cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myocarditis: somethings old and something new

"Since the pathological conditions take place at the cellular level, viral myocarditis and postinfectious autoimmunity can be suggested but not diagnosed clinically. All clinical methods including imaging techniques are misleading if infectious agents are involved. Accurate diagnosis demands simultaneous histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular biological workup of the tissue. If the primary infectious or immune-mediated causes of the disease are carefully defined by clinical and biopsy-based tools, specific antiviral treatment options in addition to basic symptomatic therapy are available under certain conditions. These may allow a tailored cause-specific treatment that improves symptoms and prognosis of patients with acute and chronic disease." Uwe Kuhl; Heinz-Peter SchultheissViral myocarditis.Swiss Medical Weekly. 144():w14010, JAN 2014 DOI:10.4414/smw.2014.14010.
Automated Requirements Identification from Construction Contract Documents Using Natural Language Processing

AbstractContract documents are a critical legal component of a construction project that specify all wishes and expectations of the owner toward the design, construction, and handover of a project....
Observer-Based Leader-Follower Tracking Control for High-Order Multi-Agent Systems with Limited Measurement Information

This paper investigates high-order leader-follower tracking by a multi-agent system (MAS) when only very limited measurement information is available to an agent. We specifically consider the setting where an agent, either leader or follower, only has its first state measured. To address this challenge, we propose to use observers to reconstruct unmeasured quantities and perform observer-based control. We develop a series of novel observers that can allow a follower to estimate the leader’s states, even when they cannot communicate with each other, and all of its own unmeasured states. We rigorously prove the convergence of these observers and the resultant distributed tracking control. A simulation result further illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed design.
Abstract B10: Manipulating translesion synthesis proteins MAGE-A4 and RAD18 in a murine model of oral cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) account for 6% of cancers worldwide. Because of their link to carcinogens such as alcohol and tobacco, HNSCCs are characterized by a high mutational burden and genome instability. Cancer recurrence due to chemoresistance, or a tolerance of chemotherapy-induced mutations, is the major cause of mortality in HNSCCs. DNA damage response pathways, such as translesion synthesis (TLS), are activated in response to genotoxic stress, including from conventional chemotherapy. The TLS pathway facilitates repair of certain types of mutations and thus is important for DNA damage tolerance. However, TLS polymerases are error-prone and therefore, paradoxically, may promote genome instability. In this way, elevated or “pathologic” TLS in the context of a cancer cell may be a “double-edged sword,” conferring damage tolerance but at the expense of introducing additional mutations that could fuel tumor growth. We have previously shown that melanoma antigen A4 (MAGE-A4) recruits the E3 ubiquitin ligase Rad18 to stalled replication forks where it monoubiquitinates PCNA to recruit TLS polymerases to bypass the lesion. In HNSCC, MAGE-A4 overexpression correlates with both increased mutational burden and worse prognosis. We hypothesize that aberrant high MAGE-A4 expression tolerizes cancer cells to excessive mutations, making them invulnerable to the DNA-damaging effects of traditional chemotherapies. In order to gain a better understanding of the consequences of MAGE-A4 overexpression and TLS activation in oral tumors in vivo, we created a genetically engineered mouse model that expresses MAGE-A4 under the control of an epithelial-specific Cre driver. When treated with the potent mutagen 4NQO in their drinking water, both transgenic and control mice developed oral tumors. The collected squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed using whole-exome sequencing and immunofluorescence to examine whether MAGE-A4+ tumors gained more mutations and were more invasive than MAGE-A4- or RAD18 KO tumors. Together, these data provide a greater understanding of MAGE-A4 and RAD18 biology and TLS in oral cancers. Citation Format: Bethany L. Wagner, Jason Guo, Yanzhe Gao, Cyrus Vaziri, Scott E. Williams. Manipulating translesion synthesis proteins MAGE-A4 and RAD18 in a murine model of oral cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr B10.
Accumulation and persistence of ivacaftor in airway epithelia with prolonged treatment.

Abstract Background Current dosing strategies of CFTR modulators are based on serum pharmacokinetics, but drug concentrations in target tissues such as airway epithelia are not known. Previous data suggest that CFTR modulators may accumulate in airway epithelia, and serum pharmacokinetics may not accurately predict effects of chronic treatment. Methods CF (F508del homozygous) primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells grown at air-liquid interface were treated for 14 days with ivacaftor plus lumacaftor or ivacaftor plus tezacaftor, followed by a 14-day washout period. At various intervals during treatment and washout phases, drug concentrations were measured via mass spectrometry, electrophysiological function was assessed in Ussing chambers, and mature CFTR protein was quantified by Western blotting. Results During treatment, ivacaftor accumulated in CF-HBEs to a much greater extent than either lumacaftor or tezacaftor and remained persistently elevated even after 14 days of washout. CFTR activity peaked at 7 days of treatment but diminished with further ivacaftor accumulation, though remained above baseline even after washout. Conclusions Intracellular accrual and persistence of CFTR modulators during and after chronic treatment suggest complex pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties within airway epithelia that are not predicted by serum pharmacokinetics. Direct measurement of drugs in target tissues may be needed to optimize dosing strategies, and the persistence of CFTR modulators after treatment cessation has implications for personalized medicine approaches.
Roadmap for Effective School-Based Practices to Support Expectant and Parenting Youth: Lessons from the New Heights Program in Washington, DC

