cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Magnesium Alloy Degradation in Whole Blood and Platelet Rich Plasma

Magnesium (Mg) is an attractive biomaterial due to its desirable biodegradable and mechanical properties. In this study, we compared the degradation behavior of Mg and a new Mg alloy incubated in both whole blood and platelet rich plasma (PRP) for two hours under standard cell culture conditions. To avoid settling of red blood cells, tubes with whole blood were under constant rotation during the incubation. Post-incubation solutions were collected, centrifuged, and analyzed for pH and Mg ion concentration. Mg and Mg alloy samples were fixed with a 3% glutaraldehyde solution, dehydrated using an ethanol series, critical point dried, sputter coated, and imaged with a field emission scanning electron microscope. Analysis of the post-incubation solutions showed PRP had greater concentrations of Mg ions and higher pH values when compared with whole blood. This indicated that the Mg and Mg alloy degraded faster when incubated in PRP than in whole blood. When comparing the surface of the materials after incubation with whole blood and PRP, the surfaces of Mg and Mg alloy that was incubated in PRP had larger cracks and grain boundaries than the samples incubated in whole blood. Additionally, more particulate microstructures were observed on the samples incubated in PRP as opposed to whole blood. Further studies are still needed to elucidate the differences in degradation of Mg alloys in whole blood and PRP.
Does the HO2 radical react with H2S, CH3SH, and CH3SCH3?

The kinetics of the title reactions were investigated in a discharge flow tube by using laser magnetic resonance detection of HO2. The upper limits for the bimolecular rate constants for the reactions of HO2 with H2S (k1), CH3SH (k2), and CH3SCH3 (k3) are <3 × 10−15, <4 × 10−15, and <5 × 10−15 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively, at 298 K. Our upper limit for k1 is three orders of magnitude lower than the previously reported value. Measurements at higher temperatures also yield similar upper limits. Our results suggest that HO2 is not an important oxidant for these reduced compounds in the atmosphere. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The structure and chemical composition of fats and oils

This is essentially a general review of progress during the past ten years both in the chemistry of the glycerides of fats and oils and in the chemistry and nature of their constituent fatty acids. Applications of some of the newer research methods are described and discussed.
Sun's conjectures on fourth powers in the class group of binary quadratic forms

Abstract Text We prove five of Sun's conjectures on the index of the subgroup of fourth powers in the class group of binary quadratic forms. Video For a video summary of this paper, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMuO4RAp1Xw .
Dissipative effects on quarkonium spectral functions

Quarkonium at finite temperature is described as an open quantum system whose dynamics are determined by a potential ${V}_{R}(\mathbf{x})$ and drag coefficient $\ensuremath{\eta}$, using a path integral with a nonlocal term. Path-integral Monte Carlo calculations determine the Euclidean Green function for this system to an accuracy greater than one part in a thousand and the maximum entropy method is used to determine the spectral function; challenges facing any kind of deconvolution are discussed in detail with the aim of developing intuition for when deconvolution is possible. Significant changes to the quarkonium spectral function in the $1S$ channel are found, suggesting that any description of quarkonium at finite temperature, using a potential, must also carefully consider the effect of dissipation.
Effects of State Humor, Expectancies, and Choice on Postsurgical Mood and Self-Medication: A Field Experiment1

It was hypothesized that repeated exposure to humorous material reduces distress, pain, and medication following surgery. This hypothesis was tested in a field experiment by randomly assigning 78 postsurgical patients to either a control group or 1 of 8 experimental groups formed by the factorial crossing of type of videotape (humorous vs. serious), perceived control (choice vs. no choice), and expectation (positive vs. none). Multivariate analyses of variance disclosed that humor reduced requests for minor medication, combined with expectations to reduce pain, but increased use of heavy analgesic when patients were deprived of choice. Although more research needs to be done, the findings suggest that hospital patients benefit from humorous and distracting material when exposure is voluntary. Belief in the healing powers of humor appears to be fairly widespread. This belief is reflected, and perhaps encouraged, by articles (e.g., Goldstein, 1982; Long, 1987; Mann, 1986) and books (e.g., Metcalf & Felible, 1992; Moody, 1978) that portray humor as a cure for whatever ails a person. Cousins (1 989), in his last book, listed several hospitals that have incorporated humor into the treatment that patients receive. It is probably safe to assert that books and articles by Norman Cousins (1 976, 1979) are largely responsible for current interest in the health effects of humor. Popular works frequently begin by describing how Cousins overcame a typically fatal form of arthritis by watching Candid Camera episodes and Marx Brothers movies. Cousins' cure has also been described in the introduction of scientific reports on the health effects of humor (e.g., Lefcourt &
Magnifying colonoscopy in differentiating neoplastic from nonneoplastic colorectal lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Because the medical management of persons with adenomatous colorectal polyps differs from that of those with hyperplastic polyps, accuracy of diagnosis is essential. This study reports our experience using a magnifying colonoscope combined with indigocarmine dye to diagnose colorectal polyps, emphasizing its ability to differentiate neoplastic from nonneoplastic lesions. METHODS: The materials consisted of 175 polyps. A 0.2% indigocarmine solution was sprayed, and the colonoscope zoom apparatus performed a magnified observation after an ordinary colonoscopy identified the lesions. The pit patterns were classified into six categories: I, II, IIIL, IIIs, IV, and V according to Kudo’s modified classification. RESULTS: The percentages of neoplastic changes in the lesions with pit pattern I, II, IIIL, IIIs, IV, and V were 0, 12.2, 69.7, 80, 84.4, and 100%, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity of neoplastic lesions was 93.8% and specificity was 64.6% when types I and II represented the pit pattern of nonneoplastic lesions and types IIIL, IIIs, IV, and V represented neoplastic lesions. The overall diagnostic accuracy in differentiating neoplastic from nonneoplastic lesions was 80.1%. The diagnostic accuracy is not influenced by the size and shape of the lesions. The six neoplastic lesions that were misjudged to be nonneoplastic were histologically adenoma with only mild atypia. CONCLUSIONS: The pit pattern analysis of colorectal lesions by magnifying colonoscopy is a useful and objective tool for differentiating neoplastic from nonneoplastic lesions of the large bowel. In its current state of development, however, this technique is not a substitute for histology.
Finite-amplitude stability of a parallel flow with a free surface

