cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heart Sounds in Patients with Homograft Replacement of the Mitral Valve

Phonocardiographic, hemodynamic, angiographic, and cardiac echographic studies have been performed on 11 patients whose diseased mitral valves have been replaced by a supported aortic valve homograft. The chordae tendineae and papillary muscles were removed in all patients during the operation. Apical first heart sounds of normal intensity were present in all patients after surgery. Nine patients exhibited splitting of the first sound. The initial component occurred when bulging of the homograft leaflets into the atrium was suddenly checked after the onset of ventricular systole. The second component occurred at the onset of rapid annular motion toward the base. Both sounds thus appear to originate in the homograft valve. Four patients had third heart sounds of left ventricular origin. The homograft leaflets were open and demonstrated no abrupt motion at the time of the third sound. It is evident that the third heart sound may occur in the absence of chordae tendineae and papillary muscles.
Transforming emergency care for older adults

Already crowded and stressful, US emergency departments (EDs) are facing the challenge of serving an aging population that requires complex and lengthy evaluations. Creative solutions are necessary to improve the value and ensure the quality of emergency care delivered to older adults while more fully addressing their complex underlying physical, social, cognitive, and situational needs. Developing models of geriatric emergency care, including some that are already in use at dedicated geriatric EDs, incorporate a variety of physical, procedural, and staffing changes. Among the options for “geriatricizing” emergency care are approaches that may eliminate the need for an ED visit, such as telemedicine; for initial hospitalization, such as patient observation units; and for rehospitalization, such as comprehensive discharge planning. By transforming their current safety-net role to becoming a partner in care coordination, EDs have the opportunity to become better integrated into the broader health care syste...
Endothelin production links superoxide generation to altered opioid-induced pial artery vasodilation after brain injury in pigs.

Background and Purpose Traumatic brain injury conveys significant morbidity and mortality to infants and children. In the newborn pig, opioids contribute to pial artery vasconstriction after fluid percussion injury (FPI). FPI attenuates vasodilation and cGMP production by methionine enkephalin (Met) and leucine enkephalin (Leu) and reverses dynorphin (Dyn) from a dilator to a constrictor. Superoxide anion (O2−) production contributes to altered cerebral hemodynamics after FPI, and O2− scavengers partially restore decreased dilator responses after FPI. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a purported mediator of cerebral vasospasm, has been suggested to alter nitric oxide function and cGMP concentration. The present study was designed to determine the contribution of ET-1 to altered opioid-induced dilation after FPI and the role of O2− in such altered responses. Methods Injury of moderate severity (1.9 to 2.3 atm) was produced by the lateral FPI technique in anesthetized newborn pigs equipped with a closed cranial window. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)–inhibitable nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction was determined as an index of O2− generation. Results FPI increased cerebrospinal fluid ET-1 from 20±2 to 93±6 pg/mL (≈10−10 mol/L). Topical ET-1 (10−10 mol/L) increased SOD-inhibitable NBT reduction from 1±1 to 16±3 pmol/mm2, similar to previously reported NBT reduction after FPI (14±2 pmol/mm2). BQ123 (10−6 mol/L), an ET-1 antagonist, blunted the NBT reduction observed after FPI (4±1 pmol/mm2). Met produced pial vasodilation that was attenuated by FPI and partially restored by BQ123 pretreatment (7±1%, 11±1%, and 17±1% versus 3±1%, 6±1%, and 9±2% versus 5±1%, 9±1%, and 14±2% for 10−10, 10−8, and 10−6 mol/L Met during control conditions, after FPI, and after FPI pretreated with BQ123, respectively). Met-induced dilation was associated with increased cerebrospinal fluid cGMP, and these biochemical changes were likewise blunted by FPI and partially restored by BQ123 (357±12, 455±15, 500±19, and 632±11 versus 264±4, 267±4, 295±12, and 305±15 versus 309±19, 432±11, 529±10, and 593±4 pg/mL for resting conditions, 10−10, 10−8, and 10−6 mol/L Met during control conditions, after FPI, and after FPI pretreated with BQ123, respectively). Similar partial restoration of vascular and biochemical parameters was observed for Leu and Dyn. Conclusions These data show that ET-1, in concentrations similar to that present in cerebrospinal fluid after FPI, increases O2− production. These data also indicate the opioid-induced vasodilation and cGMP production are partially restored after FPI by ET-1 receptor blockade. These data suggest that ET-1 contributes to altered cerebral hemodynamics after FPI, at least in part, through elevated O2− production.
Dosimetric modeling of the microselectron high-dose rate 192Ir source by the multigroup discrete ordinates method.

