cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Use of Contact Biomechanics to Study the Intact, Proximal Row Carpectomy and Scaphoid Excision, Four Bone Fusion Wrist

The study of contact biomechanics of the wrist is a challenge. This is partly due to the relatively small size of the joint as well as the lack of space in the radiocarpal joint which makes the delivery of investigative materials such as pressure sensitive film without causing artifact, difficult. Fortunately, a number of authors have studied the intact wrist, the scapholunate ligament injured wrist, the proximal row carpectomy and the scaphoid excision, four bone fusion. Despite some contrasting findings, there are some general concepts that we understand about wrist mechanics.
Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency Considerations: A Case Study

Pseudocholinesterase deficiency, sometimes called butyrylcholinesterase deficiency, is a rare disorder in which the neuromuscular blocking drugs succinylcholine and mivacurium cannot be metabolized properly in the blood plasma. This disorder can either be acquired as a result of certain comorbidities or it can be inherited genetically. Anesthesia providers must understand the pathophysiology of pseudocholinesterase deficiency and be prepared to safely and effectively manage patients who show signs and symptoms consistent with the disorder after the use of the indicated neuromuscular blocking drugs. This article summarizes the pharmacologic and physiologic data relevant to understanding the basic pathophysiology associated with pseudocholinesterase deficiency and illustrates a case study of a young woman suspected of having the disorder after a prolonged delay in emergence from general anesthesia.
Free field structure of the model with a spin-32 Rarita-Schwinger field directly coupled to a spin-12 field

In earlier work we introduced an abelianized gauge field model in which a Rarita-Schwinger field is directly coupled to a spin-12 field, and showed that this model admits a perturbative expansion in the gauge field coupling. As a preliminary to further study of the coupled model, in this paper we present a detailed analysis of the free field structure that obtains when the dimensionless gauge coupling is set to zero, but the dimension one coupling of the spin-32 and spin-12 fields remains nonzero.In earlier work we introduced an abelianized gauge field model in which a Rarita-Schwinger field is directly coupled to a spin-12 field, and showed that this model admits a perturbative expansion in the gauge field coupling. As a preliminary to further study of the coupled model, in this paper we present a detailed analysis of the free field structure that obtains when the dimensionless gauge coupling is set to zero, but the dimension one coupling of the spin-32 and spin-12 fields remains nonzero.
Teprotumumab for chronic thyroid eye disease.

Purpose: To describe the treatment of nine patients with chronic, low clinical activity score thyroid eye disease with teprotumumab.Methods: A retrospective series of patients with chronic thyroid eye disease (TED) and low clinical activity score (CAS) treated with teprotumumab infusion therapy. Inclusion criteria: adults over 18 years of age with TED for greater than 9 months and CAS of 1 or less. All patients included in the analyses completed a full series of eight infusions. Primary outcome measures included proptosis and eyelid retraction in both eyes. Secondary outcomes included CAS, reported adverse effects, and surgery post-treatment.Results: Nine patients met all inclusion criteria, seven females and two males with mean age of 50.2 years and TED diagnosis of 6.25 years. Three patients had a baseline CAS of 1 and 6 had a CAS of 0. Mean proptosis reduction in the worse eye was 4.0 ± 2.4 mm immediately post-treatment (p = .02). Five out of nine patients had extended follow-up (average 16.8 ± 5.1 weeks) with mean proptosis reduction of 4.2 ± 2.8 mm at last follow-up (p = .03). Mean reduction in eyelid retraction in the worse eye was 0.3 ± 1.6 mm post-treatment (p = .58) and 0.5 ± 0.9 mm at last follow-up (p = .30). Three patients reported infusion-related myalgias, two hair thinning, one exacerbated chronic tinnitus, and one hyperglycemia.Conclusions: We report clinically and statistically significant proptosis reduction in nine patients with chronic, low CAS TED treated with teprotumumab. Teprotumumab may be an effective treatment option for these patients.
Civility to Graciousness: Van Der Walt and Rawls

Johan van der Walt finds the essence of the concept of liberal democratic law to lie in an uprootedness of law “from life.” He connects that finding to a modern experience of life fundamentally divided. Division of life occurs both at the societal level, as a fact of visionary pluralism, and at the personal level, as an experience of deep-set inner conflicts of passions and motivations. The path to law-from-life uprooting from the experience of external social division may be the more obvious; the path there from the experience of internal conflict may be the more interesting. The two paths join at a crucial place reserved by Van der Walt for indispensable moments of “sacrifice” – or, better, “gift;” or, still better, “graciousness” – in the liberal democratic experience of law. We ask here whether that is also the place of “civility” (in the lexicon of John Rawls), where the conception of liberal democratic law put forth by Rawls in his philosophy of political liberalism may be seen to meet up with the thought of Van der Walt. Published July 2021 in the journal Ethics & Politics, vol XXIII no. 2, pp. 495-508, http://www2.units.it/etica/
Mapping the Cold War: Cartography and the Framing of America's International Power

