cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid Stereoselective Hydrolysis of (+)‐Cocaine in Baboon Plasma Prevents Its Uptake in the Brain: Implications for Behavioral Studies

: The naturally occurring enantiomer of cocaine, (–)-cocaine, has been previously labeled with 11C on the N-methyl group and used in conjunction with positron emission tomography to show that cocaine is rapidly taken up in the striata of human and baboon brain. In the present study, the behaviorally inactive (+)-cocaine was similarly labeled, with a view to its use for measuring the nonspecific binding of cocaine. No brain uptake was seen, although transport of cocaine into the brain is not expected to be stereoselective. The explanation for the lack of uptake was determined to be very rapid metabolism of (+)-cocaine in the blood. By 30s after administration of labeled (+)-cocaine, it was undetectable in plasma. In vitro studies demonstrated that (+)-cocaine is 50% debenzoylated to (+)-ecgonine methyl ester within 5 s of exposure to baboon plasma but not to washed erythrocytes. The hydrolysis of (–)-cocaine is at least 1,000 times slower. Serum butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) appears to be responsible for this hydrolysis, as evidenced by its inhibition by physostigmine and catalysis by commercially available pseudocholinesterase from horse and human blood.
Laser Photocoagulation for Retinal Detachments and Retinal Tears in Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

Objective: Retinal detachment complicates the course of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in nearly 30% of human immunodeficiency virus—infected patients. The study goal was to evaluate laser photocoagulation in the treatment of CMV retinitis—related retinal detachments and retinal tears. Design: Nonrandomized, observational cohort study. Participants: Sixty-three patients with CMV retinitis—related retinal detachments and nine patients with peripheral retinal tears in eyes with CMV retinitis were studied. Intervention: Of the 63 eyes with retinal detachment, 23 patients were treated with demarcating laser photocoagulation, 24 patients underwent vitrectomy with silicone oil, and 16 patients were observed without treatment. All nine patients with peripheral retinal tears received laser photocoagulation. Main Outcome Measures: Time to progression of retinal detachment, final visual acuity, and need for vitrectomy surgery were studied. Results: Median time to progression of the retinal detachment in the laser-treated patients was 175 days versus 39 days in observed patients ( P = 0.012). Both initial ( P P = 0.005) visual acuities were better in the patients with laser-treated detachment than in the observed or vitrectomy patients. The retinal detachment groups were comparable in follow-up, zone and location of detachment, and size of holes, but the vitrectomy and observed groups had more cases with extensive CMV retinitis. Vitrectomy surgery was required in 9 of 16 (56%) in the observed group and 7 of 23 (30%) in the laser group. Two of nine patients (22%) who failed to respond to laser treatment for retinal breaks required vitrectomy surgery. Conclusions: Laser photocoagulation of selected retinal detachments and retinal tears delayed or avoided vitrectomy with silicone oil. It may be an important treatment modality for patients with nonmacular detachments and for those who are receiving local anti-CMV therapy with intravitreal injections or pellets, in whom silicone oil may affect the efficacy of the local treatment.
Determination of Monthly Mean Humidity in the Atmospheric Surface Layer over Oceans from Satellite Data

A simple statistical technique is described to determine monthly mean marine surface-layer humidity, which is essential in the specification of surface latent heat flux, from total water vapor in the atmospheric column measured by space-borne sensors. Good correlation between the two quantities was found in examining the humidity soundings from radiosonde reports of mid-ocean island stations and weather ships. The relation agrees with that obtained from satellite (Seasat) data and ship reports averaged over 2 deg areas and a 92-day period in the North Atlantic and in the tropical Pacific. The results demonstrate that, by using a local regression in the tropical Pacific, total water vapor can be used to determine monthly mean surface layer humidity to an accuracy of 0.4 g/kg. With a global regression, determination to an accuracy of 0.8 g/kg is possible. These accuracies correspond to approximately 10 to 20 W/sq m in the determination of latent heat flux with the bulk parameterization method, provided that other required parameters are known.
SU(5)c color model signatures at hadron colliders

Abstract The possibility that the color group is actually SU(5)c at a higher mass scale has been proposed. The color sector in this theory is assumed to undergo spontaneous symmetry breaking in a similar manner to the electroweak sector of the standard model. In this theory the breaking of SU(5)c may occur at a remarkably low scale. LEP, CDF, and TRISTAN data constrains the mass of the Z′ in this model to MZ′≳100 GeV. In this paper we examine the constraints imposed on the SU(5)c color model by recent measurements of the dijet mass distribution at CDF. Remarkably we find that this data does not exclude any region of parameter space in the model. Except for the new Yukawa couplings the only new parameter in the model is MZ′. Thus the only constraint on the SU(5)c color model remains MZ′≳100 GeV.
Least squares based estimation of synchronous generator states and parameters with phasor measurement units

