cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Augmented Reality on Art Engagement: Liking, Impression of Learning, and Distraction

This paper examines the impact of an augmented reality (AR) tour guide on users’ art engagement. In a between-subjects experiment in an art museum, users’ art engagement with a novel video see-through augmented reality guide was examined against user behavior with a book guide. The AR users’ liking of art increased more than the book users’, whereas the book users learned more. The AR users enjoyed using the application, and it helped them engage with art; however, they felt physical fatigue from holding the tablet and preferred interacting with a still image over the live augmentations. The users were concerned about the screen time the AR guide required; it distracted them from looking at the art with the naked eye, creating more of an impression of learning rather than actual learning. The findings call for more impactful AR applications with art as the focal point.
Freundschaften im Klassenzimmer und deren Bedeutung für einen adaptiven individuellen Umgang mit Fehlern

Zusammenfassung. Erfolgreiches Lernen aus Fehlern setzt einen adaptiven Umgang mit Fehlern voraus: Als affektiv-motivational adaptiv wird die Aufrechterhaltung der Motivation sowie gunstiger Lernem...
Flumazenil and seizures: analysis of 43 cases

Flumazenil is a new drug indicated for the reversal of the sedative effects of benzodiazepines mediated at the benzodiazepine-receptor site. Worldwide sources to date have disclosed 43 cases of seizures related, at least temporally, to the intravenous administration of flumazenil. There was no apparent relationship between the dose of flumazenil and the development of seizures, which occurred at doses ranging from 0.2 to 10.0 mg. The seizures were not considered to be a toxic effect of flumazenil, but many of them probably were due to an unmasking of the anticonvulsant effect of the previously used benzodiazepine or to a severe benzodiazepine-withdrawal syndrome. Eighteen (42%) of the patients had ingested overdoses of cyclic antidepressants, which were considered responsible for the seizures. In addition to patients with concurrent cyclic antidepressant poisoning, high-risk populations include patients who have been treated with benzodiazepines for a seizure disorder or an acute convulsive episode, patients with concurrent major sedative-hypnotic drug withdrawal, patients who have recently been treated with repeated doses of parenteral benzodiazepines, and overdose patients with myoclonic jerking or seizure activity before flumazenil administration. To minimize the likelihood of a seizure, it is recommended that flumazenil not be administered to patients who have used benzodiazepines for the treatment of seizure disorders or to patients who have ingested drugs (eg, cyclic antidepressants, cocaine, lithium, methylxanthines, isoniazid, propoxyphene, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, buproprion HCl, and cyclosporine) that place them at risk for the development of seizures.
Systemic titanium levels in rabbits with a titanium implant in the absence of wear

All non-noble metals and alloys will release metallic species into the body. This raises the issue of amount and fate, i.e. transport and storage, of these metal dissolution products. For titanium, the nature and extent of these systemic effects remain mostly unknown. In this study we investigated titanium levels in alleged target tissues in rabbits, both with and without a titanium implant functioning in the absence of wear, and compare these results to the limited body of literature concerning systemic levels of titanium. Titanium fibre felts were implanted into the tibia of rabbits. At various time points, lung, spleen, and muscle samples were collected from these rabbits as well as two groups of control rabbits. The samples were analysed for titanium concentration using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The data for the implant groups show that titanium levels in these tissues do not increase in comparison with controls up to 1 y after implantation.
Abstract 738: Properties of Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes with Altered Levels of T-type Ca Channel Expression

Low voltage-activated, T-type Ca 2+ channels are prevalent in embryonic heart, but their expression is transient and disappears in the mature myocardium. Using embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (ESdC) as a culture model, it is clear that T-type channels are not necessary for contraction; however, the function of these channels in developing heart is unknown. Since LVA Ca 2+ channels have been implicated in cell proliferation and pacemaker activity, we are investigating the effects of varying levels of expression of Cav3.1 (α1G), the main T-type Ca 2+ channel found in mouse ESdC. We constructed genetically modified mouse R1-ES cells to either over express or knock out Cav3.1, in order to study its role in cardiac differentiation and the onset of spontaneous contractility. Electrical activity of the genetically modified ESdCs was measured using both patch clamp, and multielectrode arrays (MEAs) for extracellular recording of field potentials (FP) over time in culture. Interspike interval (ISI), FP amplitude, FP duration and conduction velocity were compared over time between the over expressing and knock out lines as parameters of cardiomyocyte maturation, since both ISI and FP duration have been shown to decrease with cardiomyogenesis. Also, calcium imaging was used to study possible contribution of T-type channels on the kinetic properties of calcium transients. Preliminary characterization of the modified ES cell lines showed that in the undifferentiated state, the over expressing line proliferates 3 times faster than the knockout line. Regarding electrical activity, differences between the two lines were observed after day 7+7, when some of the Cav3.1 over expressing ESdC showed arrhythmic activity. Calcium imaging experiments have shown that the duration of the transient (expressed as half-width of the transient) was significantly smaller at day 7+8 in Cav3.1 over expressing vs. knock out lines. The rise time of the calcium transient, which can be influenced by the fast kinetics and low voltage dependence of LVA channels, was increased in the Cav3.1 knock out line starting with day 7+7. Overall, these results suggest a contribution of LVA calcium channels to stem cell proliferation and the kinetic properties of ESdC excitability.
The wound healing capacity of undifferentiated and differentiated airway epithelial cells in vitro.

