cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carotid intima-media thickness and cardiovascular risk

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in most developed nations. Identifying an individual's cardiovascular risk remains a challenge. Traditional coronary-risk stratification is based on cardiovascular risk factors using risk score systems, which may not reliably identify atherosclerosis in asymptomatic individuals. Carotid intima-media thickness measured by ultrasonography is a noninvasive, well-validated tool that has been used as a surrogate for clinical coronary events. Carotid intima-media thickness has demonstrable utility as an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. Recent data have improved our understanding of its applications as a screening tool for cardiovascular disease.
The Epstein-Barr Virus BMRF-2 Protein Facilitates Virus Attachment to Oral Epithelial Cells

We previously reported that BMRF-2, an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein, binds to β1 family integrins and is important for EBV infection of polarized oral epithelial cells. To further study the functions of BMRF-2, we constructed a recombinant EBV that lacks BMRF-2 expression by homologous recombination in B95-8 cells. We found that lack of BMRF-2 resulted in about 50% reduction of EBV attachment to oral epithelial cells, but not to B lymphocytes, suggesting that BMRF-2 is critical for EBV infection in oral epithelial cells, but not in B lymphocytes. In polarized oral epithelial cells, infection rate of the recombinant EBV virus was about 4- to 8-fold lower than the wild-type B95-8 virus. Cell adhesion assays using the BMRF-2 RGD peptide and its RGE and AAA mutants showed that the RGD motif is critical for BMRF-2 binding to integrins. These data are consistent with our previous observation that interactions between EBV BMRF-2 and integrins are critical for infection of oral epithelial cells with EBV.
Patient assessment in clinical trials

Abstract 1. Appropriate clinical assessment procedures are critical for the successful execution of a psychotropic drug trial and essential for the proper documentation of results. 2. Clinical instruments may be classified in four general areas: demography, efficacy, safety, administration. 3. Since questions concerning the precise characteristics of the research sample are among the first to be raised, the detailed assessment of sample characteristics is mandatory and should include demographic, historical and diagnostic data. 4. Instruments for the assessment of efficacy are, for the most part, rating scales which provide measures of initial psychopathology and subsequent change. This area of assessment has been the focus of much research over the past two decades and, for many diagnostic populations, reliable and sensitive standard instruments are available. 5. The assessment of safety, in contrast to efficacy, is less well defined. The earlier checklist approach is being replaced by newer, more sophisticated instruments but, as yet, standardized procedures for the assessment of safety are not in general use. 6. Lastly are the administrative documents which record the events of trial, e.g., dosage, concomitant medication, intercurrent events, disposition. Regarded as “bookkeeping” chores, these instruments are frequently neglected—often to the detriment of the exposition and interpretation of results.
Potential Role for Phosphorylation in Differential Regulation of the Assembly of Dynein Light Chains

The homodimeric light chains LC8 and Tctex-1 are integral parts of the microtubule motor cytoplasmic dynein, as they directly associate with dynein intermediate chain IC and various cellular cargoes. These light chains appear to regulate assembly of the dynein complex by binding to and promoting dimerization of IC. In addition, both LC8 and Tctex-1 play roles in signaling, apoptosis, and neuronal development that are independent of their function in dynein, but it is unclear how these various activities are modulated. Both light chains undergo specific phosphorylation, and here we present biochemical and NMR analyses of phosphomimetic mutants that indicate how phosphorylation may regulate light chain function. For both LC8 and Tctex-1, phosphorylation promotes dissociation from IC while retaining their binding activity with other non-dynein proteins. Although LC8 and Tctex-1 are homologs having a common fold, their reduced affinity for IC upon phosphorylation arises by different mechanisms. In the case of Tctex-1, phosphorylation directly masks the IC binding site at the dimer interface, whereas for LC8, phosphorylation dissociates the dimer and indirectly eliminates the binding site. This modulation of the monomer-dimer equilibrium by phosphorylation provides a novel mechanism for discrimination among LC8 binding partners.
Off-line coupling of high-resolution capillary electrophoresis to MALDI-TOF and TOF/TOF MS.

High-resolution capillary electrophoresis has been coupled to MALDI-TOF and TOF/TOF MS through off-line vacuum deposition onto standard stainless steel MALDI targets. This off-line approach allowed the decoupling of the separation from the MS analysis, thus allowing each to be independently optimized in terms of time. Using BSA tryptic digest as a model sample, the deposited streaks, roughly 100-μm wide, were first analyzed in the MS mode, consuming only a fraction of the sample. After data analysis, segments of the deposited trace, containing unidentified peptides, as well as several species chosen for sequence confirmation, were reanalyzed in the MS/MS mode using MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Additionally, it is shown that the shot-to-shot reproducibility of the vacuum-deposited trace (5% RSD) is 1 order of magnitude lower than that found for the standard dried droplet method. Moreover, a linear dependence of signal intensities (relative to an internal standard) over 3 orders of magnitude was found for a peptide sa...
Radiolytic Studies of the Mechanism of Autoxidation of Triphenylphosphine and Related Compounds

