cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser physics: a phase it's going through.

When we observe laser light, we typically measure its intensity, and so wave amplitude. The phase, which encodes further details of the laser's internal workings, was obscure — but fresh light is being shed on it. Laser radiation is usually measured with detectors that determine frequency and intensity, but gather no information about the phase of the radiation. By measuring the phase it would become possible to gain insights in the dynamic processes of optical amplification and attenuation underlying laser operation. Kroll et al. have now developed a way of measuring amplitude as well as phase of laser radiation from so-called quantum cascade lasers, which operate in the terahertz regime. The technique, which could be extended to other types of lasers, can be used to study effects leading to optical losses — useful information to improve the laser performance.
Feeding and orientation of mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi, to water jets

Mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi, from Lake Michigan are primarily nocturnal feeders that use the mechanoreceptive lateral line system to locate prey. Signals from swimming and suspension feeding prey are due to rhythmic movements of the body and/or appendages which produce a current with a net water flow (DC) and a vibratory water flow component (AC) superimposed on it. To determine whether the feeding response of the mottled sculpin is elicited by AC and/or DC components, we tested the response of mottled sculpin to water jets which were either an unmodulated flow (DC) or had a superimposed modulated flow (AC: 10 and 20 Hz). Both free-roaming fish and fish that had been pre-positioned relative to the stimulus were tested. Results indicate that sculpins are more likely to bite at an AC jet nozzle and will bite at the jet nozzle at a greater distance for AC jets than for DC. However, fish can be conditioned to turn toward the DC flow. A fish trained to respond by turning toward a DC jet will nearly cease to respond to the DC jet after a few trials with an AC jet (which mainly elicit bites). The results suggest that there is an unconditioned bite response to AC signals and that training can produce a conditioned turn response to DC signals.
Silicon-Containing Carbamate Insecticides

The isomeric trimethylsilylphenyl N-methylcarbamates were evaluated as insecticides and anticholinesterases. Both the ortho - and meta-isomers had insecticidal activity although the latter was the more effective anticholinesterase. The data suggest that silicon-containing isosteres of insecticides may be expected to have properties similar to the parent compound.
Nicotine dependence and smoking topography among Black and White women

Nicotine dependence is a complex phenomenon involving behavioral, biological, and pharmacological components that influence smoking cessation rates. The purpose of this study was to characterize the multidimensional aspects of nicotine dependence and cigarette smoking topography behaviors among Black and White women smokers. Thirty-seven women participated in a 2-hr protocol in the General Clinical Research Center. Plasma cotinine to cigarette ratio was significantly associated with three topography variables: total puff duration, total cigarette time, and carbon monoxide (CO) boost. Black women scored higher on plasma cotinine levels, cotinine per cigarette ratio, and CO increase pre- to postcigarette than White women. Implications for clinical practice include assessing nicotine dependence beyond self-reported cigarettes per day to develop more appropriate smoking cessation interventions.
Quick and reliable assessment of chronological life span in yeast cell populations by flow cytometry

Yeast chronological life span (CLS) is defined as the capacity of stationary cultures to maintain viability over time, thus mimicking the situation of post-mitotic cells in multicellular organisms. Cellular viability is typically determined by using the colony formation unit assay (CFU). CFU counting is simple but laborious and does not accommodate large-scale experiments. Importantly, viability is determined on the basis of the cell's ability to divide and form a colony, probably not the ideal parameter when studying post-mitotic cellular ageing. This study describes the optimization and validation of a method based on the flow cytometric monitoring of propidium iodide (PI) uptake for assessing yeast cell death during CLS. The optimized protocol is quick, reliable, reproducible and can accommodate high-throughput studies. The method was validated by determining CLS of several strains used in yeast ageing research and by evaluating the effect of genetic disturbances known to extend or reduce yeast chronological life span.
Common factors in the identification of an assortment of brief everyday sounds

Acoustic, ecological, perceptual and cognitive factors that are common in the identification of 41 brief, varied sounds were evaluated. In Experiment 1, identification time and accuracy, causal uncertainty values, and spectral and temporal properties of the sounds were obtained. Experiment 2 was a survey to obtain ecological frequency counts. Experiment 3 solicited perceptual-cognitive ratings. Factor analyses of spectral parameters and perceptual-cognitive ratings were performed. Identification time and causal uncertainty are highly interrelated, and both are related to ecological frequency and the presence of harmonics and similar spectral bursts. Experiments 4 and 5 used a priming paradigm to verify correlational relationships between identification time and causal uncertainty and to assess the effect of sound typicality. Results support a hybrid approach for theories of everyday sound identification. Language: en
Determinants of survival and recovery of left ventricular function after aortic valve replacement