In this fascinating history of Cold War cartography, Timothy Barney considers maps as central to the articulation of ideological tensions between American national interests and international aspirations. Barney argues that the borders, scales, projections, and other conventions of maps prescribed and constrained the means by which foreign policy elites, popular audiences, and social activists navigated conflicts between North and South, East and West. Maps also influenced how identities were formed in a world both shrunk by advancing technologies and marked by expanding and shifting geopolitical alliances and fissures. Pointing to the necessity of how politics and values were "spatialized" in recent U.S. history, Barney argues that Cold War-era maps themselves had rhetorical lives that began with their conception and production and played out in their circulation within foreign policy circles and popular media. Reflecting on the ramifications of spatial power during the period, Mapping the Cold War ultimately demonstrates that even in the twenty-first century, American visions of the world - and the maps that account for them - are inescapably rooted in the anxieties of that earlier era.
Multivocality as a Tool for Design-Based Research

This chapter provides an integrated perspective of the discussions and analyses related to the Design-Based Research process enacted in a multivocal way in this 9th Grade Biology section of the book. The focus of the work is iterative development of what are referred to as accountable talk agents to support collaborative learning in an urban high school science laboratory. This discussant chapter provides an interpretation of the multivocal process, how it sometimes worked and sometimes did not, and what lessons were learned along the way. This early stage in a design-based research (DBR) program is timely for understanding how a complex sociotechnical intervention affected collaboration.
SU‐C‐201‐02: Quantitative Small‐Animal SPECT Without Scatter Correction Using High‐Purity Germanium Detectors

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the exceptional energy resolution of germanium detectors for preclinical SPECT in comparison to conventional detectors. Methods: A cylindrical water phantom was created in GATE with a spherical Tc-99m source in the center. Sixty-four projections over 360 degrees using a pinhole collimator were simulated. The same phantom was simulated using air instead of water to establish the true reconstructed voxel intensity without attenuation. Attenuation correction based on the Chang method was performed on MLEM reconstructed images from the water phantom to determine a quantitative measure of the effectiveness of the attenuation correction. Similarly, a NEMA phantom was simulated, and the effectiveness of the attenuation correction was evaluated. Both simulations were carried out using both NaI detectors with an energy resolution of 10% FWHM and Ge detectors with an energy resolution of 1%. Results: Analysis shows that attenuation correction without scatter correction using germanium detectors can reconstruct a small spherical source to within 3.5%. Scatter analysis showed that for standard sized objects in a preclinical scanner, a NaI detector has a scatter-to-primary ratio between 7% and 12.5% compared to between 0.8% and 1.5% for a Ge detector. Preliminary results from line profiles through the NEMA phantommore » suggest that applying attenuation correction without scatter correction provides acceptable results for the Ge detectors but overestimates the phantom activity using NaI detectors. Due to the decreased scatter, we believe that the spillover ratio for the air and water cylinders in the NEMA phantom will be lower using germanium detectors compared to NaI detectors. Conclusion: This work indicates that the superior energy resolution of germanium detectors allows for less scattered photons to be included within the energy window compared to traditional SPECT detectors. This may allow for quantitative SPECT without implementing scatter correction, reducing uncertainties introduced by scatter correction algorithms. Funding provided by NIH/NIBIB grant R01EB013677; Todd Peterson, Ph.D., has had a research contract with PHDs Co., Knoxville, TN.« less
Substance P induces localization of MIF/α1-inhibitor-3 complexes to umbrella cells via paracellular transit through the urothelium in the rat bladder

Background Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is released into the intraluminal fluid during bladder inflammation in the rat complexed to α1-inhibitor-3 (A1-I3; a rodent proteinase inhibitor in the α-macroglobulin family). The location of A1-I3 in the bladder had not been investigated. Therefore, we examined the location of A1-I3 and MIF/A1-I3 complexes in the bladder and changes due to experimental inflammation.
Radiobiology of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Problems with the Concept of Relative Biological Effectiveness

The radiation dose delivered to cells in vitro or in vivo during boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a mixture of photons, fast neutrons and heavy charged particles from the interaction of neutrons with nitrogen and boron. The concept of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) has been developed to allow comparison of the effects of these radiations with the effects of standard photon treatments such as 250 kVp x-rays or 60Co gamma rays. The RBE value for all of these high linear energy transfer radiations can vary considerably depending upon the experimental conditions and endpoint utilized (c.f. Fukuda, 1989). The short range of the particles from the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction make the precise subcellular location of the 10B atom of critical importance. The microscopic distribution of the 10B has a decided effect on the dosimetry. Monte Carlo simulations have shown that, at the cellular level, there is a profound difference in the probability of cell kill depending on the location of the 10B relative to the nucleus (Gabel, 1987). Convenient analytical techniques for the detection of boron at the cellular and subcellular level remain to be developed. Different boron-delivery agents will almost certainly have different distribution patterns at the subcellular level. For equivalent 10B concentrations at the macroscopic level (e.g. µg 10B/gram wet tissue), different boron-delivery agents may have vastly different cytotoxic effects. The application of a single RBE value for the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction to different boron-delivery agents without some experimentally determined compensatory factor for subcellular localization could lead to gross under- (or over-) estimates of the actual absorbed dose.
Schedule-induced alcohol drinking: non-selective effects of acamprosate and naltrexone.

