cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Zurich 3-step concept for the management of behavioral sleep disorders in children: a before-and-after study.

Objectives:Several strategies have been found to be effective for the treatment of childhood behavioral sleep disorders. One which has yet to be evaluated is the Zurich 3-step concept, which combin...
Magnetocombustion: A Thermodynamic Analysis

The impact of a uniform magnetic e eld on equilibrium combustion characteristics has been explored. An expression for the Gibbs free energy, which includes a magnetic e eld contribution, has been developed. Using the method of Lagrange multipliers, changes in the Gibbs free energy for a mixture of paramagnetic and diamagnetic ideal gases are minimized. A model reaction of methane in air is used to quantitatively examine the changes in equilibrium compositions in the presenceof a uniform magnetic e eld. Plots are presented showing theequilibrium mole fractions as a function of temperature and magnetic induction for all product species. In general, the results indicate that within certain temperature ranges a magnetic e eld decreases the mole fraction of major product species and increases the mole fraction of minor product species. The maximum equilibrium mole fraction of NO was observed to decrease an order of magnitude for an increase in magnetic induction of 0.00 ‐0.04 T. The impact of a magnetic e eld was seen to affect equilibrium combustion characteristics of NO at temperatures well above those existing in practical combustion applications.
Removal of Five Canine Cardiac Tumors Using a Stapling Instrument

Cardiac tumors in five dogs, including four right atrial appendage hemangiosarcomas and one heartbase chemodectoma, were removed, and the excisional edges were closed with a thoracic-abdominal (TA) stapling instrument. All five dogs recovered from surgery and were discharged from the hospital within 4 days. The four dogs with atrial appendage hemangiosarcomas developed extensive metastasis, although no evidence of tumor recurrence was found at the surgical site in two dogs that were necropsied. The dog with a chemodectoma was alive with no clinical or radiographic evidence of recurrence or metastasis 17 months following surgery.
Evidence for incomplete martensitic transformation in Ni0.62Al0.38 by neutron diffraction

Abstract High-resolution neutron powder diffraction was used to investigate the evolution of the crystal structure of Ni 0.62 Al 0.38 with a martensitic transformation temperature, M S , of 65 K as a function of temperature. Although the β 2 parent phase has the propensity to nucleation instability, no precursor effects are observed until ∼40° above M S . Below M S , the transition does not occur homogeneously and it is shown that the martensite coexists with the austenite over a wide temperature range. The low temperature phase seems to be largely described by the 7R structure that accomodates the transition from the parent to the martensite and minimizes the lattice mismatch between the two.
Improving heurisitic mini-max search by supervised learning

This article surveys three techniques for enhancing heuristic game-tree search pioneered in the author's Othello program LOGISTELLO, which dominated the computer Othello scene for several years and won against the human World-champion 6-0 in 1997. First, a generalized linear evaluation model (GLEM) is described that combines conjunctions of Boolean features linearly. This approach allows an automatic, data driven exploration of the feature space. Combined with efficient least squares weight fitting, GLEM greatly eases the programmer's task of finding significant features and assigning weights to them. Second, the selective search heuristic PROBCUT and its enhancements are discussed. Based on evaluation correlations PROBCUT can prune probably irrelevant sub-trees with a prescribed confidence. Tournament results indicate a considerable playing strength improvement compared to full-width a-b search. Third, an opening book framework is presented that enables programs to improve upon previous play and to explore new opening lines by constructing and searching a game-tree based on evaluations of played variations. These general methods represent the state-of-the-art in computer Othello programming and begin to attract researchers in related fields. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.
Observability of counterpropagating modes at fractional quantum Hall edges

When the bulk filling factor is $\ensuremath{\nu}=1\ensuremath{-}1/m$ with m odd, at least one counterpropagating chiral collective mode occurs simultaneously with magnetoplasmons at the edge of fractional quantum Hall samples. Initial experimental searches for an additional mode were unsuccessful. In this paper, we address conditions under which its observation should be expected in experiments where the electronic system is excited and probed by capacitive coupling. We derive realistic expressions for the velocity of the slow counterpropagating mode, starting from a microscopic calculation which is simplified by a Landau-Silin-like separation between long-range Hartree and residual interactions. The microscopic calculation determines the stiffness of the edge to long-wavelength neutral excitations, which fixes the slow-mode velocity, and the effective width of the edge region, which influences the magnetoplasmon dispersion.
Coated conductors textured by ion-beam assisted deposition

