cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The neural correlates of maternal sensitivity: an fMRI study.

ABSTRACT Research on maternal neural response to infant distress highlights circuits that may underlie differences in quality of maternal behavior. However, it is far from clear which circuits are relevant to maternal sensitivity, as opposed to other maternal behavioral dimensions, particularly after the early postpartum. This study examined maternal sensitivity, intrusiveness, and mother–infant dyadic harmony as correlates of mothers’ neural responses to the cries of their own infants. Twenty-two primiparous mothers were observed during an interaction with their infants at 18 months postpartum. In a separate functional neuroimaging session, mothers were exposed to their own infant's cry sound, as well as unfamiliar infant's cry and control sounds. Mothers who displayed more sensitive behaviors with their infant exhibited greater activation to their own infant's cry compared to that of an unfamiliar infant in the right frontal pole and inferior frontal gyrus. Mothers who displayed more intrusive behaviors with their infant showed greater activation in the left anterior insula and temporal pole, while mothers who had more harmonious interactions with their infant displayed greater activation in left hippocampal regions. The roles of these areas in the regulation of maternal emotion and stress, self and other awareness, and empathy are examined.
DEVELOPMENT GEOGRAPHY, DEPENDENCY RELATIONS, AND THE CAPITALIST SCAPEGOAT

Development geography is becoming increasingly influenced by the dependency paradigm concerning the process of underdevelopment. Although there are good reasons to welcome this, there looms the danger that eventually these radical views will cause development geography to degenerate into a dead-end street of dogmatic, deterministic thinking. To prevent this, it might be helpful to replace the division of the world into First, Second, and Third Worlds by a grouping that allows for incorporating the socialist countries into the dependency thesis.
Tailored temozolomide therapy according to MGMT methylation status for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Temozolomide sensitivity is determined by methylation of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter. This study assessed whether the temozolomide dose can be tailored by MGMT promoter status and whether protracted, low-dose temozolomide can “prime” blasts in patients with unmethylated MGMT (unMGMT). Elderly patients with high-risk AML were stratified by MGMT methylation. Patients with methylated MGMT (mMGMT) received temozolomide 200 mg/m2 orally for 7 days every 4 weeks, while patients with unMGMT received temozolomide 100 mg/m2 orally for 14 days followed by 200 mg/m2 orally for 7 days every 6weeks. Of 36 patients (median age, 75 years), 31 (86%) had an unMGMT promoter. Overall response rate for the entire cohort was 36%. Patients with mMGMT and unMGMT had similar response rates (40% vs. 29%). Median duration of response and overall survival (OS) among responders were 29 and 35 weeks, respectively. Induction deaths (ID) occurred in 25% of patients, mostly caused by disease progression. Hematological toxicities were the most common adverse event. Toxicities were similar between patients on conventional versus protracted schedules. High HCT-CI scores were predictive of lower CR rate, higher ID, and shorter OS, while bone marrow blast count <50% at screening predicted for improved responses. Temozolomide, dosed according to MGMT methylation status, demonstrated modest clinical activity in elderly patients with AML, especially in those presenting with fewer comorbidities and low disease burden. The trial was registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT00611247. Am. J. Hematol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of Graded-Architecture Mullite Thermal Barrier Coating on Mo-Si-B Turbine Materials

A unique organic electrodeposition technique has been developed which allows rapid, smooth, and consistent coating application at low temperatures, low voltages, and with no pollutants. Precursor coatings of Aluminum, Al-Si, and Al-Mullite have been applied to Mo-Si-B turbine materials through immersion deposition and organic electrolytic cathodic deposition in an ionic liquid. These coatings were applied in protective atmosphere boxes and followed by low-temperature annealing to create a graded precursor layer. A graded precursor layer is desirable to minimize thermal shock, improve adhesion and achieve oxidation protection. The reactions across the interface region were characterized to assist in creation of the proper graded precursor layers for mullite formation. The optimal coating deposition method and composition has been assessed. High-temperature oxidation is being performed to form graded corrosion-resistant mullite thermal barrier coatings. The optimum deposition, annealing, and oxidation parameters will be characterized to achieve the proper thickness and compositional gradient of the thermal barrier coating. Coatings with various compositions and compositional gradients in the Mo-Si-B substrate and mullite layer are being assessed in a high-temperature simulated burner environment. Additional protective layers, such as barium-strontium-alumino-silicate (BSAS) are being developed to extend service life.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Estimating the impact of dye concentration on the photoelectrochemical performance of anthocyanin-sensitized solar cells: a power law model

