cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Where will new antibiotics come from

There is a constant need for new antibacterial drugs owing to the inevitable development of resistance that follows the introduction of antibiotics to the clinic. When a new class of antibiotic is introduced, it is effective at first, but will eventually select for survival of the small fraction of bacterial populations that have an intrinsic or acquired resistance mechanism. Pathogens that are resistant to multiple drugs emerge around the globe, so how robust are antibiotic discovery processes?
Fast Heuristics for Near-Optimal Signal Restoration in Post-Silicon Validation

In post-silicon validation based on exploiting trace buffer based techniques, signal observability is largely restricted by the size of trace buffer. Moreover, the forward propagation and backward justification (FB) methods which are commonly used for signal restoration can potentially miss a large number of restorable signals yielding low restoration ratios. Optimal restoration based on satisfiability (SAT) methods is usually accompanied by the extremely long runtime for large size benchmark circuits. Therefore, near-optimal yet efficient signal restoration is highly desired. In this paper, we propose effi- cient heuristic methods for near-optimal signal restoration by combining three key ideas: (1) dividing the restoration window into frames, (2) selectively using SAT and FB methods within and across frames, and (3) employing a prioritization heuristic based on restoration in the preceding time frames. Experimental results show that the proposed method is efficient (up to 87% improvement in run-time compared to non-prioritization) and can achieve significant restoration ratio improvement (up to 16x more when compared to FB based methods and up to 99% of optimal restoration).
Parity-Violating Three Nucleon Interactions at Low Energies and Large-$N_{C}$

The parity-violating (PV) nucleon-nucleon ($N\!N$) interaction in the three-nucleon system is investigated using pionless effective field theory ($\mathrm{EFT}(/\!\!\!\pi)$). This work shows that a next-to-leading order (NLO) PV three-body force is necessary in contradiction with a previous claim [Griesshammer and Schindler in Eur. Phys. J. A 46, 73 (2010)]. Including three-body $P$ to $D$-wave transitions PV three-nucleon observables are calculated to higher energies than previously considered. Using the recent large-$N_{C}$ analysis of the PV $N\!N$ interaction in $\mathrm{EFT}(/\!\!\!\pi)$ the current understanding of low energy PV few-body measurements is reassessed. The recent measurement of the asymmetry $A_{\gamma}$ in $\vec{n}p\to d\gamma$ from the NPDGamma collaboration [D. Blyth et al. (NPDGamma), Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 242002 (2018)], gives the value $g_{4}^{(N_{C}^{-1})}=(-1.4\pm 0.63(stat.)\pm 0.09(syst.))\times 10^{-10}~\mathrm{MeV}^{-1}$ for a next-to-next-to-leading order (N$^{2}$LO) in large-$N_{C}$ low energy constant (LEC). Using the large-$N_{C}$ hierarchy of LECs the sizes of the leading order (LO) in large-$N_{C}$ LECs are estimated using an experimental bound on a parity violating asymmetry in $\vec{p}d$ scattering at $E_{\mathrm{lab}}=15$ MeV and a measurement of $\vec{pp}$ scattering at $E_{\mathrm{lab}}=13.6$ MeV. Comparing the size of the resulting LO in large-$N_{C}$ LECs to the N$^{2}$LO in large-$N_{C}$ LEC $g_{4}^{(N_{C}^{-1})}$ shows they are roughly the same size in contradiction with current large-$N_{C}$ counting.
Nigeria: Women’s Suffrage, Change, and Continuities in Political Participation

Nwankwor explores the processes through which women in Nigeria gained suffrage and how women’s political participation shaped the trajectory and outcome of politics in contemporary Nigeria. She argues that women have always participated in politics but gains from political participation have historically predominantly devolved to men. Women gained suffrage more than three decades after men, despite comparable levels of engagement before and during colonial domination. The chapter positions women’s enfranchisement within a historical framework marked by colonialism, and its conditioning effect on the course of politics in Nigeria. It also demonstrates the capacity of claims making and contestation to effect changes in regimes and governance, which shapes inclusion/exclusion. Nigerian women have maintained the history of claims making and challenging their marginalization with increasing success. Women now constitute the majority of voters in Nigeria.
Disorders of Skeletal Muscle Membrane Excitability: Myotonia Congenita, Paramyotonia Congenita, Periodic Paralysis, and Related Syndromes

Disorders of skeletal muscle membrane excitability often result from a specific ion channel defect (channelopathies). Recent genetic linkage and mutational analyses have identified the molecular basis for several of the disorders of skeletal muscle membrane excitability. Identification of the ion channel defect has important implications for management and treatment of these disorders. In some of these disorders, the gene mutations encoding these ion channels have been identified. This chapter reviews the disorders of skeletal muscle membrane excitability resulting from ion channel dysfunction, as well as related disorders.
Where have I heard that before? A validity study of source memory indices from the California Verbal Learning Test - Second edition.

