cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
White matter integrity after cannabidiol administration for treatment resistant epilepsy.

Abstract Objective The effects of individual cannabinoids on white matter integrity are unclear. Human studies have shown white matter maturation alterations in regular recreational cannabis users with the magnitude of these effects dependent on the age of exposure. However, studies have yet to determine which phytocannabinoids are most responsible for these changes. In the current study, we analyzed the effects of pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol oral solution (CBD; Epidiolex® in the U.S.; Epidyolex® in the EU; 100 mg/mL oral solution) on white matter integrity using diffusion MRI in patients with treatment resistant epilepsy (TRE). Methods 15 patients with TRE underwent 3 T diffusion MRI prior to receiving CBD and then again approximately 12 weeks later while on a stable dose of CBD for at least two weeks. DTI analyzes were conducted using DSI Studio and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Results DTI analysis using DSI Studio showed significant increases in fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right medial lemniscus (p = 0.03), right superior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.03) and the pontine crossing tract (p = 0.04); decreased mean diffusivity (MD) in the left uncinate fasciculus (p = 0.02) and the middle cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.04); decreased axial diffusivity (AD) in the left superior cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.05), right anterior limb of the internal capsule (p = 0.03), and right posterior limb of the internal capsule (p = 0.02); and decreased radial diffusivity (RD) in the middle cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.03) and left uncinate fasiculus (p = 0.01). The follow-up ANCOVA also yielded significant results when controlling for covariates of CBD dosage, age, sex, change in seizure frequency, and scanner type: FA increased in the pontine crossing tract (p = 0.03); RD decreased in the middle cerebellar peduncle (p = 0.04) and left uncinate fasciculus (p = 0.04). Subsequent TBSS analysis controlling for the same variables yielded no significant white matter differences between groups. Conclusion These findings indicate relatively minor short-term effects of highly-purified plant-derived CBD on white matter structural integrity in patients with TRE.
Identifying repeated structural elements in folded proteins

A previously described method for partitioning amino acid dihedral angle space generates a set of cluster centers which may be used to represent residue backbones in three dimensional protein structures [Id]. 99 non-homologous polypeptide chains are eztracted from Brookhaven Protein D ata B ank files and abstracted into sequences of these cluster centers, then this data set is ezamined for repeated sub-sequences. Repeated sequences of amino acid conformational clusters indicate duplicated motifs or sub-structures in folded proteins, independent of amino acid sequence identity. This representation is significantly more detailed than standard secondary structure descriptors (heliz, strand, turn, etc.) and facilitates the identification of common structural elements without regard to sequence length. The current work ezamines the degree to which three ezample proteins share sub-structures with the remainder of the data set (ribonuclease A, erythrocruorin, and actinozanthin), the specification of a-helices and &strands under this system, and the sensitivity of the method to visual diflerences between structures.
A pilot study of the feasibility and utility of a fitness tracker to correlate activity level with patient reported outcomes (PROs) in sarcoma patients undergoing systemic therapy.

11559Background: The feasibility and utility of wearable devices is unknown in sarcoma patients (pts). Objective assessment of activity level, body composition, and PROs facilitate understanding of...
Actor or Director? Homologous Neurons Differ in Hierarchical Position for the Generation of Homologous Behaviors

Nervous systems are hierarchically organized; higher order neurons provide commands to central pattern generators (CPGs), which autonomously produce rhythmic motor patterns. Such hierarchies are generally thought to be inherent in the structure of nervous systems. Here, however, we report that a neuron that is a CPG member in one species acts as a higher order neuron in another species in the production of a homologous motor behavior. In the nudibranch mollusc, Melibe leonina, swim interneuron 1 (Si1) is in the CPG underlying swimming, firing bursts in phase with the motor pattern. In contrast, its homolog in another nudibranch, Dendronotus iris, serves as a neuromodulatory command neuron for the CPG of a homologous swimming behavior. In Dendronotus, Si1 fired irregularly throughout the swim motor pattern. The burst and firing frequencies of Dendronotus swim CPG neurons correlated with the firing frequency of Si1. Si1 activity was both necessary and sufficient for the initiation and maintenance of the swim motor pattern. Each Si1 was electrically coupled to all of the CPG neurons and made monosynaptic excitatory synapses with both Si3s. Si1 also potentiated the excitatory synapses from Si3 to Si2. Artificial synaptic enhancement of the Si3‐to‐Si2 synapses using dynamic clamp combined with depolarization of Si3s mimicked the effects of Si1 stimulation on the swim motor pattern. Thus, in Dendronotus, Si1 is a command neuron that turns on, maintains, and accelerates the motor pattern through synaptic and neuromodulatory actions, thereby differing from its homolog in Melibe in its hierarchical position in the motor system.
Imaging review of penile pathologies encountered in the emergency department