Triphenylphosphine (Ph3P) undergoes one-electron oxidation in irradiated CH2Cl2 solutions to yield the radical cation Ph3P•+. This short-lived species exhibits intense absorption with a maximum at 325 nm and an extended shoulder at 400−500 nm and decays by a second-order process in the absence of O2. In the presence of O2, however, the radical cation reacts with O2 with a rate constant of 7 × 106 L mol-1 s-1 to yield a peroxyl radical, Ph3P+OO•, which exhibits no significant absorbance at λ > 300 nm. Similar results, but with slightly different rate constants, were obtained also in CCl4 solutions and in CH3CN and cyclohexane solutions containing 1% CCl4. Tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine in CH2Cl2 exhibits a behavior similar to that of Ph3P, but the reaction of its radical cation with O2 is an order of magnitude more rapid. On the other hand, the perfluorinated Ph3P•+ in CH2Cl2 reacts with O2 much more slowly, if at all. Diphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine yields a radical cation which exhibits a slightly nar...
Greater Occipital Nerve Blockade for Cluster Headache

Cluster headache is perhaps the most painful of the primary headache disorders. Its treatment includes acute, transitional, and preventive therapy. Despite the availability of many treatments, cluster headache patients can still be difficult to treat. We treated 14 cluster headache patients with greater occipital nerve block as transitional therapy (treatment initiated at the same time as preventive therapy). The mean number of headache-free days was 13.1 + 23.6. Four patients (28.5%) had a good response, five (35.7%) a moderate, and five (35.7%) no response. The greater occipital nerve block was well tolerated with no adverse events. Headache intensity, frequency and duration were significantly decreased comparing the week before with the week after the nerve block (P < 0.003, P = 0.003, P < 0.005, respectively). Greater occipital nerve blockade is a therapeutic option for the transitional treatment of cluster headache.
A simulation study comparing designs for dose ranging

Only with knowledge of the (prior) distribution of dose-response parameters in a population, can one determine both the initial dose of a drug for chronic administration to an individual (such as the dose producing a fixed degree of response in a fixed proportion of the population) and an appropriate subsequent (adjusted) dose (such as the dose yielding a desirable response according to the posterior parameter distribution, given an observed response to an initial dose). The currently FDA-sanctioned design for a dose-ranging study, the parallel-dose design, assigns just one of several doses to each patient. It does not provide good information on the distribution of individual dose-response parameters. A cross-over design assigns several dose levels to each patient. It therefore can provide better information, but does not resemble clinical practice. Consequently, study participants must be restricted to patients who can tolerate such non-therapeutic drug exposure, posing problems in extrapolation of study results to other types of patients. A titration or dose-escalation design begins all patients on placebo and, except for those patients assigned to a placebo-only group, escalates the dose for a patient at preset intervals only when clinical response at lower doses is inadequate. It both exposes patients to several dose levels and resembles good clinical practice, allowing study of a representative patient sample. We report here the simulation results of parameter estimation for the three designs when the data arise from complex and realistic dose-response models and/or with certain complications in study execution. The dose-escalation design clearly performs better overall than the parallel-dose design for the models considered here, and generally, just a little worse than the cross-over design. These results support the conclusion that for dose ranging, depending on the demands of the clinical situation, one should use either the cross-over or the dose-escalation design.
COMMENTS ON “THE INVASION OF THE MIND” BY I.I. MITROFF

Mitroff's proposal that we exercise all our wits and not just half of them, i.e. the portion presumed to reside in the left hemisphere of the brain, is indisputable. One would like to conclude from the scenario that he has drawn that (a) management information systems are not necessarily synonymous with managerial knowhow; (b) there is no magic in macro‐models; and (c) the computer, despite having achieved Man‐of‐the‐Year status on the cover of Time, cannot father a daughter (to whom marriage at one time would have assured swift ascent in a business career). But I am not sure that this is Mitroff's message nor am I clear as to what it really is, for although he starts out by agreeing with me, that society may be getting the short end of a Faustian bargain with respect to information technology, his line of argument veers off in a direction that would logically lead to a very different conclusion. If I read him correctly, he looks more to the machine than to the man in the man/machine relationship. He want...
Bridging Microstructure, Properties, and Processing of Polymer Based Advanced Materials

This is a guest editorial for a special issue in Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology. The papers collected in this special issue emphasize significant challenges, current approaches and future strategies necessary to advance the development of polymer-based materials. They were partly presented at the symposium of 'Bridging microstructure, properties and processing of polymer based advanced materials' in the TMS 2011 annual conference meeting, which was held in San Diego, US, on Feb 28 to March 3, 2011. This symposium was organized by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (USA) and the Institute of Mechanics of Fluids and Solids of the University of Strasbourg (France). The organizers were D.S. Li, S. Ahzi, and M. Khaleel.
Who Dares Wins Intended and Unintended Consequences of the Further Education Funding Council Funding Methodology

