cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformations of Chiral Molecules in Solution: Ab Initio Vibrational Absorption and Circular Dichroism Studies of 4,4a,5,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4a-methyl-2(3H)-naphthalenone and 3,4,8,8a-Tetrahydro-8a-methyl-1,6(2H,7H)-naphthalenedione

Studies of the vibrational unpolarized absorption and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the bicyclic chiral molecules: 4,4a,5,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4a-methyl-2(3H)-naphthalenone (1) and 3,4,8,8a-Tetrahydro-8a-methyl-1,6(2H,7H)naphthalenedione (2) are reported. Experimental spectra are compared to spectra calculated using ab initio density functional theory (DFT), hybrid functionals (B3PW91 and B3LYP), gauge-invariant atomic orbitals (GIAOs), and the 6-31G* basis set. 1 and 2 are flexible molecules. Three conformations -“trans-chair” (I), “cis-chair” (II) and “trans-boat” (III)- of 1 and 2 have been studied. Predicted relative energies are I < II < III. Comparison of predicted spectra for the three conformations to experimental mid-IR spectra in CCl4 and CS2 solutions unambiguously demonstrates that for both 1 and 2 conformation I is the preferred conformation in these solvents. The predicted energy differences of conformations I and II are ∼1.8 and ∼1.2 kcal/mol in 1 and 2 respectively. Weak bands...
Chlorinated phenolics of bleached kraft mill origin: An olfactory evaluation

Abstract Biologically treated effluent samples from 9 Canadian bleached softwood kraft mills were analyzed for chlorinated phenolics content. Odour thresholds were determined for selected chlorinated phenolics and for a synthetic mixture of these compounds at concentrations typical of a biologically-treated bleached kraft mill effluent. Results indicate that chlorinated phenolics present in effluent discharged from bleached kraft mills are not expected to contribute an off-odour to recipient waters.
Mechanisms of liver fibrosis: New insights into an old problem

Liver fibrosis, the formation of a hepatic scar in chronic liver injury, results from complex interrelated changes in the extracellular matrix, cell populations and cytokines of the liver. Although myofibroblasts derived from hepatic stellate cells are important collagen-producing cells, recent research has identified additional fibrogenic cell populations as well as new soluble, mechanical and immunologic mediators of fibrosis. These findings have greatly expanded the range of possible targets for antifibrotic therapy.
Improved Understanding and Innovative Approaches for an Aging Dilemma: Resistant Hypertension in Women with Existing Vascular Disease

Approximately half of adults with hypertension in the United States are uncontrolled and perhaps, based on most recent data, 12 %–15 % are considered resistant. Moreover, compared with men, women have more prevalent resistant hypertension with greater older age status and obesity, 2 of the strongest predictors. Resistant hypertension is more common in African Americans and more frequent with concomitant heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. In addition to lifestyle modifications, effective treatment mandates combination therapy, including appropriate diuretics, renin-angiotensin system blockers, calcium channel blockers, and underutilized aldosterone antagonists. Emerging, innovative interventions, including renal artery denervation and carotid stimulation treatment, are potentially effective and well-tolerated approaches to blood pressure control.
pK values of the ionizable groups of proteins

We have used potentiometric titrations to measure the pK values of the ionizable groups of proteins in alanine pentapeptides with appropriately blocked termini. These pentapeptides provide an improved model for the pK values of the ionizable groups in proteins. Our pK values determined in 0.1 M KCl at 25°C are: 3.67±0.03 (α-carboxyl), 3.67±0.04 (Asp), 4.25±0.05 (Glu), 6.54±0.04 (His), 8.00±0.03 (α-amino), 8.55±0.03 (Cys), 9.84±0.11 (Tyr), and 10.40±0.08 (Lys). The pK values of some groups differ from the Nozaki and Tanford (NT His (6.54 this work vs. 6.3 NT α-amino (8.00 this work vs. 7.5 NT Cys (8.55 this work vs. 9.5 NT and Tyr (9.84 this work vs. 9.6 N&T). Our pK values will be useful to those who study pK perturbations in folded and unfolded proteins, and to those who use theory to gain a better understanding of the factors that determine the pK values of the ionizable groups of proteins.
Occlusion artérielle aiguë après injection écho-guidée de thrombine dans un faux anévrisme de l'artère fémorale commune à collet large et court

L'injection echo-guidee de thrombine (IEGT) a emerge comme modalite de choix du traitement des faux anevrismes compliquant les interventions arterielles femorales percutanees. L'IEGT est sure et efficace, avec peu de complications. Une thrombose des arteres natives a rarement ete rapportee dans la litterature apres IEGT et habituellement attribuee a l'injection excessive de thrombine. Nous rapportons un cas de thrombose de l'artere femorale se produisant apres IEGT d'un faux anevrisme post-catheterisme de 4 cm avec un collet large et court traitee avec succes par intervention chirurgicale. La grande taille du collet de ce faux anevrysme a probablement contribue au developpement de cette complication.
Augmenting reality in Direct View Optical (DVO) overlay applications