While penile pathology is uncommon, prompt diagnosis and treatment of emergent and urgent penile pathology are necessary to prevent complications. This paper will review the imaging findings of the most common critical penile pathologies, including traumatic, vascular, infectious, foreign body-related, and urethral pathology, in addition to penile prosthesis complications. Each entity will be discussed in the context of presentation and treatment and complications of each pathology will be discussed.
Predicting Arithmetic Performance from Age and Executive Function Skills

PREDICTING ARITHMETIC PERFORMANCE FROM AGE AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS By Andrea Molzhon, B.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010. Directors: Geraldine Lotze, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Psychology and Michelle Ellefson, Ph.D. University Lecturer in Psychology & Education, University of Cambridge Faculty of Education, England The learning of mathematics can be a difficult process for many students. Understanding the cognitive components that contribute to arithmetic achievement may illuminate sources of difficulty and inform the development of better teaching and learning practices. Executive functions (EFs) have been implicated in the development of arithmetic skills in early childhood, but less is known about this relation across middle childhood and beyond. The current study included individuals ages 6-7, 9-10, 12-13, and 18+ years and examined the contributions of 3 components of EF, working memory (WM), inhibition, and set shifting (SS), to arithmetic skills in two domains. It was hypothesized that age, general cognitive ability, and EFs would have unique and combined influences on both domains of arithmetic: proficiency and fluency. Results from correlation, regression, and path analyses indicated that WM, inhibition, and SS differentially contributed to arithmetic proficiency and fluency. The implications for education and intervention are discussed.
Overview of Data Fusion Activities

This paper will review the data fusion problem and some of the techniques used to solve various components of the problem, including registration, association/correlation, filtering, identification, threat assessment, and situational awareness/resource allocation. The paper will describe how these techniques have been applied from the perspective of the military srvices. Specific applications will be discussed.
A case study of action research in probation: The improved correctional field services project

Abstract This case study of the Improved Correctional Field Services Project describes the pre-implementation history of an action research project—in this case a project to improve probation services. That history encompasses a period of about five years (1974–1978). ICFS represented a major initiative in probation programming by the now defunct Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. It was intended to be a test of some of the principle ideas for making probation more effective. Its history illustrates the pitfalls that may confront a program developer and evaluator. Further, it illustrates how concepts and objectives can change within the life-time of a given project.
Crude Democracy: THE FOUNDATIONS OF RENTIER STATES

This book proposes and tests a theory about the effects of natural resource wealth on the political regime. For purposes of developing this theory, I often take for granted that natural resource “rents” accrue to the state; this implies that extraordinary profits from natural resource production can provide a source of revenue for public spending. Much of the analysis then focuses on how the availability of rents in the fiscal coffers of the state shapes the development of political regimes; the third chapter, for instance, addresses the theoretical question of how the presence of rents may shape the chances for the emergence and persistence of democracy. The main theoretical contribution of that chapter, and of this book, is to argue that the flow of resource rents into the fiscal coffers of the state may have mixed effects on the propensity of countries to be democratic or authoritarian. In some settings, the democratic effect of rents will be relatively important, whereas in others the authoritarian effect will tend to triumph. Yet this focus may seem to ignore an important prior question: how and why do states become “rentier states” in the first place?
Northern PMC brightness zonal variability and its correlation with temperature and water vapor

Polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs) measured by the Cloud Imaging and Particle Size instrument on the AIM satellite show strong zonal asymmetries, with prominent planetary-scale variations. The correlations between zonal variations of cloud brightness and temperature or water vapor (H2O) are determined in different stages of the PMC season. Aura Microwave Limb Sounder measured temperature and water vapor are used in the analysis. A zero-dimensional (0-D) PMC model was used to interpret the observation. Analyses of all days of the five northern seasons from 2007 to 2011 indicate that temperature and albedo daily zonal variations are anticorrelated in the season start and end, whereas in the core of the season the correlation is relatively poor. The albedo and H2O correlation in the zonal direction is poor throughout the season. Zero-dimensional model physics indicates that when clouds are weaker, or the environment is warmer and drier, temperature plays an increasingly important role in determining the cloud ice mass variation, which explains the stronger correlation of temperature and albedo at the start and end of the season. Water vapor takes a strong role in determining the ice mass variation in the core of the season when the clouds are stronger and the environment is colder and wetter. However, on a daily basis the H2O depletion associated with the ice production will lead to significant shift of the ice maxima and “post-ice” H2O maxima in the zonal direction, which leads to the poor correlation between the observed H2O and albedo.
Gastrointestinal Transit and Distribution of Ranitidine in the Rat

Purpose. Ranitidine gastrointestinal distribution was examined in the rat small intestine after oral administration to determine whether intestinal transit or secretion (exsorption) may influence the appearance of secondary peaks in ranitidine serum concentration-time profiles.
Optical Link Budgets and Design Rules

