cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Augmented Reality in Nurse Practitioner Education: Using a Triage Scenario to Pilot Technology Usability and Effectiveness

Abstract Background Before implementation, simulations and new technologies should be piloted for usability and effectiveness. Simulationists and augmented reality (AR) researchers developed an augmented reality (AR) triage scenario for Nurse Practitioner (NP) students. Methods A mixed-method, exploratory, pilot study was carried out with NP students and other volunteers. Participants completed several tools to appraise the usability of the AR modality and the effectiveness of the scenario for learning. Open-ended questions were asked, and qualitative themes were obtained via content analysis. Results Mixed results were received by the twelve participants (8 students, 4 other volunteers). There were some issues with usability, and technical challenges occurred. The debriefing was found to be effective, and favorable comments were made on simulation realism. Further preparation for the content and technology, along with more practice, was inferred. Those with reported previous AR experience found the experience more effective. Conclusions Further improvements are needed with usability of the AR modality. Debriefing can be effective and the simulation realistic. Participants need further preparation in triaging and use of the technology, and more practice is needed. AR simulations have promise for use in NP education.
Chapter 25 – Spinal Cord Regeneration

Spinal cord regeneration has long been the holy grail of neuroscience. Until recently, most scientists regarded efforts to regenerate the spinal cord to be a futile exercise, not only because they believed that spinal axons cannot grow, but also because they did not think axons would be able to reconnect with the correct neurons even if they could grow. Most spinal cord regeneration research focused on why central axons cannot grow. Three theories dominate the field. The first theory hypothesizes that the spinal cord expresses proteins that inhibit axon growth. The second theory posits that a glial scar forms at the injury site and prevents axon growth. The third theory postulates that ability of neurons to grow is genetically shut off after birth. These theories emphasize factors that prevent regeneration and have identified important therapeutic targets, such as Nogo antibodies, Nogo receptor blockers, chondroitinase, and drugs that increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate and activate Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin. Many data support each theory, but also suggest that multiple mechanisms prevent spinal cord regeneration. Several cell transplants have been reported to facilitate spinal cord regeneration, including fetal neural tissues, olfactory ensheathing glia, umbilical cord blood, and bone marrow mononuclear cells. Most of these cells are probably improving the environment of the spinal cord and providing growth factors to encourage regeneration. Most scientists believe that many factors modulate spinal axon growth, and combination therapies will be necessary to achieve functional regeneration of the spinal cord. Some therapies are being tested in clinical trials, including the myelin-associated growth inhibitor blockers such as Nogo antibody and the rho inhibitor Cethrin, bone marrow stromal cells, umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, and lithium. Within this decade, we are likely to identify the first effective regenerative therapies for chronic spinal cord injury.
Inventing Freud

Written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Freud's birth, this paper construes Nina Coltart's statement that “if Freud did not exist it would be necessary to invent him,” with its implicit comparison of Freud to God, to refer to (a) the things that Freud taught that are incontrovertibly true; (b) the unavoidable subjectivity in all judgments of Freud; and (c) the resemblances between psychoanalysis and religion. This last comparison is likewise seen to have both positive and negative aspects. Freud's ideas have inspired many people, yet he unscientifically arrogated sovereign authority over psychoanalysis. Freud's admirers are reminded of his extreme difficulty in admitting he was wrong and changing his mind when he should have known better, while his detractors are encouraged to consider the evidence supporting many of Freud's core tenets and to recognize that his discovery of psychoanalysis is indeed one of the supreme achievements in human history.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: troponin leak in asymptomatic and implications for drug toxicity studies.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but studies suggest heart failure biomarkers correlate poorly with cardiomyopathy severity. DMD clinical trials have used troponin I (cTnI) as a biomarker of toxicity, but it is unclear if asymptomatic DMD patients have elevated cTnI. We longitudinally evaluated cTnI, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) in a DMD cohort. DMD patients were prospectively enrolled and followed for 3 years. Serum was drawn at the time of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Normal biomarker values were derived from healthy subjects. Biomarkers were correlated with CMR markers. All subjects were asymptomatic at the time of enrollment. Several DMD subjects had transiently elevated cTnI. Those with elevated cTnI were more likely to have late gadolinium enhancement on baseline CMR. NT-proBNP correlated with indexed left ventricular end diastolic and maximum left atrial volumes. Otherwise, standard cardiac biomarkers did not correlate with CMR markers of cardiomyopathy. CTnI, BNP, and NT-proBNP do not correlate with CMR assessment of cardiomyopathy progression. A subset of DMD patients have asymptomatic cTnI leak of uncertain clinical significance, though of critical importance if cTnI is used to assess for cardiac toxicity in future drug trials.
Accelerating Computational Algorithms

v 1 Introdution 1 1.1 History of Parallel Architectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.2 Processor Architectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.3 Floating Point Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 Parallel Vector Addition 9 2.1 "hello world" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.2 Vadd in C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.3 Vadd in C++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2.4 Vadd in Python . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 2.5 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 3 Image Rotation 22 3.1 Setting up the environment in C++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 3.2 Setting up the rotation in OpenCL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3.3 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 4 Singular Value Decomposition 24 4.1 Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4.2 Householder bidiagonalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 4.3 Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Defining Genetic Blueprints – Kidney and Craniofacial Development

