cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retrospective evaluation of 99th percentile hCG results to adjust clinical decision points.

While accurate measurement of chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is necessary, so are appropriate clinical decision points (CDPs) for patients of all ages. The CDP for hCG is intended to identify early pregnancy in patients of child bearing age; non-pregnant patients who are older frequently yield hCG results > 5 IU/L, making the use of a low hCG CDP problematic for these patients. Using a retrospective review of all hCG results generated over a 32-month period, 8507 hCG results from non-pregnant females of all ages were analyzed. Patients < 40 years of age comprised 74% of hCG measurements, and produced hCG results ≥ 5 IU/L 1% of the time, but this frequency increased in patients 40-49 (17% of hCG results; 4% ≥5 IU/L) and ≥50 (9% of hCG results; 20% ≥ 5 IU/L). While only 3% of hCG results were ≥5 IU/L in the overall data set, all (24/24) of hCG results 10-14 IU/L came from patients ≥ 40 years of age and all (3/3) hCG results ≥ 15 IU/L came from patients ≥ 50 years of age. The 99th percentile hCG results in the population were 3 IU/L in patients < 40, 7 IU/L in patients 40-49, and 13 IU/L in patients ≥ 50 years of age. These findings demonstrate a progressive increase in measurable hCG correlating to patient age and demonstrate a proof-of-concept that institutions could assess 99th percentile hCG results to assign more appropriate method-dependent CDPs to different age groups.
Tandem Use of Optical Sensing and Machine Learning for the Determination of Absolute Configuration, Enantiomeric and Diastereomeric Ratios, and Concentration of Chiral Samples

We have developed an optical method for accurate concentration, er, and dr analysis of amino alcohols based on a simple mix-and-measure workflow that is fully adaptable to multiwell plate technology and microscale analysis. The conversion of the four aminoindanol stereoisomers with salicylaldehyde to the corresponding Schiff base allows analysis of the dr based on a change in the UV maximum at 420 nm that is very different for the homo- and heterochiral diastereomers and of the concentration of the sample using a hypsochromic shift of another absorption band around 340 nm that is independent of the analyte stereochemistry. Subsequent in situ formation of CuII assemblies in the absence and presence of base enables quantification of the er values for each diastereomeric pair by CD analysis. Applying a linear programming method and a parameter sweep algorithm, we determined the concentration and relative amounts of each of the four stereoisomers in 20 samples of vastly different stereoisomeric compositions with an averaged absolute percent error of 1.7 %.
Improved background and clutter reduction for pipe detection under pavement using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

Abstract Pavement drainage systems are one of the key drivers of pavement function and longevity, and effective drain maintenance can significantly extend a pavement’s service life. Maintenance of these drains, however, is often hampered by the challenge of locating the drains. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) typically offers a rapid and effective method to detect these underground targets. However, typical detection schema that rely upon the observation of the hyperbolic return from a GPR scan of a buried conduit still tend to miss many of the older drains beneath pavements as they may be partially or fully filled with sediment and/or may be fabricated from clay or other earthen materials, yielding a return signal that is convolved with significant background noise. To manage this challenge, this paper puts forward an improved background noise and clutter reduction method to enhance the target signals in what amounts to a constructed environment that tends to have more consistent subsurface properties than one might encounter in a general setting. Within this technique, two major algorithms are employed. Algorithm 1 is the core of this method, and plays the role of reducing background noise and clutter. Algorithm 2 is supplementary, and helps eliminate anomalous discontinuous returns generated by the equipment itself, which could otherwise lead to false detection indications in the output of Algorithm 1. Instead of traditional 2-D GPR images, the result of the proposed algorithms is a 1-D plot along the survey line, highlighting a set of “points of interest” that could indicate buried drain locations identified at any given GPR operating frequency. Subsurface exploration using two different operating frequencies, 900 MHz and 400 MHz herein, is then employed to further enhance detection confidence. Points of interest are ultimately coded to define the confidence of the detection. Code -1 represents a false alarm; code 0 represents a possible drain location that needs further examination; codes 1, 2 and 3 represent successful detection with different levels of confidence. Comparing the final result of proposed algorithms with the original GPR images, the improved algorithm is demonstrated to provide significantly improved detection results, and could potentially be applied to similar problems in other contexts.
Probing the Solid/Gas and Solid/Liquid Interface of Electrocatalysts with Ambient-Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Water electrolysis can store renewable electricity in the chemical fuel of H2 (balanced by the generation of benign O2) as part of a CO2-free energy conversion and storage scheme. However, commerci...
Biomarkers Selection Toward Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder and the fifth leading cause of death among people aged 65 and older. Based on recent research, it was found that in addition to cognitive tests, quantitative biomarkers can be useful indicators for monitoring the progress from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease. Hence, identifying the most relevant biomarkers and cognitive tests can lead to a more reliable and accurate diagnosis of AD. Therefore, this study aims to identify the most pertinent cognitive tests and biomarkers, features, to detect Alzheimer's disease. This aim is achieved by using six conventional feature selection methods. In addition, we used a feature combination approach to find the best subset of the features that can lead to the highest accuracy in differentiating between healthy subjects, early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI), and AD patients. Unlike conventional feature selection methods that select the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDRSB) as a unique feature, the proposed feature combination method selects this CDRSB as well as the Middle temporal gyrus (MidTemp). The results show that this combination gives the highest accuracy in differentiating between cognitively normal (CN), EMCI, and AD groups.
Executive Incentives, Import Restrictions, and Competition: Empirical Analysis of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders

To better understand the political economy of trade policy, I examine executive compensation around the time of changes to import restrictions through antidumping and countervailing duty orders. Trade policy restrictions limit international competition, so I explore the resulting compensation of firm managers. When imports are restricted, firms linked to restrictive orders give their CEOs compensation in cash and equity incentives that is 17 percent higher than when the restrictions are not in place. Furthermore, CEOs’ compensation is $1 million higher than expected, suggesting the additional compensation is not explained by superior firm performance or other characteristics. Overall, the findings suggest that executives benefit amid import restrictions, thereby contributing to research on executive incentives, trade, and public choice.
Cultural catallactics

In response to Israel Kirzner’s claim that “culture lies outside the scope of economic theory itself,” Storr advances a compelling vision of market processes in which price changes, profit/loss signals, and constitutional rules do their work only when refracted through culturally specific webs of meaning. Yet Storr provides few details about the analytic structure or consequences of his alternative approach and ultimately no answer to the Kirznerian question of how, or how fully, a culture-infused market process would eliminate incoherence of plans. Storr’s focus on the competing spirits that animate particular markets is congenial to Ludwig Lachmann’s emphasis on diverse interpretative frames through which individuals decode market signals. If pursued, the nascent Weber-Schutz-Lachmann trajectory of Storr’s cultural catallactics would showcase the distinctive strengths of the Austrian hermeneutic tradition as a radical alternative to the culturally disembedded Walrasian/Kirznerian market.
A Dual-Band Mechanical Beam-Scanning Reflectarray With Fixed Feed Position

This work presents a design of dual-band reflectarray antenna with beam-scanning capabilities. First, the scanning mechanism is analyzed using theoretical formulations. Then a $25 \times 25$ -element reflectarray antenna operating at 1.575 GHz and 2.4 GHz are designed and simulated. The simulated results demonstrate that scan angle as wide as 60° can be achieved, which validates the introduced beam-scanning method.
Regulation of Plasma Flow and Other Functions of the Renal Papilla in Hypertension

Following the demonstration of a countercurrent multiplier system within the renal medulla as a mechanism for urinary concentration, a great deal of attention has been focused on the importance of the medullary circulation in the concentrating process and on the factors affecting this part of the renal circulation (Hargitay and Kuhn, 1951; Wirz et al., 1951).
Abstract 908: Impact of microbial metabolites and resveratrol in prostate cancer progression and clearance

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the chemical by-products of microbial fermentation. Resistant carbohydrates, some starches, and foods generally rich in fiber are used as substrates for this process. SCFAs are known to activate key cellular receptors such as GPR43/FFA2, which mediate programmed cell death in different cancer cells. Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenolic compound found in select vegetables and fruits and has been known for its versatility in preventing and reversing a number of diseases including some cancers. Much like SCFAs, RES has the ability to induce programmed cell death in many clinical cancer models. To find out if the SCFAs and RES modulates the different pathways that controls the cancer progression, we utilized prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines to establish a) if, there is any homology between SCFAs produced by normal host epithelial cells and SCFAs produced by host intestinal microflora, and b) assess the in vitro/vivo effectiveness of derived SCFAs utilizing transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP C1, C2, and C3) cell line(s), human prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) and live murine specimens, respectively. Preliminary data indicates that SCFAs and RES together regulate cell death pathways of PCa cells. Additionally, the SCFAs have the capability to manipulate different molecular signatures that directly govern the progression of PCa cells. Therefore, our data suggests that these two compounds (SCFAs and RES) share related biological pathways facilitated by intestinal microflora that can be used to regulate prostate cancer progression and clearance. Citation Format: James Stokes, Manoj K. Mishra. Impact of microbial metabolites and resveratrol in prostate cancer progression and clearance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 908. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-908
Nascent RNA cleavage by arrested RNA polymerase II does not require upstream translocation of the elongation complex on DNA.

