cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions Between Reinforcement History and Drug-Primed Reinstatement: Studies With MDPV and Mixtures of MDPV and Caffeine

Many drugs of abuse are mixed with other psychoactive substances (e.g., caffeine) prior to their sale or use. Synthetic cathinones (e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone [MDPV]) are commonly mixed with caffeine or other cathinones (e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone [methylone]), and these "bath salts" mixtures (e.g., MDPV + caffeine) can exhibit supra-additive interactions with regard to their reinforcing and discriminative stimulus properties. However, little is known about relapse-related effects of drug mixtures. In these studies, male Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered 0.032 mg/kg/inf MDPV or a mixture of MDPV + caffeine (0.029 + 0.66 mg/kg/inf, respectively) and then underwent multiple rounds of extinction and reinstatement testing to evaluate the influence of reinforcement history and drug-associated stimuli on the effectiveness of saline (drug-paired stimuli alone), MDPV (0.032-1.0 mg/kg), caffeine (1.0-32 mg/kg), and mixtures of MDPV:caffeine (in 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 ratios, relative to each drug's ED50 ) to reinstate responding. Dose-addition analyses were used to determine the nature of the drug-drug interaction for each mixture. MDPV and caffeine dose-dependently reinstated responding and were equally effective, regardless of reinforcement history. Most fixed ratio mixtures of MDPV + caffeine exhibited supra-additive interactions, reinstating responding to levels greater than was observed with caffeine and/or MDPV alone. Drug-associated stimuli also played a key role in reinstating responding, especially for caffeine. Together, these results demonstrate that the composition of drug mixtures can impact relapse-related effects of drug mixtures, and "bath salts" mixtures (MDPV + caffeine) may be more effective at promoting relapse-related behaviors than the constituents alone. Further research is needed to determine how other polysubstance reinforcement histories can impact relapse-related behaviors.
A Comparison of Psychosocial Factors, Substance Use Behaviors, and Sexual Behaviors by Self-Reported HIV Status Among Middle-Aged Hispanic Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Introduction:Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a significant health issue among Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite existing research, no studies have compared psychosocial factor...
Transforming learning: Applying community and systems level interventions through a poster project.

BACKGROUND Public health nursing practice is population-focused with a goal of improving health outcomes. Nurse educators are challenged to identify teaching-learning strategies to transform students' perspectives and knowledge of public health concepts. PURPOSE The purpose of the poster project was to evaluate students' ability to meet Quad Council Coalition Competency Review Task Force competencies for public health nursing. METHODS Teams of students identified an issue, investigated epidemiological data, searched literature, linked the issue to a Healthy People 2020 objective, defined the societal health construct, identified evidence-based interdisciplinary actions, and drew a conclusion based on the synthesis of evidence. The Quad Council Public Health Nursing domains and competencies provided a crosswalk design for faculty to evaluate teams' ability to plan and implement population-focused actions within the poster project. RESULTS Teams met one or more competencies in six out of eight domains. Domains I-IV, VI, and VIII were met by 100%, domain V was met by 60%, and domain VII was met by 25% of the teams. DISCUSSION Ownership of the poster translated into teams demonstrating creative approaches and expertise in identifying actions to address societal health outcomes. CONCLUSION The societal health construct poster is an effective pedagogical approach that encourages teams to become change agents at the community and systems level.
Multipath Parallel Hybrid Deep Neural Networks Framework for Remaining Useful Life Estimation

The paper introduces a multi-path parallel hybrid deep neural design for remaining useful life (RUL) estimation of critical infrastructure, referred to as the MPHD. The proposed framework integrates three noisy deep learning structures in parallel: (a) A noisy path uses Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), (b) A noisy path uses Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and; (c) A noisy path uses Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), The proposed framework aims to collect different types of features from the most popular deep neural networks architectures and then utilizing a fusion center consists of noisy fully connected multilayer neural network, to combine the collected features of the three parallel paths and predict the RLU. The MPHD framework utilizes noisy training to improve accuracy, enhance robustness, and mitigate the overfitting problem associated with neural networks. The proposed model is evaluated by utilizing (CMAPSS) dataset, which is provided by NASA.
Regret-optimal control in dynamic environments

We consider the control of linear time-varying dynamical systems from the perspective of regret minimization. Unlike most prior work in this area, we focus on the problem of designing an online controller which competes with the best dynamic sequence of control actions selected in hindsight, instead of the best controller in some specific class of controllers. This formulation is attractive when the environment changes over time and no single controller achieves good performance over the entire time horizon. We derive the structure of the regret-optimal online controller via a novel reduction to H_∞ control and present a clean data-dependent bound on its regret. We also present numerical simulations which confirm that our regret-optimal controller significantly outperforms the H₂ and H_∞ controllers in dynamic environments.
New Ecocriticisms: Narrative, Affective, Empirical and Mindful