This paper investigates the estimation of synchronous generator states and parameters related to angular stability using PMU data. The method proposed in this paper uses finite difference technique and least squares method to evaluate differential equations governing the synchronous machine using a time window of PMU measurements. Sensitivity studies have been carried out to evaluate the impact of system strength, transmission line length, machine controls (exciter and governor) and local load on estimation accuracy. The simulation studies demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in dynamic states and parameters estimation.
A polarized partition relation for weakly compact cardinals using elementary substructures

We show that if κ is a weakly compact cardinal, then (\vector{κ⁺}{κ}) → ((\vector{α}{κ})m (\vector{κⁿ}{κ})μ))1,1 for any ordinals α < κ⁺ and μ < κ, and any finite ordinals m and n. This polarized partition relation represents the statement that for any partition κ × κ⁺ = ⋃i < m Ki ∪ ⋃j < μ Lj of κ × κ⁺ into m + μ pieces either there are A ∈ [κ]κ, B ∈ [κ⁺]α, and i < m with A × B ⊆ Ki or there are C ∈ [κ]κ, D ∈ [κ⁺]κⁿ, and j < μ with C × D ⊆ Lj. Related results for measurable and almost measurable κ are also investigated. Our proofs of these relations involve the use of elementary substructures of set models of large fragments of ZFC.
Simple and micro high-performance liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of p-aminohippuric acid and iothalamate in biological fluids

A simple, rapid and micro high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for separate or simultaneous determination of p-aminohippuric acid and iothalamate in plasma and urine using p-aminobenzoic acid as an internal standard. The method involved deproteinizing samples with two volumes of acetonitrile followed by injection of 5μl of deproteinized supernatant onto a C18 reversed-phase column. The mobile phase contained 3.5% acetonitrile in 0.04% phosphoric acid and flowed at a rate of 1.5 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored by an ultraviolet detector at 254 nm. Retention times for p-aminohippuric acid, iothalamate and p-aminobenzoic acid were approximately 4.5, 6 and 8 min, respectively. This method requires as little as 5μl of sample and can be used to measure accurately down to 1 μ/ml p-aminohippuric acid and 0.5 μ/ml iothalamate in plasma samples. The coefficients of variation of the assay with or without the use of internal standard were generally low (below 7%). No interferences from endogenous substances or any drugs tested were found.
Elastic constant anomalies at the Néel transition in Fe18Cr3Ni12Mn

Abstract The elastic constants of an 18Cr3Ni12Mn austenitic stainless steel (where the steel composition is given in approximate weight per cent) were measured ultrasonically between room temperature and liquid helium temperature. All the elastic constants change anomalously and reversibly near 191 K, which magnetic susceptibility measurements show to be the Neel (paramagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic) transition temperature.
The effect of locally delivered recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 with hydroxyapatite/tri-calcium phosphate on the biomechanical properties of bone in diabetes- related osteoporosis

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is particularly effective in improving osteogenesis in patients with diminished bone healing capabilities, such as individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who have impaired bone healing capabilities and increased risk of developing osteoporosis. This study measured the effects of rhBMP-2 treatment on osteogenesis by observing the dose-dependent effect of localized delivery of rhBMP-2 on biomechanical parameters of bone using a hydroxyapatite/tri-calcium phosphate (HA/TCP) carrier in a T1DM-related osteoporosis animal model. Two different doses of rhBMP-2 (LD low dose, HD high dose) with a HA/TCP carrier were injected into the femoral intramedullary canal of rats with T1DM-related osteoporosis. Two more diabetic rat groups were injected with saline alone and with HA/TCP carrier alone. Radiographs and micro-computed tomography were utilized for qualitative assessment of bone mineral density (BMD). Biomechanical testing occurred at 4- and 8-week time points; parameters tested included torque to failure, torsional rigidity, shear stress, and shear modulus. At the 4-week time point, the LD and HD groups both exhibited significantly higher BMD than controls; at the 8-week time point, the HD group exhibited significantly higher BMD than controls. Biomechanical testing revealed dose-dependent, higher trends in all parameters tested at the 4- and 8-week time points, with minimal significant differences. Groups treated with rhBMP-2 demonstrated improved bone mineral density at both 4 and 8 weeks compared to control saline groups, in addition to strong trends towards improvement of intrinsic and extrinsic biomechanical properties when compared to control groups. Data revealed trends toward dose-dependent increases in peak torque, torsional rigidity, shear stress, and shear modulus 4 weeks after rhBMP-2 treatment. Not applicable.
Psychologic functioning in 8- to 16-year-old cancer survivors and their parents.