Abstract We review the progress on ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD) textured superconducting tapes. Over the past 15 years there has been much work worldwide on Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) textured templates for deposition of HTS. More recently Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 textured templates have replaced YSZ in Japan. At Los Alamos National Laboratory in the USA we have developed a process for continuous texturing of MgO on metal tapes, with subsequent buffer layer deposition, and REBaCuO pulsed-laser deposition (PLD). We discuss the critical issues being researched in our coated conductor architecture. IBAD-MgO is an extremely fast process, but requires smooth surfaces over long lengths, which is achieved in our laboratory by electropolishing of metal alloy tapes. The progress to date has demonstrated that IBAD-MgO texture can develop in less than 1 s. Under optimized processing conditions the in-plane texture full-width half-maximum for the MgO is less than 5° and less than 2° for out-of-plane texture. In the YBCO layer this improves to an in-plane texture of less than 2° and 1° out-of-plane. At this level of alignment critical currents are no longer limited by the film grain boundaries. Critical currents for YBCO layers deposited continuously by PLD on the IBAD-MgO templates have been steadily increasing over the last five years, and have been demonstrated to exceed 500 A/cm-width. An important remaining issue for coated conductors is the decrease in J c with thickness of the HTS film.
Radiation resistance of thin-film solar cells for space photovoltaic power

Copper indium diselenide, cadmium telluride, and amorphous silicon alloy solar cells have achieved noteworthy performance and are currently being studied for space power applications. Cadmium sulfide cells had been the subject of much effort but are no longer considered for space applications. A review is presented of what is known about the radiation degradation of thin film solar cells in space. Experimental cadmium telluride and amorphous silicon alloy cells are reviewed. Damage mechanisms and radiation induced defect generation and passivation in the amorphous silicon alloy cell are discussed in detail due to the greater amount of experimental data available.
Voltage gradients on high-voltage lines

AKNOWLEDGE of the voltage gradient which exists at the surface of a transmission-line conductor is necessary in many instances. This knowledge is especially important in studies regarding corona losses and radio interference.
Crimes of the Tongue: The Inquisitorial Trials of Cristóbal Duarte Ballester

Cristobal Duarte Ballester was tried twice by the Spanish Inquisition. To the principal accusation of blasphemy the prosecutor added Ballester's faulty observance of the basic precepts of Christianity: eating meat on days forbidden by the church, not confessing his sins, and not attending mass. The Inquisition assigned a moral value to what came out of Ballester's mouth—oaths—as well as to what entered it—certain foods at forbidden moments. The defendant's oral crimes of blasphemy and nonobservance of fasts were compounded by such suspicion-provoking verbal behaviors as Ballester's fluency in Arabic and his love of singing songs in that language.
Synoptic Control of Cross-Barrier Precipitation Ratios for the Cascade Mountains

AbstractThis paper examines the synoptic control of precipitation contrasts across the Cascade Mountains of Washington State during the cool season. The average hourly precipitation for three stations on the western and eastern sides of the barrier is calculated, and composite synoptic conditions are determined for situations when precipitation is greater over the eastern slopes, similar precipitation falls on both sides, moderately greater precipitation falls on the western side, and substantially greater precipitation falls on the western side. Conditions prior to occluded/warm frontal passage are favorable for relatively equal precipitation amounts on both sides of the barrier, with extensive warm advection precipitation spreading over the region. Low-level winds are generally southerly during this period, resulting in less orographic modulation of precipitation on the north–south-oriented Cascades. In contrast, postfrontal conditions are associated with westerly flow, enhanced windward precipitation, ...
Metabolism of 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl-7 N-methyl-N-(2-toluenesulfenyl)carbamate in the housefly and white mouse

Abstract The metabolism of a new, selectively toxic derivative of carbofuran, 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl-7 N-methyl-N-(2-toluenesulfenyl)carbamate has been investigated. The selective toxicity between insect and mammal is due to differing pathways of metabolism. Houseflies appear peculiarly suited for the rapid liberation of the toxic agent, carbofuran, from N-(2-toluenesulfenyl) carbofuran in large amounts. Metabolism in the mouse is more complex and involves a series of oxidative and hydrolytic detoxication processes which do not result in the formation of carbofuran.
Viscoelastic properties of silica‐grafted poly(styrene–acrylonitrile) nanocomposites

The melt state viscoelastic properties of styrene–acrylonitrile random copolymers grafted to silica nanoparticles and prepared by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization are examined. Linear dynamic oscillatory viscoelastic measurements indicate that nanocomposites with silica contents as low as 1.2 vol % exhibit solid-like response. Steady shear results in considerable alteration to the mesoscale structure and results in the failure of the Cox-Merz rule. Flow reversal studies confirm the elastic nature of the mesoscale structure and demonstrate that the relaxation of the flow altered structure is slow, non-Brownian, and possibly cooperative. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2014–2023, 2006
The fall emigration of stone crabs Menippe mercenaria (Say) from an intertidal oyster habitat and temperature's effect on locomotory activity

