cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Use of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Evaluation of Epilepsy

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is indicated in the imaging protocol of the patient with epilepsy to screen for metabolic derangements such as inborn errors of metabolism and to characterize masses that may be equivocal on conventional magnetic resonance imaging for dysplasia versus neoplasia. Single-voxel MRS with echo time of 35 milliseconds may be used for this purpose as a quick screening tool in the epilepsy imaging protocol. MRS is useful in the evaluation of both focal and generalized epilepsy.
NEW-TPI thermoplastic polyimide: dielectric and dynamic mechanical relaxation☆

Abstract The dielectric and dynamic mechanical relaxation behaviours of the thermoplastic polyimide, NEW-TPI, have been investigated from 150 to 350°C, which spans the glass transition region. Dynamic modulus at 1 Hz is about 2.2 GPa below the glass transition temperature, T g , decreasing to 0.02 GPa in amorphous NEW-TPI, and 0.15 GPa in semicrystalline NEW-TPI, above T g . Dielectric constant at 10 kHz is about 3.21 below T g , increasing to 3.44 in amorphous NEW-TPI, and 3.33 in semicrystalline NEW-TPI, above T g . Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) plots for amorphous and one representative semicrystalline NEW-TPI were constructed from thermal, dynamic mechanical and dielectric relaxation data but the data could not be fitted to a single master curve. Dielectric relaxation intensity, Δe = e s − e ∞ , was shown to be structure sensitive above T g . For both semicrystalline and amorphous NEW-TPI, the relaxation intensity decreases as temperature increases. This implies that Δe has the same temperature dependence for the semicrystalline sample compared to the quenched amorphous polymer. This trend is different from that observed in either poly(ether ether ketone) or poly(phenylene sulphide). Our results confirm thermal analysis of NEW-TPI and show that NEW-TPI has a very small amount of tightly bound, or rigid, amorphous material, which relaxes completely within a narrow temperature range just above the T g of the less tightly bound, or mobile, amorphous material.
Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy: safety considerations in the design and interpretation of clinical trials

Maternal-child health benefits of optimizing vitamin D status during pregnancy may include a reduced risk of pre-eclampsia, improved fetal growth and beneficial effects on infant immune function. These hypotheses require evaluation by randomized controlled antenatal vitamin D supplementation trials using doses that are high enough to elevate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations into the range believed to be associated with improved health outcomes. Such doses may be considerably higher than the current recommended dietary allowance (600 IU day(-1)) or standard prenatal supplement dose (400 IU day(-1)), and may even be higher than the tolerable upper intake level (4000 IU day(-1)) advised by the Institute of Medicine (2010). A critical review of the published literature yielded limited data regarding the safety of antenatal vitamin D regimens. There have been no published reports of the teratogenic effects of vitamin D on humans. Some animal studies have suggested the potential for dose-dependent fetal toxicities (for example, growth impairment, skeletal malformations and cardiovascular anomalies), but the relevance of these observations to humans is unknown. Antenatal vitamin D supplementation trials should incorporate a range of methods for objectively establishing maternal and fetal safety, and aim to identify the lowest doses of vitamin D required to achieve target outcomes.
ROLE OF ENVIRONMENT DURING DIAPAUSE ON THE PHENOLOGY OF CHRYSOTEUCHIA TOPIARIA (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

The time prepupae of Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zellcr) collected from the field required to complete diapause development, pupate and emerge as adults decreased progressively during winter. Short daylengths (12 hr light, 12 hr dark) retarded development during diapanse and the subsequent adults emerged later than those insects exposed to long days (16 hr light, 8 hr dark). Also, the time required for adults to emerge decreased as temperature increased. Diapausing insects remained sensitive to short photoperiods through the winter and beyond the transition from short to long days in spring. However, the phenological emergence of adults does not occur solely because a particular threshold of photoperiod or temperature was exceeded whereby development resumed, but rather, because of the cumulative effects of time, temperature and daylength during diapause. Zusammenfassung DIE BEDEUTUNG DER UMGEBUNG WAHREND DER DIAPAUSE FUR DIE PHANOLOGIE VON CHRYSOTEUCHIA TOPIARIA (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller) uberwintert als Prapuppe, verpuppt sich im Fruhjahr und schlupft dann als Imago Ende Mai und im Juni. Die Falter legen Eier, die innerhalb 10–14 Tagen schlupfen, und die entstehenden Raupen sind im Oktober erwachsen und diapausieren als Prapuppen. Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Wirkungen von Temperatur und Photoperiode wahrend der Diapause-Entwicklung auf die nachfolgende Phanologie dieses univoltinen Rasenzunslers. Die Zeit, welche im Freien gesammelte Prapuppen benotigten, um die Diapause-Entwicklung zu vollenden, sich zu verpuppen und als Falter zu schlupfen, nahm wahrend des Winters fortschreitend ab. Kurztag (12 Std Licht, 12 Std Dunkelheit) verzogerte die Entwicklung wahrend der Diapause und die folgenden Erwachsenen schlupften spater als diejenigen, die Langtag (16 Std Licht, 8 Std Dunkelheit) ausgesetzt waren. Ebenso verringerte sich die Zeit, die bis zum Schlupf der Falter gebraucht wurde in dem Mase, wie die Temperatur anstieg. Die diapausierenden Insekten blieben wahrend des Winters und auch nach dem Ubergang von Kurzzu Langtag im Fruhling fur Kurztag sensibel. Jedoch phanologisch tritt der Schlupf der Falter nicht allein deshalb ein, weil die entsprechenden Schwellenwerte fur Tageslange und Temperatur uberschritten wurden und damit die Entwicklung wieder aufgenommen werden konnte, sondern vielmehr infolge der kumulativen Wirkung von Zeit, Temperatur und Tageslange wahrend der Diapause.
Liberation, purification, and properties of thioesterase component of pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase complex.