The integration of overlay displays into rifle scopes can transform precision Direct View Optical (DVO) sights into intelligent interactive fire-control systems. Overlay displays can provide ballistic solutions within the sight for dramatically improved targeting, can fuse sensor video to extend targeting into nighttime or dirty battlefield conditions, and can overlay complex situational awareness information over the real-world scene. High brightness overlay solutions for dismounted soldier applications have previously been hindered by excessive power consumption, weight and bulk making them unsuitable for man-portable, battery powered applications. This paper describes the advancements and capabilities of a high brightness, ultra-low power text and graphics overlay display module developed specifically for integration into DVO weapon sight applications. Central to the overlay display module was the development of a new general purpose low power graphics controller and dual-path display driver electronics. The graphics controller interface is a simple 2-wire RS-232 serial interface compatible with existing weapon systems such as the IBEAM ballistic computer and the RULR and STORM laser rangefinders (LRF). The module features include multiple graphics layers, user configurable fonts and icons, and parameterized vector rendering, making it suitable for general purpose DVO overlay applications. The module is configured for graphics-only operation for daytime use and overlays graphics with video for nighttime applications. The miniature footprint and ultra-low power consumption of the module enables a new generation of intelligent DVO systems and has been implemented for resolutions from VGA to SXGA, in monochrome and color, and in graphics applications with and without sensor video.
Interferometric gravitational wave detection: accomplishing the impossible

Detection of gravitational waves involves technological challenges that appear almost insurmountable. I list the chief obstacles, and briefly explain how they are being overcome.
Vision algorithms for guiding the automated nondestructive inspector of aging aircraft skins

Under the FAA Aging Aircraft Research Program we are developing robots to deploy conventional and, later, new-concept NDI sensors for commercial aircraft skin inspection. Our prototype robot, the Automated NonDestructive Inspector (ANDI), holds to the aircraft skin with vacuum assisted suction cups, scans an eddy current sensor, and translates across the aircraft skin via linear actuators. Color CCD video cameras are used to align the robot with a series of rivets we wish to inspect using NDI inspection sensors. In a previous paper we provided a background scenario and described two different solutions to the alignment problem: a model-based system built around edge detection and a trainable neural network system. In this paper, we revisit the background and previous research and detail the first steps taken towards a method that will combine the neural and the model based systems: a neural edge detector.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On measuring the client-side DNS infrastructure

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical component of the Internet infrastructure. It allows users to interact with Web sites using human-readable names and provides a foundation for transparent client request distribution among servers in Web platforms, such as content delivery networks. In this paper, we present methodologies for efficiently discovering the complex client-side DNS infrastructure. We further develop measurement techniques for isolating the behavior of the distinct actors in the infrastructure. Using these strategies, we study various aspects of the client-side DNS infrastructure and its behavior with respect to caching, both in aggregate and separately for different actors.
Non‐invasive imaging of vulnerable plaques by molecular targeting of oxidized LDL with tagged oxidation‐specific antibodies

The concept of the "vulnerable" plaque has recently emerged to explain how quiescent atherosclerotic lesions evolve to cause clinical events. Vulnerable plaques are generally non-obstructive, asymptomatic lesions that may abruptly rupture and induce thrombotic occlusion leading to tissue ischemia and its attendant sequelae. They are responsible for over 50% of cases of sudden death and acute myocardial infarction. The lipid component of vulnerable plaques, which is abundant and highly enriched in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), strongly contributes to their propensity to rupture through physical, inflammatory, and thrombogenic properties. We hypothesized that OxLDL would serve as an ideal target to detect vulnerable plaques. In a series of experimental studies, we have shown that oxidation-specific antibodies (Ox-AB) specifically accumulate in vivo within lipid-rich atherosclerotic lesions but not normal arteries, provide a quantitative measure of the content of OxLDL, allow detection of atherosclerosis progression and regression in the context of enhanced or reduced OxLDL content and non-invasively image atherosclerotic lesions. Ox-AB may be tagged with appropriate labels for use in nuclear scintigraphy, magnetic resonance, or ultrasound imaging. Potential research and clinical applications include studying the natural history of atherosclerosis in animal models and humans, evaluating novel drug or genetic therapies on progression and regression of atherosclerosis, evaluating plaque stability, screening and serial follow-up of high-risk individuals, non-invasive imaging of vulnerable plaques, and assessing the clinical efficacy of new treatments of atherosclerosis.
Sufentanil plasma concentrations following lower extremity tourniquet release