The funding of the FE (Further Education) sector in England and Wales has undergone a major transformation since the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992. Newly incorporated colleges are now funded on a national basis through the FEFC using a common formula. This article explores the explicit, if not always articulated, aims of the originators of the methodology. It discusses the many unintended consequences which have resulted. It concludes that many colleges, faced with a business-orientated culture purveyed through the new funding methodology, are finding themselves unable to make the required adjustments.
Nonlinear optics in photonic nanowires

We review recent research on nonlinear optical interactions in waveguides with sub-micron transverse dimensions, which are termed photonic nanowires. Such nanowaveguides, fabricated from glasses or semiconductors, provide the maximal confinement of light for index guiding structures enabling large enhancement of nonlinear interactions and group-velocity dispersion engineering. The combination of these two properties make photonic nanowires ideally suited for many nonlinear optical applications including the generation of single-cycle pulses and optical processing with sub-mW powers.
Temporal integration and multiple looks, revisited: weights as a function of time.

This study tests the hypothesis that temporal integration for detection of tone bursts with various durations can be explained by optimally combining multiple looks of brief signal segments whose contribution to detection increases over time. Detectability was measured for signals consisting of six consecutive 25-ms, 1-kHz tone pulses presented in a 50-Hz-wide masker or in maskers consisting of seven 50-Hz-wide noises, one critical band apart, with either coherent or incoherent envelopes. The level of each signal pulse varied randomly around masked threshold according to a Gaussian distribution. The slopes of conditional psychometric functions—plotted in terms of d′2 as a function of the squared signal-pulse intensity for pulses in a particular temporal position—yielded estimates of the contribution to detection provided by each pulse. Results for three normal listeners showed a small, but significant, effect of the temporal location of the pulse. Multiple-looks predictions of temporal-integration functio...
Quadratic Nonlinear Optical Properties of Polymeric Organic Materials.

We discuss our rational approach to incorporate optically nonlinear molecules into polymeric and cross-linked materials through the use of isocyanate-hydroxy coupling chemistry. Thin film fabrication, optical loss, poling, second harmonic generation, and electro-optic properties are discussed.
ENHANCING INTELLIGENT AGENT COLLABORATION FOR FLOW OPTIMIZATION OF RAILROAD TRAFFIC

Intelligent agents have successfully solved the train pathing problem on a small portion of railroad network [Tsen, 1995, Ph.D. Thesis, Carnegie Mellon University, USA]. As the railroad network grows, it is imperative that the agents collaborate to operate as efficiently as possible. In this paper, the authors demonstrate a collaboration protocol based on a conditional measure of agent effectiveness. Because agent effectiveness is not directly measurable, a suitable metric for agent effectiveness is introduced. Where typically agents run with uniform frequency, the collaboration protocol schedules the agents with a frequency proportional to their expected effectiveness. This protocol introduced a 10-fold improvement in the agent efficiency when tested with a simulation program on a portion of the Burlington Northern railroad.
Genetic mapping of the structural gene for antithrombin III to human chromosome 1.

Using a purified cDNA probe of human antithrombin III (AT3) gene and a series of human/Chinese hamster cell hydrids, we established the chromosomal location of the structural gene for AT3 in human chromosome 1 by Southern blot analysis.
Thyroid and gonadal function in hypophysectomized hagfish, Eptatretus stouti.

Abstract Use of a surgical hypophysectomy procedure which produces complete removal of the neuro- and adenohypophysis, and which permits survival of a large proportion of treated hagfish, has made possible an extensive study of the tropic relations of the hagfish pituitary gland. As long as 7 months after complete hypophysectomy, although some abnormalities were found in both testes and ovaries, gametogenesis still appeared to go to completion, indicating independence of the hagfish gonad from hypophysial gonadotropic control. There was similar lack of morphological evidence for thyrotropic control in these animals. Analysis of plasma levels of testosterone, estradiol and thyroxine also revealed no evidence of relation to presence of the pituitary gland. Subcutaneous multiple implants of pituitary glands did not affect plasma levels of the sex steroids, but were associated with a significant elevation of plasma T4, suggesting a thyrotropic function of the implants. A negative correlation of plasma testosterone and body length in female hagfish was found, and implications of this finding are discussed. It was concluded that no clear evidence for hypophysial gonadotropic or thyrotropic function can be found in hypophysectomy experiments in hagfish. Evidence of thyrotropic activity by multiple subcutaneous transplants requires further study.
FREQUENCY OF INFECTION AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF LEUCOCYTOZOON BERESTNEFFI IN THE YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE, PICA NUTTALLI.

