cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tempo, Rhythm, and Aging in Golf

Abstract Older (n = 12) and younger (n = 12) golfers attempted to hit a golf ball into a target net a short distance away. An accelerometer attached to the back of the clubhead measured the applied force. In contrast to the more typical finding of slower perceptual-motor performance by older adults, older golfers reached their peak downswing force earlier in the shot and also exhibited a trend toward a faster overall speed or tempo of the shot. Additionally, older golfers exhibited greater changes in applied force and greater variability. A pattern of divergence among the force-time histories from multiple shots suggested that the overall person-plus-golf-club dynamics were unstable during a part of the shot. Older adults may be slower in controlling this instability. Half of the participants heard a tone whose pitch was proportional to their force. These participants had a slower follow-through; however, they did not make significantly more or fewer shots than participants who had not been presented with...
Mobility of electrons and holes in semiconductors (Invited Paper)

The mobility of electrons and holes is calculated in silicon as a function of temperature and the concentration of impurities. Calculations are done for both majority and minority carriers. Special care has been taken in the calculation of the contribution from impurity scattering. Both the dielectric function, and the local field corrections, have been calculated as a function of temperature and impurity concentration. The results agree with the data at low temperature, and at high doping at room temperature.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Investigations of the thermal response of laser-excited biomolecules

A model is presented that connects the underlying classical thermal transport coefficients to the experimentally determined vibrational temperature of a photoexcited chromophore embedded in a protein matrix that is surrounded by water. Both photo-stationary state heating (e.g., within a 10-ns laser pulse) and transient cooling (e.g., after termination of the laser pulse) are treated. Because only a few thermal transport parameters can be experimentally determined, this simple model provides a practical and efficient method for describing the temperatures of the chromophore, protein, and solvent as functions of time and position. We expect that such a model will be useful in interfacing experimental observations with more elaborate molecular dynamics calculations, which depend upon many variables. In the transient cooling process, which is relevant for ultrafast pulsed laser measurements, the temperature of the chromophore follows a double exponential decay at short times, whereas at longer times the thermal decay "rolls over" to a diffusion limit (t-3/2). For typical 10-ns laser pulses (approximately 0.5 GW/cm2) and chromophore absorption cross-sections (approximately 10(-16) cm2), we find that the biomolecule reaches thermal steady-state on a ps time scale. The role of the various thermal transport coefficients and their independent experimental determination is also discussed.
Long-Trace Profiler for Neutron Focusing Mirrors

A long-trace profiler (LTP) optimized for measuring the shape of large neutron supermirrors has been designed and built. This LTP can measure 1.6 m long mirrors in both vertically and horizontally deflecting geometries, which is essential to achieve best performance from bendable mirrors. The LTP suppresses the influence of angular deviations of the linear-stage carriage during translation with a pentaprism and a cylindrical lens. The stationary optical head and the carriage-mounted pentaprism are precisely aligned to rotate about the optical axis between the two components. This feature allows measurements to be made on mirrors mounted vertically, horizontally or at any angle in between. The LTP software allows for rapid optimization of parameters for dynamically bent elliptical mirrors. Here we describe the motivation for the LTP, the design, and a first application of the LTP to study the effect of gravity on a bent microfocusing neutron supermirror.
Comparative Microscopic Study of Human and Rat Lungs After Overexposure to Welding Fume

Welding is a common industrial process used to join metals and generates complex aerosols of potentially hazardous metal fumes and gases. Most long-time welders experience some type of respiratory disorder during their time of employment. The use of animal models and the ability to control the welding fume exposure in toxicology studies have been helpful in developing a better understanding of how welding fumes affect health. There are no studies that have performed a side-by-side comparison of the pulmonary responses from an animal toxicology welding fume study with the lung responses associated with chronic exposure to welding fume by a career welder. In this study, post-mortem lung tissue was donated from a long-time welder with a well-characterized work background and a history of extensive welding fume exposure. To simulate a long-term welding exposure in an animal model, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated once a week for 28 weeks by intratracheal instillation with 2mg of a stainless steel, hard-surfacing welding fume. Lung tissues from the welder and the welding fume-treated rats were examined by light and electron microscopy. Pathological analysis of lung tissue collected from the welder demonstrated inflammatory cell influx and significant pulmonary injury. The poor and deteriorating lung condition observed in the welder examined in this study was likely due to exposure to very high levels of potentially toxic metal fumes and gases for a significant number of years due to work in confined spaces. The lung toxicity profile for the rats treated with welding fume was similar. For tissue samples from both the welder and treated rats, welding particle accumulations deposited and persisted in lung structures and were easily visualized using light microscopic techniques. Agglomerates of deposited welding particles mostly were observed within lung cells, particularly alveolar macrophages. Analysis of individual particles within the agglomerates showed that these particles were metal complexes with iron, chromium, and nickel being the most common metals present. In conclusion, long-term exposure to specific welding fume can lead to serious chronic lung disease characterized by significant particle deposition and persistence as demonstrated in both a human case study and rat model. Not only were the lung responses similar in the human and rat lungs, as evidenced by inflammatory cell influx and pulmonary disease, but the composition of individual welding particles and agglomerations in situ was comparable.
Superconductive analog signal processing devices

