cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
School-based intervention for adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Effects on academic functioning.

Abstract Multi-component training interventions such as the Challenging Horizons Program (CHP) improve organization skills and academic functioning of middle school students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, few studies have investigated treatment for high school students. We explored the extent to which CHP adapted for high school would improve proximal (e.g., organization skills, homework performance) and distal (e.g., report card grades) academic outcomes through 6-month follow-up relative to a community care (CC) condition. Participants included 186 adolescents who were randomly assigned to CHP (n = 92; 80% male; M age = 15.0; SD = 0.8) or CC (n = 94; 78% male; M age = 15.1; SD = 0.9) with CHP delivered over one school year. Parent, teacher, and self-report ratings of organization skills and academic performance, report card grades, and achievement tests were collected across multiple occasions. Intent-to-treat analyses using hierarchical linear modeling revealed significant improvements of small to medium magnitude (d range = 0.32 to 0.58) for parent-rated organization skills, homework performance, and academic functioning at 6-month follow-up. CHP effect on grades was small, but associated with a less steep decline than that found for CC. No statistically significant effects on teacher or self-report ratings were obtained. CHP appears efficacious for ameliorating organization skills and homework performance deficits exhibited by high school students with ADHD and can protect against decline in report card grades experienced by these students. CHP may require supplementation with academic skills instruction for some students and may need implementation beyond one school year to produce durable effects.
PIM Kinases in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease and novel therapeutic agents/approaches are urgently needed. The PIM (Proviral insertion in murine malignancies) serine/threonine kinases have 3 isoforms: PIM1, PIM2, and PIM3. PIM kinases are engaged with an expansive scope of biological activities including cell growth, apoptosis, drug resistance, and immune response. An assortment of molecules and pathways that are critical to myeloma tumorigenesis has been recognized as the downstream targets of PIM kinases. The inhibition of PIM kinases has become an emerging scientific interest for the treatment of multiple myeloma and several PIM kinase inhibitors, such as SGI-1776, AZD1208, and PIM447 (formerly LGH447), have been developed and are under different phases of clinical trials. Current research has been focused on the development of a new generation of potent PIM kinase inhibitors with appropriate pharmacological profiles reasonable for human malignancy treatment. Combination therapy of PIM kinase inhibitors with chemotherapeutic appears to create an additive cytotoxic impact in cancer cells. Notwithstanding, the mechanisms by which PIM kinases modulate the immune microenvironment and synergize with the immunomodulatory agents such as lenalidomide have not been deliberately depicted. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the PIM kinase pathways and the current research status of the development of PIM kinase inhibitors for the treatment of MM. Additionally, the combinatorial effects of the PIM kinase inhibitors with other targeted agents and the promising strategies to exploit PIM as a therapeutic target in malignancy are highlighted.
Late Traditional Chinese Civilization in Motion, 1400–1900

Scholars often contend that civil examinations were an important part of what made imperial China a political meritocracy. They point to the examination system to show that the selection process served more as a common training program for literati than as a gate-keeper to keep non-elites out. Despite the symbiotic relations between the court and its literati, the emperor played the final card in the selection process. The asymmetrical relations between the throne and its elites nevertheless empowered elites to seek upward mobility as scholar-officials through the system. But true social mobility, peasants becoming officials, was never the goal of state policy in late imperial China; a modest level of social circulation was an unexpected consequence of the meritocratic civil service. Moreover, the merit-based bureaucracy never broke free of its dependence on an authoritarian imperial system. A modern political system might be more compatible with meritocracy, however.
Hypersonic turbulent boundary-layer interference heat transfer in vicinity of protuberances

2 Moffatt, W. C., "Analysis of MHD channel entrance flows using the momentum integral method/' AIAA J. 2, 1495-1497 (1964). 3 Dhanak, A. M., "Heat transfer in magnetohydrodynamic flow in an entrance section," American Society of Mechanical Engineers 64-HT-30 (1964). 4 Maciulaitis, A. and Loeffler, A. L., Jr., "A theoretical investigation of MHD channel entrance flows," AIAA J. 2, 21002103 (1964). 5 Tani, I., "Steady flow of conducting fluids in channels under transverse magnetic fields with consideration of the Hall effect," J. Aerospace Sci. 29, 297 (1962). 6 Hale, F. J. and Kerrebrock, J. L., "Insulator boundary layers in magnetohydrodynamic channels," AIAA J. 2, 461-469 (1964). 7 Lykoudis, P. S., "Velocity overshoots in magnetic boundary layers," J. Aerospace Sci. 28, 896-897 (1961). 8 Hartmann, J., "Hg-dynamics I," Kgl. Danske Videnskab. Selskab. Mat-fys. 15, 6 (1937). 3 Siegel, R., "Effect of magnetic field on forced convection heat transfer in a parallel channel," J. Appl. Mech. 25, 415-416 (1958). 10 Murgatroyd, W., "Experiments on MHD channel flows," Phil. Mag. 44, 1348-1354 (1953).
Norm and Inner Product