The linearized problem of the instability of a layer of liquid flowing down an inclined plane was formulated by Yih (1954) and was solved by Benjamin (1957). It was found that the instability of such a film flow is initially due to long surface waves of infinitesimally small amplitudes. In the present study, a closed-form expression for the non-linear development of these long surface waves is obtained. It is shown that in the neighbourhood of the neutral curve an exponentially growing infinitesimal disturbance may develop into supercritically stable wave motion of small but finite amplitude if the surface tension of the liquid is sufficiently large. Theoretically obtained amplitudes of such waves are consistent with Kapitza's (1949) observation. The approach used in this analysis is a modification of the method used by Reynolds & Potter (1967), who extended the method of Stuart (1960) and Watson (1960) in their study of the non-linear instability of plane Poiseuille and Poiseuille-Couette flow.
The effect of environment on assemblages of lichens growing on rock surfaces

Summary The influence of environment on lichen assemblages of known age is examined. The main cause of variation seems to be the response of the lichens to the rock aspect providing the most favourable moisture conditions. this being dependent on the orientation of each surface to the prevailing wind. However, no really consistent patterns could be found and no specific correlations could be made with anyone climatic factor. The significance of lichens for dating rock surfaces is discussed with reference to the two main causes of variation: stone size (Orwin, 1970) and environment. Definite correlations of lichen patterns with time give lichens some value for comparative dating within one general climatic area.
The treatment of diabetic lipohypertrophy by liposuction

Insulin-induced lipohypertrophy is common in diabetic patients using highly purified insulin. It is avoidable and when it occurs it is distressing for some patients. The technique of liposuction or suction lipectomy is widely used in aesthetic surgery for body contouring. It has found other roles in plastic and reconstructive surgery, including the thinning of flaps and recontouring of post-traumatic fat necrosis. We report our experience of its use for the treatment of diabetic lipohypertrophy and illustrate this application with three case reports. It is likely to become a useful treatment in selected patients.
Cellular Energetics of Animals from High Sulfide Environments

SYNOPSIS.Mitochondrial ATP production is influenced by many factors, including the adenylate status of the cell, the supply of reducing equivalents to the electron transport chain, the supply of oxygen to cytochrome oxidase, and the demand for ATP to do cellular work. Hydrogen sulfide, which is naturally produced in marine sediments, is a poison of aerobic ATP production mainly because it inhibits cytochrome oxidase in the electron transport chain. However, most animals from high sulfide environments exhibit aerobic respiration, and may avoid sulfide poisoning with detoxification reactions that may be useful sources of energy. Sulfide stimulates ADP phosphorylation in mitochondria isolated from gills of Solemya reidi , a sulfide-oxidizing symbiont-harboring bivalve, and a P/O ratio near unity indicates that electrons from sulfide enter the electron transport chain at the level of cytochrome c . Current investigations into the effects of sulfide on oxygen consumption rate, ATP level, cytochrome reduction state and ciliary beat frequency of symbiont-free gills of the mussels Geukensia demissa and Mytilus edulis indicate that animals from high sulfide environments may gain sufficient energy from sulfide oxidation to support cellular work.
Multiple Si layer ICs: motivation, performance analysis, and design implications

Continuous scaling of VLSI circuits is reducing gate delays but rapidly increasing interconnect delays. Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) roadmap predicts that, beyond the 130 nm technology node, performance improvement of advanced VLSI is likely to begin to saturate unless a paradigm shift from present IC architecture is introduced. This paper presents a comprehensive analytical treatment of ICs with multiple Si layers (3-D ICs). It is shown that significant improvement in performance (more than 145%) and reduction in wire-limited chip area can be achieved with 3-D ICs with vertical inter-layer interconnects (VILICs). This analysis is based on dividing a chip into separate blocks, each occupying a separate physical level. A scheme to optimize interconnect distribution among different interconnect tiers is presented and the effect of transferring the repeaters to upper Si layers has been quantified in this analysis. Furthermore, thermal analysis of ICs with two Si layers is presented. It is demonstrated that using a thermally responsible design and/or a high-performance heat sinking technology, die temperatures for ICs with two Si layers can be reduced well below present die temperatures. Finally, implications of 3-D architecture on several circuit designs are also discussed.
Neonatal exposure to xenobiotics alters adult hepatic protein kinase C alpha levels and testosterone metabolism: differential effects by diethylstilbestrol and phenobarbital.

