cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Appendicitis in the Deep Pelvis

Sonography is an excellent tool to identify the appendix in patients with abdominal pain. If a normal appendix is identified, then a search for alternative pathology can be pursued. Identifying the...
Perturbation Theory for a Bound Polaron

The binding energy of a polaron in a Coulomb potential is determined by the second-order perturbation theory to be ${E}_{B}^{(2)}={E}_{B}+\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}(\frac{1}{6}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{2}+\frac{1}{24}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{4})$, where $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is the Fr\"ohlich coupling constant and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{2}=\frac{{E}_{B}}{\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}}$. It is supposed that $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\ll}1$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\ll}1$. This improves the earlier calculation of Platzman and brings the perturbation theory to agreement with the result reached previously by the application of field-theoretic methods to the problem of a bound polaron.
Convergence of SIP

We prove that the Strongly Implicit Procedure (SIP), due to H. L. Stone, for solving selfadjoint elliptic difference equations is convergent.
Maintaining System Signal and Power Integrity Characteristics as Part of a Module Cost-Reduction Exercise

This paper describes design activity which involved replacing an existing ceramic single chip module package design with a new organic laminate version, each using the same ASIC, for the purpose of cost reduction, and subject to stringent system level design constraints. Since the electrical properties and characteristics of the ceramic and organic package designs were not absolutely identical, it was necessary to perform electrical equivalency analyses at the system level.
Occam's razor

Abstract We show that a polynomial learning algorithm, as defined by Valiant (1984), is obtained whenever there exists a polynomial-time method of producing, for any sequence of observations, a nearly minimum hypothesis that is consistent with these observations.
Religious Terror and the Prophetic Voice of Reason: Unmasking Our Myths of Righteousness

In a post 9/11 world where large-scale violence against civilian populations is ever more being justified through fundamentalist interpretations of Sacred Scripture, it is a moral imperative that religious communities establish a basis for some kind of objective criteria to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate interpretations of their sacred texts. While there has been much focus in the United States on the issue of Islamic extremism, the fact remains that Christian fundamentalism is a growing phenomenon behind US military aggression. However, Christian fundamentalism is not only an inadequate response to Islamic extremism, but more importantly it is dangerous because both ideologies share a presumption of their own righteousness and each divinely sanctions its acts of aggression toward the other. As an interpretive starting point, historical criticism becomes a much needed “prophetic voice of reason,”19 whereby inspired texts are examined honestly and in light of the historical limitations the...
Bromine abstraction versus dehydrogenation in the reaction of gaseous niobium clusters with saturated and unsaturated organic bromides

Abstract Small gaseous niobium clusters (Nb χ , χ = 1–12) synthesized by the laser evaporation technique are reacted with 1-bromopropene, 3-bromopropene, bromoethane, and 2-bromopropane in a fast flow reactor. While Br abstraction on all Nb clusters takes place with both saturated and unsaturated bromides, addition-dehydrogenation occurs only with the unsaturated compounds at similar concentrations. The abstraction reaction probability is independent of x , but the dehydrogenation reaction has a threshold (at χ=6) beyond which the reaction probability is greatly enhanced, and increases with cluster size from χ=6 to 10. Thus the two reactions (bromide abstraction and addition-dehydrogenation) are not competitive, and may result from different types of collisions, impulsive and sticky collisions, respectively.
Characterization of Corticosterone-Induced Protein Synthesis in Hippocampal Slices

: Corticosterone significantly increases the incorporation of [3H]leucine into specific cytosol protein(s) isolated from in vitro hippocampal slices prepared from adult male albino rats. The present study showed that in slices coincubated with glucocorticoid plus a protein synthesis inhibitor (1 mm-cycloheximide), no such enhancement of amino acid incorporation was observed, suggesting that the hormone acts in the hippocampus to increase de novo protein synthesis. Further experiments demonstrated that the steroid-induced protein synthesis was first detectable (+ 5.7%) following a 30-min exposure of slices to corticosterone; slices incubated for 1 or 2 h both showed a 12% increase in synthesis of the affected protein(s) when compared with controls. In an attempt to determine whether the glucocorticoid alteration of protein metabolism was receptor-mediated, hippocampal slices were also incubated with 10 nm-progesterone, a steroid known to compete for corticosterone binding to its cytosol receptor. Progesterone alone, which does not translocate cytoplasmic receptors to the nucleus, did not alter hippocampal protein metabolism and effectively blocked the induction by corticosterone of the 54K protein(s). These studies provide evidence that in the rat hippocampus corticosterone interacts with high-affinity steroid receptors to regulate the synthesis of specific protein(s).
Hypersensitivity reactions associated with botulinal antitoxin

During an 11-year period (1967 through 1977) CDC monitored reactions of hypersensitivity to botulinal antitoxin of equine origin. Of 268 persons given botulinal antitoxin, 24 (9.0 percent) had nonfatal acute (5.3 percent) or delayed (3.7 percent) hypersensitivity reactions to a skin test or therapeutic dose. The over-all rate of reaction did not differ with the age or sex of the recipient or with the type (AB or ABE) of antitoxin administered. Serum sickness occurred significantly more frequently in persons who received more than 40 ml of serum antitoxin (p < 0.02). The over-all reaction, rate was higher than that associated with other equine serum products and probably cannot be substantially reduced. This risk, however, would be substantially reduced if not eliminated by using botulinal immune globulin obtained from hyperimmunized human donors.
Deriving clinical action from whole-genome analysis.

