cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ring resonators with N × M couplers

Abstract Multiple-zero multiple-pole optical filter transfer functions may be implemented more efficiently in an integrated optics architecture if higher order N × M optical couplers are utilized. For example, a coherent ring resonator made from two 3×3 couplers offers some advantages over the three mirror Fabry-Perot etalon, which is its analog. To this end we develop the formalism for obtaining the transfer functions and scattering matrices of ring resonators made from two N × M couplers. We then present a methodology for analyzing serial and parallel systems of N × M optical coupler ring resonators.
Bone disease in pediatric chronic kidney disease

Children with long-standing chronic kidney disease (CKD) display clinical symptoms of bone disease, including bony deformities and fractures, which contribute to long-standing disability. Abnormalities in skeletal mineralization occur in a substantial proportion of this population and may contribute to chronic morbidity. Underscoring the potential contribution of parameters other than bone turnover to bone disease in CKD, a new definition for renal osteodystrophy (ROD), emphasizing the assessment of three key histologic descriptors, i.e., bone turnover (T), mineralization (M), and volume (V) (TMV), has been recommended in the assessment of all patients with CKD. Although bone biopsy is the only available method for assessing all three recommended areas of bone histology, this invasive procedure is not routinely used in any clinical setting; thus, a true understanding of the prevalence of abnormal turnover, defective mineralization, and altered bone volume throughout the course of CKD is limited. Recent data, however, have shed light on the progression of renal ROD throughout the course of CKD, including its early stages, as well as on the alterations in cell biology that accompany ROD.
Theory of a Single Dye Molecule Blinking with a Diffusion-Based Power Law Distribution

In single molecule studies of injection of an electron from a photoexcited dye into a semiconductor nanoparticle or into a film of such nanoparticles, the injection may be into the conduction band or into the band gap, depending on the system. The theory of the process and its return are discussed, in particular when a power law for the waiting time distribution may be expected and what that power might be. To this end a reaction–diffusion equation is set up and solved. When the injection is into the conduction band, a power law is predicted for the return of the electron to the dye cation but not for the injection. After a short time, the law for the waiting time distribution has a power of −1. At short times, before the slower return due to an increasing radius is recognized, the power law is −1/2. When the injection is into the band gap, a −1 power law is predicted for both the injection and the return. Available data are discussed in terms of the theory. A corollary is that single molecule studies for the injection can determine whether the injection is into the band gap or into the conduction band. The theory is tested by single molecule studies of various systems, such as comparing different dye–TiO_2, dye–Al_2O_3, and dye–ZrO_2 systems and comparing specific dye–TiO_2 systems as a function of pH, and dye hole injection into p-type NiO.
Transportation energy demand: Model development and use

This paper describes work undertaken and sponsored by the Energy Commission to improve transportation energy demand forecasting and policy analysis for California. Two different, but related, modeling systems are presented: the Vehicle Transactions Simulator and the Activity and Mobility Simulator. In addition, the paper discusses some of the important energy issues and analysis that will be addressed in the next few years with the help of these models.
Sampling the composition of cirrus ice residuals

Abstract Cirrus are high altitude clouds composed of ice crystals. They are the first tropospheric clouds that can scatter incoming solar radiation and the last which can trap outgoing terrestrial heat. Considering their extensive global coverage, estimated at between 25 and 33% of the Earth's surface, cirrus exert a measurable climate forcing. The global radiative influence depends on a number of properties including their altitude, ice crystal size and number density, and vertical extent. These properties in turn depend on the ability of upper tropospheric aerosol particles to initiate ice formation. Because aerosol populations, and therefore cirrus formation mechanisms, may change due to human activities, the sign of cirrus forcing (a net warming or cooling) due to anthropogenic effects is not universally agreed upon although most modeling studies suggest a positive effect. Cirrus also play a major role in the water cycle in the tropopause region, affecting not only redistribution in the troposphere but also the abundance of vapor entering the stratosphere. Both the current lack of understanding of cirrus properties and the need to improve our ability to project changes due to human activities in the future highlight the critical need to determine the aerosol particles on which cirrus form. This review addresses what is currently known about the abundance, size and composition of cirrus-forming particles. We review aircraft-based field studies which have either collected cirrus ice residuals for off-line analysis or determined their size, composition and other properties in situ by capturing ice crystals and sublimating/removing the condensed phase water. This review is predominantly restricted to cirrus clouds. Limited comparisons are made to other ice-containing (e.g., mixed-phase) cloud types. The findings of recent reviews on laboratory measurements that mimic upper tropospheric cirrus formation are briefly summarized. The limitations of the current state of the art in cirrus ice residual studies are outlined. Important ancillary measurements and how they are integrated with ice residual data are also presented. Concluding statements focus on the need for specific instrumentation and future studies.
Semiconductor technology flow through formal transfer mechanisms

