cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IN VITRO TOXICITY SCREENING OF DIELECTRIC GASES USING MAMMALIAN CELLS

The potential of various dielectric gases to cause cellular death was assayed in an in vitro cell culture system using Chinese hamster V79 (lung) cells. Exposures were carried out in small tubes which were constantly rotated, so that cells were exposed to the gas with only a thin layer of culture liquid interposed. Results indicated that SF/sub 6/ was essentially without cytotoxic effect, but after discharge of 16 kJ total spark energy in 60 cm/sup 3/ of SF/sub 6/, such samples of freshly sparked gas were quite cytotoxic (approx. 60% and 90% cell death following 1 and 4 hr exposures, respectively. The toxicity of these sparked samples was observed within 15 min of exposure of the cells (approx. 60% cell killing), and the degree of cell death increased with time of exposure, at least up to 2 hrs. The cytotoxicity of sparked SF/sub 6/ samples decreased with time of storage, so that after 4 wks, such samples were only minimally cytotoxic. Increasing spark energy produced samples with increased cytotoxic activity (1.6 kJ caused approx. 70% cell death after a 4 hr exposure, while 160 kJ of spark energy resulted in total cytotoxicity, after 1 hr).
Extraction of Four Second Molars

Abstract A clinical review of second molar extraction cases treated over a period of more than 20 years, finding this to be an effective treatment modality in carefully selected cases when combined with adequate orthodontic supervision and therapy.
The Politics of Diversion: Disentangling the Relationship Between Time Horizons and the Decision to Use Force

Scholars have long argued that time horizons alter incentive structures: when political actors face a high risk of being removed from their posts, they behave differently than they would otherwise. This study explores this idea in the context of conflict behavior. Using a new proxy for time horizons, it provides an in-depth empirical examination of how the risk of falling from power impacts decisions to use force. It looks at how different types of time horizons affect conflict initiation, an avenue previously unexplored in the literature. Consistent with the expectations of the diversionary theory of war, this study finds that short time horizons correspond with more aggressive international behavior. This relationship only holds, however, under certain conditions: leaders must be at risk of losing office unconstitutionally to incentivize the use force.
Tuning magnetocrystalline anisotropy by cobalt alloying in hexagonal Fe 3 Ge 1

We show using both experimental and theoretical methods that cobalt substitution in the hexagonal ferromagnet Fe3Ge suppresses the planar magnetic anisotropy and favors a uniaxial state. Uniaxial ferromagnetism is observed at room temperature for cobalt concentrations of only a few percent, and 10% substitution fully suppresses the planar magnetic structure at least down to 5 K, with only a small effect on the magnetization and Curie temperature. First principles calculations predict strong uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy and promising permanent magnet properties for higher cobalt concentrations. Although these high Co concentrations were not realized experimentally, this work suggests that the rare-earth-free Fe3Ge structure supports intrinsic magnetic properties that may enable promising permanent magnet performance.
Compound Heterozygosity for Hb D-Ibadan (HBB: c.263C>A) and Hb C (HBB: c.19G>A)

We report an individual with a compound heterozygosity for Hb D-Ibadan (HBB: c.263C>A) and Hb C (HBB: c.19G>A), a hemoglobin (Hb) combination not previously identified. The compound hemoglobinopathy was detected in a young woman during routine prenatal screening. Variant Hbs were identified and confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) followed by Sanger DNA sequencing. Hb D-Ibadan was present in significant excess over Hb C (70.3 to 24.4%). A complete blood count (CBC) revealed moderate microcytosis with slight anemia. The history suggests the Hb combination is clinically silent. The findings indicate the compound hemoglobinopathy demonstrates thalassemia minor-like red cell indices with an unequal distribution of the variant Hbs. Comparison with other Hb D-like heterozygous conditions is reviewed.
Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting: Implications and Opportunities for PET/MR

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess anatomical structure, and its sensitivity to a variety of tissue properties enables superb contrast between tissues as well as the ability to characterize these tissues. However, despite vast potential for quantitative and functional evaluation, MRI is typically used qualitatively, in which the underlying tissue properties are not measured and, thus, the brightness of each pixel is not quantitatively meaningful. Positron emission tomography (PET) is an inherently quantitative imaging modality that interrogates functional activity within a tissue, probed by a molecule of interest coupled with an appropriate tracer. These modalities can complement one another to provide clinical information regarding both structure and function, but there are still technical and practical hurdles in the way of the integrated use of both modalities. Recent advances in MRI have moved the field in an increasingly quantitative direction, which is complementary to PET, and could also potentially help solve some of the challenges in PET/MR. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a recently described MRI-based technique which can efficiently and simultaneously quantitatively map several tissue properties in a single exam. Here, the basic principles behind the quantitative approach of MRF are laid out, and the potential implications for combined PET/MR are discussed.
Addressing Community College Completion Rates by Securing Students’ Basic Needs

Food and housing insecurities are serious challenges confronting community college students. This chapter reviews the evidence on prevalence and correlates of basic needs insecurity and discusses institutional actions to support students.
Assessment of the Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescriptions for Infection Prophylaxis Before Dental Procedures, 2011 to 2015.

