cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Study of Disease Duration as a Risk Factor for the Development of Hospitalism in Elderly Psychiatric Patients

The phenomenon of hospitalism in elderly patients with mental disorders is an extremely important clinical, social, and economic problem. A total of 155 geronto-psychiatric patients were examined; 75 of them showed signs of hospitalism and 80 were the control group. A subgroup of patients with signs of hospitalism and short disease duration was selected. The duration of their inpatient treatment was 133.5 ± 42.24 days (72.11 ± 37.11 days in the respective control subgroup, p < 0.05). This subgroup was characterized by greater impulsivity as a personality trait and less adaptive coping strategies as compared to patients without hospitalism. In the subgroup of patients with signs of hospitalism and longer disease duration, the hospitalism-associated factors proved to be higher anxiety and depression in the current psychoemotional state, lower manifestation of adaptive cognitive coping, and lower disease sensitivity (all differences are significant at p < 0.05) against a longer stay in hospital as compared to patients with an analogous disease duration without hospitalism (249.67 ± 3.56 and 79.58 ± 39.52 days, respectively, p < 0.05).
Gender Disparities in Receipt of HIV Testing Results in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries

Purpose: Receipt of HIV testing results is vital for individuals to know their status and make decisions that would improve their access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care. The objective of this study is to determine the association of HIV testing and receipt of results with three key exposure variables (HIV stigma, HIV knowledge, and media use) stratified by gender and country. Methods: Data from a random sample of adults aged 15-49 years from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda were abstracted from country-specific Demographic and Health Surveys or AIDS Indicators Surveys. Individuals were asked questions regarding demographics, socioeconomic status, sexual behaviors/attitudes, HIV knowledge, HIV stigma, and media-consumption. Weighted logistic regression was used to determine the association between receipt of HIV testing with key risk factors stratified by gender and country. Results: Gender disparities in HIV testing and receipt of results, HIV stigma, and HIV knowledge remain high. More women have recently tested for HIV and received their results than men. HIV stigma was associated with decreased recent HIV testing in all six countries for women, and for men except in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda. HIV knowledge was positively related to recent testing in all countries, except Uganda for women and Kenya and Tanzania for men. In Burundi and Rwanda, women had more HIV knowledge than men, while in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, men had more HIV knowledge than women. Conclusion: Given the importance of HIV testing for effective management of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, it is crucial for these countries to exchange information on gender-specific policies and strategies that have the most impact on increasing HIV knowledge and decreasing HIV stigma.
siRNA-mediated inhibition of TPX2 affects pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, and cell death

4959 Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States and novel approaches are urgently needed to combat this disease. The Targeting Protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) is a microtubule-associated protein whose gene is amplified in a subset of pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PNAS 2005;102:9625-30). Studies have shown its requirement for cell cycle progression as a result of its interaction with proteins such as Aurora A kinase. We hypothesize that due to its gene amplification and its involvement in an established oncogenic signaling pathway, TPX2 is a co-conspirator with Aurora A kinase in contributing to pancreatic tumorigenesis. To test this hypothesis and further characterize the role of TPX2 in pancreatic cancer, we used a siRNA approach to evaluate the biological consequences of targeting its expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Two different TPX2-targeting siRNAs showed a 4- to 5-fold reduction in MIA PaCa-2 cell proliferation compared to cells treated with a non-silencing siRNA for 24-96 hrs. This effect on cell proliferation was also observed in PANC-1 cells but to a lesser extent. TPX2 inhibition by siRNA produced an 80% reduction in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 colony formation in soft agar, suggesting it is involved in pancreatic cancer cell self-renewal and tumorigenicity. Furthermore, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells treated with TPX2-targeting siRNAs underwent apoptosis as indicated by a dramatic induction of caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that TPX2 is an important contributor to pancreatic cancer growth, is a potential candidate oncogene, and is a prospective therapeutic target to treat this disease. We are vigorously pursuing therapeutic agents that disrupt TPX2 function in hopes of finding more effective treatment options for patients with pancreatic cancer. (Supported by NIH Grant CA 95031)
Transitions between channel and contact regimes of low-frequency noise in many-layer MoS2 field effect transistors

Low-frequency noise studies in transition metal dichalcogenides have considered the layer-thickness dependence but generally do not separate channel contributions from those of contact/access regions. Here, we study the voltage-dependent 1/f noise and the resistance correlation in MoS2 FETs with an ∼142 atomic layer-thickness channel and three different lengths. The gate-voltage dependence of noise can be separated into a channel contribution, with a comparable Hooge parameter for the three devices and a contact/access region contribution. Separation of these contributions allows the evaluation of the channel noise mechanism and can be used to explain the length-dependence of the transition region between contact- and channel-dominated regimes.
Assessment of chronic radiation proctopathy and radiofrequency ablation treatment follow-up with optical coherence tomography angiography: A pilot study