SYNOPSIS. A study, based on tissue and blood smears, has been made of the incidence and intensity of Leucocytozoon in 193 yellow-billed magpies. Tissue smears had a significantly higher gametocyte frequency, as well as a higher density level than was found in the blood films. Three hundred and seven adult magpies were examined for relationship of season to blood-parasite incidence. Both incidence and intensity, as indicated by blood smears increased during the spring months; the peak occurred in March; the lowest findings were in August and September. Data from tissue smears indicate a high incidence throughout the year.
Antifeedant comparisons of Gaba/ glycinergic antagonists for diabroticite leaf beetles (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)

The phagostimulatory sensitivity of diabroticite (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae) species to cucurbitacins is not correlated with Cucurbitaceae specialization, indicating that other factors, including the absence of feeding deterrents, may influence host–plant affinities among these beetles. Quinoline, indole, and isoquinoline alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactones believed to antagonize γ-aminobutyric acid/glycine Cl− ionophores mediating chemoreception were tested on squash blossom disks for antifeedant activity to four diabroticite species with different host plant specializations. Most alkaloids were antifeedant below 30 nmol/disk. Antifeedant concentrations of sesquiterpene lactones were higher than alkaloids for all species. Oligophagous Diabrotica virgifera virgifera was more sensitive to quinoline alkaloids than polyphagous D. undecimpuntata howardi. Diabrotica virgifera virgifera was also more sensitive to the indole alkaloids strychnine, brucine, eburnamonine, and vincamine than D. u. howardi. The closely related D. barberi had sensitivities similar to those of D. v. virgifera but the more distantly related Acalymma vittatum was less sensitive to the antifeedants than D. v. virgifera The isoquinoline alkaloid hydrastine was uniformly antifeedant to all diabroticites. All the GABA/glycine neurotoxicams tested against diabroticites were feeding deterrents and suggest that beetles share a common antifeedant mechanism.
Smoothness of the density of states in the Anderson model on a one-dimensional strip

Abstract Let H = − 1 2 Δ + V on l2( D m), where D m = Z × {1, …, m} and V(x), x ∈ D m, are i.i.d.r.v.'s with common probability distribution μ. Let h(t) = ∫ e−itvdμ(v) and let N(E) be the integrated density of states. The following are proven. 1. (i) If h is of class Cd on [0, +∞) with 4d ≥ 3m2 − m + 4 with h(j)(t) = O((1 + |t|)−α) for some α> 1 2 and all j = 0, 1, …, d, then N(E) is of class C [d + 1 2 ] . 2. (ii) If h is of class C ( 1 4 )(3m 2 − m + 4) on [0, +∞) with h(j)(t) = O((1 + |t|)−α) for some α> 1 2 and all j = 0, 1, …, 1 4 (3m 2 − m + 4) , and hj(t) = O(e−b|t|) for j = 0, 1 and some b > 0, then N(E) has an analytic extension to a strip about the real axis. The proof uses the supersymmetric replica trick to rewrite the averaged Green's function as a two-point function of a supersymmetric field theory which is studied by the transfer matrix method.
High Plasma Norepinephrine Concentrations at Birth in Infants of Diabetic Mothers

Analysis of plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentrations in umbilical artery and vein from infants of diabetic and nondiabetic mothers revealed high plasma NE values in those of diabetic mothers. While birth weight and arterial plasma NE did not correlate in infants of nondiabetic mothers (r = 0.07, NS), birth weight and plasma NE were related inversely in infants of diabetic mothers (r = −0.73, P < 0.05).
Environmental Awareness and Attitudes of Ashtabula County Voters Concerning the Ashtabula River Area of Concern: 1996–1997

Abstract Two mail surveys were conducted among samples of Ashtabula County (Ohio) registered voters in 1996 and 1997. Respondents were asked to provide information revealing their levels of awareness of pollution in the Ashtabula River and Harbor, their perceived importance of water quality, levels of use of the Ashtabula River, Ashtabula Harbor, and Lake Erie, and their levels of enjoyment associated with these uses. A contingent valuation (CV) component was added to the 1997 survey in order to measure respondents’ willingness to pay for dredging the river and harbor to remove contaminated sediments. The results show that responses were stable over the 2-year period, with less than 10% showing statistical differences between years (p
Georg Kaiser's Rezeption of Friedrich Nietzsche: The Dramatist's Letters and Some Nietzschean Themes in His Works

Summary While many works and articles on Modern German Literature emphasize the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche's thought, style, and person on writers of the twentieth century, extremely few investigations have undertaken to establish the precise extent of Nietzsche's Rezeption by specific literary figures. Utilizing the correspondence of Georg Kaiser, the authors of this article demonstrate that the dramatist was not only quite well-read in the works of Nietzsche, but that the philosopher greatly influenced the composition of several of Kaiser's dramas as well as his artistic and his personal writing style. Indeed, substantial evidence in the letters points to a strong personal identification on Kaiser's part with Friedrich Nietzsche. The first section contains a general discussion of the question of influence, and a detailed investigation of references to Nietzsche in Kaiser's correspondence. The final segment of the article deals with those works by Kaiser which are mentioned in the letters in connection with Nietzschean themes, ideas, and style.
On depth in EDTOL languages

Languages of the form L1={an:n⩾1}, L2={(abn)m: n,m⩾1}, L3={(a(bcn) m)k: n,m,k⩾1}, etc. differ in what may be called ‘depth’. It turns out that this depth is closely related to the structure of finite state automata associated with EDTOL systems generating these languages. For a given system the corresponding automaton is defined, and the relevant characteristics of its structure are examined.
Downsizing with executive information systems