Abstract The population structure of stone crabs Menippe mercenaria (Say) inhabiting an intertidal oyster habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico, was monitored during monthly spring low tide periods from May 1983 to May 1984. Seasonal density fluctuations indicated crabs moved subtidally during the fall and early winter and returned to the intertidal region the following spring. The torpid state and occasional mortality of non-emigrants in the winter suggest that movement to subtidal regions is important for survival. To test a proximate stimulus that may trigger emigration, we experimentally exposed crabs to water temperature fluctuations that simulated conditions in the field during autumnal weather fronts. Water temperatures were lowered from 27°C to 20°C over 24 h and were rewarmed to 27°C several days later. Crab activity was recorded by a time-lapse video camera that continuously scanned four 2000-liter tanks. The distances walked by experimental crabs increased following the treatment, whereas, the frequency of other behaviors did not change. Control crabs held at a constant 27°C did not change their walking distances during the experiment. The increase in locomotory activity in experimental crabs suggests temperature fluctuations may influence the onset of fall emigrations from the intertidal habitat by stone crabs.
Chronic and Recurrent Muscle Pain

Objective: To review pharmacologic studies using needle electromyographically [EMG]-guided injection of trigger points [TrPs] in patients with myofascial pain syndromes. Results: The alpha-adrenergic antagonists phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine eliminate EMG spike activity recorded by neele EMG in the nidus of TrPs and significantly reduce subjective report of pain arising in TrPs. Conclusion: A specific pathophysiological abnormality has been identified by two-channel needle EMG in patients with chronic and recurrent muscle pain associated with TrPs. An objective diagnostic test has been developed which distinguishes these patients from normal subjects. Electromyographically-guided TrP phenoxybenzamine injection promises lasting treatment for this common but misunderstood condition.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in vulvar cancer: avoiding primary exenteration.

Abstract Objective. To determine whether neoadjuvant cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy can be used to preserve the anal sphincter and/or urethra in patients with advanced vulvar cancer involving these sites. Methods. Fourteen patients with advanced vulvar cancer (1997–2003) involving the anal sphincter and/or urethra were given 3–4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to attempt preservation of these pelvic structures rather than undergoing a primary pelvic exenteration. Following 3 cycles, a radical vulvectomy and groin lymph node dissection were planned. All patients had lesion size documented by measurement and photograph prior to and following chemotherapy. Results. The median age was 63 years (range 39–88). Thirteen patients received a median of 3 cycles (range 2–4) of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ten patients received cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, while three received cisplatin alone. The median time from diagnosis to surgery was 77 days (range 54–143). All patients with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy underwent surgery except one patient who had a synchronous renal cell carcinoma and died prior to surgery. Patients receiving cisplatin alone showed no measurable response, while all patients receiving cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil demonstrated at least a partial response. Two patients had no residual invasive carcinoma on final pathology. All patients receiving cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil followed by surgery are disease-free, while two of three receiving cisplatin have progressive disease. The anal sphincter and urethra were conserved in all patients receiving cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Conclusion. Neoadjuvant cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in advanced vulvar cancer demonstrated a response rate of 100%. The anal sphincter and urethra were conserved in all patients receiving cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Responders are disease-free at this time. This response rate demonstrates superior activity of 5-fluorouracil in vulvar cancer and spares these patients the morbidity of exenteration or radiation.
Neurobiomimetic constructs for intelligent unmanned systems and robotics

This paper discusses a paradigm we refer to as neurobiomimetic, which involves emulations of brain neuroanatomy and neurobiology aspects and processes. Neurobiomimetic constructs include rudimentary and down-scaled computational representations of brain regions, sub-regions, and synaptic connectivity. Many different instances of neurobiomimetic constructs are possible, depending on various aspects such as the initial conditions of synaptic connectivity, number of neuron elements in regions, connectivity specifics, and more, and we refer to these instances as ‘animats’. While downscaled for computational feasibility, the animats are very large constructs; the animats implemented in this work contain over 47,000 neuron elements and over 720,000 synaptic connections. The paper outlines aspects of the animats implemented, spatial memory and learning cognitive task, the virtual-reality environment constructed to study the animat performing that task, and discussion of results. In a broad sense, we argue that the neurobiomimetic paradigm pursued in this work constitutes a particularly promising path to artificial cognition and intelligent unmanned systems. Biological brains readily cope with challenges of real-life tasks that consistently prove beyond even the most sophisticated algorithmic approaches known. At the cross-over point of neuroscience, cognitive science and computer science, paradigms such as the one pursued in this work aim to mimic the mechanisms of biological brains and as such, we argue, may lead to machines with abilities closer to those of biological species.
Ethnic hair update: Past and present

Hair and scalp disorders in African American patients are challenging because of the lack of pathophysiologic explanations for many of the disorders that occur in this population. To understand the clinical appearance of these disorders and to design an effective treatment plan, the dermatologist must have a clear knowledge of the basic hair-care practices and concerns of this group of patients. Given that patients of African American heritage are not a homogeneous group, this overview describes many of the common hair-care practices of African Americans and how they affect patients' health. The common hair and scalp disorders are discussed, with a specific focus on inflammatory disorders that result in significant pigmentation alteration or scarring.
Lightning strikes: nature of neurological damage in patients evaluated in hospital emergency departments

Emergency physicians and staff are usually the first to evaluate and manage victims of lightning strikes. Damage to the nervous system is often the most devastating consequence of lightning strikes. Contrary to most articles in the literature in which neurological disorders are said to be either transient or delayed, we report the cases of six patients with severe, immediate, and in at least three, permanent clinical problems. Patients with signs of spinal cord lesions are most likely to have permanent disabilities.
Specific effects of urea and anions on the optical rotatory properties of aqueous amino acid solutions.

