cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical aspects of melatonin.

ABSTRACT Melatonin is produced in the human pineal gland, particularly at night, with the circadian rhythm of blood melatonin levels closely paralleling its production within the pineal gland. Light exposure at night, or rapid transmeridian travel severely compromises the circadian production of melatonin. The disturbed melatonin rhythm contributes to jet lag and sleep inefficiency, both of which are improved by melatonin administration. Melatonin is also a highly effective direct free radical scavenger and antioxidant. In this capacity, melatonin reduces experimental cataractogenesis, traumatic injury to the spinal cord and brain, and protects against oxidative damage to neurons and glia in models of stroke, Parkinsonism, and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, melatonin and its metabolites are highly effective in protecting against ionizing radiation. Finally, melatonin may be a treatment for hypertension. Melatonin's high efficacy, its high safety profile, and its virtual lack of toxicity make it of interest in clinical medicine.
Coagulopathy and induced abortion methods: rates and relative risks.

PIP: The relative risks of coagulopathy from suction curettage, dilatation and evacuation (D and E), and saline instillation were examined using the records of all women obtaining abortions at the Inglewood Hospital in California from February 1980-September 1981. Abortion-related coagulopathy cases were defined as those having both clinical evidence of nonclotting hemorrhage and laboratory confirmation of lower than expected fibrinogen levels (200 mg/dl). During the study period, 13,272 abortions were done by suction curettage, 2619 by D and E, and 304 by saline instillation. 8 cases of coagulopathy were identified. 1 case was associated with suction curettage, 2 with saline instillation, and 5 with D and E. The rates for coagulopathy/100,000 procedures were 8 for suction curettage, 191 for D and E, and 658 for saline instillation. Compared with that of suction curettage, the relative risk of coagulopathy associated with D and E was 25 and of saline instillation, 87, both statistically significant. The relative risk associated with saline instillation versus D and E was 3.4, not statistically significant. The study presents the experience of a single institution with a single group of similarly trained physicians, and uses uniform diagnostic criteria for coagulopathy, but the findings were based on the experience of a limited patient population and the demographic characteristics of the 16,195 women were unavailable, so that potential confounders such as age and parity could not be controlled. Large series are required to define more precisely the risk of coagulopathy for the various abortion methods.
Blood Groups in Infection and Host Susceptibility

SUMMARY Blood group antigens represent polymorphic traits inherited among individuals and populations. At present, there are 34 recognized human blood groups and hundreds of individual blood group antigens and alleles. Differences in blood group antigen expression can increase or decrease host susceptibility to many infections. Blood groups can play a direct role in infection by serving as receptors and/or coreceptors for microorganisms, parasites, and viruses. In addition, many blood group antigens facilitate intracellular uptake, signal transduction, or adhesion through the organization of membrane microdomains. Several blood groups can modify the innate immune response to infection. Several distinct phenotypes associated with increased host resistance to malaria are overrepresented in populations living in areas where malaria is endemic, as a result of evolutionary pressures. Microorganisms can also stimulate antibodies against blood group antigens, including ABO, T, and Kell. Finally, there is a symbiotic relationship between blood group expression and maturation of the gastrointestinal microbiome.
VIRULENCE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PATHOGENICITY OF AEROMONAS ISOLATES

Aeromonas species have been associated with diarrhea, and disseminating infections. Diarrhea is either “cholera-like” or “dysentery-like”. Both types of diarrhea are normally mild. However, either type can be severe enough to cause hospitalization. The sources of Aeromonas in these infections are foods and water. Two virulence factors associated with Aeromonas diarrhea are a relatively heat-stable cholera-like enterotoxin and a heat-labile cytotoxic enterotoxin. Researchers who observed either of these enterotoxins rarely saw evidence of the other. These differences are probably due to the rare occurrence of the cholera-like toxin and to differences in purification methods. Human feeding studies showed that enterotoxin production is not sufficient for causation of diarrhea. The Aeromonas must also be able to colonize the intestine or invade the intestinal lining. Virulence factors associated with colonization or invasion have not been identified.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Optically Active Sodium Chlorate and Bromate Crystals

The readily available sodium chlorate is an interesting ionic compound because, although achiral, it forms optically active crystals. When unperturbed, an aqueous solution of sodium chlorate yields a random distribution of + and − crystals on evaporation. Some chiral perturbations profoundly alter this distribution, however. These include seeding, the addition of the optically active cosolutes d-mannitol and d-sorbitol, and the energetic and chiral beta particles and positrons. The chiral weak interaction inherent in all atomic nuclei and thus atoms and molecules does not alter the distribution of + and − crystals. Stirring during evaporation, an achiral perturbation, affects the distribution of crystals in a given crystallization; when crystals from a large number of experiments are considered, however, the distribution of + and − crystals is random.
Windage Power Loss in Gas Foil Bearings and the Rotor-Stator Clearance of High Speed Generators Operating in High Pressure Environments

Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) and Closed Supercritical Cycle (CSC) engines are prime candidates to convert heat from a reactor into electric power for robotic space exploration and habitation. These engine concepts incorporate a permanent magnet starter/generator mounted on the engine shaft along with the requisite turbomachinery. Successful completion of the long-duration missions currently anticipated for these engines will require designs that adequately address all losses within the machine. The preliminary thermal management concept for these engine types is to use the cycle working fluid to provide the required cooling. In addition to providing cooling, the working fluid will also serve as the bearing lubricant. Additional requirements, due to the unique application of these microturbines, are zero contamination of the working fluid and entirely maintenance-free operation for many years. Losses in the gas foil bearings and within the rotor-stator gap of the generator become increasingly important as both rotational speed and mean operating pressure are increased. This paper presents the results of an experimental study, which obtained direct torque measurements on gas foil bearings and generator rotor-stator gaps. Test conditions for these measurements included rotational speeds up to 42,000 revolutions per minute, pressures up to 45 atmospheres, and test gases of nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide. These conditions provided a maximum test Taylor number of nearly one million. The results show an exponential rise in power loss as mean operating density is increased for both the gas foil bearing and generator windage. These typical "secondary" losses can become larger than the total system output power if conventional design paradigms are followed. A nondimensional analysis is presented to extend the experimental results into the CSC range for the generator windage.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SECURING INFORMATION ON ACCIDENTAL DEATHS

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE have come. to recognize accidents as a major problem, and the only way to attack the problem intelligently is on the basis of accurate information. On industrial fatalities and non-fatal accidents we have fairly accurate and comprehensive information, not only as to the number and rate of accidents in various industries, but as to their causes-or rather let us say the circumstances surrounding their occurrence, for the word "cause " is fraught with so many opportunities for controversy and misunderstanding. But industrial fatalities are only about onequarter of the total. The other threequarters are, roughly speaking, automobile fatalities, other public accident fatalities, and home accident fatalities. For records of public and home accidents we know of only two classes of fact-finding agencies worthy of consideration on any nation-wide basis-the police departments, and the registrars of vital statistics. Accident reporting by most police departments is wofully inadequate, to say the least, and although several cities are now doing excellent work along this line, and we are doing everything possible to encourage others to follow their example, it will probably be many years before anything approaching nationwide data will be thus available. Therefore, the student of accident prevention other than industrial is compelled to fall back on the data to be gleaned from the vital statistics published by local and state
Critical overview of recent approaches to improved thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric devices can convert heat into useful electricity with no moving parts. Considerable progress has been made in improving the efficiency of these devices over the past 15 years. The key ideas responsible for most of this progress will be examined using specific examples. Recent improvements in thermoelectric efficiency appear to be dominated by a reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity. This reduction is accomplished by the careful introduction of 0.1 to 5 nm sized "objects" that effectively scatter acoustic phonons without significantly affecting electronic transport. Future research directions will be discussed.
Experimental Active Control of a Typical Section Using a Trailing-Edge Flap

This paper presents an experimental implementation of an active control system used to suppress flutter in a typical section airfoil. The H2 optimal control system design is based on experimental system identifications of the transfer functions between three measured system variables - pitch, plunge, and flap position - and a single control signal that commands the flap of the airfoil. Closed-loop response of the airfoil demonstrated gust alleviation below the open-loop flutter boundary. In addition, the flutter boundary was extended by 12.4% through the application of active control. Cursory robustness tests demonstrate stable control for variations in flow speed of ± 10%.
A weak Kantorovich existence theorem for the solution of nonlinear equations

The Kantorovich theorem is a fundamental tool in nonlinear analysis for proving the existence and uniqueness of solutions of nonlinear equations arising in various fields. This theorem was weakened recently by Argyros who used a combination of Lipschitz and center-Lipschitz conditions in place of the Lipschitz conditions of the Kantorovich theorem. In the present paper we prove a weak Kantorovich-type theorem that gives the same conclusions as the previous two results under weaker conditions. Illustrative examples are provided in the paper.
Machine safety research at NIOSH and the future directions

Workers who operate and maintain machinery suffere about 18,000 amputations and 843 fatalities annually. These machine-related injuries have excellent potential for eradication if research can provide better prevention knowledge to machine users, designers, and builders. Because machines are a frequent and persistent source of occupational injury, NIOSH has conducted a program of research on machine safety problems since the Institute was established in 1971. This report describes results of a NIOSH analysis of data on all types of machine-related fatality and injury. Machines from the agricultural, construction, and manufacturing industries were combined in this analysis. The data analysis used death certificate and workers' compensation information to rank types of machines needing research. This report also describes results of a roundtable at which priorities in manufacturing machine safety research were discussed. Human factors in robotized workplaces, reliability of machine safety devices, and machine-related injury data for different machine types were among the subjects discussed. Farm tractors, industrial presses, saws, forklifts, and shears and slicers were identified as machines with high severity and frequency of injuries. Additional work is also justified in the emerging technology of robotic safety. NIOSH's safety research programs in the new decade will focus on these high priority machines.
Carcinogen-induced sarcoma in the primitive primate, Tupaia glis.

