cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comment on "Effectiveness of naltrexone in the prevention of delayed respiratory arrest in opioid-naive methadone-intoxicated patients".

In the recent paper by Aghabikoolei et al. [1], the authors postulate that oral naltrexone prevents delayed respiratory depression following naloxone reversal of methadone toxicity. We would like to voice a few concerns regarding the study. The restriction of the study to only opiate naive patients limits its applicability. Methadone is more frequently used for the prevention of opioid withdrawal symptoms, for the maintenance of opioid abstinence, or for the treatment of chronic pain. Inherently, by the nature of access to the medication, most people who are exposed are tolerant. It seems problematic to include patients based on self- or familial account that they do not use opiates. The number of patients originally enrolled but subsequently excluded for withdrawal symptoms after naloxone administration highlights the challenges of this approach. Additionally, the half-life of methadone is approximately 48 hours and the 50 mg of naltrexone is expected to block the effects of the methadone at the opioid receptors for approximately 24 hours. Since the patients in the naltrexone group only had a mean hospital stay of 26 hours, many of them left when they were still potentially vulnerable to delayed respiratory depression. It would be important to know if any returned for readmission or were subsequently found dead. Abrupt and prolonged iatrogenic opioid withdrawal can be severe and life threatening [2] and should be avoided. This must be balanced by the need for ICU level care when respiratory depression is predicted. As such, the results of this study seem most applicable in unintentional ingestions in children since they are usually opiate naive and often require transfer for PICU level care.
Personnel Preparation for Early Interventionists A Cross-disciplinary Survey

Participation by states in Public Law 99–457, Education of the Handicapped Amendments of 1986, Part H, requires the development of systems of coordinated, comprehensive, interagency, and multidisci...
Prosperity and Labor Relations in Europe: The Case of West Germany

I. Introduction, 331. — II. The traditional systems, 333. —III. Impact of the new economic era, 335. — IV. The case of West Germany, 339; background of labor-management institutions, 339; recent economic changes, 340; the wage drift, 341; the shifting center of gravity in labor relations, 344; unions and work councils, 345; union and employer views on plant agreements, 348; recent strikes experience, 350; the condition of the union movement, 352; the problem of wage policy, 354; conclusion, 358.
Thermal property analysis and applications of GFRP panels to integral abutment bridges

Abstract Integral abutment bridges (IABs) have been designed and constructed during the last several decades in the United States and around the world. Many benefits can be expected from IABs, especially, the joints related water-leaking issues can be resolved. However, the integral bridges have not been widely applied in practices, which may be partly due to the lack of understanding on the thermal performances of IABs. For example, the commonly adopted concrete superstructure may limit the maximum length a jointless bridge can be designed, since concrete materials have relatively large thermal expansion coefficients but small tensile strength capacities. Regarding to this issue, glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRPs) are considered as the substitute materials for IABs in this study, because GFRPs can be designed with comparatively small thermal expansion but large tensile strength. Therefore, in this paper, the thermal behaviors of IABs are firstly investigated through a numerical study on an as-built bridge, Caminada Bay Bridge, LA. Secondly, a homogenization modeling method is proposed to analyze GFRP panels under temperature loading effects. Finally, the thermal responses of an IAB are compared between two different deck conditions, i.e., GFRP panels and concrete slabs. Based on the investigation in this paper, the efficiency of the proposed homogenization modeling method for GFRP structures is discussed and the thermal benefits of applying GFRP panels to IABs are justified.
Transactive memory in organizational groups: The effects of content, consensus, specialization, and accuracy on group performance.

Previous research on transactive memory has found a positive relationship between transactive memory system development and group performance in single project laboratory and ad hoc groups. Closely related research on shared mental models and expertise recognition supports these findings. In this study, the author examined the relationship between transactive memory systems and performance in mature, continuing groups. A group's transactive memory system, measured as a combination of knowledge stock, knowledge specialization, transactive memory consensus, and transactive memory accuracy, is positively related to group goal performance, external group evaluations, and internal group evaluations. The positive relationship with group performance was found to hold for both task and external relationship transactive memory systems.
Long-period oscillation in the magnetic coupling through chromium in a magnetic multilayer: Bulk issues

The long period oscillation of magnetic coupling through Cr as the spacer layer of especially Fe/Cr magnetic multilayers is examined. It is shown that a reasonable empirical adjustment of the d-band position does bring calipers on the N-centered ellipses into agreement with experiment. The lens surface becomes too small and more anisotropic providing further evidence that it is not involved. However, the neck of the jack surface does reach the proper size and so accounts for the photoemission observations. A mechanism of mode coupling to enhance the strength of the long period oscillation is examined and rejected. A thorough examination of the Cr/(V,Mn) alloy spacer data strongly suggests instead a predilection for mode exclusion.
Ion Beam Mixing of Titanium Overlayers with Hydroxyapatite Substrates

