cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A revision of Billingham's tenets: the central role of lymphocyte migration in acute graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract The migration of cells from vascular to extravascular compartments effects a sequential cascade of events, involving an interplay between adhesion molecules and chemokines. All T cell–mediated immune responses, of which acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an example, require that effector cells reach their target tissues. Lymphocytes do not enter specific tissues because they "see" a given antigen; they enter because they possess the requisite combination of homing receptors and chemokine receptors to engage the endothelium at the target tissue(s). Billingham's tenets on the immunobiology of GVHD must be expanded to accommodate this obligatory homing component. Because GVHD is relatively organ specific—principally affecting the skin, gut, and liver—our increasing knowledge of the pertinent adhesion molecules and chemokines directing effector cell trafficking to these sites offers novel therapeutic approaches for prevention or treatment of GVHD. The potential efficiency of this form of therapy could eliminate the use of graft manipulations (eg, T-cell depletion) and broad immunosuppressives, thereby lessening infectious complications and preserving the potent graft-versus-malignancy effect of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Chemiluminescent reactions of Sn2, Ge2 and Si2 with O2

Abstract Chemiluminescence observed in a beam-gas study of group 14 elements with O2 is attributed to efficient reactions of the group 14 dimers. Comparisons are presented with chemiluminescent reactions of the atoms with N2O and NO2.
Cholangiocarcinoma in a choledochal cyst: preoperative diagnosis

Carcinoma is a recognized complication of choledochal cysts with a reported frequency of 3 to 28% in recent studies [1 , 2]. The risk of cholangiocarcinoma increases with age. In the first decade, the prevalence of cyst-associated carcinoma is approximately 0.7% and increases to 14.3% after the age of2O years [3]. The prognosis of the malignancy has remained poor because of the extensive local and/or regional spread and multicentricity of the tumor [1]. This report illustrates the sonographic, CT, and ERCP appearance of focal superficial cholangiocarcinoma in a choledochal cyst without evidence of regional spread or metastatic disease. With no evidence of malignant spread, the patient was treated with trisegmentectomy.
Chimeric adenoviral vectors incorporating a fiber of human adenovirus 3 efficiently mediate gene transfer into prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND—We have developed a range of adenoviral (Ad) vectors based on human adenovirus serotype 5 (HAdV-5) displaying the fiber shaft and knob domains of species B viruses (HAdV-3, HAdV-11, or HAdV-35). These species B Ads utilize different cellular receptors than HAdV-5 for infection. We evaluated whether Ad vectors displaying species B fiber shaft and knob domains (Ad5F3Luc1, Ad5F11Luc1, and Ad5F35Luc1) would efficiently infect cancer cells of distinct origins, including prostate cancer. METHODS—The fiber chimeric Ad vectors were genetically generated and compared with the original Ad vector (Ad5Luc1) for transductional efficiency in a variety of cancer cell lines, including prostate cancer cells and primary prostate epithelial cells (PrEC), using luciferase as a reporter gene. RESULTS—Prostate cancer cell lines infected with Ad5F3Luc1 expressed higher levels of luciferase than Ad5Luc1, as well as the other chimeric Ad vectors. We also analyzed the transductional efficiency via monitoring of luciferase activity in prostate cancer cells when expressed as a fraction of the gene transfer in PrEC cells. In the PC-3 and DU145 cell lines, the gene transfer ratio of cancer cells versus PrEC was once again highest for Ad5F3Luc1. CONCLUSION—Of the investigated chimeric HAdV-5/species B vectors, Ad5F3Luc1 was judged to be the most suitable for targeting prostate cancer cells as it showed the highest transductional efficiency in these cells. It is foreseeable that an Ad vector incorporating the HAdV-3 fiber could potentially be used for prostate cancer gene therapy.
Religious Stereotyping and Voter Support for Evangelical Candidates

While much important research exists on the topic of religion and politics, very little exists on candidate religious affiliation and its potential effect on voters' behavior. This article addresses the issue of candidate religion from the point of view that it acts as an information cue for voters in elections through trait and belief stereotypes. Using a case study of hypothetical evangelical Christian candidates and an original experimental data set, this analysis demonstrates that voters stereotype evangelicals as more conservative than other candidates, as well as more competent and trustworthy, all else equal. These stereotypes subsequently play a significant role in voters' choices of whom to support.
The binding of Ca2+ to Ca2+-transporting microsomes derived from bovine uterine sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Summary An obligatory early step in the transport of calcium across the internal membranes of smooth muscle cells is the binding of calcium to the Ca,Mg-ATPase. The characterization of calcium binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum from smooth muscle has not been reported. Calcium binding to a bovine myometrium preparation was investigated using Scatchard analysis and a computer program utilizing weighted least squares curve fitting and an exact mathematical model of binding. This permitted objective measurement of goodness of fit and showed that best fit was obtained using a two site model. Magnesium did not change the affinity for calcium of the two sites; but reduced the number of low affinity sites to half.
Role of cortical feedback in the receptive field structure and nonlinear response properties of somatosensory thalamic neurons.