Objective: We investigated the construct and criterion validity of the source memory (SM) indices within the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II).Method: Participants included 77 individual...
Reducing Victimization among Chronically Homeless Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: An Examination of Housing Placement and Risky Lifestyles

Using data from a social program that provides one year of wraparound services and housing first to chronically homeless adults with mental health and substance abuse problems, this study examines ...
Intranasal Corticosteroid Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Reported Safety and Adverse Effects in Adults.

ObjectivesTo address concerns related to the safety profile of both Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved and non–FDA-approved intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) use in the adult population.Dat...
Vínculos entre la narrativa surrealista y El pez de oro de Gamaliel Churata

En aquesta investigacio formulem una definicio de la narrativa surrealista i despres la utilitzem per analitzar la novel·la andina El pez de oro de Gamaliel Churata, parant atencio al joc de paraules, la tematica i simbolitzacio narrativa, els textos mestres i la parodia hipotextual. Destaquem els alts nivells de metatextualitat i transmodalitzacio, la qual cosa permet a l'escriptor de Puno posar en dubte el llenguatge metaexegetic surrealista i reformular l'identitat andina.
The value of a tiered cytology diagnostic reporting system in assessing the risk of malignancy in indeterminate serous effusions.

BACKGROUND The International System for Reporting Serous Fluid Cytopathology was recently proposed as a tiered structure to provide consistent reporting terminology for serous effusions. Because of the variation in reporting practices for indeterminate serous effusions, namely, the atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) and suspicious for malignancy (SFM) groups, the authors retrospectively reviewed cases in these 2 categories at their institution and determined the associated risk of malignancy (ROM). METHODS Pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial effusions that were reported as AUS or SFM over a 1-year period were reviewed, and their associated ROMs were calculated based on confirmation of malignancy by previous and/or subsequent fluid and/or tissue biopsy specimens from the same general location. RESULTS In total, 145 AUS and 98 SFM serous effusion cases were identified. The AUS category was used when the cells in question lacked the requisite quantitative (cell number) and/or qualitative (morphologic) features for a definitive diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) or flow cytometry (FCM) was available in 15% of cases (n = 22) with inconclusive results. The ROM based on 69 cases with available follow-up results was 39%. In contrast, the SFM category demonstrated cells that were morphologically suspicious for malignancy but sparse, precluding IHC or FCM (n = 63; 64%) or yielding inconclusive results (n = 35; 36%). The ROM in the SFM category, based on follow-up results of 61 cases, was 64%. CONCLUSIONS The ROM for SFM was significantly higher than that for AUS (P < .01), supporting separate diagnostic categories for these 2 groups.
The need for addressing multilingualism, ambiguity and interoperability for visual resources management across metadata platforms

The digitization of visual resources and the creation of corresponding metadata that meets the criteria of clarity and interoperability, while also approaching the needs of the multilingual Web, are pressing concerns. Because visual resources make up a significant percentage of digital information, this paper focuses on the aforementioned concerns and proposes ways to address them, including swift progression and adoption of cohesive, multi-user, multilingual metadata standardization to improve digital access and to allow all descriptive image metadata to be approachable and translatable. We offer some recommendations such as those involved in visual resource management moving away from using primarily the English writing system based metadata schemas in order to provide flexible lexicon in non-Roman languages, which can easily be recognized and interpreted by both monolingual and multilingual users alike as well as facilitate digital metadata interoperability.
Challenges of designing, operating, and managing brine extraction at a carbon dioxide storage site

Abstract Developing and deploying commercial-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) storage at a site requires operational strategies to manage pressure and CO2 plume distribution. In the natural gas storage and oil and gas industries, fluid extraction has been successfully implemented as a strategy to manage pressure and control fluid distribution (i.e., hydrocarbon recovery and natural gas storage efficiency, respectively). The technical challenges of integrating brine extraction at CO2 storage sites are expected to be similar, if not identical, to those in the natural gas storage and petroleum industries. Major technical challenges of using brine extraction to manage storage in a storage unit include (1) designing and completing the brine extraction wells, (2) locating the brine extraction well, (3) assessing the efficacy of brine extraction, and (4) handling the extracted brine. The design and completion of the brine extraction well include the well type (i.e., vertical or horizontal) and perforated interval. The location of the well is influenced by the timing of extraction operations (i.e., prior or after CO2 injection starts) and project objectives (i.e., desired directional movement of the CO2 plume and avoid or minimize CO2 extraction). The efficacy of brine extraction requires a baseline projection of the pressure and CO2 plume distribution. Options for handling extracted brine include subsurface disposal, surface disposal, and industrial use. This paper addresses means of overcoming technical challenges that may likely be encountered before or after CO2 injection starts.
ST-Segment Elevation in a Patient With Nausea, Vomiting, and Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract A 60-year-old man who presented with nausea, vomiting, and intracerebral hemorrhage developed inferior ST-segment elevation and angina. Coronary angiography showed no coronary obstruction....
Dilatation of the uterine cervix of the sow following treatment with relaxin.