To determine factors that influence survival and recovery of ventricular function in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement in the current surgical era, baseline risk factors related to outcome were analyzed in 1,012 consecutive patients undergoing aortic valve replacement between 1983 and 1990. Forty-two percent of patients underwent concomitant coronary bypass. Observed survival probabilities (expressed as 30-day/5-year) were 0.97/0.81 overall, 0.99/0.89 for patients aged less than 70 years, and 0.95/0.74 for patients aged 70 years or greater. Advanced age (p < 0.0001), decreased ejection fraction (p < 0.0001), extent of coronary disease (p < 0.006), smaller prosthetic valve (p < 0.03), and advanced New York Heart Association class (p < 0.04) were incremental risk factors for mortality. In patients with preoperative ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < or = 0.45), ejection fraction measured 1.4 years after aortic valve replacement improved in 72% and the mean increment in ejection fraction was 0.175 (95% confidence interval, 0.154 to 0.195). The increment in ejection fraction was greater in female patients than in male patients (p < 0.02) and greater in patients without than with coronary disease (p < 0.02). Female sex (p < 0.02) and lesser extent of coronary disease (p < 0.05) were independent predictors of change in ejection fraction. In all patients, early improvement in ejection fraction conveyed an independent subsequent survival benefit (p < 0.0001). The results of aortic valve replacement in the current era are excellent, and the majority of patients with ventricular dysfunction demonstrate significant improvement. Early improvement in ejection fraction, influenced by coexistent coronary artery disease and sex-associated factors, importantly affects subsequent survival.
Nonvasomotor influence of sodium nitroprusside on arteriolar remote response to methacholine.

Vascular communication functions to facilitate blood distribution within tissues and can be demonstrated as conducted vasomotor responses. This study was designed to determine if local application of
Creativity and sensory gating indexed by the P50: Selective versus leaky sensory gating in divergent thinkers and creative achievers

Creativity has previously been linked with atypical attention, but it is not clear what aspects of attention, or what types of creativity are associated. Here we investigated specific neural markers of a very early form of attention, namely sensory gating, indexed by the P50 ERP, and how it relates to two measures of creativity: divergent thinking and real-world creative achievement. Data from 84 participants revealed that divergent thinking (assessed with the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking) was associated with se- lective sensory gating, whereas real-world creative achievement was associated with "leaky" sensory gating, both in zero-order correlations and when controlling for academic test scores in a regression. Thus both creativity measures related to sensory gating, but in opposite directions. Additionally, di- vergent thinking and real-world creative achievement did not interact in predicting P50 sensory gating, suggesting that these two creativity measures orthogonally relate to P50 sensory gating. Finally, the ERP effect was specific to the P50 - neither divergent thinking nor creative achievement were related to later components, such as the N100 and P200. Overall results suggest that leaky sensory gating may help people integrate ideas that are outside of focus of attention, leading to creativity in the real world; whereas divergent thinking, measured by divergent thinking tests which emphasize numerous re- sponses within a limited time, may require selective sensory processing more than previously thought. & 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Perspective on “On the correlation problem in atomic and molecular systems. Calculation of wavefunction components in Ursell-type expansion using quantum-field theoretical methods”

This is a personal perspective on the paper of Jiri Cižek that initiated the use of coupled-cluster (CC) theory in chemistry. As CC theory is now the method of choice for most highly accurate quantum chemical studies, its influence is profound.
Risk of proximal colorectal neoplasia in patients with distal hyperplastic polyps

Purpose: Many clinical guidelines on colorectal screening do not consider distal hyperplastic polyps to be a marker for proximal neoplastic disease in the colon. However, out of 17 published studies on this topic, 10 have shown an increased risk of proximal neoplastic lesions in patients with distal hyperplastic polyps, while the 3 largest studies (Imperiale 2000, Lieberman 2000, Pinsky 2003) reported contradictory results. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to assess the risk of proximal neoplastic lesions in patients with distal hyperplastic polyps, a clinically important issue in order to determine whether or not patients with distal hyperplastic polyps found on screening sigmoidoscopy require full colonoscopy.
Intrauterine Growth Retardation Induces Diabetes in Pregnancy Producing Obese Offspring with Glucose Intolerance and Impaired Insulin Secretion † 486

Intrauterine Growth Retardation Induces Diabetes in Pregnancy Producing Obese Offspring with Glucose Intolerance and Impaired Insulin Secretion † 486
Soil Treatments with Insecticides for Control of the Eye Gnats Hippelates collusor and H. hermsi

Hippelates gnats breed predominantly in loose, cultivated soils, and one approach to their control is through soil treatments. The effectiveness of aldrin and other soil insecticides was investigated in the field. Aldrin and heptachlor sprays and granules within the range of practical dosages produced moderate initial control of Hippelates gnats but gave no significant reduction in gnat breeding after a lapse of 7 to 10 months. Dieldrin was not tested for its initial effectiveness, but at moderate dosages gave no control of gnats 7 months after application. Thiodan® (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9- methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepin-3-oxide) at the highest applied dosage (6.2 lbs. per acre) was ineffective, and results with toxaphene were inconclusive. DDT was the only insecticide among the materials tested that gave a high degree of initial control of Hippelates collusor (Townsend). This material, when applied at 13 pounds actual toxicant per acre, gave 95% reduction of the emerging gnats initially. The long-term residual effectiveness of this material is not yet known.
Uniqueness of the maximal extension of a monotone operator

