cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HPLC Method with Precolumn Phenacylation for the Assay of Valproic Acid and Its Salts in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

Abstract A simple, accurate and reproducible HPLC method is described for the assay of valproic acid and its sodium salts in commercial dosage forms. The analyte and sodium caproate, the internal standard, were detected in the UV range after formation of the corresponding phenacyl ester derivatives with a mixture of phenacyl bromide-triethylamine in acetone. The ester derivatives were analyzed directly on a Microsorb-MV C18 column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-methanol-water (50:20:30) and detection at 245 nm. At a flow rate of 2 mL/min, phenacyl caproate and phenacyl valproate eluted at about 4.5 min and 8.5 min, respectively. Peak height ratios were linearly related to amounts of valproic acid, or its equivalent in sodium valproate, in the range 30–750 μg (r = 0.9997). Based on peak height ratios, the RSD for a set of replicate injections was 1.10% (n = 6). Recoveries of valproic acid or sodium valproate from spiked commercial dosage forms were in the range 101.0–102.6% of added (n = 2). ...
Congenital absence of a cervical pedicle: report of two cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The congenital absence of a cervical pedicle is a rare clinical entity. Patients with this anomaly tend to present with cervical pain or after a traumatic incident. Initial evaluations with conventional radiography frequently lead to misinterpretation and misguided intervention. We report two cases of absent cervical pedicles and describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of these patients. Moreover, we review the literature on this clinical entity. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The first patient was a 4-year-old boy who presented with neck pain after falling off a trampoline. His neurological examination did not reveal any focal abnormalities, but radiographs were thought to be consistent with a right, C4-C5, unilateral, jumped facet. The second patient was a 27-year-old woman who presented with severe neck, back, and left upper extremity pain and paresthesias after an alleged incident of spousal abuse. Her neurological examination results were remarkable for left upper extremity weakness and hemibody sensory changes. Conventional radiographs were thought to reveal a left, C3-C4, unilateral, locked facet. INTERVENTION: For both patients, reduction attempts were made with Gardner-Wells tongs and traction. After failure to achieve adequate reduction, evaluations using two-dimensional computed tomography confirmed congenitally absent cervical pedicles. Both patients were ultimately treated conservatively and experienced resolution of their presenting symptoms. CONCLUSION: The congenital absence of a cervical pedicle is a rare entity that is frequently misdiagnosed. Diagnoses can be accurately confirmed with two-dimensional computed tomography. Conservative treatment resulted in successful management of this clinical entity.
Ambulance use by high-acuity patients in a pediatric ED

Abstract The objective of this study was to analyze ambulance usage by highest acuity patients as compared with all patients in a suburban pediatric hospital ED. A 1-year retrospective records analysis was conducted of all highest acuity patients (those patients triaged as emergent or critical or admitted to the intensive care unit). A total of 245 patients made 270 high-acuity visits to the ED in 1995. Thirty-one (13%) of the high-acuity patients arrived via ambulance; the rest arrived via private vehicle. The 31 high-acuity patients constituted 8% of the total number of patients arriving by ambulance. There was no significant difference in ambulance usage between insurance groups in the high-acuity patients. Only high-acuity patients with neurologic symptoms (primarily seizures) had a greater relative use of EMS transportation, with 39% of these patients arriving via ambulance (odds ratio 6.6, 95% confidence interval 2.6, 16.6). High-acuity patients account for the minority of total ambulance usage in our ED. (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:679-682.
Petrology of silicate inclusions in the Sombrerete ungrouped iron meteorite: Implications for the origins of IIE-type silicate-bearing irons

The petrography and mineral and bulk chemistries of silicate inclusions in Sombrerete, an ungrouped iron that is one of the most phosphate-rich meteorites known, was studied using optical, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) techniques. Inclusions contain variable proportions of alkalic siliceous glass (~69 vol% of inclusions on average), aluminous orthopyroxene (~9%, Wo1?4Fs2535, up to ~3 wt% Al), plagioclase (~8%, mainly An7092), Cl-apatite (~7%), chromite (~4%), yagiite (~1%), phosphaterich segregations (~1%), ilmenite, and merrillite. Ytterbium and Sm anomalies are sometimes present in various phases (positive anomalies for phosphates, negative for glass and orthopyroxene), which possibly reflect phosphate-melt-gas partitioning under transient, reducing conditions at high temperatures. Phosphate-rich segregations and different alkalic glasses (K-rich and Na-rich) formed by two types of liquid immiscibility. Yagiite, a K-Mg silicate previously found in the Colomera (IIE) iron, appears to have formed as a late-stage crystallization product, possibly aided by Na-K liquid unmixing. Trace-element phase compositions reflect fractional crystallization of a single liquid composition that originated by low-degree (~48%) equilibrium partial melting of a chondritic precursor. Compositional differences between inclusions appear to have originated as a result of a filter-press differentiation process, in which liquidus crystals of Cl-apatite and orthopyroxene were less able than silicate melt to flow through the metallic host between inclusions. This process enabled a phosphoran basaltic andesite precursor liquid to differentiate within the metallic host, yielding a dacite composition for some inclusions. Solidification was relatively rapid, but not so fast as to prevent flow and immiscibility phenomena. Sombrerete originated near a cooling surface in the parent body during rapid, probably impact-induced, mixing of metallic and silicate liquids. We suggest that Sombrerete formed when a planetesimal undergoing endogenic differentiation was collisionally disrupted, possibly in a breakup and reassembly event. Simultaneous endogenic heating and impact processes may have widely affected silicate-bearing irons and other solar system matter.
1H-1H MAS correlation spectroscopy and distance measurements in a deuterated peptide.

