cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LPS pretreatment protects from hepatic ischemia/reperfusion.

In vivo administration of nonlethal doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to rodents can result in protection from subsequent lethal doses of endotoxin or LPS. We have previously demonstrated that hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) results in a TNF-dependent lung and liver injury and we postulated that pretreatment with sublethal concentrations of LPS prior to hepatic I/R could be protective from this injury. To test this hypothesis, five groups of rats were studied. LPS-I/R received 25 micrograms of LPS i.v. 24 hr prior to I/R, VEH-I/R received an equivalent volume of vehicle iv 24 hr prior to I/R, LPS-LPS received 25 micrograms of LPS i.v. 24 hr prior to sham laparotomy at which time an additional 25 micrograms of LPS was given i.v., VEH-LPS received an equivalent volume of vehicle 24 hr prior to sham laparotomy and 25 micrograms of LPS i.v. immediately prior to sham laparotomy, and SHAM consisted of sham-operated control animals. Peak plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) levels occurred between 30 and 150 min of reperfusion: LPS-I/R = 778 +/- 150 pg/ml (n = 5), VEH-I/R = 145 +/- 46 pg/ml (n = 5), LPS-LPS = 970 +/- 716 pg/ml (n = 4), VEH-LPS = 15,949 +/- 10,937 (n = 5), and SHAM = 3 +/- 1 (n = 5). As previously demonstrated by other investigators, pretreatment with LPS decreases TNF release in response to a second dose of LPS; however, TNF release was increased following hepatic I/R in those animals pretreated with LPS (LPS-I/R vs VEH-I/R, P = 0.014).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
New directions for cognitive therapy: A schema-focused approach

Personality disorders are among the most difficult to treat and most frequently encountered problems presented to clinicians. When working with these individuals, it is imperative to have a sound conceptualization and thorough plan for treatment. The conceptualization and treatment plan for a 26-year-old female diagnosed with major depression and borderline personality disorder (BPD) is based on Jeffrey Young's model (1994) , schema-focused therapy, an integration of cognitive therapy (CT) with gestalt and object relations techniques. It extends traditional CT developed by Beck, Rush, Shaw, and Emery (1979) by placing greater emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, affective experience, and the linking of early life experiences to present-day problems (Young). This model and treatment approach was developed for character disorders, including BPD, as these individuals often showed a less favorable response to traditional CT. Anna appears to be an appropriate patient for the use of this treatment approach, as she reports long-standing interpersonal problems, severe levels of depression and anxiety, and chronic feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. This paper will outline the schema-focused model of CT and demonstrate how this approach can be applied and tailored to Anna.
Can a Teacher Intervention Improve Classroom Practices and Student Motivation in Mathematics

Abstract Classroom practices believed to affect student motivation were assessed for 24 upper elementary school teachers during a unit on fractions. Two groups of mathematics “reform-minded” teachers participated in professional development programs—in either an intensive intervention or an intervention involving primarily teacher support. A 3rd group of teachers implemented traditional, textbased instruction and was not involved in any intervention. For most practices assessed, the 2 reform-minded groups of teachers did not differ significantly from each other, but both differed from the traditional teachers. The reform-minded teachers emphasized effort, mastery, and understanding more; encouraged student autonomy more; and created a psychologically safer environment than the traditional teachers did. The teachers in the intensive intervention, which included training in motivation, made more accurate judgments of students' motivation than the other reform-minded teachers did. There was modest evidence t...
Need for Orientation, Selective Exposure, and Attribute Agenda-Setting Effects

This study explores the ability of an interaction between need for orientation (NFO) and selective exposure to explain citizen's motivations to seek information from specific media sources and the consequences of this behavior for attribute agenda-setting effects. It draws important conceptual distinctions between the two moderate NFO categories, distinguishing active involvement NFO (high relevance and low uncertainty) from passive involvement NFO (low relevance and high uncertainty). The results suggest that in a political context, people with active involvement NFO are more likely to seek ideologically congruent media sources and more likely to adopt the media's attribute agenda. This study implies that at the second-level agenda setting, the salience of issue or object attributes on the media agenda is more likely to strengthen preexisting attitudes for people with high political interest and strong partisan identity.
PREGNANCY : A CLUE TO NORMAL REGULATION OF B LYMPHOPOIESIS

The large-scale production of lymphocytes in the bone marrow reflects a delicate balance between positive and negative regulatory signals. For instance, interleukin 7 (IL-7) provides a positive signal, and appears to be both essential and limiting in the mouse. However, much less is understood concerning the negative molecular signals that may limit the output of lymphocytes. Here, Paul Kincade and colleagues discuss how a chance observation with pregnant mice revealed that sex steroids can act as negative regulators of B lymphopoiesis, and may do so under normal steady-state conditions.
Organic Nanoparticles Whose Size and Rigidity Are Finely Tuned by Cross-Linking the End Groups of Dendrimers

