cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive markers of bone metabolism in the rhesus monkey: normal effects of age and gender

Measurement of bone turnover in conditions such as osteoporosis has been limited by the need for invasive iliac bone biopsy to reliably determine parameters of bone metabolism. Recent advances in the area of serum and urinary markers of bone metabolism have raised the possibility for noninvasive measurements; however, little nonhuman primate data exist for these parameters. The purpose of this experiment was to define the normal range and variability of several of the newer noninvasive bone markers which are currently under investigation in humans. The primary intent was to determine age and gender variability, as well as provide some normative data for future experiments in nonhuman primates. Twenty-four rhesus macaques were divided into equal groups of male and female according to the following age groupings: 3 years, 5-10 years, 15-20 years, and > 25 years. Urine was collected three times daily for a four-day period and measured for several markers of bone turnoverm including pyridinoline (PYD), deoxypyrodinoline (DPD), hydroxyproline, and creatinine. Bone mineral density measurements of the lumbar spine were performed at the beginning and end of the study period. Serum was also obtained at the time of bone densitometry for measurement of osteocalcin levels by radioimmunoassay. There were no significant differences in bone mineral density, urine PYD, or urine DPD based on gender. Bone density was lowest in the youngest animals, peaked in the 15-20-year group, but again decreased in the oldest animals. The osteocalcin, PYD, and DPD levels followed an inversely related pattern to bone density. The most important result was the relative age insensitivity of the ratio of PYD:DPD in monkeys up to age 20 years. Since bone density changes take months or years to become measurable and iliac biopsies are invasive, the PYD/DPD marker ratio may have important implications for rapid noninvasive measurement of the effects of potential treatments for osteoporosis in the non-human primate model.
Optical depth measurements of fireballs from aluminized high explosives

Spatially and temporally resolved attenuation of 532 nm light by fireballs from aluminized high explosives is determined using photometric and imaging methods. For all measurements, the absorbance is found to peak during the early period of high reactivity of post-detonation gases. The characteristic attenuation length is less than 1 cm during the peak absorption period, and remains on the order of centimeters until a significant decrease in optical depth occurs about 160 μs after the detonation. These results suggest that, for gram-scale and larger aluminized charges, the optically thick assumption will most likely be valid for the period in which fireball luminosity is significant.
Abstract 3997: MiR-181 promotes megakaryocyte differentiation

MiRNAs have attracted attention due to their key regulatory functions in biological events such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. A few recent studies reported on the existence of a reciprocal regulatory loop between the family of let-7 miRNAs and an RNA-binding protein lin28, both of which play important roles during cell differentiation. Using bipotent K562 human leukemia cells and human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells as research models, we demonstrate that let-7 and lin28 appear to exhibit inverse expression trends in phorbol ester-induced megakaryocyte differentiation, while miR-181 is up-regulated early during this process. Enforced expression of miR-181a in K562 cells effectively represses lin28 expression, breaking up the lin28-let-7 reciprocal regulatory loop, and sequentially triggers megakaryocyte differentiation as measured by CD41 and CD61 induction. Elevated miR-181 also significantly increases the number of megakaryocyte colonies in CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells. However, miR-181 expression levels only slightly change during hemin-induced erythrocyte differentiation. These results suggest that miR-181 can function as a “molecular switch” during hematopoietic lineage differentiation and can be a potential target for future miRNA-oriented therapeutics for human cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3997. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3997
Estimation of repetitive interval of periodic bands in laser electrophotographic printer output

In the printing industry, electrophotography (EP) is a commonly used technology in laser printers and copiers. In the EP printing process, there are many rotating components involved in the six major steps: charging, exposure, development, transfer, fusing, and cleaning. If there is any irregularity in one of the rotating components, repetitive defects, such as isolated bands or spots, will occur on the output of the printer or copier. To troubleshoot these types of repetitive defect issues, the repeating interval of these isolated bands or spots is an important clue to locate the irregular rotating component. In our previous work, we have effectively identified the presence of isolated large pitch bands in the output from EP printers. In this paper, we describe an algorithm to estimate the repetitive interval of periodic bands, when the data is corrupted by the presence of aperiodic bands, missing periodic bands, and noise. We will also illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of our method with example results.
Analysis of the gene family encoding the Entamoeba histolytica galactose-specific adhesin 170-kDa subunit

