cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous quantification of twenty-two amino acids in nanolitre samples of biological fluid

The technique of thin-layer chromatography and14C-dansylation has been used for simultaneous measurement of 22 individual amino acids, taurine, serotonin, and γ-aminobutyric acid in nanolite samples of glomerular and renal tubule fluid. Standard curves of each amino acid mixture containing all the others showed excellent linearity at amounts ranging from 5.7·10−13 to 1.45·−11 mole regression coefficients all greater than 0.95). With careful standardization of dansylation conditions, the technique permits highly reproducible measurement of less than 1 pmole of an amino acid.
An application of item response theory analysis to alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine criteria in DSM-IV

Item response theory (IRT) is supplanting classical test theory as the basis for measures development. This study demonstrated the utility of IRT for evaluating DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Data on alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine symptoms from 372 adult clinical participants interviewed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview--Expanded Substance Abuse Module (CIDI-SAM) were analyzed with Mplus (B. Muthen & L. Muthen, 1998) and MULTILOG (D. Thissen, 1991) software. Tolerance and legal problems criteria were dropped because of poor fit with a unidimensional model. Item response curves, test information curves, and testing of variously constrained models suggested that DSM-IV criteria in the CIDI-SAM discriminate between only impaired and less impaired cases and may not be useful to scale case severity. IRT can be used to study the construct validity of DSM-IV diagnoses and to identify diagnostic criteria with poor performance.
Failure of dietary oltipraz to inhibit benzo[α]pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in strain a mice

Abstract Oltipraz (OLT), an antischistosomal agent, is known to inhibit tumorigenesis induced by a variety of carcinogens. In this study, we examined the ability of dietary oltipraz to inhibit benzo[α]pyrene (BP)-induced pulmonary adenoma formation in A/J mice. In a 6-week study, the maximum tolerated dietary concentration of OLT was found to be 450 ppm. Accordingly, OLT was tested at 0.8 MTD and 0.4 MTD. OLT diets were initiated 48 h prior to administration of a single i.p. dose of BP (100 mg/kg). Control or experimental diets were continued for the duration of the study. At 6 months, mice treated with BP only had a multiplicity of 9.0 tumors/animal and at 8.5 months, mice treated with BP only had a multiplicity of 21.4 tumors/animal. No inhibition of lung tumor formation by dietary OLT was observed at 6 or at 8.5 months after BP administration. In parallel experiments performed to assess the effects of OLT on pulmonary glutathione S-transferase activity, no induction of GST activity was found at the various time points examined. Doses of OLT that induced GST activity and inhibited tumorigenesis in mice in experiments conducted by other investigators would have exceeded the predetermined MTD for dietary OLT established in A/J mice in this study.
Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi‐Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology*†

In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed among men and women and the second leading cause of death from cancer. CRC largely can be prevented by the detection and removal of adenomatous polyps, and survival is significantly better when CRC is diagnosed while still localized. In 2006 to 2007, the American Cancer Society, the US Multi Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology came together to develop consensus guidelines for the detection of adenomatous polyps and CRC in asymptomatic average-risk adults. In this update of each organization's guidelines, screening tests are grouped into those that primarily detect cancer early and those that can detect cancer early and also can detect adenomatous polyps, thus providing a greater potential for prevention through polypectomy. When possible, clinicians should make patients aware of the full range of screening options, but at a minimum they should be prepared to offer patients a choice between a screening test that is effective at both early cancer detection and cancer prevention through the detection and removal of polyps and a screening test that primarily is effective at early cancer detection. It is the strong opinion of these 3 organizations that colon cancer prevention should be the primary goal of screening.
Chemical storage of solar energy—kinetics of heterogeneous NH3 and H2SO4 reactions II. Process and reactor design

Abstract An important energy recovery step in the ammonium hydrogen sulfate (AHS) cycle is the recombination reaction producing NH4HSO4. It has been determined that the optimum way to accomplish this, and prevent side reactions, is by the heterogeneous gas-liquid reaction of H2SO4 and NH3. A mathematical model is presented and applied to the two reaction zones and a method of numerical solution is discussed. Three horizontal pilot-scale configurations, 0.17 × 106 to 4.2 × 106 kJ/h energy release, are discussed and sizing is presented. The most important conclusion from the work is that the energy can be released most effectively by carrying out the reaction in a double pipe tubular reactor operating in the annular flow regime with both gas and liquid in turbulent flow.
Nondestructive Evaluation in Ocean Engineering

Nondestructive testing and evaluation are widely applicable to a range of ocean engineering materials. Techniques of ultrasonic monitoring can be used to detect impending failure of fabricated metallic structures, verify the integrity of structural elements, and monitor the evolution of the ultimate strength of concrete castings and substructures. In addition, these techniques may be used to evaluate nonstructural marine materials in-situ. An overview of ultrasonic methods of nondestructive evaluation is given.
Design Considerations for Stability of Liquid Payload Projectiles