Abstract Introduction Congenital or acquired tracheal lesions alter airway epithelial structure and can lead to long-segment tracheal defects. Tissue engineered tracheal grafts (TETG) have the potential to cure such defects; however, clinical applications have been plagued with numerous complications including delayed graft epithelialization. The knowledge that epithelial cells migrate from native tissue to the TETG raises the possibility that TETG performance can be improved by increasing the rate of epithelialization. Objectives We developed a model that can be used quantify epithelial migration in clinically-relevant conditions. Methods Existing histological analyses determined the differentiation status of the normal and injured human tracheal epithelium and were used to identify in vitro culture conditions that mimic these parameters. The classical scratch assay was adapted to permit analysis of migratory velocity as a function of differentiation status. Migration of undifferentiated (UD), partially-differentiated (PD), and well-differentiated (WD) epithelia was quantified. Results The normal and injured epithelium can be modeled using human cells that are cultured using a modified air-liquid-interface culture system. PD cell cultures are similar to the remodeled epithelium; whereas; WD cultures are similar to the normal epithelium. Preliminary results indicate that PD cells migrate more rapidly than WD cells and that PD and WD cells migrate more rapidly than UD cells. Conclusion Pending verification of these results, we suggest that epithelial migration is significantly altered by differentiation status. Thus, efforts to improve TETG epithelialization should use model systems that faithfully-represent the differentiation state of the native tissue.
Fluid/Electrolyte/Acid–Base Abnormalities

Volume depletion commonly referred to as dehydration, will occur whenever water and salt losses exceed intake. If oral intake remains adequate, dehydration is usually avoided. Infants are especially prone to dehydration because they have higher proportional body fluid turnover than older children or adults. If an infant develops anorexia or vomiting, dehydration will develop sooner than in the older child because of the higher proportion of obligatory losses. Diarrhea in conjunction with vomiting is the most common cause of dehydration in children. Dehydration can also occur from increase sweating produced by fever, acute infections which decrease oral intake such as pneumonia or meningitis, or conditions that cause increased renal losses of salt and water such as pyelonephritis or excess diuretic use.
Resistin directly inhibits bacterial killing in neutrophils

Sepsis-induced immunosuppression is a key factor contributing to the morbidity and mortality of critically ill patients, and polymorphonuclear neutrophil dysfunction is believed to be a hallmark of this immunosuppression. Circulating myeloid cells produce the cytokine resistin (RETN), which has been associated with poor outcomes in sepsis/septic shock and can directly inhibit neutrophil function. We previously demonstrated that resistin caused a dose-dependent impairment in neutrophil migration, reactive oxygen species production, and bacterial clearance in neutrophil cell lines. However, the relative antimicrobial responses of other innate immune cells to Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections in the presence of elevated levels of resistin have not been evaluated. We hypothesized that resistin directly contributes to sepsis-induced immunosuppression by selectively targeting the neutrophil component of the innate cellular immune system. Thus, the goal of the present study was to compare the effect of resistin on bacterial killing using monocultures or co-cultures of monocyte and neutrophil cell lines, as well as to extend our findings to primary immune cells. Our results indicate that human resistin impairs the ability of neutrophils to kill the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, with the exception of macrophages incubated with P. aeruginosa, resistin did not affect the ability of macrophages or monocytes to kill either Gram-positive or Gram-negative organisms. Furthermore, co-incubation of neutrophils with increasing proportions of monocytes did not enhance bacterial killing. Resistin blocked bactericidal activity through partial reduction of F-actin polymerization and suppression of the oxidative burst in neutrophils. Our studies indicate that resistin selectively impairs neutrophil bacterial killing. These findings further support the notion that resistin can mimic cell type-dependent immunosuppressive effects. This is consistent with its putative role in the pathogenesis of bacterial sepsis.
A novel, hybrid, single- and multi-site clinical trial design for CLN3 disease, an ultra-rare lysosomal storage disorder:

BackgroundTravel burden often substantially limits the ability of individuals to participate in clinical trials. Wide geographic dispersion of individuals with rare diseases poses an additional key...
Factors affecting treatment in small cell and non-small cell lung cancer patients.