Real-time signal processing is important in many emerging applications in areas such as pulse-compression radar, spread-spectrum communications, and electronic warfare. The required digitally equivalent computational rate for these applications is on the order of 10/sup 2/ arithmetic operations per second and the required instantaneous bandwidths could approach 10 GHz. These exceed by nearly three orders of magnitude the capabilities projected for digital systems in the near future, and even exceed that of recently developed analog technologies such as surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) signal-processing devices. To meet anticipated future system needs, superconductive analog signal-processing components with bandwidths of 2 GHz have recently been realized, and the technology is being developed for the realization of 10-GHz bandwidths. Issues of fabrication technology and subsystem integration are examined for superconductive analog signal-processing devices. >
Renal failure induced by contrast material

Transitory and occasionally irreversible renal failure secondary to parenterally administered iodinated contrast material is now well documented. Diabetes and pre-existing renal insufficiency are the two most important risk factors. Intravascular contrast examinations should be avoided whenever possible in high-risk patients, particularly diabetics with creatinine levels of 5 dl./ml. or higher. Alternative methods for the etiologic evaluation of renal failure or hematuria are suggested.
Direct Examination of Elution Nonequilibrium in Liquid Chromatography by Laser-Induced Fluorescence

Abstract Nonequilibrium interactions, which are known to influence broadening throughout the column, become very important at the exit of the chromatographic column. Theoretical predictions, derived herein, show a substantial increase in length variance and decrease in concentration when the solute is detected off-column. The discrepancy between on-and off-column values for variance and concentration is predicted to increase markedly with capacity factor. Experimental investigation of elution nonequilibrium is accomplished by measuring the length variance and concentation for a homologous series of model solutes both on-and off-column by laser-induced fluorescence. Excellent agreement of experimental measurement with theoretical predictions is seen for solutes with capacity factors ranging from one to nine. These results have interesting implications for the general elution problem in chromatographic separations.
New 2D discrete Fourier transforms in image processing

In this paper, the concept of the two-dimensional discrete Fourier transformation (2-D DFT) is defined in the general case, when the form of relation between the spatial-points (x, y) and frequency-points (ω1, ω2) is defined in the exponential kernel of the transformation by a nonlinear form L(x, y; ω1, ω2). The traditional concept of the 2-D DFT uses the Diaphanous form xω1 +yω2 and this 2-D DFT is the particular case of the Fourier transform described by the form L(x, y; ω1, ω2). Properties of the general 2-D discrete Fourier transform are described and examples are given. The special case of the N × N-point 2-D Fourier transforms, when N = 2r, r > 1, is analyzed and effective representation of these transforms is proposed. The proposed concept of nonlinear forms can be also applied for other transformations such as Hartley, Hadamard, and cosine transformations.
On a generalized Minkowski inequality and its relation to dominates for t-norms

Leth:ℝ+ → ℝ+ be a continuous strictly increasing function withh(0) = 0. Such functionsh give rise to a generalization of the Minkowski inequality; namely, (1) $$h^{ - 1} (h(a + b) + h(c + d)) \leqq h^{ - 1} (h(a + c) + h(b + d))$$ wherea, b, c, andd are arbitrary non-negative real numbers. Theorem 1 shows that, ifh and logh′ (e x ) are both convex functions, thenh satisfies (1). Theorem 2, the major result, demonstrates that, if bothh 1 andh 2 satisfy the hypotheses of Theorem 1, then the composition ofh 1 withh 2 also satisfies the hypotheses of Theorem 1 and hence the inequality (1). The remainder of the paper shows how (1) and Theorems 1 and 2 impinge on the dominates relation for strict t-norms. In particular, Theorem 3 shows how (1) can be interpreted as equivalent to the dominates relation for two strict t-norms. Theorem 4 shows how to use Theorems 1 and 3 to construct a strict t-norm which dominates a given strict t-norm. And, Theorem 5 shows how Theorem 2 can be used to give a qualified answer of yes to the open question of whether or not the dominates relation is a transitive relation.
Pressure effects on the electronic properties and superconductivity of the β -pyrochlore oxides: A Os 2 O 6 ( A = Na , K , Rb , Cs )

