cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social support is linked to mental health, quality of life, and motor function in multiple sclerosis

To investigate associations of social support to psychological well-being, cognition, and motor functioning in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Secondarily, we were interested in exploring sex differences in these relationships, based on a bioevolutionary theoretical justification. Social support was assessed in 185 recently diagnosed patients (RADIEMS cohort), and in an independent validation sample (MEMCONNECT cohort, n = 62). Patients also completed a comprehensive neurobehavioral evaluation including measures of mental health, fatigue, quality of life, cognition, and motor function. Correlations tested links between social support and these variables, along with potential gender differences. In both samples, higher social support was associated with better mental health, quality of life, subjective cognitive function, and less fatigue. In the RADIEMS cohort, higher social support was associated with better motor functions, particularly grip strength and gait endurance in women. These findings highlight associations of social support to overall psychological health and motor functioning in persons with MS, underlining the potential opportunity of evaluating and promoting social engagement in novel treatment strategies.
Abstract P792: Therapeutic Catalytic Nanoantioxidants Derived From Activated Charcoal

Introduction: Our laboratories’ focus is synthesis of potential carbon nanoparticle (CNP) therapeutics for acute injury. To enhance the likelihood of regulatory approval, we tested whether medicina...
Antitrust in Attention Markets: Definition, Power, Harm

Despite its vital role in the modern marketplace, attention has largely escaped the notice of the antitrust community. Existing discourse exhibits a variety of misconceptions and flawed prescriptions. One example is the widely held notion that attention markets necessitate two-sided platform analysis. Another is a marked overemphasis on data-collection practices. Yet another is that human users, viewers, and listeners are “the consumers” in these markets. And a fourth is that competition for attention occurs within one massive relevant market, obviating the possibility that any single firm could exercise market power. In light of nascent enforcement actions against Facebook, Google, and others, these defects require immediate correction. This Article begins by explaining the basic economics of attention markets, which often involve zero-price barter transactions. It turns next to the appropriate antitrust methodology for market definition. Attention markets need not encompass two “sides”; instead, they are best understood as traditional top-down distribution systems. The oft-used SSNIP test is facially unworkable in zero-price attention markets, but a SSNIC or SSNDQ variant may offer some utility. Practical indicia will often be more useful, however, given the unwieldy nature of hypothetical-monopolist tests generally. Regardless of methodology, courts and enforcers should take care to avoid the “massive market” fallacy espoused by some commentators. When assessing market power, both market shares and direct evidence can be useful. The three most common methods for assigning shares—time on-site, active users, and advertising revenues—each shed light on the issue, despite early judicial skepticism. That said, wherever available, direct evidence regarding attention-cost changes and competitive responses should play a primary role. As to anticompetitive effects, the “attention overcharge” should be a core concern. Recent enforcement efforts have employed alternative framing devices, but these will often be suboptimal. Finally, competition for attention can lead to overuse, overconsumption, heightened racial and gender animus, and other societal ills. In response, courts and enforcement authorities should extend leniency to certain attention-related conduct that might initially appear harmful.
Climate Change Due to Anthropogenic Surface Albedo Modification

Numerical experiments that dealt with the possible climatic impact of man-induced surface albedo change have primarily focused on individual regions (e.g. increased desert albedo, tropical deforestation, urbanization). Sagan et al. (1) suggest that the combination of anthropogenic albedo changes may have contributed to global climate changes in the past and may be continuing today. Using a statistical dynamic climate model with more realistic surface albedo changes than used in previous experiments, we have conducted a numerical experiment combining desertification of the Sahara and deforestation of the tropical rain forest. Over an area of 9 × 106 km2 at 20°N the desert albedo was increased from 0.16 to 0.35 and over 7 × 106 km2 at the equator and 10°S the rain forest albedo was increased from 0.07 to 0.16. While the most significant direct climatic responses were observed in the modified zones, high northern latitudes exhibited the greatest cooling through activation of the ice-albedo feedback process. In contrast to Sagan et al. (1), this experiment suggests that anthropogenic modification of surface albedo over the past few thousand years has had an impact on global climate which is likely quite small and probably undetectable.
RACHET: An Efficient Cover-Based Merging of Clustering Hierarchies from Distributed Datasets

This paper presents a hierarchical clustering method named RACHET (Recursive Agglomeration of Clustering Hierarchies by Encircling Tactic) for analyzing multi-dimensional distributed data. A typical clustering algorithm requires bringing all the data in a centralized warehouse. This results in O(nd) transmission cost, where n is the number of data points and d is the number of dimensions. For large datasets, this is prohibitively expensive. In contrast, RACHET runs with at most O(n) time, space, and communication costs to build a global hierarchy of comparable clustering quality by merging locally generated clustering hierarchies. RACHET employs the encircling tactic in which the merges at each stage are chosen so as to minimize the volume of a covering hypersphere. For each cluster centroid, RACHET maintains descriptive statistics of constant complexity to enable these choices. RACHET's framework is applicable to a wide class of centroid-based hierarchical clustering algorithms, such as centroid, medoid, and Ward.
Abstract T P255: QCI-NASCAR - Quality Care Improvement with Nursing-driven Acute Stroke CARe