This study investigated the relationship between the anthocyanin concentration in a series of organic fruit species and the photoelectrochemical performance of the TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) sensitized by these dyes. It was hypothesized that organic dyes with a greater anthocyanin concentration have higher fill factors (FFs) and maximum output power (PMAX), which would lead to higher energy conversion efficiency. Anthocyanin dye solution was extracted from eight test fruits using water as the extracting solvent. Using these test organic dyes, multiple DSSCs were assembled such that light entered through the TiO2 side of the cell. The full current-voltage (I-V) covariations were measured at various incremental resistance values. Defining PMAX as the dependent variable, a series of linear, semi-logarithmic, quadratic, and finally power law regression models were used to investigate the relationship between anthocyanin concentration and photoelectrochemical performance. Regression analysis demonstrated that the power law model (R2 = 0.86) was the best fit and experimentally sound model to predict the relationship between PMAX and anthocyanin concentration. Based on this model, anthocyanin content and PMAX relation approaches zero for zero concentration and follows a sublinear increase for higher concentration. Dyes extracted from blueberry and black raspberry with the highest anthocyanin content generated higher PMAX with better FF and conversion efficiency. Estimating these linear and power law models is the first step in finding organic anthocyanin sources in nature that have the highest dye content to efficiently generate energy.
Recurrent Strokes in Two Patients With POEMS Syndrome and Castleman’s Disease

POEMS syndrome is a disorder characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes. Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that can be present in patients with POEMS syndrome. Previous case reports have documented the association between POEMS syndrome and arterial and venous thromboses of the coronary and lower limb arteries. However, only 3 patients have ever been described with POEMS syndrome, Castleman's disease, and stroke. Two additional patients with this combination of disorders are reported herein. We suspect that the strokes are a result of a possible intracranial vasculopathic process.
A neuroanatomical correlate of sensorimotor recovery in response to repeated vaginocervical stimulation in rats.

Gentle probing against the cervix via the vagina (VCS) increases tail flick latency (TFL) to radiant heat; greater force totally abolishes the tail flick response and other withdrawal responses. This effect occurs in spinal cord-transected rats and in intact rats. On the basis of our earlier finding that vaginocervical stimulation (VCS) releases vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) into the spinal cord, and others’ reports of neurotrophic effects of VIP in vitro, we hypothesized that repeated VCS would stimulate sprouting and sensorimotor function of terminals of genital nerve primary afferents in the sacral spinal cord. To test this hypothesis, in the present study, we denervated the genital tract only unilaterally, which significantly reduced the TFL-elevating effect of VCS. Then we applied repeated daily VCS for one week and compared the subsequent effectiveness of acute VCS in elevating TFL. The rats that received the repeated daily VCS showed a significantly greater elevation in TFL in response to acute VCS than control rats that did not receive the repeated stimulation. Then, to test whether daily repeated VCS stimulates sprouting of genital primary afferents in such unilaterally genital tract-denervated rats, we transected the contralateral remaining intact pelvic nerve, applied horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to its proximal cut end for 1-2h, and 2-3d later counted HRP particles in its terminal zone (S1) in the spinal cord. There were significantly more HRP particles in the rats that received the daily repeated VCS than in the control rats. In the context of these findings, we conclude that vaginocervical stimulation in rats can produce a functional sensorimotor recovery via a neurotrophic effect on compromised primary afferents in the spinal cord. Based on our previous research, we speculate that a similar functional sprouting antinociceptive process could occur supraspinally, after spinal cord injury, via an alternative vaginocervical sensory pathway
Overexpression of urinary plasminogen activator (uPA) protein and mRNA in thyroid carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE Urinary plasminogen activator (uPA), a protease, is one of the critical components of tumor invasion and metastasis. Its expression in thyroid carcinoma and potential role in thyroid tumorigenesis are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether uPA is differentially expressed in benign and malignant thyroid tumors. DESIGN uPA expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 20 thyroid tumors (six classic papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) and three tall cell variants (TCV) and 11 adenomas). To validate IHC results, in situ hybridization was performed on both adenomas and cancer tissues to explore the expression of uPA at the mRNA level. The Fisher exact test was used to compare protein as well as mRNA expressions in adenomas and thyroid cancer. RESULTS Intense granular cytoplasmic staining for uPA was observed in five of nine (56%) of thyroid cancers: 2/6 classic PTC (33%) and all tall cell variant PTC. Furthermore, uPA mRNA expression was found in the malignant thyroid epithelium but not in adjacent normal thyroid follicles or the stromal elements. None of the adenomas expressed uPA (P = .008). uPA staining was absent in histologically normal follicles adjacent to malignant thyroid follicles. CONCLUSIONS uPA is expressed in thyroid carcinoma but not in benign adenomas or normal adjacent follicles. The selective expression of uPA in thyroid carcinoma provides evidence that uPA is useful in distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms. More importantly, uPA may represent molecular target for therapeutic treatment of this malignancy.
Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased incidence of vascular complications after liver transplantation