espanolLo que parecen “nuevos” desarrollos en el campo de la ecocritica han sido, en realidad, un conjunto de ideas emergentes articuladas en conversaciones y blogs que han tenido una pronta transliteracion en presentaciones y publicaciones en los ultimos cinco anos o mas. Respondiendo al entumecimiento del cambio climatico, los ecocriticos han explorado el potencial de la “aritmetica de la compasion” (Slovic & Slovic 2015) y el “agotamiento de la preocupacion” que surgen cuando los numeros de los que sufren—humanos, animales, ecosistemas—son demasiado grandes como para comprenderlos. Las respuestas humanas a los escenarios cada vez mas aterradores del futuro del cambio climatico han sido llamados “eco-duelo” (Hutner 2015) y “eco-ansiedad” (Ray 2019). Han surgido nuevos desarrollos en la ecocritica a traves del nexo de la econarratologia, ecocritica afectiva, ecocritica empirica, y ecocritica consciente/Zen. Este texto discute esta trayectoria continua en la ecocritica, explorando desde el concepto de econarrativa a traves del ecoafecto—acercamientos que describen las respuestas de los lectores a las narrativas del cambio climatico—hasta las ecocriticas empiricas y conscientes/Zen, aquellas que abordan acercamientos que ofrecen tanto estrategias para responder a las narrativas del cambio climatico a traves de los acercamientos afectivo, activista y contemplativo, como metodologias para evaluar la eficacia de las mismas. EnglishWhat seem like “new” developments in Ecocriticism have actually been nascent, articulated in conversations and blogs, soon emerging in presentations and print over the past five or more years. Responding to climate change numbing, ecocritics have explored the potential “arithmetic of compassion” (Slovic & Slovic 2015) and the “caring exhaustion” that arises when the numbers of those suffering—humans, animals, ecosystems—becomes too high to encompass. Human responses to the increasingly frightening scenarios of climate change futures have been termed “eco-anxiety” and “eco-grief” (Hutner 2015; Ray 2019). New developments in ecocriticism arise through the nexus of econarratology, affective ecocriticism, empirical ecocriticism, and mindful /Zen ecocriticism. I discuss this continuing trajectory in ecocriticism, developing from econarrative through ecoaffect (approaches that describe readers’ responses to climate change narratives) and on to empirical and mindful / Zen ecocriticisms (approaches that seek to offer strategies for responding to climate change narratives through affect, activism, and contemplative approaches, and for evaluating the efficacy of those strategies).
On the development of an improved magnetic-based corrosion sensor

Previously, a sensor was proposed for detection of internal corrosion in pipelines made of ferromagnetic materials. The original sensor prototype was composed of a beam made of non-magnetic material, a strong permanent magnet, and the Fiber Bragg Grating strain sensor. The operating principle of the sensor is based on the fact that the magnetic attraction force between the magnet and the pipe wall decreases as the thickness of the pipe wall decreases due to internal corrosion. The FBG sensor is attached to the beam and allows to monitor the strain generated by the magnetostatic force acting on the magnet. Hence, the change in the force can be related to the change in the thickness of the pipe wall and detected using an optical strain gauge. In this work we present results of numerical investigations for two different alternative sensor configurations that are aimed at improving the detection range of the sensor. In the first configuration, the magnet is encased in an enclosure made of ferromagnetic material. In the second configuration we consider a more complex magnetic circuit that includes a magnetic counterbalance placed on the opposite side of the first magnet. We compare the absolute and relative changes in the magnetostatic force in both configurations to the baseline case of the original prototype and formulate suggestions for the improved design.
The Role of 'Expert Reviewers' in Private Capital Markets

We study initial coin offerings (ICOs) to understand how an unregulated market overcomes information frictions and conflicts of interest. Listing platforms both independently assess an offering and crowdsource information from "expert" reviewers. These experts provide more balanced textual reviews as they gain experience and receive positive feedback from the community, consistent with a reputation effect. We find that proceeds are higher when reviews are more positive even after controlling for both the reviewer's and platform's numerical rating. Finally, experts with greater potential conflicts of interest are more positive than other reviewers, but investors identify these conflicts and discount their reviews.
Predicting Tropical Cyclone Genesis

Abstract : The long-term goal of this research is to provide probabilistic genesis forecast guidance to operational forecasters and develop a genesis index for operational dynamical model prediction of tropical cyclone (TC) genesis. Once regions of high TC genesis probability are identified, a movable, multi-nested version of COAMPS with resolution of roughly 3 km or less in the inner most grid will be used for predicting the genesis event. The objective of this project is to develop a statistical TC genesis model that is capable of separating developing and nondeveloping tropical disturbances. A TC genesis index will be constructed to provide the probability of cyclogenesis, based on NOGAPS global analysis and forecast fields. Our approach is to identify distinctive characteristics associated with developing and nondeveloping disturbances in the tropical western North Pacific and Atlantic oceans. A box-difference index (BDI) is introduced to quantitatively determine the relative importance of dynamic and thermodynamic parameters in determining the genesis events. Once key genesis parameters in different basins are determined, we can obtain several nonlinear logistic regression models with different combinations of these predictors. We finally apply BIC (Bayesian Information Criterion) on these models to optimally determine the best model for TC genesis probability forecast at different basins.
Understanding IT Investments in the Public Sector: The Case of E-Government