THEOREM [Benilan]. Under the above hypothesis, the graph of A is equal to {(x,x*)EcldomA x E*;vy*~A~y,(x* -y*,x -y)aO}. (1.2) Benilan did not publish his result, but S. Menou quoted it with its proof in [lo]. H. Attouch [9] also proved these two results for the case when A. is the minimal section of A, and applied them to the study of measurable dependence for a family of maximal monotone operators. In Hilbert spaces, these results can be interpreted as saying that a monotone operator can be uniquely extended to a maximal monotone operator within the closure of the convex hull of its domain if the closure of the domain of the original operator is convex and the interior of the convex hull of its domain is nonempty. In section 2, we give a direct proof of such a theorem without using Robert’s theorem. It is interesting to generalize (1.1) to the whole domain of A. The difficulty is the unboundedness of a maximal monotone operator at its boundary points. In section 3, we prove that a monotone operator is bounded on any open segment connecting an interior point and a boundary point belonging to its domain. As a corollary of this result, we also prove that a maximal monotone operator is bounded in a bounded convex set Pin the interior of its domain
Adaptive MAC Protocols Using Memory for Networks With Critical Traffic

We consider a multiaccess communication network where network users are subject to critical events such as emergencies and crises. If a critical event occurs to a user, the user needs to send critical traffic as early as possible. However, most existing medium access control (MAC) protocols are not adequate to meet the urgent need for data transmission by users with critical traffic. In this paper, we devise a class of distributed MAC protocols that achieve coordination using the finite-length memory of users containing their own observations and traffic types. We formulate a protocol design problem and find protocols that solve the problem. The proposed protocols enable a user with critical traffic to transmit its critical traffic without interruption from other users after a short delay while allowing users to share the channel efficiently when there is no critical traffic. Moreover, the proposed protocols require low communications and computational overhead.
Prostacyclin synthesis by endothelial cells from human umbilical veins: effect of cumulative population doublings.

Abstract There is a wide range of reported values for prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis by cultured endothelial cells from human umbilical veins (HUVE). Part of this variation may be due to differences in isolation and culture conditions, but part may be due to previously unstudied variation in the number of population doublings (PDs) which the cells have undergone in vitro . Attention is now shifting to arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism by cells from adult human vessels and these cells may require increased PDs to obtain confluent cultures for testing. Therefore, we have examined the effects of number of cell population doublings as well as number of subcultivation on PGI2 synthesis using HUVE as a model system. Primary and first subcultivation cultures inoculated at high density, so that PDs at confluence were less than 4, synthesized 10 times as much PGI2 as the same isolates inoculated at low density with PDs greater than 4. Isolates inoculated and subcultivated so that the PDs at confluence after the fourth subcultivation were less than 6, showed 50% less PGI2 synthesis between the primary and first subcultivation and between the first and second subcultivations. Isolates with less than 4 PDs after the fourth subcultivation were carried further to determine the effect of extersive subcultivation. Four of six isolates showed a sudden increase in PGI2 synthesis which occurred between subcultivations 5 and 12 (PDs 4–6). These results demonstrate that AA metabolism is markedly affected by growth in culture and serial subcultivation.
An 18-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes undergoing surgery.

A young patient with type 1 diabetes needs an elective operation under general anesthesia. How will you manage his diabetes before, during, and after the surgery?
Synthesis and Properties of Diazopiperidiones for Use in Nonchemically Amplified Deep UV Photoresists

3-Diazopiperi-2,4-diones have been prepared and explored as photoactive substrates for microlithography. Michael addition of primary amines to methyl acrylate, followed by amidation with methyl malonate yielded amides that underwent base-catalyzed cyclization to the corresponding piperi-2,4-diones. The pendant esters of the resultant piperidiones were removed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation and diazotization was carried out by treatment with tosyl azide. The resulting 3-diazopiperi-2,4-diones absorb in the 240−260-nm spectral range, are readily soluble in common solvents, and undergo the Wolff rearrangement with high quantum yield upon exposure in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) (248−257 nm), affording ketenes that react with adventitious water to provide transparent, base soluble photoproducts. These characteristics make them ideal chromophores for the design of nonchemically amplified photoresists for use in the DUV. Bis-diazopiperidione derivatives prepared from 4,8-bis(chlorosulfonylmethyl)tricyclo[5.2.1...
Dislocations emitted from a fatigue crack I: Identical burgers' vectors

