cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superoxide dismutase delays neuronal apoptosis: A role for reactive oxygen species in programmed neuronal death

Sympathetic neurons in culture die by apoptosis when deprived of nerve growth factor (NGF). We used this model of programmed cell death to study the mechanisms that mediate neuronal apoptosis. Cultured sympathetic neurons were injected with copper/zinc superoxide dismutase protein (SOD) or with an expression vector containing an SOD cDNA. In both cases apoptosis was delayed when the neurons were deprived of NGF. The delay was similar to that seen when a bcl-2 expression vector was injected. SOD, injected 8 hr after NGF deprivation, provided no protection, indicating that superoxide production may occur early in response to trophic factor deprivation. We have demonstrated, with a redox-sensitive dye, an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) that peaked at 3 hr after sympathetic neurons were deprived of NGF. If NGF was added back to the culture medium after the period of peak ROS generation, apoptosis was completely prevented, suggesting that ROS production serves as an early signal, rather than a toxic agent, to mediate apoptosis.
Dentistry for the Cerebral Palsied

The difficulties attendant on the render­ ing of dental service to certain of the cerebral palsied are not due to any marked variations from normal or aver­ age normal dentition. If there is any vari­ ation, it is likely to be on the side of being better than the average normal dentitions. It is difficult to find a satisfactory an­ swer to the paradox of these observations. Often cerebral palsied children are in­ capable of any of the dental hygiene prac­ tices to which is ascribed a certain degree of caries prevention. They cannot brush their teeth; some cannot even rinse out their mouths. The possibility has been suggested that dietary factors play an important role and are the basis of the relative freedom from caries. However, dietary factors vary with economic status, and the relatively high standard of living of some of the children examined at the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute does not necessarily accompany a comprehen­ sion of, or an inclination to follow, estab­ lished nutritional regimens. It is also beyond probability that such a large percentage of children should, by sheer chance, be the beneficiaries of fluorinated water therapy, since they come from all over the United States and all over the world. Indeed many of them come from areas where fluorine in water is known to be negligible or completely lacking. Finally, the fluorine theory fails to hold because these children are so often completely caries-free. It is known that only an average 60 per cent reduc­ tion in caries incidence is attributable to naturally fluorinated water. These observations are not the basis for any generalization that there are more caries immune children among the cerebral palsied than among the physi­ cally normal. However, should they be generally supported, research would be justified to determine why such a large number of the cerebral palsied seem blessed by relative caries immunity. Cerebral palsies in general result from prenatal or postnatal injuries, infections or faulty development of brain or nerve tissues in areas having to do with motor and sensory impulses. The areas most commonly involved (sometimes singly and sometimes in combination one with the other) are the brain’s motor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, the an­ terior or ventral horn of the spinal cord and, somewhat less frequently, the sen­ sory area of the brain and cord. That the areas affected are those of motor re­ action and sensory perception is impor­ tant to an understanding, not only that
New Approach to Immunization against Schistosoma japonicum.

Previous inoculation of rhesus monkeys with cercariae of the nonhuman strain of Schistosoma japonicum proved to give a rather strong protection against a subsequent challenge with its human strain.
Vladimir and Anita

Anita, whose course of radiation hasn’t sprung the tiniest leak in her character, tells me the blues that crawl each morning into her bed are masculine. The icicle jitters that slip under her skin each evening are feminine. She gets rid of the men by beltingWhat a FriendWe Have in Jesus until the nurses come and shush her. She relies on the Spirit to hustle those petulant women out of the room. Anita’s calm.
An Investigation of the Thermodynamics and Kinetics of the Ferric Chloride Brine Leaching of Galena Concentrate

The solution thermodynamics of acidified ferric chloride brine lixiviants and the dissolution kinetics of a galena concentrate in such solutions have been investigated. The distribution of the various metal chloro complexes calculated from available thermodynamic data shows that the distribution is shifted to the higher complexes, predominantly FeCl3o, FeCl2o, and PbCl4=, as the total Cl− concentration increases, and that the distribution is unaffected by the extent of reaction. The dissolution of PbS concentrate is presented as a competition between a nonoxidative reaction with H+ and the oxidative reaction with ferric ion. Acid dissolution of PbS predominates when the activity ratio of hydrogen ion to ferric ion is high. Under these conditions H2S is produced. When the activity ratio of hydrogen ion to ferric ion is low, and especially when the concentration of Fe3+ is greater than 0.15 M, oxidative dissolution of PbS becomes the controlling reaction. The dissolution can be represented by a shrinking core model with a surface chemical reaction as the rate controlling step. This is supported by the activation energy of 72.1 kJ/mole and the dependence of the rate on the inverse of the particle radius. The following rate equation was found to be in excellent agreement with the experimentally observed leaching behavior for 0.15 to 0.6 M [Fe+3]T up to approximately 90 to 95 pet extraction: $$1 - \left( {1 - \alpha } \right)^{1/3} = \left[ {\frac{{2.3 x 10^{12} }}{{r_0 }}\left[ {{\text{Fe}}^{{\text{ + 3}}} } \right]_T^{0.21} \exp \left( {\frac{{ - 72100}}{{{\text{R}}T}}} \right)} \right]t$$ The rate deviates from the 0.21 order for Fe+3 concentrations greater than 0.6 M. The deviation from the surface model at higher values of PbS conversion is due to the presence of solid PbCl2 in the pores of the reacting particles.
Spin dynamics in the normal state of high-[Tc] superconductors