The mixing of titanium overlayers with hydroxyapatite (HA) substrates via ion irradiation has been demonstrated. Analysis via secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) indicates an interfacial broadening of titanium and calcium of the implanted sample compared to that of the unimplanted sample. Attendant to the observed ion beam mixing of titanium into the HA, the oxygen signal of the titanium overlayer increases as a result of ion irradiation. It is supposed that this change is evident of diffusion through the metal layer and possibly from titania formation at the free surface and perovskite formation at the film/substrate interface. This possibility is consistent with thermodynamic predictions. Additionally, the force required to separate the film from the substrate increased as a result of ion irradiation, validating the continued study of ion beam processing of Ti/HA systems towards the improvement of long term fixation of implant devices.
Rhabdomyolysis After Ingestion of “Foxy,” a Hallucinogenic Tryptamine Derivative

"Foxy methoxy" (chemical name, 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine) is a hallucinogenic tryptamine that has been abused with increasing frequency since its appearance in the late 1990s. Like other drugs in this class, foxy frequently produces feelings of euphoria, disinhibition, and auditory as well as visual hallucinations. The drug has been linked to adverse effects, including restlessness, agitation, gastrointestinal distress, and muscle tension. In light of the relatively recent advent of foxy as a drug of abuse and given the inability of commercial toxicologic screening tests to detect the presence of hallucinogenic tryptamines, additional adverse effects seem probable. We report ingestion of foxy by a healthy 23-year-old man that resulted in rhabdomyolysis and transient acute renal failure.
Detection and quantitation of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor charge isoforms: comparative analysis by cationic-exchange chromatography, isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis, and peptide mapping.

Abstract Routine quantitation of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor charge isoforms in the purified protein product requires development of a reliable analytical method. In this report, isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, and cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography are compared and evaluated in the analysis of charge isomers that may be present in the recombinant factor. Due to a lack of sensitivity and reliability, isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis and peptide mapping are not recommended. However, peptide mapping can distinguish aberrant peptides with differences in charges and provide separation for subsequent structural characterization. By this approach, an N-terminally blocked formylmethionyl species was identified to be the minor charge isoform in the purified preparations of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. In contrast to electrophoresis and peptide mapping, a strong cationic-exchange chromatographic procedure was found to be the most selective, sensitive, and reproducible analytical method. The sensitivity and reliability of the method were evaluated and validated using the formylmethionyl isoform and several deamidated analogs (Gln → Glu) made by site-directed mutagenesis. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor preparations contain a very low to undetectable level of the formylmethionine isoform and have no detectable deamidated isoforms.
Forbidden fruit: on the analysis of recurrent events in randomized clinical trials.

The conventional analysis of a typical clinical trial focuses on the time to occurrence of the first among a composite set of alternative events such as death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Subsequent recurrent events are thereby excluded from consideration to ensure that all the observations were mutually exclusive of each other. Thus, not all events occurring during follow-up will be analyzed. Consequently, some investigators are now reporting additional analyses of previously published trials based on a naive comparison of the total number of events—first events plus recurrent events—and are recommending that these additional analyses be routinely conducted in future trials. We have summarized the potential limitations of this proposal and suggest other methods to analyze recurrent events, with a particular focus on kinetic modeling. The application of this approach to several previously published trials illustrates its facility to help elucidate the causal mechanisms underlying empirical demonstrations of safety and efficacy.
Mobilities of Electrons in Gases

Motion of electrons through gases.---The theoretical equation for mobility constant obtained in a recent paper, is put in the form $K=2.54({10}^{5}){l}_{0}{\left\{1+{[1+1.355({10}^{6})M{{l}_{0}}^{2}{(\frac{E}{p})}^{2}]}^{\frac{1}{2}}\right\}}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$ where ${l}_{0}$ is electronic mean free path at 1 mm pressure, $M$ is molecular weight relative to H, $E$ is the electrical field in volts/cm, and $p$ is pressure in mm Hg; and it is tested by comparison with recent experimental data obtained by Loeb and by Townsend and co-workers. Although the equation contains no arbitrary constant if ${l}_{0}$ is taken from kinetic theory, the agreement with experiments is good in the case of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and within a small factor in the case of He, ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and A, for values of $\frac{E}{p}$ less than the critical value which is characteristic of each gas and equal to about 20 for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, 1.3 for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$, 0.5 for A, and g.4 for He. Elasticity of collisions. In explanation it is suggested that when electrons collide at speeds greater than the critical for the gas, the collisions are no longer perfectly elastic, as assumed by the theory. In the region of elastic collisions, the equation may be used to compute the actual equivalent mean free paths for elastic spheres from the measured values of $K$, for comparison with the kinetic theory values of ${l}_{0}$. This free path in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ is close to the kinetic theory value, in He it is a little less, while in ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and A it is greater and varies with the speed, being greater at small speeds. These free paths are compared with values determined in other ways and the differences are attributed to differences in the meaning attached to the term collision. The data for ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and C${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ are insufficient to give the values of the critical $\frac{E}{p}$ but indicate that these are lower than for the other gases.
Method for detection of 2-azahypoxanthine in human and rat urine