Pathology is charged with the accurate assessment and characterization of disease symptoms. Much of this effort revolves around the proper diagnosis of cancer type. Previous to recent technological advances, these assessments and characterizations primarily consisted of ‘reading’ the stained tumor tissue to assess the status of cells, their configuration and type. Under today’s standards in pathology, molecular character ization of disease includes the assessment of the mutational status of individual genes, or small panels of genes, via proprietary commer cial platforms including targeted geneexpression arrays and quantitative RT-PCR. Table 1 shows a selection of clinically actionable variants used routinely in cancer care. These are individual or small panel tests that are largely delivered via a ‘send-out’ model for interpretation within a clinical time window. In the near future, one imagines that all of these and many more, for example, a large fraction of those listed in the solid tumor test directory [101] – variants that include SNP, copy number, structural variants or patterns of gene regulation – can and will be replaced by large-scale approaches, and in particular by whole-genome ana lysis (WGA). The benefits of moving from single testing to large-scale testing are straightforward. A large-scale approach will improve throughput, data management, general efficiency, speed of information transfer and result in better eco nomics for the hospital. In a few cases, the pressing need for tumor subtyping for the selection of gene-targeted therapies or determination of eligi bility for clinical research trials of new drugs has already driven a shift to panels of genes encompassed within laboratory developed tests (LDTs) [1,2].
Macrophage growth inhibitors derived from the murine peritoneal cavity.

The murine peritoneal cavity contains factors that inhibit the in vitro growth and colony formation of macrophages. The inhibition of macrophage growth is not due to cell death. In the presence of inhibitors, the growth of colony-forming macrophages is suppressed, and small clusters are formed as a result of limited proliferation. The more mature mono-nuclear phagocytes (blood monocytes and peritoneal exudate macrophages) are more sensitive to the overall inhibitory effect of the peritoneal inhibitors than the less mature bone marrow mononuclear phagocytes. Furthermore, using dialysis and Amicon ultrafiltration, at least two inhibitors with differential inhibitory effects can be demonstrated. The colony formation of bone marrow mononuclear phagocytes is suppressed mainly by a protease-resistant, small molecular weight ( 12,000), nondialyzable inhibitor. The data suggest a possible existence of a dual inhibitor control on the proliferation of mononuclear phagocytes in vivo. In addition, the in vitro cultured peritoneal exudate cells are capable of producing inhibitors that mimic the activity of the in vivo inhibitors.
Distribution of cholesterol, cholesterol esters and phospholipid phosphorus in normal blood.

Summary1. Total cholesterol, cholesterol esters, and phospholipid phosphorus were determined simultaneously in blood cells and plasma on 20 young healthy adults and 20 old patients with no known disorder of lipid metabolism. 2. Practically no difference was found in the lipid values of the 2 age groups. 3. Various ratios have been calculated from the lipid values determined. 4. The possible importance of similar studies under pathological conditions is pointed out.
Trust over Time and Distance in Global Partially Distributed Teams

Partially Distributed Teams (PDTs), increasingly common in this global economy, have some collocated members in subteams but the subteams are distributed over geographic distance. Trust is crucial for effective team functioning and may be even more so in PDTs which have unique characteristics that can impede the development and maintenance of trust. In a quasi-experimental field study we examine the dimensions of trust, how trust changes over time, and the effects of temporal and cultural distance on trust in PDTs composed of subteams from 8 nations. Results indicate that in PDTs, early trust predicts later trust, trust is multidimensional, and can increase over time. Variations in trust by temporal and cultural distance between the subteams in PDTs are more inconsistent than anticipated and the relationship with cultural distance decreases over time.
Quantifying avian habitat use in forests using track-plates

I constructed track-plates resembling short pine branches and attached them to pairs of neigh- boring pine trees distributed over a 1000-ha area in the Colorado Front Range. I checked track-plates after four and eight days between 24-31 August 2000 and scored each for the presence or absence of tracks. Half of all track plates were marked within four days. I found a positive correlation between scores of paired trees, indicating that track-plating accurately reflected the relative abundance of birds among habitat patches. A power analysis showed that to test for a 15% difference in bird visitation among habitats with a power of 0.75 required a sample size of 25 trees. SINOPSIS. Cuantificando el uso de habitat de aves en bosques usando ''placas de pisadas'' Construi ´ ''placas de pisadas'' semejando pequenas ramas de pino y las atea pares de pinos cercanos distribuidos a traves de cerca de 1000 ha en la ''Vertiente Delantera de Colorado.'' Reviseestas placas a los cuatro y ocho dias tras ser colocadas (entre el 24 y el 31 de agosto del 2000) y anotela evidencia de presencia o ausencia de pisadas en cada una. La mitad de todas las pisadas ocurrieron a los cuatro dias. Halleuna correlacion positiva entre los valores de a pareados, indicando que las ''placas de pisadas'' reflejan correctamente la abundancia relativa de las aves entre parchos de habitats. Un analisis de poder estadistico mostroque para poder probar un 15% de diferencias en la tasa de visitas de aves entre habitats con un poder de 0.75, se requiere una muestra de 25 arboles.
Predictors of Influenza Virus Vaccination Status in Hospitalized Children