We summarize our recent theoretical studies on the spin dynamics in the normal state of the metallic cuprates. The contrasting wave vector dependence of the dynamical spin structure factor S (q, ω) in LaSrCuO and YBaCuO systems are attributed to the differences in the fermiology, in conjunction with strong Coulomb correlations. These effects are found to account also for the anomalous temperature and frequency dependence of S (q, ω). We conclude that the low energy spin dynamics of the metallic cuprates are described in terms of correlated quasiparticles with a Luttinger Fermi surface and a non-zero antiferromagnetic exchange interaction.
Fish oil encapsulation with chitosan using ultrasonic atomizer

Abstract An encapsulation technique was developed using an ultrasonic atomizer and three processing steps: emulsification, ultrasonic atomization, and freeze drying. Emulsion preparation variables such as concentration of wall materials [chitosan (CS), maltodextrin (MD) and whey protein isolate (WPI)] and tuna oil were optimized. The size and stability of the emulsion droplet and the properties of the encapsulated powders after freeze drying were characterized. At 20 g/100 g tuna oil, the optimum ratios of CS to MD and of CS to WPI were 1:10 and 1:1, respectively. There was a significant difference (P
Mitigating congestion-based denial of service attacks with active queue management

Denial of service (DoS) attacks are currently one of the biggest risks any organization connected to the Internet can face. Hence, the congestion handling techniques at its edge router(s), such as active queue management (AQM) schemes must consider possibilities of such attacks. Ideally, an AQM scheme should (a) ensure that each network flow gets its fair share of bandwidth, and (b) identify attack flows so that corrective actions (e.g. drop flooding traffic) can be explicitly taken against them to further mitigate the DoS attacks. This paper presents a proof-of-concept work on devising such an AQM scheme, which we name Deterministic Fair Sharing (DFS). Most of the existing AQM schemes do not achieve the above goals or have a significant room for improvement. DFS uses the concept of weighted fair share (wfs) which allows it to dynamically self-adjust the router buffer usage based on the current level of congestion, while assuring fairness among flows and aiding in identifying the malicious ones. We demonstrate the performance of DFS via extensive simulation and compare against other existing AQM techniques.
Effects of reversal and nonreversal shifts with CVC stimuli

An experiment was performed comparing performance on reversal and nonreversal shifts after training to a criterion of one perfect trial or 50% overlearning on the first task. The S s were 48 undergraduates. Stimuli were eight CVCs which had no relevant attribute in common. Learning was by a standard paired-associate method. Reversal shift was superior to nonreversal shift, and overlearning facilitated performance on the second task. It was concluded that mediating responses to stimulus dimensions are not necessary for the shift effect. Alternative explanations in terms of partial reinforcement, mediated association, and extraexperimental transfer were considered.
A comparative study of quiet sleep, active sleep, and waking on the first 2 days of life.

Direct behavioral observation and motility monitoring procedures provide reliable data, and both are appropriate for sleep/wake state measurements starting immediately after birth. Using these procedures, newborn rats, rabbits, and humans were found to have a greater amount of quiet sleep on the day of birth rather than 24 hr later. Changes in active sleep and wake were inconsistent across the 2 days. The quiet sleep findings are contrary to the developmental course which increases with age. The findings are interpreted as a temporary adaptive response to the stress of the birth process.
Muscle tension in generalized anxiety disorder: Elevated muscle tonus or agitated movement?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the amplitude characteristics of frontalis and gastrocnemius electromyographic (EMG) activity in clinically anxious and nonanxious populations. Eighteen women with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and 19 nonanxious women were compared during baseline, laboratory stressor, and recovery conditions. EMG mean levels were greater for the GAD group, but there were no group differences in EMG skewness. During the stressor the GAD group had a significant reduction in frontalis EMG variability. Gastrocnemius muscle activity for both groups during the stressor condition increased in mean levels and variability while decreasing in skewness. These results indicate that clinically anxious individuals have elevated muscular tonus and have reduced variability in frontalis activity during stressful tasks. Also, the gastrocnemius muscle exhibited a stressor reactivity, whereas the frontalis did not. This study presents an approach to EMG analysis that could be useful in distinguishing unique features of anxiety as well as other emotional disorders.
Hypoxia in the Neuse River Estuary: Responses of Blue Crabs and Crabbers