This study presents data on psychologic adjustment (self-concept, depression, locus of control, family environment, and parental distress) for a sample of 8- to 16-year-old long-term cancer survivors ( n =138) and their mothers, and for a sample consisting of a matched group of healthy children ( n =92) and their mothers. The null hypothesis of no group differences between survivors and control subjects was tested with respect to these variables. It was hypothesized that survivors with severe late effects would have poorer self-concepts, a more external locus of control, and more depressive symptoms than children with no or mild-to-moderate late effects. The children completed the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale, the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, and the Children's Depression Inventory. Mothers completed the Family Environment Scale and the Derogatis Stress Profile. The majority of former patients are functioning within normative limits on these standardized measures, although their scores were lower than those in the comparison group. One-way analyses of variance on the dependent measures indicate that the children with severe medical late effects have a poorer total self-concept, more depressive symptoms, and a more external locus of control than those with no or mild-to-moderate late effects. Therapies for childhood cancer are now well standardized and many long-term deleterious effects are known, so children at risk can be identified readily and steps taken early in treatment to prevent or mitigate future psychologic problems.
The solubility of magnetite and hydrolysis of ferrous ion in aqueous solutions at elevated temperatures

Abstract The solubility of magnetite (Fe3O4) in dilute aqueous solutions saturated with H2 at 1 atm at 25 °C has been measured at temperatures between 50 and 300 °C. The solutions have ranged from KOH of molality 400 × 10−6 mol kg−1 to HCl of molality 100 × 10−6 mol kg−1. The measurements were made by the continuous flow of solution over a bed of specially prepared pure magnetite. It was found that, under these conditions of temperature and hydrogen activity, Fe3O4 does not transform to HFe5O8 or γ-Fe2O3. The results have been fitted with a scheme of soluble species consisting of Fe2+, FeOH+, Fe(OH)2, and Fe(OH)3−, and the equilibrium constants for the reactions ( 1 3 Fe 3 O 4 + (2−b)H + + 1 3 H 2 (g) = Fe(OH) (2−b)+ b + 4 3 H 2 O have been calculated. The temperature coefficients of the constants for Fe2+ and FeOH+ were found to be negative, and those of Fe(OH)2 and Fe(OH)3−, positive. The estimated values of ΔHo and ΔSo for these reactions are also given. The value of log10(K/mol kg−1) at 25 °C for the reaction Fe 2+ + H 2 O = FeOH + + H + , has been determined by extrapolation of the solubilities and has been found to be (−9.3 ± 0.5). The solubilities have been combined with other thermodynamic data to calculate ΔGo, ΔHo, and ΔSo for the formation of Fe2+ and FeOH+ by the reaction: Fe + bH 2 O + (2−b) H + = Fe(OH) (2−b)+ b + H 2 (g) . The extrapolated value of ΔGo for the formation of Fe2+ at 25 °C by this reaction gives an Eo of (0.475 ± 0.010) V.
Anthropometry of South Indian industrial workmen

This paper presents the results of an anthropometric survey conducted on South Indian male workers in the electronic industry. The data were collected as part of a project to modify work stations that utilized equipment from other countries. A set of 27 body dimensions were taken from a sample of 128 workmen (aged 18-35 years). The anthropometric measurements are compared with those of Indian men from Central, Western, and Northern parts of India and with those of the American, German, and Japanese men. The results indicate that in general the South Indian man is smaller than Central, Western, and Northern Indian men, as well as smaller than men in America, Germany, Japan, and Africa. This difference needs to be allowed for when considering buying and subsequently using imported equipment for the electronics industry in South India.
Use of the guild concept in environmental impact assessment

The purpose of this paper was to clarify and expand several ideas concerning use of the guild concept in environmental impact assessment Background material on the concept and examples of its use are given. It is argued that for purposes of environmental assessment a resource-based guild approach is preferable to a taxonomic-based approach. Validity of the guild concept, problems in classifying species into guilds, implications of guild membership, and usefulness of guild analyses are discussed. I conclude that only with a thorough knowledge of both its limitations and benefits will it be possible to fully use the guild concept for understanding organizational processes in communities and ecosystems and for assessing environmental impacts.
Theoretical explorations of the Bruner-Potter 1964 interference effect

Abstract Bruner and Potter (1964 , Science, 144, 424–425) showed that identification of objects which were gradually brought into focus became progressively worse as initial levels were made more blurred. They attributed this interference effect to subjects' development of erroneous hypotheses about the object which interfered with correct perception. In a series of five experiments, we tested their claim that erroneous perceptual hypotheses are responsible for the interference effect against an alternative explanation of the effect. This alternative explanation was generated from a connectionist model of item perception whose success in simulating the effect was produced by transient activation in perceptual structures. Experiment 1 replicated the Bruner-Potter effect in picture fragment completion by showing that performance was worse with an ascending method of limits than with a fixed level of presentation. Experiments 2 and 3 tested the erroneous hypothesis explanation of Bruner and Potter by requiring subjects to generate hypotheses at each level in the ascending condition. Subjects given corrective feedback in Experiment 3 did not show a reduction in interference from the ascending condition compared to subjects given no such feedback in Experiment 2. Experiments 4 and 5 tested the model's transient activation explanation by having subjects solve math problems during the intervals between presentations in a spaced ascending condition. In both experiments, this ascending spaced condition was immune to interference, showing performance equal to the fixed level condition.
Etiology of voiding dysfunction in men less than 50 years of age