Previous studies have suggested that the descending pathway from the primary somatosensory (SI) cortex to the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus has only a mild facilitative influence over thalamic neurons. Given the large numbers of corticothalamic terminations within the rat somatosensory thalamus and their complex topography, we sought to examine the role of corticothalamic feedback in the genesis of spatiotemporal receptive fields and the integration of complex tactile stimuli in the thalamus. By combining focal cortical inactivation (produced by microinjection of the GABAA agonist muscimol), with chronic multielectrode recordings, we observed that feedback from the rat SI cortex has multiple influences on its primary thalamic relay, the ventral posterior medial (VPM) nucleus. Our data demonstrate that, when single-whisker stimuli were used, the elimination of cortical feedback caused significant changes in the spatiotemporal structure of the receptive fields of VPM neurons. Cortical feedback also accounted for the nonlinear summation of VPM neural responses to simultaneously stimulated whiskers, in effect "linearizing" the responses. These results argue that the integration and transmission of tactile information through VPM are strongly influenced by the state of SI cortex.
The power of iterated generalized least squares (GLS) method to detect direct relationships in the analysis of correlated quantitative traits

We examined the power of the stepwise iterated generalized least squares (GLS) method by modeling the relationship between quantitative traits and other variables using the simulated data for Problem 2A. The comparison between the generating model provided by the workshop and the results of the stepwise iterated GLS model showed that this method could be used as a first step in identifying the underlying model for genetic data. The estimated covariance matrices also provide useful information about the genetic properties of the traits.
The central nervous system in childhood leukemia: I. The arachnoid

A histopathologic study was performed to evaluate the distribution and extension of intracranial leukemic infiltrates and their relationship to other morphological disturbances of the central nervous system (CNS) in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. Of 126 brains examined, 70 had arachnoid leukemia at the time of autopsy. The earliest evidence of leukemia was seen in the walls of superficial arachnoid veins. With more advanced arachnoid leukemia, the disease was seen to extend into the deep arachnoid surrounding blood vessels as they course through the brain. The arachnoid leukemia followed a predictable expanding pattern to eventual invasion of brain parenchyma with destruction of the pia-glial membrane. Leukemic infiltrate at the capillary-neural tissue interface was present only following destruction of pia-glial membrane secondary to deep arachnoid leukemia. Arachnoid fibrosis and certain brain parenchymatous lesions were found in association with arachnoid leukemia. The brain lesions included gliosis, necrosis, cerebral hemorrhage, and nonhemorrhagic degenerative encephalopathy. This study demonstrates that CNS leukemia is primarily an arachnoid disease. Disturbances of brain parenchyma apparently result from leukemic extension through pia-glial membrane or interference with local perfusion due to constriction of blood vessels by perivascular arachnoid leukemia.
Gibbs states on the symbolic space over an infinite alphabet

We consider subshifts of finite type on the symbolic space generated by incidence matrices over a countably infinite alphabet. We extend the definition of topological pressure to this context and, as our main result, we construct a new class of Gibbs states of Holder continuous potentials on these symbol spaces. We establish some basic stochastic properties of these Gibbs states: exponential decay of correlations, central limit theorem and an a.s. invariance principle. This is accomplished via detailed studies of the associated Perron-Frobenius operator and its conjugate operator.
Targeted genomic rearrangements using CRISPR/Cas technology

Genomic rearrangements are frequently observed in cancer cells but have been difficult to generate in a highly specific manner for functional analysis. Here we report the application of CRISPR/Cas technology to successfully generate several types of chromosomal rearrangements implicated as driver events in lung cancer, including the CD74-ROS1 translocation event and the EML4-ALK and KIF5B-RET inversion events. Our results demonstrate that Cas9-induced DNA breaks promote efficient rearrangement between pairs of targeted loci, providing a highly tractable approach for the study of genomic rearrangements.
Snakes are important nest predators of Dickcissels in an agricultural landscape

Abstract We used video cameras to monitor 33 Dickcissel (Spiza americana) nests during 2003–2004 in the highly-fragmented, agricultural ecosystem of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Nine nests fledged young, 20 were completely depredated, three were partially depredated, and one was abandoned due to ants. Nine snakes, six small mammals, six common raccoons (Procyon lotor), two Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater), and one American mink (Neovison vison) were documented as nest predators. These results suggest a diversity of predators is responsible for depredation of Dickcissel nests with snake predation being an important cause of nest failure.
Preliminary virological and immunological studies of the salivary gland tumor of C3H-He mouse.