Hepatic enzymes that metabolize endogenous and xenobiotic compounds have been shown to be altered in adult rats that had been exposed to xenobiotics as neonates. Protein kinase C (PKC) is important in intracellular signaling and has been implicated in the regulation of hepatic monooxygenases. Therefore, we examined the effects of neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DE5) and phenobarbital (PB) on hepatic microsomal testosterone metabolism and on the alpha form of protein kinase C (PKCα) in adult rats. In adult males, neonatal exposure to DES altered adult testosterone metabolism such that 7α‐hydroxylation was increased by 58% but 2α‐, 16α‐, and 6β‐hydroxylations and conversion to androstenedione were decreased 31–44%. In contrast, adult males neonatally exposed to PB showed increased (20–27%) testosterone 2α‐ and 16α‐hydroxylations and androstenedione formation, but no effect was observed in the rate of 6β ‐ or 7α‐hydroxylations. Western blot analyses indicated that cytosolic PKCα levels in male rats ...
Pulsed power hydrodynamics: applying pulsed power and high magnetic fields to produce extreme conditions

Summary form only given. Pulsed power hydrodynamics is a new application of pulsed high magnetic fields to explore advanced hydrodynamics, instabilities, fluid turbulences, and material properties in a highly precise, controllable environment at the extremes of pressure and material velocity. The Atlas facility designed and built by Los Alamos is the world's first and only laboratory pulsed power system designed specifically to explore this relatively new family of pulsed power applications. Constructed in 2000 and commissioned in August 2001, Atlas is a 24-MJ high-performance capacitor bank delivering up to 30-megamperes with a current risetime of 5-6-musec. The high-precision, cylindrical, imploding liner is the tool most frequently used to convert electromagnetic energy into the hydrodynamic (particle kinetic) energy needed to drive the experiments. For typical liner parameters with an initial radius of 5-cm, the peak current of 30-MA delivered by Atlas results in magnetic fields just over 1-MG outside the liner prior to implosion. During the 5 to 10-musec implosion, the field outside the liner rises to several MG in typical situations. At these fields the rear surface of the liner is melted and it is subject to a variety of complex behaviors including: diffusion dominated and/or melt wave field penetration and heating; magneto Rayleigh-Taylor sausage mode behavior at the liner/field interface; and azimuthal asymmetry due to perturbations in current drive. The first Atlas liner implosion experiments were conducted in September 2001 and 16 experiments were conducted in the first year of operation. Immediate applications of the new pulsed power hydrodynamics techniques include material property topics such as: exploration of material strength at high rates of strain, material failure including fracture and spall, and-interfacial dynamics at high relative velocities and high interfacial pressures. A variety of complex hydrodynamic geometries will be explored and experiments will be designed to explore unstable perturbation growth and transition to turbulence. Longer term applications include the study of the hydrodynamics and properties of strongly coupled plasmas and equation of state of materials at pressures above 10 Mbar. This paper will provide an overview of the Atlas system and of the range of problems to which pulsed power hydrodynamics can be applied and the issues associated with these techniques
Top-25-Business-School Professors Rate Journals in Operations Management and Related Fields

I obtained quality ratings and rankings of 39 journals in operations management and related disciplines through surveys of faculty members at top-25 US business schools in 2000 and in 2002. I also computed five-year impact factors for 29 of these journals and developed a ranking based on these impact factors. I found evidence of some change in journal quality ratings over the two-year period. Ratings also differed by research area but not by professorial level. In addition, I ranked the journals based on the number of academics who rated their quality, calling this a visibility measure. Finally, I compared my ratings to ratings in earlier survey and citation studies. The quality ratings were more consistent than the citation ratings.
Pitfalls in the use of the CAMAC Q signal as a device-ready indicator

Abstract Methods are presented for dealing with the problems that can arise when the CAMAC Q signal is used to indicate device-ready for an imput or output operation to a peripheral.
Construction of a Streptococcus pyogenes recA mutant via insertional inactivation, and cloning and sequencing of the complete recA gene.