Abstract Obstacles incurred by RNA polymerase II during primary transcript synthesis have been identified in vivo and in vitro. Transcription past these impediments requires SII, an RNA polymerase II-binding protein. SII also activates a nuclease in arrested elongation complexes and this nascent RNA shortening precedes transcriptional readthrough. Here we show that in the presence of SII and nucleotides, transcript cleavage is detected during SII-dependent elongation but not during SII-independent transcription. Thus, under typical transcription conditions, SII is necessary but insufficient to activate RNA cleavage. RNA cleavage could serve to move RNA polymerase II away from the transcriptional impediment and/or permit RNA polymerase II multiple attempts at RNA elongation. By mapping the positions of the 3'-ends of RNAs and the elongation complex on DNA, we demonstrate that upstream movement of RNA polymerase II is not required for limited RNA shortening (seven to nine nucleotides) and reactivation of an arrested complex. Arrested complexes become elongation competent after removal of no more than nine nucleotides from the nascent RNA's 3'-end. Further cleavage of nascent RNA, however, does result in "backward" translocation of the enzyme. We also show that one round of RNA cleavage is insufficient for full readthrough at an arrest site, consistent with a previously suggested mechanism of SII action.
Developing Bayesian adaptive methods for estimating sensitivity thresholds (d′) in Yes-No and forced-choice tasks

Motivated by Signal Detection Theory (SDT), we developed a family of novel adaptive methods that estimate the sensitivity threshold-the signal intensity corresponding to a pre-defined sensitivity level (d' = 1)-in Yes-No (YN) and Forced-Choice (FC) detection tasks. Rather than focus stimulus sampling to estimate a single level of %Yes or %Correct, the current methods sample psychometric functions more broadly, to concurrently estimate sensitivity and decision factors, and thereby estimate thresholds that are independent of decision confounds. Developed for four tasks-(1) simple YN detection, (2) cued YN detection, which cues the observer's response state before each trial, (3) rated YN detection, which incorporates a Not Sure response, and (4) FC detection-the qYN and qFC methods yield sensitivity thresholds that are independent of the task's decision structure (YN or FC) and/or the observer's subjective response state. Results from simulation and psychophysics suggest that 25 trials (and sometimes less) are sufficient to estimate YN thresholds with reasonable precision (s.d. = 0.10-0.15 decimal log units), but more trials are needed for FC thresholds. When the same subjects were tested across tasks of simple, cued, rated, and FC detection, adaptive threshold estimates exhibited excellent agreement with the method of constant stimuli (MCS), and with each other. These YN adaptive methods deliver criterion-free thresholds that have previously been exclusive to FC methods.
THERMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIP IN THE TOTAL DNA-BINDING SITE OF ENZYME-DNA COMPLEXES

Both helicases and polymerases perform their activities when bound to the nucleic acids, that is, the enzymes possess a nucleic acid-binding site. Functional complexity of the helicase or the polymerase action is reflected in the intricate structure of the total nucleic acid-binding site, which allows the enzymes to control and change their nucleic acid affinities during the catalysis. Understanding the fundamental aspects of the functional heterogeneity of the total nucleic acid-binding site of a polymerase or helicase can be achieved through quantitative thermodynamic analysis of the enzyme binding to the nucleic acids oligomers, which differ in their length. Such an analysis allows the experimenter to assess the presence of areas with strong and weak affinity for the nucleic acid, that is, the presence of the strong and the weak nucleic acid-binding subsites, determine the number of the nucleotide occlude by each subsite, and estimate their intrinsic free energies of interactions.
Supplemental Examinations to Consider, Reconsider, or Correct Patent-Related Information: A Tangled Web Indeed

A pending legislative proposal would authorize the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to undertake a “supplemental examination” of an issued patent to “consider, reconsider, or correct information believed to be relevant to the patent.” It would further bar the federal courts from holding a patent unenforceable “on the basis of conduct relating to information” considered during supplemental examination. The obvious intent of the proposal is to constrain the federal courts’ power to entertain inequitable conduct-based challenges. Its emergence is unsurprising, given the mounting dissatisfaction with the courts’ application of the inequitable conduct doctrine. However, because the bill proposes to provide patent owners a forum for effectively purging the taint associated with intentionally undermining the integrity of the patent procurement process, it raises a number of interesting questions. This essay examines ethics-related implications of the supplemental examinations proposal. “Ethics” is broadly defined here to extend beyond potential ethics and discipline-related considerations for practitioners to related implications for the USPTO, the courts, and the patent system generally.
Resistance of active yeast ribosomes to dissociation by KCl.