Genomics tools are revolutionizing the way we study developmental processes. Microarrays and RNA-Seq allow the sensitive, quantitative and global analysis of gene expression patterns. Instead of examining a few select genes, it is now routine to generate global gene expression profiles of developing systems. The early experiments examined entire developing organs, thereby identifying, for example, all transcription factors, growth factors, and receptors expressed. Subsequent experiments dramatically improved the genomics analysis by providing higher spatio-temporal resolution. Organ development is remarkably complex, with discrete substructures, a developmental time course of events, and the simultaneous differentiation of discrete cell types. It is not possible, therefore, to homogenize the developing organ, apply genomics tools, and derive deep insight. Laser capture microdissection allows the purification of single developmental compartments. Transgenic mice with gene specific promoters driving the expression of markers, such as green fluorescent protein, can be used to purify specific cell types from developing organs. Even higher resolution analysis can be carried out with tools that allow the gene expression profiling of single cells. The use of these genomics approaches produces enormous volumes of data that need to be captured, annotated in a systematic way, stored, integrated and analyzed, using the resources of biomedical informatics.
Culture-Related “Common” Psychotherapies

This chapter focuses on the culture-related "common" psychotherapies which refer to the ordinary, mainstream therapies that are recognized by contemporary professionals in European-American societies. This group of psychotherapies is characterized by a psychological orientation and operates as a professional activity with a scientific nature- allowing for objective evaluation and criticism of its theories and its effectiveness as a therapy. Client-Centered Psychotherapywas developed in the 1940s by Carl R. Rogers. The cornerstones of this method were the basic knowableness and trustworthiness of an individual's own inner awareness, and his or her ability to accurately symbolize these inner data and use them to reorganize and make choices. Behavior therapy is oriented most heavily toward the purely psychological aspects of behavioral change and is less colored by culture elements. From a technical standpoint, an emphasis on action and presumably concretely identifiable change are the targeted outcomes of behavior therapy, which may be accepted more favorably in some cultures than in others. Cognitive therapy has been developed with emphasis to work on therapeutic issues mainly at the level of cognition. It is based on the assumption that if the dysfunctional cognition is corrected, the ill-functioning behavior and affection will also be improved. Interpersonal psychotherapy refers to therapy that is focused primarily on interpersonal issues rather than on the individual. It includes couple or marital therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. The interpersonal issues of communication, interaction patterns, and role playing, as well as attitudes, opinions, views, and value systems relating to interpersonal interaction, receive primary attention. Therefore, the cultural aspects of human behavior are dealt with more explicitly in these therapeutic processes accordingly.
Biosynthesis of the vasoactive lipid monobutyrin : central role of diacylglycerol

Monobutyrin (1-butyrylglycerol) is a simple lipid secreted by adipocytes that stimulates both angiogenesis and vasodilation of microvascular beds. While monobutyrin production is increased during lipolysis, little is known about the biosynthetic pathway of this short chain monoacylglycerol. We show here that diacylglycerol, an intermediate in the lipolytic pathway, can stimulate monobutyrin synthesis from an adipocyte particulate fraction and does so by acting as a substrate. The biosynthetic route involves the acylation of diacylglycerol with butyryl-CoA to form a transient triacylglycerol intermediate. This intermediate is then hydrolyzed by a lipase(s) with specificity for long chain fatty acyl groups to form monobutyrin. Based on this information, a novel pathway for the synthesis of monobutyrin is proposed. Preliminary characterization of these enzymatic activities with respect to their cell-type specificity indicates that the acyltransferase activity is found in several cell types, albeit at lower levels than in adipocytes. The lipase activity appears to be two distinct steps, with both steps being adipocyte differentiation-dependent. These results indicate the likely biochemical basis for the restriction of monobutyrin synthesis to fat cells and also suggests a molecular basis for the close linkage between lipolysis, monobutyrin synthesis, and vasodilation.
Modeling image center and feature trajectory under changing focal length

Camera calibration is an important task in a computer vision system. This step establishes the all important relationship between the 2D image coordinates and their 3D counterparts and vice versa. Image center is subject to many different definitions. Moreover, its location is subject to a drift in most variable parameter lenses. This drift has an adverse effect on algorithms that rely on the a fixed center of image. A geometric model is presented that describes the trajectory of feature points in response to changing focal length under a shifting image center.
Effect of albumin on net copper accumulation by fibroblasts and hepatocytes