Itiswellknownthatprojectilesequippedwith liquidpayloadsexperiencelargedestabilizingmomentsinduced by internalmotionofthe fluid.Forsomeconfigurations,thesemomentsmayleadtocatastrophic flightinstabilities.This paperexploreshowpayloadgeometry, fluidspin-uprate,andthemagnitudeoflaunchperturbationsaffectthe flight trajectories of projectiles with a liquid payload, including projectile instability. A dynamic simulation model is used in which a projectile rigid-body dynamics representation incorporates liquid moments generated from linearized Navier–Stokes predictions. A novel feature of this simulation is its use of linear filtering within the model, which determines fast- and slow-mode angle-of-attack contributions at each time step to be used in computation of liquid moments. Example cases and Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate how design factors and launch perturbations affect the projectile’s tendency to exhibit flight instability. The paper concludes with a summary of advantageous design characteristics that are likely to mitigate the effects of destabilizing liquid moments.
Open strings on orbifolds

Abstract We consider propagation of type I SO(32) superstrings on orbifolds. It is shown that anomaly cancellation requires the existence of “twisted” open strings and we determine the Chan-Paton factors for these strings in a simple example.
Photoconductive Switches Used For Waveform Generation At The National Bureau Of Standards

The characterization of waveform measurement systems and the development of reference waveforms is now underway at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). Efforts to upgrade the state of the art of fast waveform measurements at NBS has resulted in the development of the first photoconductive switch using GaAs in addition to a patent on the sampling of electrical signals with optical signals and vice versa. These photoconductive switches are now being applied to the development of reference waveform generators in the form of a Maxwell-Wagner two-layer capacitor in silicon stripline to complement the liquid-filled coaxial tine fitters developed previously. The silicon filters are more compact, rugged, and less expensive to fabricate. In addition, they lend themselves well to integration with photoconductive switches resulting in a reduction in connector problems and pulse excitation errors.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Full kinetics of CO entry, internal diffusion, and exit in myoglobin from transition-path theory simulations

We use Markovian milestoning molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on a tessellation of the collective variable space for CO localization in myoglobin to estimate the kinetics of entry, exit, and internal site-hopping. The tessellation is determined by analysis of the free-energy surface in that space using transition-path theory (TPT), which provides criteria for defining optimal milestones, allowing short, independent, cell-constrained MD simulations to provide properly weighted kinetic data. We coarse grain the resulting kinetic model at two levels: first, using crystallographically relevant internal cavities and their predicted interconnections and solvent portals; and second, as a three-state side-path scheme inspired by similar models developed from geminate recombination experiments. We show semiquantitative agreement with experiment on entry and exit rates and in the identification of the so-called “histidine gate” at position 64 through which ≈90% of flux between solvent and the distal pocket passe...
Testing the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation through confirmatory factor analysis

The purpose of this study was to provide empirical evidence to confirm the theoretical factor structure of the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation that was developed to help instructors understand how current motivation research can be applied to instruction. We hypothesised the MUSIC model as a hierarchical five-factor correlated model and compared its fit to alternative models. Our research question was: Is a hierarchical five-factor correlated model a valid representation of the MUSIC model? The study included 1228 undergraduate students from three different types of university courses. We measured the constructs associated with the main components of the MUSIC model: empowerment, usefulness, success, interest and caring. Results of the confirmatory factor analyses provided strong evidence that the hierarchical five-factor correlated model was a valid representation of the MUSIC model. Thus, the MUSIC model consists of components that are theoretically and empirically correlated, yet distinct.
Continuous Versus Intermittent Exposure to Rock and Roll Music

The purpose of this experiment was to compare the temporary threshold shift (TTS) of subjects exposed to 60 minutes of rock and roll music played continuously at an average peak intensity of 110 dB sound pressure level (SPL) with the mean TTS of subjects exposed to 60 minutes of the same stimuli and intensity level played intermittently. Results showed a significant difference in TTS between continuous and intermittent exposure conditions with greater TTS resulting from continuous exposure at 250, 500, 2,0 and 3,000 Hz. The largest threshold shift under both conditions was found at 4,000 Hz. The mean TTS of men and women were not found to differ significantly. Large differences were found among subjects concerning the absolute amount of TTS.
Is Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of Primary Liver Tumors Necessary? Results From a Single-Center Experience

The purpose of this study was to evaluate need for antibiotic prophylaxis for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver tumors in patients with no significant co-existing risk factors for infection. From January 2004 to September 2013, 83 patients underwent 123 percutaneous RFA procedures for total of 152 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions. None of the patients had pre-existing biliary enteric anastomosis (BEA) or any biliary tract abnormality predisposing to ascending biliary infection or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. No pre- or post-procedure antibiotic prophylaxis was provided for 121 procedures. Data for potential risk factors were reviewed retrospectively and analyzed for the frequency of infectious complications, including abscess formation. One patient (1/121 (0.8 %) RFA sessions) developed a large segment 5 liver abscess/infected biloma communicating with the gallbladder 7 weeks after the procedure, successfully treated over 10 weeks with IV and PO antibiotic therapy and percutaneous catheter drainage. This patient did not receive any antibiotics prior to RFA. During the procedure, there was inadvertent placement of RFA probe tines into the gallbladder. No other infectious complications were documented. These data suggest that the routine use of prophylactic antibiotics for liver RFA is not necessary in majority of the patients undergoing liver ablation for HCC and could be limited to patients with high-risk factors such as the presence of BEA or other biliary abnormalities, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, and large centrally located tumors in close proximity to central bile ducts. Larger randomized studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
On the flow of emulsions in tribological contacts