SummarySarcoma, metastatic in one instance, with a latent period of 6-7 months has been induced in the primitive primate, Tupala glis by subcutaneous injection of 3,4-benzpyrene. Transplantation was successful in one instance with a pregnant animal. Growth in tissue culture was established from trypsinized fragments of the tumor. The fibro-plastic cells demonstrated a lack of contact inhibition and contained eytoplasmic inclusion bodies.
Thermal network predictions of the daily temperature fluctuations in a direct gain room

Abstract This paper studies the daily temperature fluctuations in a direct gain room measuring 6.1 × 4.57 × 2.44 m3 (20 ft × 15 ft × 8 ft). The room is assumed to have losses on three faces and 8.36 m2 (90 ft2) of south glazing. Let r denote the ratio of the surface area of the mass wall to the area of the south facing glazing. The effect of r on mass walls 10.16, 20.32 and 30.48 cm (4, 8 and 12 in.) thick was determined for values of r equal to 1, 2, 4, 8 and 11.1. The temperature and solar insolation values for a typical January day in Nebraska were duplicated thirty consecutive times and were used for the weather data input to the modeling program. Using thirty consecutive like days has the advantage of damping out the transient solution to the point where it is negligible. It was found that for each thickness of wall, the temperature fluctuations over a day decrease as r increases, and it was also found that for a fixed value of r, the daily temperature fluctuations decrease as the wall thickness is increased. These results are consistent with those reported by Mazria. In addition cloudy day storage was considered for both the 10.16 and 20.32 cm (4 and 8 in.) walls, with r fixed at 4, runs were made with 20, 33, 50 and 100 per cent cloudy days. The results are presented in graphical form and indicate a rapid recovery of the system in most cases.
Oxygen consumption in boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera : Curculionidae), from subtropical areas of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

Abstract 1. 1. The respiratory rates and the wet weights of feral male and female weevils were cyclic. 2. 2. Respiratory circadian patterns had peaks of activity every 4–5 days. 3. 3. Changes in the frequency of these cycles appeared to be more dependent on the age of adult weevils and the source of the larval diet than they were on environmental factors.
Eary days of ribosome research

Abstract The essay covers the early days of ribosome research, including the discovery of messenger RNA and the naming of ribosomes, from the perspective of a young post-doc from Japan working in the USA during these memorable years for ribosome research (1958–1960).
Mastery learning in Statics using the STEMSI online learning environment

Statics is the foundation course upon which much of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering curriculum is based. A solid understanding in this course can help to propel students through their engineering studies. In this paper, we investigate the performance of students who took part in a “flipped” mastery based engineering Statics course. Compared to the tradition classroom, where students can pass by achieving an understanding of roughly 60–70% of the course material, the mastery classroom focuses on achieving a full understanding of 100% of the course material. Instead of a distribution of grades, this type of course produces a distribution in the amount of time each student must spend on each topic.
Ictal depth EEG and MRI structural evidence for two different epileptogenic networks in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Hypersynchronous (HYP) and low voltage fast (LVF) activity are two separate ictal depth EEG onsets patterns often recorded in presurgical patients with MTLE. Evidence suggests the mechanisms generating HYP and LVF onset seizures are distinct, including differential involvement of hippocampal and extra-hippocampal sites. Yet the extent of extra-hippocampal structural alterations, which could support these two common seizures, is not known. In the current study, preoperative MRI from 24 patients with HYP or LVF onset seizures were analyzed to determine changes in cortical thickness and relate structural changes to spatiotemporal properties of the ictal EEG. Overall, onset and initial ipsilateral spread of HYP onset seizures involved mesial temporal structures, whereas LVF onset seizures involved mesial and lateral temporal as well as orbitofrontal cortex. MRI analysis found reduced cortical thickness correlated with longer duration of epilepsy. However, in patients with HYP onsets, the most affected areas were on the medial surface of each hemisphere, including parahippocampal regions and cingulate gyrus, whereas in patients with LVF onsets, the lateral surface of the anterior temporal lobe and orbitofrontal cortex showed the greatest effect. Most patients with HYP onset seizures were seizure-free after resective surgery, while a higher proportion of patients with LVF onset seizures had only worthwhile improvement. Our findings confirm the view that recurrent seizures cause progressive changes in cortical thickness, and provide information concerning the structural basis of two different epileptogenic networks responsible for MTLE. One, identified by HYP ictal onsets, chiefly involves hippocampus and is associated with excellent outcome after standardized anteromedial temporal resection, while the other also involves lateral temporal and orbitofrontal cortex and a seizure-free surgical outcome occurs less after this procedure. These results suggest that a more extensive tailored resection may be required for patients with the second type of MTLE.
Value creation and challenges of an international transaction The DaimlerChrysler merger

