesis as determined by CD31 immunohistochemistry. Biomarker studies indicated that treatment with MK-2206 inhibited AKT activation induced by MK-8669. To evaluate the effect of loss of PTEN on tumor cell sensitivity to PI3K pathway inhibition, we knocked down PTEN in WU-BC3, a basal-like breast cancer cell line with intact PTEN. Compared to control (GFP) knockdown, PTEN knockdown led to a more dramatic reduction in cell proliferation and tumor growth inhibition in response to MK-8669 and MK-2206 both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, a synergistic effect of these two agents on tumor volume was observed in WU-BC3 with PTEN knockdown. Our results provide a preclinical rationale for future clinical investigation of this combination in basal-like breast cancer with loss of PTEN.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci

The incidence of nosocomial infections caused by VRE has consistently increased during the past decade across all types of health-care facilities, especially in the United States. More rigorous infection control measures and reduction in the use of antimicrobials for the treatment of human infections and/or new preventative modalities will likely be necessary to decrease the development of drug resistance in enterococci, as well as in other microorganisms. Restriction of the use of antibiotics as animal growth enhancers in the EU has resulted in decreased transmission of these organisms (and their resistant genes) from animals to humans. This interchange between animals and humans has become even more worrisome after a recent description of an E. faecium outbreak causing severe hemorrhagic disease in pigs and 40 local farmers (12 of them died) in a region of China (Lu et al., 2002). Newer therapeutic agents have been developed and used with relative effectiveness (although without a bactericidal activity) for the treatment of VRE infections, but the propensity of enterococci to develop resistance suggest that VRE will continue to be a therapeutic and infection control challenge for the immediate future.
Semantic evaluation of SQL queries

The ability to evaluate the logical correctness of SQL queries is a vital feature of an intelligent tutoring system that provides meaningful feedback and guidance to students that learn SQL. This process relies on comparing the student's query with a reference query provided by the instructor. Converting the SQL source code into forms of XML representation of the query turns out to be an effective way to process and analyze the semantics of SQL queries. Queries of arbitrary complexity can be compared effectively through XML, using two forms of representation: structural representation and full content representation. Further, one can apply query transformation patterns that convert a query into a logically equivalent one, having a different structure, but still equivalent to the initial query. This paper focuses on the XML based technique to compare and to transform SQL queries in order to determine their logical compliance with a predetermined reference.
Abundance, diversity and fidelity of macroinvertebrates sheltering beneath rocks during tidal emersion in an intertidal cobble field : Does the intermediate disturbance hypothesis hold for less exposed shores with smaller rocks?

Abstract The community structure of macroinvertebrates occurring beneath cobbles during tidal emersion was investigated in an intertidal cobble field on the east coast of the south island of New Zealand. In order to test whether the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) holds in less exposed shores comprised exclusively of smaller rocks (cobbles) we measured 1) the size frequency distribution of cobbles (mass and basal surface area), 2) the incidence of barnacle encrustation as an indirect measure of cobble disturbance, 3) the abundances of the dominant macroinvertebrates occurring beneath cobbles (the crab Hemigrapsus crenulatus , the chiton Sypharochiton pelliserpentis and the snail Diloma zealandica ), and 4) macroinvertebrate fidelity beneath a range of cobble sizes. Only large cobbles were found to be encrusted with barnacles, indicative of their greater resistance to physical disturbance by waves and currents. Mark and relocate experiments indicated fidelity to a given cobble over two tidal cycles was 11–14% for crabs and did not vary with cobble size. In contrast, fidelity to medium and large cobbles was higher for chitons (26–45%) and snails (17–31%) and generally increased with increasing cobble size. In contrast to the predictions of the IDH, there was a positive correlation between increasing cobble size and increasing species diversity of organisms found under the cobbles. This pattern is not simply attributable to greater space available beneath large cobbles as there was a significantly greater density of macroinvertebrates beneath medium and large, compared to the small cobbles. Increasing species diversity with increasing cobble size appears to be independent of patterns of species recolonization associated with small cobbles being subject to high disturbance or interspecific competitive hierarchies associated with low disturbance beneath large cobbles. Instead, factors such as aggregative behaviors, and reducing vulnerability to predators and desiccation stress are likely to explain the relationship between cobbles and their associated macroinvertebrate communities.
Novel Synthetic Toll-Like Receptor 4/MD2 Ligands Attenuate Sterile Inflammation

Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation has been implicated as a major contributor to chronic inflammation. Among these receptors, TLR4 has been described as a key regulator of endogenous inflammation and has been proposed as a therapeutic target. Previously, we discovered by high-throughput screening a group of substituted pyrimido[5,4-b]indoles that activated a nuclear factor-κB reporter in THP-1 human monocytic cells. A biologically active hit compound was resynthesized, and derivatives were prepared to assess structure–activity relationships. The derived compounds activated cells in a TLR4/myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD2)–dependent and CD14-independent manner, using the myeloid differentiation primary response 88 and Toll/IL-1 receptor domain–containing adapter-inducing interferon-β pathways. Two lead compounds, 1Z105 and 1Z88, were selected for further analysis based on favorable biologic properties and lack of toxicity. In vivo pharmacokinetics indicated that 1Z105 was orally bioavailable, whereas 1Z88 was not. Oral or parenteral doses of 1Z105 and 1Z88 induced undetectable or negligible levels of circulating cytokines and did not induce hepatotoxicity when administered to galactosamine-conditioned mice, indicating good safety profiles. Both compounds were very effective in preventing lethal liver damage in lipopolysaccharide treated galatosamine-conditioned mice. Orally administered 1Z105 and parenteral 1Z88 prevented arthritis in an autoantibody-driven murine model. Hence, these low molecular weight molecules that target TLR4/MD2 were well tolerated and effective in reducing target organ damage in two different mouse models of sterile inflammation.
Computerized Clinical Electroencephalography in Perspective

Recent developments in the field of computerized clinical electroencephalography (EEG) are surveyed, with particular reference to techniques of analysis of background (stationary) EEG activity, transient (nonstationary) activity, and to integrated systems for multichannel clinical EEG's. A variety of approaches have been used for the basic EEG analyses. For background activity, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and autoregressive approaches have predominated. For fast transients, segmentation, double differentiation, and inverse filtering have been prevalent. Some integrated systems, which provide a summary, and in some cases an evaluation of the basic EEG analyses, are limited to processing of only the background activity, whereas others include both background and transient activity. Some systems have been designed primarily to be an aid to the clinical electroencephalographer in the preparation of his report. A very few systems have been designed to provide a printed report similar to the conventional clinical EEG report. Although not considered extensively in this review, artifact rejection and/or compensation will necessarily be a major aspect of any fully computerized system. Overall, the field of computerized clinical EEG is now a relatively rapidly evolving one in which further progress is likely to be accelerated by the utilization of microprocessors and high-speed arithmetic processing devices.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Patients with AIDS Are Associated with a Low Infection Rate

We reviewed the medical records of all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients who had a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placed during a 1-year period. Ninety-seven PICCs were inserted in 66 patients for 8337 catheter-days. Eighty of 97 catheters were used primarily to treat cytomegalovirus disease. The mean time to any complication was 150 days. The total complication rate was 6.1 per 1000 catheter-days. The total infection rate was 1. 3 per 1000 catheter-days, and the serious infection rate was 0.8 per 1000 catheter-days. The mean time to a serious infection was 310 days. The noninfectious complication rate was 4.6 per 1000 catheter-days. PICCs were associated with a low infection rate and a moderate mechanical complication rate, which compare favorably with historical rates seen in AIDS patients with other types of central venous access devices. PICCs are a reasonable alternative to other central venous access devices in patients with HIV or AIDS.
Mussel attachment on rocky shores: the effect of flow on byssus production