There are numerous instances of technical importance in which multi-component lubricants are utilized either by design or by necessity. In many of these cases one of the components is a liquid while the other component is a gas, or both components are liquids. These mixtures do not exhibit Newtonian behavior even when their components themselves are Newtonian, and thus classical lubrication theory is inapplicable to bearings lubricated with mixtures. Our objective here is to extend hydrodynamic lubrication theory to lubrication with liquid-liquid and liquid-gas mixtures. The extended theory is then applied to journal bearings, roller bearings and to lubrication in cold rolling. We are able to predict several experimentally observed phenomena such as oil-pooling ahead of an elastohydrodynamic lubrication conjunction.
The psychoanalytic view of teaching and learning, 1922–2002

Various psychoanalysts have written about the implications of psychoanalytic theory for teaching and learning. Although many curriculum scholars have offered their personal interpretations of the relevance of psychoanalytic theory to education, there is very little in the educational literature about what psychoanalysts themselves have had to say about the acts of teaching and learning since the rise (and, some would suggest, decline) of psychoanalysis over the last century. This study examines a wide range of educational themes that emerge from a reading of various psychoanalysts over the last eight decades. In general, the psychoanalysts argue that, in order to be existentially authentic, teaching and learning must involve the teacher and student in all their psychodynamic complexity as emotional and ethical beings. I also examine the psychodynamic concepts of transference, counter‐transference, and object relations in some depth because they have figured prominently in psychoanalytic discourse about ed...
The debate: a case for randomized controls in invasive aspergillosis

Randomized trials in invasive aspergillosis have evolved over the past decade. Definitions of disease now include specifics of the underlying disease and how this affects interpretation of certain tests, including high resolution computed tomography and smears or cultures of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage. Study hypotheses have changed from underpowered superiority trials to adequately powered noninferiority trials. Consensus building between Europe and North America has allowed trials to be conducted with the same protocol in both regions, thereby increasing study enrollment. In aggregate, the following outcomes can be drawn from randomized trials: (i) Liposomal amphotericin B is possibly superior to conventional amphotericin B at 14 days and less toxic. Whether the dose of liposomal amphotericin is 1 or 4 mg/kg daily is not as important as other factors in determining outcome of possible aspergillosis; (ii) amphotericin B colloidal dispersion is less nephrotoxic but has more acute infusion-related reactions than conventional amphotericin B; (iii) starting treatment with voriconazole is superior to starting with conventional amphotericin B. In an era of increasing cost containment, it will be the randomized trials that provide the clinician with the information needed to avoid inappropriate use of expensive drugs and drug combinations.
A novel endoscopic full-thickness plicator for treatment of GERD: An animal model study

Background: This study was designed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of a novel endoscopic full-thickness plication device for the treatment of GERD. Methods: Gastric pressures and reflux from the gastroesophageal junction were measured in 20 excised pig stomachs before and after full-thickness plication within 1 cm of the gastroesophageal junction. Endoscopic full-thickness plication was performed on 11 live mini-swine that were subsequently observed for up to 12 weeks. Observations: Full-thickness plication significantly increased the mean intragastric pressure at which gastroesophageal reflux occurred. No complication, death, or sign of infection or tissue damage was noted by endoscopic observation or inspection of excised tissue at up to 12 weeks' follow-up. Conclusions: These studies in the ex vivo porcine model and live pigs suggest that full-thickness plication is effective and safe.
Effects of electroacupuncture on gastric migrating myoelectrical complex in dogs

The aim-of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the gastric slow wave during different phases of the migrating myoelectrical complex (MMC) and the effect of electroacupuncture on the MMC. The experiment was performed in eight hound dogs implanted with one pair of bipolar serosal electrodes 2 cm proximal to the pylorus. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded for three complete cycles of the MMC in two sessions, one with electroacupuncture at points ST36 and PC6 and the other at sham points. The acupuncture was performed for 30 min in phase I of the second cycle of the MMC. Spectral analysis was performed to compute the frequency and power (amplitude) of the gastric slow wave, whereas blind visual analysis was applied to compute the appearance of spike potentials and the length of each phase of the MMC. It was found that there was a significant difference in the frequency and power of the gastric slow wave during different phases of the MMC (P 0.05) but became significant during the cycle after electroacupuncture (39.8+/-3.3% vs 27.5+/-2.5%, P < 0.0005). Similarly, during the MMC cycle after electroacupuncture at the acupoints, there was a significant decrease in the length of phase I (14.8+/-2.2 vs 46.9+/-6.1 min, P < 0.003) and a significant increase in the length of phase II (75.6+/-9.9 vs 30.6+/-4.1 min, P < 0.003) and phase III (25.8+/-0.6 vs 22.1+/-0.7 min, P < 0.003). A similar increase was observed during the MMC cycle with electroacupuncture but was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the gastric slow wave has the highest power during phase III of the MMC, indicating that the antral contraction is characterized not only by the appearance of spikes, but also by the increased power of the slow wave. Electroacupuncture at acupoints of ST36 and PC6 enhances the gastric MMC by reducing the length of phase I and increasing the length of phases II and III.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Maltreated Youth: A Review of Contemporary Research and Thought.