Executive information systems (EIS) are relatively new, Windows‐based software products which enable executives to access information easily. Historically, executives have been reluctant to use computers, principally because they did not know how and had no inclination to learn about them. Executives must have timely and accurate information to make effective decisions. EIS gives them this information by allowing them to access internal and external databases for information in a summarized form, then drill down on a specific area to see backup detail. As modern organizations reduce the workforce to implement cost‐cutting measures in a difficult economy, executives find themselves in a position of attempting to maintain or increase efficiency with fewer employees. Increasingly, they turn to technology to fill this gap, relying on various information systems including EIS.
Sodium nitrite: The “cure” for nitric oxide insufficiency

This process of “curing” food is a long practice that dates back thousands of years long before refrigeration or food safety regulations. Today food safety and mass manufacturing are dependent upon safe and effective means to cure and preserve foods including meats. Nitrite remains the most effective curing agent to prevent food spoilage and bacterial contamination. Despite decades of rigorous research on its safety and efficacy as a curing agent, it is still regarded by many as a toxic undesirable food additive. However, research within the biomedical science community has revealed enormous therapeutic benefits of nitrite that is currently being developed as novel therapies for conditions associated with nitric oxide (NO) insufficiency. Much of the same biochemistry that has been understood for decades in the meat industry has been rediscovered in human physiology. This review will highlight the fundamental biochemistry of nitrite in human physiology and highlight the risk benefit evaluation surrounding nitrite in food and meat products. Foods or diets enriched with nitrite can have profound positive health benefits.
Electrophysiologic and molecular properties of cultured enteric glia.

Enteric glia, the support cells of myenteric ganglia, have been widely studied with respect to their morphology and immunohistochemical phenotype, but little is known about their functional properties. We developed a method for the amplification of enteric glia from newborn guinea pigs to further characterize these cells. Treatment with a combination of basic fibroblast growth factor and the adenylate cyclase activator, cholera toxin, permitted expansion of enteric glial cultures to confluence and serial passage for up to 8 months. The long-term cultured cells retained expression of (1) S100 protein, (2) GD3 ganglioside recognized by the monoclonal antibody LB1, and (3) the gene encoding glutamine synthetase. The electrophysiologic properties of cultured enteric glia were studied under whole-cell patch clamp conditions. Most cells expressed “delayed rectifier”-type potassium currents, and some also demonstrated tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium currents. Other subsets of voltage-dependent potassium currents, calcium currents, and glutamate-gated currents were not demonstrable. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Major Carbon-14 Deficiency in Modern Snail Shells from Southern Nevada Springs

Carbon-14 contents as low as 3.3 ± 0.2 percent modern (apparent age, 27,000 years) measured from the shells of snails Melanoides tuberculatus living in artesian springs in southern Nevada are attributed to fixation of dissolved HCO3- with which the shells are in carbon isotope equilibrium. Recognition of the existence of such extreme deficiencies is necessary so that erroneous ages are not attributed to freshwater biogenic carbonates.
Double-Outlet Left Ventricle with an Intact Ventricular Septum: Clinical and Autopsy Diagnosis and Developmental Implications

Clinical, laboratory, and anatomic findings were presented concerning the first clinically diagnosed and autopsy proved case of origin of both great arteries from the morphologically left ventricle. The salient pathologic findings were: normally interrelated chambers (noninverted) in situs solitus; no ventricular septal defect; infundibular atresia; infundibulum related only to the right ventricle; absence of infundibular musculature beneath the great arteries, with aortic-mitral and pulmonary-mitral fibrous continuity; semilunar valves side by side, aortic to the right and pulmonary to the left, and at approximately the same height; thick-walled and small-chambered right ventricle with endocardial fibroelastosis of the apical half of the ventricle; hypertrophy and enlargement of both atria and of the left ventricle; absence of the left coronary ostium; and a fistula between the right ventricular apex and the anterior descending coronary artery. The main developmental implications of this rare case appear to be as follows: (1) strong support is given for the differential conal growth hypothesis concerning the morphogenesis of great arterial interrelationships; (2) truncus arteriosus communis would appear to have atresia, not absence, of the subpulmonary infundibulum; (3) the truncal septum does extend a short distance below the semilunar valves; and (4) the conus arteriosus appears to be a separate cardiac segment, not part of the right ventricle and not part of the great artelies.
An inexpensive method to shield wireless devices during hardware forensic investigation in a laboratory setting