Objective: To observe the impact on stroke code time metrics after applying a “pit stop” model of bedside nursing for telestroke encounters. Background: Despite the recent push for target treatment times in acute stroke codes, no guidelines exist for optimizing practices specific to stroke care via telemedicine. Effective telestroke is dependent on efficient data gathering by remote staff, and lengthy metrics for real-world telestroke often preclude timely tPA treatment. By co-opting “pit stops” as inspiration, an optimized nursing workflow for telestroke can be created on the following principles: Identification of Shared Goals; Organized Urgency with the Removal of Gatekeepers; Multi-personnel, Non-Sequential Processes; Focus on Defined Staged Roles; and Empowered Engagement/Responsibility. Methods: The QCI-NASCAR protocol was implemented in Oct 2013, and data was collected prospectively on consecutive stroke code activations through Apr 2014 at St. Paul University Hospital (Dallas, TX), a telestroke spoke site. The nurse-driven protocol was reinforced by a paper checklist (i.e. “Driver Sheet”), which doubled as a data collection form. Timestamps were recorded in real time for: door time, MD at bedside, CT arrival, needle time, and/or code cancellation. The primary outcome was Door-to-CT (D2CT) times to reflect the portion of the stroke code most impacted by the nursing protocol. Results: Mean D2CT times were: all cases (n=152, 33.2 min), intervention-eligible cases (n=71, 27.0 min), and thrombolytic-eligible cases (n=57, 22.2 min). A trend for lower D2CT times and standard deviations was noted in comparing the first half of the data (n=76, 38.04 ± 58.1 min) to the second (n=77, 27.8 ± 19.1 min; p<0.05). A similar pattern was noted in the subset of intervention-eligible cases: first half (n=36, 29.4 ± 37.4 min) vs. second half (n=35, 24.3 ± 18.6 min; p<0.05). IV tPA was administered 3 times, including an institutional best door-to-needle time of 32.0 min. Conclusion: QCI-NASCAR demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a nursing-driven protocol for telestroke encounters. A larger, multi-institutional trial will demonstrate if such a protocol can significantly and reproducibly lower stroke code metrics to national guideline parameters.
Neonatal respiratory distress in the presence of amniotic fluid phosphatidylglycerol.

Stage I Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors which carry a high risk of recurrent disease, such as undifferentiated tumors, tumors with high mitotic counts, and possibly hormonally active tumors. The toxicity from the suggested protocol has been tolerable in the 10 patients treated with two to eight courses of BV-CAP chemotherapy in our institution and has been characterized by hypomagnesemia, nausea during c&platinum administration, reversible alopecia, and grade I hematologic toxicity predominantly of the red blood cell line. Renal toxicity, peripheral paresthesias, and ototoxicity were not observed in the present case.
Possible side effects of fungicides on Banana and Coffee diseases.

EXPERIENCE suggests that excessive application of fungicidal sprays to crops has not had as many undesirable biological side effects as the excessive application of insecticides. Nor has there been much evidence, at least at the level of field application, of acquired resistance to fungicides1.
Solitary waves for nonlinear Klein–Gordon equations coupled with Born–Infeld theory

Abstract We consider the nonlinear Klein–Gordon equations coupled with the Born–Infeld theory under the electrostatic solitary wave ansatz. The existence of the least-action solitary waves is proved in both bounded smooth domain case and R 3 case. In particular, for bounded smooth domain case, we study the asymptotic behaviors and profiles of the positive least-action solitary waves with respect to the frequency parameter ω. We show that when κ and ω are suitably large, the least-action solitary waves admit only one local maximum point. When ω → ∞ , the point-condensation phenomenon occurs if we consider the normalized least-action solitary waves.
Microendoscopes for imaging of the pancreas

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer have a 5-year survival rate of only 3%. Endoscopic imaging of the pancreas is limited by the small size of the pancreatic duct, which has an average size of 3 mm. To improve imaging capabilities for the pancreatic duct, two small catheter-based imaging systems have been developed that will fit through the therapeutic channel of a clinical endoscope and into the pancreatic duct. One is a miniature endoscope designed to provide macro-imaging of tissue with both white light reflectance and fluorescence imaging modes. The 1.75 mm diameter catheter consists of separate illumination and imaging channels. At a nominal focal distance of 10 mm, the field of view of the system is ~ 10 mm, and the corresponding in-plane resolution is 60 microns. To complement the broadfield view of the tissue, a confocal microendoscope with 2 micron lateral resolution over a field of view of 450 microns and 25 micron axial resolution has been developed. With an outer diameter of 3 mm, the catheter in this system will also fit through the therapeutic channel and into the pancreatic duct. Images of tissue with both the miniature endoscope and confocal microendoscope are presented.
Between beds and sequences: stratigraphic organization at intermediate scales in the Quaternary of the Virginia coast, USA