Abstract To facilitate future genetic studies with Streptococcus pyogenes (Sp), a recA mutant (Recl1) was constructed using a streptococcal integration vector carrying a PCR-derived internal recA fragment. The insertion of the plasmid in the mutant chromosome was identified by Southern hybridization. Resistance to UV and the ability to accept linear DNA transformation by Recll were greatly decreased, confirming its RecA phenotype. Using the PCR-derived fragment as a probe, we cloned and sequenced the complete Sp recA gene, which is highly homologous to the recA of S. pneumoniae and Lactococcus lactis .
Potential artifact for the increase of tumor associated antigens in serum samples from patients injected with monoclonal antibodies

The administration of [131I]B72.3 MAb for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is followed by the development of human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in approx. 70% of patients receiving i.v. doses of MAb above 1 mg. The presence of HAMA in circulation interferes in the detection of the tumor-associated glycoprotein TAG-72 using the CA 72-4 RIA. We have reported elsewhere (Ferroni et al., 1990) that heat treatment at 90 degrees C, pH 6.5, for 15 min is capable of precipitating and/or inactivating HAMA without causing any significant loss in antigen recovery. Furthermore, the removal of the interfering activity leads to a more correct evaluation of TAG-72 serum levels in HAMA-positive serum samples and to a continued use of TAG-72 in the follow-up of patients undergoing MAb-based clinical protocols.
Cardiovascular and metabolic responses to two receptor-selective opioid agonists in pregnant sheep

Objective: Our purpose was to assess the effects of an intravenous dose of a highly selective μ-(DALDA) and δ-(DPDPE) opioid peptide to determine which class of peptide has the best clinical potential. Study design: Chronically instrumented pregnant ewes recieved a 0.3 mg/kg intravenous bolus of each peptide with and without opioid receptor blockade by means of a randomized prospective design. Results: Intravenous DALDA produced only mild hypertension and a loss of heart rate variability, whereas DPDPE produced respiratory depression, maternal hypertension, and a fall in heart rate in both mother and fetus. Uterine blood flow, oxygen uptake, and glucose uptake were unchanged with both drugs. The effects of DALDA but not DPDPE were reversed by opioid receptor blockade. Conclusion: The δ-selective agonist had multiple nonopioid adverse effects, whereas the μ-selective agonist was well tolerated by the pregnant ewe, suggesting that μ-selective agonists have better potential for clinical use as an analgesic in pregnancy.
Ethanol interferes with collagen-induced platelet activation by inhibition of arachidonic acid mobilization.

Abstract The effect of ethanol on signal generation in collagen-stimulated human platelets was evaluated. Incubation of washed human platelets with physiologically relevant concentrations of ethanol (25–150 m m ) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of aggregation and secretion in response to collagen (0.5–10 μg/ml), but did not inhibit shape change. In platelets labeled with [ 3 H]arachidonic acid, ethanol significantly inhibited the release of arachidonic acid from phospholipids, in both the presence and the absence of indomethacin. Thromboxane B 2 formation was also inhibited in proportion to the reduction in free arachidonic acid. There was a close correlation between the extent of inhibition of arachidonic acid release and secretion. The inhibition of platelet aggregation and secretion by ethanol was partially overcome by the addition of exogenous arachidonic acid. In the presence of indomethacin, ethanol had no effect on the activation of phospholipase C by collagen as determined by the formation of inositol phosphates and phosphatidic acid. Moreover, ethanol had no effect on the mobilization of intracellular calcium by collagen and only minimally inhibited the early phases of the phosphorylation of myosin light chain (20 kDa) and a 47-kDa protein, a known substrate for protein kinase C. Arachidonic acid formation was also inhibited by ethanol in response to ionomycin under conditions where phospholipase C activation was prevented. The results suggest that the functional effects of ethanol on collagen-stimulated platelets are due, at least in part, to an inhibition of phospholipase A 2 .
COMPUTER ASSISTED MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW OF CHILD ABUSE CASES IN THE SOUTH BRONX

A microcomputer data base management system was used for weekly review of all 675 children admitted to the Lincoln Hospital Pediatric Emergency Room (PER) during a one year period (10/21/85- 10/20/86) reported to the state child protective services agency. The time period corresponds with the initiation of a Joint Response (JR) protocol in New York City Health And Hospital Corporation hospitals created to involve both police and child protective services in cases of severe child abuse (CA) and child sexual abuse (SA). The computerized data assisted the interagency transfer of information, indicating where information was lacking. Of all cases, 251/675 (37%) were SA related, 63/251 (25%) male, average age 7.2 years, and 188/251 (75%) female, average age 8.8 years. The age range of SA cases was from 7 weeks to 18 years. A “rule-out” diagnosis was used in 97/251 (39%) SA cases. 114/675 (17%) were JR cases. Of these, 72/114 (63%) were SA related. 127/675 (19%) of all cases were brought to the PER by child protective services workers for examination after a CA diagnosis had been made. The majority of cases (56%) were brought to the PER during the evening shift (4 P.M. to 12 midnight). Although the daily average is less than two cases per day, up to nine abuse cases were seen during a twenty-four hour period. Forty-two percent of cases were seen during the four warm months of May, June, July and August.
Computation of oceanic vertical stability (Brunt-Väisäläfrequency) with an improved density equation

Abstract Vertical stability of a water column can be computed from the formula: N 2 = g 2 [ d ρ d P − 1 c 2 ] where ρ is density, P is pressure, g is gravity, and c is sound speed. Because Ekman's density equation is not consistent with Wilson's sound speed equation, large errors are introduced by combining these two equations to calculate the vertical stability. However, this difficulty can be overcome with the Wang and Millero density equation derived consistently from Wilson's sound speed equation. In addition to its simplicity, the computation of vertical stability from the above formula using Wilson's sound speed equation and Wand and Millero's density equation can be shown to generally give the most accurate results.
Deficiencies in our knowledge of BCG vaccine.