Objective. To determine predictors of influenza virus vaccination status in children who are hospitalized during the influenza season. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children who were hospitalized with fever between 6 months and 3 years of age or with respiratory symptoms between 6 months and 18 years of age. The 1999 to 2000 influenza vaccination status of hospitalized children and potential factors that influence decisions to vaccinate were obtained from a questionnaire administered to parents/guardians. Results. Influenza vaccination rates for hospitalized children with and without high-risk medical conditions were 31% and 14%, respectively. For both groups of children, the vaccination status was strongly influenced by recommendations from physicians. More than 70% of children were vaccinated if a physician had recommended the influenza vaccine, whereas only 3% were vaccinated if a physician had not. Lack of awareness that children can receive the influenza vaccine was a commonly cited reason for nonvaccination. Conclusions. A minority of hospitalized children with high-risk conditions had received the influenza vaccine. However, parents’ recalling that a clinician had recommended the vaccine had a positive impact on the vaccination status of children.
Reduced cost current-source topology improving the harmonic spectrum through on-line functional minimization

The paper presents a current-source inverter (CSI) topology tailored for large multi-megawatt wind turbine applications. The cable distance between the generator and the mains enables the realization of a significant portion of the DC-link inductance. In order to improve the efficiency and to allow the possible utilization of rugged inexpensive thyristors, PWM modulation is not used in the main conversion chain. Unity fundamental power factor at the mains is guaranteed at any load condition while the 5/sup th/ and 7/sup th/ harmonics of the mains line currents are reduced by choosing a proper nominal operating point for the turbine. Further harmonic reduction is achieved through an active filter controlled via a newly proposed methodology suitable for digital signal processor (DSP) implementation. Such a controller relies on a real-time minimization of a proper functional and is capable of implementing true-feedback current regulation. A part of design simulation results, aimed at constructing a 10 kW prototype, are presented.
Use of tachycardia templates for recognition of recurrent monomorphic ventricular tachycardia

The authors show that the ventricular electrograms of recurrent monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) having an identical 12-lead surface configuration can be matched to a template constructed from a previous episode of the same VT. This could allow assessment of the number of times a device has delivered therapy for a known VT, in addition to the total number of therapies for cardiac rhythms that may have exceeded a rate criterion and/or morphology criterion. Templates constructed during monomorphic VT in 12 patients were examined by means of correlation waveform analysis (CWA) and area of difference (AD). With CWA the VT templates correctly discriminated 902/936 (97%) ventricular depolarizations, and AD correctly discriminated 932/936 (99%) depolarizations when the same VT was reinduced. The study used acute leads positioned during electrophysiologic study and has not been tested or validated on chronic leads. The monomorphic VT was reinduced during a single electrophysiology study. Whether changes in heart substrate or structure may cause changes in the intracardiac VT morphology over time has not been determined. >
ACOUSTIC EMISSION AND MACHINING - PROCESS ANALYSIS AND CONTROL

ABSTRACT A quantitative model considering signal attenuation and tool flank wear is proposed to describe the influence of machining process parameters on the level of acoustic emission (AE) generation. The AE sensitivities to width of cut, feed rate, and hardness of material in three-dimensional cutting are experimentally studied. The application of AE signal analysis to chip formation detection, providing information for process control in unattended machining, is described.
Sample band spreading phenomena in ground and spacebased electrophoretic separators

Sample stream spreading in the transverse direction (direction perpendicular to the chamber center plane) is calculated for two ground-based and one space-based continuous flow electrophoresis chambers. The magnitude of transverse sample stream spreading is shown to be a function of the difference in electrical conductivity between the sample and curtain buffer. Sample/buffer conductivity mismatch distorts the normally uniform electrical field in the vicinity of the sample to produce transverse field components which, in turn, deflect sample material toward the chamber walls. These results indicate that nongravity effects are important and must be resolved in order for space-based continuous flow electrophoresis to achieve its maximum potential.
A decomposition technique to determine optimal coordinating policies of energy storage plants with electric power system