In this Communication, we demonstrate the use of deuteration together with back substitution of exchangeable protons as a means of attenuating the strong 1H-1H couplings that broaden 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) spectra of solids. The approach facilitates 15N-1H correlation experiments as well as experiments for the measurement of 1H-1H distances. The distance measurement relies on the excellent resolution in the 1H MAS spectrum and homonuclear double quantum recoupling techniques. The 1H-1H dipolar recoupling can be analyzed in an analytical fashion by fitting the data to a 2- or 3-spin system. The experiments are performed on a sample of the dipeptide N-Ac-Val-Leu-OH, which was synthesized from uniformly [2H, 15N] labeled materials and back-exchanged in H2O.
International Criminal Investigations of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity A War Crimes Investigator's Perspective

This article deals with the unique problems that are associated with undertaking international criminal investigations, and it is written from the perspective of a war crimes investigator. Ten problems are identified in relation to investigating violations of international humanitarian law such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the laws and customs of war. The problems range from differences between legal systems and the unique elements of international crimes on one hand to personal security and counterintelligence operations on the other. The article provides an analysis of the problems international war crimes investigators face on a day-to-day basis and also the first inside look at the strategies that were used in the investigation that resulted in an indictment of the first sitting head-of-state in history, Slobodan Milosevic. Recommendations are made with the view to minimizing those problems and maximizing the successful investigation and prosecution of high-level perpetrator...
Sharp-line photoluminescence spectra from GaAs-GaAlAs multiple-quantum-well structures

The photoluminescence spectra from four ${\mathrm{Al}}_{0.25}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.75}$As-GaAs multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures with well thicknesses of 100, 200, 300, and 400 \AA{} and barrier thicknessess of 100 \AA{} have been interpreted. The extrinsic emission is predominantly in the donor region. A number of very sharp transitions have been observed for the first time. Several of the transitions are no more than 0.15 meV in width. The light- and the heavy-hole free excitons were observed in the 400 \AA{} well. The heavy-hole free excitons were observed in the other wells. The radiative transitions associated with the neutral-donor bound excitons as well as the free-to-bound and neutral-acceptor bound excitons are discussed. Magnetic field splittings were observed for several of the optical transitions. These data together with the diamagnetic shifts and excitation-dependent measurements are used in the identification of the multiple-quantum-well transitions.
The Density ofBh[g] Sequences and the Minimum of Dense Cosine Sums

A setEof integers is called aBh[g] set if every integer can be written in at mostgdifferent ways as a sum ofhelements ofE. We give an upper bound for the size of aBh[1] subset {n1, …,nk} of {1, …,n} wheneverh=2mis an even integer:[formula]For the caseh=2 (h=4) this has already been proved by Erdos and Turan (by Lindstrom). It has been independently proved for all evenhby Jia [9] who used an elementary combinatorial argument. Our method uses a result, which we prove, related to the minimum of dense cosine sums which roughly states that if 1⩽λ1<…<λN⩽(2−e) NareNdifferent integers then[formula]Finally we exhibit some dense finite and infiniteB2[2] sequences.
Ethanol Promotes Apoptosis in Cerebellar Granule Cells by Inhibiting the Trophic Effect of NMDA

Abstract: When primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons are grown in a physiological concentration of KCl (5 mM) they undergo apoptosis, which can be prevented by growing the cells in the presence of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA). We now show that ethanol inhibits this trophic effect of NMDA, i.e., promotes apoptosis, and also inhibits the NMDA-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in cells grown in 5 mM KCl. Both effects of ethanol show a similar concentration dependence and are reversed by a high concentration of glycine, the co-agonist at the NMDA receptor. The data suggest that the effect of ethanol on apoptosis is mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of NMDA receptor function. This effect of ethanol to increase apoptosis could contribute to the previously described in vivo sensitivity of the developing cerebellum to ethanol-induced damage.
Male African elephants, Loxodonta africana, can distinguish oestrous status via urinary signals