Wireless devices have become prolific in society today. Unfortunately, this paradigm is increasingly useful by criminals during the execution of their illegal actions. A cellular telephone is used as the example in this paper. Our students are taught how to obtain vital information from the phone, for example, by downloading internal files (numbers-called lists, for example) onto an external computer.As the phone is transported to the laboratory, it will be handed-off from one cell site to another, as it would normally operate while roaming. As these hand-offs occur, files in the phone, as well as radio settings, adapt to the new cell sites. When the phone arrives at the laboratory, it has been altered. If in its powered-down state during confiscation at the crime scene, as soon as it is powered-on in the laboratory, it will associate, or connect, to the local cell site in that area, and again its contents will change.To be useful in the classroom, a low-cost method is needed to shield the phone from association with a cellular system. Shielding boxes are available commercially that provide the necessary shielding that preserves the pre-investigation state of the phone. However, these boxes, sometimes incorrectly referred to as, "Faraday shields (or cages)," are prohibitively expensive in the context of classroom use.It is very beneficial for the students in our forensics courses to be exposed to these issues, and provide them the opportunity to use such a shielding environment in hands-on exploratory laboratory experiences. A homemade unit, completely shielded, with appropriate power and data line filtering is discussed in detail. It can be constructed in any minimal shop with standard hand tools where almost all materials are obtained from a local home improvement center, with only a handful of special electrical components needed. The theory underlying its requirements is explained in terms understandable by non-engineering personnel. The shielding box will be shown to provide adequate shielding for cellular telephones from nearby cell sites.
Spectroradiometer focal-plane design considerations: lessons learned from MISR camera testing

The EOS/MISR instrument contains nine cameras; each camera focal plane consists of four closely spaced, linear CCD arrays. Each of the four arrays is preceded by a narrow bandpass filter covering a distinct spectral region. Testing of two engineering model cameras revealed spatial and spectral optical crosstalk levels not predicted by stray light analysis. A detailed investigation of filter coating anomalies and the filter assembly/CCD geometry elucidated several mechanisms responsible for optical crosstalk. These mechanisms, as well as recommendations concerning the design of future focal planes, are presented in this paper.
Impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Reactivation after Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

This study investigated the impact of pretransplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus and posttransplant CMV reactivation and disease on umbilical cord blood transplant (UCBT) outcomes. Between 1994 and 2007, 332 patients with hematologic malignancies underwent UCBT and 54% were CMV seropositive. Pretransplant recipient CMV serostatus had no impact on acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD, cGVHD), relapse, disease-free survival (DFS), or overall survival (OS). There was a trend toward greater day 100 treatment-related mortality (TRM) in CMV-seropositive recipients (P=.07). CMV reactivation occurred in 51% (92/180) of patients with no difference in myeloablative (MA) versus reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) recipients (P=.33). Similarly, reactivation was not influenced by the number of UCB units transplanted, the degree of HLA disparity, the CD34+ or CD3+ cell dose, or donor killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene haplotype. Rapid lymphocyte recovery was associated with CMV reactivation (P=.02). CMV reactivation was not associated with aGVHD (P=.97) or cGVHD (P=.65), nor did it impact TRM (P=.88), relapse (P=.62), or survival (P=.78). CMV disease occurred in 13.8% of the CMV-seropositive patients, resulting in higher TRM (P=.01) and lower OS (P=.02). Thus, although recipient CMV serostatus and CMV reactivation have little demonstrable impact on UCB transplant outcomes, the development of CMV disease remains a risk, associated with inferior outcomes.
Superhydrophobic Surfaces Prepared by Microstructuring of Silicon Using a Femtosecond Laser

We present a simple method for fabricating superhydrophobic silicon surfaces. The method consists of irradiating silicon wafers with femtosecond laser pulses and then coating the surfaces with a layer of fluoroalkylsilane molecules. The laser irradiation creates a surface morphology that exhibits structure on the micro- and nanoscale. By varying the laser fluence, we can tune the surface morphology and the wetting properties. We measured the static and dynamic contact angles for water and hexadecane on these surfaces. For water, the microstructured silicon surfaces yield contact angles higher than 160° and negligible hysteresis. For hexadecane, the microstructuring leads to a transition from nonwetting to wetting.
Dynamic stiffness analysis in tribocontact

Abstract This paper presents the methodology and results of analysis for pin-on-disc tribosystems for the “dynamic stiffness” between specimen and counterface materials. Dynamic stiffness is defined in terms of the tendency of the contact between pin and disc to be maintained in the event that separation of the triboelements occurs. Thus both the dynamic stiffness and the more straightforwardly obtained static stiffness are important in the overall behavior of tribotesters since system response is increasingly recognized as an important factor in friction and wear. In the present work, two designs for application of normal load are investigated. One of these is the “dead-weight” technique; the other is essentially the “governor mechanism”. With the dead-weight design the normal load is applied to a rotating disc through a pivoted lever. With the governor, instead of controlling speed by means of displacement, the normal force applied to the rotating disc is established by controlling the speed of an independently driven motor. With both systems the rotating disc contacts a stationary pin. In order to analyze the dynamic interaction between pin and disc it is necessary to model the pin and its supports, as well as the disc and the mechanisms which are used to provide the normal load. These models are represented in terms of lumped parameters. For purposes of analysis and of comparison between the two alternative designs, the initial conditions consisted of a nominal separation between pin and disc, and a zero approach velocity. In tribotesting, such an event might occur with the removal of a relatively large piece of wear debris. While unlikely as such, this initial condition allows comparison between the two configurations. This comparison then determines the dynamic stiffness for the two designs. Interestingly, the governor mechanism provides excellent dynamic stiffness as well as tunable static stiffness. The latter may be useful in a general sense in that friction and/or wear test simulations may be made to resemble closely tribocontact stiffness conditions which occur in practice.
Interfacial polycondensation. XI. Ordered copolymers

