cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contributions of drug solubilization, partitioning, barrier disruption, and solvent permeation to the enhancement of skin permeation of various compounds with fatty acids and amines.

The contributions of several proposed mechanisms by which fatty acids and amines might increase skin permeation rates were assessed. Permeation rates of model diffusants with diverse physicochemical properties (naloxone, testosterone, benzoic acid, indomethacin, fluorouracil, and methotrexate) through human skin were measured in vitro. The enhancers evaluated were capric acid, lauric acid, neodecanoic acid, and dodecylamine. Increased drug solubility in the vehicle, propylene glycol (PG), in some cases accounted for the increases in flux in the presence of adjuvants, since permeability coefficients were unchanged. Partition coefficients of some drugs into isopropyl myristate or toluene were increased by the adjuvants, but this did not occur for combinations of an acid with a base (adjuvant-drug or drug-adjuvant). Increases in flux not accounted for by increases in drug solubility or partitioning were assumed to involve disruption of the barrier function of skin (increased skin diffusivity). All fatty acids increased skin diffusivity of naloxone, testosterone, indomethacin, and fluorouracil but not of methotrexate or benzoic acid. Dodecylamine increased skin diffusivity only for fluorouracil. Capric acid and dodecylamine, but not lauric acid or neodecanoic acid, increased the skin permeation rate of PG, suggesting that enhanced solvent penetration could also be involved as a mechanism for increased skin permeation of the drug. However, the increase in PG flux due to dodecylamine was nullified when methotrexate was added to the vehicle, possibly because of a dodecylamine/methotrexate interaction. These studies demonstrate that drug solubilization in the vehicle, increased partitioning, increased solvent penetration, and barrier disruption each can contribute to increased skin permeation rates in the presence of fatty acids and amines. The relative contributions of the mechanisms vary with the drug, the adjuvant, and the vehicle.
That’s Mine! Employee Side Projects, Intellectual Property Ownership, and Innovation

Working on side projects outside their work hours is a growing trend for many high-skilled knowledge workers. While employees might believe that anything they create in their spare time belongs to ...
Infective Endocarditis After Surgical and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A State of the Art Review.

Abstract Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) after surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) carries significant morbidity/mortality. Our review aims to co...
Mitochondrial architecture in cardiac myocytes depends on cell shape and matrix rigidity

Contraction of cardiac myocytes depends on energy generated by the mitochondria. During cardiac development and disease, the structure and function of the mitochondrial network in cardiac myocytes is known to remodel in concert with many other factors, including changes in nutrient availability, hemodynamic load, extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity, cell shape, and maturation of other intracellular structures. However, the independent role of each of these factors on mitochondrial network architecture is poorly understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that cell aspect ratio (AR) and ECM rigidity regulate the architecture of the mitochondrial network in cardiac myocytes. To do this, we spin-coated glass coverslips with a soft, moderate, or stiff polymer. Next, we microcontact printed cell-sized rectangles of fibronectin with AR matching cardiac myocytes at various developmental or disease states onto the polymer surface. We then cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes on the patterned surfaces and used confocal microscopy and image processing techniques to quantify sarcomeric α-actinin volume, nucleus volume, and mitochondrial volume, surface area, and size distribution. On some substrates, α-actinin volume increased with cell AR but was not affected by ECM rigidity. Nucleus volume was mostly uniform across all conditions. In contrast, mitochondrial volume increased with cell AR on all substrates. Furthermore, mitochondrial surface area to volume ratio decreased as AR increased on all substrates. Large mitochondria were also more prevalent in cardiac myocytes with higher AR. For select AR, mitochondria were also smaller as ECM rigidity increased. Collectively, these results suggest that mitochondrial architecture in cardiac myocytes is strongly influenced by cell shape and moderately influenced by ECM rigidity. These data have important implications for understanding the factors that impact metabolic performance during heart development and disease.
Young and exhausted.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a complicated disease characterized by extreme fatigue of at least six months duration. It is necessary to rule out the organic cause of CFS in the pediatric patient in order not to overlook the preventable or the treatable condition. In our case report we present a case of a patient with a surprising origin OF CFS/ME diagnosed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing
F-18 FDG perfusion PET: intraprocedural assessment of the liver tumor ablation margin.

