cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Properties Of Tellurium-Based Chalcogenide And Chalcohalide Glasses

Various tellurium containing chalcogenide glasses from the systems Ge-Se-Te, I-Se-Te and Ge-(As,I)-Se-Te were synthesized and infrared transmission spectra collected from them. The iodide containing glasses tended to have higher long wavelength absorption edges and lower oscillation strengths of the absorption bands produced by hydride impurities than glasses containing no iodine. It was further demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate chalcohalide glasses containing large amounts of germanium. The presence of halogen likely reduces or eliminates hydride contamination through removal as hydrogen halide gas but has no effect on oxide impurities.
Influence of Listeria innocua on the attachment of Listeria monocytogenes to stainless steel and aluminum surfaces

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that may be transmitted from the food-processing environment to food; however, the ecology and interaction of this organism with microbial residents on surfaces within the food industry is not well understood. The current study was undertaken to investigate the influence of Listeria innocua on the growth and attachment of L. monocytogenes to stainless steel or aluminum surfaces at 23 °C. When grown in broth as a mixed culture, L. innocua reached a higher cell count at 24 h than did L. monocytogenes. Attachment was evaluated by placing an aliquot containing 103 CFU/ml of L. innocua and 103 CFU/ml of L. monocytogenes on the coupons and by quantifying attached cells after 24 and 72 h. Attachment of L. monocytogenes was decreased by the presence of L. innocua. When compared to L. monocytogenes alone, there was a significant reduction of attachment of L. monocytogenes at 24 and 72 h on stainless steel and 72 h on aluminum surface when L. innocua was added at the same time. L. innocua exhibited an effect on the attachment of L. monocytogenes, increasing our knowledge of the behavior of L. monocytogenes in the presence of another Listeria species.
Measurements of the Hydrogen Absorption Pressurecomposition Isotherms IN Ti/Zr-Based Quasicrystals

The first hydrogen absorption pressure-composition isotherms (p-c-T) were measured in quasicrystalline Ti 45 Zr 38 Ni 17 . No evidence for a pressure plateau was found, indicating a distribution of energies for the hydrogen in interstitial sites. Fits to the p-c-T data confirmed this, giving energy peaks at -0.19 eV with a full width at half maximum (half-width) of 0.06 eV, and at -0.09 eV with a half-width of 0.08 eV. This is in contrast with the broad site energy distribution that is characteristic of a metallic glass. In agreement, fits to data taken from amorphous Ti 45 Zr 27 Ni 20 Si 8 gave a single broad energy distribution at -0.10 eV with a half-width of 0.35 eV. Based on the weighted averages of the site energies for the pure components, the energies assigned to the tetrahedral sites in the Ti 44 Zr 40 Ni 16 1/1 approximant phase are in qualitative agreement with the measured data for the quasicrystal, supporting a local structural similarity between these two phases. Almost all of the absorbed hydrogen can be desorbed at 650°C in one hour by pumping, without transforming the quasicrystal phase and without powdering the rapidly-quenched samples.
Giant basal cell carcinoma associated with human papillomaviruses infection.

: Different criteria have been used to define giant basal cell carcinoma (BCC). However, the majority of tumors of 10 cm or greater in diameter have a characteristic clinical and histopathologic presentation. As a group, these tumors often show metastatic spread as opposed to all other BCCs that rarely metastasize. We present an additional patient with a giant BCC greater than 100 cm2. This tumor had a characteristic location and infiltrative growth pattern. Unusual features of this tumor included a lack of expression of BCL-2 with a greater proportion of cycling tumor cells expressing proliferation markers than conventional BCC, as well as expression of anogenital human papillomaviruses (HPV) subtypes with oncogenic potential. The association of HPV with BCCs has rarely been studied and may not be identical to HPV-induced genital squamous cell carcinomas. However, the findings in this patient suggest that HPV may play a role in the development of some chronic giant BCCs.
Microwave spectrum, ab initio calculations, and structural parameters of bromocyclopentane,

Abstract The microwave spectrum of bromocyclopentane, c-C 5 H 9 Br, has been recorded from 19.7 to 38.3 GHz. The a-type R-branch transitions have been observed and assigned for the ground state for both the axial and equatorial conformations of the 79 Br and 81 Br isotopic species. One vibrationally excited state of both isotopic species of the axial conformation have been identified and assigned. Additionally, some c-type Q-branches of both isotopic species of the axial conformer have been assigned. For most of the transitions partly resolved hyperfine structure could be assigned. The rotational constants, quartic centrifugal distortion constants and the quadrupole coupling constants have been determined by an iterative least-squares fit of the more than seventy assigned frequencies of the hyperfine components for each of the isotopic species in the ground vibrational state. Ab initio calculations have been carried out at MP2/6-31+G ∗∗ and MP2/6-311++G ∗∗ levels with full electron correlation. The calculation with the larger basis set predict the rotational constants within 19 MHz (1.3%) of the experimental values and the structural parameters from this calculation were adjusted to fit the experimental rotational constants. The maxima adjustments for bond lengths are 0.005 A and for the bond angles 1.1°. The ring-puckering angle is 3.8° smaller in the axial conformer compared to that of the equatorial conformer. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.
Combined natural and forced convection heat transfer from horizontal cylinders to water