Introduction New Heights is a voluntary school-based program that provides a well-defined system of supports for expectant and parenting students in Washington, DC, and was found to be effective at improving educational outcomes. This study explores the program elements and practices that, when used together, improved academic outcomes for New Heights participants and define a possible roadmap for service providers interested in replicating the program's success. Methods The study team collected data through site visits, key informant interviews, staff surveys, program observations, case files, and program materials. Results The core design and implementation elements of the New Heights program are (1) placing a trained staff member in the school to provide advocacy, case management, education, and in-kind incentives; (2) bringing community-based service providers into the school; (3) giving trained staff autonomy and a strong grounding in local context; and (4) using a highly collaborative process to hire and support school-based coordinators. Discussion Staff and funders interested in improving outcomes for young parents in school could use the experience of New Heights and the key practices that were critical to its success as a guide: (1) ensure that the program is well defined but can be tailored to the needs of schools and students, (2) engage community partners to bring services to participants, (3) hire and train the right staff who are committed to "do whatever it takes," (4) actively cultivate a culture of collaboration among program staff, and (5) develop buy-in with school staff and illustrate program value.
Fordisc: Anthropological software for estimation of ancestry, sex, time period, and stature

Abstract A major part of forensic anthropology is assessing the biological profile of an individual as the basis for identification. The biological profile contains the estimation of sex, age, ancestry, and stature along with the documentation of the dental status and trauma on the skeleton. Statistical software is often a helpful tool to increase the reliability of the estimations. This chapter presents the statistical methods for the estimation of sex, ancestry, time period, and stature incorporated in the software Fordisc. The software provides various options for classification into sex-ancestry groups and for stature assessment, including discriminant function and linear regression analysis.
Druggable Targets in Endocannabinoid Signaling.

Cannabis and cannabinoid-based extracts have long been utilized for their perceived therapeutic value, and support for the legalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes continues to increase worldwide. Since the discovery of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the primary psychoactive component of cannabis over 50 years ago, substantial effort has been directed toward detection of endogenous mediators of cannabinoid activity. The discovery of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol as two endogenous lipid mediators of cannabinoid-like effects (endocannabinoids) has inspired exponential growth in our understanding of this essential pathway, as well as the pathological conditions that result from dysregulated endocannabinoid signaling. This review examines current knowledge of the endocannabinoid system including metabolic enzymes involved in biosynthesis and degradation and their receptors, and evaluates potential druggable targets for therapeutic intervention.
Distributed Intrusion Detection System using Semantic-based Rules for SCADA in Smart Grid

Cyber-physical system (CPS) security for the smart grid enables secure communication for the SCADA and wide-area measurement system data. Power utilities world-wide use various SCADA protocols, namely DNP3, Modbus, and IEC 61850, for the data exchanges across substation field devices, remote terminal units (RTUs), and control center applications. Adversaries may exploit compromised SCADA protocols for the reconnaissance, data exfiltration, vulnerability assessment, and injection of stealthy cyberattacks to affect power system operation. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm to generate robust rule sets. We integrate the rule sets into an intrusion detection system (IDS), which continuously monitors the DNP3 data traffic at a substation network and detects intrusions and anomalies in real-time. To enable CPS-aware wide-area situational awareness, we integrated the methodology into an open-source distributed-IDS (D-IDS) framework. The D-IDS facilitates central monitoring of the detected anomalies from the geographically distributed substations and to the control center. The proposed algorithm provides an optimal solution to detect network intrusions and abnormal behavior. Different types of IDS rules based on packet payload, packet flow, and time threshold are generated. Further, IDS testing and evaluation is performed with a set of rules in different sequences. The detection time is measured for different IDS rules, and the results are plotted. All the experiments are conducted at Power Cyber Lab, Iowa State University, for multiple power grid models. After successful testing and evaluation, knowledge and implementation are transferred to field deployment.
An investigation of in situ impregnation for additive manufacturing of thermoplastic composites