Abstract Study Objective: To investigate whether release of a tourniquet on the lower extremity affects plasma concentrations of sufentanil, as previously demonstrated with fentanyl and midazolam. Design: Prospective. Setting: University tertiary-care institution with residency program. Patients: 20 ASA status I, II, and III patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under a tourniquet using a sufentanil, nitrous oxide, relaxant regimen. Interventions: Each patient received sufentanil 1 to 2 μg/kg at induction of anesthesia and in 12.5 to 25 μg increments as needed thereafter, until 15 minutes prior to tourniquet release. Measurements and Main Results: Plasma sufentanil concentrations were determined before tourniquet inflation, immediately before tourniquet deflation, and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes following deflation. A 15% elevation of plasma sufentanil concentration above that predicted by elimination pharmacokinetics defined a secondary peak. Although the aggregate data did not indicate an overall statistically significant rise in plasma concentrations after deflation, 9 (45 %) patients exhibited a secondary peak in sufentanil plasma concentration following tourniquet deflation (range of secondary peaks, 16% to 89% above predicted values). No patient experienced clinically significant respiratory depression. Conclusion: Release of a tourniquet on the lower extremity may yield a detectable rise in plasma sufentanil concentration.
A revision of Mouriri, section Nesophytum

The twelve named species in the West Indian section Nesophytum are here reduced to four, including two varieties for each of the four. Similarity of leaves, intergrading floral characters, and existence of many sterile specimens make the application of anatomical characters desirable. The characters of stomatal crypts, epidermal construction, external shape of the inferior ovary, and the calyx have proved most useful. The four species appear to be divisible into two basic types which are most similar and least specialized in the eastern part of the range. Their distribution across Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico reflects in part the geological history of the region.
Progressive and Transient Expression of Tissue Plasminogen Activator During Fetal Development

Abstract —In previous studies of the role of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the lung inflammatory response, we observed that tPA expression was present exclusively in the small arteries and arterioles within the lung and absent from the capillaries, veins, and large pulmonary arteries. To define more completely the expression pattern of tPA, we evaluated the distribution of this protein during prenatal and postnatal development. tPA was first observed in the rat fetus at day 13 in the large arteries of both the thoracic and cranial cavities, including the dorsal aortas and pulmonary arteries in the former and the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries in the latter. By day 15, tPA was no longer detectable in the aortas but appeared throughout the pulmonary, subclavian, vertebral, and basilar arteries. At day 17, tPA had disappeared from the subclavian artery and the proximal portion of the vertebral artery but was found in the smaller arterial branches of these 2 large vessels. By the end of gestation, tPA had also disappeared from the main pulmonary arteries but remained in the branches at the hilus of the lung. At birth, tPA was concentrated in the endothelia of arteries within the pia mater, the basilar and superficial cerebral arteries, and the lung arterial system. As the animals reached maturity, tPA disappeared from the larger cerebral arteries and their cortical branches but continued to be expressed in the vessels of the pia mater and lung. This study indicates that tPA expression is a dynamic process that responds to a changing arterial environment during vascular development.
High-order multiple-scattering calculations of x-ray-absorption fine structure.

High-order scattering is found to be essential for the convergence of the multiple-scattering (MS) theory of x-ray-absorption fine structure, both in the near-edge and the extended regimes. These contributions are calculated using an ab initio curved-wave scattering-matrix formalism. Convergence to full MS accuracy is demonstrated for fcc Cu, as well as for molecular ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, where our approach provides a high-order MS interpretation of the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ shape resonances.
Death Matters: Victimization by Particle Matter from Coal Fired Power Plants in the US, a Green Criminological View

The present study examines deaths and diseases associated with pollution from coal fired power plants (CFPPs) and compares the volume of those deaths and diseases to deaths and injuries associated with street crimes. This comparison illustrates that the single form of pollution studied here—CFPP small particle pollution—causes more deaths in the US than homicides and deserves additional criminological attention. We frame our examination of CFPP deaths and injuries in the corporate crime and green criminological literatures, and explore CFPP pollution as an example of corporate environmental violence. The widespread nature of CFPP violence justifies focusing greater criminological attention on this issue, including the development of policies for remedying pollution, which is now a ubiquitous problem with severe health consequences.
Molecular spectra, Fermi resonances, and classical motion

Classically periodic molecular vibration (such as a totally symmetric stretch) can be unstable against the addition of small components of other modes, depending on anharmonic coupling strengths, near resonance of fundamental frequencies, and the total energy. We report here on some very strong correspondances between classical stability of the motion and quantum spectral features, wave functions, and energy transfer. The usual concept of a vibrational Fermi resonance turns out to apply best to the case where the transition to classical instability occurs at an energy below the first resonant quantum levels (this is the case for the famous Fermi resonance in CO2). In the (probably more common) event that resonant classical instability should set in above several quanta of energy in the mode of interest, the quantum spectrum shows tell‐tale pre‐ and post‐resonant signatures which include attraction of quantum levels (rather than the usual Fermi repulsion) and other features not normally associated with Fer...
Fluid phase endocytosis by isolated rabbit lacrimal gland acinar cells