Abstract Experimental data for convective heat transfer from horizontal cylinders (diameter approximately 1 2 in.) to water in crossflow have been obtained. It is shown that these data can be relegated to four zones, depending upon the value of the ratio GfRf−2, where Gf and Rf are the Grashof and Reynolds numbers, respectively, with properties evaluated at the mean film temperature. In the first zone, defined by GfRf−2 40, is a region in which natural convection effects predominate. A simple theory has been developed to describe the behavior of the heat transfer coefficient in zone four. A fifth zone is identified which contains none of the data gathered here.
Prediction of medical images using wavelets

There is a great amount of similarity in a set of medical images. Set Redundancy Compression (SRC) has shown that compression of a similar set of images can provide better compression than the compression obtained from compressing the individual images of the set. SRC is based on the prediction of the other images in the set from a smaller subset (this subset can be as small as one image). This paper presents a new wavelet based prediction method for prediction of the intermediate images in a similar set of medical images. The technique uses the correlation between coefficients in the wavelet transforms of the image set to produce a better image prediction compared to direct image prediction.
Superacid catalyzed reactions of 5-amino-1-naphthol with benzene and cyclohexane

Abstract 5-Amino-1-naphthol undergoes ionic hydrogenation with cyclohexane and condenses with benzene when reacted in the presence of excess of aluminum halides to give 5-amino-1-tetralone ( 10 ) and 5-amino-3-phenyl-1-tetralone, respectively. In CF3SO3H as well as CF3SO3H–SbF5 superacidic media 5-amino-1-naphthol gave N,C-diprotonated dication that can be considered as the superelectrophilic intermediate in the reactions with cyclohexane and benzene. The mechanism of these reactions is discussed.
CD uniformity improvement of through-pitch contact-hole patterning for advanced logic devices

This paper investigates the CD correction methods to obtain better across-wafer CD uniformity (CDU) after etching for logic devices which have various types of patterns. CD optimization methods are evaluated for contact holes with a diameter of 46 nm after etching. CD optimization methods with PEB temperature and exposure-dose mapping on a wafer at a lithography step are examined in detail. Simulation study using a full physical resist model is done to analyze the detailed effects of each optimization method. The results of the simulation show that better optical and chemical image gives better CD controllability through pitches for etching CD correction. Simulation results also show that the pitch with a middle CD sensitivity makes the CD correction sensitivity difference minimum through pitches. From the simulation, the sensitivity behaviors are found to be relatively similar for both of PEB temperature and dose control. Rather than sensitivity behavior differences between the two CD control methods, the intra-wafer spatial resolution of the CD control methods is found to be an important factor for the strategy of CD optimization. Finally, by contact-layer CD optimization, across-wafer CDUs are improved by more than 50%. The variation in the electric resistance of contacts is also improved by more than 20%. As a result, the proposed method is found to be effective for CDU improvement of through-pitch contact-hole patterning for advanced logic device.
Stress-induced transformation in a carburized steel—Experiments and analysis

Abstract Stress-induced transformation of austenite to martensite was studied experimentally and numerically to gain an understanding of the increase in transformation strain with increasing tensile both and decreasing temperature. In addition, the anisotropy of the transformation strains was determined both experimentally and numerically. The material chosen for the study was a carburized 4320 steel with 35% retained austenite content. Monotonic and cyclic experiments were conducted in the range from -60 to 150°C. At 22°C, the volumetric transformation strain reached 0.006 at fracture in the uniaxial tensile test and 0.004 in the torsion test. Numerical calculations of the volumetric transformation strain and the anisotropy of the transformation strains were obtained with a modified Eshelby model where planes favorably oriented gradually transformed as stress was applied. The analysis predicted the experimentally observed transformation strains under both uniaxial and torsional loadings. The model also predicted the anisotropy of the transformation strains that was observed in experiments.
Public investment and social risk-sharing

Abstract How the government uses market rates of return to discount risky public projects is intrinsic to the efficient allocation of capital and the choice of public investment policy. This paper shows that social discount rates for risk can be higher than, lower than, or equal to private rates. Previous analyses which argue for ‘one-sided’ rules where social discount rates are always lower or equal to private rates are shown to be inappropriate in general. The paper shows in a general model that the difference between the social value of a public project and its market value is determined by the social insurance value that the project has from improving risk-sharing relative to the market. Depending on the project and degree of market imperfection, this term can be positive, negative, or zero, explaining the different possibilities for the social evaluation of risk.
Toy safety and selection