BACKGROUND Chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP) occurs as a result of pelvic radiation therapy and is associated with formation of abnormal vasculature that may lead to persistent rectal bleeding. While incidence is declining due to refinement of radiation delivery techniques, CRP remains one of the major complications of pelvic radiation therapy and significantly affects patient quality of life. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging treatment modality for eradicating abnormal vasculature associated with CRP. However, questions remain regarding CRP pathophysiology and optimal disease management. AIM To study feasibility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for investigating subsurface vascular alterations in CRP and response to RFA treatment. METHODS Two patients with normal rectum and 8 patients referred for, or undergoing endoscopic RFA treatment for CRP were imaged with a prototype ultrahigh-speed optical coherence tomography (OCT) system over 15 OCT/colonoscopy visits (2 normal patients, 5 RFA-naive patients, 8 RFA-follow-up visits). OCT and OCTA was performed by placing the OCT catheter onto the dentate line and rectum without endoscopic guidance. OCTA enabled depth-resolved microvasculature imaging using motion contrast from flowing blood, without requiring injected dyes. OCTA features of normal and abnormal microvasculature were assessed in the mucosa and submucosa. Blinded reading of OCTA images was performed to assess the association of abnormal rectal microvasculature with CRP and RFA treatment, and rectal telangiectasia density endoscopic scoring. RESULTS OCTA/OCT images are intrinsically co-registered and enabled depth-resolved visualization of microvasculature in the mucosa and submucosa. OCTA visualized normal vascular patterns with regular honeycomb patterns vs abnormal vasculature with distorted honeycomb patterns and ectatic/tortuous microvasculature in the rectal mucosa. Normal arterioles and venules 200 μm in diameter were visualized in the rectal submucosa. Abnormal mucosal vasculature occurred in 0 of 2 normal patients and 3 of 5 RFA-naive patients, while abnormal submucosal vasculature occurred more often, in 1 of 2 normal patients and 5 of 5 RFA-naive patients. After RFA treatment, vascular abnormalities decreased, with abnormal mucosal vasculature observed in 0 of 8 RFA-follow-up visits and abnormal submucosal vasculature observed in only and 2 of 8 RFA-follow-up visits. CONCLUSION OCTA visualizes depth-resolved microvascular abnormalities in CRP, allowing assessment of superficial features which are endoscopically visible as well as deeper vasculature which cannot be seen endoscopically. OCTA/OCT of the rectum can be performed in conjunction with, or independently from endoscopy. Further studies are warranted to investigate if OCTA/OCT can elucidate pathophysiology of CRP or improve management.
Dystonia genes and their biological pathways

The dystonias are a group of disorders characterized by excessive contraction of muscles leading to abnormal involuntary movements. The clinical manifestations are very heterogeneous, with numerous distinct syndromes. The etiologies for dystonia are also heterogeneous with idiopathic, acquired, and inherited forms. Technological advances in genetics over the past two decades have led to a rapid growth in the number of genes associated with dystonia. These genes encode proteins with very diverse biological functions. This review focusses on genes that have contributed to understanding shared biological pathways relevant to specific subgroups of dystonia syndromes. Although many potential shared biological pathways have been proposed, the ones addressed here include defects in dopamine signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction and energy maintenance, toxic accumulation of heavy metals in the brain, and calcium channels and abnormal calcium homeostasis. Elucidation of these and other shared pathways is important for understanding the biological basis for dystonia and for designing novel experimental therapeutics that have the broadest potential for multiple types of dystonia.
Treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI) with KPAX002 (methylphenidate hydrochloride + GWI nutrient formula) in subjects meeting the Kansas case definition: A prospective, open-label trial.

Abstract This study tested the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of KPAX002—a combination of methylphenidate hydrochloride plus a micronutrient formula designed to support mitochondrial function—as a treatment for Gulf War Illness (GWI). This open-label trial enrolled 17 subjects meeting the Kansas case definition for GWI. Of the 17 subjects enrolled, 15 qualified for the Intent-to-Treat (ITT) population with 10 subjects completing the trial per protocol. All analyses were on the ITT population. At 12 weeks, subjects taking KPAX002 experienced a mean 25% reduction in their overall GWI symptoms severity as measured by the GWI Symptoms Assessment Tool (SAT) (p
Somatic embryogenesis and shoot proliferation of Mussaenda cultivars

Midrib sections of Mussaenda 'Queen Sirikit', 'Dona Luz', and 'Dona Hilaria' were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 87.7 mM sucrose, 5 g agar l−1, 0, 5, 10 or 20 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 or 50 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA). In addition, aseptic 5 mm shoot tips from 'Dona Luz' cultures were excised and cultured on MS basal salts, 0.6 mM myo-inositol, 1.2 µM thiamine-HCl, 87.7 mM sucrose, 7 g agar l−1, 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 40 µM BA, 0 or 1 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0 or 217 µM adenine sulfate at pH 5.8. Calluses began to develop after two weeks at the cut ends of midribs when cultured on a medium containing IAA. Somatic embryos first appeared at eight weeks but only on 'Queen Sirikit' callus. After 15 weeks, the average number of somatic embryos produced per tube decreased as the IAA concentration increased from 0 to 20 µM. BA concentrations between 5.0 and 10.0 µM resulted in the largest number of somatic embryos per tube. After six weeks, the total, axillary and adventitious number of 'Dona Luz' shoots increased as the BA concentration in the culture medium increased from 0 to 20 µM. Average shoot length and fresh weight decreased from 0 to 40 µM BA. The addition of NAA to the culture medium reduced shoot number. Adenine sulfate in the presence of BA reduced the total number of shoots. An ideal medium for proliferating the largest number of 'Dona Luz' shoots would be a MS medium supplemented with 10–20 µM BA.
A case of infiltrative cecal endometriosis with appendiceal obliteration and lymph node involvement