Abstract Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) and other vascular complications are significant causes of morbidity after liver transplantation. Although cigarette smoking increases the risk of vascular complications after renal transplantation, its impact after liver transplantation remains unknown. Between May 1995 and April 2001, 288 liver transplantations were performed in 263 patients. Vascular complications developed in 39 patients (13.5%) (arterial complications, 28 patients [9.7%]; venous complications, 11 patients [3.8%]). Patient demographics, comorbid illnesses, and risk factors were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact test. In patients with a history of cigarette smoking, incidence of vascular complications was higher than in those without history of cigarette smoking (17.8% v 8%, P = .02). Having quit cigarette smoking 2 years before liver transplantation reduced the incidence of vascular complications by 58.6% (24.4% v 11.8%, P = .04). The incidence of arterial complications was also higher in patients with a history of cigarette smoking compared with those without such history (13.5% v 4.8%, P = .015). Cigarette smoking cessation for 2 years also reduced the risk of arterial complications by 77.6% (21.8% v 5.9%, P =.005). However, the incidence of venous complications was not associated with cigarette smoking. Furthermore, there was no significant association between development of vascular complications and all other characteristics studied. Cigarette smoking is associated with a higher risk for developing vascular complications, especially arterial complications after liver transplantation. Cigarette smoking cessation at least 2 years before liver transplantation can significantly reduce the risk for vascular complications. Cigarette smoking cessation should be an essential requirement for liver transplantation candidates to decrease the morbidity arising from vascular complication after liver transplantation. (Liver Transpl 2002;8:582-587.)
Stability of cohesion in the spoken narratives of language-impaired and normally developing school-aged children.

The short-term stability of the cohesion scores for the spoken narratives of language-impaired and normally developing school-aged children was investigated. Narratives were obtained from 39 langua...
Influence of Neuraminidase on Fertility and on Sperm Storage in the Hen’s Oviduct

Abstract Preinsemination incubation of semen with neuraminidase (4 IU/2 × 109 spermatozoa) significantly reduced fertility in one out of two trials. No differences were observed in fertility between semen treated with 4 versus 8 or 4 versus 16 IU of neuraminidase in Trials 1 or 2. All three levels of neuraminidase (4, 8, or 16 IU) removed the same amount (about 45%) of the bound sialic acids from spermatozoa during incubation. The removal of sialic acid from spermatozoa had a slight but nonsignificant affect on sperm storage within the uterovaginal (UV) sperm-host glands. Hens inseminated with neuraminidase-treated spermatozoa had decreased numbers of full and partially full UV sperm-host glands and increased numbers of empty glands, compared to hens inseminated with untreated but incubated spermatozoa. In the present study, reduced fertility resulting from the treatment of spermatozoa with neuraminidase from Clostridium perfringens indicates the desirability of exploring the use of other neuraminidases to see whether a correlation exists between the amount of sialic acid removed from spermatozoa and their subsequent fertility.
Racial and Ethnic Variation in Lipoprotein (a) Levels among Asian Indian and Chinese Patients

Background. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). There are known racial/ethnic differences in Lp(a) levels, and the association of Lp(a) with CVD outcomes has not been examined in Asian Americans in the USA. Objective. We hypothesized that Lp(a) levels would differ in Asian Indians and Chinese Americans when compared to NHW and that the relationship between Lp(a) and CVD outcomes would be different in these Asian racial/ethnic subgroups when compared to NHW. Methods. We studied the outpatient electronic health records of 2022 NHW, 295 Asian Indians, and 151 Chinese adults age &#x2009;y in Northern California in whom Lp(a) levels were assessed during routine clinical care from 2001 to 2008, excluding those who had received prescriptions for niacin (14.6&#x25;). Nonparametric methods were used to compare median Lp(a) levels. Significance was assessed at the level to account for multiple comparisons. CVD outcomes were defined as ischemic heart disease (IHD) (265 events), stroke (122), or peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (87). We used logistic regression to determine the relationship between Lp(a) and CVD outcomes. Results. Both Asian Indians (36&#x2009;nmol/L) and NHW (29&#x2009;nmol/L) had higher median Lp(a) levels than Chinese (22&#x2009;nmol/L, and ). When stratified by sex, the differences in median Lp(a) between these groups persisted in the 1761 men (AI v CH: , NHW v CH: ) but were not statistically significant in the 1130 women (AI v CH: , NHW v CH: ). Asian Indians () and Chinese () exhibited a trend towards greater risk of IHD with high Lp(a) levels than NHW (), but no relationship was statistically significant. Conclusion. Asian Indian and NHW men have higher Lp(a) values than Chinese men, with a trend toward, similar associations in women. High Lp(a) may be more strongly associated with IHD in Asian Indians and Chinese, although we did not have a sufficient number of outcomes to confirm this. Further studies should strive to elucidate the relationship between Lp(a) levels, CVD, and race/ethnicity among Asian subgroups in the USA.
NSLS X-19A beamline performance for X-ray absorption measurements

Abstract Characterization of the X-19 beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) is described. The beamline is designed for high-resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy over a wide energy range. All of the beamline optical components are compatible with ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) operation. This permits measurements to be made in a windowless mode, thereby facilitating lower energy (
The structure of (CENP-A–H4) 2 reveals physical features that mark centromeres