Toys can be used to promote children's cognitive, physical, motor, language, social, and emotional development. Safety and developmental appropriateness are of the utmost importance when selecting children's toys. Parents and teachers and other helping professionals need to teach children the safe use of toys to prevent toy-related accidents.
Pregnancy in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

A 22-year-old white woman with Henoch-Schonlein purpura was treated with frequent plasmapheresis for increased severity of the disease activity during pregnancy. Hypertension, azotemia, and placental dysfunction were not observed. A healthy infant was delivered by cesarean section, and evidence of vasculitis was not detected in the placenta.
Serial imaging of human embryonic stem-cell engraftment and teratoma formation in live mouse models

Two new types of lentiviral vectors expressing a reporter transgene encoding either firefly luciferase (fLuc) for bioluminescence imaging or the HSV1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK) for radiopharmaceutical-based imaging were constructed to monitor human embryonic stem cell (hESC) engraftment and proliferation in live mice after transplantation. The constitutive expression of either transgene did not alter the properties of hESCs in the culture. We next monitored the formation of teratomas in SCID mice to test (1) whether the gene-modified hESCs maintain their developmental pluripotency, and (2) whether sustained reporter gene expression allows noninvasive, whole-body imaging of hESC derivatives in a live mouse model. We observed teratoma formation from both types of gene-modified cells as well as wild-type hESCs 2-4 months after inoculation. Using an optical imaging system, bioluminescence from the fLuc-transduced hESCs was easily detected in mice bearing teratomas long before palpable tumors could be detected. To develop a noninvasive imaging method more readily translatable to the clinic, we also utilized HSV1-TK and its specific substrate, 1-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-[(125)I]iodouracil ([(125)I]FIAU), as a reporter/probe pair. After systemic administration, [(125)I]FIAU is phosphorylated only by the transgene-encoded HSV1-TK enzyme and retained within transduced (and transplanted) cells, allowing sensitive and quantitative imaging by single-photon emission computed tomography. Noninvasive imaging methods such as these may enable us to monitor the presence and distribution of transplanted human stem cells repetitively within live recipients over a long term through the expression of a reporter gene.
The Responsibility of Local School Boards.

The responsibilities of school boards extend beyond budgets and test scores, but do have limits.
Relative Effectiveness of Various Antioxidants Fed to Lactating Dairy Cows, on Incidence of Copper-Induced Oxidized Milk Flavor and on Apparent Carotene and Tocopherol Utilization

Summary Twenty-four cows, 12 Holsteins and 12 Guernseys, were selected for producing milk which exhibited oxidized flavor 72 hr. after the addition of five p.p.m. of copper. After a one-week standardizing period, the cows were fed either no antioxidant, N,N′-diphenyl-para-phenylenediamine (DPPD), 2,6-di-tertiarybutyl-4-methyl phenol (BHT), 1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethyl-6-ethoxyquinoline (Santoquin), or d-α-tocopheryl acetate (Myvamix, a dry carrier of d-α-tocopheryl acetate which exhibits antioxidant activity only after ingestion and hydrolysis to the phenolic form in the intestine and tissues), at a daily rate of 0.01-% of 90% dry matter ration, or 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (Menadione) at a daily rate of 25mg. for a six-week comparison period. The following results were noted: ( 1 ) Fat percentage of the milk was slightly raised by the feeding of Menadione and decreased by the feeding of Santoquin; ( 2 ) total tocopherol values of the blood plasma and milk were apparently increased slightly by supplementation with DPPD, BHT, Santoquin, and Menadione, and markedly by supplementation with Myvamix, but these differences were not statistically significant except for the latter; ( 3 ) none of the antioxidants fed was as effective as DPPD in inhibiting the incidence of copper-induced oxidized milk flavor. No protection was afforded by any antioxidants, except DPPD in the presence of five p.p.m. of copper, and only partial protection by Myvamix and Menadione in the presence of one p.p.m. of copper.
Surgery for cardiogenic shock.

Abstract Eleven patients were consecutively operated upon for cardiogenic shock caused by myocardial infarction. The cardiogenic shock was refractory to conventional medical therapy. All eleven patients were dependent on intra-aortic counterpulsation balloon until after surgery. Cardiac catheterisation and high-resolution coronary angiography were done approximately 24 hours after balloon insertion. Aortocoronary saphenous-vein bypass grafting, left-ventricular infarctectomy, and correction of mechanical derangements followed catheterisation by 12 hours to 6 days. All five survivors are leading useful lives 8-20 months after their surgery, four having returned to work. Criteria for the preoperative selection for surgery of patients with cardiogenic shock refractory to medical therapy are unsatisfactory. Conventional haemodynamic data obtained preoperatively were of little use in predicting survival.
Assessment of macronutrient and micronutrient intake in women with anorexia nervosa.

