cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Population psychiatric medication prescription rates following a terrorist attack.

Introduction: While several population-based studies have documented behav- ioral health disturbances following terrorist attacks, a number of mental health service utilization analyses present conflicting conclusions. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if mental health service utilization increased following a terrorist attack by assessing changes in psy- choactive drug prescription rates. Methods: The rate of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescrip- tions was measured among New York State Medicaid enrollees before and after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The association between geographic proximity to the events and changes in the rate of SSRI prescrip- tions around 11 September 2001 was assessed.
Mapping land-cover modifications over large areas: A comparison of machine learning algorithms

Abstract Large area land-cover monitoring scenarios, involving large volumes of data, are becoming more prevalent in remote sensing applications. Thus, there is a pressing need for increased automation in the change mapping process. The objective of this research is to compare the performance of three machine learning algorithms (MLAs); two classification tree software routines (S-plus and C4.5) and an artificial neural network (ARTMAP), in the context of mapping land-cover modifications in northern and southern California study sites between 1990/91 and 1996. Comparisons were based on several criteria: overall accuracy, sensitivity to data set size and variation, and noise. ARTMAP produced the most accurate maps overall (∼ 84%), for two study areas — in southern and northern California, and was most resistant to training data deficiencies. The change map generated using ARTMAP has similar accuracies to a human-interpreted map produced by the U.S. Forest Service in the southern study area. ARTMAP appears to be robust and accurate for automated, large area change monitoring as it performed equally well across the diverse study areas with minimal human intervention in the classification process.
Loss of Control on Approach Colgan Air, Inc., Operating as Continental Connection Flight 3407 Bombardier DHC-8-400, N200WQ Clarence Center, New York February 12, 2009

Demonstration of how the National Transportation Safety Board uses accident data to create an accident reconstruction animation that is used to explain the circumstances of an accident to the public and entities responsible for implementing transportation safety improvements.
Watchful Waiting and Factors Predictive of Secondary Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer

ABSTRACTPurpose: Watchful waiting remains an important treatment option for some patients with localized prostate cancer. We defined the demographic, clinical and outcome features of men selecting watchful waiting as an initial treatment strategy, and determined factors predictive of eventual progression to secondary treatment.Materials and Methods: Of 8,390 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1990 to 2001 in the Department of Defense Center for Prostate Disease Research Database, 1,158 patients chose watchful waiting as initial treatment. The demographic and clinical differences between patients on watchful waiting and those choosing other initial treatments were compared using the chi-square test. Secondary treatment-free survival according to various prognostic factors was plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences were tested using the log rank test. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine which factors were independent predictors of s...
Modified APC-resistance test: Variable ratios with respect to source of factor V-deficient plasma

A single point mutation of the factor V (FV) gene, leading to the substitution Arg506Gln in the FV molecule (FV-Leiden) and hence resistance to its breakdown by activated protein C (APC), is the most prevalent risk factor for venous thrombosis in the Caucasians. A ratio determined by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of test plasma in the presence or absence of exogenous APC (the APC ratio), is the method widely used to screen individuals with this risk factor for thrombosis. Because of functional defects of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors in patients on oral anticoagulant therapy, this method cannot be applied to those patients without modification. One modification is to mix test plasma (1:5 or 1:10) with FV-deficient plasma so that 80-90% of functioning vitamin K-dependent factors are supplied by the FV-deficient plasma. Even with 10-20% of FV in the mixture, APC-resistance still can be demonstrated. In this report, we present our results of the modified APC-sensitivity assay using FV-deficient plasma from different commercial sources. APC ratios determined by the original method in which test plasma is not mixed with FV-deficient plasma can be significantly different from those determined by the modified method in which test plasma is diluted 1:5 with FV-deficient plasma. This difference between methods was observed not only in normal individuals, but also in FV-Leiden positive individuals, and in patients on warfarin therapy. Further, APC ratios varied significantly depending on the commercial source of the FV-deficient plasma. The modified method is apparently suitable to identify APC-resistance in patients on warfarin therapy, as well as in individuals not receiving anticoagulant treatment. However, one must be aware that APC-resistance ratios obtained with the modified method are likely to be different from those established with the original method, and the source of FV-deficient plasma can be a factor influencing the ratios in the former cases.
The Effects of Thallus Toughness and Nutritive Quality on Palatability of Antarctic Macroalgae