In order to be able to develop any specific theory such as a spectral theory in spaces of infinite dimension it is necessary to endow such a space with specific “structural” features. The requirement of linearity does not give enough structure to a space for our purposes. The central structure that we want most of our linear spaces to carry is the “inner product”. Before introducing this concept we shall discuss the notion of “norm”, a structural feature possessed by all linear spaces we shall deal with.
Chapter 7. Commentary: Memory, Self and Story

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a commentary on a study related to memory, self and story. The chapter presents the discussion in the form of dialogue/conversation between John A. Robinson (JR) and Craig R. Barclay (CB). JR mentions that in “On Being a Self Forever” John Updike writes about “pet selves,” personas whose affective claim on us may last a lifetime. These selves are perhaps best construed as schemata, organized patterns of needs, interests, and experiences. CB states that research on schematization and implicit theories clearly shows that personal memory is fallible. JR comments that human beings are all storytellers. In fact, one can say that narrativity is an indispensable component of remembering. So it's hard for him to see a difference in principle between J.R. Hoffman and any other instance of autobiographical recall. CB states that remembering is an interpersonal process constrained by socially sanctioned forms of discourse. CB further comments that autobiographical remembering is deeply engaged with our feelings and needs, especially for nurturing relationships. He thinks that ones current needs are more important than ones past experiences. JR mentions on a paper by Erica Haimes, who has studied adoption and describes two contrasting patterns of reaction when adults discover they are adoptees.
Disciplining the Times and Spaces of Modernism

This introduction provides an overview of selections from Disciplining Modernism (Palgrave 2009), an anthology of critical works that consider disciplinarity in conceptualizing the times and places of modernism. The selections provide extended examples of how a scholar writes about a particular modern artifact or phenomenon, not so much to illustrate how modernism and modernity can mean different things in different disciplines, but to provide various conceptual models for comparative studies of modernism and modernity.
Applications of Geospatial Semantic Web

Geospatial Semantic Web has the potential to improve the intelligence, flexibility, and usability of geospatial applications. In this chapter, we reviewed several applications of geospatial semantic web that we developed recently, which include a natural language interface for geospatial data query, a volunteered geospatial information system, a geospatial interface for transit network, and a spatial decision support system. The protocols, workflows, and algorithms used in the prototypes are covered in previous chapters, so this chapter focuses on the software libraries and the programming aspects of the implementations. The applications demonstrate the effectiveness of Geospatial Semantic Web in integrating data with heterogeneous semantics. Ontology constructs such as classes and properties can be used to map the definitions of the existing data sets to the domain and application ontologies in order to bridge the semantic gap between data sets.
A review of prosthetic interface stress investigations

Over the last decade, numerous experimental and numerical analyses have been conducted to investigate the stress distribution between the residual limb and prosthetic socket of persons with lower limb amputation. The objectives of these analyses have been to improve our understanding of the residual limb/prosthetic socket system, to evaluate the influence of prosthetic design parameters and alignment variations on the interface stress distribution, and to evaluate prosthetic fit. The purpose of this paper is to summarize these experimental investigations and identify associated limitations. In addition, this paper presents an overview of various computer models used to investigate the residual limb interface, and discusses the differences and potential ramifications of the various modeling formulations. Finally, the potential and future applications of these experimental and numerical analyses in prosthetic design are presented.
Effects of Organic Base Chemistry on Interfacial Tension, Wettability, and Capillary Pressure in Multiphase Subsurface Waste Systems

The presence of surfactants may have profound effects on the transport of organic contaminants in multiphase systems. It is a common practice, however, to model the subsurface migration of liquids independently of the aqueous phase composition. As such, transport in these systems may not be adequately characterized. This study investigates the impact of pH on interfacial tension, wettability, and the drainage capillary pressure–saturation relationship in air–water–quartz and o‐xylene–water–quartz systems containing dodecylamine, an organic base. In these systems, three mechanisms, speciation, partitioning, and sorption, are important in determining the interfacial tension and contact angle, and consequently, important in determining the capillary pressure. By adjusting the pH above and below, the pKa of the base, the relative importance of these mechanisms was altered. Below dodecylamine's pKa of 10.6, the base was primarily in a cationic form resulting in minimal partitioning into the nonaqueous liquid and greater sorption at the quartz surface. Above the pKa, the base was primarily in a neutral form which did not sorb to the quartz, and, furthermore, partitioned into the organic liquid phase where its surface activity was minimized. The combination of these processes caused the capillary pressure to change in a manner consistent with pore‐scale theory of capillarity. The utility in this approach lies in the possibility of predicting transport properties in multiphase systems while incorporating the direct effects of solution chemistry.
Load Sharing in a Transcoding Cluster