Abstract Changes in the optical rotatory properties of amino acids are induced by 6 m urea, which cannot be ascribed to systematic changes in the ionization state of the amino acid, nor to refractive index changes. Extremes of acidity or alkalinity generally cancel the effect. The effects of common salts at 0.1 m concentration are generally small, and additive to the urea effect. Below pH 4.5, NaF at 0.1 m has an effect as strong as urea. This effect has been correlated with changes in the circular dichroism. A fluoride effect is noted for lactic acid also.
The (De-) carbonization of urbanization, 1960–2010

We investigate the potentially changing effect of urbanization on per capita and per unit of GDP carbon dioxide emissions for 69 nations from 1960 to 2010. We examine the effect of urbanization, measured as the percent of nation’s population residing in urban areas, for the overall sample as well as for smaller regionally-defined samples of nations. The results of two-way fixed effects longitudinal models for both outcomes highlight that the changing effects of urbanization on national carbon emissions throughout the world regions are far from monolithic, and these differences are hidden by the analyses of emissions for the overall sample. We provide tentative explanations for our regionally-specific findings, and conclude by emphasizing the need for more nuanced urban data and future research to increase our collective understanding of the carbon emissions / urbanization relationship.
ZBP-89-induced apoptosis is p53-independent and requires JNK

ZBP-89 induces apoptosis in human gastrointestinal cancer cells through a p53-independent mechanism. To understand the apoptotic pathway regulated by ZBP-89, we identified downstream signal transduction targets. Ectopic expression of ZBP-89 induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and was accompanied by activation of all three MAP kinase subfamilies: JNK1/2, ERK1/2 and p38 MAP kinase. ZBP-89-induced apoptosis was markedly enhanced by ERK inhibition with U0126. In contrast, inhibiting JNK with a JNK1-specific peptide inhibitor or dominant-negative JNK2 expression abrogated ZBP-89-mediated apoptosis. The p38 inhibitor SB202190 had no effect on ZBP-89-induced cell death. Protein dephosphorylation assays revealed that ZBP-89 activates JNK via repression of JNK dephosphorylation. Oligonucleotide microarray analyses revealed that ectopic expression of ZBP-89 downregulated expression of the dual-specificity phosphatase MKP6. Overexpression of MKP6 blocked ZBP-89-induced JNK phosphorylation and PARP cleavage. In addition, ectopic expression of ZBP-89 repressed Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 expression, but had no effect on Bcl-2. Silencing ZBP-89 with small interfering RNA enhanced both Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 expression. Taken together, ZBP-89-mediated apoptosis occurs via a p53-independent mechanism that requires JNK activation.
μ- and μ4―η2 coordination of A2H2 (A = C, Si, Ge, Sn and Pb) ligands with transition metals

Abstract The heavier analogs of C 2 H 2 have been studied at the B3LYP level for their μ and μ 4 –η 2 coordination properties with the transition metals. Based on known alkyne compounds, transition metal fragments [W 2 (μ-NH)(Cp) 2 (Cl) 2 ] and [Fe 4 (CO) 12 ] have been chosen. The SBKJC relativistic effective core potentials and their associated basis sets were used on W, Fe, Sn and Pb, and the 6-31G(d) basis set was used on all other elements. All the complexes of Si 2 H 2 , Ge 2 H 2 , Sn 2 H 2 and Pb 2 H 2 are found to be local minima. The trans-twist nature of the ligand A 2 H 2 (A = Si–Pb) is large in μ-coordinated complexes of W, and it is very small in μ 4 –η 2 coordinated complexes of Fe. The electronic structure of these complexes was investigated using fragment molecular orbital method (FMO).
The complexity of monadic recursion schemes: Executability problems, nesting depth, and applications

Abstract Let C be the class of monadic, total monadic or linear monadic recursion schemes. We introduce the executability problem for C and show how its complexity can be used to obtain lower and/or upper bounds on the complexities of decision problems for C . These decision problems include divergence, isomorphism, strong equivalence and weak equivalence. Three possible measures of the maximal possible depths of nesting of function calls in the computations of members of C are also introduced. Lower and upper bounds on these measures are presented in terms of functions of scheme size. Exponential bounds are obtained for the classes of monadic recursion schemes; but polynomial bounds are obtained for the classes of total monadic and linear monadic recursion schemes. One corollary of special interest is the following: There exist c>0 such that a monadic recursion scheme S is total if and only if no computation of S entails a depth of nesting of function calls greater than c · n2 where n is the size of S. We use these bounds on depths of nesting of function calls to derive a number of nondeterministic polynomially time-bounded or polynomially space-bounded algorithms for decision problems for the classes of schemes C above.
Postoperative and Postdischarge Nausea and Vomiting After Ambulatory Surgery: An Update