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of optical link budgets and design rules. There are many different applications for fiber-optic communication systems, each with its unique performance requirements. Telecommunication and data communication systems appear to have much in common, as both use digital encoding of data streams. Both types can share a common network infrastructure. Figures of merit include signal-to-noise ratio, bit error rate, and modulation error ratio. These figures of merit are used to characterize the performance of an optical communication system. Further, they are suitable for different applications, such as analog or digital transmission. Some of the measurements used to characterize the performance of optical communication systems are also discussed. Telecom systems tend to make extensive use of multiplexing techniques, which are now being introduced into the data center, and more extensive use of optical repeaters.
Integrative Clinical Sequencing in the Management of Refractory or Relapsed Cancer in Youth

Importance Cancer is caused by a diverse array of somatic and germline genomic aberrations. Advances in genomic sequencing technologies have improved the ability to detect these molecular aberrations with greater sensitivity. However, integrating them into clinical management in an individualized manner has proven challenging. Objective To evaluate the use of integrative clinical sequencing and genetic counseling in the assessment and treatment of children and young adults with cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants Single-site, observational, consecutive case series (May 2012-October 2014) involving 102 children and young adults (mean age, 10.6 years; median age, 11.5 years, range, 0-22 years) with relapsed, refractory, or rare cancer. Exposures Participants underwent integrative clinical exome (tumor and germline DNA) and transcriptome (tumor RNA) sequencing and genetic counseling. Results were discussed by a precision medicine tumor board, which made recommendations to families and their physicians. Main Outcomes and Measures Proportion of patients with potentially actionable findings, results of clinical actions based on integrative clinical sequencing, and estimated proportion of patients or their families at risk of future cancer. Results Of the 104 screened patients, 102 enrolled with 91 (89%) having adequate tumor tissue to complete sequencing. Only the 91 patients were included in all calculations, including 28 (31%) with hematological malignancies and 63 (69%) with solid tumors. Forty-two patients (46%) had actionable findings that changed their cancer management: 15 of 28 (54%) with hematological malignancies and 27 of 63 (43%) with solid tumors. Individualized actions were taken in 23 of the 91 (25%) based on actionable integrative clinical sequencing findings, including change in treatment for 14 patients (15%) and genetic counseling for future risk for 9 patients (10%). Nine of 91 (10%) of the personalized clinical interventions resulted in ongoing partial clinical remission of 8 to 16 months or helped sustain complete clinical remission of 6 to 21 months. All 9 patients and families with actionable incidental genetic findings agreed to genetic counseling and screening. Conclusions and Relevance In this single-center case series involving young patients with relapsed or refractory cancer, incorporation of integrative clinical sequencing data into clinical management was feasible, revealed potentially actionable findings in 46% of patients, and was associated with change in treatment and family genetic counseling for a small proportion of patients. The lack of a control group limited assessing whether better clinical outcomes resulted from this approach than outcomes that would have occurred with standard care.
Studies on the mechanism of the tryptophan synthetase reaction.

Abstract The three reactions catalyzed by the tryptophan synthetase from Neurospora crassa have been studied in some detail. The following characteristics of this complex enzyme have been observed in these studies. 1. 1. When optimal conditions are defined for each of the reactions, the conversion of indole and d -glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to indole 3-glycerol phosphate (Reaction 3r) is the most rapid reaction catalyzed by the enzyme. 2. 2. While serine and pyridoxal phosphate are absolutely required as substrate and cofactor, respectively, in Reaction I (indole 3-glycerol phosphate → tryptophan) and reaction 2 (indole → tryptophan), these factors also stimulate, but are not absolutely required for, the conversion of indole and d -glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to indole 3-glycerol phosphate (Reaction 3r). A similar effect of the cofactors on the reverse reaction (Reaction 3f) is not demonstrable. The stimulation by pyridoxal phosphate and serine of Reaction 3r suggested that Reaction 3 is catalyzed at a site which is identical with or relatively close to the site where pyridoxal phosphate and serine are bound for participation in Reaction I and/or Reaction 2. 3. 3. When both indole 3-glycerol phosphate and indole are present, indole is utilized preferentially for tryptophan formation indicating that Reaction 1 (indole 3-glycerol phosphate → tryptophan) and Reaction 2 (indole → tryptophan) are catalyzed, at least in part, at the same site on the enzyme. 4. 4. Experiments with tritiated indole 3-glycerol phosphate have demonstrated that free indole is not an obligatory intermediate in the conversion of indole 3-glycerol phosphate to tryptophan. 5. 5. The K m 's for indole 3-glycerol phosphate, indole and d -glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate for the three reactions have been determined. Analysis of these data indicates that a common indole binding site is not involved in the conversion of indole to indole 3-glycerol phosphate (Reaction 3r) and in the conversion of indole to tryptophan (Reaction 2). It is suggested that a distinct indole binding site is involved in each reaction. The significance of these findings is discussed and a model is suggested for the mechanism by which the enzyme catalyzes the three reactions.
Preserving vessel function during ischemic disease: new possibilities of inorganic nitrite therapy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and through out the industrialized world. Moreover, the incidence of CVD is on the rise globally and continues to place a significant economic and sociological burden on humanity as a whole. There is no doubt that continued research into the pathophysiological mechanisms of CVD has made excellent strides in clinical diagnosis and management. However, significant limitations still exist with several aspects of CVD pathology namely our ability to protect and restore tissue function in response to acute or chronic ischemic events. Acute or chronic vessel occlusion contributes to nearly all forms of CVD and the ability to thwart these events along with restoration of ‘healthy’ vascular function are still lacking. What is more, a common underlying feature of cardiovascular disease is defective bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) which serves broad physiological roles ranging from regulation of vascular reactivity and growth, inflammation, and thrombosis. Indeed, effective NO therapy has been considered by many to be the ‘holy grail’ for CVD intervention yet realization of this goal has remained elusive. Recent work from our laboratory and others have begun to identify straightforward yet novel approaches for selective NO therapy which involves chemical reduction of the inorganic nitrite anion (NO2−) back into bioavailable NO. While this may be a seemingly simplistic approach, inorganic nitrite therapy may hold significant potential as an effective and selective NO donor for acute and chronic ischemia secondary to cardiovascular disease.
Trace organic compounds in rain—III. Particle scavenging of neutral organic compounds