The growing use of multimedia and e-commerce applications in the Internet presents scalability concerns and new demand for computational resources. A cluster of workstations is especially suitable for such computation-intensive applications. In this paper, we present the design of a transcoding cluster for multimedia applications. Three different load sharing schemes have been implemented. Performance of the system is evaluated in terms of system throughput, out-of-order rate of outgoing media streams and load rebalancing overhead. Based on the experimental results, we present the suitable environments where each load sharing scheme can be applied.
Hemodialysis catheter related rhodococcus bacteremia in immunocompetent host

Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) is an uncommon cause of infection in immunocompetent individuals. We describe a case of R. equi bacteremia associated with hemodialysis (HD) catheter in an immunocompetent patient. A 38-year-old female with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) of uncertain etiology, on HD for the past 15 months who was previously healthy otherwise, was admitted with the complaints of intermittent fever, mild nausea and occasional vomiting for two weeks. Last HD was performed four days earlier through a tunneled right internal jugular permacath. Clinically the patient was afebrile and in no acute distress. She was hemodynamically stable with no peripheral stigmata of an endovascular infection. Physical examination was essentially normal. Initially, the patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin with each HD, retaining the catheter. However, due to persistently positive blood cultures, HD catheter had to be removed. The patient became afebrile and nausea and vomiting resolved. She improved clinically, and repeated surveillance blood cultures done after the removal of catheter were reported negative. Subsequently, a new HD catheter was inserted for her. Although R. equi is an uncommon cause of infection in immunocompetent individuals, it does occur with considerable mortality and morbidity, and a high index of clinical suspicion is required to recognize this infection in immunocompetent individuals.
Spacecraft constrained attitude control using positively invariant constraint admissible sets on SO(3) × ℝ 3

This paper presents a constrained attitude control approach for performing spacecraft reorientation maneuvers that maintain specified body vectors within inclusion zones and out of exclusion zones, while respecting control authority limits. The controller uses a supervisory switching strategy with an inner-loop Lyapunov SO(3)-based controller and an outer-loop set-point guidance. A virtual net of orientation equilibria covering SO(3) is introduced, and positively invariant constraint admissible sets on SO(3) × ℝ 3 of the inner loop controller are constructed to determine if equilibria are connected by a feasible trajectory. Optimization procedures to maximize the size of the positively-invariant sets are discussed. Graph search is used in the outer-loop to compute the set-point sequence leading from an initial orientation to a final orientation that rigorously enforces constraints. The proposed methodology reduces the search space of possible attitude maneuver solutions, and has computational and implementation simplicity. Numerical simulation results are reported to illustrate the performance of the proposed constrained attitude control methodology.
An economic analysis of microbial reduction of sulfur dioxide with anaerobically digested sewage biosolids as electron donor

A concentrated stream of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is produced by regeneration of the sorbent in certain new regenerable processes for the desulfurization of flue gas (1). It has been previously proposed that this SO2can be converted to elemental sulfur for disposal or byproduct recovery using a microbial/Claus process (2,3). In this process, two-thirds of the SO2-containing gas stream would be contacted with a mixed culture containing sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) where SO2would act as an electron acceptor with reduction to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This H2S could then be recombined with the remaining SO2and sent to a Claus unit to produce elemental sulfur. The Claus process is well known in the natural gas industry(4).
Brachypodium sylvaticum, a Model for Perennial Grasses: Transformation and Inbred Line Development

Perennial species offer significant advantages as crops including reduced soil erosion, lower energy inputs after the first year, deeper root systems that access more soil moisture, and decreased fertilizer inputs due to the remobilization of nutrients at the end of the growing season. These advantages are particularly relevant for emerging biomass crops and it is projected that perennial grasses will be among the most important dedicated biomass crops. The advantages offered by perennial crops could also prove favorable for incorporation into annual grain crops like wheat, rice, sorghum and barley, especially under the dryer and more variable climate conditions projected for many grain-producing regions. Thus, it would be useful to have a perennial model system to test biotechnological approaches to crop improvement and for fundamental research. The perennial grass Brachypodiumsylvaticum is a candidate for such a model because it is diploid, has a small genome, is self-fertile, has a modest stature, and short generation time. Its close relationship to the annual model Brachypodiumdistachyon will facilitate comparative studies and allow researchers to leverage the resources developed for B. distachyon. Here we report on the development of two keystone resources that are essential for a model plant: high-efficiency transformation and inbred lines. Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation we achieved an average transformation efficiency of 67%. We also surveyed the genetic diversity of 19 accessions from the National Plant Germplasm System using SSR markers and created 15 inbred lines.
Discrete-Event Simulation of Air Traffic Flow

A discrete-event simulation model of air traffic fl ow is developed to take advantage of the computational efficiency afforded by event-based si mulation. The model is based on a set of reusable library block components that may be used to build models of varying degrees of complexity. The building blocks of discrete-event s imulation are described. To illustrate the modeling technique for air traffic flow management, both small-scale and large-scale models of air traffic flow are developed. Example results are presented to show how event-based simulation may be used to perform air traffic flow management research.
Large-scale turbulence under a solitary wave