Endometriosis is a clinical condition with a wide spectrum of severity, and a subset that includes intestinal involvement that may even mimic malignancy, making non-surgical diagnosis difficult. Cecal endometriosis is a rare finding among intestinal endometriosis. We report on 33-year-old woman with ileocecal endometriosis presenting as endoscopic prolapse of the ileocecal valve associated with a mass on cross-sectional imaging. The diagnosis was suggested intraoperatively by peritoneal endometrioma and obliteration of the appendix during laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Pathological review demonstrated extensive submucosal, infiltrative endometriosis with mass effect and lymph node involvement. This case highlights the difficulty in preoperative diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis and the wide-ranging potential tissue effects in cases of infiltrative disease.
Treatment of Hepatic Artery Stenosis in Liver Transplant Patients Using Drug-Eluting versus Bare-Metal Stents

Hepatic artery stenosis after liver transplant is often treated with endovascular stent placement. Our institution has adopted use of drug-eluting stents, particularly in small-caliber arteries. We aimed to compare patency rates of drug-eluting stents vs. traditional bare-metal stents. This was a single-institution, retrospective study of liver transplant hepatic artery stenosis treated with stents. Primary patency was defined as time from stent placement to resistive index on Doppler ultrasonography (<0.5), hepatic artery thrombosis, or any intervention including surgery. Fifty-two patients were treated with stents (31 men; mean age, 57 years): 15, drug-eluting stents; 37, bare-metal stents. Mean arterial diameters were 4.1 mm and 5.1 mm, respectively. Technical success was 100% (52/52). At 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years, primary patency for drug-eluting stents was 80%, 71%, 71%, and 71%; bare-metal stents: 76%, 65%, 53%, and 46% (p = 0.41). Primary patency for small-caliber arteries (3.5–4.5 mm) with drug-eluting stents was 93%, 75%, 75%, and 75%; bare-metal stents: 60%, 60%, 50%, and 38% (p = 0.19). Overall survival was 100%, 100%, 94%, and 91%. Graft survival was 100%, 98%, 96%, and 90%. Stenting for hepatic artery stenosis was safe and effective. While not statistically significant, patency improved with drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents, especially in arteries < 4.5 mm in diameter. Drug-eluting stents can be considered for liver transplant hepatic artery stenosis, particularly in small-caliber arteries.
Differences in Food Allergens And Atopy Between Black And White Children With Food Allergy In The FORWARD Study

Background: Racial differences in food allergy outcomes exist. Objectives: Our aim is to characterize phenotypic differences between black and white children with food allergy (FA). Methods: We are conducting a prospective multi-center cohort study enrolling African-American (AA) or Caucasian (W) children aged 0-12 years diagnosed with …
Enhancing target tissue levels and diminishing plasma clearance of ionizing zwitterionic antidotes in organophosphate exposures

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by certain organophosphates (OP) can be life-threatening and requires reactivating antidote accessibility to the peripheral and central nervous systems to reverse symptoms and enhance survival parameters. In considering dosing requirements for oxime antidotes in OP exposures that inactivate AChE, clearance of proton ionizable, zwitterionic antidotes is rapid and proceeds with largely the parent antidotal compound being cleared by renal transporters. Such transporters may also control disposition between target tissues and plasma as well as overall elimination from the body. An ideal, small molecule antidote should access and be retained in primary target tissues: CNS (brain), skeletal muscle, and peripheral autonomic sites, for sufficient periods to reactivate AChE and prevent acute toxicity. We show here that we can markedly prolong the antidotal activity of zwitterionic antidotes by inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporters in the brain capillary and renal systems. We employ the P-gp inhibitor, tariquidar (TQD), as a reference compound and show tissue and plasma levels of RS194B, a hydroxyl-imino acetamido alkylamine reactivator, are elevated and plasma clearances are reduced. To examine mechanism, identify the transporter and establish the actions of a transport inhibitor, we compare the pharmacokinetic parameters in a P-glycoprotein knock-out mouse strain and see dramatic enhancements of short-term plasma and tissue levels. Hence, repurposed transport inhibitors, that are candidate or FDA approved drugs, should enhance target tissue concentrations of the zwitterionic antidote through inhibition of both renal elimination and brain capillary extrusion. Significance Statement We examine renal and brain capillary transporter inhibition for lowering dose and frequency of dosing of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) permanent, reactivating antidote, RS194B, an ionizable zwitterion. Through a small molecule, tariqudar (TQD), and gene knock-out mice, CNS antidote concentrations are enhanced and total body clearances are diminished. RS194B with repurposed transport inhibitors should enhance reactivation of central and peripheral OP-inhibited AChE. Activity at both disposition sites are desired features for replacing 2-PAM as an antidote for acute OP exposure.
The Influence of Asian Subgroup and Acculturation on Colorectal Cancer Screening Knowledge and Attitudes Among Chinese and Korean Americans.