Patients undergoing ambulatory surgery have similar, but also different nausea and vomiting stimuli and mechanisms than inpatients. As the emphasis on “street readiness” and discharge home is a unique and important concern for outpatients, various medications, formulations, techniques, risk scores, and guidelines have been introduced to help improve the care of patients having ambulatory surgery. Additional research and data have been obtained regarding the effects of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) on ambulatory anesthesia. More effective antiemetic combination techniques and new long-acting antiemetics have been introduced for PONV and PDNV prevention. Antiemetic drug selection for ambulatory surgery depends on efficacy, cost, adverse effects, and ease of dosing. Safety concerns include adverse events such as the ECG QTc prolongation effects of antiemetics. To help guide antiemetic drug selection, techniques, and therapy, the PONV consensus guidelines were updated in 2014.
Asymmetry in responsiveness of the hypothalamus of the female rat to estradiol

Asymmetry of function is an increasingly general principle of neuroanatomy, and right-left asymmetry has been observed in some neuroendocrine functions. We report that the right side of the hypothalamus of female rats is more responsive to estradiol than the left side of the hypothalamus for the induction of sexual receptivity. These results are consistent with previous suggestions that the left side of the hypothalamus is more sensitive to the defemininizing actions of neonatal hormones.
Different Biological Characteristics of Wild-Type Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Viruses and Vaccine Viruses and Identification of the Corresponding Genetic Determinants

Two attenuated vaccines, Ingelvac PRRS MLV and Ingelvac PRRS ATP, derived from VR2332 and JA142, respectively, have been used to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus. However, there have been several field reports concerning the reversion of the vaccine virus to virulence. Furthermore, viruses genetically indistinguishable from the vaccines and wild-type parental viruses have been detected in clinical PRRS cases, raising the need for a better differential tool. As the vaccine viruses replicated better and produced bigger plaques in MARC-145 cells than did the wild-type parental strains, the following study was conducted to determine if the growth difference in MARC-145 cells can be utilized to differentiate a vaccine-like virus (VLV) from a wild-type virus and to identify genetic markers corresponding to such phenotype of the vaccine viruses. The relatedness of 83 field isolates collected between 1996 and 2005 to VR2332 and JA142 was classified genetically and antigenically. Thirteen of 25 VR2332-related viruses and 9 of 10 JA142-related viruses were determined as VLVs, since those viruses produced plaques similar to those by the vaccine viruses. Four unique amino acids each were identified throughout structural genes for MLV and ATP. Among those, F10 in open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of MLV and E85 and Y165 in ORF3 of ATP were stable during pig passages. When the sequences unique for MLV were incorporated into an infectious clone constructed based on VR2332, the virus growth and resultant plaque size in MARC-145 cells were increased, suggesting that these sequences can be used as genetic markers for VLVs.
Capacity-maximizing resource allocation for data-aided timing and channel estimation in ultra-wideband radios

The overall system performance of data-aided ultra-wideband (UWB) communications relies critically on the accuracy of synchronization and channel estimation during the training phase. The total transmission resources should be properly allocated between training and information symbols in order to strike a desired balance between performance and information rate. To this end, this paper derives optimum transmission schemes that judiciously allocate the limited transmit power and pulse numbers for signal reception tasks performing optimal timing acquisition, channel estimation, as well as symbol detection. The resulting selection of transmitter parameters not only enables both the timing and channel estimators to attain the minimum mean-square estimation errors, but also maximizes the average system capacity.
The field of reals with multisummable series and the exponential function

We show that the field of real numbers with multisummable real power series is model complete, o-minimal and polynomially bounded. Further expansion by the exponential function yields again a model complete and o-minimal structure which is exponentially bounded, and in which the Gamma function on the positive real line is definable. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: primary 03C10, 32B05, 32B20; secondary, 26E05.
Antidepressant Study Design Affects Patient Expectancy: A Pilot Study