Abstract The fishery for blue crab Callinectes sapidus is the most valuable commercial fishery in North Carolina. In 1998, hard blue crab landings totaled more than 27 metric tons and were worth US$40.5 million. This fishery depends on a healthy estuarine habitat for crab growth and survival. In addition, nearly all the landings are taken in shallow estuaries and sounds. Like estuaries all over the United States, the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina, receives substantial nutrient loading. A shallow, wind-driven system, it experiences only intermittent density stratification and subsequent hypoxia. Blue crabs respond to this spatially and temporally dynamic hypoxia by moving to the oxygenated shallow edges of the river. When the system is well oxygenated, blue crabs also can occupy the deeper habitats in the river. Categorical and regression tree analyses show crabs occupied habitat with oxygen concentrations above 2.4 mg/L. We estimated average temporary habitat loss attributable to low oxygen in our s...
Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting as a lower extremity neuropathy

Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm often presents with a pulsatile abdominal mass, abdominal pain, and hypotension. Recent clinical reports describe patients with less apparent clinical signs and symptoms who were found later in their evaluation to have a contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Even more unusual is a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Our patient had a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm that presented with erosion into the lumbar vertebral bodies and subsequent lumbar neuropathy. CT scan confirmed the contained rupture of the aortic aneurysm and the patient underwent successful repair of his aortic aneurysm. Our report discusses the significance of atypical presentations of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture and the importance of prompt diagnosis and definitive repair.
Bridging the gap: Using CT colonography to improve colorectal cancer screening compliance.

1107 In this month’s issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, the results of two studies by Friedman et al. [9] and Moawad et al. [10] raise important discussion points regarding the issue of CTC and screening: namely, how and why CTC may complement existing screening efforts. These articles emphasize the importance and usefulness of the recently published ACR Appropriateness Criteria on Colorectal Cancer Screening [11].
Organochlorines and prostate cancer in Japan: no link in men without occupational exposures.

Occupational exposure to organochlorine compounds during pesticide manufacturing or application has been associated with prostate cancer incidence. However, prostate cancer was not clearly associated with plasma levels of organochlorine compounds among Japanese men in the general population, according to results of a large-scale prospective study [EHP 118:659–665; Sawada et al.]. Organochlorines can act as endocrine disruptors. Studies in animals and humans have reported evidence of associations between significant environmental exposures and effects such as urogenital malformation in boys born to agricultural workers. Organochlorines were banned in the 1970s in Japan, where the current study was based. However, because these compounds persist in the environment, environmental exposures may still be affecting human health. In a nested case–control study, the authors tracked the incidence of prostate cancer among 14,203 men aged 40–69 who were enrolled in a prospective study through the Japan Public Health Center. Participants responded to baseline health questionnaires and provided blood samples between 1990 and 1995; they were followed through 2005. The authors identified 201 participants who were diagnosed with prostate cancer during the period of the study, each of whom was matched with two controls from the study cohort. The baseline blood samples from these 603 men were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and several organochlorine pesticides. The authors found no statistically significant associations between blood levels of any organochlorine and prostate cancer. Contrary to expectations, men who developed cancer had lower blood levels of the pesticides hexachlorobenzene and β-hexachlorocyclohexane than men who did not develop cancer, though these inverse associations were not statistically significant. Strengths of the study include the large number of participants and the use of biological samples collected many years before diagnosis. However, the authors acknowledge the small number of cases of prostate cancer may have limited their ability to detect associations with organochlorine exposures. Moreover, the length of followup may have been insufficient to fully detect incidence of prostate cancer, which is generally slow to develop.
Fossilization in Second Language Acquisition: An Inter-Model View

This article' details the explanatory value and inadequacies of three main categories of models proposed to explain fossilization in second language acquisition: interactional models, acculturation models, and biological models. It is argued that difficulties with ex isting accounts of fossilization are due to their failure to distinguish two types of fossilization. Such a distinction is proposed here, along with a change in the terminology of research on fossilization. Finally, a unified account of fossilization is proposed that incorporates com ponents from the three existing models and that explains a broad range of fossilization phenomena.
Coxsackievirus B3 induction of NFAT: requirement for myocarditis susceptibility.

Abstract Ultraviolet (u.v.) inactivated coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) induces rapid calcium flux in naive BALB/c CD4+ T cells. CD4+ cells lacking decay accelerating factor (DAF−/−) show little calcium flux indicating that virus cross-linking of this virus receptor protein is necessary for calcium signaling in CVB3 infection. Interaction of CVB3 with CD4+ cells also activates NFAT DNA binding. To show that NFAT activation is crucial to CVB3 induced disease, wild-type mice and transgenic mice expressing dominant-negative NFAT (dnNFAT) mutant in T cells were infected and evaluated for myocarditis and pancreatitis 7 days later. Inhibition of NFAT in T cells prevented myocarditis but had no effect on pancreatitis. Virus titers in pancreas were equivalent in wild-type and dnNFAT animals but cardiac virus titers were increased in dnNFAT mice. Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) expression was reduced in both CD4+ and Vγ4+ T cells from dnNFAT mice compared to controls. FasL expression by Vγ4+ cells was also suppressed. Inhibition of FasL expression by Vγ4+ cells is consistent with myocarditis protection in dnNFAT mice.
Bioactive Sulfated Sesterterpene Alkaloids and Sesterterpene Sulfates from the Marine Sponge Fasciospongia sp.