Abstract Monoribosomes deficient in messenger RNA which accumulate in a temperature-sensitive yeast mutant at the restrictive temperature were compared for their dissociability in 0.8 m KCl with polyribosomes and with monoribosomes derived from polyribosomes by ribonuclease treatment. It was found that ribosomes from yeast are dissociated into subunits in 0.8 m KCl only if they lack attached messenger RNA. Ribosomes lacking messenger RNA can be converted to a KCl-stable form by incubation in vitro with transfer RNA, polyuridylic acid, and supernatant.
EFFECTS OF SODIUM CAPRYLATE ON CANDIDA ALBICANS I. Influence of Concentration on Ultrastructure

Adams, J. N. (University of Georgia, Athens), Barbara G. Painter, and W. J. Payne. Effects of sodium caprylate on Candida albicans. I. Influence of concentration on ultrastructure. J. Bacteriol. 86:548-557. 1963.-Morphological effects of exposure to various concentrations of sodium caprylate were studied in living cells and ultrathin sections of Candida albicans. Budding was inhibited when cells were cultured in 0.0025 m sodium caprylate. Cells relieved from treatment at this concentration initiated reproductive processes at a much-stimulated rate. Momentary or 30-min exposures to 0.1 m caprylate affected cells in much the same manner as those treated at the lower concentration. Alteration of ultrastructure was brought about by treating with 0.0025 and 0.005 m concentrations prior to embedding and sectioning. Condensation of vacuolar material, change in size and number of mitochondria, loss of mitochondrial cristae, and increased electron density of the cytoplasm were observed. Cellular integrity was progressively lost as a result of treatment at levels up to 0.1 m. The highly electron-dense cytoplasm of cells cultured in media containing 0.025 m or higher inhibitor appeared to break into irregular masses, but the nucleus and vacuole sometimes could be identified. Cells treated at the 0.1 m level contained a condensed mass of opaque and unidentifiable cytoplasmic constituents within the skeletal cell wall. Cytological observations were correlated with physiological studies.
Does successful smoking cessation reduce anxious arousal among treatment-seeking smokers?

Abstract Introduction There is limited work that has examined the effect of quitting smoking on anxious arousal, an underlying dimension of anxiety symptoms and psychopathology. Method Smokers ( n = 185, 54.1% female) enrolled in a smoking cessation treatment trial were monitored post-cessation in terms of abstinence status (biochemically verified; at Weeks 1, 2, and Month 1 post-quit) and severity of panic-relevant symptoms (self-reported; at Month 1 and 3 post-quit). Structural equation models were conducted, adjusting for participant sex, age, treatment condition, and pre-cessation nicotine dependence, presence of depressive/anxiety disorders, anxious arousal, and anxiety sensitivity. Results After adjusting for covariates, participants who remained abstinent for one month ( n = 80; 43.2%) relative to those who did not ( n = 105; 56.8%) demonstrated significant reductions in anxious arousal at Month 1 ( β = −.26, p = .04) and Month 3 post-quit ( β = −.36, p = .006); abstinence status had a non-significant effect on anxious arousal severity at Month 3 after controlling for Month 1 anxious arousal ( β = −.18, p = .09). Discussion Findings align with theoretical models of smoking-anxiety interplay and suggest that smoking cessation can result in reductions in anxious arousal.
Competitive interactions between neurons making axosomatic contacts in the leech

Axons of lateral nociceptive (N) neurons in leech segmental ganglia wrap certain somata in adjacent ganglia but no somata in their own ganglion. In adults, the N neurons, which accurately regenerate axosomatic wrappings, can be induced to sprout in their own ganglion and wrap target homologues if the ganglion is isolated by cutting the nerve cord. Manipulations that denervate the new targets without injuring the lateral N cell, including focal lesions and protease injections into other N cells, also cause sprouting within 2-4 months. In contrast, cutting the lateral N cell's axons causes little or no sprouting within the ganglion without denervation. Therefore, denervation rather than injury accounts for sprouting within the ganglion. It is concluded that lateral N cells can wrap somata in their own ganglion that are homologues of their usual targets, but they are prevented from doing so by axonal wrappings from N cells in adjacent ganglia.
Broadband polarization rotator for the infrared.

A three-mirror system is described which is capable of rotating the polarization angle of a beam through any angle from 0° to 360°, with the output beam line coaxial with the input beam. Calculations are made of metallic reflective phase shifts, from the midvisible through ir, showing that this rotator would introduce negligible elliptical polarization for wavelengths longer than about 5 μm.
Direct writing of materials by laser guidance

Summary form only given. We use optical forces to guide aerosol particles through hollow-core optical fibers. A wide variety of materials can be manipulated including solid metal, dielectric, and semiconductor particles as well as liquid droplets. The guided particles emerge from the fiber in a narrow beam and can be deposited on a substrate placed near the fiber output tip. By translating the substrate during particle deposition arbitrary structures of lines and dots can be constructed. The deposition conforms to the substrate curvature and the structures can be defined with micron resolution. The laser beam is intense enough to melt many types of particles during delivery to the substrate. The resulting structures are fully dense and well adhered.
Growth of international franchising through E‐commerce