Dai dati riferiti si mettono in evidenza due punti: il primo dimostra nel tumore in esame l'assenza di particelle virali e di effetto citopatico specifico per il virus polioma. Inoltre non si mettono in evidenza anticorpi fissanti il complemento o emoagglutinoinbenti per il virus polioma negli animali portatori di tumori. II secondo punto dimostra che durante il suo sviluppo il tumore della ghiandola salivare e incapace di indurre una risposta immunologica apprezzabile.
RiboaptDB: A Comprehensive Database of Ribozymes and Aptamers

Background Catalytic RNA molecules are called ribozymes. The aptamers are DNA or RNA molecules that have been selected from vast populations of random sequences, through a combinatorial approach known as SELEX. The selected oligo-nucleotide sequences (~200 bp in length) have the ability to recognize a broad range of specific ligands by forming binding pockets. These novel aptamer sequences can bind to nucleic acids, proteins or small organic and inorganic chemical compounds and have many potential uses in medicine and technology.
On the Quantitative Theory of An Electrostatic Voltage Multiplier

The detailed quantitative theory of a symmetrical, four carrier, electrostatic voltage multiplier is developed. It is shown that a machine of this type steps up a given applied d.c. potential in a definite ratio, and a formula for this (transformation) ratio is deduced in terms of the coefficients of capacity and the coefficients of induction of the elements of the machine in a definite configuration. A formula which gives the potential of the receivers every geometrical cycle (quarter turn) is deduced. While the current furnished by a device of this sort is extremely small, it may be used separately to excite an ordinary static machine, so that this machine will give a constant current at a constant high potential.
A Breeding Ground of the Nursehound ( Scyliorhinus stellaris ) in the Fal Estuary

DURING recent years I have had considerable experience on the oyster-beds and adjacent grounds in the Fal Estuary, and as a result of observations made at various times I consider that the greater part of the Laminarian zone in that estuary forms an extensive and regular breeding ground for the nurse-hound (Scyliorhinus stellaris = Scyllium catulus). In the autumn of 1924 a few egg-cases containing embryos of this shark-like fish were dredged on Laminaria on the Falmouth North Bank, Carclase, and on other grounds in ½ to if 1¾ fathoms. (A chart of the grounds of this region is given in my report on a “Survey of the Fal Oyster Beds,” 1926.) During the summer of 1926, egg-cases have been frequently taken on Laminaria at Turnaware Bar—which is situated about 1½ miles farther up the estuary than the grounds just mentioned—and young ones recently escaped from the egg-case have been seen at low water on this ground on several different occasions. Young nursehounds have also not infrequently been taken in oyster-dredges in autumn.
Physician use of transesophageal echocardiography varies with time after introduction into a hospital setting.

Abstract Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is useful in the diagnosis of intracardiac masses and tumors, vegetations, native and prosthetic valve dysfunction, thoracic aorta disease and congenital heart disease. 1 Recent reports suggest a variation in the use of TEE. 2–6 These reports generally describe either initial experiences 2 or reviews over 6 to 7 months. 5,6 Since new diagnostic techniques typically pass through stages before becoming part of established medical practice, 7 we hypothesized that the use of TEE varies with time after introduction into a hospital setting.
Platelet factors and the human vascular wall: variations in growth response between endothelial and medial smooth muscle cells.

Abstract The effects of platelet factors on human umbilical venous endothelial cell DNA-synthesis at various serum concentrations were studied. While [ 3 H]thymidine uptake of these cells was almost linearly related to the concentration of serum in the culture medium, no significant differences were found at any serum level between cultures treated with sera derived from either platelet-rich or platelet-poor plasma. The role of platelet factors in cellular migration into standardized mechanical "wounds" was also investigated following inhibition of the proliferative response by irradiation of endothelial monolayers. Repopulation of such "wounds" was not affected by platelet factors. We conclude that endothelial cells proliferate and migrate in vitro independently of platelet factors.
The real difficulties for malaria sporozoite vaccine development: nonresponsiveness and antigenic variation

Abstract Antibody against the circumsporozoite coat (CS) protein and cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL), probably also specific for the CS protein, can block sporozoite-induced malaria parasite infection. These mechanisms of immunity define current strategies for sporozoite vaccine development. In this article, Michael Good and colleagues emphasize that these approaches demand that the CS protein is immunogenic in all members of the population. Unfortunately, the CS protein is not immunogenic for T cells in up to 40% of adults in a region of Africa where malaria is endemic, and studies in mice suggest that immunogenicity is under the control of the immune response (lr) genes. Furthermore, the regions of the CS protein that are immunogenic for T cells are variant. Both the variation and the poor immunogenicity may be the result of selection pressures acting against hepatocytes bearing immunogenic parasites, which will be recognized and killed by CTL.
Analyses of the National Institute on Aging Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Family Study: implication of additional loci.