To evaluate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) perfusion PET during FDG PET/CT-guided liver tumor microwave ablation procedures for assessing the ablation margin and correlating minimum margin measurements with local progression. This IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study included 20 adult patients (11 M, 9 F; mean age 65) undergoing FDG PET/CT-guided liver microwave ablation to treat 31 FDG-avid tumors. Intraprocedural FDG perfusion PET was performed to assess the ablation margin. Intraprocedural decisions regarding overlapping ablations were recorded. Two readers retrospectively interpreted intraprocedural perfusion PET and postprocedural contrast-enhanced MRI. Assessability of the ablation margin and minimum margin measurements were recorded. Imaging follow-up for local progression ranged from 30 to 574 days (mean 310). Regression modeling of minimum margin measurements was performed. Hazard ratios were calculated to correlate an ablation margin threshold of 5 mm with outcomes. Intraprocedural perfusion PET prompted additional overlapping ablations of two tumors, neither of which progressed. Incomplete ablation or local progression occurred in 8/31 (26%) tumors. With repeat ablation, secondary efficacy was 26 (84%) of 31. Both study readers deemed ablation margins fully assessable more often using perfusion PET than MRI (OR 69.7; CI 6.0, 806.6; p = 0.001). Minimum ablation margins ≥ 5 mm on perfusion PET correlated with a low risk of incomplete ablation/local progression by both study readers (HR 0.08 and 0.02, p < 0.001). Intraprocedural FDG perfusion PET consistently enabled complete liver tumor microwave ablation margin assessments, and the perfusion PET minimum ablation margin measurements correlated well with local outcomes. Clinical trial registration clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02018107).
Mapping the student engagement journey: Understanding & envisioning the library’s role

Student engagement opportunities allow undergraduate students to pursue their interests, grow into engaged citizens, and connect their disciplinary knowledge in an applied context. Academic librari...
Building Security in during Information Systems Development.

There are many facets of managing security in information systems. Although there are prior studies that focus on how to build secure code from an architectural standpoint, an often overlooked aspect of security is the relationship between the systems development policies and procedures and the security of the systems developed. We focus on this relationship and draw from a general software quality model to provide a foundation for testing this relationship. This study discusses ideas that follow from prior research and develops a survey instrument for exploring the relationship between policies and procedures during systems development life cycle and the security quality of the system developed.
SU-E-J-126: An Online Replanning Method for FFF Beams Without Couch Shift

Purpose: In a situation that couch shift for patient positioning is not preferred or prohibited (e.g., MR-Linac), segment aperture morphing (SAM) can address target dislocation and deformation. For IMRT/VMAT with flattening filter free (FFF) beams, however, SAM method would lead to an adverse translational dose effect due to the beam unflattening. Here we propose a new 2-step process to address both the translational effect of FFF beams and the target deformation. Methods: The replanning method consists of an offline and an online steps. The offline step is to create a series of pre-shifted plans (PSP) obtained by a so called “warm start” optimization (starting optimization from the original plan, rather from scratch) at a series of isocenter shifts with fixed distance (e.g. 2 cm, at x,y,z = 2,0,0 ; 2,2,0 ; 0,2,0; …;− 2,0,0). The PSPs all have the same number of segments with very similar shapes, since the warm-start optimization only adjusts the MLC positions instead of regenerating them. In the online step, a new plan is obtained by linearly interpolating the MLC positions and the monitor units of the closest PSPs for the shift determined from the image of the day. This two-step process is completely automated, andmore » instantaneously fast (no optimization or dose calculation needed). The previously-developed SAM algorithm is then applied for daily deformation. We tested the method on sample prostate and pancreas cases. Results: The two-step interpolation method can account for the adverse dose effects from FFF beams, while SAM corrects for the target deformation. The whole process takes the same time as the previously reported SAM process (5–10 min). Conclusion: The new two-step method plus SAM can address both the translation effects of FFF beams and target deformation, and can be executed in full automation requiring no additional time from the SAM process. This research was supported by Elekta inc. (Crawley, UK)« less
Students as Stakeholders in Education Policy

Urban education policy debates pivot around dueling lines of discourse on what ails inner-city youth; specifically, students in inner-city schools are portrayed as emblems of a largely African American and Latino “culture of failure,” even as they remain largely absent as active participants in policy-making. A key tension, then, lies in how youth organizing groups attempt to help students assert themselves not as “troublemakers,” but as legitimate political stakeholders in education policy. I draw upon ethnographic data from two case study organizations that belong to the Urban Youth Collaborative mentioned above, Brotherhood/ Sister Sol and Sistas and Brothas United. First, the students are presumed to lack educational values, even as they make efforts to attain skills and confidence for their campaigns. Second, even after they articulate and voice their arguments, policymakers do not receive them as political stakeholders, and there are few formal public forums or opportunities for student input in the current school governance system.
Comparison of cadaveric pericardial, dermal, vein, and synthetic grafts for tunica albuginea substitution using a rat model.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate in an animal model the intermediate and long-term efficacy of cadaveric pericardium, dermis, vein and Gore-Tex‰ as grafting materials for tunica albuginea substitution after plaque excision for Peyronie's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study comprised 100 male Sprague-Dawley rats (300–325 g) divided into five equal groups: group 1, sham-operated controls; and groups 2–5 which underwent wedge excision of the tunica albuginea and replacement with either cadaveric pericardium, dermis, vein or Gore-Tex grafts. Ten rats in each group had the cavernosal nerve stimulated electrically to assess erectile function at 4 months, and the remaining 10 rats at 6 months. After death the sampled tissues were fixed in 10% formalin, paraffin-embedded, and stained with Masson's trichrome and Verhoff's van Giesen for collagen and elastic fibres. RESULTS Erectile function, assessed by cavernosal nerve stimulation, did not differ significantly in any of the groups (P > 0.05). The histological assessment of penile cross-sections showed minimal fibrosis surrounding the patch in the dermal and vein grafts, and moderate to severe fibrosis in the Gore-Tex graft at 4 and 6 months. In the pericardial graft there was a moderate degree of fibrosis at 4 months with only minimal fibrosis at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS These results show that cadaveric pericardium allows complete penile expansion and is strong enough to withstand normal intracorporal pressures. There was minimal fibrosis in the pericardial, dermal and vein grafts, and moderate fibrosis in the Gore-Tex graft at 6 months. The pericardial graft is a satisfactory grafting material when used for tunica albuginea substitution, including the surgical management of Peyronie's disease.
Consolidation and learning: a connectionist model of human credit assignment