Abstract A new, simple, reproducible, and quantitative method for the detection of 2-azahypoxanthine (2-AH) in urine is described. The method is based on removal of interfering substances from urine by cation- and anion-exchange chromatography. Quantitative determination of 2-AH eluted from the anion-exchange resin involves its conversion to 5-diazoimidazole-4-carboxylic acid and subsequent coupling of this compound with N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine. The resultant dye product has an absorption maximum at 505 nm in 2.4 N HCl, which is linearly related to the original 2-AH concentration in the range of 0–8 μg/ml. The only substance found to interfere and not be removed or destroyed is p-acetamidophenyl glucuronide, an excretion product of phenacetin- and acetaminophen-containing drugs.
Transformation of hamster cells in vivo and in vitro by an adenovirus 4‐SV40 hybrid

A preparation of adenovirus 4, containing infectious SV40 genetic material enclosed within adenovirus coats (Ad. 4-SV40 hybrid), induced both transformation of newborn hamster kidney cells in vitro and tumors in neonatally inoculated hamsters. Injection of transformed cells into an irradiated weanling hamster also resulted in a tumor. Histologically, all of the tumors were fibrosarcomas similar to those induced in vivo by SV40 alone; no epithelial elements were noted. The three tumors were carried as serial transplants in hamsters; each of the three lines maintained a morphology slightly different from that of the other two. Sera from hamsters carrying the tumors contained antibodies to T antigens induced in cell cultures of African green monkey kidney by Ad. 4 and Ad. 7, but not by Ad. 12. This confirmed work by others, working with Ad. l-SV40 and Ad. 2-SV40 hybrid viruses, who found that genetic material from nononcogenic adenoviruses can be introduced into tumors and transformed cells by these hybrids. The cross-reaction with cells infected with Ad. 7 provides additional evidence for a relationship between Ad. 4 and the B subgroup of oncogenic adenoviruses.
Journal Article Retrieval in an Age of Open Access: How Journal Indexes Indicate Open Access Articles

As the number of Open Access (OA) journal articles increases dramatically, it is time to assess how journal article indexes, both free and subscription-based, retrieve and indicate OA full text. This study uses 471 samples of OA articles to compare OA article retrieval in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, with Scopus representing subscription-based journal indexes. This study divides journal articles into two categories: Gold OA and Green OA. Gold OA articles are published in journals that make all their articles freely available on the Internet, and all other OA articles are placed in the Green OA category. The study finds that all three indexes can indicate Gold OA availability in one way or another, but they differ dramatically when indicating Green OA availability: Google Scholar can offer free full-text indicators for 96 percent of Green OA articles, PubMed's rate is 29 percent, and Scopus's is zero. Subscription-based journal indexes and OpenURL link resolvers are, at present, incapable of indicat...
Differences in heat shock protein 70 expression during larval and early spat development in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791)

For a variety of species, changes in the expression of heat shock proteins (HSP) have been linked to key developmental changes, i.e., gametogenesis, embryogenesis, and metamorphosis. Many marine invertebrates are known to have a biphasic life cycle where pelagic larvae go through settlement and metamorphosis as they transition to the benthic life stage. A series of experiments were run to examine the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) during larval and early spat (initial benthic phase) development in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. In addition, the impact of thermal stress on HSP 70 expression during these early stages was studied. C. virginica larvae and spat expressed three HSP 70 isoforms, two constitutive, HSC 77 and HSC 72, and one inducible, HSP 69. We found differences in the expression of both the constitutive and inducible forms of HSP 70 among larval and early juvenile stages and in response to thermal stress. Low expression of HSP 69 during early larval and spat development may be associated with the susceptibility of these stages to environmental stress. Although developmental regulation of HSP 70 expression has been widely recognized, changes in its expression during settlement and metamorphosis of marine invertebrates are still unknown. The results of the current study demonstrated a reduction of HSP 70 expression during settlement and metamorphosis in the Eastern oyster, C. virginica.
Effect of the superoxide anion (O2post−) on Na+-dependent amino acid transport

Superoxide anion (O2-) generated either by the autoxidation of dihydroxyfumaric acid (DHF) or enzymatically by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system inhibited the uptake of 2-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) in thymocytes. The transport of this non-metabolizable amino acid in thymocytes is mediated by a Na+-dependent mechanism. Inhibition of this transport system by O2- was similar to that observed when radiosensitive lymphocytes are subjected to ionizing radiation. As in irradiated thymocytes, O2- generation affected primarily the maximal rate of uptake of the amino acid (i.e. Vmax). No change was observed in the apparent affinity of the amino acid for its carrier (i.e. Km) or the efflux rate of the amino acid. The data suggests that the superoxide anion may be one of the major species responsible for the observed radiation damage to radiosensitive lymphoid cells.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy: Probing the lumenal surface of Photosystem II membranes for evidence of manganese