Abstract Objectives Chronic lower urinary tract symptoms in young men are often attributed to misdiagnosed chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. The purpose of this study was to analyze etiology of chronic voiding dysfunction in men less than 50 years of age. Methods The videourodynamic studies of 137 men 50 years of age or less with chronic voiding dysfunction, performed between January 1990 and October 1995, were retrospectively analyzed. Results The distribution of urodynamic abnormalities included 74 (54%) patients with primary vesical neck obstruction, 33 (24%) with obstruction localized to the membranous urethra (pseudodyssynergia), 23 (17%) with impaired bladder contractility, and the remaining 7 (5%) with an acontractile bladder. Detrusor instability was present in 67 men (49%). Conclusions Voiding dysfunction among young men is common and is often misdiagnosed. Videourodynamic evaluation is very useful in establishing the correct diagnosis and ultimately in delivery of appropriate therapy.
Some evidence of Keynes' finance motive

Abstract This paper provides evidence from India that firms' demand functions for cash for financial purposes may be quite strong.
Right hepatic lobe donation adversely affects donor life insurability up to one year after donation

There are no data regarding hepatic lobe donation effects on donor life insurability. Two investigators called 10 agents of 10 different large life insurance companies. One investigator gave a fictitious profile: Caucasian man, 33 years old, nonsmoker, without medical problems (control profile [CP]). The other investigator used the same profile with a history of uncomplicated right lobe donation 12 months earlier (donor profile [DP]). Investigators asked for premium quotes on a $100,000 term life policy. No medical testing or record review was allowed. Investigators were blinded to the results of each other's calls. Agents were unaware of the study. We documented underwriting decisions, premiums quoted, stipulations, number of phone calls, and phone time. All 10 companies would pursue underwriting CP at their lowest, "preferred" rate. Five would do the same for DP. Two might underwrite DP at a more expensive "standard" rate, but a "preferred" rate would be less likely. One would underwrite DP at the "standard" rate; one would not underwrite DP. One agent did not return follow-up calls (DP insurability < CP, P = 0.04). Mean quoted premiums were lower for CP vs. DP ($189/yr. vs. $202/yr., P = 0.56). Median number of phone calls required was 1 for CP and 3 for DP (P = 0.01). Mean telephone minutes were 4.2 for CP and 8.0 for DP (P = 0.004). In conclusion, right hepatic lobe donation decreases life insurability 1 year after uncomplicated donation. Donors can expect some increased difficulty obtaining life insurance, but they should find a company willing to pursue underwriting. The premium paid may be slightly higher.
Integrated Design and Production Problem Solving in Industry-Sponsored Academic Education

In this paper the authors’ experience of teaching an industry sponsored course in Senior Design. The course has been jointly taught by two instructors, one from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the School of Engineering, and the other from the Operations and Information Management Department of the School of Business; and it is part of the Management and Engineering for Manufacturing program at UConn [1]. The student projects have been sponsored by local companies in industries ranging from aerospace to food production. The projects have one main goal: to find the best possible engineering design solution while achieving high production process efficiency. Such an approach relies on the talent of the designer, i.e., the student’s or engineer’s ability to develop a “perfect product” on one side, and the efficiency of the production solutions on the other. In practice, it is difficult to achieve such combined design process formalization successfully. For this reason, the problem solving relies on students’ skills, their knowledge and experience, and the instruction in the course. In particular, the Arena and DELMIA/Quest simulation packages were used for both design and production problem solving. In searching for an ideal solution cost effectiveness and economic constraints were also considered.The experience gained from over ten years teaching of this course is described and analyzed in the paper. Some results of the course are presented and recommendations for further teaching and practice of industry-sponsored courses integrating engineering and production problem solving are discussed.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Comparative study of vision tracking methods for tracking of construction site resources

Vision tracking has significant potential for tracking resources on large scale, congested construction sites, where a small number of cameras strategically placed around the site could replace hundreds of tracking tags. The correlation of vision tracking 2D positions from multiple views can provide the 3D position. However, there are many 2D vision trackers available in the literature, and little information is available on which one is most effective for construction applications. In this paper, a comparative study of various vision tracker categories is carried out, to identify which one is most effective in tracking construction resources. Testing parameters for evaluating categories of trackers are identified, and benefits and limitations of each category are presented. The most promising trackers are tested using a database of construction operations videos. The results indicate the effectiveness of each tracker in relation to each parameter of the test, and the most suitable tracker needed to research effective 3D vision trackers of construction resources.
An evolutionary approach to cyber security

Reducing the risks introduced with large new systems requires rethinking the way we build systems. Today's computer systems are built according to traditional engineering models, which emphasize simplicity and efficiency but which introduce an unacceptable risk of misuse in large-scale systems. We need a new paradigm that results in "messy" systems that evolve through small incremental changes and localized failures.
Recent developments in the investigation of inherited metabolic disorders using cultured human cells.