The liver accumulates copper rapidly and preferentially from plasma. The effects of albumin on net copper accumulation by fibroblasts and hepatocytes were compared to determine whether preferential uptake involves hepatocyte-specific sequestering of copper. Although albumin inhibits the initial rates (30 s) of copper transport by fibroblasts and hepatocytes similarly, the effects of albumin on net copper accumulation (4 h) by these cell types were strikingly different. Fibroblasts accumulate only approximately 15% as much copper when equimolar albumin is present as from albumin-free media; hepatocytes accumulate about the same amount of copper with or without extracellular albumin present. Copper efflux data show that the special capacity of hepatocytes to accumulate copper in the presence of extracellular albumin is due to greater copper retention by hepatocytes than fibroblasts. The ability of hepatocytes to accumulate copper does not seem to be due to albumin-receptor-mediated uptake, since albumin was not co-transported with copper. The data are consistent with an equilibrium model of copper accumulation in which intracellular and extracellular copper are in equilibrium with intracellular and extracellular ligands. A high-affinity, copper-binding fraction that was previously identified in cytosols from hepatocytes was low or absent in fibroblasts. This may contain a liver-specific protein(s) that helps hepatocytes sequester and retain copper from albumin or serum-containing media. Irrespective of the exact species involved, the data are consistent with rapid, preferential copper uptake by the liver being due in part to a liver-specific, intracellular copper-binding protein(s) with a high binding affinity for copper.
Paleocene mammalian biostratigraphy of the Carbon Basin, southeastern Wyoming, and age constraints on local phases of tectonism

Mammalian fossils from two principal collecting areas in the lower Hanna Formation of the Carbon Basin comprise three faunas, the Grayson Ridge, Halfway Hill, and Sand Creek faunas. The Grayson Ridge and Halfway Hill faunas are diverse, consisting cumulatively of 29 mammalian species, at least two of which are new. The faunas are approximately equivalent in age and are either latest Torrejonian or earliest Tiffanian, or possibly sample both NALMAs. In any event, the faunas are very close in age to the Torrejonian-Tiffanian boundary. Strata bearing the Grayson Ridge and Halfway Hill faunas were truncated by erosion, resulting in a previously unrecognized intraformational unconformity (IFU). The Sand Creek fauna consists of a meager sampling of mammalian fossils from directly above the unconformity and provides a Ti3–Ti5 age (middle or late Tiffanian) for strata overlying the unconformity. Fortuitous stratigraphic positioning of the faunas allowed age constraints to be placed upon two local phases of deformation. Simpson Ridge anticline, which separates the Hanna and Carbon basins, resulted from the first phase. Based upon lithologic correlation of the lower Ferris Formation at Simpson Ridge to its type section, development of Simpson Ridge began in the Lancian or Puercan time. Based upon fossil ages in the lower Hanna Formation, which onlaps the anticline, most, or all, of Simpson Ridge had formed by the early Tiffanian. A younger episode of deformation occurred no earlier than Ti4 (middle Tiffanian) and overprinted the folding of Simpson Ridge. Additionally, fossils from above and below the IFU suggest a hiatus of 1 to 3.5 m.y. in the lower Hanna Formation. Age constraints and orientations of Simpson Ridge anticline and an overprinting syncline suggest a local change in the direction of maximum shortening from early Paleocene to late Paleocene or Eocene.
Neutron diffraction study of ScD 1.8

We have made neutron powder diffraction measurements on ${\mathrm{ScD}}_{1.8}$ at a number of different temperatures up to 1000 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. From these data, we extract the scandium and deuterium mean-square displacements at each temperature. Contrary to recent magnetic resonance results, we find no signature of what has been called sublattice melting.
Implementatie van het preventieconsult

Het succes van de implementatie van de NHG-Standaard Het PreventieConsult module Cardiometabool (het preventieconsult) is sterk afhankelijk van de deelnamebereidheid onder de doelgroep: patienten tussen 45 en 70 jaar oud, zonder bekende cardiometabole aandoening.
NEW DATABASE PRODUCTS: BUSINESS AND LAW (ISSUE 11)