Prompted partly by the legislation of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, public sector agencies are gradually adopting a more value-oriented approach for making IT investments. In order to comprehend this relatively new phenomenon in the public sector, we propose a conceptual framework that points out the types of value that matter in government IT investment decisions and explains what factors generate value in this context. Our framework suggests that three factors affect public sector IT investment decisions: the value of the IT solution at the initiator level (i.e. government agency), the value at the adopter level (i.e. taxpayers, lawmakers or other government agencies), and the IT risk. The IT value at each level, defined in both economic and political terms, is influenced by the political mission of the government agency. Our framework advocates that power-shifting process changes that accompany the IT investment increase both the IT initiator value (by streamlining its processes) and the IT adopter value (by enhancing their efficiency and control on the process), and decrease the associated IT risks. We test the framework with three case studies of investments in egovernment solutions for grant application and processing. Our analysis shows that power-shifting process changes positively affect perceptions of value, reduce the associated IT risks and subsequently translate into IT investment decisions.
Physics and Modeling of Submicron Insulated-Gate Field-Effect Transistors. II

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses physics and modeling of submicron insulated-gate field-effect transistors. The concept of space-charge effects at the surface of a semiconductor has been well known for a considerable period of time. In the past several years, the integration density of silicon circuits has increased steadily and, when compared to the medium-scale integration of a decade ago, dramatically. A significant part of this steady increase lies in the reduction of channel lengths of the individual devices, and this reduction has been supported by several technological developments such as more accurate process control and fine-pattern lithography by optical, electron-beam, and ion-beam techniques. However, as the channel length is reduced, many effects, which heretofore were of second-order importance, become of primary importance and dominate device and circuit performance. The traditional approach to the modeling problem of semiconductor device operation is to divide the device into several areas for which several different, but linear, approximations hold. Then, the one-dimensional transport problem is solved consistently within these areas, such as with the gradual-channel approximation. Attempts to go beyond the gradual-channel approximation are driven by the need to treat more fully the short-channel effects, such as drain-voltage-induced shifts of threshold, general sensitivity to threshold shifts, and actual channel-mobility variations.
Two kinds of duality

In a finite zone KdV context we show relations between the duality variables of Faraggi-Matone and those involved in Seiberg-Witten type duality.
Water Infrastructure and Water Use in the United States

Water infrastructure is critical to the health and economic well-being of the United States. Water infrastructure includes the systems and management practices used to provide drinking water, agricultural irrigation water, wastewater collection and treatment, and safe recreational and commercial fishing waters. This article will provide important background to help users understand the nature and scope of water infrastructure in the United States by offering a quantitative statistical picture of the number and types of infrastructure elements, capital value, annual use, and other relevant quantities. In addition, it will provide an overview of the future needs in maintaining functional water systems. Keywords: water use; household water use; agricultural water use; treatment facilities; infrastructure; gap analysis; drainage systems
Unprimed Synthesis of Polyadenylate and Polyuridylate Catalyzed by Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase

Abstract When adenosine triphosphate and uridine triphosphate are incubated with ribonucleic acid polymerase in the absence of a template, polyadenylate and polyuridylate are formed. The reaction occurs after a lag period of variable length. Unprimed synthesis of polyadenylate and polyuridylate can be greatly inhibited through the use of sufficient amounts of templates of high molecular weight.
A Combinatorial Approach to Ebert's Hat Game with Many Colors

This paper proves an optimal strategy for Ebert's hat game with three players and more than two hat colors. In general, for $n$ players and $k$ hat colours, we construct a strategy that is asymptotically optimal as $k\rightarrow \infty$. Computer calculation for particular values of $n$ and $k$ suggests that, as long as $n$ is linear with $k$, the strategy is asymptotically optimal. We conclude by comparing our strategy with the strategy of Lenstra and Seroussi and with the bound of Alon, and suggest our strategy is better when $2k \geq n \geq 7$.
Ovarian cancer update: lessons from morphology, molecules, and mice.

