cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superhydrophobic surfaces by replication of micro/nano-structures fabricated by ultrafast-laser-microtexturing

Abstract We report a simple and inexpensive method of producing superhydrophobic surfaces by directly replicating micro/nano-structures on to poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) from a replication master prepared by ultrafast-laser microtexturing process. No additional coatings on PDMS have been required to achieve contact angles greater than 154°. The contact angle can be controlled by changing the height of the microtextures in PDMS. Very low optical reflection properties of micro/nano textured surfaces combined with superhydrophobic characteristics make it an attractive encapsulating material for photovoltaics and other applications. Additionally, this replication method can be applied for large scale production of micro/nano textured superhydrophobic surfaces for commercial applications.
Antidepressant drugs and the cardiovascular system

Abstract This article reviews the cardiovascular effects of antidepressants drugs. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) have the most significant cardiovascular side effects of any of the antidepressant agents. TCA side effects may be particularly burdensome or even life-threatening in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease. Orthostatic hypotension is the most common cardiovascular side effect, and conduction disturbances and ventricular arrhythmias are the most life-threatening ones. TCAs' quinidine-like effects account for these conduction and rhythm disturbances. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) commonly induce orthostatic hypotension. Hypertensive crises and the serotonin syndrome are the most serious problems associated with MAOI administration. MAOIs require dietary and concomitant drug restrictions to minimize adverse effects. Rarely, spontaneous severe hypertension may occur during MAOI administration. Bupropion administration may increase patients' blood pressure, particularly in those with preexisting hypertension. Trazodone may provoke ventricular arrhythmias. Nefazodone and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may contribute to drug-drug interactions that have significant cardiovascular adverse effects as a part of those interactions. Also, concomitant administration of SSRIs and MAOIs may produce the serotonin syndrome and vasomotor instability. Venlafaxine may increase supine diastolic blood pressure. According to the manufacturer, subjects taking this agent require blood pressure monitoring. Considering what we know about all antidepressants, periodic blood pressure assessment should be a routine part of the practice of psychiatry.
Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in body dysmorphic disorder.

OBJECTIVE Because suicidality in body dys-morphic disorder (BDD) has received little investigation, this study examined rates, correlates, predictors, and other aspects of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in this disorder. METHOD From January 2001 to June 2003, 200 subjects with DSM-IV BDD recruited from diverse sources were assessed with standard measures. RESULTS Subjects had high rates of lifetime suicidal ideation (78.0%) and suicide attempts (27.5%). Body dysmorphic disorder was the primary reason for suicidal ideation in 70.5% of those with a history of ideation and nearly half of subjects with a past attempt. Suicidal subjects often did not reveal their BDD symptoms to their clinician. In univariate analyses, both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were associated with lifetime functional impairment due to BDD (p < .001), current functional impairment (p < .001 to < .05), lifetime bipolar disorder (p < .05), any personality disorder (p < .05 to .001), and comorbid borderline personality disorder (p < .01 to < .001). A history of suicidal ideation (but not suicide attempts) was additionally associated with comorbid lifetime major depression (p = .001). A history of suicide attempts (but not suicidal ideation) was additionally associated with delusional appearance beliefs (p = .01) and lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an eating disorder, or a substance use disorder (p < .001 to < .05). In logistic regression analyses, suicidal ideation was significantly predicted by comorbid major depression (p = .010) and greater lifetime impairment due to BDD (p = .003); suicide attempts were significantly predicted by PTSD (p = .011), a substance use disorder (p = .011), and greater lifetime impairment due to BDD (p = .005). CONCLUSION Individuals with BDD have high rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Lifetime impairment due to BDD and certain comorbid disorders are associated with suicidality.
Hepatitis C virus-associated glomerulonephritis. Effect of α-interferon therapy

Hepatitis C virus-associated glomerulonephritis. Effect of α-interferon therapy. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may present as a primaiy glomerular disease. We report 34 adult patients who presented with proteinuria and had circulating anti-HCV antibodies. Primary risk factors included a history of intravenous drug abuse (56%) or blood transfusion (18%). Patients presented with nephrotic syndrome (71%) or with non-nephrotic proteinuria (29%) and had membranoproliferative or acute proliferative glomerulonephritis on renal biopsy. Signs of clinical liver disease were infrequent (18%), though elevated liver function tests were common (66%) and liver biopsy in 16 of 18 patients showed chronic active hepatitis. Cryoglobulinemia was frequent (59%), but only 44% had extrarenal manifestations. In 100% of cases tested, HCV RNA could be found in the serum or cryoprecipitates. Fourteen patients received interferon alpha for 6 to 12 months with a significant reduction in proteinuria but no improvement in renal function. A good clinical response correlated with disappearance of HCV RNA from the serum during treatment; however, relapse of viremia and renal disease was common after completing therapy. Evidence for HCV infection should be sought in all patients with primary glomerular disease. The optimal treatment strategy, however, remains to be defined.
Antibacterial activity of pepsin-digested lactoferrin on foodborne pathogens in buffered broth systems and ultra-high temperature milk with EDTA

Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity in peptone yeast extract glucose (PYG) broth and ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk of bovine lactoferrin hydrolysate (LFH) with pepsin against the foodborne pathogens Salmonella Stanley, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods and Results: The LFH was suspended in PYG and the minimum inhibitory concentration for each pathogen determined. The LFH was also suspended in UHT milk adjusted to pH 4 or 7, samples incubated at 4 or 35 °C and the change in bacterial cell population determined. Experiments in UHT milk were conducted using L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7. At pH 4 LFH reduced the population of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes by approx. 2 log; however, only E. coli O157:H7 was inhibited in samples adjusted to pH 7. The addition of EDTA (10 mg ml−1) to UHT milk supplemented with LFH did not markedly influence the growth of E. coli O157:H7 or L. monocytogenes. Conclusions: The results suggest that, under low pH and refrigeration conditions, LFH can limit the growth or reduce the population of pathogenic bacteria in a dairy product. Significance and Impact of the Study: Natural preservatives that are active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are desirable to the food industry. This study demonstrates that LFH is effective in a complex food system. Moreover, the LFH used was not purified, making its use by industry more attractive.
Development and characterization of Ca–Mg–Zn–Cu bulk metallic glasses

Abstract A number of ternary Ca–Mg–Zn and Ca–Mg–Cu and quaternary Ca–Mg–Zn–Cu bulk metallic glasses were produced using recently developed specific criteria. Their glass forming ability was correlated to the alloy chemistry, melting temperature, and driving force for crystallization of super-cooled liquid. A structural assessment using the efficient cluster packing model was also applied and showed a good ability to represent these glasses. Glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature and heat of crystallization were also determined for the produced alloys. Compression tests were conducted on a quaternary alloy at room temperature and in the temperature range of super-cooled liquid.
Reference materials for small-sample analysis

Many modern analytical techniques use small solid samples and lack proper reference materials for their calibration and quality assurance. A remedy to this deficiency may be in the development of a new genre of highly homogeneous natural matrix materials, their properties being studied with analytical techniques such as PIXE and μ-PIXE, solid sampling AAS, scanning electron microscopy in combination with electron probe X-ray microanalysis, and INAA. Suitable natural materials may be obtained in form of single cell biological materials, finely dispersed suspensions and precipitates such as air particulate matter or sediments, and by appropriate particle size reduction of complex matrices. Initial studies have been carried out on single cell green algae biomass and air particulate matter, as well as several processed materials. Narrow particle size distributions with particles preferably below 10 μm diameter may assure the desired analytical homogeneity. The determination of sampling parameters for individual measurands will ascertain the utility of a material for small-sample analysis.
Nanotechnology: Diamonds are for tethers.

Modified diamond nanowires produce an electrical response on binding to DNA. This gem of a discovery could pave the way to robust biosensors that use electrical signals to detect molecules.
Logic and Reasoning

Should we think of logic as a science like physics and chemistry, but more abstract and with a wider application? Or should we think of logic as having a special role in reasoning, a role that is not simply a consequence of its wider application? This is a difficult issue and I for one am unsure how to resolve it. In this paper I will try to say why certain answers are unsatisfactory.
Estrous changes in vaginal nociception in a rat model of endometriosis

A rat model of endometriosis, in which pieces of uterine horn (versus fat in controls) are autotransplanted into the abdomen where they form cysts, reduces fecundity and produces vaginal hyperalgesia. The cysts gradually enlarge over a 2-month period postsurgically and then plateau. Cysts regress with low estrogen levels and reappear when they rise. Based on the hypothesis that the vaginal hyperalgesia depends upon the cysts, this study tested two predictions: that (1) the hyperalgesia would develop postsurgically in parallel with the cysts, and (2) the hyperalgesia would vary with estrous, being greatest when estrogen levels are high (proestrus) and least when low (estrus). In rats trained to escape vaginal distention, percentage escape responses to different distention volumes were measured across the rat's 4-day estrous cycle for 2.5 months before and up to 4 months after autotransplantation of uterus (n = 9) or fat (n = 6) in abdominal sites. Vaginal pressures were also measured. In rats with uterine but not fat autotransplants, escape percentages increased postsurgically over a 2-month period and then plateaued. The increase was greatest in proestrus and failed to occur in estrus. Vaginal pressures were unchanged in all groups. These results strongly support the hypothesis that the vaginal hyperalgesia depends upon the cysts. Because the cysts were located in sites remote from the vagina, the hyperalgesia involves viscero-visceral interactions and is likely centrally mediated, whereas the estrous modulation could involve hormonal actions either on the cysts or, more likely, on vaginal afferent fibers, and/or on central neurons.
ONGOING EXPERIENCE WITH FIELD INVERSION GEL ELECTROPHORESIS (FIGE) AS A TYPING SYSTEM FOR GROUP A STREPTOCOCCUS (GAS). † 1058