Thepurpose of this paper is to share experience with our systems and review recent "in vitro" methods using intact cells (fibroblasts, amniocytes) in which entire metabolic pathways can be probed for inherited metabolic defects reflected by elevations of intermediates determined by tandem mass spectrometry, HPLC, or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Currently, one can explore the integrity of mitochondrial fat oxidation, peroxisomal degradation of methyl-branched fatty acids (e.g., pristanate), and the mitochondrial degradation of the branched chain amino acids (leucine, valine, and isoleucine). For many of the diseases, the specific defect can be recognized from the acylcarnitine profile resulting from incubation of the intact cells with stable-isotope-labeled precursors to the particular pathway. This approach has also been successful in identifying new inherited metabolic disorders, biochemical correlation with clinical phenotypes of individual defects, and sequential oxidation of fatty acids by peroxisomal-mitochondrial interaction.
Predicting sentencing outcomes and time served for juveniles transferred to criminal court in a rural northwestern state

In the past few decades, the focus of the juvenile justice system shifted from the best interests of the child to the best interests of society. One component of the shift was an increase in the waiver of juveniles to adult criminal court. Prior research suggested juveniles were typically sentenced to short prison sentences or probation in the adult criminal court. On the other hand, more recent evidence suggested sentencing outcomes had varied by offense type. In the present study, the author examined what occurred in a primarily rural northwestern state. Additionally, multivariate analyses were used to examine which factors aided in predicting sentencing outcomes and time served for this population. D 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Tyrosine-17 Residue of Nef in SIVsmmPBj14 Is Required for Acute Pathogenesis and Contributes to Replication in Macrophages

The variant simian immunodeficiency virus termed SIVsmmPBj14 induces a rapidly fatal disease in pig-tailed macaques. The acute pathogenic effects of this virus appear to be associated with at least two in vitro characteristics: the ability to induce lymphocyte proliferation; and the ability to replicate in unstimulated PBMC. Two of the amino acids in Nef of PBj14 (the No. 17 residue, tyrosine, and the No. 18 residue, glutamic acid) appear to be linked to the virus' ability to induce lymphocyte activation. To further study the effects of these amino acids on PBj14-induced pathogenesis, we generated two mutant viruses from our molecular clone, PBj6.6, containing either changes in both the No. 17 and No. 18 residues (termed PBj6.6YE-RQ), or a single change in the No. 17 residue (termed PBj6.6Y-R). In vitro analyses of these viruses showed that while their replicative abilities in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were altered, they still maintained the ability to replicate in unstimulated PBMC. Replication of these viruses in macrophage populations was impaired relative to the wild-type virus. Both mutant viruses were unable to induce proliferation of macaque PBMC in vitro. Virus derived from PBj6.6Y-R was unable to induce acute disease in macaques, but did maintain the ability to induce lymphopenia and intestinal lymphoid hyperplasia. These results show that the tyrosine-17 residue of Nef is linked to lymphocyte proliferation and disease development, but also suggest that the pathogenic characteristics of SIVsmmPBj14 are dependent upon multiple genetic determinants.
Econometrics as observation: the Lucas critique and the nature of econometric inference

Kevin Hoover (1955–) received a D.Phil. in economics from Oxford University after an undergraduate major in philosophy, and his work reflects this dual competence. He has contributed both to contemporary economics (especially macroeconomics) and to economic methodology, serving for a decade as the editor of The Journal of Economic Methodology . After more than two decades at the University of California, Davis, Hoover is now a professor of economics and a professor of philosophy at Duke University. The Lucas Critique Perhaps the principal challenge to the use of econometric models in economic analysis is the policy non-invariance argument, popularly known as the ‘Lucas critique’. Robert Lucas (1976) attacks the use of econometric models as bases for the evaluation of policy on the grounds that the estimated equations of such models are unlikely to remain invariant to the very changes in policy that the economist seeks to evaluate. The argument is originally cast as an implication of rational expectations. Among the constraints people face are the policy rules of the government. If people are rational, then, when these rules change, and if the change is correctly perceived, they take proper account of the change in adjusting their behavior. The rational expectations hypothesis implies that changes in policy will in fact be correctly perceived up to a serially uncorrelated error.
Elucidating the relationship between acetazolamide plasma protein binding and renal clearance using an albumin infusion.