Abstract Ovarian carcinomas are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms. Pathologists currently employ a morphology-based classification system to divide ovarian carcinomas into major subgroups based on degree (tumor grade) and type of differentiation (eg, serous, endometrioid, clear cell, or mucinous). Molecular studies have shown that specific genetic defects are likely to be present in certain histologic types of ovarian carcinomas and unlikely to be present in others. Within the serous and endometrioid carcinomas, the molecular defects in low-grade versus high-grade tumors also appear to be largely distinct. Recently, mouse models of ovarian carcinoma have been developed that recapitulate many of the morphologic features and biologic behavior of selected subtypes of ovarian cancer. It is expected that these mouse models will yield new insights into ovarian cancer pathogenesis and prove useful for preclinical testing of novel strategies for ovarian cancer treatment.
The phosphorylation status of VASP at serine 322 can be predictive for aggressiveness of invasive ductal carcinoma

// Heike Doppler 1, * , Ligia Bastea 1, * , Sahra Borges 1 , Xochiquetzal Geiger 2 , Peter Storz 1 1 Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA 2 Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Peter Storz, e-mail: storz.peter@mayo.edu Keywords: breast cancer, invasive, phosphorylation, VASP Received: November 05, 2014 Accepted: July 31, 2015 Published: August 12, 2015 ABSTRACT Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) signaling is critical for dynamic actin reorganization processes that define the motile phenotype of cells. Here we show that VASP is generally highly expressed in normal breast tissue and breast cancer. We also show that the phosphorylation status of VASP at S322 can be predictive for breast cancer progression to an aggressive phenotype. Our data indicate that phosphorylation at S322 is gradually decreased from normal breast to DCIS, luminal/ER+, HER2+ and basal-like/TN phenotypes. Similarly, the expression levels of PKD2, the kinase that phosphorylates VASP at this site, are decreased in invasive ductal carcinoma samples of all three groups. Overall, the phosphorylation status of this residue may serve as an indicator of aggressiveness of breast tumors.
Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits glucagon-induced cAMP formation in hamster hepatocytes: a role for PKC.

The effect of bile acids on adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) synthesis was investigated in isolated hamster hepatocytes. Bile acids had no direct effect on cAMP production. However, urso...
Power Spectrum of Stochastic Pulse Sequences with Correlation between the Pulse Parameters

The power spectrum $S(f)$ of pulse sequences, which belong to the class of Markov processes, is calculated for the general case of a combined distribution $\ensuremath{\gamma}(\ensuremath{\vartheta},\ensuremath{\tau},h)$ that permits coupling between the pulse parameters: amplitude $h$, duration $\ensuremath{\tau}$, and time period $\ensuremath{\vartheta}$ preceding or following a pulse. Two special cases of coupling are considered in detail with respect to fluxtransport noise in superconductors: (i) With $\ensuremath{\tau}h=\mathrm{const}$, i.e., all pulses have the same time integral, $S(f)$ exhibits at high frequencies an asymptotic ${f}^{\ensuremath{-}m}$ dependence regardless of the particular pulse shape, if the series expansion for the distribution of $\ensuremath{\tau}$ at small $\ensuremath{\tau}$ values starts with a term $\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\tau}}^{m\ensuremath{-}1}$. (ii) A relaxation time $\ensuremath{\vartheta}$ proportional to the pulse size $\ensuremath{\tau}h$, and an exponential distribution for $\ensuremath{\vartheta}$ leads to an asymptotic ${f}^{2}$ behavior at low frequencies, again practically independent of the pulse shape.
Bonneville power administration's prototype 1100/1200 kV transmission line project

Studies indicate that power transmission lines with capacities of 8,000 to 10,000 MW will be needed in the 1980's to meet anticipated Trans-Cascade Mountain transmission requirements in the Pacific Northwest. One attractive alternative to meeting these needs is to overlay BPA's 500 kV grid with an 1100 kV transmission system. In order to verify the adequacy of the 1100 kV line design before a commitment for an 1100 kV system is made, it has been decided to build and operate a short prototype three-phase electrical line and a short mechanical test line. The two lines will be completed by the end of 1976 at which time an extensive test program including mechanical, electrical; and biological tests will commence.
Pathological Changes Associated with Vitamin C Deficiency in Walleyes

Abstract Walleyes Stizostedion vitreum were fed three experimental diets containing 0, 96, and 190 mg vitamin C/kg for 20 weeks. Retarded growth, increased mortality, and clinical signs of vitamin C deficiency were seen only in the group fed the vitamin-C-free diet. Skeletal deformities, primarily lordosis, were evident in 76% of this group. Pathological changes associated with vitamin C deficiency in walleyes included twisted cartilage of gill filaments and extreme dislocation of vertebrae. Vertebral lesions included focal hemorrhage, compressed spinal cord, and displacement of adjacent kidney and skeletal muscle. Breaking of the isthmus, a clinical sign not previously described for vitamin-C-deficient fish, was the cause of death in 27% of walleyes fed the vitaminC-free diet. Hemorrhagic fins, skin, and eyes were seen occasionally. A diet that was not supplemented with vitamin C but that contained 96 mg vitamin C/kg was adequate for normal growth and prevention of vitamin-deficiency signs in walleye.
Polymerization in an electrodeless glow discharge. III. Organic compounds without olefinic doublebond