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of diet history compared to observed food intake in the nutritional assessment of women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and healthy age-matched controls. Method One-month diet history was compared to 1-day observed food intake in 30 women with AN and 28 control subjects. Results Reported intake by diet history was similar to observed intake for macronutrient composition and fat intake for patients with AN. Reported energy intake was higher than observed intake (1,602 ± 200 kcal vs. 1,289 ± 150 kcal, p < .05), but was in agreement with predicted energy expenditure by the Harris-Benedict equation (1,594 ± 18 kcal, p = .97) in patients with AN. Micronutrient intake by diet history was highly correlated with observed intake in patients with AN. More than one half of the patients with AN failed to meet the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D, calcium, folate, vitamin B12, zinc, magnesium, and copper when assessed by diet history. In contrast to patients with AN, diet history did not correlate with observed intake of energy, macronutrients, or most micronutrients among the controls. Discussion Diet history is an accurate tool to assess fat intake and macronutrient composition in patients with AN and demonstrates significant micronutrient deficiencies in this population. The agreement between total energy intake and predicted energy expenditure supports the overall utility of the diet history in the nutritional assessment of patients with AN. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 28: 284–292, 2000.
Cavitation in superfluid helium possibly arising from Penning ionization of dimers

We have perforated a series of experiments to study cavitation in superfluid helium into which electrons are injected by field-emission from a sharp tip. The injected electrons force open small cavities in the liquid (“electron bubble”). These objects explode at a critical negative pressure P c, and in previous experiments we have studied the cavitation that resugts from these explosions. In the present experiments we have detected cavitation events that occur before a negative pressure as large as P c is reached. We suggest that these events may arise from a process in which two neutral helium dimers interact and an electron is injected into the liquid through Penning ionization.
The contribution of detailed labor skills to U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico

Abstract The paper provides perspective on labor skills and trade in a North American context by calculating the factor contents of U.S. global trade and bilateral trade with Canada and Mexico. The factors include natural resources, capital, and 73 distinct and highly detailed occupational categories. Occupational employment across the interindustry structure of the U.S. economy is an informative proxy for differential labor skills. Rankings are calculated of the factor contents oftrade in 1989, and the detailed occupational categories used are assigned to major standard groupings of labor skills. The results demonstrate clearly that both intergroup and intragroup specialization of skills are significant determinants of trade. For example, several categories of skilled manual workers are highly ranked in U.S. net factor exports with Mexico. Further, there is little correlation in the rankings for U.S. trade with Mexico and with Canada. Because expanded trade within NAFTA may largely be expected to raise (lower) net demand for the higher (lower) ranked factors, we characterize occupations that are likely to gain or lose real income.
l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-meso-diaminopimelic Acid (DAP) Interacts Directly with Leucine-rich Region Domain of Nucleotide-binding Oligomerization Domain 1, Increasing Phosphorylation Activity of Receptor-interacting Serine/Threonine-protein Kinase 2 and Its Interaction with Nucleotide-binding Oligomerization Domain 1 *

The oligopeptide transporter PepT1 expressed in inflamed colonic epithelial cells transports small bacterial peptides, such as muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-meso-diaminopimelic acid (Tri-DAP) into cells. The innate immune system uses various proteins to sense pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors of which there are more than 20 related family members are present in the cytosol and recognize intracellular ligands. NOD proteins mediate NF-κB activation via receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 (RICK or RIPK). The specific ligands for some NOD-like receptors have been identified. NOD type 1 (NOD1) is activated by peptides that contain a diaminophilic acid, such as the PepT1 substrate Tri-DAP. In other words, PepT1 transport activity plays an important role in controlling intracellular loading of ligands for NOD1 in turn determining the activation level of downstream inflammatory pathways. However, no direct interaction between Tri-DAP and NOD1 has been identified. In the present work, surface plasmon resonance and atomic force microscopy experiments showed direct binding between NOD1 and Tri-DAP with a Kd value of 34.5 μm. In contrast, no significant binding was evident between muramyl dipeptide and NOD1. Furthermore, leucine-rich region (LRR)-truncated NOD1 did not interact with Tri-DAP, indicating that Tri-DAP interacts with the LRR domain of NOD1. Next, we examined binding between RICK and NOD1 proteins and found that such binding was significant with a Kd value of 4.13 μm. However, NOD1/RICK binding was of higher affinity (Kd of 3.26 μm) when NOD1 was prebound to Tri-DAP. Furthermore, RICK phosphorylation activity was increased when NOD was prebound to Tri-DAP. In conclusion, we have shown that Tri-DAP interacts directly with the LRR domain of NOD1 and consequently increases RICK/NOD1 association and RICK phosphorylation activity.
The conductivity of checkerboards treated by conjugate functions

The flow of electrical current in a conducting plate is defined by an electrical potentialu(x, y) and a stream functionv(x, y) whose level lines are the lines of flow. If the plate has unit conductivity, thenu andv satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations and (u, v) is termed a conjugate pair. Then (v, -u) is also a conjugate pair and sou andv play dual roles. However, suppose that the conductivity of the plate is not constant but periodic, such as an infinite checkerboard of tiny black and white squares. This poses the problem of determining the effective conductivity of the checkerboard in the large. By using generalized Cauchy-Riemann equations and duality the effective conductivity of the checkerboard is shown to be the geometric mean of the conductivities of black and white.
SPOTTED FEVER : III. THE IDENTIFICATION OF DERMACENTROXENUS RICKETTSI AND ITS DIFFERENTIATION FROM NON-PATHOGENIC RICKETTSIAE IN TICKS.