146Background: Kentucky has the highest incidence of lung cancer death and despite improvements in treatment and survival, some small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ...
Survival benefit associated with early detection of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in veteran inpatients with cirrhotic ascites.

Background Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is common in hospitalized cirrhotic patients with ascites and carries high mortality. This study aimed to determine whether early diagnostic paracentesis (EDP) Methods Consecutive US veterans with cirrhosis diagnosed with SBP over 13 years at a single VA medical center were reviewed retrospectively. Kaplan-Meyer analyses assessed the effects of EDP on survival. Results A total of 79 cirrhotic patients were diagnosed with SBP (61.8 ± 8.8 years, n = 77 male, n = 52 [66.8%] Caucasian, n = 23 [29.1%] African-American). Underlying liver diseases included hepatitis c viral infection (HCV) (17.5%), alcohol (28.6%), alcohol and HCV (30.1%), and cryptogenic/metabolic (15.9%). Median baseline model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) was 12 (range 6-34), and median MELD at presentation was 18. Seven subjects had a history of hepatocellular carcinoma (11.1%), and 26 (41.3%) presented with sepsis. Thirty-three (52.4%) subjects died within 6 months after the SBP admission. Of the subjects, 41 (65.1%) underwent EDP, of which 23 (56.0%) survived at least 6 months, compared to only 7 of the 22 patients (31.8%) undergoing paracentesis >12 h from presentation (P = 0.057). The maximal benefit of EDP on survival was observed beyond days 14 and 30; at these time points, no statistical difference in mortality was discernable (P = 0.55 and 0.71). In a multivariate model including age, MELD at admission, hepatocellular cancer, and sepsis criteria, EDP (p 0.034) positively impacted patient survival at 6 months. Conclusions EDP is associated with improved 6-month mortality in cirrhotic patients with ascites. In this veteran cohort, EDP was as important as MELD as a predictor of intermediate-term survival.
Patterns of ant activity and nesting ecology depend on flooding intensity in a Neotropical floodplain

Disturbance shapes ecological communities. Frequency, predictability, and intensity characterize disturbances, which select for resistant and/or resilient traits of species. Unpredictable and infrequent disturbance events, especially those with no reliable cues, lack selection strength and have less calculable effects on species assemblages and trait-based species sorting. In a flood plain in Northeast Costa Rica, across sites with varying flood frequency and no reliable cues to signal flooding, we used ants as a focal taxon to assess the impact of disturbance on ant activity and species assemblage. We examined activity patterns such as extent of occupancy of baits and nesting guild (i.e. strata used) that might mediate the effects of stochastic flood events. We hypothesized that the ant community in the most frequently flooded site would be dominated by above-ground nesting ants whose nesting traits make them resilient to inundation. The site with the most frequent flooding had the lowest level of ant presence on baits and differed in species assemblage, as demonstrated by the analysis of similarity, compared with the sites with lower flooding frequency. Neither overall species richness nor richness of species in the above-ground nesting guild differed between sites. However, nesting in trees above flood waters may be beneficial to escape frequent and unreliable flooding of habitats, and, as we hypothesized, there was greater activity of above-ground nesting ants compared with ground nesting ants in the most frequently flooded site. These differences in nesting guilds were diminished in the drier sites.
Fermi Level Pinning Controls Band Bending and Photochemical Charge Separation in Particles of n-SrTiO3, n-SrTiO3:Al, and n-GaAs:Te

The space charge region (SCR) is a majority carrier-depleted region in a semiconductor. The width of this region and the size of the potential drop across it control photochemical charge separation...
Relate and Predict: Structure-Aware Prediction with Jointly Optimized Neural DAG.

Understanding relationships between feature variables is one important way humans use to make decisions. However, state-of-the-art deep learning studies either focus on task-agnostic statistical dependency learning or do not model explicit feature dependencies during prediction. We propose a deep neural network framework, dGAP, to learn neural dependency Graph and optimize structure-Aware target Prediction simultaneously. dGAP trains towards a structure self-supervision loss and a target prediction loss jointly. Our method leads to an interpretable model that can disentangle sparse feature relationships, informing the user how relevant dependencies impact the target task. We empirically evaluate dGAP on multiple simulated and real datasets. dGAP is not only more accurate, but can also recover correct dependency structure.
Functional alterations in cortical processing of speech in glioma-infiltrated cortex