The 170-kDa or heavy subunit of the galactose binding adhesin of Entamoeba histolytica is seminal in target cell binding and lysis. To determine the existence and complexity of the 170-kDa subunit gene family, hgl, an amebic genomic library in lambda phage was hybridized with DNA fragments from the 5′ or 3′ ends of hgl1. Termini from three distinct heavy subunit genes were identified including hgl1, hgl2, and a third, unreported gene designated hgl3. The open reading frame of hg3 was sequenced in its entirety. Non-stringent hybridization of a genomic Southern blot with heavy subunit specific DNA labeled only those bands predicted by hgl1–3. The amino acid sequence of hgl3 was 95.2% identical to hgl1 and 89.4% identical to hgl2. All 97 cysteine residues present in the heavy subunit were conserved in hgl1–3. Analysis of amebic RNA showed that all three heavy subunit genes were expressed in the amebae and that hgl message became less abundant as the amebae entered a stationary growth phase.
A simple analytic model for performance of exclusive locking in database systems

Many different algorithms have been proposed for database concurrency control, and many more can be synthesized by combining locking and timestamping. The correctness of these algorithms is already well understood, their performance is not. We need a model to help us understand, compare and control the behavior of locking and timestamping we present here a model which we hope will eventually play such a role, but which we believe is simple to understand and use.
Detection of pulmonary emboli at the segmental and subsegmental level with electron-beam CT: Validation in a porcine model

Rationale and Objectives. The authors evaluated the sensitivity of electron-beam computed tomography (CT) in the detection of segmental and subsegmental pulmonary artery emboli in a porcine model. Mateirals and Methods. Twenty-one segmental and subsegmental branch pulmonary arteries in five swine were selectively catheterized and embolized with gelatin sponge pledgets. The presence of emboli was confirmed by means of contrast material—enhanced angiography. Contrast-enhanced CT scans of the pulmonary arteries were then obtained with 3-mm collimation, 2-mm table travel between sections, and an imaging time of 100 msec per section. Contrast material was injected at a rate of 2–3 mL/sec, depending on the animal's weight, with a total dose of 60 mL for each scan. Cardiac-gated and nongated scans were obtained, but breath holding was not possible in these animals. Results. Contrast-enhanced electron-beam CT scanning allowed correct prospective identification of 18 of 21 emboli in the segmented and subsegmental branches of the pulmonary arteries. The overall sensitivity was 86%. Cardiac gating subjectively improved image quality but did not result in greater sensitivity in the detection of emboli. The level of sensitivity was not affected by the use of breath holding. Conclusion. Contrast-enhanced electron-beam CT is a sensitive method for the detection of embolism in the segmental and subsegmental pulmonary arteries.
Syncope: The Diagnostic Value of Head‐Up Tilt Testing

To determine the usefulness of prolonged head-up tilt in the diagnosis of neurally mediated syncope, 201 patients with history of syncope of unknown cause and 102 age and gender matched control subjects underwent a 40 minute 60 degrees head-up tilt test. Head-up tilt elicited syncope (i.e., was positive) in 74 of the 201 patients (37%) with a history of unexplained syncope and in only 6 of the 102 controls (6%). The specificity of the test was 100% in patients 60 years of age and older. Symptoms during tilt-induced syncope were identified by the patients as similar to those they had suffered during their spontaneous episodes. All 80 subjects who had tilt-induced syncope recovered without sequelae. The positive predictive value of a positive responses to head-up tilt was 93% and the negative predictive value was 43%. The results indicate that the prolonged head-up tilt test is a very specific procedure of high diagnostic value in patients with a history of unexplained syncope. It is particularly useful in the elderly age groups who have a high incidence of syncope.
Determination of the proximity tolerance for measurement of surface contact areas using a magnetic tracking device

Abstract Undisrupted joint contact areas can be determined based on surface proximity from combined surface geometry and bony kinematics measured with a magnetic tracking device. This technique is useful for evaluating the apparent region of contact in the normal joint. After disruption of the supporting structures or other simulated pathology, the locations and size of the contact region can be compared with the normal condition. However, the contact results may be highly sensitive to measurement errors. In this study, the accuracy of this method was evaluated for three simple geometric objects: (1) a flat plate, (2) a cylinder, and (3) a sphere, all in contact with a flat surface. The results indicated the contact can be determined within an average proximity of 0.16 ± 0.01 mm (mean ± standard error) with the flat plate, 0.07 ± 0.02 mm with the cylinder, and 0.06 ± 0.08 mm with the sphere. The proximity values are nearly the same as the translational accuracy of the equipment, and might be used as thresholds for in vitro studies.
Evidence for and against the use of opioid analgesics for chronic nonmalignant low back pain: a review.

Introduction. Opioid analgesics are very effective for treating pain, but their chronic use in nonmalignant conditions is controversial. Low back pain is a common condition, and chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the most frequent regional pain syndrome in the United States. This article reviews the evidence for and against the use of chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT) for patients with CLBP unrelated to cancer. Methods. A literature review was conducted looking for reports of oral or transdermal opioid analgesic therapy for CLBP. Results. There are very few randomized controlled trials of COAT for CLBP. The scant evidence that is available suggests that over the short-term, COAT is helpful with patients with CLBP. In the published reports, most of which are brief in duration, COAT is associated with moderate side effects but a low risk of abuse or drug addiction. COAT was not associated with adverse long-term sequelae. Longer-acting opioid analgesics may be preferable to shorter-acting agents. Patient selection and close follow-up are critical to good outcomes. Conclusions. There is a place for the use of chronic oral or transdermal opioid analgesics in the treatment of some patients with CLBP.
Metabolic changes accompanying denervation and reinnervation of the dentate gyrus of the rat measured by [3H]2-deoxyglucose autoradiography.