Abstract Although relaxin was first described by Hisaw 1 in 1926, it is still one of the least known hormones. The original work by this investigator and his collaborators 2, 3, 4 on the presence and identity of this substance has been confirmed by others 5, 6 and extended to indicate the presence of this hormone in increasing amounts during pregnancy. 7–11 Recently, many new physiologic effects have been ascribed to relaxin so that the hormone is now beginning to assume a new importance. Actually, Hisaw and Zarrow 12 in 1951 and Frieden and Hisaw 6 in 1953 concluded from the available evidence that relaxin is a true hormone of pregnancy and that it produces a number of different effects. It now appears that the specific effect produced by relaxin may, in part, be dependent on the species. The present report is concerned with the phenomenon of dilatation of the uterine cervix following treatment with relaxin. This phenomenon has been reported in the cow 14, 15 and briefly indicated as occurring in the sow. 15 Since the ovary of the pregnant sow is the richest source of relaxin 9 and since no physiologic action of this hormone in the sow was previously known, an intensive study was undertaken of the role of relaxin in the sow. The present report discusses in detail the effect of relaxin and stilbestrol on the uterine cervix of the young, castrated sow.
What's the Difference? Pediatric Residents and Their Inaccurate Concepts Regarding Statistics

Two multiple-choice questions were designed to assess pediatric residents9 knowledge of two statistical concepts: (1) correlation and (2) probability values for statistical significance. One question was administered to 684 residents from 24 major pediatric training programs; this response rate represented 84% of all residents in these programs (PL-1, PL-2, and PL-3 years). In 20 of these programs, the second question was administered to 437 residents, representing a 79% response rate. Less than 20% of the residents responded correctly to the first question, and approximately half chose correctly on the second question. Further, no trend toward improvement was apparent with additional years of residency training. This limited knowledge of statistical concepts suggests that pediatricians are not well equipped to evaluate the scientific merit of research reported in pediatric journals.
Why do transplant surgeons turn down organs? A model of the accept/reject decision.

Abstract Despite the scarcity of transplantable organs, 45% of livers are rejected by the first surgeon to whom they are offered. I present a model in which a surgeon decides to accept or reject an organ for a patient based on the patient’s current health level. Using data on transplanted patients, I show that surgeons’ behavior is consistent with the solution to an optimal stopping problem in which they reject low quality organs for relatively healthy patients in the hope that they will receive a better organ offer in the future. I discuss trends in organ procurement in light of this finding.
Doubly Excited Alkaline Earth Atoms

The spectra of two electron, He-like, alkaline earth atoms are much richer than the corresponding H-like alkali spectra. The added complexity comes both from the far greater number of possible states due to the larger number of degrees of freedom and from the fact that most of the doubly excited states lie above the first ionization limit and therefore autoionize. The doubly excited states are quite fascinating in their own right, and an understanding of their properties is important for several applications. For example, both RHODES [1] and HARRIS [2] have suggested the use of autoionizing states for the generation of far uv radiation. Another example, far removed from laser spectroscopy, is the inverse of autoionization, dielectronic recombination, which is an important energy loss mechanism in Tokamaks [3].
Classifying Temporary Regulatory Takings After Tahoe-Sierra

Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is the first takings law blockbuster since Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council decided in 1992. In broad terms, Tahoe-Sierra is most noteworthy because it, along with the Court's mixed decision a year earlier in Palazzolo v. Rhode Island, stems the tide of landowner victories in takings cases that date back to 1987. Its holding that temporary restrictions on land use are not facial takings, confirming the case law of the lower federal and state courts, should help clarify confusion over the concept of temporary regulatory takings. But work remains to be done. What remains to be done is to establish what is meant by a temporary regulatory taking. Now that Tahoe-Sierra has said that temporary restrictions are not necessarily temporary takings, we should clarify what type of government action can effect a temporary taking. Five aspects of the opinion are significant to takings law. First, the Court clarified that First English Evangelical Church v. County of Los Angeles was a remedy case, not a substantive decision about whether moratoria were takings. Second, the Court drew a line between physical and regulatory takings to point out that considerations and rules applicable to one type of taking are not necessarily applicable to the other type of taking. Third, it refused to extend the categorical rule of Lucas in favor of the ad hoc Penn Central test. Fourth, the Court reaffirmed the parcel as a whole approach, put in doubt just a year earlier in Palazzolo. Fifth, the Court affirmed that value, not use, is the fundamental concern of the takings clause.
c-axis thermal expansion of the Tl2Ba2CaCu2Ox superconductor.