Centromeres are specified epigenetically, and the histone H3 variant CENP-A is assembled into the chromatin of all active centromeres. Divergence from H3 raises the possibility that CENP-A generates unique chromatin features to mark physically centromere location. Here we report the crystal structure of a subnucleosomal heterotetramer, human (CENP-A-H4)(2), that reveals three distinguishing properties encoded by the residues that comprise the CENP-A targeting domain (CATD; ref. 2): (1) a CENP-A-CENP-A interface that is substantially rotated relative to the H3-H3 interface; (2) a protruding loop L1 of the opposite charge as that on H3; and (3) strong hydrophobic contacts that rigidify the CENP-A-H4 interface. Residues involved in the CENP-A-CENP-A rotation are required for efficient incorporation into centromeric chromatin, indicating specificity for an unconventional nucleosome shape. DNA topological analysis indicates that CENP-A-containing nucleosomes are octameric with conventional left-handed DNA wrapping, in contrast to other recent proposals. Our results indicate that CENP-A marks centromere location by restructuring the nucleosome from within its folded histone core.
Increasing returns to scale and the pattern of trade

Abstract When realization of increasing returns to scale (IRS) requires geographic concentration, formation of cities whose optimal size is limited by commutation costs results. If this size is small relative to the population of a country, then efficiency of city formation rather than country size dictates comparative advantage with respect to IRS goods. Under restrictive assumptions, it can even be shown in a ‘Ricardian’ model with cities that ratios of labor requirement coefficients alone rank goods in comparative advantage order, so that country size and the degree of increasing returns displayed by any good are irrelevant to the pattern of trade.
Stormtime measurements of topside ionospheric upflow from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

[1] We have examined characteristics of the vertical ion flux of thermal O+ in the topside high-latitude ionosphere before and during a number of geomagnetic storms, including the October and November 2003 events, using measurements of the vertical ion drift and ion number density made by the DMSP F13 and F15 spacecraft. Prior to storm onset typical upward fluxes of approximately 108–109 cm−2 s−1 are observed in the auroral zones with somewhat smaller downward fluxes in the polar caps. Immediately following storm onset upward fluxes reach and sometimes exceed 1010 cm−2 s−1 and are observed with vertical velocities of 500–1500 m s−1. At the same time, downward fluxes at the higher latitudes reach unusually high values of 109 cm−2 s−1. Separately integrating the upward and downward fluxes over the high-latitude region (auroral zone and polar cap) for each spacecraft pass allows the observation of variations in the total upflow/downflow during the progression of a geomagnetic storm. A superposed epoch analysis of events from 1995 to 2004 reveals a pattern of sudden onset of upward flux (averaging approximately 14 hours) with a gradually increasing and more extended period of downward flux (lasting about 24 hours). The upward fluxes are stronger when the coincident fluctuations in the z component of the IMF are larger. Strong upward flux events during storm times tend to occur when the solar wind velocity is elevated and the solar wind density is high. Upward flux events can also occur without a coincident geomagnetic storm if the solar wind velocity is above average.
Fate of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and Its Metabolites in Natural and Model Soil Systems

The sorption−desorption characteristics of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT), and 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene (2,4-DANT) within a natural topsoil, an illite shale, and...
Probabilistic power flow with nonconforming electric loads

A comprehensive model for probabilistic power flow is proposed for the purpose of estimating the statistics of bus voltage magnitudes and circuit currents, given the statistics of the loads. The proposed method is based on the quadratized power flow model and a nonconforming electric load model. The statistics of the electric load are accurately represented with the statistics of a few independent random variables and the statistics of bus voltage magnitudes and circuit current flows are computed from the linearized model of bus voltage and circuit current flow with respect to these independent load random variables. The method is validated via Monte Carlo simulations in which the problem is fully solved for each random sample, thus incorporating nonlinearities resulting from the AC power flow equations. Both the linearization solution and the Monte Carlo approach are based on the single phase quadratic power flow (SPQPF) model of the power system. The proposed method has been implemented and applied to the IEEE reliability test system (RTS). The results are presented in the paper.
Bilocal Operators and Partons

We use the technique of light-cone commutators to illuminate the physical picture of deep-inelastic scattering given by the parton model. We find that final-state interactions can be consistent with scaling, and occur in the deep-inelastic domain when vector gluons are present. We show how a nonvanishing longitudinal scaling function can emerge in a fermion parton model. Finally we study the anomalies which beset light-cone commutators in perturbation theory.
Predictors of mesh explantation after incisional hernia repair.