Recent developments in the biology of malignant gliomas have demonstrated that glioma cells interact with neurons through both paracrine signaling and electrochemical synapses. Glioma-neuron interactions consequently modulate the excitability of local neuronal circuits, and it is unclear the extent to which glioma-infiltrated cortex can meaningfully participate in neural computations. For example, gliomas may result in a local disorganization of activity that impedes the transient synchronization of neural oscillations. Alternatively, glioma-infiltrated cortex may retain the ability to engage in synchronized activity in a manner similar to normal-appearing cortex but exhibit other altered spatiotemporal patterns of activity with subsequent impact on cognitive processing. Here, we use subdural electrocorticography to sample both normal-appearing and glioma-infiltrated cortex during speech. We find that glioma-infiltrated cortex engages in synchronous activity during task performance in a manner similar to normal-appearing cortex but recruits a diffuse spatial network. On a temporal scale, we show that signals from glioma-infiltrated cortex have decreased entropy, which may affect its ability to encode information during nuanced tasks such as production of monosyllabic versus polysyllabic words. Furthermore, we show that temporal decoding strategies for distinguishing monosyllabic from polysyllabic words were feasible for signals arising from normal-appearing cortex but not from glioma-infiltrated cortex. These findings inform our understanding of cognitive processing in chronic disease states and have implications for neuromodulation and prosthetics in patients with malignant gliomas.
Pan paniscus (Pigmy chimpanzee)

Skin and leucocyte cultures from two animals at San Diego Zoo were used, the karyotypes came from lymphocytes. The Y is not fluorescent with the quinacrine technique. The satellites of elements 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 exhibit strong fluorescence. In the female one of the #23 chromosomes consistently lacked satellites. The animal is normal.
Nonischemic Postoperative Seizure Does Not Increase Mortality After Cardiac Surgery

Background Postoperative seizure (PS) is an infrequent, yet distressing, complication after cardiac surgery. We wished to determine the prognostic significance of these complicated neurologic events. Methods The Weill Cornell Medical College Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery database and the New York State Department of Health Database were reviewed to identify all patients having PS after cardiac surgery between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2011. Results During the study period 3,518 patients had cardiac surgery at the index hospital; 45 of them had PS (1.27%). Overall, patients having PS had a significant increase in 30-day mortality when compared with those not having PS (6.7% versus 1.5%; p p p Conclusions When PS is associated with acute cerebrovascular accident, a significant increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality can be expected. However, in those with isolated PS (without evidence of new neurologic injury), perioperative mortality and morbidity are comparable to those without any neurologic complications.
Growth and Distributional Impacts of Urban Housing Supply: An Application of Urban Land Use and a CGE Model For Seoul: Growth and Distributional Impacts of Urban Housing Supply: A CGE Model for Seoul

This paper assesses economic effects of housing supplies on the urban growth and income distribution of Seoul, using an urban land use and Computable General Equilibrium model of Seoul economy. The simulation shows that the housing development with the conversion of the green or the industrial land uses into the residential land use leads to an increase of the Gross Regional Product by approximately 1% at the worse income inequality. The aggregate welfare effects in terms of Hicksian Compensating Variation range from 1.746 trillion Korean Won to 1.768 trillion Korean Won on a ten-period average, depending on the type of the land conversion.
Priming Implicit Racism in Television News: Visual and Verbal Limitations on Diversity

We highlight an understudied aspect of racism in television news, implicit racial cues found in the contradictions between visual and verbal messages. We compare three television news broadcasts from the first week after Hurricane Katrina to reexamine race and representation during the disaster. Drawing together insights from interdisciplinary studies of cognition and sociological theories of race and racism, we examine how different combinations of the race of reporters and news sources relate to the priming of implicit racism. We find racial cues that are consistent with stereotypes and myths about African Americans—even in broadcasts featuring black reporters—but which appear only in the context of color-blind verbal narration. We conclude by drawing attention to the unexpected and seemingly unintended reproduction of racial ideology.
Does the Past Predict the Future?: An Empirical Analysis of Recent Iowa Supreme Court Use of Legislative History as a Window into Statutory Construction in Iowa

This Article provides an empirical analysis of Iowa Supreme Court decisions from 2004–2013 that employ legislative history in interpreting Iowa statutes. It answers the question: When the Iowa Supreme Court consults legislative history in construing an Iowa statute, what specific types of materials are cited? Further, this Article provides an overview of statutory drafting and construction in Iowa and discusses the inherent uncertainties of statutory interpretation, using Sallee v. Stewart and State v. Heemstra to illustrate the variance in how the court decides whether historical analysis applies to a case, and, if so, what it means. Although a precise formula for “correctly” reading a statute cannot be formulated, this Article suggests some practices that will help ensure as thorough a reading of an Iowa statute as possible. This Article concludes with two recommendations for the Iowa Supreme Court. First, consistently cite Iowa Code Section 4.6(3) when using legislative history to determine legislative intent. Second, formulate a more complex rule on the use of bill explanations in determining legislative intent, neither abandoning them completely nor always using them, but instead considering them as an extrinsic source of evidence for understanding a statute only when appropriate after analyzing the bill’s amendment history.
O-nitroso aldol synthesis: Catalytic enantioselective route to α-aminooxy carbonyl compounds via enamine intermediate

The approach using pyrrolidine enamine as substrate has been studied for this synthesis, and an important catalyst structural feature has been developed. After survey of pyrrolidine-based Bronsted acid catalyst, tetrazole catalyst (3f) was found to be optimal in synthesis of aminooxy carbonyl compounds in high yields, with complete enantioselectivity not only for aldehydes but also for ketones.
A Year in Third Person.