Abstract Due to the increasing popularity of additive manufacturing with continuous fibers thermoplastic composites (TPC), this paper investigates the process of in situ impregnation of dry fiber tow with molten thermoplastic resin as a means to reduce material cost. To better understand impregnation with high-viscosity polymer melts, a 1D version of Darcy’s Law is derived along with Gebart’s equations for estimating fiber tow impregnation and permeability. Rheology of the two polymer melts tested, nylon 6/12 and polycarbonate, were measured using a capillary viscometer. The experimental setup consisted of a heated and weighted plunger system to maintain polymer melt pressure in a temperature-controlled pultrusion chamber, through which a dry 3 K carbon fiber tow passes through at a constant velocity for in situ impregnation. The resulting TPC tape was collected on a reel and not used directly for AM. The setup allowed three process variables in Darcy’s equation, i.e. chamber pressure, polymer viscosity (via temperature), and exposure time, to be varied. The degree of impregnation of the thick tape specimens – quantified using digital microscopy and image analysis on polished cross-sections – matched theoretical predictions quite well (average errors of ∼10% for nylon and ∼15% for polycarbonate). However, despite pressures up to 1.2 MPa and exposure times (5.5−15 sec) consistent with current AM system feed rates, the extremely high melt viscosities (290–980 Pa⋅sec) make full impregnation of thick tapes nearly impossible in a practical setting. Improvements to the in situ impregnation process based on experimental results and impregnation models are suggested.
3D Imaging Using Extreme Dispersion in Optical Metasurfaces

Metasurfaces have the potential to revolutionize imaging technologies due to their extreme control of phase, polarization, and amplitude of the incident light. They rely upon enhanced local interac...
The matrisome contributes to the increased rigidity of the bovine ovarian cortex and provides a source of new bioengineering tools to investigate ovarian biology

The gonadotoxic effects of some cancers significantly increase the risk of developing infertility and cessation of ovary hormones (premature ovarian insufficiency, POI). Fertility preservation in the form of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is offered to pediatric and adolescent cancer patients who cannot undergo oocyte retrieval and egg cryopreservation. The cryopreserved ovarian tissue can be transplanted back and has been found to restore fertility in 20 - 40% of transplants and restore hormone function for an average of 3 to 5 years. However, some individuals have primary or metastatic disease within their ovarian tissue and would not be able to transplant it back in its native form. Therefore, there is a need for additional methods for hormone and fertility restoration that would support a safe transplant with increased successful livebirths and long-term hormone restoration. To support these goal, we sought to understand the contribution of the ovarian microenvironment to its physical and biochemical properties to inform bioprosthetic ovary scaffolds that would support isolated follicles. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we determined that the bovine ovarian cortex was significantly more rigid than the medulla. To determine if this difference in rigidity was maintained in isolated matrisome proteins from bovine ovarian compartments, we cast and 3D printed hydrogels created from decellularized bovine ovarian cortex and medulla slices. The cast gels and 3D printed bioprosthetic ovary scaffolds from the cortex was still significantly more rigid than the medulla biomaterials. To expand our bioengineering toolbox that will aide in the investigation of how biochemical and physical cues may affect folliculogenesis, we sought to confirm the concentration of matrisome proteins in bovine ovarian compartments. The matrisome proteins, COL1, FN, EMILIN1 and AGRN were more abundant in the bovine ovarian cortex than the medulla. Whereas, VTN was more abundant in the medulla than the cortex and COL4 was present in similar amounts within both compartments. Finally, we removed proteins of interest, EMILIN1 and AGRN, from decellularized bovine ovarian cortex materials and confirmed that this specifically depleted these proteins without affecting the rigidity of cast or 3D printed hydrogels. Taken together our results indicate the existence of a rigidity gradient in the bovine ovary, that this rigidity gradient is maintained in resulting engineered materials strongly implicating a role for matrisome proteins in contributing to the physical properties of the bovine ovary. By establishing additional engineering tools we will continue to explore mechanisms behind matrisome-follicle interactions.
An Economic Study of The Most Important Problems and Obstacles Facing Bean Farmers in Agricultural Greenhouses in Dakahlia Governorate During The Emerging Corona Virus Pandemic دراسة إقتصادية لأهم المشاکل والمعوقات التى تواجه مزارعى الفاصوليا بالصوب الزراعية بمحافظة الدقهلية فى ظل جائحة فيرس کورونا المستجد