Stratigraphy presupposes a hierarchy of scales of spatial organization supplemented at the small-scale end by sedimentological concepts (beds, bed sets and bed cosets) and, at larger spatial scales by sequence-stratigraphic concepts (systems tracts, parasequences, sequences). Between these two end-members are intermediate-sclae bodies described as 'lithofacies', or simply 'facies' A more restricted concept, granulometric facies, can be described in terms of horizontal grain-size gradients ('facies change') and cvclic vertical grain-size gradients ('stratification'). Assemblages of facies so defined (also called depositional systems) are not random, loot occur in a limited suite of patterns. Such assemblages may be linked to two classes of bounding surfaces, a source diastem (the immediate source of the sediment) and a surface of closure (if preserved), between which is sandwiched a transgressive or regressive, basinward-fining facies succession. Systems-bounding surfaces are notably more continuous than internal (gradational) facies boundaries. By thus restricting the definition of a facies assemblage (depositional system), it is possible to describe the Quaternary of the Virginia coast wish as few as 12 systems. Depositional systems, in the Quaternary of the Virginia coast are allometric, in that any system can be derived from any other by plastic expansion of one or more facies relative to another, or by simple symmetry operations. Self-similarity prevails across this intermediate scale of stratigraphic organization. Facies assemblages (depositional systems) consist of event beds, which themselves have erosional basal boundaries and internal successions of microfacies. At larger spatial so ales, depositional systems are repeated, either autocyclic repetitions forced by processes within the basin of deposition or allocyclic repetitions, as 'parasequences' and high-frequency sequences. In the Virginia Quaternary, systems architecture is compatible with sequence architecture and nests conformably within its framework, but analysis of systems architecture reveals rules beyond those governing sequence architecture.
Characterization of the Function of Cytoglobin as an Oxygen- Dependent Regulator of Nitric Oxide Concentration

The endogenous vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) is metabolized in tissues in an O(2)-dependent manner. This regulates NO levels in the vascular wall; however, the underlying molecular basis of this O(2)-dependent NO consumption remains unclear. While cytoglobin (Cygb) was discovered a decade ago, its physiological function remains uncertain. Cygb is expressed in the vascular wall and can consume NO in an O(2)-dependent manner. Therefore, we characterize the process of the O(2)-dependent consumption of NO by Cygb in the presence of the cellular reductants and reducing systems ascorbate (Asc) and cytochrome P(450) reductase (CPR), measure rate constants of Cygb reduction by Asc and CPR, and propose a reaction mechanism and derive a related kinetic model for this O(2)-dependent NO consumption involving Cygb(Fe(3+)) as the main intermediate reduced back to ferrous Cygb by cellular reductants. This kinetic model expresses the relationship between the rate of O(2)-dependent consumption of NO by Cygb and rate constants of the molecular reactions involved. The predicted rate of O(2)-dependent consumption of NO by Cygb is consistent with experimental results supporting the validity of the kinetic model. Simulations based on this kinetic model suggest that the high efficiency of Cygb in regulating the NO consumption rate is due to the rapid reduction of Cygb by cellular reductants, which greatly increases the rate of consumption of NO at higher O(2) concentrations, and binding of NO to Cygb, which reduces the rate of consumption of NO at lower O(2) concentrations. Thus, the coexistence of Cygb with efficient reductants in tissues allows Cygb to function as an O(2)-dependent regulator of NO decay.
The environmental dependency of the reaction of oxygen with hemoglobin

Abstract A magnetic method for the determination of oxyhemoglobin dissociation curves has been employed in a study of the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in simple solution and in normal and spherical erythrocytes. Hemoglobin within the biconcave discoid cell was shown to have a lower affinity for oxygen than that in the spherical cell. The oxygen affinity of hemoglobin within the spherical cells was the same as hemoglobin in simple solution. The molecular interpretation of the observed equilibrium between oxygen and hemoglobin supports previous evidence that oxygen molecules react in pairs with the hemoglobin molecule.
Uptake of P32 by pigeon crop-sac as index of lactogenic hormone.

Studies were conducted on the ability of purified and crude lactogenic preparations to stimulate incorporation of P/sup 31/ and P/sup 32/ in erop-sac of pigeon. Lactogenic hornmone injected intradermally over one side of the crop-sac stimulated significant P/sup 31/ and P/sup 32/ incorporation as compared to control sides. Diametric responses were correlated with % P/sup 32/ uptake after injection of crude pituitary homogenates with a resultant correlation coefficient of 0.79, indicating that P/sup 32/ incorporation is primarily a function of lactogenie activity of the homogenate injected.
Preliminary crystallographic data of receptors for transport and chemotaxis in Escherichia coli: D-galactose and maltose-binding proteins.