Abstract Dislocations with identical Burgers vectors emitted from a propagating fatigue crack for mode II or mode III loading are shown to affect the fatigue crack growth per cycle. The crack extends only during the unloading part of the cycle. The rate of growth increases with increasing ΔK = K max − K min and with decreasing stress ratio K min / K max . The cyclic variations of the local stress intensity factor, the number dislocations in the plastic zone and the plastic zone size are reported also.
Phonon dynamics in YAG:Pr3+

Abstract We have investigated the phonon propagation in a YAG:Pr 3+ single crystal fiber. Phonon generation by defect-induced one-phonon absorption of far infrared radiation combined with vibronic sideband spectroscopy is used to study the dynamics of phonon propagation with spectral, temporal and spatial resolution.
Equivalent definitions of the Ganea fibrations¶and cofibrations

The Ganea fibrations have been used to define Lusternik–Schnirelmann category. It is proved that three definitions of the Ganea fibrations are equivalent. Consequences are drawn for the category of a map and the notion of cocategory. In addition, Ganea cofibrations are briefly considered.
Nicotinic and muscarinic synaptic transmission in canine intracardiac ganglion cells innervating the sinoatrial node

Abstract Nicotinic and muscarinic mediated synaptic mechanisms were investigated in isolated, canine intracardiac ganglia taken from the right atrial fat pad. Using conventional intracellular microelectrode recording techniques on 216 neurons fast, and slow synaptic potentials were evoked by single or trains of stimulation of presynaptic fibers in interganglionic nerves. By varying the stimulus intensity, single or multiple fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (f-EPSPs) were evoked, indicating the convergence of synaptic inputs on these cells. These f-EPSPs often reached the action potential threshold, were enhanced by the acetelcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine and were blocked by the nicotinic antagonist hexamethonium. The f-EPSPs were accompanied by a decreased input resistance and had an extrapolated reversal potential of −7.1 mV, suggesting increased conductances to more than one cation. Repetitive presynaptic stimulation evoked slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials (s-EPSPs) in 41% of the cells while slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (s-IPSPs) or s-IPSPs followed by s-EPSPs were evoked in 19% of the cells. All slow potentials were abolished by atropine and low Ca 2+ /high Mg 2+ solutions and enhanced by physostigmine. Hexamethonium and adrenergic receptor antagonists had no effects on s-EPSP and s-IPSP. The M 1 receptor antagonist pirenzepine reversibly blocked the s-EPSP but not the s-IPSP. On the other hand, the M 2 receptor blocker 4-diphenyl-acetoxy- N -methyl piperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) had no effects on the s-EPSP. These observations suggest that s-EPSPs and s-IPSPs are mediated by distinct muscarinic by increased input resistance. These responses were decreased in amplitude by membrane hyperpolarization and either reversed polarity or declined to zero amplitude at about −80 mV, suggesting the inhibition of a potassium conductance.
Examination of the protective effect of ICRF-187 and dimethyl sulfoxide against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Syrian golden hamsters.

Abstract The protective activity of 1,2-bis(3,5-dioxopiperazin-l-yl)propine (ICRF-187) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was tested against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Male Syrian golden hamsters injected intraperitoneally between 18:00 h and 20:00 h for 2 consecutive days with acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol) (300 mg/kg) displayed signs of hepatotoxicity as evidenced by increases in enzyme acitivity and cellular damage. Forty-eight hours after the second acetaminophen dose, the activities of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were increased compared with levels found in hamsters given only saline. In addition, hepatocellular necrosis was evident in acetaminophen-treated animals. ICRF-187 (300 mg/kg) given 1 h before acetaminophen attenuated the increases in enzyme activities, and bot DMSO (7.3 g/kg) and ICRF-187 reduced the incidence and severity of acetaminophen-induced hepatocellular injury. Both ICRF-187 and DMSO are capable of altering free radical-mediated toxicity in other exaperimental systems. Whether these compounds reduce acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity by a similar mechanism remains to be determined.
Microstructural and electrical properties of Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 thin-film electrolyte in solid-oxide fuel cells

Microstructural and electrical properties of Gd-doped CeO2 (GDC; Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95) thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition as an electrolyte in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) were investigated. The GDC thin films were prepared on various substrates including single-crystal yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and magnesium oxide (MgO) substrates. The GDC thin-film electrolytes with different grain sizes and grain morphologies were prepared by varying the deposition parameters, such as substrate temperature, oxygen partial pressure, target repetition rate, and laser ablation energy. The microstructural properties of these films were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Alternating-current (AC) and direct-current (DC) electrical measurements through in-plane method show that the electrical property of the GDC thin film strongly depends on grain size, e.g., the total conductivity of the films deposited at 700 °C (7.3 × 10−3 S/cm) is about 20 times higher than the ones deposited at room temperature (3.6 × 10−4 S/cm) at the measurement temperature of 600 °C.
Tribological Studies of a Zr-Based Glass-Forming Alloy with Different States†