Abstract Two new sulfated sesterterpene alkaloids, 19-oxofasciospongine A (3) and fasciospongine C (4), and a new sesterterpene sulfate, 25-hydroxyhalisulfate 9 (5), along with two known sesterterpene sulfates, halisulfates 7 (6) and 9 (7), were isolated from an organic extract of the marine sponge Fasciospongia sp. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopic studies as well as by HRESIMS analysis. Compounds 1-7 exhibited inhibitory activity against Streptomyces 85E in the hyphae-formation inhibition assay. Compounds 1, 2, and 4-7 were not cytotoxic when tested at 20 microg/mL with MCF-7, LNCaP, and LU cell lines. Only compound 3 demonstrated a moderate cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7 (IC(50) 13.4 microM), LNCaP (IC(50) 21.8 microM), and LU-1 cells (IC(50) 5.0 microM), respectively.
High-temperature properties of PBZT fibres

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations were performed in an attempt to elucidate the molecular mechanism of a relaxation measured experimentally in poly(p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBZT) fibres. Results for the coefficient of thermal expansion and tensile modulus parallel to the molecular axis agreed favourably with published experimental values. The X-ray peak intensity ratio of (200) (010) versus temperature obtained from the simulations showed a variation qualitatively similar to that from experiments. The torsion angle between the benzobisthiazole and phenyl moieties increased with temperature. A distortion of the phenyl and benzobisthiazole moieties also occurred and the molecules were observed to undergo increased oscillatory ribbon-like motions perpendicular to the (010) plane as the temperature increased. Finally, translational oscillations of the molecules parallel to the c-axis occurred. These molecular motions are coupled to the tensile stress and could play a role in the relaxation.
Direct metal nano-imprinting using an embossed solid electrolyte stamp.

In this paper, we report direct patterning of metal nanostructures using an embossed solid electrochemical stamp. Microforming of solid superionic stamps using Si templates—analogous to polymer patterning in nano-imprint lithography—is explored. Silver sulfide (Ag2S)—a superionic conductor with excellent microforming properties—is investigated as a candidate material. Important parameters of the superionic stamp, including mechanical behavior, material flow during forming and feature recovery after embossing, are studied. Excellent feature transferability during embossing as well as etching is observed. To illustrate the capability of this approach silver nano-antennas with gaps 6 mm is also demonstrated. Embossing-based metal patterning allows fabrication beyond two-dimensional nanofabrication and several patterning schemes are reported.
Bedside emergency department ultrasonography in the evaluation of ocular pathology.

The number of potential uses of emergency department (ED) ultrasound is growing. This brief report describes its use in two ED patients who presented with acute ocular pathology. The diagnoses were quickly made with ED ultrasound, and subsequently confirmed with more traditional methods of ocular evaluation. Key words: ED ultrasound; ocular pathology; ocular ultrasonography. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2000; 7:947-950
Comparison of a Pharmacist-Performed and Physician or Advanced Practice Provider–Performed Medication History in Pediatric Patients:

Background: In the adult population, a high rate of discrepancies exists between provider-performed and pharmacist-performed medication histories. Limited data exist regarding pharmacist-performed ...
Spatial population genetic structure in Trillium grandiflorum: the roles of dispersal, mating, history, and selection.

The roles of the various potential ecological and evolutionary causes of spatial population genetic structure (SPGS) cannot in general be inferred from the extant structure alone. However, a stage-specific analysis can provide clues as to the causes of SPGS. We conducted a stage-specific SPGS analysis of a mapped population of about 2000 Trillium grandiflorum (Liliaceae), a long-lived perennial herb. We compared SPGS for juvenile (J), nonreproductive (NR), and reproductive (R) stages. Fisher's exact test showed that genotypes had Hardy-Weinberg frequencies at all loci and stage classes. Allele frequencies did not differ between stages. Bootstrapped 99% confidence intervals (99%CI) indicate that F-statistic values are indistinguishable from zero, (except for a slightly negative FIT for the R stage). Spatial autocorrelation was used to calculate f, the average kinship coefficient between individuals within distance intervals. Null hypothesis 99%CIs for f were constructed by repeatedly randomizing genotypic locations. Significant positive fine-scale genetic structure was detected in the R and NR stages, but not in the J stage. This structure was most pronounced in the R stage, and declined by about half in each remaining stage: near-neighbor f 5 0.122, 0.065, 0.027, for R, NR, and J, respectively. For R and NR, the near-neighbor f lies outside the null hypothesis 99%CI, indicating kinship at approximately the level of half-sibs and first cousins, respectively. We also simulated the expected SPGS of juveniles post dispersal, based on measured R-stage SPGS, the mating system, and measured pollen and seed dispersal properties. This provides a null hypothesis expectation (as a 99%CI) for the J-stage correlogram, against which to test the likelihood that post-dispersal events have influenced J-stage SPGS. The actual J correlogram lies within the null hypothesis 99%CI for the shortest distance interval and nearly all other distance intervals indicating that the observed low recruitment, random mating and seed dispersal patterns are sufficient to account for the dis- appearance of SPSG between the R and the J stages. The observed increase in SPGS between J and R stages has two potential explanations: history and local selection. The observed low total allelic diversity is consistent with a past bottleneck: a possible historical explanation. Only a longitudinal stage-specific study of SPGS structure can distinguish between historical events and local selection as causes of increased structure with increasing life history stage.
Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis Transgenic Corn for Lepidopteran Control on Nontarget Arthropods