We present a first-principles study of the electronic structure and superconducting parameters of the compounds $A{\mathrm{Os}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ ($A=\mathrm{Na}$, K, Rb, and Cs) and at ambient and applied hydrostatic pressure. We find that the sensitivity of the density of states at the Fermi energy, ${E}_{F}$, and related electronic properties to the size of the alkali metal atom as well as to applied pressure is driven by a van Hove singularity with energy very close to ${E}_{F}$. Further, a computation of the superconducting parameters of these materials allows us to show that the observed change of ${T}_{c}$, both upon substitution of the alkali metal and under applied hydrostatic pressure, can be well understood within a phonon-mediated pairing scenario. In this regard, we find that the correction to the effective electron mass due to spin fluctuations plays a significant role.
Superconductivity and Magnetic Order: Low Temperature Phase Diagrams

Recent experiments on magnetically-ordered ternary and pseudoternary rare earth superconductors are briefly reviewed. Superconductivity has been found to coexist with antiferromagnetic order, but to be destroyed by the onset of ferromagnetic order at a second transition temperature Tc2 ∼ TM, where TM is the Curie temperature. In antiferromagnetic superconductors, the antiferromagnetic order modifies superconducting properties such as the curve of the upper critical magnetic field versus temperature. In ferromagnetic superconductors, a long wavelength (∼ 102 A) sinusoidally modulated magnetic state develops in the superconducting state as a result of the superconducting-ferromagnetic interactions. The interplay of superconductivity and competing magnetic interactions in pseudoternary rare earth systems produces complex and interesting low temperature phase diagrams.
Imaging Dislocations in Single-Crystal SrTiO 3 Substrates by Electron Channeling

Electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) using a conventional pole-mounted backscatter detector in a commercial scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been implemented to analyze extended defects. In-grown extended defects in bulk SrTiO3 (001) substrates such as dislocation loops, subsurface dislocations parallel to the surface, and surface-penetrating dislocations have been distinguished by ECCI. The techniques of dislocation-selective etching and ECCI have been compared side-by-side, where surface-penetrating dislocations have been shown to have one-to-one correspondence with ECCI spot features. g·b and g·b × u have been implemented for subsurface portions of intrinsic dislocations, being identified as screw dislocations with Burgers vector in the 〈100〉 direction.
The effect of fever on central α-MSH concentrations in the rabbit

The recent demonstration of the ability of centrally administered α-MSH to reduce pyrogen-induced fever in rabbits suggested a role for the peptide in central temperature control. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay we have established the presence of immunoreactive α-MSH (ir α-MSH) in discrete CNS sites of the rabbit and have demonstrated a distribution of this activity similar to that seen in other species. Pyrogen-induced fever did not alter concentrations of ir α-MSH in tissue extracted from the paraventricular region of the hypothalamus, median eminence, midbrain central grey, preoptic/anterior hypothalamic region, pineal or pituitary. A decrease in arcuate nucleus ir α-MSH content was seen in febrile animals, although this change was not statistically significant. Significantly higher levels of ir α-MSH were detected in septal extracts of febrile rabbits (0.81±0.10 pg/μg protein, n-9) than in extracts from afebrile controls (0.54±0.04, n=17). This finding suggests the septum to be the central site of action of α-MSH to inhibit fever and further implies a modulatory role of the peptide in the central control of thermoregulation.
Blood and bronchoalveolar eosinophils in allergic subjects after segmental antigen challenge: Surface phenotype, density heterogeneity, and prostanoid production

Abstract Eosinophil infiltration into the airways has been implicated in the pathophysiology of asthma. To improve our understanding of the function of eosinophils in asthma, we have compared the phenotype and function of eosinophils obtained simultaneously from blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of allergic subjects 19 hours after segmental lung allergen challenge. Eosinophils were purified by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation, and their distribution at various layers was quantitated. Eosinophils at the 1.080 to 1.085 gm/ml interfaces from blood and BAL (purity > 70%) were analyzed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry for several surface markers including adhesion-activation antigens. Eosinophils in BAL from antigen-challenged sites were markedly increased compared with control diluent-challenged BAL sites (0.3% ± 1% vs 28.1% ± 9.7%, n = 12, p n = 75, p 2 than blood eosinophils. Although both BAL and blood eosinophils expressed similar levels of FcγRII (CD32), CD11a, and CD45, resting levels of Mo-1 (CD11b) were upregulated on BAL eosinophils (mean fluorescence intensity, 316% ± 48% of blood eosinophils, n = 5, p
Angular dependence of K -shell ionization in ion-atom collisions