The tribological characteristics of a glass-forming alloy, Zr 52 . 5 Cu 17 . 9 Ni 14 . 6 Al 10 . 0 Ti 5 . 0 , in atomic percent (at.%, Vit 105), with different microstructural states have been investigated. Friction and wear studies were conducted using a ball-on-flat reciprocating sliding apparatus against an AISI E52100 bearing steel under dry condition. The observed wear resistance in an ascending order is: the deformed, creep-tested, and as-cast states. Wear analyses suggested that the wear processes of glass-forming alloys involved abrasion, adhesion, and oxidation. The differences in hardness, free volume, and brittleness in different states significantly affected the friction and wear behaviors of the glass-forming alloys.
Use of microbiology reports by physicians in prescribing antimicrobial agents

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the use of microbiologic reports by physicians in prescribing antimicrobial agents in a community hospital setting. Patients were identified by daily review of all blood, urine, and sputum cultures that grew pathogen(s) during a 7-week period. Appropriateness of antibiotic therapy was based on results of antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolated pathogen (s). The physician response to culture results was evaluated on changes made in antimicrobial therapy. Seventy-one patients with 73 cultures (infections) were identified; 70% of the infections were community acquired. The frequency of each infection during the study period was: bacteremia (N = 12), pneumonia (N = 18), definite urinary tract infection (N = 26) and probable urinary tract infection (N = 17). Initial treatment was appropriate in 49 of 73 (67%) episodes; the organism(s) isolated were resistant to initial therapy in 24 of 85 (33%) episodes. After, culture results were available, 34 of 73 (47%) regimens were changed, but only 50% of the changes were considered appropriate. Overall, there was no significant difference in the proportion of all treatment regimens considered appropriate before (67%) and after (56%) culture results were known. We conclude that results of cultures and antibiotic susceptibility data had little influence on appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in the hospital setting.
Trehalase Polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster

The disaccharide trehalose is a major substrate for energy production and macromolecular synthesis in many insects (Friedman, 1978). As the principle hemolymph sugar, the utilization of trehalose and the maintenance of hemolymph trehalose concentrations have been implicated in a diversity of physiological processes, including flight metabolism (Clegg and Evans, 1961), cold tolerance (Wyatt, 1967), and chitin synthesis during moulting (Candy and Kilby, 1962). Catabolic utilization of trehalose in insect tissues is initiated by the enzyme trehalase (a,a-glucoside-l-glucohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.28), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of trehalose into two glucose moieties. This enzyme has a broad distribution among insect tissues and may occur as more than one isozyme (Friedman, 1975; Yanagawa, 1971). Talbot and Huber (1976) found that abdominal and thoracic trehalases in Drosophila melanogaster differed in pH optima and electrophoretic mobility, although the existence of distinct trehalase isozymes in this species has been disputed (Oliver et al., 1978; Bargiello and Grossfield, 1979). One approach to clarifying the dispute concerning multiple trehalase isozymes is to map genetically the structural gene(s) involved. Using segmental aneuploidy and trehalase activity assays, Oliver et al., (1978) found evidence for only a single trehalase structural gene (Treh) in D. melanogaster. They mapped Treh to the right arm of the second chromosome, in the region of bands 55B-E. Because no electrophoretically detectable trehalase allelic variation has been previously reported in D. melanogaster (Bargiello and
High-Temperature Quantum Corrections to the Second Virial Coefficient for a Hard-Core-Plus-Attractive-Well-Potential Model

High-temperature asymptotic expansions of ${B}_{\mathrm{dir}}$ for a hard-core-plus-attractive-well potential are calculated using a method developed by Hill and reformulated by D'Arruda and Hill. To lowest order, we find the first quantum correction from the well to be independent of the shape of the well and to depend only on the value of the potential at the core.
Imagery and meaningfulness of right and wrong items in verbal discrimination learning

The effects of variations in the rated imagery (I) and the meaningfulness (m) of the right word (R) and the wrong word (W) on a verbal discrimination (VD) task were examined by factorial manipulations of the I and m values of the R and W words within VD pairs. Results indicated that I was a more potent variable than m in the VD task.
Consumer acceptance of mobile marketing communications using the QR code

US retailers have begun to utilize the Quick Response (QR) code in their transmission of mobile marketing communications. This research explores US consumers’ adoption intentions towards the QR code in the retail environment by incorporating two theories — the technology acceptance model and uses and gratifications theory — and two consumer traits, consumer innovativeness and ‘market mavenism’. The data was collected from 340 students attending a southwestern US university. Results suggested that perceived usefulness, ease of use, market mavenism and enjoyment positively affected consumers’ intent to adopt the QR code, while innovativeness had a negative effect. The findings suggest that retailers can create interactive and pleasant store environments and appeal to target groups of customers through mobile marketing communications using the QR code.
Development of Short Forms From the PROMIS™ Sleep Disturbance and Sleep-Related Impairment Item Banks