Abstract The structure of large-scale turbulence under a broken solitary wave on a 1 in 50 plane slope was studied. Three-component velocity measurements were taken at different heights above a smooth bed in the middle surf zone using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The measured data showed that turbulent velocity components were well correlated in the middle part of the water column. The velocity correlations could be produced by an oblique vortex similar to the obliquely descending eddy observed previously by other investigators. The vertical distributions of the relative values of the components of the Reynolds stress tensor showed that the structure of turbulence evolved continuously between the free surface and the bottom. The evolution was related to transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional flow structures and the effect of the solid bottom on flow structures. Time histories of measured turbulent kinetic energy and turbulence stresses showed episodic turbulent events near the free surface but more sporadic turbulence in the lower layer. Large or intense turbulent events were found to have short duration and time lag relative to the wave crest point. These events also maintained good correlations between the turbulence velocity components close to the bottom. Instantaneous turbulent velocity fields were measured near the bottom at the same cross-shore location by using a stereoscopic particle image velocimetry system. These measurements showed that the near-bed flow field was characterized by large-scale, coherent flow structures that were the sources of most of the turbulent kinetic energy and turbulence stresses. The types of organized flow structures observed included vortices and downbursts of turbulence descending directly from above, lateral spreading of turbulent fluid along the bed, and formation of vortices in shear layers between fluid streams. A common feature of the organized flow structures near the bed was the large turbulence velocities in the longitudinal and transverse directions, which reflected the influence of a solid bottom on the breaking-wave-generated turbulence arriving at the bed.
Picosecond fluorescence kinetic studies of electron acceptor Q redox heterogeneity

We have investigated the influence of chloroplast organization on the nature of chemical reductive titrations of Photosystem II fluorescence decay kinetics in spinach chloroplasts. Structural changes of the chloroplast membrane system were induced by varying the ionic environment of the thylakoids. A single-photon timing system with picosecond resolution monitored the kinetics of the chlorophyll a fluorescence emission. At all ionic concentrations studied, we have observed biphasic potentiometric titration curves of fluorescence yield; these have been interpreted to be suggestive of electron acceptor Q heterogeneity (Karukstis, K.K. and Sauer, K. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 722, 364–371; Cramer, W.A. and Butler, W.L. (1969) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 172, 503–510). A direct relation is observed between the Em value of the low-potential component of Q and the Mg2+ concentration of the chloroplast suspending medium. We have attributed these midpoint potential variations to the thylakoid structural rearrangements involved in cation-regulated grana stacking. Ionic effects on the fluorescence decay kinetics at the redox transitions are discussed in terms of the heterogeneity of Photosystem II units (α- and β-centers) and the mechanism of deexcitation at a closed reaction center (fluorescence or nonradiative decay).
Antigenic variation of pilin regulates adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis to human epithelial cells

Pili have been shown to play an essential role in the adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis to epithelial cells. However, among piliated strains, both inter- and intrastrain variability exist with respect to their degree of adhesion to epithelial cells in vitro (Virji et al., 1992). This suggests that factors other than the presence of pili per se are involved in this process. The N. meningitidis pilin subunit undergoes extensive antigenic variation. Piliated low- and high-adhesive derivatives of the same N. meningitidis strain were selected and the nucleotide sequence of the pilin gene expressed in each was determined. The highly adhesive derivatives had the same pilin sequence. The alleles encoding the pilin subunit of the low-adhesive derivatives were completely different from the one found in the high-adhesive isolates. Using polyclonal antibodies raised against one hyperadhesive variant, it was confirmed that the low-adhesive piliated derivatives expressed pilin variants antigenically different from the highly adhesive strains. The role of antigenic variation in the adhesive process of N. meningitidis was confirmed by performing allelic exchanges of the pilE locus between low- and high-adhesive isolates. Antigenic variation has been considered a means by which virulent bacteria evade the host immune system. This work provides genetic proof that a bacterial pathogen, N. meningitidis, can use antigenic variation to modulate their degree of virulence.
Primary Mixed Adenoneuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gallbladder in a 55-Year-Old Female Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (MANECs) of the biliary tract are rare tumors, and to date only a few cases arising in the gallbladder have been reported. Their histogenesis is a matter of debate, since the biliary tract normally lacks neuroendocrine cells. However, the immunohistochemical identification of nonneoplastic neuroendocrine cells in both biliary adenocarcinomas and intestinal metaplasia has been documented. Here we report a case of a 55-year-old female patient presenting with right upper quadrant pain, cholelithiasis, and a gallbladder mass identified after cholecystectomy. The histopathologic examination showed a MANEC, composed of an intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, arising in a background of enteric metaplasia with extensive high-grade dysplasia. Moreover, we report the presence of focal pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia-like epithelial lesions, which has not been described for these tumors yet. The histopathologic features of this case provi...
Efficient parallel pseudorandom number generation