تعتبر مشاريع الصوب الزراعية ؛ من أکثر المشاريع التى تحقق أرباحا غير عادية للمزارع ، و خاصة بالنسبة لمحاصيلل الخضر ، حيث تؤدى تلک المشاريع إلى سد الفجوة الغذائية من تلک المحاصيل في الأسواق المحلية بين العرض والطلب من تلک المحاصيل فى الأسواق المحلية، إضافة إلى زيادة دخل المنتجين من خلال زراعة محاصيل عالية القيمة تحقق دخول مرتفعة، مما يؤدى لرفع مستوى معيشة المنتجين ، بالإضافة إلى أنها توفير فرص عمل لشباب الخريجين ، کما يمکن تصدير الفائض من المحاصيل الناتجة من الصوب الزراعية للأسواق الخارجية و خاصة الأسواق الأوروبية و فتح أسواق جديدة للصادرات الزراعية المصرية ؛ مما يعمل على زيادة الصادرات الزراعية من محاصيل الخضر و خفض العجز فى الميزان التجاري الزراعى المصري ، والذي يعاني عجزا مستمرا منذ سبعينات من القرن الماضي و توفير عملة صعبة للدولة. على الرغم من أهمية مشاريع الصوب الزراعية في زيادة الإنتاج الزراعى والتخفيف من ظاهرة موسمية الإنتاج الزراعى والحد من ظاهرة البطالة ، و خفض الفجوة الغذائية في تلک المحاصيل الزراعية الناتجة من الصوب الزراعية سواء فى الأسواق المحلية أوالأسواق الخارجية، وعلى الرغم أيضا من إرتفاع العائد الإقتصادى الناتج من زراعة محاصيل الخضر بالصوب الزراعية ، حيث تزيد إنتاجية الفدان الواحد من الصوب الزراعية حوالي ستة أضعاف ما تنتجه الزراعة المکشوفة من تلک المحاصيل؛ الإ أن تلک المشاريع لا تزال تعانى من بعض المشاکل الإقتصادية والإنتاجية والتسويقية بها ، مما يؤدى إلى ضعف إنتشار مثل هذه المشاريع بين المزارعين ، و قد يرجع ذلک بسبب إرتفاع تکلفة إنشائها.
Immuno-Fluorescent Assessment of Ablated Colorectal Liver Metastases: The Frozen Section of Image-Guided Tumor Ablation?

PURPOSE To validate an immuno-fluorescent assay (IFA) detecting residual viable tumor as intraprocedural thermal ablation (TA) zone assessment and demonstrate its prognostic value for local tumor progression after colorectal liver metastases (CLM) TA. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective, IRB-approved study included 99 patients with 155 CLMs ablated between November 2009 and January 2019. Tissue samples from the ablation zone (AZ) center and minimal margin underwent immunofluorescent microscopic examination interrogating cellular morphology and mitochondrial viability (IFA) within 30 minutes after ablation. The same tissue samples were subsequently evaluated with standard morphological and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of IFA versus standard morphological and IHC examination were calculated. Local tumor progression (LTP)-free survival rates were evaluated for 12-month follow-up period. RESULTS Of the 311 tissue samples stained, 304 (98%) were deemed evaluable. 27% (81/304) of specimens were considered positive for the presence of viable tumor. The accuracy of IFA was 94% (286/304). Sensitivity and specificity were 100% (63/63) and 93% (223/241), respectively. The 18 false-positive IFA assessments corresponded to samples that included viable cholangiocytes. The 12-month LTP-free survival was 59% vs 78% for IFA positive vs negative for viable tumor AZs, respectively (P <.001). There was no difference in LTP between margin positive only versus central AZ positive tumors (25% vs 31%, p=1). CONCLUSION IFA assessment of the AZ can be completed intra-procedurally and serve as a valid real-time biomarker of complete tumor eradication or detect residual viable tumor after TA. This method could improve tumor control by TA.
Bi2Te3 Nanowire Array/Epoxy Composites for Thermoelectric Power Generators and Microcoolers

The thermal conductivity of a nanowire array composite is controlled by the matrix thermal conductivity and volume fraction, thus the effective thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) of the composite will be reduced relative to that of the thermoelectric nanowire material alone. In this report, we demonstrate a process for fabricating nanowire array /epoxy composite with high structural integrity and low effective thermal conductivity required for thermoelectric power generation applications. Using galvanostatic electrodeposition into sacrificial porous anodic alumina (PAA) templates of 50 micron thickness, we synthesized dense (∼75% volume fraction) self-supporting nanowire arrays of textured Bi2 Te3 . X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the nanowires have texture, the orientation that yields the highest ZT in single crystals. The nanowire array was infiltrated with SU-8 epoxy resin, a low thermal conductivity material (0.2 W/m-K) with a thermal conductivity that is about an order of magnitude lower than that of PAA (1.7 W/m-K). Scanning electron micrographs of fractured composites confirm nearly complete infiltration of SU-8 epoxy in nanowire array with good adhesion and high structural integrity.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Events can make sense

Tame is a new event-based system for managing concurrency in network applications. Code written with Tame abstractions does not suffer from the "stack-ripping" problem associated with other event libraries. Like threaded code, tamed code uses standard control flow, automatically-managed local variables, and modular interfaces between callers and callees. Tame's implementation consists of C++ libraries and a source-to-source translator; no platform-specific support or compiler modifications are required, and Tame induces little runtime overhead. Experience with Tame in real-world systems, including a popular commercial Web site, suggests it is easy to adopt and deploy.
Performance improvement of OpenJPA by query dependency analysis