It is well known that lacrimal gland acinar cells retrieve secretory vesicle membrane constituents from their apical plasma membranes after stimulated exocytosis of secretory proteins. There have also been indications of a recycling traffic involving the basal-lateral plasma membranes. In an effort to document this traffic, determine how it is regulated, and discern whether it involves more than one intracellular compartment, we studied internalization of the fluid phase marker, Lucifer Yellow, and its relationship to protein release in acinar cells isolated from rabbit lacrimal glands. Loading of intracellular vesicles was apparent with fluoresence microscopy. Stimulation with carbachol increased both the rate of internalization and the intracellular volume equilibrating with extracellular fluid, suggesting the loading of two compartments. A carbachol concentration of 10 microM increased uptake by 80% during 20-min incubations at 37 degrees C. Increasing the carbachol concentration to 1 mM reduced the response by 50%, and it appeared to do so by decreasing the intracellular volume accessible to extracellular fluid, rather than the rate of endocytosis. Carbachol affected protein release differently, increasing it by 50% at 10 microM and 80% at 1 mM. Acceleration of endocytosis by 10 microM carbachol was transient, becoming negligible after 60 min. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and isoproterenol increased internalization 35% and 25% respectively; neither reduced uptake at the highest concentrations tested; and only isoproterenol significantly affected protein secretion. Combinations of VIP and carbachol exerted synergistic effects on both fluid phase internalization and protein release. Steady-state uptake at 18 degrees C in the presence of 10 microM carbachol was equal to uptake at 37 degrees C in the absence of carbachol, suggesting a temperature block in the pathway to at least one endocytic compartment. Decreasing the temperature to 18 degrees C eliminated the inhibitory action of excessive carbachol, suggesting that the compartment whose loading was impaired by excessive carbachol was positioned distal to the temperature block. Carbachol accelerated release of marker from preloaded cells, indicating that it stimulated recycling between the plasma membranes and endocytic compartments. This effect was maximal at a concentration of 10 microM and unchanged with increasing concentrations. In accord with the hypothesis that traffic into and out of a certain compartment was particularly dependent on stimulation, a fraction of the marker taken up by optimally stimulated cells at 37 degrees C was retained unless carbachol or VIP was present in the efflux medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The reactions of bis(tricyclohexyl phosphine)-rhodium(I)carbonyl tetrahydridoborate with carbon dioxide and formic acid

Abstract : Interaction of the title complex with CO2 at 100 deg/50 atm or with HCO2H at 20 deg C results in formation of the format complex (Cy3P)2(CO)Rh(02CH) whose structure is assigned on the basis of its combined spectroscopic (IR, 1H, 13C, 31P NMR) properties.
Longitudinal Measurement of Plasma Homovanillic Acid Levels in Schizophrenic Patients: Correlation With Psychosis and Response to Neuroleptic Treatment

• The plasma levels of homovanillic acid (HVA), a major circulating dopamine (DA) metabolite, were measured in schizophrenic patients during five weeks each of double-blind placebo-controlled neuroleptic treatment (N =16) and withdrawal (N =11). Both neuroleptic treatment and withdrawal were associated with time-dependent changes in the plasma levels of HVA; treatment was associated with decreases and withdrawal with increases. The levels of plasma HVA measured longitudinally during both conditions were highly correlated with psychosis ratings. Moreover, changes in individual mean weekly levels of plasma HVA were predictive of treatment response, including changes in both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. These data are consistent with the suggestion that the mechanisms of action of antipsychotic drugs involve, in addition to short-term DA receptor blockade, a slowly developing decrease in presynaptic DA activity.
Treatment patterns for ductal carcinoma in situ from 2000–2010 across six integrated health plans

Considerable debate exists about the optimal treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Using electronic data sources, we examined first course treatment patterns among women aged 18 years and older diagnosed with DCIS between 2000–2010 from six Kaiser Permanente (KP) regions. We calculated the proportion of patients receiving breast conserving surgery (BCS), BCS plus radiation therapy, unilateral mastectomy, bilateral mastectomy, and hormone therapy. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between patient characteristics and treatment. We included 9,437 women: 1,086 (11.5%) African-American; 1,455 (15.4%) Asian; 918 (9.7%) Hispanic; and 5,978 (63.3%) non-Hispanic white. Most cases (42.2%) received BCS plus radiation as their initial treatment. Nearly equal numbers of women received BCS without radiation (28.5%) or unilateral mastectomy (24.6%). Use of bilateral mastectomy was uncommon (4.7%), and most women (72.2%) did not receive hormone therapy has part of their first course treatment. We observed statistically significant differences in treatment patterns for DCIS by KP region and patient age. Predictably, nuclear grade and the presence of comorbidities were associated with first course treatment for DCIS. We observed statistically significant increases in BCS plus radiation therapy and bilateral mastectomy over time. Although still uncommon, the frequency of bilateral mastectomy increased from 2.7% in 2000 to 7.0% in 2010. We also observed differences in treatment by race/ethnicity. Our findings help illustrate the complex nature of DCIS treatment in the United States, and highlight the need for evidence based guidelines for DCIS care.
Alcoholism in Irish American Catholics: Cultural Stereotype vs. Clinical Reality