This study is part of an ongoing project to create a computer based library of GAS M types and their FIGE patterns. Seventy-four isolates of GAS, representing 33 different M types, were tested to compare FIGE with traditional M and T typing. Methods: Bacterial DNA was isolated, prepared in agarose plugs and lysed by exposure to lysozyme (2mg/ml). The plugs were then incubated with proteinase K (100ug/ml). The purified DNA was digested with Smal and loaded into a 1% agarose gel. Electrophoresis was done at 4-8°C with a voltage gradient of 8 volts/cm. Conditions for FIGE included an initial forward pulse of 0.6 seconds, a final forward pulse of 17.4 seconds, a ratio of forward to reverse pulse duration of 3:1 and a total run time of 40 hours. Results: Digestion of the DNA with Smal consistently produced from eight to 17 bands between 50 and 300kb. Thirty-three different M types were tested; each had at least one unique banding pattern which was not observed in other M types. We tested at least two isolates (range 2 - 19) of 12 different M types. Each of two strains of M2 produced restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns which differed by >6 bands. In contrast, multiple strains of six M types [M1 (9), M3 (19), M12 (6), M13 (3), M4 (2) and M22 (2)] differed by <3 bands and are considered closely related. Two strains of each of five M types (M8, M9, M11, M18 and M74) produced identical banding patterns and are considered indistinguishable. FIGE was performed at least twice on 11 of the GAS isolates with identical results. Conclusion: Preliminary data show that FIGE of the DNA of GAS (digested with Smal) generates unique patterns for each M type and identifies strain differences within M types, expanding and supporting our initial experience. The availability and ease of performance of FIGE make it an attractive alternative to M typing as an epidemiologic marker for GAS.
Reducing frictional constraint in compression testing through lubrication

J. F. LABUZ~ J. M. BRIDELL~ INTRODUCTION A basic assumption in material testing is the existence of a uniform stress state, where the loading surfaces are usually the principal planes. During compressive load- ing, however, this condition becomes untenable because a frictional constraint develops at the interface between the material and loading system [1-4]. A cylindrical geometry, for example, takes on a barrel shape and a nonuniform stress state develops throughout the cylin- der. This is especially important in studying failure of rock-like materials, as the observed response may be due to the unknown boundary conditions [5, 6]. Homogeneous deformation can be achieved by finding an appropriate friction reducer [7]. In compression test- ing of high-strength materials such as hard rock, this means using a lubricant that performs well at normal stresses up to several hundred MPa, at displacements on the order of hundreds of microns, and at displacement rates of a few microns per second. The objective of this research was to find such a lubricant. LUBRICANTS Boyd and Robertson [8] used a torsional shear appar- atus to measure the coefficient of friction (COF) of various substances subjected to large (up to 1.4GPa) normal stresses. They evaluated solid lubricants, greases, mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils and fatty acids. The COF for graphite measured 0.036, while the COF for both tungsten disulfide and molybdenum disulfide was 0.032. Stearic acid, a fatty acid, showed remarkable friction behavior, with the lowest COF (0.022) of all substances tested. Tarrant [9] measured a low COF, 0.040, for grease containing a slight excess of highly polar fatty acid molecules. For some polar hydrocarbons, friction seems to decrease with increasing chain length [10]. Stearic acid, a polar hydrocarbon with a chain length of 16 [stearic acid
Ocular pseudoexfoliation and cardiovascular disease: A national cross-section comparison study

Background: Pseudoexfoliation is a systemic disorder characterized by the deposition of extracellular matrix material. The microfibrillar material that gives rise to the condition is visible clinically in the anterior segment of the eye, and is also found in other tissues, including blood vessels, skin, gallbladder, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Aims: The present study aims to determine whether ocular pseudoexfoliation is associated with selected cardiovascular diseases. Materials and Methods: A cross-section comparison study was conducted with the help of the Veterans Health Administration databases, using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision, Clinical Modification for pseudoexfoliation of lens capsule and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Selected cardiovascular diseases and risk factors for cardiovascular disease were identified using the appropriate medical codes. Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, chronic sinusitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia served as the comparison groups. A logistic regression model was used to control for age, gender, race, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Results: There were 6,046 case patients with pseudoexfoliation; approximately half were diagnosed with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Various stages of ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and aortic aneurysm were significantly associated with ocular pseudoexfoliation, after controlling for age, gender, race, and major cardiovascular risk factors. Associations, in general, were less demonstrable relative to the primary open-angle glaucoma comparison group. Conclusion: Associations of ocular pseudoexfoliation with cardiovascular diseases were generally fewer and less pronounced when compared to patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. These results add to the results of earlier studies, which suggest that open-angle glaucoma itself might be a risk factor for certain cardiovascular disorders.
Recruitment and screening of minors for group counseling