The low-temperature c-axis thermal expansion of a thin-film sample of the superconducting material Tl/sub 2/Ba/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/O/sub x/ was measured to 10 K. Based on standard ac resistance measurements, the material exhibits a detectable drop at 110 K and zero resistance at 78 K. Careful x-ray measurements between 10 and 300 K reveal a uniform, monotonic c-axis expansion of about 0.4%, similar to what has been previously found for La/sub 1.9/Ba/sub 0.1/CuO/sub 4/ and YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/. Although anomalous c-axis thermal expansion has been recently reported in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub delta/ a careful search in the vicinity of T/sub c/ failed to reveal anything unusual in this material.
Radiation patterns for aperture antennas with non-linear phase distributions

Two dimensional antenna patterns have been determined for several aperture distributions having symmetrical amplitude and non-linear phase by a method of calculation employing automatic punch-card machines to perform numerical integrations. These patterns have been arranged in sets which permit one to predict the pattern characteristics expected from a given aperture phase distribution. The method of calculation used here permits direct evaluation of the pattern integral with negligible error for any phase and amplitude distributions. The results presented extend previous work to the cases of quadratic and cubic phase distributions combined in various proportions together with uniform, tapered, and cosine amplitude distributions. Phase patterns, which permit determination of the effective aperture phase center, are presented as well as the magnitude patterns.
Energy Dependence of the Reorientation Effect and the Static Quadrupole Moment of the 0.847-MeV 2 + State in Fe 56

The energy dependence of the reorientation effect has been investigated using ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$ and ${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$ ions incident on ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{56}$ nuclei. The influence of nuclear interference on the reorientation effect was observed before it could be detected on the elastic cross section, and exhibited an angular dependence similar to that expected for the reorientation effect. It was found that an appropriate separation of projectile and target nuclei was given by $2a={R}_{0}({{A}_{1}}^{\frac{1}{3}}+{{A}_{2}}^{\frac{1}{3}})+\ensuremath{\Delta}$, where ${R}_{0}=1.6$ fm and $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\ge}3.5$ fm. The static quadrupole moment of the 0.847-MeV ${2}^{+}$ state in ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{56}$ was measured to be ${Q}_{22}=\ensuremath{-}0.23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 \mathrm{b}$, while the rotational value is given by $|{Q}_{R}|=0.276 \mathrm{b}$.
Reading up books: The fascinating world of computer graphics: Computer graphics is rapidly becoming pervasive. Whether you are a potential developer or user, these publications will spur your involvement

Computer graphics, that is, producing a “picture” or “drawing” of some sort with a computer, is hardly a new field.
Fumonisins: current research trends in developmental toxicology

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced byFusarium verticillioides that is found in maize and maize-based foods. Reproductive studies in CD1 mice, rats and rabbits initially found no evidence that fumonisins are teratogenic. However, more recent findings suggest that they might increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in populations consuming large amounts of fumonisin-contaminated corn. When ≥15 mg/kg body weight fumonisin B1 (FB1) was given to pregnant LM/Bc mice by intraperitoneal (ip) injection, all litters were positive for NTDs. To determine if NTD induction is unique to the inbred LM/Bc mouse strain, NTD induction in LM/Bc and CD1 mice was compared: (a) in a study in whichF. verticillioides culture material providing ≤150 ppm FB1 was fed to female mice before and during gestation, and (b) in a study in which FB1 was given by ip injection to CD1 dams on gestation days 7 and 8, the critical time for NTD development. In the feeding study, one of five LM/Bc litters from dams fed the 150 ppm FB1 diet was positive for NTDs whereas no NTDs were found in the CD1 litters. In the ip injection study, 40% of the litters at the highest dose tested, 45 mg/kg body weight, were positive for NTDs and one of nine low-dose (15 mg/kg body weight) litters was also positive. Thus, FB1 induced NTDs in both LM/Bc and CD1 mice although the latter strain appears less sensitive. Comparative investigations using these strains will be useful for elucidating the mechanisms underlying fumonisin-induced NTDs in mice and determining the suitability of mouse models for studying the relationships between fumonisins and NTDs in humans.
Studies on the effect of movement during the cure on the mechanical properties of a silicone building joint sealant

A novel sealant testing device was used to continuously monitor the mechanical properties of a one-part silicone sealant for movement cycles initiated from 10 to 168 h after sample creation. These cure times fall between the proposed RILEM TC-139 technical recommendation of 5 min and the ASTM C719 standard of 21 days. At 10 h of cure, enough crosslinking occurred before testing such that neither the overall movement history of the sample nor the deformation step shapes affected subsequent curing of the sealant. A critical parameter for sealant performance appears to be the extent of cure at the onset of movement. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
The entropy associated with the magnetic transitions of the HCP rare earth metals

where D (x) represents the Debye function, TT the electronic contribution to the heat capacity, and (aCq)~T the difference between the heat capacity at constant pressure, Cp, and the heat capacity at constant volume. The heat capacity data of zinc and cadmium can not be represented by a single Debye function. Both zinc and cadmium have much higher c/a ratios than the other hcp metals. This explains the necessity of splitting the single Debye function with three degrees of freedom into two Debye functionsj one with two degrees of freedom and the other with one degree of freedom. The heat capacity results of the twelve metals listed in Table I can be represented by the above equations to within 0.i0 cal./deg.(g atom) between 20°K and 50°K and within 0.05 cal./deg.(atom) between 50°K and 300°K. A simple relation, due to Lindemann, relates the Debye characteristic temperature, e, If M Is the gram-atomic weight and V the gram-atomic with the melting point T of a metal. volume, then
The thermal structure of Titan's atmosphere.