Alcoholism bos been a major public health problem among Irish Catholics for centuries. Until recently, however, the etiology of this phenomenon has been poorly understood. This article attempts to 1) explore the political and socio-bistorical roots of Irish American Catholic attitudes toward alcohol; 2) describe bow patterns of heavy drinking among Irish Catholics have been banded down through generations; and 3) examine the role of cultural stereotyping in promoting and maintaining pathological drinking behavior among Irish Catholics from the middle of the 19th century until the present day. The author considers implications for psychotherapy with this population.
Breast cancer from oral and transdermal estradiol: a cohort study of Finnish women

Evaluation of: Lyytinen H, Pukkala E, Ylikorkala O: Breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women using estrogen-only therapy. Obstet. Gynecol. 108(6), 1354-1360 (2006) [1] . A cohort study of 84,729 Finnish women over the age of 50 years who used oral or transdermal estradiol for at least 6 months, followed for the incidence of breast cancer using a national cancer registry. The study was conducted to evaluate whether the risk of breast cancer with estrogen-only therapy varies by dose, constituents or route of administration. A total of 2171 women developed breast cancer, with no increased risk observed for less than 5 years of use, and some risk for greater than 5 years of use for both oral and transdermal routes of administration.
Formation of lipid-nucleotide complex by RNA tumor virus preparations.

Abstract RNA tumor virus preparations utilize α-32P-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates as substrates to form lipid-nucleotide products which are tightly associated with protein.
Behavioral dimensions of food security

The empirical regularities of behavioral economics, especially loss aversion, time inconsistency, other-regarding preferences, herd behavior, and framing of decisions, present significant challenges to traditional approaches to food security. The formation of price expectations, hoarding behavior, and welfare losses from highly unstable food prices all depends on these behavioral regularities. At least when they are driven by speculative bubbles, market prices for food staples (and especially for rice, the staple food of over 2 billion people) often lose their efficiency properties and the normative implications assigned by trade theory. Theoretical objections to government efforts to stabilize food prices, thus, have reduced saliency, although operational, financing, and implementation problems remain important, even critical. The experience of many Asian governments in stabilizing their rice prices over the past half century is drawn on in this paper to illuminate both the political mandates stemming from behavioral responses of citizens and operational problems facing efforts to stabilize food prices. Despite the theoretical problems with free markets, the institutional role of markets in economic development remains. All policy instruments must operate compatibly with prices in markets. During policy design, especially for policies designed to alter market prices, incentive structures need to be compatible with respect to both government capacity (bureaucratic and budgetary) and empirical behavior on the part of market participants who will respond to planned policy changes. A new theoretical underpinning to political economy analysis is needed that incorporates this behavioral perspective, with psychology, sociology, and anthropology all likely to make significant contributions.
Restoring and flux adjustment in simulating variability of an idealized ocean

[1] Multi-century model runs are used to investigate the impact of restoring and flux adjustment on the variability of an idealized Atlantic Ocean forced by net atmospheric heat flux possessing decadal and multi-decadal variability. Restoring suppresses simulated modes of variability, causes phase shifts, and modifies nonlinear relations in the model. Flux adjustment has little effect on the water temperature variability, however it suppresses low-frequency variability of the meridional overturning circulation and causes a phase shift of multi-decadal mode of the meridional heat transport. An important effect of flux adjustment is that it may misrepresent physical mechanisms substituting, for example, dynamically-driven meridional heat transport by equivalent amount of heat supplied locally, though surface heat fluxes. We conclude that restoring provides improper framework for simulation of climate variability. Flux adjustment is less damaging, however, it modulates internal modes of variability in ways not fully understood.
Continuum limit of discrete neuronal structures: is cortical tissue an “excitable” medium?

As a simple model of cortical tissue, we study a locally connected network of spiking neurons in the continuum limit of space and time. This is to be contrasted with the usual numerical simulations that discretize both of them. Refractoriness, noise, axonal delays, and the time course of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials have been taken into account explicitly. We pose, and answer, the question of whether the continuum limit presents a full description of scenarios found numerically (the answer is no, not quite). In other words, can the numerics be reduced to a continuum description of a well-known type? As a corollary, we derive some classical results such as those of Wilson and Cowan (1973), thus indicating under what conditions they are valid. Furthermore, we show that spatially discrete objects may be fragile due to noise arising from the stochasticity of the individual neurons, whereas they are not once the continuum limit has been taken. This, then, resolves the above question. Finally, we indicate how one can directly incorporate orientation preference of the neurons.
Measuring Outcomes in Lower Limb Surgery

This discussion focuses on limb salvage versus limb amputation. The authors address decision-making and outcomes that relate to the following questions: "Which patients would benefit from limb salvage as opposed to an amputation?" "Does the level of injury make a difference?" "Are there surgical or patient factors outside of the injury that have an impact on a patient's ultimate function and quality of life?" "Are there injury-related factors that have an impact on patient-reported outcomes?" "How satisfied are patients postoperatively?" and "What are the financial implications of these treatment strategies?"
Malignant osteoporosis and defective immunoregulation