Dendrimers with molecular weights ranging from ca. 2700 to 11 000 and from 16 to 64 homoallyl ether end groups were cross-linked using the Grubbs ring-closing metathesis reaction. A combination of SEC, MALDI-TOF-MS, and AFM were used to characterize the cross-linked nanoparticles. The data suggest a significant decrease in volume with cross-linking and a concomitant increase in rigidity, both of which can be controlled independently with a fair degree of precision.
An extended finite element method for modeling near-interfacial crack propagation in a layered structure

Abstract The extended finite element method (XFEM) is applied for the simulation of near-interfacial crack propagation in a metal–ceramic layered structure. An experimental evidence indicates that, in a ceramic–metal–ceramic sandwich structure, a near-interfacial crack in the ceramic layer can be drawn to or deflect away from the metal layer depending on the difference in elastic properties across the interface. To model near-interfacial fracture, only the Heaviside functions are used for the XFEM, and the vector level set method is employed for efficient evaluation of the enrichment functions. The crack propagation paths predicted by the XFEM simulation are found to be consistent with the experimental observation.
“Crazy Woman Juice”: Making Sense of Women's Clomiphene Infertility Treatments

Approved for clinical use in the United States in 1967, clomiphene citrate is now the most commonly used medication to treat women with various infertility diagnoses or unexplained infertility. The majority of medical researchers have reported few side effects, yet, over the past 40 years, a few case reports and qualitative studies, as well as one quantitative study, have linked clomiphene to severe mood disorders. My analysis is based on interviews with 12 women who recently received clomiphene citrate drug therapy for infertility; eight of these women experienced severe psychological side effects. The respondents methodically drew on personal observations to attribute their mood disturbances to clomiphene and described their frustrations with what they perceived as healthcare providers’ lack of knowledge and communication about clomiphene side effects. These women's larger, structural feminist critiques of clomiphene usage are revealed in reference to sociocultural norms of the importance of motherhood,...
Endovascular surgery for proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms: an analysis of Glasgow Outcome Score by Hunt-Hess grades.

Objective Proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms represent a subset of posterior circulation aneurysms that can be routinely treated with either clipping or coiling. The literature contains limited numbers of patients with proximal PICA aneurysms treated with endovascular surgery. We report our experience with endovascular surgery of proximal PICA aneurysms with emphasis on patients with poor Hunt-Hess grades. Methods We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with proximal PICA aneurysms who were treated with endovascular surgery. The following data were analyzed: age, sex, size of aneurysm, Hunt-Hess grade at presentation, Fisher grade at presentation, angiographic result after embolization, complications, number of days hospitalized, duration of follow-up, angiographic follow-up results, and Glasgow Outcome Score at follow-up. Results Excellent angiographic occlusion was achieved in 30 of 31 (97%) patients. Clinical follow-up with Glasgow Outcome Score was performed on every patient an average of 10 months later. Twenty-one of 31 (68%) patients had good outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Score I or II) at follow-up. Of the patients who presented with a favorable clinical grade (Hunt-Hess 0-III), 13 of 15 (87%) had good outcomes at follow-up. Of the patients who presented with a poor clinical grade (Hunt-Hess Grade IV or higher), 8 of 16 (50%) had good outcomes at follow-up. Conclusion This series demonstrates the safety and efficacy of endovascular surgery for proximal PICA aneurysms. Many patients with poor Hunt-Hess grades from ruptured PICA aneurysms ultimately had a good outcome. This could be secondary to early, aggressive treatment of hydrocephalus and the minimally invasive nature of the endovascular approach.
A Meta-analysis of Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Dyslexia

Reading and phonological processing deficits have been the primary focus of neuroimaging studies addressing the neurologic basis of developmental dyslexia, but to date there has been no objective assessment of the consistency of these findings. To address this issue, spatial coordinates reported in the literature were submitted to two parallel activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analyses. First, a meta-analysis including 96 foci from nine publications identified regions where typical readers are likely to show greater activation than dyslexics: two left extrastriate areas within BA 37, precuneus, inferior parietal cortex, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, and left inferior frontal gyrus. Right hemisphere ALE foci representing hypoactivity in dyslexia were found in the fusiform, postcentral, and superior temporal gyri. To identify regions in which dyslexic subjects reliably show greater activation than controls, 75 foci from six papers were entered into a second meta-analysis. Here ALE results revealed hyperactivity associated with dyslexia in right thalamus and anterior insula. These findings suggest that during the performance of a variety of reading tasks, normal readers activate left-sided brain areas more than dyslexic readers do, whereas dyslexia is associated with greater right-sided brain activity. The most robust result was in left extrastriate cortex, where hypoactivity associated with dyslexia was found. However, the ALE maps provided no support for cerebellar dysfunction, nor for hyperactivity in left frontal cortex in dyslexia, suggesting that these findings, unlike those described above, are likely to be more varied in terms of their reproducibility or spatial location.
The silapinacol rearrangement: conversion of α,β-dihydroxysilanes into α-silyl carbonyl compounds