OpenJPA is an implementation of the Java persistence API (JPA) for Apache, with a caching layer for databases queries to share cached objects among multiple client sessions. This is a critical component for high performance, since the caching layer can handle many database requests. However the performance is limited when an application includes write transactions, because the current OpenJPA cache invalidation mechanism is course-grained and this results in a low cache hit rate. We have implemented two kinds of finer-grained invalidation mechanisms by using query dependency analysis and integrated them into OpenJPA. In our experiments with TPC-W, the OpenJPA with the finer-grained invalidation mechanisms outperformed the current OpenJPA. In addition, we created many more mixes TPC-W, and found that the finer mechanism is not necessarily the better, that is, the best mechanism varies depending on the mixes.
Atomic resolution cryo electron microscopy of macromolecular complexes

Single-particle cryo electron microscopy (cryoEM) is a technique for determining three-dimensional (3D) structures from projection images of molecular complexes preserved in their “native,” noncrystalline state. Recently, atomic or near-atomic resolution structures of several viruses and protein assemblies have been determined by single-particle cryoEM, allowing ab initio atomic model building by following the amino acid side chains or nucleic acid bases identifiable in their cryoEM density maps. In particular, these cryoEM structures have revealed extended arms contributing to molecular interactions that are otherwise not resolved by the conventional structural method of X-ray crystallography at similar resolutions. High-resolution cryoEM requires careful consideration of a number of factors, including proper sample preparation to ensure structural homogeneity, optimal configuration of electron imaging conditions to record high-resolution cryoEM images, accurate determination of image parameters to correct image distortions, efficient refinement and computation to reconstruct a 3D density map, and finally appropriate choice of modeling tools to construct atomic models for functional interpretation. This progress illustrates the power of cryoEM and ushers it into the arsenal of structural biology, alongside conventional techniques of X-ray crystallography and NMR, as a major tool (and sometimes the preferred one) for the studies of molecular interactions in supramolecular assemblies or machines.
Drug‐induced thrombocytopenia in children

Background Acute, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia may be caused by many different approved drugs as well as by other substances including vaccines, complementary and alternative medicines, herbal remedies, nutritional supplements, foods and beverages. All causes are described as drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP). Often the cause is not recognized, resulting in recurrent thrombocytopenia and inappropriate treatments. Systematic analysis of children (age less than 18 years) with suspected DITP has not been previously reported. Procedures (1) We searched 15 databases to identify articles describing children with thrombocytopenia as an adverse effect of drugs and other substances. Articles were reviewed to assign levels of evidence for an association of the suspected substance with thrombocytopenia. (2) Data from the BloodCenter of Wisconsin were reviewed to identify reports of drug-dependent, platelet-reactive antibodies in children with suspected DITP. Results Of 2,191 articles identified, 242 were selected for review. Seventy-two articles reporting 74 individual patients and nine groups of patients had evaluable data. Eleven individual patients and one group had definite evidence and 40 patients and three groups had probable evidence for an association of the suspected substance with thrombocytopenia. Thirty-two substances had a definite or probable association with thrombocytopenia. During 2008–2012, sera from 91 children with suspected DITP were tested and 21 had drug-dependent, platelet-reactive antibodies involving six substances. Conclusions Drugs and other substances must be considered as potential causes of thrombocytopenia. Evidence from published reports and data for drug-dependent, platelet-reactive antibodies can help clinicians evaluate of children with unexpected thrombocytopenia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1975–1981. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Queers in the Line of Fire: Goffman's Stigma Revisited

Using data from in-depth interviews with young queer people, this article proposes revisions for four areas of Goffman's classic work, Stigma. Interviews reveal a situation between complete acceptance of queer identity and outright hostility, which I term “being in the line of fire,” and three strategies participants use to manage their identity in this situation. Unlike classical identity management, this project considers how their “double consciousness” allows them to respond to stigmatizing situations while remaining insulated from the negative appraisals of others. Instead, they orient toward educating the stigmatizer, minimizing interaction by tailoring their identity, or disengaging. I use these strategies to demonstrate that identity management theory does not properly consider possible responses to hostile reactions, the diversity of stigmatized groups, Goffman's so-called sympathetic others, or different frames of reference on stigmatized attributes. Orienting to the point of view of the margina...
Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels: Thermodynamics

Polyelectrolyte hydrogel is a three dimensional networks forming by charged polymer chains. The hydrophilic networks capable of imbibing large amount of water or biological fluids, mimics biological tissues. Because of this nature, great attention was devoted to these systems for biomedical applications by tuning the physicochemical properties with varying the degree of crosslinking either by physical or chemical or physical-chemical means. Numerous approaches have been investigated for formulation of polyelectrolyte hydrogels. In this chapter, an attempt was made to narrate the synthetic and natural materials and their mechanism to form cross-linked polyelectrolyte hydrogels. It was also tried to explain the importance of ionotropic gelation and polyelectrolyte complexation approaches, as these methods show great promise as a tool for the development in their application process. For further understanding in this area, a mathematical model was introduced to describe the thermodynamic behavior of polyelectrolyte hydrogels and derives conditions for thermodynamic phase equilibrium; the physical and chemical characterization of hydrogels, as well as special considerations that need to be made when characterizing polyelectrolyte hydrogels, were also discussed. In the end, a number of biomedical applications of polyelectrolyte hydrogel were given, such as in controlled release systems, different types of tissue reconstitution, for the enzyme and protein separations, etc.
Assay for Movement of Lepidopteran Transposon IFP2 in Insect Cells Using a Baculovirus Genome as a Target DNA