The problem of coordinating energy storage plants with an integrated hydroelectric power system to achieve minimum overall operating costs is a large and complex stochastic decision problem. This paper describes a decomposition technique which reduces the complexity of the problem and results in practical computational algorithms. The method is based on the definition of two subproblems. The first subproblem addresses the decision process for coordinating energy storage plants with an electric power system over a short period of time (for example, one day). This results in a functional relationship between the coordinated schedule and the parameters of the problem. Quadratic programming techniques are suitable for the solution of this subproblem. The second subproblem employs the above described functional relationship in order to define the optimal policy in coordinating energy storage plants over an indefinite time period of operation. Dynamic programming is employed for the solution of the second subproblem. Applications (pumped hydro storage stations, battery stations, etc.) are described. Results of a pumped hydro station application are cited.
Insulating properties of semi-insulating silicon under high field excitation

Experimental results and discussions are presented on the pulsed surface flashover characteristics of semi-insulating silicon in different ambient dielectric media including vacuum, air, N/sub 2/, and SF/sub 6/. The quality of the semiconductor (bulk, surface), contact technology, system configuration (device and contact geometries, electrode configuration), and the ambient medium surrounding the silicon specimen are all found to influence strongly the prebreakdown and the breakdown characteristics of the semiconductor-ambient dielectric system. Our results support the interface nature of the surface flashover, a process distinctly different from semiconductor breakdown. >
Dolomitization of Quaternary reef limestone, Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Six holes were drilled to depths of 30–69 m in the shallow lagoon of Aitutaki in the southern Cook Islands. One hole encountered pervasively dolomitized reef limestones at 36 m subbottom depth, which extended to the base of the drilled section at 69·3 m. This hole was drilled near the inner edge of the present barrier reef flat on the flank of a seismically defined subsurface ridge. Both the morphology and biofacies indicate that this ridge may represent an outer reef crest. Mineralogy, porosity and cementation change in concert downhole through three zones. Zone 1, 0–9 m, is composed of primary skeletal aragonite and calcite with minor void-filling aragonite and magnesian calcite cement of marine phreatic origin. Zone 2, 9–36 m, is composed of replacement calcite and calcite cement infilling intergranular, intragranular, mouldic and vuggy porosity. Stable isotopes (mean δ18O=—5·4‰ PDB for carbonate; δD =—50‰ SMOW for fluid inclusions) support the petrographic evidence indicating that sparry calcite cements formed in predominantly freshwater. Carbon isotope values of —4·0 to —11·0‰ for calcite indicate that organic matter and seawater were the sources of carbon. Zone 3, 36–69·3 m, is composed of replacement dolostone, consisting of protodolomite with, on average, 7 mol% excess CaCO3 and broad and weak ordering X-ray reflections at 2·41 and 2·54 A. The fine-scale replacement of skeletal grains and freshwater void-filling cements by dolomite did not significantly reduce porosity. Stable isotopes (mean δ18O=+2·6‰0 PDB for dolomite; maximum δD =—27‰ SMOW for fluid inclusions) and chemical composition indicate that the dolomite probably formed from seawater, although formation in the lower part of a mixed freshwater-seawater zone, with up to 40% freshwater contribution, cannot be completely ruled out. The carbon (δ13C=2·7‰) and magnesium were derived from seawater. Low-temperature hydrothermal iron hydroxides and associated transition metals occur in void space in several narrow stratigraphic intervals in the limestone section that was replaced by dolomite. The entire section of dolomite is also enriched in these transition metals. The metals dispersed throughout the dolostone section were introduced at the time of dolomitization by a different and later episode of hydrothermal circulation than the one(s) that produced the localized deposits near the base of the section. The primary reef framework is considered to have been deposited during several highstands of sea level. Following partial to local recrystallization of the limestone, a single episode of dolomitization occurred. Both tidal and thermal pumping drove large quantities of seawater through the porous rocks and perhaps maintained a wide mixing zone. However, the isotopic, geochemical and petrographic data do not clearly indicate the extent of seawater mixing.
Effects of Tryptophan on Depression and Aggression in STZ-D Mice

Streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) mice have reduced brain concentrations of tryptophan, a precursor substance for 5-hydroxytryptamine, and show lengthened immobility in Porsolt's swim test, a putative animal model of depression. This study investigated whether tryptophan affects behavior in Porsolt's swim test in STZ-administered male National Institutes of Health Swiss mice. In addition, the effect of tryptophan on behavior in the resident-intruder test of aggression was studied. Tryptophan is effective in the treatment of mild depression and may reduce aggressive behavior. Diabetes was induced with injection of 200 mg/kg body wt i.p. STZ. Two weeks after STZ treatment, the mice received 0, 50, and 100 mg/kg i.p. tryptophan 60 min before the swim test. The STZ-administered mice exhibited lengthened immobility in the swim test, and tryptophan caused a dose-related shortening in their immobility times. The control and STZ mice, which were isolated for 1 wk before the resident-intruder test, did not show any difference in the time spent in social investigation or aggressive or defensive behaviors. However, 100 mg/kg i.p. tryptophan 60 min before the test reduced the social interaction and aggressive behavior of the STZ-D mice but increased these behaviors in controls. Results indicate that tryptophan shortens the increased immobility time and reduces social and aggressive behavior in STZ-D mice. Therefore, the reported reductions in the brain-tryptophan concentrations in STZ-D mice may participate in regulating their behavior.
Trauma‐focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children: impact of the trauma narrative and treatment length