Abstract Proteolysis of pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase with elastase results in the quantitative cleavage of the thioesterase component from the enzyme complex. This thioesterase component is two or three times more active catalytically in the isolated state than in the native fatty acid synthetase, and its activity is not affected by the presence or absence of reducing thiols. The proteolytically cleaved thioesterase is separated from the core enzyme in one step by size-exclusion chromatography on a Sephadex G-75 column. The peptide obtained by gel permeation is homogeneous with respect to size and charge, as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of SDS. Size-exclusion chromatography on Bio-Gel A 0.5 m and Sephadex G-75 columns, sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, and N - terminal amino acid analysis also indicate that the proteolytically cleaved thioesterase is homogeneous. The sedimentation coefficient of the thioesterase is approximately 2.9 S. Proteolytic cleavage with elastase also quantitatively releases the [1,3- 14 C]- or [1,3- 3 H] diisopropylphosphofluoridate-labeled thioesterase component from the correspondingly labeled fatty acid synthetase. Binding studies with 14 C- or 3 H-labelled diisopropylphosphofluoridate and fatty acid synthetase show that 2 mol of the label are bound per mol of the enzyme when complete loss of fatty acid-synthesizing activity occurs. The molecular weight of the thioesterase component is estimated to be 36000 by size-exclusion chromatography, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis.
The role of electron microscopy in gynecological pathology.

Summary: Electron microscopy, as a diagnostic method, has been available to pathologists for about half a century. Its use in studying normal and abnormal gynecological tissues has been applied during the second half of that period, and many works on specific female genital topics have been published. Several of those subjects are worthy of citing in a review of the present type. Clear cell carcinoma has been revealed to be a mullerian, rather than a wolffian, derivative. Small cell carcinoma of the ovary with hypercalcemia is comprised of cells shown ultrastructurally to be epithelial, but unlike surface epithelial cells, germ cells, sex-cord cells, or neuroendocrine cells. Further electron microscopic studies provided evidence that these small cell tumors are not adult diffuse granulosa cell tumors, endometrioid stromal tumors, primitive neuroectodermal tumors, or numerous other primary and metastatic small cell tumors. Electron microscopy has also been useful in determining that not all signet-ring cell tumors of the ovary are stromal, and that there are multiple types of signet-ring (vacuolated) cells in ovarian tumors. Smooth muscle tumors are well known to have multiple light microscopic phenotypes, and electron microscopy has proven to be diagnostic in many of these cases, especially in epithelioid smooth muscle tumors. A number of other gynecological neoplasms that have been better defined by electron microscopic studies are described. Embryology and histogenesis are other areas of study in which electron microscopy has been a major contributor of new information at the subcellular level. Electron microscopy, solely or in harmony with clinical information, light microscopy, and immunohistochemistry, has been and is a valuable tool for the pathologist in the study of histogenesis and accurate diagnosis of gynecological lesions.
Pregnancy in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Purpose Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is the most common childhood-onset ciliopathy. As treatments improve, more women are reaching reproductive age, but little is known about ARPKD and pregnancy.
C1 Quadratic Interpolation over Arbitrary Point Sets

New formulas for generating smooth surfaces over arbitrarily spaced data points are developed. The formulas are based on quadratic polynomials for the construction of derivative continuous surfaces rather than on the cubic polynomials generally used. The technique is based on a subdivision procedure, dividing each triangle in a triangulation of the data points into six subtriangles and fitting a quadratic Bezier surface patch over each subtriangle. THe formulas require only function and first derivative values at the data points and are easily evaluated in terms of the Bezier coefficients. Since two-dimensional quadratic polynomials contain only six terms, while 10 terms are required to evaluate a cubic, the new procedure significantly improves the efficiency of algorithms for drawing surfaces in computer-aided geometric design.
Inoculation of a DNAPL source zone to initiate reductive dechlorination of PCE.

