cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
C2-Symmetrical Diazabutadiene Complexes of Platinum(II) and the Promotion of Cationic Polymerization

The synthesis, characterization, and reaction chemistry of a cationic Pt(II) solvento complex (2) are described. The complex demonstrates the unprecedented ability to promote polymerization of the ...
A thermogravimetric study of the decomposition rate of chlorinated polyethylenes under ignition conditions

Abstract Decomposition and combustion of three chlorinated polyethylenes (C1PE-25%, C1PE-36% and C1PE-42%) and a high density polyethylene (HDPE) under medium heating rates (11.5–67.5°C (s −1 ) in an oxidant gas flow was investigated using a Du Pont 951 thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The decomposition rate constants prior to ignition and during combustion were obtained using an Avrami-Erofee'v type equation, [− In(1 − C )] 1 n = kt + A where n was chosen equal to four. The results showed that the rate constant was sensitive to the isothermal furnace temperature only if a small sample mass (about 2.40 mg) was used. Increasing O 2 concentration in the gas flow greatly promoted the decomposition rate prior to ignition, but was less significant in the combustion stage. The rate of decomposition for HDPE was much higher than that of the chlorinated polyethylenes, indicating the effectiveness of substituted chlorine in suppressing the decomposition rate of the polymers. On the other hand, increasing the chlorine content from 36 to 42% did not reduce the decomposition rate further under our conditions.
Attending to items in working memory: evidence that refreshing and memory search are closely related

Refreshing refers to the use of attention to reactivate items in working memory (WM). In the present study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that refreshing is closely related to memory search. The assumption is that refreshing and memory search both rely on a basic covert memory process that quickly retrieves the memory items into the focus of attention, thereby reactivating the information (Cowan, 1992; Vergauwe & Cowan, 2014). Consistent with the idea that people use their attention to prevent loss from WM, previous research has shown that increasing the proportion of time during which attention is occupied by concurrent processing, thereby preventing refreshing, results in poorer recall performance in complex span tasks (Barrouillet, Portrat, & Camos, Psychological Review, 118, 175-192, 2011). Here, we tested whether recall performance is differentially affected by prolonged attentional capture caused by memory search. If memory search and refreshing both rely on retrieval from WM, then prolonged attentional capture caused by memory search should not lead to forgetting, because memory items are assumed to be reactivated during memory search, in the same way that they would be if that period of time were used for refreshing. Consistent with this idea, prolonged attentional capture had a disruptive effect when it was caused by the need to retrieve knowledge from long-term memory, but not when it was caused by the need to search through the content of WM. The present results support the idea that refreshing operates through a process of retrieval of information into the focus of attention.
Characterization of fibromuscular pseudocapsule in renal cell carcinoma

Pseudocapsule in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been described but little is known about its prevalence and extent. Pseudocapsule was analyzed in 105 RCCs (44 clear cell, 44 chromophobe, 17 papillary). Pseudocapsule was graded as follows: grade 1, thickness comparable to adjacent muscular arteries; grade 2, thickness more than twice the diameter of adjacent muscular arteries; grade 3, grade 2 findings with vasculopathy. Tumor size, tumor regression, and International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) nucleolar grade were recorded. Cases with grade 3 pseudocapsule were stained with elastic silver stain, Alcian blue, smooth muscle actin, and CD31. More clear cell RCCs had pseudocapsule (89%, 39/44) than chromophobe (30%, 13/44) and papillary (35%, 6/17). Average tumor size with pseudocapsule was 3.9 cm; average tumor size without pseudocapsule was 3.8 cm (P = .77). Grade 2 pseudocapsule was common in clear cell RCC (56%, 22/39). Chromophobe and papillary RCC had grade 1 pseudocapsule in 77% (10/13) and 83% (5/6) of cases. Grade 3 pseudocapsule was only seen in clear cell RCC (10%, 4/39). No correlation was noted between degenerative tumor changes, tumor size, ISUP nucleolar grade, and presence and grade of pseudocapsule. Smooth muscle actin and CD31 showed abundant smooth muscle component and rich vasculature within the pseudocapsule. Arterial elastic membrane disruption and/or fibrointimal mucin deposits were present in grade 3 pseudocapsule. Thus, pseudocapsule is rather characteristic and more prominent in clear cell, less frequent in chromophobe, and rare in papillary RCC. Its presence may be evaluated radiologically or in biopsy specimens with scant tumor fragments.
A new curvature‐driven delamination test for measuring the mode II toughness of composites