The effect of plasma protein binding changes on drug clearance is an important concept in clinical pharmacology. In a hypoalbuminemic patient receiving acetazolamide, albumin infusion (50 g) increased acetazolamide plasma protein binding towards normal as the serum albumin concentration rose (r = 0.91, P < .001). The ratio of acetazolamide renal plasma clearance to creatinine clearance decreased as serum albumin levels increased (r = 0.78, P < .05) and the unbound drug fraction fell (r = 0.88, P < .01), but clearance ratios based on unbound plasma acetazolamide levels did not change. Albumin infusion resulted in a nonparallel decline over time between plasma and unbound plasma acetazolamide concentrations. These data demonstrate that, over the range of observed serum albumin concentrations, acetazolamide renal plasma clearance is sensitive to changes in plasma protein binding. Furthermore, our findings emphasize the importance of measuring unbound drug levels when protein binding changes occur during the course of drug disposition studies. Finally, this methodology allows for the fascile assessment of the effects of plasma protein binding changes on renal drug clearance.
Delayed awakening in dystonia patients undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery

We aimed to identify the incidence, duration and causes of delayed emergence from anesthesia in patients with dystonia undergoing surgery for deep brain stimulation (DBS) placement. A retrospective review of patients with dystonia who underwent DBS placement was conducted and the following characteristics were noted: age, gender, comorbid conditions, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, anesthetic agents used, amount of initial dose, amount of infusion dose, duration of the infusion and the time needed for emergence. Twenty-four patients underwent 33 DBS procedures for dystonia. Propofol was administered to 21 patients, in 29 of the 33 procedures. Dexmedetomidine was administered to three patients, in four procedures. The average propofol loading dose was 0.7mg/kg, and the infusion rate was 80microg/kg per minute (min), for an average duration of 89min. The average time of emergence was 36min. Only 31% of patients emerged from propofol anesthesia during the expected time frame, 69% of patients had some degree of delayed emergence, and 24% had a significant delay in emergence. Delayed emergence was more common in younger patients due to the higher loading doses these patients received. This study shows a 69% incidence of delayed emergence in dystonia patients undergoing DBS surgery. It also suggests an association between delayed emergence and younger patients who receive higher loading doses. A possible cause of delayed emergence is excessive anesthetic potentiation of the low output pallidal state in dystonia which may depress the pallido-thalamo-cortical circuitry. Delayed emergence could also result from depression of the previously affected ventral pallidal inputs to the septo-hippocampal system that mediates general anesthesia and awareness. Complex neurotransmitter disturbances may also be involved.
MUSIC and ICA algorithms applied to full polarimetric ISAR imaging

This paper provides an overview of the results from application of the combined MUSIC-ICA algorithm to a fully polarimetric radar dataset. The results show that the application of the algorithm over two of the three dimensions of the data cube formed from the polarization, range and angle data spaces produces unique results which can yield information on target signatures, which would otherwise be indiscernible. The practical application of this combined algorithm has the potential to yield added robustness to target identification and characterization.
The metastasis gene osteopontin: a candidate target for cancer therapy.

Malignant tumors are characterized by dysregulated growth control, overcoming of replicative senescence, and metastasis formation. Current therapeutic regimens mostly exert their effects through inhibition of cell cycle progression, leaving two major components of transformation untouched. The cytokine osteopontin is essential for the dissemination of various cancers. Past research has implied several modes in which osteopontin and its main receptors on tumor cells can be suppressed. Osteopontin expression is inhibitable on the levels of gene transcription and the RNA message, and the osteopontin protein can be blocked with antibodies or synthetic peptides. The osteopontin receptor CD44 has been targeted by diverse therapeutic strategies, including cytotoxic and immunotherapeutic approaches. The receptor integrin αVβ3 contributes not only to tumor cell dissemination, but also to angiogenesis and osteolysis in bone metastases. Small molecule inhibitors of this receptor are under study as drug candidates. Because receptors and cytokine ligands that mediate metastasis formation are sparsely expressed in the adult healthy organism and are more readily reached by pharmaceuticals than intracellular drug targets they may represent a particularly suitable focus for therapeutic intervention.
Factors Contributing to Speed in the Start of a Race and Characteristics of Trained Sprinters: A Summary of Experimental Investigations

(1934). Factors Contributing to Speed in the Start of a Race and Characteristics of Trained Sprinters: A Summary of Experimental Investigations. Research Quarterly. American Physical Education Association: Vol. 5, No. sup1, pp. 72-78.
Predictability of catastrophic events: material rupture, earthquakes, turbulence, financial crashes and human birth

We propose that catastrophic events are “outliers” with statistically different properties than the rest of the population and result from mechanisms involving amplifying critical cascades. We describe a unifying approach for modeling and predicting these catastrophic events or “ruptures,” that is, sudden transitions from a quiescent state to a crisis. Such ruptures involve interactions between structures at many different scales. Applications and the potential for prediction are discussed in relation to the rupture of composite materials, great earthquakes, turbulence, and abrupt changes of weather regimes, financial crashes, and human parturition (birth). Future improvements will involve combining ideas and tools from statistical physics and artificial/computational intelligence, to identify and classify possible universal structures that occur at different scales, and to develop application-specific methodologies to use these structures for prediction of the “crises” known to arise in each application of interest. We live on a planet and in a society with intermittent dynamics rather than a state of equilibrium, and so there is a growing and urgent need to sensitize students and citizens to the importance and impacts of ruptures in their multiple forms.
The X-ray Source Sco X-3

TAMMANN1 has advanced the suggestion that a supernova observed by Albumazar in A.D. 827 may be connected with the X-ray source Sco X-3 in the H II region No. 114.
Based on the position of the third portion of the duodenum at sonography, it is not possible to confidently diagnose malrotation.