The ability to inoculate a PCE-NAPL source zone with no prior dechlorinating activity was examined using a near field-scale simulated aquifer. A known mass of PCE was added to establish a source zone, and the groundwater was depleted of oxygen using acetate and lactate prior to culture addition. An active and stable dechlorinating culture was used as an inoculum, and dechlorination activity was observed within 2 weeks following culture transfer. PCE reduction to TCE and cis-DCE was observed initially, and the formation of these compounds was accelerated by the addition of a long-term source of hydrogen (Hydrogen Releasing Compound). cis-DCE was the predominant chlorinated ethene present in the effluent after 225 days of operation, and production of VC and ethene lagged the formation of TCE and cis-DCE. However, dechlorination extent continued to improve over time, and VC eventually became a major product, suggesting that reinoculation was unnecessary. The detection of Dehalococcoides species in the source...
Nitrogen-Containing Fluorophosphate And Fluoride Glasses

Fluorophosphate and fluoride glasses containing nitrogen were synthesized by using nitride additives such as A1N, Ba3N2, and ZrN. Optical transmission and refractive indices were measured. Ammonia gas treatment of fluorophosphate glass melts was also successful for producing nitrided samples.
Identity Matters in a Short-Term, International Service-Learning Program

This study explores the role that identity and the identity development process play in a short-term, international service-learning experience. Employing narrative inquiry, two of the co-authors, student participants in a 2-week service-learning program in Honduras, describe and interpret their servicelearning experience in the context of life experiences that preceded the service-learning program. An emphasis is placed upon the ways that the students’ multiple identities and personal histories interact with the people, places, and ideas they encountered abroad. Findings are interpreted against the research and scholarship on intercultural competency and support the notion that student participants in international service-learning are exposed to experiences that lead to valuable extrospection and introspection and that foster complex understandings of self and ideology.
Protein phosphatase activity is necessary for myofibrillogenesis.

During myofibrillogenesis, myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK) phosphorylates the regulatory light chain (RLC) of myosin II, enabling patterned assembly of myosin thick filaments. A protein phosphatase (PP) has been shown to mediate RLC dephosphorylation in adult smooth and striated muscle. A role for PP activity in regulating myofibrillogenesis during embryonic development, however, has not been investigated. Tautomycin (TM) was used to inhibit both PP1 and PP2A activities, whereas okadaic acid (OA) and fostriecin (FOS) were used to inhibit PP2A. TM affected both actin and myosin assembly at 5nM; the IC50 value was 20 and 8.5nM, respectively. In contrast, OA applied at 10 times above its reported Ki for PP2A caused no significant disruption. There was also no disruption when FOS was applied at a concentration 30 times above its reported Ki for PP2A. Thus, our results suggest a primary role for PP1 isoforms during myofibrillogenesis. Although rho kinase (RK) regulates PP activity in embryonic smooth and cardiac muscle, application of the RK inhibitor Y27632 did not affect actin or myosin assembly in skeletal myocytes. Collectively, our pharmacological results suggest that PP1 is involved in dynamic regulation of RLC phosphorylation. To specifically test involvement of the myosin-targeted isoform (PP1M), we used a morpholino antisense approach to knock down the myosin targeting (M) subunit of PP1. Embryos injected with morpholino targeted to the 110-kDa M targeting subunit had fewer somites, and myosin organization was significantly perturbed. The combined pharmacological and molecular results suggest a dynamic equilibrium between MLCK and PP1M activities is required for proper myofibrillogenesis.
Ecdysteroids regulate yolk protein uptake by Drosophila melanogaster oocytes

Juvenile hormones (JHs) are thought to drive the regulation of yolk protein uptake by ovaries in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the level of JH production in a mutant stock (ap(56f)) is depressed yet the flies are normally vitellogenic. The production of ecdysteroids by these ap(56f) ovaries in vitro is elevated above that of wild-type ovaries. The incubation of wild-type ovaries in the presence of 0.1mM JHB(3) increased ecdysteroid biosynthesis only during the first 18h following eclosion. Female Drosophila melanogaster undergo a pre-vitellogenic reproductive diapause when exposed to low temperature (11 degrees C) and a short-day photoperiod (L12:D12). The rate of ecdysteroid synthesis by the ovaries, but not JH production, increased within 12h of a temperature upshift to 25 degrees C from a basal level of 20+/-1pg/10 pair of ovaries/5h to a sustained level of 150+/-20pg/10 pair/5h. Vitellogenic oocytes were noted in all females within 12h of this temperature upshift. Diapause was also terminated by the injection of 1mg of 20-hydroxyecdysone into the abdomens of diapausing females as determined by an increase in ovary size, and the appearance of vitellogenic oocytes as compared to controls. These results are consistent with a revised model for the regulation of yolk protein uptake by ovaries in which ecdysteroids, and not JHs, play the prominent role.
Specific Heat and Susceptibility in Chromium Methylammonium Alum above the Critical Temperature