I have often stated that the year I transitioned from practicing in a community setting to practicing in a health system was my most challenging—until now. In July 2014, I left the AACP Annual Meeting as a faculty member, and one day later I was an interim dean. Throughout this year, I learned and grew in many ways, but I was not prepared to be addressed in the third person.
Scanning Probe Microscopy Studies of Carbon Nanotubes

This paper summarizes scanning probe microscopy investigations of the properties and manipulation of carbon nanotubes, and moreover, the fabrication and utilization of nanotubes as novel tips for probe microscopy experiments. First, scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements that elucidate (1) the basic relationship between Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWNT) atomic structure and electronic properties, (2) the one-dimensional band structure of nanotubes, (3) localized structures in SWNTs, and (4) the electronic behavior of finite-size SWNTs are discussed. Second, atomic force microscopy investigations of the manipulation of nanotubes on surfaces to obtain information about nanotube-surface interactions and nanotube mechanical properties, and to create nanotube device structures are reviewed. Lastly, the fabrication, properties and application of carbon nanotube probe microscopy tips to ultrahigh resolution and chemically sensitive imaging are summarized. Prospects for future research are discussed.
Propagating Modifications to Mobile Policies

Mobile policies provide a flexible framework for enforcing access controls in distributed applications. But what happens when a mobile policy needs to be modified or certain permissions from a policy have to be revoked? Since a mobile policy is attached to the data and travels with the data over the network, it can be tricky to propagate any changes to the policy. In addition, real-world constraints affect the formulation of the problem and imply a variety of propagation algorithms. In this paper, we propose different approaches for propagating modifications to mobile policies consistent with these constraints.
The Owens valley observatory synthesis array

The current research programs in radio astronomy at the Owens Valley Observatory are discussed along with the extensions of these programs with the proposed new synthesis array. Possible configurations of the proposed array are examined in connection with various research programs, and some of the technical problems concerning the electronics and the interconnection of the complete array are considered. After reviewing the factors involved in the selection of the site of the Owens Valley Observatory, some aspects of the mechanical design and cost of the proposed array are discussed.
Hepatoportal sclerosis (obliterative portal venopathy) and nodular regenerative hyperplasia in a patient with myasthenia gravis: A case report and review of the published work

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and hepatoportal sclerosis, also known as obliterative portal venopathy (OPV), are two causes of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). NCPH is an increasingly recognized entity that can be seen in association with collagen vascular diseases and with the use of medications such as azathioprine and didanosine, but oftentimes the etiology remains unidentified. We herein report a case of NCPH occurring due to OPV and NRH in a 64-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis (MG), status post-thymectomy. Portal hypertension was diagnosed incidentally on computed tomography in the absence of predisposing factors. Extensive work-up to determine the etiology of any underlying liver disease was unrevealing. NRH and OPV were identified on liver biopsy. Subsequently, the patient had variceal bleeding that necessitated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement. A few similar cases of NCPH occurring in the setting of MG have been previously reported, suggesting that the immunological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of myasthenia may also have contributed to the development of NCPH.
Valproic acid serum levels and protection against kindled amygdaloid scizures in the rat

Abstract Valproic acid has been reported to be very effective against kindled amygdaloid Scizures in several species. In this study, the anticonvulsant effectiveness of valproic acid against kindled amygdaloid Scizures was studied in a systematic, multiple-dose evaluation in rats. A correlation at 30 min. between the degree of Scizure protection and increased serum levels of valproic acid was seen. At 30 min., the fifty percent effective dose (ED50) was found to be 200 mg/kg. Additionally, the fifty percent effective serum level (ESL50) was estimated to be 500 mg/L.
Development and validation of the Somali WHOQOL-BREF among refugees living in the USA