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) peak at 225 cm− was reported in detergent-extracted, O2-evolving Photosystem II (PS II) appressed membrane fragments from spinach that were treated with CaCl2 (Seibert, M. and Cotton, T. (1985) FEBS Lett. 182, 34–38). CaCl2 removes the 17-, 23-, and 33-kDa extrinsic proteins associated with O2 evolution from the surface of the membrane without extracting functional Mn. The same peak has now been observed in PS II-enriched membrane fragments from Scenedesmus obliquus. The signal is related to the presence of Mn in spinach PS II membranes but not to the presence of Ca, Mg or Fe. Substitution of Br− for Cl− in the membranes without displacing Mn shifts the peak from 225 cm−1 to 140 cm−1. However, this shift is too great for the source of the SERS signals to be explained by simple Mn-Cl or Mn-Br vibrational modes. Evidence in addition to that presented in the previous publication indicates that the 33-kDa protein covers that part of the membrane that is the cause of the SERS signal. Due to altered properties of the SERS signal in the LF-1 mutant of Scenedesmus, which is affected in the D1 protein and binds less Mn than the wild type, we suggest that the 33-kDa protein shields a Mn-binding site on the D1 protein. Possible sources of the signal include (1) an Mn-O or Mn-N vibrational mode modified by chloride not present in the first coordination sphere; (2) a cooperative effect associated with the protein environment around the Mn-binding site that changes with the presence of halide; or (3) a species associated primarily with the Ag electrode surface that changes depending on the presence or absence of Mn and halide on the membrane surface. This last possibility might explain some of the results obtained with Br-treated spinach and Ca-treated Scenedesmus LF-1 mutant membranes.
“Falling” While Falling Asleep: Sex Differences

Informal observation suggested to us that females report the hypnagogic experience of "falling" more often than males do. We devised a 40-item questionnaire to assess how frequently "falling" and other hypnagogic experiences found in an extensive literature review (Schacter, 1976) are remembered and reported by males and females. A scale was used in which participants checked whether they "never," "rarely," "sometimes," "frequently," or "always" experienced the phenomenon in question. Data collected from 49 male and 47 female Duke undergraduates were given stepwise multiple discriminant analysis (Dixon, 1970) in an attempt to separate males from females. The "falling" item was the single best discrirninator; "falling" was reported more frequently by the females (F = 6.92, $ < .02). A simpler cross-validation two-item questionnaire asking how often when almost asleep one remembered the experiences of "falling" and "tasting" (a control item which had not differed between the sexes in the first test) was given to 126 male and 233 female Duke undergraduates. On a four-item scale, women reported hypnagogic experiences of "falling" more often than the men (x? = 11.40, df = 3, p < .Ol), but they did not differ on the taste control item. McKellar (1957) argued that the hypnagogic "falling" experience is a common one, based on questionnaire data. Foulkes and Vogel's (1965) experimental data did not support this assertion. Whether the sex differences in reports of the hypnagogic "falling" experience detected in our questionnaire studies will also be found in experimental investigations less dependent on cognitive factors such as long-term episodic memory and judgment is a problem for future study.
Pilot study to assess the frequency of fibromyalgia, depression, and sleep disorders in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's).

Objective To assess the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), depression, and sleep disorders in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA). Methods The London Fibromyalgia Epidemiologic Study Screening Questionnaire (LFESSQ), Symptom Intensity Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (BPHQ-9) were administered prospectively to patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for GPA. Fatigue was captured quantitatively by the fatigue visual analog scale (VAS) and qualitatively by the LFESSQ fatigue questionnaire. Disease activity and damage were captured by using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for GPA (BVAS/GPA) and the Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI). Frequency of FMS and depression in GPA was compared with the general population. Results Patients with GPA have significantly greater frequency of FMS (LFESSQ 23.6 versus 13; P = 0.02) and depression (22% versus 7.6%; P < 0.001) than the general population. Twenty-nine percent of GPA patients had sleep abnormalities according to ESS scores of ≥10; 76.4% reported fatigue and 49.1% indicated that fatigue significantly limited their activities. There was no correlation between BPHQ-9, ESS, LFESSQ, fatigue VAS, and VDI, BVAS/GPA, or disease duration. There was a strong correlation between fatigue VAS and BPHQ-9 (r = 0.73; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.54, 0.92). The correlation between fatigue VAS and ESS was significant but not as strong as with the BPHQ-9 (r = 0.36; 95% CI 0.10, 0.62). Conclusion FMS and depression occur more often in GPA compared with the general population. The association is not related to disease activity, damage, or disease duration. Fatigue is very common and significantly limits normal daily activities. Depression and sleep disorders contribute to fatigue in GPA patients.
Connecting Observations of Hematite (α-Fe2O3) Growth Catalyzed by Fe(II)