Objective To identify putative genetic loci related to the risk of late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD). Design Linkage analysis and family-based and case-control association analyses from a genomewide scan using approximately 6000 single-nucleotide polymorphic markers at an average intermarker distance of 0.65 cM. Setting The National Institute on Aging Genetics Initiative for Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (NIA-LOAD) was created to expand the resources for studies to identify additional genes contributing to the risk for LOAD. Participants We investigated 1902 individuals from 328 families with LOAD and 236 unrelated control subjects. Main Outcome Measures Clinical diagnosis of LOAD. Results The strongest overall finding was at chromosome 19q13.32, confirming the effect of the apolipoprotein E gene on LOAD risk in the family-based and case-control analyses. However, single-nucleotide polymorphisms at the following loci were also statistically significant in 1 or more of the analyses performed: 7p22.2, 7p21.3, and 16q21 in the linkage analyses; 17q21.31 and 22q11.21 in the family-based association analysis; and 7q31.1 and 22q12.3 in the case-control analysis. Positive associations at 7q31.1 and 20q13.33 were also significant in the meta-analysis results in a publicly available database. Conclusions Several additional loci may harbor genetic variants associated with LOAD. This data set provides a wealth of phenotypic and genotypic information for use as a resource in discovery and confirmatory research.
Protease Inhibitors and Urolithiasis

AbstractPurpose: We discuss the specific urological abnormalities associated with protease inhibitor therapy.Materials and Methods: We report on a human immunodeficiency virus positive patient who was on protease inhibitor therapy and presented with renal colic.Results: The stone passed spontaneously. Stone analysis was not consistent with any known composition of urinary calculus.Conclusions: The positive effects of protease inhibitors in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients mandate that the urological community become familiar with these drugs and the specific urological complications as the use of these drugs becomes widespread.
Exploring the Feasibility of Fully Homomorphic Encryption

In 2010, Gentry and Halevi presented the first FHE implementation. FHE allows the evaluation of arbitrary functions directly on encrypted data on untrusted servers. However, even for the small setting with 2048 dimensions, the authors reported a performance of 1.8 s for a single bit encryption and 32 s for recryption on a high-end server. Much of the latency is due to computationally intensive multi-million-bit modular multiplications. In this paper, we introduce two optimizations coupled with a novel precomputation technique. In the first optimization called partial FFT, we adopt Strassen’s FFT-based multiplication algorithm along with Barret reduction to speedup modular multiplications. For the encrypt primitive, we employ a window-based evaluation technique along with a modest degree of precomputation. In the full FFT optimization, we delay modular reductions and change the window algorithm, which allows us to carry out the bulk of computations in the frequency domain. We manage to eliminate all FFT conversion except the final inverse transformation drastically reducing the computation latency for all FHE primitives. We implemented the GH FHE scheme on two GPUs to further speedup the operations. Our experimental results with small parameter setting show speedups of 174, 7.6, and 13.5 times for encryption, decryption, and recryption, respectively, when compared to the Gentry–Halevi implementation. The speedup is enhanced in the medium setting. However, in the large setting, memory becomes the bottleneck and the speedup is somewhat diminished.
Minds, Modules, and Meta‐Analysis

Wellman and colleagues' meta-analysis of performance on the false-belief task is methodologically useful, but it does not lead to any theoretical progress concerning the nature of the mechanisms that underlie the existence and development of "theory of mind." In particular, the results of this meta-analysis are perfectly compatible with "early competence" accounts that posit a specific, innate, and possibly modular basis for theory of mind. The arguments presented by Wellman and colleagues against such views stem not from their meta-analytic data, but from mistaken assumptions regarding the requirements of such theories (e.g., that there exist manipulations that improve performance only, or to a greater degree, in young children). Contrary to what Wellman and colleagues claim, their meta-analysis, while consistent with conceptual change, does not lend any new support for such theories.
Update on the pathogenesis and treatment of systemic idiopathic arthritis.

Purpose of review Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) is an inflammatory condition characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, rash, arthritis, and serositis. Although the ultimate cause of this disorder remains elusive, recent work defining cytokine effector mechanisms has led to a new treatment paradigm for this condition. In this review, we describe the recent immunological reclassification of SJIA as an autoinflammatory disorder as well as detailing the dramatic changes in its treatment. Recent findings SJIA is an autoinflammatory disorder in which defects of innate immune system pathways lead to significant inflammation. Recent studies of the pathophysiology, as well as successful treatment trials, have established interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 as key cytokines in the pathogenesis of this condition. As a result, their inhibition has become the centerpiece of the current SJIA treatment paradigm. Summary There has been a major shift away from the traditional treatments of SJIA towards therapeutics that inhibit IL-1β and IL-6. In fact, the IL-1 blocker anakinra is now regarded as standard of care for SJIA patients with systemic symptoms, while the IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab shows great potential. Future research holds promise for the development of more efficient cytokine inhibition as well a more comprehensive knowledge of the innate cytokine networks in this disease.
Smoke-free laws and secondhand smoke exposure in US non-smoking adults, 1999–2002