Field populations of nontarget arthropods in transgenic corn with the MON 810 event expressing the Cry1Ab endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki (Bt) were compared with those in conventional, near isogenic corn. The study was conducted at two locations in Georgia in 2001 and 2002 using visual counts, pitfall traps, and corn ear insect evaluations. Results were analyzed by trial using a repeated-measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a combined ANOVA of all trials. The only insect whose numbers were strongly affected by the Bt corn was the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), a target insect. When averaged over all trials, larvae and adults of sap beetles, Carpophilus spp. (mostly C. lugubris Murray), and larvae of the otitid fly Euxesta stigmatis Loew were less abundant on Bt than non-Bt corn ears. Kernel damage caused by H. zea was less in Bt corn, which presumably made Bt corn ears less attractive to these insects. There were no consistent significant differences in nontarget phytophagous and predaceous arthropods in the visual counts and pitfall traps between Bt and non-Bt corn. One exception was Nabis spp., which was less abundant in Bt than non-Bt corn in the combined analysis. Flea beetles, mostly corn flea beetle, Chaetocnema pulicaria Melsheimer, were more abundant on Bt than non-Bt corn in the combined analysis but presumably were not adversely affected by the Bt corn. With the exception of nabids, these results indicate that transgenic Bt field corn containing the MON 810 event did not have an adverse effect on populations of nontarget phytophagous or predaceous arthropods in the Georgia corn system.
Large scale simulation of a distributed target tracking system

For a large class of defense problems involving distributed, multisensor, multitarget tracking based on data fusion techniques, there are many factors that can affect the cost-performance tradeoff for the overall system. Although the complexity of such problems depends on the overall dimensionality, there is usually sufficient complexity involved that the system design cannot be approached with formal methods. Given this perspective, we have developed an initial version of an analysis and design testbed for large-scale distributed tracking problems that allows the effects of various influencing features to be empirically explored. The initial version of the testbed has been synthesized for a decentralized multiple target tracking system under a distributed multiple sensor environment, with the purpose of studying the effects of tracking algorithms, track fusion algorithms, and topology of internodal connectivity. With the present testbed, we examine the tradeoff between the overall computational load of different large scale distributed systems and the composite tracking accuracy. Simulation-based results using the testbed will be presented along with the implications for system design.
Model-based templates for real-time scheduling

The use of formal scheduling models as a basis for constructing reusable code templates for real-time software is studied. Code templates in a particular language are developed hand-in-hand with formal scheduling models for those templates, where the formal models include necessary run-time or operating system overheads. The code templates can be adapted in ways that correspond to the parameters of the formal model (e.g. number and frequencies of tasks). Ultimately, both an analytic tool to predict system performance metrics and a code generator to produce executive software can be driven by a high-level specification of the tasks in a particular application. This approach is demonstrated for one formal model, rate monotonic scheduling, and one Ada code template. >
EFFICACY OF ESTRADIOL IN PERIMENOPAUSAL DEPRESSION: SO MUCH PROMISE AND SO FEW ANSWERS

Background Controversy regarding the antidepressant efficacy of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) stems almost from its inception and reflects the same methodological inconsistencies that have compromised efforts to determine whether the perimenopause is accompanied by an increase in mood symptoms or depression. Methodologic differences of note (other than study design) include menopausal state (perimenopause vs. postmenopause), determination of state (earlier studies used age as a proxy measure), baseline symptomatology (asymptomatic vs. depressive symptoms vs. syndromic depression), route of hormone administration (transdermal vs. oral), and symptom or syndrome measure. Zweifel and O'Brien's 1997 meta-analysis included 26 studies of the effects of menopausal HRT on depressed mood and revealed an overall effect size of 0.68. This moderate to large effect size, showing lower ratings of depressed mood in treated patients compared with controls, implicated HRT as a potential treatment of or prophylactic for depression in menopausal women. Since this publication, multiple studies have aimed to discern the relationship between HRT and menopausal mood. Methods The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the findings and quality of the evidence amassed since Zweifel and O'Brien's meta-analysis. Results Of the 24 studies meeting criteria for review, only five RCTs examined depressed subjects, and only two of the study samples were solely perimenopausal. Conclusions One can generalize from the studies reviewed here only with great caution, but there is little evidence to support the use of estradiol to improve mood in nondepressed patients (not surprisingly) and some evidence to support the antidepressant efficacy of estradiol in perimenopausal but not postmenopausal women.
Fault Location Using Sparse Voltage Measurements