This dissertation concerns the issue of human credit assignment, particularly why some things are so easily remembered while others are forgotten. The point of view taken is an adaptive one: differences in the strength of learning from situation to situation are seen as reflections of the differences in the probable importance of each situation. One difficulty with such an approach is that it appears to imply that humans have the ability to effectively evaluate importance--a scenario which is often unlikely, especially in novel domains. The alternative offered is that the human cognitive architecture is sensitive to a variety of generic situations, and that these sensitivities are automatically reflected in learning. Insight into these sensitivities is provided by an examination of the consolidation process, a brief period of transition during which memory is fixed or made permanent. There is a large set of evidence linking consolidation with the ultimate strength of learning. Consolidation is modelled in this dissertation with TRACE, a connectionist simulation based upon Hebb's cell assembly construct. Learning in TRACE comes as the result of correlated neural activity; factors which influence such activity, therefore, will necessarily impact learning. This provides the human cognitive architecture with the sensitivity required by the learning system. One of the key factors which impacts consolidation is arousal. The arousal level of an organism, in turn, is sensitive to "important" events such as pleasure, pain and confusion. The relationship between arousal and the strength of learning is well known: When arousal is high, learning is strong; when arousal is low, learning is weak. Less well known is the impact of arousal on short term performance. High levels of arousal have been shown to result in "reminiscence," a situation where performance improves over time without intervening practice. In this case high levels of arousal actually impair short term recall. This result is counter-intuitive and until now has never been successfully modelled. Reminiscence can be modelled in TRACE, and within the context of a consolidation-based learning system, the effects can also be shown to be adaptive.
Validity of perceptions of a healthy diet

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of subjects’ perceptions of the healthiness of their diets utilizing data from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surv...
RoBallet: exploring learning through expression in the arts through constructing in a technologically immersive environment

We present the RoBallet environment as an interesting area for learning in a variety of domains through augmenting performing arts with technology. In the RoBallet environment children choreograph dance movements while wearing sensors and wireless microcontroller boards as well as having more sensors and devices in the environment. The children build robots, and program them, animations, light, and music they compose to respond to their movements. We have a few primary goals in this endeavor; to open new areas for exploration, to use technology to augment expression, and to open creative and expressive uses of technology, mathematics and science to children who may otherwise have no interest. We describe a workshop we ran in conjunction with the National Dance Institute, discuss what we learned, and present our ideas for future development.
Functional characterization of PCRK1, a putative protein kinase with a role in immunity

In Arabidopsis, defense signaling is triggered by the perception of conserved molecular patterns by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Signal transduction from the PRRs requires members of a family of Receptor-Like Cytoplasmic Kinases (RLCKs). Previously, we described one such RLCK, PTI Compromised Receptor-Like Cytoplasmic Kinase 1 (PCRK1) that is important for immunity induced by Microbe Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs) as well as Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs). In this study, we measured the growth of Pma ES4326 in double mutants carrying pcrk1 together with the salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis mutation sid2–2 or the jasmonic acid (JA) receptor mutation coi1–1, showing that the function of PCRK1 is SA independent but may be partially dependent on JA. Mutation of phosphorylated serine residues S232, S233 and S237 compromised the immune signaling function of PCRK1.
ION CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF CORROSIVE MATERIALS IN PRODUCT TAMPERING INVESTIGATIONS

Investigations of product tampering cases involving corrosives focus on the cause of extreme pH, and then attempt to determine the source of the contaminant. The application of ion chromatography to several product tampering cases is discussed. Examples include lye in cold medicine, ammonia in milk, and strong acids in eye drops and a food supplement.
Coupling of RYR1 and L-type calcium channels via calmodulin binding domains.