Abstract Globalization is a buzzword in international finance and economics. On May 6, 1998, in London, Daimler-Benz of Germany signed a merger agreement with Chrysler Corporation of the United States. Using the DaimlerChrysler merger as a case study, this paper focuses on value creation and analysis of various issues in an international transaction. The market responded very favorably to this merger, and we review the potential sources of value creation in the merger as well as outline the steps undertaken to consummate the merger. We also consider an interesting question: Can a company truly be “global”? Differences in corporate culture, compensation policies, ownership structure, and the legal environment pose significant challenges to all mergers but especially international business combinations. Important post-merger events, such as the Standard & Poor's decision not to include DaimlerChrysler in the S&P500 Index and the clash of corporate cultures and compensation schemes, have presented major roadblocks to it becoming a truly global company.
4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) inhibits mammary epithelial differentiation and induces fibroadenoma formation in female Sprague Dawley rats

4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), an occupational chemical that targets ovarian follicles and accelerates ovarian failure in rodents, was used to test the effect of early-onset reproductive senescence on mammary fibroadenoma formation. One-month female Sprague Dawley rats were dosed with VCD (80 mg/kg or 160 mg/kg) and monitored for 22 months for persistent estrus and tumor development. Only high-dose VCD treatment accelerated the onset of persistent estrus relative to controls. However, both doses of VCD accelerated mammary tumor onset by 5 months, increasing incidence to 84% (vs. 38% in controls). Tumor development was independent of time in persistent estrus, 17 β-estradiol, androstenedione and prolactin. Delay in VCD administration until after completion of mammary epithelial differentiation (3 months) did not alter tumor formation despite acceleration of ovarian senescence. VCD administration to 1-month rats acutely decreased mammary alveolar bud number and expression of β-casein, suggesting that VCD's tumorigenic effect requires exposure during mammary epithelial differentiation.
Effects of avenanthramides on oxidant generation and antioxidant enzyme activity in exercised rats

Avenanthramides (AVEN) are major phenolic acids in oat (Avena sativa L.) that have potent antioxidant functions. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48, age 6-7 wk) were fed either an AIN-93 based control (C) diet or the same diet containing 0.1 g/kg AVEN-Bc [N-(3′,4′-dihydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxyanthranilic acid] for 50 days. Each group was further divided into rested (R) and exercised (E, treadmill running at 22.5 m/min, 10% grade for 1 hour) prior to killing. AVEN supplementation per se had no effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in most tissues, except soleus muscle wherein ROS level was decreased. AVEN-fed rats had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the deep portion of vastus lateralis muscle (DVL), liver and kidney and higher glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in the heart and DVL, compared to C-fed rats. E increased ROS production in the liver, DVL and soleus, and lipid peroxidation in the heart, liver and DVL. AVEN attenuated E-induced ROS in soleus and lipid peroxidation in the heart, but enhanced lipid peroxidation in DVL. We conclude that AVEN can serve as a potential dietary antioxidant supplement, but its tissue specific effects require further investigation.
Wet chemical surface functionalization of oxide-free silicon

Abstract Silicon is by far the most important semiconductor material in the microelectronic industry mostly due to the high quality of the Si/SiO 2 interface. Consequently, applications requiring chemical functionalization of Si substrates have focused on molecular grafting of SiO 2 surfaces. Unfortunately, there are practical problems affecting homogeneity and stability of many organic layers grafted on SiO 2 , such as silanes and phosphonates, related to polymerization and hydrolysis of Si–O–Si and Si–O–P bonds. These issues have stimulated efforts in grafting functional molecules on oxide-free Si surfaces, mostly with wet chemical processes. This review focuses therefore directly on wet chemical surface functionalization of oxide-free Si surfaces, starting from H-terminated Si surfaces. The main preparation methods of oxide-free H-terminated Si and their stability are first summarized. Functionalization is then classified into indirect substitution of H-termination by functional organic molecules, such as hydrosilylation, and direct substitution by other atoms (e.g. halogens) or small functional groups (e.g. OH, NH 2 ) that can be used for further reaction. An emphasis is placed on a recently discovered method to produce a nanopattern of functional groups on otherwise oxide-free, H-terminated and atomically flat Si(1 1 1) surfaces. Such model surfaces are particularly interesting because they make it possible to derive fundamental knowledge of surface chemical reactions.
Discrimination of what, when, and where is not based on time of day