Electron exchange between aqueous Fe(II) and structural Fe(III) in iron oxides and oxyhydroxides is important for understanding degradation of environmental pollutants through its apparent constitutive role underlying highly reactive “sorbed Fe(II)” and by catalyzing phase interconversion among these minerals. Although a mechanistic understanding of relationships between interfacial Fe(II)ads−Fe(III)oxide electron transfer, bulk electron conduction, Fe(II) release, and phase transformation behavior is emerging, much remains unclear, in part due to poorly interconnected investigations. The focus of this study is on reconciling two mutually similar observations of Fe(II)-catalyzed hematite growth documented spectroscopically and microscopically under substantially different chemical conditions. Here, we employ iron isotopic labeling to demonstrate that hematite grown on the (001) surface in Fe(II)−oxalate solution at pH 2.10 and 348 K has magnetic properties that closely correspond to those of hematite grow...
Tetracoordination of copper(I) by monofunctional amines

Abstract The highest complexes of the monofunctional amines pyridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, piperidine, n- and sec-butylamine, aniline, p-methoxyaniline, and N-benzylidenemethylamine with copper(I) ion in propylene carbonate have been determined by polarography. A maximum coordination of four ligands has been noted in the cases of pyridine and isoquinoline. Solid tetrakis(pyridine)copper(I) percholorate has been isolated, and by infrared examination of 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1 mole-ratio mixtures of the monofunctional amines with tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) perchlorate, the tetracoordination of quinoline, isoquinoline, piperidine, and N-benzylidenemethylamine to copper(I) has been established. The polarographic data have been used to estimate the appropriate overall stability constants in propylene carbonate.
Gastritis and Helicobacter pylori: Forty Years of Antibiotic Therapy

Helicobacter pylori has now been propelled into the forefront of gastroenterology, particularly the treatment of gastroduodenal ulcer, whereas its role in gastritis is still widely ignored, although this disease sparked much of the original observations. Forty years ago, it was shown for the first time that antibiotics can eliminate gastric ammonia production in man which suggested that this was due to eradication of bacterial urease activity. It was also found that the gastric juice ammonia concentration correlates with hypo- or anacidity in uremics and with mucosal inflammation in subjects with gastritis. In patients with nonalcoholic and alcoholic gastritis, the histology as well as the symptoms of gastritis were strikingly improved by antibiotic treatment. Beneficial effects of eradication of gastric urease activity and the resulting decreased ammonia production were also shown in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Broader studies and clinical applications of these earlier findings are now warranted.
The prognostic significance of sialyl-tn Antigen in women treated with breast carcinoma treated with adjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND Sialyl-Tn (STn) represents an aberrantly glycosylated mucin epitope that is expressed in breast carcinoma and other adenocarcinomas and is an important factor in the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. The primary aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of STn expression on the prognoses of patients with breast carcinoma. METHODS A cohort of 207 women diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma who were treated with anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy and were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial were studied. Expression of STn was determined by an immunohistochemical procedure in which the B72.3 monoclonal antibody was used. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional regression survival analyses were used to compare low STn and high STn patients. RESULTS Forty-eight (23%) of the 207 specimens demonstrated high STn staining (>25% cells were immunoreactive). During a median follow-up of 5 years, high STn patients had worse disease free survival than low STn patients (55% vs. 74%, respectively; P = 0.03). High STn expression was significantly associated with age (P = 0.04) but not with other conventional prognostic markers. In multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model, high STn emerged as an independent prognostic indicator for disease free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.73) and for overall survival (HR, 2.16; 95% CI, 0.95-4.92). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that STn may be a valuable marker for identifying women at high risk of developing recurrent breast carcinoma who may be candidates for trials investigating new therapies in combination with standard adjuvant therapy. Cancer 1997; 80:2240-9. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Hopkinson Bar Loaded Fracture Experimental Technique: A Critical Review of Dynamic Fracture Toughness Tests

Hopkinson bar experimental techniques have been extensively employed to investigate the mechanical response and fracture behavior of engineering materials under high rate loading. Among these applications, the study of the dynamic fracture behavior of materials at stress-wave loading conditions (corresponding stress-intensity factor rate ∼106 MPam/s) has been an active research area in recent years. Various Hopkinson bar loading configurations and corresponding experimental methods have been proposed to date for measuring dynamic fracture toughness and investigating fracture mechanisms of engineering materials. In this paper, advances in Hopkinson bar loaded dynamic fracture techniques over the past 30 years, focused on dynamic fracture toughness measurement, are presented. Various aspects of Hopkinson bar fracture testing are reviewed, including (a) the analysis of advantages and disadvantages of loading systems and sample configurations; (b) a discussion of operating principles for determining dynamic load and sample displacement in different loading configurations; (c) a comparison of various methods used for determining dynamic fracture parameters (load, displacement, fracture time, and fracture toughness), such as theoretical formula, optical gauges, and strain gauges; and (d) an update of modeling and simulation of loading configurations. Fundamental issues associated with stress-wave loading, such as stress-wave propagation along the elastic bars and in the sample, stress-state equilibrium validation, incident pulse-shaping effect, and the “loss-of-contact” phenomenon are also addressed in this review.
Daily Variation in Particle-Phase Source Tracers in an Urban Atmosphere