Youths who have been maltreated often experience symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and this special population has received increased attention from researchers. Pathways toward maladaptive effects of maltreatment and PTSD are remarkably similar and reflect specific biological diatheses and psychological vulnerabilities that produce wide-ranging self-regulation deficits. Developmental models of effects of maltreatment and of PTSD are thus increasingly intertwined and have begun to inform specialized assessment and treatment strategies for this population. This review covers key aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder in maltreated youth, including epidemiology, symptomatology, outcome, and risk factors as well as assessment and treatment strategies and challenges for these youths.
Evaluation of beliefs about hypertension in a general population.

Purpose: Hypertension affects millions of people in the United States, yet many do not reach their blood pressure goals. Existing data indicate that self-management skills improve chronic disease management. Beliefs and attitudes are an important component of self management. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the beliefs of the general public on hypertension. Methods: One hundred patients of Duke Family Medicine were verbally consented to receive a survey consisting of 16 true/false questions. Included subjects were 18 years and older and comfortable answering questions in English. The questions addressed self-management behaviors, definition, and complications of hypertension. Basic demographic data were collected. Descriptive statistics were performed on the data. Results: Of 120 patients screened, 100 met inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Demographic data indicated that surveyed subjects were similar to the general clinic population: 69% were women, 51% African American...
Twelve years of planning and scheduling the Hubble Space Telescope: process improvements and the related observing efficiency gains

Over the last twelve years, the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) planning and scheduling teams have reduced the lead time to schedule the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) five-fold while doubling the overall observing efficiency. After the launch of HST, a one-week flight calendar took 56 days to prepare, schedule, and convert to flight products; the process now begins 11 days before execution. Early observing efficiency was in the 25% range; it is now typically 50%. In this paper, the process improvements that allowed these advancements are summarized. We also discuss the most recent scheduling advancement, which allows interruption of an executing flight calendar for fast-turnaround science observations or telescope anomaly resolution within 24 hours of activation.
Observation of coherence transfer by electron-electron correlation.

We present the results of exact wave-function calculations that are equivalent to numerical experiments on a two-electron quantum system. We show that Rabi oscillations of the core electron can modify the photoelectron spectrum of the outer electron by efficient coherence transfer via e- e correlation, even in the absence of an autoionizing level or other continuum structure. We compare a simplified analytically soluble two-electron theory with our numerical results
Design shirk: disparities between the wealth of our material and the poverty of its use

Libraries and other institutions of higher learning have a number of advantages when it comes to developing web‐based media. First they are repositories of large amounts of traditional content which they can digitise and make available to the public to great effect. Second they have a role in instruction which acts as a great incentive to develop original materials of all sorts for online use. Both these factors are the building blocks of a considerable presence on the web yet they do not always lead to an equivalently prominent level of accomplishment in execution or, more specifically, in design. The following article examines this situation, its causes, and what can be done to remedy it.
On the Nonembeddability and Crossing Numbers of Some Kleinical Polyhedral Maps on the Torus

We define a family of graph bundles over cycles which embed naturally on the Klein bottle and which are analogous to the celebrated toroidal grid graphs (cartesian product of a cycle with a cycle). We give a criterion for a polyhedral map on the Klein bottle to fail to embed on the torus, and use this to calculate toroidal crossing numbers of two one-parameter infinite families of our Kleinical graphs.
Cytotoxicity of human brain tumors by hematoporphyrin derivative

A number of investigators have successfully applied light activation of hematoporphyrin derivative to treat both animal and human solid tumors [ 1, 2, 4, 111. The biological activity of this treatment modality depends on the selective retention of the HPD by malignant cells, activation by light with the resultant production of singlet oxygen, and the rapid cytotoxicity induced by oxidation-induced cell membrane lysis [9]. Brain tumors would seem to be an ideal system to apply this new treatment modality, since they are lethal by virtue of their local growth [8]. In addition, with new CT scan and fiberoptic technology, a very large area within the brain could be activated by laser-derived light systems. It was the purpose of this study to investigate the in vitro sensitivity of human central nervous system neoplasms to the cytotoxic effects of hematoporphyrin derivative and visible light. The results suggest that there is a relatively uniform cytotoxicity of human brain tumors with hematoporphyrin derivative at dose levels obtainable in clinical practice.
Survey of sensitive information written in patient notes by psychiatry trainees.