Mussels rely on a strong byssal attachment to persist in a range of habitats with differing rates of water flow. Recent studies, however, suggest that the ability of one mussel species to sense and respond adaptively to the flow in its environment is limited under even modest flow conditions because the process of byssal thread formation is disrupted. This study extends these findings to four mussel species, Mytilus trossulus, M. galloprovincialis, M. californianus, and Modiolus modiolus. Collectively, the response of byssal thread formation decreased with rates of flow above ∼25 cm/s and the critical flow threshold was estimated to be <50 cm/s. How can mussels persist on shores where flow is an order of magnitude higher? Using a combination of techniques for measuring flow, velocity profiles were obtained above and within mussel aggregations in the laboratory and in the field. Flow was greatly reduced within mussel aggregations, ranging from 0.1% to 10% of free-stream velocity. These results suggest one key to the success of mussels in habitats with high rates of flow is the ability to form aggregations that ameliorate flows to a level that is conducive to byssal thread formation.
Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy of iron sediments formed by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Abstract Sediments from FeSO4 · 7H2O solutions oxidized by resting cell suspensions of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in the absence of additional monovalent cations consisted of amorphous hydrated Fe(III) sulfate possessing reticular or filamentous microstructure. In the presence of additional sulfate supplied as Li2SO4, MgSO4, (CH3NH3)2SO4, or (CH3NH3)HSO4 at pH 2.4, hydronium jarosite crystallized in the form of pseudocubic rhombohedra. Other cations produced ammonio‐ and natrojarosites as pyramidal and bipyramidal rhombohedra or potassium and rubidium jarosites in rounded and botryoidal forms. Addition of Na2SeO4 yielded the selenium analog of amorphous hydrated Fe(III) sulfate, but in the presence of NH4 + or Rb+, selenojarosites formed instead. Addition of organic ligands, together with (NH4)2SO4, produced ammoniojarosite in the form of irregular granules and rounded and spheroidal crystals. Despite delayed precipitation, the infrared spectra of sediments were usually the same in the presence or absence ...
Effects of topography and woody plant canopy cover on near‐ground solar radiation: Relevant energy inputs for ecohydrology and hydropedology

[1] The emerging interdisciplinary approaches of ecohydrology and hydropedology are sensitive to variation in soil-surface energy inputs, which are primarily modified by topography and woody plant canopies. Yet a synthesis of the interactive effects of these two modification types is lacking. We systematically estimated near-ground surface solar radiation inputs as modified by key attributes of topography (aspect and slope) and tree cover (degree of openness) using solar radiation modeling based on hemispherical photographs. For south aspects, reductions in annual transmission were dominated by canopy cover rather than topography, even when canopy cover was low, whereas for north aspects, canopy effects dominated the reduction in annual transmission for slopes of up to 10° at low canopy cover and up to 30° at high canopy cover. Our results provide a synthetic perspective of the nonlinear, interactive, and temporally dependent effects of slope, aspect, and amount of canopy cover on near-ground solar radiation.
Developing Counseling Students' Multicultural Competence Through the Multicultural Action Project

The Multicultural Action Project (MAP) is a cultural immersion project that requires counseling students to engage with diverse cultural communities on 3 levels: observation, information seeking, and action. To ascertain if participating in MAP improved the multicultural competence of graduate counseling students, the authors conducted an evaluation in which narrative analysis was used to examine the experiences of 3 graduate counseling students who participated in MAP. Through their narratives, the participants reported increased knowledge, awareness, and skills. The importance of sustained contact and interpersonal relationships in improving student learning outcomes is discussed and recommendations are provided.
Engineering Aggregation-Resistant Antibodies