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between smoke-free law coverage and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in the United States non-smoking adult population. Design: We used data from the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the US population. Serum cotinine levels were available for 5866 non-smoking adults from 57 survey locations. Each location was categorised into one of three groups indicating extensive, limited, and no coverage by a smoke-free law. Main outcome measures: The proportion of adults with SHS exposure, defined as having serum cotinine levels ⩾ 0.05 ng/ml. Results: Among non-smoking adults living in counties with extensive smoke-free law coverage, 12.5% were exposed to SHS, compared with 35.1% with limited coverage, and 45.9% with no law. Adjusting for confounders, men and women residing in counties with extensive coverage had 0.10 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06 to 0.16) and 0.19 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.34) times the odds of SHS exposure compared to those residing in counties without a smoke-free law. Conclusions: These results support the scientific evidence suggesting that smoke-free laws are an effective strategy for reducing SHS exposure.
TESTOSTERONE AS A PREDICTOR OF PATHOLOGICAL STAGE IN CLINICALLY LOCALIZED PROSTATE CANCER

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Substantial controversy exists in the literature regarding the association between pretreatment testosterone and disease outcome in patients with prostate cancer. We explored the relationship between preoperative total testosterone, and pathological stage and progression in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods:: We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy between January 1990 and June 2003. A total of 326 patients with pretreatment testosterone levels available were eligible for this analysis. Biochemical progression (BCR) was defined by postoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) greater than 0.4 ng/ml with a confirmatory increase and it occurred in 41 men. No men received adjuvant therapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to examine whether pretreatment testosterone was associated with...
Chemical methods of purification

Abstract This paper surveys a variety of techniques used in purification of materials for solid state devices. Particular attention is given to ion exchange methods. Application of these methods, materials for use in purification, and the design of systems to isolate the processing from the laboratory are discussed.
Injectable Vitamins A, D, and E: A Field Study

Abstract Injectable vitamins A, D, and E and saline were applied alternately to 957 milk cows in nine New York State Holstein herds at drying off and freshening between July, 1972, and July, 1973. Production from Dairy Herd Improvement, measures of reproductive performance, and occurrences of anomalies and disposals were recorded. No effect was significantly beneficial for injectable vitamins A, D, and E on any of 26 recorded measures of production, reproductive efficiency, or herd health.
Mediation of the mating induced increase in accessory reproductive organ size of male rats

Abstract Accessory reproductive organs were larger in mated than in unmated male rats. Following castration and hormone replacement therapy, only the perineal muscle and penis weight increased as a result of mating, therefore separate physiological processes are proposed to account for increases in these and accessory glands. The number of glans penis papillae was not affected by mating. Males which mated during the first opportunity provided did not have larger organs than those which did not, and males not mating despite repeated opportunity were found not to differ in organ size from socially isolated males. Mating latency was a function both of previous sexual experience and size of the secretory glands. Although 3 intromissions at 4 day intervals was sufficient stimulation to increase organ size, attempts to induce growth by mimicry of vaginal stimulation were unsuccessful, as were attempts to block the effect of intromission by glans penis anesthesia.
Enforcing the Law and Being a State

Many anarchists believe that a stateless society could and should feature laws. It might appear that, in so believing, they are caught in a contradiction. The anarchist objects to the state because its authority does not rest on actual consent, and using force to secure compliance with law in a stateless society seems objectionable for the same reason. Some people in a stateless society will have consented to some laws or law-generating mechanisms and some to others – while some will have consented to none. Someone’s obedience to a legal requirement could be justly enforceable absent the state, nonetheless, given either her actual consent to the requirement or to a mechanism responsible for generating it or the coextensiveness of the legal requirement with a moral requirement. And it could thus be just on the anarchist’s own terms to enforce a narrow range of positive legal requirements even against outlaws who had declined to consent to them.
Metabolic clearance rates of the subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin in man.

Highly purified preparations of the alpha- and beta-subunits of hCG (hCG alpha and hCG beta) were injected iv in normal subjects. After rapid injection, the disappearance of both subunits from serum was nonlinear when plotted on a semilog graph. A two-component exponential curve was fitted for each subject, and the curve parameters were used to estimate the MCR, apparent initial volume of distribution (Vd), and half-times of disappearance of the rapid and slow phase for each subunit. The Vd of hCG beta was indistinguishable from that of hCG alpha (1958 +/- 131 vs. 1729 +/- 99 ml/m2, respectively). The rapid phase half-time for hCG beta was significantly longer than that of hCG alpha (41.2 +/- 1.7 vs. 13.0 +/- 0.9 min; P less than 0.001), and the slow phase half-time of hCG beta was also significantly longer than that of hCG alpha (236 +/- 41 vs. 76 +/- 19 min; P less than 0.01). The estimated MCR of hCG alpha was 49.7 +/- 1.6 ml/min.m2; this value was significantly greater than that of hCG beta (19.0 +/- 0.7 ml/min.m2; P less than 0.001). No significant differences between sexes in parameters determined for the subunits were observed. Continuous infusion of subunits at a rate of 2.7 microgram/min achieved a steady state blood level of hCG beta that was significantly greater than that of hCG alpha (59.1 +/- 7.8 vs. 24.4 +/- 0.7 ng/ml; P less than 0.02) and gave a MCR of hCG alpha that was 3 times greater than the MCR of hCG beta (72.2 +/- 4.9 vs. 21.6 +/- 2.8 ml/min.m2; P less than 0.001). We conclude that the hCG subunits have similar Vds, but since hCG alpha has much shorter half-times of disappearance in both rapid and slow phases, the MCR of hCG alpha is much greater than that of hCG beta.
Feynman path integral for an infinite potential barrier