The rates of polymer deposition from various organic compounds which do not contain an olefinic doublebond in an electrodeless glow discharge were studied. The polymerization rates of these unconventional monomers are by and large similar to those of olefinic monomers reported in the previous study (part II). The rate of polymer deposition R0 from pure monomer flow can be characterized, according to the analysis used in part II, by Ro = apM2 and R0 = kFw, where pM is the vapor pressure of the monomer, Fw is the weight basis flow rate of the monomer. Type A monomers which predominantly polymerize and type B monomers which decompose in a glow discharge were also found with these unconventional monomers. The effects of structural factors on the values of a amd k and on the classification of types A and B were examined. These structures and groups—aromatic, heteroaromatic, nitrogen-containing (e.g., >NH,NH2,CN), Si-containing, and olefinic doublebond—favor the polymerization. These structures and groups—oxygen-containing chlorine, aliphatic hydrocarbon chains, and cyclic hydrocarbon chains—favor the decomposition of the monomer in a glow discharge. It is postulated that the polymerization of organic compounds proceed by the recombination of excited species (probably free radicals) created by glow discharge and reexcitation followed by further recombinations in the vapor phase and at the interface.
Probable evolution of artificial-intelligence-based educational devices

Abstract The potential capabilities of artificial-intelligence-based educational devices are briefly described, and a technical forecast of an advanced instructional work station's attributes is presented. Forces driving implementation are delineated, and likely long-term consequences of adoption are assessed. The barriers that impede this evolution are discussed, and policy options are analyzed.
From page to program: Some typographical and temporal variables in radio homilies

Punctuation in 20 radio homilies by four speakers accounted for 76% of pause time and 64% of pause number. Pause duration varied systematically according to punctuation type. Commas accounted for 82% of punctuated positionsnot used for pausing.RRelevance for theories of text unitization is discussed. Both typographical and temporal measures are compared with a similar corpus of German homilies.
Pattern compensation in Drosophila wing vein development

Much interest in developmental genetics has focused on the formation of patterns. Using the wing vein pattern of Drosophila melanogasler as our model system, we show that vein placement is essentially independent of cell lineage. In studying vein placement in a variety of wing vein mutants, we observed that the position of a vein can move to compensate for the loss of vein in nearby parts of the wing. These observations led us to consider an interacting diffusion gradient model of vein formation.
The Espresso Book Machine: a change agent for libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the disruptive implications of the Espresso Book Machine on library user services, collection development, and special collections.Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes into account various published articles and online statements to help articulate and support the arguments.Findings – Library users can derive immediate benefit from a machine that prints books for them in only a few minutes. The EBM's impact on collection development in libraries may change a decades‐old model of speculative buying to one of buying on demand. The EBM can also help libraries bring high‐quality facsimiles of their unique special collections books to the public, and perhaps even generate a revenue stream that might offset costs.Originality/value – This is an original article that draws on other published and unpublished research and opinion articles.
A new view of prostaglandin E regulation of the immune response

Abstract Prostaglandins, particularly those o f the E series, are widely regarded as immunosuppressive products of eukaryotic cells that can downregulate many aspects of B- and T-cell function. In this article, Richard Phipps and colleagues present a different concept o f E series prostaglandins, based on recent evidence supporting a role for prostaglandins as potentiators of immunoglobulm class switching and o f the synthesis o f selected cytokines and cytokine receptors.
Wetting transition of a binary liquid due to suppression of electrostatic forces.

When a phase-separated mixture of carbon disulfide and nitromethane is put in contact with borosilicate glass, a thick nitromethane-rich wetting layer generally results. The long-range force responsible for this layer is believed to be electrostatic in nature and caused by ionization of hydroxyl groups on the glass surface. We have used a capillary-rise epxeriment to examine the effect on the state of wetting of suppressing this force through the addition of a soluble salt, tetrabutylammonium iodide. We find that for small salt concentrations (0.1M) the glass appears to remain completely wet to within at least 40 K of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$, but that for larger concentrations (g0.2M) the glass is incompleely wet for temperatures T(${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$-25 K). At T\ensuremath{\approxeq}(${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$-25 K) the system undergoes a wetting transition from incomplete to complete wetting. The appearance of this wetting transition seems to result from the complete removal of the long-range electrostatic interaction.
Perception of fathers as for their involvement in activities with their children

This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a quantitative approach and the aim to identify the perception of fathers regarding their children's needs; strategies used by fathers to get closer to their children as well as to analyze the influence of household chores and children's education in their fathers' lives. Study subjects were 92 men with six-year-old children, residing in the city of Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The results revealed fathers who are more engaged in activities with their children, valuing confidence, safety, as well as proximity to family as children's main needs, having prioritized the progress children make as well as attention to listening and conversation. Children's education does not aggregate more problems than they imagined, managing to plan life the way they seek to. These findings show that, in the sample studied, fathers have been able to develop more affectionate actions aimed at being more involved with their children.
A Closer Look at the Eye in Homocystinuria: A Screened Population