One full year of daily 24-hour fine particulate matter samples collected in East St. Louis, IL at the EPA funded St. Louis-Midwest Supersite were analyzed for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and non-polar organic tracers including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH(s)), hopanes, and alkanes. Two different analytical methods were used for analysis, solvent extraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) and thermal desorption GCMS (TD-GCMS). The TD-GCMS method was equivalent to the solvent extraction GCMS method for key molecular markers. Select PAH(s) and alkanes were found to have extreme events within the annual study which had daily 24-hour concentrations that were 10 to 22 times higher than the annual average daily concentration. The OC and EC maxima were only 3 to 5 times higher than the annual average. To further assess the impact of point sources and to evaluate the compatibility of the two organic speciation methods, the six potential every sixth day annual averages were calcu...
Annealing effects in plated-wire memory elements, part II: Recrystallization in permalloy films

Results of grain-size measurements in Permalloy platings suggest that recrystallization is possible at temperatures as low as 200°C, but that it is an extremely heterogeneous process. No worthwhile correlation was found to exist between observed grain size and magnetic dispersion in samples aged in the temperature range 180 and 230°C, and it is suggested that the magnetic aging which occurs under these conditions may be due to some other diffusion-controlled process than recrystallization; a process such as chemical homogenization is tentatively preferred.
QRS component of the spatial vectorcardiogram and of the spatial magnitude and velocity electrocardiograms of the normal dog.

Abstract The ventricular activation process (QRS) of forty healthy dogs was studied by means of vectorcardiograms using Wilson's equilateraltetrahedral reference system, scalar electrocardiograms, and by constructing spatial magnitude electrocardiograms and spatial velocity electrocardiograms. These data were correlated with anatomic cross sections through corresponding planes of the frozen animal. An attempt was made to correlate the electrical activity, as measured by electrodes placed on the body surface, with the ventricular activation process. The typical QRSsE loop was roughly heartshaped, and was almost coplanar with the median sagittal plane. Good correlation existed between the actual circumferential thoracic leads and the derived scalar electrocardiograms. Apparent variations between the actual electrocardiogram and those derived from the QRSsE loops in the horizontal plane projection were explained on the basis of spatial orientation of the exploring electrode. The electrical activity of the dog's heart has been presented in three divisions based on time and the areas of the ventricles activated. Activation of the interventricular septum from left-to-right constitutes the 6 milliseconds vector which is directed cephalad, ventrad and slightly dextrad. The spatial magnitude electrocardiogram of the QRS complex reaches its first peak during this period, while the spatial velocity electrocardiogram of the QRS complex reaches its first peak and following dip. Simultaneous activation of the apex and free wall of the left ventricle constitutes the 22 milliseconds vector which is directed caudad with little ventral and sinistral orientation. The spatial magnitude electrocardiogram reaches its second and maximal peak during this period, while the spatial velocity electrocardiogram reaches its second peak, a brief dip and its third and maximal peak. Activation of the basilar areas of both ventricles and the interventricular septum constitutes the 32 milliseconds vector which is directed cephalad and dorsad, with slight dextral orientation. The spatial magnitude electrocardiogram reaches its third and minimal peak during this period, while the spatial velocity electrocardiogram continues to decline.
The influence of triiodothyronine on polyadenosine-diphosphoribose polymerase and RNA synthesis in cardiocyte nuclei.

Abstract Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in normal and hypophysectomized male Long Evans rats by triiodothyronine treatment. Polyadenosine-diphosphoribose polymerase activity of cardiocyte nuclei was reduced about 50% after hypophysectomy as compared to controls, whereas RNA polymerase activity was not influenced by hypophysectomy. Treatment with triiodothyronine produced a profound (∼80%) decrease in polyadenosine-diphosphoribose synthetase activity in cardiocyte nuclei of both normal and hypophysectomized rats. Simultaneously RNA synthesis was significantly augmented in cardiocyte nuclei isolated from triiodothyronine-treated animals which also showed significant cardiac hypertrophy. The simultaneous and opposite response of the two enzyme systems that is induced by triiodothyronine is consistent with a regulatory function of covalent modification of nonhistone proteins by polyadenosine-diphosphoribosylation on RNA synthesis.
Demonstration of 11dB fiber-to-fiber gain in a silicon Raman amplifier

We report the demonstration of 11dB fiber-to-fiber optical gain in a silicon Raman amplifier. Pulsed pumping is employed to reduce the TPA induced free carrier losses resulting in net signal amplification. The influence of free carriers is elucidated by observing the dependence of gain on pulse energy.
Interactions of CO2 enrichment and temperature on cotton growth and leaf characteristics