The measurement of the delamination toughness of composites requires fracture tests with well-characterized geometries. Because the delamination toughness is frequently used as a material selection parameter, it is necessary to differentiate between experimental artifacts, data scatter, and changes in the mechanism of delamination. This new Curvature-Driven Delamination (CDD) test for Mode II provides a direct, steady-state measurement of the pure Mode II delamination toughness without the compliance calculations inherent in other delamination test protocols. Like the Wedge-Driven Delamination (WDD) test for Mode I, the CDD Mode II test measures the toughness at controlled crack growth rates. The CDD Mode II test correlates well with the results of the established End-Notch Flexure (ENF) Mode II test but is not subject to the geometric instabilities of that test. Changes in the delamination mechanism are easily observed by the direct, continuous measurement of the toughness in the CDD Mode II test.
The dilemma, causes and approaches to avoid recurrent hospital readmissions for patients with chronic heart failure

Heart failure is a progressive illness that carries significant morbidity and mortality. This highly prevalent illness leads to frequent, costly hospitalizations with approximately 50% of patients being readmitted within 6 months of initial hospitalization. While rehospitalization has been extensively studied in the past, little progress has been made in terms of reducing readmission rates of heart failure patients in the last decade despite increasing costs with impending resource limitations. We discuss disease-centered, physician-centered, and patient-centered factors that lead to rehospitalization as well as community/resource availability factors that contribute to rehospitalization of patients suffering from chronic heart failure. In addition, predictors of hospitalization and interventions that reduce hospitalization will be critically evaluated. With a complete understanding of heart failure rehospitalization, we hope the future holds more effective ways to prevent heart failure progression and thus rehospitalization, improved risk-stratification models to identify patients high-risk for rehospitalization, and sustained interventions that are customized according to the etiology of the clinical decline of heart failure patients that ultimately results in frequent rehospitalizations.
Subtractive method applied to separation of visual and name components of multiletter arrays

Abstract If a stored letter can be matched more rapidly with a physically identical letter (e.g., A A) than with one having only the same name (e.g., A a) the physical match reflects a visual memory code. In the first study the number of letters in store was varied from one to four. The efficiency of the visual code for a given letter is not reduced by the presence of other letters in the array. However, for longer array lengths only some of the letters give evidence of a physical match which is more efficient than a name match. The second set of experiments attempted to manipulate the efficiency of stored visual and name codes. This was done by varying the visual and acoustic similarity of the array. It was found that visually similar arrays reduced the efficiency of the physical match without affecting the name match. This finding indicated that the visual and name codes were separately stored and that these codes were not interrogated serially.
Ribbon Tile Invariants from the Signed Area

Ribbon tiles are polyominoes consisting of n squares laid out in a path, each step of which goes north or east. Tile invariants were first introduced by the second author (2000, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc.352, 5525?5561), where a full basis of invariants of ribbon tiles was conjectured. Here we present a complete proof of the conjecture, which works by associating ribbon tiles with certain polygons in the complex plane, and deriving invariants from the signed area of these polygons.
Clinical signs predict 30-month neurodevelopmental outcome after neonatal encephalopathy.

Abstract Objective This study was undertaken to determine the value of a neonatal encephalopathy score (ES) and the presence of seizures for predicting 30-month neurodevelopmental outcome. Study design In a cohort study, 68 term newborn infants with encephalopathy were evaluated with an ES based on alertness, feeding, tone, respiratory status, reflexes, and seizure activity (range: 0-6). Seizures were noted as present or absent clinically. Significant cognitive deficits (Mental Development Index Results Twenty-two newborn infants (32%) had abnormal outcomes. With the use of maximum ES and presence of seizures from days 1 to 3 of life, 87% of newborn infants were correctly classified (area under receiver operating curve 0.93). By using ES and presence of seizures on day 1 only, 87% of newborn infants were correctly classified (area under receiver operating curve 0.89). Conclusion The severity of neonatal encephalopathy and the presence of seizures are valuable predictors of 30-month neurodevelopmental outcome, as early as the first day of life.
Modeling and Simulation of Physical Vapor Deposition/Etching Plasmas

A new physical vapor deposition source is developed to meet the challenges of barrier deposition for sub 100nm devices. The source employs multi-step process to deposit thin, conformal and uniform barrier films. This paper describes reactor scale modeling and simulation of deposition and etching plasmas used for barrier deposition. The modeling and simulation in tandem with experimental data demonstrate that the chamber can be used to independently control the particle fluxes as per the requirements of the deposition and etching steps. The simulation results were qualitatively used to optimize the ion flux uniformity by altering the magnetic fields near the wafer.© 2005 ASME
Convergent approaches for defining functional imaging endophenotypes in schizophrenia.