Abstract Treatment of α,β-dihydroxysilanes with trifluoroacetic acid in chloroform results in a 1,2-migration of the silyl group to give α-silyl aldehydes and ketones. The t -butyldimethylsilyl compounds can be isolated in high yields.
Automated Force Field Parameterization for Nonpolarizable and Polarizable Atomic Models Based on Ab Initio Target Data

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on atomistic models are increasingly used to study a wide range of biological systems. A prerequisite for meaningful results from such simulations is an accurate molecular mechanical force field. Most biomolecular simulations are currently based on the widely used AMBER and CHARMM force fields, which were parametrized and optimized to cover a small set of basic compounds corresponding to the natural amino acids and nucleic acid bases. Atomic models of additional compounds are commonly generated by analogy to the parameter set of a given force field. While this procedure yields models that are internally consistent, the accuracy of the resulting models can be limited. In this work, we propose a method, general automated atomic model parameterization (GAAMP), for generating automatically the parameters of atomic models of small molecules using the results from ab initio quantum mechanical (QM) calculations as target data. Force fields that were previously ...
Molecular genetics of melanocytic neoplasia: practical applications for diagnosis

Pathology is the gold standard for the diagnosis of skin cancer. However, despite morphological criteria that have been constantly refined, there remain areas in which histopathological analysis does not permit an unequivocal diagnosis. Among these, problems most frequently arise with melanocytic lesions. This article reviews recent molecular studies that have revealed differences in the pattern of chromosomal aberrations between naevi and melanoma that could become relevant as adjunctive diagnostic methods in the future.
The moral work of teaching and teacher education: Preparing and supporting practitioners

The Moral Work of Teaching and Teacher Education: Preparing and Supporting Practitioners, edited by Matthew N. Sanger and Richard D. Osguthorpe, is a compilation of essays highlighting diverse appr...
Thermoluminescence dosimetry— Environmental applications

Progress in the application of thermoluminescence dosimetry to environmental measurements is reviewed. A brief history is presented, the state-of-the-art (based primarily on the series of International Intercomparisons of Environmental Dosimeters) is described, and developments in applicable national and international standards are summarized. Key problems of environmental measurements are discussed including transit exposures, energy dependence, calibration methods, packaging and temperature-related effects, error assessment, and isolation of an exposure component of interest.
A nucleation-and-growth model

We consider the following simple nucleation-and-growth model. On the lattice ℤ d , starting with all sites unoccupied, a site becomes occupied at rate e −ℬΓ if it has no occupied neighbors, at rate ɛ= e −βγ if it has 1 occupied neighbor, and at rate 1 if it has 2 or more occupied neighbors. Occupied sites remain occupied forever. The parameters Γ≧γ are fixed, and we are interested in the behavior of the system as β→∞. We show that the relaxation time of this system scales as e βκc , where κ c = max{γ,( Γ + γ)/(d+1)}.
THE BOLIVIAN SPECIES OF VERNONIA

Rapid progress has been made in extending knowledge of the flora of Bolivia during the past quarter-century. Bang and Buchtien, stationed in the country, have distributed numerous specimens, several European botanists have collected in it, particularly along its southern boundary, and the expeditions of Rusby, Williams, and White have been especially productive. While many parts of its great extent are practically unknown botanically and will doubtless yield many unreported species, it may be desirable to summarize the species of Vernonia so far as they are at present represented at the New York Botanical Garden. This vast genus is greatly developed in southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, where it forms one of the most important components of the flora. These areas have mostly been approached from the east, and it is not known how many of their species extend westward into Bolivia. Another center of development is along the Andean chain of mountains, from Colombia to Bolivia. Since the mountainous portion of Bolivia has been more thoroughly botanized than the eastern portion of the country, the species of this general distribution and relationship are better known. Lying at the western limits of the Vernoniae of the Brazilian center, and at the southern extremity of those of the Andean region, Bolivia exhibits only the end results of evolution, and the species give little clue accordingly to their mutual relationships within the genus. The following arrangement of species may need considerable revision after careful study has been made of the probable evolution of the Brazilian species. The three sections Stenocephalum, Critoniopsis, and Lepidaploa have been distinguished on the usual morphological characters. Within the last-named section, groups have been segregated according to the inflorescence, since experience with North American species has indicated that this character may be of great evolutionary importance. Thanks are due to Dr. William R. Maxon for the loan of material from the Buchtien Herbarium, recently acquired by the National Museum.
Controlled delivery of antibodies against leukocyte adhesion molecules from polymer matrices