Importance Antibiotics are recommended before certain dental procedures in patients with select comorbidities to prevent serious distant site infections. Objective To assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedures using Truven, a national integrated health claims database. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort study. Dental visits from 2011 to 2015 were linked to medical and prescription claims from 2009 to 2015. The dates of analysis were August 2018 to January 2019. Participants were US patients with commercial dental insurance without a hospitalization or extraoral infection 14 days before antibiotic prophylaxis (defined as a prescription with ≤2 days’ supply dispensed within 7 days before a dental visit). Exposures Presence or absence of cardiac diagnoses and dental procedures that manipulated the gingiva or tooth periapex. Main Outcomes and Measures Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis was defined as a prescription dispensed before a dental visit with a procedure that manipulated the gingiva or tooth periapex in patients with an appropriate cardiac diagnosis. To assess associations between patient or dental visit characteristics and appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis, multivariable logistic regression was used. A priori hypothesis tests were performed with an α level of .05. Results From 2011 to 2015, antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed for 168 420 dental visits for 91 438 patients (median age, 63 years; interquartile range, 55-72 years; 57.2% female). Overall, these 168 420 dental visits were associated with 287 029 dental procedure codes (range, 1-14 per visit). Most dental visits were classified as diagnostic (70.2%) and/or preventive (58.8%). In 90.7% of dental visits, a procedure was performed that would necessitate antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk cardiac patients. Prevalent comorbidities include prosthetic joint devices (42.5%) and cardiac conditions at the highest risk of adverse outcome from infective endocarditis (20.9%). Per guidelines, 80.9% of antibiotic prophylaxis prescriptions before dental visits were unnecessary. Clindamycin was more likely to be unnecessary relative to amoxicillin (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.15). Prosthetic joint devices (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 2.22-2.41), tooth implant procedures (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.45-1.89), female sex (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.17-1.25), and visits occurring in the western United States (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06-1.25) were associated with unnecessary antibiotic prophylaxis. Conclusion and Relevance More than 80% of antibiotics prescribed for infection prophylaxis before dental visits were unnecessary. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in dental practices is an opportunity to improve antibiotic prescribing for infection prophylaxis.
The Methods Employed in Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Posttranslational Modifications (PTMs) and Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs).

Mass Spectrometry (MS) has revolutionized the way we study biomolecules, especially proteins, their interactions and posttranslational modifications (PTM). As such MS has established itself as the leading tool for the analysis of PTMs mainly because this approach is highly sensitive, amenable to high throughput and is capable of assigning PTMs to specific sites in the amino acid sequence of proteins and peptides. Along with the advances in MS methodology there have been improvements in biochemical, genetic and cell biological approaches to mapping the interactome which are discussed with consideration for both the practical and technical considerations of these techniques. The interactome of a species is generally understood to represent the sum of all potential protein-protein interactions. There are still a number of barriers to the elucidation of the human interactome or any other species as physical contact between protein pairs that occur by selective molecular docking in a particular spatiotemporal biological context are not easily captured and measured.
Timing of Insulin with Meals in the Hospital: a Systems Improvement Approach

Coordination of glucose monitoring, mealtimes, and insulin delivery in the hospital is complex, involving interactions between multiple key agents and overlapping workflows. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the scope of the problem as well as to assess evidence for interventions. In recent years, there has been an emphasis on systems-based approaches which address multiple contributing components of the problem at once in an effort to more seamlessly integrate workflows. Technological advances, such as decision support systems and advances in automated insulin delivery, and strategies that minimize the need for complex insulin regimens hold promise for future study. Evaluation of the coordination of insulin delivery is limited by a lack of standardized metrics and systematically collected mealtimes. Nevertheless, successful efforts include system-wide multicomponent interventions, though advances in therapeutic approaches may be of value.
Editorial Commentary: Rehabilitation After Hip Arthroscopy—Bear in Mind the Bearing of Weight

Hip arthroscopy is the surgical treatment of choice for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and hip labral tears. Current guidelines on postoperative rehabilitation protocols are based on expert opinion, and evidence-based protocols are scarce. Previously, a non-weight-bearing protocol for several weeks after surgery was thought to prevent axial-load damage to the newly repaired labrum. However, there is a trend toward using immediate weight bearing as tolerated for early joint mobilization and pressurization. Strict weight-bearing restrictions may not be as necessary as once thought. We recommend that the first phase of rehabilitation prioritize joint protection to prevent joint inflammation and tissue irritation with a gradual increase in mobility exercises to restore range of motion. However, rehabilitation protocols should be tailored to address specific surgical findings, procedures, patient characteristics, and athletic goals. It is wise to be more conservative in older patients with poor bone quality. Bearing in mind this caveat, weight-bearing restrictions after hip arthroscopy may not improve outcomes and instead may have the negative effect of preventing patients from re-establishing a normal gait pattern.
Hepatic Tissue Engineering