The DANTSYS multigroup discrete ordinates computer code is applied to quantitatively estimate the absorbed dose rate distributions in the vicinity of a microSelectron 192 Ir high-dose-rate (HDR) source in two-dimensional cylindrical R-Z geometry. The source is modeled in a cylindrical water phantom of diameter 20 cm and height 20 cm. The results are also used for evaluation of the Task Group 43 (TG-43) dosimetric quantities. The DANTSYS accuracy is estimated by direct comparisons with corresponding Monte Carlo results. Our 210-group photon cross section library developed previously, together with angular quadratures consisting of 36 (S 16 ) to 210 (S 40 ) directions and associated weights per octant, are used in the DANTSYS simulations. Strong ray effects are observed but are significantly mitigated through the use of DANTSYS’s stochastic ray-tracing first collision source algorithm. The DANTSYS simulations closely approximate Monte Carlo estimates of both direct dose calculations and TG-43 dosimetric quantities. The discrepancies with S 20 angular quadrature (55 directions and weights per octant) or higher are shown to be less than ±5% (about 2.5 standard deviations of Monte Carlo calculations) everywhere except for limited regions along the Z axis of rotational symmetry, where technical limitations in the DANTSYS first collision source implementation makes adequate suppression of ray effects difficult to achieve. The efficiency of DANTSYS simulations is compared with that of the EGS4Monte Carlo code. It is demonstrated that even with the 210-group cross section library, DANTSYS achieves two-fold efficiency gains using the the S 20 quadrature set. The potential of discrete ordinates method for further efficiency improvements is also discussed.
Liquid film flowing slowly down a wavy incline

A viscous lamina of given mean thickness flows down a wavy incline. Assuming low Reynolds number and small perturbations due to the wavy striations, the velocity profiles and the free surface profile are determined. It is found that the amplitude and phase shift of the free surface depend, in a complicated manner, on the surface tension and the wave length and orientation of the wavy striations. The motion of a particle on the free surface experiences drift which is also a function of the surface tension, the amplitude, wave length and orientation of the wavy incline.
The resting and activated conformations of the voltage sensor of Ci-VSP from functional and solvent accessibility determinations

The voltage sensor domain (VSD) is responsible for electromechanical transduction in voltage-gated ion channels and enzymes. In all known VSDs, both architecture and voltage-sensing mechanism are conserved: the positive charged residues (R/K) on the fourth transmembrane segment S4 respond to the voltage change across the membrane, which trigger its own conformation change leading to the response of downstream domain. A wealth of biophysical information on voltage sensors in the last two decades has revealed one of the major functional states - “up” or activated state. However, the structure and functional properties of the “down” or resting state remains controversial. Here, we show electrophysiological and structural studies of the voltage sensor from Ciona intestinalis voltage sensitive phosphatase (Ci-VSP), that point to conformational transitions between the resting and activated conformations of the sensor. The voltage dependence of Ci-VSP mutants, analyzed by gating charge measurement in oocytes, show significant shift in their Q-V relationships along the voltage axis (R217E −60 mV, R217Q −20 mV, WT +60 mV, D136N +130 mV). At 0 mV, these mutants populate different functional states under biochemical conditions: WT and D136N mostly in the “down” state while R217E is mostly in the “up” state. A Ci-VSD biochemical preparation was developed for each of the four mutants and studied by site-directed spin labeling EPR (SDSL-EPR) methods in proteoliposomes. Mobility and accessibility information revealed the secondary structure of transmembrane segments and their positions relative to membrane and each other, suggesting the extend and direction of the motion of S4 between “up” and “down” states. These results are consistent with the down movement of S4 under hyperpolarization and render critical structural information, that allow us to propose a gating mechanism for Ci-VSD.
Crosslinked polymethylphenylsiloxanes as adsorbents for gas chromatography

Crosslinked polymethylphenylsiloxanes that are suitable as adsorbents for gas-solid chromatography have been prepared. These new materials are characterized and evaluated as chromatographic supports. Their chromatographic properties are compared to OV-17, a linear polymethylphenylsiloxane, often used as a liquid phase in gas-liquid chromatography. Scanning electron micrographs show that the materials resemble agglomerates of tiny spheres. The materials have surface areas around 5 m2/g and are thermally stable up to 350°. Small, polar compounds are eluted very early in columns prepared with these adsorbents in a manner similar to macroporous polymers like the Porapaks. Separations of chlorinated benzenes and phenols at temperatures up to 270° are shown.
The Interfacial Chemistry of the Grignard Reaction: The Composition of the Film Formed on Air-Exposed Magnesium

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to monitor the composition of the surface film formed when a clean Mg metal is subjected to pretreatments that simulate exposure to ambient environments. The results indicate that an as-received (commercial) Mg metal contains a surface covered by a film constituted predominantly by magnesium hydroxide and a smaller but appreciable quantity of magnesium bicarbonate. These observations have important ramifications in the mechanistic description of the Grignard reaction since the interaction between Mg metal and an alkyl halide must contend with the surface hydroxide and bicarbonate films. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
Forecasting with leading indicators: Does the new index lead?