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with the development of a variety of mental health disorders, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an established treatment for children who have experienced CSA. However, there are questions about how many TF-CBT sessions should be delivered to achieve clinical efficacy and whether a trauma narrative (TN) component is essential. This study examined the differential effects of TF-CBT with or without the TN component in 8 versus 16 sessions. Methods: Two hundred and ten children (aged 4–11 years) referred for CSA and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment conditions: 8 sessions with no TN, 8 sessions with TN, 16 sessions with no TN, and 16 sessions with TN. Results: Mixed-model ANCOVAs demonstrated that significant posttreatment improvements had occurred with respect to 14 outcome measures across all conditions. Significant main and interactive effect differences were found across conditions with respect to specific outcomes. Conclusions: TF-CBT, regardless of the number of sessions or the inclusion of a TN component, was effective in improving participant symptomatology as well as parenting skills and the children’s personal safety skills. The eight session condition that included the TN component seemed to be the most effective and efficient means of ameliorating parents’ abuse-specific distress as well as children’s abuse-related fear and general anxiety. On the other hand, parents assigned to the 16 session, no narrative condition reported greater increases in effective parenting practices and fewer externalizing child behavioral problems at posttreatment. Depression and Anxiety 28:67–75, 2011. r 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Influence of Mercerization and Crosslinking of Cotton Fabrics on Dyeing Kinetics of Direct Dyes from Finite Baths

Dyeing of cotton fabrics treated with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea and trieth anolamine is discussed. Adsorption time curves from finite baths of untreated, mer cerized, and crosslinked cotton print cloths have been studied. Mercerization did not change heterogeneous diffusion resistance but increased adsorption equilibrium con stants, dyeing affinities, and diffusion coefficients. Maximum dyeing capacities of mer cerized cotton were lower. Crosslinking reduced most of the kinetic constants (rate constants, structural diffusion resistance constants, maximum dyeing capacities, ac tivation energies, and diffusion coefficients). Triethanolamine additive enhanced the kinetic constants and the dyeabilities of crosslinked cotton fabrics. The results indicated that in the crosslinked cotton, triethanolamine reacted preferably with the crosslinks and not with the remaining free reactive groups of cotton fabric.
Effects of microstructure on the compressive yield stress

The effects of microstructure on the compressie properties of aggregated alumina suspensions are determined by intentionally introducing heterogeneities into the suspen- sion. Suspensions are prepared at a higholume fraction and diluted with low shear hand mixing to a series of initial concentrations. As the initial concentration is in- creased, larger heterogeneities are introduced, and the suspension becomes more com- pressible relatie to the compressie yield stress of the uniform suspension. A simple model is proposed in which the heterogeneous suspensions compress by rearrangement ( of the dense aggregates until a critical concentration f , which coincides with the c ) ¤olume fraction prior to dilution is reached. Aboe f , the suspensions consolidate c ( identically to the uniform suspension. With a single fitting parameter the size of the ) heterogeneities , the model shows semiquantitatie agreement with the experimental data.
Aberrant silencing of the CpG island-containing human O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase gene is associated with the loss of nucleosome-like positioning.

Tumor-associated aberrant silencing of CpG island-containing genes has been correlated with increased cytosine methylation, a "closed" chromatin structure, and exclusion of transcription factor binding in the CpG island/promoter regions of affected genes. Given the lack of understanding of what constitutes a closed chromatin structure in CpG islands, however, it has been difficult to assess the relationship among cytosine methylation, chromatin structure, and inappropriate gene silencing. In this study, nuclease accessibility analysis was used to more clearly define the chromatin structure in the CpG island of the human O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene. Chromatin structure was then related to in vivo DNA-protein interactions and cytosine methylation status of the MGMT CpG island in human glioma cells varying in MGMT expression. The results of these studies indicated that the "open" chromatin structure associated with the MGMT CpG island in MGMT+ cells consisted of an approximately 250-bp transcription factor-binding, nuclease-accessible, nucleosome-free region of DNA, whose formation was associated with at least four flanking, precisely positioned nucleosome-like structures. In MGMT- cells, this precise nucleosomal array was lost and was replaced by randomly positioned nucleosomes (i.e., the closed chromatin structure), regardless of whether methylation of the CpG island was spread over the entire island or limited to regions outside the transcription factor binding region. These results suggest that CpG islands facilitate the expression of housekeeping genes by facilitating nucleosomal positioning and that the conditions that alter the formation of this array (such as perhaps methylation) may indirectly affect CpG island-containing gene expression.
Effect of Suboptimal Zinc Nutrition during Gestation and Lactation on Rat Molar Tooth Composition and Dental Caries