Comparative studies were made of the microorganisms present in D. variabilis ticks, some of which served as a control series while the remainder were exposed to infection with D. rickettsi and thereafter maintained under various conditions. All female ticks contained in their ovaries a coccoid intracellular microorganism. About 50 per cent of all ticks after refeeding contained rickettsia-like microorganisms in variable numbers in nearly all organs. The groups of ticks exposed to infection with the virus of spotted fever, in addition to the above mentioned microorganisms, usually harbored large numbers of D. rickettsi, distinguishable with certainty from the non-pathogenic organisms only by their localization in nuclei of tick cells. No influence upon the size, number, or distribution of either the non-pathogenic rickettsiae or D. rickettsi in ticks was attributable to refeeding, variations of the temperature of incubation, or variations of the length of the period of incubation. We conclude from the results of these studies that the non-pathogenic rickettsiae which occur in D. variabilis ticks have no well defined relationship to D. rickettsi since they differ from the latter organism not only in the absence of virulence and immunizing properties, but also in their distribution in tick tissues and inability to multiply in the nuclei of cells.
Stability and Control Properties of an Aeroelastic Fixed Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle

Micro aerial vehicles have been the subject of considerable interest and development over the last several years. The majority of current vehicle concepts rely on rigid fixed wings or rotors. An alternate design based on an aeroelastic membrane wing concept has also been developed that has exhibited desired characteristics in flight test demonstrations and competition. This paper presents results from a wind tunnel investigation that sought to quantify stability and control properties for a family of vehicles using the aeroelastic design. The results indicate that the membrane wing does exhibit potential benefits that could be exploited to enhance the design of future flight vehicles.
200 mm wafer-scale integration of sub-20 nm sacrificial nanofluidic channels for manipulating and imaging single DNA molecules

We report sub-20 nm sacrificial nanochannels that enable stretching and translocating single DNA molecules. Sacrificial silicon nano-structures were etched with XeF2 to form nanochannels. Translocations of linearized DNA single molecules were imaged by fluorescence microscopy. Our method offers a manufacturable wafer-scale approach for CMOS-compatible bio-chip platform.
Sex differences in clinical presentation and treatment outcomes in Moyamoya disease.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya (MM) disease is an idiopathic steno-occlusive angiopathy occurring more frequently in females. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sex differences in preoperative symptoms and treatment outcomes after revascularization surgery. METHODS: We analyzed 430 MM disease patients undergoing 717 revascularization procedures spanning 19 years (1991-2010) and compared gender differences in preoperative symptoms and long-term outcomes after surgical revascularization. RESULTS: A total of 307 female and 123 male patients (ratio, 2.5:1) with a mean age of 31.0 ± 16.7 years and adults-to-children ratio of 2.5:1 underwent 717 revascularization procedures. Female patients were more likely to experience preoperative transient ischemic attacks (odds ratio: 2.1, P = .001) and less likely to receive a diagnosis of unilateral MM disease (odds ratio: 0.6, P = .04). No association was observed between sex and risk of preoperative ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. There was no difference in neurological outcome because both male and female patients experienced significant improvement in the modified Rankin Scale score after surgery (P < .0001). On Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, 5-year cumulative risk of adverse postoperative events despite successful revascularization was 11.4% in female vs 5.3% in male patients (P = .05). In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, female sex trended toward an association with adverse postoperative events (hazard ratio: 1.9, P = .14). CONCLUSION: Female patients are more susceptible to the development of preoperative transient ischemic attack and may be at higher risk of adverse postoperative events despite successful revascularization. There is, however, no sex difference in neurological outcome because patients of both sexes experience significant improvement in neurological status with low risk of the development of future ischemic events after surgical revascularization.
Crohn's Disease, Autophagy, and the Paneth Cell

Recent studies show that a gene implicated in susceptibility to Crohn's disease critically affects autophagy in the Paneth cell and macrophage.
Inhibition of tetrodotoxin-sensitive plateau sodium current by amiodarone in guinea pig cardiac muscles