The present radiative-convective model of the Titan atmosphere thermal structure obtains the solar and IR radiation in a series of spectral intervals with vertical resolution. Haze properties have been determined with a microphysics model encompassing a minimum of free parameters. It is determined that gas and haze opacity alone, using temperatures established by Voyager observations, yields a model that is within a few percent of the radiative convective balance throughout the Titan atmosphere. Model calculations of the surface temperature are generally colder than the observed value by 5-10 K; better agreement is obtained through adjustment of the model parameters. Sunlight absorption by stratospheric haze and pressure-induced gas opacity in the IR are the most important thermal structure-controlling factors.
Addictive agents and intracranial stimulation (ICS): Daily morphine, self-stimulation, and parameters of ICS

Rats fixed with chronically indwelling bipolar electrodes pressed daily for direct electrical intracranial stimulation (ICS) of the hypothalamus. Rats pressed for a variety of intensities of ICS. As daily sessions with ICS continued, rats were given doses of morphine sulfate. The data confirm that morphine can accelerate pressing for ICS regardless of the intensities of ICS. One set of procedures indicated that programming ICS of about 75 µA (60-Hz sine waves of .25 sec) was sufficient to disrupt pressing previously sustained by intensities of 25 µA or lower. There were considerable individual differences in rats’ reactivity to morphine; some showed marked acceleration of pressing while others showed little or no acceleration. These differences were not a direct function of intensity of ICS.
Radioimmunoassays for protein A of Staphylococcus aureus.

Radioimmunoassays have been developed that can detect nanogram amounts of protein A (SpA), a product generated by Staphylococcus aureus that binds selectively to the Fc region of IgG from most mammalian species. Competition assays for fluid phase SpA utilize antibodies produced in chickens, 125I-labeled SpA as the tracer molecule, and either F(ab')2 fragments of rabbit IgG anti-chicken IgG or 40% ammonium sulfate as the precipitating agent to separate antigen-antibody complexes from free antigen. The double antibody assay could be carried out in serum from species that form only soluble complexes with SpA (e.g., rabbit), that react poorly with SpA (e.g., rat), or under appropriate conditions in serum from species (e.g., dog) that show high reactivity with SpA and form precipitating complexes. Chicken antibodies prepared by affinity chromatography on SpA-Sepharose and labeled with 125I were used in a direct binding assay for SpA present either on the cell wall of Cowan strain I or Wood 46 bacteria, in insoluble complexes prepared from SpA and whole serum or purified IgG, or in Clq binding complexes that were formed by passage of serum from normal or tumor bearing humans or dogs over SpA-collodion charcoal. Since both types of assays could detect SpA even in the presence of serum or IgG, they offer advantages over other techniques in which the SpA-Fc interaction may interfere.
Precision spectroscopy of high- L , n =10 Rydberg helium: An improved test of relativistic, radiative, and retardation effects

We report improved measurements of the 10G-H, 10H-I, 10I-K, and 10K-L fine-structure intervals in atomic helium, obtained using fast-beam microwave-optical techniques. The measurement uncertainty is less than 1 kHz in each of sixteen measured intervals. The existence of very precise calculations of the nonrelativistic contributions to these intervals allows the measurements to be used to test relativistic and QED effects directly, and to confirm the predicted contributions from ``retardation'' forces due to two-photon exchange to better than 10%.
Reaction chemistry and collisional processes in multipole devices for resolving isobaric interferences in ICP–MS

A low-level review of the fundamentals of ion-molecule interactions is presented. These interactions are used to predict the efficiencies of collisional fragmentation, energy damping and reaction for a variety of neutral gases as a function of pressure in a rf-driven collision/reaction cell. It is shown that the number of collisions increases dramatically when the ion energies are reduced to near-thermal (< 0.1 eV), because of the ion–induced dipole and ion–dipole interaction. These considerations suggest that chemical reaction can be orders of magnitude more efficient at improving the analyte signal/background ratio than can collisional fragmentation. Considerations that lead to an appropriate selection of type of gas, operating pressure, and ion energies for efficient operation of the cell for the alleviation of spectral interferences are discussed. High efficiency (large differences between reaction efficiencies of the analyte and interference ions, and concomitant suppression of secondary chemistry) might be required to optimize the chemical resolution (determination of an analyte in the presence of an isobaric interference) when using ion-molecule chemistry to suppress the interfering ion. In many instances atom transfer to the analyte, which shifts the analytical m/z by the mass of the atom transferred, provides high chemical resolution, even when the efficiency of reaction is relatively low. Examples are given of oxidation, hydroxylation, and chlorination of analyte ions (V+, Fe+, As+, Se+, Sr+, Y+, and Zr+) to improve the capability of determination of complex samples. Preliminary results are given showing O-atom abstraction by CO from CaO+ to enable the determination of Fe in high-Ca samples.
Sex difference and response to testosterone in gabaergic cells of the medial preoptic nucleus and ventral bed nuclei of the stria terminalis in gerbils

The medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and ventral bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST) are needed to maintain mating in sexually experienced male gerbils and rats. The gerbil ventral BST is also activated with mating, as assessed by Fos expression, as is the medial MPN (MPNm) of both species. In gerbils, many of those mating-activated cells contain glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme that synthesizes γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Some of those cells are projection neurons, but others may release GABA locally. Through actions in the medial preoptic area, GABA inhibits and testosterone (T) promotes male sex behavior. Thus, T may promote mating, in part, by decreasing GAD in MPNm or ventral BST cells. In rats, T increases GAD mRNA in the central MPN (MPNc), where MPN GABAergic cells are densest, but mating behavior does not change in sexually experienced males when the MPNc is ablated. Therefore, this study focused on the MPNm and ventral BST to ask whether their GABAergic cells respond to T or are sexually dimorphic. This was done by visualizing cells immunoreactive (IR) for GAD(67), an isoform found primarily in cell bodies, in male and female gerbils and in castrated males with and without T. At both sites, males had more GAD(67)-IR cells than females, and T decreased GAD(67)-IR cell numbers in males. Thus, the MPNm and ventral BST have GABAergic cells that are sexually dimorphic and in which T decreases GAD, consistent with local effects of T and GABA on mating.
An ergonomic comparison of firearm safety mechanisms

As with most machines, the integral safety mechanism on firearms is vital to injury or fatality free operation. Presently, there is little or no standardisation in the design of these mechanisms. In this investigation, five existing designs found on both military and commercial rifles were evaluated ergonomically to determine the most effective characteristics for incorporation into future designs. The designs were evaluated experimentally on ease of use, visual effectiveness and operational impact. Three groups, representing a total of 30 subjects with widely varying experience, were selected. Results strongly suggest that safeties whose actuators are mounted within easy reach of the trigger finger are preferred and have the least operational impact. Subjects also preferred and were more adept at recognising safety status when the indicator was located on the receiver/barrel along the normal line of sight. Subjects more often correctly identified safety status when the indicator utilised colouring, was clearly marked and/or was in the normal line of sight. The results of this research prove that ergonomics can contribute to the understanding of firearm safety dynamics. The two essential components of safety mechanism design identified in this investigation, unambiguous status visibility and impact-free operation, are also likely to have implications in non-firearm safety mechanism design. This is particularly true for devices whose inadvertent operation can cause injury, as well as systems in which operational effectiveness can be jeopardised when attentiveness or operational control are lost in the process of actuating a poorly designed safety mechanism.
Oxidative conversion of 6-fluorobenzo(c)phenanthrene to its K-region oxide by liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats: reversal of stereoselectivity of cytochrome P-450c due to the influence of fluoro group.

Abstract We have shown earlier that metabolism of carcinogenic 6-fluorobenzo(c)phenanthrene by liver microsomes of 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats generate K-region oxide as the major metabolite, while no K-region oxide survives in benzo(c)phenanthrene metabolism under identical conditions. To understand the influence of fluoro group on the generation of K-region oxide from this hydrocarbon, we have determined the enantiomeric composition and absolute configuration of the metabolic 6-fluorobenzo(c)phen-anthrene-7,8-oxide. Interestingly, the microsomal cytochrome P-450c forms predominantly the 5R,6S enantiomer from B(c)Ph, while it exhibits a reversal of stereoselectivity with 6-fluorobenzo(c)phenanthrene forming predominantly the 7S,8R enantiomer. We have attributed this observation to an unfavourable interaction of the fluoro group with the hydrophobic binding pocket of the isozyme.
Web-Based Symptom Management for Women With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of the WRITE Symptoms Intervention

Abstract Context Little research has focused on symptom management among women with ovarian cancer. Written Representational Intervention To Ease Symptoms (WRITE Symptoms) is an educational intervention delivered through asynchronous web-based message boards between a study participant and a nurse. Objectives We evaluated WRITE Symptoms for 1) feasibility of conducting the study via message boards, 2) system usability, 3) participant satisfaction, and 4) initial efficacy. Methods Participants were 65 women (mean age, 56.5; SD = 9.23) with recurrent ovarian cancer randomized using minimization with race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white vs. minority) as the stratification factor. Measures were obtained at baseline and two and six weeks after intervention. Outcomes were feasibility of conducting the study, system usability, participant satisfaction, and efficacy (symptom severity, distress, consequences, and controllability). Results Fifty-six (87.5%) participants were retained, and the mean usability score (range 1–7) was 6.18 (SD = 1.29). All satisfaction items were scored at 5 (of 7) or higher. There were significant between-group effects at T2 for symptom distress, with those in the WRITE Symptoms group reporting lower distress than those in the control group [t(88.4) = −2.57; P = 0.012], with a similar trend for symptom severity [t(40.4) = −1.95; P = 0.058]. Repeated measures analysis also supported a group effect, with those in the WRITE Symptoms group reporting lower symptom distress than those in the control condition [F(1, 56.7) = 4.59; P = 0.037]. Conclusion Participants found the intervention and assessment system easy to use and had high levels of satisfaction. Initial efficacy was supported by decreases in symptom severity and distress.
Cannabinoid receptors and the regulation of immune response.