Mutagenesis of baculoviruses by host mobile elements occurs spontaneously and frequently during propagation of the viruses in Lepidopteran cell cultures. Most of the transposons identified as insertions in baculovirus genomes are relatively small Class II elements that exhibit a remarkable specificity for TTAA target sites. We have developed a transposition assay to analyze the movement of these TTAA-specific Lepidopteran transposons using the baculovirus genome as a target and a lacZ gene under control of the polyhedrin gene promoter as a selective marker for the transposon. This assay provides the first demonstration that a Lepidopteran transposon is capable of transposing while carrying a marker gene in insect cells. The data generated from this assay provide strong evidence that IFP2 encodes a protein that facilitates its own movement. This element may be used in a manner analogous to the P-element to mobilize genes in at least some Lepidopteran insect cells. Transposon tagging within the baculovirus genome identified several known genes and two previously undescribed open reading frames as nonessential to in vitro replication of the virus.
Review of “The Couple and Family Technology Framework: Intimate Relationships in a Digital Age,” by Katherine M. Hertlein and Markie L. C. Blumer

This well-supported, important contribution to couple and family technology by Hertlein and Blumer is the book all couple and family therapists need to acquire if they want to enter and practice in...
The Invasion of CTrenada, 1983 and the Collapse of Legal Norms

The military intervention of Grenada, October 25, 1983 came after years of increasing strain between the interventionists, especially the US, and Grenada. Justification for using force by the US and its Ca ribbean partners was based on 1) claims of undue increase in military power in Grenada, in comparison with other Caribbean states, 2) the non-civil libertarian and socialist character of Grenada's PRG gov ernment which brought it into close and increasing dependency on Cuba and the Soviet Union, 3) the use of force by Maurice Bishop and his NJM movement to obtain power, and 4) the brutality of his liqui dation. Also 5) the claim that the OECS organization was a bona fide regional organization operating within the scope of authority of article 52 of the UN charter. It thereby had the right to seek help from others in the fullfillment of their treaty obligations. The US in particular stressed this point plus, 6) the claim that the Governor-General invited outside assistance. Most international law scholar...
Transient Radiation Effects in SOI Memories

This paper presents the first measurements of transient radiation effects on SOI discrete devices and an LSI memory. A commercially processed LSI SOI memory, a 4K × 1 SRAM on SIMOX, was tested for SEU, and transient ionizing radiation effects as a function of bias conditions and dose rate. The SEU error rate was found to be between 1.5 and 2.5 × 10-8 errors/bit-day for the 10% worst-case orbit model. The output voltage logic upset level was greater than 1.6 × 1010 rad(Si)/sec for Vcc supply voltage variations of -10% and +20% with Vsub at -10 V. For the discrete devices and memory, the measured transient photocurrents were larger than the calculated volumetric photocurrent generated in the active device region. This increased transient response is postulated to be due to the gain of the parasitic phototransistor of the dielectrically isolated MOS device.
Myocardial protection during ventricular fibrillation by reduction of proton-driven sarcolemmal sodium influx.

Abstract Although the inhibition of proton-driven sarcolemmal sodium influx ameliorates ischemic injury in the quiescent myocardium, the effects when ventricular fibrillation is present are largely unknown. We used an isolated rat heart model to investigate whether inhibition of the sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 (with the benzoylguanidine derivatives HOE-694 and cariporide) with or without concomitant inhibition of the sodium-bicarbonate co-transporter (with perfusate buffered with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid [HEPES]) during ischemia and ventricular fibrillation could ameliorate functional myocardial abnormalities presumed to limit cardiac resuscitability. Ischemic contracture, which typically develops during ventricular fibrillation, was ameliorated by HOE-694 when either a bicarbonate-buffered (20 ± 7 mm Hg vs 15 ± 5 mm Hg, P
Combined modality treatment for PET-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma: favorable outcomes of combined modality treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and positive interim or postchemotherapy FDG-PET.