Since the beginning of the Internet, electronic commerce (E-commerce) has grown rapidly. The rapid development of information technology has brought many business opportunities for companies doing business in a global market. This paper discusses the issues that affect a company’s business operations in a global market.
Self-cognitions, stressful events, and the prediction of depression in children of depressed mothers

In a preliminary effort to integrate cognitive, life stress, and interpersonal approaches to vulnerability to depression, children's cognitions about themselves, their stressful life events, and the interaction of self-cognitions and life events were tested as predictors of depression. Children of normal, medically ill, and bipolar and unipolar depressed mothers were assessed initially and 6 months later for diagnostic status using the Kiddie-SADS interview. As predicted, Piers-Harris self-concept scores and interview-assessed children's stressful life events significantly predicted changes in depression status over the 6-month follow-up. Stressors and the interaction of stressors and self-concept also predicted changes in diagnosis of nonaffective disorders. A self-schema measure of accessibility of negative self-cognitions, known to be mood-dependent, failed to add to the prediction of depression severity. The results are consistent with a model of depression vulnerability that emphasizes cognition about self-worth and self-efficacy as mediators of the impact of stressful events, and we speculate that such self-schemas are acquired in part in the context of parent-child relationships. Recommendations are given for further studies of the acquisition and the mechanisms of self-schemas.
f/α particle track analysis: A new geologic technique for the measurement of uranium, thorium, and isotopic disequilibria

A new technique is described, in which both natural alpha emitters and fissionable nuclides are measured in geologic samples. If the sample is in secular equilibrium the alpha measurements will define the total U and Th contents, while the fission measurements will give the U alone. Probably of more interest will be those cases not in secular equilibrium, where comparison of the alpha and fission measurements will define excess or deficient radioactivities. Particular examples are coral growth and deep sea sedimentation. Some data on the latter are presented.
Essential normality of polynomial-generated submodules: Hardy space and beyond

Abstract Recently, Douglas and Wang proved that for each polynomial q, the submodule [ q ] of the Bergman module generated by q is essentially normal [11] . Using improved techniques, we show that the Hardy space analogue of this result holds, and more.
New evidence on the origin of carnivorous plants.

Carnivorous plants have fascinated scientists and the general public since the pioneering studies of Charles Darwin (1). No doubt part of their wide appeal is that carnivorous plants have turned the evolutionary tables on animals, consuming them as prey, with the green predators often equipped with remarkable lures, traps, stomachs, and—in a few cases—extraordinary speed of movement. To be considered carnivorous, a plant must be able to absorb nutrients from dead bodies adjacent to its surfaces, obtain some advantage in growth or reproduction, and have unequivocal adaptations for active prey attraction, capture, and digestion (2, 3). Some carnivorous species [e.g., Pinguicula (butterworts), Philcoxia] lack obvious attractants; some rely on passive pitfalls [e.g., Cephalotus (Australian pitcher plant), Sarracenia (American pitcher plants)] rather than active traps based on sticky tentacles [e.g., Byblis, Drosera (sundews)] or snap traps [e.g., Dionaea (Venus fly-trap), Utricularia (bladderworts)]; and some lack digestive enzymes and instead depend on commensal microbes or insect larvae to break down prey (e.g., Brocchinia, Darlingtonia, some species of Sarracenia). Based on these criteria, today we recognize at least 583 species of carnivorous plants in 20 genera, 12 families, and 5 orders of flowering plants (Table 1). Based on DNA sequence phylogenies, these species represent at least nine independent origins of the carnivorous habit per se, and at least six independent origins of pitfall traps, five of sticky traps, two of snap traps, and one of lobster-pot traps. To the extent to which molecular phylogenies have been calibrated against the ages of fossils of other plants, these origins of carnivory appear to have occurred between roughly 8 and 72 million years ago (Mya). In PNAS, Sadowski et al. (4) contribute to our understanding of the origins of plant carnivory by describing the first fossilized trap of a carnivorous plant, a fragment of a tentacled leaf preserved in Baltic amber from 35 to 47 Mya, and allied to modern-day Roridula of monogeneric Roridulaceae (Ericales) from South Africa.
Presence of antioxidant materials in bacteria

Fourteen species of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria from nine genera were investigated to determine if they produced compounds that have antioxidant activity. Washed bacterial cells were extracted with methanol for 24 hr. This extract was evaporated to dryness and extracted with benzene. The fractions were added to lard and incubated at 58 C. Antioxidant activity was determined by prolongation of the period required for the initiation of rancidity as measured by changes in peroxide value. The methanol soluble-benzene soluble fractions ofBacillus cereus, Lactobacillus dextranicum, Micrococcus freudenreichii andSarcina lutea showed considerable antioxidant activity. Methanol fractions of threePseudomonas species showed considerable activity that could not be extracted with benzene. The possibilities of using microbial growth on fats as well as extracts of microorganisms added to fats as antioxidants are discussed.
Effects of approval motivation and varying conditions of verbal reinforcement on incidental memory for faces.