Abstract Concurrent measurements were obtained for a number of neutral organic compounds associated with suspended particles in rain and in the atmosphere. Particle scavenging ratios (Wp) were determined and compared to gas scavenging ratios (Wg) obtained concurrently, in order to determine the relative importance of particle vs gas scavenging for organic compounds. The measured Wp values were much higher for polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of molecular weight (MW) ⩽ 202, alkanes and phthalate esters than they were for PAHs of MW > 202. The Wp values ranged from 102 to 105 and averaged 14,000, a lower value than the 105–106 which has been measured for many inorganics. The low scavenging ratios are consistent with a below-cloud process for the particles containing these organic compounds. The compounds with relatively higher Wp values may be associated to a larger extent with large particles, which are more efficiently scavenged below-cloud. Due to the low Wp values found for most of the PAHs, particle scavenging was less important than gas scavenging for those compounds.
The soft chemical synthesis of TiO2 (B) from layered titanates

Abstract Proton exchange and subsequent dehydration of layered titanates with the formula A 2 Ti n O 2 n +1 ( A = Na, K, Cs; 3 ≤ n ≤ 6) yield TiO 2 (B) at temperatures below 350°C. In order to elucidate the mechanism of TiO 2 (B) formation, we have characterized these reactions using thermal analysis and crystallographic techniques, and we have examined the effect of different starting materials on the formation of TiO 2 (B). The dehydration proceeds through three distinct steps: an initial topotactic structural condensation, which is endothermic, followed by an exothermic nucleation and growth step that results in the formation of a TiO 2 (B)-like intermediate, and a final, low-energy transformation, which yields TiO 2 (B). The structures of D 2 Ti 3 O 7 and TiO 2 (B) have been refined from powder neutron diffraction data in order to better understand the relationship between the initial titanate structures and the formation of TiO 2 (B).
Recent land-cover/use change associated with land degradation in the Lake Baringo catchment, Kenya, East Africa: evidence from Landsat TM and ETM+

Many parts of East Africa are experiencing dramatic changes in land-cover/use at a variety of spatial and temporal scales, due to both climatic variability and human activities. Information about such changes is often required for planning, management, and conservation of natural resources. Several methods for land cover/change detection using Landsat TM/ETM+ imagery were employed for Lake Baringo catchment in Kenya, East Africa. The Lake Baringo catchment presents a good example of environments experiencing remarkable land cover change due to multiple causes. Both the NDVI differencing and post-classification comparison effectively depicted the hotspots of land degradation and land cover/use change in the Lake Baringo catchment. Change-detection analysis showed that the forest cover was the most affected, in some sections recording reductions of over 40% in a 14-year period. Deforestation and subsequent land degradation have increased the sediment yield in the lake resulting in reduction in lake surface area by over 10% and increased turbidity confirmed by the statistically significant increase (t = -84.699, p<0.001) in the albedo between 1986 and 2000. Although climatic variations may account for some of the changes in the lake catchment, most of the changes in land cover are inherently linked to mounting human and livestock population in the Lake Baringo catchment.
Definitions and Definite Noun Phrases: Indicators of Children's Decontextualized Language Skills