We present a parallel algorithm for pseudorandom number generation. Given a seed of $n^\varepsilon $ truly random bits for any $\varepsilon > 0$, our algorithm generates $n^c $ pseudorandom bits for any $c > 1$. This takes poly-log time using $n^{\varepsilon '} $ processors where $\varepsilon ' = k\varepsilon $ for some fixed small constant $k > 1$. We show that the pseudorandom bits output by our algorithm cannot be distinguished from truly random bits in parallel poly-log time using a polynomial number of processors with probability $\frac{1}{2} + {1 / {n^{O(1)} }}$ if the Multiplicative Inverse Problem almost always cannot be solved in ${\bf RNC}$. The proof is interesting and is quite different from previous proofs for sequential pseudorandom number generators.Our generator is fast and its output is provably as effective for ${\bf RNC}$ algorithms as truly random bits. Our generator passes all the statistical tests in Knuth [14].Moreover, the existence of our generator has a number of central conseque...
Nutritional factors in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

Environmental factors such as nutrition and housing can influence behavioral and anatomical characteristics of several neurological disorders, including Rett syndrome (RTT). RTT is associated with mutations in the X-linked gene encoding MeCP2, a transcriptional repressor that binds methylated DNA. While direct genetic intervention in humans is impossible at this time, motor and cognitive deficits in RTT may be ameliorated through manipulations of epigenetic/environmental factors. For example, studies in rodents suggest that choline nutrient supplementation during critical periods of brain development enhances cholinergic neurotransmission, alters neuronal size and distribution, and facilitates performance of memory and motoric tasks. Recent work in a mouse model of RTT shows that enhancing maternal nutrition through choline supplementation improves both anatomical and behavioral symptoms in the mutant offspring. We describe here cellular and molecular mechanisms that may underlie this specific enhancement and may provide more general insights into mechanisms underlying gene-environment interactions in neurological disorders.
Magnetic Field Diffusion in Fast Discharging Homopolar Machines

ABSTRACT The unusually high mechanical and thermal stresses occuring in fast discharging homopolar machines require accurate prediction of high magnetic fields accompanying their operation. Linear methods and ideal configurations are no longer acceptable as simplifying assumptions in designing such devices used in controlled thermonuclear fusion experiments, laser applications, etc. A finite element method - Galerkin technique is used for solution of Maxwell's equations for a moving medium. The transient skin effect in the system is described in terms of a magnetic vector potential and an electric scalar potential. Lagrange multipliers are used to impose the necessary constraint on the vector potential Ā. The formulation for the steady-state magnetic fields in nonlinear media results as a particular case of the method. This approach was used for predicting the parameters for the very fast discharging homopolar machine (FDX) designed by the Center for Electromechanics at The University of Texas at Austin. ...
A Novel Mouse with B Cells but Lacking Serum Antibody Reveals an Antibody-independent Role for B Cells in Murine Lupus

The precise role of B cells in systemic autoimmunity is incompletely understood. Although B cells are necessary for expression of disease (Chan, O., and M.J. Shlomchik. 1998. J. Immunol. 160:51–59, and Shlomchik, M.J., M.P. Madaio, D. Ni, M. Trounstine, and D. Huszar. 1994. J. Exp. Med. 180:1295–1306), it is unclear whether autoantibody production, antigen presentation, and/or other B cell functions are required for the complete pathologic phenotype. To address this issue, two experimental approaches were used. In the first, the individual contributions of circulating antibodies and B cells were analyzed using MRL/MpJ- Faslpr (MRL/ lpr ) mice that expressed a mutant transgene encoding surface immunoglobulin (Ig), but which did not permit the secretion of circulating Ig. These mice developed nephritis, characterized by cellular infiltration within the kidney, indicating that B cells themselves, without soluble autoantibody production, exert a pathogenic role. The results indicate that, independent of serum autoantibody, functional B cells expressing surface Ig are essential for disease expression, either by serving as antigen-presenting cells for antigen-specific, autoreactive T cells, or by contributing directly to local inflammation.
Miniature Computer-Tomography Imaging Spectrometer

A miniature computer-tomography imaging spectrometer (2mm3) has been designed using a hybrid combination of diffractive, refractive, and graded-index optical elements. The diffractive elements are fabricated directly onto the ends of the micro-GRIN-lenses by focused-ion-beam etching.
The use of ultrasonography for the study of the bovine reproductive tract. II. Non-pregnant, pregnant and pathological conditions of the uterus☆