There are very few economic variables that capture as much public attention as the Composite Index of Leading Indicators (CLI). Designed as an early warning system for signaling recessions and recoveries in business cycles, CLI now has significant influence over the expectations of decision makers and market participants. Since its inception in 1938, the index has undergone many revisions, the last of which took effect in March 1989. In this study we evaluate the new index. A number of filters, including the Bayesian sequential probability recursion and the rule of three consecutive declines in CLI, are used to evaluate the information content of CLI in forecasting the turning points in the economy. We also report the result of our forecasting experiment to gauge the marginal value of the new index to improve forecasts of variables such as the unemployment rate, index of industrial production, GNP, sales, profit, consumption and housing starts.
The relationship between index option moneyness and relative liquidity

Previous research has implicitly assumed, or even suggested, that the relationship between option moneyness and liquidity is quadratic with liquidity maximized for at‐the‐money options. This study investigated the nature of the relationship between moneyness and three liquidity proxies for options on the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 100 and S&P 500 indexes. With bid – ask spreads, volume and time between quotes as liquidity proxies, statistical analysis rejected the hypothesis of a simple quadratic relationship between moneyness and liquidity in these markets. Although liquidity was maximized near the money, liquidity did not decrease symmetrically as option strikes moved deeper in the money or deeper out of the money. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 20:971–987, 2000
Unsupervised spatiotemporal fMRI data analysis using support vector machines

In this work we present a new support vector machine (SVM)-based method for fMRI data analysis. SVM has been shown to be a powerful, efficient data-driven tool in pattern recognition, and has been applied to the supervised classification of brain cognitive states in fMRI experiments. We examine the unsupervised mapping of activated brain regions using SVM. Specifically, the mapping process is formulated as an outlier detection problem of one-class SVM (OCSVM) that provides initial mapping results. These results are further refined by applying prototype selection and SVM reclassification. Multiple spatial and temporal features are extracted and selected to facilitate SVM learning. The proposed method was compared with correlation analysis (CA), t-test (TT), and spatial independent component analysis (SICA) methods using synthetic and experimental data. Our results show that the proposed method can provide more accurate and robust activation mapping than CA, TT and SICA, and is computationally more efficient than SICA. Besides its applicability to typical fMRI experiments, the proposed method is also a powerful tool in fMRI studies where a reliable quantification of activated brain regions is required.
Tolerance and cross-tolerance to mescaline and amphetamine as a function of central and peripheral administration.

Differences in tolerance and cross-tolerance to the behavioral effects of d-amphetamine sulfate and mescaline hydrochloride were studied as a function of intraventricular or intraperitoneal routes of administration. Operant behavior, using a fixed ratio schedule of food reinforcement, was the behavioral variable. Following tolerance to d-amphetamine infused intraventricularly, an approximately equipotent dose of mescaline, similarly administered the next day, resulted in behavioral disruption indicating a lack of cross-tolerance. However, following tolerance to mescaline administered intraventricularly, an equipotent dose of d-amphetamine infused the next day did not result in behavioral disruption, indicating cross-tolerance, When d-amphetamine (1.6 or 2.5 mg/kg) and mescaline (10 mg/kg) were administered peripherally (i.p.), no cross-tolerance was found, regardless of the order of drug presentation. Finally, tolerance to amphetamine administered intraventricularly was not indicative of tolerance to amphetamine given intraperitoneally. The next day (after central tolerance) amphetamine disrupted the operant to an equal or greater extent than it had prior to central tolerance formation. This is further evidence that drugs administered directly into the CNS may not be producing their behavioral effects in the same manner as they do via peripheral administration.
The rapid dissipation of magnetic fields in highly conducting fluids

The dynamical conditions that exist when long straight parallel twisted flux tubes in a highly conducting fluid are packed together in a broad array are treated. It is shown that in general there is no hydrostatic equilibrium. In place of equilibrium, there is a dynamical nonequilibrium, which leads to neutral point reconnection and progressive coalescence of neighboring tubes (with the same sense of twisting); this in turn forms tubes of large diameter and reduced twist. The magnetic energy in the twisting of each tube declines toward zero, being dissipated into small-scale motions of the fluid and thence into heat. Referring to the sun, it is pointed out that the twisting and mutual wrapping is converted directly into fluid motion and heat by the dynamical nonequilibrium, so that the work done by the convection of the footpoints goes directly into heating the corona above.
Prenatal exposure to cocaine in rats: Lack of long-term effects on locomotion and stereotypy

Cocaine, a psychomotor stimulant, is known to produce sympathomimetic as well as psychological effects. Its widespread use among women of reproductive age has prompted a variety of studies aimed at detecting effects on offspring. However, the results remain controversial. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of prenatal exposure to cocaine on the ontology of behavior. Emphasis was given to cocaine’s effects on the development of the dopaminergic system. Pregnant rats were subcutaneously injected with either cocaine hydrochloride (30 mg/kg) or vehicle from Day 12 to Day 21 of gestation. After birth, pups were weighed, measured, and evaluated on a variety of developmental cues. Sixty days after birth, locomotor behavior was assessed, as well as the response to d-amphetamine and cocaine. In the cocaine-exposed pups, no evidence of gross morphological or developmental deficits was found, nor was there any differential response to amphetamine or cocaine. The relevance of various parameters such as dose, time of exposure, time of testing, and administration route is discussed.
Hydroelastic impact of a wedge-shaped body