African elephants are a polygynous species that raise offspring in a matriarchal society. Unlike females, males disperse, spend time in male groups and search for mates when mature. Urinary chemical signals aid males in detecting reproductively active females. A preovulatory pheromone has been identified in Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, but has not yet been experimentally identified in African elephants. In this study, the goal was to determine whether adult captive male African elephants can distinguish between urine from conspecific females in luteal and periovulatory oestrous stages as an indication that a preovulatory pheromone is released in the urine. Urine was collected from seven different female African elephants during their luteal and periovulatory periods of oestrus. Bioassays were conducted with nine adult male elephants housed at six different facilities. Males were presented with the two urine types and a control sample once a day over 3 days to reduce sample novelty, which can result in misleadingly high responses. All males showed greater chemosensory responses to the periovulatory urine by trial 3 with the ability to distinguish the urines increasing over the 3 days. This is the first experimental behavioural evidence that African elephants release an oestrous pheromone in the urine. The ability of the captive male elephants to discern between the two urine types bolsters the hypothesis that there is a preovulatory pheromone in African elephants and encourages efforts to identify it.
Significance of “Normal” Endometrial Cells in Cervical Cytology from Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women Receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study is to assess the significance of normal endometrial cells identified in screening Pap smears from asymptomatic postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Methods. Endometrial histology reported from 93 asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving HRT noted to have normal endometrial cells on a screening Pap smear was reviewed. Information regarding HRT, endometrial sampling, and interval between the sentinel Pap and sampling was extracted from the record. Results. Endometrial biopsies were obtained an average of 1.7 months after the Pap smears. Eighteen of the ninety-three histology specimens (19%, 95% CI: 12–27%) identified abnormalities, in four cases precancerous or cancerous lesions. These 18 abnormalities included 7 endometrial polyps; 7 cases of simple hyperplasia, 1 with atypia; 3 cases of complex hyperplasia, 1 with atypia; and 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma. Conclusion. Normal endometrial cells identified on a screening Pap smear in this population may be an indication of endometrial disease.
Design and implementation of micro caching

Caching is one of the most efficient ways of improving the performance of software systems in terms of both execution time and network usage. Caching can be done at different levels and using different methods. Runtime Micro Caching is one of them. It deals with the creation of a temporary cache at runtime to store the information required by the current transaction. In this approach, the cache is created at the beginning of the transaction and destroyed at the termination/end of the respective transaction. The major advantage of this cache is that it overcomes stale data problem and results in highly efficient usage of network and data store.In this paper, we have presented a novel and simple design of Micro Cache and discussed its usage in keeping user's data in sync with an external master directory as a proof of concept. We have noticed a significant improvement in the performance.
Referral and Follow-Up After Mental Health Screening in Commercially Insured Adolescents

Abstract Purpose Although mental health screening is recommended for adolescents, little is known about the predictors of referral to mental health services or engagement in treatment. We examined predictors of mental health referral from primary care and service use for commercially insured youth who had been screened using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist or Youth-Pediatric Symptom Checklist. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of commercially insured patients 14–17 years of age who were newly identified by the Pediatric Symptom Checklist or Youth-Pediatric Symptom Checklist at a well-child visit. Comparisons were made with propensity-matched negative adolescents meeting the same criteria. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine differences between positives and negatives and between referred and nonreferred positives. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of mental health referral for positive youth. Results Medical records of 117 positive and 110 negative youth were examined. Compared with negative youth, positive youth were significantly more likely to be referred for mental health treatment ( p p Conclusions Despite identification after behavioral health screening, limited treatment engagement by referred patients persists. Primary care physicians and mental health specialists must enhance their efforts to engage and monitor identified patients.
Accuracy and reliability-based region-specific recalibration of dynamic pile formulas

Many state departments of transportation and consulting firms continue to use dynamic formulas because they are simple and inexpensive as compared to the preferred dynamic loading test with signal matching. Efforts to reduce the error and uncertainty associated with dynamic formulas are therefore warranted until dynamic monitoring becomes standard for every driven pile. However, dynamic formulas calibrated to national test pile databases have indicated inaccuracy and high uncertainty in the capacity prediction using dynamic formulas. A region-specific dynamic load test database was used to assess the accuracy and uncertainty in the Janbu, Danish and FHWA Gates formulas, recalibrate the equations for local conditions (construction practice, geology) and to generate resistance factors for use with Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD). Following recalibration, the capacity predictions became more accurate, and an observed dependence of the accuracy on the magnitude of resistance was eliminated for most d...
Composition of the crust beneath the Kenya rift

Abstract We infer the composition of the crust beneath and on the flanks of the Kenya rift based on a comparison of the KRISP-90 crustal velocity structure with laboratory measurements of compressional-wave velocities of rock samples from Kenya. The rock samples studied, which are representative of the major lithologies exposed in Kenya, include volcanic tuffs and flows (primarily basalts and phonolites), and felsic to intermediate composition gneisses. This comparison indicates that the upper crust (5–12 km depth) consists primarily of quartzo-feldspathic gneisses and schists similar to rocks exposed on the flanks of the rift, whereas the middle crust (12–22 km depth) consists of more mafic, hornblende-rich metamorphic rocks, probably intruded by mafic rocks beneath the rift axis. The lower crust on the flanks of the rift may consist of mafic granulite facies rocks. Along the rift axis, the lower crust varies in thickness from 9 km in the southern rift to only 2–3 km in the north, and has a seismic velocity substantially higher than the samples investigated in this study. The lower crust of the rift probably consists of a crust/mantle mix of high-grade metamorphic rocks, mafic intrusives, and an igneous mafic residuum accreted to the base of the crust during differentiation of a melt derived from the upper mantle.
Statistical physics. The salesman and the tourist.