The pattern of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) utilization was quantitatively analyzed in the dentate gyrus of the rat 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 26 to 28 days after unilateral destruction of the entorhinal cortex through the use of a [3H]2-DG autoradiographic procedure. Grain counts were taken in the portion of the neuropil denervated by the lesion (the outer stratum moleculare), in nondenervated portions of the neuropil where normal innervation survives (the inner stratum moleculare), and over the lamina occupied by granule cell somata (stratum granulosum). Unilateral lesions of the entorhinal area resulted in rather slight (5 to 10%) decreases in 2-DG utilization in the denervated dentate gyrus compared with a comparable region on the contralateral (control) side between 1 to 4 days postlesion. These decreases were not restricted to the denervated portions of the neuropil, but rather appeared throughout the zones occupied by the postsynaptic cells. Between 6 and 10 days postlesion, however, there was a dramatic increase in 2-DG uptake in the outer stratum moleculare, whereas uptake in the inner stratum moleculare and stratum granulosum was as low or lower than during the early postlesion period. After 12 days postlesion, 2-DG uptake in the outer stratum moleculare again decreased, such that all laminae exhibited uptake which was slightly lower (10 to 15% compared with the contralateral control) than during the early postlesion period. Because the decreases in 2-DG uptake were observed throughout the territory occupied by the postsynaptic cell and were not restricted to the denervated laminae, we conclude that the denervation resulted in general decreased metabolism throughout the postsynaptic cell. Because the increases in 2-DG utilization at 6 to 10 days postlesion occurred during the time at which synaptic proliferation (sprouting) would be occurring, we suggest that this increased 2-DG utilization may reflect increased metabolic activity in afferent or postsynaptic elements during lesion-induced synaptogenesis.
Kaurene synthetase from plastids of developing plant tissues.

Summary Kaurene synthesis from copalyl pyrophosphate is present in the plastid fraction from all three sources of developing plant tissue studied. Isolated plastids from Echinocystis macrocarpa endosperm have kaurene synthetic capacity from either geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate or copalyl pyrophosphate. However, organelle preparations from etiolated pea shoot tips or developing castor bean endosperm have either no or a very limited ability to synthesize kaurene from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. These results suggest that the first committed step in gibberellin biosynthesis, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate conversion to copalyl pyrophosphate, may be limited under certain stages of plant development.
Novel dual direction PNP with self-bias ring structure

A novel voltage rating adjustable dual direction PNP ESD clamp with self-bias ring structure is proposed and demonstrated for better isolation performance in this work. In comparison to conventional structure, measurements exhibit that the latch-up (LU) immunity are enhanced by more than 2.5X, and the leakage current level is simultaneously suppressed by more than 20X.
Temperature and chemical sensitivity of carbon films on quartz

Abstract Insulating to conductive carbon films were obtained by controlled vacuum annealing of the disordered carbon films deposited on quartz by sputtering of carbon. The change of conductance of the films has been studied on exposure to the vapors of NH3 and NO2, chosen for their opposite donor–acceptor properties. The chemical sensitivity of conductance along with temperature sensitivity is discussed in terms of atomic ordering of the as-deposited films induced by heating at high temperatures and revealed by Raman scattering measurements. The observed dependence of conductance on temperature is explained by a model based on the charge tunneling through thermal vibrational barriers, the average height and width of which change with atomic ordering. Phenomenological description of chemical sensing by the films is given in terms of the time constant τ and the maximum relative change in conductance β, related to the surface and material properties of the films respectively. The expression σ = β/τ is considered a measure of the chemical sensitivity of the films and changes with modifications in the material structure of the films on annealing.
Field Evaluation of Mortality from Hemolymph Extraction as a Source of DNA, and Application to PCR-RFLP Identification of Threatened Freshwater Mussel Species

ABSTRACT Evolutionary convergence and plasticity of shell characters creates great confusion in freshwater mussel systematics and complicates field census efforts. Genetic identification offers a powerful alternative. But methods involving DNA sequencing are expensive and require tissue sampling, whose effects on survival and health of animals from natural populations have seldom been assessed. We used hemolymph sampling as a nonlethal source of tissue for DNA extraction, and developed genetic identification methods using Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis as an alternative for field surveys. We focused on two morphologically similar endemic species in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina: the abundant Elliptio waccamawensis and the less common Lampsilis fullerkati. These served as models for surveyors who are often faced with conducting accurate census of cryptic rare species that co-occur with more common forms. Hemolymph-sampled and control individuals of th...
Electronic Medical Records and Improving the Quality of the Screening Process