Abstract In this paper a hydroelastic method for the design of marine structures is used to study the impact of a wedge-shaped body onto a calm free-surface. The method combines computational fluid dynamics and dynamic finite-element techniques to predict the hydroelastic response of a structure in the time domain. The basic idea of the method is to predict the stress field on the fluid–structure interface due to rigid-body impact, and then to transfer the information to a wet modal model. The one-way transfer of information from the fluid simulation to the structure has two important advantages with respect to a fully coupled simulation: a single rigid-body motion computation can be reused for subsequent analyses after the structure has been redesigned, and cost of the fluid dynamic simulation is not increased due to iteration which is required in coupled simulations. The maximum displacement of an elastic wedge during the impact and penetration stages are compared with published results from a fully coupled theoretical model and a fully coupled numerical solver. The present method requires approximation of the flexural added mass, and the comparison with other results shows that the approximation is satisfactory for predicting maximum displacement.
Photoelectron Spectra and Ion Chemistry of Imidazolide

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of imidazolide anion has been measured. The electron affinity (EA) of the imidazolyl radical is determined to be 2.613 ± 0.006 eV. Vibrational frequencies of 955 ± 15 and 1365 ± 20 cm-1 are observed in the spectrum of the 2B1 ground state of the imidazolyl radical. The main features in the spectrum are well-reproduced by Franck−Condon simulation based on the optimized geometries and the normal modes obtained at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of density functional theory. The two vibrational frequencies are assigned to totally symmetric modes with C−C and N−C stretching motions. Overtone peaks of an in-plane nontotally symmetric mode are observed in the spectrum and attributed to Fermi resonance. Also observed is the photoelectron spectrum of the anion formed by deprotonation of imidazole at the C5 position. The EA of the corresponding radical, 5-imidazolyl, is 1.992 ± 0.010 eV. The gas phase acidity of imidazole has been determined using a flowing afterglow-selected ion ...
Collision-induced dissociation of positive and negative copper oxide cluster ions generated by direct laser desorption/ionization of copper oxide

Abstract Positive and negative cluster ions CunO+/−m (positive ions: n = 1–14, m = 0–8; negative ions: n = 1–2, m = 0–12) have been generated by direct laser desorption/ionization from a pellet of copper oxide and studied using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). Energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation studies of these ions demonstrate interesting trends that may have implications for copper oxide cluster ion structures and stabilities.
Blunt suture needle use in laceration and episiotomy repair at vaginal delivery

Objective By surveying obstetricians regarding the use of blunt suture needles for laceration and episiotomy repair, the purpose of this study was to determine whether blunt suture needles represent a safe and effective alternative to sharp needles. Study Design Blunt suture needles were made available at our institution for repairs at vaginal delivery. Participating physicians indicated their personal history of needlestick injuries and rated the blunt suture needle after completing the repair. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and a 2-tailed P Results Attending and resident physicians completed 80 surveys, and 83% reported previous needlestick injuries. Blunt suture needles were rated as excellent or good by 92.5% (95% confidence interval 84.6 to 96.5%). No needlestick injuries occurred. Conclusion In an effort to reduce needlestick injuries, the use of blunt suture needles is safe and effective for repairs at vaginal delivery.
Efficient Förster energy transfer from phosphorescent organic molecules to J-aggregate thin films

Abstract We demonstrate efficient Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from a thin film of phosphorescent dye, fac tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium (Ir(ppy)3), to a thin film of J-aggregated cyanine dye, 5,6-dichloro-2-[3-[5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)-2(3H)-benzimidazolidene]-1-propenyl]-1-ethyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl) benzimidazolium hydroxide (TDBC). The measurement is performed on a planar sandwich structure with the layer of Ir(ppy)3 and the layer of J-aggregates separated by a uniform optically inert spacer layer. Quenching of Ir(ppy)3 photoluminescence due to FRET of Ir(ppy)3 excitons to J-aggregates enables us to calculate the experimentally-determined Forster radius of 3.8 nm, which is in good agreement with the theoretically calculated value.
Treating depressed children with antidepressants: more harm than benefit?