Abstract Group counseling with minors requires special considerations in the recruitment and screening process. Recruiting members involves advertising the group and soliciting referrals. Suggestions are offered to ensure that potential members are not labeled during recruitment. Pregroup screening may involve individual or group interviews. Counselors must ensure that prospective members will cooperate with one another and benefit from group counseling. General and specific characteristics for screening are discussed, as are contraindications for group counseling with children and adolescents. Ethical and legal issues involving informed consent, privacy, and parental involvement are discussed as they relate to treating minors in groups.
‘The Strange Birth of CBS Reports’ Revisited

(1982). ‘The Strange Birth of CBS Reports’ Revisited. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 27-38.
Kinetic fractionation of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes during peptide bond hydrolysis: Experimental evidence and geochemical implications

Kinetic isotope effects associated with the hydrolysis of the dipeptide glycylglycine in unbuffered aqueous solution were investigated over a 60°C temperature range. The hydrolysis of the dipeptide resulted in the distinct fractionation of carbon and nitrogen isotopes. As the extent of the hydrolysis reaction increased, the residual peptide became increasingly enriched in13C and15N. The kinetic isotope effect for nitrogen ranged from 1.0025 to 1.0040 and in general increased with decreasing temperature. The experimental evidence indicates that isotope effects associated with peptide bond cleavage may complicate the interpretation of stable carbon and nitrogen isotope signatures of residual proteinaceous material preserved in fossils.
Sensory evoked potentials

ENSORY EVOKED potentials (SEPs) are electrophysiological responses of the nervous system to sensory stimulation. The discovery of SEPs is certainly not new. They were identified as early as 1875, but their detailed study was not done until the 1950s because of difficulties in recording this response (discussed later). Although the technique of signal averaging was defined by Dawson in the 1950s, the recording of SEPs remained a difficult procedure, and the use of this technique remained confined to basic research laboratories for experimental work dealing with neurophysiology. It was not until the 1970s that developments in computer technology have resulted in the availability of portable equipment that uses summation or averaging techniques to extract SEPs from background "noise" of the ongoing electroencephalogram (EEG). Resulting waveforms represent specific responses to visual, auditory, and somatosensory (peripheral nerve) stimulation. Recording of SEPs has become a rapidly expanding field that is increasingly used by several clinical disciplines such as, neurology, neurosurgery, otorhinolaryngology, orthopedic surgery, and ophthalmology, to name a few. In the last two decades, the use of SEPs monitoring in patients undergoing surgical procedures has increased significantly. The rationale for intraoperative monitoring of SEPs is that by monitoring neural physiology, changes in neurological function in unconscious patients can be detected and hopefully, corrective remedial action instituted to prevent permanent sequelae. This article will be limited to the intraoperative use of SEPs.
Toward mutual information based place recognition

This paper reports on a novel mutual information (MI) based algorithm for robust place recognition. The proposed method provides a principled framework for fusing the complementary information obtained from 3D lidar and camera imagery for recognizing places within an a priori map of a dynamic environment. The visual appearance of the locations in the map can be significantly different due to changing weather, lighting conditions and dynamical objects present in the environment. Various 3D/2D features are extracted from the textured point clouds (scans) and each scan is represented as a collection of these features. For two scans acquired from the same location, the high value of MI between the features present in the scans indicates that the scans are captured from the same location. We use a non-parametric entropy estimator to estimate the true MI from the sparse marginal and joint histograms of the features extracted from the scans. Experimental results using seasonal datasets collected over several years are used to validate the robustness of the proposed algorithm.
The Imaging Photopolarimeter Experiment on Pioneer 10

A 2.5-centimeter telescope aboard Pioneer 10 is capable of making two-dimensional spin-scan maps of intensity and polarization in red and blue light at high spatial resolution. During the recent flyby of Jupiter, a large quantity of imaging and polarimetric data was obtained on Jupiter and the Galilean satellites over a wide range of phase angles.
The antagonistic action of 6-aminomethyl-3-methyl-4H,1,2, 4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide (TAG) on the prolactin-releasing action of taurine.

Abstract The action of the putative taurine antagonist 6-aminomethyl 1-3-methyl-4H-1, 2, 4-benzothiadiazine-1, 1 dioxide (TAG) was examined on the prolactin-releasing action of taurine. The study utilized unanesthetized male rats with indwelling jugular and cerebroventricular cannulas. The intracerebroventricular (I.C.V.) infusion of taurine (0.5 μ mole) elicited an increase in prolactin (PRL) secretion elevating plasma levels significantly by 10 min. The I.C.V. infusion of TAG (0.01 μ mole) did not alter baseline plasma PRL levels. When a combined I.C.V. infusion of taurine and TAG was given the PRL levels normally induced by taurine were significantly reduced. Neither taurine nor the antagonist TAG altered pituitary secretion of luteinizing hormone.
Management of traumatically injured patients in the emergency department observation unit.