It is proposed that each of several analytical techniques used to evaluate the path integral when a spinless particle encounters an infinite potential barrier relies on more constraints than is necessary. We review the image, forbidden-paths, and eigenfunction-expansion methods, and the infinitesimal-propagator method is developed herein. It is then shown that the latter two methods contain assumptions leading to extra terms in the path-integral integrand which serve only to aid in the analytical evaluation of the path integral but which do not affect the outcome of that evaluation. The analytical arguments are further confirmed by a recently developed numerical method that, for a limited number of cases, is a direct evaluation of the path integral.
Pd/Pt/Au ohmic contact for AlSb/InAs0.7Sb0.3 heterostructures

Abstract A Pd/Pt/Au ohmic contact to AlSb/InAs 0.7 Sb 0.3 heterostructures has been studied. The contacts provide a contact resistance of 0.07 (±0.01) Ω mm when annealed at 300 °C for 15 min. Prior to annealing, the contact reacts non-uniformly with the heterostructure, but not down to the InAs 0.7 Sb 0.3 channel. Following annealing at 300 °C for 15 min, the entire heterostructure beneath the contact is consumed down to the underlying AlSb buffer layer. This morphology differs from that reported for optimized ohmic contacts to AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures.
A Within-Patient Analysis for Time-Varying Risk Factors of CKD Progression

Recent data suggest that nonlinear GFR trajectories are common among patients with CKD, but the modifiable risk factors underlying these changes in CKD progression rate are unknown. Analyses relating baseline risk factors to subsequent GFR decline are suboptimal because these relationships often attenuate as follow-up time increases and these analyses do not account for temporal changes in risk factors. We identified 74 participants in the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension who had both a period of rapid GFR decline and an extended period of stability during a follow-up period of ≥12 years. We performed a within-patient comparison of time-varying risk factors measured during the periods of GFR decline and stability and identified several risk factors associated with faster GFR decline: more hospitalization episodes and hospitalization days per year; higher BP, serum phosphorus, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio; lower serum albumin and urine sodium-to-potassium ratio; slower rate of decline of serum urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, and serum phosphorus; and faster rate of decline of serum hematocrit and serum bicarbonate. By allowing each patient to serve as his or her own control, this novel, within-patient analytic approach holds considerable promise as a means to identify time-varying risk factors associated with stabilization of GFR or acceleration of GFR decline.
Sitosterolemia: opposing effects of cholestyramine and lovastatin on plasma sterol levels in a homozygous girl and her heterozygous father☆

Sitosterolemia is a genetic disorder characterized by sitosterol accumulation in plasma and clinically accelerated atherosclerosis. Under a condition of metabolic control with a 30% fat, low-sitosterol diet, we compared the effects of monotherapy and dual-drug treatment with lovastatin and cholestyramine on plasma sterol parameters and endogenous cholesterol synthesis in a homozygous sitosterolemic patient with concomitant heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), her obligate heterozygous father, and hyperlipidemic control subjects. We found that for both the sitosterolemic homozygote and heterozygote, cholestyramine plus lovastatin dual therapy proved not to be superior to either drug treatment alone. In the homozygous patient, cholestyramine accounted for the decrease of plasma sterol (ie, lovastatin was ineffective), whereas in the heterozygote, lovastatin represented the margin of difference (ie, low-dose cholestyramine was relatively ineffective). Thus, the best treatment option for this homozygote child and her heterozygote father appears to be monotherapy with cholestyramine and lovastatin, respectively. Stimulation by bile acid malabsorption produced a dramatic decrease of plasma sterols in the homozygote, without increasing endogenous cholesterol synthesis, but this therapy was ineffective in the heterozygote. Decreasing endogenous cholesterol synthesis with lovastatin was effective in the heterozygote, but ineffective in the homozygote. In suspected sitosterolemia, a poor sterol response to lovastatin and a dramatic response to cholestyramine may differentiate homozygous from heterozygous and other familial forms of hyperlipidemia.
The appearance of an L1-like molecule in the chick primary visual pathway