Homocystinuria (HCU) due to cystathionines-β-synthetase deficiency (McKusick 23620) was initially detected in 1962 (Carson and Neill) and the underlying defect was defined in 1964 (Mudd et al., 1985). The incidence in Ireland is 1 in 52000 live births. Ectopia lentis occurs in 97% of untreated cases by age 39 years (Mudd et al., 1985). Early detection by neonatal screening programmes with dietary and/or vitamin therapies have improved the prognosis. We describe the ocular findings in 19 patients and correlate these with age at commencement of therapy and with biochemical control.
Additional Factors for Calculating Prediction Intervals for Samples from a Normal Distribution

Abstract A prediction interval on k future observations is an interval which is said to contain the values of all k such observations with a specified probability based on the results of a past sample of n observations from the same population. Such an interval is frequently required in practical applications. This article provides factors for a normal distribution for These factors were obtained using a new computer program whose accuracy was checked by comparison with existing tabulations. Some results are also given to indicate the extent to which a previously proposed approximation based on a Bonferroni Inequality overestimates the factors for calculating a one-sided prediction limit. 1. Calculating a two-sided 100γ percent prediction interval for a. γ = 0.90 and many values of k ≤ 20 and n ≥ 4. b. γ = 0.95 and 0.99 for many values of k ≥ 20 and n = 4 and 5. (Factors for n > 5 were previously given in [9].) 2. Calculating a one-sided 100γ percent prediction limit for γ=0.90, 0.95 and 0.99 for many val...
The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO) mission concept

The hard X-ray sky has tremendous potential for future discoveries and is one of the last electromagnetic regimes without a sensitive all-sky survey. A new approach to such a survey is to utilize the Moon as an occulting disk. The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO) mission concept, based on this Lunar Occultation Technique (LOT) and incorporating advanced inorganic scintillators as a detection medium, represents a sensitive and cost effective option for NASA's Beyond Einstein Black Hole Finder Probe or a future Explorer-class mission. We present the motivating factors for the LOT, outline developmental details and simulation results, as well as give preliminary estimates for source detection sensitivity.
INDO-MO conformational study of cyclic α-acyloxy radicals derived from γ-lactones

Abstract As an extension of earlier comprehensive INDO-MO-SCF studies in this laboratory of acyclic, aliphatic carboxylic-ester radicals, we present the results of a similar INDO-based conformational investigation of analogous cyclic α-acyloxy radicals, where R is H or CH3, for which isotropic EPR proton splitting-constant data over the temperature range 10–40°C are recently available. This investigation shows that we may successfully account for the observed EPR data, in each of these radicals, in terms of nonplanarity at the radical site accompanied by rapid inversion, out-of-plane vibration of the C α R bond, and envelope-type ring motion.
Modeling aqueous ozone/UV process using oxalic acid as probe chemical.

A kinetic model that describes the removal of organic pollutants by an ozone/UV process is described. Oxalic acid, which reacts with a very low rate constant with ozone and relatively high rate con...
Deriving Statistical Significance Maps for Support Vector Regression Using Medical Imaging Data

Regression analysis involves predicting a continuos variable using imaging data. The Support Vector Regression (SVR) algorithm has previously been used in addressing regression analysis in neuroimaging. However, identifying the regions of the image that the SVR uses to model the dependence of a target variable remains an open problem. It is an important issue when one wants to biologically interpret the meaning of a pattern that predicts the variable(s) of interest, and therefore to understand normal or pathological process. One possible approach to the identification of these regions is the use of permutation testing. Permutation testing involves 1) generation of a large set of 'null SVR models' using randomly permuted sets of target variables, and 2) comparison of the SVR model trained using the original labels to the set of null models. These permutation tests often require prohibitively long computational time. Recent work in support vector classification shows that it is possible to analytically approximate the results of permutation testing in medical image analysis. We propose an analogous approach to approximate permutation testing based analysis for support vector regression with medical imaging data. In this paper we present 1) the theory behind our approximation, and 2) experimental results using two real datasets.
First confirmed record of a Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding at one year of age

Capsule The first confirmed record of breeding by a one-year-old Common Tern Sterna hirundo is revealed by ringing evidence, despite second-summer plumage characteristics.
Medication adherence before an increase in antihypertensive therapy: a cohort study using pharmacy claims data.