An attempt was made to identify how much semiconductor technology flows internationally through formal technology transfer mechanisms, which mechanisms are used, and in which direction the technology moves. The formal mechanisms investigated for transferring technology include: interfirm licensing, cross licensing and second source agreements, firm mergers and acquisitions, and direct investment in firm-owned foreign facilities. It is concluded that, in general, large American companies have allowed their technology advantage to be diffused both to smaller US competitors and to foreign competitors, primarily those in Japan, Europe, and Korea. >
In vitro and in vivo mineralization of Nafion membrane used for implantable glucose sensors

Abstract The effects of the biological environment on the perfluorosulfonated ionomer Nafion membrane were investigated. Nafion membranes thermally annealed at 120°C and kept in culture medium or implanted subcutaneously in rats showed extensive cracking after 4 weeks. In membranes annealed at 150°C, cracking was reduced, but not eliminated. Deposits of calcium phosphates in the membrane were identified. These deposits appeared to be responsible for the cracking of the membranes, but the precise mechanism was unclear. The permeability to glucose of Nafion membranes annealed at 120°C increased at 1 week and then decreased during the 3 following weeks. However, the cracking, protein adhesion, and mineralization of the membranes made the results difficult to interpret. This study revealed that mineralization of Nafion occurs in the biological environment, resulting in cracking and changes in permeability. Modifications to prevent the mineralization of Nafion are necessary to make it suitable for use in the implantable glucose sensor.
The mechanics of non-Newtonian fluids: American research and research needs

The Economic Case for a Program in Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics Research. The mechanics of non-Newtonian materials dominates the technologies of production and utilization of the products of major segments of the chemical process industries. The magnitude of the current economic involvement is estimated at between 12 and 15 billion dollars for the U.S. alone. It is growing at a percentage rate which exceeds that of the overall chemicals and petroleum industries by afactor of 2 to 5 and the general economy's growth rate by a factor of 3 to 4. Clearly, this is a vital area of industrial endeavor. A second case for the proposed research program lies in closing the present enormous gap between industrial and academic research levels in this area. While a significant fraction of all industrial research is concerned with problems in these area, less than 6% of the (longer-range) academic endeavors are concerned with providing a firm scientific basis for such industrial research activities.
Antiestrogens and the Formation of DNA Damage in Rats: A Comparison

Tamoxifen (TAM) has been used as an agent for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. However, long-term treatment of TAM in women increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer. The secondary cancer may be due to the genotoxicity of TAM. To find safer alternatives, four selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHTAM), toremifene (TOR), raloxifene (RAL), and ICI 182,780, were administered to rats with an equimolar dose of TAM [54 micromol/kg (20 mg/kg)/day, p.o. for 7 days]. To evaluate the genotoxicity of each SERM, the presence of bulky DNA adducts was determined by (32)P-postlabeling/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and (32)P-postlabeling/high-performance liquid chromatography. The formation of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) was analyzed as a marker of typical oxidative damage, using liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Among the SERMs, bulky DNA adducts were detected in the livers of rats treated with TAM; the total amount of TAM-DNA adducts was 26.1 adducts/10(7) nucleotides. However, with a detection limit of approximately 2 adducts/10(9) nucleotides, no bulky DNA adducts were observed with 4-OHTAM, TOR, RAL, or ICI 182,780. In addition, no significant increase of hepatic 8-oxodG lesions was detected in rats treated with any of the antiestrogens. Therefore, TOR, RAL, and ICI 182,780 are likely to be less genotoxic than TAM.
Selective immunosuppression following exposure to a novel anthraquinone, 1,4-bis[(2-aminoethyl)amino]-5,8-dihydroxy-9,10-anthracenedione dihydrochloride (AEAD).

Abstract The immune response of murine splenic lymphocytes was characterized following both in vivo and in vitro exposure to the novel and highly-substituted anthraquinone AEAD. Gross indicators of toxicity such as changes in body weight, lymphoid organ weights or lymphoid organ cellularity were unaffected. Similarly, the antibody plaque-forming cell response and natural killer cell function were unaltered. The most consistent effect noted was the selective suppression of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response, which persisted for an extended period of time following in vivo exposure at concentrations of 0.75–3.0 μg/g. In contrast to the CTL suppression induced by the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene, AEAD-induced CTL suppression could not be restored by addition of exogenous interleukin-2. Studies are currently underway to further characterize AEAD-induced immunosuppression at the cellular and molecular levels.
Improved outlier identification in hyperspectral imaging via nonlinear dimensionality reduction