Palatability of macroalgae can be affected by many different factors including thallus toughness, nutritional quality (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, ash), and the presence of deterrent secondary metabolites. Palatability bioassays were performed using two different antarctic algal grazers (the antarctic rockfish Notothenia coriiceps and the sea star Odontaster validus). These data were then compared to toughness and chemical composition data. Toughness was determined using a penetrometer and a wide range of thallus toughness was observed in individuals of differing species as well as of the same species. Some of the tougher individuals required more than 30 N of force to cut through the thallus while others required less than 1 N to break through. Each algal species is also being tested for percent composition of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, as well as ash. It is hypothesized that the algal species with greater nutritional quality and/or less thallus toughness are more likely to be acceptable foods to consumers (NSF OPP9814538, OPP9901076).
Intubating conditions and neuromuscular block after divided dose mivacurium or single dose rocuronium

Purpose To evaluate the tracheal intubating conditions and neuromuscular blocking charactenstics of divided dose mivacurium or single dose rocuronium.
Connecting science to everyday experiences in preschool settings

In this paper I discuss the challenges of teaching science concepts and discourse in preschool in light of the study conducted by Kristina Andersson and Annica Gullberg. I then suggest a complementary approach to teaching science at this level from the perspective of social construction of knowledge based on Vygotsky’s theory (1934/1987). In addition, I highlight the importance of the relational aspect of knowing using feminist standpoint theory (Harding 2004). I also draw from feminist research on preservice elementary teachers’ learning of science to further underscore the connection between learning content and everyday experiences. Combining these research strands I propose that science needs to be grounded in everyday experiences. In this regard, the idea is similar to the choices made by the teachers in the study conducted by Andersson and Gullberg but I also suggest that the everyday experiences chosen for teaching purposes be framed appropriately. In and of itself, the complexity of everyday experiences can be impediment for learning as these researchers have demonstrated. Such complexities point to the need for framing of everyday experiences (Goffman 1974) so that children can do science and construct meaning from their actions. In the conclusion of my discussion of science and its discourse in preschool settings, I provide examples of everyday experiences and their framings that have the potential for engaging children and their teachers in science.
Persistent Changes in Gene Expression Induced by Estrogen and Progesterone in the Rat Mammary Gland

Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that an early full-term pregnancy is protective against breast cancer. We hypothesize that the hormonal milieu that is present during pregnancy results in persistent changes in the pattern of gene expression in the mammary gland, leading to permanent changes in cell fate that determine the subsequent proliferative response of the gland. To investigate this hypothesis, we have used suppression subtractive hybridization to identify genes that are persistently up-regulated in the glands of E- and progesterone (P)-treated Wistar-Furth rats 28 d after steroid hormone treatment compared with age-matched virgins. Using this approach, a number of genes displaying persistent altered expression in response to previous treatment with E and P were identified. Two markers have been characterized in greater detail: RbAp46 and a novel gene that specifies a noncoding RNA (designated G.B7). Both were persistently up-regulated in the lobules of the regressed gland and required previous treatment with both E and P for maximal persistent expression. RbAp46 has been implicated in a number of complexes involving chromatin remodeling, suggesting a mechanism whereby epigenetic factors responsible for persistent changes in gene expression may be related to the determination of cell fate. These results provide the first support at the molecular level for the hypothesis that hormone-induced persistent changes in gene expression are present in the involuted mammary gland.
Theoretical studies of the spectroscopic properties of tryptamine, tryptophan and tyrosine

Abstract In order to develop model parameters for simulating the spectroscopic properties of tryptophan and tyrosine in solutions and in proteins, we have carried out Hartree–Fock (HF) and configurational interaction (CI) calculations to study the electronic and spectroscopic properties of these fluorophores. Tryptamine, which is structurally related to tryptophan, has also been studied. The 3-21G basis set was used in most of the calculations and only single excitations were included in the CI calculations. Although calculations at this level of approximations have overestimated the transition energies, they have given transition moments within the range of values obtained from semi-empirical calculations and experimental measurements on indole and several of its derivatives. The calculated transition moments can be used in molecular dynamics simulations to study the fluorescence anisotropy decay (FAD) of these fluorophores. We have also estimated the natural atomic orbital charges of the ground and excited states of tryptamine, tryptophan, and tyrosine. These natural atomic orbital charges can be used in molecular dynamics simulations to study the ground- and excited-state dynamics of these fluorophores. The calculated charge redistribution because of optical excitations of tryptophan at different pHs were consistent with the experimental observations that deprotonated tryptophan had red-shifted absorption and emission spectra. Using AM1 adiabatic potential energy curves and a rotamer model employing an electron-transfer mechanism of fluorescence quenching, we have provided an interpretation of the observed pH-dependent fluorescence decay of tryptophan. The conformational and environmental sensitivity of the electronic and spectroscopic properties of these flurophores has also been examined.
Tailoring the AAV vector capsid for gene therapy

A number of preclinical studies have shown the adeno-associated virus (AAV) to be an efficient vehicle for gene therapy. Clinical studies successfully demonstrated its potential for in vivo gene transfer. The complexity of host-vector interactions when progressing from small to large animal models, and eventually to humans, has impeded translation of AAV technology to the clinic. One approach to address this complexity has been to explore the biological characteristics of variations in AAV capsid structure. Initial strategies characterized the naturally occurring capsid variants from mammalian species. The structural and functional knowledge gathered on these natural AAV variants as vectors has led to the first series of second-generation vectors that aim at specifically improving certain properties by rational design of the capsid. A third exciting approach uses directed evolution to isolate vectors that are able to overcome selective pressures applied in the laboratory and thereby steer the capsid to evolve toward improved functionality.
Delta-tocotrienol suppresses radiation-induced microRNA-30 and protects mice and human CD34+ cells from radiation injury.