Abstract The interaction between infected leukocytes and mucosal epithelia is likely to play a critical role in the sexual transmission of certain diseases. It may be possible to prevent the transmission of intracellular pathogens by inhibiting leukocyte-epithelial interactions. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against leukocyte adhesion receptors can provide specific and potent inhibition of leukocyte-epithelial interactions, but systemic delivery of such MAbs is not desirable; therefore, a new method for local delivery of anti-adhesion MAbs to an exposed mucosal surface was developed using polymeric controlled-release devices. To evaluate the prophylactic potential of MAbs, leukocyte adhesion to the apical surface of a monolayer of T84 cells was examined in the presence of MAbs against human leukocyte surface proteins. MAbs against the MAC-1 adhesion receptor inhibited neutrophil attachment to T84 cells by as much as 97%. MAbs against murine leukocyte receptors were produced from several hybridomas and incorporated into poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVAc) devices. During incubation in buffered saline, small polymer discs continuously released active MAbs for 10 days. After insertion into the vaginal canals of mice, these polymer disks produced high levels of anti-MAC-1 MAb for several days. Polymeric controlled-release devices provide a new technique for using MAbs against adhesion receptors as a means of long-term, localized sexually transmitted disease (STD) prophylaxis.
The influence of coating compliance on the delamination of thermal barrier coatings

Abstract Low relative density yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings have been deposited on NiCoCrAlY over-lay bond-coated Hastelloy-X substrates by an electron beam-directed vapor deposition (EB-DVD) method. The coatings have been applied to both roughened and smooth bond coat surfaces. During thermal cycling, those deposited on roughened surfaces spalled by delamination with the failure located in the YSZ layer close to the thermally-grown oxide (TGO). The cracks were initiated at “corn kernel” defects in the YSZ layer by a bond coat rumpling mechanism. Coatings applied to smooth bond coat surfaces had much longer (factor of two) spallation lifetimes and delamination occurred at the bond coat/TGO interface by the nucleation and coalescence of interfacial voids. In both cases, the delamination lifetime decreased with coating density and significantly exceeded the lifetimes of higher density coatings made by conventional electron beam deposition methods. The enhanced life of the more porous coatings is consistent with an increased compliance. This reduces the YSZ layers stored strain energy contribution to the driving force for interface delamination.
Gestures Orchestrate Brain Networks for Language Understanding

Although the linguistic structure of speech provides valuable communicative information, nonverbal behaviors can offer additional, often disambiguating cues. In particular, being able to see the face and hand movements of a speaker facilitates language comprehension [1]. But how does the brain derive meaningful information from these movements? Mouth movements provide information about phonological aspects of speech [2-3]. In contrast, cospeech gestures display semantic information relevant to the intended message [4-6]. We show that when language comprehension is accompanied by observable face movements, there is strong functional connectivity between areas of cortex involved in motor planning and production and posterior areas thought to mediate phonological aspects of speech perception. In contrast, language comprehension accompanied by cospeech gestures is associated with tuning of and strong functional connectivity between motor planning and production areas and anterior areas thought to mediate semantic aspects of language comprehension. These areas are not tuned to hand and arm movements that are not meaningful. Results suggest that when gestures accompany speech, the motor system works with language comprehension areas to determine the meaning of those gestures. Results also suggest that the cortical networks underlying language comprehension, rather than being fixed, are dynamically organized by the type of contextual information available to listeners during face-to-face communication.
Mechanical phenomena accompanying the structure formation of reinforced polymer materials

A systemic approach to the processing of reinforced polymers into articles is outlined. The structuralstate parameter of the polymer matrix is introduced, and used to model mechanical phenomena, taking into account that the conversion fields are frontal for the whole technological cycle as a continuous process. By postulating the principles of temperature-time analogy and homogeneous equivalence, the problem is reduced to coupled boundary problems of thermokinetics and hereditary viscoelasticity.
Reliability of the Function in Sitting Test (FIST)

The function in sitting test (FIST) is a newly developed, performance-based measure examining deficits in seated postural control. The FIST has been shown to be internally consistent and valid in persons with neurological dysfunction but intra- and interrater reliability and test-retest reliability have not been previously described. Seven patients with chronic neurologic dysfunction were tested and videotaped performing the FIST on two consecutive days. Seventeen acute care and inpatient rehabilitation physical therapist raters scored six of the videotaped performance of the FIST on two occasions at least 2 weeks apart. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to calculate the test-retest and intra- and interrater reliability of the FIST. ICC of 0.97 (95% CI 0.847–0.995) indicated excellent test-retest reliability of the FIST. Intra- and interrater reliability was also excellent with ICCs of 0.99 (95% CI 0.994–0.997) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.988–0.994), respectively. Physical therapists and other rehabilitation professionals can confidently use the FIST in a variety of clinical practice and research settings due to its favorable reliability characteristics. More studies are needed to describe the responsiveness and minimal clinically important level of change in FIST scores to further enhance clinical usefulness of this measure.
A comparison of student outcomes with and without teacher facilitated computer-based instruction