In skeletal muscle the L-type Ca2+ channel directly controls the opening of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channel (RYR1), and RYR1, in turn, prevents L-type Ca2+ channel inactivation. We demonstrate that the two proteins interact using calmodulin binding regions of both proteins. A recombinant protein representing amino acids 1393–1527 (D1393–1527) of the carboxyl-terminal tail of the skeletal muscle L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel binds Ca2+, Ca2+ calmodulin, and apocalmodulin. In the absence of calmodulin, D1393–1527 binds to both RYR1 and a peptide representing the calmodulin binding site of RYR1 (amino acids 3609–3643). In addition, biotinylated R3609–3643 peptide can be used with streptavidin beads to pull down [3H]PN200–110-labeled L-type channels from detergent-solubilized transverse tubule membranes. The binding of the L-type channel carboxyl-terminal tail to the calmodulin binding site on RYR1 may stabilize the contact between the two proteins, provide a mechanism for Ca2+ and/or calmodulin regulation of their interaction, or participate directly in functional signaling between these two proteins. A unique aspect of this study is the finding that calmodulin binding sequences can serve as specific binding motifs for proteins other than calmodulin.
Recent advances towards an effective virtual‐pulse (VIP) explicit time integral methodology for general multidimensional thermal analysis

Recent advances and progress towards the development of an effective Virtual-Pulse (VIP) explicit time integral methodology of computation for applicability to general multidimensional non-linear transient thermal analysis of structures and materials is overviewed. The computational methodology is derived from new and different perspectives and the theoretical basis as well as the practical applicability to multidimensional thermal analysis situations are detailed. The VIP methodology inherits improved accuracy and superior stability characteristics in comparison to the traditional approaches customarily employed by thermal analysts. With the notion of providing techniques for high-speed computing environments and parallel architectures, the present approach is developed for such computations and also ideally suited for personal workstation computing environments. Results of the numerical test models for multidimensional problems validate the overall concepts for general applicability to thermal analysis situations.
Fundamental Changes in In Situ Air Sparging How Patterns

Two types of gas-phase flow patterns have been discussed and observed in the in situ air sparging (ISAS) literature: bubble flow and air channels. A critical factor affecting the flow pattern at a given location is the grain size of the porous medium. Visualization experiments reported in the literature indicate that a change in the flow pattern occurs around 1 to 2 mm grain diameters, with air channels occurring below the transition size and bubbles above. Analysis of capillary and buoyancy forces suggests that for a given gas-liquid-solid system, there is a critical size that dictates the dominant force, and the dominant force will in turn dictate the flow pattern. The dominant forces, and consequently the two-phase flow patterns, were characterized using a Bond number modified with the porous media aspect ratio (pore throat to pore body ratio). Laboratory experiments were conducted to observe flow patterns as a function of porous media size and air flow rate. The experimental results and the modified Bond number analysis support the relationship of flow patterns to grain size reported in the literature.
Amazon.com's Orwellian nightmare: exploring apology in an online environment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understanding of crisis communication application and theory by analyzing online reactions of discussion board participants to assess the effectiveness of an apology issued online.Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses a content analysis of naturally‐occurring online reactions to an apology issued as a crisis response strategy. The Janis‐Fadner Coefficient of Imbalance was used to quantify the magnitude of negative and positive reactions to the apology.Findings – Most posts indicated acceptance of the apology and positive purchase intentions, thus confirming its effectiveness in managing the crisis as prescribed in Situational Crisis Communication Theory. Analysis of rejection reactions provided insights into additional actions crisis managers might take in this situation and how organisations might make their crisis communication more interactive in an online environment.Research limitations/implications – The study is limited by the focus on...
Emotion regulation therapy for generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is increasingly being recognized as a considerable mental health concern. However, it remains a poorly understood and insufficiently treated chronic disorder. Recent conceptualizations have highlighted the role of emotion acceptance, utilization and management as a core feature of the disorder. An emotion regulation perspective may shed light on treatment approaches to GAD. An integrative approach to treating GAD, entitled Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) is presented through the case of a young woman. ERT addresses cognitive, emotional and contextual factors of GAD and is divided into four phases: (1) psychoeducation, monitoring and developmental history; (2) skills training in somatic awareness and emotional knowledge, utilization and regulation; (3) use of these skills to confront core thematic issues using experiential exposure exercises; (4) and progress review, relapse prevention and termination processing. ERT was shown to successfully treat symptomatic, functional and qualitative aspects of the case presented, suggesting a future direction for therapeutic investigation of GAD. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Foreign Overt Military Intervention in the Nuclear Age

Competing theories about who is most responsible for the overall frequency and geographic scope of international armed conflict in the nuclear age are systematically tested against the record of states' warlike actions since World War II. These theories include the traditional view of `power politics' which assumes that intervention is practiced primarily by great powers and the vision of `nuclear paralysis' which presumes that great powers use military force infrequently compared to aggressive minor states. The frequency of foreign overt military intervention both within and outside of war is compared among all states. Analysis is based upon a new catalog of international armed conflicts, the OVERT MILITARY INTERVENTION file, that attempts to identify all foreign overt military interventions initiated since World War II. Ninety-seven states initiated 591 foreign overt military interventions within 269 international armed conflicts between 1945 and 1985. All international armed conflicts, the intervenors ...
Image-sensing model and computer simulation for CCD camera systems