Although electronic medical records (EMR) are considered a key component to improving health care quality and, potentially, efficiency, only 1.5% of US hospitals surveyed in 2008 had a comprehensive EMR. In contrast, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has had a comprehensive EMR since the 1990s. In this issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine the article by Humphrey et al. provides an interesting example of the promise and the unexpected lessons encountered while attempting to harness the power of the VHA EMR to improve the process of screening for colorectal cancer.
Examining the Relationship between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Borderline Personality Disorder: Does Social Support Matter?

The relationship between childhood sexual abuse and borderline personality disorder is a prominent issue in the etiological research on borderline personality disorder. This study further explored the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and the development of borderline personality features while evaluating the moderating role of a primary social support source in a sample of 290 female undergraduate students enrolled at a major southeastern university. Consistent with previous research, retrospective self-reports of childhood sexual abuse and low social support were both positively correlated with current borderline personality features. It was hypothesized that the presence of a supportive relationship at the time the childhood sexual abuse occurred would moderate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and borderline personality features. This moderation hypothesis was not supported in the current study, but post-hoc analyses reveal the need to further examine how we define social suppo...
Vectors and Gene Targeting Modules for Tandem Affinity Purification in Schizosaccharomyces Pombe

We describe the construction of tagging cassettes and plasmids for tandem affinity purification (TAP) of proteins in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The tagging cassettes are designed for either carboxy- or amino-terminal tagging of proteins. The carboxyl terminal tags differ in that they contain either two or four repeats of IgG binding units. For tagging endogenous loci, the cassettes contain the kan MX6 module to allow for selection of G418-resistant cells. The amino-terminal tagging vectors allow for the regulated expression of proteins. Sz. pombe Cdc2p was chosen to test these new affinity tags. Several known binding proteins co-purified with both Cdc2p-CTAP and N-TAP-Cdc2p, indicating the usefulness of these tags for the rapid purification of stable protein complexes from Sz. pombe. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differentiation of growth hormone- and prolactin-containing acidophils with peroxidase-labeled antibody.

In order to verify the concept that growth hormone and prolactin are contained in two different populations of acidophils, sections of Bouin-fixed rat hypophyses were stained immunochemically. For this purpose the histochemical demonstration of peroxidase was utilized after sequential application to the tissue section of rabbit antiserum to human growth hormone (or antiserum to rat prolactin) followed by application of peroxidase-labeled sheep antiserum to rabbit gamma-globulin. It was found that growth hormone cells and prolactin cells, when revealed immunochemically, corresponded structurally to cell types that could be differentiated with reasonable certainty in sections stained with the Masson trichrome procedure. When delineated immunochemically, growth hormone cells were larger and more densely arranged in the adult male than in the intact female; they exhibited little change in the female after ovariectomy. In contrast, prolactin cells were large and frequent in the female hypophysis but were small and less frequent in the male and in the female after ovariectomy. By double-staining, growth hormone and prolactin cells were differentiated in the same section. It was concluded that (a) growth hormone and prolactin are contained in, and presumably secreted by, two different populations of acidophils; and (b) the Masson procedure permits a reasonably accurate differentiation of the two cell types.
Gastric evacuation rates and daily ration of piscivorous coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum

Effects of temperature and meal size on gastric evacuation rates of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, consuming sockeye salmon, O. nerka, fry were examined and used in the estimation of daily meal, daily ration and number of fry consumed by coho in Chignik Lake, Alaska. Evacuation of fry by coho was best described by a negative exponential model (average R2= 0.93). A square root model also provided a good fit (average R2= 0·93), but the y-intercepts deviated more from the expected value than did the y-intercepts of the exponential model. The effect of temperature (T, 5–13° C) and meal size (MS, 0·166–0·367 g) on the exponential evacuation rate (re, h-1) could be described as In the lake, coho fed continuously during the 24-h period in early June 1986 and 1987. Estimates of daily meal and ration of coho calculated by the Eggers method and the geometric mean of prey weight ranged from 0·224 to 0·435 g (2.1–4.4% body wt) depending on location and year. The Elliott & Persson method provided similar estimates of food consumption, whereas estimates based on the Pennington method and square root evacuation of prey differed from the exponential models. Sockeye fry represented 93% of the total prey weight. The average number of sockeye fry consumed per coho per 24 h, based on the arithmetic mean of prey weight, was 3·0–3·9 fry.
Air pollution and the compression-ignition engine