Liver tissue engineering aims to provide novel therapies for liver diseases and create effective tools for understanding fundamental aspects of liver biology and pathologic processes. Approaches range from bio-mimetic in vitro model systems of the liver to three-dimensional implantable constructs. Collectively, these cell-based approaches endeavor to replace or enhance organ transplantation, which is the current standard treatment for liver diseases in most clinical settings. However, the complexity of liver structure and function as well as the limited supply of human hepatocytes pose unique challenges for the field. This chapter reviews advances in the field of liver tissue engineering within the context of current therapies for liver diseases, and clinical alternatives such as cell transplantation strategies and extracorporeal bioartificial liver devices.
IV.5 – VIEW CORRELATION

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a method for view correlation. To combine computer-generated objects into a photographic scene, it is necessary to render the objects from the same point of view as was used to make the photo. This chapter describes an iterative technique for correlating view parameters to a photograph image. The method is implemented in C as a user function with a simple driver program for testing. This method requires that at least five points are visible in the photo image, and that the 3D coordinates of those points are known. Later, when a computer-generated object is modeled, it must be in the same 3D space as the photo objects, and must use the same units. It is not necessary for the origin to be visible in the photo image, nor does it assume a particular up direction. The chapter describes the math behind the iterative technique and the implementation of the method.
Distributed Adaptive Control of Uncertain Multiagent Systems with Coupled Dynamics

This paper studies distributed adaptive architectures for controlling uncertain multiagent systems with unmeasurable coupled dynamics. Specifically, we first analyze a standard distributed adaptive control method with system uncertainties and coupled dynamics in a leader-follower setting, where we present local stability conditions. We second propose an additional feedback term within the control signal of each agent in order to relax the aforementioned local stability conditions. An illustrative numerical example is then given in order to demonstrate our contributions.
Involvement of the FAK Network in Pathologies Related to Altered Mechanotransduction

Mechanotransduction is a physiological process in which external mechanical stimulations are perceived, interpreted, and translated by cells into biochemical signals. Mechanical stimulations exerted by extracellular matrix stiffness and cell-cell contacts are continuously applied to living cells, thus representing a key pivotal trigger for cell homeostasis, survival, and function, as well as an essential factor for proper organ development and metabolism. Indeed, a deregulation of the mechanotransduction process consequent to gene mutations or altered functions of proteins involved in perceiving cellular and extracellular mechanics can lead to a broad range of diseases, from muscular dystrophies and cardiomyopathies to cancer development and metastatization. Here, we recapitulate the involvement of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the cellular conditions deriving from altered mechanotransduction processes.
Introduction and Literature Review: Is Parent–Child Contact During Parental Incarceration Beneficial?

Contact between incarcerated parents and their children has received increased attention because of the growing number of incarcerated parents and the potential effects of contact on child and adult relationships and well-being, parenting, and corrections-related issues such as institutional behavior and recidivism. This introductory chapter summarizes variations in parent–child contact by facility type (i.e., local jails, state prisons, federal prisons) and reviews common practices in jails and prisons across the United States. The benefits of and barriers to different types of parent–child contact in the context of corrections are also summarized, including letter writing, email, phone calls, and personal visits (e.g., face-to-face, video, barrier). Finally, we summarize the literature on the impact of parent–child contact for parents, children, and families.
Action of Calcium on the Secretory Process

The chronology of events dictates that a discussion of the role of calcium in secretory mechanisms should begin with the cholinergic nervous system, for there is no doubt that this was the system where definitive studies implicating calcium as a regulator of neurotransmitter release were first conducted. In actuality, evidence for the involvement of calcium in acetylcholine release was presented many years before acetylcholine was identified as the chemical transmitter at cholinergic junctions. It was in 1894 that Locke immersed the frog sartorius muscle, with its attached nerve, in a saline solution lacking calcium. After 15–20 min the muscle failed to respond when its nerve was stimulated, although it did contract to direct stimulation. The addition of a small amount of calcium to the bath restored the response to nerve stimulation. The significance of this classical experiment, which established the importance of calcium in transmission of excitation from nerve to muscle, had to await the discovery by Loewi (1921, 1945) that the vagus nerve liberates a chemical substance which he termed “Vagus-stoff” before acetylcholine was identified as the chemical transmitter at the neuromuscular junction and autonomic ganglia. It was with these two cholinergic systems—as a consequence of the studies of Harvey and Maclntosh and of Bernard Katz and his associates—that the role of calcium in the release of acetylcholine was first clearly established.
Variations in Electric Fields from Polar Orbiting Satellites

The advent of techniques to measure electric fields in the ionosphere and above has put new emphasis on the questions of what electric fields exist in the ionosphere and magnetosphere and how they vary. The probe technique using long antennas on rockets and satellites (Aggson, 1969) is useful in studying the spatial variations of electric fields, complimenting the study of temporal variations using the motions of Ba ion clouds (Foppl et al., 1967; Wescott et al., 1969; Haerendel and Lust, 1970; Wescott et al., 1970).
“Running as Women”?: A Comparison of Female and Male Pennsylvania Assembly Candidates' Campaign Brochures