This article reports on the development of short forms from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS™) Sleep Disturbance (SD) and Sleep-Related Impairment (SRI) item banks. Results from post-hoc computerized adaptive testing (CAT) simulations, item discrimination parameters, item means, and clinical judgments were used to select the best-performing 8 items for SD and SRI. The final 8-item short forms provided less test information than the corresponding full banks, but correlated strongly with the longer forms. The short forms had greater measurement precision than the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), as indicated by larger test information values across the continuum of severity, despite having fewer total items--a major advantage for both research and clinical settings.
Beyond social control: Prevalence research and the uses of expert knowledge

Given the predominance of the “psy” sciences in the gambling studies field, more theorizing of the kind that Young (2012, in this issue) has done is sorely needed. Importantly, Young points to the ...
Discovering crystals using shape matching and machine learning

As the rate at which data can be amassed through computational simulation or experimental techniques accelerates, the pace of discovery becomes limited by the rate at which data can be analyzed. In this paper, a method is introduced by which new types of crystalline structures can be automatically identified from large data sets of coordinates. By deploying a hierarchy of pattern analysis techniques using shape matching and machine learning algorithms, local structures are extracted, classified, and then used to partition a data set into groups of common crystals. This method requires no a priori knowledge of what might be present in the data set. The method is applied to two data sets that contain both simple and complex crystals, including quasicrystals. We show how phase diagrams can be automatically generated and identify a crystal phase missed in prior analyses. By integrating shape matching and machine learning techniques to analyze rapidly produced databases, the discovery of new crystal structures and materials can be accelerated. This method is especially applicable to soft matter systems, where particle interactions can be exquisitely tuned and designed to drive the self-assembly of mesoscale materials with exotic structures.
Generation of Tumor-Specific T Lymphocytes for the Treatment of Posttransplant Lymphoma

Background The incidence of lymphoproliferative disease, including B-cell lymphomas (BCL) in patients who have undergone heart or combined heart-lung transplants, has been reported to be as high as 15%. The majority of these tumors contain Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and regress when immunosuppressive agents are discontinued. This tumor regression is thought to be secondary to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) reactive to EBV-infected cells whose function is impaired in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. We hypothesize that EBV-CTL expanded in the absence of these agents may demonstrate an antitumor effect against an EBV-expressing human BCL in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Results An EBV-expressing BCL from a heart transplant recipient was isolated and expanded in culture. EBV-CTL were generated by stimulation of peripheral blood leukocytes with irradiated autologous tumor cells in low-dose interleukin-2. Autologous BCL, HLA-mismatched BCL, lymphokine-activated killer target cell line (Daudi), an...
Anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, and medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy in premenopausal obese women with endometrial cancer: a report of two cases successfully treated without hysterectomy.

Abstract Background. Hormonal therapy for endometrial cancer is occasionally warranted in the premenopausal woman who is interested in maintaining fertility. Combining progesterone with an agent that eliminates the adipose production of estrogen will theoretically be more effective than progesterone alone. Cases. Two cases of reproductive-aged women with grade 1 endometrial cancer who were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate and anastrozole daily for 3 and 6 months subsequently reverted to normal endometrium. Conclusion. Progesterone combined with the elimination of adipose production of estrogen may be an effective therapy in well-differentiated endometrial cancer in the obese premenopausal woman.
Basicity and reactivity of metal carbonyls

Metal carbonyls are for the most part low oxidation state species which are susceptible to attack by electron seeking reagents. Therefore, a significant fraction of the chemistry of metal carbonyls and metal carbonyl derivatives involves their reaction with Lewis acids and nucleophiies, and many important synthetic reactions are of this type. This chemistry gives a unique character to metal carbonyls and similar organometallics, because Werner-type complexes are more resistant to attack by electron seeking reagents owing to the positive oxidation state of the central metal. As shown in equation I, there are several simple types of reactions which a metal complex, ML,, may undergo with a Lewis acid. Each of these is discussed here, but the description is brief for metal basicity and for ligand abstraction, because the former is reviewed extensively elsewhere, and the latter area is relatively limited. Greater detail is given for the formation of CO ligand bridged adducts, a recently discovered area which is yielding interesting
Inhibitors of P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Daunomycin Transport in Rat Liver Canalicular Membrane Vesicles