A computational model and a computer simulation system are presented for image sensing in a typical CCD camera system. The computational model makes explicit the sequence of transformations that the light incident on the camera system undergoes before being sensed and recorded. The model is based on a precise definition of input to the camera system that decouples the photometric properties of a scene from the geometric properties of the scene. Based on this model, an interactive research software, the Image Defocus Simulator, has been developed. Application of this software in machine vision research and development is described with examples.
Acid precipitation effect on anion transport of the Atkins Reservoir, Massachusetts

The anion concentration of the water in the precipitation reservoir and its watershed of Atkins Reservoir, Massachusetts was studied. In the precipitation study, the NO3 − and SO4 2− levels increased with a pH drop andvice versa, but the Cl− was interfered with by regional marine air masses. The average pH of precipitation and the reservoir were 3.85 (SD=±0.89) and 6.08 (SD= ±0.18), respectively. The average alkalinity of the reservoir was very low; 0.88 mg/L CaCO3 (SD= ±0.68). The precipitation and reservoir concentrations of anions were: F− (0.5 and 0.2 ppm), Cl− (2 and 4 ppm), and SO4 2− (7 and 7.8 ppm), respectively. The NO3 − level in the precipitation (4 to 6 ppm) was at least an order higher than the reservoir (0.2 to 0.4 ppm) and this was due to selective NO3 − uptake by terrestrial plants. About 50% of the samples collected at the bottom of the reservoir were high in NO3 − where organic decomposition would be expected. The response of the SO4 2− and and Cl− levels to pH drop in the reservoir inlet study followed a SO4 2− retention-Cl− release mechanism. The F− concentration in the precipitation and reservoir was not dependent on pH changes. The lack of F− in soil samples adjacent to the reservoir indicated that the F− in the reservoir came primarily from precipitation.
Selective inhibition of yeast killer-specific double-stranded RNA transcription invitro

Abstract Virus-like particles were purified from three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae : the nonkiller, S7, the killer, A8209B, and the superkiller, T158C. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity copurified with the virus-like particles (ScV-L and ScV-M) from all three strains. The effect of elevated temperature (37° and 42°C) on the in vitro transcription reaction was investigated. Transcription of ScV-M showed a marked heat inhibition at 37°C and was completely inactive at 42°C. Transcription of ScV-L was unaffected by incubation at 37°C and exhibited a slight increase at 42°C. These results suggest that in vivo heat curing of the killer character may be due to a direct effect on the ScV-M viral RNA polymerase particle.
Increasing wireless power transfer efficiency on implantable biomedical devices using ferrite based negative permeability metamaterial design

Modern implantable neursotimulation devices have functions that can significantly improve the quality of life of patients by partially restoring lost sensory and motor functions. Because of this, these devices have to be designed with utmost care to run reliably and efficiently for long periods of time, often decades. Due to the likely continuous active role of neurostimulators, power must be supplied to the implant without resorting to wires. One such mechanism is inductive near-field resonant coupling. This technique generally consists of two coils, one mounted on the external power supply and one mounted on the implantable device. These coils operate at resonance in order to wirelessly transfer power between them by virtue of their inductive coupling, thus making it possible to recharge the device.
NAGEL VS. NAGEL ON THE NATURE OF PHENOMENAL CONCEPTS

In a footnote to his ‘What is it Like to be a Bat?’, Thomas Nagel sketches a promising account of phenomenal concepts that purports to explain why mind-body identity statements, even if necessary, will always seem contingent. Christopher Hill and Brian McLaughlin have recently developed this sketch into a more robust theory. In Nagel's more recent work, however, he suggests that the only adequate theory of phenomenal concepts is one that makes the relation between phenomenal and physical states intelligible, or ‘transparent’. Developing such a theory, however, appears to be no easy task. In this paper I argue that the Nagel-Hill-McLaughlin proposal is preferable – and that a serious problem with it, noticed by Stephen Yablo, can be avoided by revising the proposal according to some further suggestions made by Nagel himself.
Cortical and subcortical EEG patterns during moderate-intensity barbiturate withdrawal.