1)No method has been developed for stabilizing the potency of BCG vaccine. 2)No method has been devised for preventing the rapid decline of viable organisms in the freshly prepared vaccine. 3)A marked variation in potency as well as in number of viable organisms exists in similar amounts of BCG from different laboratories. 4)The exact degree of immunity received from BCG and the duration of this immunity are not as yet determined. 5)Adequate knowledge is lacking concerning possible differences in immunizing qualities of the vaccine in different racial groups. 6)The optimal method of BCG vaccination is still open to question. 7)BCG vaccination should not be offered as a substitute for other anti-tuberculosis methods so successfully used in the United States.
Hydrogen Exchange/Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Studies of Substrate and Inhibitor Binding and Conformational Changes of Escherichia coli Dihydrodipicolinate Reductase†

Escherichia coli dihydrodipicolinate reductase is one of seven enzymes in the succinylase pathway of bacterial L-lysine biosynthesis. The binding of NADH, a substrate, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate, an inhibitor, to the recombinant, overexpressed enzyme has been analyzed using hydrogen/deuterium exchange and electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry. NADH binding reduces the extent of deuterium exchange, as does the subsequent binding of 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate. Pepsin digestion of the deuterated enzyme and enzyme-inhibitor complex coupled with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry has allowed the identification of four peptides whose deuterium exchange slows considerably upon the binding of the substrate or inhibitor. Two of these peptides represent regions known or thought to bind NADH and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate. Two additional peptides are located at the interdomain hinge region and are proposed to be exchangeable in the "open", catalytically inactive, conformation but are nonexchangeable in the "closed", catalytically active conformation formed after NADH and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate binding and domain closure. These studies provide a clear example of a catalytically essential domain movement in this enzyme.
Tat-conjugated PAMAM dendrimers as delivery agents for antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides.

PAMAM G5 dendrimer (P) was conjugated to Tat peptide (T), a cell penetrating peptide, in search of an efficient cellular delivery vehicle for antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides. PAMAM G5 dendrimer was reacted with 4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-propionic acid, sulfosuccinimidyl ester, sodium salt (BODIPY) for visualization to yield the conjugate BP. Bifunctional sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[α-methyl-α-(2-pyridyldithio)toluamido]hexanoate (sulfo-LC-SMPT) was then used to conjugate primary amino groups of BP to cysteine derivatized Tat peptide to give the designed conjugate, BPT. This conjugate was complexed with antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides designed to inhibit MDR1 gene expression. NIH 3T3 MDR cells were used for the evaluation of biological activity of the conjugate. Both antisense and siRNA readily formed complexes with the synthesized BPT, introduced into NIH 3T3 MDR cells, and primarily accumulated in intracellular vesicles. MDR1 gene expression was partially inhibited by the antisense–BPT complex and weakly inhibited by the siRNA–BPT complex when both were tested at nontoxic levels of dendrimer. Conjugation with Tat peptide did not improve the delivery efficiency of the dendrimer. Dendrimer–oligonucleotide complexes were moderately effective for delivery of antisense and only poorly effective for delivery of siRNA. Conjugation of the dendrimer with the Tat cell penetrating peptide failed to further enhance the effectiveness of the dendrimer.
Improving individual measurement of postoperative pain: the pain trajectory.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a method for increasing the precision and information yield of postoperative pain assessment. We recorded pain intensity ratings over 6 days after surgery in 502 elective surgery patients and examined individual pain trajectories. A linear fit of an individual patient's scores defines a trajectory with two features: (1) the intercept or initial pain intensity; and (2) the slope, or rate of pain resolution. Three pain trajectory patterns emerged from examination of the pain trajectory slopes. Most patients (63% of the sample) demonstrated a negative slope trajectory characterized by a decline in pain intensity over days after surgery. Other patients (25% of the sample) demonstrated a flat trajectory with no meaningful change over 6 days from pain they reported initially. A third patient group (12% of the sample) had a positive slope trajectory in which pain scores increased over 6 days after surgery. Measures derived from individual pain trajectories yielded much lower standard errors of measurement and therefore had better measurement precision than did conventional pain assessment methods. Pain trajectory measures proved sufficiently precise to characterize pain patterns reliably in individual patients. Perspective Progress in acute pain management requires effective pain assessment. The acute pain trajectory quantifies rate of pain resolution as well as pain intensity. It affords more precise measurement than conventional pain assessment and can identify abnormal postoperative pain resolution.
Mapping the Auroral Oval into the Magnetotail Using Dynamics Explorer Plasma Data