Acamprosate and naltrexone are therapeutically effective drugs that promote abstinence and prevent drinking relapse among alcohol-dependent patients, and dose-dependently decrease alcohol self-administration in animals. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the behavioral specificity of acamprosate and naltrexone treatment in mice on alcohol drinking elicited in a schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) task. Food-deprived male C57BL/6J (B6) mice were divided into three groups assigned to a 5% alcohol SIP, water SIP, or a 1-hour limited access regulatory water drinking task. Injections (intraperitoneal) of acute (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/kg) and chronic (2 × 100 mg/kg, 10 days) acamprosate, or naltrexone (0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 mg/kg) were administered. Behavioral drug specificity was determined by comparing alterations in alcohol or water consumption in SIP with alterations in limited access drinking. Additionally, drug effects on drinking-specific measures (g/kg consumption and lick efficiency) were compared with those of nondrinking measures (head entries for food and locomotor activity) during SIP. In comparison with saline injections, acute acamprosate (400 mg/kg) reduced both alcohol and water drinking in both SIP and the regulatory drinking conditions, but had no significant effects on non-drinking measures. Chronic administration of acamprosate reduced both alcohol and water drinking during SIP, but did not significantly affect regulatory drinking or non-drinking measures. Naltrexone (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 mg/kg) reduced alcohol and water drinking in both paradigms, and at the highest dose, significantly reduced head entries for food. These results indicate that acamprosate (acute and chronic) and naltrexone are relatively non-selective in their effects on alcohol self-administration in this task.
Overexpression of HER-2/neu in uterine serous papillary cancer.

Purpose: Uterine serous papillary carcinoma (USPC) is a highly aggressive variant of endometrial cancer and histologically similar to high-grade ovarian cancer. HER-2/neu, the transmembrane receptor encoded by the c- erbB2 gene, is overexpressed by immunohistology in ∼25% of ovarian cancers. In this study, we have evaluated the expression of HER-2/neu in several fresh, established, paraffin-embedded, fixed USPCs. In addition, we have tested the sensitivity of USPC cells to Herceptin treatment. Experimental Design: Ten consecutive USPC specimens were assessed by immunohistochemistry for the intensity of expression of HER-2/neu. In addition, three USPC cell lines were analyzed for expression of HER-2/neu by flow cytometry as well as for sensitivity to Herceptin-mediated, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and inhibition of cell proliferation. Results: Eight of 10 (80%) of the USPCs assessed immunohistochemically for the intensity of expression of HER-2/neu stained heavily for HER-2/neu (2+ to 3+). Fresh and established primary USPC cell lines were found to express significantly more HER-2/neu receptor by flow cytometry (on the average, 10-fold greater) when compared with HER-2/neu-positive primary or established breast and ovarian cancer cell lines ( P in vivo and to natural killer- and complement-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro , they were found to be highly sensitive to Herceptin-mediated ADCC. USPC cell proliferation was also inhibited by Herceptin. A significant enhancement of ADCC was demonstrated when effector cells were exposed to low doses of IL-2 in vitro . Physiological concentrations of human serum IgG did not inhibit Herceptin-mediated ADCC against USPC. Conclusions: On the basis of these findings and previous reports showing a positive in vivo correlation between efficacy of Herceptin therapy and the level of HER-2/neu overexpression by tumor cells, we propose that Herceptin might be a novel and attractive therapeutic strategy in patients harboring chemotherapy-resistant, recurrent, or metastatic USPC.
A Review of “The Algebra Solution to Mathematics Reform (Completing the Equation)”

As the title of this text suggests, Spielhagen places the availability of algebra at the epicenter for not only reforming mathematics, but also influencing future mathematical interests and persona...
Effects of Information Order and Serial Position on Consumer Preference Judgments

In many instances, such as in conjoint analysis-a frequently used market research technique for new product design, consumer preference judgments are obtained after presenting consumers with information on several attributes. This paper examines the effect of information order and serial position of different pieces of information on consumer preference judgments. Hypotheses are derived based on the psychology literature and an experimental study is conducted to test the hypotheses.
Influence of base-plate connection stiffness on the design of low-rise metal buildings

Abstract The objective of this research is to evaluate the influence of column base-plate connection rotational stiffness on the design of low-rise metal building systems. Currently, low-rise metal buildings are designed based on a zero rotational stiffness (pinned connection) assumption at the column-bases. Although prior research indicates that the assumption of zero rotational stiffness of the column base-plate connection could result in a significant underestimation of the overall lateral stiffness of horizontally loaded moment frames (leading to less economical designs), there has been no systematic study to investigate this issue. This paper first presents the details of an experimental research program that was conducted to quantify the rotational stiffness of “pinned” column base-plate connections that are commonly used in the low-rise metal building industry. Eight full-scale column base-plate connections with varying base-plate dimensions, numbers of anchor rods, anchor rod diameters, and gage distances were tested. Then, the data obtained were used to investigate the reduction in the total weight of gabled frames used in metal building construction. Finally, a piecewise nonlinear spring model was fitted to the test data to represent the rotational stiffness of the joints beyond the elastic range. Analyses of example frames indicate that consideration of the rotational stiffness of the pinned connections reduces frame deflections between 11 and 67% and has the potential to make metal building systems more economical by decreasing the frame weight between 0 and 12%, which is considered a substantial cost saving for the metal building industry where profit margins are relatively low.
The phenomenon of conglomerate crystallization Part 44. The crystallization behavior of [cis-Co(tren) (NO2)2]BF4(I), , the space group of and some bio-inorganic observations derived from their stereochemistry