An attempt was made to determine whether high and low n approval Ss showed differences in incidental memory for faces after these stimuli were associated with positive, negative, or no (control) verbal reinforcement. Results were that the high n approval Ss, as a group, demonstrated greater incidental memory than did the low group (p < .01). It was also found that high n approval Ss performed best under positive reinforcement while demonstrating the least incidental memory under conditions of negative reinforcement. For low n approval Ss the reverse was true. These findings were discussed as lending support to Marlowe-Crowne's notions concerning the approval-motivated person. The fact that the two approval-motivated groups performed differently under negative reinforcement relative to their performance in the other conditions was discussed as being consistent with expectations based on the fact that a significant correlation exists between the M-C SDS and Byrne R-S Scale.
Transient bundle branch block occurring during slowing of the heart beat and following gagging

Abstract Two cases are reported in which transient bundle branch block occurred under unusual circumstances which suggested an increase in vagal tone. In an instance of sinus arrhythmia, bundle branch block consistently followed slowing of the sinus rhythm. In a case of supraventricular tachycardia an attempt to stimulate the vagus nerve by gagging resulted in transient appearance of bundle branch block. The problem of direct or indirect inhibiting effect by the vagus nerve upon the formation and conduction of impulses in the ventricles is discussed. As an alternative explanation interference with the blood supply is considered to be due either to vagus-mediated constriction of the coronary arteries or to Valsalva effect associated with gagging.
Lichen Sclerosus Et Atrophicus in Children

• The symptoms, findings, associated conditions, and treatment of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus were studied in 10 girls and one boy. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a benign but chronic condition of the anogenital area of girls and, less frequently, of boys. The characteristic lesions are hypopigmented plaques in a figure-of-8 pattern surrounding the vulva and anus and often involving the natal cleft. The affected hypopigmented skin is sharply demarcated from the normal skin. Hemorrhagic, bullous lesions are uncommon. Fissures and ulcers are seen on the labia, between the labia, and on the perineum, anus, and natal cleft in many children and on the glans penis in boys. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus causes painful defecation and anal and vulval bleeding. In two patients, one girl and one boy, anal stenosis due to lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and laxative treatment developed. Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus mimics sexual abuse and has led to false accusation and investigations. The anogenital lesions cleared in three patients at the ages of 9,11, and 12 years, but lesions can persist into adulthood. ( AJDC. 1991;145:1058-1061)
Multimodal CT imaging of a posterior fossa stroke

Keywords Acute stroke Acute stroke imaging Acute stroke diagnosis Multimodal CT Perfusion-CTDear Editor,We describe a case of an 82-year-old woman with diabetesand hypertension who was admitted through our Emer-gency Department for a history of vertigo, nausea, vomit-ing, and left arm incoordination for 4 h. Neurologicalexamination revealed only left arm ataxia and strokewas suspected. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) score was 2. Multimodal stroke CT imaging wasobtained. CT of the brain was unremarkable. CT-angio-graphy (CTA) and near-whole brain perfusion CT (PCT)revealed occlusion of the left superior cerebellar artery(SCA) with corresponding compensated perfusion deﬁcit inthe left cerebellar hemisphere, characterized by increasedmean transit time and increased cerebral blood volume(Fig. 1a–c), suggesting presence of viable ischemic pen-umbra. Considering the low NIHSS score with absence ofcompleted infarction on imaging, intravenous ﬂuids andaspirin therapy were initiated. Follow-up MRI at 24 hdemonstrated only punctate infarcts in the left SCA terri-tory (Fig. 1d). Further work-up was negative for embolicsources. The patient rapidly recovered (NIHSS score 0) andwas discharged after 5 days on antiplatelet therapy.Advanced morphologic, vascular, and physiologic brainCT imaging has been established as a fast, reliable, andreadily available modality for stroke triage with the goal ofdistinguishing ischemic stroke from intracranial hemor-rhage and selecting patients likely to beneﬁt from reper-fusion therapies [1, 2]. CT and MRI have comparableefﬁcacy in the evaluation of supratentorial stroke; however,MRI is currently more sensitive and, therefore, the pre-ferred imaging modality for patients with posterior fossastroke [3]. One reason for the poor PCT sensitivity ofposterior fossa stroke is the limited anatomical coverageavailable on older CT scanners, generally limited to 2 or4 cm slabs of brain tissue typically centered at the level ofthe basal ganglia/lateral ventricles. Recent technologicaladvancements in multi-detector CT equipment haveexpanded the anatomical coverage of perfusion CT,thereby permitting routine assessment of the posterior fossawith a standard protocol [4]. This case report illustrates thediagnostic accuracy of such advanced multimodal CTimaging in acute posterior circulation ischemic strokepatients. In this particular case the imaging ﬁndings did notlead to change in treatment; however, they allowed for avery precise diagnosis and reassured the clinical manage-ment decisions.
Electron transmission measurements of electron mean free path in supported thin films from 1–5 keV