We reported that microRNA-30c (miR-30c) plays a key role in radiation-induced human cell damage through an apoptotic pathway. Herein we further evaluated radiation-induced miR-30 expression and mechanisms of delta-tocotrienol (DT3), a radiation countermeasure candidate, for regulating miR-30 in a mouse model and human hematopoietic CD34+ cells. CD2F1 mice were exposed to 0 (control) or 7–12.5 Gy total-body gamma-radiation, and CD34+ cells were irradiated with 0, 2 or 4 Gy of radiation. Single doses of DT3 (75 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection for mice or 2 μM for CD34+ cell culture) were administrated 24 h before irradiation and animal survival was monitored for 30 days. Mouse bone marrow (BM), jejunum, kidney, liver and serum as well as CD34+ cells were collected at 1, 4, 8, 24, 48 or 72 h after irradiation to determine apoptotic markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, miR-30, and stress response protein expression. Our results showed that radiation-induced IL-1β release and cell damage are pathological states that lead to an early expression and secretion of miR-30b and miR-30c in mouse tissues and serum and in human CD34+ cells. DT3 suppressed IL-1β and miR-30 expression, protected against radiation-induced apoptosis in mouse and human cells, and increased survival of irradiated mice. Furthermore, an anti-IL-1β antibody downregulated radiation-induced NFκBp65 phosphorylation, inhibited miR-30 expression and protected CD34+ cells from radiation exposure. Knockdown of NFκBp65 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly suppressed radiation-induced miR-30 expression in CD34+ cells. Our data suggest that DT3 protects human and mouse cells from radiation damage may through suppression of IL-1β-induced NFκB/miR-30 signaling.
CT-derived finite element models to determine vertebral cortex strength

The contribution of the vertebral cortex to the strength of the vertebrae is unknown. Several researchers have attempted to estimate this contribution by mechanically testing excised vertebral specimens. We have addressed the problem by creating finite element models (FEM) of the lumbar spine from contiguous scan CT studies. Seventeen women with no evidence of spinal fracture were scanned on a commercial CT scanner along with a calibration phantom to allow accurate determination of spinal bone mineral density. Using interactive software techniques two vertebral FEM are created from each scan set one with the cortex intact and the second with the cortical shell removed. Each model was analyzed under compression using finite element software and the results were compared for the intact and no cortex cases. Removal of the cortical shell was found to significantly decrease vertebral strength an average of 15. 6 3. 0 (mean standard error of the mean) in our study (p 0. 001). The decrease was variable between patients and did not appear related to trabecular mineral density. In osteoporotic patients the cortical contribution to vertebral strength may be much greater than that reported for the normal women due to the accelerated loss of trabecular bone. 1.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Actions on permutations and unimodality of descent polynomials

We study a group action on permutations due to Foata and Strehl and use it to prove that the descent generating polynomial of certain sets of permutations has a non-negative expansion in the basis {t^i(1+t)^n^-^1^-^2^i}"i"="0^m, [email protected]?(n-1)/[email protected]?. This property implies symmetry and unimodality. We prove that the action is invariant under stack sorting which strengthens recent unimodality results of Bona. We prove that the generalized permutation patterns (13-2) and (2-31) are invariant under the action and use this to prove unimodality properties for a q-analog of the Eulerian numbers recently studied by Corteel, Postnikov, Steingrimsson and Williams. We also extend the action to linear extensions of sign-graded posets to give a new proof of the unimodality of the (P,@w)-Eulerian polynomials of sign-graded posets and a combinatorial interpretations (in terms of Stembridge's peak polynomials) of the corresponding coefficients when expanded in the above basis. Finally, we prove that the statistic defined as the number of vertices of even height in the unordered decreasing tree of a permutation has the same distribution as the number of descents on any set of permutations invariant under the action. On restricting to the set of stack sortable permutations we recover a result of Kreweras.
Noncompact Fuchsian and quasi-Fuchsian surfaces in hyperbolic 3–manifolds