The SuccessMaker computer-based instructional package can be used to improve the academic outcomes of disruptive students when intervention is teacher facilitated. Over a 2-year period, 215 participants identified as disruptive student were involved in a naturalistic quasi-experimental design in which independent sample t-tests were employed to determined differences between comparisons (Group I) and interventions (Group II) on psychosocial and academic measures. A significant difference (P> 0.05) was found between Group I and Group II on locus of control and grade point average at the end of the first grading period subsequent to the intervention. The difference in grade point averages was suspected to be attributed to the average amount of time spent on two curriculum areas, math and science, within the 14 academic areas that comprise the SuccessMaker computerized program. Evidence from this study provides hope that teacher facilitation with computer-based instruction (CBI) may be the key to improving locus of control and grade point averages of disruptive students.
Extracting ordinal temporal trail clusters in networks using symbolic time-series analysis

Temporal trails generated by agents traveling to various locations at different time epochs are becoming more prevalent in large social networks. We propose an algorithm to intuitively cluster groups of such agent trails from networks. The proposed algorithm is based on modeling each trail as a probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA). The algorithm also allows the specification of the required degree of similarity between the trails by specifying the depth of the PFSA. Hierarchical agglomerative clustering is used to group trails based on their representative PFSA and the locations that they visit. The algorithm was applied to simulated trails and real-world network trails obtained from merchant marine ships GPS locations. In both cases it was able to intuitively detect and extract the underlying patterns in the trails and form clusters of similar trails.
Sinc collocation in quantum chemistry: Solving the planar coulomb Schrödinger equation

Dirac bra-ket notation is introduced for the Whittaker cardinal (Sinc) functions and a previously unreported completeness relation for these quantities is presented and derived. With the use of this completeness relation it becomes simple to transform to a Sinc-basis the eigenvalue equations arising from a light-cone quantization of field theory or the similar equations occurring in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. The simplicity and power of Sinc-function expansions is illustrated by computation of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the position-space planar Coulomb equation, a problem for which convergence has not been achieved by a variety of other computational methods. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sensitivity of Calibration Gains to Ocean Color Processing in Coastal and Open Waters Using Ensembles Members for NPP-VIIRS

The sensitivity of ocean color products to variations in vicarious calibration gains at Top of Atmosphere (TOA) shows varying impacts in different water types for Suomi- NPP VIIRS. Blue water vicarious gains from MOBY in situ data, which is used for global open waters, and green water gains derived from complex coastal WaveCIS AERONET waters, have a different impact on spectral normalized water leaving radiances and the derived ocean color products (inherent optical properties, chlorophyll). We evaluated the influence of gains from open and coastal waters by establishing a set of ensemble-processed products. The TOA gains show a non-linear impact on derived ocean color products, since gains affect multiple ocean color processing algorithms such as atmospheric correction, NIR iterations, etc. We show how the variations within the ensemble TOA gain members spatially impact derived products from different water types (high CDOM, high backscattering, etc). The difference in color products derived from the Blue and Green water gain show a spatial distribution to characterize the product uncertainty in coastal and open ocean water types. The results of the ensemble gain members are evaluated with in situ matchups. Results suggest the sensitivity of the ocean color processing for open ocean verses coastal waters.
Large-Angle in-Plane Light Scattering from Rough Surfaces: Comment.

A recent paper by Karabacak et al. [Appl. Opt.39, 4658 (2000)], which discussed the scattering from rough surfaces in directions out of the plane of incidence, exhibited an error in the derivation of a polarization factor. An asymmetry in the scattering function for directions out of the plane of incidence and for circularly polarized incident light is predicted by the correct derivation of this factor and can be observed in their data.
Characterization of a cDNA encoding a 34-kDa Purkinje neuron protein recognized by sera from patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Abstract Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is a neurological disorder of unknown cause occurring in patients with an identified or occult cancer. An autoimmune etiology is likely since autoantibodies directed against the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum have been found in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of some patients. Two Purkinje cell-specific antigens are recognized by these autoantibodies, a major antigen of 62 kDa (CDR 62, cerebellar degeneration-related 62-kDa protein) and a minor antigen of 34 kDa (CDR 34). Our previous studies have described the isolation and characterization of a human cerebellar cDNA that encodes an epitope recognized by sera from patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. We have now established by two independent methods that this gene is uniquely expressed in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum and corresponds to the minor antigen CDR 34. This antigen is also expressed in tumor tissue from a patient with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.
Acute myocardial infarction during a prolonged allergic reaction to penicillin.