Abstract Background Prosthetic mesh used for incisional hernia repair (IHR) reduces hernia recurrence. Mesh infection results in significant morbidity and challenges for subsequent abdominal wall reconstruction. The risk factors that lead to mesh explantation are not well known. Methods This is a multisite cohort study of patients undergoing IHR at 16 Veterans Affairs hospitals from 1998 to 2002. Results Of the 1,071 mesh repairs, 55 (5.1%) had subsequent mesh explantation at a median of 7.3 months (interquartile range 1.4–22.2) after IHR with permanent mesh prosthesis. Infection was the most common reason for explantation (69%). No differences were observed by the type of repair. Adjusting for covariates, same-site concomitant surgery (hazard ratio [HR] = 6.3) and postoperative surgical site infection (HR = 6.5) were associated with mesh explantation. Conclusions Patients undergoing IHR with concomitant intra-abdominal procedures have a greater than 6-fold increased hazard of subsequent mesh explantation. Permanent prosthetic mesh should be used with caution in this setting.
Spatial variability of selected carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus parameters on acid and calcareous rangeland soils

Abstract The magnitude of C, N, and P seasonal or long‐term variability in rangelands is difficult to assess because of intrinsic soil heterogeneity even in seemingly uniform areas. A need exists, therefore, to determine the minimum number of samples necessary so significant changes in C, N and P can be assessed where minimal confounding from soil types and vegetation exist. To achieve this end, laboratory and field studies of selected C, N, and P parameters were conducted to compare variability among six transect lines, radiating from a central point. Samples were taken along each transect line every 3 m to a distance of 15 m. Parameters measured were: total organic C (OC), total Kjeldahl N (TKN), NH4‐N, NO3‐N, NaHCO3‐extractable inorganic P (NaHP), and total organic P (TPo). Two rangeland soils, a moderately acid Ascalon sandy loam, and a calcareous Haverson loam, were sampled at two depths to assess spatial differences. Results indicated that under the experimental conditions, OC, TKN and TPo would req...
SU-E-T-567: Small Field Dosimetry of Flattening Filter Free Beams

Purpose: To examine small field dosimetry of flattening filter free (FFF) beams. Methods: Output and relative profiles were measured at 10 cm depth in water equivalent plastic for the 6 MV FFF, 10 MV FFF, and the flattened 6 MV beams of a TrueBeam accelerator (Varian Medical Systems) using EDR2 film. Measurements were obtained for square field sizes of 3, 2, 1, and 0.5 cm, and for 1 and 0.5 cm MLC defined fields with collimator jaws set to 10 cm × 10 cm and to the vendor's recommendation (margins of 8 mm in the leaf direction and 2 mm in the perpendicular direction). Dose on a 1 mm grid was calculated using the analytic anisotropic algorithm (AAA), which was commissioned using fields >= 3 cm × 3 cm. Results: For 2 cm and 3 cm, the output agreement was better than 2%. At 1 and 0.5 cm, the differences ranged from 6% to 9% and 31 % to 44%, respectively. For the 1 cm MLC field, differences were 50%) by up to 2 mm. Interestingly, the agreement in the y‐direction was best for 0.5 cm, although the width for the outer (dose = 2 cm without additional commissioning. For smaller fields, additional output factors may improve the absolute dosimetry. Adjusting target spotsize may improve the profile agreement in the y‐direction. Author receives research support from Varian Medical Systems
Critical Issues In High Density Magnetic And Optical Data Storage

The storage of machine-readable information is of fundamental importance in today's highly complex and computer-oriented society. Shipments of data storage peripherals in 1982 had a total value well in excess of $10 billion, and the strong demand for additional capacity is reflected in the high annual growth rate of this market.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Particle production by polymer pyrolysis: Effect of carbon monoxide

The effects of carbon monoxide and water vapor on the production of condensation nuclei during the pyrolysis of various polymers were investigated. Carbon monoxide reduced nuclei production while H2O increased it. The effect of the two combined was variable and unpredictable. The necessity for and the possible direction of additional investigation is pointed out.
The accumulation of serum lipoprotein cholesterol by tissue culture cells.

Summaryβ-Lipoprotein isolated from human or bovine serum elicited sudanophilic inclusion bodies within cultured fibroblasts. Such sudanophilia was accompanied by an increase in cellular cholesterol, about 2/3 of which was in the esterified form. The origin of the cholesterol appears to be largely from the deposition of β-lipoprotein-bound cholesterol ester instead of newly esterified cholesterol. Much of the accumulated cholesterol, especially the cholesterol ester, was found within the inclusion bodies. They should be particularly considered as being formed as the result of cholesterol ester uptake. Free cholesterol bound to bovine albumin also elicited intracellular sudanophilic inclusion bodies containing cholesterol ester. Free cholesterol in microcrystalline form did not lead to similar sudanophilia or increase in cellular cholesterol content.This tissue culture system provided analogies to atherosclerosis in that cholesterol accumulated in the cells in both instances when the extracellular medium or...
Conformational analysis of the anomeric forms of kojibiose, nigerose, and maltose using MM3.