$K$-shell ionization probabilities ${P}_{K}$ in 0.6-2-MeV $p+\mathrm{Cu}$, $p+\mathrm{Mo}$, and $p+\mathrm{Ag}$ and 0.92-2.56-MeV/amu O+Cu, O+Zr, O+Ag, and O+Pb collisions were measured at scattering angles $\ensuremath{\theta}$ between 9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 125\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Large-solid-angle, plastic-scintillator detectors were used to detect scattered particles. The measured ionization probabilities were fitted to the expression ${P}_{K}(\ensuremath{\theta})=A(1+Bcos\ensuremath{\theta})$. Factors affecting values of $B$ in various theories of $K$-shell ionization are discussed. The measured $B$ values are compared with two models: an atomic model which approximates the electronic wave functions with atomic united-atom wave functions centered on the heavier nucleus and a molecular model which uses atomic wave functions of varying charge and center, optimized by minimizing the electronic energies. The present data agree best with the atomic model for proton collisions and the molecular model for oxygen collisions.
Effectiveness of peripheral thyrotropin receptor mRNA in follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cells in peripheral circulation have been linked to thyroid cancer (TC). These cells express thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) messenger RNA (mRNA), which has been studied as a marker of initial TC diagnosis. We examined the utility of TSHR mRNA in long-term follow-up of TC patients. From 2002 to 2007, TSHR mRNA was prospectively measured by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from peripheral blood samples in 259 patients, and those followed ≥3 months since initial thyroidectomy were studied. TSHR mRNA levels were correlated to thyroglobulin (Tg), imaging studies, and disease status during follow-up. Thirty-four patients underwent 20 ± 14 months median follow-up for papillary (n = 31, 91%), follicular (n = 2) or Hurthle cell (n = 1) TC. Advanced-stage disease occurred in 24% at presentation, and 11 (32%) developed cervical node metastases or recurrence requiring reoperation during follow-up. Of 52 simultaneous TSHR mRNA and serum Tg measurements, 52% were concordant. TSHR mRNA missed disease in 21% patients, but was better than Tg in 27%, including all those with Tg antibodies. TSHR mRNA concurred with whole-body scan detectable disease for 11/14 patients (79%) and accurately predicted overall TC disease status in 77% patients. In discordant cases, TC recurrence was apparent from other imaging modalities [positron emission tomography (PET) scan or ultrasound]. TSHR mRNA in conjunction with Tg diagnosed TC recurrence with 90% sensitivity and 94% specificity. We conclude that TSHR mRNA demonstrates high concordance rates with present methods of detecting TC recurrence, and appears to be more accurate in patients with Tg antibodies. As a novel adjunct, TSHR mRNA may enhance long-term management of TC patients.
20 Ways for classroom teachers to collaborate with speech-language pathologists

Students with disabilities are increasingly receiving services in the general education classroom, and as a result, speech–language pathologists (SLPs) are using a variety of flexible models to meet the needs of these students. Although some schools continue to provide pullout service delivery models for speech–language therapy, many are increasing the number of hours SLPs spend in inclusive classroom settings (Katz, Fallon, Van Der Linden, & DiDonato, 2006). Collaboration among classroom teachers and SLPs is crucial to deliver effective treatment and services for students with speech–language impairments in an inclusive classroom setting (Ehren, Montgomery, Rudebusch, & Whitmire, 2007). Students who are at risk are more apt to receive appropriate intervention services and more continuity of care when a qualified team is establishing academic and communication objectives (Pena & Quinn, 2003). Banotai (2006) suggested that carryover and the long-term success of students with speech–language deficits depend on a collaborative approach because it allows the student to apply newly acquired communication skills in the general education classroom. Many challenges impede a successful collaborative relationship between classroom teachers and speech– language pathologists. MacDonald and Speece (2001) and Mastropieri (2001) asserted that effective classroom collaboration is difficult to implement and is often limited because of time constraints. Collaboration is also challenging given scheduling and planning difficulties (Kaff, 2004). Other constraints faced by teachers include the rigor of their curricula, large class sizes, lack of assistants in the classroom, and other responsibilities as faculty members. Challenges to collaboration for SLPs may include large caseloads, travel required between facilities to provide services, coordination of service delivery around curriculum blocks, and excessive paperwork (Katz et al., 2006; Whitmire & Eger, 2003). This column provides 20 practical strategies for classroom teachers and SLPs to work together collaboratively as they strive to meet the needs of the individual student in the least restrictive environment.
Plasma amyloid-β as a predictor of dementia and cognitive decline: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Preclinical prediction of Alzheimer disease (AD) is important and critical to effective intervention. Plasma levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides have been a principal focus of the growing literature on blood-based biomarkers, but studies to date have varied in design, assay methods, and sample size, making it difficult to readily interpret the overall data. Objective To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant prospective studies to determine whether plasma amyloid-β levels may predict development of dementia, AD, and cognitive decline. Design We searched prospective studies published between 1995 and 2011 indexed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases. Selected studies included those measuring at least 1 relevant plasma amyloid-β species (Aβ(40), Aβ(42), or Aβ(42):Aβ(40) ratio) and reporting an effect estimate for dementia, AD, or cognitive change. Main outcome measures Using a standardized extraction form, appropriate study parameters on subject information, exposure, and outcome were extracted. Random effects models were used to generate summary risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals comparing the bottom vs top quantiles for each plasma measure. Results Thirteen studies with a total of 10 303 subjects met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Lower Aβ(42):Aβ(40) ratios were significantly associated with development of AD (summary risk ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.04-2.46; P = .03) and dementia (risk ratio, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.02-2.75; P = .04). Significant heterogeneity was found for both summary estimates, which could not be explained by participants' age, sex distribution, the study's follow-up time, or year of publication. Plasma levels of Aβ(40) and Aβ(42) alone were not significantly associated with either outcome. Conclusions Overall, the literature indicates that plasma Aβ(42):Aβ(40) ratios predict development of AD and dementia. However, significant heterogeneity in the meta-analysis underlines the need for substantial further investigation of plasma amyloid-β levels as a preclinical biomarker.
Climatic events and environmental adaptations relating to the Mesolithic hominids of the Gangetic Plain