Given a noncompact quasi-Fuchsian surface in a finite volume hyperbolic 3‐manifold, we introduce a new invariant called the cusp thickness, that measures how far the surface is from being totally geodesic. We relate this new invariant to the width of a surface, which allows us to extend and generalize results known for totally geodesic surfaces. We also show that checkerboard surfaces provide examples of such surfaces in alternating knot complements and give examples of how the bounds apply to particular classes of knots. We then utilize the results to generate closed immersed essential surfaces. 57M50; 20H10
A novel X-ray technique for inspection of steel pipes

The corrosion-induced material loss in crude oil carrying steel pipelines was originally studied by making use of the backscatter X-ray technique. The steel thickness can be determined by studying the density profile of the backscatter intensity vs. the depth location of a “voxel.” There are, however, some practical limitations to the above method, and a new method for evaluating steel thickness, namely, the “transcatter” technique is described. This technique uses the intensity of the beam which is transmitted by the pipe wall and subsequently scattered by the hydrocarbon inside the pipeline. The thickness is evaluated using three techniques, namely, the “sequential” technique, the “dual angle” technique, and the “reference” technique. Of the three techniques, the sequential technique has been studied in detail. The mathematical equations and experimental results related to the transcatter technique show that the thickness can be measured with an accuracy of better than 10% for a nominal steel thickness of 8 mm with a measurement time of several minutes.
5'-Nucleotidase: solubilization, radiochemical analysis, and electrophoresis.

5′-Nucleotidase (5′-NT, E.C. 3.1.3.5) of cultured human and rodent cells was rendered soluble using the zwitterionic detergent Zwittergent 314. Optimal activity of 5′-NT was obtained when sonicated cells were incubated in solutions containing 0.75% (w/v) Zwittergent. A method was developed for the determination of the activity of 5′-NT in which the unutilized substrate, [14C]-AMP. was precipitated with lanthanum chloride and the soluble [14C]-adenosine was measured by scintillation counting. 5′-NT isozymes were separated using agarose gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel. The zones of enzyme activity were established by precipitation of unutilized [14C]-AMP with LaCl3, removal of soluble [14C]-adenosine by washing gels in water, and autoradiography. The zones of 5′-NT appeared as clear zones on darkened X-ray film. When analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, fibroblasts derived from human skin and rat liver produced a single zone of 5′-NT activity. The 5′-NT isozyme of rat cells migrated faster than that of human cells and was easy to distinguish. The presence of detergent in the sample and in the gel enhanced enzymatic activity and improved the separation of the isozymes. Isoelectric focusing resolved 5′-NT of human fibroblasts into two molecular forms. one of which focused in the region of pH 6 and the other at pH 5.
Recent trends in hospital management practices and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction in patients with kidney disease.

Patients who have kidney disease receive aspirin, β blockers, lipid-lowering therapy, thrombolytic agents, and coronary interventions less often than patients who have normal kidney function. The odds of dying during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction were significantly higher among patients who had kidney disease than among those who did not have kidney disease after adjusting for several demographic and clinical confounders and year of hospitalization.
Elasmobranch oculomotor organization: anatomical and theoretical aspects of the phylogenetic development of vestibulo-oculomotor connectivity.

The oculomotor organization of two elasmobranch species, smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis) and little skate (Raja erinacea), was studied by investigating the extraocular muscle apparatus and the oculomotor motoneuron distribution. The macroscopic appearance of the eye muscles was similar to any lateral-eyed vertebrate species (e.g., goldfish, rabbit). The size of extraocular muscles was expressed by counting single muscle fibers and comparing cross-sectional areas of the extraocular muscles. There were significant differences in the number of fibers in the six extraocular muscles in dogfish, but not in skate. Fiber sizes varied considerably; thus, the number of fibers did not relate to cross-sectional areas. In the dogfish, no one pair of agonist-antagonist extraocular muscles was larger than the others, suggesting that there was no preference for eye movements in a particular plane of space. However, the lateral rectus was more than twice the size of most of the other muscles. In the skate, cross-sectional areas of the horizontal eye muscles were smaller than those of the vertical eye movers. This may indicate a reduced utilization of horizontal eye muscles, which may reflect the bottom-dwelling habitat and mode of locomotion of the skate. The distribution of the extraocular motoneurons was determined by injecting horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into single eye muscles. Medial rectus, superior rectus, and superior oblique motoneuron populations were located contralateral to their respective muscles. Lateral rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique motoneurons were located ipsilateral to their muscles. This distribution is in contrast to almost all other vertebrates studied thus far, where medial rectus motoneurons are located ipsilateral to the muscle which they innervate. The oculomotor arrangement in elasmobranchs is likely to have consequences for the circuitry responsible for the production of conjugate compensatory eye movements in the horizontal plane. We hypothesize that, in contrast to other vertebrates, the basic elasmobranch vestibulo-ocular reflex pathway consists of three identically structured three-neuron-arcs connecting the three semicircular canals to their respective extraocular muscles. This innervation pattern may constitute a special feature of the elasmobranch brain or a phylogenetically older arrangement of eye movement pathways.
Flying Fast and Low Among Obstacles: Methodology and Experiments