Objective Allowing psychiatric patients access to their electronic medical record (EMR) may cause difficulty related to the sensitivity of the note content. The authors investigated whether notes written by psychiatry trainees were ready for release to patients.
Nondestructive methods to assess dental implant stability

The robustness and reliability of two nondestructive evaluation methods to assess dental prostheses stability is presented. The study aims at addressing an increasing need in the biomedical area where robust, reliable, and noninvasive methods to assess the bone-interface of dental and orthopedic implants are increasingly demanded for clinical diagnosis and direct prognosis. The methods are based on the electromechanical impedance method and on the propagation of solitary waves. Nobel Biocare® 4.3 x 13 mm implants were entrenched inside bovine rib bones that were immersed inside Normal Saline for 24 hours before test in order to avoid dehydration and simulating physiologic osmolarity of the corticocancellous bone and plasma. Afterwards the bones were immersed in a solution of nitric acid to allow material degradation, inversely simulating a bone-healing process. This process was monitored by bonding a Piezoceramic Transducer (PZT) to the abutment and measuring the electrical admittance of the PZT over time. On the other hand the bones calcium loss was calculated after immersing in acid by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy over time for comparison. Moreover a novel transducer based on the generation and detection of highly nonlinear solitary waves was used to assess the stiffness of the abutment-implant bone. In these experiments it was found that the PZT's conductance and some of the solitary waves parameters are sensitive to the degradation of the bones and was correlated to the bone calcium loss over time.
Long-term effects of lesions of the tissue surrounding the preoptic recess on paraventricular nuclei in rats.

Abstract In this investigation we have observed the effects of withholding water for 5 days, the effects of long-term (5 weeks) lesions of the tissue surrounding the preoptic recess in the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V region), and the interaction of the effects of long-term AV3V lesions and water deprivation on paraventricular nuclei. The purpose of these observations was to see if recovery of the antidiuretic response after AV3V lesions is associated with recovery of fine structural responses in these neurosecretory cells. Paraventricular neurosecretory cells of rats deprived of water for 5 days were hypertrophied in controls and in rats with AV3V lesions. Areas of cell bodies and their nuclei were increased, as were the number of Golgi stacks and electron dense (immature) neurosecrotory granules. A greater percentage of nucleoli were adjacent to the nuclear envelope. Paraventricular neurons of rats with AV3V lesions also had fine structural changes characteristics of increased secretory activity, even in animals with free access to drinking water. The areas of cells and their nucleoli in coronal sections, and the number of Golgi stacks and electron-dense neurosecretory granules per cell were significantly increased in both treatment groups with AV3V lesions. There was a greater increase in the numbers of Golgi stacks and immature neurosecretory granules tended to be more numerous in water-deprived lesioned rats than in water-deprived controls cells in paraventricular nuclei, possibly stimulated via undamaged descending connections from the subfornical organ and by ascending pathways activated by cardiovascular volume receptors.
Analyzing Gender and Sexuality in Magazine Advertisements

This lesson plan is designed to help students become more aware of how advertisements play a role in shaping societal attitudes about gender and sexuality and how these messages effect their own beliefs. This lesson plan will outline how to effectively accomplish this goal in any course focusing on gender and/or sexuality.
Manipulating Mesophase Behavior of Hydrated DHPE: An X-ray Diffraction Study of Temperature and Pressure Effects

A pressure−temperature phase diagram for 1,2-dihexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DHPE) in a 50% (w/w) mixture with water has been constructed in the range 1−1200 bar and 65−90 °C. The lamellar gel (Lβ‘) phase prevails at high pressure and low temperature. It gives way successively to the lamellar liquid crystalline (Lα) and inverted hexagonal (HII) phases as pressure is lowered and temperature is raised. Measurements were made using synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction and a high-pressure beryllium cell. The pressure dependence of the Lβ‘/Lα transition temperature, dTm/dP, is 25 ± 2 °C/kbar. Compression/expansion in the lamellar phases was highly anisotropic. The isothermal pressure dependence of the chain-packing and lamellar repeat distance, (∂d/∂P)T, in both the Lα and Lβ‘ phases was insensitive to temperature in the range studied. The average (∂d/∂P)T values for the lamellar repeat in the Lα and Lβ‘ phases and for the chain-packing repeat in the Lβ‘ phase are 3.0 ± 0.1, 1.18 ± 0.06, and −0.11...
The (Un)Importance of Party Leaders: Leader Images and Party Choice in the 1987 British Election