An alternating copolyurea was prepared by the interfacial polycondensation of 1,4-piperazinedicarbonyl chloride with hexamethylenediamine. Comparison of this alternating copolyurea with the corresponding copolyurea having a random distribution showed that the alternating copolymer had a higher melting point, greater crystallinity, and was somewhat less soluble than the random copolymer. A series of copolyamideurethanes was prepared by the interfacial polycondensation of 2,5-dimethylpiperazine with terephthaloyl chloride and ethylene bis(chloroformate), various modes of addition of the two diacid chlorides being used. The degree of order developed in these copolyamide–urethanes was postulated from the probable mechanism of the reaction. The directional “crystallinity” or lattice order of the copolymers, as determined from x-ray diffraction patterns, was cited to support these postulated structures.
Six-Inch Diameter GaAs on Si Wafers

The growth of high-quality single crystal GaAs on Si wafers up to six inches in diameter by organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD) is reported. These wafers have specular surfaces, excellent thickness uniformity, and are shown to have properties comparable to those of smaller diameter GaAs on Si wafers. The mechanical and electrical properties of the six inch GaAs on Si wafers are shown to be suitable for GaAs device fabrication.
A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF OXYTOCIN RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST(ANTOCIN) MAINTENANCE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH PRETERM LABOR. † 1031

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of Antocin to placebo maintenance therapy among women with preterm labor (PTL) who achieved uterine quiescence with intravenous (IV) Antocin therapy.
Does tachycardia correlate with hypotension after trauma

Abstract Background Tachycardia is believed to be closely associated with hypotension and is often listed as an important sign in the initial diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock, but the correlation between heart rate and hypotension remains unproved. Study design Data were collected from all trauma patients, 16 to 49 years old, presenting to our university-based trauma center between July 1988 and January 1997. Moribund patients with a systolic blood pressure ≤ 50 or heart rate ≤ 40 and patients with significant head or spinal cord injuries were excluded. Tachycardia was defined as a heart rate ≥ 90 and hypotension as a systolic blood pressure Results Hypotension was present in 489 of the 14,325 admitted patients that met the entry criteria. Of the hypotensive patients, 35% (169) were not tachycardic. Tachycardia was present in 39% of patients with systolic blood pressure ≥ 120 mmHg. Hypotensive patients with tachycardia had a higher mortality (15%) compared with hypotensive patients who were not tachycardic (2%, p=0.003). Logistic regression analysis revealed tachycardia to be independently associated with hypotension (p = 0.0004), but receiver operating curve analysis demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of heart rate for predicting hypotension is poor. Conclusions Tachycardia is not a reliable sign of hypotension after trauma. Although tachycardia was independently associated with hypotension, its sensitivity and specificity limit its usefulness in the initial evaluation of trauma victims. Absence of tachycardia should not reassure the clinician about the absence of significant blood loss after trauma. Patients who are both hypotensive and tachycardic have an associated increased mortality and warrant careful evaluation.
Mécanismes de la dénutrition chez l'enfant et l'adolescent

Resume La denutrition chez l'enfant et l'adolescent est observee dans differentes situations ou il existe un desequilibre entre les apports alimentaires et les besoins proteinoenergetiques de l'organisme. L'enfant est particulierement vulnerable car ses reserves sont faibles et ses besoins proteinoenergetiques eleves du fait de sa croissance staturoponderale. Differents mecanismes conduisant a des tableaux de malnutrition ont ete rapportes et correspondent a des entites cliniques distinctes. Les situations de denutrition par un mecanisme quasi exclusif de carence d'apport se rencontrent essentiellement dans les pays en voie de developpement ou elles peuvent prendre la forme de marasme. Il s'agit d'une situation adaptative extreme a l'etat de jeune prolonge. Au cours des situations dites d'agression en rapport avec un sepsis severe, un polytraumatisme, une brulure etendue, une intervention chirurgicale, une malnutrition peut s'installer rapidement. A l'inverse de la situation, ou la malnutrition survient par carence d'apport, le mecanisme rapporte en situation d'agression aigue est defini classiquement comme lie a un hypermetabolisme avec hypercatabolisme. Le kwashiorkor, autre type de malnutrition proteinoenergetique touchant l'enfant dans les pays en voie de developpement, ne peut pas etre considere comme une simple carence proteinoenergetique. Il semble actuellement qu'une carence a la fois en macronutriments et en micronutriments joue un role dans la genese de cette pathologie. Le glutathion semble en particulier, jouer un role fondamental dans la physiopathologie du kwashiorkor. L'hypothese la plus documentee concerne le desequilibre entre la production de radicaux libres et les mecanismes de defenses. Les mecanismes de reparation seraient insuffisants, et la persistance des alterations membranaires provoquerait les anomalies observees dans le kwashiorkor comme l'œdeme, la surcharge hepatique, la diarrhee et les troubles neurologiques.
Glucocorticoids and fetal lung development.