This study is the first translation and validation of the WHOQOL-BREF for general use in Somali refugee populations. A community sample of 303 Somali refugees living in the USA responded to the WHOQOL-BREF following translation, adaptation, and validation guidelines established by the World Health Organization. Psychometric properties of the quality of life instrument were assessed including tests of the four-domain factor structure using multiple regression and principal component analysis. Principal component analysis demonstrated an acceptable fit between PCA components and original WHOQOL-BREF domains. Four components had eigenvalues greater than one and explained 63.4 % of the observed variance. Most scale items loaded like the original WHOQOL-BREF domains, with the notable difference among four items of physical health that loaded more strongly under the environment domain. Construct validity of the scale was confirmed by higher intercorrelations of each WHOQOL-BREF item with its intended domain (all r 2 > 0.50) than with other domains. Multiple regression analyses of the domain scores on overall quality of life (Q1) and health satisfaction (Q2) explained half of the observed variance in each measure. Item correlations showed good internal consistency (0.65 ≥ Cronbach’s alpha ≤ 0.82). Validation of this first Somali version of the WHOQOL-BREF provides further evidence that this instrument can be a valid measure for cross-cultural comparative studies of quality of life. Policies that address health disparities can be more broadly evaluated if quality of life is systematically measured in the community. This is particularly important for evaluating policy impact and implications for refugee populations.
The production of 99mTc-labeled conjugated antibodies using a cyclam-based bifunctional chelating agent

A bifunctional chelating agent (BFCA) based on a macrocyclic amine, cyclam, was used to form specifically 99mTc labeled rabbit-anti-HSA-antibodies. This study demonstrates the feasibility of forming a highly stable cyclam-based 99mTc-BFCA with its subsequent conjugation to antibodies.
Cellular localization of membrane metalloendopeptidase (enkephalinase) in human endometrium during the ovarian cycle

Previously, we found that membrane metalloendopeptidase (MMEP; enkephalinase) is present in human endometrium where it may inactivate certain bioactive peptides such as endothelin. The specific activity of MMEP in endometrium is correlated positively with the level of plasma progesterone. In the present study, we determined the cellular distribution of MMEP immunoreactivity (IR) in samples of endometrium from 31 ovulatory women at different phases of the menstrual cycle and from 5 postmenopausal women. At all times, MMEP-IR was localized in the endometrial stromal cells and was absent from myometrium, epithelia, and vessels. The presence of the enzyme on the stromal cell plasma membrane was demonstrated by immunostaining of freshly isolated endometrial stromal cells. During the endometrial cycle, there were dramatic changes in MMEP-IR in the zona functionalis: In the proliferative phase when plasma progesterone levels were low, MMEP-IR was weak; but after ovulation, during the early and midsecretory phases, when progesterone levels were increasing or high, MMEP-IR was strong. During the late secretory phase, in the stromal areas that were decidualized, contiguous with spiral arterioles and beneath the surface epithelium, most of the MMEP-IR was lost, whereas MMEP in the other stromal areas remained strong. In the premenstrual phase, there was a more generalized decline in MMEP-IR in the stromal cells. MMEP-IR in the zona basalis was weak to moderate and was relatively unchanged during the ovarian cycle; the findings in postmenopausal tissues were similar to those of proliferative phase tissues. These results are consistent with the previous findings of increased MMEP mRNA, protein, and activity in endometrial tissue of midsecretory phase and in cultured endometrial stromal cells in response to progestin. Furthermore, in this study, we demonstrate that in the late secretory phase in decidualizing stroma, MMEP-IR is decreased considerably compared with midsecretory stromal cells. These changes in MMEP-IR are consistent with the possibility that endothelin, also produced in endometrium, is spared inactivation in the premenstrual phase and may act on the spiral arterioles. These findings are supportive of a role for MMEP in paracrine interactions affecting vascular homeostasis in the endometrium.
Response to Kleck

This article is response to a paper by Gary Kleck which attacked the study done by Kellermann on gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home. Kellermann states that Kleck's critique is flawed. Kleck's most notable oversight is the assumption that the only way keeping a gun in the home might increase a family's risk of homicide is if it is used as the murder weapon. Kellermann asserts that his study had identified at least 21 incidents (5% of the study's total) in which the victim died while unsuccessfully attempting to use a gun in self-defense. Kellermann also states that he never considered the possibility that keeping a gun in a bedside drawer influences an individual's risk of homicide in any setting other than the home. Kellermann suggests that, instead of relying on Professor Kleck's secondhand description of his team's work, the curious reader should examine the original report [New Engl J Med 1993; 329(15): 1084-91.].
Some Recent Studies of Vortex Shedding With Application to Marine Tubulars and Risers

A discussion is given in this paper of the problems caused by vortex shedding from flexible, bluff cylinders in steady current flows. In particular, recent measurements of the steady and unsteady deflections caused by the vortex-excited drag and lift forces are discussed. 48 refs.
THE PRODUCTION OF TESTICULAR DESCENT WITH THE WATER-SOLUBLE (ANTERIOR PITUITARY-LIKE) FRACTION OF PREGNANCY URINE