ABSTRACT We use a nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique to improve anomaly detection in a hyperspectral imagingapplication. A nonlinear transformation, diusion map, is used to map pixels from the high-dimensional spectralspace to a (possibly) lower-dimensional manifold. The transformation is designed to retain a measure of distancebetween the selected pixels. This lower-dimensional manifold represents the background of the scene with highprobability and selecting a subset of points reduces the computational overhead associated with diusion map.The remaining pixels are mapped to the manifold by means of a Nystr¨ om extension. A distance measure iscomputed for each new pixel and those that do not reside near the background manifold, as determined bya threshold, are identied as anomalous. We compare our results with the RX and subspace RX methods ofanomaly detection.Keywords: Hyperspectral Imaging, Nonlinear Dimensionality Reduction, Manifold Learning, Anomaly Detec-tion, Unsupervised Learning, Target Detection
Stimulation of gastric acid secretion by 5-methyl histamine in cat

5-Methyl histamine caused strong and long-lasting stimulation of gastric acid secretion in cats with gastric fistulas. After stopping intravenous infusion of high doses of 5-methyl histamine, secretion persisted at slowly decreasing levels for more than 6 hours. The calculated maximal response to 5-methyl histamine was not significantly different from that to histamine. The dose required for half maximal response was 1.8 times greater for histamine than for 5-methyl histamine.
Role of Oxygen Radicals in Myocardial Reperfusion Injury: Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Timely reperfusion with intravenous thrombolytic agents has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. However, the magnitude of improvement in left ventricular function has always been less than expected. Reperfusion in factcauses a specific form of tissue injury, termed reperfusion injury, which would substract from the benefit obtained by terminating ischemia. Oxygen free radical generation has been proposed to be a major mechanism in the pathogenesis of reperfusion injury. Using an isolated perfused rabbit heart model we have demonstrated that administration of oxygen free radical scavengers, such as recombinant human superoxide dismutase (h-SOD) and iron chelators, such as deferoxamine, beginning at the time of reperfusion, reduce the severity of reperfusion injury, as judged by recovery of ventricular function and high energy phosphate metabolism, assessed quantitatively using 31-phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy we have documented a burst of oxygen free radical generation during the early minutes of reperfusion and that this burst can be eliminated by superoxide radical scavengers, such as h-SOD, hydroxyl radical scavengers, such as mannitol, as well as agents that inhibit generation of oxygen free radicals, such as the iron chelator, deferoxamine. Taken together these results strongly support the role of oxygen free radicals in the pathogenesis of reperfusion injury. We have recently completed the first randomized placebo controlled clinical trial of a free radical scavenger (h-SOD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction, undergoing urgent angioplasty of their occluded coronary artery with preservation of left ventricular function as the major study endpoint. While the results of this initial trial were largely negative, issues related to the dose and duration of therapy have been raised. Furthermore, new methods of assessment of regional left ventricular function were developed with improved sensitivity.
Plasma-assisted deposition of lithium phosphorus oxynitride films: Substrate bias effects

Abstract Lithium phosphorus oxynitride (Lipon) films have been synthesized by a plasma-assisted directed vapor deposition (PA-DVD) approach. In this approach, a hollow cathode technique was used to create an argon plasma through which was propagated an electron-beam generated Li 3 PO 4 vapor entrained in a N 2 -doped helium gas jet. Without plasma assistance, amorphous, mud cracked and highly porous Li 3 PO 4 films were formed. When plasma-assistance was used, nitrogen was incorporated creating a Lipon film whose composition, morphology, structure, and deposition rate could be manipulated by modifying the substrate bias. Films with spiral or very smooth surfaces could be made in this way. Fully amorphous films or films with locally crystallized regions in an amorphous matrix could be synthesized by varying the bias voltage. The presence of these local regions of crystallinity within a Lipon film decreased the Li-ion conductivities from the 10 −7 S cm −1 to 10 −10 S cm −1 range.
Gaps in Recognition and Evaluation of Incidentally Identified Hepatic Steatosis

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common cause of liver disease, is frequently diagnosed incidentally on imaging. The goal of the present study was to characterize rates of documentation and evaluation of incidentally identified steatosis.
THE USE OF SYENITES IN SEMIVITREOUS WARE: II, PLANT TRIALS*

Five-inch plates indicating promising results were made from semivitreous bodies prepared (1) by introducing the syenite in reduced amounts and (2) by counteracting the greater fluxing action of the syenites as compared to feldspar by reducing the firing temperature. These plates passed autoclave, heat shock, impact, and chipping tests satisfactorily. When the plates embodying syenite failed after repeated tests, the failure was caused by dunting. In no case did crazing occur. Bodies in which equal parts of syenites were substituted for feldspar gave increased values for modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, but for the same degree of absorption the values fell within the same range. The syenite bodies showed less tendency to warpage than the feldspar body. The linear coefficient of expansion of the syenite bodies is greater than the corresponding feldspar body, and bodies combining feldspar and syenite are intermediate in this respect. Photomicrographs of body structure are included.
Optimizing Freeway Traffic Sensor Locations by Clustering Global-Positioning-System-Derived Speed Patterns