Safe autonomous flight is essential for widespread acceptance of aircraft that must fly close to the ground. We have developed a method of collision avoidance that can be used in three dimensions in much the same way as autonomous ground vehicles that navigate over unexplored terrain. Safe navigation is accomplished by a combination of online environmental sensing, path planning and collision avoidance. Here we outline our methodology and report results with an autonomous helicopter that operates at low elevations in uncharted environments, some of which are densely populated with obstacles such as buildings, trees and wires. We have recently completed over 700 successful runs in which the helicopter traveled between coarsely specified waypoints separated by hundreds of meters, at speeds of up to 10 m s—1 at elevations of 5—11 m above ground level. The helicopter safely avoids large objects such as buildings and trees but also wires as thin as 6 mm. We believe this represents the first time an air vehicle has traveled this fast so close to obstacles. The collision avoidance method learns to avoid obstacles by observing the performance of a human operator.
Instrumented Force Platform for Postural Sway Studies

A force platform has been developed, which is capable of measuring postural sway in humans in two orthogonal directions. For each direction, output data consist of total average sway in two frequency bands centered on 0.57 and 2.9 Hz. The device is suitable for use in research or in a clinical setting.
Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing

Abstract With this installment of “From Picas to Pixels,” I look at the differences (and similarities) between print publishing and Web publishing from the zine perspective and the cost differences between the two. I even speculate about why e-journals are still so expensive even though Web publishing is so much cheaper than print publishing (at least from the zine perspective). But then I remind myself that academic journals are a whole lot different than zines and so I carefully excuse myself from the discussion!
SWItching on the transcriptional circuitry in melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy that is resistant to current therapy, and the most lethal of all human skin cancers. It is characterized by several genetic alterations that lead to changes in gene expression and tumorigenesis by triggering alterations in the normal transcriptional circuitry. Transformation and tumor progression are thought to be promoted by a complex interplay between the accumulation of genetic alterations and epigenetic changes. In this review, we discuss recent studies that have implicated SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling enzymes as epigenetic regulators of a transcriptional circuit that operates within the context the genetic alterations that frequently occur in melanoma.
The effect of sudden wind shear on the Earth's magnetosphere: Statistics of wind shear events and CCMC simulations of magnetotail disconnections

[1] The solar wind is filled with strong current sheets and sudden velocity shears; often the two are co-located. Sudden velocity shears at 1 AU are statistically analyzed using ACE measurements from 1998 to 2008. The occurrence rates of passage and the orientations of the shear planes are examined. For shear layers with vector velocity changes |Δv| > 50 km/s, an average of ∼12 pass the Earth per day. In the fast wind, ∼60 sudden shear layers pass the Earth per day (about 2.5 per hour). To explore the effects of sudden wind shears on the Earth's magnetosphere, global magnetospheric MHD simulations with four different simulation codes are performed at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) with north-south and east-west wind shears. Windsock movement of the magnetotail is analyzed and comet-like disconnections of the magnetotail and magnetosheath are examined. Sudden changes in the cross-polar-cap potential and ionospheric Joule dissipation are seen as the shear layers pass the Earth. Other potential effects of sudden wind shear on the magnetosphere are discussed.
A 300 KBPS 23.2 MHz Binary Frequency Shift Keying Transmitter for USB Power Line Communication in 180 nm BiCMOS

A Binary Frequency Shift Keying transmitter particularly suited for the recently introduced USB Power Delivery standard is presented here. The proposed architecture uses a combination of intelligent frequency planning, an unmodulated high frequency PLL, a digital clock rate converter, and a sine-weighted DAC impedance matched to the power-line network. This combination simultaneously achieves frequency keying and output signal generation in a novel highly integrated way. It achieves a Figure of Merit and a data-rate-normalized energy efficiency better than or comparable to generic Direct Digital Synthesis architectures and previously published FSK designs, at a fraction of their die area. Details of its architecture and implementation, 180 nm BiCMOS measurement results, and comparison with best existing designs are presented.
The Development Process and Realization of Knowledge Management

The information technology(IT) in the development process, auxiliary rule, rule of personification and so on are important, therefore, the enterprise should organization, the fusion of internal and external environment on the internal control and synchronization, reengineering in integrated goal-directed route choice under informatization measures is the development trend of knowledge management. The research conclusion tells us that, the knowledge information is most important, we should construct, enhance the staff occupational ethics, in order to raising the value level of KMS.
5-((1-Aroyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-diones as potential anticancer agents with anti-inflammatory properties