A monoclonal antibody, 8D9, has been obtained that binds to axons in the chick nervous system. Biochemical and immunological experiments indicate that the 8D9 antigen is related to the mouse L1 cell-adhesion molecule. The results of immunohistochemical experiments using monoclonal antibody 8D9 to study the development of the chick visual system are consistent with the 8D9 antigen functioning in axon fasciculation.
Elastic stiffness model for the critical temperature Tc of Nb3Sn including strain dependence

Abstract A calculation is established for the critical temperature Tc of the superconductor Nb3Sn that includes the dependence on applied mechanical strain. The calculation employs the formalism of strong coupling phonon superconductivity, as usually given in frequency space. The directional nature of strain is included by expressing the equations of strong coupling in wave vector space. The relation between wave number and frequency is provided by the dispersion relations incorporating the effective elastic constants for the symmetry directions of the cubic crystal. An analytical formalism is established in which the elastic constants are derived in a unified way from an assumed strain energy potential function. The form of the strain energy potential is governed by the cubic symmetry. The scalar invariants of the strain tensor under the cubic symmetry group are determined as a set of basis functions for the strain energy potential. In the harmonic approximation, the relation between the strain energy function and the elastic constants determines the harmonic amplitudes of the strain potential from the measured dispersion relations. The electron–phonon coupling characteristic is approximated in a simple analytic form determined by inspection of the experimentally determined tunneling and phonon density of states. The critical temperature is calculated, through the equations of strong coupling, as a sum over the crystal symmetry directions. The anharmonic terms of the strain energy potential are introduced as the source of the strain dependence of the critical temperature. The allowed form of the anharmonic terms is again governed by cubic symmetry. The amplitudes of the anharmonic terms are determined from the strain dependence characteristics of single crystals and composite superconductors. The calculations are found to represent the observed strain dependence well with a strain energy function that contains three scalar invariants of the strain tensor, including the spherical (hydrostatic) strain invariant, and the principle parts of the second and third invariants of the deviatoric strain tensor. The formalism is applied to the analysis of composite conductors. The characteristics of the strain dependence of wire and tape geometries under longitudinal and transverse loads are related to the symmetry of the conductor and direction of applied load. Implications of conductor symmetry and constraint on the measurement of the strain dependent properties are identified.
A note on diagrams for turning-point diagnostics

A new diagram for discriminating a forecasting technique's history with respect to the two types of turning-point errors, missed turns and false signals is presented. This diagram extends Theil's original prediction-realization (P-R) presentation so that each of the four quadrants and the axes locates a distinct type of forecasting error or correct forecast, thus reducing much of the former ambiguity. This improvement is accomplished without the loss of any information.
HIGH-RESOLUTION STUDIES OF GAS AND DUST AROUND YOUNG INTERMEDIATE-MASS STARS. II. OBSERVATIONS OF AN ADDITIONAL SAMPLE OF HERBIG Ae SYSTEMS

New data are presented and analyzed, and are combined with the results from the earlier sample to address the properties of this class of circumstellar disk.
How Hewlett-Packard minimises knowledge loss

Large organisations are prone to reorganisation and workforce reductions, and many industries are now facing the challenge of an ageing (and retiring) workforce. Organisations are forced to make changes in the employee base, which intensifies the potential for knowledge loss. The need for knowledge retention is becoming more and more apparent. There are, of course, many methods, such as documentation and job mentoring. In order to minimise the impact of knowledge loss when an employee leaves, Hewlett-Packard (HP) has implemented a documentation process for knowledge transfer at an appropriate time. The 'Knowledge Briefs' (KBs) programme consists of a submission process, a review process, a measurement system and an incentives scheme. The programme has proved to be successful for many years – and shows a significant return on investment.
Pre-Service Teacher Training in Classroom Management: A Review of State Accreditation Policy and Teacher Preparation Programs.

Effective classroom management skills are essential for teachers. Unfortunately, many teachers do not receive adequate classroom management training prior to beginning their teaching careers and fe...
Personalized Addiction Treatment: How Close Are We?

Among addictive disorders, alcohol dependence is arguably the most common and disabling disorder and is often difficult to treat. Popular belief suggests that alcohol dependence is a matter of will power or lack of spirituality. Although cognition and social support play an important role in the treatment of addiction, neuroscience continues to shed light on other aspects of this disease. What is clear is that alcohol dependence is a heterogeneous disorder with many contributing factors. These factors vary from person to person and are known to have a major impact on treatment outcome. This variability, in part, has contributed to the development of new treatments. These treatments vary in their approach and range from psychosocial interventions, such as housing and employment focused care, to cognitively based approaches using cognitive behavioral therapy, to peer and spirituality based approaches and to pharmacological approaches. Research gains in understanding the heterogeneity of addiction coupled with the availability of a wide range of treatments have opened the door to the possibility of personalized approaches to treatment. The goal of a personalized or tailored approach to treatment planning is to maximize outcomes in the treatment of each individual and not just offer one standard treatment or treatments. The basis for personalized medicine rests in the realization that addiction is a …
Review: Evidence for the effect of vitamin D supplementation on many patient outcomes was assessed

Source Citation Theodoratou E, Tzoulaki I, Zgaga L, Ioannidis JP. Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies and random...
Intraocular pressure changes during rapid sequence induction and intubation: a comparison of rocuronium, atracurium, and succinylcholine.