Abstract This article compares the campaign brochures of female and male candidates who ran for the Pennsylvania State Assembly in 1996 and 1998. The photographs and statements made in the brochures were content analyzed to see if female candidates advertise themselves in ways identified in the literature as “running as a woman.” Specifically, the issues, traits, qualifications, and group associations mentioned in the brochures were coded as “male,” “female,” or “other.” The findings indicated that while women present a mix of messages in their brochures, they are more likely than men to identify “female issues” and “female qualifications.” These differences were greatest among Republicans and challengers.
INTERANNUAL TO INTERDECADAL VARIATIONS OF THE REGIONALIZED SURFACE CLIMATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND RELATIONSHIPS TO GENERALIZED FLOW PARAMETERS

This analysis attempts to discern primary causes of interannual and interdecadal climate variations for precipitation and temperature regions of the conterminous United States. Varimax rotated principal components analysis of annual climate division data is used in the derivation of nine precipitation and five temperature regions. Each region's time series is examined for underlying linear trends, representing long-term climate change, and tests for variance changes, to determine regional climate variability shifts. The first six precipitation components, representing the entire eastern half of the country and the Northwest, displayed significant temporal increases. Of these, four displayed significant increases in interannual variability through time. For temperature, only the Southwestern region showed a significant change (increase) through time. However, significant reductions in temperature variability were confirmed for three regions. To determine the causes of the derived climate shifts, correlatio...
Using Equity Derivatives in Portfolio Management

In Chapter 6, we reviewed the four types of derivatives — futures/forwards, swaps, options, and caps/floors — and the fundamental features of derivative instruments. We did not focus on any specific underlying or on how they are utilized by asset managers. When the underlying for a derivative is a common stock or some common stock index, the derivative is referred to as an equity derivative. In this chapter, we describe the different types of equity derivatives (stock index futures, equity swaps, and listed options on stocks and stock indexes) and derivatives that can be used to obtain exposure to market volatility. We then illustrate how they are used in managing a common stock portfolio.
Divided Kingdom: Ireland, 1630–1800 – By S. J. Connolly

The field at issue in this book is, by any stretch of the imagination, a formidable one and made ever more so by the outpouring of a wealth of specialized studies over the past generation. In many ...
Lower Ionosphere Ion Chemistry

VLF and ELF radio waves propagating through the D region are primarily influenced by the electron concentration and the electron-neutral collision frequency, during undisturbed conditions. However, according to Crain and Booker (1964) and Thomas (1969) the effects of ions on VLF and ELF wave propagation may be significant during disturbed conditions such as a PCA or auroral absorption event. Cole and Pierce (1965) found that the dominant influence changes from electrons above to ions below at about 50 km altitude.
Photoionization Efficiencies and Cross Sections in O 2 , N 2 , C O 2 , A, H 2 O, H 2 , and C H 4

The photoionization cross sections of several gases were obtained by making simultaneous measurements of the total absorption cross sections and ionization efficiencies in the wavelength region from 473 A to 1100 A. In each case the total absorption cross sections were in agreement with those reported by others. For ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, the ionization cross sections were found to be between 5 and 30\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, while those for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ were close to 23\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}18}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ over almost the entire range studied. The ionization cross section section of argon at the onset of ionization was compared with the theoretical estimate made by Dalgarno. The long-wavelength limits for photoionization were determined and were found to yield ionization potentials in good agreement with those obtained by spectroscopic and electron impact methods.
MUSCLE SURFACE pH: A NEW PARAMETER IN THE MONITORING OF THE CRITICALLY ILL CHILD

In three severely ill infants, muscle surface pH was recorded continuously with a new miniaturized pH electrode for periods up to 100 hours. The clinical findings correlate with experimental results and indicate that muscle pH is a reflection of both arterial pH and the adequacy of tissue perfusion. Since muscle pH changes often precede changes in vital signs and arterial pH, muscle pH monitoring may provide the earliest warning of a deteriorating clinical situation. Although the present clinical experience is small, the findings appear to justify further trials with this method of monitoring sick infants.
Quantitative measurement of renal perfusion following transplant surgery.