Abstract Energy surfaces were computed for relative orientations of the relaxed pyranosyl rings of the two anomeric forms of kojibiose, nigerose, and maltose, the (1 → 2)-α, (1 → 3)-α- and (1 → 4)-α-linked d -glucosyl disaccharides, respectively. Twenty-four combinations of starting conformations of the rotatable side-groups were considered for each disaccharide. Optimized structures were calculated using MM3 on a 20° grid spacing of the torsional angles about the glycosidic bonds. The energy surfaces of the six disaccharides were similar in many respects but differed in detail within the low-energy regions. The maps also illustrate the importance of the exo-anomeric effect and linkage type in determining the conformational flexibility of disaccharides. Torsional conformations of known crystal structures of maltosyl-containing molecules lie in a lower MM3 energy range than previously reported.
Structural determination of 99 Tc radiopharmaceuticals and compounds using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

99m Tc compounds play a very important role in modern medicine. These compounds are among the most widely used radiopharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, due to the necessity of working with small quantities of materials, the chemistry of these materials is not completely understood. Currently, the structure of the 99m Tc-DTPA (a common renal imaging agent) is unknown. In this paper, we show that X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) can be used to determine the structure of Tc compounds by comparing XAS results to those from X-ray diffraction (XRD). Specifically, XAS data and fits for TcCl6 2– , TcOCl4 – , and TcNCl4 – were found to be in excellent agreement with the known structures from XRD. Finally, we show the XAS spectrum from a 77 ng sample of 99 Tc-DTPA. To our knowledge this is the first XAS spectrum taken from this material. The near-edge region (XANES) was visible after a single scan on this material. This clearly indicates that we will be able to determine the local atomic structure of this material.
Dynamic quantization for maximum likelihood sequence detection of PAM signaling

Maximum likelihood sequence detection (MLSD) provides optimum detection for intersymbol interference (ISI) channels subject to additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). This decoding process dynamically searches the most likely path through the intersymbol interference (ISI) channel trellis, using the Viterbi algorithm (VA). In this paper, we exploit the structure of this trellis and, for an M-point pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) constellation, present a new scheme based on dynamic quantization. This scheme becomes extremely efficient for the single memory unit channel 1+f/sub 1/D, as it achieves optimum MLSD with O(M) computations per decoding step, instead of O(M/sup 2/) for the VA. Generalization to any finite length channel is also possible and conserves good computational efficiency.
Genetics and pathology of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States 1,2. Approximately 32 000 individuals in the USA and over 200 000 individuals worldwide die from the disease each year 1,2,3. The incidence approximates the mortality rate, which reflects the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Although there have been many advances in pancreatic cancer research, the 5-year survival rate for affected patients remains under 5% 2. The aggressiveness that characterizes pancreatic cancer arises from multiple heterogeneous genetic changes that occur before the onset of clinical symptoms. Studies performed over the past decade have shed some light on the molecular and histological events that are associated with pancreatic carcinogenesis. This chapter will focus on the genetics and pathology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Future progress in this area will hopefully lead to improved diagnostic tests, early detection, and new treatments for patients who suffer from this devastating disease.
Variation in life-history patterns of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio in two South Carolina estuarine systems

A population of Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis 1949, inhabiting a fairly constant high salinity estuarine environment (North Inlet), exhibited more rapid growth, earlier first reproduction, a smaller clutch size, more fluctuating sex ratio, and shorter life span. A population in a less saline environment (Minim Creek) showed relatively slower growth, delayed first reproduction, larger clutch size, female-dominated sex ratio, and longer life span. Growth in both areas was rapid in summer and slower in winter, with the females growing much larger than the males. Summer generation females first reproduced at the age of 3.5 months in North Inlet and at 4.8 months in Minim Creek. Minim Creek females larger than 30-mm TL carried more eggs than North Inlet females of similar sizes. Life span in North Inlet was calculated to be 6–7 months for the summer generation and 9–10 months for the winter generation; in Minim Creek, the corresponding longevity estimates were 9–10 months and 12–13 months, respectively. Variations in life history patterns are hypothesized to be the results of numerous environmental factors acting differentially on the various life-stages of the organism. The results suggest that the reproductive flexibility of P. pugio enhances its ability to persist in a variety of environments.
Gamma ray constraints on dark matter reconsidered

Abstract The topic of γ ray observational constraints on dark matter candidates is reexamined here. The results of detailed calculations of γ ray source spectra from the annihilation of dark matter candidate particles as a function of mass are given. Use of these results in conjunction with γ ray observations does not generally lead to mass lower limits on ḡg's, H0's and vM′s which are as restrictive as those from the cosmological requirement that Ω⩽1 . Thus, present γ ray observations do not provide new constraints on galactic dark matter.
Comparison of Fracture Response of Preflawed Tubes Under Internal Static and Detonation Loading

The role of loading rate and fluid properties in the fracture of piping under internal explosions is an important issue for designers and accident analysis. This was examined by fracture experiments on thin-walled and preflawed aluminum 6061-T6 tubes. The tubes were (1) statically loaded with oil, (2) statically loaded with nitrogen, and (3) dynamically loaded with gaseous detonations traveling at 2.4 km/s. The tubes were also instrumented with pressure transducers, crack detection gages, and strain gages. The experiments were controlled so that comparisons could be made on identical specimens. Fracture behavior was discussed along with fluid dynamics.
Correlations between tissue-level stresses and strains and cellular damage within the guinea pig spinal cord white matter