Abstract [cis-Co(tren) (NO2)2]BF4 (I) (CoF4O4N6C6BH18) crystallizes at 22°C, from a deionized water solution in space group Pnma (No. 62), with lattice constants: a = 12.052(3), b = 8.511(2), c = 13.242(3) A ; V = 1629.86 A 3 and Dcalc = 1.878 g cm−3 (MW = 383.98, Z = 4). A total of 4089 data was collected over the range 4 ≤ 2θ ≤ 60°; of these, 2190 (independent and with I ≥ 2.5 σ(I)) were used in the structural analysis. Data were corrected for absorption (μ = 13.30 cm−1) and the transmission coefficients ranged from 0.5852 to 0.7439. The final R(F) and Rw(F) residuals were 0.044 and 0.046, respectively. The cations exist in the lattice as enantiomeric pairs and the conformation of the three five-membered rings for the molecule described here are (N1ClC2N2 = 0°, on the mirror plane which disorders it), λ(N1C3C4N3 = −42.4°) and σ(N1C3′N3′ = +42.4°). [cis-Co(tren) (NO2)2)2]2SiF6 (II) (Co2SiF6O8N12H36) crystallizes as a conglomerate at 22°C, from a deionized water solution in space group P43212 with lattice constants: a = 11.180(4), c = 21.271(7) A ; V = 2658.58 A 3 and Dcalc = 1.840 g cm−3 (MW = 736.43, Z = 4). A total of 1695 data was collected over the range 4 ≤ 2θ ≤ 50°; of these, 1197 (independent and with I ≥ 2.5 σ(I)) were used in the structural analysis. Data were corrected for absorption (μ = 13.90 cm−1) and the transmission coefficients ranged from 0.6093 to 0.7307. The final R (F) and Rw (F) residuals were 0.042 and 0.045, respectively. The cations exist in the lattices as pure enantiomers and the conformation of the three five-membered rings of that dscribed here are λ(N1C1C2N2 = 29.4°), λ(N1C3C4N3 = −41.0°) and σ(N1C5C6N4 = + 42.0°). Crystals of the iodide, [cis-Co (tren) (NO2)2]I (III), are disordered and appear to crystallize in the orthorhombic space groups Pbcm or Pbc21, with cell constants of a = 8.516(5), b = 15.081(4), c = 20.994(6) A , V = 2696.27 A 3 ; Dcalc = 2.207 g cm−3 (MW = 448.11, Z = 4). A total of 3166 data was collected over the range 4 ≤ 2θ ≤ 55°; of these, 2154 (independent and with I ≥ 2.5 σ (I)) were used in the structural analysis. Data were corrected for absorption (μ = 35.50 cm−1) and the transmission coefficients ranged from 0.2812 to 0.4674. In both space groups we obtained a structural analysis implying severe disorder of the ligands surrounding the Co ion.
Maternal employment and adolescent development

(1983). Maternal employment and adolescent development. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 22, Early Adolescence: A New Look, pp. 112-118.
Multiphonon dephasing of the 1086-cm-1 mode in calcite.

The dephasing time of the 1086-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ mode in calcite has been measured as a function of temperature using a new, innovative single-shot streak-camera technique that measures the phonon dephasing rate in real time. Phonon-phonon interaction models have been proposed and tested to explain the temperature dependence of the experimentally measured dephasing time. It is found that multiphonon splitting and scattering processes involving at least four phonons substantially contribute to the dephasing of the 1086-${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ mode in calcite.
Planetary Defense and an Energy Infrastructure for Near Earth Space [Point of View]

The White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP), in response to recent Congressional action, assigned National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) the task of: "(A) protecting the United States from a near-Earth object that is expected to collide with Earth; and (B) implementing a deflection Digital Object campaign. A "functional analysis" of the task was recommended. A planetary defense strategy was considered to such an analysis. Using lasers in space for planetary defense and space energy infrastructure will reduce the current cost of lift to orbit, remove debris from space, assist in rescuing astronauts in difficulty, and deliver energy to other resources in space, and possibly, even eventually to Earth.
Production of prostaglandin E2 in response to infection with modified vaccinia Ankara virus

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an arachidonic acid (AA)-derived signaling molecule that can influence host immune responses to infection or vaccination. In this study, we investigated PGE2 production in vitro by cells infected with the poxvirus vaccine strain, modified vaccinia Ankara virus (MVA). Human THP-1 cells, murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells, and murine C3HA fibroblasts all accumulated PGE2 to high levels in culture supernatants upon infection with MVA. We also demonstrated that MVA induced the release of AA from infected cells, and this was, most unusually, independent of host cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity. The accumulation of AA and PGE2 was dependent on viral gene expression, but independent of canonical NF-κB signaling via p65/RelA. The production of PGE2 required host cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity, and COX-2 protein accumulated during MVA infection. The results of this study provide insight into a novel aspect of MVA biology that may affect the efficacy of MVA-based vaccines.
Compost amendment of Cu-Zn minespoil reduces toxic bioavailable heavy metal concentrations and promotes establishment and biomass production of Bromus carinatus (Hook and Arn.).