The use of short-term observation in evaluating and treating injured patients is not a new concept. Reports of the use of emergency department observation units (EDOUs) for the management of trauma patients first occurred during the 1980s. 3,17,30,43 Most of these studies were conducted in large urban trauma facilities, but one report of an EDOU that managed trauma patients did come form a community hospital. 30 Recently there has been a push for the development of EDOUs in large medical centers and community hospitals, and certain injured patients may be appropriately managed in these units. Much of the recent trauma literature has focused on reducing the cost and admissions associated with caring for trauma patients. It has been suggested that from 1984 to 1986 an estimated 52% of trauma care expenditure went to patients with minor injury. 54 Reimbursement for trauma patients admitted to the hospital and subsequently found to have minor injuries does not cover the true cost of the care provided. 34 Short-term observation and treatment of some of these patients may be one method through which hospitals can continue to provide quality care in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Emergency department observation units may be particularly well suited to this patient population. This article focuses on the use of an EDOU in the treatment of patients with blunt and penetrating abdominal and chest injuries, and head injuries. Many other types of injuries may be evaluated in these units (i.e., pregnant patients, bone injuries, soft tissue injuries), but these will be mentioned only briefly.
Improved Pharmacokinetics of AMG 517 Through Co-Crystallization Part 1: Comparison of Two Acids With Corresponding Amide Co-crystals

The dissolution and pharmacokinetics (PK) of two carboxylic acid co-crystals (cinnamic acid and benzoic acid) with the corresponding amide co-crystals (cinnamamide and benzamide) of AMG 517 were investigated. Powder and intrinsic dissolution studies were performed in fasted simulated intestinal fluid (FaSIF). Suspension formulations in 1% polyvinylpyrrolidone K25 in water were administered orally at 100 mg/kg to rats. The four co-crystals were found to have faster intrinsic and powder dissolution rates in FaSIF than the free base. This correlated with a 2.4- to 7.1-fold increase in the area under the concentration-time curve in rat PK investigations. When contrasting the acid to its corresponding amide co-crystal, cinnamamide shows improvement over cinnamic acid, while benzamide and benzoic acid perform similarly.
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced retardation of the G2/M traverse is associated with decreased levels of p34cdc2 in HL60 cells

Cellular differentiation of neoplastic cells after exposure to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25 D3) is accompanied by altered cell cycle regulation. In previous studies, blocks in both G1/S and G2/M checkpoints have been observed in 1,25D3-treated HL60 cells, but the mechanism of the 1,25D3-induced G2/M block has not been previously reported. In this study, we show by cell cycle analysis, using bromodeoxyuridine pulse-chase labeling, that the G2/M block in 1,25D3-treated HL60 cells is incomplete. We also demonstrate that although the 1,25D3-treated cells exhibit elevated levels of cyclin B1, Cdc25C, and Cdk7, which are positive regulators of the G2/M traverse, these cells have decreased protein levels of p34cdc2 and decreased p34cdc2 kinase activity. This provides potential mechanisms for the observed accumulation of cells in the G2 cell cycle compartment and occasional polyploidization following treatment of HL60 cells with 1,25D3. The data also suggest that the ability of some cells to traverse this block may be the result of cellular compensatory mechanisms responding to decreased p34cdc2 activity by increasing the levels of other regulators of the G2 traverse, such as cyclin B1, Cdc25C, and Cdk7. J. Cell. Biochem. 75:226–234, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A genetic pathway for the development of the Caenorhabditis elegans HSN motor neurons

Thirty-five genes define a pathway for the development of the hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs) in Caenorhabditis elegans. Some of these genes affect only one HSN trait, demonstrating that HSN migration, axonal outgrowth and serotonin expression are mutually independent events in HSN development; others, some of which are regulatory, affect multiple HSN traits. Nearly all are pleiotropic, revealing that the genes specifying HSN development also function in the development of other cell types.
The representation of object distance: evidence from neuroimaging and neuropsychology

Perceived distance in two-dimensional (2D) images relies on monocular distance cues. Here, we examined the representation of perceived object distance using a continuous carry-over adaptation design for fMRI. The task was to look at photographs of objects and make a judgment as to whether or not the item belonged in the kitchen. Importantly, this task was orthogonal to the variable of interest: the object's perceived distance from the viewer. In Experiment 1, whole brain group analyses identified bilateral clusters in the superior occipital gyrus (approximately area V3/V3A) that showed parametric adaptation to relative changes in perceived distance. In Experiment 2, retinotopic analyses confirmed that area V3A/B reflected the greatest magnitude of response to monocular changes in perceived distance. In Experiment 3, we report that the functional activations overlap with the occipito-parietal lesions in a patient with impaired distance perception, showing that the same regions monitor implied (2D) and actual (three-dimensional) distance. These data suggest that distance information is automatically processed even when it is task-irrelevant and that this process relies on superior occipital areas in and around area V3A.
Neuropeptide Y: A potent inducer of consummatory behavior in rats ☆