The main objective of this study was to determine the relation ship between zinc content of teeth and susceptibility to dental caries. Pregnant albino rats were fed a purified diet containing 8, 15 or 30 ppm zinc through out gestation and lactation. Food intake of all rats was restricted to that consumed by the lowest zinc group. At day 20 of lactation, pups were weaned to a high sucrose, caries-promoting diet and orally innoculated with Streptococcus mutons. Darns consuming the lowest zinc-containing diet exhibited a mild zinc defi ciency as evidenced by reductions in gestational weight gain and zinc content of milk, serum and tibia when compared to other groups. All offspring survived. Pups originating from the lowest zinc group had significantly less zinc in molar enamel and dentin fractions compared to other groups at the end of a 30-day caries test period, but tibia zinc was essentially equal. This apparent pre-erup- tive reduction in zinc content of enamel and dentin of offspring was associated with a significantly greater dental caries score on the buccal surface. This sug gests that moderate dietary zinc deficiency is sufficient to reduce the pre-emp tive zinc content of both enamel and dentin and to increase dental caries. J. Nutr. 112: 1780-1783, 1981.
Shallow donor levels of InSb in a magnetic field

Abstract We consider, in the effective mass approximation, the problem of a hydrogenic atom in a strong static magnetic field. The ground state and the lowest lying states of angular momentum ± ħ are calculated variationally, first for a simple parabolic conduction band and then for the nonparabolic conduction band of InSb. Both the use of improved variational trial functions and the incorporation into the theory of the nonparabolic conduction band are novel features of the present calculation. The results are compared with previous work. Nonparabolic effects are found to be significant for the energy of the lowest lying state of angular momentum +ħ. The weak-coupling polaron theory is used to derive an upper bound to the shift of the ionization energy of the ground state of the impurity due to electron-LO phonon interaction. Polaron effects on the ground state ionization energy are thereby shown to be negligible in InSb. The bound obtained may, however, prove useful in estimating polaron effects in materials with larger coupling constants.
Haspin inhibitors reveal centromeric functions of Aurora B in chromosome segregation

Haspin phosphorylates histone H3 at threonine-3 (H3T3ph), providing a docking site for the Aurora B complex at centromeres. Aurora B functions to correct improper kinetochore–microtubule attachments and alert the spindle checkpoint to the presence of misaligned chromosomes. We show that Haspin inhibitors decreased H3T3ph, resulting in loss of centromeric Aurora B and reduced phosphorylation of centromere and kinetochore Aurora B substrates. Consequently, metaphase chromosome alignment and spindle checkpoint signaling were compromised. These effects were phenocopied by microinjection of anti-H3T3ph antibodies. Retargeting Aurora B to centromeres partially restored checkpoint signaling and Aurora B–dependent phosphorylation at centromeres and kinetochores, bypassing the need for Haspin activity. Haspin inhibitors did not obviously affect phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine-10 (H3S10ph) by Aurora B on chromosome arms but, in Aurora B reactivation assays, recovery of H3S10ph was delayed. Haspin inhibitors did not block Aurora B localization to the spindle midzone in anaphase or Aurora B function in cytokinesis. Thus, Haspin inhibitors reveal centromeric roles of Aurora B in chromosome movement and spindle checkpoint signaling.
The design of a reliable reputation system

Next generation Web 2.0 communities and distributed P2P systems rely on the cooperation of diverse user populations spread across numerous administrative and security domains. Zero accountability via anonymous online identities and divergent interests result in selfish behavior that can disrupt or manipulate networks for personal gain. While "reputation systems" are recognized as a promising means to establish social control for such communities, developing reliable reputation systems remains a challenge. Several unaddressed threats still limit the effectiveness of reputation systems. Furthermore, most existing work on reputations has focused on accurate reputations for stable systems, but not examined the implications of integrating user reputations into scalable distributed infrastructures. The primary goal of this paper is to investigate and address the critical open challenges that limit the effectiveness of reputations. First, we identify a thorough taxonomy on reputation management, and use it as our framework to classify adversarial threats that compromise reliable operation of reputation systems. Second, we survey existing research to address these threats. Finally, we present our solutions to address the two leading reasons for erroneous and misleading values produced by reputation systems today, i.e., user collusion and short-lived online identities. We believe that this paper not only serves as an introduction to reputation systems design, but will also help researchers deploy reliable reputation solutions that contribute towards improving the performance of large distributed applications.
Relating feminisms, nationalisms and imperialisms: Ireland, India and Margaret Cousins's sexual politics

Abstract From 1907 to 1913 Margaret Cousins was one of the most prominent leaders of the Irish Women's Franchise League, the most militant of the various Irish suffragist groups. A Theosophist, Cousins left Ireland in 1913 for Theosophical headquarters in Madras, spurred by her commitment to “the cause of womanhood the world over”. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s Cousins played a central role in certain forms of Indian feminist and cultural nationalist movements. This article attempts to sketch some of the ways in which Cousins's class and imperial situation provoked and limited her feminist ideology.
What are the Seasons