Abstract Decontextualized language skills (the use of complex syntax, explicit lexical reference and revision, establishing rather than assuming shared knowledge, etc.) may be critical to children's success at literacy tasks, at formal second language learning, and perhaps at school learning in general. The relation of decontextualized language skills to conversational, face-to-face skills, or to the communicative adequacy of children's messages, however, remains unclear. The performance of bilingual children on two language tasks in both the children's languages was assessed, in order to determine whether the profile of skills in the first language was replicated in the second language. Nineteen children whose primary language was either English or French but who had developed a competency in the alternate language through attendance at a French-English bilingual school were assessed in both languages on their ability to use explicit reference within a picture description task and to give formal noun def...
Microporous membrane formation via thermally-induced phase separation. III. Effect of thermodynamic interactions on the structure of isotactic polypropylene membranes

Abstract Isotactic polypropylene membranes were prepared via thermally-induced phase separation using three isotactic polypropylene—diluent systems, at three concentrations, and two thermal histories. The three diluents had similar structure and molar volume, but differed in end-group structure and therefore differed in interactions with the isotactic polypropylene (iPP). The two thermal histories represented isothermal and non-isothermal thermally-induced phase separation processes. Membrane structure as determined by scanning electron microscopy depended on the phase separation mechanism (liquid—liquid versus solid—liquid), which depended on the concentration-dependent isotactic polypropylene—diluent interactions and the thermal history.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of a co-complex of F-actin with antibody Fab fragments to actin's NH2 terminus.

We have decorated F-actin with Fab fragments of antibodies to actin residues 1–7. These antibody fragments do not strongly affect the rigor binding of myosin S-1 to actin, but do affect the binding of S-1 to actin in the presence of nucleotide (DasGupta, G., and E. Reisler, 1989. J. Mol. Biol. 207:833–836; 1991. Biochemistry. 30:9961–9966; 1992. Biochemistry. 31:1836–1841). Although the binding constant is rather low, we estimate that we have achieved about 85% occupancy of the actin sites. Three-dimensional reconstructions from electron micrographs of both negatively stained and frozen-hydrated filaments show that the Fab fragment is bound at the location of the NH2 terminus in the model of Holmes et al. (Holmes, K.C., D. Popp, W. Gebhard, and W. Kabsch. 1990. Nature. 347:37–44) for F-actin, excluding very different orientations of the actin subunit in the filament. Most of the mass of the antibody is not visualized, which is due to the large mobility of the NH2 terminus in F-actin, differences in binding angle within the polyclonal antibody population, or a combination of both of these possibilities.
The Effect of the Method of Manufacture of Butteroil on its Keeping Quality

Summary Butteroil made by the process in which butter is heated to 110° C. to drive off the moisture, the residue being removed by centrifuging, has been found to be more resistant to oxidative rancidity than when lower temperatures of isolation of the oil are used. The improved keeping quality has been shown to result from the transfer of greater amounts of phospholipid material from the non-oil phase of butter to the oil, presumably because of the denaturing action of heat on the protein of the phospholipid-protein complex. The concentration of reducing substances is also higher in the butteroil made by the “boiling-off” process than by the low heat treatment.
Sonopalpation: a novel application of ultrasound for detection of submandibular calculi.

ObjectiveTo study the sensitivity and specificity of physical examination, ultrasound (US) alone, and sonopalpation (concurrent US and transoral palpation) for identification of submandibular gland...
Angiogenin: an antimicrobial ribonuclease

Angiogenin was discovered as an inducer of blood vessel formation. However, a new study implicates it in antimicrobial host defense.
Left frontal lobe contributions to concept formation: a quantitative MRI study of performance on the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test.

This study examined relationships between lobar volumes and performance on the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Sorting Test, a standardized measure of concept formation. There were 89 participants: 19 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, 25 patients with frontotemporal dementia, 13 patients with semantic dementia, 12 patients with progressive nonfluent aphasia, 9 patients with probable progressive supranuclear palsy, 2 patients with possible progressive supranuclear palsy, and 9 healthy participants. We used BRAINS2 software to generate volumes of the right and left frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. Multiple regression analysis indicated that, after controlling for Mini-Mental State Examination scores, intracranial volume, and demographic variables, only the left frontal lobe significantly predicted performance on the D-KEFS Sorting Test.
Inhibition of human eosinophil chemotaxis by IgA paraproteins.

Sera from patients with IgA myeloma inhibit normal human eosinophil chemotaxis. No correlation was noted between inhibition and the absolute concentration of IgA or λ-κ light-chain type. Eosinophil chemotactic inhibitory activity was associated with isolated IgA paraproteins and was found to be cell directed and stable at 56° C. Pepsin digestion of IgA paraproteins resulted in loss of both IgA Fc fragment and eosinophil chemotactic inhibitory activity. Polymeric IgA accounted for most of the inhibitory activity as evidenced by sucrose density gradient centrifugation studies and a loss of inhibitory activity following dithiothrietol reduction and iodoacetamide alkylation which converted polymeric IgA to monomeric IgA. Comparative studies with neutrophils showed that both neutrophil and eosinophil chemotaxis and chemokinesis were effectively inhibited by IgA paraproteins. The mechanisms of suppression of eosinophil and neutrophil chemotaxis by IgA paraproteins appear to be similar and possibly may involve a membrane receptor for IgA.
Cristobal del Castillo and the Mexica "Exodus".