Abstract We have obtained single crystals of maltose-binding protein ( M r = 40,500) and d -galactose-binding protein ( M r = 32,000), chemoreceptors for active transport and chemotaxis in Escherichia coli . This brings to a total of five the binding proteins that we have thus far crystallized; they include the l -arabinose-binding protein, the leucine, isoleucine, valine-binding protein from Escherichia coli , and a sulfate-binding protein from Salmonella typhimurium . The crystal structure of the l -arabinose-binding protein has been determined at 2.8 A resolution (Quiocho et al. , 1977 a ).
Antigen Delivery with Poly(Propylacrylic Acid) Conjugation Enhances MHC-1 Presentation and T-Cell Activation

While many infectious diseases are controlled by vaccine strategies, important limitations continue to motivate the development of better antigen delivery systems. This study focuses on the use of a pH-sensitive polymeric carrier based on poly(propylacrylic acid) (PPAA) to address the need for more potent CD8 cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) responses. An MHC-1/CD8 CTL cell model system with ovalbumin as the protein antigen was used to test whether PPAA could enhance the delivery of ovalbumin into the MHC-1 display pathway. Ovalbumin was conjugated to poly(propylacrylic acid-co-pyridyldisulfide acrylate) (PPAA-PDSA) by disulfide exchange to make reversible conjugates that could be reduced by the glutathione redox system in the cytosol of antigen presenting cells. The PPAA-PDSA ovalbumin conjugates displayed the pH-sensitive membrane disruptive properties of the parent polymer as determined by their hemolysis activities (sharply active at the endosomal pH values of 6−6.5). The polymer−ovalbumin conjugates exhibited ...
Peptide anchoring spore coat assembly to the outer forespore membrane in Bacillus subtilis.

Summary Spore formation in Bacillus subtilis involves the formation of a thick, proteinaceous shell or coat that is assembled around a specialized membrane known as the outer forespore membrane. Here we present evidence that the assembling coat is tethered to the outer forespore membrane by a 26-amino-acid peptide called SpoVM, which is believed to form an amphipathic helix. We show that proper localization of SpoVM is dependent on SpoIVA, a morphogenetic protein that forms the basement layer of the spore coat, and conversely, that proper localization of SpoIVA is dependent on SpoVM. Genetic, biochemical and cytological evidence indicates that this mutual dependence is mediated in part by contact between an amino acid side-chain located near the extreme C-terminus of SpoIVA and an amino acid side-chain on the hydrophilic face of the SpoVM helix. Evidence is also presented that SpoVM adheres to the outer forespore membrane via hydrophobic, amino acid side-chains on the hydrophobic face of the helix. The results suggest that the SpoVM helix is oriented parallel to the membrane with the hydrophobic face buried in the lipid bilayer.
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) elastic, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and dielectric coefficients and their non-linearities

This work presents a set of material coefficients for a uniaxially 4x stretched 25 μm thick PVDF film. Calculations of the type d = se, where d and e are piezoelectric coefficients and s is the compliance, are used to compare independent measurements of piezoelectric coefficients. The piezoelectric coefficient e333 is found to be constant to strains over 25%. The non-linearities in the dijk coefficients are due to non-linearities in the elastic moduli that are typical of polymers above their glass transition temperature, i.e. strain rate dependent, viscoelastic, temperature dependent.
Limitations of laser diffraction for measuring fine particles in oligotrophic systems: Pitfalls and potential solutions

[1] Sampling of suspended particulates in oligotrophic environments is inherently difficult because of low ambient concentrations. The performance of a Laser In Situ Scattering and Transmissometry (LISST) series particle size analyzer is evaluated for use in such low-concentration environments. Five issues are studied for their effect on recorded particle size distributions: the instrument limits of detection, the kernel matrix used in the inversion of the scattered light distribution, the effect of particles sized outside the instrument inversion limits (1.25 μm–250 μm), the effect of ambient light conditions, and the effect of sampling in density stratified conditions. We evaluate a LISST-100X type B instrument using a series of small-scale lab experiments and concentrate mainly on fine particles ( 250 μm) show little effects on the size distribution, but small particles (<1.25 μm) have large impacts. High ambient light conditions, typical in clear oligotrophic systems, create erroneously high concentrations of fine particles, and profiling in density stratified conditions is found to create incorrectly low concentrations. We present recommendations for the next generation of in situ laser diffractometers and advise consideration of the issues covered here before using current instruments in oligotrophic environments.
Oncogene-dependent expression of CD44 in Balb/c 3T3 derivatives: Correlation with metastatic competence

Oncogene-dependent regulation and tumor relatedness of CD44 expression were investigated in Balb/c 3T3 cells and their derivatives transformed with different ras oncogenes (metastatic tumor model) or the human c-sis oncogene (non-metastatic model). Ras transformants using either the Harvey or Kirsten oncogenes expressed high levels of cell surface CD44 protein that bound fluoresceinated hyaluronan (HA). Much lower levels of CD44 were expressed in parental 3T3 cells, ras- revertants generated from Kirsten-transformed cells, or c-sis transformants, confirming the significance of the ras oncogene in this upregulation. To determine whether endogenous HA regulates these parameters, hyaluronidase treatment of ras transformants exposed more cell surface CD44 to anti-CD44 antibody and increased fluoresceinated HA binding; this did not occur with 3T3 or c-sis transformants. CD44 expression and its HA-binding function were conserved in a panel of in vivo primary and lung metastatic tumor cell lines derived from ras transformants. Ras transformants also retained the ability to downregulate CD44 protein levels in confluent cultures which occurred through a translational or post-translational mechanism (as CD44 mRNA levels were not reduced). These results taken together demonstrate that ras-dependent regulation of CD44 may correlate with tumor progression and metastasis in vivo, possibly (although not exclusively) supporting CD44's importance in metastatic progression.
In situ capping design of a pyrite cinder pile in the St. Lawrence river for metal containment