This paper presents a general method for pinpointing location of fault on a transmission line by employing only voltage measurements on any bus for any type of fault and taking advantage of bus impedance matrix technique. The approach assumes that the network data is available. Possible scenarios where prefault measurements are not available, and scenarios where only voltage magnitude is available, are considered.
Geminivirus C3 Protein: Replication Enhancement and Protein Interactions

Most dicot-infecting geminiviruses encode a replication enhancer protein (C3, AL3, or REn) that is required for optimal replication of their small, single-stranded DNA genomes. C3 interacts with C1, the essential viral replication protein that initiates rolling circle replication. C3 also homo-oligomerizes and interacts with at least two host-encoded proteins, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the retinoblastoma-related protein (pRBR). It has been proposed that protein interactions contribute to C3 function. Using the C3 protein of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, we examined the impact of mutations to amino acids that are conserved across the C3 protein family on replication enhancement and protein interactions. Surprisingly, many of the mutations did not affect replication enhancement activity of C3 in tobacco protoplasts. Other mutations either enhanced or were detrimental to C3 replication activity. Analysis of mutated proteins in yeast two-hybrid assays indicated that mutations that inactivate C3 replication enhancement activity also reduce or inactivate C3 oligomerization and interaction with C1 and PCNA. In contrast, mutated C3 proteins impaired for pRBR binding are fully functional in replication assays. Hydrophobic residues in the middle of the C3 protein were implicated in C3 interaction with itself, C1, and PCNA, while polar resides at both the N and C termini of the protein are important for C3-pRBR interaction. These experiments established the importance of C3-C3, C3-C1, and C3-PCNA interactions in geminivirus replication. While C3-pRBR interaction is not required for viral replication in cycling cells, it may play a role during infection of differentiated cells in intact plants.
A technique for realizing linear phase IIR filters

A real-time IIR filter structure is presented that possesses exact phase linearity with 10 approximately 1000 times fewer general multiplies than conventional FIR filters of similar performance and better magnitude characteristics than equiripple or maximally flat group delay IIR filters. This structure is based on a technique using local time reversal and single pass sectioned convolution methods to realized a real-time recursive implementation of the noncausal transfer function H(z/sup -1/). The time reversed section technique used to realize exactly linear phase IIR filters is described. The effects of finite section length on the sectional convolution are analyzed. A simulation methodology is developed to address the special requirements of simulating a time reversed section filter. A design example is presented, with computer simulation to illustrate performance, in terms of overall magnitude response and phase linearity, as a function of finite section length. Nine example filter specifications are used to compare the performance and complexity of the time reversed section technique to those of a direct FIR implementation. >
Virtual private network issues using satellite based networks

A number of commercial wideband satellite systems have been proposed to offer Internet access services and some satellite systems have already begun offering such services (see http://www.time.com/time/digital/reports/broadband/wireless.html, 2000). A unique characteristic of these satellite systems, as compared to terrestrial Internet access systems, is their use of performance enhancing proxies (PEPs) to improve the performance of Internet protocols over the satellite link (see Border, J. et al, RFC 3135, 2001). PEPs break the end-to-end semantics of Internet connections and do not readily support the use of end-to-end IP layer security (IPsec) algorithms that are used for virtual private networks (VPN). This paper describes the challenges and potential techniques for deploying a VPN over a commercial satellite-based network. Results from experimentation performed at the MITRE facility are also presented to demonstrate the performance tradeoffs of candidate VPN design alternatives.
Renewal Decision Problem-Random Horizon

A system must operate for T units of time. T is a random variable with known distribution function F. A certain component is essential for the system's operation and when it fails must be replaced with a new component. There are n possible types of replacements. An unlimited supply of each type is assumed. A type i replacement costs cici > 0 and functions independently of T for an exponentially distributed length of time with rate λi. The problem is to assign the replacements from among the various possible types so as to minimize the expected total cost of providing an operative component for the entire life of the system. The principal result of this paper, generalizing previous work where T was assumed to have a degenerate or truncated exponential distribution, is that if F is an increasing failure rate function IFR the optimal replacement policy has a simple intuitive interval structure. An algorithm for finding the optimal policy is indicated. Some results are obtained for the case where component life distributions are not exponential.
Energy band structures of Cd3P2 and Zn3P2