Rats (n = 6) visited four baited locations (randomly chosen on each trial; study phase), one of which was randomly selected to provide chocolate. After short (1-h) or long (25-h) retention intervals (RIs), eight locations were available, and the four locations not available in the study phase provided food (test phase); the chocolate location also provided food after long RIs. More visits to the chocolate location occurred after long RIs than after short RIs. Next, chocolate was paired with LiCl during the long RI (i.e., after encoding the chocolate location). Fewer revisits to the chocolate location occurred after LiCl than in previous testing with the long RI. The rats demonstrated complete transfer when grape replaced chocolate after LiCl-chocolate pairing. The discrimination of what, when, and where could not be based on adopting different revisit strategies at different times of testing.
Trastuzumab and cardiotoxicity: weighing the risks.

Trastuzumab—as a component of various chemotherapy regimens and as an agent for prolonged maintenance therapy—has been widely accepted by the oncology community as a therapeutic option for women with metastatic breast cancer. Several trials have been initiated to evaluate the adjuvant use of
640 Gbit/s (40 Gbit/s×16 channel) dispersion-managed DWDM soliton transmission over 1000 km with spectral efficiency of 0.4 bit/Hz

The results from a 640 Gbit/s (40 Gbit/s/spl times/16 channel) dense WDM soliton transmission experiment over 1000 km with the use of a dispersion-managed transmission line are reported. The spectral efficiency was as high as 0.4 bit/Hz. The transmission line comprised conventional 1.3 /spl mu/m singlemode fibres and dispersion compensating fibres with dispersion slope compensation and a repeater span of 50 km.
Adipose tissue is required for the antidiabetic, but not for the hypolipidemic, effect of thiazolidinediones

There is uncertainty about the site(s) of action of the antidiabetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs). These drugs are agonist ligands of the transcription factor PPAR gamma, which is abundant in adipose tissue but is normally present at very low levels in liver and muscle. We have studied the effects of TZDs in A-ZIP/F-1 mice, which lack white adipose tissue. The A-ZIP/F-1 phenotype strikingly resembles that of humans with severe lipoatrophic diabetes, including the lack of fat, marked insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver. Rosiglitazone or troglitazone treatment did not reduce glucose or insulin levels, suggesting that white adipose tissue is required for the antidiabetic effects of TZDs. However, TZD treatment was effective in lowering circulating triglycerides and increasing whole body fatty acid oxidation in the A-ZIP/F-1 mice, indicating that this effect occurs via targets other than white adipose tissue. A-ZIP/F-1 mice have markedly increased liver PPAR gamma mRNA levels, which may be a general property of fatty livers. Rosiglitazone treatment increased the triglyceride content of the steatotic livers of A-ZIP/F-1 and ob/ob mice, but not the "lean" livers of fat-transplanted A-ZIP/F-1 mice. In light of this evidence that rosiglitazone acts differently in steatotic livers, the effects of rosiglitazone, particularly on hepatic triglyceride levels, should be examined in humans with hepatic steatosis.
Basal and ethanol-induced cardiac contractile response in lean and obese Zucker rat hearts.

Obesity plays a pivotal role in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Certain types of obesity may be related to alcohol ingestion, which itself leads to impaired cardiac function. This study analyzed basal and ethanol-induced cardiac contractile response using left-ventricular papillary muscles and myocytes from lean and obese Zucker rats. Contractile properties analyzed include: peak tension development (PTD), peak shortening amplitude (PS), time to PTD/PS (TPT/TPS), time to 90% relaxation/relengthening (RT90/TR90) and maximal velocities of contraction/shortening and relaxation/relengthening (±VT and ± dL/dt). Intracellular Ca2+ transients were measured as fura-2 fluorescence intensity (ΔFFI) changes and fluorescence decay time (FDT). In papillary muscles from obese rats, the baseline TPT and RT90 were significantly prolonged accompanied with low to normal PTD and ± VT compared to those in lean rats. Muscles from obese hearts also exhibited reduced responsiveness to postrest potentiation, increase in extracellular Ca2+ concentration, and norepinephrine. By contrast, in isolated myocytes, obesity reduced PS associated with a significant prolonged TR90, normal TPS and ± dL/dt. Intracellular Ca2+ recording revealed decreased resting Ca2+ levels and prolonged FDT. Acute ethanol exposure (80–640 mg/dl) caused comparable concentration-dependent inhibitions of PTD/PS and ΔFFI, associated with reduced ±VT in both groups. Collectively, these results suggest altered cardiac contractile function and unchanged ethanol-induced depression in obesity.
Exposing undergraduates to viruses