Abstract Measurements are made of the transmission of medium energy electrons through in vacuo deposited films in order to determine the inelastic electron mean free path as a function of energy. Films of Al, Ge and Au are deposited in small increments on 20–30 A carbon substrates supported by “holey” carbon films. The no-loss electron current is measured for each thickness as a continuous function of incident energy in the range of 1–5 keV. Although this preliminary experiment does not result in a precise separation of elastic and inelastic scattering effects, the attenuation lengths estimated are in reasonable agreement with measured and calculated in-elastic mean free paths. Elastic scattering cross sections appear to be smaller than estimated by simple theory.
"Deep Ecology" and the Revival of Natural Right

EW popular movements in this century can claim as much success as environmentalism in influencing American public policy. Although spokesmen for the movement lament its failure to reach all its goals, its achievements are nonetheless astonishing. In a single generation (since Earth Day in 1970), environmental concerns have become "part of the permanent agenda of government" (Mann, in Kamieniecki et al. 1986: 20), to be heeded in everything from energy policy and industrial design to transportation and defense planning. However, the environmental movement has been less successful in thinking through the implications of its own victories. If environmentalists could increase their influence over policy-making and eventually shape society as they wished, what changes would ensue? What would an ecologically sensitive world look like, and how would its inhabitants live? These are questions that intersect with the traditional subject matter of political philosophy. They do not suggest that environmentalists ought to become utopians, but merely that the movement's root assumptions and the ultimate ends of its program need clarification. In addressing such issues, we wish to offer a reinterpretation of certain trains of thought already well established in environmentalist literature. We take as our departure point the observations and experiences of a long line of sojourners in nature, who have struggled to articulate a vision of what humans could become if only they acknowledged the accumulated wisdom of the natural world and shaped their lives in accord with it. We argue that the appropriate conceptual system for clarifying the aims and rationale of ecological politics is a modernized version of the classical "natural right" tradition as understood by Aristotle and his successors. Of course, most defenders of strong pro-ecology positions would initially demur, since Aristotle's anthropoand logocentrism are anathema to them. Nevertheless, many environmental thinkers unwittingly have resurrected two key ideas of classical right: that there is an "order" in nature providing normative standards for evaluating laws, actions and policies, and that
Parkinson Disease Subtypes

Importance It is increasingly evident that Parkinson disease (PD) is not a single entity but rather a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. Objective To evaluate available evidence, based on findings from clinical, imaging, genetic and pathologic studies, supporting the differentiation of PD into subtypes. Evidence Review We performed a systematic review of articles cited in PubMed between 1980 and 2013 using the following search terms: Parkinson disease, parkinsonism, tremor, postural instability and gait difficulty, and Parkinson disease subtypes . The final reference list was generated on the basis of originality and relevance to the broad scope of this review. Findings Several subtypes, such as tremor-dominant PD and postural instability gait difficulty form of PD, have been found to cluster together. Other subtypes also have been identified, but validation by subtype-specific biomarkers is still lacking. Conclusions and Relevance Several PD subtypes have been identified, but the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the observed clinicopathologic heterogeneity in PD are still not well understood. Further research into subtype-specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers may provide insights into mechanisms of neurodegeneration and improve epidemiologic and therapeutic clinical trial designs.
Cerebral malformations complicating spina bifida. Radiological studies

The radiological findings of air studies performed on 59 infants and young children with spina bifida have been discussed and the pathological basis of these appearances outlined. It is contended that the most frequent cerebral abnormality is the Chiari type II malformation which has been demonstrated radiologically in nearly half the cases and suspected in many others. Hydrocephalus has been shown in 93% of the cases: the most common site of obstruction was the cerebral aqueduct. A block at the level of the ambient cisterns was found less frequently and in our experience obstruction at the level of the foramen magnum is rare.
Morality and Freedom

What might be termed ‘the problem of morality’ concerns how freedom–restricting principles may be justified, given that we value our freedom. Perhaps an answer can be found in freedom itself. For if the most obvious reason for rejecting moral demands is that they invade one's personal freedom, then the price of freedom from invasive demands that others would otherwise make may well require everyone accepting freedom in general, say, as a value that provides sufficient reason for adhering to principles that serve to maximize, or at least safeguard, freedom in general. But then it is precisely such a value, freedom in general, which can be argued to ground an adequate moral system. Hence whereas the value of freedom appears at first sight to pose problems for moral systems, it can be employed to ground a certain variety of them.
Palatini form of 1/R gravity.