Sir, There are major ethical, methodological and conclusions flaws in the study by Hennessey [1] on the use of ultrasound in diagnosis of malrotation based on the position of the duodenum. There is no justification for using US as the primary imaging for evaluation of malrotation without strong evidence that it has at least the same accuracy as an upper gastrointestinal contrast study (UGI). The position of the duodenum behind the superior mesenteric vessels does not exclude malrotation [2]. The duodenum can be behind the superior mesenteric artery in patients with malrotation (Fig. 1) and it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the duodenum and a jejunal loop that is crossing behind the superior mesenteric artery (Fig. 2). The methods in the Hennessey [1] study are seriously flawed. The number of children with malrotation is very small, there are no clear criteria for the initial selection of US or UGI for evaluation of malrotation, and the method of follow-up is not specified. There is no gold standard. The authors’ claim that they had no false-negative studies cannot be made. Only 9 of the 114 children with negative sonograms had UGI studies. The claim that “No child with normal ultrasound needed surgery” cannot be made as proof of no malrotation. Patients with malrotation can have only mild or no symptoms and midgut volvulus can occur at any time during life. The technique of giving oral water to facilitate visualization of the duodenum was not helpful in the management in any of the seven patients with malrotation. Three of these seven patients were called equivocal by US and diagnosed by UGI. Based on Table 1 in Hennessey et al. [1], an abnormal duodenum was observed in only one patient; this patient also had volvulus with a whirlpool sign, which makes the diagnosis of midgut volvulus from malrotation obvious [3]. The use of US can lead to delay in diagnosis in some patients. The longest time period from US to UGI in patients with equivocal findings was 77 days. In addition, 9 of 21 children with equivocal US were assumed to be normal without UGI. It is impossible to know how many of them had a false-negative sonogram. The authors argue in favor of US as compared to UGI study because of the ionizing radiation associated with the UGI study. There is a consensus that if appropriately used, the benefit of any imaging using ionizing radiation exceeds by far the potential risk of radiation, which is grossly estimated to be equivalent to 1 year of background radiation exposure [4]. I suggest that the practice performed by the authors and their false message of the safe and accurate use of US in evaluation of malrotation carries much higher risk to the patients than any radiation.
Electron-phonon interaction in a spherical quantum dot with finite potential barriers: The Fröhlich Hamiltonian

A Fr\"ohlich Hamiltonian describing the electron-phonon interaction in a spherical quantum dot embedded in another polar material is derived, taking into account interactions with both bulk longitudinal optical and surface optical phonons. The Hamiltonian is appropriate to the general case of a finite confining potential originating from a bandgap mismatch between the materials of the dot and the surrounding matrix. This Hamiltonian is then used to treat the electron-phonon interaction in the adiabatic approximation for CdSe/ZnSe and CuCl/NaCl quantum dot systems. It is found that, as the radius of the dot decreases, the magnitude of the electron-phonon interaction energy first increases, passes through a maximum, and then gradually decreases to the value appropriate to the situation where the electron is weakly localized inside the dot. As the height of the interface barrier decreases, the absolute value of the electron-phonon interaction energy also decreases. These results indicate that the dependence of the electron-phonon interaction on the radius of the dot is much smaller than predicted from the simplified model with infinite value of the bandgap mismatch.
Effects of liquid encapsulation on dopant segregation during czochralski growth

Abstract Effects of liquid B 2 O 3 encapsulation on crystal growth and segregation were investigated using Ga-doped germanium. Encapsulation is found to stabilize the melt, thus reducing convective melt flows from the turbulent to the laminar regime; it results in the disappearance of microsegregation inhomogeneities and permits the elimination of radial segregation at a seed rotation rate of 20 rpm. Rotation induced forced convection in the encapsulant leads to peripheral segregation effects which do not reflect rotational periodicity and are not growth rate controlled.
Futures research—stage three

Abstract Futures research now seems poised on a plateau to move into the third stage of its development—that of institutional design. The first two stages, the development of concepts and the raising of futures consciousness, have not resulted in any tangible improvements to the policymaking process as a means of improving the human condition. If stage three is to achieve this it must develop tools and concepts of increasingly practical value.
House Prices and the Decision to Save for Down Payments