The compression-ignition engine, popularly known as the diesel, is examined as a contributor to metropolitan air pollution. Smoke and odor are recognized as the primary targets of public objection to the diesel, and factors relevant to the smoke and odor problem are discussed. Problems that involve diesel smoke are seen by the author as readily manageable but a satisfactory solution to the diesel odor problem is not yet evident. Other pollutants—unburned hydrocarbon, partially burned hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen, and in lesser degree, carbon monoxide—are significant in the products of diesel combustion. Of these, only oxides of nitrogen and possibly the aldehydes typically are discharged in quantities that in equivalent volumes of combustion product may exceed the quantities discharged by spark-ignition reciprocating internal combustion engines. Features both inherent and unique to the diesel combustion process are discussed as factors relevant to generation or avoidance of objectionable pollutants. In this context the high temperatures and oxygen availability in diesel combustion are seen as serious impediments to satisfactory reduction of the yield of oxides of nitrogen in the diesel process, but they are favorable in holding concentrations of pollutants in other categories to acceptably low levels. Except for the problem of odor and of oxides of nitrogen, it would appear that the combustion processes of the compression-ignition engine inherently are favorable toward engine design and operation for reduction in pollutants to meet environmental needs.
WGS Capacity using the DoD Joint IP Modem (DVB-S2, RCS)

The DoD joint internet protocol modem is based on the digital video broadcast (DVB) standard. In a star network topology the forward traffic is DVB-Satellite 2 (DVB-S2) and the return traffic is DVB-return channel by satellite (DVB-RCS). The joint modem adds an embedded TRANSEC capability and a mesh overlay allowing user terminals to communicate without passing through the hub. The analysis will take advantage of the variable coding and modulation (VCM) feature [as well as the constant coding and modulation (CCM) feature of DVB-S]. First, the DVB-S2 capacity will be determined for wideband gapfiller satellite (WGS) located at 175deg east using a set of reference links located in Korea using CCM and VCM in the forward direction. Then the capacity of WGS will be determined in the return direction using DVB-RCS. Finally, the mesh capacity will be determined using WGS with VSAT terminals (1m) in Korea for voice over internet protocol (VoIP) traffic
Microspotting streptavidin and double-stranded DNA arrays on gold for high-throughput studies of protein-DNA interactions by surface plasmon resonance microscopy.

We present two strategies for microspotting 10 × 12 arrays of double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) onto a gold-coated glass slide for high-throughput studies of protein−DNA interactions by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) microscopy. Both methods use streptavidin (SA) as a linker layer between a biotin-containing mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and biotinylated dsDNAs to produce arrays with high packing density. The primary mixed SAM is produced from biotin- and oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated thiols bonded as thiolates onto the gold surface. In the first method, a robotic microspotter is used to deliver nanoliter droplets of dsDNA solution onto a uniform layer of this SA (∼2 × 1012 SA/cm2). SPR microscopy shows a density of (5−6) × 1011 dsDNA/cm2 (0.2−0.3 dsDNA/SA) in the array elements. The second method uses instead a microspotted array of this SA linker layer, onto which the microspots of dsDNA are added with spatial registry. SPR microscopy before addition of the dsDNA shows a SA coverage of 2 × 1012 ...
Rainwater: Nutrient additions to a hypereutrophic lake

Rainwater was collected near culturally eutrophic Lake Sallie, Minnesota. Rain pH was low, but sulphuric acid did not appear to be the causative agent. Nitrogen varied greatly in single rainfalls. Ammonia was normally more concentrated than nitrate; both fell in sufficient quantitites to enrich surface waters. Atmospheric N loading may stimulate algal production. Rainwater phosphorus was normally less than 40 µg/l and insignificant in contrast to cultural influences. Calculations of rainfall nutrient contributions are given.
Social Justice Becomes a Living Experience for Students, Faculty, and Community

This social justice course was the result of a service‐learning project with African American and First Nations peoples of a Southern community telling their story of desegregation through the creation of a video documentary project. Combining the pedagogy of service‐learning with documentary video making, a social justice project was created that impacted students, faculty, and community.
A placebo controlled trial of memantine as an adjunct to oral naltrexone for opioid dependence.