Abstract The concept of dividing the year into four seasons is reexamined to appraise critically the relative merit of two commonly used definitions of the seasons: 1) the astronomical definition, and 2) the meteorological breakdown into four three-month periods. These are compared with the definition of winter as the coldest season, summer as the warmest season, and spring and autumn as the transition seasons. Observational data on surface temperatures over the entire globe and, in particular, over the United States, are used to determine what the seasons should be. Presented here is an analysis of the amplitude, and phase of and percentage variance explained by the first harmonic of solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere and surface temperatures. Annual changes in surface temperature associated with the seasons are much larger over land than over the oceans. Surface temperatures lag the solar cycle by 27½ days over the United States, compared with 32½ days in mid-latitudes over the Northern Hemisp...
Proteomic Study of Ribosomal Proteins from Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bos taurus, Gallus gallus, and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha: Application in a Teaching Laboratory Setting

Ribosomes are central to protein synthesis and our understanding of ribosomes has advanced antibiotics research. The proteomic study of ribosomes presented here utilizes a combination of differential centrifugation and matrix assisted laser desorption�/�ionization�-�time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI�-TOFMS) to analyze ribosomes from various species in a teaching laboratory setting. Five biologically varied species were used: Escherichia coli (bacteria), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), Bos taurus (cow), Gallus gallus (chicken), and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Chinook salmon). Samples were lysed, ribosomes were isolated via ultracentrifugation using a discontinuous sucrose gradient and the individual protein subunits were separated via sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Tryptic digest and MALDI-TOFMS were then conducted on fifteen bands excised from the gel, and the mass spectra of both the whole protein sample and peptides were analyzed. Five out of these fifteen bands were positively identified as various ribosomal proteins, with two uncertain identifications. Additionally, three of the five positively identified proteins that travelled the same distance on the gel were determined to be orthologous. Finally, a class of 14 Biochemistry II students utilized these protocols, identified three ribosomal proteins and provided their evaluations of the ultracentrifugation-proteomics teaching laboratory.
A Guide to Drug Therapy in Patients with Enteral Feeding Tubes: Dosage Form Selection and Administration Methods:

Drug therapy may be complicated in hospitalized patients receiving nutrition via enteral feeding tubes. Dosage form selection and appropriate administration methods are crucial in patients with fee...
Re: "Comparison of recalled and validated oral contraceptive histories".

A paper by Nischan and colleagues "Comparison of Recalled and Validated Oral Contraceptive Histories" which examines the accuracy of the histories of oral contraceptive use (defined as agreement with gynecologists records concerning duration of use times since first and last use and individual preparations used) in a WHO case-control study of breast cancer "WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives" fails to comment on the more frequent validity of the histories among those persons with breast cancer. Of 253 contraceptive histories from persons with breast cancer for whom responses from at least 1 gynecologist were available 234 (92.4%) were confirmed; of those from 621 controls 524 were. The difference is statistically significant (chi-square test p < 0.01). This better recall of ever-use of oral contraceptives among breast cancer patients creates a bias that makes an association between breast cancer and ever-use of oral contraceptives stronger than it is. The slight elevation in breast cancer risk associated with ever-use of oral contraceptives found in the WHO study may be due to this. There is no information about the accuracy of negative oral contraceptive histories.
KIF1A inhibition immortalizes brain stem cells but blocks BDNF-mediated neuronal migration

Brain neural stem cells (radial glial progenitors, RGPs) undergo a mysterious form of cell cycle-entrained interkinetic nuclear migration (INM) that is driven apically by cytoplasmic dynein and basally by the kinesin KIF1A, which has recently been implicated in human brain developmental disease. To understand the consequences of altered basal INM and the roles of KIF1A in disease, we performed constitutive and conditional RNAi and expressed mutant KIF1A in E16 to P7 rat RGPs and neurons. RGPs inhibited in basal INM still showed normal cell cycle progression, although neurogenic divisions were severely reduced. Postmitotic neuronal migration was independently disrupted at the multipolar stage and accompanied by premature ectopic expression of neuronal differentiation markers. Similar effects were unexpectedly observed throughout the layer of surrounding control cells, mimicked by Bdnf (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) or Dcx RNAi, and rescued by BDNF application. These results identify sequential and independent roles for KIF1A and provide an important new approach for reversing the effects of human disease.
Grunddatenstrukturen — III. Verbunde

In diesem Kapitel zeigen wir Ihnen, das man mehrere verwandte Datengrosen von unterschiedlichen als eine Einheit, auch “Verbund” (oder Record) genannt, handhaben kann. Dies ist bei der Datenverarbeitung in Betrieben, bei der Softwareentwicklung sowie bei ahnlichen Tatigkeiten von groser Bedeutung.
Tree Use by Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) in the Rainforests of Trinidad, W. I.