Abstract A case of prolonged sensitivity reaction to penicillin complicated by acute myocardial infarction is presented. Since the patient recovered, one can only speculate as to the mechanism involved.
Intracellular signal transduction of cells in response to carcinogenic metals

Abstract Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that several metals and metal-containing compounds are potent mutagens and carcinogens. These metals include chromium, arsenic, vanadium, nickel, and others. During the last two decades, chemical and cellular studies have contributed enormously to our understanding of the mechanisms of metal-induced pathophysiological processes. Although each of these metals is unique in its mechanism of action, some common signaling molecules, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), may be shared by many of the carcinogenic metals. New techniques are now available to reveal the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in precise molecular terms. In this review, we focused our attentions on carcinogenic metal-induced signal transduction pathways leading to the activation of NF-κB, cell apoptosis and cell cycle progression, three crucial steps or events involved in the transformation and carcinogenesis. This review summarizes current knowledge and our recent studies concerning intracellular signal transduction pathways initiated by carcinogenic metals and the cross-talk that occurs among these pathways in cells in response to metals.
Dimensions of Militarization in the Third World

Observers increasingly have expressed concern about what has been described as the militarization of the Third World. Yet it is seldom clear what is meant by the term. This paper represents an atte...
Ground State Depleted (GSD) Solid State Lasers: Principles, Characteristics, And Scaling

A novel class of rare earth doped solid state lasers is described. The Ground State Depleted (GSD) laser is pumped by an intense (>tens kW/cm 2 ) narrowband ( 18 ions/cc or >75%), (3) a gain element that is optically thick at the pump wavelength, (4) a gain element that has a substantially uniform gain distribution due to a bleaching of the pump transition at the pump intensity utilized. These features enable efficient room temperature operation of rare earth ion laser transitions terminating on the ground manifold. The relationships between laser parameters (cross sections, saturation fluences and fluxes, bleaching wave velocities, etc.) are given and laser performance scaling relationships are presented and discussed.
Nanoscale Silicon Photonic Networks-on-Chip for Multicore Processors Communications

We explore how recent advances in nanoscale silicon photonic technologies can be exploited for developing on-chip optical interconnection networks that address the bandwidth and power challenges presented for the communications infrastructure in multicore processors.
Regeneration of ciliary comb plates in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. i. morphology

Regeneration of missing body parts in model organisms provides information on the mechanisms underlying the regeneration process. The aim here is to use ctenophores to investigate regeneration of their giant ciliary swimming plates. When part of a row of comb plates on Mnemiopsis is excised, the wound closes and heals, greatly increasing the distance between comb plates near the former cut edges. Video differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy of the regeneration of new comb plates between widely separated plates shows localized widenings of the interplate ciliated groove (ICG) first, followed by growth of two opposing groups of comb plate cilia on either side. The split parts of a new plate elongate as their bases extend laterally away from the ICG widening and continue ciliogenesis at both ends. The split parts of a new plate grow longer and move closer together into the ICG widening until they merge into a single plate that interrupts the ICG in a normal manner. Video DIC snapshots of dissected gap preparations 1.5-3-day postoperation show that ICG widenings and/or new plates do not all appear at the same time or with uniform spacing within a gap: the lengths and distances between young plates in a gap are quite variable. Video stereo microscopy of intact animals 3-4 days after the operation show that all the new plates that will form in a gap are present, fairly evenly spaced and similar in length, but smaller and closer together than normal. Normal development of comb plates in embryos and growing animals is compared to the pattern of comb plate regeneration in adults. Comb plate regeneration differs in the cydippid Pleurobrachia that lacks ICGs and has a firmer mesoglea than Mnemiopsis. This study provides a morphological foundation for histological, cellular, and molecular analysis of ciliary regeneration in ctenophores.
Microappendages on the ventral surface of the primitive streak chick embryo

Fresh pullet eggs (White Leghorn Strain) were incubated to obtain the primitive streak stage of development. Blastoderms were fixed in situ with isotonic aldehyde fixatives and prepared for scanning electron microscopy by means of postosmication, critical point drying and gold-palladium coating. The ventral surface of the chick blastoderm exhibits extreme pleomorphism. There is variation among microappendages (microvilli, blebs, ruffles) which tend to define cellular outlines. In recessed areas adjacent to the ventrolateral aspect of the primitive streak microappendages are present in great profusion. Here clusters of them possess intricate physical relationships. Microvilli may arise from either blebs or ruffles. Other microvilli may terminate in blebs. Extensive connecting structures are present. The primitive streak chick embryo is discussed as a model for the study of microappendages of the plasmalemma.
SU-E-T-52: Beam Data Comparison for 20 Linear Accelerators in One Network