Abstract A series of lab and greenhouse studies were undertaken to understand how Cu and Zn toxicity influences Bromus carinatus (Hook and Arn.) growth, to what degree an organic amendment (yard waste compost) may reduce Cu and Zn bioavailability in Cu–Zn minespoil and promote plant growth in combination with fertilizer, and how the vertical distribution of compost in the minespoil influences rooting depth. Root Cu and Zn toxicity thresholds were determined to be 1 mg L−1 and 10 mg L−1 in solution, respectively. The compost amendment had exceptionally high Cu and Zn binding capacities (0.17 and 0.08 g metal g C−1, for Cu and Zn, respectively) that were attributed to high compost humic and fulvic acid concentrations. Maximum plant biomass was achieved when minespoil was amended with compost and fertilizer in combination. Fertilizer alone had no effect on plant growth. Mixing compost into the minespoil was essential to promote adequate rooting depth.
The reliability of a series system of repairable subsystems: A bayesian approach

Consider the problem of estimating the reliability of a series system of (possibly) repairable subsystems when test data and historical information are available at the component, subsystem, and system levels. Such a problem is well suited to a Bayesian approach. Martz, Waller, and Fickas [Technometrics, 30, 143–154 (1988)] presented a Bayesian procedure that accommodates pass/fail (binomial) data at any level. However, other types of test data are often available, including (a) lifetimes of nonrepayable components, and (b) repair histories for repairable subsystems. In this article we describe a new Bayesian procedure that accommodates pass/fail, life, and repair data at any level. We assume a Weibull model for the life data, a censored Weibull model for the pass/fail data, and a power-law process model for the repair data. Consequently, the test data at each level can be represented by a two-parameter likelihood function of a certain form, and historical information can be expressed using a conjugate family of prior distributions. We discuss computational issues, and use the procedure to analyze the reliability of a vehicle system. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Doppler cerebroplacental ratio and perinatal outcome in intrauterine growth restriction

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether the Doppler cerebroplacental ratio predicts perinatal outcome in fetuses at risk for intrauterine growth restriction. Study Design: The middle cerebral and umbilical artery pulsatility index values were measured in 203 fetuses at risk for intrauterine growth restriction, of which 123 were delivered 24 hours, hypoglycemia, or polycythemia), (4) birth weight Results: There was a statistically significant increase in perinatal morbidity and mortality in cases with an abnormal cerebroplacental ratio. The areas under the receiver-operator curves characteristics for the prediction of perinatal outcome with use of the cerebroplacental ratio were statistically very significant. For birth weight P P 34 weeks. Conclusion: Doppler identification of the fetal "brain-sparing" effect strongly predicts outcome in fetuses at risk for intrauterine growth restriction. The brain-sparing effect predicted perinatal problems only in fetuses
Assessment of Internet-based tele-medicine in Africa (the RAFT project).

The objectives of this paper on the Reseau Afrique Francophone de Telemedecine (RAFT) project are the evaluation of feasibility, potential, problems and risks of an Internet-based tele-medicine network in developing countries of Africa. The RAFT project was started in Western African countries 5 years ago and has now extended to other regions of Africa as well (i.e. Madagascar, Rwanda). A project for the development of a national tele-medicine network in Mali was initiated in 2001, extended to Mauritania in 2002 and to Morocco in 2003. By 2006, a total of nine countries are connected. The entire technical infrastructure is based on Internet technologies for medical distance learning and tele-consultations. The results are a tele-medicine network that has been in productive use for over 5 years and has enabled various collaboration channels, including North-to-South (from Europe to Africa), South-to-South (within Africa), and South-to-North (from Africa to Europe) distance learning and tele-consultations, plus many personal exchanges between the participating hospitals and Universities. It has also unveiled a set of potential problems: (a) the limited importance of North-to-South collaborations when there are major differences in the available resources or the socio-cultural contexts between the collaborating parties; (b) the risk of an induced digital divide if the periphery of the health system in developing countries is not involved in the development of the network; and (c) the need for the development of local medical content management skills. Particularly point (c) is improved through the collaboration between the various countries as professionals from the medical and the computer science field are sharing courses and resources. Personal exchanges between partners in the project are frequent, and several persons received an education at one of the partner Universities. As conclusion, we can say that the identified risks have to be taken into account when designing large-scale tele-medicine projects in developing countries. These problems can be mitigated by fostering South-South collaboration channels, by the use of satellite-based Internet connectivity in remote areas, the appreciation of local knowledge and its publication on-line. The availability of such an infrastructure also facilitates the development of other projects, courses, and local content creation.
Plutonium(III)-catalyzed Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reactions