Solutions to optimization problems, such as that faced by the travelling salesman, have many practical applications. Might a related problem offer insight into the behaviour of foraging animals?
Inhibitory effect of iron on the uptake of lead by erythrocytes

It is well known that more than 90% of the lead found in blood is associated with the erythrocytes. The present in vitro experiments show that the uptake of lead-203 by rabbit erythrocytes is inhibited by the presence of non-radioactive lead or iron or by reduction of the incubation temperature. The inhibitory effect of iron on radioactive lead uptake by erythrocytes is also demonstrable in vivo. When lead-203 is incorporated into erythrocytes in vitro, about 10% of the radioactivity is attached to the membrane and the remainder is found in the cytoplasm associated with hemoglobin and an unidentified low molecular weight intracellular component. In the presence of 25 ..mu..g/ml of added iron (Fe/sup + + +/) the uptake of radioactive lead by erythrocytes is reduced to 21.7+/-5.1% and membrane binding accounts for approximately 5% of this total. Chromatographic analyses of hemolysates show that the reduction in cytoplasmic labeling is directly related to decreased lead binding to the low molecular weight component, since hemoglobin binding remains unchanged. This work suggests that in addition to the interaction between iron and lead which occurs during the biosynthesis of heme, these metals may directly compete for specific erythrocyte binding sites. 22 references, 2 figures,more » 2 tables.« less
Do Better Committee Assignments Meaningfully Benefit Legislators? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in the Arkansas State Legislature

Author(s): Broockman, DE; Butler, DM | Abstract: A large literature argues that the committee assignment process plays an important role in shaping legislative politics because some committees provide legislators with substantial benefits. However, evaluating the degree to which legislators benefit from winning their preferred assignments has been challenging with existing data. This paper sheds light on the benefits legislators accrue from winning their preferred committee assignments by exploiting rules in Arkansas' state legislature, where legislators select their own committee assignments in a randomized order. The natural experiment indicates that legislators reap at most limited rewards from winning their preferred assignments. These results potentially raise questions about the robustness of widely held assumptions in literatures on party discipline and legislative organization.
Identification of a protein–protein interaction between KCNE1 and the activation gate machinery of KCNQ1

KCNQ1 channels assemble with KCNE1 transmembrane (TM) peptides to form voltage-gated K+ channel complexes with slow activation gate opening. The cytoplasmic C-terminal domain that abuts the KCNE1 TM segment has been implicated in regulating KCNQ1 gating, yet its interaction with KCNQ1 has not been described. Here, we identified a protein–protein interaction between the KCNE1 C-terminal domain and the KCNQ1 S6 activation gate and S4–S5 linker. Using cysteine cross-linking, we biochemically screened over 300 cysteine pairs in the KCNQ1–KCNE1 complex and identified three residues in KCNQ1 (H363C, P369C, and I257C) that formed disulfide bonds with cysteine residues in the KCNE1 C-terminal domain. Statistical analysis of cross-link efficiency showed that H363C preferentially reacted with KCNE1 residues H73C, S74C, and D76C, whereas P369C showed preference for only D76C. Electrophysiological investigation of the mutant K+ channel complexes revealed that the KCNQ1 residue, H363C, formed cross-links not only with KCNE1 subunits, but also with neighboring KCNQ1 subunits in the complex. Cross-link formation involving the H363C residue was state dependent, primarily occurring when the KCNQ1–KCNE1 complex was closed. Based on these biochemical and electrophysiological data, we generated a closed-state model of the KCNQ1–KCNE1 cytoplasmic region where these protein–protein interactions are poised to slow activation gate opening.
Mania and DSM-III schizophreniform disorder.

Abstract The investigations applied DSM-III schizophreniform criteria to 111 patients satisfying Feighner criteria for mania. Thirteen manics (12%) who met the DSM-III criteria were compared to the remaining manics. Manics satisfying DSM-III schizophreniform criteria had more depressive symptoms, but the two groups did not differ significantly on a number of demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables previously found to discriminate schizophrenics from affectives. The morbid risk for affective disorder in first-degree relatives of manics satisfying DSM-III schizophreniform criteria, although not significantly different, was one-third that of the remaining manics. However, the morbid risk for alcoholism in the relatives of the schizophreniform sample was twice that of the other group. The relative groups did not differ in combined morbid risk for alcoholism and affective disorder. The validity for psychiatric research of the DSM-III schizophreniform category is discussed in light of these findings.
Reconstruction of magnetization density in two-dimensional samples from soft X-ray speckle patterns using the multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction method