Abstract 1. 1. The acute effects of amiodarone (AM), a potent antiarrhythmic drug, on tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive component of action potentials of Purkinje fibers from guinea pig were studied by use of conventional microelectrode techniques, and compared the findings with the results obtained in the papillary muscle. 2. 2. The present study showed that the action potentials of Purkinje fibers (PF) were more sensitive to AM, compared to those of papillary muscle. 3. 3. Acute exposure (30 min) to 4.4 × 10 −5 M AM led to a depression of plateau potential of PF action potential, but the drug did not affect the total action potential duration. 4. 4. TTX (2−4 × 10 −6 M) shortened the PF action potential duration at all levels of repolarization. 5. 5. The depression of PF plateau potential in the presence of AM was, at least in part, involved in a decrease in TTX-sensitive plateau sodium current, because no further depression of the plateau potential was observed by addition of TTX in the presence of AM.
Endoscopic endonasal transplanum transtuberculum resection of a large solid choroid plexus papilloma of the third ventricle

Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is a highly vascular solid or mixed solid-cystic tumor. Previously described resection techniques for the more common solid CPP in the third ventricle have all been through the transcranial route. The authors review the literature and describe a patient who, to their knowledge, is the first successful resection of a large, completely solid CPP of the third ventricle through an entirely endoscopic, extended transphenoidal approach. Using modern neuroendoscopic methods and closure techniques, a gross total resection was accomplished and a successful closure without postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak was achieved despite the presence of preoperative hydrocephalus. For appropriately selected lesions, an extended endonasal skull base resection can be performed successfully for vascular tumors despite the presence of preoperative hydrocephalus.
Preparation of wurtzitic AlN thin films with a novel crystallographic alignment on MgO substrates by molecular-beam epitaxy

Thin films of wurtzitic AlN have been deposited by molecular-beam epitaxy onto (001) oriented MgO substrates. The films are epitactic and align with the (2{bar 1}{bar 1}0){sub AlN}{parallel}(220){sub MgO} and the [01{bar 1}1]{sub AlN}{parallel}[001]{sub MgO}, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. This configuration, which matches a close-packed direction of the film and substrate, allows for growth of two symmetrically equivalent orientation variants of the AlN film. These variants are distinguished by a 90{degree} rotation about the [01{bar 1}1]{sub AlN} direction that is normal to the substrate surface. Each variant also aligns the (0{bar 1}12){sub AlN}{parallel}(2{bar 2}0){sub MgO} and the (1{bar 1}01){sub AlN} to within 5{degree} of being parallel to the (200){sub MgO}. The microstructure of the AlN films and origins of these novel alignments are discussed. {copyright} {ital 1998 Materials Research Society.}
Development of Intergenotypic Chimeric Replicons To Determine the Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activities of Hepatitis C Virus Polymerase Inhibitors

To address the need for broad-spectrum antiviral activity characterization of hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitors, we created a panel of intergenotypic chimeric replicons containing nonstructural (NS) protein NS5B sequences from genotype 2b (GT2b), GT3a, GT4a, GT5a, and GT6a HCV isolates. Viral RNA extracted from non-GT1 HCV patient plasma was subjected to reverse transcription. The NS5B region was amplified by nested PCR and introduced into the corresponding region of the GT1b (Con-1) subgenomic reporter replicon by Splicing by Overlap Extension (SOEing) PCR. Stable cell lines were generated with replication-competent chimeras for in vitro antiviral activity determination of HCV nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitors (NNIs) that target different regions of the protein. Compounds that bind to the NNI2 (thiophene carboxylic acid) or NNI3 (benzothiadiazine) allosteric sites showed 8- to >1,280-fold reductions in antiviral activity against non-GT1 NS5B chimeric replicons compared to that against the GT1b subgenomic replicon. Smaller reductions in susceptibility, ranging from 0.2- to 33-fold, were observed for the inhibitor binding to the NNI1 (benzimidazole) site. The inhibitor binding to the NNI4 (benzofuran) site showed broad-spectrum antiviral activity against all chimeric replicons evaluated in this study. In conclusion, evaluation of HCV NNIs against intergenotypic chimeric replicons showed differences in activity spectrum for inhibitors that target different regions of the enzyme, some of which could be associated with specific residues that differ between GT1 and non-GT1 polymerases. Our study demonstrates the utility of chimeric replicons for broad-spectrum activity determination of HCV inhibitors.
Amniotic constriction bands: a case series and proposed new classification system.