Abstract Studies on the interactive effects of atmospheric CO 2 and temperature on growth and leaf morphology, particularly on stomatal index and density are limited. Upland cotton was grown in naturally-lit plant growth chambers at 30/22°C day/night temperatures from planting until squaring or the fifth or sixth leaf emerged. Five growth chambers were maintained at ambient (350 μ l l −1 ) CO 2 and another five at twice ambient (700 μ l l −1 ) CO 2 throughout the experiment. Day/night temperature treatments of 20/12, 25/17, 30/22, 35/27 and 40/32°C were imposed at each CO 2 treatment for 42 days after squaring. The plants were irrigated with half-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution three times per day. Growth of plant parts was determined at the end of the experiment. Stomatal characteristics, nonstructural carbohydrates and specific leaf weight were measured on the fully expanded tenth mainstem leaf. Stomatal density and index were not affected by elevated CO 2 . Stomata and epidermal cell numbers per leaf increased in high CO 2 and were positively correlated with final leaf sizes irrespective of CO 2 level. Our results suggest that plants do not acclimate to elevated CO 2 by changing stomatal density within a single generation. Leaves had greater area and accumulated more biomass when grown in high CO 2 . Growth stimulation expressed as dry weight at 700 μ l l −1 over dry weight at 350 μ l l −1 CO 2 was uniform across temperatures. Temperature optimum for vegetative and reproductive growth was 30/22°C and was not altered by CO 2 enrichment. Fruit retention was severely curtailed at the two higher temperatures compared to 30/22°C in both CO 2 environments. Increased carbohydrate storage in leaves may be an added advantage for initiation and growth of vegetative structures such as branches at all temperatures. However, it is unlikely that high temperature effects on flower abortion will be ameliorated by high CO 2 . Species/cultivars that retain fruits at high temperatures would be more productive both in the present-day cotton producing environments and are even more desirable in the future warmer world.
Reduced frontal white matter integrity in cocaine dependence: a controlled diffusion tensor imaging study

Abstract Background: In vivo magnetic resonance studies have found that cocaine dependence is associated with T2 signal hyperintensities and metabolite abnormalities in cerebral white matter (WM). Functional neuroimaging studies have suggested that chronic cocaine use is primarily associated with frontal lobe deficits in regional cerebral blood flow and brain glucose metabolism levels; however, the effects of cocaine dependence, if any, on frontal WM microstructure are unknown. Thus, we sought to examine the effects of cocaine dependence on frontal WM integrity. Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was employed to examine the WM integrity of frontal regions at four levels: 10 mm above, 5 mm above, 0 mm above, and 5 mm below the anterior commissure-posterior commissure (AC-PC) plane. The fractional anisotropy (FA) of 12 cocaine-dependent patients and 13 age-similar control subjects was compared. Results: The cocaine-dependent patients had significantly reduced FA in the frontal WM at the AC-PC plane and a trend toward reduced FA at 5 mm below the AC-PC plane, suggestive of reduced WM integrity in these regions. Conclusions: These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that cocaine dependence involves alterations in orbitofrontal connectivity, which may be involved in the decision-making deficits seen in this disorder.
AK-invariant, some conjectures, examples and counterexamples

In my talk I am going to remind you what is the AK-invariant and give examples of its usefulness. I shall also discuss basic conjectures about this invariant and some positive and negative results related to these conjectures.
Pouch-anal anastomosis without diverting ileostomy

Ileal diversion is an important adjunct to restorative proctocolectomy but may produce increased morbidity and requires a second-stage closure. This study reports results utilizing a one-stage procedure designed to retain the benefits of proximal decompression without the liabilities of additional surgical procedures. Eight patients, three men (with ulcerative colitis) and five women (one with familial polyposis coli and four with ulcerative colitis), were selected for the single-stage restorative proctocolectomy with intraluminal decompression in lieu of diverting loop ileostomy. The abdominal proctocolectomy was performed to the level of the anorectal junction. In five patients, the rectum was closed using the TA 55™ (U.S. Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT), 4.8-mm stapler. AJ-pouch was constructed with multiple firings of the GIA 90™ (U.S. Surgical Corporation) stapler. These patients had continuity restored utilizing a transanal, circular stapler. Three patients had an S-pouch constructed by suture technique. Fecal diversion was accomplished with a 25-mm intraluminal bypass tube (Coloshield™; Deknetel, Fall River, MA) in all cases. There was no mortality. There were no anastomotic complications or morbidity related to the bypass tube. The tube dislodged and passed between days 18 and 26 (mean, 22.1 days). All patients had three to six bowel movements per 24 hours, and all are continent day and night. This experience suggests that, in selected patients, the intraluminal bypass tube may be an excellent alternative to diverting ileostomy.
Natural history of coastal Peruvian solifuges with a redescription of Chinchippus peruvianus and an additional new species (Arachnida, Solifugae, Ammotrechidae)