It has been suggested that the Universe's recent acceleration is due to a contribution to the gravitational action proportional to the reciprocal of the Ricci scalar. Although the original version of this theory disagrees with solar system observations, a modified Palatini version, in which the metric and connection are treated as independent variables, has been suggested as a viable model of the cosmic acceleration. We show that this theory is equivalent to a scalar-tensor theory in which the scalar field kinetic energy term is absent from the action. Integrating out the scalar field gives rise to additional interactions among the matter fields of the standard model of particle physics at an energy scale of order ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ (the geometric mean of the Hubble and the Planck scales), and so the theory is excluded by, for example, electron-electron scattering experiments.
Estimating the Ground-Water Contribution to Storm Runoff by the Electrical Conductance Methoda

The feasibility of determining the ground-water contribution to stream flow during periods of storm runoff by continuous monitoring of a stream's electrical conductance was investigated. Methods involving graphical techniques or ground-water stage versus base flow rating curves are generally used to determine the ground-water contribution, but the ground-water contribution can also be estimated if stream flow and the conductance of surface water and of ground water are known. The conductance method was tested on a 95-square-mile basin in north-central Illinois. Continuous records of stream flow, stream-flow conductance, and ground-water stage within the basin were collected. A rating curve of base flow versus mean ground-water stage was constructed, and ground-water discharges determined from the rating curve were compared with those computed from conductance data. The conductance method normally gave a lower estimate of the ground-water contribution than did the rating-curve method. However, analyses of storms which were preceded by extended dry periods resulted in much lower estimates of ground-water discharge by the rating-curve method than by the conductance method. The conductance method offers a simple alternative for use in areas where observation wells are unavailable or where rating curves are difficult to construct.
α 1B adrenoceptors in rat paraventricular nucleus overlap with, but do not mediate, the induction of c-Fos expression by osmotic or restraint stress

A role has been suggested for hypothalamic alpha1 adrenoceptors in the acute stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Using a polyclonal antiserum against the rat alpha1B adrenergic receptor protein, we have demonstrated alpha1B receptor immunoreactivity in neurons and especially in punctate cell processes in the rat paraventricular nucleus. The distribution of alpha1B receptor immunoreactivity overlapped in part with the distributions of c-Fos immunoreactivity induced in the paraventricular nucleus by either restraint stress or hypertonic saline administration. However, intraperitoneal pretreatment with the alpha1 receptor antagonist prazosin (0.5 or 5.0 mg/kg) failed to attenuate stress-induced c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus. Prazosin also failed to attenuate the secretion of corticosterone following restraint stress. Thus, we conclude that neither acute secretory activity nor activation of gene transcriptional responses mediated by c-Fos in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis following these stressors are dependent upon hypothalamic alpha1 adrenergic receptors.
Dynamic Fracture of a Zr-based Bulk Metallic Glass

In the present study, dynamic fracture experiments are performed on fully amorphous Liquidmetal-1 (LM-1), a Zr-based BMG, to better understand fracture initiation and propagation in notched specimens. Experiments are conducted on notched (110 μm notch radius) four-point bend specimens using an instrumented modified split-Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. The results of these experiments suggest that the critical dynamic stress intensity factor achieved by the notched LM-1 specimens is ~110 MPa m1/2, which is similar to the fracture toughness determined from previous quasi-static fracture experiments. This insensitivity of the fracture toughness to crack tip loading rate suggests negligible loading-rate sensitivity on the dynamic fracture initiation toughness in LM-1. In situ high-speed camera images of the notched sample during the dynamic loading process show multiple fracture initiation attempts and subsequent arrests prior to catastrophic fracture initiation. Controlled stress wave loading experiments designed to induce sub-critical levels of damage in the notched specimens show extensive deformation banding extending 150 to 200 μm outward from the notch. The deformation bands, nominally perpendicular to each other, run along the direction of the notch and perpendicular to it. They are consistent with slip-line fields in notched samples of elastic perfectly plastic materials. Subsequent loading of the damaged specimen again shows several attempts at crack initiation followed by blunting; the initial sub-critical damage in the region around the notch is understood to increase the energy required for catastrophic specimen failure and is consistent with an increase in the effective notch radius due to preexisting damage.
The Cultivation of Sensibility in Kant's Moral Philosophy

In his later moral writings Kant claims that we have a duty to cultivate certain aspects of our sensuous nature. This claim is surprising for three reasons. First, given Kant's ‘incorporation thesis’ – which states that the only sensible states capable of determining our actions are those that we willingly introduce and integrate into our maxims – it would seem that the content of our inclinations is morally irrelevant. Second, the exclusivity between the passivity that is characteristic of sensibility and the spontaneous quality of our free will that operates throughout Kant's philosophy seems to preclude that any such cultivation is possible. Third, Kant's specific arguments concerning why we are obliged to cultivate our sensible nature are unclear. The goal of this paper is to address each of these three concerns and thus fully explain Kant's theory of the moral necessity of cultivation.