This is the eleventh article on business and law (BSL) databases in a continuing series of articles summarizing and commenting on new database products. Two companion articles, one covering science, technology, and, medicine (STM) appeared in Online & CD‐ROM Review vol. 22, no. 2 and the other covering social science, humanities, news, and general (SSH) appears here in Online & CD‐ROM Review vol. 22, no. 3. The articles are based on the newly appearing database products in the Gale Directory of Databases. The Gale Directory of Databases (GDD) was created in January 1993 by merging Computer‐Readable Databases: A Directory and Data Sourcebook (CRD)together with the Directory of Online Databases (DOD) and the Directory of Portable Databases (DPD).
Infiltrating lymphocytes and human papillomavirus-16--associated oropharyngeal cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Human papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16)–associated carcinoma of the oropharynx has a favorable prognosis. Such patients have elevated CD8+ T-lymphocyte levels that correlate with response to chemotherapy and survival. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subpopulations were assessed in pretreatment biopsies from a prospective patient cohort to determine if TIL subsets differed by HPV status, clinical factors, or patient outcome or correlated with peripheral blood T-cell levels. Study Design: Retrospective immunological correlative study of patients entered in a prospective Phase 2 clinical trial. Methods: Measured were CD8, CD4, CD68, and Treg (FoxP3) lymphocytes by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray created from patients (n = 46) with advanced oropharyngeal cancer. Correlations with peripheral blood levels, HPV status, expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), clinical tumor, and patient characteristics and outcome were determined. Median follow-up was 6.6 years. Results: HPV-16–positive patients had improved survival (P = .016). Degree of T-cell infiltration did not differ by HPV status but was significantly related to disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS). Even after adjusting for HPV status, we found that CD8, FoxP3, and total T cells were significantly associated with DSS (P = .0236, P = .0040, and P = .0197, respectively) and OS (P = .0137, P = .0158, and P = .0115, respectively). Less T-cell infiltration (P = .0130) and CD4 cells in particular (P = .0792) were associated with higher EGFR expression. Conclusions: Improved outcomes are associated with increased TILs independent of HPV status and suggest the local immune response may be more related to factors such as tumor size, EGFR expression, or performance status than HPV status. Further study of larger numbers of patients and infiltrates combined with functional analysis of individual subsets may be necessary to detect significant differences in local immunity in HPV-16–related cancers.Laryngoscope, 122:121–127, 2012
Synthetic studies in the field of natural products

ABSTRACT The bicyclic deacetoxy-7-methoxycephalosporin derivative 70 and 6-methoxy-penicillin derivative 63 were synthesized from an acyclic tripeptide equivalent 60 with control of stereochemistry.
Design, implementation, and comparison of guided wave phased arrays using embedded piezoelectric wafer active sensors for structural health monitoring

Phased array can interrogate large structural areas from a single location using ultrasonic guided waves generated by tuned piezoelectric wafer active sensors that are permanently attached (embedded) to the structure. Various array parameters determine the array beamforming and steering characteristics. This paper aims to bring up several one or two dimension array designs and research on their beamforming properties and damage detection performance through both analytical simulation and laboratory experiments. The paper will firstly present the generic guided wave phased array beamforming formulation and explain how the beamforming characteristics are affected by the array parameters such as number of elements, element spacing, and steering angle. Preliminary work of implementing a one dimensional linear phase array is then followed to exemplify how our embedded ultrasonic structural radar (EUSR) scans and detects damage on the plate structures. However, such a linear array has the limitations that it has limited scanning range due to the beamforming directionality deficiency and it can only scan the 0 o ~180 o range either in front of or behind it, i.e., it can not tell if the damage is in the positive or negative direction in the polar coordinates. Hence, we proposed several improved array designs including: (1) a miniaturized array using smaller PWAS; (2) an array using rectangular PWAS; (3) a cross-shaped two dimensional array; (4) a L-shaped two dimensional array. Extensive simulation work has been done to explore the beamforming and beamsteering properties of those arrays. Laboratory experiments have also been conducted to testify the arrays damage detection abilities. The results show that the miniaturized array can look into larger area and be used for damage detection of compact specimen with complicated geometry. Signal rectangular PWAS has directional rather than omnidirectional beamforming which resulting in improved beamforming of the phased array using such PWAS. Two dimensional arrays show directional beamforming within full range of 0 o ~ 360 o degrees though having limited working steering angles. We finally end up with discussion and conclusion of the arrays and some expectations for future work.
Fe oxychloride desorption from an Fe polycrystalline surface

We report the formation of an Fe oxychloride species at the surface of an O- and Cl-covered Fe polycrystalline surface below 230 K under UHV conditions. Our data show that FeOCl (amu 107) desorbs at 230 K. For FeCl2 (amu 126) desorption, two desorption peaks are observed at 230 and 620 K in the presence of chemisorbed oxygen. In the absence of oxygen, only one FeCl2 desorption peak at 620 K is observed. Auger electron spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption studies reveal that the reaction leading to Fe oxychloride formation involves dissociatively adsorbed O and Cl at the Fe surface. These results indicate that chemisorbed or low coordinate oxygen plays an important and previously unsuspected role in chloride-induced corrosion at ferrous surfaces.
Kinetic reaction analysis of an anhydride-cured thermoplastic epoxy: PGE/NMA/BDMA

A comprehensive reaction analysis of a linear epoxy resin cured with an anhydride was performed to evaluate the reaction rate expressions. Monomers included phenyl glycidyl ether and methyl-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride or nadic methyl anhydride; the catalyst was N,N-dimethylbenzylamine; the initiator was n-propanol. Emphasis was initially placed on the molar dynamics of monomeric and oligomeric molecules. Molecular fractionations were achieved using reversed phase, high performance liquid chromatography. Chemical reaction rate constants were examined as a function of degree of polymerization. For the chain-initiated polymerization, the initiation rate constant was observed to be approximately 3 times greater than the propagation constant associated with oligomeric molecules. Both Poisson and Gold distributions were used to fit data. Examinations of polymeric fractions obtained by gel permeation chromatography in conjunction with a multiangle laser light scattering photometer revealed a minor si...
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Iowa tests of basic skills