The linkage between immune cells and the osteoclast has become partially understood in the laboratory, but the full spectrum of clinical disorders of this relationship remain to be elucidated. We report a 29-month-old girl with recurrent infections and multiple fractures. Immune evaluation showed normal quantitative serum immunoglobulins but absent antibodies to the respiratory viruses and tetanus toxoid and decreased in vitro polyclonal-induced immunoglobulin production. Further analysis in vitro with separated lymphocyte populations showed normal B cell function but markedly increased suppressor T cell activity. The bone evaluation showed diffuse osteopenia on x-ray. Serum calcium, phosphorus, PTH, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were normal for age. Urinary calcium excretion (24 h) was, however, two times normal. An iliac crest biopsy confirmed the presence of extreme osteopenia with normal mineralization and numerous small atypical osteoclasts resorbing the bone. No circulating plasma resorptive activity was demonstrated. Calcitonin therapy markedly diminished the patient's hypercalciuria. We speculate that this patient's increased bone resorption, decreased bone formation, and suppressor activity may be linked by a common pathway involving the abnormal function of immune cells. Since no similar constellation of findings has been previously reported, this case may represent a new congenital disorder: severe osteopenia associated with increased osteoclast activity in association with a defect in T cell immunoregulation.
Development of a teaching laboratory aid for instruction of fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology technique.

Summary Specialized training is required to obtain adequate cytology smears by needle aspiration biopsy. An educational method that would provide opportunity for numerous trainees to acquire needle aspiration biopsy and cytodiagnostic skills, and which would not result in the interruption of teaching hospital patient care nor result in the use or sacrifice of animals from laboratory animal resources was sought. An aspiration biopsy cytology teaching aid was developed by placing portions of fresh organ tissue from routine submissions to the necropsy laboratory into a specimen container partially filled with chilled normal saline solution. Specimens were stored immersed in saline at 4°C for up to 48 hours. Prior to the cytopathology teaching laboratory period, the specimen container was removed from storage and covered with a latex diaphragm. Instructors responsible for teaching cytodiagnostic techniques used this ex vivo aspiration biopsy cytology device for instruction of fine needle aspiration biopsy, specimen processing, and microscopy. In the teaching laboratory, puncture of the diaphragm and aspiration of a tissue sample with hypodermic needle and syringe was instructed to, and practiced by, numerous trainees simultaneously using clinical operative technique without the need for live animals. Trainees prepared and stained cytology smears as well as evaluated and interpreted specimens in a single, realistic exercise. Such training experience may improve ability of trainees to procure diagnostic-quality biopsy specimens for cytodiagnosis of lesions from clinic patients.
White skin: a Z-linked recessive mutation in the fowl

A 6-week-old pullet was noted with white shanks and beak from a strain of SC White Leghorns, pedigree-bred as a closed flock since 1948. Mating of the mutant to males with yellow skin produced only yellow skinned progeny. The F2 progeny consisted of equal numbers of yellow or white shanked pullets and yellow shanked sons. This distribution indicates that the new trait is due to a mutation on the Z chromosome. The symbol y is suggested for the new allele. Tests for linkage with late feathering K and with id revealed that the new locus is not closely linked with either. The white shank color trait is quite accurately identified in the newly hatched chick.
Test and evaluation methods at the NRL clock test facility

A special clock test facility is described to evaluate atomic clocks developed for space and ground application. The facility itself is described and the methodologies involved in long-term performance testing, initial qualification testing of spacecraft clocks, and post-acceptance testing of candidate spaceflight clocks to be evaluated in orbit. The objective of long-term testing is to build a performance and reliability database on newly developed clocks to support eventual operational system acceptance. Initial qualification testing for developing clocks is used to guide development under contract and to support in-house design of components, subsystems and experimental atomic clocks. Typical testing procedures and methodologies are discussed. >
p-Adic estimates of hamming weights in abelian codes over galois rings

A generalization of McEliece's theorem on the p-adic valuation of Hamming weights of words in cyclic codes is proved in this paper by means of counting polynomial techniques introduced by Wilson along with a technique known as trace-averaging introduced here. The original theorem of McEliece concerned cyclic codes over prime fields. Delsarte and McEliece later extended this to Abelian codes over finite fields. Calderbank, Li, and Poonen extended McEliece's original theorem to cover cyclic codes over the rings Zopf2 d, Wilson strengthened their results and extended them to cyclic codes over Zopf p d, and Katz strengthened Wilson's results and extended them to Abelian codes over Zopfp d. It is natural to ask whether there is a single analogue of McEliece's theorem which correctly captures the behavior of codes over all finite fields and all rings of integers modulo prime powers. In this paper, this question is answered affirmatively: a single theorem for Abelian codes over Galois rings is presented. This theorem contains all previously mentioned results and more
Mechatronics: an interdisciplinary course for engineering students