Abstract Background: Less than one third of patients with hypertension achieve optimal blood pressure control. Poor medication adherence has been identified as one contributor to uncontrolled blood pressure. Objective: This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that patients who require an increase in their antihypertensive regimen have poorer adherence with medication compared with patients who remain on a stable regimen. Methods: Health plan enrollment and pharmacy claims data were used to perform a prospective cohort study and a nested case-control study in patients newly starting antihypertensive therapy. In the prospective cohort study, cumulative medication adherence (CMA, the percentage of days the patient had pills available, calculated as the total number of days of medication dispensed, excluding the final prescription, divided by the total number of days between the first and last antihypertensive prescriptions in the observation period) was compared between patients who required an increase in therapy and patients who remained on a stable antihypertensive regimen. In the nested case-control analysis, interval medication adherence (IMA, the ratio of the number of days of medication dispensed in a single prescription divided by the number of days until the next prescription is filled) during the prescription interval immediately before an increase in the antihypertensive regimen was compared with a similar interval in control patients without an increase matched by age, medication, number of days of medication dispensed, and months since initiation of therapy. Results: The study included data from 5089 patients (mean [SD] age, 47.8 [13.0] years; 50.0% women). Over a median (interquartile range) of 23 (9–49) months of initial antihypertensive treatment, 935 patients (18.4%) had an increase in regimen. After adjusting for age, duration of treatment, number of prescribing physicians, and specific medication, patients with a regimen increase had a 12.0% higher CMA compared with patients remaining on a stable regimen ( P Conclusions: Among these insured patients newly starting antihypertensive therapy, patients who required an increase in therapy had similar or slightly better medication adherence compared with patients remaining on a stable regimen. Poor adherence was not predictive of intensification of the antihypertensive regimen.
Enhanced ductility in thermally sprayed titania coating synthesized using a nanostructured feedstock

Abstract Nanostructured and conventional titania (TiO2) feedstock powders were thermally sprayed via high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF). The microstructure, porosity, Vickers hardness, crack propagation resistance, bond strength (ASTM C633), abrasion behavior (ASTM G65) and the wear scar characteristics of these two types of coatings were analyzed and compared. The coating made from the nanostructured feedstock exhibited a bimodal microstructure, with regions containing particles that were fully molten (conventional matrix) and regions with embedded particles that were semi-molten (nanostructured zones) during the thermal spraying process. The bimodal coating also exhibited higher bond strength and higher wear resistance when compared to the conventional coating. By comparing the wear scars of both coatings (via scanning electron microscopy and roughness measurements) it was observed that when the coatings were subjected to the same abrasive conditions the wear scar of the bimodal coating was smoother, with more plastically deformed regions than the conventional coating. It was concluded that this enhanced ductility of the bimodal coating was caused by its higher toughness. The results suggest that nanostructured zones randomly distributed in the microstructure of the bimodal coating act as crack arresters, thereby enhancing toughness and promoting higher critical depth of cut, which provides a broader plastic deformation range than that exhibited by the conventional coating. This work provides evidence that the enhanced ductility of the bimodal coating is a nanostructured-related property, not caused by any other microstructural artifact.
Gene-function wiki would let biologists pool worldwide resources

A microarray experiment or BLAST search can turn up thousands of gene names, but the average biologist has little notion as to what most of them do, and has to start ploughing through the literature. Time for a ‘gene function’ equivalent of Wikipedia?
Retinoic acid inhibits basement membrane protein biosynthesis while stimulating dome formation by Madin Darby canine kidney cells in hormonally defined serum-free medium.

The effect of retinoic acid on basement membrane protein biosynthesis and dome formation by Madin Darby canine kidney cells was examined. Retinoic acid inhibited the biosynthesis of laminin, collagen IV, and heparan sulfate proteo-glycan by confluent MDCK monolayers in a hormonally defined serum-free medium. Retinoic acid inhibited laminin biosynthesis by as much as 70% after an 8 day incubation period. The inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on laminin biosynthesis preceded temporally the stimulatory effect of retinoic acid on dome formation. This observation is consistent with the existence of a causal relationship between these two phenomena. Not only did retinoic acid inhibit the biosynthesis of laminin, but in addition the biosynthesis of the cellular 67 kd laminin binding protein was inhibited.
Free amino acids in liver of patients with homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency: Effects of vitamin B6**

Patients with homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency do not have free homocystine inthe liver when it is present in high concentrations in the plasma and the urine. The liver of these patients is capable of maintaining normal concentrations of cystine at a time when the plasma cystine concentration is severely reduced. There is an increase in the methionine concentration of the liver which is reduced to normal concentrations during pyridoxine therapy.
Stimulation of microsomal production of reactive oxygen intermediates by rifamycin SV: effect of ferric complexes and comparisons between NADPH and NADH.