Confirmatory factor analysis was used to explore the internal structural validity of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) using three samples: (a) the third‐grade standardization sample, (b) a fourth‐grade sample reported by Klein (1981), and (c) a new sample of third graders. Results showed that a four‐factor structure provided a better representation of the relations among the 11 subtests than Klein's one‐factor model, a two‐factor model, or the three‐factor model described in the ITBS manual. The four‐factor model was refined using the new sample and was cross‐validated using the other two samples. A hierarchical model with a single, second‐order general achievement factor was also found to fit the data well. Decomposition of subtest variance into common, specific, and error components indicated that little specific variance is associated with several ITBS subtests, raising the question of whether interpretation of individual subtests is warranted.
Normality of colour vision in a compound heterozygous female carrying protan and deutan defects

Background: Inherited red-green colour vision defects are quite common, affecting one in 12 males, but are less common in women, affecting about one in 250. Because red-green defects are X-linked, nearly 15 per cent of females are heterozygous carriers of red-green colour deficiency. In addition, about one in 150 females are ‘double carriers’, where both of their X chromosomes have L/M gene arrays encoding a red-green defect. If a woman carries the same type of colour vision defect on each X-chromosome, she will be red-green colour deficient, whereas if she carries opposing defects (protan versus deutan) on each X chromosome, she will have normal colour vision, owing to the process of X-inactivation. These women are referred to as compound heterozygotes, though very few have been reported. Questions remain about whether the colour vision capacity of these women is comparable to that of ‘normal’ trichromats. Methods: We examined a compound heterozygote carrier of both protanopia and deuteranomaly. We also examined male members of her family representing both forms of red-green defect carried by the female proband. Complete colour vision testing was done, including Rayleigh matches, pseudoisochromatic plates, unique hue measurements and 100-Hue tests. Flicker-photometric ERG estimates of L : M cone ratio were obtained, as were Medmont C100 settings. Results: Genetic analyses provided direct confirmation of compound heterozygosity. The compound heterozygote showed Schmidt's sign, consistent with an extreme skew in her L : M cone ratio and usually associated with protan carrier status. Conclusion: Apart from Schmidt's sign, we found the colour vision of the compound heterozygote to be indistinguishable from that of a normal trichromat.
Adaptive rate control for Wyner-Ziv video coding

In Wyner-Ziv video coding architectures, the available bit budget to each GOP is shared between key frames and Wyner-Ziv frames. In this work, we first propose a model to express the relationship between quantization step size of key and WZ frames based on their motion activity. Then we apply this model to propose an adaptive algorithm adjusting the quantization step size of key and WZ frames to achieve and maintain a target bit rate. We evaluate the rate distortion performance of the proposed method and compare to a common method in the literature.
Are CRF receptor antagonists potential antidepressants

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is the major regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and plays a key role in coordinating the endocrine, as well as autonomic and behavioral responses of an organism to stress. Direct CNS administration of CRF to laboratory animals produces an aggregate of effects that mimic the mammalian stress response. Impeding CRF function with CNS administration of a peptidergic CRF antagonist can block these manifestations of the stress response whether produced by exogenous CRF or occurring naturally in response to a stressor. A role for hypersecretion of CRF in the pathophysiology of depression is suggested by the finding that CNS administration of CRF mirrors many of the signs and symptoms utilized as diagnostic criteria for major depression. In addition, a large body of clinical evidence points to excess hypothalamic secretion of CRF and an accompanying HPA axis hyperactivity in patients with major depression. The recent development of selective, small molecule CRF(1) receptor antagonists, which block the effects of CRF both in vitro and in vivo, suggest that these compounds may be effective in the treatment of affective and anxiety disorders. Early evidence indicates that these agents possess anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in animal behavioral models. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of efferent activity on entrainment of the Aplysia eye

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of efferent optic nerve activity on the speed of entrainment of the ocular oscillators in Aplysia were investigated by severing one optic nerve in 21 animals and evaluating reentrainment rates to a light cycle phase advanced 10hr in relation to a prior light schedule. 2. 2. Reentrainment to this phase advanced light cycle was essentially complete in both the intact and denervated eyes within 3 days; and there was no indication that the time course of entrainment was significantly different in the two eyes. 3. 3. The phase angle of the rhythm of neurally isolated eyes, however, consistently phase led the intact eyes by approx 1 hr. Thus, the results indicate that while efferent activity does not significantly effect the speed of entrainment, it appears to influence steady-state phase angle.
The partial molar volume and thermal expansivity of TiO 2 in alkali silicate melts: Systematic variation with Ti coordination