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36 amino acid peptide with potent cardiovascular effects. In the present study, intraventricular injection of NPY was shown to markedly stimulate feeding and drinking during the illuminated period of the light/dark cycle, a time when rats ingest small amounts of food. It also enhanced nocturnal food and water intake following a 24 hour period of food deprivation and during nocturnal feeding. The NPY induction of food intake was suppressed by the opiate antagonist, naloxone, and by the dopamine antagonist, haloperidol. Phentolamine, an alpha adrenergic antagonist, failed to suppress NPY-induced feeding. Based on the maximum quantity of food which was ingested following central administration of NPY, this peptide appears to represent one of the most potent stimulators of feeding yet to be described.
Etoposide Metabolites Enhance DNA Topoisomerase II Cleavage near Leukemia-Associated MLL Translocation Breakpoints†

Chromosomal breakage resulting from stabilization of DNA topoisomerase II covalent complexes by epipodophyllotoxins may play a role in the genesis of leukemia-associated MLL gene translocations. We investigated whether etoposide catechol and quinone metabolites can damage the MLL breakpoint cluster region in a DNA topoisomerase II-dependent manner like the parent drug and the nature of the damage. Cleavage of two DNA substrates containing the normal homologues of five MLL intron 6 translocation breakpoints was examined in vitro upon incubation with human DNA topoisomerase IIalpha, ATP, and either etoposide, etoposide catechol, or etoposide quinone. Many of the same cleavage sites were induced by etoposide and by its metabolites, but several unique sites were induced by the metabolites. There was a preference for G(-1) among the unique sites, which differs from the parent drug. Cleavage at most sites was greater and more heat-stable in the presence of the metabolites compared to etoposide. The MLL translocation breakpoints contained within the substrates were near strong and/or stable cleavage sites. The metabolites induced more cleavage than etoposide at the same sites within a 40 bp double-stranded oligonucleotide containing two of the translocation breakpoints, confirming the results at a subset of the sites. Cleavage assays using the same oligonucleotide substrate in which guanines at several positions were replaced with N7-deaza guanines indicated that the N7 position of guanine is important in metabolite-induced cleavage, possibly suggesting N7-guanine alkylation by etoposide quinone. Not only etoposide, but also its metabolites, enhance DNA topoisomerase II cleavage near MLL translocation breakpoints in in vitro assays. It is possible that etoposide metabolites may be relevant to translocations.
Periphyton nutrient limitation and nitrogen fixation potential along a wetland nutrient-depletion gradient.

Abstract While intensified nutrient limitation of periphyton has been reported along wetland nutrient-depletion gradients, changes to the specific nutrient that limits periphyton growth are not documented. In this study, we used artificial nutrient-diffusing substrata to determine nutrient limitation status of periphyton along a nitrogen- and phosphorus-depletion gradient in a freshwater marsh during the growing season of 2003. We also characterized water-column nutrient content, N:P ratio of dissolved nutrients, and periphytic N2 fixation potential along the gradient. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations consistently decreased (60% − 95%) from inflow to outflow during all bioassays, while soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations decreased during the April (49%) and September (39%) bioassays but increased in the July bioassay (51%). Unequal N and P retention resulted in a general decrease in DIN:SRP mass ratio from 20.2 ± 5.0 to 3.8 ± 1.6 between inflow and outflow, respectively. Periphyton at th...
The effect of water on some properties of oriented nylon

Abstract Samples of 66 nylon were oriented by rolling to produce structures in which the polymer chains are preferentially in the machine direction and the hydrogen bonds are in the transverse direction. Conditioning to 50 or 100% relative humidity (R.H.) produces anisotropic swelling with the transverse direction expanding much less than the other two directions. The dependence on temperature of the tensile modulus in the machine and transverse directions was examined for specimens which were dry, conditioned to 50% R.H., and saturated with water. At high temperatures, the modulus was larger in the transverse direction. At-40°C, it was larger in the machine direction and increased with increasing moisture. The data are interpreted in terms of crystals which have their largest dimension in the hydrogen bond direction.
The Association of Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Anticoagulants With Cardiac Thromboses

Direct thrombin inhibitor (anti-factor IIa) anticoagulants, now established for treatment and prevention of cardiac thromboembolism and VTE, have been repeatedly associated with a significantly increased frequency of thrombosis on abnormal cardiac endothelium when compared head-to-head with indirectly acting therapeutic anticoagulants in studies of sufficient patient number and duration. Although there is uncertainty as to the mechanism, the weight of evidence as a class effect warrants prescribing effective anticoagulants other than direct thrombin inhibitors.
The new-generation, high-energy, 595 nm, long pulse-duration, pulsed-dye laser effectively removes spider veins of the lower extremity.