Mechatronics, an interdisciplinary course for engineering students, has been developed to provide synthesis experiences and motivation for student participants. In recent years, mechatronics education has gained a tremendous national and international attentions. This has been attributed to the need for an engineer who can work across the boundaries of constituent disciplines to identify and apply the right combination of technologies (concurrent engineering) which will provide cost effective and reliable devices. The paper presents a three-credit senior-level course, which is currently a technical elective course for aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineering students at Tuskegee University, and in the future it will be offered as a requirement for mechanical engineering students. The paper addresses the course development, implementation, current syllabus, laboratory exercises, and assessment. The laboratory exercises have been developed to reinforce the lecture material and to emphasize hands-on experiences, open-ended interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary design problems, and team work.
Radiotherapy-induced skin changes and quality of life.

Quality of life is broadly recognised within oncology as an essential component of cancer care and has been studied extensively in patients with breast cancer. 1 Yet, among the three pillars of breast cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy), research on radiotherapy-related quality of life has lagged behind. Specifi cally, the study of quality of life as it relates to normal tissue eff ects in patients with breast cancer is woefully understudied. The reasons for this relative lack of attention are unclear, but the results are worrying. Insuffi cient understanding of the eff ects of radiotherapy on quality of life can impair doctor– patient communication, inhibit therapeutic progress, and limit a patient’s understanding of radiotherapy and its outcomes. Therefore, the report of the START trials today in The Lancet Oncology, by Hopwood and colleagues, is much needed. 2 It makes an important contribution to the area of radiotherapy by looking at several aspects of quality of life (breast, arm, and shoulder eff ects, and body image). In doing so, these researchers show a consideration of the patient’s point of view that is too often absent. The study’s fi ndings provide a strong foundation for further pursuit of understanding of the patient’s experience of adverse skin changes after radiotherapy. Indeed, at least fi ve areas of future research are readily apparent. 40% of women reported moderate or striking concerns for at least one body image item up to 5 years after treatment, and body image concerns did not diff er between radiotherapy regimens. This combination of results suggests the fi rst two directions for future research: scale development and interventions. First, with regard to scale development, the body image scale used in the study was designed to measure overall body image, rather than breast satisfaction per se. Therefore, development of a scale specifi cally to assess breast body image is needed to understand better the clinical eff ects. Second, with respect to interventions, the fi nding that body image scores did not diff er between radiotherapy regimens suggests that, at this time, a purely medical intervention strategy (eg, variation of radiotherapy regimens) might not be suffi cient to improve body image. A more comprehensive approach might be needed. For example, in broader scientifi c published work, behavioural medicine approaches (eg, cognitive behavioural therapy) have been shown to be eff ective for enhancement of body image. 3
Theorizing the Relationship between Affect and Aesthetics in the ICT Design and Use Context

an increasing interest in both affect and aesthetics in the context of information and communication technology (ICT) design and use, there is a timely need to provide a theory based understanding of these concepts and their relationships. In this paper, we point out some confusion as shown in the literature and provide a theory based understanding of the concepts and their relationships. Such an understanding can eventually provide practical suggestions on researching affect and aesthetics in the ICT context and suggest researchers to expand the coverage of aesthetics concept from focusing primarily on pleasantness or positivity to a broader coverage indicated by affect's structure.
Microstructural and Electronic Origins of Open‐Circuit Voltage Tuning in Organic Solar Cells Based on Ternary Blends

Organic ternary heterojunction photovoltaic blends are sometimes observed to undergo a gradual evolution in open-circuit voltage (Voc) with increasing amounts of a second donor or an acceptor. The Voc is strongly correlated with the energy of the charge transfer state in the blend, but this value depends on both local and mesoscopic orders. In this work, the behavior of Voc in the presence of a wide range of interfacial electronic states is investigated. The key charge transfer state interfaces responsible for Voc in several model systems with varying morphology are identified. Systems consisting of one donor with two fullerene molecules and of one acceptor with a donor polymer of varying regio-regularity are used. The effects from the changing energetic disorder in the material and from the variation due to a law of simple mixtures are quantified. It has been found that populating the higher-energy charge transfer states is not responsible for the observed change in Voc upon the addition of a third component. Aggregating polymers and miscible fullerenes are compared, and it has been concluded that in both cases charge delocalization, aggregation, and local polarization effects shift the lowest-energy charge transfer state distribution.
High power X-band coaxial amplifier experiments