The ability of antibodies to bind to target molecules with high affinity and specificity has led to their widespread use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Nevertheless, a limitation of antibodies is their propensity to self-associate and aggregate at high concentrations and elevated temperatures. The large size and multidomain architecture of full-length monoclonal antibodies have frustrated systematic analysis of how antibody sequence and structure regulate antibody solubility. In contrast, analysis of single and multidomain antibody fragments that retain the binding activity of mono-clonal antibodies has provided valuable insights into the determinants of antibody aggregation. Here we review advances in engineering antibody frameworks, domain interfaces, and antigen-binding loops to prevent aggregation of natively and nonnatively folded antibody fragments. We also highlight advances and unmet challenges in developing robust strategies for engineering large, multidomain antibodies to resist agg...
Valproic acid decreases urothelial cancer cell proliferation and induces thrombospondin-1 expression

Background Prevention of bladder cancer recurrence is a central challenge in the management of this highly prevalent disease. The histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid (sodium valproate) has anti-angiogenic properties and has been shown to decrease bladder cancer growth in model systems. We have previously shown reduced expression of thrombospondin-1 in a mouse model and in human bladder cancer relative to normal urothelium. We speculated that inhibition of angiogenesis by valproate might be mediated by this anti-angiogenic protein.
Validity and diagnostic accuracy of an alternate form of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test.

The diagnostic validity of an alternate form of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) is investigated. Subjects were 73 inpatients from a VA Medical Center who were classified as having either intact (n = 41) or impaired (n = 32) memory functions. Employing a counterbalanced design, both groups were administered the standard (Form A) and alternate (Form C) forms of the AVLT. Means for the learning trials, trial VI and the recognition procedure were calculated for the intact and memory-impaired subjects and contrasted for each test. Results suggested that Form C discriminated groups at a level comparable to that of Form A. This impression was confirmed by separate stepwise discriminant analyses for Form A and Form C that yielded identical hit-rates (i.e., 75.3%) in terms of identifying subjects as memory-intact or memory-impaired. These findings suggested that Form C may be used for the assessment of persons with verbal mnemonic deficits with the same degree of confidence that has been attributed to Form A.
New Concepts of the Geochemical Cycle

I first would like to discuss some current thinking about the evolution of the early atmosphere and the general geochemical cycle on the surface of the earth. Ideas of today differ from those of four years ago, when I was last at this origin of life conference, because of a rather profound change in geological thinking: plate tectonics, which many of you know about.
The 2016 Hughes Lecture: What’s new in maternal morbidity and mortality?

Each year, the Board of Directors of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology selects an individual to review a given year's published obstetric anesthesiology literature. This individual then produces a syllabus of the year's most influential publications, delivers the Ostheimer Lecture at the Society's annual meeting, the Hughes Lecture at the following year's Sol Shnider meeting, and writes corresponding review articles. This 2016 Hughes Lecture review article focuses specifically on the 2014 publications that relate to maternal morbidity and mortality. It begins by discussing the 2014 research that was published on severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality in developed countries. This is followed by a discussion of specific coexisting diseases and specific causes of severe maternal mortality. The review ends with a discussion of worldwide maternal mortality and the 2014 publications that examined the successes and the shortfalls in the work to make childbirth safe for women throughout the entire world.
Effects of Balloon Dilation for Idiopathic Laryngotracheal Stenosis on Voice Production

Objective:To evaluate the effects of balloon dilation for idiopathic laryngotracheal stenosis on voice production.Methods:Retrospective review of 10 female patients with idiopathic laryngotracheal stenosis undergoing balloon dilation. Voice outcomes were evaluated by comparing pre- and posttreatment patient-reported, perceptual, aerodynamic, and acoustic parameters. Complete data sets were not available for all subjects; sample size for each parameter is reported with the corresponding result.Results:Total Voice Handicap Index (VHI) decreased significantly (22.9 ± 13.5 to 6.8 ± 6.5; n = 8; p = .015), as did glottal function index (7.2 ± 4.9 to 1.5 ± 2.0; n = 6; p = .022). No changes were observed in the GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale. Changes in aerodynamic parameters were not statistically significant. Percent jitter decreased (1.32 ± 1.37 to 0.60 ± 0.29; n = 7; P = .078), and fundamental frequency range was preserved (507 ± 325 to 612 ± 281; n = 7; P = .309).Conclusions:Ou...
Student See Versus Student Do: A Comparative Study of Two Online Tutorials