Abstract Background Preclinical findings suggest that the inhibition of NMDA glutamatergic neurotransmission may have beneficial effects in the treatment of opioid dependence. Aims We hypothesized that memantine, a low-potency, uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, would be safe and effective when used as an adjunct to oral naltrexone in the treatment of opioid dependence, particularly in preventing relapse to opiate use in detoxified individuals. Methods Opioid-dependent participants (N = 112) were enrolled. Following detoxification all participants were inducted onto oral naltrexone and were randomized to receive memantine 15 mg bid (N = 27), memantine 30 mg bid (N = 27) or placebo (N = 27) for 12-weeks in combination with naltrexone 50 mg/day and individual relapse-prevention therapy. The primary outcome was the retention in treatment since treatment dropout is most commonly associated with relapse to opiate use. Results Twenty-six percent of participants withdrew from treatment prior to starting naltrexone. Of those that were randomized 35% completed 4 weeks only, and 24% completed all 12 weeks of treatment. There was no significant difference in treatment retention or heroin use, opiate withdrawal symptoms and craving between the groups treated with memantine vs. placebo. Conclusion Thus, the efficacy of memantine 30 or 60 mg/day as an adjunct to oral naltrexone for the treatment of opiate dependence was not supported.
Permanent Transvenous Atrial Pacing After Heart Surgery

Permanent transvenous atrial “J” leads were successfully implanted in 10 patients whose atrial appendages had been previously amputated during heart surgery. Early and late lead performance was satisfactory.
After the Fall The Changing Experiential Conditions of Post-9/11 New York and Their Political Implications

In contrast to the audience in most of the world, New Yorkers experienced the events of 9/11 as more than symbolic images. Indeed, the experiential and practical foundations of New Yorkers’ cultura...
History and Implementation of Classroom Technology

Abstract A plenary review of the research literature is provided regarding the history of K-12 classroom technology. Coverage is provided from the era of early “teaching machines” to the SMART technologies of Interactive White Boards (IWB). A chronology is traced, noting the development of technology and how teachers and administrators have adapted to the classroom milieu over decades of time. We also describe what the research literature demarcates as empirical benefits, liabilities, limitations, and suggested practices for classroom teachers who utilize technology in their respective classrooms. The presented paper is based on data from a master's thesis regarding classroom technology in public school settings.
Excitation spectroscopy of thin-film disordered semiconductors

In this paper we examine the use of a high-power, tunable free-electron laser (FEL) source to measure photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra in two classes of disordered semiconductors, amorphous semiconductors and partially ordered III-V ternary semiconductors. The source must be tunable to follow the absorption continuously across the region of the optical energy gap, and the source must be of high power to provide enough absorbed photons in this relatively transparent spectral region so that PL processes can be measured. The usefulness of PLE spectroscopy in these semiconducting thin films lies in the fact that if the quantum efficiency (eta) for the PL process is independent of energy, then the PLE spectrum is a measure of the optical absorption. In addition, disordered semiconductors often exhibit enhanced absorption below the optical gap due to the disorder itself. PLE measurements that probe regions where the absorption coefficient (alpha) is small ((alpha) < < 103 cm-1) are most important because in these regions (alpha) is dominated by the electronic states introduced by the disorder.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Long‐term survival of rat cardiac allografts by intrathymic plus portal venous injections of donor bone marrow cells and short‐term tacrolimus immunosuppression

Intrathymic (IT) or portal venous (PV) injection of donor antigens has been shown to prolong organ acceptance in low responder rat strain combinations. We determined whether a combination of these strategies would prolong cardiac allograft survival in high responder combinations. Wistar Furth rats received 1 × 108 ACI rat bone marrow cells (BMCs) via IT, intravenous (IV), PV, IV + PV, IT + IV or IT + PV route at the time of ACI cardiac transplantation. Without tacrolimus (FK), all grafts were acutely rejected. With FK immunosuppression (1.5 mg/kg per day, I. M., days 0–4), single BMC injection did not increase graft survival beyond 93 days, whereas 70 % of grafts survived indefinitely ( > 150 days) when IT and PV BMCs were combined. Animals receiving IT and PV BMCs also had less allograft vasculopathy. Thus, IT and PV injections of donor BMCs under a brief course of FK synergistically improve cardiac allograft survival.
Female philopatry and male‐biased dispersal in a direct‐developing salamander, Plethodon cinereus

The local resource competition hypothesis and the local mate competition hypothesis were developed based on avian and mammalian systems to explain sex-biased dispersal. Most avian species show a female bias in dispersal, ostensibly due to resource defence, and most mammals show a male bias, ostensibly due to male-male competition. These findings confound phylogeny with mating strategy; little is known about sex-biased dispersal in other taxa. Resource defence and male-male competition are both intense in Plethodon cinereus, a direct-developing salamander, so we tested whether sex-biased dispersal in this amphibian is consistent with the local resource competition hypothesis (female-biased) or the local mate competition hypothesis (male-biased). Using fine-scale genetic spatial autocorrelation analyses, we found that females were philopatric, showing significant positive genetic structure in the shortest distance classes, with stronger patterns apparent when only territorial females were tested. Males showed no spatial genetic structure over the shortest distances. Mark-recapture observations of P. cinereus over 5 years were consistent with the genetic data: males dispersed farther than females during natal dispersal and 44% of females were recaptured within 1 m of their juvenile locations. We conclude that, in this population of a direct-developing amphibian, females are philopatric and dispersal is male-biased, consistent with the local mate competition hypothesis.
Integrating today's research to prepare tomorrow's power engineers