Abstract Study Objective: To compare changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) during rapid sequence induction and intubation following rocuronium, succinylcholine, and atracurium. Design: Open-label, prospective, randomized study. Setting: Operating room at the Eye Foundation Hospital (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Patients: 45 ASA physical status I, II, and III patients, aged 18 to 65 years, scheduled for elective eye surgery with general anesthesia. Interventions: Anesthesia was rapidly induced in unpremedicated patients with a fixed combination of midazolam 0.025 mg/kg, alfentanil 0.025 mg/kg, and propofol 1.5 mg/kg. Intubation was performed, as clinically indicated, approximately 60 seconds following administration of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg, atracurium 0.5 mg/kg, or succinylcholine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg. Measurements and Main Results: Intraocular pressure was measured before induction of anesthesia (baseline), following anesthesia induction and administration of muscle relaxant (before intubation), and after intubation. The percent change in IOP from baseline was significantly decreased in the rocuronium group compared with the succinylcholine group ( p = 0.046) before intubation. This trend continued after intubation, but the difference was no longer significant ( p = 0.070). Intubation scores for rocuronium and succinylcholine groups were similar, and both scores were superior to that for the atracurium group ( p = 0.002). Conclusion: Intraocular pressure can be controlled during emergency induction of anesthesia and intubation with adequate depth of anesthesia and muscle relaxation. Rocuronium, succinylcholine, and atracurium all provided sufficient muscle relaxation to achieve successful intubation and no increase in IOP. However, rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg provided significantly better intubating conditions compared with atracurium, and it resulted in a significantly greater decrease in IOP compared with baseline than succinylcholine.
A Vintage Model of Terrorist Organizations

A dynamic model of a terrorist organization is presented with the defining feature being that a succession of operatives is recruited at different points in time. Consequently, a government’s counterterror policy must be tailored according to the vintage structure of the terrorist group that it faces. This implies that past history of counterterror policy and attacks matter for the formulation of current and future policy. The authors present the necessary steps to formulate and solve a vintage model, and to deal with the delay differential equations that naturally arise from the vintage structure. The resulting analysis captures the implications of a diverse set of phenomena such as Internet recruiting, training delays for logistically complex plots, age distribution of operatives, and the sensitivity of government impatience/cabinet composition to terrorist events for the inner dynamics of terrorist organizations and counterterror policy. Directions for future research are also suggested.
Evaluation Framework for Rigorous Exploration of Potential Benefits of Integrated Corridor Management

Highway congestion continues to be a major problem in urban transportation, and the search for feasible mitigation measures continues to evolve with the advancement in technology and a better understanding of traveler behavior. Integrated corridor management (ICM) has recently emerged as a potential mitigation measure; however, for this potential to be fully harnessed, research into the ways to identify ICM strategies that best fit the particular circumstances of a transportation corridor is necessary. This study proposed an ICM evaluation framework that was based on which strategies critical to congestion mitigation in a corridor could be identified. The proposed evaluation framework was demonstrated by using the I-95-I-395 ICM corridor in northern Virginia, where the effectiveness of selected ICM strategies was tested under both incident and nonincident conditions through a microscopic simulation model. An analysis of the simulation results identified variable speed limits, an increase in transit and pa...
Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to Assess Student Needs

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) estimates basic preferences in perception (information gathering) and judgment (decision making). Using a tool such as the MBTI is helpful in obtaining a profile of students attracted to textiles, clothing and design programs in terms of developing appropriate instructional strategies. The MBTI was administered to a sample of 222 students enrolled in a Midwestern university, of whom 115 were textiles, clothing and design (TCD) students, and 107 were agronomy students. TCD students were predominantly Intuitive-Feeling types as compared to the majority of agronomy students who were Sensing-Thinking. Implications were that the TCD students already possess potential for refining and developing strong interpersonal and communication skills, but may need to be shown the value ofdeveloping analytical approaches to problem solving.
An Integrated System Supporting Effective Indexing, Browsing and Retrieval of Microsoft Powerpoint Presentation Database

In this paper, we present an integrated system supporting effective indexing, browsing, and retrieval of Microsoft PowerPoint presentation databases. Our main achievement is that we provide an efficient representation that is automatically generated from semantic multimedia content analysis of presentation slides. We also improve the effectiveness of our poster representations of presentation slides and in turn enhance the performance of document understanding. Moreover, we help users with no or less domain knowledge locate presentations within a large database by our summarized presentation posters and information/document centric search algorithm. Finally, we comprehensively analyze the performance of our system with both quantitative comparisons and qualitative survey.