The history of it was saved, but it was burned when Itzcoatl ruled in Mexico. A council of rulers of Mexico took place. They said: ‘It is not necessary for the common people to know of the writings; government will be defamed, and this will only spread sorcery in the land; for it containeth many falsehoods.’ Fray Bernardino de Sahagun's account of the process by which the Aztec rulers edited their past indicates the magnitude of bias that we may expect to find in historical accounts of pre-Columbian Mexico. Even if this holocaust, and later official manipulation, did produce a single, authorized version of Aztec history, there are many conflicting accounts of events extant today. This is the result of several processes. First and foremost, all of the surviving histories were written in the Roman alphabet after the Conquest. None were direct “translations” of pre-Conquest books; rather, they were new versions of the inherently flexible oral traditions that accompanied these books. Second, different accounts reflect differing regional biases. Itzcoatl may have destroyed conflicting Mexica views of their own past, but many of the chroniclers were from places that were historic enemies of the Mexica, or at best uneasy friends, such as Tlatelolco, Tetzcoco, and Chalco. Each of these accounts preserves some local bias. Third, “history” was consciously recast to reflect current needs. This happens in all cultures, even the Western European tradition, which has traditionally claimed to seek objectivity in the recording of past events. Yet even if exact events are recorded, it is never possible to eliminate all selective bias: at the very least, one cannot record everything that happened. The historian's job is to record what he judges to be important, and structure it within a coherent narrative. In Mesoamerica, this narrative reflected the present as much as it did the past. Because of the cyclical nature of time, future events were bound to reflect past ones. Therefore, written histories were structured so that this was so. Exactly what happened and what should have happened blended into each other, and no need was felt to distinguish between the two.
High-Temperature Corrosion in Coal Gasification Systems

Abstract Extensive research has been performed over the past 10 years to evaluate the compatibility of engineering materials and model alloys in multicomponent gas environments that are relevant to various coal gasification schemes. This paper examines the available information to give insight into the development of protective scales on alloy surfaces and causes of scale breakdown. In addition, the available long-term kinetic data on sound-metal loss are examined to evaluate the effects of alloy and gas chemistry on corrosion of materials in coal gasification atmospheres.
Uncertainty propagation in calibration of parallel kinematic machines

Abstract This paper outlines in detail a method for determining the uncertainty present in the kinematic parameters (joint locations, initial strut lengths, and spindle location and orientation) for parallel kinematic devices after calibration. The uncertainty estimation method using Monte Carlo simulations was applied to a sequential method for determining the kinematic parameters of fully assembled Hexel Tornado 2000 (a 6–3 Stewart platform) milling machine. Results for the uncertainty present in the kinematic parameters of a Hexel Tornado 2000 milling machine after calibration using a SMX 4,000 laser tracker are shown.
Partitioning of chemicals into human stratum corneum: Implications for risk assessment following dermal exposure

Assessment of the health hazard associated with chemical contamination of the skin is a complex problem of occupational and environmental relevance. A particularly important question is to what extent can the skin permeability of a given compound be predicted from simple experiments. The literature on percutaneous absorption identifies two key observations: (i) the stratum corneum (SC), the skin's outermost layer, is the major barrier to chemical transport, and (ii) there are qualitative correlations between penetrant permeability and various oil/water partition coefficients (PCs). To obtain more quantitative predictions of permeation, we have evaluated SC/water and SC/isopropyl myristate (IPM, a model lipophilic vehicle) PCs of (a) para-substituted phenols of diverse physicochemical properties (4-acetamido-, 4-cyano-, 4-iodo-, and 4-pentyloxyphenol), (b) polychlorinated biphenyls (54%), and (c) 1,1,1,-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane. Partition coefficients were determined as a function of the following variables: length of equilibration, initial drug concentration in the vehicle, SC delipidization, and SC source and preparation technique. The data demonstrate that reproducible partitioning can be obtained using the biological tissue of greatest relevance, and that the pattern of behavior observed, for the two different vehicles studied, is compatible with physicochemical expectations. We suggest that the PC values measured may be useful predictors of in vitro and in vivo skin transport and valuable assets, therefore, in the evaluation of risk following dermal exposure.
The influence of extrafloral nectaries on parasitism of an insect herbivore