A series of novel 5-((1-aroyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-2-thioxodihydropyrimidine-4,6(1H,5H)-diones (3a-z) have been evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of 60 human tumor cell lines. Compound 3k exhibited the most potent growth inhibition against melanoma MDA-MB-435 cells (GI(50)=850 nM), against leukemia SR cancer cells (GI(50)=1.45 μM), and OVCAR-3 (GI(50)=1.26 μM) ovarian cancer cell lines. The structurally related compound 3s had a GI(50) value of 1.77 μM against MDA-MB-435 cells. The N-naphthoyl analogue 3t had GI(50) values of 1.30 and 1.91 μM against HOP-92 non-small cell lung cancer and MDA-MB-435 melanoma cell lines, respectively. The related analogue 3w had GI(50) values of 1.09 μM against HOP-92 non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Interestingly, docking of the two active molecules 3k and 3w into the active site of COX-2 indicates that these compounds are COX-2 ligands with strong hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Thus, compounds 3k, 3t, 3s, and 3w constitute a new class of anticancer/anti-inflammatory agents that may have unique potential for cancer therapy.
When Things Are Better or Worse than Expected: The Medial Frontal Cortex and the Allocation of Processing Resources

Access to limited-capacity neural systems of cognitive control must be restricted to the most relevant information. How the brain identifies and selects items for preferential processing is not fully understood. Anatomical models often place the selection mechanism in the medial frontal cortex (MFC), and one computational model proposes that the mesotelencephalic dopamine (DA) system, via its reward prediction properties, provides a “gate” through which information gains access to limited-capacity systems. There is a medial frontal event-related potential (ERP) index of attention selection, the anterior positivity (P2a), associated with DA reward system input to the MFC for the identification of task-relevant perceptual representations. The P2a has a similar spatio-temporal distribution as the medial frontal negativity (MFN), elicited to error responses or choices resulting in monetary loss. The MFN has also been linked to DA projections to the MFC but for action monitoring rather than attention selection. This study proposes that the P2a and the MFN reflect the same MFC evaluation function and use a passive reward prediction design containing neither instructed attention nor response to demonstrate that the ERP over medial frontal leads at the P2a/MFN latency is consistent with activity of midbrain DA neurons, positive to unpredicted rewards and negative when a predicted reward is withheld. This result suggests that MFC activity is regulated by DA reward system input and may function to identify items or actions that exceed or fail to meet motivational prediction.
Survey of United States dental schools on cementation protocols for implant crown restorations.

Statement of problem With conflicting results in the literature and various manufacturer recommendations, it is not known what cementation protocols are currently being used for implant restorations in US dental schools. Purpose The purpose of this survey was to determine what dental cementation protocols are taught and recommended by 62 US dental schools and postgraduate programs. Material and methods From February to September 2008, 96 questionnaires consisting of 8 questions were sent to the chairperson or director of restorative departments, advanced prosthodontics programs, and implant programs. The questionnaire asked recipients which implant manufacturers provided the products used at their dental schools. Additionally, recipients were queried as to the choice of material and techniques for abutment and restoration preparations prior to definitive cementation. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results A total of 68 (71%) surveys were returned, and 52 (84%) of the 62 predoctoral and postgraduate programs were represented. After deleting duplicate responses, 31 surveys were returned from restorative department chairpersons, 29 from advanced prosthodontic program directors, and 2 from implant program directors. Frequency of responses to each question was tabulated, and results are presented in 3 sections. For all 3 types of programs, Nobel Biocare was reported to be the most widely used implant system, followed by Biomet 3i, Straumann, Astra Tech, and Zimmer Dental systems. The most commonly used technique prior to definitive cementation is to airborne-particle abrade the intaglio surface of the restoration. Resin-modified glass ionomer is the most frequently used luting agent for cementing implant restorations. The 5 most commonly used materials to fill screw access openings are cotton pellets, composite resin, rubber-based material, gutta-percha, and light-polymerized provisional composite resin. Most predoctoral and postgraduate programs teach students to fill the screw access opening completely to the occlusal surface. Conclusions There are a wide range of implant cementation protocols and materials used; however, some common trends were identified among predoctoral and postgraduate programs.
The use of pediatric medical care: A critical review

Abstract The problems of who uses medical services and why, are important ones for investigators interested in studying chronic diseases, particularly if they wish to avoid systematic error when assembling a study population. These issues are important when studying pediatric diseases due to the uneven use of medical services by children and the tendency of lower socioeconomic groups to use hospital facilities rather than private practitioners. In order to address these problems, we must understand why families seek medical care for young children. Utilization research shows that a number of descriptive factors such as child's age, birth order, parental education, financial resources and perceived symptoms are related to service use. Additionally, psychosocial variables, such as distress, also predict utilization. Neither the descriptive nor psychosocial variables explain much of the variance in utilization. While some of this lack of explanatory power can be attributed to problems in measurement or study design, there are also conceptual and methodological issues that are not addressed in pediatric utilization research. This paper discusses four of these issues. It is our conclusion that two of these problems, the need for a new utilization taxonomy and the ambiguity of cause and effect, can be remedied. While more difficult to address, the inadequate conceptualization of social stress, psychological distress, and social support can be improved. However, measuring health status independently of utilization represents a major methodologic problem for which we currently have no ideal solution.
Automated Stopped-Flow Systems for Fast Reaction-Rate Methods