Abstract Electroencephalograms were recorded from cortical and subcortical brain regions during moderate-intensity barbiturate withdrawal in the cat. Physical dependence was produced by administration of Na-barbital by the “low dose barbiturate” treatment schedule. During moderate-intensity withdrawal, the EEG pattern showed 4- to 6-Hz rhythmic bursts in the hippocampus, visual cortex, auditory cortex, motor cortex, nucleus centralis centralis of the thalamus, caudate nucleus, and lateral geniculate body. The bursts in the hippocampus were spike-and-wave type. In animals which had spontaneous seizures, 4- to 6-Hz bursts occurred in the motor cortex, whereas this abnormality did not occur in the motor cortex in animals which did not have spontaneous generalized seizures. In addition, prolonged high-frequency, high-voltage discharges and spikes were recorded from the amygdala during withdrawal. Spontaneous generalized or partial seizures occurred during withdrawal; the abnormal EEG patterns associated with seizures appeared to originate in various subcortical sites. Perhaps the most important result was the finding that no one brain region or set of brain regions seemed to be specifically involved in barbiturate withdrawal.
Northern Hemisphere forcing of Southern Hemisphere climate during the last deglaciation

Changes in ocean circulation are the most plausible explanation for the early Southern Hemisphere deglacial warming and its lead over Northern Hemisphere temperature. Milankovitch theory, which was developed to explain the relationship between Earth's movement and the climate, holds that glacial cycles are ultimately controlled by variations in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation (exposure to the Sun's rays). Spectral analyses of palaeoclimate records support this theory, but a mechanistic test has been elusive. Other lines of evidence also show that climate changes in the Southern Hemisphere may have led those in the Northern Hemisphere, casting doubt on the main theory. Here Feng He and colleagues use a coupled ocean–atmosphere model to show that the last deglaciation was indeed triggered by Northern Hemisphere insolation changes, amplified by albedo, CO2 and ocean circulation changes. According to the Milankovitch theory, changes in summer insolation in the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere caused glacial cycles through their impact on ice-sheet mass balance1. Statistical analyses of long climate records supported this theory, but they also posed a substantial challenge by showing that changes in Southern Hemisphere climate were in phase with or led those in the north2. Although an orbitally forced Northern Hemisphere signal may have been transmitted to the Southern Hemisphere3, insolation forcing can also directly influence local Southern Hemisphere climate, potentially intensified by sea-ice feedback4,5,6, suggesting that the hemispheres may have responded independently to different aspects of orbital forcing. Signal processing of climate records cannot distinguish between these conditions, however, because the proposed insolation forcings share essentially identical variability7. Here we use transient simulations with a coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model to identify the impacts of forcing from changes in orbits, atmospheric CO2 concentration, ice sheets and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) on hemispheric temperatures during the first half of the last deglaciation (22–14.3 kyr bp). Although based on a single model, our transient simulation with only orbital changes supports the Milankovitch theory in showing that the last deglaciation was initiated by rising insolation during spring and summer in the mid-latitude to high-latitude Northern Hemisphere and by terrestrial snow–albedo feedback. The simulation with all forcings best reproduces the timing and magnitude of surface temperature evolution in the Southern Hemisphere in deglacial proxy records8,9. AMOC changes associated with an orbitally induced retreat of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets10 is the most plausible explanation for the early Southern Hemisphere deglacial warming and its lead over Northern Hemisphere temperature; the ensuing rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration provided the critical feedback on global deglaciation9,11.
The effect of organ preservation on polysomal messenger RNA.

Abstract Organ preservation decreases polysomal RNA + -poly(A) in mouse kidneys. Warm storage at 37 °C markedly decreased the total polysomal RNA. Moreover, the percentage of 3 H-polysomal RNA + -poly(A) is decreased 24.1% after 1 hr. Cold storage does not decrease the amount of polysomal RNA, but the decrease in the 3 H-polysomal RNA which is poly(A) + was diminished 83.7% after 48 hr of cold storage.
Treatment delivery platform for conformal catheter-based ultrasound hyperthermia

A clinical treatment delivery platform has been developed for providing 3D controlled hyperthermia with catheter-based ultrasound applicators in conjunction with high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. This integrated system consists of hardware and software components required for thermal therapy delivery, treatment monitoring and control, and realtime and post-treatment analysis; and interstitial and endocavity ultrasound heating applicators. Hardware includes a 32-channel RF amplifier with independent power (0-25 W) and frequency (5-10 MHz) control for ultrasound power delivery and a 48-channel thermometry system compatible with 0.4 mm OD multi-sensor thermocouple probes. Software graphical user interfaces (GUI) are used to monitor and control both the amplifier and the thermometry system. The amplifier GUI controls, monitors, and records individual channel frequency and power values in real-time; the thermometry GUI monitors and records temperature and thermal dose values in real-time, as well as displaying and allowing dynamic control for temperature and thermal dose target thresholds. The thermometry GUI also incorporates registration of thermocouple positions relative to target anatomy and applicator transducers based on HDR planning tools (CT/MRI/US overlays) for improved treatment control and documentation. The interstitial (2.4 mm) and endocavity (6 mm) ultrasound hyperthermia applicators are composed of linear arrays of 1-4 tubular piezoceramic transducers - sectored at 90°, 180°, 270°, and 360° for single or dual directional heating patterns - that are compatible with plastic implant catheters. QA techniques specific to these catheter-based ultrasound applicators have been devised and implemented, and include rotational beam plots and dynamic force balance efficiency measurements, which are critical to establish applicator performance. A quality assurance test matrix has been devised and used to evaluate and characterize all components of this system prior to clinical implementation.
Failure of initiation of parturition after electrocoagulation of the pituitary of the fetal lamb.