Abstract The densities of seven K2O-TiO2-SiO2 (KTS) liquids and seven Na2O-TiO2-SiO2 (NTS) liquids have been measured between 1236 and 1771 K using the double-bob Archimedean method. In addition, the low-temperature density of these liquids at their limiting fictive temperature (T′f; near the glass transition) were also measured. Compositions range from 15 to 39 mol % K2O and Na2O, 10 to 35 mol % TiO2, and 33 to 61 mol % SiO2. Plots of molar volume vs. temperature are linear for all samples in the stable liquid region, but there is an increase in the slope (∂V/∂T) with decreasing temperature in the supercooled liquid region, analogous to that observed for the heat capacity of similar alkali titanosilicate liquids. Derived values of V TiO 2 (at 1373 K) decrease systematically from 32.5 to 26.5 cm3/mol between 39 and 15 mol% K2O and from 29.6 to 25.7 cm3/mol between 39 and 25 mol% Na2O (and are nearly constant at ∼25 ± 0.5 cm3/mol between 25 and 15 mol% Na2O). Values of V TiO 2 do not appear to be a function of the TiO2 concentration, but instead depend strongly on the nature of the alkali present (larger by ∼3 cm3/mol in KTS vs. NTS liquids) and the degree of polymerization (increase with NBO/T). By comparing our values of V TiO 2 at 1373 K to published Ti coordination numbers on samples of similar composition, we calculate that the average Ti coordination number varies from ∼4.0 to 5.1 in the KTS liquids and from ∼4.6 to 5.5 in the NTS liquids. The value of ∂ V TiO 2 ∂T in the stable liquid region correlates strongly with V TiO 2 at 1373 K (and therefore with Ti coordination). It is near zero when the average coordination is close to four, but reaches a maximum of ∼6 to 8 × 10−3 cm3/mol-K when the average Ti coordination number is close to five. In all corresponding glasses, the value of ∂ V TiO 2 ∂T is zero. Together, these features require that ∂ V TiO 2 ∂T in the liquid is associated with the presence of [5]Ti and involves structural changes not available to solids.
Postsurgical idiopathic brachial neuritis

Idiopathic brachial neuritis (IBN) is a well-recognized clinical syndrome characterized by brachial pain followed by a patchy amyotrophy of muscles in the shoulder girdle and arm innervated by individual branches of the brachial plexus. Postsurgical IBN has not been widely recognized since Parsonage and Turner's original description in which 10% of patients had antecedent surgery. We present 6 patients who 1-13 days postoperatively developed signs and symptoms which met the clinical and electrophysiologic criteria for IBN. Postsurgical neuralgic amyotrophy is an under-recognized clinical entity which in most cases is ascribed to brachial plexus stretch injuries occurring during anesthesia. Early recognition of this condition may prevent unnecessary surgical exploration and allow for a more accurate prediction of functional recovery.
Influence of encapsulation of emulsified lipids with chitosan on their in vivo digestibility

The influence of interfacial composition on the in vivo digestibility of emulsified and encapsulated lipids was investigated. An electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition technique was used to prepare soybean oil-in-water emulsions that contained lipid droplets coated by lecithin or by lecithin-chitosan. Thirty six 4-week-old male mice were divided into four groups and fed treatment diets for 4 weeks; atherogenic diets supplemented with (A) non-emulsified fat, without chitosan (control), (B) non-emulsified fat, with chitosan, (C) emulsified fat, without chitosan, or (D) emulsified fat encapsulated by chitosan. There were no differences in body weights, food intake, major organ weights, or fecal fat contents between all treatment groups, where total fat absorption was >90%. The results suggest that encapsulation of lipids by chitosan does not inhibit their in vivo digestibility, even though previous studies indicate that chitosan does inhibit their in vitro digestibility. Consequently, it should be possible to use chitosan to microencapsulate lipids and lipid-soluble components without compromising their bioavailability, although further human studies are needed to confirm this.
Color mechanisms used in selecting stimuli for attention and making discriminations.

Previous work (Nagy & Thomas, 2003) showed that signals in different Cardinal color mechanisms could be combined to facilitate search for a color target. Further investigation (Nagy et al., 2003) suggested that signals inone Cardinal color mechanism were used to select a subset of stimuli to be attended, while signals in second Cardinal mechanism were used to discriminate the stimuli within the selected subset. In the studies described below, we asked if observers could use color mechanisms tuned to directions other than the Cardinal directions to select and discriminate stimuli. Observers searched for a single target stimulus that differed in chromaticity from nine distractor stimuli. A two-alternative forced-choice procedure was used to estimate thresholds. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that color mechanisms tuned to many different directions in color space mediate discrimination, but suggest that only signals in Cardinal mechanisms can be used to select stimuli for attention. Results imply that the selection of stimuli for attention on the basis of color may be mediated at the level of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN).
Evaluation of a Transient Barrier Trapping System to Manage the Canyon Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)