The authors consider the continuing studies on the development of X-band coaxial microwave amplifiers as a source for next generation linear colliders. Coaxial amplifiers employ an annular electron beam propagating between inner and outer drift tube conductors, a configuration which allows large increases in beam current over standard pencil beam amplifiers. Large average diameter systems may still be used without mode competition since transverse-magnetic mode cutoff frequencies are controlled by the separation between conductors. A number of amplifier configurations are being studied, all primed by a driven initial cavity which resonates around 9 GHz. Simple theories of coaxial systems and particle-in-cell simulations are presented, as well as initial experimental results using a 420-keV, 7-8 kA, 9-cm-diameter annular beam. >
Original report of bilateral carotid body tumors with 2 rare concomitant anatomic findings, an ectopic parathyroid gland and cervical thymus, with literature review

Background Carotid body tumors are uncommon neoplasms with unique epidemiology and management demands. Cervical embryology is complex. Developmental abnormalities can result in ectopic displacement of native tissues. Methods We present the case of a 21-year-old female with bilateral carotid body paragangliomas who presented to our clinic seeking excision of the symptomatic right-sided tumor. Results The patient was successfully treated with surgical excision. Two rare anatomic variants were identified in her surgical specimen: a carotid sheath parathyroid gland and ectopic thymus tissue. Conclusions This patient represents an unreported combination of pathologic and anatomic phenomena. The paraganglioma resulted from a familial genetic mutation that is well studied in this patient's ethnic population (Dutch), and the literature on this topic is reviewed herein. The 2 anatomic variants likely represent a single, embryologic glitch that will carry no physiologic sequelae. The clinical application of this ectopic anatomy and the common embryologic origins are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Effect of Lipopolysaccharide Exposure on Structure and Function of the Carotid Body in Newborn Rats

Premature infants are vulnerable to infections and have unstable breathing (Di Fiore JM, Martin RJ, Gauda EB, Respir Physiol Neurobiol 189:213–222, 2013). Inflammation adversely modifies carotid body (CB) structure and chemosensitivity in adult animals. We determined the effect of inflammation on CB structure and function in newborn rat pups. Pups were given LPS (0.1 mg/kg; IP) or saline at postnatal day 2 (P2). At P9-10 (1 week after exposure) various studies were done including ventilation, carotid sinus nerve (CSN) activity and histology. Using whole body plethysmography, we found that LPS exposure attenuates the change in interbreath (IBI) interval in response to changes in oxygen tension 1 week after LPS exposure. The response of the CSN to hypoxia was attenuated and delayed in onset in LPS-treated animals as compared to controls. Histological sections of the CB were examined for inflammatory cells at P4 (n = 7) and P9-12 (n = 6). After LPS exposure, only mast cells were seen, often encircling the CB, and clustered within the CSN as it entered the CB. Mast cells per section (mean ± SEM) were higher at P9-12 in LPS (7.4 ± 1.5) vs saline (5.4 ± 1.4) exposed animals (p = 0.04). Surprisingly, more mast cells were seen at 7–10 days vs 48 h after LPS exposure. In a newborn model of inflammation, breathing is altered which is associated with changes in structure and function of the carotid body.
Increasing maternal body mass index during pregnancy increases neonatal intensive care unit admission in near and full-term infants.

AbstractBackground: Obesity is becoming an increasingly commonplace health problem. Obesity during pregnancy is important because the condition adversely affects not only the mother, but also the developing fetus and the newborn.Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal body mass index (mBMI) at the time of delivery and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission of offspring and to analyze the role of possible confounding variables that are often associated with obesity. Comorbidities, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT) and/or pre-eclampsia (PEC), are more common in more obese mothers, as is a higher association of obesity among non-Caucasian patients.Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, 1736 mothers and their singleton live-born at ≥35 weeks’ gestation were analyzed for mBMI, maternal conditions of DM, HT and/or PEC, and whether NICU care was required and the reason for NICU admission.Results: NICU admission rat...
High-Risk Stents Harboring Neoatherosclerosis: Light From Near-Infrared Spectroscopy?

Coronary stents are an essential tool in the percutaneous treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease. Coronary stents, particularly drug-eluting stents (DES), reduce angina in stable patients and reduce myocardial infarction or death in patients with acute coronary syndromes. However, even the current best-in-class second-generation DES remain at risk of developing stent restenosis or stent thrombosis, complications that cause myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, or even sudden cardiac death.1 More worrisome is that even extended dual antiplatelet therapy does not eliminate the risk of stent thrombosis.2 See Article by Madder et al Neoatherosclerosis, the formation of an atherosclerotic-type plaque overlying an implanted stent, is an emerging complication of coronary stents that may underlie stent thrombosis and restenosis.3,4 Initially characterized by foamy macrophage infiltration, neoatheroma may mature and develop necrotic cores. Such cores may evolve with or without a thin fibrous cap or calcification. Neoatheroma with thin fibrous caps can undergo plaque rupture and cause an acute coronary syndrome. Autopsy studies reveal that neoatherosclerosis exists in >20% of coronary stents.5 Neoatherosclerosis is 2× to 3× more prevalent in DES compared with bare metal stents, and occurs similarly in first- and second-generation DES. It is hypothesized that in absent or dysfunctional endothelium induced by drugs or polymers the DES might promote the formation of …