We developed an easily implemented clinical procedure for quantitative perfusion measurements in transplanted kidneys using intravenously administered (/sup 99m/Tc)DTPA and the tracer fractionation technique. F = Ak(T)/0 integral of T (Aa(t)/Va) dt, where F = renal blood flow, Ak(T) = DTPA activity in kidney at time = T, Va = ultrasonographically measured femoral artery segment volume, T = time postinjection of F determination, and Aa(t) = time course of DTPA activity in femoral artery segment. The technique was applied to a group of 80 studies in 35 patients in whom an independent clinical determination of transplant function was available. Blood flow (units of ml/min) measured 439 +/- 83 in normally functioning transplants, 248 +/- 63 in transplants with acute tubular necrosis, 128 +/- 62 in transplants with rejection, and 284 +/- 97 in transplants with cyclosporine toxicity. These preliminary results indicate potential usefulness of this method in the evaluation of renal function following transplant surgery.
Alkaline thermochemical degradation of rice straw to organic acids

The organic content of rice straw can be converted entirely to water-soluble products in aqueous, alkaline solutions. The amounts of total organic acids produced from rice straw are quite similar to those produced from pure cellulose at the same reaction conditions. Formic, acetic, glycolic and lactic acids are major products of alkaline degradation. The maximum total yield of these acids from the reaction of rice straw with 4% NaOH at 280°C for 40 min was 37%, based on the starting organic weight of rice straw. The corresponding maximum total yield from pure cellulose was 43%.
(m-Oxo)bis(m-carboxylato)bis(2,2'-bipyridyl)bis(X)diiron(III) Complexes, X = NCS(-), NCSe(-), and N(3)(-): Synthetic Models of Pseudohalide Derivatives of Carboxylate-Bridged Diiron Proteins.

The neutral (μ-oxo)bis(μ-carboxylato)diiron(III) complexes [Fe2O(μ-XDK)(bpy)2(NCS)2] (1), [Fe2O(μ-XDK)(bpy)2(15NCS)2] (1a), [Fe2O(μ-XDK)(bpy)2(NCSe)2] (2), [Fe2O(μ-XDK)(bpy)2(N3)2] (3), and [Fe2O(μ...
Studies on ovarian-hypothalamic-pituitary interactions during reproductive aging in C57BL/6J mice

Abstract Studies on the reproductive senescence of C57BL/6J female mice from this and other laboratories are reviewed. Although the ovary ages irreversibly as monitored by the loss of primary oocytes and follicles, at ages (9–12 mo) when estrous cycles lengthen and fertility decreases strikingly, normal numbers of ova are still produced. Analysis of hormone output reveals impairments in the spontaneous and experimentally induced LH surges of aging mice which imply altered transduction of the estradiol signal triggering the release of LHRH. The loci responsible for this failure to transduce the estradiol signal are unknown, but could involve hypothalamic monoaminergic transmission as well as the LHRH neurons. Morphologic studies on C57BL/6J mice and other rodents indicate degenerative changes in arcuate neuronal processes with concommitant glial hyperactivity and reduced density of LHRH containing fibres. Recent evidence indicates that exposure to estradiol is one cause of the hypothalamic changes associated with reproductive senescence. Age changes in the regulation of the LH surge are delayed by long-term ovariectomy, and accelerated by short-term exposure to high levels of estradiol. These results are paralleled by morphologic changes in the arcuate nucleus. Taken together, the available data suggest that there is a cumulative impact of steroids on hypothalamic loci critical to the LH surge which is independent of chronologic age.
Developing Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Frailty

Frailty is now defined as a clinical entity and potentially responsive to medications. This article reviews the drugs available and those under development. While, at present, exercise is the primary therapy, it is expected over the next decade that numerous drugs will be available to treat components of the frailty syndrome.
Occurrence of skin alkaloids in non-dendrobatid frogs from Brazil (Bufonidae), Australia (Myobatrachidae) and Madagascar (Mantellinae).

Several taxa of small frogs from the southern hemisphere contain alkaloids similar or identical to compounds previously known only from neotropical poison frogs of the family Dendrobatidae. Skin of the Brazilian toad Melanophryniscus moreirae (family Bufonidae) contains a new alkaloid 8-hydroxy-8-methyl-6-(5'-hydroxy-2'-methyl-hexylidene)-1-azabicycl o-[4.3.0] nonane (C16H29NO2), which is designated pumiliotoxin 267C. Such a structure is typical of the pumiliotoxin-A class of dendrobatid alkaloids. Melanophyryniscus moreirae contains smaller quantities of an alkaloid (C19H33NO3) identical in chromatographic and mass spectral properties to the dendrobatid alkaloid allopumiliotoxin 323B. Allopumiliotoxin 323B and an isomer of 267C occur with unidentified alkaloids in skin of the Australian frog Pseudophryne semimarmorata (family Myobatrachidae) and also in the skin of the Madagascan frog Mantella aurantiaca (family Ranidae, subfamily Mantellinae). In addition to new compounds, Mantella aurantiaca and M. madagascariensis also contain other alkaloids (e.g. histrionicotoxin and pumiliotoxin B) that were known previously only in dendrobatid frogs. Such alkaloids have not been detected in a phylogenetically wide array of other anuran amphibians, and the dendrobatid alkaloids thus become an evolutionary enigma. Certain of these compounds may have arisen convergently from new biosynthetic pathways in several families of frogs, or these alkaloids may represent parallel expression of shared-primitive pathways that are unexpressed or lost in related frogs.
A Comparison of the Solderability of Wrought and Plated Nickel Surfaces: The Selection of a Reliable Pin for Second Level Packaging