BackgroundResponse to antidepressant medication is higher in comparator versus placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Patient expectancy is an important influence on clinical outcome in the treatment of depression and may explain this finding. The results are reported from a pilot RCT studying expectancy and depression outcome in placebo-controlled versus comparator treatment conditions.MethodOut-patients aged 18–65 years with major depressive disorder (MDD) were enrolled in this 8-week RCT. Subjects were randomized to placebo-controlled (escitalopram or placebo) or comparator (escitalopram or citalopram) administration of antidepressant medication. Subjects reported their expected likelihood and magnitude of depression improvement before and after randomization using questions from the Credibility and Expectancy Scale (CES). A regressed change model of post-randomization expectancy of improvement was fit to the data to determine whether subjects in the comparator group reported greater expectancies of improvement than subjects in the placebo-controlled group.ResultsTwenty subjects with mean age 56.5±11.7 years, a baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) score of 24.2±5.3, baseline Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score of 24.9±6.4 and baseline Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) – Severity score of 4.0±0.3 were enrolled in the study. Adjusting for other factors, the effect of group assignment on expected magnitude of improvement was significant and large (effect size 1.5). No group differences in expected likelihood of improvement were found.ConclusionsRandomization to comparator versus placebo-controlled administration of antidepressant medication produced greater expectancies of how much patients would improve during the trial. This expectancy difference may explain the higher response and remission rates that are observed in comparator versus placebo-controlled trials.
Sall1-dependent signals affect Wnt signaling and ureter tip fate to initiate kidney development

Development of the metanephric kidney depends on precise control of branching of the ureteric bud. Branching events represent terminal bifurcations that are thought to depend on unique patterns of gene expression in the tip compared with the stalk and are influenced by mesenchymal signals. The metanephric mesenchyme-derived signals that control gene expression at the ureteric bud tip are not well understood. In mouse Sall1 mutants, the ureteric bud grows out and invades the metanephric mesenchyme, but it fails to initiate branching despite tip-specific expression of Ret and Wnt11. The stalk-specific marker Wnt9b and the β-catenin downstream target Axin2 are ectopically expressed in the mutant ureteric bud tips, suggesting that upregulated canonical Wnt signaling disrupts ureter branching in this mutant. In support of this hypothesis, ureter arrest is rescued by lowering β-catenin levels in the Sall1 mutant and is phenocopied by ectopic expression of a stabilized β-catenin in the ureteric bud. Furthermore, transgenic overexpression of Wnt9b in the ureteric bud causes reduced branching in multiple founder lines. These studies indicate that Sall1-dependent signals from the metanephric mesenchyme are required to modulate ureteric bud tip Wnt patterning in order to initiate branching.
A First Course in Electrical Engineering

This article describes the introductory two-semester course in electrical engineering that has been developed over a period of five years at Princeton University. The aims of the course are to provide an introduction to the field of electrical engineering via the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism (which are developed through Maxwell's equations in the integral form), to apply these concepts in developing the fundamentals of energy conversion and circuit theory, and to carry forward, in a continuous and integrated way, a modern treatment of network analysis. Thus, the treatment proceeds from field ideas to circuits and physical apparatus, and to their mathematical models. With the circuit relations formulated, attention turns to the analysis of networks, starting with network topology and extending through pole-zero ideas. The treatment stops just short of the Laplace transform. This course is intended to serve as a foundation for subsequent courses such as electronic circuits, energy conversion, and advanced network analysis and synthesis, and has been developed with the purpose of providing the student with a unifying point of view for these varied topics.
Dynamics of spherical particles on a surface: collision-induced sliding and other effects.

We present a model for the motion of hard spherical particles on a two-dimensional surface. The model includes both the interaction between the particles via collisions and the interaction of the particles with the substrate. We analyze in detail the effects of sliding and rolling friction, which are usually overlooked. It is found that the properties of this particulate system are influenced significantly by the substrate-particle interactions. In particular, sliding of the particles relative to the substrate after a collision leads to considerable energy loss for common experimental conditions. The presented results provide a basis that can be used to realistically model the dynamical properties of the system, and provide further insight into density fluctuations and related phenomena of clustering and structure formation. @S1063-651X~99!06507-1#
Collison‐induced dissociation and photodissociation of nitroaromatic molecular ions: A unique isomerization for p‐nitrotoluene and p‐ethylnitrobenzene ions

The photodissociation and low-energy collision-induced dissociation of p-nitrotoluene and p-ethylnitrobenzene molecular ions were studied using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The dissociation of these ions is highly dependent on the time-scale of the experiment and the pressure of the nitroaromatic compound. Collisions of the ions with nitroaromatic neutral species increase the abundance of fragment ions due to NO elimination, while collisions with inert gases such as sulfur hexafluoride and argon have no effect. Evidence is presented for the occurrence of an ion–molecule reaction between p-alkylnitrobenzene ions and nitroaromatic neutral species that induces isomerization of the ion. This isomerization is proposed to involve a nitro-to-nitrite rearrangement. Although the mechanism of this process is unknown, isotopic labeling experiments have shown that it does not involve nitrogen atom transfer between the two reactants. The dissociations of o-nitrotoluene, m-nitrotoluene and nitrobenzene ions are also discussed. For these ions, no pressure- or time-scale-dependent behavior was observed, indicating that an isomerization did not occur.
Linear, 1*2 directional coupler modulator with 10 GHz bandwidth