Since the FDA held hearings in February 2004 on the safety of antidepressants in children, there has been a great deal of controversy regarding the use of antidepressants in children, culminating in the well publicized black box warnings about increased risk of suicidal behavior in children and young adults (up to age 25) caused by these medications. Using questions that a parent might ask, the current article attempts to summarize the efficacy and safety data on the use of antidepressants in children so that psychologists, with or without prescription privileges, may be able to inform parents of young patients about the science behind this treatment. This article is based on a presentation at the 2007 American Psychological Association conference by the author in acceptance of the 2006 APAHC Bud Orgel Award for Distinguished Achievement in Research. Much of the information described in this article is drawn from the recent APA Report of the Working Group on Psychoactive Medications for Children and Adolescents. (Brown et al. 2006; available at www.apa.org/pi/cyf/childmeds.pdf) culminating in a book by the same authors (Brown et al., Childhood mental health disorders: Evidence base and contextual factors for psychosocial, psychopharmacological, and combined interventions 2007).
Subchronic toxicity of all-trans-retinoic acid and retinylidene dimedone in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract Sprague-Dawley rats received daily oral gavage doses of either 2-retinylidene-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (retinylidene dimedone; 14, 50, 150, or 330 mg/kg) or all-trans-retinoic acid (1, 4, 14, or 50 mg/kg) for 13 weeks. Rats given 50 mg/kg of all-trans-retinoic acid developed numerous long-bone fractures and became moribund during the third week of the study. Those receiving lower dosages survived until scheduled termination, but the 14 mg/kg group showed clear signs of retinoid intoxication including growth depression, anemia, serum alkaline phosphatase elevation, bone fracture, and testicular degeneration. Exposure to retinylidene dimedone did not result in any treatment-related deaths, growth depression, or histopathologic lesions, even at the highest dose, 300 mg/kg. Animals given this dosege exhibited mild anemia, equivocal evidence of bone fracture, but no increase in alkaline phosphatase activity. Retinylidene dimedone appears to be considerably less toxic than all-trans-retinoic acid.
Sex differences in cytosolic progestin receptors in microdissected regions of the hypothalamus/preoptic area of guinea pigs.

Abstract Cytosolic progestin receptors (CPRS) were measured in microdissected nuclei of the hypothalamus and preoptic area of male and female guinea pigs. Adult gonadectomized animals were given 3 daily injections of 20 μg/day estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle. 24 h later, animals were sacrificed and cytosolic progestin receptors were measured using the synthetic progestin 3H-R5020. CPR levels did not differ significantly between oil treated females in any barin areas examined. With EB treatment, males showed significant increases in CPRs inmost of the brain areas in which females showed increases, i.e. in the medial preoptic area, the periventricular part of the preoptic area, the periventricular part of the anterior hypothalamus, the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the periventricular part of the medial hypothalamus and the arcuate-median eminence. However, EB treated males showed significantly lower CPR levels than EB treated females in both the periventricular part of the preoptic area and the periventricular part of the medial hypothalamus.
Immigration, imagined communities, and collective memories of Asian American experiences: A content analysis of Asian American experiences in Virginia U.S. history textbooks

Abstract This study explores how Asian American experiences are depicted in four high school U.S. history textbooks and four middle school U.S. history textbooks used in Virginia. The analytic framework was developed from the scholarship of collective memories and histories of immigration in Asian American studies. Content analysis of the textbooks suggests the overall narrative of Asian American history in U.S. history textbooks aligns with the grand narrative of American history, that is, the “story of progress.” This major storyline of Asian Americans – that they suffered from nativist racism and discrimination for a long time, overcame these obstacles through their hard work and efforts, and achieved the American dream – fits well into the master narrative of American progress, highlighting the process of their belonging to the U.S. as citizens. This storyline misrepresents the realities and diversity among Asian ethnic groups and their migration histories as well as the fluid nature of their identities across national borders. These findings stress the continued challenges in representing Asian American experiences as well as other marginalized groups in U.S. history textbooks.
Hydrophobic Residues That Form Putative Fusion Loops of Epstein-Barr Virus Glycoprotein B Are Critical for Fusion Activity

To test the importance of the hydrophobic residues within the putative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein B (gB) fusion loops in membrane fusion, WY(112-113) and WLIW(193-196) were mutated into alanine, glutamic acid, or the analogous residues from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gB (HR and RVEA). All gB variants exhibited cell surface expression, demonstrating that the substitutions did not perturb gB trafficking. None of six gB variants was, however, capable of mediating fusion with either epithelial or B cells. These data demonstrate that the bulky and hydrophobic EBV loop residues, which differ from the more hydrophilic HSV-1 residues and appear more compatible with membrane insertion, are essential for EBV gB-dependent fusion.
Kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect from Halo Rotation

We discuss the kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) contribution to cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature fluctuations due to the coherent rotational velocity component of electrons within halos. This effect produces a distinct dipole-like temperature distribution across the cluster and provides a promising way to measure the angular momentum distribution of gas inside clusters. Information obtained from such a measurement may provide new insights to the origin and evolution of angular momentum in hierarchical structure formation theory. For typical well-relaxed clusters of mass a few times 1014 M☉, the peak fluctuation is of the order of a few μK, depending on the rotational velocity and the inclination angle of the rotational axis. For clusters that had undergone a recent merger, the contribution to temperature fluctuations could be even larger. This dipole signature is similar to the one produced by lensed CMB toward galaxy clusters, although the lensing contribution spans a larger angular extent than the one due to rotational scattering, since the former depends on the gradient of the cluster potential. Since the lensing contributions toward clusters are aligned with the large-scale CMB gradient, when higher resolution observations toward clusters are combined with a wide-field CMB map, these two effects can be separated. An additional, but less important, source of confusion is the dipolar pattern produced by the moving-lens effect involving, again, the gradient of the cluster potential and the transverse velocity. The angular power spectrum of temperature anisotropies produced by the halo rotation is expected to be smaller than those due to the thermal SZ and peculiar-velocity kinetic SZ effects.
Transport of biotin in the ileum of suckling rats: characteristics and ontogeny.