Most research has deemphasized the influence of leader images on British voting. This paper uses the 1987 British Campaign Study data to investigate the structure of leader images and the determinants of electoral choice. Confirmatory factor analyses reveal two image dimensions--competence and responsiveness. These dimensions were associated more closely for the opposition leaders than for the prime minister. Multivariate analyses show that leader images had strong effects on party choice. Practical wisdom about party leaders should inform credible models of party support in an era of partisan dealignment.
In Vivo Platelet Activation in Critically Ill Patients With Primary 2009 Influenza A(H1N1)

Background Changes in platelet reactivity during 2009 influenza A(H1N1) (A[H1N1]) have not been characterized. Methods We prospectively examined platelet activation and cytokine responses in patients with A(H1N1) (n = 20), matched patients with bacterial pneumonia (n = 15), and nonhospitalized, healthy control subjects (n = 10). Results Platelet-monocyte aggregation was higher in patients with A(H1N1) (21.4% ± 4.7%) compared with patients with pneumonia (10.9% ± 3.7%) and control subjects (8.1% ± 4.5%, P IIb β 3 ) binding to platelets is increased in patients with A(H1N1) (9.5% ± 4.7%) compared with patients with pneumonia (1.0% ± 0.7%) and healthy subjects (0.61% ± 0.15%, P Conclusions These findings, derived from a small but documented cohort of patients, demonstrate that platelet activation responses during A(H1N1) are enhanced—exceeding responses in patients with bacterial pneumonia—and provide new evidence that platelets may contribute to inflammatory responses during A(H1N1).
SOME CHEMISTRY OF HIGH OXIDATION STATE TRANSITION METAL FLUORIDES IN ANHYDROUS HF

Abstract The salt AgFIrF6 ( AgIrF 6 + 1 2 F 2 in AHF) is isostructural with AgFAsF6. Failure to prepare AgFOsF6 (AgOsF6 + F2 → AgF2 + OsF6) indicates that the one-dimensional chain cation (AgF)nn+ takes the electron from OsF6−. The Ag(solv)2+ ion oxidizes IrF6− to IrF6 and at −78 °C in AHF, O2 to O2+ (O2 + Ag2+ + 2AsF6− → O2+AsF6− + AgAsF6). This reaction is negligible at ∼20 °C because of the loss of translational entropy that accompanies the formation of the crystalline products. Dissolution of AgF3 in AHF with A (A = AsF5, SbF5 or BiF5) gives a solution {Ag(solv)III} which oxidizes PtF6− or RuF6− to MF6 and O2 to O2+. K2NiF6 in AHF below −60 °C with greater than threefold molar excess of BF3 yields yellow-brown solutions {Ni(solv)IV} which also oxidize PtF6− or RuF6− to MF6. The species Ag(solv)III and Ni(solv)IV in AHF are oxidizers of unsurpassed power.
Results of a programmer performance prediction study

This paper reports the results of a study undertaken by the Computer Personnel Research Group to gain some insight into the relationship between, on the one hand, rated job performance, and, on the other, cognitive abilities, vocational interests, and biographical information of computer programmers. A test battery composed of the IBM Programmer Aptitude Test, the Test of Sequential Instructions (a research instrument specially constructed for this study), the Strong Vocational Interest Blank, and a Personal Background Data Form was administered to 534 programmers (301 scientific and 233 business) representing 24 participating companies.
A Historical Note on Zero Correlation and Independence

Ever since the introduction of the correlation coefficient in 1888, there has been some confusion between zero correlation and statistical independence. We examine this, with emphasis on Student’s famous 1908 paper leading to the t-test, and indicate some subsequent developments.
High-resolution EXAFS of the active site of human sulfite oxidase: comparison with density functional theory and X-ray crystallographic results.

Much of our knowledge about molybdenum enzymes has originated from EXAFS spectroscopy. This technique provides excellent bond-length accuracy but has only limited bond-length resolution. We have used EXAFS spectroscopy with an extended data range in an attempt to improve bond-length resolution for the molybdenum enzyme sulfite oxidase. The Mo site of sulfite oxidase has two oxygen and three Mo-S ligands (two from cofactor dithiolene plus a cysteine). For the oxidized (MO VI ) enzyme, we find that the three Mo-S bond lengths are very similar (within 0.05 A) at 2.41 A, as are the Mo=O ligands at 1.72 A. Density functional theory shows that this is consistent with the proposed active-site structure. The reduced (MO IV ) enzyme shows two Mo-S bond lengths at 2.35 A A and one at 2.41 A (assigned to cofactor dithiolene and cysteine, respectively, from DFT), together with one Mo=O at 1.72 A and one Mo-OH 2 at 2.30 A.
High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Assay with Fluorescence Detection for the Analysis of 1954U89, 1,3-Diamino-7-(1-ethylpropyl)-8-methyl-7H-pyrrolo-(3,2-f)-quinazoline, in Plasma