Understanding how knowledge and attitudes about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening differs among Asian immigrants is important for informing targeted health interventions aimed at preventing and treating CRC in this diverse population. This study examines how Asian subgroup and acculturation are associated with CRC knowledge and attitudes among Chinese and Korean immigrants in the United States (U.S.). Data come from the baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial to increase CRC screening among Chinese and Korean American immigrants living in the Baltimore-Washington DC Metropolitan Area (n = 400). We use linear regression to examine how Asian subgroup, time in the U.S., English-speaking proficiency, and ethnic identity are associated with CRC knowledge and screening attitudes, accounting for demographic variables, socioeconomic status, and health insurance status. Results show that greater socioeconomic status was associated with higher CRC knowledge, and socioeconomic status explained more of the variance in CRC knowledge than acculturation factors. Additionally, attitudes varied by Asian subgroup, with Chinese reporting lower CRC screening salience, worry, response efficacy, and social influence compared to Koreans. Findings suggest that in-language interventions aimed at increasing CRC knowledge and capitalizing on attitudes about screening can help to bridge disparities in CRC screening by socioeconomic status and country of origin. We discuss implications for future interventions to increase CRC screening uptake among Chinese and Korean immigrants in the U.S.
Avoid Estimating the Unknown Function in a Semiparametric Nonignorable Propensity Model

We study the problem of estimating a functional or a parameter in the context where outcome is subject to nonignorable missingness. We completely avoid modeling the regression relation, while allowing the propensity to be modeled by a semiparametric logistic relation where the dependence on covariates is unspecified. We discover a surprising phenomenon in that the estimation of the parameter in the propensity model as well as the functional estimation can be carried out without assessing the missingness dependence on covariates. This allows us to propose a general class of estimators for both model parameter estimation and functional estimation, including estimating the outcome mean. The robustness of the estimators are nonstandard and are established rigorously through theoretical derivations, and are supported by simulations and a data application.
Incidentally Found Ascending Aortic Thrombus: Presentation and Management.

Abstract Aortic thrombus can be rare, requiring prompt recognition and management to prevent sequelae. Treatment modalities for aortic thrombus include systemic anticoagulation, endovascular, and/o...
Hair cortisol, perceived stress, and resilience as predictors of coronary arterial disease.

The widespread prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) underscores the continuing need for identifying modifiable risk factors and novel targets for therapeutic intervention. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a promising biomarker for evaluating the contribution of chronic stress to the pathogenesis and prognosis of coronary arterial disease (CAD). In this cross-sectional study of 24 participants, we assessed the risk of CAD associated with HCC and with perceived chronic stress (Perceived Stress Score), controlling for the established risk factors of age, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. In fully adjusted Poisson regression models, we additionally evaluated CAD risk with the simultaneous inclusion of psychological and physiologic resilience measures (CD-RISC, DHEA-S). Our results show that HCC, but not PSS, is significantly associated with CAD (Incident Rate Ratio 0.99, Confidence Interval 0.98-1.00, p = 0.01), but the magnitude of the association is weak and inverse, and less than with dyslipidemia and age. The association remained significant after inclusion of the sum of resilience measures via a combined resiliency score. Resilience was not independently significantly associated with CAD. Our findings indicate the contribution of HCC to CAD risk is small in an average-risk population and remains after adjustment for multisystem resilience. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Dengue Antibody-Dependent Enhancement: Knowns and Unknowns

Dengue provides the most abundant example in human medicine and the greatest human illness burden caused by the phenomenon of intrinsic antibody-dependent infection enhancement (iADE). In this immunopathological phenomenon infection of monocytes or macrophages using infectious immune complexes suppresses innate antiviral systems, permitting logarithmic intracellular growth of dengue virus. The four dengue viruses evolved from a common ancestor yet retain similar ecology and pathogenicity, but although infection with one virus provides short-term cross-protection against infection with a different type, millions of secondary dengue infections occur worldwide each year. When individuals are infected in the virtual absence of cross-protective dengue antibodies, the dengue vascular permeability syndrome (DVPS) may ensue. This occurs in around 2 to 4% of second heterotypic dengue infections. A complete understanding of the biologic mechanism of iADE, dengue biology, and the mechanism of host responses to dengue infection should lead to a comprehensive and complete understanding of the pathogenesis of DVPS. A crucial emphasis must be placed on understanding ADE. Clinical and epidemiological observations of DVPS define the research questions and provide research parameters. This article will review knowledge related to dengue ADE and point to areas where there has been little research progress. These observations relate to the two stages of dengue illnesses: afferent phenomena are those that promote the success of the microorganism to infect and survive; efferent phenomena are those mounted by the host to inhibit infection and replication and to eliminate the infectious agent and infected tissues. Data will be discussed as "knowns" and "unknowns."
A first principles metal-semiconductor interaction study: Aluminum adsorption on Ga-rich GaAs(100)-(2x1) and beta(4x2) surfaces