In complex genetic disorders such as schizophrenia, endophenotypes have potential utility both in identifying risk genes and in illuminating pathophysiology. This is due to their presumed status as closer in the etiopathological pathway to the causative genes than is the currently defining clinical phenomenology of the illness and thus their simpler genetic architecture than that of the full syndrome. There, many genes conferring slight individual risk are additive or epistatic (interactive) with regard to cumulative schizophrenia risk. In addition the use of endophenotypes has encouraged a conceptual shift away from the exclusive study of categorical diagnoses in manifestly ill patients, towards the study of quantitative traits in patients, unaffected relatives and healthy controls. A more recently employed strategy is thus to study unaffected first degree relatives of schizophrenia patients, who share some of the genetic diathesis without illness-related confounds that may themselves impact fMRI task performance. Consistent with the multiple biological abnormalities associated with the disorder, many candidate endophenotypes have been advanced for schizophrenia, including measures derived from structural brain imaging, EEG, sensorimotor integration, eye movements and cognitive performance (Allen 2009), but recent data derived from quantitative functional brain imaging measures present additional attractive putative endophenotypes. We will review two major, conceptually different approaches that use fMRI in this context. One, the dominant paradigm, employs defined cognitive tasks on which schizophrenia patients perform poorly as “cognitive stress tests”. The second uses very simple probes or “task-free” approaches where performance in patients and controls is equal. We explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of each method, the associated data analytic approaches and recent studies exploring their interface with the genetic risk architecture of schizophrenia.
Examining the Cause of Specific Language Impairment

In contrast with Leonard (in this clinical forum), I believe understanding the cause of specific-language impairment is an important issue in the study of this condition. A model of language impair...
The sequentially pure projective dimension of global groups with decomposition bases

Abstract The sequentially pure projective dimension of a global group with a decomposition basis is computed in terms of a structural property that generalizes the earlier treatment of p -local torsion groups by Fuchs and Hill. As a corollary, it is established that a global group with a decomposition basis and cardinality ℵ n , for some nonnegative integer n , has sequentially pure projective dimension not exceeding n .
West Nile virus in Pakistan. III. Comparative vector capability of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and eight other species of mosquitoes

Eight species of mosquitoes from Pakistan were compared with Culex tritaeniorhynchus as experimental vectors of West Nile (WN) virus. When fed by the membrane or cottonpledget methods on a dose of WN virus 100% infective for Cx tritaeniorhynchus, 95% and 73% of the females of Cx fuscocephala and Cx pseudovishnui became infected, respectively. Cx quinquefasciatus, Cx univittatus, Aedes albopictus, Ae. caspius, Ae. indicus and Ae. lineatopennis were all significantly less susceptible than Cx tritaeniorhynchus. In agreement with the single dose comparisons, the median per os infective dose of WN virus for Cx fuscocephala, Cx pseudovishui and Ae. caspius was substantially greater than for Cx tritaeniorhynchus. The median parenteral infective dose for all six species tested was less than 1 SMICLD50. Both Cx tritaeniorhynchus and Cx quinquefasciatus were more susceptible to infection with WN virus when fed on viraemic chickens than when fed on defibrinated blood using cotton pledgets or membranes. After infection by intrathoracic inoculation, only Ae. indicus and Ae. lineatopennis showed a reduced ability to transmit WN virus when compared to Cx tritaeniorhynchus.
Mounting and alignment of IXO mirror segments

A suspension-mounting scheme is developed for the IXO (International X-ray Observatory) mirror segments in which the figure of the mirror segment is preserved in each stage of mounting. The mirror, first fixed on a thermally compatible strongback, is subsequently transported, aligned and transferred onto its mirror housing. In this paper, we shall outline the requirement, approaches, and recent progress of the suspension mount processes.
Operant audiometry with severely retarded children.

The paper describes procedures for establishing stimulus control with an operant audiometricprogram. The procedures were applied to severely retarded children using both ascending and descending methods for establishing thresholds. Various pre-test stimulus control criteria were used to determine their effect on threshold variability. Results indicated that: (a) the described procedure provides reliable thresholds; (b) ascending-descending measurement methods are not a critical variable in threshold variability; and (c) stimulus control criteria has a major effect on threshold variability.
Single-cell RT-PCR, in situ hybridization histochemical, and immunohistochemical studies of substance P and enkephalin co-occurrence in striatal projection neurons in rats

Single-cell RT-PCR studies in 3-4-week-old rats have raised the possibility that as many as 20% of striatal projection neurons may be a unique type that contains both substance P (SP) and enkephalin (ENK). We used single-cell RT-PCR, retrograde labeling, in situ hybridization histochemistry, and immunolabeling to characterize the abundance of this cell type, its projection target(s), and any developmental changes in its frequency. We found by RT-PCR that 11% of neurons containing either SP or ENK contained both in 4-week-old rats, while in 4-month-old rats SP/ENK colocalization was only 3%. SP-only neurons tended to co-contain dynorphin and ENK-only neurons neurotensin, while SP/ENK neurons tended to contain dynorphin. Single-cell RT-PCR showed SP/ENK co-occurrence in 4-week-old rats to be no more common among striatal neurons retrogradely labeled from the substantia nigra than among those retrogradely labeled from globus pallidus. Double-label in situ hybridization showed SP/ENK perikarya to be scattered throughout striatum, making up 8% of neurons containing either SP or ENK at 4 weeks, but only 4% at 4 months. Immunolabeling showed that presumptive striatal terminals in globus pallidus externus, globus pallidus internus and substantia nigra pars reticulata that colocalized SP and ENK were scarce. Terminals colocalizing SP and ENK were, however, abundant in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Thus, SP-only and ENK-only neurons make up the vast majority of striatal projection neurons in rats, the frequency of SP/ENK colocalizing striatal neurons is low in adult rats (3-4%), and SP/ENK colocalizing neurons primarily project to SNc but do not appear to be confined to striosomes.
A new apparatus for one-way locomotor avoidance without handling