ABSTRACT: Unlike adult rats, which transport biotin preferentially in the jejunum of the small intestine, suckling rats transport biotin preferentially in the ileum. The characteristics and kinetics of the transport process of biotin in the ileum of developing suckling rats and the subsequent maturation of the process in weanling and adult rats are not known and, therefore, are examined in this study. Transport studies were performed in suckling (16-d-old), weanling (25− to 27-d-old), and adult (90-d-old) rats using the everted sac technique. Transport of biotin in the ileum of suckling rats was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that in weanling rats, and transport in weanling rats was in turn significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that in adult rats. In all age groups examined, transport of biotin was found to be Na+-dependent and saturable as a function of concentration within the physiologic range (<10 μM), but linear at high concentrations. However, the Vmax of the carrier-mediated transport system of biotin showed progressive decrease with maturation (3290 ± 363, 829 ± 47, and 463 ± 19 pmol/g tissue wet wt/15 min in suckling, weanling, and adult rats, respectively), whereas no significant changes were observed in the apparent Km (2.8 ± 0.6, 2.6 ± 0.4, and 3.4 ± 0.4 μM in suckling, weanling, and adult rats, respectively). These findings suggest that maturation is associated with a decrease in the number (and/or activity) but not the affinity of the ileal biotin transport carriers. Transport of biotin by the diffusion process was also found to decrease with maturation (diffusion rates of 144, 86.5, and 40 pmol/g tissue wt/15 min were found for suckling, weanling, and adult rats, respectively). Unlabeled biotin, biotin-related compounds, metabolic inhibitors, and low incubation temperature all caused significant inhibition in the transport of 3H-biotin in the ileum of suckling as well as weanling and adult rats. These results demonstrate that biotin transport in the ileum of suckling rats is similar to that of weanling and adult rats in being carrier-mediated and Na+-, energy- and temperature-dependent. Furthermore, the results show that developmental maturation is associated with a decrease in the number (and/or activity) of the biotin transport carriers and a decrease in the diffusion rate in the ileum.
Effect of non-uniform material de-cohesion on crack initiation from notches in crosslinked uhmwpe

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been successfully used as a bearing material in total joint arthroplasty for the last 4 decades [1] but about 5%–10% of the implants undergo revision surgery in the first 10 years of implantation [2]. Crack initiation from a stress-concentration design feature (e.g., a sharp corner of a locking mechanism on an acetabular component) has been observed to lead to catastrophic failure in-vivo [3]. Therefore, it is important to understand crack initiation from clinically relevant notches to mitigate the risk of component fracture. UHMWPE is a semi-crystalline polymer and little is known about the physical mechanisms governing crack tip phenomena. The time dependent theoretical expression of fracture mechanics indicates that the critical fracture energy (Jc) varies with crack initiation time (ti) with an exponent ‘n’ (Equation 1).Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Farm-scale adaptation and vulnerability to environmental stresses: Insights from winegrowing in Northern California

Abstract The wine industry is increasingly recognized as especially vulnerable to climate change due to the climate sensitivity of both winegrape yields and quality, making it an important model system for the agricultural impacts of global changes. However, agricultural production is strongly influenced by the management decisions of growers, including their practices to modify the microclimate experienced by the growing crop; these adaptations have not been studied at the vineyard level, where managers on the ground are on the front lines of responding to global change. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with winegrowers to examine farm-scale adaptive responses to environmental stresses, to understand the views and motivations of agricultural managers, and to explore adaptive capacity in practice. We found that growers tend to respond to stresses individually rather than collectively, except when facing severe, unfamiliar pests and diseases. Responses may be reactive or anticipatory; most anticipatory strategies have been short-term, in response to imminent threats. Growers tend to rely on their own experience to guide their management decisions, which may offer poor guidance under novel climate regimes. From using a Vulnerability Scoping Diagram, we find that changing exposure (vineyard location) and sensitivity (planting choices such as vine variety) have the biggest impact on reducing vulnerability, but that adaptations in growing or processing the crop in the vineyard and winery are easier to implement, much more commonly undertaken, and may also offer substantial adaptive capacity. Understanding the context of adaptations, as well as the decision-making processes motivating them, is important for understanding responses to global change. These findings highlight some innovations in adapting to global change, as well as some of the barriers, and point to the need for strategic investments to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change. In particular, strategies to enhance both effective and easy to implement farming adaptations, as well as broader-scale anticipatory, collective responses, could reduce vulnerability in the context of climate change.
What's in a name? Eponyms in head and neck imaging