Ab initio self-consistent total energy calculations using second order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory and Hay-Wadt effective core potentials with associated basis sets (HWECP's) for gallium and arsenic have been used to investigate the chemisorption properties of atomic aluminum on the Ga-rich GaAs(100)-(2x1) and beta(4x2) surfaces. Finite sized hydrogen saturated clusters with the experimental zinc-blende lattice constant of 5.654 ang. and the energy optimized Ga dimer bond length of 2.758 ang. have been used to model the semiconductor surface. To investigate the effects of the core electrons of aluminum in the adsorption process, we have represented the Al adatom with both HWECP's and an all electron 6-311++G** basis set. Detailed energetics of chemisorption on the (100) surface layer including adsorption beneath the surface layer at an interstitial site are investigated. Mulliken population analysis and highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gaps are reported for all considered sites of chemisorption.
Transmission of the G143A QoI-resistance point mutation through anastomosis in Magnaporthe grisea.

BACKGROUND Soon after the introduction of Qo inhibitor fungicides in 1996, the point mutation leading to the amino acid exchange glycine to alanine at the 143 position of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was identified as the main cause of resistance. The present study describes the role of anastomosis in the transmission of the G143A mutation in Magnaporthe grisea. RESULTS Two M. grisea mutants were co-cultivated on oatmeal agar and also co-inoculated on barley leaves. The mutants differed by the presence of the G143A mutation in one isolate and a disrupted AOX gene by insertion of a hygromycin gene in the other (M-145). Specific resistant (r) or sensitive (s) phenotypes of 409 monosporic cultures were determined on media amended with either hygromycin (H) or azoxystrobin (S) plus SHAM. The phenotypes identified reflected not only the phenotypes of mutants M-145 and G143A but also the wild-type parent phenotype HsSs and a new HrSr isolate. CONCLUSION Identification of the M. grisea phenotypes HrSr and HsSs suggests that anastomosis occurred during co-cultivation and co-inoculation of the mutants M-145 and G143A, allowing the transfer of the G143A point mutation from the QoI-resistant isolate to the susceptible isolate. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
μ-sensitivities as an aid for robust identification

Identification for a model for robust control design is more complicated than for the standard linear system transfer function model-the structure of the uncertainty as well as bounds on its size must be determined. It is especially unclear as to which parts of the system should be better modeled to improve robust performance. This paper addresses this question through some new tools, the μ-sensitivities.
Improving End System Performance for Multimedia Applicationsover High Bandwidth Networks

Digital video services, scientific visualization and other multimedia applications require delivery of high network throughput to end user applications. In this paper we identify bottlenecks in the data path between high-speed networks and applications. Using performance of multimedia applications as a metric, the effectiveness of solutions to reduce network, operating system, and user bottlenecks is explored experimentally.
Characterization of excitatory amino acid receptors expressed by embryonic chick motoneurons in vitro.

We have examined the effect of L-glutamate and other excitatory amino acids on embryonic chick motoneurons maintained in cell culture along with other types of spinal cord cells. When the motoneuron membrane is clamped at -50 mV, glutamate induces a dose-dependent inward current. Although the dose-response curve is hyperbolic with an ED50 of 78 microM, glutamate apparently activates 2 types of receptors on motoneurons. The first, G1, is activated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and aspartate and inhibited by 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (2-APV). The second, G2, is activated by kainate and quisqualate and is not inhibited by 2-APV. At -50 mV, 38% of the glutamate current is due to activation of G1 receptors and the remaining 62% to G2 activation. In contrast to motoneurons grown with other spinal cord cells, sorted motoneurons grown in isolation apparently exhibit only G2 receptor- mediated currents. Both G1 and G2 currents reverse polarity between -10 and -5 mV. However, they could be distinguished when the membrane was hyperpolarized. G2 currents increased but G1 currents decreased when the membrane potential was increased beyond -50 mV. Consistent with the mixed agonist action of glutamate, glutamate currents remained nearly constant on hyperpolarization. No evidence was obtained that the G2 class of receptors on motoneurons could be subdivided: Quisqualate and kainate apparently compete for the same sites; gamma-glutamylglycine blocked quisqualate as effectively as it blocked kainate currents when the different potencies of the 2 agonists were taken into account.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ethylene production, cluster root formation, and localization of iron(III) reducing capacity in Fe deficient squash roots