A four compartment box suitable for continued one-way avoidance without interruption and handling for return to a starting compartment was described. Improved learning obtained with it in comparison to the learning when only two adjoining compartments were used as a conventional shuttle box was reported. The significance of this comparison to the question of why more rats fail to acquire the avoidance response in a shuttle box than in a one-way box was discussed.
Neuroprotection by peptide growth factors against anoxia and nitric oxide toxicity requires modulation of protein kinase C.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are neuroprotective during anoxia and nitric oxide (NO) toxicity. Signal transduction systems that modulate protein kinase C (PKC) also can modulate the toxic effects of anoxia and NO. We therefore examined whether PKC was involved in the protective effects of bFGF and EGF during anoxia and NO toxicity. Down-regulation or inhibition of PKC activity before anoxia or NO exposure prevented hippocampal neuronal degeneration. Yet, this protective effect of inhibition of PKC activity was not present with the coadministration of growth factors. Combined inhibition of PKC activity and application of bFGF or EGF lessened the protective mechanisms of the growth factors. In addition, the protective ability of the growth factors was lost during anoxia and NO exposure with the activation of PKC, suggesting that at least a minimal degree of PKC activation is necessary for growth factor protection. Although modulation of PKC activity may be a necess...
Calcium(II)-dependent catalytic activity of the Azoarcus ribozyme: testing the limits of resolution for in vitro selection.

Abstract Group I intron ribozymes isolated from natural sources have a strict dependence on the divalent metal cations Mg(II) or Mn(II) for catalytic activity. However, mutant versions of the Tetrahymena ribozyme have been previously isolated in the laboratory that show demonstrable activity in 10 mM CaCl 2 as the only supplied salt. Here, we sought to discover similar variants of another group I intron that is likely more evolutionarily specialized. We used in vitro selection to isolate a Ca(II)-dependent variant of the naturally-occurring form of the Azoarcus ribozyme, which is half the size of the Tetrahymena ribozyme and possesses an extremely high G + C content of 71%. A mutation of G to A at position 118 was selected in multiple independent trials. Activity of the mutant is very poor in Ca(II) and can only be observed after RT-PCR, highlighting the power of in vitro selection to isolate molecules with rare and low-level activities. The mutation likely confers an alternate but rare folded conformation that permits accommodation of Ca(II) ions and catalysis. This work also serves to caution that although a selection may be successful, isolates may not be catalytically proficient enough to provide useful levels of activity.
Electron microscopic study of the gerbil dentate gyrus after transient forebrain ischemia.

Silver impregnation performed 1–2 days after transient forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil demonstrated terminal-like granular deposits in the outer two-thirds of the hippocampal dentate molecular layer (perforant path terminal zone), even though neither the cell bodies of origin of the perforant path nor the dentate granule cells were destroyed. Electron microscopic studies of the dentate gyrus were performed in an effort to discover the identity of these degenerating structures. Electron microscopy revealed that the granular silver deposits corresponded to electron-dense profiles. Many of these were degenerating boutons and some were degenerating postsynaptic dendritic fragments, but most of them could not be identified with certainty. Electron-dense profiles were less numerous than expected from the density of granular silver deposits. These structures were probably the degenerating axons, axon terminals and dendrites of CA4 neurons. The granular silver deposits and electron-dense boutons observed in the inner third of the dentate molecular layer 5 days after transient ischemia can probably be explained by the ischemia-induced degeneration of CA4 mossy cells, which give rise to the dentate associational-commissural projection. Finally, most mossy fiber boutons in area CA4 and some boutons in the molecular layer appeared watery and enlarged on postischemia days 1 and 2. Mossy fiber boutons with this ultrastructural appearance have previously been observed in seizure-prone animals and in animals undergoing convulsant-induced seizures. Although no postischemic seizures occur under the conditions of this study, these findings support the idea that excitatory pathways become hyperactive after transient ischemia.
Normal and hypoplastic fetal lungs : Volumetric assessment with prenatal single-shot rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement MR imaging