Principles of Molecular Virology (3rd edn)by Alan J. CannAcademic Press, 2001. $39.95 pbk (xi + 339 pages) ISBN 0 12 158533 6A textbook for undergraduates must place accessibility and brevity over depth, because an excess of information can overwhelm students. Alan Cann has succeeded in this task in Principles of Molecular Virology. This is a fine introductory text, requiring only a basic understanding of cell biology and genetics.Principles of Molecular Virology is compact, but has the bells and whistles that undergraduates expect. There are appendices containing a glossary, a classification of viruses and a history of virology. Each chapter has review questions, with answers (and explanations) given in yet another appendix. The book includes many useful tables and illustrations, which contain details absent from the main text. As a final treat, a CD-ROM is provided with the book. The CD has tutorials, virtual experiments and links to internet search engines. These additions are not gimmicks; they complement and expand the text significantly.The chapters on basic virology are excellent. They cover the structure, genomes, replication and genetic regulation of viruses. The writing is lucid, and complex ideas, such as antigenic shift and drift, are explained clearly. Each topic is discussed using examples that illustrate general principles, rather than presenting a comprehensive survey. There are also chapters on pathogenesis and subviral agents, such as prions. The chapter describing the debate about the prion hypothesis will remind nascent scientists that we haven't figured everything out yet.However, there are some shortcomings in the sections on immunology. The author warns in a preface that ‘Anyone who complains that this book does not spend sufficient time dealing with…their pet area of interest has therefore missed the point.’ Because I am an immunologist, I will make my criticism clear: it is not the time spent that is lacking, it is the clarity. Basic terms, including ‘antibody’, ‘cytotoxicity’ and ‘humoral’, are not defined in the glossary. Furthermore, some of the text is out of date. For example, CD8? T cells are called ‘suppressor’ cells, a term that dropped quietly out of most books long before the latest resurgence of suppressionology. Finally, there are oversimplifications, such as the statement that viruses reduce the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by decreasing the expression of class II MHC molecules on infected cells, without any mention of T helper cells.If you ask a barber's opinion, he'll say you need a haircut. It is not surprising that an immunologist would find some problems in the immunology sections of a virology textbook. Despite these modest flaws, this is a very good introductory text and I recommend it to anyone exposing undergraduates to viruses.
Assessment of Adenoidal Obstruction in Children: Clinical Signs Versus Roentgenographic Findings

Objective. As part of a comprehensive study of indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, we investigated the reliability of standardized clinical assessments and standardized roentgenographic assessments of adenoidal obstruction of the nasopharynx, and the degree of correlation between clinical assessments and roentgenographic assessments. Methods. We rated the degree of patients' mouth breathing and patients' speech hyponasality on a 4-point scale (none = 1; mild = 2; moderate = 3; marked = 4), we averaged the ratings for each child to obtain a Nasal Obstruction Index, and we determined levels of interobserver agreement concerning the ratings. We classified lateral soft-tissue roentgenograms of the nasopharynx, based on assessments of adenoid size and of nasopharyngeal airway patency, as showing either no obstruction, borderline obstruction, or obstruction, and we determined levels of inter- and intraobserver agreement concerning the classifications. Finally, we determined correlations in individual patients between clinical ratings and roentgenographic ratings of nasal/nasopharyngeal obstruction, and calculated the predictive values of clinical ratings based on roentgenographic ratings as the gold standard. Results. In sets of paired examinations, weighted κ values for interobserver agreement concerning mouth breathing (total, 235 children) and speech hyponasality (total, 648 children) ranged from 0.84 to 0.91. The value for interobserver agreement concerning roentgenographic assessment of nasopharyngeal airway status (207 children) was 0.92, and for intraobserver agreement (191 children) 0.88. The Kendall's τ b value for concordance between Nasal Obstruction Index values and roentgenographic ratings (1033 children) was 0.51. Nasal Obstruction Index values at the lower and upper extremes-ie, 1.0 and ≥3.5, respectively-were highly predictive of concordant roentgenographic ratings. Conclusions. We conclude that standardized clinical ratings of the degree of children's mouth breathing and speech hyponasality provide reliable and reasonably valid assessments of the presence and degree of adenoidal obstruction of the nasopharyngeal airway. These clinical assessments are particularly valid at the extremes of either marked obstruction or no obstruction. Clinical assessment alone may be insufficient to establish the presence of adenoidal obstruction, but clinical assessment alone when findings are unequivocally negative can suffice to rule out adenoidal obstruction with a high degree of confidence. Pediatrics 1998;101:979-986; adenoidal obstruction, nasal obstruction, nasopharyngeal airway, clinical assessment, roentgenographic assessment, mouth breathing, speech hyponasality, diagnostic reliability, diagnostic validity.
Organic Glass-Forming Materials: 1,3,5-Tris(naphthyl)benzene Derivatives