The mapping of the nightside auroral oval into the magnetotail is investigated using DE-1 and -2 plasma data in combination with the Tsyganenko '89 and the Hilmer-Voigt'91 magnetic field models. In an attempt to clarify the relationship between magnetospheric regions and the BPS and CPS, data from the Low Altitude Plasma Instrument (LAPI) are used to determine the invariant latitude of the polar cap boundary, the poleward edge of the discrete aurora, the discrete-diffuse (BPS/CPS) auroral boundary, and the equatorward edge of the diffuse aurora. When these field lines are traced into the magnetotail, both models indicate that the region of discrete aurora (BPS) maps to an extended region (usually>20 RE in width) of the main portion of the plasma sheet outside the more dipolar, inner plasma sheet (CPS). Since BPS field lines map to such a wide range of neutral sheet crossing distances, we propose a less confusing and more descriptive terminology in which the term “BPS” is divided into two regions: the Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer (PSBL) and the “IPS”, for Isotropic (Boundary) Plasma Sheet.Auroral zone-magnetotail topology is further examined by using data from the High Altitude Plasma Instrument (HAPI) to determine values of electron number density and temperatures at 1° intervals across the auroral zone. The corresponding field lines are traced into the magnetotail to a distance of-15RE and compared with magnetotail (10-25RE) mean plasma sheet ion densities and temperatures for low- and mid-activity levels from HUANG and FRANK (1986). We find a very good correspondence between the density and temperature measurements mapped from DE-1 altitudes and those measured in the mid-tail, suggesting that both models successfully reproduce the average magnetospheric configuration at this distance. The mean of the ion temperatures mapped with the Hilmer-Voigt model were slightly higher than those reported from the ISEE data, indicating that the model may be slightly too stretched. A significant region (between-5-7 RE) of overlap between the hotter ring current and the cooler, fresher plasma sheet is observable at DE-1; these hotter electrons are so anisotropic (with a trapped pancake distribution) that they are not observable at the 1000km altitude of DE-2.
The role of MHC class I and class II molecules in susceptibility to Lyme disease in inbred B10 H-2 congenic and recombinant mice

We have further developed the mouse model of Lyme disease using B10 H-2 congenic and recombinant strains. The influence of MHC class I and class II genes of the mouse H-2 complex on the susceptibility and/or resistance to Lyme disease was studied. We report that B10 strains congenic to the haplotypes, H-2k, H-2d, H-2f, H-2q, and H-2b are highly susceptible to Lyme disease as they develop high antibody titers and severe disease over mice of other haplotypes used in this study. By using recombinant strains we demonstrate that this susceptibility is genetically based and specifically involves the K and D regions (MHC class I genes) and I-A and I-E regions (MHC class II genes) of the H-2 complex.
A note on a sequential signed-rank test for symmetry †

Reynolds has proposed a sequential procedure for testing the hypothesis that the distribution of a sequence of i.i.d. random variables is symmetric about zero. The critical region and expected sample size of the test are approximated by using the fact that the test statistic behaves asymptotically like a Brownian motion process. In this paper we propose to use approximations based on a continuous non-homogeneous Markov chain. Monte Carlo studies show this approach to be much more accurate in determining appropriate critical regions and in finding expected sample size.
Counseling Needs a Course Correction

As Professor Snape said in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, “You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making.” Psychotherapy is best when it too follows this formula...
Analytical and numerical aspects of certain nonlinear evolution equations. 1V. numerical modified Korteweg-de Vries equation

Various numerical methods are used in order to approximate the Korteweg-de Vries equation, namely: (i) Zabusky-Kruskal scheme, (ii) hopscotch method, (iii) a scheme due to Goda, (iv) a proposed local scheme, (v) a proposed global scheme, (vi) a scheme suggested by Kruskal, (vii) split step Fourier method by Tappert, (viii) an improved split step Fourier method, and (ix) pseudospectral method by Fornberg and Whitham. Comparisons between our proposed scheme, which is developed using notions of the inverse scattering transform, and the other utilized schemes are obtained.
Calcium dynamics and the mechanisms of atrioventricular junctional rhythm