A pseudopotential energy band calculation is carried out for a hypothetical crystal which corresponds to Cd3P2 and Zn3P2. From these results, the conduction band effective masses as well as the interband transition assignments associated with the optical reflectivity peaks are deduced. The temperature dependence of the energy gap for these materials is estimated and dEg/dT is shown to be negative. Mit der Pseudopotential-Methode wird eine Energiebandberechnung fur einen hypothetischen Kristall, der Cd3P2 und Zn3P2 entspricht, durchgefuhrt. Mit diesen Ergebnissen werden die effektiven Massen des Leitungsbandes sowie die Zuordnungen der Interband-ubergange zu den Maxima des optischen Reflexionsvermogens hergeleitet. Die Temperatur-abhangigkeit der Energielucke wird fur diese Stoffe abgeschatzt und gezeigt, das dEg/dT negativ ist.
Effects of vitamin E and aspirin on the incidence of encephalomalacia, fatty acid status and serum thromboxane levels in chicks.

This study was initiated to examine the role of prostanoids (throm- boxane) in the development of nutritional encephalomalacia (NE). Chicks were fed diets deficient in or supplemented with vitamin E in the presence or absence of a known prostaglandin inhibitor, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).When the incidence of NE was ap proximately 50% in the vitamin E-deficient group without ASAsupplement, the chicks were killed, and serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2)and serum and brain fatty acid (FA) composition were determined. The incidence of NE was not altered by ASAtreatment. Plasma arachidonate levelswere increased by ASAtreatment on the vitamin E-deficient diet. Furthermore, the serum TxB2levels in vitamin E-deficient versus vitamin E- adequate chicks, unlike changes noted for rats, were decreased. Aspirin treatment drastically reduced TxB2levels in all groups but did not alter the incidence of NE. Therefore, it is unlikely that the development of NE is a result of thromboxane-mediated thrombosis. J. Nutr. 113: 1885-1890, 1983. INDEXING KEYWORDS prostanoids â€¢ thromboxane . chicken â€¢ vita min E â€¢ nutritional encephalomalacia
Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Study objectives: Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) often present with dyspnea and severe functional limitations, but their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been studied extensively. This study describes HRQOL in a cohort of patients with PAH. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: A tertiary care, university hospital-based, pulmonary hypertension (PH) clinic. Participants: We studied HRQOL in 53 patients with PAH (mean age, 47 years; median duration of disease, 559 days). Eighty-three percent were women, 53% received epoprostenol, and 72% reported moderate-to-severe functional limitations with a New York Heart Association class 3 or 4 at enrollment. Measurements and results: We examined HRQOL by administering the Nottingham Health Profile, Congestive Heart Failure Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We used the Visual Analog Scale and standard gamble (SG) techniques to measure preferences for current health (utilities). Compared with population norms, participants reported moderate-to-severe impairment in multiple domains of HRQOL, including physical mobility, emotional reaction, pain, energy, sleep, and social isolation. Mean SG utilities were 0.71, suggesting that, on average, participants were willing to accept a 29% risk of death in order to be cured of PH. Conclusions: PAH is a devastating condition that affects predominately young women in the prime of their life. Understanding HRQOL and preferences are important in the care and management of these patients. Compared with population norms, patients with PAH have substantial functional and emotional limitations that adversely affect their HRQOL.
Cultural considerations with response to intervention models

VAUGHN, S., LINAN-THOMPSON, S., & HICKMAN, P. (2003). Response to instruction as a means of identifying students with reading/learning disabilities. Exceptional Children, 69, 391-409. VAUGHN, S., MATHES, P., LINAN-THOMPSON, S., CIRINO, P., CARLSON, C., FRANCIS, D., ET AL. (in press). First-grade English language learners at-risk for reading problems: Effectiveness of an English intervention. Elementary School Journal. AUTHORS' NOTE This research was supported in part by a grant (Grant # R305M030052) from the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES) on Teacher Quality in Reading.
DETERMINING OPTIMAL REPLACEMENT AGE OF BEEF COWS IN THE PRESENCE OF STOCHASTIC ELEMENTS

Feeder calf producers face a problem common to Perrin [6, p. 64] showed that the present value all owners of productive assets: how long should the of an asset that is to be exchanged every T years with asset (brood cow) be used before it is replaced? a replacement having an identical stream of returns is Expected productivity of a brood cow can be measured by two parameters: (1) the likelihood that PVT she will wean a calf, and (2) its anticipated weight RPVT =(1) when weaned. Both are independent functions of the cow's age which decline annually after reaching peaks in the early years of her productive life. The calf PVT is the present value of the original asset without producer who expects to maximize profits in the long replacement, i.e., for an asset which is used T years run must choose an optimal rate of replacement for and then sold for salvage. The denominator converts his brood cows. the present value of the single asset into the present Several authors [3, 5, 7] suggest the optimal value of an infinite stream of replacements, (RPVT). time to replace an asset is when net revenue in the B=(l+i) where i is the applicable discount rate. current period falls short of the amortized present Burt [7] demonstrated the changes needed in value of the next replacement. Rogers [7] used equation (1) when productivity of the asset is expected net revenues in each year of the cow's life uncertain due to stochastic elements (in this case loss to determine optimal replacement age with the above of fertility or death of the cow). Letting Pt be the criterion. Two shortcomings of this method are that joint probability that the cow will wean a calf and it compares current income with the amortized not die in period t, expected present value of the cow revenue of a single replacement, rather than a stream sold and not replaced after weaning her Tth calf is of replacements, and it fails to take account of the stochastic nature of the replacement process, i.e., early replacement due to asset failure. EPVT = B R +B 2 P1 R2 +B -3
Retinoic Acid in Myeloid Differentiation and Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)