The solderability of a wrought nickel pin directly overplated with gold and that of a wrought kovar (tradename of an Fe-Ni-Co alloy manufactured by Carpenter Technology Corporation) pin plated with thick nickel and then overplated with gold was evaluated. The kovar pin was determined to exhibit very high solderability whereas the nickel pin was found to have extremely poor solderability. The poor solderability of the nickel pin as compared with the kovar pin is attributed to the contamination of the nickel surface prior to gold plating. A primary cause of the poor wetability of the nickel pin was due to embedded alumina particles on the surface of the pin (this occurs during the tumbling operation to remove any metallic slivers) prior to gold plating. The high solderability of the kovar is related to the clean nickel plating prior to overplating with gold. The cleanliness of the nickel layer was found to strongly influence the formation of the Ni-Sn intermetallic phase layer, having a nominal thickness of 42 μin (1.1 μm) after the kovar pin was tinned with eutectic Sn-Pb solder. For the tinned wrought nickel pin, a thin but continuous Ni-Sn intermetallic layer was also present; however, the nominal thickness of this layer was only 15 μin (0.38 μm). This large variation in solderability of both types of pins is attributed to differences in the intermetallic phase layer.
Change in worker/nonworker ratios for women.

Effects of age, birth year, and observation year on work behavior are estimated by minimum logit chi-square regression, using data from Current Population Surveys. Most of the observation-year effect is captured by indicators of the business cycle. Further, a model which permits the cycle effects to vary by age is preferred over any additive model. The ratio for young women is most depressed relative to that for older women when times are “good.”
Follow-up surveys for census estimates of maternal mortality: experiences from Bolivia and Mozambique

Maternal mortality measurement through special census questions will be a common practice in the 2010 census round. To check this information or make it cause-specific, some countries have experimented with follow-up surveys containing verbal autopsies or triangulation with administrative data. However, follow-up studies can be costly and not without complications. In order to assess the benefits, two such experiences are discussed in detail (Bolivia, 2002; and Mozambique 2007–2008) and two others mentioned more briefly (Islamic Republic of Iran, 1996; and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 2008). In the former, several problems were apparent. In Mozambique, the follow-up survey used a cluster sample of 4.5% of deaths, from all causes. This design was adequate for the more common causes, but not for maternal mortality. Another problem was the large proportion of invalid cases (35.1%, plus 16% not verifiable) and the likelihood that there was a similar proportion of omitted deaths. The Bolivian census generated many invalid cases and missing ages, due in part to the flawed design of the questionnaire. This overburdened the follow-up, so that only 15% of the census deaths of women of reproductive age unrelated to pregnancy could be investigated. Once the false positives were eliminated, the results seem consistent with Growth Balance analyses, but the many classification errors compromise confidence in the results. Despite this mixed record of outcomes, it is believed that carrying out a limited number of similar studies in the current census round may be valuable, if appropriate lessons are learned from these experiences.
Seismic-acoustic finite-difference wave propagation algorithm

An efficient numerical algorithm for treating earth models composed of fluid and solid portions is obtained via straightforward modifications to a 3D time-domain finite-difference algorithm for simulating isotropic elastic wave propagation.
Kaon physics at high intensity machines

Abstract The motivation for and present activity in rare kaon decay experiments are described. The reach of present and future accelerators for this physics is discussed.
Are surname telephone oversamples an efficient way to better understand the health and healthcare of minority group members

Objectives: Surname oversamples are commonly used in health research to increase the number of persons from minority racial and ethnic groups represented in general population surveys. This article considers the sample design efficiency in the use of Hispanic, Hmong, and Asian surname samples. Methods: The study uses 3 state surveys (Alabama, Missouri, and Minnesota) that used surname oversamples to increase the proportion of Hispanic, Hmong, or Asian respondents included in the studies. We examine whether surname oversamples lead to more completed surveys with the targeted minority groups than would have been achieved if surname oversamples had not been used. We also assess gains in terms of effective sample sizes from the use of surname oversampling. Results: The sensitivities of the Hispanic surname list ranged from 46% to 63% across the 3 surveys. The sensitivity of the Asian survey was 34%, and the sensitivity of the Hmong was 38%. Although the use of surname increased the number of targeted minority group members in the final study, the increased number had a very minimal impact on the effective sample size of the minority populations for the key survey estimates of interest in the 3 health surveys. Conclusions: The use of surname samples achieved the goal of having more persons who identify as Hispanic, Hmong, or Asian in the final sample. However, the use of surname oversamples is inefficient when considering the statistical power gained for minority group estimates.
Gentle dorsal root retraction and dissection can cause areflexia: implications for intraoperative monitoring during "selective" partial dorsal rhizotomy.