Purpose To evaluate outcomes of patients treated for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with combined modality therapy based on [ 18 F]fluoro-2-deoxy-2-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) response. Methods and Materials We studied 59 patients with aggressive NHL, who received chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) from 2001 to 2008. Among them, 83% of patients had stage I/II disease. Patients with B-cell lymphoma received R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone)-based chemotherapy, and 1 patient with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic T-cell lymphoma received CHOP therapy. Interim and postchemotherapy FDG-PET or FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) scans were performed for restaging. All patients received consolidated involved-field RT. Median RT dose was 36 Gy (range, 28.8-50 Gy). Progression-free survival (PFS) and local control (LC) rates were calculated with and without a negative interim or postchemotherapy FDG-PET scan. Results Median follow-up was 46.5 months. Thirty-nine patients had negative FDG-PET results by the end of chemotherapy, including 12 patients who had a negative interim FDG-PET scan and no postchemotherapy PET. Twenty patients were FDG-PET-positive, including 7 patients with positive interim FDG-PET and no postchemotherapy FDG-PET scans. The 3-year actuarial PFS rates for patients with negative versus positive FDG-PET scans were 97% and 90%, respectively. The 3-year actuarial LC rates for patients with negative versus positive FDG-PET scans were 100% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions Patients who had a positive interim or postchemotherapy FDG-PET had a PFS rate of 90% at 3 years after combined modality treatment, suggesting that a large proportion of these patients can be cured with consolidated RT.
Osseointegrated implants in microvascular fibula free flap reconstructed mandibles

Abstract In the past, prosthodontic rehabilitation of patients who underwent segmental mandibular resection relied on removable prostheses, which were less than ideal. The advent of the microvascular free flap has provided improved appearance and function through reconstruction of the skeletal integrity of the mandible. In select patients Osseointegrated implants strategically placed in the reconstructed mandible can be used to restore masticatory function. Patient selection criteria and techniques are discussed.
β -Glucuronidase from Escherichia coli as a Gene-Fusion Marker

Abstract We have developed a gene-fusion system based on the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene (uidA). The uidA gene has been cloned from E. coli K-12 and its entire nucleotide sequence has been determined. beta-Glucuronidase has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. The enzyme has a subunit molecular weight of 68,200, is very stable, and is easily and sensitively assayed using commercially available substrates. We have constructed gene fusions of the E. coli lacZ promoter and coding region with the coding region of the uidA gene that show beta-glucuronidase activity under lac control. Plasmid vectors have been constructed to facilitate the transfer of the beta-glucuronidase coding region to heterologous control regions, using many different restriction endonuclease cleavage sites. There are several biological systems in which uidA-encoded beta-glucuronidase may be an attractive alternative or complement to previously described gene-fusion markers such as beta-galactosidase or chloramphenicol acetyltransferase.
Cross-talk between calcineurin/NFAT and Jak/STAT signalling induces cardioprotective alphaB-crystallin gene expression in response to hypertrophic stimuli.

Among the stress proteins that are up-regulated in the heart due to imposed biomechanical stress, αB-crystallin (CryAB) is the most abundant and pivotal in rendering protection against stress-induced cell damage. Cardiomyocyte-specific expression of the CryAB gene was shown to be dependent upon an intact αBE4 cis-element located in the CryAB enhancer. To date, there is no evidence on the identity of regulatory proteins and associated signalling molecules that control CryAB expression in cardiomyocytes. In this study, we define a mechanism by which the calcineurin/NFAT and Jak/STAT pathways regulate CryAB gene expression in response to a hypertrophic agonist endothelin-1 (En-1), in hypertrophic hearts of mice with pressure overload (TAC) and in heart-targeted calcineurin over-expressing mice (MHC-CnA). We observed that in response to various hypertrophic stimuli the transcription factors NFAT, Nished and STAT3 form a dynamic ternary complex and interact with the αBE4 promoter element of the CryAB gene. Both dominant negative NFAT and AG490, an inhibitor of the Jak2 phosphorylation, inhibited CryAB gene transcription in transient transfection assays. AG490 was also effective in blocking the nuclear translocation of NFAT and STAT3 in cardiomyocytes treated with En-1. We observed a marked increase in CryAB gene expression in MHC-CnA mouse hearts accompanied with increased phosphorylation of STAT3. We conclude that hypertrophy-dependent CryAB gene expression can be attributed to a functional linkage between the Jak/STAT and calcineurin/NFAT signalling pathways, each of which are otherwise known to be involved independently in the deleterious outcome in cardiac hypertrophy.
Intracerebral adrenocorticotropic hormone mediates novelty-induced grooming in the rat

Intact male rats exhibited more grooming in unfamiliar testing chambers than in their home cages. Hypophysectomized rats showed a much reduced increase in grooming in these testing chambers. Intraventricular injections of antiserum to adrenocorticotropic hormone to intact rats decreased the grooming usually observed in the novel situation, whereas a similar injection of control serum did not produce this effect. Peripheral injections of the antiserum did not affect grooming. Since intraventricularly injected adrenocorticotropic hormone induces excessive grooming, these results suggest that the increased grooming observed in the novel environment may be at least partly due to the release of this hormone directly into the cerebral ventricular system.
Separation of organic cations using novel background electrolytes by capillary electrophoresis