A non-destructive technique for imaging magnetic domains in thin films and two-dimensional magnetic structures using coherent soft X-ray scattering and the multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction method (MAD) is proposed. The method exploits the strong energy dependence in the magnetic scattering amplitude for 3d transition metals near the L_{2,3} absorption edges and 4f elements near the M_{4,5} absorption edges. The phase information required in the reconstruction algorithm is derived from the interference between the charge and magnetic scattering amplitudes. Magnetic speckle patterns from the magnetic domain distribution in an artificially defined Fe thin film are used to demonstrate this reconstruction algorithm. Circularly and linearly polarized incident light are examined separately to investigate the effect of polarization on the capability of the method.
Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids Activate K+ Channels in Coronary Smooth Muscle Through a Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are endothelium-derived arachidonic acid metabolites of cytochrome P450. They dilate coronary arteries, open K+ channels, and hyperpolarize vascular smooth muscles. However, the mechanisms of these smooth muscle actions remain unknown. This study examined the effects of EETs on the large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (KCa) in smooth muscle cells of small bovine coronary arteries. In cell-attached patch-clamp experiments, 11,12-EET produced a 0.5- to 10-fold increase in the activity of the KCa channels when added in concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 nmol/L. In the inside-out excised membrane patch mode, 11,12-EET was without effect on the activity of the KCa channel unless GTP (0.5 mmol/L) or GTP and ATP (1 mmol/L) were added to the bath solution. In the presence of GTP and ATP, the increase in the KCa channel activity with 11,12-EET in inside-out patches was comparable to that in cell-attached patches. This effect of 11,12-EET in inside-out patches was blocked by the addition of GDP-beta-S (100 mumol/L). In outside-out patches, 11,12-EET also increased the KCa channel activity when GTP and ATP were added to the pipette solution. The addition of a specific anti-Gs alpha antibody (100 nmol/L) in the pipette solution completely blocked the activation of the KCa channels induced by 11,12-EET. An anti-G beta gamma or anti-Gi alpha antibody was without effect. We conclude that 11,12-EET activates the KCa channels by a Gs alpha-mediated mechanism. This mechanism contributes to the effects of EETs as endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors to hyperpolarize and relax arterial smooth muscle.
In-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest.

The understanding of the incidence, epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of pediatric cardiac arrest has evolved greatly in the past two decades. This includes recognition that cardiopulmonary resuscitation delays in cardiac arrest are especially injurious, ventricular arrythmias are not as uncommon in children as previously believed, and four distinct phases of cardiac arrest can be delineated. Performance of, and technologic advances in, the treatment of cardiac arrest make this an exciting time in the field.
Temporal and Spatial Structure of the Equatorial Deep Jets in the Pacific Ocean

Abstract The spatial and temporal structure of the equatorial deep jets (EDJs) in the Pacific Ocean is investigated using CTD station data taken on the equator from 1979 through 2001. The EDJs are revealed in profiles of vertical strain, ξz, estimated from the CTD data in a stretched vertical coordinate system. The majority of synoptic meridional sections were occupied over an 8-yr span west of the date line. Two-decade equatorial time series are available at both 110°W and 140°W. Analysis shows the expected equatorial trapping of ξz but yields little new detailed information about the EDJ meridional structure. Analysis of the equatorial data yields novel results. The EDJs are most easily seen in the eastern Pacific (at and east of 140°W). There, they may be isolated from the influence of higher-frequency Rossby waves generated by surface forcing. Spectral analysis of equatorial ξz profiles shows a significant and coherent peak at 400-sdbar vertical wavelength (with No = 1.56 × 10−3 s−1) from 95°W to 142°...
An assessment of wide bandgap semiconductors for power devices

An advantage for some wide bandgap materials, that is often overlooked, is that the thermal coefficient of expansion (CTE) is better matched to the ceramics in use for packaging technology. It is shown that the optimal choice for uni-polar devices is clearly GaN. It is further shown that the future optimal choice for bipolar devices is C (diamond) owing to the large bandgap, high thermal conductivity, and large electron and hole mobilities. A new expression relating the critical electric field for breakdown in abrupt junctions to the material bandgap energy is derived and is further used to derive new expressions for specific on-resistance in power semiconductor devices. These new expressions are compared to the previous literature and the efficacy of specific power devices, such as heterojunction MOSFETs, using GaN are discussed.
TIMs: central regulators of immune responses

Exhaustion of T cell responses during chronic viral infections has been observed in both mouse and man and has been attributed to up-regulation of PD-1 on the surface of exhausted T cells. In patients with chronic human HIV infection, T cell exhaustion leads to opportunistic infections associated with AIDS. However, not all the exhausted T cells express PD-1, suggesting that other molecules may be involved in the phenotype. A new study now demonstrates a central role for T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain–containing protein-3 (TIM-3) in T cell exhaustion during chronic HIV infection and suggests that TIM-3 may be a novel therapeutic target in chronic viral diseases.
Neurocysticercosis: Updates on Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management