The specific heat and susceptibility of chromium methylammonium alum is calculated above the critical temperature. The method is based on a high-temperature expansion of the partition function in the presence of a crystal field, using a Laplace transform. The results are worked out in first (for the susceptibility) and second (for the specific heat) order in the coupling Hamiltonian. The summation over the four different sublattices is worked out for the two different crystallographic phases which seem to occur above and below 170 K. The lack of rotation symmetry of the crystal field in its local reference system, which was found by paramagnetic resonance, is taken into account. The result for the susceptibility is given explicitly in Eq. (4. 18a) as a function of a reduced temperature.
Instant expertise for novice responders performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

More than 300,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) annually in the United States. As professional responders such as EMTs make efforts to expedite their arrival, critical minutes pass jeopardizing the victim’s health. Providing life-sustaining intervention in the first few minutes greatly contributes to healthier outcomes. Often, there are witnesses to SCA events that could respond immediately, but they are incapable of providing treatment. The just-in-time support (JITS) approach aims to assist novice operators in completing unpracticed tasks such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the moment of need. By providing naive users plans, cues, and feedback, JITS systems facilitate goal accomplishment. The results of this work suggest a JITS device could empower novice responders with CPR capabilities. Widespread deployment of such a device could greatly decrease response time and save lives.
An integrated strategy for detection and imaging of damage using a spatially distributed array of piezoelectric sensors

Permanently attached piezoelectric sensors arranged in a spatially distributed array are under consideration for structural health monitoring systems. Ultrasonic signals transmitted and received between various array elements have been shown to be effective for localizing discrete sites of damage using algorithms based upon changes in signals compared to the undamaged state. Necessary to the success of the various imaging methods which have been proposed is a set of baseline signals recorded under the same conditions as the signals acquired after damage has occurred. Since many conditions other than structural damage can cause changes in ultrasonic signals, proposed here is an integrated strategy whereby damage is first detected and is localized only if the outcome of the detection step is positive. In this manner false alarms can be reduced since signal changes due to benign variations will not be localized and erroneously identified as damage. The detection strategy considers the long time behavior of the signals in the diffuse-like regime where distinct echoes can no longer be identified, whereas the localization strategy is to generate images of damage based upon the early time regime when discrete echoes from boundary reflections and scattering sites are meaningful. Results are shown for an aluminum plate subjected to a combination of temperature variations and introduction of artificial damage.
Lysis of autologous Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Abstract Since B lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a higher rate of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced transformation than normal B cells, we have investigated whether this phenomenon is related to defective cytotoxic T-cell control of emerging B-cell clones. We have studied the in vitro generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for antigens appearing on autologous B cells after EBV infection using lymphocytes from six patients with RA. Cytotoxic cells were generated by two cycles of stimulation with mitomycin C-treated autologous B cells, and their lytic activity was assessed against 51Cr-labeled targets. As previously reported for lymphocytes of normal individuals, RA cytolytic T lymphocytes were induced only by EBV-infected B cells, not by noninfected B cells, and expression of the cytotoxicity required EBV-transformed targets. After primary in vitro stimulation with autologous EBV-infected B cells, the RA cytotoxic cells expressed higher lytic activity than the normal counterparts, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.1). However, after secondary in vitro stimulation both groups displayed similar cytotoxic activities. In the presence of complement, monoclonal antibodies OKT8 (characterizing cytotoxic/suppressor cells), SC1, and OKT3 (characterizing most T cells) reduced cytotoxicity by 80–90%; antibody OKT3 also reduced the lytic activity by 68% in the absence of complement. We conclude that the higher EBV-induced transformation rate seen with RA lymphocytes is not explained by a deficiency in this EBV-specific cytotoxic T cell.
Time-of-flight mobilities for conducting dendrimers composed of p-phenylenevinylene dendron and triphenylamine surface group

Charge-carrier transport property of the conducting dendrimer films composed of p-phenylenevinylene with generation numbers of two and three as a dendron and triphenylamine as a surface group, which were prepared by spin-coating from the chloroform solutions, was investigated by a time-of-flight technique. For both dendrimer films, hole-carrier transport took place preferentially compared with electron-carrier transport, and typical dispersive hole-carrier transport was observed. The hole-carrier drift mobilities of the two-generation dendrimer film were one order of magnitude larger than those of the three-generation dendrimer film. The difference of the hole-carrier drift mobilities between the two-generation and three-generation dendrimers was due to the difference of the molecular geometric structure and/or the difference of the molecular weight ratio of nitrogen atom in the triphenylamine unit to the dendrimer molecule. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Developing tribal casino employees as conduits for tribal government messaging