PURPOSE: To determine which parameters are most closely correlated with normal fetal total lung volume and to investigate the use of these parameters in the evaluation of fetal pulmonary hypoplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-shot rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used to perform planimetric measurement of total lung volume in 46 fetuses at 18–32 weeks gestation. Total lung volume was correlated with gestational age, and biometric parameters in fetuses were correlated with normal chest findings at ultrasonography (US) (n = 24). This analysis was used to evaluate relative lung volume in fetuses suspected of having pulmonary hypoplasia (n = 22). RESULTS: Normal fetal total lung volume was strongly correlated with liver volume measured at MR imaging (r = 0.94), fetal weight estimated at US (r = 0.93), head circumference measured at US (r = 0.90), and gestational age (r = 0.87). In fetuses suspected of having pulmonary hypoplasia, the relative lung vol...
Proteolysis Regulates Exposure of the IIICS-1 Adhesive Sequence in Plasma Fibronectin†

The alternatively spliced type III connecting segment (IIICS) of fibronectin (Fn) contains an amino acid sequence, CS-1, which is recognized by the integrin receptor, R4‚1. Plasma Fn inhibits R4‚1- dependent binding of lymphocytes and monocytes to CS-1 containing Fn derivatives poorly, suggesting limited exposure of the CS-1 sequence in Fn. To test the availability of CS-1 in plasma Fn, an antibody was raised to the synthetic peptide CS-1. The CS-1 sequence was found to be minimally exposed in plasma Fn; and immobilization of Fn, a model of matrix deposition, caused only a modest increase in its exposure. Digestion of Fn with selected proteases, however, induced substantial expression of the CS-1 sequence. The acid protease cathepsin D generated fragments of 31-33.5 kDa from the COOH-terminal heparin-binding domain of Fn which possessed high immunoreactivity with anti-CS-1. Digestion of Fn with cathepsin B also resulted in the exposure of CS-1 sequence in a 140 kDa fragment. Although the digestion of Fn with neutral proteases (neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, chymotrypsin, trypsin) generated fragments from the COOH-terminal heparin-binding domain of similar molecular weight as with cathepsin D, the exposure of CS-1 did not occur. Exposure of the CS-1 region by the cathepsins was supported by cell adhesion experiments; digestion of Fn with cathepsins D and B transformed inert plasma Fn to an effective inhibitor of adhesion of lymphoblastoid B and T cells (Ramos, Jurkat, Molt-4) to an immobilized CS-1 conjugate. These results suggest that exposure of the CS-1 sequence in plasma Fn by proteolysis with cathepsins D and B, enzymes implicated in several pathological processes, may serve a regulatory function in cell adhesion. The adhesive function of the CS-1 region in intact Fn appears to be suppressed by the native conformation of the molecule.
Cobalt 60 Radiation and Growth of Candida Species/Kobalt‐60‐Bestrahlung und das Wachstum von Candida‐Arten

Summary: Eight pathogenic Candida species were exposed to 60Co radiation and examined for variation in growth and development. All isolates demonstrated accelerated pseudohyphal growth and blastospore production at 10,000 rads compared with controls receiving no gamma radiation. Growth gradually decreased with increased 60Co exposure, and minimal recovery occurred with four species at 2.4 million rads. Zusammenfassung: Acht pathogene Candida-Arten wurden 60Co-Strahlung ausgesetzt und auf Normabweichungen in Wachstum und Entwicklung untersucht. Alle Isolate zeigten beschleunigtes Pseudomyzel-Wachstum und beschleunigte Blastosporen-Bildung bei 10 000 rad im Vergleich zu den Kontrollen, die keine Gammastrahlung erhielten. Das Wachstum nahm mit erhohter 60Co-Exposition ab, und eine geringgradige Erholung wurde bei vier Arten bei einer Bestrahlungsdosis von 2.4 Millionen rad beobachtet.
Chronic Kidney Disease Causes Disruption of Gastric and Small Intestinal Epithelial Tight Junction

Background: Integrity of the tight junction (TJ) which seals the gap between the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract is critical in preventing the entr
Heart-valve mesenchyme formation is dependent on hyaluronan-augmented activation of ErbB2–ErbB3 receptors

Heart septation and valve malformations constitute the most common anatomical birth defects. These structures arise from the endocardial cushions within the atrioventricular canal (AVC) through dynamic interactions between cushion cells and the extracellular matrix (termed cardiac jelly). Transformation of endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells is essential for the proper development of the AVC and subsequent septation and valve formation. Atrioventricular septal defects can result from incomplete endocardial cushion morphogenesis. We show that hyaluronan-deficient AVC explants from Has2(-/-) embryos, which normally lack mesenchyme formation, are rescued by heregulin treatment, which restores phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB3. These events were blocked using a soluble ErbB3 molecule, as well as with an inhibitor of ErbB2, herstatin. We show further that ErbB3 is activated during hyaluronan treatment of Has2(-/-) explants. These data provide a link between extracellular matrix-hyaluronan and ErbB receptor activation during development of early heart-valve and septal mesenchyme.
Review: The Wells clinical prediction guide and D-dimer testing predict deep vein thrombosis