Strain magnitude, strain rate, axon location, axon size, and the local tissue stress state have been proposed as the mechanisms governing primary cellular damage within the spinal cord parenchyma during slow compression injury. However, the mechanism of axon injury has yet to be fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to correlate cellular damage within the guinea pig spinal cord white matter, quantified by a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) exclusion test, with tissue-level stresses and strains using a combined experimental and computational approach. Force-deformation curves were acquired by transversely compressing strips of guinea pig spinal cord white matter at a quasi-static rate. Hyperelastic material parameters, derived from a Mooney-Rivlin constitutive law, were varied within a nonlinear, plane strain finite element model of the white matter strips until the computational force-deformation curve converged to the experimental results. In addition, white matter strips were subjected to nominal compression levels of 25%, 50%, 70%, and 90% to assess axonal damage by quantifying HRP uptake. HRP uptake density increased with tissue depth and with increased nominal compression. Using linear and nonlinear regression analyses, the strongest correlations with HRP uptake density were found for groups of tissue-level stresses and groups of log-transformed tissue-level strains.
Borderline, Bipolar, or Both?

Of all of the diagnostic dilemmas that confront psychiatry today, the resolution of the controversy surrounding the interrelationship of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder is an especially vehement one. The controversy goes, indeed, to the heart of modern psychiatry, reflecting its quest to find diagnostic schema that have clinical utility and that also map correctly, and with some real precision, to brain function. With recent advances in the cognitive neurosciences, functional neuroimaging, and molecular neurogenetics, we are finally poised to identify and elaborate such diagnostic schema. 1‐4 And as noted in the articles on both sides of this Clinical Controversy—one by Joel Paris and the other by Daniel Smith and his colleagues—doing so is vitally important with regard to BPD and bipolar disorder because of their prevalence and high morbidity. In order to savor fully the challenge that these authors face, it is necessary to understand the historical context in which the relevant issues arise. Traditionally in personality research, there have been deep, systematic divisions between the psychodynamically and somatically oriented theoretical camps. Some psychodynamically oriented practitioners view the encroaching observations of the neurosciences as a kind of Trojan horse. The pleasing offering, the promise of an etiological explanation and efficacious somatic intervention, belies the true agenda of the neurosciences: to purge the field of personal narrative. Some somatically oriented practitioners belittle efforts to identify systematically the environmental antecedents and catalysts that shape behavior, characterizing those efforts as a hollow pursuit that places an arbitrary, post hoc meaning upon deterministic,
Pediatric deceased donor renal transplantation: An approach to decision making II. Acceptability of a deceased donor kidney for a child, a snap decision at 3 AM

Allocation of deceased donor kidneys is based on several criteria; however, the final decision to accept or reject the offered kidney is made by the potential recipient's transplant team (surgeon/nephrologist). Several considerations including assessment of the donor quality, the HLA match between the donor and the recipient, several recipient factors, the geographical location of the recipient, and the organ all affect the decision of whether or not to finally accept the organ for a particular recipient. This decision needs to be made quickly, often on the spot. Maximizing the benefit from this scarce resource raises difficult ethical issues. The philosophies of equity and utility are often competing. This article will discuss the several considerations for the pediatric nephrologist while accepting a deceased donor kidney for a particular pediatric patient.
CD40 glycoforms and TNF-receptors 1 and 2 in the formation of CD40 receptor(s) in autoimmunity

The CD40–CD154 dyad is an intensely studied field as is glycosylation status and both impact immunological functions and autoimmune conditions. CD40 has several isoforms, is modified by glycosylation, and trimerizes to form the functional receptor. We described a CD4
Where have all the carbonates gone? A model comparison of calcium carbonate budgets before and after the 1982–1983 El Nino at Uva Island in the eastern Pacific

El Nifio related coral mortality and a subsequent increase in crustose coralline algae and sea urchins have resulted in profound changes to the coral reef ecosystem at Uva Island, Panama (Pacific coast). New data and a model are presented that analyze the CaCO3 budget of the reef. The model accounts for production by corals and coralline algae, erosion byDiadema, infauna, fish and other motile organisms, and the retention of sediments as a function of size. The 2.5 ha reef is currently eroding at an average rate of 4,800 kg/y or −0.19 kg/m2/y but there is tremendous variation among reef zones. While deposition in other zones range from +0.1 to 0.4 kg/m2/y, erosion of the seaward reef base averages about −3.65 kg/m2/y. The damselfish/algal lawn symbiosis protects portions of the reef framework, reducing net losses there by 2,000 kg/y (up to 0.33 kg/m2/y). Before the 1982-1983 El Nino, the overall reef was depositional. At that time, estimated production exceeded erosion in most zones, resulting in a net deposition of approximately 8,600 kg/y or 0.34 kg/m2/y.
Chlamydia Pneumoniae and Coronary Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE:To review the potential association between Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection and coronary artery disease (CAD), and to describe possible therapeutic interventions.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search of literature (January 1966– January 1998) pertaining to CP infection associated with heart disease was performed. Additional literature was obtained from review of journals and reference lists of pertinent articles identified through the search.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All articles involving CP and CAD were considered for possible inclusion in this review. Other selected articles involved possible links between infection and the atherosclerotic process, inflammation and inflammatory mediators in the atherosclerotic process, and isolation of CP from human tissue.DATA SYNTHESIS:Numerous reports have suggested an association between chronic CP and CAD. CP has been seroepidemiologically linked to CAD. The organism has also been isolated from atherosclerotic lesions. Two reports in humans and one...
All the metaphors you are: conceptual mappings of bebop in James Baldwin’s ‘Sonny’s Blues’ and Jack Kerouac’s On the Road