Objectives The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that rhythmic spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium (Ca) release (the “Ca clock”) plays an important role in atrioventricular junction (AVJ) automaticity. Background The AVJ is a primary backup pacemaker to the sinoatrial node. The mechanisms of acceleration of AVJ intrinsic rate during sympathetic stimulation are unclear. Methods We simultaneously mapped transmembrane potential and intracellular Ca in Langendorff-perfused canine AVJ preparations that did not contain sinoatrial node (n = 10). Results Baseline AVJ rate was 37.5 ± 4.0 beats/min. The wavefront from leading pacemaker site propagated first through the slow pathway, then the fast pathway and atria. There was no late diastolic Ca elevation (LDCAE) at baseline. Isoproterenol up to 3 μmol/l increased heart rate to 100 ± 6.8 beats/min, concomitant with the appearance of LDCAE that preceded the phase 0 of action potential by 97.3 ± 35.2 ms and preceded the onset of late diastolic depolarization by 23.5 ± 3.5 ms. Caffeine also produced LDCAE and AVJ acceleration. The maximal slope of LDCAE and diastolic depolarization always colocalized with the leading pacemaker sites. Ryanodine markedly slowed the rate of spontaneous AVJ rhythm. Isoproterenol did not induce LDCAE in the presence of ryanodine. The Ifblocker ZD 7288 did not prevent LDCAE or AVJ acceleration induced by isoproterenol (n = 2). Conclusions Isoproterenol and caffeine induced LDCAE and accelerated intrinsic AVJ rhythm. Consistent colocalization of the maximum LDCAE and the leading pacemaker sites indicates that the Ca clock is important to the intrinsic AVJ rate acceleration during sympathetic stimulation.
Liberating the dimension for L2-approximation

We consider approximation of ~-variate functions with the error measured in a weighted L"2-norm. The functions being approximated belong to weighted tensor product spaces with arbitrary weights @c"u. We provide complexity upper bounds and sufficient conditions for polynomial and weak tractabilities expressed in terms of the properties of the weights @c"u and the complexity of the corresponding univariate approximation problem. These tractability conditions are also necessary for important types of weights including product weights.
The adenosine receptor antagonist CGS15943 reinstates cocaine-seeking behavior and maintains self-administration in baboons

Rationale Caffeine and the adenosine A1 and A2A receptor antagonist CGS15943 produce many behavioral effects that are similar to those produced by classic stimulant drugs (e.g. cocaine and amphetamines).
Crossflow vortex and transition measurements by use of multielement hot films

An experiment on a 45-deg swept wing was conducted to study three-dimensional boundary-layer characteristics using surface-mounted, microthin, multielement hot-film sensors. A large hot-film gauge was fabricated that combined three arrays of 64 crossflow sensors each and a single array of 32 transition sensors. Two such gauges were mounted along the model chord. Crossflow vortex structure and boundary-layer transition were measured from the simultaneously acquired signals of the hot films. Stationary and nonstationary crossflow disturbances were measured from hot-film sensor arrays
Self-organizing learning array

A new machine learning concept-self-organizing learning array (SOLAR)-is presented. It is a sparsely connected, information theory-based learning machine, with a multilayer structure. It has reconfigurable processing units (neurons) and an evolvable system structure, which makes it an adaptive classification system for a variety of machine learning problems. Its multilayer structure can handle complex problems. Based on the entropy estimation, information theory-based learning is performed locally at each neuron. Neural parameters and connections that correspond to minimum entropy are adaptively set for each neuron. By choosing connections for each neuron, the system sets up its wiring and completes its self-organization. SOLAR classifies input data based on the weighted statistical information from all the neurons. The system classification ability has been simulated and experiments were conducted using test-bench data. Results show a very good performance compared to other classification methods. An important advantage of this structure is its scalability to a large system and ease of hardware implementation on regular arrays of cells.
'DIFFICULT PATIENTS' AS FAMILY PHYSICIANS PERCEIVE THEM

The physician patient relationship is an important part of medical care. This study examined events that can jeopardize that relationship, i.e., patients' behaviors and attributes that physicians find frustrating. Data were collected from practicing family physicians (N-34) using a 32 item questionnaire developed by the author. Items were drawn from previous research on the behaviors of difficult patients and checked for relevance by two family physicians before the study began. Coefficient alpha was 92. Participants were predominantly male physicians who had been in practice for an average of 18 years. They were asked to indicate if they found specific patients' characteristics frustrating or annoying by using a 9 point scale with endpoints of "not at all frustrating or annoying" (1) and "very frustrating or annoying" (9). The physicians rated half of the listed patients' attributes as at least moderately frustrating (mean rating > 61. Over 80% of the physicians were frustrated by patients who expected to "cure," brought up new symptoms at the last moment, appeared to be malingering or refused to take responsibility for their health. They were least frustrated by disease related conditions such as degenerative or chronic illnesses. The physicians' ratings were unrelated to their years of experience. Results are discussed in relation to changing disease patterns which have occurred in this country over the last half century.
C-reactive protein concentration in dogs with chronic valvular disease

The purpose of the study reported here was to determine whether dogs with chronic valvular disease have increased plasma C-reactive protein concentration, compared with that in clinically normal dogs. Blood was collected from 47 dogs with physical and echocardiographic evidence of chronic valvular disease and from 20 healthy controls. C-reactive protein concentration was determined with a commercial canine C-reactive protein enzyme immunoassay. Compared with controls, dogs with chronic valvular disease had higher plasma concentration of C-reactive protein (median 2.17 μg/mL [range, 0.86-33.8 μg/mL]) versus 1.43 μg/mL [range, 0.84-4.99 μg/mL]; P <.001). C-reactive protein concentration was not related to the presence of congestive heart failure or murmur grade. The results of this study suggest that increased concentration of C-reactive protein is found in dogs with chronic valvular disease.
Lymphocyte populations in dermal lymphoid aggregates of vitiliginous Smyth line and normally pigmented Light Brown Leghorn chickens