Abstract Since the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, tribal government gaming has become the most successful economic development strategy across Indian Country in the United States, with no other viable alternatives on the horizon. Being a highly regulated industry, tribal government gaming, like the legal gambling industry in general, takes place at the grace of legislation that reflects public opinion and commands public policy support. As such, tribal governments invest significant resources to manage public perceptions of their communities, their gaming rights, and their political status. Tribal gaming facilities on tribal lands, and more specifically tribal gaming customer–contact employees, represent a key interface between the general public and American Indian tribal communities. This paper presents research findings that explore the nature and source of knowledge by tribal gaming customer–contact employees in four tribally-owned casinos in California with a view to understand the role of tribal casino customer–contact employees as information conduits, and makes recommendations concerning how employees may be better leveraged to transmit carefully constructed tribal government messaging to the wider population. In particular, this paper highlights the gap between the legal and political status of the tribal government owners of tribal gaming facilities and the (often incorrect) perceptions of tribal communities that are often communicated by customer-facing employees to tribal casino guests.
Coordination polymerization of renewable butyrolactone-based vinyl monomers by lanthanide and early metal catalysts

This contribution reports the first study of coordination-addition polymerization of renewable butyrolactone-based vinyl monomers, MBL (α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone) and MMBL (γ-methyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone), using neutral lanthanocene(II), non-lanthanocene(III), and cationic group 4 metallocene catalysts. The samarocene(II) catalyst, Cp*2Sm(THF)2, promotes a rapid, efficient, and controlled polymerization of MBL and MMBL in DMF at ambient temperature, exhibiting a high TOF of 3000 h−1, typically near quantitative initiator efficiency, and the ability to control the polymer MW. The resulting atactic PMBL and PMMBL have high Tg's of 194 °C and 227 °C, respectively; when compared to atactic PMMA having comparable MW, the Tg and onset decomposition temperatures of the PMMBL produced are substantially higher (by ∼120 °C and 40 °C, respectively). Owing to the living/controlled characteristics of this polymerization, well-defined random and block copolymers of MBL with MMA and MMBL can be readily synthesized. Results of the kinetic and polymerization studies indicate that the true active species is the trivalent samarocene centers attached to the single growing polymer chain, derived presumably from a redox-then-radical-coupling process. In comparison, the polymerizations by non-lanthanocene(III) silylamides, Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Er), and by cationic group 4 metallocene and half-metallocene catalysts incorporating C2 and Cs symmetric ligands are much slower and less effective. Catalytic polymerization of MBL by Cp*2Sm(THF)2 has also been realized in the presence of an enolizable organo acid as a suitable chain transfer agent.
The Microvascular Unit of the 6-Day Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane: A Fluorescent Confocal Microscopic and Ultrastructural Morphometric Analysis of Endothelial Permselectivity

Abstract The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chick embryo provides a unique model for investigating endothelial permselectivity during normal angiogenesis. Chick embryos were incubated using established shell-less culture techniques for intravital and ultrastructural observations at Day 6 of the normal 21-day gestation. Morphometric analyses of the precapillary, capillary, and postcapillary microvascular segments served to demonstrate a continuous endothelium of uniform cytoplasmic thickness and few plasmalemmal vesicles. Average widths and depths of the endothelial junctional clefts were also homogeneous, except the significantly longer junctional depths of the second-order postcapillaries. The frequency of endothelial junctions per unit length of segmental luminal surface, like the vesicle densities, were uniformly less than those reported previously for adult continuous endothelia. Qualitative observations of systemically microinjected FITC-dextrans (40, 70, and 150 KDa), using real-time fluorescent confocal microscopy, failed to identify substantial interstitial accumulation of any dextrans during 10-min perfusion periods. Ultrastructural examination of the same dextran probes, on the other hand, served to detect small, sporadic interstitial foci of the dextran tracers. Such foci created a wide scattering of particle counts in the extravascular space, and extravascular accumulation was not sufficient to elicit an observable fluorescent signal. These results are consistent with the interpretation that during early stages of the normal angiogenic process, macromolecules ≥40,000 MW can traverse the CAM segmental microvascular endothelium. The extent of extravasation, however, was less than that reported previously during pathologic angiogenesis associated with wound healing or tumor growth.
Phytoavailability and bioaccumulation of cadmium in duckweed plants (Spirodela polyrhiza L. Schleid)

Abstract The aquatic vascular plant Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza L. Schleid) was investigated as a potential biological filter for wastewater Cd removal. Duckweed plants were grown in and harvested weekly from 0.10 M Hoagland nutrient solutions containing 0.04–7.63 μg Cd/mL. Dry weights of plants significantly decreased when exposed to 7.63 μg Cd/mL. For both the 1.03 and 7.63 μg Cd/mL treatments the greatest Cd accumulation in plants occurred during week 1 and decreased through week 4. It was also interesting to note that tissue P was observed to be suppressed for one week at higher Cd treatments, and thereafter increased as the tissue Cd levels decreased. Frond production was decreased by the lowest Cd treatments by the second week. These results suggest that Duckweed can tolerate and accumulate Cd for one week even when exposed to 7.63 μg Cd/mL. However, after one week the plants needed to be removed from the Cd solution to avoid tissue Cd loss and to achieve maximum removal from solution.
Inspection configuration and reprocessing decisions in serial production systems