Abstract 1954U89, 1,3-diamino -7 - (1-ethylpropyl) -8- methyl-7H-pyrrolo(3,2-f)-quinazoline, is a potent, lipid-soluble inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase that is under preclinical evaluation as an anticancer agent. A rapid and selective high performance liquid chromatographic assay with fluorescence detection was developed for the quantitation of 1954U89 in rat and dog plasma. The compound was removed from plasma by solid phase extraction, and the extracts were chromatographed on a Hypersil C1 column (4.6 mm × 15 cm) under isocratic conditions. The HPLC mobile phase consisted of methanol and 0.02 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH = 4.5) delivered in a ratio of 70:30 and at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The compound was quantitated by fluorescence detection with excitation and emission wavelengths set at 335 and 460 nm, respectively. The quantitation range of the assay was 0.01 to 2.0 μg/mL. The intra- and interassay precision of the method were approximately 4 and 6%, respectively, in rats, and approximately ...
Adaptive conductance filtering for spatially varying noise in PET images

PET images that have been reconstructed with unregularized algorithms are commonly smoothed with linear Gaussian filters to control noise. Since these filters are spatially invariant, they degrade feature contrast in the image, compromising lesion detectability. Edge-preserving smoothing filters can differentially preserve edges and features while smoothing noise. These filters assume spatially uniform noise models. However, the noise in PET images is spatially variant, approximately following a Poisson behavior. Therefore, different regions of a PET image need smoothing by different amounts. In this work, we introduce an adaptive filter, based on anisotropic diffusion, designed specifically to overcome this problem. In this algorithm, the diffusion is varied according to a local estimate of the noise using either the local median or the grayscale image opening to weight the conductance parameter. The algorithm is thus tailored to the task of smoothing PET images, or any image with Poisson-like noise characteristics, by adapting itself to varying noise while preserving significant features in the image. This filter was compared with Gaussian smoothing and a representative anisotropic diffusion method using three quantitative task-relevant metrics calculated on simulated PET images with lesions in the lung and liver. The contrast gain and noise ratio metrics were used to measure the ability to do accurate quantitation; the Channelized Hotelling Observer lesion detectability index was used to quantify lesion detectability. The adaptive filter improved the signal-to-noise ratio by more than 45% and lesion detectability by more than 55% over the Gaussian filter while producing "natural" looking images and consistent image quality across different anatomical regions.
Flow behavior of mesophase pitch

The objective of this work was to provide a comprehensive rheological and structural study of AR mesophase pitch. The shear viscosity of AR mesophase pitch was found to be qualitatively similar to results from prior investigations of mesophase pitch and followed the typical trend for liquid crystalline fluids. However, a distinct hesitation, or kink, was observed in the shear viscosity curve near the shear thinning to constant viscosity transition. This behavior has been seen previously for some low molecular weight and polymeric liquid crystals and was thought to be due to a transition between tumbling and steady alignment of the uniaxial director. Optical studies of mesophase pitch revealed an orientation change of the poly-domain structure at shear rates where the kink was observed. This orientation change results in a high viscosity to low viscosity transition. This viscosity transition, and not tumbling, is responsible for the kink phenomenon. The optical studies also reaffirmed that shear flow reduces the size of the poly domain structure and elongates the domains along the flow direction. Also under quiescent conditions, the poly-domain size increased with increasing relaxation time.
Morphogenesis of nasal tumors in rats exposed to hexamethylphosphoramide by inhalation

Nasal tumors were induced in rats by inhalation exposure to hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) for 6 to 24 months at concentrations of 50, 100, 400, and 4000 parts per billion (ppb), but not in rats exposed at 10 ppb for 24 months. Most nasal tumors were epidermoid carcinomas and developed from the respiratory epithelium or subepithelial nasal gland, both of which revealed squamous metaplasia or dysplasia in the anterior nasal cavity. The glandular cells appear to play an important role in developing epidermoid carcinomas in the nasal cavity. The ultrastructure of epidermoid carcinomas revealed abundant features of glandular differentiation in the neoplastic squamous cells. The morphological expression of glandular cell metamorphosis in the epidermoid carcinoma included intermediate cells showing both glandular and squamous differentiation, inter- or intracellular lumina, secretory vesicles, and mucus droplets in squamous cells and keratin plates.
The ethical behavior of retail managers

A measure of ethics termed ethical behavior (EB) is postulated and tested across the moral philosophy types of managers. The findings suggest that certain managers, classified as rule deontologists, appear to rank higher on the EB scale than any other philosophy type tested.
Real-Time Adaptive Functional MRI

Adaptively limiting image acquisition to areas of interest will allow more efficient data acquisition time for in-depth characterization of areas of brain activation. We designed and implemented an adaptive image acquisition scheme that uses a multiresolution-based strategy to zoom into the regions of cortical activity. Real-time pulse prescription and data processing capabilities were combined with spatially selective radiofrequency encoding. The method was successfully demonstrated in volunteers performing simple sensorimotor paradigms for simultaneous activation of primary motor and cerebellar areas. We believe that real-time adaptation of spatial and temporal sampling to task-related changes will increase the efficiency and flexibility of functional mapping experiments. Contrast-to-noise analysis in selected regions-of-interest was performed to quantitatively assess the multiresolution adaptive approach.
Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome following Epstein-Barr virus infection.