Abstract This paper examines the responsiveness of renters′ decisions to save for home purchase to house prices. I use membership in a tax-deferred savings program for prospective first-time home buyers in Canada to identify renter households who are saving for a down payment. I find that high house prices substantially reduce the probability of households saving for a down payment: a $4000 increase in house prices decreases the probability of saving for a down payment by one percentage point. In addition, households saving for home purchase have $300 less in accumulated assets for every $1000 higher increment to house prices.
Disturbance Accommodating Sliding Mode Control

The sliding mode control and disturbance accommodating technique are combined to detect, identify, cancel modeling uncertainties and external noises. Both of these two control methods are based on the signal approach so they can be combined easily. Moreover, each one of methods compensates the other's drawback. The simulation results of two link robot model show that the disturbance accommodating sliding mode control provides a good tracking performance for a wide range of variations.
Use of wireless sensor network on CS/CE curriculum

Wireless sensor network (WSN) has been a hot research topic and widely deployed in many settings that require data acquisition, processing and communication on sensor devices equipped with a simple low powered microcontroller. This computing paradigm on long lasting operations of battery powered devices is resulted from state-of-the-art research efforts of computer science (CS) and computer engineering (CE) disciplines. This technology covers a variety of core CS and CE concepts ranging from computer architecture, operating systems, computer network, embedded systems, to software engineering. Its low cost and highly portable natures serve as a high cost effective learning lab platform for CS/CE undergraduate curricula.
The Impact of Dosing Interval in a Novel Tandem Oral Dosing Strategy: Enhancing the Exposure of Low Solubility Drug Candidates in a Preclinical Setting

In drug discovery, time and resource constraints necessitate increasingly early decision making to accelerate or stop preclinical programs. Early discovery drug candidates may be potent inhibitors of new targets, but all too often exhibit poor pharmaceutical or pharmacokinetic properties that limit the in vivo exposure. Low solubility of a drug candidate often leads to poor oral bioavailability and poor dose linearity. This issue is more significant for efficacy and target safety studies where high drug exposures are desired. When solubility issues are confronted, enabling formulations are often required to improve the exposure. However, this approach often requires a substantial and lengthy investment to develop the formulation. Previously, we introduced a gastrointestinal (GI) transit time-based novel oral tandem dosing strategy that enhanced in vivo exposures in rats. In this study, a refined time interval versus dose theory was tested. The resulting in vivo exposures based on altering frequency and doses were compared, and significant impacts were found.
Programmable unknown quantum-state discriminators with multiple copies of program and data: A Jordan-basis approach

The discrimination of any pair of unknown quantum states is performed by devices processing three parts of inputs: copies of the pair of unknown states we want to discriminate are, respectively, stored in two program systems and copies of data, which is guaranteed to be one of the unknown states, in a third system. We study the efficiency of such programmable devices with the inputs prepared with $n$ and $m$ copies of unknown qubits used as programs and data, respectively. By finding a symmetry in the average inputs, we apply the Jordan-basis method to derive their optimal unambiguous discrimination and minimum-error discrimination schemes. The dependence of the optimal solutions on the a priori probabilities of the mean input states is also demonstrated.
STRUCTURE AND LOCALIZATION OF THE HUMAN GENE ENCODING SR-BI/CLA-1: EVIDENCE FOR TRANSCRIPTIONAL CONTROL BY STEROIDOGENIC FACTOR 1

The scavenger receptor, class B, type 1 receptor (SR-BI) mediates the selective transport of lipids from high density lipoprotein to cells. We describe the structure and subchromosomal location of human SR-BI and provide evidence that it is regulated by the transcription factor, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). SR-BI resides on chromosome 12q24.2-qter, spans approximately 75 kilobase pairs, and contains 13 exons. RNA blot analysis of human tissues reveals an expression pattern similar to that described previously for rodents with the highest levels of mRNA in the adrenal gland, ovary, and liver. Unlike rodents, human SR-BI was expressed at high levels in the placenta. The transcription start site for SR-BI was mapped, and DNA sequence analysis revealed a binding site for SF-1 in the proximal 5'-flanking sequence. SF-1, an orphan member of the nuclear hormone receptor gene family, plays a key role in the regulation of steroidogenesis and is expressed at high levels in steroidogenic tissues. SF-1 binds to the SR-BI promoter in a sequence-specific manner, and efficient transcription from this promoter in adrenocortical Y1 cells is dependent on an intact SF-1 site. These data extend our understanding of SF-1 function within steroidogenic tissues and suggest that SR-BI, which serves to supply selected tissues with lipoprotein-derived lipids, is part of the repertoire of SF-1-responsive genes involved in steroidogenesis.
Models of Secondary Vorticity Evolution During Normal Vortex-Cylinder Interaction

TECHNICALNOTESare shortmanuscriptsdescribingnew developmentsor important results of a preliminary nature.TheseNotes cannot exceed sixmanuscript pages and three  gures; a page of text may be substituted for a  gure and vice versa. After informal review by the editors, they may be published within a few months of the date of receipt. Style requirements are the same as for regular contributions (see inside back cover).