A pile of pyrite cinders discharged from a former manufacturing facility rest upon the bottom of the St. Lawrence River adjacent to Clark Island. In situ capping was the selected remedy to control both the fine particle resuspension that produced a red mud cloud in the water, commonly formed on windy days, and the soluble metals concentrations originating from the pyrite pile. Metal mass balances around the pile allowed estimates of the pre-capping release rates. Elevated concentrations above the pile were observed for eight metals; these included iron, lead, mercury, selenium, arsenic, copper, cadmium, and zinc. After iron, the highest concentration in the pyrite particles were cadmium and zinc present in the 1,000 mg/kg range. Mercury was the lowest at the 10 mg/kg level in the pyrite solids. For iron the soluble release rate was estimated to be 0.08 g/s, and the particle release was 0.8 to 1.2 g/s. A 30 cm cap consisting of particles 19 to 40 mm in diameter is proposed for the site. Its placement covers a ten-hectare area and is expected to isolate the fine pyrite particles and prohibit their resuspension into the water column. Design estimates of steady state flux reduction efficiencies range from a low of 99.21 percent for iron to a high of 99.96 percent for copper. Breakthrough times to achieve these steady state flux reductions range from 100 to 3,800 years and metal porewater concentrations at 5 cm below the cap surface are estimated to be reduced by 83 percent. Although soluble metals will continue to be released from the pile zone, the flux of all the metals will be significantly reduced. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Troika of Fellows

This year was an unusual one for the APSA Congressional Fellowship Program—three fellows were placed with the same congressional office. The fact that three fellows, each with very different backgrounds, were drawn to the Senate Finance Committee, says something about the unique role that the committee plays in congressional policymaking. As one of the “A”s of the four “Super-A” committees, along with Appropriations, Armed Services, and Foreign Relations, the Senate Finance Com-mittee is one of the committee assignments most sought after by Senators. Its vast policy jurisdiction enables members to affect many different parts of the economy, society, and government. In addition to Chairman Baucus, the majority membership of the committee includes chairs of six other committees: Senators John Kerry of Foreign Relations; Jeff Bingaman of Energy and Natural Resources; John D. Rockefeller of Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Debbie Stabenow of Agriculture and Forestry; Kent Conrad of Budget; and Chuck Schumer who serves both as chairman of the Rules Committee and the Democratic Policy and Communications Center. On the minority side, in addition to the ranking member, Senator Orrin Hatch, the panel includes three ranking members of other committees: Senators Chuck Grassley of Judiciary, Olympia Snowe of Small Business, and Mike Enzi of Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. They serve alongside with the Republican Whip Senator Jon Kyl, the Republican Conference Chair John Thune, and the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman John Cornyn of Texas. This concentration of senatorial experience testifies to the importance of the work undertaken by the Finance Committee.
The hidden law

Nature's rules are encoded in symmetries – a penetrating insight from one woman working a century ago, says physicist Dave Goldberg
Ion-atom differential cross sections at intermediate energies

The classical-trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to calculate ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}+\mathrm{H}(1s)$ electron-capture and ionization differential cross sections in the range 25-200 keV. The results indicate the importance of including excited product states to describe the small-angle electron-capture scattering. Angular scattering of the electron removed by the ionization process has been studied as a function of ejected-electron velocity ${v}_{e}$. The classical calculations are in reasonable agreement with coupled-channel results of Shakeshaft [Phys. Rev. A 18, 1930 (1978)] as to the "electron capture to the continuum" (ECC) component of the ionization process where this term is defined as the ejected electron being more closely centered to the projectile than the target nucleus after the collision. The ECC cross section ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{ECC}}$ was studied as a function of collision energy (50-500 keV/amu) and projectile charge state ($q=1\ensuremath{-}10$). At high energies, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{ECC}}$ scales as $\frac{{q}^{2.3}}{{E}^{2.5}}$. The maximum value for ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{ECC}}$ was determined to be an energy ${E}_{max}\ensuremath{\cong}(56 \frac{\mathrm{keV}}{\mathrm{amu}}){q}^{0.4}$. Restricting the ECC component to small electron-scattering angles, ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{lab}}\ensuremath{\le}5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, and electron-ejection velocities ${v}_{e}={v}_{p}(1.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)$, where ${v}_{p}$ is the projectile velocity, indicates this process is a minor component of the total ionization cross section at intermediate energies.
Periodic production scheduling at a fastener manufacturer