Abstract Acceleration of fetal lung development by administration of glucocorticoid hormones has been demonstrated in a number of mammalian species. Dexamethasone 10 −5 M significantly depressed protein content per explant in the presence and absence of insulin. Insulin did not alter the protein content but significantly increased radioactive choline incorporation. However, dexamethasone provided no added stimulation above that observed with insulin alone. The incorporation of radioactive choline and specific activities in isolated phosphatidylcholine were almost identical in control and dexamethasone (10 −7 M) treated explants. The data presented demonstrate a modest but significant increase in choline incorporation using a concentration of dexamethasone of 10 −9 M. At higher concentrations of dexamethasone, the incorporation was significantly depressed using an 8 day exposure time. Although choline incorporation increases as a function of gestational age with a burst in rate on the last day of fetal life, dexamethasone suppresses this activity at all developmental ages past 19.5 days. The only conclusion that appears valid at this time is the rat fetal lung system reported here differs in an unknown way when compared to the rabbit monolayer system, the human organ culture, and the in vivo situation.
Calpain inhibition attenuated morphological and molecular changes in skeletal muscle of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis rats

Muscle weakness and atrophy are important manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS). To investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of skeletal muscle change in MS, we induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis male rats and examined morphological and molecular changes in skeletal muscle. We also treated EAE rats with calpepetin, a calpain inhibitor, to examine its beneficial effects on skeletal muscle damage. Morphological changes in muscle tissue of EAE rats included smaller and irregularly shaped muscle fibers and fibrosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated increased calpain:calpastatin ratio, inflammation-related transcription factors (nuclear factor-κB:inhibitor of κB α ratio), and proinflammatory enzymes (cyclooxygenase-2). TUNEL-positive myonuclei in skeletal muscle cells of EAE rats indicated cell death. In addition, markers of apoptotic cell death (Bax:Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-12 protein levels) were elevated. Expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases (muscle atrophy F-box and muscle ring finger protein 1), was upregulated in muscle tissue of EAE-vehicle animals. Both prophylactic and therapeutic treatment with calpeptin partially attenuated muscle changes noted in EAE animals. These results indicate that morphological and molecular changes including apoptotic cell death and protein breakdown develop in skeletal muscle of EAE animals and that these changes can be reversed by calpain inhibition.
Multicenter validation of a simplified score to predict massive transfusion in trauma

Background:Several studies have described predictive models to identify trauma patients who require massive transfusion (MT). Early identification of lethal exsanguination may improve survival in this patient population. The purpose of the current study was to validate a simplified score to predict
Crystal growth and optical properties of 4-aminobenzophenone crystals for NLO applications

Single crystals of 4-aminobenzophenone, a nonlinear optical (NLO) material have been grown successfully by a novel solution growth as well as modified Bridgman-Stockbarger techniques. The transmission spectrum (420-1400 nm) and SHG efficiencies were determined. 4-Aminobenzophenone crystals gave a lower limit on the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of 10%. Laser damage threshold measurements conducted at the indicated wavelengths gave values of 1-2 GW/cm 2 .
A Critical Assessment of RNA-Mediated Materials Synthesis

RNA- and DNA-mediation or templating of materials has been used to synthesize nanometer scale wires, and CdS nanoparticles. However, RNA and DNA have the potential to act as catalysts, which could be valuable tools in the search for new routes to materials synthesis. RNA has the ability to catalyze splicing and cutting of other RNA molecules. Catalytic activity has been extended to more general classes of reactions for both RNA and DNA using in vitro selection methods. However, catalytic activity in materials synthesis is a more recent idea that has not yet found great application. The first example of RNA-mediated evolutionary materials synthesis is discussed with specific data examples that show incompatibility of reagents in the solvent system utilized. The hydrophobic reagent Pd2(DBA)3, used as a metal precursor, was observed to spontaneously form nanostructures composed of Pd2(DBA)3 or Pd(DBA)3 rather than palladium nanoparticles, as originally reported 1. A case study of this materials synthesis example is described including the complimentary use of multi-length scale techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning TEM (STEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and optical microscopy (OM). This example raises important questions regarding the extent to which non-aqueous solvents should be used in nucleic acid-mediated processes, the nature of selections in enzyme and materials development, and the requirement for chemical compatibility of the precursor molecules. The importance of good characterization tools at every stage of an in vitro selection is illustrated with concrete examples given. In order to look at the way forward for nucleic acid-mediated materials synthesis, an examination of the chemical interaction of nucleic acids with various precursors is considered. Application of density functional theory calculations provides one means to predict reactivity and compatibility. The repertoire of chemical interactions in the nucleic acids is considered vis-a-vis common metals and metal chalcogenides. The case is made for the need for water-soluble syntheses and well-controlled kinetics in order to achieve the control that is theoretically possible using nucleic-acids as a synthetic tool.