Two species of Chinchippus (Ammotrechidae) were studied in central Peru. Both species are endemic to the hyper-arid coastal desert and appear to derive most of their energy and nutrients from maritime prey, such as intertidal amphipods feeding on beach-cast algae or as arthropod scavengers feeding upon seabird and pinniped carcasses. Data on the spatial distribution of the two species were obtained from analyzing stomach contents of one common predator, the gecko Phyllodactylus angustidigitus, and suggest that both species are more abundant in insular than in mainland habitats. We redescribe Chinchippus peruvianus Chamberlin 1920, known only from a female specimen and describe the male for the first time while C. viejaensis is recognized as new. The new species is distinguished from C. peruvianus by its darker coloration, smaller size, and differences in cheliceral dentition. In the process of investigating the ecology of terrestrial organisms in the coastal desert and guano islands of central Peru, we have come across a series of Chinchippus peruvianus Chamberlin 1920 and a closely related species. These solifuges, along with other terrestrial predators, thrive in places that could be defined as a barren land of gravel, sand, and granitic outcrops - a moonscape where arachnids and lizards somehow manage to survive, reproduce, and colonize new habitats. The western coast of South America is among the driest places on Earth (Dietrich & Perron 2006), where arid conditions have persisted for the last 14 million years (Alpers & Brimhall 1988). Facing this hyper-arid ecosystem is one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems, the Peru-Chile cold current (Tarazona & Arntz 2001). The stark contrast in productivity promotes the exchange of energy and nutrients between these two adjacent ecosystems, and marine-derived resources subsidize terrestrial predators along the Peruvian coast (Catenazzi & Donnelly 2007a) and in other coastal deserts (Polis & Hurd 1996). In this study we describe the taxonomy and natural history of the two Chinchippus species and explore their distribution in relation to the availability of marine-derived resources. The genus Chinchippus was established by Chamberlin (1920) based on a single female from the Peruvian island of Chincha. He considered it to belong to the African family Daesiidae. Roewer (1934) included Chinchippus in the ammotrechid subfamily Saronominae based on the segmenta- tion of legs I, II, and IV and the palpal spination. Muma (1976) tentatively included it with the saronomines although its placement was still based on Chamberlin's sole female. Based on Chamberlin's single female, the genus Chinchippus can be recognized by: all the legs having a single tarsal segment, no claws on leg I, stridulating ridges on the mesal surface of the chelicera, lateral plates of the ''rostrum'' shorter than the median plates, and a recurved cephalothorax.
Neonatal cytomegalovirus exposure decreases prepulse inhibition in adult rats: implications for schizophrenia.

The goal of these studies was to determine whether neonatal viral exposure leads to a deficit in information processing in adulthood. To accomplish this, rats were infected neonatally with rat cytomegalovirus, and acoustic startle responses were measured when rats were 120 days old. Acoustic startle was elicited by using a 118-decibel (dB) white noise alone or after a prepulse 10 dB above background (65 dB); responses were measured after an injection of saline or the dopamine agonist apomorphine. Response amplitudes after the pulse alone were not significantly altered by either viral exposure or apomorphine. Responses of animals exposed to the prepulse before the pulse were approximately 10% of that after the pulse alone and did not differ between control or virus-exposed animals injected with saline. Animals injected with apomorphine exhibited a greater startle response than animals injected with saline, and control and virus-exposed rats injected with apomorphine differed in the magnitude of their responses. Apomorphine attenuated responses after the prepulse, and virus-exposed animals exhibited more than twice the attenuation than non-virus-exposed animals. Analysis of prepulse inhibition, calculated from the acoustic startle data, indicated that although viral exposure alone did not significantly affect information processing, when virus-injected rats were exposed to apomorphine, a significant 38% decrease in prepulse inhibition was apparent. Findings demonstrate that rats infected neonatally with rat cytomegalovirus exhibit a deficit in sensorimotor gating upon dopamine stimulation, supporting a possible link between viral infection and schizophrenia.
Strategies for Relapsed Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: The Tail That Wags the Curve

A 69-year-old woman was referred for further evaluation and management of relapsed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. At diagnosis, she received six cycles of dose-adjusted EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin) and achieved a complete response (CR). Her first surveillance computed tomography scan 3 months later demonstrated enlarging cervical lymphadenopathy. A lymph node excision confirmed relapsed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with atypical lymphocytes expressing CD3, CD4, CD10, PD-1, and EBER, with loss of CD5 (Fig 1). A clonal T-cell receptor beta and gamma rearrangement by polymerase chain reaction was identical to that in her initial diagnostic biopsy. At our initial consultation, options for standard as well as investigational therapies were discussed, and HLA typing was initiated. The patient was enrolled onto an investigational phase II study; however, she developed progressive disease after two cycles. She was then treated with romidepsin 14 mg/m2 ad...