In this paper we provide an integrated framework to consider manufacturing, inspection and reprocessing activities simultaneously in serial production systems. This model incorporates systematic treatment of time: time for processing and inspection, time for setups, time between consecutive production cycles, and in-process inventory holding times. The determination of optimal initial lot size, inspection configuration and reprocessing decisions is considered. Explicit analytical expressions for the component costs are developed, and the criterion is the minimization of the total cost. The total cost consists of component costs attributable to setup, WIP inventory, in-process inventory of rejects, inspection, manufacturing and reprocessing. Two distinct problems are considered. In the first problem, the number of production cycles and the initial lot size are fixed. In the second problem, the production target is fixed. A variant of the shortest path algorithm is developed to provide solutions. The algori...
Further observations on the effects of 1-thiocarbamoyl-2-imidazolidinone (TCI) on cell-mediated immunity

1-Thiocarbamoyl-2-imidazolidinone (TCI) affected several cell-mediated immune responses, including two under suppressor control. In the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reaction of C57BL/6J (B6) mice to 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB). TCI produced different effects depending on when it was given relative to hapten sensitization and challenge. When given 2 days before initial sensitization, TCI (10(-9)g/kg) caused inhibition of the 24 hr ear swelling response elicited 5 days after sensitization and slight enhancement of the response elicited at 10 days. Given 2 days after sensitization, the same dose of TCI produced little effect on the day 5 elicited response but appreciable enhancement of the day 10 elicited reaction. At doses of 10(-4) to 10(-1)g/kg, TCI given to B6 mice 1 day before tolerogen decreased 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt (DNB SO 3NA)-induced tolerance to DNFB sensitization initiated 10 days later. In vitro, TCI at concentrations of 10(-12), 10(-12) to 10(-3), and 10(-9) to 10(-1) g/liter was demonstrated to suppress, respectively, concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated proliferation of B6 mouse spleen cells, the one way mixed lymphocyte reaction between mitomycin-inactivated AKR mouse spleen stimulator cells and B6 mouse spleen responder cells, and the generation of cytotoxic B6 spleen cells directed against 51Cr-labeled Con A splenic lymphoblasts from AKR mice. The results indicate that TCI can affect immunological reactions under suppressor control and mimic the immunosuppressive effects of either niridazole itself in vivo or immunoactive niridazole metabolite preparations in vitro.
Viscoelasticity of wood cell walls with different moisture content as measured by nanoindentation

Instrumental indentation was performed on wood cell walls to measure the cell walls’ mechanical properties and creep behaviour over a range of various steady moisture conditions. The wood cell walls’ Young’s modulus and hardness were found to negatively correlate with moisture content. Theoretical modeling with Burgers model and finite element analysis with the Generalized Maxwell model were used to simulate the process of nanoindentation separately and to gain insight into the response of viscoelastic materials. The Young’s modulus extracted using Burgers model was lower than the values obtained using the Generalized Maxwell model and Oliver–Pharr method, indicating that creep happened during the indentation loading process. The extracted parameters from both models exhibited negative trends with increasing moisture content. Both models confirmed an intuitive understanding of creep in viscoelastic wood cell walls, which reflects previous basic information about the composite structure of wood cell walls and their rheological properties.
Anticipatory Attacks: Nuclear Crisis Stability in Future Asia

Anticipatory attack includes both preemptive and preventive attacks. Anticipatory attacks cannot be excluded as options for policymakers and military planners. On the other hand, preemption and preventive options must be used with care. Even when they are employed with favorable military results, anticipatory attacks can have undesirable political side effects. Nuclear anticipatory attacks raise issues in addition to conventional ones. Deterrence based on preemptive threat of nuclear attack is less fault-tolerant than deterrence based on the threat of conventional preemption.
Electrophile affinity: a reactivity measure for aromatic substitution.

The reactivity and regioselectivity of the electrophilic chlorination, nitration, and alkylation of benzene derivatives were rationalized by comparing literature data for the partial rate factors (ln f) for these SEAr processes with theoretical reactivity parameters. The Electrophile Affinity (Eα), a new quantity, is introduced to characterize reactivity and positional selectivity. Eα is evaluated theoretically by the energy change associated with formation of an arenium ion by attachment of a model electrophile to the aromatic ring. The dependence between Eα and ln f values for chlorination for 11 substitutions of benzene and methyl benzenes had a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.992). Quite satisfactory correlations between Eα values and partial rate factors also were obtained for the nitration of substituted benzenes (r = 0.971 for 12 processes) and benzylation of benzene and halobenzenes (r = 0.973 for 13 processes). These results provide clear evidence for the usefulness of the electrophile affini...
Mammary blood flow and glucose uptake in lactating cows given dexamethasone.