Abstract Cannabinoid research underwent a tremendous increase during the last 10 years. This progress was made possible by the discovery of cannabinoid receptors and the endogenous ligands for these receptors. Cannabinoid research is developing in two major directions: neurobehavioral properties of cannabinoids and the impact of cannabinoids on the immune system. Recent studies characterized the cannabinoid-induced response as a very complex process because of the involvement of multiple signalling pathways linked to cannabinoid receptors or effects elicited by cannabinoids without receptor participation. The objective of this review is to present this complexity as it applies to immune response. The functional properties of cannabinoid receptors, signalling pathways linked to cannabinoid receptors and the modulation of immune response by cannabinoid receptor ligands are discussed. Special attention is given to ‘endocannabinoids’ as immunomodulatory molecules.
INTERFACIAL ENERGY AND STRUCTURE IN F.C.C. METALS AND ALLOYS

It is shown by transmission electron microscopy that a rather obvious distinction exists for the interfacial free energies of high-angle grain boundaries, low-angle grain boundaries, and twin bound...
Application of TaqMan Low-Density Arrays for Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Respiratory Pathogens

The large and growing number of viral and bacterial pathogens responsible for respiratory infections poses a challenge for laboratories seeking to provide rapid and comprehensive pathogen identification. We evaluated a novel application of the TaqMan low-density array (TLDA) cards for real-time PCR detection of 21 respiratory-pathogen targets. The performance of the TLDA was compared to that of individual real-time PCR (IRTP) assays with the same primers and probes using (i) nucleic acids extracted from the 21 pathogen strains and 66 closely related viruses and bacteria and (ii) 292 clinical respiratory specimens. With spiked samples, TLDA cards were about 10-fold less sensitive than IRTP assays. By using 292 clinical specimens to generate 2,238 paired individual assays, the TLDA card exhibited 89% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 86 to 92%; range per target, 47 to 100%) and 98% specificity (95% CI, 97 to 99%; range per target, 85 to 100%) overall compared to IRTP assays as the gold standard with a threshold cycle (CT) cutoff of 43. The TLDA card approach offers promise for rapid and simultaneous identification of multiple respiratory pathogens for outbreak investigations and disease surveillance.
Characteristics and adequacy of intravenous morphine infusions in children in a paediatric oncology setting

Background Pain management is central in the care of patients in paediatric oncology. Intravenous (i.v.) morphine infusion is an important treatment modality. The objectives of this study were to identify the characteristics of children who receive i.v. morphine infusions in a paediatric oncology setting and to describe the effectiveness, tolerability, and limiting side-effects of this treatment. Procedure We prospectively collected evaluation charts for all morphine infusions in a paediatric oncology unit during a 4-year period, and reviewed the medical records of the patients. The incidence of breakthrough pain was used as a measure of the effectiveness of morphine treatment. For comparison, patients were grouped according to causes of pain; minor surgery, major surgery, tumour/disease, or treatment side-effects. Results Overall, 72 individuals (36% of all 201 patients diagnosed in the unit) were given morphine infusions. Patients with pain after major surgery suffered from more breakthrough pain than the other patients during the 1st day of morphine treatment even though their morphine consumption was almost twice as high (0.64 vs. 0.36 mg/kg, P < 0.001); 92% of these patients had solid tumours. Common morphine side-effects were vomiting (38%), nausea (32%), and constipation (24%). Conclusions Patients who undergo major tumour surgery require extensive pain management to achieve acceptable post-operative pain relief. The routine of giving both a bolus dose and increasing the morphine dose at breakthrough pain should be encouraged. For the other patients studied, morphine infusions were considered to be adequate, but vomiting, nausea, and constipation might be reduced if prophylactic antiemetics and laxatives were given. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:233–238. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ISOZYMES OF SALIVARY AMYLASE.

IT has previously been observed that crystalline salivary amylase gives two peaks in free electrophoresis1. The work recorded here shows that a sample of salivary amylase crystallized three times, which gave a single peak in the ultracentrifuge (Fig. 1), could be separated into four bands by disk electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel2 (Fig. 2).
Changes in Bacterial Counts of Stored Ice Cream Mix

In ice cream surveys conducted by this station excessively high bacterial plate counts sometimes were obtained on samples frozen from mixes which originated at plants whose products ordinarily were of low bacterial content. Although sanitation in the freezing plant undoubtedly was a factor in some instances, other causes were indicated in a sufficient number of cases to warrant study of the effect of time and temperature of storage upon the development of bacteria in ice cream mix. Abele (1) reported only 80 per cent of the mix in the hands of the manufacturers and 75 per cent of that in possession of the freezers was held below 50 ° F. Temperatures of ice cream mix in transit commonly were found to rise above 50 ° F., and sometimes to 60 ° F., accentuating the problem of adequate refrigeration during storage in the plant where the mix was frozen.
Dissociation between Iodide-Induced Thyroiditis and Antibody-Mediated Hyperthyroidism in NOD.H-2h4 Mice