Abstract This paper presents the application of periodic production scheduling at a metal-fastener manufacturing company. The problem was initially presented as a mandate to reduce finished goods inventory by 33%. Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that any effort to reduce finished goods inventory necessarily involved two major endeavors: 1. (1) significant improvements to forecasting and 2. (2) a periodic production scheduling system (PPS). The forecasting system provided the input to the PPS system. The PPS required initial procedures for sorting parts into families, which, as far as possible, shared the same setup patterns, engineering specifications, raw material requirements, etc. The PPS itself was developed on a spreadsheet, and the output from this package fed into an interactive PC package. In addition to graphic presentation of production scheduling, the PC software package also provided manpower implications of specific PPS plans for tooling and supervision during runs, on the basis of the periodic schedule. The paper concludes with lessons learned from attempts to finalize implementation.
Joint hypermobility is more common in children with chronic fatigue syndrome than in healthy controls.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have a higher prevalence of joint hypermobility than gender-matched controls. Study design: Matched case-control study comparing the Beighton joint hypermobility scores in 58 consecutive children with CFS (incident cases) with 58 otherwise healthy controls referred to a dermatology clinic for evaluation of common skin problems. A second group of 58 patients previously diagnosed with CFS (prevalent cases) was matched by gender to the incident cases to evaluate temporal changes in referral patterns. Results: Of the 58 patients in each group, 71% were female. The median Beighton scores were higher in incident CFS cases than in healthy controls (4 vs 1, P P P Conclusions: Joint hypermobility is more common in patients with CFS than in otherwise healthy children with common skin disorders. The etiologic significance of the observed association remains to be defined. (J Pediatr 2002;141:421-5)
Multiple episodes of mild traumatic brain injury result in impaired cognitive performance in mice.

OBJECTIVES Results from recent studies on animal models of concussion suggest that multiple, rather than single, episodes of mild traumatic brain injury result in impaired cognitive performance in mice. The objective of the present study was to administer multiple impacts to the heads of mice while directly measuring the force of the impacts to determine how these parameters are related to transient loss of consciousness, cognitive deficits, and potential neuropathologic effects. METHODS even-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to experimental conditions involving three impacts (weight-drop method) to the head to induce mild traumatic brain injury or to sham control procedures. Some impacted (n = 10) and sham control (n = 10) mice were evaluated behaviorally and tested for spatial learning using the Morris water maze (MWM), whereas other impacted (n = 10) and sham control (n = 5) mice were used for histopathologic analysis. RESULTS The mean ( +/- SD) force of impact was 19 ( +/- 3.5) N. Impacted mice took longer to regain consciousness compared with sham control mice (p < 0.0005). Behavioral test results showed that the groups did not differ on activity or sensorimotor tests or during cued trials in the MWM. Impacted mice exhibited impaired spatial learning performance during place trials in the MWM (p < 0.05). Silver staining revealed a contra-coup type of injury involving ventral brain structures in contact with or in close proximity to the skull. CONCLUSIONS This multiple-impact model, delivered within a specifiable force range, results in transient, reversible loss of consciousness, a contra-coup brain injury, and cognitive impairment.
Novel method for silicon quantum wire transistor fabrication

Local stress-limited oxidation was used to fabricate silicon quantum wire transistors with a channel diameter of 5 nm. The oxidation of source and drain regions was prevented with a silicon nitride diffusion barrier. A novel wraparound gate was used to improve the gate control of the potential in the channel. The electrical properties of these devices were investigated at room temperature. Ideal subthreshold behavior, with the subthreshold swing equal to 60.3 mV/dec, was observed.
CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID INCREASES THE DIFFERENTIATION OF PORCINE ADIPOCYTES IN VITRO

Abstract Individual long-chain fatty acids can modulate adipocyte differentiation. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) either stimulate or inhibit 3T3-L1 clonal cell differentiation. We studied the effects of cis-9, trans-11 CLA (9,11-CLA), trans-10, cis-12 CLA (10, 12-CLA), and linoleic acid (LA) on differentiation of porcine stromal-vascular cells in vitro and on mRNA concentrations for adipocyte transcription factors and adipocyte-characterisitc proteins. Fatty acids were added to the differentiation medium at 0, 50, 100, or 300 μM, for 24 hours. The LA tended to, and 9,11-CLA increased differentiation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) mRNA concentration was not changed by LA, 9,11-CLA, or 10,12-CLA. Lipoprotein lipase mRNA concentration was not changed by LA, but was increased by both CLA isomers. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) mRNA concentration was increased by LA and both isomers of CLA. In summary, CLA and LA increased differentiation of porcine stromal-vascular cells after 24 hours, but differentiation was not accompanied by increased PPARγ mRNA suggesting, at least in these experiments, that the primary action of the fatty acids was as ligands for PPARγ, rather than as inducers for PPARγ transcripts. The aP2 mRNA concentration was increased to a large extent by the various fatty acids.
Vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide versus low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in advanced breast cancer: a randomized trial of the Piedmont Oncology Association