Dicots and non-graminaceous monocots have the ability to increase root iron(III) reducing capacity in response to iron (Fe) deficiency stress. In squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) seedlings, Fe(III) reducing capacity was quantified during early vegetative growth. When plants were grown in Fe-free solution, the Fe(III) reducing capacity was greatly elevated, reached peak activity on day 4, then declined through day 6. Root ethylene production exhibited a temporal pattern that closely matched that of Fe(III) reducing capacity through day 6. On the 7th day of Fe deficiency, cluster root morphology developed, which coincided with a sharp increase in the root Fe(III) reducing capacity, although ethylene production decreased. Localization of Fe(III) reducing capacity activity was observed during the onset of Fe deficiency and through the development of the root clusters. It was noted that localization shifted from an initial pattern which occurred along the main and primary lateral root axes, excluding the apex, to a final localization pattern in which the reductase appeared only on secondary laterals and cluster rootlets.
High-Rate Oxygen Evolution Reaction on Al-Doped LiNiO2

LiNi0.8 Al0.2 O2 with a higher Ni(3+) /Li(+) ordering, synthesized by the solution-combustion method, gives oxygen-evolution-reaction (OER) activity in alkaline solution that is comparable to that of IrO2 . This confirms that the octahedral-site Ni(IV) /Ni(III) couple in an oxide is an active redox center for the OER with -redox energy pinned at the top of the O-2p bands.
Dosimetric feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging-guided tri-cobalt 60 preoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy for soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the dosimetric differences of delivering preoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity (ESTS) with a teletherapy system equipped with 3 rotating 60 Co sources and a built-in magnetic resonance imaging and with standard linear accelerator (LINAC)‐based IMRT. Methods and materials The primary study population consisted of 9 patients treated with preoperative radiation for ESTS between 2008 and 2014 with LINAC-based static field IMRT. LINAC plans were designed to deliver 50 Gy in 25 fractions to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV). Tri- 60 Co system IMRT plans were designed with ViewRay system software. Results Tri- 60 Co‐based IMRT plans achieved equivalent target coverage and dosimetry for organs at risk (long bone, skin, and skin corridor) compared with LINAC-based IMRT plans. The maximum and minimum PTV doses, heterogeneity indices, and ratio of the dose to 50% of the volume were equivalent for both planning systems. One LINAC plan violated the maximum bone dose constraint, whereas none of the tri- 60 Co plans did. Conclusions Using a tri- 60 Co system, we were able to achieve equivalent dosimetry to the PTV and organs at risk for patients with ESTS compared with LINAC-based IMRT plans. The tri- 60 Co system may be advantageous over current treatment platforms by allowing PTV reduction and by elimination of the additional radiation dose associated with daily image guidance, but this needs to be evaluated prospectively.
Optical potential approach in scattering of hadrons from light nuclei.

A new calculational approach is described which reproduces the Watson multiple scattering series, simplified by neglecting the terms describing the repeated scatterings of a projectile on the same target nucleon. The approach involves solving sets of uncoupled wave equations (Schroedinger or Dirac) with effective optical potentials of the analogous form as the first order optical potential used in the standard impulse approximation optical models. Our approach is particularly suitable in multiple scattering calculations for elastic scattering of hadrons from light nuclei. As an example of the application of the proposed method we evaluated multiple scattering series for the elastic scattering of protons from /sup 4/He with the purpose of assessing the importance of relativistic effects in this reaction.
CUL4B ubiquitin ligase in mouse development: A model for human X-linked mental retardation syndrome?

CUL4B, a member of the cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase family, is frequently mutated in X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) patients. The study by Liu et al. showed that Cul4b plays an essential developmental role in the extra-embryonic tissues, while it is dispensable in the embryo proper during mouse embryogenesis. Viable Cul4b-null mice provide the first animal model to study neuronal and behavioral deficiencies seen in human CUL4B XLMR patients.
Effects of rapid thermal annealing on the device characteristics of quantum well infrared photodetectors

The effect of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on important detector characteristics such as dark current, absolute response, noise, and detectivity is investigated for quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIP) operating in the 8–12 µm wavelength regime. A comprehensive set of experiments is conducted on QWIPs fabricated from both as-grown and annealed multiple-quantum-well structures. RTA is done at an anneal temperature of 850°C for 30 s using an SiO2 encapsulant. In general, a decrease in performance is observed for RTA QWIPs when compared to the as-grown detectors. The peak absolute response of the annealed QWIPs is lower by almost a factor of four, which results in a factor of four decrease in quantum efficiency. In addition, a degraded noise performance results in a detectivity which is five times lower than that of QWIPs using asgrown structures. Theoretical calculations of the absorption coefficient spectrum are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.
Submarine-fan facies associations of the Eocene Butano Sandstone, Santa Cruz mountains, California

The Eocene Butano Sandstone was deposited as a submarine fan in a relatively small, partly restricted basin in a borderland setting. It is possibly as thick as 3000 m and was derived from erosion of nearly Mesozoic granitic and older metamorphic rocks located to the south. Deposition was at lower bathyal to abyssal water depths. The original fan may have been 120-to 160-km long and 80-km wide. Outcrops of submarine-canyon, innerfan, middle-fan, and outer-fan facies associations indicate that the depositional model of Mutti and Ricci Lucchi can be used to describe the Butano Sandstone.
Preparation and preliminary structural studies of the ammonium tris-β-diketonates of some divalent metals