Abstract Dexamethasone (two 10-mg intramuscular injections 12h apart) was given to three lactating cows. Milk production decreased from 13.0±1.9 to 8.5±2.2 kg/day (mean±standard error). Mammary blood flow estimated by the antipyrine absorption method decreased in four of six half udders following dexamethasone. Changes in packed cell volume and plasma concentrations of free fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium and blood L-lactate were not significant. Mean blood 3-OH-butyrate concentration decreased from 6.4 to 4.5 mg/100ml. Plasma glucose concentration increased from 58±3 to 107±9 mg/100ml. Mammary arteriovenous differences of glucose were decreased by 41% and net mammary uptakes of glucose by 38%. Milk production was correlated with the mammary arteriovenous difference, extraction and net uptake of glucose, and the net uptake of glucose-plus-lactate but not with arterial glucose concentration. The results associate diminished milk production with diminished glucose uptake and utilization of glucose by the mammary gland rather than diminished availability of glucose in the blood.
Proteome analysis of DNA damage-induced neuronal death using high throughput mass spectrometry

Isotope-coded affinity tag reagents and high throughput mass spectrometry were used to quantitate changes in the expression of 150 proteins in mouse wild-type (p53+/+) cortical neurons undergoing DNA damage-induced death. Immunological techniques confirmed several of the changes in protein expression, but microarray analysis indicated that many of these changes were not accompanied by altered mRNA expression. Proteome analysis revealed perturbations in mitochondrial function, free radical production, and neuritogenesis that were not observed in p53-deficient neurons. Changes in Tau, cofilin, and other proteins recapitulated abnormalities observed in neurodegenerative states in vivo. Additionally, DNA damage caused a p53-dependent decrease in expression of members of the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. PKA inhibition promoted death in the absence of DNA damage, revealing a novel mechanism by which endogenous down-regulation of PKA signaling may contribute to p53-dependent neuronal death. These data demonstrate the power of high throughput mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis of the neuronal proteome.
The Role of Issues in Global Co-operation and Conflict

The study of global co-operation and conflict has been a central topic of enquiry in the field of international relations. Yet notwithstanding extensive work on these subjects, they are not well understood. Whenever research fails to resolve an intractable problem, it may be because the conceptualization of the dependent variable is fundamentally flawed and/or because the most critical independent variables have been ignored. The purpose of this analysis is to see if, by confronting these two problems, our ability to explain global contention can be improved.
Monoamine oxidase and catechol-o-methyltransferase enzyme activity and gene expression in response to sustained glucocorticoids

Summary We previously reported changes in DA neurochemical estimates after sustained corticosterone (CORT) administration or adrenalectomy (ADX) that are consistent with glucocorticoid-induced inhibition of DA metabolism. The present investigation measured monoamine oxidase type A (MAO-A), type B (MAO-B) and catechol- o -methyltransferase (COMT) activity by enzymatic assay and levels of gene expression by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) in tissues from sham, ADX, or ADX+CORT-replaced Lewis rats. One week of ADX had no significant effect on either enzyme activity or gene expression for any of the three enzymes examined in the medial prefrontal cortex, striatum, or liver. One week of CORT administration (100 mg—21 day release pellet) in ADX rats produced statistically significant decreases in MAO-A enzyme activity and MAO-B gene expression in the liver but no significant changes for any of the three enzymes in either activity or gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex or striatum. The results do not support inhibition of DA metabolism as a mechanism by which glucocorticoids influence DA-mediated behaviors.
Hybrid predictive dynamics: a new approach to simulate human motion

A new methodology, called hybrid predictive dynamics (HPD), is introduced in this work to simulate human motion. HPD is defined as an optimization-based motion prediction approach in which the joint angle control points are unknowns in the equations of motion. Some of these control points are bounded by the experimental data. The joint torque and ground reaction forces are calculated by an inverse algorithm in the optimization procedure. Therefore, the proposed method is able to incorporate motion capture data into the formulation to predict natural and subject-specific human motions. Hybrid predictive dynamics includes three procedures, and each is a sub-optimization problem. First, the motion capture data are transferred from Cartesian space into joint space by using optimization-based inverse kinematics (IK) methodology. Secondly, joint profiles obtained from IK are interpolated by B-spline control points by using an error-minimization algorithm. Third, boundaries are built on the control points to represent specific joint profiles from experiments, and these boundaries are used to guide the predicted human motion. To predict more accurate motion, the boundaries can also be built on the kinetic variables if the experimental data are available. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by simulating a box-lifting motion. The proposed method takes advantage of both prediction and tracking capabilities simultaneously, so that HPD has more applications in human motion prediction, especially towards clinical applications.
Anxiolytic-like effect of neuropeptide Y (NPY), but not other peptides in an operant conflict test

Abstract The peptide messengers neuropeptide Y (NPY), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and β-endorphin (BEND) were tested in an animal model of anxiety, the Geller-Seifter conflict test. Rats were subjected to a multiple schedule consisting of three components: in the first component, lever-pressing produced food-reward (‘unpunished responding’). The second component was a time-out period, during which lever-pressing had no consequences. During the third component, lever-pressing produced food-reward, but was also punished by an incremental foot-shock (‘punished responding’). After establishing a stable baseline of both unpunished and punished responding, animals were injected with various doses of NPY, GHRH, ANP, BEND, or with saline into the lateral cerebral ventricle, and testing was repeated. While changes in unpunished responding can reflect alterations in performance factors or motivational strength, increases in punished responding have previously been shown to be highly specific for anxiety-reducing drugs, such as the bensodiazepines. NPY markedly and dose-dependently increased punished responding. A smaller increase of unpunished responding was also seen. These results add further support to the hypothesis that NPY may be an endogenous anxiolytic. GHRH, ANP and END did not affect punished responding.
A novel near IR two-photon absorbing chromophore: Optical limiting and stabilization performances at an optical communication wavelength