Abstract The reactivity of Th(IV), U(III), U(IV), Pu(III) and Pu(IV) iso -propoxide in the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction of ketones by iso -propanol have been examined. Plutonium(III) iso -propoxide is found to be an effective catalyst for the reduction of a range of substituted aryl-alkyl ketones, while An(IV) iso -propoxides (An=Th, U, Pu) are found to be inactive. U(III) was found to oxidize under the reaction conditions to a U(IV) complex, which was also catalytically inactive.
Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae): A Statistical Model of the Role of Temperature, Photoperiod, and Geography in the Induction of Egg Diapause

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) lays eggs refractory to hatching in response to several environmental cues. The goal of this statistical treatment was to quantify the role and interaction of latitude and country of origin (Japan and the United States), photoperiod, rearing/holding temperature, and a newly identified element, elevation of the site of origin, with critical photoperiod (Cpp). We also describe the development of an equation relating the incidence of diapause to daylength, rearing/holding temperature, and latitude and elevation of the site of origin, an equation useful in the development of a simulation model of the population dynamics and distribution of Ae. albopictus in North America. The analysis indicated that elevation from 0 to 300 m is significantly correlated with Cpp. The results also corroborate earlier conclusions that, on the basis of a shallower geographical cline in photoperiodic response in the United States, North American strains of Ae. albopictus have a temperate origin in Asia and indicate that the rapid spread of this mosquito within the United States via the distribution of used tires resulted in founder populations that were only partially adapted in diapause response to local conditions.
Structure, stability, and substituent effects in aromatic S-nitrosothiols: the crucial effect of a cascading negative hyperconjugation/conjugation interaction.

Aromatic S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) are of significant interest as potential donors of nitric oxide and related biologically active molecules. Here, we address a number of poorly understood properties of these species via a detailed density functional theory and the natural bond orbital (NBO) investigation of the parent PhSNO molecule. We find that the characteristic perpendicular orientation of the −SNO group relative to the phenyl ring is determined by a combination of the steric factors and the donor–acceptor interactions including, in particular, a cascading orbital interaction involving electron delocalization from the oxygen lone pair to the σ-antibonding S–N orbital and then to the π*-aromatic orbitals, an unusual negative hyperconjugation/conjugation long-range delocalization pattern. These interactions, which are also responsible for the relative weakness of the S–N bond in PhSNO and the modulation of −SNO group properties in substituted aromatic RSNOs, can be interpreted as a resonance stabilizatio...
Review of www.wilmott.com

In this issue, a new web page, wilmott.com, is reviewed. This web page provides background material on derivatives and derivative-based trading strategies as well as a platform for readers to interact.
Crime Stories: The Polish Secret Police File and the Conflation of the Legal and the Literary

(2011). Crime Stories: The Polish Secret Police File and the Conflation of the Legal and the Literary. Law and Humanities: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 197-207.
THE (2, ∞)-SKEIN MODULE OF WHITEHEAD MANIFOLDS

To any orientable 3-manifold one can associate a module, called the (2, ∞)-skein module, which is essentially a generalization of the Jones polynomial of links in S3. For an uncountable collection of open contractible 3-manifolds, each constructed in a fashion similar to the classic Whitehead manifold, we prove that their (2, ∞)-skein modules are infinitely generated, torsion free, but not free. These examples stand in stark contrast to ${\mathbb R}^3$, whose (2, ∞)-skein module is free on one generator. To each of these manifolds we associate a subgroup G of the rationals which may be interpreted via wrapping numbers. We show that the skein module of M has a natural filtration by modules indexed by G. For the specific case of the Whitehead manifold, we describe its (2, ∞)-skein module and associated filtration in greater detail.
Mild traumatic brain injury in the rat alters neuronal number in the limbic system and increases conditioned fear and anxiety-like behaviors.

Abstract Recent reports suggest that experiencing a mild closed head trauma or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is associated with a greater incidence of anxiety disorders. Dysfunction of limbic structures, such as the medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus, is associated with the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Therefore, the goal of the current studies was to characterize the consequences of closed mTBI on these limbic structures and associated fear and anxiety-related behaviors. A weight-drop procedure was employed to induce mTBI in male rats. Rats were transcardically perfused 4 or 9 days following exposure to mTBI or control procedures, and neuronal number, brain region area, and the number of apoptotic cells in each region were determined. In separate groups of rats, the effects of mTBI on anxiety-like behaviors, motor function, nociception, and acquisition, retention and extinction of contextual fear were also assessed. Findings suggest that mTBI was associated with significant neuronal cell loss in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus and increased cell number in subregions of the amygdala, both of which appear to be related to alterations to apoptosis in these regions following mTBI. Furthermore, mTBI increased expression of anxiety-like behaviors and conditioned fear, with no effect on motor performance or nociception. Overall, a single impact to the skull to mimic mTBI in rats produces discrete alterations to neuronal numbers within the limbic system and specific emotional deficits, providing a potential neurobiological link between mTBI and anxiety disorders.
Increase in Na+, K+ -ATPase enzyme units in liver and kidneys from essential fatty acid deficient rats.