Until relatively recent times persons lacking completely descended testes were subjected to surgical treatment for the alleviation of this condition. Those acquainted with such procedures will recall the difficulties met with and the incomplete results incident to the process of “lengthening the cord.” In 1930 Schapiro subjected several adolescent boys with incompletely descended testes to medical treatment by employing Aschheim and Zondek’s prehormone. This led to a fair degree of success. Since then Engle (1932a) succeeded in producing complete testicular descent in immature monkeys (Macacus rhesus) by the use of water-soluble fractions of pregnancy urine and anterior pituitary extract. By this method of treatment the cord lengthened naturally. In the successful instances mentioned above, however, the testes had already entered the inguinal canals before treatment was begun. Since testieular descent within the canal is believed by some to occur as a passive phenomenon as this gland enlarges and since th...
Maternal and infant use of erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics as risk factors for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the risk for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) among infants prescribed systemic erythromycin, infants prescribed a course of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, and infants whose mothers were prescribed a macrolide antibiotic during pregnancy. Study design: Retrospective cohort study of infants born at an urban hospital from June 1993 through December 1999. Results: Of 14,876 eligible infants, 43 (0.29%) developed IHPS. Infants prescribed systemic erythromycin had increased risk of IHPS, with the highest risk in the first 2 weeks of age (relative risk = 10.51 for erythromycin in first 2 weeks, 95% CI 4.48, 24.66). Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment for conjunctivitis was not associated with increased risk of IHPS. Maternal macrolide antibiotics within 10 weeks of delivery may have been associated with higher risk of IHPS but the data were not conclusive. Conclusions: This study confirms an association between systemic erythromycin in infants and subsequent IHPS, with the highest risk in the first 2 weeks of age. No association was found with erythromycin ophthalmic ointment. A possible association with maternal macrolide therapy in late pregnancy requires further study. Systemic erythromycin should be used with prudence in early infancy. (J Pediatr 2001;139:380-4)
Eye movement and reaction time measures of the effectiveness of caution signs

Abstract The effectiveness of various forms of caution signs was evaluated using saccadic eye movements and reaction time as the dependent variables. Both dependent measures show that caution signs requiring specific positive actions are processed more slowly and less efficiently than signs requiring avoidance behaviors. Additionally, the data show that changing the order of the “consequences” and “instructions” elements of the caution signs did not influence the number of saccades, the speed, or accuracy of interpretation. The research shows that saccadic eye movement may be an effective method for evaluating the design of caution signs.
Cross-cultural differences towards diversity issues in attitudes of graduating social work students in India and the United States:

EnglishAttitudes of graduating social work students towards diversity issues, as well as their practice perceptions in different social work scenarios, from two contrasting cultures (India and the United States), were quanti.ed. Signi.-cant differences in both groups showed that the social climate of a country has an important impact on shaping the attitudes of students.FrenchCette e tude quantitative mene e aupre` s d'e tudiants diploome s en travail social de deux cultures contraste es (l'Inde et les Etats-Unis) porte sur leurs attitudes a l'e gard des questions de diversite et sur leurs perceptions quant a leur pratique dans diffe rents sce narios de travail social. Les diffe rences significatives entre les deux groupes expliquent que le climat social du pays a un impact important sur le de veloppement des attitudes des e tudiants.SpanishSe cuantificaron las actitudes de los estudiantes graduados de trabajo social hacia los temas de la diversidad, asicomo la percepcion de su pra ctica en diferentes esc...
The subjective psychoactive effects of oral dronabinol studied in a randomized, controlled crossover clinical trial for pain.

Background Many cannabinoid medications are approved in North America or in Phase III trials, such as Dronabinol, Nabilone, or Nabiximols. Little is known about their subjective psychoactive effects when used for pain management. We hypothesized that when used for pain, dronabinol has psychoactive effects in a dose response relationship, whose peak effects are comparable to smoking marijuana.
Raman studies of ferroelectric domain walls in lithium tantalate and niobate