During partial dorsal rhizotomy (PDR), intraoperative dorsal rootlet stimulation often evokes nonreflex, rather than reflex, motor responses that are due to costimulation of adjacent ventral roots. Intraoperative areflexia typically predicts that motor responses evoked by dorsal rootlet stimulation are nonreflexive. The cause of areflexia during PDR is in part due to anesthesia, but other mechanisms are likely to play a role as well. In this study of three consecutive patients undergoing lumbosacral neurosurgery, soleus H-reflexes evoked by tibial nerve stimulation at the popliteal fossa were found to suddenly decline in amplitude following retraction and gentle dissection of the S-1 dorsal root. In one areflexic patient, dorsal rootlet stimulation proximal to the main site of dissection evoked soleus H-reflexes, although they could not be evoked by tibial nerve stimulation. We conclude that the gentle retraction and dissection of dorsal rootlets that occurs during PDR can induce conduction block of reflex afferents. High-intensity dorsal rootlet stimulation distal to the site of conduction block may then evoke not reflex responses, but rather nonreflex motor responses, due to the costimulation of adjacent ventral roots.
Piezo-Electroreflectance in Ge, GaAs, and Si

Piezoelectroreflectance in Ge, Si and GaAs studied for uniaxial stress effects on electronic energy bands
Linearly convergent descent methods for the unconstrained minimization of convex quadratic splines

We propose two linearly convergent descent methods for finding a minimizer of a convex quadratic spline and establish global error estimates for the iterates. One application of such descent methods is to solve convex quadratic programs, since they can be reformulated as problems of unconstrained minimization of convex quadratic splines. In particular, we derive several new linearly convergent algorthms for solving convex quadratic programs. These algorithms could be classified as row-action methods, matrix-splitting methods, and Newton-type methods.
Tunable infrared lasers - Prospects for instrument applications

There has been a rapid development of tunable infrared lasers in the past four years, spurred in part by their need in spectroscopic applications. The purpose of this talk is to review the present state of continuously tunable infrared lasers which operate in the 1 to 20 4,m wavelength region, the so-called "fingerprint" region of the infrared. Since it is not possible to discuss each of the ten types of lasers developed to date due to limitation of time, we will only identify them, discuss their general characteristics, and illustrate their capabilities with a few examples of spectral data. Some of the experimental techniques unique to tunable laser spectroscopy will also be described.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Endoscopic Management of Hypopharyngeal Stenosis after Organ Sparing Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the efficacy of an endoscopic technique for the management of postchemoradiation hypopharyngeal stenosis in head and neck cancer patients. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Patients with postchemoradiation hypopharyngeal stenoses were identified from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute head and neck database. Patients who had undergone extirpative surgery and reconstruction were excluded. All patients underwent either anterograde dilatation (AD) by the lead author (C.A.S.) or transgastric retrograde esophagoscopy with anterograde dilatation (TREAD) (C.A.S., M.T.J.). Chemoradiation records, clinic notes, operative reports, and swallowing test data were reviewed. Removal of the gastric feeding tube was considered the endpoint of rehabilitation. Results: Seventeen patients had postcricoid stenoses identified by modified barium swallow. Endoscopy confirmed 15 postcricoid stenoses and 2 proximal esophageal stenoses. Nine (53%) patients had partial stenoses, and eight (47%) had complete stenoses. Eight partial stenosis patients underwent 10 AD procedures and 3 TREAD procedures. Eight complete stenosis patients underwent 9 TREAD procedures and 26 subsequent AD procedures. Fifteen of 16 (93%) patients resumed swallowing after dilatation. Thirteen (81%) patients maintained their weight on an oral diet and had their gastric feeding tubes removed. Complications included hypopharyngeal perforation (13%), abdominal wall infection (6%), stomach wall dehiscence (6%), and chondroradionecrosis of the cricoid cartilage (6%). Conclusions: Postcricoid hypopharyngeal stenosis may be partial or complete after organ sparing chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Using the TREAD technique, successful rehabilitation of swallowing can be achieved with a low incidence of complications.
Pharmacokinetic Alterations of Antimicrobials in the Critically Ill

Critical illness is accompanied by multiple physiologic alterations that affect the pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials. Although the pharmacokinetics of a number of antimicrobials have been studied...
Prolonged daily inhalation of halothane modifies the dose-response pattern to acute administration of halothane. An electrophysiological study

Sensory-evoked field potentials were obtained from freely moving rats implanted sterotaxically with permanent electrodes in the parafasciculus thalami (PF), mesencephalic central gray (CG), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and somatosensory cortex (SCX). Animals were exposed to chronic, subanesthetic inhalation of halothane (0.5%, 3 hr/day, 5 days/week) for 56 days. The averaged acoustic evoked responses (AAER) were recorded on day 0, as well as at 28 and 56 days after a 48-hr halothane-free period ("control") and after acute doses of halothane (0.25, 0.5 and 1.5%). In general, the averaged sensory-evoked responses from each structure were affected at day 0 of the experiment in dose-response manner, and suppression of the responses was the main effect of halothane. Chronic exposure to subanesthetic inhalation of halothane produced marked alteration of the "control" recording from 3 CNS structures; mainly from the mesencephalic central gray, the parafasciculus thalami and the somatosensory cortex and the direction (increase or decrease) of the averaged acoustic evoked responses in all the four CNS sites studied. The total responsiveness was modified as well, i.e. the recordings obtained from the mesencephalic central gray and somatosensory cortex exhibited hypersensitivity while the recordings obtained from the parafasciculus thalami and ventromedial hypothalamus exhibited tolerance. It is concluded that prolonged and intermittent inhalation of halothane can alter the electrophysiological properties of the four structures investigated.
HIV-1 Expression Induces Tubular Cell G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis

Human renal biopsy studies suggest the presence of HIV-1 and associated signs of injury in renal tubular epithelial cells. Because renal epithelial cells lack conventional HIV-1 receptors, the modus operandi of HIV-1 in the induction of tubular cell injury remains a mystery. In the present study, we evaluated the role of HIV-1 gene expression in human proximal tubular cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression. HIV-1- or vector-transduced cells were assayed for cellular injury and cell cycle defect. HIV-1-transduced cells showed the progressive loss of viability in a time-dependent manner. Similarly, HIV-1-transduced cells showed greater apoptosis when compared with vector-transduced cells. A higher number of HIV-1 expressing cells showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and enhanced tubular cell expression of phospho-p53(ser15), phospho-cdc-2(Tyr 15), and phospho-chk-2 (Thr 68). These findings suggest that in addition to the activation of apoptotic pathway, HIV-1-induced G2/M arrest may also contribute to tubular cell injury.
Transneuronal pathways to the vestibulocerebellum

The alpha-herpes virus (pseudorabies, PRV) was used to observe central nervous system (CNS) pathways associated with the vestibulocerebellar system. Retrograde transneuronal migration of alpha-herpes virions from specific lobules of the gerbil and rat vestibulo-cerebellar cortex was detected immunohistochemically. Using a time series analysis, progression of infection along polyneuronal cerebellar afferent pathways was examined. Pressure injections of > 20 nanoliters of a 10(8) plaque forming units (pfu) per ml solution of virus were sufficient to initiate an infectious locus which resulted in labeled neurons in the inferior olivary subnuclei, vestibular nuclei, and their afferent cell groups in a progressive temporal fashion and in growing complexity with increasing incubation time. We show that climbing fibers and some other cerebellar afferent fibers transported the virus retrogradely from the cerebellum within 24 hours. One to three days after cerebellar infection discrete cell groups were labeled and appropriate laterality within crossed projections was preserved. Subsequent nuclei labeled with PRV after infection of the flocculus/paraflocculus, or nodulus/uvula, included the following: vestibular (e.g., z) and inferior olivary nuclei (e.g., dorsal cap), accessory oculomotor (e.g., Darkschewitsch n.) and accessory optic related nuclei, (e.g., the nucleus of the optic tract, and the medial terminal nucleus); noradrenergic, raphe, and reticular cell groups (e.g., locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe, raphe pontis, and the lateral reticular tract); other vestibulocerebellum sites, the periaqueductal gray, substantia nigra, hippocampus, thalamus and hypothalamus, amygdala, septal nuclei, and the frontal, cingulate, entorhinal, perirhinal, and insular cortices. However, there were differences in the resulting labeling between infection in either region. Double-labeling experiments revealed that vestibular efferent neurons are located adjacent to, but are not included among, flocculus-projecting supragenual neurons. PRV transport from the vestibular labyrinth and cervical muscles also resulted in CNS infections. Virus propagation in situ provides specific connectivity information based on the functional transport across synapses. The findings support and extend anatomical data regarding vestibulo-olivo-cerebellar pathways.
Iron binding saturation and genotypic testing for hereditary hemochromatosis in patients with liver disease.

We compared the results of HFE genotype with tests for iron binding saturation (IBS) in 190 consecutive patients with liver disease using 2 IBS cutoff levels: 45% and 60%. Saturation was more than 45% in 117 patients (61.6%) and more than 60% in 89 (46.8%). The number of patients (10) with the highest-risk HFE genotype (C282Y homozygote) was higher than expected. Elevated IBS cannot be used to predict genotype. There was a modest association of C282Y homozygosity with increased IBS (7 of 10, saturation >45% and 6 of 10, >60%). There was poor correlation of elevated saturation with other genotypes containing 1 or more HFE variants. Patients with a wild-type genotype (lacking HFE variants) and elevated IBS were far more likely to have an iron binding capacity less than 250 µg/dL (<44.8 µmol/L) than those with saturation values less than 45%, suggesting that a significant percentage of elevated IBS test results in liver disease are false-positives associated with decreased synthetic capacity. Nevertheless, an appreciable number of patients with elevated IBS had normal iron binding capacity, indicating the complexity of relationships among iron absorption and binding, disease status, HFE genotype, and other potential modifying factors in liver disease. Hereditary hemochromatosis is an inherited autosomal recessive disease of iron overload with progressive damage of the liver, pancreas, heart, joints, and endocrine organs. Patients with hereditary hemochromatosis are believed to have decreased expression of hepcidin, leading to increased intestinal iron absorption and reticuloendothelial