The extrafloral nectaries of many plants promote ant defense against insect herbivores. We examined the influence of extrafloral nectaries on the levels of parasitism of a generalist insect herbivore, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.). Larvae and pupae of the moth were collected from trees with and without extrafloral nectaries growing in the same forests in South Korea and reared to evaluate parasitism. More parasitism occurred on plants with extrafloral nectaries in seven of the nine season-long collections at the six sites and in four out of five collecting periods. Parasitism was higher on the four main genera of plants with extrafloral nectaries than on any of five main genera of plants without extrafloral nectaries. There was no difference in parasitoid richness; nine species occurred in each group, eight of which were the same. There was a positive and almost significant correlation between the abundance of plants with extrafloral nectaries and the parasitism of gypsy moth at the sites. Extrafloral nectaries may reduce herbivory by inducing more parasitism of the insect herbivores that attack plants bearing the glands.
Combining computer vision and video processing to achieve immersive mobile videoconferencing

In this paper we provide a technical perspective in support of the view that mobile videoconferencing is evolving towards immersiveness, with a detailed discussion of the technological readiness of the most critical components, namely the integration of depth and computer vision into the traditional video processing engine. Immersive user experiences are achieved by adding new dimensions to the perceptual space of interaction. Adding depth creates a sense of presence, and providing additional points of view creates a visual flexibility associated with real-life interaction. As the quality of service improves along with the computational capabilities of mobile platforms, we expect to see an evolution towards immersive mobile videoconferencing. Depth capture or extraction is the first element that allows 3D experiences as well as view synthesis. Depth maps or 3D models may be obtained by multiple methods but without application-driven post-processing there is no guarantee that the synthesized outputs provided to the end users will provide the expected quality of experience. The necessary convergence between video processing and computer vision also implies a shift from error-based performance metrics commonly used in computer vision, to visual quality metrics of the type used in video processing.
Retreatment of pediatric brain tumors with radiation and misonidazole. Results of a CCSG/RTOG phase I/II study.

Twenty-nine patients with recurrent pediatric brain tumors after full-dose treatment with radiation were retreated with misonidazole (9 gm/m2) and whole-brain irradiation (300 rad X 10). Seventeen of 29 patients (59%) experienced nausea and vomiting with misonidazole administration and 6 patients (21%) developed peripheral neuropathy. Serum levels of misonidazole were similar to those reported for adults. One patient died of trauma shortly after retreatment. For the remaining 28 patients, the median time-toprogression was 5.5 months. Median survival was 13 months. Six patients (21%) developed radiation toxicity, two of whom died from the toxicity. Whereas the results on this study are similar to reported series of patients receiving salvage chemotherapy for recurrent pediatric brain tumors, more effective treatment clearly is needed. Cancer 58: 1636-1 640,1986. ESPITE THE INTRODUCTION of more effective diagD nostic, surgical and radiotherapeutic techniques over the last 20 years, patients with malignant brain tumors have a high chance of local tumor recurrence after definitive treatment.'-3 Several authors have reported some success with combination chemotherapy for patients who have failed definitive However, most, if not all patients with recurrent brain tumors treated with chemotherapy ultimately will succumb to their disease. Data concerning retreatment of brain tumors with radiation is sparse.' Two report^^^'^ have shown some longterm palliation in a sizeable percentage of patients who are retreated. Most of the retreated patients, however, had received suboptimal doses of radiation for their initial therapy. Radiation therapists are generally reluctant to offer patients a second course of radiation for fear of exceeding normal tissue tolerance. There has been considerable interest over the last decade in the use of radiosensitizer drugs that increase the effect of radiation on tumors, presumably by mimicking the effect of oxygen in poorly vascularized tumors. Misonidazole, the most extensively studied radiosensitizer, has shown considerable promise in experimental tumors.''
Measurements of partially spatially coherent laser beam intensity fluctuations propagating through a hot-air turbulence emulator and comparison with both terrestrial and maritime environments

Measurements of partially spatially coherent infra-red laser beam intensity fluctuations propagating through a hot-air turbulence emulator are compared with visible laser beam intensity fluctuations in the maritime and IR laser beam intensity fluctuations in the terrestrial environment at the United States Naval Academy. The emulator used in the laboratory for the comparison is capable of generating controlled optical clear air turbulence ranging from weak to strong scintillation. Control of the degree of spatial coherence of the propagating laser beam was accomplished using both infrared and visible spatial light modulators. Specific statistical analysis compares the probability density and temporal autocovariance functions, and fade statistics of the propagating laser beam between the in-laboratory emulation and the maritime field experiment. Additionally, the scintillation index across varying degrees of spatial coherence is compared for both the maritime and terrestrial field experiments as well as the in-laboratory emulation. The possibility of a scintillation index ‘sweet’ spot is explored.
Hexavalent chromium in house dust - a comparison between an area with historic contamination from chromate production and background locations.