This study examines the impact on student performance after interactive and non-interactive tutorials using a 2 × 2 treatment-control design. In an undergraduate management course, a control group watched a video tutorial while the treatment group received the same content using a dynamic tutorial. Both groups received the same quiz questions. Using effect size to determine magnitude of change, it was found that those in the treatment condition performed better than those in the control condition. Students were able to take the quiz up to two times. When examining for change in performance from attempt one to attempt two, the treatment group showed a greater magnitude of change. Students who consistently performed lowest on the quizzes outperformed all students in learning gains.
Asians compared to Whites show increased response to d-amphetamine on select subjective and cardiovascular measures.

Abstract Objective Identifying factors that moderate subjective response to stimulants is important for understanding individuals at risk for abusing these drugs. Some research suggests that Asians may respond differently to stimulants than other races, but controlled human laboratory research of stimulant administration effects in Asians is scant. Methods In this double-blind counterbalanced within-subject study, healthy stimulant-naive participants ( N = 65; 55% Asian; 63% female; age 18-35) received a single dose of 20-mg oral d -amphetamine or placebo on separate days. At each testing day, subjective measures of abuse liability and cardiovascular assessments were administered at repeated intervals before and after drug administration over a 4-hour period. Results Asians (vs. Whites) demonstrated greater d- amphetamine-induced increases in diastolic blood pressure and ratings of ‘Feel High’ and ‘Like Drug’. Conclusions Asian and White healthy young adults may differ in certain subjective and cardiovascular responses to acute doses of d -amphetamine. Such individual differences could help explain between-person differences in abuse potential of d -amphetamine and other stimulants.
Mixed oxidant high temperature corrosion in gasifiers and power plants

Data from long term exposure tests in several gasification plants are now available and will be critically reviewed. Exposure times ranged from 2000 to 20,000 hours. All exposures were in syngas coolers of entrained slagging gasifiers, where the gas composition is not in equilibrium. Due to rapid cooling of the syngas, the high temperature (>1,000°C) equilibrium is frozen in. Exposure temperatures ranged from 250–550°C. Most samples were exposed in water or steam-cooled loops. Corrosion rates observed were variable, quite high for low alloy steels, but generally moderate to low for stainless steels. Scale spallation, possibly caused by aqueous corrosion during downtime was found to accelerate the corrosion of stainless steels significantly, but not that of low alloy steels. Introduction of low NOx burner systems, using overfire air, has resulted in accelerated corrosion in many supercritical boilers in the USA. The accelerated corrosion is most likely to be due to an increase in the CO and H2S content of ...
Approximations for crossing two nearby spin resonances

Solutions to the Thomas-Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi spin equation for spin $1/2$ particles have to date been confined to the single-resonance crossing. However, in reality, most cases of interest concern the overlapping of several resonances. While there have been several serious studies of this problem, a good analytical solution or even an approximation has eluded the community. We show that this system can be transformed into a Hill-like equation. In this representation, we show that, while the single-resonance crossing represents the solution to the parabolic cylinder equation, the overlapping case becomes a parametric type of resonance.
Toxicity of Surfactants and Surfactant-Insecticide Combinations to the Bollworm, Tobacco Budworm, and Pink Bollworm