Source Citation Wells PS, Owen C, Doucette S, Fergusson D, Tran H. Does this patient have deep vein thrombosis? JAMA. 2006;295:199-207. 16403932
Narcissism: theory and measurement

Lack of a suitable measuring device hampered the empirical study of narcissism until Raskin and Hall (1979) developed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The NPI possesses desirable psychometric properties, and in this article I used the scale in a variety of studies. Factor analysis of the scale replicated the four-factor solution found by Emmons (1984): Leadership/Authority, Self-Absorption/Self-Admiration, Superiority/Arrogance, and Exploitiveness/Entitlement. The Exploitiveness/Entitlement subscale was found to correlate with measures of pathological narcissism and affective intensity and variability. The relevance of Linville's (1982) theory of self-complexity-affect intensity for understanding aspects of narcissism is outlined. Implications of the study of narcissism for attribution theory and research are discussed.
A novel projection approximation algorithm for the fast and accurate computation of molecular collision cross sections (I). Method

Abstract A projected superposition approximation (PSA) to compute molecular collision cross sections measured in ion-mobility experiments is developed. In the framework of the PSA, molecular collision cross sections are computed as a projection approximation modified to account for collective size and shape effects. Illustrative calculations on a range of molecular structures demonstrate that the PSA algorithm is able to handle the complex molecular shapes (concave, convex, pores, cavities, channels) as well as the range in molecular size typical to proteins. Our results indicate strong numerical agreement with the accurate trajectory method while only a small fraction of the computational demand is required.
Effect of temperature on carbohydrate content, ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase, and ATP- and PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase activity of potato tuber callus tissue

Callus derived from Lemhi Russet and Russet Burbank tuber tissue was incubated at 20°C and 30°C on a high sucrose medium for starch-formation and subjected to simulated storage and reconditioning treatments at 5°C and 25°C after transfer of the callus to a medium without a carbon source. Percent dry weight of callus from both cultivars averaged about 21% after starch formation and 5% after storage and reconditioning treatments. Total sugars were higher in callus incubated on the starch forming treatment. Lemhi Russet callus contained predominantly reducing sugars, while Russet Burbank callus contained mostly non-reducing sugars. Total sugar content was generally lower for both cultivars after the storage and reconditioning treatment in callus after starch formation at 20°C. Starch content was generally higher in Lemhi Russet tissue. After starch formation at 20°C Lemhi Russet had higher starch after the storage and reconditioning treatment than tissue from 30°C, while the opposite trend was found in Russet Burbank tissue. Total protein declined in Russet Burbank tissue during the storage and reconditioning treatment regardless of prior incubation conditions, while this decline only occurred in Lemhi Russet tissue initially incubated at 30°C during the starch formation treatment. In tissue of both cultivars, ATP- and PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase activities were inversely proportional to total sugar concentrations, while in RB callus ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase activities were proportional to starch content.
Due Process of Governance: Terror, the Rule of Law, and the Limits of Institutional Design

The George W. Bush administration was more aggressive than most in asserting independent executive competence pursuant to the president’s joint roles as commander in chief of the armed forces and as head of the executive branch. One of its legacies is that the rule of law is an unsettled matter, both intellectually and practically. While constitutional reform to provide a framework for law-based governance under emergency conditions may be required, it is unlikely to occur. Analysis should consider how to improve the design and operation of microstructures within the executive branch. This article surveys options for instituting design changes but concludes that no such option is compelling, given the requirements of good lawyering about contentious issues within the executive branch. It recommends systematic deliberation about “best practices” in executive branch lawyering - with the ambition of articulating a practical theory on the due processes of governance that encompasses the special circumstances of emergency conditions.
Group cognitive processing therapy delivered to veterans via telehealth: A pilot cohort

The authors report clinical findings from the pilot cohort of the first prospective, noninferiority-designed randomized clinical trial evaluating the clinical outcomes of delivering a cognitive-behavioral group intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), via video teleconferencing (VT) compared to the in-person modality. The treatment was delivered to 13 veterans with PTSD residing on the Hawaiian Islands. Results support the general feasibility and safety of using VT. Both groups showed clinically meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms and no significant between-group differences on clinical or process outcome variables. In keeping with treatment manual recommendations, a few changes were made to the CPT protocol to accommodate this population. Novel aspects of this trial and lessons learned are discussed.
Mutual information and forward-backward correlations in multihadron production.

Correlations between hadrons produced in the forward and backward hemispheres with respect to the collision axis have been analyzed using the relative mutual information ${I}_{r}$. This simple example provides a model-independent information-theoretical measure of correlations capable of generalization to any order. Evaluation of the F/B mutual information in the NA22 experiment gives ${I}_{r}$=0.02 (0.003) for a rapidity window of 2 for ``all-charge'' (``negative-only'') distributions. For the UA5 experiment at the CERN Collider we obtain the larger value of 0.1 for the pseudorapidity window of 4.
The first stable mononuclear silyl palladium hydrides.