The term oczoplas or opsoclonus was introduced by the Polish neurologist Orzechowskil in 1913 to denote continuous chaotic saccades of the eyes. When occurring acutely and accompanied by concurrent truncal ataxia and limb myoclonus in a previously healthy person, opsoclonus–myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is one of the most dramatic presentations in clinical neurology. Its fame extends further to the fact that OMS can be a harbinger of occult malignancy, usually neuroectodermal tumor in children and lung, breast, or gynecologic cancer in adults. However, more often OMS in adults occurs after systemic infection.1 Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection was implicated previously in five OMS cases2-5⇓⇓⇓ (table). In none of them was EBV demonstrated in the CNS compartment. View this table: Table 1. Opsoclonus–myoconus syndrome associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection We report a case of OMS secondary to EBV infection. Clinical diagnosis was corroborated by serologic test and by direct PCR amplification of EBV genome in the CSF. A 50-year-old man had fever, sore throat, and macular–morbiliform rash 10 days before hospitalization for acute-onset oscillopsia, tremulousness, and unsteadiness. Neurologic symptoms worsened during the next 5 days at the peak of which the patient was afraid …
Northeast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience (NEURON): Our 13th Conference for Neuroscience Trainees and Educators

One of the primary objectives of NEURON is to provide an open forum for neuroscience undergraduate and graduate students to present and discuss their work with students and faculty with similar interests. Previous research demonstrates that presenting research at a conference poster session serves as an effective vehicle to meet this objective (Hardwick, 2005 ). Indeed, as noted earlier the majority of students rated the poster session as “very useful.” Moreover, the entire organization of the NEURON meeting, including the keynote speaker, the workshops, and the poster session, is designed to maximize and promote and encourage the development of neuroscientists in training.
Better-than-average and worse-than-average hospitals may not significantly differ from average hospitals: an analysis of Medicare Hospital Compare ratings

Background Public report card designers aim to provide comprehensible provider performance information to consumers. Report cards often display classifications of providers into performance tiers that reflect whether performance is statistically significantly above or below average or not statistically significantly different from average. To further enhance the salience of public reporting to consumers, report card websites often allow a user to compare a subset of selected providers on tiered performance rather than direct statistical comparisons of the providers in a consumer's personal choice set. Objective We illustrate the differences in conclusions drawn about relative provider performance using tiers versus conducing statistical tests to assess performance differences. Methods Using publicly available cross-sectional data from Medicare Hospital Compare on three mortality and three readmission outcome measures, we compared each provider in the top or bottom performance tier with those in the middle tier and assessed the proportion of such comparisons that exhibited no statistically significant differences. Results Across the six outcomes, 1.3-6.1% of hospitals were classified in the top tier. Each top-tier hospital did not statistically significantly differ in performance from at least one mid-tier hospital. The percentages of mid-tier hospitals that were not statistically significantly different from a given top-tier hospital were 74.3-81.1%. The percentages of hospitals classified as bottom tier were 0.6-4.0%. Each bottom-tier hospital showed no statistically significant difference from at least one mid-tier hospital. The percentage of mid-tier hospitals that were not significantly different from a bottom-tier hospital ranged from 60.4% to 74.8%. Conclusions Our analyses illustrate the need for further innovations in the design of public report cards to enhance their salience for consumers.
Housing Values: Images of Domestic Ideals in Modern Japan

Analysis of Domestic Ideals in contemporary Japan, as depicted in newspaper advertisements for prefabricated housing, shows a persisting attachment to values that deemphasize the individual in favor of family communication, solidarity, and harmonious three-generation co-residence. Despite the greater provision now routinely given to individual privacy within the home, this continuing ambivalence toward individualistic concerns appears to be producing new architectural arrangements that provide personal and intergenerational privacy without erecting permanent barriers between family members.[domestic architecture, family, advertising, privacy, Japan]
Arginylation-dependent regulation of a proteolytic product of talin is essential for cell-cell adhesion.

Talin is a large scaffolding molecule that plays a major role in integrin-dependent cell–matrix adhesion. A role for talin in cell–cell attachment through cadherin has never been demonstrated, however. Here, we identify a novel calpain-dependent proteolytic cleavage of talin that results in the release of a 70-kD C-terminal fragment, which serves as a substrate of posttranslational arginylation. The intracellular levels of this fragment closely correlated with the formation of cell–cell adhesions, and this fragment localized to cadherin-containing cell–cell contacts. Moreover, reintroduction of this fragment rescued the cell–cell adhesion defects in arginyltransferase (Ate1) knockout cells, which normally have a very low level of this fragment. Arginylation of this fragment further enhanced its ability to rescue cell–cell adhesion formation. In addition, arginylation facilitated its turnover, suggesting a dual role of arginylation in its intracellular regulation. Thus, our work identifies a novel proteolytic product of talin that is regulated by arginylation and a new role of talin in cadherin-dependent cell–cell adhesion.