The effectiveness of various surfactants in the control of larvae of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F), and pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), was evaluated. When cotton bolls containing diapausing pink bollworm larvae were dipped in Triton® X-150 (ethoxylated alkylphenol blends with organic sulfonates) or Triton® X-100 and X-155 (ethoxy1ated alkylphenols) at 2 or 5%, moth emergence was reduced by 89% or more compared with emergence from untreated bolls, and Tween® 65 and 85 were more effective than Tween® 60, 61, 80, or 40 (allethoxylated sorbitan esters) at 2 or 5%. In laboratory tests with foliar sprays at 2.5 kg per hectare, ethoxylated tridecyl alcohol containing mole ratios of 15:1 of ethylene oxide to alcohol killed more bollworms than the 3:I mole ratio. Retzolate 58 (ammonium salts of ethoxylated alcohol sulfates) at 4.5 kg per hectare alone killed 40% or more bollworm and tobacco budworm larvae. Also when Retzloff DRS 22 or DRB 203 (polymeric phenolic resins) at 2.2 kg per hectare were added to carbaryl at 2.2 kg per hectare and used as a foliar spray on both dry and wet leaf surfaces, they killed more bollworm larvae than the insecticides alone. In field-cage tests, Rerzamide LAX and Retzamide COA (alkanolamides) and Retzloff DTG 62 (ethoxylated polyols) at 2.2 kg per hectare, each combined with DDT at 2.2 kg per hectare or carbaryl at 2.2 kg per hectare, killed more tobacco budworms than the insecticides alone.
From the Gut to the Liver: Another Organ to Watch in FAP Patients

We report a rare association of hepatocellular carcinoma with familial adenomatous polyposis in a young patient and its clinical significance. A 28-year-old female with a past medical history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and subsequent colonic adenocarcinoma underwent total colectomy. She later presented with intermittent right upper quadrant pain and nausea of four months' duration. MRI of the abdomen revealed multiple liver lesions, the largest 8.5 cm in diameter, with radiologic features suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma. A CT-guided liver biopsy demonstrated well-differentiated HCC which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. In patients with a history of FAP, a heightened awareness of the possibility of concurrent or subsequent HCC is warranted.
Light/dark modulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in C3 and C4 species

In this report, the effects of light on the activity and allosteric properties of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase were examined in newly matured leaves of several C3 and C4 species. Illumination of previously darkened leaves increased the enzyme activity 1.1 to 1.3 fold in C3 species and 1.4 to 2.3 fold in C4 species, when assayed under suboptimal conditions (pH 7) without allosteric effectors. The sensitivities of PEP carboxylase to the allosteric effectors malate and glucose-6-phosphate were markedly different between C3 and C4 species. In the presence of 5 mM malate, the activity of the enzyme extracted from illuminated leaves was 3 to 10 fold higher than that from darkened leaves in C4 species due to reduced malate inhibition of the enzyme from illuminated leaves, whereas it increased only slightly in C3 species. The Ki(malate) for the enzyme increased about 3 fold by illumination in C4 species, but increased only slightly in C3 species. Also, the addition of the positive effector glucose-6-phosphate provided much greater protection against malate inhibition of the enzyme from C4 species than C3 species. Feeding nitrate to excised leaves of nitrogen deficient plants enhanced the degree of light activation of PEP carboxylase in the C4 species maize, but had little or no effect in the C3 species wheat. These results suggest that post-translational modification by light affects the activity and allosteric properties of PEP carboxylase to a much greater extend in C4 than in C3 species.
Management challenges in care pathways: Conclusions of a qualitative study within 57 health-care organizations:

SummaryThe objectives of this paper are to study the aim of care pathways, who has decisional power concerning pathways, the actual follow-up, challenges in cross-boundary development and the support provided by information and communication technology (ICT). The study design included a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 88 care pathway coordinators and members of the executive board in 57 health-care organizations enrolled in the Belgian- Dutch Clinical Pathway Network. The study revealed that the most important objectives for introducing care pathways are more standardization and quality of care. In 76% of the interviewed organizations, pathways are discussed in a committee. There is a lack of continuous follow-up when care pathways are implemented. Pathways can facilitate cross-boundary care, but are a challenge because of the fragmentation within primary care. There is a need for more ICT support for care pathways. In conclusion, the executive board members and pathway coordinator...
Remembering Ahmad Rahman (1951–2015)