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene product, is exclusively located on the canalicular membrane of hepato-cytes. Recent studies using isolated rat canalicular liver plasma membrane (cLPM) vesicles indicate that daunomycin (DNM) is a substrate for the ATP-dependent P-gp efflux system in the rat liver. The isoforms of P-gp present in cLPM and in cancer cell lines differ in that the major form present in the liver represents the gene product of mdr2 in mice (MDR3 in humans; class III) while the isoform of P-gp in cancer cells is the gene product of mdr1 in mice (MDR1 in humans, class I). The objective of this study was to examine the inhibitory effects of various organic compounds, most of which have been studied previously in MDR cancer cells, on P-gp-mediated [3H]DNM uptake into cLPM. Also, the stereospecificity of P-gp for its substrates was investigated by comparing the inhibitory effects of the enantiomers and the racemic mixtures of verapamil and propranolol. DNM exhibited ATP-dependent active transport into rat liver cLPM with a Km of 26.8 ± 13.4 µM and a Vmax of 4.9 ± 0.8 nmol/45 s/mg of protein (n = 4). ADP, AMP, and a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue did not increase DNM transport over the control value. Thirty-one potential inhibitors were examined; only acridine orange, doxorubicin, verapamil, propranolol, phosphatidylcholine, β-estradiol glucuronide, and DNM itself showed statistically significant inhibition of [3H]DNM uptake into cLPM. These results suggest that only a limited number of substrates bind to or are transported across the hepatic canalicular membrane via P-gp. Phosphatidylcholine, a substrate for the gene product of the class III P-gp gene, produced significant inhibition of [3H]DNM transport (30.6% at a 10-fold-higher substrate concentration), suggesting that transport may be mediated, at least in part, by this P-gp gene product. There were no statistically significant differences in the inhibitory effects of the enantiomers and racemate of verapamil on [3H]DNM transport into cLPM, but the enantiomers of propranolol exhibited stereospecific inhibition of DNM transport. (R)-(+)-Propranolol produced a statistically significant inhibition of [3H]DNM transport similar to that observed with the racemic mixture, while (S)(−)-propranolol showed no inhibition. These findings suggest that bile canalicular P-gp may exhibit stereospecificity of binding or transport for its substrates.
Temporal parameters of cathinone, amphetamine and cocaine.

Rats were trained to discriminate intraperitoneally administered 0.8 mg/kg 1-cathinone from its vehicle in a two-lever operant procedure. The normal injection-to-session interval was fifteen minutes. When tested in session at 2-180 min postadministration, cathinone discrimination was seen to have a rapid onset (5 minutes) and offset (60 minutes). When the same rats were tested with either 0.8 mg/kg d-amphetamine or 10.0 mg/kg cocaine at the same postinjection time periods, the peak discriminative generalization to each of these other psychostimulants was observed to be later, i.e., an onset of action at 15-30 minutes with a slightly longer duration of action. The results indicate that cathinone exerts discriminative response control within five minutes of intraperitoneal injection and that it has a shorter duration than amphetamine and cocaine.
On the Application of Cluster Analysis to Growing Season Precipitation Data in North America East of the Rockies

Abstract Cluster analysis (CA) has been applied to geophysical research for over two decades although its popularity has increased dramatically over the past few years. To date, systematic methodological reviews have not appeared in geophysical literature. In this paper, after a review of a large number of applications on cluster analysis, an intercomparison of various cluster techniques was carried out on a well-studied dataset (7-day precipitation data from 1949 to 1987 in central and eastern North America). The cluster methods tested were single linkage, complete linkage, average linkage between groups, average linkage within a new group, Ward's method, k means, the nucleated agglomerative method, and the rotated principal component analysis. Three different dissimilarity measures (Euclidean distance, inverse correlation, and theta angle) and three initial partition methods were also tested on the hierarchical and nonhierarchical methods, respectively. Twenty-two of the 23 cluster algorithms yielded na...
Effects of morphine and naloxone on play-rewarded spatial discrimination in juvenile rats

Juvenile rats were trained on a spatial discrimination task (T-maze) rewarded by the opportunity to play with a conspecific. Neither morphine (MS; 1 mg/kg) nor naloxone (NX; 1 mg/kg) administration affected choice or running time during the acquisition of the task, even though in the goal box, MS-treated animals played more than and NX-treated animals less than vehicle-treated controls. Thus, brain opioid systems seem to influence the expression of play without affecting the apparent appetitive strength of play motivation. When play reward was no longer available in the goal box, animals that continued to be treated with MS were more resistant to extinction than either vehicle- or NX-treated animals. They continued to complete the task more often and in less time than the controls. NX-treated rats, on the other hand, extinguished faster than controls. The evidence supports the conclusion that opioid systems are important in the maintenance of social habits.
A Graphical Technique to Locate the Center of Curvature of a Coupler Point Trajectory

This paper presents an original technique to locate the center of curvature of the path traced by an arbitrary point fixed in the coupler link of a planar four-bar linkage. The method is purely graphical and the center of curvature; i.e., the center of the osculating circle, can be located in a direct manner with few geometric constructions. The advantage of this technique, compared to the classical approach using the Euler-Savary equation, is that measurements of angles and distances between points are not required. Also, it is not necessary to locate inflection points or draw the inflection circle for the instantaneous motion of the coupler link. The technique is based on the novel concept of a virtual link, which is valid up to, and including, the second-order properties of motion of the coupler link. The virtual link is coincident with the path normal to the coupler curve; i.e., the line connecting the coupler point to the velocity pole of the coupler link. The absolute instant center of the virtual link defines the ground pivot for the link and is, therefore, coincident with the center of the osculating circle. The authors believe that the graphical technique presented in this paper represents an important contribution to the kinematics literature on the curvature of a point trajectory.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Implicit and explicit memory for compound words