Abstract Electrocoagulation lesions were made in the pituitaries of fetal lambs between the ninety-third and one hundred and forty-third day of gestation. Initiation of parturition failed to occur in 9 ewes operated on before 134 days in which the fetal pituitary lesion involved more than 70 per cent of the gland. Operation at the one hundred and forty-third day was followed by spontaneous delivery as was also the case in 3 ewes in which the fetal pituitary lesion involved less than 60 per cent of the gland. Four multiple pregnancies, with one fetus spared operation in each, and 4 shamoperated pregnancies terminated spontaneously at term. Pregnancy was prolonged in 2 ewes carrying fetuses with intact pituitaries; in one, the fetal hypothalamus was extensively damaged and, in the other, the pituitary stalk had been coagulated at the one hundred and forty-first day of gestation. It is concluded that the integrity of the fetal pituitary and probably of the hypothalamus is essential to the initiation of parturition in the sheep.
Molecular Structures and Magnetochemistry of Two (β-Oxooctaethylchlorinato)copper(II) Derivatives: [Cu(oxoOEC)] and [Cu(oxoOEC•)]SbCl6

The preparation and characterization of the β-oxochlorin derivative [3,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-(3H)-porphin-2-onato(2−)]copper(II), [Cu(oxoOEC)], and its π-cation radical derivative, [Cu(oxoOEC•)][SbCl6], are described. Both compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determinations; IR, UV/vis/near-IR, and EPR spectroscopies; and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements. Crystals of [Cu(oxoOEC)] have two crystallographically distinct molecules, one at a general position ([Cu(oxoOEC)]-gen) and a second at a special position ([Cu(oxoOEC)]-spe). [Cu(oxoOEC)]-gen has a S4-saddled conformation whereas [Cu(oxoOEC)]-spe has a modest ruffled conformation. [Cu(oxoOEC•)][SbCl6] shows a cofacial dimeric unit in the solid state, with a mean plane separation of 3.41 A and a lateral shift of 5.47 A. Crystal data for [Cu(oxoOEC)]: monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z = 12, a = 38.404(8) A, b = 14.692(6) A, c = 16.977(11) A, β = 101.46(2)°. Crystal data for [Cu(oxoOEC•)][SbCl6]:...
First-Principles Phase Stability Calculations of Pseudobinary Alloys of (Al,Zn)3Ti with L12, D022, and D023 Structures

The thermodynamic and mechanical stability of intermetallic phases in the Al3Ti-Zn3Ti pseudobinary alloy system is investigated from first-principles total energy calculations through electronic density-functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. Both supercell calculations and sublattice-cluster-expansion methods are used to demonstrate that the addition of Zn to the Al sublattice of Al3Ti stabilizes the cubic L12 structure relative to the tetragonal D022 and D023 structures. This trend can be understood in terms of a simple rigid-band picture in which the addition of Zn modifies the effective number of valence electrons that populate bonding and anti-bonding states. The calculated zero-temperature elastic constants show that the binary end members are mechanically stable in all three ordered phases. These results point to a promising way to cost effectively achieve the stabilization of L12 precipitates in order to favor the formation of a microstructure associated with desirable mechanical properties.
Next generation frequency coordinator

Abstract The following analysis contends that the FCC's creation of Guard Band Managers is an important step forward in introducing more market-based forces to radio spectrum management. Guard Band Managers perform the function of a frequency coordinator—they parcel out “odd shaped”, business specific frequency assignments—but on a for-profit basis. The creation of the Guard Band Manager for the 700 MHz Guard Band is an example of the Federal Communications Commission using market-based forces to enhance the efficient use of radio spectrum in a setting constrained by the Commission's desire to put severe limits on how the band is used.
Mode conversion losses in silicon-on-insulator photonic wire based racetrack resonators