Abstract The stopped-flow technique for the rapid mixing of chemical reagents has gained widespread importance in the measurement of the rates of rapid chemical reactions. Reaction-rate information can be obtained routinely on reactions with half-lives as short as a few milliseconds by using stopped-flow mixing in conjunction with a rapid reaction monitoring technique, such as UV-visible spectrophotometry. Stopped-flow mixing is most frequently used to obtain fundamental information about rapid chemical reactions (rate law information, rate constants, activation energies, etc.). However, in recent years the stopped-flow technique has been shown to be a valuable tool for analytical purposes. There are several reasons why the stopped-flow technique has considerable potential in the analytical laboratory. First, with moderately rapid reactions, stopped-flow mixing can provide analytical information in a very short time, often in a few seconds or less. The high information throughput provided by stopped-flow ...
Weak mixing angle and grand unified gauge theories

We discuss the role of ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}$ (${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}=\mathrm{weak}\mathrm{mixing}\mathrm{angle}$) in the Weinberg-Salam SU(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1) model. A definition of the renormalized value of ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}$ is given, the effects of radiative corrections are considered, and the possibility of precisely determining this parameter experimentally is examined. Within the framework of grand unified gauge thories, we derive an expression for the effective quantity ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}({M}_{W})$ which can be compared with experiment. Our results are illustrated for the Georgi-Glashow SU(5) model and their implications regarding the predicted lifetime of the proton ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{p}$ are discussed. For ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}({M}_{W})\ensuremath{\simeq}0.21\ensuremath{-}0.20$, values consistent with neutral-current measurements, we estimate that the SU(5) model predicts ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{p}\ensuremath{\simeq}{10}^{30}\ensuremath{-}{10}^{33}$ yr, a range that is not very far from the present experimental bound. We also show that by increasing the number of scalar multiplets, the model can accommodate larger values for ${{sin}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}}_{W}({M}_{W})$.
Vertical distribution of cod and haddock eggs and larvae, feeding and condition in stratified and mixed waters on southern Georges Bank, May 1992

Abstract In late May 1992, cod and haddock eggs and larvae were sampled at discrete depths using MOCNESS on the southern flank of Georges Bank when seasonal stratification of the water column was developing. A deeper, stratified site (80-m bottom) was sampled over 7 days in relation to the temporal evolution of vertical structure and compared to a nearby shoal, mixed site (50 m). Sampling also was conducted to the west along two transects in the Great South Channel. Larval biochemical composition was measured and nutritional condition inferred from RNA:DNA ratios. During the period 22–24 May 1992, surface warming resulted in a temperature gradient from 6 to 10°C (0.6 δt units) in the upper 20 m at the stratified site. Gadid eggs (93% haddock) were most abundant (6–14 per 100 m3, on average) in the surface 20 m, with maximum density just above the base of the thermocline at 20-10 m. The few recently-hatched larvae (5–6 mm) caught were broadly distributed in the water column, with maximum average densities (1–3 per 100 m3) deeper at 10–40 m. The naupliar and copepodite stages of Pseudocalanus spp. were principal prey of these larvae, and also were more abundant (3–7 prey 1−1) in the surface 20 m, with a maximum density at 20-10 m. A moderate storm on 25 May mixed the upper part of the water column to 5–6°C. The day after the storm, gadid eggs and copepods had highest densities in the surface 10 m. At the shoal (mixed site) egg densities were low (1–3 per 100 m3) and distributed evenly through the water column. Cod and haddock larvae were larger (7–8 mm modal length) and more abundant than at the stratified site. At night, they were evenly distributed at 4–6 per 100 m3 on average, but by day, maximum density increased to 6–16 per 100 m3 in the deepest strata sampled (40–30 m). The larger larvae at this site preyed predominantly on copepodite stages of Pseudocalanus spp., which were uniformly distributed in the water column. Of all the larvae sampled for biochemical analysis, 10% of haddock and 1.5% of cod had ratios below 4.1. Based on laboratory studies, fish larvae with RNA:DNA ratios below 4.1 are considered to have been in poor condition. There were no larvae in poor condition at the Great South Channel Transect, where their mean size was greatest; no larvae were collected at the stratified site for comparison. At the mixed site, cod larvae sampled before and after the storm had identical ratios, while haddock larvae had significantly higher ratios after the storm. Larvae from different sampling depths had significantly different ratios, inferring that they remained together long enough to acquire a unique signature.
Perception of realism during mock resuscitations by pediatric housestaff: the impact of simulated physical features.