ABSTRACT A circular perimeter barrier of CO,-baited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suction traps (without the light) was placed at a hilltop location in southern California known for high "canyon fly" activity, to determine whether a transiently operated barrier trapping system using attractive traps would reduce the number of these nuisance flies to successfully reach a human host within the protected area Preliminary studies demonstrated that the number of flies captured by a human host was reduced when a single CO2 trap was placed < or =20 m from the host, an indication that these traps are attractive enough to reduce fly pressure on nearby human hosts. The use of eight transiently operated CO2 traps placed equidistant along either a 15- or 5-m radius barrier perimeter significantly reduced the number of flies to reach a human host within the protected area Attack rates at the protected human host were reduced by a maximum of 51% in the presence of a protective barrier. However, with attack rates on a human host in the hundreds of flies per minute at the study site, this level of protection was not deemed sufficient for recommendation of this technique to homeowners or others who want temporary suppression of these nuisance flies in a limited area, such as a backyard. Implications of using a transient barrier trapping system to manage canyon flies are discussed.
Computer-Administered Interviews With Children About Maltreatment Methodological, Developmental, and Ethical Issues

It is widely recognized that maltreatment research should include a more child-oriented perspective. Although there are guidelines for directly interviewing children about their maltreatment experiences, oftentimes the children's ability to respond to sensitive questions may be hindered by embarrassment, shame, and/or guilt. With the technological advances of talking computers, computer-administered questionnaires may be an optimal way to interview children about maltreatment, because questions can be presented in two modalities—aurally, through headphones, and visually, on the screen. This method ensures privacy and presents questions in a gender-specific format that can be tailored to the developmental level and specific experiences of each child. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of using computer-administered questionnaires to ask children about their maltreatment history. Attention is also directed toward the methodological, developmental, and ethical aspects of interviewing child...
An adjunctive technique to rhinoplasty of the aging nose

This report presents a simple, valuable adjunct to rhinoplasty in the specific case of senile elastosis. This type of skin will not contract as in younger individuals, and tip ptosis is quite often a problem in the senile nose. Described is a semilunar skin excision of the nasal dorsum in a large nose undergoing primary or revisionary rhinoplasty. Correction of tip ptosis occurring many years after rhinoplasty or its prevention in large, elderly noses undergoing rhinoplasty is presented.
Rubella virus capsid protein modulation of viral genomic and subgenomic RNA synthesis.

Abstract The ratio of the subgenomic (SG) to genome RNA synthesized by rubella virus (RUB) replicons expressing the green fluorescent protein reporter gene (RUBrep/GFP) is substantially higher than the ratio of these species synthesized by RUB (4.3 for RUBrep/GFP vs. 1.3–1.4 for RUB). It was hypothesized that this modulation of the viral RNA synthesis was by one of the virus structural protein genes and it was found that introduction of the capsid (C) protein gene into the replicons as an in-frame fusion with GFP resulted in an increase of genomic RNA production (reducing the SG/genome RNA ratio), confirming the hypothesis and showing that the C gene was the moiety responsible for the modulation effect. The N-terminal one-third of the C gene was required for the effect of be exhibited. A similar phenomenon was not observed with the replicons of Sindbis virus, a related Alphavirus. Interestingly, modulation was not observed when RUBrep/GFP was co-transfected with either other RUBrep or plasmid constructs expressing the C gene, demonstrating that modulation could occur only when the C gene was provided in cis . Mutations that prevented translation of the C protein failed to modulate RNA synthesis, indicating that the C protein was the moiety responsible for modulation; consistent with this conclusion, modulation of RNA synthesis was maintained when synonymous codon mutations were introduced at the 5′ end of the C gene that changed the C gene sequence without altering the amino acid sequence of the C protein. These results indicate that C protein translated in proximity of viral replication complexes, possibly from newly synthesized SG RNA, participate in regulating the replication of viral RNA.
Fast low-power decoders for RAMs

Decoder design involves choosing the optimal circuit style and figuring out their sizing, including adding buffers if necessary. The problem of sizing a simple chain of logic gates has an elegant analytical solution, though there have been no corresponding analytical results until now which include the resistive effects of the interconnect. Using simple RC models, we analyze the problem of optimally sizing the decoder chain with RC interconnect and find the optimum fan-out to be about 4, just as in the case of a simple buffer chain. As in the simple buffer chain, supporting a fan-out of 4 often requires noninteger number of stages in the chain. Nevertheless, this result is used to arrive at a tight lower bound on the delay of a decoder. Two simple heuristics for sizing of real decoder with integer stages are examined. We evaluate a simple technique to reduce power, namely, reducing the sizes of the inputs of the word drivers, while sizing each of the subchains for maximum speed, and find that it provides for an efficient mechanism to trade off speed and power. We then use the RC models to compare different circuit techniques in use today and find that decoders with two input gates for all stages after the predecoder and pulse mode circuit techniques with skewed N to P ratios have the best performance.
Angular distributions for ionization of He and D2 by fast protons