A background electrolyte for capillary electrophoresis containing tris(-hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (THAM) and ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) gives excellent efficiency for separation of drug cations with actual theoretical plate numbers as high as 300,000. However, the analyte cations often elute too quickly and consequently offer only a narrow window for separation. The best way to correct this is to induce a reverse electroosmotic flow (EOF) that will spread out the peaks by slowing their migration rates, but this has always been difficult to accomplish in a controlled manner. A new method for producing a variable EOF is described in which a low variable concentration of tributylammonium- or triethylammonium ESA is added to the BGE. The additive equilibrates with the capillary wall to give it a positive charge and thereby produce a controlled opposing EOF. Excellent separations of complex drug mixtures were obtained by this method.
Crystal growth and magnetic properties of Ln4MGa12 (Ln = Dy–Er; M = Pd, Pt)

Single crystals of Ln4MGa12 (Ln = Dy, Ho, Er; M = Pd,Pt) were synthesized by a flux technique using excess Ga and characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction. Ln4MGa12 (Ln = Dy, Ho, Er; M = Pd,Pt) crystallize in the cubic space group (no.?229) with lattice parameter a~8.5??, Z = 2. Magnetic measurements show that Dy4PdGa12 and Er4PdGa12 are antiferromagnetic with transitions at TN = 10 and 5.2?K, respectively, while Ho4PdGa12 does not show any magnetic ordering down to 2?K. Ln4PtGa12 (Ln = Dy, Ho, Er) order antiferromagnetically at TN = 9.8, 3.6 and 5.1?K for Dy4PtGa12, Ho4PtGa12 and Er4PtGa12, respectively.?The electrical resistivity data show metallic behaviour. Large positive magnetoresistance is shown for each compound, up to 900% at 3?K and 9?T for the Ho4PtGa12 analogue.
Evidence for regular distribution of sterols in liquid crystalline phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

Abstract To investigate the lateral organization of sterols in membranes, the fluorescence intensity of dehydroergosterol at different mole fractions in liquid crystalline dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers was examined. A number of intensity drops were observed at specific mole fractions, as predicted from a hexagonal super-lattice model. The fluorescence dips provide compelling evidence that a naturally occurring sterol is regularly distributed at fixed compositional fractions, consistent with the presence of hexagonal super-lattices in the fluid membranes. Regularly distributed regions, however, coexist with irregularly distributed regions. The extent of regular distribution varies periodically with sterol mole fraction and, consequently, similar variations take place in the membrane volume and lipid packing. This level of modulation in local membrane structure by minute changes in sterol concentration should have profound implications for the functional role of cholesterol content in cell membranes.
Effect of tensile force magnitude on release of cranial suture cells into S phase

An in vitro model was used to study the effect of tensile force magnitude and duration on cell proliferation in cranial suture tissue. Helical springs were calibrated to deliver specific magnitudes of force to rat midsagittal suture in organ culture. The explants were incubated for time periods ranging from 1 to 48 hours. The in vitro model system facilitates study of the effects of a single parameter of an applied force on suture tissue without the interference of the complicated craniofacial anatomy. Specifically, the influence of tensile force magnitude and duration on DNA synthesis was investigated. Using autoradiography, cells incorporating tritiated thymidine were counted, indicating cells released into DNA synthesis (S) phase.
Bifurcation Characteristics of an Impacted Cantilevered Beam for Off-Resonance Excitation

Analytical and numerical methods are applied in order to study the response behavior of the constrained motion of a cantilevered beam for off-resonance excitation. Studies are conducted by using a multi-mode representation of the beam in order to accurately depict the influence of the bifurcation on the spatial response behavior. When modeling this system, the periodic collisions of the cantilevered beam with the compliant material result in a discontinuous force being applied to the free end of the beam. The constraining material is modeled by using the Kelvin-Voigt model. Due to the coupling of the damping and stiffness properties of the modal responses when in contact with the constraining material, a simplified single-mode approximation is used. A shooting method is used with the analytical solution of the simplified model in order to study the qualitative behavior of the system. Preliminary results using the analytical solution agree with the numerical results. The results of the shooting method reveal multiple stable solutions and suggest the presence of additional unstable periodic solutions.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) Measurements of Breaking Waves

Detailed flow measurements of the turbulent multiphase flow associated with wave breaking present a unique instrumentation challenge. Measurement systems must be capable of high sampling rates, large dynamic ranges, and be capable of making measurements in water, air and optically opaque regions. An experiment was performed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, in October 2007 to measure various characteristics of the breaking wave generated from a submerged ship transom. The primary objective of this work was to obtain full-scale qualitative and quantitative flow field data of a large breaking transom wave over a range of conditions, specifically transom drafts and Froude numbers. Several types of measurements were made on the transom stern wave during this experiment, however, this paper will focus on the Nortek Acoustic Wave and Current (AWAC) profiler measurements of the stern wake. The AWAC has a center acoustic beam in addition to the three angled beams typically found on an acoustic Doppler current profiler. The trends of the acoustic return from the AWAC and the trends of the bubble density and location on the water surface compare well, and it is anticipated that this return can be related to void fraction and bubble measurements in the future. This type of non-intrusive measurement could be very useful in the evaluation of breaking waves.Copyright © 2008 by ASME