The characteristics are presented of a 1*2 coupler with coplanar stripline, traveling-wave electrodes designed for broadband operation to approximately 10 GHz. Modulators are fabricated by Ti diffusion in Z-cut, Y-propagating LiNbO/sub 3/ to form single-mode guides at the 1.3- mu m wavelength. Electrodes are defined over an approximately 0.3- mu m-thick SiO/sub 2/ buffer layer in approximately 3- mu m electroplated gold, with L=6.5 mm. The waveguide parameters and arm separation are designed with the aim of achieving coupling coefficients corresponding to 0.5 >
Effect of a high-fat-sucrose diet on in vivo insulin receptor kinase activation

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into muscle is depressed by high-fat-sucrose (HFS) feeding of rats. To investigate the mechanism of this insulin resistance, the in vivo activation of the insulin receptor kinase in liver and muscle of control and HFS-fed rats was determined. Rats were injected with glucose and insulin and killed 0, 5, 15, and 30 min after injection. Insulin binding was not changed in partially purified receptors from muscle of HFS rats. In control rats insulin receptor kinase activity was maximally stimulated threefold in liver at 5 min and fourfold in muscle at 15 min after insulin-glucose injection. The insulin-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity of receptors isolated from the liver of rats fed the HFS diet was decreased by 30% in comparison with the controls. In contrast, receptors isolated from muscle did not show any difference in basal or insulin-stimulated kinase activity between HFS-fed and control rats. Decreased in vivo activation of the insulin receptor kinase may be at least partially responsible for insulin resistance in liver. Because insulin binding and insulin stimulation of receptor kinase were normal in muscle of HFS-fed animals, it is concluded that the insulin resistance of glucose uptake into muscle is caused by a defect distal to the insulin receptor.
Routing of Hazardous Material Shipments Under the Threat of Terrorist Attack

Approximately 800,000 shipments of hazardous materials (hazmat) move daily through the U.S. transportation system [41] and approximately one truck in five on U.S. highways is carrying some form of hazardous material [40]. The modeling tools that have been developed over the last 30 years for the identification of routes and schedules for hazmat shipments emphasize the tradeoffs between cost minimization to the shipper and carrier and controlling the “natural” consequences that would stem from an accident. As the terrorist threat has grown, it has become clear that a new perspective, which allows for the representation of the goals and activities of terrorists, must be incorporated into these routing and scheduling models. This paper develops a non–cooperative two–person non–zero sum game to represent the interaction of the shipper/carrier and the terrorist for the movement of hazardous materials. It also develops an effective solution procedure for this game. Finally, it illustrates the methodology on a realistic case study.
Mammalian DNA repair responses and genomic instability

A cell responds to damage to its DNA in one of three ways: by tolerating the damage, by repairing the damage or by undergoing apoptosis. The latter two responses represent defenses against genomic instability and tumorigenesis resulting from unrepaired damage. There are multiple DNA repair pathways to cope with a variety of damage reflecting the importance of DNA repair in maintaining both cell viability and genomic stability. These include base excision repair, mismatch repair, double-strand break repair and nucleotide excision repair. Several signal transduction pathways are activated by DNA damage resulting in cell-cycle arrest. Cell-cycle arrest increases the time available for DNA repair before DNA replication and mutation fixation. Recently, there has been tremendous progress in our understanding of the molecular components repair processes and to examine recently observed interactions between DNA repair, signal transduction pathways and other cellular processes such as cell-cycle control, transcription, replication and recombination.
Islam is Not the Solution: The Challenge Islamist Parties Face Mobilizing Support on Economic Issues

This paper examines the relationship between attitudes on economic issues held by ordinary citizens in the Arab world and support for Islamist parties. Using public opinion data from four societies, it demonstrates that there is no case where there is a significant and substantively meaningful relationship between support for Islamist parties and attitudes on economic issues. In fact, in multiple permutations of the model, it shows that individuals holding opinions contrary to the party’s stated position on economic issues are more likely to support the party. This stands in contrast to a number of other policy issues which show that supporters are in line with party positions. Additionally, it presents evidence that there is a significant and substantively meaningful relationship between the attitudes of ordinary citizens on economic issues and support for non-Islamist parties with clear economic positions. This provides strong evidence that Islamist parties do not win support on economic policies.
Jar fermenter culture of shoot-forming cultures of Digitalis purpurea L. using a revised medium

A revised medium for digitoxin production by shoot-forming cultures of Digitalis purpurea L. was established. Using this medium, jar fermenter culture of the shoot-forming cultures was performed. Approximately 25 g fresh weight of cells was inoculated into a 3-liter jar fermenter containing 2.5 liter of the medium, and cultured for 15 days at 28°C with aeration of 1.4 vvm without mechanical agitation. The jar was illuminated continuously throughout the culture period. The cell yield was 38.5 g dry weight per jar and the total digitoxin formation was 1610μg per jar. The optimum rate of aeration was 1.4 vvm and mechanical agitation had little effect.
Book Review: ABC of Asthma, 6th edition. John Rees, Dipak Kanabar, Shriti Pattani. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: BMJ Books/Wiley-Blackwell. 2010. Soft cover, illustrated, 104 pages, $36.95.