Abstract Real time B mode ultrasonography, with a 5 MHz transducer and a linear array scanner, was used to examine the bovine uterus. Approximately 450 dairy cows were examined either on farms or immediately prior to slaughter. Normal and pathological changes of the uterus were noted and a comparison made between ultrasound characteristics, rectal findings and gross examination at slaughter. The normal uterus in estrus, diestrus and pregnancy was found to exhibit characteristic images. These included a distinct folding of the endometrium at the time of estrus; a lack of folding and increased echogenicity at mid-diestrus; slight distension with non-echoic fluid as early as 22 days of gestation; and definitive recognition of the conceptus by day 27 of gestation. In addition, observations were made of the pathological conditions of endometritis, pyometra, mucometra, mummified and macerated fetuses. Generally, images of inflammatory conditions of the uterus were characterized by a distended lumen filled to a varying degree with partially echogenic, ‘snowy’ patches. In conditions involving fetal remnants, the images allowed visualization of the fragments. This study demonstrated that ultrasonography was useful in examining the normal uterus, being particularly helpful in differentiating questionable palpation results when uterine pathology was present.
Neutrophil sequestration in the lung following acute aortic occlusion starts during ischaemia and can be attenuated by tumour necrosis factor and nitric oxide blockade

Objectives: To investigate the role of lower extremity ischaemia in acute lung injury with special emphasis on the role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) as mediators of neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis in the lung. Design: Prospective randomised study. Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups: group 1 (x-clamp): aorta clamped just above the bifurcation for 3 h; group 2 (AG): 50 mg/kg aminoguanidine, a specific inducible NO synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, was administered prior to aortic occlusion; group 3 (Steroids): 1 mg/kg dexamethasone was administered prior to aortic occlusion; and group 4 (TNFbp): 2 mg/kg TNFbp, a PEGylated dimeric form of the high affinity TNF receptor I (R I ) was administered prior to aortic occlusion to block TNF action. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were subjected to the same ischaemia time as group 1. NO concentration in the exhaled gas (ENO) was measured in 30 min intervals. At the end of the 3 h ischaemia, one lung was excised and fixed for routine histological evaluation, and the other underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). PMN chemotaxis towards the BAL fluid was then measured using the blindwell technique. Results: ENO in group 1 increased from 0.9±0.3 ppb at baseline, to 41.3±9.2 ppb at the end of ischaemia. Animals in this group exhibited significant lung inflammation. Aminoguanidine, dexamethasone and TNFbp blocked NO production (peak ENO values of 7.2±1.9, 12.6±1.3 and 8.9±1.7 ppb for groups 2, 3 and 4 respectively), decreased PMN chemotaxis and sequestration in the lung, and attenuated lung inflammation. Conclusions: Acute lung injury resulting from distal aortic occlusion starts during ischaemia. TNF and NO blockade decrease PMN chemotaxis and sequestration and attenuate the lung injury process.
Control of the conformational equilibria in aza-cis-decalins: structural modification, solvation, and metal chelation.

A series of amino alcohol- and diamino-cis-decalins were synthesized and their conformational properties investigated. The equilibrium distributions of the conformational isomers were measured via NMR spectroscopy. The equilibrium ratios depend on the position of the substituents on the decalin ring system and the solvent. The 7-substituted 1-aza-cis-decalins are more likely to adopt the N-in form than the 5-substituted analogues. The N-in form is generally favored in nonpolar solvents, while the N-out form is favored in polar solvents. Complexation with LiClO4 and Et2Zn alters the equilibrium to favor the N-in decalin conformer. Both conformers coordinate lithium ions such that “on/off” conformational switching is not observed for these decalins. Comparison of the results with complexation studies of (−)-sparteine allows the criteria for an ideal “on/off” conformational switch to be defined.
Freeze-fracture label of functional and dysfunctional human corneal endothelium.

Previous freeze-fracture results from our laboratory have shown a reduction in a population of intramembrane particles in the lateral endothellal membranes from dysfunctional human corneas. The size range of these intramembrane particles corresponds to that which has previously been reported for the glycoprotein enzyme Na, K-ATPase in enzyme enriched freezefractured membranes. In order to investigate glycoconjugate changes potential ly related to the particle reduction, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which has been shown to bind to the sugar residues In the ATPase subunlt, was used to label three types of corneas with dysfunctional endothelial cells (Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, aphakic and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy) and two types of corneas (eye bank and keratoconus) with functional endothelium using the technique of thin section freeze-fracture label. Apical WGA labelling on all types of dysfunctional cells was shown to be drastically reduced in comparison to both types of functional corneal endot...
Efficacy of postoperative seizure prophylaxis in intra-axial brain tumor resections