Neurocysticercosis is now recognized as a common cause of neurologic disease in developing countries and the United States. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations vary with the site of infection and accompanying host response. Inactive infection should be treated symptomatically. Active parenchymal infection results from an inflammatory reaction to the degenerating cysticercus and will also respond to symptomatic treatment. Controlled trials have not demonstrated a clinical benefit for antiparasitic drugs. Ventricular neurocysticercosis often causes obstructive hydrocephalus. Surgical intervention, especially cerebrospinal fluid diversion, is the key to management of hydrocephalus. Shunt failure may be less frequent when patients are treated with prednisone and/or antiparasitic drugs. Subarachnoid cysticercosis is associated with arachnoiditis. The arachnoiditis may result in meningitis, vasculitis with stroke, or hydrocephalus. Patients should be treated with corticosteroids, antiparasitic drugs, and shunting if hydrocephalus is present.
Critical fluctuations in zero dimensional superconductors

Abstract Time dependent fluctuations of the order parameter in zero dimensional superconductors are studied in the critical fluctuation region using the Langevin equation approach.
Volcano‐earthquake interaction at Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii

[1] The activity at Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii, is characterized by eruptive fissures that propagate into the Southwest Rift Zone (SWRZ) or into the Northeast Rift Zone (NERZ) and by large earthquakes at the basal decollement fault. In this paper we examine the historic eruption and earthquake catalogues, and we test the hypothesis that the events are interconnected in time and space. Earthquakes in the Kaoiki area occur in sequence with eruptions from the NERZ, and earthquakes in the Kona and Hilea areas occur in sequence with eruptions from the SWRZ. Using three-dimensional numerical models, we demonstrate that elastic stress transfer can explain the observed volcano-earthquake interaction. We examine stress changes due to typical intrusions and earthquakes. We find that intrusions change the Coulomb failure stress along the decollement fault so that NERZ intrusions encourage Kaoiki earthquakes and SWRZ intrusions encourage Kona and Hilea earthquakes. On the other hand, earthquakes decompress the magma chamber and unclamp part of the Mauna Loa rift zone, i.e., Kaoiki earthquakes encourage NERZ intrusions, whereas Kona and Hilea earthquakes encourage SWRZ intrusions. We discuss how changes of the static stress field affect the occurrence of earthquakes as well as the occurrence, location, and volume of dikes and of associated eruptions and also the lava composition and fumarolic activity.
Validation of a Simple Screening Tool for Identifying Unmet Palliative Care Needs in Patients With Cancer

The authors conclude an 11-item screening tool seems to be a valid method for identifying patients with cancer who have complex PC needs and could benefit from a PC consult.
The intestine is the major site of interaction between midazolam and verapamil

Objective To determine the site of the drug interaction between verapamil and midazolam, we examined the effect of verapamil on intestinal and hepatic CYP3A activity in vivo using midazolam as a CYP3A substrate. Methods Five healthy subjects (ages 23-48 yrs and BMI ranging 21.9–30.4) were enrolled and completed the study. Midazolam was given intravenously (0.05 mg/kg over 30 min) and orally (4 mg) on consecutive days and serial blood samples were obtained. The intravenous and oral midazolam studies were repeated after a seven-day regimen of verapamil (sustained release formula, 240 mg, once daily in the morning). Blood midazolam concentrations were determined by LC/MS. Results The oral clearance of midazolam was decreased 4-fold (157.76 ± 135.89 L/hr to 39.87 ± 15.07 L/hr, p = 0.16) and the systemic clearance was also decreased (34.65 ± 14.18 L/hr to 21.35 ± 5.92 L/hr, p = 0.10) after verapamil treatment. The oral bioavailability (0.33 ± 0.14 to 0.59 ± 0.17, p = 0.02) and intestinal availability (0.49 ± 0.16 to 0.73 ± 0.22, p = 0.04) were significantly increased. However, verapamil did not significantly (p = 0.11) alter the hepatic extraction ratio (0.36 ± 0.19 to 0.21 ± 0.03) of midazolam. Conclusion These data indicate that the intestine is the major site of the interaction between midazolam and verapamil. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P86–P86; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.329
A study on Load Power Probability-Distribution-Function effect on power conversion efficiency

This paper presents a study on the effect of load power distribution on the overall system or platform energy efficiency. By utilizing a MatLabreg simulation model that has been developed in this work, it is shown how the load power probability-distribution-function (P-PDF) and the power efficiency curve of power delivery/conversion affects the overall energy consumption of a load, system, and/or platform. The study shows how to select the power conversion efficiency optimization point and shape given a known P-PDF. It is also shown that there is a potential to improve the system or platform overall energy efficiency, if the workload distribution and power management scheme used are designed while considering available VR designs efficiency curves, such that the appropriate P-PDF is obtained for higher total energy efficiency.
Differences in Mental Health Outcomes among Whites, African Americans, and Hispanics Following a Community Disaster