Asthma is a common disease affecting millions of children and adults worldwide and it is the most common chronic disease of children. The pathophysiology of asthma is complex, and there is an important interplay of genetics and environment causing a variety of manifestations. There are many national
Facial signs of imminent aggression.

In real–world law enforcement encounters, a seemingly docile situation can turn violent in a matter of seconds. Being able to identify the signs of imminent aggression or violence may be extremely important in keeping safe those in harm’s way. In four studies we examined the possibility that certain facial expressions are reliably associated with acts of immediate, subsequent violent behavior. Target expressions observed in videos of actual assaults were placed into an array of faces including distractors and shown to two groups of law enforcement officers (LEOs) in two countries (Study 1) and to university students with and without the experience of assault (Study 2). A different array of faces including targets and distractors were shown to another sample of LEOs (Study 3) and university students with and without the experience of assault (Study 4). A significant proportion of the observers across the four studies selected the target expressions associated with assault; importantly no expression was selected by the two samples with little or no experience with assault, suggesting that stereotypes about what such faces should look like did not affect the results. These findings suggest that reliable facial signs of imminent aggression or violence may exist, and if so that people in harm’s way can be trained to identify the signs of imminent aggression before it happens.
The Effect of Age, Sex and Hormonization on the Flavor of Chicken Meat,

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION FLAVOR has been defined as the stimuli given by the sample to the taster’s receptors both oral and nasal when the sample is consumed orally (Pippin et al., 1954). As the broiler industry expands and the competition with other meat products becomes keener, the flavor of poultry meat should not be left unconsidered. The literature, however, contains little work on this subject. In early work, Maw (1935) reported that corn-fed birds were more flavorful than those fed barley, oats, or wheat. Lewis (1955) found that 10 percent dried chicken feces added to an all vegetable ration significantly improved the flavor score of broilers. Weisburg (1956) determined that the broth from the broilers fed dairy products was more flavorful, and the meat more flavorful and more tender than that of the controls. Pippin et al. (1954) reported that chicken fat was a minor source of flavor in poultry, but that . . .
BitCryptor: Bit-Serialized Flexible Crypto Engine for Lightweight Applications

There is a significant effort in building lightweight cryptographic operations, yet the proposed solutions are typically single-purpose modules that can implement a single functionality. In contrast, we propose BitCryptor, a multi-purpose, compact processor for cryptographic applications on reconfigurable hardware. The proposed crypto engine can perform pseudo-random number generation, strong collision-resistant hashing and variable-key block cipher encryption. The hardware architecture utilizes SIMON, a recent lightweight block cipher, as its core. The complete engine uses a bit-serial design methodology to minimize the area. Implementation results on the Xilinx Spartan-3 s50 FPGA show that the proposed architecture occupies 95 slices 187 LUTs, 102 registers, which is 10$$\times $$× smaller than the nearest comparable multi-purpose design. BitCryptor is also smaller than the majority of recently proposed lightweight single-purpose designs. Therefore, it is a very efficient cryptographic IP block for resource-constrained domains, providing a good performance at a minimal area overhead.
Diabetic ketoacidosis complicating pregnancy

Objective This report describes the physiologic alterations that predispose pregnant women to diabetic ketoacidosis and the experience in a tertiary center after adoption of aggressive management of diabetics. Study design In 1982 a protocol for strict surveillance of glucose homeostasis for pregnant diabetic patients and the early recognition and aggressive treatment of patients who do have diabetic ketoacidosis was initiated and has resulted in improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results From 1986 through 1991 the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis was 3% compared with an incidence of 22% from 1976 to 1981. During this same time the incidence of fetal death associated with diabetic ketoacidosis decreased from 35% to 10%. Conclusion Diabetic ketoacidosis and fetal morbidity/mortality can be reduced by aggressive management during pregnancy.
Tourism Threats to Coral Reef Resilience at Koh Sak, Pattaya Bay

Coral reefs provide many ecosystem goods and services and rising atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are resulting in higher than normal sea surface temperatures (SSTs), increasing the frequency and extent of mass coral bleaching and mortality. The loss of corals after bleaching events is often followed by changes in the reef community and the proliferation of macroalgae, especially in reefs experiencing tourism and fishing. This change, however, is less likely in reefs experiencing fewer negative impacts. Using a mixed methods approach to data collection we used boat-traffic surveys, coral reef substrate surveys and self-complete questionnaires and interviews of scuba divers, island visitors and their tour guides to assess potential tourism impacts to the coral reef at Koh Sak, Pattaya. The number of tourists, the intensity of boat traffic and poor management of activities at the island impair the structural and ecological integrity of the reef thereby affecting its ecological and spatial resilience and capacity to survive global climate change. To improve reef resilience, there needs to be a shift from exploitative business practices to a conservation-based industry that creates the infrastructure to ensure visitors participate in activities that help conserve the reef rather than weaken it.