APL is characterized by chromosomal translocations that generate oncogenic RARα fusion proteins and its clinical response to RA. Two major fusion proteins, PML-RARα and PLZF-RARα, inhibit RA signaling and block myeloid differentiation at physiological concentrations of RA, while pharmacological concentrations of RA activate PML-RARα, but not PLZF-RARα, consistent with the fact that PLZF-RARα-positive APL is resistant to RA treatment.
A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCAPSULAR HEMATOMA FORMATION FOLLOWING ELECTROMAGNETIC SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY

ABSTRACTPurpose: Subcapsular or perinephric hematoma is one of the most frequent and potentially serious complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). We determined the incidence of and risk factors for renal hematomas following electromagnetic shock wave lithotripsy.Materials and Methods: Between February 1999 and August 2003, 570 SWL treatments were performed using a Modulith SLX electromagnetic lithotriptor (Storz, St. Louis, Missouri). A total of 415 of these treatments in 317 patients were performed for stones in the renal pelvis or calices and these treatment episodes represent the study group reported. Treatment episodes were reviewed from a prospective institutional review board approved registry and analyzed for patient age, gender, body mass index, mean arterial pressure at induction, stone location, total number of shock waves and peak shock wave intensity.Results: Following these 415 episodes subcapsular or perinephric hematomas developed in 17 patients for an overall incidence...
In situ TEM observation of electrochemical lithiation of sulfur confined within inner cylindrical pores of carbon nanotubes

Lithium insertion into sulfur confined within 200 nm cylindrical inner pores of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was monitored in-situ in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). This electrochemical reaction was initiated at one end of the S-filled CNTs. The material expansion during lithiation was accommodated by the expansion into the remaining empty pore volume and no fracture of the CNT walls was detected. A sharp interface between the initial and lithiated S was observed. The reaction front was flat, oriented perpendicular to the confined S cylinder and propagated along the cylinder length. Lithiation of S in the proximity of conductive carbon proceeded at the same rate as the one in the center of the pore, suggesting the presence of electron pathways at the Li2S/S interface. Density of states (DOS) calculations further confirmed this hypothesis. In-situ electron diffraction showed a direct phase transformation of S into nanocrystalline Li2S without detectable formation of any intermediates, such as polysulfides and LiS. These important insights may elucidate some of the reaction mechanisms and guide the improvements in the design of C-S nanocomposites for high specific energy Li-S batteries. As a result, the proposed use of conductive CNTs with tunable pore diameter as cylindrical reaction vesselsmore » for in-situ TEM studies of electrochemical reactions proved to be highly advantageous and may help to resolve the on-going problems in battery technology.« less
Observation of carbon black agglomerate dispersion in simple shear flows

Experiments aimed at studying the mechanisms of agglomerate breakup due to the application of a simple shear flow field were performed in a cone and plate transparent device. Spherical compacts of carbon black (diameters 1-2 mm) in a range of different porosites were used in the experiments. Two distinct breakup mechanisms, denoted as “rupture” and “erosion”, were observed. The critical stress for erosion was found to be smaller than that for rupture. Once erosion starts, it continues for very long times. Rupture occurs shortly after reaching a critical stress and concludes abruptly. For this analysis of rupture, the dimensionless group a = (V.Y/K’@~), which is the ratio of applied stress to cohesive strength, was found to be a significant parameter for determining the final particle size distribution. The size analysis of fragments produced by shearing pellets for 1 minute showed a lognormal distribution function.
What Works? An Empirical Perspective on How to Retain Youth in Longitudinal Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Substance Risk Reduction Studies

ABSTRACTBackground: Low retention rates are a problem for longitudinal studies involving adolescents, and this is particularly true for justice-involved youth. Methods: This study evaluates (1) strategies used to retain high-risk adolescents participating in a longitudinal research project; (2) the extent to which retention efforts were different in a justice-involved versus a non–justice-involved (school-based) sample; and (3) differential characteristics of justice-involved versus school-based adolescents that might explain differences in retention difficulty. Results: Compared with the school-based youth, justice-involved youth required significantly more phone calls to be successfully reached. Additionally, baseline substance use (alcohol and marijuana use frequency) was higher in the justice-involved sample and significantly related to retention difficulty. Conclusions: High retention rates for justice-involved and substance-using youth are possible with focused efforts on frequent communication and ...