The organic glass-forming materials 1,3-bis(1-naphthyl)-5-(2-naphthyl)benzene (2) and its partially deuterated analogue, 1,3-bis(1-naphthyl-d7)-5-(2-naphthyl)benzene (2-d14), have been synthesized on a gram scale using Suzuki coupling reactions. Detailed spectroscopic studies afford complete NMR assignments (1H, 2H, 13C) for both compounds. Modest energy barriers for the interconversion of atropisomers (ca. 15 kcal/mol) result in a propensity for these materials to form supercooled liquids and glasses, rather than undergoing crystallization. The preparation of these materials enables detailed studies of physical properties of organic glasses and molecular diffusion in condensed phases.
Quantifying Plant Population Persistence in Human-Dominated Landscapes

We assessed population performance of rare plants across a gradient from rural to urban landscapes and evaluated 2 hypotheses central to strategic conservation planning: (1) population performance declines with increasing human dominance and (2) small populations perform poorly relative to larger ones. Assessing these hypotheses is critical to strategic conservation planning. The current conservation paradigm adheres to the well-established ecology theory that small isolated populations, particularly those in human-dominated landscapes, are the least likely to succeed over the long term. Consequently, conservation planning has strongly favored large, remote targets for protection. This shift in conservation toward ecosystem-based programs and protection of populations within large, remote systems has been at the expense of protection of the rarest of the rare species, the dominant paradigm for conservation driven by the endangered species act. Yet, avoiding conservation of small populations appears to be based more on theoretical understanding and expert opinion than empiricism. We used Natural Heritage data from California in an assessment of population performance of rare plants across a landscape with an urban-rural gradient. Population performance did not decrease in urban settings or for populations that were initially small. Our results are consistent with a pattern of few species extinctions within these landscapes over the past several decades. We conclude that these populations within compromised landscapes can contribute to overall biodiversity conservation. We further argue that conservation planning for biodiversity preservation should allocate relatively more resources to protecting urban-associated plant taxa because they may provide conservation benefit beyond simply protecting isolated populations; they may be useful in building social interest in conservation.
Determination of aromatic organic compounds following liquid extraction from soil, solid-phase extraction concentration, and analysis by capillary gas chromatography

Abstract Specific nitrogen‐containing organic compounds were extracted from soil samples, concentrated by means of solid‐phase extraction technique, and separated and quantified by capillary gas chromatography.
Metabolic effects of adenosine in the isolated perfused rat heart

The effects of adenosine on myocardial substrate utilization were assessed in isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. In unpaced hearts perfused at constant flow with insulin, adenosine inhibited oxidation of both glucose and palmitate with similar dose-dependency, without significant effects on effluent lactate+pyruvate. Significant effects of adenosine were observed at 0.1 microM adenosine. In a second series of paced hearts, perfusion pressure was kept constant during adenosine infusion by increasing the flow rate from 10 to 16.3 +/- 0.6 ml/min. Under these conditions, oxidation of both substrates was increased to a similar extent. Lactate+pyruvate output and total glycolytic flux were also increased. At zero or low insulin concentrations, the increases in substrate oxidation were similar to those seen at high insulin, but increases in lactate and pyruvate output and total glycolytic flux were abolished. It is concluded that adenosine does not preferentially increase glucose oxidation in this model.
An analysis of Stein's model for stochastic neuronal excitation

Stein's model of stochastic neuronal excitation is a realistic, yet simplified, construction incorporating important measurable parameters from neurophysiology. One of the principle difficulties with the application of this model lies in solving the delay partial and ordinary differential equations that form the mathematical expression of the model. For the case of excitation only, we present some effective methods of calculating various aspects of the model including the interspike interval distribution.
Materiality, symbolicity, and the rhetoric of order: “Dialectical biologism” as motive in burke

The work of Kenneth Burke has recently been critiqued for its lack of attention to the role of non‐symbolic motivation in rhetoric. However, building on a revised definition of order and using his definition of the human species as a heuristic guide, one may reconfigure Burke's contributions as a “dialectical biologism” that sets forth a system of five symbolic/material dialectics that undergird all rhetorical appeal. The potential of the system in criticism is briefly explored. The findings suggest that the most effective rhetorical strategies must integrate material and symbolic motives.
Informed consent. The whole truth for patients