NOD.H-2h4 mice are genetically predisposed to thyroid autoimmunity and spontaneously develop thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) and thyroiditis. Iodide administration enhances TgAb levels and the incidence and severity of thyroiditis. Using these mice, we investigated the interactions between TSH receptor (TSHR) antibodies induced by vaccination and spontaneous or iodide-enhanced thyroid autoimmunity (thyroiditis and TgAb). Mice were immunized with adenovirus expressing the TSHR A-subunit (or control adenovirus). Thyroid antibodies, histology, and serum thyroxine levels were compared in animals on a regular diet or on a high-iodide diet (0.05% NaI-supplemented water). Thyroiditis severity and TgAb levels were enhanced by iodide administration and were independent of the type of adenovirus used for immunization. In contrast, TSHR antibodies, measured by TSH-binding inhibition, thyroid-stimulating activity, and TSH-blocking activity, were induced in the majority of animals immunized with TSHR (but not control) adenovirus and were unaffected by dietary iodide. The NOD.2h4 strain of mice was less susceptible than BALB/c or BALB/k mice to TSHR adenovirus-induced hyperthyroidism. Nevertheless, hyperthyroidism developed in approximately one third of TSHR adenovirus-injected NOD.2h4 mice. This hyperthyroidism was suppressed by a high-iodide diet, probably by a nonimmune mechanism. The fact that inducing an immune response to the TSHR had no effect on thyroiditis raises the possibility that the TSHR may not be the target involved in the variable thyroiditis component in some humans with Graves' disease.
Compositional dependence of serrated flow in nickel binary solid solutions during high-temperature microindentation

At 450 °C, pure nickel and nickel binary solid solutions, containing Ru, Rh, W, Re, Ir and Pt, have a smooth load–depth curves. In contrast, the alloying addition of Nb, Mo, Pd and Ta results in the occurrence of serrations in their load–depth profiles. Analyses show the load increment of the quasi-elastic segments scales linearly with the load at their starting point. The slope of such linear relationships was normalized by the solute concentration and then plotted against the diffusion rate of transition metal solutes within the nickel lattice and along dislocation cores. Linear relationships were observed in both cases. Results suggest that the solute diffusion along dislocation cores coupled with the atomic size misfit are mainly responsible for such serrations.
Styles of heterogeneity in dolomitized platform carbonate reservoirs: Examples from the central basin platform of the permian basin, southwestern USA

Abstract The Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, southwestern U.S.A., is the premiere oil basin of the United States. At discovery, reservoiors in this prolific province contained more than 100 billion barrels of oil, almost a quarter of all the discovered in the U.S. Almost half of this resource (43%) was contained in a single reservoir type, dolomitized platform carbonate. Dolomitized platform carbonates were deposited on shallow shelves fringing the basin and on a horst block, the Central Basin Platform, that divides the basin and separates sites of deep-water siliciclastic sedimentation in the adjacent subbasins. The Central Basin Platform hosts many large combined structural/stratigraphic trap reservoirs in dolomitized platform carbonates. These range in size up to four billion barrels of original oil in place. Integrated geoscience and engineering characterization of four of these fields; Dune, Emma, Penwell, and Taylor-Link, allows comparison of the styles and scales of heterogeneities that influence recovery in this reservoir type. Facies composition and architecture exert fundamental controls on paths of fluid movement during production. Principal facies are extensive, deep subtidal fusulinid wackestones that shoal upward into shallow-subtidal and intertidal packstones and grainstones in which the dominant productive facies are grainstone bars and shoals, and shorezone systems that are dissected by dip-oriented tidal systems. Rapid lateral facies changes together with highly cyclic shoaling sequences result in pronounced permeability variations both laterally and vertically in the section. Superimposed on the depositional framework is a multi-event diagenetic overprint. These carbonate reservoirs are thoroughly dolomitized and partly cemented by sulfates. A post-burial leaching event increased permeability in some parts of these rocks. Karst processes have a large affect on reservoir quality in the southern part of the Central Basin Platform. Even though these carbonate reservoirs have undergone substantial diagenetic modification depositional facies still exert the primary control on remaining, and in particular, mobile, oil saturation.
Galanin antagonizes vasopressin-stimulated flank marking in male golden hamsters.

Microinjection of vasopressin (VP) into the anterior hypothalamus (AH) of golden hamsters induces a rapid bout of flank marking, a stereotyped scent marking behavior used for olfactory communication. In rats, VP is colocalized with galanin (GAL) in several brain regions. GAL has been shown to antagonize the postsynaptic actions of other cosecreted neurotransmitters including acetylcholine and norepinephrine; however, the ability of GAL to modulate the postsynaptic actions of VP has not been assessed. Here, we report that coadministration of GAL can block VP-induced flank marking in golden hamsters in a dose dependent manner. These findings provide the first evidence in any species that GAL can antagonize the central actions of VP. Using slice binding and receptor autoradiography, we have identified GAL binding sites in the AH and two other regions implicated in flank marking behavior (the lateral septum and central grey). These findings raise the possibility that endogenous GAL may function as an inhibitory modulator of this stereotypic scent marking behavior.