Subjects studied visually presented compound words (e.g.,toothpaste, heartache) and then received a recognition, perceptual identification, or word-fragment completion test that contained old, recombined (e.g.,toothache), and partially and completely new words. False recognitions increased with the increasing number of previously studied components; however, priming in perceptual identification occurred only for old words. Priming in word-fragment completion occurred for old and recombined words. Reducing the time available to solve word fragments, from 20 sec to 5 sec, did not affect the pattern of results; it is therefore unlikely that priming for recombined words resulted from the use of a recollection-based strategy. Memory tasks that involve a conceptual component access memories that are constructed from parts; memory tasks that are primarily perceptual do not access such memories.
Topical minoxidil in alopecia areata: No effect on the perifollicular lymphoid infiltration

The therapeutic value of topical minoxidil in alopecia areata (AA) has been investigated in recent years, with variable results. Although the mechanism whereby minoxidil may stimulate hair regrowth in some cases of AA has not yet been elucidated, there have been reports of a decrease in the perifollicular infiltrates of mononuclear leukocytes (MNC)--particularly T lymphocytes--that characterize this condition, in patients "responding" to topical minoxidil. In a randomized and double-blind study, we have investigated the effect of 5% topical minoxidil versus placebo (vehicle alone) on the extent and composition of the perifollicular MNC infiltration in 20 patients having extensive AA (26-99% scalp hair loss). The proportions of hair follicles showing perifollicular infiltration by MNC and their main subsets were determined with histologic and immunohistochemical stainings of scalp biopsies obtained before treatment, after 12 weeks of randomized double-blind minoxidil versus placebo treatment, and after 12 additional weeks during which all patients received minoxidil. Six of the patients showed cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth (CAHR) at the end of the 24 weeks and this was associated with a significant decrease in the proportions of follicles infiltrated by total T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and Langerhans cells at week 12, and by total T lymphocytes at week 24. However, no significant differences in the extent or composition of the perifollicular infiltrates were detected at week 12 between patients receiving minoxidil and placebo, or between the week-12 and week-24 biopsies of those patients who first received placebo and then minoxidil. These findings indicate that in AA the reduction in perifollicular T-cell infiltration associated with CAHR is not attributable to an effect of topical minoxidil.
The influence of temperature on cuticular color of honeybee (Apis mellifera L) queens

La temperature dans la colonie autour des cellules royales a ete enregistree durant tout le developpement de la reine, afin de determiner son effet sur la couleur de la cuticule des reines. En outre, des cellules de reines greffees ont ete mises dans des etuves a temperature constante (34,4, 32,8 et 31,1 °C) pour determiner si une temperature constante exercait une influence sur la couleur de la cuticule. Dans tous les cas, les reines descendaient d'une meme reine qui avait ete inseminee avec un melange de spermes issus de 10 lignees maternelles differentes. L'etude a ete faite sur une annee, avec 2 repetitions a chaque saison
SERIOUSLY, BUT NOT LITERALLY: PRAGMATISM AND REALISM IN RELIGION AND SCIENCE

Abstract. Critical realists would have us believe that representations have a connection to the world, that of truth or reference for example, which is independent of their usefulness to us. They would have us believe further that knowledge about this connection serves to put religion and science in their proper places with respect to one another. This essay raises pragmatic objections to these belief's.
Accuracy of infrared thermography of the masticatory muscles for the diagnosis of myogenous temporomandibular disorder.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of infrared thermography of the central point of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles for the diagnosis of myogenous temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Methods This is an observational study of university women with and without TMD. Through the use of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, 104 women were divided into a TMD group (n = 52) and control group (n = 52). All volunteers had their masseter and anterior temporalis muscles evaluated by infrared thermography. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the accuracy of diagnosis (area under the ROC curve), the best cut-off point, sensitivity, and specificity. Results No significant differences were observed (P > .05) in the skin surface temperature of the masticatory muscles, when the groups were compared. With regard to the ROC curve, the area under the curve was lower than the recommended for all the muscles tested, ranging from 0.433 to 0.502. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that infrared thermography of the masticatory muscles is not an accurate instrument for the myogenous TMD diagnosis.
Departure Delays, the Pricing of Congestion, and Expansion Proposals at Chicago O’Hare Airport

Abstract Chicago's O’Hare airport is extremely congested, especially in the late afternoon and early evening. The paper uses a publicly available database to estimate the relationship between the number of flights wishing to depart and the delays they experience. This relationship is used to calculate congestion fees that provide airlines with incentives to move some flights out of the peak period and to slightly alter the scheduled departure time of other flights to avoid the rush of departures that occur on the hour. The very high fees at certain times of day point to the benefits that can be obtained from current plans to expand and reconfigure the airport to reduce delays in both good and bad weather.