The reaction of tertiary silanes with the low valent palladium complex [(μ-dcpe)Pd]2 affords equilibrium mixtures with mononuclear silyl palladium hydrides. These complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and, in one case, by X-ray crystallography. The silyl palladium hydride complexes rapidly interchange silicon and hydride coordination environments in solution which give rise to extraordinary temperature-dependent kinetic isotope effects for the fluxional process. An intermediate 2η-Si−H complex is proposed for the interchange.
Small cell osteosarcoma. A clinicopathologic study of 27 cases

We report a study of 27 patients with small cell osteosarcoma (SCO), 17 from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDAH) and ten from the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG). There were 12 male patients and 15 female patients; 19 were white, five were black, and three were Hispanic. They ranged from 6 to 28 years of age with a median of 14 years. Histologically there were three patterns: Ewing's-like, lymphoma-like, and spindle cell. All cases showed osteoid formation and a few had chondroid areas. There was cytoplasmic glycogen in ten cases. Initial treatment for MDAH patients included intraarterial infusion of cisplatin in ten, amputation in four, partial mandibulectomies in two, and biopsy with local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy in one. All POG patients had resection or amputation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Twelve patients are alive, of whom nine have had significant follow-ups for 25 to 90 months. Fourteen patients are dead of lung, spine, and brain metastases from 1 to 23 months after initial diagnosis. One patient is alive with lung relapse at 4 months. In summary, SCO is a high-grade variant of osteosarcoma, with an incidence of up to 4% of all osteosarcomas, that affects patients of the same age group and has the same anatomic location as conventional osteosarcoma. Currently, SCO appears to have a prognosis that is the same as or slightly worse than that of conventional osteosarcoma. Furthermore, although intraarterial infusion is effective for the primary tumors in the bone, distant metastases are difficult to control.
Estimating panel data models in the presence of endogeneity and selection

We consider estimation of panel data models with sample selection when the equation of interest contains endogenous explanatory variables as well as unobserved heterogeneity. Assuming that appropriate instruments are available, we propose several tests for selection bias and two estimation procedures that correct for selection in the presence of endogenous regressors. The tests are based on the fixed effects two-stage least squares estimator, thereby permitting arbitrary correlation between unobserved heterogeneity and explanatory variables. The first correction procedure is parametric and is valid under the assumption that the errors in the selection equation are normally distributed. The second procedure estimates the model parameters semiparametrically using series estimators. In the proposed testing and correction procedures, the error terms may be heterogeneously distributed and serially dependent in both selection and primary equations. Because these methods allow for a rather flexible structure of the error variance and do not impose any nonstandard assumptions on the conditional distributions of explanatory variables, they provide a useful alternative to the existing approaches presented in the literature.
A photometric and plaque assay for macrophage mediated tumor cell cytotoxicity.

Abstract Pretreatment of L-929 cells for 2–3 h with 2 μg/ml actinomycin D followed by washing rendered them exceedingly sensitive to the direct cytotoxic effects of murine and rabbit macrophages. We exploited the tremendous increase in sensitivity of L-929 cells to effector cell mediated cytotoxicity by demonstrating a simple and convenient photometric and plaque assays capable of being completed in 18 h for the quantitation of macrophage mediated tumor cell killing. The plaques demonstrated were generally visible to the unaided eye and were linearly related to the number of effector cells plated indicating that a plaque represented multitarget cytolysis attributed to a single effector cell. Unlike previously described assays, the effector: target ratios demonstrated were extremely low. Using the described techniques, it was estimated that a single macrophage could kill from approximately 10 to 1000 actinomycin D pretreated and washed target cells. In the presence of LPS-activated effector cells, the majority of these targets that stained with eosin Y did so in a cluster pattern, indicating cytotoxicity rather than mere detachment from the monolayer surface.
Does it pay to pollute? Shareholder wealth consequences of corporate environmental lawsuits

Abstract In this paper, we employ the event study methodology to examine shareholder wealth consequences of corporate environmental lawsuits filed in the US Circuit Courts from 1980 to 2001. We find that stocks of defendant firms experience significant negative abnormal returns around the lawsuit filing dates. When the plaintiffs are government entities, the abnormal returns of the defendant stocks are significantly negative. On the other hand, when the plaintiffs are individuals or nonpublic business entities, the abnormal returns are statistically insignificant. When lawsuits are filed under EPA's superfund statute, defendant firms experience significant loss in equity value. For shareholders of the average firm in our sample, the empirical evidence suggests that it does not pay to pollute if the firm is sued.
On the brink: Jumping from space

As the latest attempt to break the record for the highest ever parachute jump prepares to launch,New Scientist tells the forgotten story of what was almost the greatest jump in history
Phosphoryl Moieties of Lipid A from Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae Lipooligosaccharides Play an Important Role in Activation of Both MyD88- and TRIF-Dependent TLR4–MD-2 Signaling Pathways