Head and neck (H&N) eponyms serve to honour physicians who have made important contributions. Compared with more descriptive diagnostic names, eponyms can sometimes be confusing, especially to the novice. Adding to the confusion, eponyms are sometimes applied incorrectly. Nevertheless, their use remains common in the medical literature and clinical practice. Familiarity with H&N eponyms is important for accurate communication with radiology colleagues and clinicians. Some eponyms describe potentially fatal infections and their urgency should be appreciated. Other eponyms, such as those for inner ear congenital anomalies, are probably best avoided as they can be used imprecisely and cause confusion. This review summarizes the clinical and imaging findings of some common and important H&N eponyms under the following categories of disease: (1) neck infections, (2) diseases in the temporal bone, (3) orbital diseases, and (4) sinus disease.
A study of anesthetic drug utilization in different age groups

Abstract Study objective To determine anesthetic drug utilization in different age groups. Design Retrospective, automated, intraoperative database study. Setting Tertiary care medical center. Measurements 30,842 noncardiac general anesthesia case records between January 1991 and July 1997 were studied. We investigated the effect of age on anesthetic requirements for fentanyl (F), midazolam (M), thiopental sodium (T), propofol (P), isoflurane (I), and nitrous oxide (N). Because drugs are not given in isolation we looked at the most common drug combinations, IFNTM, IFNPM, INFT, and PFNM. Regression analyses on log-transformed drug dosages were used to test the significance of age on individual requirements. Results In each of the above anesthetic drug combinations, reduced doses of fentanyl, propofol, midazolam, thiopental, and isoflurane were used with increasing age. Fentanyl, propofol, thiopental, and isoflurane showed a 10%, 8%, 6%, and 4% reduction in dose per decade of age, respectively, from age of maximum dose to age 80 years. Conclusions In clinical practice, increasing age results in decreased anesthetic drug administration. The mechanism of this observation needs to be determined.
Novel V600E BRAF mutations in imatinib-naive and imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumors

BRAF and NRAS are commonly mutated in cancer and represent the most frequent genetic events in malignant melanoma. More recently, a subset of melanomas was shown to overexpress KIT and harbor KIT mutations. Although most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) exhibit activating mutations in either KIT or PDGFRA, about 10% of the cases lack mutations in these genes. It is our hypothesis following the melanoma model that mutations in BRAF or NRAS may play a role in wild-type GIST pathogenesis. Alterations in RAS/MEK/ERK pathway may also be involved in development of imatinib resistance in GIST, particularly in tumors lacking secondary KIT or PDGFRA mutations. Imatinib-naive wild-type GISTs from 61 patients, including 15 children and 28 imatinib-resistant tumors without secondary KIT mutations were analyzed. Screening for hot spots mutations in BRAF (exons 11 and 15) and NRAS (exons 2 and 3) was performed. A BRAF exon 15 V600E was identified in 3 of 61 GIST patients, who shared similar clinical features, being 49- to 55-years-old females and having their tumors located in the small bowel. The tumors were strongly KIT immunoreactive and had a high risk of malignancy. An identical V600E BRAF mutation was also identified in one of 28 imatinib resistant GIST lacking a defined mechanism of drug resistance. In conclusion, we identified a primary BRAF V600E mutations in 7% of adult GIST patients, lacking KIT/PDGFRA mutations. The BRAF-mutated GISTs show predilection for small bowel location and high risk of malignancy. A secondary V600E BRAF mutation could represent an alternative mechanism of imatinib resistance. Kinase inhibitors targeting BRAF may be effective therapeutic options in this molecular GIST subset.
On serving as department chair: suggestions from veterans

Each year a small group of computer science educators are selected to become chairs of their departments. This experience is often referred to as "losing the lottery." The panelists have a different view. We believe that department chairs make important contributions to the success of their departments. Department chairs help new faculty develop as educators and professionals. Department chairs help to create an environment where students and faculty can enjoy their work and be productive. Department chairs can facilitate curriculum development and change, thereby helping keep the department's offerings current.The panelists have experience in a variety of educational environments. All have served as department heads. All have had to deal with the normal problems that department heads deal with - recruiting new faculty, obtaining funds for equipment, getting adequate funds for faculty salaries, acquiring technical support personnel, dealing with rapid increases in the number of majors, arranging teaching schedules, assisting with grant proposals, etc.Most department chairs have little or no guidance as they begin their tenure. This panel is an attempt to alleviate this problem. The panelists believe that their experiences can help new department chairs adjust to the multiple and sometimes conflicting demands of their new job.
The effects of underfeeding for 6 months during pregnancy and lactation on blood constituents, milk yield and body weight of dairy cows