Eighty-one evaluable patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were randomized to receive either vincristine 1 mg/m2, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 on day one and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m2 orally days 3-6 (VAC); or cyclophosphamide 350 mg/m2, methotrexate 20 mg/m2, and 5-fluorouracil 350 mg/m2 (CMF) intravenously, all on day 1. Courses of each of the above regimens were repeated every three weeks. Twenty-one of 45 patients (47%) on VAC and seven of 44 patients (16%) on CMF had complete or partial response (P less than 0.05). The duration of response was six months for CMF and nine months for VAC. Hematologic toxicity was minimal for both groups but three patients receiving VAC developed cardiac toxicity. Overall survival projections at this time indicate no differences between the VAC or CMF treated patients.
Effects of hardness, alkalinity and pH on the toxicity of pentachlorophenol to selenastrum capricornutum (printz)

The toxicity of pentachlorophenol (PCP) to Selenastrum capricornutum was examined in three different culture media: a hard and a soft form of Freeman's reference water and the algal assay bottle test (AABT) medium (a soft water). The 96-h growth potentials of the media were equal (28–29 mg/L dry wt.) but 96-h EC50s ranged sevenfold: 0.11 mg/L (AABT), 0.15 mg/L (Freeman's soft water) and 0.76 mg/L (Freeman's hard water). Culture media equilibrium pH and 96-h EC50 were strongly correlated (r = 1.00). Evidence is presented that supports the hypothesis that the toxicity of PCP, a weak acid, is due primarily to the concentration of the undissociated species.
Relations Between Northern and Southern Non-Governmental Development Organizations

ABSTRACT As growing numbers of non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs) in the North seek collaboration with indigenous organizations in the South, the nature of relations between the two becomes an issue of increasing academic and practical concern. Research concerning the nature of existing relations between NGDOs in the North and the South reveals considerable divergence from the principles of “partnership” which have been articulated by the NGDO sector as guidelines for acceptable North-South NGDO relations. Recommendations for overcoming barriers to partnership include strengthening the organizational capacity of Southern NGDOs and improving constituency links.
Diagnostic yield of delayed phase imaging in CT angiography of the head and neck: a retrospective study.

Purpose To evaluate how often delayed images, obtained during neurovascular CTA, provide unique information relative to early phase imaging alone. Materials and Methods Informed consent was waived by the institutional review body for this study. Neurovascular CTAs from January through June 2009 were searched to identify those with delayed phase imaging. Reports were reviewed to identify cases where delayed images provided potentially unique information. The studies with potentially unique information were re-interpreted to determine if the information was indeed unique. Results 645 CTAs with delayed phase imaging were identified. There were 324 men and 310 women (median age 67 years; range 20–96 years). 59 studies (59/645: 9.1%) had findings on the delayed images. There were 13 cases with hemorrhage, with 4 showing progression on delayed views. Of the remaining 46 cases, 28 had occlusion of a vessel that did not reconstitute on the delayed images, 6 had occlusion of a vessel that did reconstitute on the delayed images, 7 had a string sign which was unchanged on the delayed views and 5 had no abnormal findings. Thus in 10 cases the findings were unique to the delayed images (10/645: 1.55%). Four showed active bleeding, three showed proximal occlusion with distal internal carotid filling from ophthalmic collaterals, two showed pial vessels filling distal to proximal MCA occlusion, and one showed retrograde vertebral artery filling due to subclavian steal. 95% confidence limits of the expected incidence of unique information from the delayed phase images are 0.6% – 2.5%. Conclusion Obtaining delayed phase imaging for neurovascular CTA should be an active decision and not the default protocol. This avoids imaging with little, if any value. If delayed images had not been obtained in our cohort, no detriment in patient management would have occurred.
From Impartial Liberty to Afro‐Christianity: Assessing the Revolution in Virginia's Religious Life

In the years after the American Revolution, the religious life of Virginians was dominated by the experience of living with and in ‘impartial liberty’– the expression often used to describe what Thomas Jefferson's ‘Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom’ had wrought. However, the Statute was merely the prelude, for it provided no guidance – only a door to Something Else as yet unknown. Lacking the referent of governmental authority, norms of religious liberty were not self-evident but under construction. As Virginians began turning abstract concepts into everyday experience, they drew upon a revolutionary lexicon, well practiced in the legislative battle over religious liberty; and they also explored tolerance, or ‘Christian forbearance’, as the basis for good manners in the nondeferential world of the new nation. Yet the emergence of distinct denominational identities reveals that the meaning of the Revolution was plural, which Virginians discovered especially in their religious lives. Indeed, for one particular group, the elasticity of the postrevolutionary moment worked uniquely to their advantage. At a time when power was suspect, authority challenged, and norms pliant, those who most lacked power and authority – Afro-Virginians, both slave and free – slipped through the unguarded spaces to mold Afro-Christianity into a source of community, resistance, and hope.
Cytology and Genetics of Sexual Incompatibility in Didymella rabiei