(3H)-Ouabain binding to liver and kidney preparations was utilized to estimate the number of Na+,K+-ATPase enzyme units in livers and kidneys from rats fed 2% corn oil supplemented or fat-free diets. The specific (3H)-ouabain binding in liver and kidney preparations from fatty acid deficient rats was increased approximately 40%, but the affinity of the binding sites for ouabain (Kd-value) remained unchanged. The increased concentration of Na+,K+-ATPase enzyme units observed in the essential fatty acid deficient rats may contribute to the reduced body fat accumulation and elevated heat production observed in these animals.
Comparison of novel pro-BNP(1-108) and standard BNP assays in heart failure patients.

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) progression and outcomes reflect activation of multiple neurohormonal systems. Which biomarkers reflecting these systems contribute incremental information remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine if serial measurements of pro-BNP1–108 separately, in combination with standard assay BNP, or with troponin T (cTnT) would enhance risk stratification in ambulatory HF patients. Methods A cohort of 187 Class III–IV HF patients was prospectively studied. Blood was collected every 3 months over 2 years for biomarker analysis [pro-BNP1–108, standard assay BNP, troponin T (cTnT)] in relation to the primary endpoint of death or cardiac transplantation. Results Univariate categorical and continuous variable analyses of single-sample and time-dependent serial values of pro-BNP1–108 and BNP demonstrated that elevations in both biomarkers were associated with increased risk of death/transplantation. Multivariate analysis of serial measurements adjusted for cTnT revealed cTnT as the independent marker of risk. Combined elevations of either pro-BNP1–108 or BNP with cTnT, however, were the most significant predictors of outcome. Conclusions Circulating levels of pro-BNP1–108 appear to be comparable to mature BNP in ambulatory HF out-patients. Elevated levels of pro-BNP1–108 or BNP identified by serial monitoring similarly predict events. A strategy of serial monitoring of either pro-BNP1–108 or BNP alone or particularly in combination with cTnT can serve a valuable role in detecting higher-risk HF patients.
The Role of Adrenal Rhythmicity in Puberty: Effects of Intermittent Steroid Replacement

Tests were done to determine whether sensitive periods exist when corticosterone replacement would be more effective in normalizing puberty in adrenalectomized rats. Rats were adrenalectomized at 22 days of age when adreanlectomy delays puberty or at 28 days of age when it does not. Either saline injections or injections of .5 mg corticosterone were given 3 times daily (8 A.M. 4 P.M. and 11 P.M.) beginning on the day of surgery. Survival rates were low. Corticosterone levels following either the saline injections or the .5 mg of corticosterone remained comparable after a week. Saline injections beginning at 22 days of age when given at 11 P.M. delayed puberty in intact rats but not when given at other times. In sham-operated rats saline given at 8 A.M. delayed puberty but given at other times it did not. Saline injections in adreanlectomized rats delayed puberty longer than the operation alone (p less than .01). Corticosterone replacement produced normal vaginal openings and earlier ovulation than in saline-treated rats but ovulation was delayed beyond that of controls (p less than .01). Corticosterone injections at the 3 different time periods were equally effective. Therefore a daily sensitive period for advancing puberty in adrenalectomized rats by corticosterone injections was not shown. Adrenal rhythm does shift in rats exposed to sham surgery before puberty. Daily injection stress in delaying puberty does depend on the time of injection.
Adsorption of molecular nitrogen on nickel. II. Comparison of photoemission for N 2 /Ni(100) to CO/Ni(100) and to theory

Valence-level and core-level photoemission results are presented for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ molecularly adsorbed on a Ni(100) surface at 77 K. Comparison is made to the Ni(100)/CO system. Differences are interpreted in terms of differences in chemisorption bonding. The data are in agreement with theoretical calculations (▵SCF Hartree-Fock) for NiCO and Ni${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ cluster models, provided the possibility of Ni $4p\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}2{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{*}$ (adsorbate) backbonding is allowed for in those calculations. Certain features are explainable without inclusion of such backbonding, but the agreement with absolute ionization potentials (IP's) for the valence levels is worse and the core-level satellite structure effects become unexplainable. We conclude that the data demonstrate the existence of Ni $4p\ensuremath{\pi}$ to adsorbate ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{*}$ backbonding (stronger for CO) and also justifies the use of the cluster-model calculations to interpret adsorbate photoemission data. Implicit in these conclusions is the assignment of the main line N $1s$ (or C $1s$ and O $1s$) IP's to a core-hole state in which an electron has been transferred from the Ni valence level to the adsorbate $2{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{*}$ level (shake-down process).
Electromechanical Properties of Bone: A Review

Although apparently successful clinically, the mechanism(s) of electro-osteogenesis is still unknown. It is clear that the electromechanical effects in bone may be an important factor affecting bone remodeling processes. Identification of the mechanism for the electromechanical response may be helpful in the understanding of how electrical stimulation affects fracture healing. In this review, we attempt to summarize the published data on the electromechanical properties of bone.
Increase in 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3)-binding sites in tadpole erythrocyte nuclei during spontaneous and T3-induced metamorphosis.