This paper presents a new clustering-based methodology for sensor placements on freeways for estimating travel times. The proposed methodology is applicable to both freeways with no existing deployment and freeways with existing sensor deployments, where it identifies the critical sensors that need to be regularly maintained. The freeway sections are clustered based on speed data, with neighboring sections with identical speed profiles being grouped into a cluster. A new approach to estimate freeway travel times using the final clusters, which is called the optimal placement method, is also proposed. A family of k-means clustering algorithms and a hierarchical algorithm are then explored using real-world case studies of three freeway segments in Virginia. Speed and travel-time data are obtained using Global Positioning System (GPS)-equipped probe vehicles. The clustering results indicated that the hierarchical and k-means with a priori knowledge algorithms produced the best clusters. The tradeoff plots of travel-time measures (e.g., error) versus the number of freeway sensors were generated for two travel-time estimation methods: 1) optimal placement method and 2) midpoint placement method. The optimal placement method consistently produced better travel-time estimates than the midpoint placement method for all three case studies. The travel times were also estimated using three other methods found in the literature: 1) the zone of influence method; 2) the instantaneous method; and 3) the linear method. The results showed that the optimal placement method outperformed these methods in all three case studies.
A monolithic four quadrant analog multiplier circuit using GaAs MESFET transistors

A design for a four-quadrant analog multiplier using GaAs MESFET transistors is presented. The circuit permits operation at frequencies up to 1.0 gigahertz with errors less than 1% with inputs varying over a range -0.6 V >
Intimate Partner Stalking Victimization and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Post-Abuse Women

This study aimed to further understanding of intimate partner stalking victimization in post-abuse women, with particular attention to the definition of stalking (with or without fear and threat) most predictive of posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. In community midlife women with histories of divorce (N = 192), a history of stalking victimization accompanied by fear and threat was positively correlated with PTS symptom severity, after accounting for other partner abuse. The presence, compared with absence, of fear-and-threat stalking history doubled the odds of symptomatic levels of hyperarousal. Greater physical assault and injury chronicity differentiated fear-and-threat stalked women from other stalked women. Stalking contributed to a fuller understanding of PTS symptoms in women, showing particular relevance for hyperarousal.
Furosemide kinetics in patients with hepatic cirrhosis with ascites

Furosemide, 20 mg, was given intravenously as a bolus to seven patients with cirrhotic ascites and a 10-mg intravenous bolus dose was given to three normal subjects. Furosemide concentrations were measured by a specific high-performance liquid chromatographic analytic method. The median plasma elimination half-life (t1/2), volume of distribution at a steady state (VdSS), and VDarea of furosemide were 0.70 hr, 91 ml/kg, and 119 ml/kg in normal subjects. In the cirrhotic patients elimination t1/2 and Vd at steady state doubled and the Vdarea of furosemide was almost double that of the normal. There were no differences in plasma clearance or renal and nonrenal clearance between patients and controls, but five of the seven patients had lower renal clearances than controls. The water and sodium response to furosemide was directly related to the urinary furosemide excretion rate. We identified a subset of cirrhotic patients who responded poorly (125 ml/hr urinary output in the first 4 hr after furosemide compared to 300 ml/hr in the other patients and 400 ml/hr in the controls) to furosemide. These "poor responders" had the lowest renal clearance of furosemide and the lowest urinary furosemide excretion rates. Our data indicate that furosemide kinetics are altered in patients with cirrhotic ascites and lack of response in a subset of these patients is due to lack of delivery of furosemide to the renal site of its action.
Delay Discounting of Qualitatively Different Reinforcers in Rats.

Humans discount larger delayed rewards less steeply than smaller rewards, whereas no such magnitude effect has been observed in rats (and pigeons). It remains possible that rats' discounting is sensitive to differences in the quality of the delayed reinforcer even though it is not sensitive to amount. To evaluate this possibility, Experiment 1 examined discounting of qualitatively different food reinforcers: highly preferred versus nonpreferred food pellets. Similarly, Experiment 2 examined discounting of highly preferred versus nonpreferred liquid reinforcers. In both experiments, an adjusting-amount procedure was used to determine the amount of immediate reinforcer that was judged to be of equal subjective value to the delayed reinforcer. The amount and quality of the delayed reinforcer were varied across conditions. Discounting was well described by a hyperbolic function, but no systematic effects of the quantity or the quality of the delayed reinforcer were observed.
High-Power Sources of Coherent Radiation

The recent application of intense relativistic electron beam technology to the generation of coherent electromagnetic radiation has already produced unprecedented power levels over a wavelength band ranging from centimeters to a few hundred microns. The great interest in these new concepts stems from the fact that the available power from conventional microwave tube technology decreases rapidly as the wavelength drops below ~ 10 cm. Although substantial efforts will be required to develop practical devices, there are now several groups at the university, laboratory, and industrial levels actively engaged in research toward these goals.
Inflation inertia and credible disinflation