Abstract This study discusses the anthropological thesis that human body builds are linear and gracile with extremities relatively long in relation to trunk height dimensions among ancient and modern Homo sapiens inhabiting tropical environments. Populations adapted to cold stress conditions, ancient and modern, possess more massive body forms with shorter extremities and relatively long trunks and are skeletally robust. Anthropometric measurements of the femora are the components of the Robusticity Index, a value that has been used to support the idea that geographical latitudes and climates affect these physical developments. This index is evaluated with respect to early Holocene skeletal series from north-central India at the burial sites of Sarai Nahar Rai, Mahadaha, and Damdaha that are situated on the Gangetic Plain and at Lekhahia in the adjacent Vindhya Hills. Laboratory analyses by four paleoanthropologists, Canadian and American, lead them to conclude that the Gangetic hominids reveal a pronounced degree of muscular–skeletal robusticity and relatively tall stature for adult males and females. As hunter-gatherers, these ancient populations led stressful lifeways demanding a robust muscular–skeletal system energized in ways distinct from that of their descendants whose socioeconomic strategies involved domestication of plants and animals, sedentary village life and seasonal pastoralism. This difference is demonstrated in studies of skeletal remains from food-producing and herding communities of the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age of prehistoric South Asia. Robusticity of postcranial bones of the Gangetic Mesolithic populations is likely due to markers of occupational stress (MOS) rather than to variables of latitudes and climates, or to a single indicial category of anthropometric measurements—the Robusticity Index.
Diagnostic accuracy and clinical outcomes of ECG-gated, whole chest CT in the emergency department.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy and one year prognosis of whole chest, “multiple rule out” CT for coronary artery disease (CAD) in Emergency Department patients. Methods and Findings One hundred and two Emergency Department patients at low to intermediate risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), pulmonary embolism and/or acute aortic syndrome underwent a research 64 channel ECG-gated, whole chest CT and a standard of care evaluation. Patients were classified with obstructive CAD with either a coronary CT stenosis greater than 50% or a non-evaluable coronary segment. SOC and 3 month follow up data were used to determine an adjudicated clinical diagnosis. The diagnostic ability of obstructive CAD on CT to identify clinical diagnoses was determined. Patients were followed up for 1 year for cardiac events. Seven (7%) patients were diagnosed with ACS. CT sensitivity to detect obstructive CAD in ACS patients was 100% (95% CI 65%, 100%), negative predictive value 100% (96%, 100%), specificity 88% (80%, 94%), and positive predictive value 39% (17%, 64%). Pulmonary embolism and acute aortic syndrome were not identified in any patients. No cardiac events occurred in patients without obstructive CAD over 1 year. Conclusions Whole chest CT has high sensitivity and negative predictive value for ACS with excellent one year prognosis in patients without obstructive CAD on CT. The frequency of pulmonary embolism or acute aortic syndrome and the higher radiation dose suggest whole chest CT should be limited to select patients. ClinicalTrials.org #: NCT00855231
Initiation effects in the living cationic polymerization of Isobutylene

Isobutylene (IB) polymerization kinetics were monitored in real time using mid-infrared ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, with diamond-composite insertion probe and light conduit technology. Monomer concentra...
Instruction Coordinators and Higher Education Accreditation: A Study of Awareness and Assessment Documentation Use