Two complimentary types of SOI photonic wire based devices, the add/drop (A/D) filter using a racetrack resonator and the Mach-Zehnder interferometer with one arm consisting of an identical resonator in all-pass filter (APF) configuration, were fabricated and characterized in order to extract the optical properties of the resonators and predict the performance of the optical delay lines based on such resonators. We found that instead of well-known waveguide bending and propagation losses, mode conversion loss in the coupling region of such resonators dominates when the air gap between the racetrack resonator and access waveguide is smaller than 120nm. We also show that this additional loss significantly degrades the performance of the optical delay line containing cascaded resonators in APF configuration.
Use of cardiac output to improve measurement of input function in quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Purpose To validate a new method for converting MR arterial signal intensity versus time curves to arterial input functions (AIFs). Materials and Methods The method constrains AIF with patient's cardiac output (Q). Monte Carlo simulations of MR renography and tumor perfusion protocols were carried out for comparison with two alternative methods: direct measurement and population-averaged input function. MR renography was performed to assess the method's inter- and intraday reproducibility for renal parameters. Results In simulations of tumor perfusion, the precision of the parameters (Ktrans and ve) computed using the proposed method was improved by at least a factor of three compared to direct measurement. Similar improvements were obtained in simulations of MR renography. Volunteer study for testing interday reproducibility confirmed the improvement of precision in renal parameters when using the proposed method compared to conventional methods. In another patient study (two injections within one session), the proposed method significantly increased the correlation coefficient (R) between GFR of the two exams (0.92 vs. 0.83) compared to direct measurement. Conclusion A new method significantly improves the precision of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) parameters. The method may be especially useful for analyzing repeated DCE examinations, such as monitoring tumor therapy or angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitor renography. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:656–665. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Bilateral Coats' response in a female patient leads to diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Abstract Background Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a rare autosomal dominant muscle disease that affects about 5 in 100,000 individuals. Retinal vascular changes that mimic Coats’ disease have been described in previously diagnosed FSHD. We report a diagnosis of FSHD only after the detection of a rare bilateral Coats’ response in a female patient. Case report A 39-year-old asymptomatic black woman presented for a second opinion of a lesion previously diagnosed as an isolated hemangioma in the left temporal retina. She had no relevant family or personal health history. She was not born prematurely, did not show evidence of autoimmune disease, and had a normal hemoglobin electrophoresis. Examination found an exudative mass in the left temporal retina and subtle telangiectatic vessels in the right temporal retina. Optomap ® (Optos ® , Dunfermline, Scotland) fluorescein angiography found multiple areas of capillary drop-out, arborization, and telangiectatic microaneurysms in both eyes (left eye greater than right eye). Genetic testing results were positive for a deletion of tandemly repeated DNA (D4Z4 repeats) in chromosome 4q35 consistent with a diagnosis of FSHD. Conclusion A prior diagnosis of FSHD alerts the clinician to look for a Coats’ response in the retina. However, bilateral Coats’ disease in a female should alert the clinician to test for FSHD.
Experience and desire: A new format for Sensation Seeking Scales

A new form (VI) of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) was developed which separates reports of past experiences from desired or intended future experiences on both Disinhibition (Dis) and Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) factors. Factor analyses were used to select items for the scales. High internal reliabilities were found for the Experience-Dis, Intention-TAS, and Intention-Dis scales, but only moderate reliability was found for the Experience-TAS scale. Retest reliabilities were high for all scales. The Experience-TAS and -Dis scales were highly correlated for males but not for females. The Experience- and Intention-TAS scales were moderately correlated, and the Experience- and Intention-Dis scales were highly correlated for both sexes. Both the TAS and the Dis scales on form V were highly correlated with the corresponding Intention scales on form VI. Uses for the new SS scales in individual assessment are suggested.
Dimensions of mastery in same-age and mixed-age integrated classrooms

This article presents the results of a study evaluating the effects of mixed-age and same-age classrooms on dimensions of mastery during play for young children developing normally and for children with disabilities. Twenty-four children were randomly assigned to same-age classrooms corresponding to each of the age groups in the study (1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds). Another 24 children were randomly assigned to mixed-age classrooms consisting of either 1- and 3-year-olds or 2- and 4-year-olds. In these groups, 3 of the children were younger and 3 were older. In addition, 2 children in each classroom had disabilities; 1 child was younger and 1 child was older. Dimensions of mastery were coded during free play to reflect the sophistication of play. Play was classified as premastery (exploration), mastery (task-oriented behavior), and social mastery (social and dramatic play). Results indicated that the child's developmental maturation was related to sophistication of play mastery for children without disabilities in both classroom settings and children without disabilities in both classroom settings and children with disabilities in the mixed-age classes. In contrast, this developmental trend was not evident for children with disabilities in the same-age classroom. Finally, comparisons of social mastery suggested that children without disabilities were more likely to engage in social mastery than children with disabilities regardless of classroom condition, even after adjusting for developmental age.
Prediction of Single-Point Temperature Statistics in a Half-Heated Grid Flow

Abstract A single-point probability density function is constructed to describe temperature statistics in the turbulence downstream of a half-heated biplane grid. Analytical conditioning is used to decompose the thermal field into distinct regions to which existing closure approximations are applied. Excellent agreement with measured pdf's, and the four lowest order moments of temperature, over most of the flow cross section, except near the cold boundary, gives strong support to existing closures for turbulent transport and mixing. The extension of analytical conditioning to reactive flows awaits experimental verification of entrainment rate and inter-mtttency factor predictions.