Abstract Chelates of a number of metals have been prepared using 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butadione as the ligand. Mn(II), Fe(II), NI(II), Co(II), Cu(I), Zn(II), Cd(II), La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) and Sm(III) all form compounds consisting of an ammonium ion and an anion made up of the metal surrounded by a number of ligands equal to one more than the oxidation number of the metal. Cu(II), Ba(II) and Pb(II) form, under the same conditions, compounds without the ammonium and only two ligands per metal atom. Initial results of a structural determination of the cadmium chelate by X-ray diffraction indicate six-fold coordination of the metal with six oxygens forming a figure about halfway between a trigonal prism and an octahedron.
Oligocene sediments near Chain Ridge, northwest Indian Ocean: structural implications☆

Abstract A hiatus of 26 m.y. was detected in a 431 cm-long piston core taken from the east flank of Chain Ridge. This hiatus at 356 cm separates nannoplankton chalk of Early Oligocene age from overlying nannoplankton silty clay of Late Pliocene age. An unconformity between Late Pliocene and Pleistocene is marked by a manganese nodule at 278 cm. Mass movement down a slope of 11° initiated by tectonic activity in the area is the best explanation for the 26 m.y. hiatus.
Forced convection in a channel filled with porous medium, including the effects of flow inertia, variable porosity, and Brinkman friction

This paper presents a series of numerical simulations with aim to document the problem of forced convection in a channel filled with a fluid-saturated porous medium. In modeling the flow in the channel, the effects of flow inertia, variable porosity and Brinkman friction are taken into account. Two channel configurations are investigated: parallel plates and circular pipe. In both cases, the channel wall is maintained at constant temperature. It is found that the general flow model predicts an overall enhancement in heat transfer between the fluid/porous matrix composite and the walls, compared to the predictions of the widely used Darcy flow model. This enhancement is reflected in the increase of the value of the Nusselt number. Important results documenting the dependence of the temperature and flow fields in the channel as well as the dependence of the thermal entry length on the problem parameters are also reported in the course of the study.
Swallowing dysfunction after chemoradiation for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Background. Swallowing dysfunction is a common side effect of chemoradiation. Methods. Twelve patients with stage III or IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were enrolled. Videofluorographic swallowing studies were performed before initiation of chemoradiation to provide baseline swallowing function data. Postchemoradiation videofluorographic swallowing studies were performed from 1 to 14 weeks after the completion of treatment (mean, 8 weeks). Results. Changes in swallowing physiology after treatment included decreased base of tongue to posterior pharyngeal wall contact (p = .0010) and reduced pharyngeal contraction (p = .0313), resulting in impaired bolus transport through the pharynx. In addition, decreased laryngeal elevation (p = .0039), decreased laryngeal vestibule closure (p = .0078), and laryngeal penetration (p = .0078) were present. Bolus volume did not have a significant effect on swallowing ability. Aspiration was observed in four patients. Conclusions. Organ preservation treatment impairs movement of structures essential for normal swallowing. Prophylactic swallowing exercises may benefit these patients. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck26: 365–372, 2004
An investigation of the removal of 1-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidinone (NMP)

Molecular bases have long been known to be a problem in photolithographic applications using chemically amplified photoresists. Of these molecular bases, ammonia and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) have been studied in the most detail since chemical filtration of these contaminants is critical to the success of the photolithographic process. It has been well documented that ammonia is best removed through chemisorptive reactions using acid impregnated adsorbents or strong acid ion exchange resins. However, the mechanism(s) for the removal of NMP has not been investigated to any significant extent. There are several chemical filtration systems available that employ activated carbon, impregnated activated carbon, or ion exchange resins for the removal of NMP. This work investigates the removal of NMP using several different types of adsorbents and rationalizes the adsorption mechanism which is operative in each situation.
An inexpensive soap stock conversion plant

The design of an inexpensive, small scale plant for converting soap stock to crude fatty acid has been described. It has a capacity for producing 6 tons of product (90–95 wt. % fatty acid) per day from 4,000 gallons of soap stock feed (35–40 wt. % fatty acid). Installed at a cost of $11,000, the unit investment has proved to range between $7 and $8 per annual ton of product. Operating continuously for the past two years since construction (at varying percentages of capacity), total processing costs have averaged 0.75c per pound of fatty acid product.
Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Nature of Local Sources and Understanding Regional History in Imperial China: Introduction to a theme issue of JESHO

Two important trends in the methodology of historical studies have greatly influenced Chinese history over the last twenty years and have opened up new dimensions in the study of the Chinese Middle Period (eighth through fourteenth centuries). These have been first, the turn to local history, and second, the growing inclination, under the influence of postmodern liter ary analysis, of approaching the content of texts as a matter of subjective discourses rather than as sources of objective data. The four papers in this special issue of JESHO each develop aspects of these trends and point the way to new perspectives on Middle-Period Chinese history.1 They each present a case study of sources for local history and analyze their frag mented discourses. They look closely at what the sources say and what they do not say, and they explore the significance of these inclusions and omis sions. Using a variety of local records, especially gazetteers but also funer
Synthesis and characterization of Na0.3RhO2·0.6H2O—a semiconductor with a weak ferromagnetic component