The effectiveness of seizure prophylaxis in controlling postoperative seizures following craniotomy for tumor resection is unclear. Most patients are seizure-free before surgery. To prevent seizures, it is common to treat tumor craniotomy patients postoperatively with an antiepileptic drug (AED). The authors retrospectively analyzed seizure occurrence with and without postoperative prophylactic AEDs. Between 2005 and 2011 at the authors’ institution, 588 patients underwent craniotomy for brain tumors and were screened. Data on seizures, AED use, histopathology, comorbidities, complications, and follow-up were collected. Exclusion criteria included lack of follow-up data, previous operation, preoperative seizures, or preoperative AED prophylaxis. The incidence of postoperative seizures in patients with and without prophylactic AEDs was compared using logistic regression analysis. A total of 202 patients (50.5 % female) were included. The most common tumor diagnosis was metastasis (42.6 %). Of the 202 patients, 66.3 % were prescribed prophylactic AED after surgery. Forty-six of 202 (22.8 %) suffered a postoperative seizure. The odds of seizure for patients on prophylactic AED was 1.62 times higher than those not on AED (p = 0.2867). No difference was found in seizure occurrence between patients with glioblastoma multiforme compared with other tumor types (odds ratio 1.75, p = 0.1468). No difference was found in time-to-seizure between the two groups (hazard ratio 1.38, p = 0.3776). These data show no statistically significant benefit to prophylactic postoperative AED and a nonsignificant trend for increased seizure risk with AEDs. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial is needed to clarify the benefit of postoperative AED use for brain tumor resection.
Calcium Enhances Heparin Catalysis of the Antithrombin-Factor Xa Reaction by a Template Mechanism EVIDENCE THAT CALCIUM ALLEVIATES Gla DOMAIN ANTAGONISM OF HEPARIN BINDING TO FACTOR Xa

Abstract It is believed that heparin accelerates factor Xa (FXa) inactivation by antithrombin (AT) by conformationally activating the inhibitor rather than by bridging AT and FXa in a ternary complex (template effect). This is derived from kinetic studies done in the absence of Ca2+ or in the presence of EDTA. To test the possibility that the anionic Gla domain of FXa, when not neutralized by Ca2+ ions, prevents heparin binding to FXa, the heparin and pentasaccharide dependence of FXa inactivation by AT in both the absence (100 μm EDTA) and presence of Ca2+ (2.5 mm) was studied using wild-type FXa and a FXa derivative that lacks the Gla domain (GDFXa). AT inactivated both FXa derivatives similarly in both the absence and presence of Ca2+ (k 2 = 1.7–2.5 × 103 m −1 s−1). The active AT-binding pentasaccharide also accelerated the inactivation rates of both derivatives similarly in both the absence and presence of Ca2+ (k 2 = 5.7–8.0 × 105 m −1 s−1). However, in the presence of an optimum concentration of heparin (∼50 nm) the inactivation rate constant of FXa in the presence of Ca2+ (k 2 = 4.4 × 107 m −1 s−1) was 13-fold higher than the rate constant in the absence of Ca2+ (k 2 = 3.5 × 106 m −1 s−1). Heparin acceleration of GDFXa inactivation by AT was rapid and insensitive to the presence or absence of Ca2+ (k 2= 5.1–5.9 × 107 m −1s−1). The additional cofactor effect of heparin with all FXa derivatives was a bell-shaped curve, which disappeared if the ionic strength of the reaction was increased to ∼0.4. These results suggest that although the major effect of heparin in acceleration of FXa inactivation is through a heparin-induced conformational change in the reactive site loop of AT, the template effect of heparin, nevertheless, contributes significantly to rapid FXa inactivation at physiological Ca2+.
Effects of growth media on cell cycle progression in CHO cells exposed to the radioprotector WR‐1065

WR-1065 (2-[(aminopropyl)amino]ethanethiol) reduces cytotoxic and mutagenic effects caused by exposure of cells to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs, but the mechanisms involved are not fully known. We have observed an accumulation of cells in G2 in WR-1065 treated Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in alpha-minimal essential medium, while others have found no cell cycle effects in WR-1065 treated Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in McCoy's 5A medium. To determine if the two types of media had an effect on cells treated with WR-1065, we examined survival and cell cycle progression. Population doubling times of 12 h were observed for cells grown in both media. Incubation of AA8 cells grown in McCoy's 5A medium with 4 mM WR-1065 30 min prior to and during irradiation with 137Cs gamma-rays resulted in a protection factor of 2.2, in close agreement with the value of 2.0 we previously obtained for AA8 cells grown in alpha-minimal essential medium. Treatment with WR-1065 caused an alteration in the cell cycles of cells grown in both media. An increase in the G2 population and a decrease in the G1 population was observed in cells incubated up to 3 h in the presence of 4 mM WR-1065, with a redistribution of the cells throughout the cell cycle occurring following removal of the drug. These data suggest that exposure of cells to WR-1065 is the cause of perturbations in cell cycle progression, and is not affected by the type of medium the cells are grown in.
On numerical errors and turbulence modeling in tip vortex flow prediction

The accuracy of tip vortex flow prediction in the near-field region is investigated numerically by attempting to quantify the shortcomings of the turbulence models and the flow solver. In particular, some turbulence models can produce a ‘numerical diffusion’ that artificially smears the vortex core. Low-order finite differencing techniques of the convective and pressure terms of the Navier–Stokes equations and inadequate grid density and distribution can also produce the same adverse effect. The flow over a wing and the near-wake with the wind tunnel walls included was simulated using 2.5 million grid points. Two subset problems, one using a steady, three-dimensional analytical vortex, and the other, a vortex obtained from experiment and propagated downstream, were also devised in order to make the study of vortex preservation more tractable. The method of artificial compressibility is used to solve the steady, three-dimensional, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Two one-equation turbulence models (Baldwin–Barth and Spalart–Allmaras turbulence models), have been used with the production term modified to account for the stabilizing effect of the nearly solid body rotation in the vortex core. Finally, a comparison between the computed results and experiment is presented. Published in 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zenith luminance and sky luminance distributions for daylighting calculations