Purpose: To compare photon beam data for the 20 Varian linear accelerators (TrueBeam, iX, and EX models) in use at five centers in the same network with the intent to model with one set of beam data in Eclipsec. Methods: Varian linear accelerators, TrueBeam (3), 21 EX, iX, and Trilogy (14), and 6 EX (3), installed between 1999 and 2014 have their 6 MV and 15 MV x-ray beams reevaluated. Full commissioning, including output factors (St), percent depth doses (PDD), and off-axis profiles, was recently performed for a TrueBeam with a cc04 ion chamber in an IBA Blue phantom. Similarly, a subset of beam data for each of the other accelerators was measured recently as follows: for 3×3, 10×10, and 30×30 cm{sup 2} field sizes, flatness and penumbra (80–20%) were measured at dmax and 10 cm depths, PDD were measured at 10 and 20 cm depths, and St were measured at 5 cm depth. Measurement results for all machines were compared. Results: For 15 high-energy (6 and 15 MV) and 3 low-energy machines (6MV only): 1) PDD agreed within 1.4% at 10 and 20 cm depths; 2) penumbra agreed within 1.0 mm at dmax and 10 cm depths; 3) flatnessmore » was within 1.3% at dmax and 10 cm depths; and 4) with exception of the three low energy machines, output factors were within 1.1% and 0.5% for 3×3 and 30×30 cm{sup 2}, respectively. Measurement uncertainty, not quantified here, accounts for some of these differences. Conclusion: Measured beam data from 15 high-energy Varian linacs are consistent enough that they can be classified using one beam data set in Eclipse. Two additional high-energy machines are removed from this group until their data are further confirmed. Three low-energy machines will be in a separate class based upon differences in output factors (St)« less
Effects of muscular anchorage appliances on deficient mandibular arch length

Abstract Four cases have been reported to illustrate the change in arch length and the improvement in arch form that can be achieved with the use of a mandibular muscle anchorage appliance (lip bumper). In selected patients with crowded lower arches, the use of such an appliance, properly timed and in conjunction with an accurate diagnosis and complete records, can eliminate the need for extraction.
Bone mineral and collagen quality in iliac crest biopsies of patients given teriparatide: new results from the fracture prevention trial.

Context: Evidence suggests that both bone mineral density and bone quality should be taken into account when assessing bone strength and fracture risk. Bone quality is a multifactor entity, of which bone architecture and material properties are two important components. Matrix mineralization, hydroxyapatite characteristics, and collagen cross-link ratio are key determinants of material properties. Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) yields data on these characteristics from bone sections. Objective: We sought to determine collagen cross-link ratios and matrix mineralization of bone from patients randomized to teriparatide [recombinant human PTH (1–34)] treatment using FTIRI. Design: The Fracture Prevention Trial was randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled. Setting: The trial was conducted at global clinical research centers. Patients: Patients consisted of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive daily sc injections of placebo (n = 12) or 2...
Reproduction in the brown house snake, Lamprophis fuliginosus, from Tanzania

The brown house snake, Lamprophis fuliginosus, is one of the most common and widespread African snakes, ranging from southern Africa up to Senegal in the west and to Eritrea and Sudan in the east (Broadley 1983). Some reproductive data on this species are available in the literature as it readily breeds in captivity. However, these records usually incorporate information obtained for single females from several years or females from various localities (Haagner 1987).
Full-scale reinforced concrete bridge bent condition assessment using forced vibration testing

Recent research has been conducted at Utah State University regarding the ability to assess the condition of a reinforced concrete bridge bent. Three full-scale, in-situ, reinforced concrete bridge bents were tested and modeled through varying states of damage. Each bent was initially tested in an undamaged state using a horizontal sine-sweep test. The forced-vibration testing was achieved using an eccentric mass shaker. The structures were tested in the frequencies ranging from 1.0 Hz to 20.0 Hz in increments of 0.05 Hz. A known amount of damage was inflicted upon each bent for two separate states. The sine-sweep test was re-administered for each damage state. The changes in dynamic characteristics, such as frequencies and mode shapes, were noted from state to state. Detailed finite element models were constructed to match the changes in dynamic characteristics of each bent for each state. This was achieved by matching the severity and location of the structural damage of the model to the field structures. Decreases in structural stiffness were detected with modal analysis. The models were consistent in matching the changes of the field structures. A method was devised for locating possible regions of structural damage.
Mortality by Medication Use Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 1996–2003

Background & Aims: Most previous population-based studies of mortality in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) did not account for medication use. We evaluated mortality by IBD medication use among members of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California IBD Registry. Methods: The retrospective, population-based cohort study included 9032 persons who received at least one inpatient or 2 outpatient diagnoses of IBD during 1996–2002. Age and sex standardized mortality ratios measured the associations between IBD and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Age, sex, and smoking adjusted odds ratios measured the association of mortality by IBD medication use. Results: Compared with health plan members without IBD, mortality was increased in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) (1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–1.6) but not ulcerative colitis (UC) (1.0; 95% CI, 0.9–1.2). CD was associated with increased mortality from infectious and parasitic diseases (4.1; 95% CI, 1.7–8.5), septicemia (6.8; 95% CI, 2.2–15.8), small intestinal cancer (48.1; 95% CI, 5.8–17.4), respiratory diseases (1.9; 95% CI, 1.3–2.7), digestive diseases other than IBD (2.4; 95% CI, 1.0–4.8), and liver diseases (2.6; 95% CI, 1.0–5.3). UC was associated with increased mortality from digestive diseases other than IBD (3.9; 95% CI, 2.4–6.0). The relationship with CD mortality was 0.7 for aminosalicylates (95% CI, 0.5–1.1), 1.3 (95% CI, 0.9–1.9) for immunomodulators, and 1.0 (95% CI, 0.7–1.4) for corticosteroids. Among patients with UC, these odds ratios were 0.8 (95% CI, 0.5–1.1) for aminosalicylates, 0.5 (95% CI, 0.3–0.9) for immunomodulators, and 0.8 (95% CI, 0.6–1.1) for corticosteroids. Conclusions: Mortality is increased in CD. Infections, respiratory diseases, and digestive diseases are important specific causes of death. IBD medication use has varying associations with mortality.
Optical second harmonic generation as a probe of hydrogen evolution on copper