We have previously shown that the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) from Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae engages the TLR4-MD-2 complex. In this study, we report that LOS from different meningococcal and gonococcal strains have different potencies to activate NF-κB through TLR4-MD-2 and that the relative activation can be correlated with ion abundances in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry that are indicative of the number of phosphoryl substituents on the lipid A (LA) component of the LOS. The LOSs from three of the strains, meningococcal strain 89I and gonococcal strains 1291 and GC56, representing high, intermediate, and low potency on NF-κB activation, respectively, differently activated cytokine expression through the TLR4-MD-2 pathway in monocytes. In addition to induction of typical inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, MIP-1α and MIP-1β also were significantly higher in cells treated with 89I LOS, which had the most phosphoryl substitutions on the LA compared with 1291 LOS and GC56 LOS. We found that LOS activated both the MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways through NF-κB and IFN regulatory factor 3 transcription factors, respectively. Moreover, LOS induced the expression of costimulatory molecule CD80 on the surfaces of monocytes via upregulation of IFN regulatory factor 1. These results suggest that phosphoryl moieties of LA from N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae LOSs play an important role in activation of both the MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways. Our findings are consistent with the concept that bacteria modulate pathogen-associated molecular patterns by expression of phosphoryl moieties on the LA to optimize interactions with the host.
New advances in models and strategies for developing anti-obesity drugs

Introduction: Obesity is a worldwide pandemic. Obesity-related health and economic costs are staggering. Existing strategies to combat obesity through lifestyle improvements and medical intervention have had limited success. Pharmacotherapy, in combination with lifestyle modification, may play a vital role in reversing the disease burden. However, past and current weight-loss medications have had serious safety risks, notably cardiovascular and psychiatric events. Areas covered: The authors review the strategies for designing new anti-obesity drugs by describing those currently in development. They describe their target, mechanism of action and developmental or regulatory status. Furthermore, they discuss the problem of weight regain following weight loss, and its relevance to the long-term success of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy. Expert opinion: For weight management drugs to achieve the safety and efficacy required to be impactful, current studies are uncovering and characterizing new targets, including...
On‐Line Reaction Monitoring and Mechanistic Studies by Mass Spectrometry: Negishi Cross‐Coupling, Hydrogenolysis, and Reductive Amination

Reaction monitoring using inductive ESI mass spectrometry allows chemical reactions to be tracked in real time, including air- and moisture-sensitive as well as heterogeneous reactions. Highly concentrated solutions can also be monitored for long periods without emitter clogging. Sheath gas assists in nebulization and a sample splitter reduces the delay time and minimizes contamination of the instrument. Short-lived intermediates (ca. 5 s) were observed in Pd/C-catalyzed hydrogenolysis, and several intermediates were seen in Negishi cross-coupling reactions.
The altered evolutionary trajectories of gene duplicates

Gene duplication is widely regarded as the predominant mechanism by which genes with new functions and associated phenotypic novelties arise. However, the mutational events and population-genetic mechanisms that lead to the short-term preservation of duplicate genes are not necessarily the same as those exhibited by well-established paralogs en route to the origin of new beneficial features. Thus, although recent genome-wide analyses have revealed striking patterns of protein-sequence divergence among the members of surviving paralogous gene families, the mechanisms responsible for the historical development of these patterns remain unclear.
Transverse myelopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: an analysis of 14 cases and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE To give a comprehensive review of transverse myelopathy (TM), a rare but serious condition reported in 1–2% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS 14 patients with SLE and TM were evaluated and 91 additional cases published in the English and German literature reviewed. RESULTS TM presented either as the initial manifestation or within five years of the diagnosis of SLE. Most patients presented with a detectable sensory deficit at the thoracic level. In our 14 patients, 22% of the patients showed complete neurological recovery, whereas in the total patient population of 105 (our cases plus those reviewed in the literature), complete recovery was observed in 50%, partial recovery in 29% and no improvement or deterioration in 21%. Treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by cyclophosphamide seemed to be most effective. Seventy per cent of the total patient population had abnormal magnetic resonance imaging findings. In our group of 14 patients, those with higher disease activity (measured by the SLAM) at onset of TM were treated more aggressively (for example, with plasmapheresis and intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide). TM in our patients was associated with antiphospholipid antibodies in 43% of the cases as compared with 64% of the total patient population. Optic neuritis occurred in 48% of the total patient population with SLE and TM, suggesting an association. CONCLUSIONS TM in SLE is a poorly understood entity. Outcome might be more favourable than previously suggested. There is an association of TM with antiphospholipid antibodies in SLE patients. Treatment including intravenous cyclophosphamide may improve the final outcome. This report emphasises the need for multicentre trials to establish guidelines for optimal treatment.