Mating crosses in all possible combinations between 15 monoascosporic isolates ofDidymella rabiei (Ascomycotina, Dothideales), derived from diseased chickpea stems collected at a single location in Genesee, Idaho, were prepared on sterile chickpea stem pieces incubated on moist sterile filter papers in glass petri dishes for 5-6 weeks at 10 C or in nylon mesh bags placed on the soil surface outdoors to overwinter for 6 months. The discharge of large numbers of viable ascospores from mature pseudothecia forming on the chickpea stems was indication of successful matings. Pairings between sympatric isolates demonstrated that the fungus is heterothallic with a unifactorial (bipolar) homogenic mating incompatibility system. Papazian test pairings between tester strains and mating types from three locations in Idaho and Washington indi? cated the absence of complete interfertility between allopatric populations and provided strong evidence that the fungus is biallelic, lacking multiple alleles at the single mating locus. The nuclear content of so? matic and reproductive cells at all phases of the life cycle was examined using Giemsa stain. Ascospores and conidia were commonly multinucleate and ap? peared to undergo multiple mitotic divisions prior to germination. Somatic hyphae derived from ascospores and conidia were predominately uninucleate. The importance of sexual reproduction, sexual incompati? bility, and the teleomorph in the disease cycle is dis? cussed relative to environmental factors required for their occurrence and implications for disease control.
Topical Sulfamylon cream inhibits DNA and protein synthesis in the skin donor site wound

Background Whereas Sulfamylon is effective in treatment of burn wound infection, controversy exists regarding its effect on the healing process. Methods A partial thickness skin donor site wound was created on the back and indwelling catheters were placed in the carotid artery and jugular vein in rabbits under general anesthesia. Sulfamylon cream (8.5%, BERTEK Pharmaceuticals Inc., Morgantown, W Va) was applied on the wound, with either open or occlusive dressing. The control wound was covered with dressings only. On day 7 after injury, stable isotope tracers were infused to determine the fractional synthetic rate (FSR) of DNA, and FSR and fractional breakdown rate (FBR) of protein in the wound. Results In the Sulfamylon-open dressing group, the DNA FSR was 1.3 ± 0.6%/day, the protein FSR was 8.0 ± 3.5%/day, and the net protein deposition (FSR – FBR) was −0.3 ± 3.7%/day. These values were lower (P Conclusions Topical Sulfamylon cream application inhibited DNA and protein synthesis in the wound, which would be expected to retard the healing process.
Intracorneal instillation of latex beads induces macrophage-dependent protection against Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Purpose Instillation of sterile 1.0 microM latex beads into the central corneal epithelium renders Chinese hamsters resistant to corneal infection with Acanthamoeba castellanii. By contrast, activation of the adaptive immune response by subcutaneous immunization with A. castellanii antigens fails to protect against Acanthamoeba keratitis. This study was undertaken to examine the mechanisms that mediate latex bead-induced resistance to Acanthamoeba keratitis. Methods In vitro experiments examined the effect of latex bead treatment on the capacity of A. castellanii trophozoites to adhere to and kill corneal epithelial cells. In vivo administration of antineutrophil antiserum was used to evaluate the role of neutrophils in latex-bead-induced protection against Acanthamoeba keratitis. Liposomes containing the macrophagicidal drug clodronate were used to deplete conjunctival macrophages and determine the role of macrophages in the latex-bead-induced resistance. Results Latex bead treatment did not affect adherence of trophozoites to the corneal epithelium or protect corneal epithelial or stromal cells from trophozoite-mediated cytolysis in vitro. Neutrophil depletion did not abrogate the latex beads' protective effect. Latex bead treatment induced a significant infiltration of macrophages into the corneas that peaked at day 4 of infection. Moreover, depletion of conjunctival macrophages with the macrophagicidal drug clodronate eliminated the latex beads' protective effect. Conclusions The results indicate that intracorneal injection of latex beads induces a remarkable resistance to Acanthamoeba keratitis that is largely, if not entirely, mediated by macrophages. These results underscore the importance of the innate immune apparatus in the resistance to Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Call for Papers---Special Issue of Transportation Science: Energy and Transportation: Meeting the Challenge: Submission Deadline: January 13, 2012

Transportation accounts for almost 20% of the world’s energy consumption and more than 50% of the consumption of liquid fuels. As a result, it represents an important opportunity in the goal of reducing CO2 emissions and our exposure to the risk of rising oil prices. The sheer scale of transportation in the energy equation, and the spatial nature of transportation activities, introduces special challenges. The goal of this special issue will be to encourage research in this important area by highlighting different problem areas, as well as different styles of research that may be of interest to the transportation science community. A sampling of some of the problem areas that are of interest includes:
Environmentally responsible logistics systems

Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmental management programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Provides an overview of environmentally responsible logistics activities and their implications for corporate management. Also examines logistics functions in the context of the corporate value chain and identifies various environmental decision points. With environmental impact considered, many traditional trade‐off decisions need to be re‐evaluated. Provides examples in which innovative and environmentally‐friendly logistics ideas are used. Also discusses two system‐wide logistics elements, transportation and reverse logistics, that can have a profound impact on a firm′s environmental protection programme. Concludes that logistics managers can make environmentally responsible decisions that are coherent with corporate goals and objectives.