Abstract Optical second harmonic generation is used to monitor the surface coverage of H atoms during the electrocatalytic reaction of hydrogen evolution on copper. The overall reaction mechanism, for weakly acidic electrolytes, is identified by analyzing the optically derived relative coverage data. Results indicate a steady state reaction with simple Langmuir type of adsorption kinetics. While these details of the reaction are difficult to detect electrochemically, it is demonstrated here how second harmonic generation can be employed as an ideally suited technique for this purpose.
Monitoring Endocrine Function

This article reviews current knowledge concerning the monitoring of endocrine function in patients in the clinical setting. Monitoring techniques are discussed and literature is reviewed regarding diabetes mellitus, thyroid, and parathyroid disorders, pheochromocytoma, adrenal insufficiency, and carcinoid tumors.
The Reissner-Sagoci problem for a non-homogeneous solid☆

Abstract This note contains an analysis, exact within the context of the conventional theory of elasticity, of the state of stress and deformation induced in a non-homogeneous, isotropic, elastic half-space when a circular part of its bounding plane is subjected to axisymmetric twisting deformation. The shear modulus of the material is assumed to vary with the depth coordinate but Poisson's ratio remains constant. For semiinfinite medium the method of Hankel transform is employed while in case of long circular cylinder of finite radius, a dual-series form of solution is adopted to reduce the mixed-boundary conditions to a standard Fredholm integral equation which is then solved by iteration.
An Update on Peptide Drugs for Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels

Voltage-gated calcium channels are one of the major ion channels distributed in the human central nervous system, and mediate an influx of extracellular Ca(2+) in response to membrane depolarization. Calcium channels are of particular interest in a broad range of cellular functions including cell proliferation and differentiation, gene expression, neurite outgrowth, transmitter and hormone release, and brain plasticity. The dysfunction of calcium channels is related to a variety of clinical disorders such as migraine, hemiplegia, and epilepsy. Therefore, calcium channels have gained great pharmaceutical interest as a privileged target class for the treatment of a wide range of human diseases. This review will examine the known marketed peptide drugs for calcium channels and address the development of some important patented peptide molecules targeting calcium channels.
Mechanical properties of molybdenum disilicide based materials consolidated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP)

The influence of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) consolidation parameters on the mechanical properties of molybdenum disilicide (MoSi[sub 2]) and MoSi[sub 2] reinforced with ductile and brittle reinforcements was studied. MoSi[sub 2], MoSi[sub 2]-20 vol.% coarse and fine niobium powder and MoSi[sub 2]-20 vol.% silicon carbide whiskers consolidated by HIP at 1,200--1,400 C, 207 MPa, for 1 and 4 h were tested in compression for elevated temperature strength and creep resistance. Single-edge-notched specimens of the three materials were tested in a three-point bend configuration for fracture toughness. Mechanical properties were related with consolidation parameters and post-HIP microstructures.
Health information technology vendor selection strategies and total factor productivity.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare health information technology (HIT) adoption strategies' relative performance on hospital-level productivity measures. Data sources The American Hospital Association's Annual Survey and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Analytics for fiscal years 2002 through 2007 were used for this study. Study design A two-stage approach is employed. First, a Malmquist model is specified to calculate hospital-level productivity measures. A logistic regression model is then estimated to compare the three HIT adoption strategies' relative performance on the newly constructed productivity measures. Principal findings The HIT vendor selection strategy impacts the amount of technological change required of an organization but does not appear to have either a positive or adverse impact on technical efficiency or total factor productivity. Conclusions The higher levels in technological change experienced by hospitals using the best of breed and best of suite HIT vendor selection strategies may have a more direct impact on the organization early on in the process. However, these gains did not appear to translate into either increased technical efficiency or total factor productivity during the period studied. Over a longer period, one HIT vendor selection strategy may yet prove to be more effective at improving efficiency and productivity.
APPLICATIONS OF SEMIGROUP ALGEBRAS TO IDEAL EXTENSIONS OF SEMIGROUPS

Let D be a semigroup and Z the integers modulo p, P where p is a prime. In this article we show that information concerning the semigroup algebras Z D of D P over Z provide information concerning a class of P ideal extensions of D.