The change in T3-binding sites in larval and adult type red blood cell (RBC) nuclei during metamorphosis was studied with the use of Scatchard plots. The number of binding sites per nucleus or the maximum binding capacity (MBC) in the larval type RBC (containing larval hemoglobins) increased from 240 at stage X to 410 at stage XVIII. The apparent Kd also increased from 170 pM at stage X to 260 pM at stage XVIII. At stages XX-XXI, adult type RBCs (containing adult hemoglobins) accounted for 22% of the RBC population. At stage XXII, adult RBCs increased to 54%. In the separated larval and adult RBCs from stage XXII, obtained by Percoll gradient centrifugation, the MBC in larval RBCs had increased to 930 sites/nucleus, a 4-fold increase over stage X, with a Kd of 760 pM; adult RBCs had 1150 sites/nucleus and a Kd of 1530 pM. In contrast, when T3 binding was measured in the whole RBC population from stage XXII tadpoles, the MBC and Kd in larval and adult RBC were estimated at 780 sites/nucleus with a Kd of 64...
Three-dimensional seismic-reflection imaging of a shallow buried paleochannel

A suite of reflection seismology investigations of the shallow subsurface was conducted at Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah, at a groundwater contamination site with very large subsurface mechanical heterogeneity. The investigations were designed to expand and improve understanding of the subsurface environment developed from well data and previous seismic investigations. The goal of the investigations was to image the sides and bottom of a paleochannel eroded in a clay layer 10–15 m below the surface. The paleochannel is filled with a mix of sands, clays, and gravels of different compaction and water saturation. The paleochannel acts as a contaminant trap for dense nonaqueous-phase liquids (DNAPLs). Therefore, a detailed map of its geometry, lateral boundaries, and depth is crucial to remediation efforts. The results of processing a 3D reflection data set over the channel showed that it is possible to image and delineate the geometry and depth of a very shallow structure. Seismic results agreed well with...
Factors to be Considered in Immature Female Rat Titration of Pregnancy Urine.

The induction of precocious sexual maturity in the female rat or mouse has been used extensively as the foundation for both qualitative and quantitative studies of the gonadotropic activity of blood and urine and of extracts made from these and other substances. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in this and other laboratories in the application of reactions associated with this maturity phenomenon. For the purpose of evaluating several of the criteria suggested for use in estimating the gonad-stimulating potency of urine, an extended series of titrations of pregnancy urines was conducted in immature female rats. Analysis of the data yields information concerning the relative sensitivity of ovarian, vaginal, and uterine reactions; the conditions limiting their reliability and indications for their use, separately or in combination, as endpoints.Two lots of urine were titrated. One of these (P.U.A.) was a composite of specimens from pregnancies of 2 to 12 weeks' duration. The other (P.U.B.) was a...
Where (in the brain) do semantic errors come from

Abstract Background Semantic errors result from the disruption of access either to semantics or to lexical representations. One way to determine the origins of these errors is to evaluate comprehension of words that elicit semantic errors in naming. We hypothesized that in acute stroke there are different brain regions where dysfunction results in semantic errors in both naming and comprehension versus those with semantic errors in oral naming alone. Methods A consecutive series of 196 patients with acute left hemispheric stroke who met inclusion criteria were evaluated with oral naming and spoken word/picture verification tasks and magnetic resonance imaging within 48 h of stroke onset. We evaluated the relationship between tissue dysfunction in 10 pre-specified Brodmann's areas (BA) and the production of coordinate semantic errors resulting from (1) semantic deficits or (2) lexical access deficits. Results Semantic errors arising from semantic deficits were most associated with tissue dysfunction/infarct of left BA 22. Semantic errors resulting from lexical access deficits were associated with hypoperfusion/infarct of left BA 37. Conclusion Our study shows that semantic errors arising from damage to distinct cognitive processes reflect dysfunction of different brain regions.
A ternary solution for independent acoustic impedance and speed of sound matching to biological tissues.

In applications requiring a liquid which is acoustically well matched to biological tissues, it is often difficult to find a material which is matched well in terms of both the acoustic impedance and speed of sound propagation in it; changing one parameter invariably affects the other. A three component liquid system is described, which allows independent adjustment of these two acoustic parameters over a wide range. This range encompasses the soft tissues of the body. Results of parameter measurements are presented in the form which allows simple determination of the mixture required to match any combination of acoustic impedance and speed of sound propagation over a given range.
VSAT networks - An overview

This paper examines the technology and constraints of very small aperture terminals (VSAT) networks, a special type of wide-area thin-route satellite network that represents a recent innovation in the field of satellite communications. VSAT network architectures suitable for both data and voice communications are studied in this paper. Several issues concerning the frequency of operations, that is, C-band versus Ku-band are examined, and trade-offs between nonspread spectrum and spread spectrum techniques, as well as modulation and multiple access schemes, are considered in detail. Link design examples are given to illustrate the performance of various types of VSAT networks.