Abstract In contrast to Cr+ 3, Cr+ 6 is carcinogenic and allergenic. Although Cr+ 6 can occur naturally, it is thought that most soil Cr+ 6 is anthropogenic, however, the extent of Cr+ 6 in the background environment is unknown. Cr+ 6-containing chromite ore processing residue (COPR) from chromate manufacture was deposited in numerous locations in Jersey City (JC), New Jersey. In the 1990's, significantly elevated concentrations of total Cr (Cr+ 6 + Cr+ 3) were found in house dust near COPR sites. We undertook a follow-up study to determine ongoing COPR exposure. We compared Cr+ 6 in house dust in JC to selected background communities with no known sources of Cr+ 6. Samples were collected from living areas, basements and window wells. Cr+ 6 was detected in dust from all JC and background houses. In the JC homes, the mean (± SD) Cr+ 6 concentration for all samples was 3.9 ± 7.0 μg/g (range: non-detect–90.4 μg/g), and the mean Cr+ 6 loading was 5.8 ± 15.7 μg/m2 (range: non-detect–196.4 μg/m2). In background homes, the mean Cr+ 6 concentrations of all samples was 4.6 ± 7.8 μg/g, (range, 0.05–56.6 μg/g). The mean loading was 10.0 ± 27.9 μg/m2 (range, 0.22–169.3 μg/m2). There was no significant difference between Cr+ 6 dust concentrations in Jersey City and background locations. Stratification by sample location within houses and sampling method gave similar results. Samples exceeding 20 μg/g were obtained only from single wood surfaces in different homes. Lower concentrations in window well samples suggests transport from outside is not the major source of indoor Cr+ 6. Landscaping and groundcover may influence indoor Cr+ 6. There appears to be a widespread low level background of Cr+ 6 that is not elevated in Jersey City homes despite its historic COPR contamination. It is possible that house dust, in general, is a source of Cr+ 6 exposure with potential implications for persistence of chromium allergic contact dermatitis.
Predictors of Treatment Response in Anxious-Depressed Adolescents With School Refusal

ABSTRACT Objective To identify predictors of treatment response to 8 weeks of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) among anxious-depressed adolescents with school refusal, half of whom received imipramine plus CBT and half of whom received placebo plus CBT. Method A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the following variables as potential predictors of treatment response as measured by school attendance at the end of treatment: baseline severity (school attendance at baseline), drug group (imipramine versus placebo), presence of separation anxiety disorder (SAD), and presence of avoidant disorder (AD). Results Baseline attendance, CBT plus imipramine, SAD, and AD were significant predictors of treatment response and accounted for 51% of the variance in outcome. Specifically, a higher rate of attendance at baseline and receiving imipramine predicted a better response to treatment whereas the presence of SAD and AD predicted a poorer response to treatment. The relationship between sociodemographic variables and treatment outcome was also evaluated. Age and socioeconomic status were unrelated to school attendance after treatment. Males had significantly higher rates of attendance after treatment than females. Conclusions Adolescents with school refusal are a heterogeneous population and require individualized treatment planning. Variables such as diagnosis and severity at the start of treatment should be taken into consideration when planning treatment.
Stochastic Simulation of Transport Phenomena

In this paper, four examples are given to demonstrate how stochastic simulations can be used as a method to obtain numerical solutions to transport problems. The problems considered are two-dimensional heat conduction, mass diffusion with reaction, the start-up of Poiseuille flow, and Couette flow of a suspension of Hookean dumbbells. The first three examples are standard problems with well-known analytic solutions which can be used to verify the results of the stochastic simulation. The fourth example combines a Brownian dynamics simulation for Hookean dumbbells, a crude model of a dilute polymer suspension, and a stochastic simulation for the suspending, Newtonian fluid. These examples illustrate appropriate methods for handling source/sink terms and initial and boundary conditions. The stochastic simulation results compare well with the analytic solutions and other numerical solutions. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the wide applicability of stochastic simulation as a numerical method for transport problems.
Nephrotoxicity in vitro: Role of ion deregulation in signal transduction following injury-Studies utilizing digital imaging fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract Over the years, many approaches have been utilized for studying in vitro toxicity in the kidney. These have included the use of isolated perfused kidneys, renal slices, isolated nephron explants and cultured tubular epithelium. Currently, in vitro systems of either primary cultures or cell lines make it possible to use newly developed fluorescent probes and digital imaging fluorescence microscopy coupled with image analysis to quantify various ions (e.g. [Ca 2+ ] i , [Mg 2+ ] i , [Na + ] i and [H + ] i ) in individual live cells. Methods have been developed for the primary culture of rat, rabbit and human proximal tubular epithelium and these cultures are being utilized for the study of acute cell injury and for the comparison of animal cell data with that of human cells. In the current studies, the fluorescent probe, Fura 2, was used to observe changes in [Ca 2+ ] i as they relate to cell injury. The results show that changes in [Ca 2+ ] i begin very early after treatments with a variety of agents that produce lethal and sublethal toxic injuries. These injuries can increase [Ca 2+ ] i from its normal 100 n m level to a 2 μ m level. The rise in [Ca 2+ ] i precedes early bleb formation and cell death. Elevated [Ca 2+ ] i may also activate enzymes such as lipases and proteases that lead to cell death.