A number of studies have assessed the association between race and ethnicity and psychological health status following exposure to a stressful event. However, some of these studies indicate racial and ethnic minorities have poorer mental health relative to Whites, while others show no differences or that minorities may actually have better psychological health. One year after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, we collected data on a random sample of city residents (N = 2368). The dependent variables were posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTSD symptom severity, major depression, panic attack, and general physical and mental well-being. We categorized our respondents as Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic African American, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Other Hispanics. Bivariate results indicated racial/ethnic differences for PTSD symptom severity, depression, general physical and mental health, and panic attack. Using logistic regression and controlling for possible confounding factors, most of these associations were rendered non-significant. That is, we found no post-disaster racial/ethnic differences for PTSD, PTSD symptom severity, or physical health. African Americans and Other Hispanics were less likely to meet criteria for major depression or to be classified as unhealthy on the self-report SF-12 mental health scale compared to Whites. Only for panic attack were African Americans and Puerto Ricans more likely to meet criteria for this outcome. Thus, our study found little support for the hypothesis that Latinos or African Americans consistently suffered from poorer psychological and physical well-being in the aftermath of traumatic events, relative to Whites.
Histologic localization of indocyanine green dye in aging primate and human ocular tissues with clinical angiographic correlation

Abstract Objective This study aimed to histologically localize indocyanine green (ICG) dye in the geriatric primate and human eye and to correlate these findings with clinical ICG angiography. Design The study design was a clinicopathologic correlation. Participants Six eyes of three geriatric monkeys ( Maccaca mulatta ) with macular drusen, 19 to 29 years of age, housed at the California Primate Research Center and an enucleated human eye from a 66-year-old patient with choroidal melanoma were examined. Intervention All six monkey eyes and the human eye underwent clinical ICG angiography. Five monkey eyes were enucleated at varying intervals after intravenous ICG dye injection for histologic examination. One monkey eye was removed without prior ICG injection as an age-matched control. The human eye was enucleated after intravenous injection of ICG dye. Main outcome measures Infrared fluorescence microscopy of freeze-dried tissue sections was performed to detect ICG fluorescence. Histologic sections were stimulated with an 810-nm diode laser, and the fluorescence emitted was detected with a Hamamatsu infrared camera. The images were digitally recorded. The distribution of fluorescence on histologic examination was correlated with the fluorescence of the clinical ICG angiogram. Results Infrared fluorescence microscopy of monkey sections localized fluorescence within retinal and choroidal vessels early after injection of ICG dye. The ICG fluorescence was seen in the extravascular choroidal stroma within 10 minutes after injection. The stromal fluorescence persisted in sections obtained 50 minutes after injection of ICG. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-Bruch's membrane complex was brightly fluorescent in the middle- and latestage histologic sections. Drusen deposits were brightly fluorescent at all timepoints examined. Similar findings were observed in freeze-dried tissue sections of the human eye. The fluorescence detected on histologic sections correlated closely with the fluorescence of the clinical ICG angiograms for the same interval. Conclusions The ICG dye does not remain solely within the choroidal intravascular space but extravasates into the choroidal stroma and accumulates within the RPE. Extravascular ICG binds to drusen material. These findings will enhance the interpretation of clinical ICG angiography.
The crystal structure of an oligo(U):pre-mRNA duplex from a trypanosome RNA editing substrate.

Guide RNAs bind antiparallel to their target pre-mRNAs to form editing substrates in reaction cycles that insert or delete uridylates (Us) in most mitochondrial transcripts of trypanosomes. The 5' end of each guide RNA has an anchor sequence that binds to the pre-mRNA by base-pair complementarity. The template sequence in the middle of the guide RNA directs the editing reactions. The 3' ends of most guide RNAs have ∼15 contiguous Us that bind to the purine-rich unedited pre-mRNA upstream of the editing site. The resulting U-helix is rich in G·U wobble base pairs. To gain insights into the structure of the U-helix, we crystallized 8 bp of the U-helix in one editing substrate for the A6 mRNA of Trypanosoma brucei. The fragment provides three samples of the 5'-AGA-3'/5'-UUU-3' base-pair triple. The fusion of two identical U-helices head-to-head promoted crystallization. We obtained X-ray diffraction data with a resolution limit of 1.37 A. The U-helix had low and high twist angles before and after each G·U wobble base pair; this variation was partly due to shearing of the wobble base pairs as revealed in comparisons with a crystal structure of a 16-nt RNA with all Watson-Crick base pairs. Both crystal structures had wider major grooves at the junction between the poly(U) and polypurine tracts. This junction mimics the junction between the template helix and the U-helix in RNA-editing substrates and may be a site of major groove invasion by RNA editing proteins.
A primary cilia-dependent etiology for midline facial disorders