This study gauges instruction and information literacy coordinators' awareness of higher education accreditation processes at their institutions and provides a picture of how coordinators use assessment documentation produced by units external to the library. The study took the form of a survey sent to a random sample of instruction coordinators and information literacy librarians stratified by regional accrediting body. Results showed that instruction coordinators generally are aware of accreditation processes but that only about half use documentation relating to student learning assessment, which may include written student learning outcomes at the institution, program, or course level, plans for assessing learning outcomes, and reports on assessment activities and results, to further their information literacy goals. Accreditation awareness is influenced by time in position, time in the profession, and, to some extent, regional accreditor. Use of and considered importance of assessment documentation is influenced by size of institution, regional accreditor, and, to some extent, time in position. Suggestions for increasing awareness and use of documentation include introducing the accreditation process to new librarians in library school, encouraging contribution of experiences with assessment documentation to the literature and regional conferences, and advocating for instruction coordinators to serve on campus assessment committees.
Measurement of refractive index variation of physiological analytes using differential-phase OCT

We report results of a study using differential phase optical coherence tomography (DP-OCT) for measurement of variation of refractive index (n) vs. analyte concentration (C) in translucent solutions and turbid tissue phantoms. Variation of refractive index with analyte concentration (dn/dC) in aqueous solutions of glucose, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium bicarbonate, urea, bovine serum albumin, and bovine globulin was measured. Obtained results demonstrated: (1) dn/dC for glucose is significantly greater than that of other analytes in the physiological range; and (2) high sensitivity of DP-OCT method for measurement of analyte concentration.
Abstract 379: Target delivery of multistage nanovectors to tumor-associated macrophages and endothelial cells in orthotopic model of human pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies in humans with a 1-year survival rate of 18%, and a 5-year survival rate of less than 3%. Clearly, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for this disease. In patients, the tumor microenviroments consist of 70 to 90% stroma tissue supporting growth, invasion and metastasis of cancer. Therefore stroma is a potential target for therapy. The stroma consists of various cellular elements, including tumor associated macrophages and endothelial cells. Identification of molecular targets overexpressed in stroma cells holds great potential for design of specific nanocarriers to attain homing of therapeutic and imaging agents to the tumor. Physico-chemical characteristics of the nanovectors greatly affect their in vivo behavior and we have recently shown that carrier geometry plays an important role in its biodistribution. In this study, we found increased expression of CD59 in tumor associated endothelial cells as well as infiltrating cells in the stroma as compared to uninvolved pancreas in clinical specimen of pancreatic cancer patients. We explored this dual targeting effect using L3.6pl human pancreatic cancer cells implanted into the pancreas of nude mice. To produce a chronic disease with high proportion of stroma, we injected only 5 × 104 viable cells that produced visible tumors after three months (chronic disease model). Increased stroma formation was found only in the chronic disease model, but not when 1 × 106 cells were injected (acute model). In the chronic model, immunofluorescence analysis of tumor confirmed the increased expression of Ly6C, mouse homolog of CD59, in tumor associated endothelial cells as well as in macrophages in stroma. In the next experiment, we decorated the surface of porous silicon nanovectors with Ly6C antibody. Targeted nanovectors injected intravenously accumulated to tumor associated endothelial cells expressing Ly6C 15 minute after injection. At 4 hours after administration, 9.8 ± 2.3 % of injected dose/g tumor of the Ly6C targeting nanovectors accumulated in the pancreatic tumors as opposed to 0.5 ± 1.8 % of control nanovectors with non targeting antibody. Immunofluorescence analysis of tumor revealed that Ly6C targeting nanovectors were engulfed by tumor associated macrophages which also express Ly6C in stroma. Collectively, these results suggest that Ly6C (or CD59) expressed on tumor associated endothelial cells and macrophages can serve as a novel dual target for pancreatic cancer. These experiments are on going. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 379. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-379
Ectopic ureters and ureteroceles in adults

Ectopic ureters and ureteroceles are typically diagnosed in childhood and rarely present in adults. Nevertheless, ureteral ectopia should be included in the differential diagnosis of older patients who present with urinary tract infections or urinary incontinence. Detection is often delayed because of inadequate evaluation and heightened awareness is necessary on the part of treating physicians. Earlier detection and proper diagnosis serves to minimize morbidity and, in some cases, may maximize the possibility of renal preservation. Case reports serve to highlight the spectrum of these uncommon but clinically important anomalies.
The response of American robins (Turdus migratorius) to aerial alarms