Abstract Angular distributions for single ionization of He and D 2 by protons have been measured at impact energies of 3 and 6 MeV, and proton scattering angles between 0.1 and 1.0 mrad. A clear shoulder has been observed at an angle of 0.55 mrad. This feature in the angular distributions is attributed to binary encounters between the protons and the quasi-free target electrons. The measured data are in good agreement both in shape and magnitude with the first Born approximation, and also with a simple calculation of Rutherford scattering from free electrons. The ratio of double to single ionization cross sections for He is substantially lower than that found in photoionization and low-momentum-transfer electron ionization for the same energy transfer, where this energy is taken in our case to be the energy imparted in a binary encounter of a proton with a free electron at the appropriate scattering angle. The ratio ( R ) does not depend strongly on either the proton energy or the scattering angle between 0.25 and 0.5 mrad. The average value of R over this angular range is 2.24 ∓ 0.05% and 1.85 ∓ 0.06% for proton energies of 3 and 6 MeV, respectively. In case of p-D 2 collisions, the ratio of the cross sections for the production of D + and D + 2 is 6.63 ∓ 0.26% at 3 MeV and 6.37 ∓ 0.16% at 6 MeV. ft]∗|Permanent address: Department of Physics, University of Sourth Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688 USA.
Substance P-Induced Histamine Release in Human Cutaneous Mast Cells

Abstract Substance P is an undecapeptide found in multiple sites throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems including small unmyelinated (type C) cutaneous nerve fibers. Previous studies demonstrated that antidromic stimulation results in substance P (SP) release from nerve endings, SP stimulates histamine release (HR) from rat mast cells in vitro, and intradermal SP in humans produces wheals identical to those induced by histamine. These studies suggest a possible role for SP as a link between neurologic events and cutaneous mast cell-mediated reactions. We therefore investigated SP-induced HR in an in vitro preparation of human skin mast cells. Human foreskin sections were incubated with varying concentrations of SP. Histamine was assayed using automated fluorimetry and release was calculated as a percentage of total tissue histamine. Substance P caused dose-dependent HR over a range from 10 −5 M (1.3%) to 5 × 10 −4 M (25.1%). Histamine release was optimal at 3 mm calcium and was blocked by pretreatment with calcium chelation. Naloxone failed to block HR. These studies suggest that HR from skin mast cells by SP may play a role in neural modulation of poorly understood inflammatory skin conditions.
Roentgenographic and clinical staging of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease of asthmatics that follows a protracted course. When ABPA is treated with high dose corticosteroids, it presents a difficult problem in clinical management. Five stages, based on clinical, roentgenographic, and immunologic criteria, have been identified as follows: (I) acute, (II) remission, (III) exacerbation, (IV) corticosteroid-dependent asthma, and (V) pulmonary fibrosis. We studied 24 ABPA patients actively followed for up to 11 years at our institution. We conclude that while there are no unique roentgenographic findings to define a particular stage, clinicoroentgenographic staging does aid in therapeutic management. Two major roentgenographic contributions are (1) to establish the diagnosis by demonstrating proximal bronchiectasis, and (2) to provide a baseline for an individual patient against which to monitor progressive changes and remissions.
Energy transfer from Ce3+ to Nd3+ in pentaphosphate crystals

Abstract An excitation band at 300 nm corresponding to Ce 3+ absorption is observed in pentaphosphate crystals containing Ce 3+ and Nd 3+ when the Nd 3+ luminescence is monitored. The decay of excitation of Ce 3+ in crystals of pure cerium pentaphosphate, CeP 5 O 14 , follows single exponential kinetics with a 22 ± 2 nsec lifetime. In Ce 0.5 Nd 0.5 P 5 O 14 crystals, the Ce 3+ lifetime is shortened to 3.8 ± 0.4 nsec as a result of efficient nonradiative energy transfer to the Nd 3+ ions.
Vancomycin Susceptibility Trends and Prevalence of Heterogeneous Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in Clinical Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Isolates

Due to the rise in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and widespread use of vancomycin, MRSA isolates with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin are emerging (i.e., MIC creep). However, the prevalence of heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) is unknown due to the difficulty in detecting this phenotype. Recently, Etest glycopeptide resistance detection (GRD) strips have been developed to detect hVISA. This study assessed vancomycin susceptibility in MRSA isolates and determined the prevalence of hVISA by Etest GRD and population analysis profile-area under the curve ratio (PAP-AUC). The genetic backgrounds of 167 MRSA isolates collected from 2000 to 2008 were identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Vancomycin MICs were determined using Etest and two broth microdilution assays, MicroScan and Sensititre. Etest GRD was performed on all isolates, and those exhibiting a hVISA phenotype were further tested by PAP-AUC. The vancomycin MIC modes remained consistent at 1 μg/ml, as assessed by Sensititre and MicroScan. Etest reported a significant increase (mode MIC = 1.5 μg/ml) in the MIC between 2000 and 2008 (P < 0.01); however, this increase did not reflect a ≥ 2-fold change. In addition, the slight MIC increase did not increase linearly from 2000 to 2008, suggesting biological fluctuation, and is inconsistent with the concept of MIC creep. Etest GRD identified six hVISA isolates, two of which were confirmed to be hVISA by PAP-AUC. In conclusion, reduced vancomycin susceptibility was not detected in our hospital over a 9-year period using three different MIC methodologies, and the hVISA incidence was 1.2%, as determined by Etest GRD and PAP-AUC.