This article explores how two influential mid-twentieth-century texts incorporated jazz, and bebop in particular, into the context of a literary narrative. Drawing on recent work in linguistics, it argues that ‘Sonny’s Blues’ and On the Road may be distinguished on the basis of the different underlying conceptual metaphors that inform their representation of jazz. Baldwin’s text describes it first as a form of revolt; then as an updating of a coherent blues ethos. Kerouac’s text constructs jazz as a journey outward into the ineffable, a mystical transport beyond the self. Despite these differences, the depictions of jazz in these texts play analogous roles since they enable the narratives to move from problem to solution.
A novel high-viscosity, two-solution acrylic bone cement: effect of chemical composition on properties.

Solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) powder predissolved in methyl methacrylate (MMA) have been developed as an alternative to current powder/liquid bone cements. They utilize the same addition polymerization chemistry as commercial cements, but in mixing and delivering via a closed system, porosity is eliminated and the dependence of material properties on the surgical technique is decreased. Twelve different sets of compositions were prepared, with two solutions of constant polymer-to-monomer ratio (80 g of PMMA/100 mL of MMA) and all combinations of four benzoyl peroxide (BPO) initiator levels added to the first solution and three N, N-dimethyl-p-toluidine (DMPT) activator levels added to the second. These compositions were tested, along with Simplex-P bone cement, for effects of BPO and DMPT concentrations on polymerization exotherm, setting time, flexural strength, modulus, and maximum strain. The results show that each of these dependent variables was affected significantly by the individual concentrations of BPO and DMPT and their interactions. The flexural strength, modulus, and polymerization exotherm reached their maximums at about a 1:1 molar ratio of BPO to DMPT. Most compositions had exotherms, setting times, and maximum strains within the range of commercial cements and flexural strengths and moduli up to 54 and 43% higher than Simplex-P, respectively.
Integral equation solution of heat extraction‐induced thermal stress in enhanced geothermal reservoirs

During fluid injection in enhanced geothermal systems, thermo-mechanical processes can play an important role. In fact, the phenomena of reservoir seismicity and the variation of injectivity with respect to injection water temperature can be attributed to the induced thermal stresses. In this paper, a three-dimensional integral equation formulation is presented for calculating thermally induced stresses associated with the cooling of a fracture in a geothermal reservoir. By utilizing Green's function in the integral equation, the three-dimensional heat flow and stresses in the reservoir are modelled without discretizing the reservoir. The formulation is implemented in a computer program for the solution of injection into an infinite fracture as well as for the injection/extraction in an arbitrarily shaped fracture. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PREDATION OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL NESTS IN A SOUTHERN PINE FOREST

Abstract We compared predation of artificial open-cup nests baited with Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix) eggs with predation of natural open-cup nests during 1997 and 1998 in a Louisiana pine forest to assess the assumption that predation of artificial nests is an index to that of natural nests. Cameras were placed at randomly selected natural and artificial nests in shrubs to document predators. Predation at artificial-nest plots was positively correlated with predation at adjacent natural-nest plots overall, although inconsistently by year. Artificial nests were almost exclusively depredated by corvids, but quail eggs were too large to be broken by small-mouthed mammalian predators. American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) appeared to be important predators of natural nests. Predation of natural nests was independent of predation at other nests, but predation of artificial nests by crows was spatially and temporally clumped. Crows may have learned the location of artificial-nest plots, and predation of ...
Dual-Photon Absorptiometry

The potential of dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) for noninvasive bone measurements was originally reported by Reed (1960) and by Cameron and Sorenson (1963). The first equipment utilizing this technique was constructed by Reed and Atkinson (1965; Reed, 1966), and methods for measurement of the BMC of the lumbar vertebrae in vivo were subsequently elaborated (Roos et al., 1970; Roos, 1974; Roos and Skoldborn, 1974; Roos, 1975; Roos et al., 1980; Hansson et al., 1980; Mazess et al., 1970; Wilson and Madsen, 1977; Krolner, 1985). Krolner described in detail the methodology of lumbar spine DPA, noting that forearm BMC measurements are not very useful in predicting BMC in the axial skeleton (Dalen and Jacobsen, 1974; Madsen, 1977) especially in diseased states (Krolner et al., 1980; Krolner et al., 1982c). Dunn et al. (1980) developed the dual-photon method for measuring the bone mineral content in the hip.