Using confocal Raman spectroscopy at low temperature we investigated the perturbation of the phonon modes across a domain wall region as a function of sample stoichiometry in lithium tantalate and niobate. For all samples, we found that the Raman spectra were changed. The intensity of the A(LO) phonon modes and most of the E(TO) phonon modes were shifted and changed in their relative intensity over a 20 µm length scale. Our measurements suggest that the intensity of the A(LO) phonon modes change due to local charges induced by pyroelectric effect and/or photoionization, while the observed shifts are due to strains that are not relaxed in the domain wall region. 1 Introduction The local structure of ferroelectric domain walls and its dependence on intrinsic defects and dopants is of great interest both from a basic science and an application point of view. For instance, in the ferroelectrics lithium niobate (LiNbO3) and lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) that are widely used in nonlinear and electro-optical devices (for example [1]), the stability, shape, switching fields and smallest achievable domain size are determined by the defect concentration. The domain wall region and its thickness were studied theoretically [2] and practically [3–6] by different methods. In this paper we present the results of an experimental study of the domain wall region using Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool. The sensitivity of Raman spectroscopy to structural changes has been demonstrated in studies probing variations in the crystal composition induced by in-diffussion and out-diffusion of ions [7–9] as well as identifying different phases in HxLi1−xNbO3 [10]. However, the technique has not been applied to local domain wall studies thus far. 2 Experimental techniques Samples. Commercially available optically polished z-cut stoichiometric and congruent LiNbO3 and congruent LiTaO3 samples (7 mm x 7 mm x 0.5 mm) were partially poled under external high voltage. To invert the direction of spontaneous polarization, a coersive field was used of magnitude ≈ 22 kV/mm and ≈ 10 2 V/mm for congruent and stoichiometric samples, respectively. Raman confocal microscopy. Raman confocal spectroscopy was used to achieve diffraction limited resolution. In our set-up the samples were mounted in a He-cooled cryostat that allows for temperatures down to 4 K for low temperature measurement. We used the 488 nm and 514 nm lines of an argon laser for excitation. The input and output pinholes usually required in a confocal microscope were replaced by optical fibers. The resulting Raman signal was detected in the reverse direction through the same microscope, separated from the excitation light by a beam splitter, and coupled into the output fiber. To avoid an additional Raman signal from the input and output fiber, 488 nm (514 nm) laser line and edge
Development of Pervious Concrete Pile Ground-Improvement Alternative and Behavior under Vertical Loading

Permeable granular columns are used to increase the time rate of consolidation, reduce liquefaction potential, improve bearing capacity, and reduce settlement. However, their behavior depends on the confinement provided by surrounding soil, which limits their use in very soft clays and silts, and organic and peat soils. This research effort aims to develop a new ground-improvement method using pervious concrete piles. Pervious concrete piles provide higher stiffness and strength that are independent of surrounding soil confinement while offering permeability comparable to granular columns. This proposed ground-improvement method can improve the performance of different structures supported on poor soils. To achieve the goal of the research project, four vertical load tests were performed on one granular column and three pervious concrete piles. In this paper, the material properties of pervious concrete, the developed installation method, and the vertical load response of pervious concrete and aggregate piles are presented, and the variation of soil stresses and displacement during pile installation are briefly discussed. The experimental test results show that the ultimate load capacity of the pervious concrete pile was 4.4 times greater than that of an identical granular column. In addition, the ultimate load capacity of a pervious concrete pile installed using the developed technique was 2.6 times greater than a precast pervious concrete pile. The used installation method created nonuniform lateral soil displacement and increased vertical and horizontal soil stresses.
Chronic morphine increases GABA tone on serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus: association with an up-regulation of the cyclic AMP pathway

Major adaptations after chronic exposure to morphine include an up-regulation of the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate pathway. Acute opioids, via mu-opioid receptors, disinhibit midbrain serotonergic neurons by suppressing inhibitory GABAergic transmission in the dorsal raphe nucleus and adjacent periaqueductal gray. This study examined whether chronic morphine induces a compensatory increase in GABA inputs to 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons and whether this was associated with an up-regulation of the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate pathway. The firing rate of serotonergic neurons was reduced in brain slices from morphine-dependent rats, an effect reversed by the GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline. The reduction in firing rate was accompanied by an increased frequency of spontaneous GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents, indicating increased GABA tone in the slice. The increase in GABA tone in brain slices from dependent rats was associated with increased induction of inhibitory postsynaptic currents by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin, suggesting an up-regulation of the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate pathway. Indeed, chronic morphine increased levels of adenylyl cyclase VIII (but not of adenylyl cyclase I, III or V) immunoreactivity in the dorsal raphe nucleus area. Two adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-mediated mechanisms for the increase in GABA tone were discerned. The first, which predominated when impulse-flow was blocked by tetrodotoxin, involves protein kinase A since it was sensitive to protein kinase A inhibitors. The second, seen when impulse-flow was intact (i.e. absence of tetrodotoxin), was insensitive to protein kinase A inhibitors but was suppressed by ZD7288, a blocker of hyperpolarizing-activated Ih channels which are directly activated by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. We conclude that chronic morphine induces an up-regulation of the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate pathway in GABAergic inputs to serotonergic cells, resulting in an increase in spontaneous and impulse-flow dependent GABA release. These changes would lead to an increase in GABA tone and subsequently to the reported decrease in serotonergic activity during opiate withdrawal.
Ergodic Theory of the Space of Measured Laminations

We classify locally finite invariant measures and orbit closure for the action of the mapping class group on the space of measured laminations on a surface. This classification translates to a classification of measures and orbit closures on the space of quadratic differentials invariant under the horospheric foliation.