Introduction:Physical signs that can be seen, heard, and felt are one of the cardinal features that convey realism in patient simulations. In critically ill children, physical signs are relied on for clinical management despite their subjective nature. Current technology is limited in its ability to
Conceptions and misconceptions. Decisions about pregnancy.

Abstract Induced abortion has been practiced in every known society and in every era of history. Psychological concomitants of abortion are as much a product of the social and interpersonal context as of the process itself. Though abortion results in the loss of a potential human life, it is not associated with significant psychiatric morbidity, and, in fact, represents for many women—and men—a significant milestone in which they assume responsibility for the direction of their lives for the first time. However, assertions that abortion is psychologically damaging have characterized much of the recent bitter debate over the legality and availability of abortion. It is important that mental health professionals are knowledgeable about the subject of abortion so that they can discuss policy with their patients.
Plant Tolerance of Gall-Insect Attack and Gall-Insect Performance

We examined plant tolerance of gall—insect attack and gall—insect performance in rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium, Asteraceae) and its apical meristem galler Antistrophus silphii (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Gall densities were varied in field rosinweed populations, while gall densities, water, and nutrients were varied for rosinweed in an experimental garden. Field plants grew under prevailing resource and competitive conditions, but garden plants grew free from competition, so gall—insect impacts, rosinweed regrowth, and gall—insect performance were observed under widely different growing conditions. Seasonal measures of rosinweed growth and leaf physiology, and end—of—season measures of biomass, reproduction, gall—wasp emergence, growth, sex ratios, and parasitism were made for both experiments. Rosinweed poorly tolerated Antistrophus gall damage in the field. Galls reduced plant height, leaf area, and inflorescence production. Rosinweed diverted biomass to stems, but produced no regrowth from axillary meristems. In the garden, rosinweed was much more tolerant of Antistrophus gall damage. Galls initially reduced plant height and leaf area, but axillary meristems grew profusely after gall formation, producing nearly all galled plant inflorescences and more than replacing leaf area initially lost to gall formation. Water— and nutrient—supplemented rosinweed were most tolerant of gall damage, experiencing little loss of total biomass or reproductive output. Field rosinweed failed to mount a tolerance—enhancing regrowth response because galls, resource availability, and competition combined to constrain axillary meristem growth. Gall—wasp performance was largely independent of rosinweed tolerance. Emergence, growth, sex ratios, and parasitism were comparable in field and garden, and only slightly affected by resource availability. Gall—insect performance may be buffered from environmental variation, disconnecting plant and herbivore population dynamics. Rosinweed's poor tolerance of gall damage may typify forb responses to herbivory in highly competitive grassland plant communities.
A study of detonation propagation and diffraction with compliant confinement

Previous computational studies of diffracting detonations with the ignition-and-growth (IG) model demonstrated that, contrary to experimental observations, the computed solution did not exhibit dead zones. For a rigidly confined explosive it was found that while diffraction past a sharp corner did lead to a temporary separation of the lead shock from the reaction zone, the detonation re-established itself in due course and no pockets of unreacted material remained. The present investigation continues to focus on the potential for detonation failure within the IG model, but now for a compliant confinement of the explosive. The aim of the present paper is two-fold. First, in order to compute solutions of the governing equations for multi-material reactive flow, a numerical method is developed and discussed. The method is a Godunov-type, fractional-step scheme which incorporates an energy correction to suppress numerical oscillations that occur near material interfaces for standard conservative schemes. The ...
Influence of cadmium, nickel, and chromium on primary immunity in mice

The effects of metals on the primary humoral immune system of mice were investigated using a hemolytic plaque technique to determine the number of specific antibody-producing spleen cells. Inhalation of NiCl/sub 2/ for 2 hr resulted in a significant negative linear dose response, the lowest effective concentration tested being 250 ..mu..g of Ni/m/sup 3/. Following a 2 hr aerosol exposure to NiCl/sub 2/, the lung cleared Ni on a first-order kinetics basis. A significant reduction in the number of plaques per 10/sup 6/ cells also was observed with exposure to 190 ..mu..g of Cd/m/sup 3/. Analyses of the data from intramuscularly exposed mice indicated that concentrations greater than or equal to 3.90 ..mu..g of Ni/g body weight (as NiSO/sub 4/) and greater than or equal to 9.25 ..mu..g of Ni/g body weight (as NiCl/sub 2/) resulted in significant immunosuppression. Intramuscular treatments with NiO, CdCl/sub 2/, and CrCl/sub 3/ had no effect at the concentrations tested.