Human faces exhibit enormous variation. When pathological conditions are superimposed on normal variation, a nearly unbroken series of facial morphologies is produced. When viewed in full, this spectrum ranges from cyclopia and hypotelorism to hypertelorism and facial duplications. Decreased Hedgehog pathway activity causes holoprosencephaly and hypotelorism. Here, we show that excessive Hedgehog activity, caused by truncating the primary cilia on cranial neural crest cells, causes hypertelorism and frontonasal dysplasia (FND). Elimination of the intraflagellar transport protein Kif3a leads to excessive Hedgehog responsiveness in facial mesenchyme, which is accompanied by broader expression domains of Gli1, Ptc and Shh, and reduced expression domains of Gli3. Furthermore, broader domains of Gli1 expression correspond to areas of enhanced neural crest cell proliferation in the facial prominences of Kif3a conditional knockouts. Avian Talpid embryos that lack primary cilia exhibit similar molecular changes and similar facial phenotypes. Collectively, these data support our hypothesis that a severe narrowing of the facial midline and excessive expansion of the facial midline are both attributable to disruptions in Hedgehog pathway activity. These data also raise the possibility that genes encoding ciliary proteins are candidates for human conditions of hypertelorism and FNDs.
Risk-based fault diagnosis and safety management for process systems

Today, plants in chemical and process industry are becoming larger and more complex. Corollary of this trend implies that each hour of down time is more expensive. As industrial systems enlarge, the total amount of energy and material being handled increases, making fault diagnosis and safety management considerably important both from the viewpoint of process safety as well as economic loss. Therefore, seeking an effective approach to perform fault diagnosis and implement safety management is important and imperative. An innovative methodology of risk-based SPC fault diagnosis and its integration with Safety Instrumented System (SIS) is proposed in this thesis to assure the process safety. -- Unlike any existing fault diagnosis and safety management approaches, the proposed methodology pioneers a brand new pathway for the fault diagnosis and safety management in process industry. This proposed methodology neither depends on any process model as model-based methods, nor depends on large amount of historical process data as conventional process history based method. Control chart technique is used to distinguish abnormal situation from normal operation based on three-sigma rule and linear trend forecast. Time series and moving average techniques are used to perform real time monitoring and noise filtering in fault diagnosis process. Furthermore, risk indicators are used to identify and determine potential fault(s) to minimize the number of false alarms. -- The proposed methodology of risk-based SPC fault diagnosis and its integration with safety instrumented systems is implemented using G2 development environment. To test and verify this methodology, a tank filling system and a steam power plant system with SIS1s and SIS2s are developed in G2 environment. A technique breakthrough, from univariate monitoring to multivariate monitoring for SPC fault diagnosis has been made in the verification in the steam power plant system.
MARVEL: multiple antenna based relative vehicle localizer

Access to relative location of nearby vehicles on the local roads or on the freeways is useful for providing critical alerts to the drivers, thereby enhancing their driving experience as well as reducing the chances of accidents. The problem of determining the relative location of two vehicles can be broken into two smaller subproblems: (i) Relative lane localization, where a vehicle determines if the other vehicle is in left lane, same lane or right lane with respect to it, and (ii) Relative front-rear localization where it needs to be determined which of the two vehicles is ahead of the other on the road. In this paper, we propose a novel antenna diversity based solution, MARVEL, that solves the two problems of determining the relative location of two vehicles. MARVEL has two components: (i) a smartphone; and (ii) four wireless radios. Unlike exisiting technologies, MARVEL can also determine relative location of vehicles that are not in the immediate neighborhood, thereby providing the driver with more time to react. Further, due to minimal hardware requirements, the deployment cost of MARVEL is low and it can be easily installed on newer as well as existing vehicles. Using results from our real driving tests, we show that MARVEL is able to determine the relative lane location of two vehicles with 96.8% accuracy. Through trace-driven simulations, we also show that by aggregating information across different vehicles, MARVEL is able to increase the localization accuracy to 98%.
Test-Retest Reliability of a Student Self-Assessment of Professional Behaviors

The test-retest reliability of the University of Indianapolis School of Occupational Therapy Student Self-Assessment for Professional Behaviors was investigated. Twenty-seven first year and 31 second year students participated in the study. Results indicated that 31 (83.78%) of 37 academic questions answered by first year students were significant for test-retest reliability and 6 (16.22%) of 37 questions were not significant at alpha level 0.05. Of the 74 combined academic and clinical questions answered by second year students, 56 (75.68%) were significant for test-rest reliability and 18 (24.32%) were not significant at alpha level 0.05. To further examine results, 5 second year students participated in a focus group. Focus group results revealed themes regarding tool impressions, individual differences, and question display. Findings emphasized areas for revision to enhance test-retest reliability of the self-assessment tool.
Effective at the Margins: Outmigration and Economic Development in Rural North Carolina

This paper describes the economic and social challenges faced by Enfield, a small town in rural northeastern North Carolina, and the efforts by the Center for Competitive Economies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to assist the community in a strategic economic development plan to address these challenges. In particular, the paper outlines the challenges and tensions between place-based versus people-based economic development approaches and how these tensions are generalizeable to other rural small towns. Lastly, the paper concludes that even the most effective economic development strategies may only impact the community marginally given the larger confluence of events in the broader region, such as general population loss due to outmigration, declining traditional industries, and stagnant regional economies.