Abstract. Relatively little is known about the microhabitat preferences of most species of Neotropical harvestmen. We investigated the use of trunks, buttresses, and the leaf litter in the immediate vicinity of trees by multiple species of harvestmen in a Trinidad, W. I. rainforest. A total of 238 individuals were collected. This included adults of species from the families Cosmetidae, Manaosbiidae, Sclerosomatidae, and Stygnidae. Our results indicate that the cosmetids (2 species), especially Cynortula sp., were the most abundant species to occur on the trees. We also found significant, positive correlations for several species with regard to tree size and the number of individuals present. We hypothesize that harvestmen may use the surfaces of trees as well as the leaf litter in the immediate vicinity of the buttresses as either shelters from potential predators or as areas that provide favorable microclimates (e.g., relatively high humidity).
The Athletic Training Education Journal: Welcoming Some New Additions

Two new columns have been added to our journal: 1) Educational Technology and 2) Teaching and Learning. The educational technology column is led by Dr. Ronald Wagner who is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science and Sports Studies at California University of Pennsylvania. The column focuses on raising awareness of current technologies that have promise in impacting the education process. Dr. Wagner is innovative in his use of educational technology and has been a leading scholar in implementing technologies in both didactic and clinical settings.
UV to NIR Surface Plasmon Coupled and Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence Using Indium Thin Films: Application to Intrinsic (Label-less) Protein Fluorescence Detection

Surface plasmon coupled fluorescence (SPCF) and metal enhanced fluorescence (MEF) over a broad wavelength range from UV to NIR are demonstrated from 20 nm thin indium films. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements of fluorophores deposited on the indium thin films indicate enhancement of the fluorescence intensity along with decreases in decay times, both in MEF and SPCF modes, accompanied by an increase in photostability. MEF was found to be more pronounced for the red emission dye with respect to a blue emission dye. A completely p-polarized directional emission for three fluorophores from a hemicylindrical prism at 44° indicates surface plasmons couple with the near field dipoles at the interface of the indium-sample. The evanescent waves generated at the interface are calculated to penetrate more deeply for longer wavelength excitation with respect to shorter wavelengths, and the penetration depth nearly doubles in comparison to that of the widely used silver thin films. As an applica...
Semiautomated external defibrillators for in-hospital early defibrillation: a comparative study.

Objectives Semiautomated external defibrillators (AEDs) should be considered as a means to facilitate in-hospital early defibrillation (IHED) in areas where advanced life support rescuers are not readily available. In this study, we aimed to develop a checklist and a measurement protocol to evaluate and compare AEDs by assessing factors that may affect IHED. Methods A clinical and technical comparison of six AEDs was performed. Technical specifications were analyzed, while an emergency team evaluated ergonomics and appropriateness for IHED at Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital. A measurement protocol was implemented, which aimed to assess the ability of defibrillators to recognize shockable and nonshockable rhythms, accuracy of delivered energy, and charging time. Results Designs of AEDs differed in several features which influence their appropriateness for IHED. Some units showed poor ergonomics and instructions/feedback for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Differences between defibrillators in recognizing shockable and nonshockable rhythms emerged for polymorphic ventricular tachycardia waveforms and when the frequency and amplitude of input signals varied. Tests for accuracy revealed poor performances at low and high impedance levels for most AEDs. Notably, differences greater than 20 seconds were found in the time from power-on to "ready for discharge." Conclusions The approach we used to assess AEDs allowed us to evaluate their appropriateness with respect to the organizational context, to measure their parameters, and to compare models. Results showed that ergonomics and/or performances (timing and accuracy) could be improved in each device.
Performance and carcass quality of steers supplemented with zinc oxide or zinc methionine.

Forty-five Angus steers (avg initial wt 330 kg) were individually fed for 112 d to assess the value of supplemental Zn and source on performance and carcass quality. Steers had ad libitum access to a control diet (81 ppm Zn) of 33% whole corn, 33% ground milo, 15% cottonseed hulls and 13% cottonseed meal, or this control diet with 360 mg Zn/d added from either zinc methionine or zinc oxide. Steers were slaughtered on d 114, and carcass composition was determined by specific gravity. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected by dietary treatments. Steers fed zinc methionine had a higher (P less than .05) USDA quality grade than those fed the control and zinc oxide diets. Marbling score was higher (P less than .05) for steers fed zinc methionine than for those fed control and zinc oxide treatments (4.4 vs 4.0 and 4.0, respectively, where 3 = slight, 4 = small, 5 = modest). Steers fed zinc methionine tended to have more (P less than .10) external fat (13 mm) than steers fed the control diet (10 mm); steers supplemented with zinc oxide had intermediate amounts of external fat (11 mm). Steers fed zinc methionine had 10.5 and 12.8% more (P less than .05) kidney, pelvic and heart (KPH) fat than steers fed control or zinc oxide diets, respectively. The effects of zinc methionine on carcass quality grade and marbling score may be due to Zn and (or) methionine. Regardless of the mechanism, the difference represents a potential economic benefit to producers.