While some groups feel that there is a separation between research and education for engineering faculty, today's ever changing environment requires that faculty in both the undergraduate and graduate classroom must keep up with industry trends to ensure that students have the needed background and foundation for their careers. This is especially true in power engineering where developments in the last 10–15 years are providing alternatives to traditional paradigms. This paper and panel presentation will discuss how research activities can be leveraged into content, projects and other opportunities for classroom education. Activities related to introducing power concepts to ECEs, shipboard power systems, distributed generation including alternative energy, and emergency preparation will be discussed.
Dynamic Capabilities in Small Software Firms: A Sense-and-Respond Approach

Small software firms find themselves in highly complex and turbulent environments that require dynamic capabilities to build, integrate, and reconfigure resources. While the literature describes a portfolio of dynamic capabilities that can help the small software firms in adaptation, there are no comprehensive approaches available. We use a sense-and-respond framework as a lens to study the dynamic capabilities in two software firms, Starter Inc. and Mature Inc. The framework integrated the activity- and firm-level capabilities related to input, process, and output of software development. The framework also revealed important variations in sense-and-respond practices as a reflection of differences in maturity between the two firms. We argue that the framework offered a comprehensive and useful approach to understand the dynamic capabilities in the two firms, and on that basis we suggest the principles for how managers can apply the framework to small software firms.
New treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia

Introduction: Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous disease. Yet current therapy has changed little over the decades and includes the nucleoside analog cytarabine in combination with an anthracycline as primary therapy. With this approach, durable cures occur in the minority of patients. With the recent improved scientific understanding of the underlying genetic and epigenetic aberrations in AML, there is now the potential of individualized and targeted therapeutic approaches for the curative treatment of AML.Areas covered: The focus of this article is to review the therapeutic potential of many of the novel agents currently under investigation in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The results of pivotal Phase III studies, as well as ongoing Phase II and III studies and selected Phase I studies with impact on the field of AML therapy will be discussed.Expert opinion: Advances in the scientific knowledge of the various genetic and epigenetic alterations in AML, in conjunctio...
‘You will desire to see and you will not see [it]’: Reading Luke 17.22 as Antanaclasis

This article argues for a reading of Lk. 17.22 as antanaclasis, which is a form of rhetorical wordplay in which the same (or a similar) term is repeated, but in two different senses. According to this reading, Jesus introduces his discourse to the disciples (vv. 22-37) with the prediction that in the coming days they will desire to ‘see’ (as in witness) one of the days of the Son of Man but they will not ‘see’ (as in comprehend) these days when they occur among them so long as they fail to understand that suffering is primary to the Son of Man’s identity. Such a reading coheres with the larger Lukan theme of the blindness of the disciples to the necessity of Jesus’ passion. Such a reading also requires a rethinking of the assumption that the subject of Jesus’ discourse in 17.22-37 is the parousia.
Improving the Evaluation of Leadership Programs: Control Response Shift

The Cooperative Extension Service has been a key partner in the design, implementation and evaluation of leadership development programs. To evaluate the effectiveness of their training and the effects of response shift bias on outcomes using a self-report measure, one hundred forty-seven County Extension Agents participated in this leadership study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups or to a control group. Two different evaluation designs (pre-posttest and then-post) were used. The then-post design asks participants to first report their behavior or understanding as a result of the training (post) and then to retrospectively report this behavior before the training. The then-post evaluation design provided more significant change data than did the traditional pre-posttest design indicating a response shift occurred. Such differences in evaluation findings suggest that the educational benefit of such trainings may be underestimated when using the traditional pre-post evaluation design.
Viscous and gravitational contributions to mixing during vertical brine transport in water-saturated porous media

The transport of fluids miscible with water arises in groundwater contamination and during remediation of the subsurface environment. For concentrated salt solutions, i.e., brines, the increased density and viscosity determine mixing processes between these fluids and ambient groundwater. Under downward flow conditions, gravitational and viscous forces work against each other to determine the interfacial mixing processes. Historically, mixing has been modeled as a dispersive process, as viscous fingering, and as a combination of both using approaches that were both analytical and numerical. A compilation of previously reported experimental data on vertical miscible displacements by fluids with significant density and viscosity contrasts reveals some agreement with a stability analysis presented by Hill (1952). Additional experimental data on one-dimensional dispersion during downward displacement of concentrated salt solutions by freshwater and freshwater displacement by brines support the stability analysis and provides an empirical representation for dispersion coefficients as functions of a gravity number and a mobility ratio.
Natural hemodynamic history of congenital aortic stenosis in childhood