Background and Objectives Lower-extremity spider veins are a cosmetic problem that poses formidable clinical difficulty for laser removal. They are significantly harder to remove than facial telangiectasias. A new-generation, pulsed-dye laser (PDL), capable of administering pulses that clinically behave like true 40-millisecond pulses has been developed, by doubling the number of sub-pulses comprising each laser pulse. Study Design/Materials and Methods Fifteen subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types I–III were enrolled in the study and treated to 35 sites. Subjects were treated three times at 6-week intervals using an average fluence of 20.4 J/cm2, a 3×10 mm spot, and a dynamic cooling device to protect the epidermis. Digital photographs were taken before initiating treatment and 8 weeks following the final treatment. Results Mean improvement scores using a 4-point scale as rated subjectively by the treating physician were 0.92 (<25%), 2.7 (∼40–50%), and 3.6 (∼65–75%), 6 weeks following 1st and 2nd treatments and 8 weeks following the 3rd and final treatment, respectively. Improvement was also determined by three physicians, rating digital photographs and blinded as to which photographs were pre- or post-treatment. They rated improvement as mild (0–25%) in 10.5% of photographs, moderate (26–50%) in15.2%, marked (51–75%) in 38.1%, and excellent (76–100%) in 6.3%. There was no textural change in any treatment site. Conclusions The new-generation, high-energy, 595 nm, long pulse-duration, PDL effectively removes lower-extremity spider veins in subjects with skin types I–III. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:218–224, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is counterfactual reliabilism compatible with higher-level knowledge?

Jonathan Vogel has recently argued that counterfactual reliabilism (CR) cannot account for higher-level knowledge that one's belief is true, or not false. His particular argument for this claim is straightforward and valid. Interestingly, there is a parallel argument, based on an alternative but plausible reinterpretation of the main premise in Vogel's argument, which squares CR with higher-level knowledge both that one's belief is true and that one's belief is not false. I argue that, while Vogel's argument reveals the incompatibility of CR and knowledge of certain higher-level propositions, it does not establish the general claim that CR is incompatible with knowledge that any of one's beliefs is true, or not false.
Hemodynamic aspects of congestive heart failure.

The 3 articles in this issue on congestive heart failure comprise the first of 10 contributions on this subject. The remaining 7 articles will be published in the February and March issues.—EDITOR.
Predicting survival for well-differentiated liposarcoma: the importance of tumor location.

Background Although well-differentiated liposarcoma (WD Lipo) is a low grade neoplasm with a negligible risk of metastatic disease, it can be locally aggressive. We hypothesized that survival for WD Lipo varies significantly based on tumor location. Methods We identified 1266 patients with WD Lipo in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1988–2004. After excluding patients diagnosed by autopsy only, those lacking histologic confirmation, those lacking data on tumor location, and those with metastatic disease or unknown staging information, we arrived at a final study cohort of 1130 patients. Clinical, pathologic, and treatment variables were analyzed for their association with overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards multivariate models. Results Mean age was 61 y (±14.6), 72.2% were white, and 60.4% were male. Eighty-one percent of patients were treated with surgical therapy alone, 4.6% were treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone, and 12.9% were treated with both surgery and RT. Extremity location was most common (41.6%), followed by trunk (29%), retroperitoneal/intra-abdominal (RIA, 21.6%), thorax (4.2%), and head/neck (3.6%). With a median follow-up of 45 mo, median OS was 115 mo (95% confidence interval [CI] 92–138 mo) for RIA tumors compared to not reached for other tumor locations ( P = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, increasing age and RIA location both predicted worse OS and DSS while tumor size, race, sex, receipt of RT, and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage did not. Tumor size became a significant predictor of worse DSS, but not OS, only when site, SEER stage, and extent of resection were removed from the multivariate model. Non-RIA locations, including extremity, experienced statistically similar OS, but 5-y DSS for trunk location was intermediate [92.3%, (95% CI 88.5%–96.1%) compared with 98.0% (95% CI, 96.2%–99.8%) for extremity and 86.6 (95% CI 81.1%–92.1%) for RIA, P Conclusions Among patients with WD Lipo, RIA location is associated with significantly worse outcomes independent of tumor size. Future studies should focus on the anatomic and biologic reasons for these differences.
Multiple ionization and x-ray emission accompanying the cascade decay of inner-shell vacancies in Fe

A model has been developed which predicts the relative abundances of the differently charged ions and the x-ray emission spectra resulting from the cascade decay of an arbitrary distribution of inner-shell vacancies created in atoms by energetic charged particles or x rays. The multiple-ionization and x-ray production cross sections are defined in terms of the populations of the single- and multiple-vacancy states occurring in the atomic reorganization process. All allowed radiative, Auger, and Coster-Kronig transitions are taken into account in the determination of these populations. The x-ray spectra are classified in terms of characteristic lines which are due to the radiative decay of single vacancies and satellites which are associated with transitions from multiple-vacancy states. Results of calculations are presented for the creation of the initial vacancy distribution by single inner-shell electron ionization of neutral Fe with electrons and photons. Multiple ionization is found to represent only 10% of the total for electron-impact ionization but is predicted to be predominant during $K$- and $L$-shell photoionization, in agreement with experimental results obtained for the rare gases. The intensity of the $L\ensuremath{\alpha}$ satellites is always less than the $L\ensuremath{\alpha}$ characteristic line intensity for electron-impact ionization but can substantially exceed the characteristic line intensity during $K$-shell photoionization, in agreement with previous results obtained for medium-$Z$ elements.
Schumpeter and Marx: Imperialism and Social Classes in the Schumpeterian System