Abstract We derive an equation for zenith luminance as a function of turbidity and solar altitude based on analysis of large quantities of luminance and illuminance data measured in San Francisco, California, between September 1979 and August 1982. Using only average turbidity values to predict hourly zenith luminance as a function of solar altitude can produce large errors. We compare the equation derived from our data, which is valid over a wide range of turbidity and solar altitude, to other published models. We also compare the relationship between horizontal illuminance and zenith luminance from the clear sky and conclude that, when ideal clear days are compared, this relationship is similar to earlier work based on measurements in European climates. Finally, we compare our sky luminance distribution measurements to previous published luminance distributions using the diffusion indicatrix. Our results are intended to help improve daylight availability prediction techniques and define additional requirements for data collection.
Cutaneous busulfan effect in patients receiving bone-marrow transplantation

Epidermal keratinocytes with abnormally large nuclei were found in 12 of 13 patients who received high-dose busulfan and cyclophosphamide prior to receiving bone-marrow transplantation for treatment of hematological malignancies. These cells were similar to those previously described in the lungs, cervix and bladder of patients on long-term busulfan therapy. Marked keratinoeyte nuclear abnormalities were not observed in bone-marrow transplant recipients who received a preparatory regimen of cyclophosphumide and total-body irradiation. This histologic cutaneous busulfan effect was transient and was unrelated to the development of graft -versus-host reaction.
Modification and control of divertor detachment in Alcator C-Mod

Abstract The effect of adding different impurity gases and ICRF heating on divertor detachment has been compared for Ohmic, L-mode and high - q | (≥ 300 MW / m −2 ), H-mode plasmas. The relative effect of all these external controls on divertor and core radiation is evaluated. Recycling gases (Ne and Ar) are found to primarily affect the main plasma as opposed to the divertor region. The lower Z non-recycling gases, N 2 and CD 4 are more efficacious in this regard. N 2 was found effective in inducing detachment for high - q | , H-mode plasmas. An additional advantage of N 2 over the higher Z gases is that its injection resulted in the smallest degradation in H-mode energy confinement (∼ 10%).
Use of Multiple Verification Methods to Evaluate Forecasts of Convection from Hot- and Cold-Start Convection-Allowing Models

AbstractThis study uses both traditional and newer verification methods to evaluate two 4-km grid-spacing Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) forecasts: a “cold start” forecast that uses the 12-km North American Mesoscale Model (NAM) analysis and forecast cycle to derive the initial and boundary conditions (C0) and a “hot start” forecast that adds radar data into the initial conditions using a three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR)/cloud analysis technique (CN). These forecasts were evaluated as part of 2009 and 2010 NOAA Hazardous Weather Test Bed (HWT) Spring Forecasting Experiments. The Spring Forecasting Experiment participants noted that the skill of CN’s explicit forecasts of convection estimated by some traditional objective metrics often seemed large compared to the subjectively determined skill. The Gilbert skill score (GSS) reveals CN scores higher than C0 at lower thresholds likely due to CN having higher-frequency biases than C0, but the difference is negligible at hi...
De novo lipogenesis in humans: metabolic and regulatory aspects

The enzymatic pathway for converting dietary carbohydrate (CHO) into fat, or de novo lipogenesis (DNL), is present in humans, whereas the capacity to convert fats into CHO does not exist. Here, the quantitative importance of DNL in humans is reviewed, focusing on the response to increased intake of dietary CHO. Eucaloric replacement of dietary fat by CHO does not induce hepatic DNL to any substantial degree. Similarly, addition of CHO to a mixed diet does not increase hepatic DNL to quantitatively important levels, as long as CHO energy intake remains less than total energy expenditure (TEE). Instead, dietary CHO replaces fat in the whole-body fuel mixture, even in the post-absorptive state. Body fat is thereby accrued, but the pathway of DNL is not traversed; instead, a coordinated set of metabolic adaptations, including resistance of hepatic glucose production to suppression by insulin, occurs that allows CHO oxidation to increase and match CHO intake. Only when CHO energy intake exceeds TEE does DNL in liver or adipose tissue contribute significantly to the whole-body energy economy. It is concluded that DNL is not the pathway of first resort for added dietary CHO, in humans. Under most dietary conditions, the two major macronutrient energy sources (CHO and fat) are therefore not interconvertible currencies; CHO and fat have independent, though interacting, economies and independent regulation. The metabolic mechanisms and physiologic implications of the functional block between CHO and fat in humans are discussed, but require further investigation.