Long-term undernutritional stress is often a feature of sheep and beef cattle production, but has only become a major feature of dairy cattle husbandry in the United Kingdom in recent winters when food was short and expensive. An experiment was carried out to study the effects of long-term underfeeding during pregnancy and early lactation on some blood constituents, milk yield and composition and body weight of dairy cattle. Two groups of cattle were fed at 60 and 40% of the estimated requirements for maintenance and pregnancy or lactation for 13 weeks before and 13 weeks after calving, and one group was fed at the maintenance level only for the same period. A control group was fed at 100% of estimated requirements for this period. All groups were subsequently fed at the control level for a further 24 weeks. The experiment showed that cows undergoing long-term nutritional deprivation were able to maintain concentrations of blood constituents within narrow limits; the concentrations of such constituents as glucose or non-esterifled fatty acid did not reflect energy deficit or surplus. The animals remained clinically healthy during the underfeeding and recovery periods. The results suggest that debility occurring under field conditions in association with reduced food supply may be due to a multiplicity of factors or to severe imbalance of specific nutrients, rather than to energy or protein deficit alone. There was a difference in efficiency of utilization of energy of 19% between cows in the most severely underfed groups which maintained lactation and those which were not able to maintain lactation. There was evidence that this difference in efficiency was detectable within a few weeks of the start of the period of reduced nutrition. Animals which were less affected in the early stages of food deprivation were also those which maintained the advantage through the deprivation and recovery periods.
Could boosting the oligoadenylate synthetase-like pathway bring a new era of antiviral therapy?

Viruses present a major threat to global health with significant pandemic potential. Among different types of viruses that are human pathogens, RNA viruses pose unique challenges due to their rapid replication kinetics, high mutation rates and complex evolutionary dynamics. The coevolution of the virus and the host has resulted in competing strategies to protect and propagate over a long time. As a result, oftentimes, the host antiviral systems that prevent virus infection are targeted by viruses [1]. Therefore, understanding the inner workings of the host innate immune system – the first line of defense against viral infection, and how it is subverted by viruses gives us one of the most promising opportunities to combat diseases caused by RNA viruses. In this context, recent elucidation of the mechanism of antiviral activity of one such host proteins oligoadenylate synthetase-like (OASL) has shown the potential for developing broad acting antiviral therapy exploiting this pathway [2].
Memory Devices Based on Mass Transport in Solid Electrolytes

This chapter introduces the concept of low-energy, non-volatile memory devices based on mass transport in solid electrolytes. In these devices, information is stored as a change in resistance due to the formation of a metallic filament via the reduction of metal ions in the electrolyte. To show how such elements work, basic solid-state electrochemistry and ion transport are described, along with the materials science of solid electrolytes, with particular emphasis being placed on the nanostructure of ternary ion conductors. The growth, morphology, and electrical characteristics of metal electrodeposits are discussed and related to both the nature of the materials involved and the operation of memory elements. The configuration and performance of a variety of devices are presented, including factors such as programming speed, endurance, and retention, as well as results that demonstrate physical and electrical scalability of the technology. Keywords: solid electrolytes; ionic conductivity; chalcogenide glasses; electrodeposition; resistance switching; threshold voltage; non-volatile memory; programmable metallization cell memory devices
Visual pigments of African cichlid fishes: evidence for ultraviolet vision from microspectrophotometry and DNA sequences.

We have found evidence for ultraviolet visual capabilities in a Lake Malawi cichlid fish, Metriaclima zebra. Microspectrophotometry of single cones revealed a visual pigment with peak sensitivity at 3689 4 nm. M. zebra also expresses a putative ultraviolet opsin gene whose sequence is closely related to the SWS-1 opsin for other fishes. Several other African cichlids have a functional copy of this UV gene in their genomic DNA, but do not appear to express this gene as adults. These results suggest that ultraviolet vision is important for some cichlid fishes. UV wavelengths should therefore be included in future studies of cichlid vision, behavior and color patterns. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Roentgenographic Features in Antibiotic-Associated Pseudomembranous colitis

SUMMARY Four patients with pseudomembranous colitis, related to antibiotic therapy, had a wide spectrum of radiographic features. These ranged from mild, focal areas of mucosal irregularity to widespread involvement of the colon. The extensive mucosal irregularity at barium enema is caused by plaque-like elevated pseudomem-branes studding the mucosal surface and aopears to be a specific radiographic finding. Dissection of barium under the pseudo-membranes and intramural gas was observed in these patients. Case 2 had a complicated, massive colonic bleeding, unresponsive to pitressin infusion. Although pseudomembranous colitis is a well established pathological entity, the precise pathogenesis is still uncertain. Recently, an increasing number of patients have been described with antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis. The disease is also known to occur as a complication of colonic obstruction, staphylococcal overgrowth, following abdominal surgery and in generalized debilitating diseases, such as uremia, lymphoma and leukemia. We have examined four patients with pseudomembranous colitis associated with antibiotic therapy. A wide range of roentgenographs abnormalities was observed in these patients.