Two misconceptions about informed consent concern the difference between the legal and moral justification for it, and the rationale for more rigorous consent for research than for "standard" therapy. Legally, informed consent for therapy is a risk-management tool that functions essentially as a release of liability. If the patient is informed of all expected or potential side-effects or toxicities of a treatment, he cannot sue because those side effects occur. The moral doctrine of informed consent is derived from a respect for the patient's autonomy as well as the patient's vulnerability. The physician's goal is not to minimize liability, but to help the patient make the best decision. These two goals are not necessarily incompatible, but they often lead to different attitudes toward informed consent and different decisions about what information needs to be shared with patients. If the goal is risk-management, then informed consent forms should be encyclopedic, providing the "whole truth" to patients. This would, however, not meet the moral goals of shared decision-making, because few patients could make sense of such data. Informed consent for research often leads to a different paradox. If a new therapy becomes available and a physician thinks it may benefit a patient, the physician may use it in an uncontrolled manner. This does not require the approval of an institutional review board and does not need the more rigorous approach to informed consent generally associated with research. In contrast, if the physician wants to evaluate the effectiveness of the same therapy carefully and intends to gather data to do so, he will need to describe his protocol, defend it before an institutional review board, and provide a more carefully written and closely scrutinized informed consent form. The paradox derives from the fact that the patient in the first, uncontrolled situation is inevitably at higher risk of harm than the patient in the second situation. The distinction between informed consent for treatment and informed consent for research is based on a distinction that is growing ever more cloudy and ever less relevant to the moral goals that informed consent seeks to achieve. Current standards for informed consent for research are, in many ways, counterintuitive and probably counter-productive.
Rating of worry about energy sources with respect to public health, environmental health, and workers

Environmental risks of different energy sources pose a significant problem for managers, decision-makers, and the general public. Attitudes and perceptions may differ by type of energy, as well as the recipient of the harm. A post-Fukushima survey of students and others in a university community in central New Jersey was conducted to determine how much people worried about the potential effects of different energy types (nuclear, chemical, coal, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and gas), which aspect they worried about (public health, workers, and the environment), and which form they thought the USA should further develop. Ratings for worry varied significantly by energy type and receptor type. In general, worry was greater for all aspects of chemical, coal, nuclear, and gas, and significantly less for hydro, solar, and wind. Worry was generally higher for exposure from the plant, exposure from food and water, exposure to workers, and exposure for wildlife than for either transportation issues or exposure fro...
The Role of the Registered Dietitian in the Development and Implementation of an Innovative Cardiac Wellness Program in a University Based Weight Management Center

Text: Registered Dietitians can perform an essential role in wellness counseling as well as with treatment interventions. The dietitian was an integral component of the innovative Cardiac Wellness Program (CWP) developed by The Center for Nutrition and Metabolism (CNM). As part of an interdisciplinary team of providers that included a physician and exercise specialist, the dietitian met with CWP clients three times over a series of six one-on-one appointments. The CWP utilized the latest in comprehensive cholesterol screening (lipid sub-fractionation), Vertical Auto Profile (VAP®), to assess coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The VAP® measures 15 separate components of blood cholesterol and identifies lipid abnormalities and markers for Metabolic Syndrome, providing a more comprehensive and individualized CHD risk assessment. Appointments with the dietitian involved a comprehensive assessment of height, weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), waist circumference, blood pressure and pulse. Individualized calorie prescriptions were determined using RMR and dietary intake information was analyzed using a nutrition software program. Personalized dietary recommendations were based on the VAP results and the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet foundations. CNM dietitians developed patient handouts corresponding to algorithms of abnormal lipid indicators on VAP, which facilitated further customization of dietary recommendations. To date, 25 patients (10 males, 15 females) have enrolled and are at various stages of the CWP. Through development and implementation of innovative wellness programs, dietitians can further expand patient outreach, generate additional revenue and solidify their position as indispensable healthcare providers.
Growth hormone receptor signaling is dispensable for HSC function and aging

Growth hormone receptor (Ghr) signaling is important in a wide variety of cellular processes including aging; however, the role of Ghr signaling in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology remains unexplored. Within the hematopoietic system, Ghr is expressed in a highly HSC-specific manner and is significantly upregulated during aging. Exposure of young and old HSCs to recombinant growth hormone ex vivo led to diminished short-term reconstitution and restored B-cell output from old HSCs. Hematopoietic-specific genetic deletion of Ghr neither impacted steady-state hematopoiesis nor serial transplantation potential. Repeat challenge with 5-fluorouracil showed that Ghr was dispensable for HSC activation and homeostatic recovery in vivo and, after challenge, Ghr-deficient HSCs functioned normally through serial transplantation. Although exogenous Gh induces age-dependent HSC effects, these results indicate that Ghr signaling appears largely dispensable for HSC function and aging.
Reliability-driven optimum standby electric storage allocation for power distribution systems

Integration of distributed energy resources (DER) has become an indispensable aspect of the future smart grid. The significant and valuable impact of these resources is expected to lead toward a more reliable and efficient power system. As the number of distributed generation and storage systems increases, the availability of sensitive and critical loads may be improved by allocating a portion of electricity storage capacity as a reserve. The goal of this paper is to determine the optimum standby storage capacity in a smart grid based on reliability indices such as the Expected Interruption Cost (EIC) of the system using particle swarm optimization (PSO). To include the actual restrictions of the power distribution system, we perform load flow analysis and simulate a sequential post-fault scenario for every outage of the components. The results from different case studies show that standby electricity storage can become cost efficient at certain load points of the distribution system.