Abstract The natural hemodynamic history of 37 patients with congenital aortic stenosis (18 valvular, 10 valvular with slight or moderate aortic insufficiency, 6 discrete subvalvular and 3 supravalvular) was documented by 2 catheterizations using the same methods of study. In the majority of patients with valvular, discrete subvalvular and supravalvular aortic stenosis the anomaly increased in severity, as evidenced by (1) a statistically significant increase in left ventricular peak systolic pressure, left ventricular to aortic peak systolic pressure gradient and arteriovenous oxygen difference; and (2) by a significant decrease in cardiac index and stenotic orifice area per square meter body surface area. The changes were more severe in patients with supra- and subvalvular stenosis. There were no statistically significant changes in aortic pressure, heart rate, systolic ejection period or wedge pressure. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased significantly only in patients with discrete subvalvular aortic stenosis. Although the stenotic area index was lower in all patients without aortic insufficiency, absolute stenotic area decreased in only a small percentage. In patients with both valvular aortic stenosis and insufficiency, there was a significant unfavorable change in cardiac index, arteriovenous oxygen difference and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure but no significant increase in left ventricular peak systolic pressure or left ventricular to aortic peak systolic pressure gradient. Ninety percent of the patients remained asymptomatic during the study. Aortic stenosis is likely to increase in severity, usually by an increase in flow across a “fixed” stenotic area as a result of body growth and sometimes by a concomitant actual decrease in stenotic area.
Energy Estimation in the Critically Ill: A Literature Review

Critically ill patients have higher energy expenditure and increased nutritional needs compared to non-critically patients. This can lead to medical malnutrition if nutritional interventions are not implemented quickly and accurately in the disease course. Obtaining an accurate estimation of nutritional needs is paramount in establishing nutritional support. The literature review was designed to look at the numerous predictive equations and determine the accuracy among different critically ill patient populations. Data Sources: Using keywords energy estimation, nutritional predictive equations, and critical illness, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and validation studies were identified through electronic database searches and citation tracking. Study Selection: Articles were selected that evaluated individual predictive equations in critically ill patients, their accuracy compared to indirect calorimetry, and their use in special patient populations. Data Extraction and Synthesis: A total of 12 articles were selected using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Accuracy of the predictive equations was separated into overall accuracy among all patients, all ages, non-obese, young obese and non-obese, and elderly obese and non-obese. Conclusions: There are several validated predictive equations for estimating energy expenditure in critical illness. The most accurate equations are the 2003 Penn State equation, for obese and non-obese adult patients, and the 2010 Penn State equation, for elderly obese patients. Given the trend of obesity in the United States, further validated studies are needed to look at the individual classes of obesity and the accuracy with this specific patient population.
Placement feedback: a concept and method for better min-cut placements

The advent of strong multi-level partitioners has made topdown min-cut placers a favored choice for modern placer implementations. We examine terminal propagation, an important step in min-cut placers, because it is responsible for translating partitioning results into global placement wirelength assumptions. In this work, we identify a previously overlooked problem - ambiguous terminal propagation - and propose a solution based on the concept of feedback from automatic control systems. Implementing our approach in Capo (version 8.7 [5, 10]) and applying it to standard benchmark circuits yields up to 14% wirelength reductions for the IBM benchmarks and 10% reductions for PEKO instances. Experiments also show consistent improvements for routed wirelength, yielding up to 9% wirelength reductions with practical increase in placement runtime. In addition, our method significantly improves routability without building congestion maps, and reduces the number of vias.
Thromboxane receptor blockade improves oxygenation in an experimental model of acute lung injury

Background. Adult respiratory distress syndrome remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We investigated the role of thromboxane receptor antagonism in an experimental model of acute lung injury that mimics adult respiratory distress syndrome. Methods. Three groups of rabbit heart-lung preparations were studied for 30 minutes in an ex vivo blood perfusion/ventilation system. Saline control (SC) lungs received saline solution during the first 20 minutes of study. Injury control (IC) lungs received an oleic acidethanol solution during the first 20 minutes. Thromboxane receptor blockade (TRB) lungs received the same injury as IC lungs, but a thromboxane receptor antagonist (SQ30741) was added to the blood perfusate just prior to study. Blood gases were obtained at 10-minute intervals, and tidal volume, pulmonary artery pressure, and lung weight were continuously recorded. Oxygenation was assessed by measuring the percent change in oxygen tension over the 30-minute study period. Tissue samples were collected from all lungs for histologic evaluation. Results. Significant differences were found between SC and IC lungs as well as TRB and IC lungs when comparing pulmonary artery pressure (SC = 33.1 ± 2.2 mm HG, TRB=35.4 ± 2.1 mm Hg, IC=60.4 ± 11.1 mm Hg; p p Conclusions. Thromboxane receptor blockade prevents the pulmonary hypertension and the decline in oxygenation seen in an experimental model of acute lung injury that mimics adult respiratory distress syndrome.