Abstract We develop a model of optimizing forward-looking staggered price setting where even fully credible disinflations display a delayed and gradual inflation response and significant output losses. There is a welfare trade-off between these output losses and the gains from smaller inflationary distortions. For reasonable parameter values disinflation improves welfare, and more so if it is phased in gradually. The pricing assumption of our model yields dynamics that are similar to models of sticky information, but its state space is much simpler, thereby allowing for the application of standard linearization methods.
Epidemiological challenges in studying the fetal origins of adult chronic disease

The relatively new research field of the fetal origins of adult disease has matured greatly in the past decade. Recent systematic overviews provide strong evidence that robust inverse epidemiological associations exist between birthweight and later blood pressure/hypertension 1 and glucose intolerance/type 2 diabetes. 2 Consistent associations are also evident for the inverse associations of birthweight with coronary heart disease incidence and mortality. 3,4 Studies with high follow-up rates and adjustment for social and economic variables have to a large extent mitigated earlier criticisms that observed associations were highly subject to confounding and selection bias. 5 Many questions remain, however, about the contributing roles of postnatal growth and development, underlying biological mechanisms, and the importance of the epidemiological findings to public health. This review outlines current challenges—stated in the form of propositions—that epidemiologists in this field currently face.
Identification and use of biomarkers in treatment strategies for triple-negative breast cancer subtypes

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease with distinct molecular subtypes that respond differentially to chemotherapy and targeted agents. The absence of high-frequency molecular alterations and a limited number of known biomarkers have limited the development of therapeutic strategies for the disease. Herein, we summarize the results of the first round of targeted therapy approaches in TNBC and discuss new preclinical strategies. Common themes emerge from the proposed strategies, such as the use of biomarkers to identify tumours with genomic instability, targeting adapted molecular states resulting from tumour suppressor loss, and targeting altered metabolic pathways.
Feeding and digestion

Obtaining food for energy is essential for all living things that don’t photosynthesize. Reduced feeding and digestion are commonly observed after exposure to a variety of pollutants. Alterations in feeding, nutrient assimilation, and energetics in many species could not only impact their own population dynamics, but also could have community-wide repercussions. Decreased feeding is not only a general response to contaminants, but also can result in a “positive feedback” situation, since poor nutrition resulting from decreased feeding can in turn make animals more susceptible to contaminants (Dissanayake et al. Aquat Toxicol 89:40–46,2008). These authors advised that “ecotoxicological studies need to take into account the nutritional state of the test organism to achieve the full assessment of contaminant impact.” On the other hand, it is also likely that decreased feeding will reduce further uptake of contaminants. This is particularly true for animals at higher trophic levels, which acquire much of their body burden of contaminants from their food. Additional discussion of pollution effects on feeding is covered in Chap. 9, Behavior.
Improving performance of linear algebra algorithms for dense matrices, using algorithmic prefetch

In this paper, we introduce a concept called algorithmic prefetching, for exploiting some of the features of the IBM RISC System/6000® computer. Algorithmic prefetching denotes changing algorithm A to algorithm B, which contains additional steps to move data from slower levels of memory to faster levels, with the aim that algorithm B outperform algorithm A. The objective of algorithmic prefetching is to minimize any penalty due to cache misses in the innermost loop of an algorithm. This concept, along with “cache blocking,” can be exploited to improve the performance of linear algebra algorithms for dense matrices. We experimentally demonstrated the impact of prefetching on two dense-matrix operations. For one operation, the performance was improved from 74% of peak to 89% of peak by algorithmic prefetching; for the second operation, it was improved from 73% to 87% of the peak performance.
TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF TEMPLATE-SYNTHESIZED GOLD AND CARBON NANOTUBE MEMBRANES

We discuss the fabrication of gold and carbon nanotubes prepared by the template method. The gold nanotubes are prepared via electroless deposition of Au onto the pore walls of a nanoporous polycarbonate filtration membrane. Carbon nanotube membranes (CNMs) are prepared by doing chemical vapor deposition of carbon within the pores of a microporous alumina template. The pores in these filtration membranes act as templates for the nanotubes. We have shown that by controlling the Au deposition time, Au nanotubes that have effective inside diameters of molecular dimensions (<1 nm) can be prepared. These membranes are a new class of molecular sieves and can be used to separate molecules based on size. Furthermore, we describe fundamental investigations of electro osmotic flow (EOF) in carbon nanotube membranes. In addition, an electrochemical derivatization method was used to attach carboxylate groups to the nanotube walls; this enhances the anionic surface charge density, resulting in a corresponding increase in the EOF rate in the CNM.
Cerebrovascular changes in neurofibromatosis.