Ahmad Rahman was an activist, author, history professor, former political prisoner and a beloved teacher both inside and outside the traditional classroom. He died suddenly, after suffering a heart...
2001's operation conditions of line protection for 220kV and above systems in China

The operation conditions of line main protections(longitudinal affiliation,distance,zero-sequence,recloser)and microprocessor-based protections for220kV and above systems in and management level by exchanging the experience and learning the lessons.
Targeted temperature management in deceased organ donors

An evaluation of a recent study by Niemann CU, Feiner J, Swain S et al. Therapeutic Hypothermia in Deceased Organ Donors and Kidney-Graft Function. New England Journal of Medicine 2015; 373 (5):405-414. PubMed PMID: 26222557. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01680744
Histidine-Directed Arylation/Alkenylation of Backbone N-H Bonds Mediated by Copper(II).

Chemical modification of proteins and peptides represents a challenge of reaction design as well as an important biological tool. In contrast to side-chain modification, synthetic methods to alter backbone structure are extremely limited. In this communication, copper-mediated backbone N-alkenylation or N-arylation of peptides and proteins by direct modification of natural sequences is described. Histidine residues direct oxidative coupling of boronic acids at the backbone NH of a neighboring amino acid. The mild reaction conditions in common physiological buffers, at ambient temperature, are compatible with proteins and biological systems. This simple reaction demonstrates the potential for directed reactions in complex systems to allow modification of N−H bonds that directly affect polypeptide structure, stability, and function.
A Three-Dimensional Neutronics Model for Reactor Training Simulators

A training simulator that duplicates a Savannah River Plant (SRP) reactor control room is currently under construction. Because of the complexity of the SRP reactor control and instrumentation syst...
Association Between Hemoglobin A1c and Surgical Morbidity in Elective Foot and Ankle Surgery.

The current guidelines for the management of diabetes in adults have recommended strict glycemic control, with a target hemoglobin A1c of 7.0%. Increasing evidence has shown that strict glycemic control decreases the risk of developing the organ system complications associated with diabetes. Elevated hemoglobin A1c levels have been theorized as a risk factor for complications after elective foot and ankle surgery. To test this hypothesis, we reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs national administrative and clinical databases for a 6-year period (January 2008 to December 2013). During this period, 21,854 diabetic patients had a recorded hemoglobin A1c measurement within 1 year before undergoing elective foot and ankle surgery. We then identified those patients who had experienced postoperative complications within 30 days of elective foot or ankle surgery using the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, codes. The complications were classified into 4 groups: infection, wound healing, mechanical failure, and cardiovascular/pulmonary. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate was 3.2%. The most common complication was infection (42.3%), followed by mechanical failure (33.4%), cardiovascular/pulmonary (18.4%), and wound healing (5.8%). The average hemoglobin A1c of a patient who had experienced a complication was 6.29% compared with 6.11% for a patient who had not experienced 1 of the 4 complications (p < .001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that for each 1% increase in hemoglobin A1c, the odds of developing a complication increased by 5%. More significant was the 1.78 times increased risk of developing a complication for patients with neuropathy (95% confidence interval 1.45 to 2.20; p = .0001). Even more notable was the associated risk of complications after elective foot and ankle surgery for those patients with comorbid conditions. Patients demonstrated 3.08 times the risk of developing a complication when the patient had 2 to 3 identified comorbid conditions associated with diabetes mellitus (95% confidence interval 2.42 to 3.92; p = .0001). The present retrospective observational investigation has demonstrated glycemic control influences the postoperative complication rates in elective foot and ankle surgery. However, the data collected from the present study have also demonstrated that the complication rates are multifactorial. Comorbid conditions and the presence of peripheral neuropathy also play a significant role in determining a patient's risk of complications after elective foot and ankle surgery.