Abstract Materials with large two-photon absorption (TPA) capability are highly useful not only for optical power limiting, but also for laser pulses’ stabilization in an optical communication system. A novel dipyrromethene boron difluoride (BODIPY) chromophore was synthesized and its TPA characteristic was investigated by the direct nonlinear transmission method in femto-second regime. This chromophore was found to have a broad TPA spectral distribution in the near-IR range, and a fairly large TPA cross-section of 101 GM at around 1310 nm. Using the BODIPY chromophore, both good optical limiting and optical stabilization performances were achieved at the wavelength of 1310 nm.
The sorption of metal complex species by anion exchange resin—II

Abstract The mechanism of the sorption of cadmium from chloride media by anion exchange resin was determined by correlation of equilibrium distribution measurements with the formation of chlorocadmium complexes in solution. Formation constants determined by both e.m.f. and polarographic methods showed that the sorption is principally dependent on the partition of an uncharged complex specie. The ion exchange process appeared to play a minor part in this particular system.
An empirical examination of stress in public accounting

Abstract This paper presents the results of an investigation of stress in public accounting, using a national sample of certified public accountants. The relationship between a set of predictor variables (organizational stressors and work/home conflict) and a set of criterion variables (job-related tension, job dissatisfaction, and propensity to leave public accounting) was analyzed using canonical correlation analysis. Job-related tension was associated with heavy work demands; job dissatisfaction and intension to leave were associated with slow career progress, unfulfilling jobs, and unclear job objectives.
Synthesis of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, its 24 epimer and related isomers, and their binding affinity for the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor

Abstract The synthesis of 1α-25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 and of several stereoisomers (5,6-trans and 1β-hydroxy isomers and the 24R-epimers of these compounds) was reported. Synthesis was accomplished from two different starting materials, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 25,25-ethylenedioxy-26-norvitamin D2, and involved C-1-hydroxylation via 3,5-cyclovitamin D intermediates. Synthetic 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 was found to be identical with the biologically generated natural product. An analysis of the binding affinity of the synthetic products for the 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor protein showed that isomerization of the 5,6 double bond from cis to trans, or epimerization of the 24-methyl group from S to R, reduced ligand binding to the receptor only slightly, while both changes together led to a 100-fold reduction of binding affinity. The epimerization of the 1-hydroxy function from 1α to 1β attenuated binding dramatically (ca. 1000-fold).
An elderly man with syncope caused by right ventricular infarction and anomalous coronary vasculature.

Up to half of inferior infarctions involve the right ventricle. Typical signs of right ventricular infarction include hypotension, jugular venous distention, clear lung fields, ST-segment depression in V1 and V2, and elevations in V3R and V4R.
Rotation of Venus: Continuing Contradictions

Optical observations of Venus have yielded various values of the rotation period extending from less than one to several hundred days. Radar observations give a retrograde rotation of the solid globe in 244 ± 2 days. Recent ultraviolet photographs, however, show relatively rapid displacements of clouds in the high atmosphere of Venus which suggest a retrogrode rotation in only 5 days. The two rates seem to be physically incompatible.
Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) for Tumor Imaging and Treatment Monitoring

Palpation is an established screening procedure for the detection of several superficial cancers including breast, thyroid, prostate, and liver tumors through both self and clinical examinations. This is because solid masses typically have distinct stiffnesses compared to the surrounding normal tissue. In this paper, the application of Harmonic Motion Imaging (HMI) for tumor detection based on its stiffness as well as its relevance in thermal treatment is reviewed. HMI uses a focused ultrasound (FUS) beam to generate an oscillatory acoustic radiation force for an internal, non-contact palpation to internally estimate relative tissue hardness. HMI studies have dealt with the measurement of the tissue dynamic motion in response to an oscillatory acoustic force at the same frequency, and have been shown feasible in simulations, phantoms, ex vivo human and bovine tissues as well as animals in vivo. Using an FUS beam, HMI can also be used in an ideal integration setting with thermal ablation using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which also leads to an alteration in the tumor stiffness. In this paper, a short review of HMI is provided that encompasses the findings in all the aforementioned areas. The findings presented herein demonstrate that the HMI displacement can accurately depict the underlying tissue stiffness, and the HMI image of the relative stiffness could accurately detect and characterize the tumor or thermal lesion based on its distinct properties. HMI may thus constitute a non-ionizing, cost-efficient and reliable complementary method for noninvasive tumor detection, localization, diagnosis and treatment monitoring.