Abstract We have prepared the oxyhydrate Na 0.3 RhO 2 ·0.6H 2 O by extracting Na + cations from NaRhO 2 and intercalating water molecules using an aqueous solution of Na 2 S 2 O 8 . Rietveld refinement, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) reveal that a non-stoichiometric Na 0.3 (H 2 O) 0.6 network separates layers of edge-sharing RhO 6 octahedra containing Rh 3+ (4d 6 , S =0) and Rh 4+ (4d 5 , S =1/2). The resistivities of NaRhO 2 and Na 0.3 RhO 2 ·0.6H 2 O ( T 0.3 RhO 2 ·0.6H 2 O and NaRhO 2 show paramagnetism at room temperature, however, the sodium-deficient sample exhibits simultaneously a weak but experimentally reproducible ferromagnetic component. Both samples exhibit a temperature-independent Pauli paramagnetism, for NaRhO 2 at T >50 K and for Na 0.3 RhO 2 ·0.6H 2 O at T >25 K. The relative magnitudes of the temperature-independent magnetic susceptibilities, that of the oxide sample being half that of the oxyhydrate, is consistent with a higher density of thermally accessible electron states at the Fermi level in the hydrated sample. At low temperatures the magnetic moments rise sharply, providing evidence of localized and weakly-ordered electronic spins with effective moment per formula unit values of 2.0×10 −1 μ B for NaRhO 2 and 0.8×10 −1 μ B for Na 0.3 RhO 2 ·0.6H 2 O.
The effects of major depression and phobia on stage at diagnosis of breast cancer.

Objective:To examine the longitudinal effects of major depression and phobia on stage at diagnosis of subsequent breast cancer.Method:Data from the New Haven Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study were linked to the Connecticut Tumor Registry (CTR). The sample comprised of seventy-two women with a first primary breast cancer diagnosed sometime after their baseline ECA study interview. In the ECA study, lifetime psychiatric history was assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule based on DSM-III criteria. Stage at diagnosis of breast cancer was taken from CTR records and dichotomized into early stage (in situ and localized tumors) versus late stage (regional and distant tumors).Results:A positive history of major depression was associated with an increased likelihood of late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 9.81, p = 0.039), whereas a positive history of phobic disorders was associated with a decreased likelihood of late-stage diagnosis (OR = 0.01, p = 0.021), controlling for soci...
Training dose and session time as contextual determinants of heroin self-administration in rats.

Abstract In this study a rat self-administration model was used to examine the effects of training dose and time in the session on the dose–effect curve for heroin. Doses of heroin lower than 5.4 μg/inf maintained higher rates of drug intake in animals trained with 5.4 μg/inf compared to 18 μg/inf. Doses greater than 5.4 μg/inf maintained similar rates of intake in both groups of animals. The dose–response curve was shifted downward and to the right as the session progressed for animals trained with 5.4 μg/inf of heroin; however, the shift in the dose–intake curve over the session was less pronounced when the training dose was 18 μg/inf. Naltrexone and naltrindole were administered to animals in which responding was engendered with infusions of 5.4 μg of heroin to determine the effects of these antagonists in the context of time is the session. The potency of naltrexone decreased across the 4 h of the session with a time course that was consistent with literature reports on the elimination kinetics of naltrexone in rat brain. In contrast, there was not a significant interaction between naltrindole dose and session time. Therefore, the rates of heroin intake in rats are dependent not only upon the dose available for self-administration, but upon the session time and training dose as well.
A Role for Brain Stress Systems in Addiction

Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by compulsion to seek and take drugs and has been linked to dysregulation of brain regions that mediate reward and stress. Activation of brain stress systems is hypothesized to be key to the negative emotional state produced by dependence that drives drug seeking through negative reinforcement mechanisms. This review explores the role of brain stress systems (corticotropin-releasing factor, norepinephrine, orexin [hypocretin], vasopressin, dynorphin) and brain antistress systems (neuropeptide Y, nociceptin [orphanin FQ]) in drug dependence, with emphasis on the neuropharmacological function of extrahypothalamic systems in the extended amygdala. The brain stress and antistress systems may play a key role in the transition to and maintenance of drug dependence once initiated. Understanding the role of brain stress and antistress systems in addiction provides novel targets for treatment and prevention of addiction and insights into the organization and function of basic brain emotional circuitry.
Second-order Raman scattering in MgO

Abstract We have applied our recently formulated deformable-ion model, which encompasses both the shell model and the deformation-dipole model, to compute the lattice dynamics of MgO which is in very good overall agreement with the elastic constant, dielectric constant, and neutron scattering data. We use this lattice dynamics in the second-order Raman spectra calculations where the polarizability tensor constants are fitted to the experimental spectra. Our calculated spectra agree quite well with the experimental data.