Introduction: Amniotic constriction bands occur in approximately one in every 15,000 live births and is graded using the Patterson Classification system. Methods: A case series of all patients with amniotic constriction band that presented to Alder Hey Children's Hospital was compiled between the years 1993 and 2012, data was described and a classification system developed. Results: Thirty seven patients were identified. Of these 17 had amniotic constriction confined to the upper limbs and three of the lower limbs only. Seventeen had both upper and lower limb deformity. Twenty eight children underwent surgical intervention whilst nine to date have not. Conclusion: Constriction band of the upper limb was the most common with lower limb bands the least. There is no agreement on the nomenclature of this condition making amalgamation of the literature problematic. A more specific classification of upper limb bands has been suggested which includes anatomical location and depth of band.
Ultrathin miniature antenna to mitigate platform loading effects

Conformality is a highly desirable objective for antennas on vehicular platforms. Low profile antennas are also important for airborne platforms to decrease observability and aerodynamic drag. Such conformal and low profile antennas are also desired in ground vehicles. Multipurpose military ground vehicles (such as HMMWVs) present us with very challenging design issues due to limited available area for antenna placement. More specifically, the large conducting surfaces found on the hood and roof cannot be used due to other utilities (supply storage, spare tires and personnel transportation). Therefore, antennas need be placed (still conformally) towards the edges of vehicle roof, doors, bumpers and windows frames. For commercial vehicles, generic antennas are desired that can be mounted on any type, brand, or model of the vehicle (including variations in the same model such as sunroofs, convertibles). These restrictions place additional challenges in designing antennas that are less susceptible to nearby structure effects. The latter can cause detuning that must be reduced to avoid antenna redesign or retuning when installed. In this paper, we introduce a cavity-backed (slot type) antenna that remains stable even when placed 1.5” (λ 0 /5) away from the vehicle's edges.
Homogeneous measures and polynomial time invariants

The usual probability distributions are concentrated on strings that do not differ noticeably in any fundamental characteristics, except their informational size (Kolmogorov complexity). The formalization of this statement is given and shown to distinguish a class of homogeneous probability measures suggesting various applications. In particular, it could explain why the average case NP-completeness results are so measure-independent and could lead to their generalization to this wider and more invariant class of measures. It also demonstrates a sharp difference between recently discovered pseudorandom strings and the objects known before. >
Latino Education in the United States: A Narrated History From 1513–2000. Victoria-María MacDonald, New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, 384 pages, $95.00 (hardcover), $29.95 (paperback).

In August 2006, Elvira Arellano, an undocumented immigrant airport worker and single mother, took sanctuary with her elementary school age son in a Methodist storefront church in Chicago. Rather th...
Perceptions of intimacy and friendship reciprocity moderate peer influence on aggression

Previous research has shown that close friends' influence can exacerbate adolescents' aggressive behavior, but results of studies which examine whether friendships of greater or lesser qualities moderate peer influence effects are inconsistent. The present study tested whether the perception of the positive friendship quality of intimate exchange and friendship reciprocity moderated best friend influence on participant aggression over time. The 243 participants were approximately 12 years old and ethnically diverse. Neither intimate exchange nor reciprocity significantly moderated friend influence on aggression in a simple way, but the interaction of intimate exchange and friendship reciprocity predicted peer influence on participants' aggression over time. Specifically, highly intimate, nonreciprocal best friendships and less intimate, reciprocal best friendships showed greatest influence when friends' proportion of peer nominations for aggression was high. Reciprocity and intimacy should be considered when predicting peer influence on aggression. Aggr. Behav. 9999:1-11, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Language: en
SERA-IO: Integrating Energy Consciousness into Parallel I/O Middleware

Improving energy efficiency is a primary concern in high performance computing system design. Because I/O accesses account for a large portion of the execution time for data intensive applications, energy-aware parallel I/O subsystems are critical for addressing challenges related to HPC energy efficiency. In this paper, we present an energy-conscious parallel I/O middleware approach that combines runtime I/O access interception and Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling capability available on modern processors to intelligently schedule the system's power-performance mode for energy savings. We implement this approach into SERA-IO, an MPI-IO based middleware to enable energy consciousness for I/O intensive applications. Experimental evaluations conducted on real systems using multiple parallel I/O benchmarks show that SERA-IO can reduce system energy by 9% to 28% without decreasing application performance. With the emerging of large-scale data intensive applications and ever larger and more complex parallel computing systems, intelligent, energy conscious software and runtime systems such as SERA-IO are critical for the success of future high-end computing.
DNA damage is a novel response to sublytic complement C5b-9–induced injury in podocytes

In response to Ab-complement–mediated injury, podocytes can undergo lysis, apoptosis, or, when exposed to sublytic (<5% lysis) amounts of C5b-9, become activated. Following the insertion of sublytic quantities of C5b-9, there is an increase in signaling pathways and growth factor synthesis and release of proteases, oxidants, and other molecules. Despite an increase in DNA synthesis, however, sublytic C5b-9 is associated with a delay in G2/M phase progression in podocytes. Here we induced sublytic C5b-9 injury in vitro by exposing cultured rat podocytes or differentiated postmitotic mouse podocytes to Ab and a complement source; we also studied the passive Heymann nephritis model of experimental membranous nephropathy in rats. A major finding was that sublytic C5b-9–induced injury caused an increase in DNA damage in podocytes both in vitro and in vivo. This was associated with an increase in protein levels for p53, the CDK inhibitor p21, growth-arrest DNA damage-45 (GADD45), and the checkpoint kinases-1 and -2. Sublytic C5b-9 increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 (ERK-1 and -2), and inhibiting ERK-1 and -2 reduced the increase in p21 and GADD45 and augmented the DNA damage response to sublytic C5b-9–induced injury. These results show that sublytic C5b-9 induces DNA damage in vitro and in vivo and may explain why podocyte proliferation is limited following immune-mediated injury.
Tracing the threads: How five moral concerns (especially Purity) help explain culture war attitudes