SUMMARY Vascular changes in neurofibromatosis are most commonly described in the renal arteries. In the present study, two children with neurofibromatosis and cerebral vascular occlusive changes demonstrated by cerebral angiography are reported. Although focal neurological findings in children with neurofibromatosis are often due to tumours, the sudden development of neurological symptoms in such cases should alert paediatricians to the possibility of cerebral vascular disease. RESUME Modifications cerebrovasculaires dans la neurofibromatose Les modifications vasculaires au cours de la neurofibromatose sont le plus habituellement decrites au niveau des arteres renales. L'etude presente rapporte des modifications occlusives cerebrovasculaires demontrees par angiographie cerebrale chez deux enfants atteints de neurofibromatose. Quoique les donnees neurologiques focales chez les enfants atteints de neurofibromatose soient souvent dues a des tumeurs, l'apparition brutale de symptomes neurologiques dans de tels cas devrait alerter les pediatres sur la possibilite d'une affection vasculaire cerebrale. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Cerebro-vaskulare Veranderung bei Neurofibromatose Vaskulare Veranderungen bei Neurofibromatose sind am haufigsten an den Nierenarterien beschrieben worden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird uber zwei Kinder mit. Neurofibromatose und zerebralen Gefassverschlussen berichtet. Die Gefassveranderungen wurden angiographisch nachgewiesen. Obwohl fokale, neurologische Befunde bei Kindern mit Neurofibromatose haufig durch Tumoren verursacht werden, sollte das plotzliche Auftreten von neurologischen Symptomen in solchen Fallen den Padiater in Alarmbereitschaft versetzen, auch an die Moglichkeit einer zerebralen Gefasserkrankung zu denken. RESUMEN Cambios cerebrovasculares en la neurofibromatosis Los cambios vasculares en la neurofibromatosis se describen mas corrientemente en las arterias renales. En el presente estudio, se aportan dos ninos con neurofibromatosis y cambios oclusivos vasculares cerebrales demostrados por angiografia cerebral. Aunque los hallazgos neurologicos focales en ninos con neurofibromatosis a menudo son debidos a tumores, el desarrollo subito de sintomas neurologicos en tales casos debe alertar al pediatra sobre la posibilidad de una enfermedad cerebral vascular.
A hetero-dimer model for concerted action of vitamin K carboxylase and vitamin K reductase in vitamin K cycle

Vitamin K carboxylase (VKC) is believed to convert vitamin K, in the vitamin K cycle, to an alkoxide-epoxide form which then reacts with CO(2) and glutamate to generate γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla). Subsequently, vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) is thought to convert the alkoxide-epoxide to a hydroquinone form. By recycling vitamin K, the two integral-membrane proteins, VKC and VKOR, maintain vitamin K levels and sustain the blood coagulation cascade. Unfortunately, NMR or X-ray crystal structures of the two proteins have not been characterized. Thus, our understanding of the vitamin K cycle is only partial at the molecular level. In this study, based on prior biochemical experiments on VKC and VKOR, we propose a hetero-dimeric form of VKC and VKOR that may explain the efficient oxidation and reduction of vitamin K during the vitamin K cycle.
Reduced accumbens dopamine in Sprague-Dawley rats prone to overeating a fat-rich diet.

Abstract Obese humans and animals exhibit reduced functioning of the dopamine (DA) system in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The question addressed here is whether this change in NAc DA can be detected in Sprague–Dawley rats that are prone to obesity on a fat-rich diet but still at normal body weight. Rats were subgrouped as “obesity-prone” (OP) or “obesity-resistant” (OR), based on their weight gain during 5 days of access to a high-fat diet, and were then shifted to a lower-fat chow diet before microdialysis testing was performed. The OP rats compared to OR rats exhibited markedly reduced basal levels of DA in the NAc. After a high-fat challenge meal, both OP and OR rats showed a significant increase in extracellular DA and its metabolites; however, the NAc DA of the OP rats still remained at reduced levels. Also, the increase in DA and metabolite levels observed in OR rats after systemic administration of a fat emulsion was not evident in the OP rats, which instead showed no change in DA and a decrease in its metabolites. These results demonstrate, first, that fat can stimulate accumbal DA release and, second, that outbred rats prone to overeating and becoming obese on a palatable, fat-rich diet exhibit reduced signaling in the mesolimbic DA system while still at normal weight, suggesting that it may be causally related to their excess consummatory behavior.
Neurocognitive, psychological and behavioral correlates of binge drinking and use of alcohol with caffeinated beverages in college-aged adults

AbstractBackground: We examined event-related potential (ERP), behavioral and psychological correlates of binge drinking and the use of alcohol mixed with caffeinated beverages (AmCBs) in college-aged (18–26 years) adults. Objective: Our objective was to delineate the neurocognitive correlates of different patterns of risky alcohol use in this population. Methods: We collected ERP data while an initial sample of 60 participants completed visual oddball and go/no-go tasks. We also collected self-report data measuring levels of sensation seeking, impulsivity, and drinking-induced disinhibition. In our primary analyses between binge drinker (N = 17) and comparison participants (N = 29), we used analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for monthly marijuana usage and excluded participants who reported using other illicit drugs. As separate, exploratory analyses, we compared participants who reported using AmCBs (n = 14) and those who did not (n = 46), co-varying for monthly marijuana and recreational drug u...
Aging and Impression Formation: The Impact of Processing Skills and Goals