I. Introduction, 525. — II. Economics and Sociology: Marx and Schumpeter, 528. — III. Schumpeter's vs. Marx's Economic Interpretation of History, 532. — IV. Schumpeter vs. Marxism on Imperialism and on Social Classes, 545.
Modeling and suppression of neutron background in gamma-ray detectors

We describe research on developing more effective means to shield gamma-ray detectors from neutron-induced background. Conventional active shields are very inefficient in vetoing neutrons. Neutron-induced background is exacerbated in new classes of gamma-ray detectors such as CZT, which have large neutron interaction cross-sections. An approach to this problem is supershields, which contain separate layers to moderate and absorb neutrons. We show how supershields are superior to monolayer neutron shields which have been studied previously.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Waist circumference independently associates with the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in mexican american families.

Objective In spite of the growing recognition of the specific association of waist circumference (WC) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance (IR), current guidelines still use body mass index (BMI) as a tool of choice. Our objective was to determine whether WC is a better T2D predictor than BMI in family-based settings.
Toward a new landscape of systems management in an autonomic computing environment

In this paper we present IBM Tivoli Monitoring, a systems management application that displays autonomic behavior at run time, and we focus on extending it in order to encompass the design and the deployment phases of the product life cycle. We review the resource model concept, illustrate it with an example, and discuss its role throughout the product life cycle. Then we introduce basic concepts in ontology and description logics and discuss representing Common Information Model constructs using description logics. Finally, we propose Systems Management Ontology, an approach to enhancing the autonomic properties of IBM Tivoli Monitoring based on an ontology service and the technique of "contextual pulling" applied to the resource model.
Optimization of two-glass monocentric lenses for compact panoramic imagers: general aberration analysis and specific designs

Monocentric lenses have recently changed from primarily a historic curiosity to a potential solution for panoramic high-resolution imagers, where the spherical image surface is directly detected by curved image sensors or optically transferred onto multiple conventional flat focal planes. We compare imaging and waveguide-based transfer of the spherical image surface formed by the monocentric lens onto planar image sensors, showing that both approaches can make the system input aperture and resolution substantially independent of the input angle. We present aberration analysis that demonstrates that wide-field monocentric lenses can be focused by purely axial translation and describe a systematic design process to identify the best designs for two-glass symmetric monocentric lenses. Finally, we use this approach to design an F/1.7, 12 mm focal length imager with an up to 160° field of view and show that it compares favorably in size and performance to conventional wide-angle imagers.
Environmental regulations and innovation activities — a view point

The impact of environmental regulations on innovative activity is explored in this paper using state‐level and company level data on patents, new product introductions, emissions, and penalties. A significant effect of environmental regulations on corporate innovative activity is found. In addition, excellence in environmental performance appears to have an indirect effect on innovation performance of companies.
Story stem narratives with young children: Moving to clinical research and practice

Story stem narrative methods have demonstrated reliability and validity as assessments of the young child's representations of parent – child and peer relationships. Most, but not all, prior resear...
The hydroxyurea-induced loss of double-minute chromosomes containing amplified epidermal growth factor receptor genes reduces the tumorigenicity and growth of human glioblastoma multiforme.

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether the hydroxyurea-induced loss of double-minute chromosomes containing amplified epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes would lead to a loss of tumorigenicity of a glioblastoma multiforme cell line. METHODS Glioblastoma multiforme cells were treated in vitro with 0 (HU0) or 100 micromol/L (HU100) hydroxyurea and then injected into the flanks of nude mice. Survival and tumor volumes were evaluated. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, Southern blot hybridization, and slot-blot analysis were used to determine EGFR amplification levels. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining were used for cell-cycle analysis and EGFR protein expression. RESULTS Prior to injection, HU100 cells lost 95% of their amplified EGFR genes and developed into tumors 6 weeks after injection versus 3 weeks for HU0 cells. Mice with HU100 tumors had a median survival of 62 days versus 43 days for control mice with HU0 tumors. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed that HU100 tumors had reamplified the EGFR gene as double-minute chromosomes of the same size as those originally present before hydroxyurea treatment. When HU100 cells were cultured in the absence of hydroxyurea, the EGFR gene also reamplified. HU100 cells grew at less than half the rate of untreated HU0 control cells in culture and showed a decreased number of cells entering the cell cycle. Immunofluorescent staining of HU150 (150 micromol/L) cells showed decreased EGFR protein expression. CONCLUSION The EGFR gene is important for tumorigenicity in mice and growth in culture. Hydroxyurea induces the loss of double-minute chromosome-amplified EGFR genes against a selection gradient and significantly delays the onset of tumors. These results support the potential use of low-dose hydroxyurea for the treatment of human glioblastoma multiforme.