Commentators have noted that the issue stands taken by each side of the American ‘‘culture war’’ lack conceptual consistency and can even seem contradictory. We sought to understand the psychological underpinnings of culture war attitudes using Moral Foundations Theory. In two studies involving 24,739 participants and 20 such issues (e.g. abortion, immigration, same-sex marriage), we found that endorsement of five moral foundations predicted judgments about these issues over and above ideology, age, gender, religious attendance, and interest in politics. Our results suggest that dispositional tendencies, particularly a person’s moral intuitions, may underlie, motivate, and unite ideological positions across a variety of issues and offer new insights into the multiple ‘‘moral threads’’ connecting disparate political positions.
Hepatocellular carcinoma: Multimodality management

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common tumors worldwide. Surgical resection has been the standard treatment but can only be applied to a small percentage of patients. In recent years, several other treatment options, including ablative procedures and transplantation, have been used in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods. For 6 years, 110 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were managed at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Fifty-five patients received only chemotherapy (n = 5) or palliative treatment (n = 50) because of advanced cirrhosis (P <.03) or tumor. Thirty-one patients had tumor ablation with percutaneous ethanol injection, cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, or arterial chemoembolization. Twenty-eight patients underwent surgical resection (n = 18) or hepatic transplantation (n = 10). Relatively more patients (38%; P <.001) were treated with ablation in the second period of the study (1998-2000). Results. Thirty-day mortality was 3% with ablation and 0% with resection. Median survival was 6 months with no treatment, 27 months with ablation (P <.001), and 35 months with resection (P <.001). Patients who underwent liver transplantation had the longest median survival (53 months). A multivariate analysis suggested that treatment modality (ablation or resection; P <.001) and Child-Pugh classification (P <.01) were the most important factors predicting outcome. Conclusions. This study suggests that treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma requires multidisciplinary expertise and that ablation and operation can be performed safely. Outcome is influenced most by treatment modality and Child-Pugh classification. Patients in Child-Pugh classes A and B should be treated with ablation, surgical resection, or liver transplantation. (Surgery 2001;130:554-60.)
Reoperative neurosurgery in dogs with thoracolumbar disc disease.

Objective To characterize the subset of dogs in our neurosurgical practice that underwent spinal surgery for thoracolumbar (TL) disc herniation and subsequently underwent additional decompressive TL surgery. Study Design A retrospective case series. Sample Population Thirty dogs that underwent reoperation for TL disc herniation. A comparison group of Dachshunds that underwent only one decompressive TL disc surgery was also studied. Methods Dogs that underwent reoperation were divided into two groups based on the interval between their first and second surgery. The early reoperation group included those dogs having a second surgery less than 4 weeks after the initial operation. The late reoperation group included those dogs having a second surgery more than 4 weeks after the initial operation. For each Dachshund in the late reoperation group, two Dachshunds that underwent only one decompressive TL disc surgery were selected and formed the comparison group. Dogs in the comparison group were matched with reoperated cases based on the severity of preoperative neurologic deficit and site of disc herniation. These two groups were compared to determine: (1) if age and body weight were risk factors for reoperation, and (2) if dogs had a poorer functional outcome after their second decompressive surgery than did those in the comparison group after their first (and only) decompressive surgery. Results A total of 30 of 467 (6.4%) dogs that underwent decompressive TL disc surgery were reoperated. In the early reoperative cases (n = 5 dogs), the inciting cause in all cases was residual compression from disc material at the site of the initial surgery. In the late reoperation group, 22 of 25 (88%) cases had a second disc herniation at a site distinct from the initial lesion. Dachshunds had a significantly higher risk for late reoperation (odds ratio and 95% CI = 3.67, 1.46 to 10.03); other small and medium-sized breeds (<20 kg) were underrepresented. Age and body weight were not significant predictors for reoperation. A total of 21 of 23 (91%) dogs had functional recovery after late reoperation. Complete sensorimotor loss was a significant negative predictor of functional recovery in the late reoperative cases (P = .01). Likelihood of functional recovery in dogs after their second decompressive surgery was identical to the functional recovery of dogs in the comparison group. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Our results show that a second disc herniation occurring at a site distinct from the initial lesion is the most common cause for reoperation and that Dachshunds have a significantly greater risk than other breeds.