Two studies assessed age differences in representations and judgments about people. Our specific interest was in examining how presumed age-related changes in processing efficiency and motivation affected performance in an impression formation task. Consistent with age-related declines in processing efficiency, we found that increasing age was associated with: (a) no change in the processing of evaluative information; (b) less use of specific traits to organize impressions; (c) poorer memory for behavioral information, especially when it contradicted expectations; and (d) less systematic relationships between memory and judgments. We also found, however, that more meaningful task goals and a focus on individual behaviors resulted in reduced age differences in the nature of representations about the target person. A
A Critical Hermeneutic Analysis of Presence in Nursing Practice

Nursing presence, although it involves action at times, is a humanitarian quality of relating to a patient that is known to have powerful and positive implications for both nurse and patient. However, this phenomenon has not been well understood. Three theories, drawn from the work of Paul Ricoeur and Hans-Georg Gadamer, served as the boundaries for both data collection and analysis. The theories were narrative identity, play and solicitude. This study follows a critical hermeneutic approach to field research and data analysis. Literature regarding nursing presence is reviewed and discussed, and in-depth conversations with eleven participants are recorded. Examining the phenomenon of nursing presence through the hermeneutic lenses of narrative identity, play and solicitude has elucidated the role of ethical orientation, creativity and connection with the human experience through exploration of self and other. This more nuanced and complex understanding adds depth to the conversation and offers new possibilities to the effort to encourage and support presence in nursing practice.
The effects of meaning-focused pre-tasks on beginning-level L2 writing in German: An exploratory study:

Most studies on task-based language learning focus on the oral performance of advanced level learners of English as a second language (ESL), while little research examines the written performance of beginning language learners in non-ESL contexts. This exploratory study aims to address this gap, by examining the effect of pre-writing tasks on second language (L2) writing among 24 first-semester learners of German. One group completed collaborative, meaning-focused pre-writing tasks, while the comparison group completed grammar-focused activities, also in pairs. In line with task-based language research, learners’ performance was analysed in terms of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and lexical richness, as well as a global measure of quality, to reflect the multi-componential nature of L2 performance. The results suggest that collaborative, meaning-focused pre-writing tasks improved grammatical accuracy and lexical richness, as well as the overall quality of learners’ writing. The findings also offer insigh...
Assessment of simulated lesions on primary teeth with near-infrared imaging.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the structural changes on enamel due to demineralization and remineralization can be exploited through optical imaging methods such as QLF, thermal and NIR imaging. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether PS-OCT and NIR reflectance imaging can be utilized to assess lesion structure in artificial enamel lesions on the smooth surfaces of primary teeth exposed to fluoride. The smooth coronal surfaces of primary teeth (n=25) were divided into 4 windows: sound, demineralization, demineralization with remineralization and APF with demineralization. Windows were treated with either acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) for 1 minute, a demineralization solution for 4 days, and/or an acidic remineralization solution for 12 days. The samples were imaged using PS-OCT, QLF and NIR reflectance at 1400–1700 nm wavelengths. This study demonstrated that both PS-OCT and NIR reflectance imaging were suitable for assessing lesion structure in the smooth surfaces of primary dentition.
After The Golden Victory : Still Lost at Sea

In The Golden Victory the House of Lords held that when determining damages for a repudiatory breach, in a conflict between the compensatory principle and finality, the former trumped. The decision was recently ratified by the Supreme Court in Bunge SA v. Nidera BV. The claim in this paper is that this was a mistake; properly conceived, there is no conflict. The contract should be viewed as an asset and compensation would entail determining the decline in value of that asset at the time of the breach. The value of the contract at that moment would reflect the possible effects of future events (e.g., the occurrence of the Gulf War in The Golden Victory and the lifting of the Russian wheat embargo in Bunge). This does not mean rejection of the compensatory principle; it simply entails defining more precisely what is being compensated — the value of the contract at the moment it had been repudiated.
Discovering the Balance of Steric and Electronic Factors Needed To Provide a New Structural Motif for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Water

Ru,Rh,Ru supramolecules are known to undergo multielectron photoreduction and reduce H(2)O to H(2). Ru,Rh bimetallics were recently shown to photoreduce but not catalyze H(2)O reduction. Careful tuning of sterics and electronics for [(TL)(2)Ru(dpp)RhCl(2)(TL')](3+) produce active bimetallic photocatalysts (TL = terminal ligand). The system with TL,TL' = Ph(2)phen photocatalytically reduces H(2)O to H(2) while TL,TL' = phen,bpy or bpy,(t)Bu(2)bpy do not.
A Price To Pay for Relaxed Substrate Specificity: A Comparative Kinetic Analysis of the Class II Lanthipeptide Synthetases ProcM and HalM2