Rifamycins are antibacterial antibiotics which are especially useful for the treatment of tuberculosis. Reactive oxygen intermediates are produced in the presence of rifamycin SV and metals such as copper or manganese. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the interaction of rifamycin SV with rat liver microsomes to catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species. At a concentration of 1 mM, rifamycin SV increased microsomal production of superoxide with NADPH as cofactor 3-fold, and with NADH as reductant by more than 5-fold. Rifamycin SV increased rates of H2O2 production by the microsomes twofold with NADPH, and 4- to 8-fold with NADH. In the presence of various iron complexes, microsomes generated hydroxyl radical-like (.OH) species. Rifamycin SV had no effect on NADPH-dependent microsomal .OH production, irrespective of the iron chelate. A striking stimulation of .OH production was found with NADH as the reductant, ranging from 2- to 4-fold with catalyst such as ferric-EDTA and ferric-DTPA to more than 10-fold with ferric-ATP, -citrate, or -histidine. Catalase and competitive .OH scavengers lowered rates of .OH production (chemical scavenger oxidation) and prevented the stimulation by rifamycin. Superoxide dismutase had no effect on the NADH-dependent rifamycin stimulation of .OH production with ferric-EDTA or -DTPA, but was inhibitory with the other ferric complexes. In contrast to the stimulatory effects on production of O2-., H2O2, and .OH, rifamycin SV was a potent inhibitor of microsomal lipid peroxidation. These results show that rifamycin SV stimulates microsomal production of reactive oxygen intermediates, and in contrast to results with other redox cycling agents, is especially effective with NADH as the microsomal reductant. These interactions may contribute to the hepatotoxicity associated with use of rifamycin, and, since alcohol metabolism increases NADH availability, play a role in the elevated toxic actions of rifamycin plus alcohol.
New genes tied to endocrine, metabolic, and dietary regulation of lifespan from a Caenorhabditis elegans genomic RNAi screen

Most of our knowledge about the regulation of aging comes from mutants originally isolated for other phenotypes. To ask whether our current view of aging has been affected by selection bias, and to deepen our understanding of known longevity pathways, we screened a genomic Caenorhabditis elegans RNAi library for clones that extend lifespan. We identified 23 new longevity genes affecting signal transduction, the stress response, gene expression, and metabolism and assigned these genes to specific longevity pathways. Our most important findings are (i) that dietary restriction extends C. elegans' lifespan by down-regulating expression of key genes, including a gene required for methylation of many macromolecules, (ii) that integrin signaling is likely to play a general, evolutionarily conserved role in lifespan regulation, and (iii) that specific lipophilic hormones may influence lifespan in a DAF-16/FOXO-dependent fashion. Surprisingly, of the new genes that have conserved sequence domains, only one could not be associated with a known longevity pathway. Thus, our current view of the genetics of aging has probably not been distorted substantially by selection bias.
Determination of soluble phosphorus in the presence of organic ligands or fluoride

In the ascorbic acid-molybdenum blue method for measurement of soluble P, the relationship between color intensity and P concentration in solution and color stability is greatly affected by organic and inorganic ligands such as oxalate, citrate, tartrate, or F. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of these ligands and to optimize the conditions for determination of inorganic P in the presence of the interfering ligand. The critical concentrations of the ligand at which P recovery was significantly decreased were 1.5 mM for oxalate, 3.0 mM for citrate or tartrate, and 10 mM for fluoride. The interference of the ligand with P determination was overcome by excess amounts of ammonium molybdate (AM) added before the color developing reagent (CDR The critical molybdate/ligand molar ratios (excluding the amount of molybdate added in the CDR) required to completely eliminate the interference of the ligand were 1.12 for oxalate, 0.84 for citrate, 0.56 for fluoride, and 0.34 for tartrate. The presence of ligand and excess amount of AM did not affect the linearity of color intensity against P concentration but did alter the slope, suggesting that the modified method is reliable for P determination in the presence of an interfering ligand provided that the standard curve is prepared in the same matrix as the sample.
History, Structure, and Revolution in the Shi'ite Tradition in Contemporary Iran:

The aim of this article is to draw theoretical lessons from the contemporary transformation of Shi'ism by examining the bearing of history, structure and cultural tradition on the causes and consequences of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It is argued that the Islamic Revolution can be viewed as the traditionalization of a modernizing nation-state, and at the same time the modernization of the Shi'ite tradition. This apparently paradoxical characterization strongly suggests that a Weberian paradigm for culturally specific patterns of social change is more helpful for its comprehension than any alternative model.
In vivo MRI of submillisecond T2 species with two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional radial sequences and applications to the measurement of cortical bone water

Water in dense collagenous tissues such as tendons and ligaments, as well as water in cortical bone that occupies the spaces of the lacuno-canicular system or is tightly bound to collagen, is not ordinarily detectable by MRI. Water proton T2 in these structures is generally less than 1 ms. Recent advances in instrumentation in conjunction with non-Cartesian imaging strategies now allow center of k-space to be scanned 100 µs or less after excitation. We examined the performance of two radial pulse sequences, a 2D sequence with half-pulse excitation and a new 3D hybrid sequence with variable-echo Cartesian encoding in the third dimension, on a whole-body 3 T scanner. Both pulse sequences used long-T2 soft-tissue suppression pulses. The half-pulse slice profiles observed experimentally agreed well with those computed on the basis of a numerical solution of Bloch equations. The techniques yielded a signal-to-noise ratio of the order of 25 in 9 min scan time at a nominal voxel size of 0.58 × 0.58 × 8 mm3 and 50–90 µs ‘echo time’ in the cortex of the tibial mid-shaft. With the use of an external reference, the water volume fraction of cortical bone in four subjects (mean ± SD age 32.25 ± 5.3 years) was found to be 22.5 ± 2.7%, in good agreement with literature values. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.