Smyth line (SL) chickens develop a spontaneous, autoimmune loss of melanocytes (vitiligo) from the feather. To determine whether lymphocyte infiltration into two-week-old regenerating feathers of vitiliginous chickens was accompanied by lymphocyte infiltration into the skin, skin biopsies were conducted in SL chickens at two-week intervals throughout the development of vitiligo (SLV) when the chicks were 6 to 14 weeks of age. Control skin samples were obtained from age-matched, normally-pigmented Light Brown Leghorn (LBL) chickens. Frozen skin sections were labelled with a panel of mouse mAb to identify various lymphocyte populations. There was no lymphocyte infiltration into the skin of SL or control chickens. However, in both lines of chickens, dermal lymphoid aggregates (DLA), consisting primarily of T cells, were observed. In the DLA of SL chickens, the ratio between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was lower (P = 0.005) and the percentage of gamma delta T cells higher (P = 0.027) than in the controls. Additionally, in SL chickens the lymphocyte populations in the DLA varied depending on the developmental stage of vitiligo. These data suggest a relationship between the DLA and autoimmune vitiligo in the SL model.
Auditory‐perceptual interpretation of the vowel

An account of the simple vowels of American English will be given in terms of the author's auditory‐perceptual theory. Data from many sources will be used to illustrate and support this view. In addition to theoretical suggestions concerning an auditory‐perceptual transformation and a segmentation rule, the perceptualized spectral patterns associated with the nonretroflex vowels will be shown to fall into regions within a slab in a three‐dimensional, auditory‐perceptual space. These regions form a “vowel map” that by simple rotations can be related to various “vowel charts” such as those of Jones, Pike, or Fant. While the presentheory is an elaboration of traditional formant‐ratio theory, it will be shown that a concept of a perceptual reference is needed not only for talker normalization but also to disambiguate vowels not distinguished by simple formant‐ratio theory. Additionally, loci for the retroflex and nasalized vowels illustrate the utility of describing vowel spectra by five numbers combined into three dimensions. Simple F1 by F2 descriptions are not adequate except for enigmatophiles. [Work supported by NINCDS and AFOSR.]
No Ethical or Legal Imperative to Provide Life Support to a Permanently Unaware Patient

In their commentary on the Golubchuk case, Jotkowitz, Glick, and Zivotofsky (2010) condemn the 2008 guidelines of the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons that permit physicians to withdraw ...
Which type of sedentary behaviour intervention is more effective at reducing body mass index in children? A meta-analytic review.

Summary Sedentary behaviour is emerging as an independent risk factor for paediatric obesity. Some evidence suggests that limiting sedentary behaviour alone could be effective in reducing body mass index (BMI) in children. However, whether adding physical activity and diet-focused components to sedentary behaviour reduction interventions could lead to an additive effect is unclear. This meta-analysis aims to assess the overall effect size of sedentary behaviour interventions on BMI reduction and to compare whether interventions that have multiple components (sedentary behaviour, physical activity and diet) have a higher mean effect size than interventions with single (sedentary behaviour) component. Included studies (n = 25) were randomized controlled trials of children (<18 years) with intervention components aimed to reduce sedentary behaviour and measured BMI at pre- and post-intervention. Effect size was calculated as the mean difference in BMI change between children in an intervention group and a control group. Results indicated that sedentary behaviour interventions had a significant effect on BMI reduction. The pooled effect sizes of multi-component interventions (g = −0.060∼−0.089) did not differ from the single-component interventions (g = −0.154), and neither of them had a significant effect size on its own. Future paediatric obesity interventions may consider focusing on developing strategies to decrease multiple screen-related sedentary behaviours.
GENETIC STUDY OF HUMAN CELLS IN VITRO CARBOHYDRATE VARIANTS FROM CULTURES OF HELA AND CONJUNCTIVAL CELLS

The isolation of carbohydrate variants from cultures of HeLa and conjunctival cells was described. Factors inherent in the cell culture system, such as parent populations and dialyzed serums, have been shown to influence the outcome of variant isolations. Established stable variants incorporated significantly more pentoses or lactate into various cell fractions than the parent cultures. Besides their abilities to propagate continuously in the selecting environments, the variants multiplied slower, were more susceptible to sub-zero preservation and the cytotoxic effect of D-2-deoxyglucose, showed lower cloning efficiencies and were less susceptible to the deleterious effect of glucose oxidase. The ribose variants also differed from the parent cultures in morphological appearance such as formation of multinucleated cells and ring-shaped colonies. They converted more ribose into other component sugars of mucopolysaccharides than the parent cultures. Preliminary analyses of the mucopolysaccharides extracted from the ribose variants and parent cultures showed large difference in their carbohydrate (Molisch-positive materials) and DNA ratios. Evidence suggests that a sequence of interrelated events from genetic selection to primitive morphogenesis has been established.