Lanthipeptides are a class of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide natural products (RiPPs) that typically harbor multiple intramolecular thioether linkages. For class II lanthipeptides, these cross-links are installed in a multistep reaction pathway by a single enzyme (LanM). The multifunctional nature of LanMs and the manipulability of their genetically encoded peptide substrates (LanAs) make LanM/LanA systems promising targets for the engineering of new antibacterial compounds. Here, we report the development of a semiquantitative mass spectrometry-based assay for kinetic characterization of LanM-catalyzed reactions. The assay was used to conduct a comparative kinetic analysis of two LanM enzymes (HalM2 and ProcM) that exhibit drastically different substrate selectivity. Numerical simulation of the kinetic data was used to develop models for the multistep HalM2- and ProcM-catalyzed reactions. These models illustrate that HalM2 and ProcM have markedly different catalytic effi...
Networking as organizational response to institutional upheaval: Evidence from central Eurasia

The article suggests that the lack of effective legal and regulatory frameworks in transitional economies encourages firms to rely on their networking relationships with other firms and government ...
Clinical Management of Patients With Thalassemia Syndromes.

Background Thalassemia is a chronic inherited blood disorder that reduces hemoglobin production, causing chronic hemolytic anemia. Patients often are diagnosed via newborn screening programs. Patients diagnosed with the most severe form of thalassemia often require chronic red blood cell transfusions to control their anemia. The side effect of chronic transfusions is cumulative iron overload for which chelation therapy is required. The incidence of thalassemia is low; therefore, care is best delivered at specialized treatment centers that offer multidisciplinary coordination. Objectives This article reviews the diagnosis, management, and curative options for thalassemia. Methods This review follows a hypothetical patient with thalassemia and his family through the major stages of the disease. Findings Increasing knowledge about thalassemia and its management among healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Timing of coronary stent thrombosis in patients treated with prophylactic tirofiban.

Background Acute and subacute stent thromboses (ASST) are the major thrombotic complications of coronary stenting. The time course of ASST seems to be related to the type of antithrombotic therapy (four days in patients treated with aspirin and coumadin compared to 12 hours with the use of aspirin and ticlopidine). In this report, we compared the timing of ASST in patients treated with aspirin, ticlopidine/clopidogrel, heparin and tirofiban with that in patients treated with the same drugs but without tirofiban. Methods Retrospective analysis of the Hermann intervention database between January 1997 and October 1999 was performed. We identified 13 patients who required reintervention in the first week after a successful coronary stenting ( 1 stent). Four patients were treated with tirofiban (Group 1) and 9 were not (Group 2). Results The median time from stent deployment to ASST was 7 hours (interquartile range, 2.5Eth 33 hours) in group 2 compared to 84.5 hours (interquartile range, 56Eth 124.5 hours) in group 1. The mean time from stent deployment to ASST was 90.3 +/- 43.1 hours in group 1 versus 12.8 +/- 15.3 hours in group 2 (p = 0.0005). All episodes of ASST occurred 3 days in patients treated with tirofiban, whereas they occurred in the first 2 days in all patients not treated with tirofiban. Conclusion Prophylactic tirofiban treatment delays the time to stent thrombosis after successful coronary artery stent implantation for more than two days. Patients at high risk for stent thrombosis treated with short-acting glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet receptor inhibitors may warrant close follow-up during the first week after stenting.
Interrelating group-dynamic, therapeutic, and psychodynamic concepts.

(1967). Interrelating Group-Dynamic, Therapeutic, and Psychodynamic Concepts. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 139-150.
Machine Learning Approach to Improve Prediction Accuracy of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a chronic neurodegenerative disease developed due to multiple cognitive deficits that progressively leads to at least one of the following: apraxia, aphasia, agnosia or a disturbance in executive functioning. As of 2012, more than 5.1 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Numerous pharmaceutical market leaders attempt on developing a cure for the disease. Significant progress has been made on this field. However, studies have shown that manual assessment of the disease using various parameters including (but not restricted to) Neuroimaging (MRI, PET, etc.), Neuropsychological tests (MMSE, FAQ, GDS, NPI, etc.) and Neurogenetics (TOMM40 gene assessment) yield an accuracy of 96% only. Our study involved integrating all three results and allowing the system to predict whether a patient is suffering from Alzheimer's.
Cytomegalovirus and HIV: A Dangerous Pas de Deux

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults who take stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) are at risk for early onset of age-related diseases. This is likely due to a complex interaction between traditional risk factors, HIV infection itself, and other factors, such as underlying immune dysfunction and persistent inflammation. HIV disrupts the balance between the host and coinfecting microbes, worsening control of these potential pathogens. For example, HIV-infected adults are more likely than the general population to have subclinical bursts of cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication at mucosal sites. Production of antigens can activate the immune system and stimulate HIV replication, and it could contribute to the pathogenesis of adverse outcomes of aging, like cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive impairment. Further investigation of the relationships between CMV, immune dysfunction, and unsuccessful aging during chronic HIV infection is warranted.