Alarm calls are important signals that allow individuals to convey information about both predator type and risk level. How individuals respond to these calls may depend on both the intensity of the call as well as the age of the responder. We investigated an aerial alarm call of the American robin and specifically examined how call rate (reflecting intensity) and age affect the anti-predator behaviors of responders. Both juveniles and adults significantly altered their behavior upon hearing playbacks of seet calls; they foraged less and increased vigilance and other anti-predator behaviors. Adult robins were also able to distinguish between low intensity and high intensity calls; skygazing, an important behaviour that allows robins to scan for raptors, increased with call rate. Juveniles, on the other hand, skygazed less and there was a trend for juveniles to spend more time alert than adults suggesting that some learning may be involved.
The Group Basis of Politics: Notes for a Theory

The chief social values cherished by individuals in modern society are realized through groups. These groupings may be simple in structure, unicellular, so to speak, like a juvenile gang. Or they may be intricate meshes of associated, federated, combined, consolidated, merged, or amalgamated units and subunits of organization, fitted together to perform the divided and assigned parts of a common purpose to which the components are dedicated. They may operate out of the direct public gaze like religious organizations, which tend to have a low degree of visibility. Or they may, like Congress and many other official groups, occupy the front pages for weeks at a time. National organizations are usually conspicuous; indeed, so much is this so at times that they tend to divert the eye from the great number of groups which stand at the elbow of the citizen of every small town. Everywhere groups abound, and they may be examined at close range and from afar.The literature of many disciplines agrees, as it does sometimes in little else, on the central importance of groups to an understanding of men in their relations with each other.
Computerized tomography of the posterior cruciate ligament.

Abstract Twenty-two knees were studied by CT utilizing 5 mm cuts covering the joint space. Reconstruction in sagittal and coronal planes were obtained and revealed the posterior cruciate ligament optimally in all 11 patients. A documented tear of posterior cruciate ligament was demonstrated in one knee.
Pick your poison

The sacred success story in environmental literature is that of Rachel Carson, who awakened America to the dangers of indiscriminate pesticide use and led the charge to ban the sale of DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in the United States. Those opposed to this legislation typically argue that DDT saved more lives than it harmed, but there is another reason to be wary of the vilification of DDT. Jacob Darwin Hamblin considers the provocative idea that banning DDT diverted attention away from the most toxic pesticides in a review of Banned: A History of Pesticides and the Science of Toxicology .
Birth order effects on autism symptom domains

Abstract Autism is predominantly genetically determined. Evidence supports familiality of the main sets of behavioral characteristics that define the syndrome of autism; however, possible non-genetic effects have also been suggested. The present study compared levels of autism symptom domains, as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Interview, and useful phrase speech scores between 106 pairs of first- and second-born siblings from multiply affected families. In addition, the intercorrelations between the measures were compared between siblings. The overall mean repetitive behavior total score was significantly higher (worse) in first-born than in second-born siblings. In contrast, first-born siblings had significantly lower (better) useful phrase speech than their younger siblings. Autism social and non-verbal communication scores were significantly correlated in first- and in second-born siblings. However, there was a significant difference in the coefficients between first- and second-born siblings. Performance on the non-verbal communication domain was also significantly and positively correlated with useful phrase speech score in both first- and second-born siblings. It is unclear at this time whether these results are of biologic origin. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that genetic studies in autism using specific levels of familial autism traits as phenotypes should take into account their intercorrelations and birth order effects embedded in the instrument.
Hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity in rainbow trout exposed to several polycyclic aromatic compounds

The effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on microsomal liver enzymes were examined in rainbow trout. Various PAHs (naphthalene through benzo(a)pyrene [B(aP]) were injected ip to screen for mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity. Chrysene, B(a)P, and Aroclor 1254 caused MFO induction. When fish were also exposed to solubilized pyrene, fluoranthene, and B(a)P in water, bioaccumulation of B(a)P resulted in MFO induction, whereas bioaccumulation of pyrene and fluoranthene did not. Based on water and injection exposure to B(a)P, it was predicted that tissue concentrations in excess of 300 μg/kg B(a)P would be accompanied by MFO induction in rainbow trout.
Helicity asymmetries in the γ⃗p → pπ+π− reaction

Beam-helicity asymmetries in the p → pπ+π− reaction have been measured at Jefferson Lab with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer using circularly polarized tagged photons incident on an unpolarized hydrogen target. The experiment covered the resonance region for center-of-mass energies between 1.35 GeV and 2.30 GeV. Here, we show a few examples out of the comprehensive data set and demonstrate the sensitivity of the helicity asymmetries to the dynamics of the reaction by comparing with the results of various phenomenological model calculations.
Beyond Galileo's Telescope: Situated Knowledge and the Assessment of Experiential Learning:

For all their celebration of experiential learning, current approaches to the assessment of prior experiential learning (APEL) are consistent with and, in some respects, trapped within Enlight-enme...
Organizational Life Cycles and Strategic International Human Resource Management in Multinational Companies: Implications for Congruence Theory

This article seeks to extend our understanding of congruence of “fit” theory in strategic human resource management (HRM) as a result of developing an organizational life cycle (OLC) model of international HRM (IHRM) for multinational companies (MNCs). International and longitudinal dimensions provide several contributions to congruence theory as it relates to IHRM. First, two additional IHRM-context fits should be considered in strategic human resources. Second, the need for flexibility in strategic IHRM is explored in greater detail. Next, the concepts of fit and flexibility are explored in complement by examining their relationship over the entire OLC. A series of propositions is formulated concerning the relationship of fit and flexibility to organizational effectiveness in MNCs. Finally, new research directions are suggested relating fit to flexibility over the OLC for different organizational and environmental contexts.
Listeria monocytogenes phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C: activation and allostery

The animal and human pathogen Listeria monocytogenes secretes several virulence factors, including a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Sufficient quantities of L. monocytogenes PI-PLC for biophysical studies were obtained by overexpression of the enzyme in Escherichia coli. The purified PI-PLC was examined in enzyme kinetics experiments using a new fluorogenic substrate, methyl-FLIP. Methyl-FLIP is a water-soluble monomeric substrate cleaved in a manner similar to the natural aggregate substrate, phosphatidylinositol (PI). Michaelis-Menten kinetics were observed with K(M) = 61 +/- 7 microM and V(max) = 120 +/- 5 micromol min(-1) mg(-1), corresponding to k(cat) = 66+/-3 s(-1). The catalysis is activated by the addition of a short-chain phospholipid, dihexanoyl phosphatidylcholine (diC(6)PC). The kinetics were fitted to a two-site model in which the substrate binds to the active site and diC(6)PC binds to a second site, with an interaction between the two sites. The result is a decrease in K(M) and an increase in V(max), producing an overall four to five-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(M)). The interaction is not a regulatory mechanism, as is the case for multimeric enzymes; rather, it suggests interfacial cooperativity between the active site and a lipid-binding subsite, presumably adjacent to the active site.
Spectroscopic constants of the known electronic states of lead monofluoride

Based on measurements made by mass-resolved 1 + 1{prime} + 1{double_prime} resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy, we have determined new molecular constants describing the rotational and fine structure levels of the B, D, E, and F states of the most abundant isotopic variant {sup 208}Pb{sup 19}F, and we summarize the spectroscopic constants for all the know electronic states of the radical. Many spectroscopic constants for the isotopologues {sup 206}Pb{sup 19}F and {sup 207}Pb{sup 19}F have also been determined. The symmetry of the D-state is found to be {sup 2}{pi}{sub 1/2}, and the F-state is found to be an {Omega} = 3/2 state.
Stress-relaxation and stress-strain behavior of poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) at varying crosslink density

The stress-relaxation modulus of an unfilled ethylene vinyl acetate polymer at three different degrees of crosslinking was measured at 15 temperatures over a temperature span of about 160 C. At each temperature, the time response was measured for at least three decades of time. From these data it was possible to construct a master curve for each degree of crosslinking. The time-temperature shift factors, alpha(T), were found to be related to temperature by the relation log alpha(T) = -A(T - 273), where the parameter A has an average value of 0.234 for the three materials.
Elevated PTEN Levels Account for the Increased Sensitivity of Ethanol-exposed Cells to Tumor Necrosis Factor-induced Cytotoxicity

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) is known to be one of the primary causative cytokines inflicting the characteristic damage to hepatocytes seen in alcoholic liver disease. TNF activates both cell survival and death-inducing signaling pathways. The balance between these two prongs determines the fate of the cell and the onset of disease. Ethanol exposure has been shown to alter mitochondrial function, decreasing their threshold for injury. Importantly, mitochondrial injury is a necessary end point of TNF-induced cell killing. It has been shown that ethanol exposure increases the sensitivity of hepatocytes and HepG2E47 cells to TNF-mediated death. The cumulative and terminal effect of the increased sensitivity to TNF caused by ethanol is an induction of a mitochondrial permeability transition. TNF brings about the mitochondrial permeability transition in ethanol-exposed cells due to amplification in the activity of the p38 stress kinase and a diminution in the activity of the antiapoptotic Akt/PKB kinase. The present report identifies an increase of PTEN expression in ethanol-exposed cells as the main causative factor in altering the balance between prosurvival and prodeath signals initiated by TNF. Suppression of the elevated PTEN levels found in ethanol-exposed HepG2E47 cells through the use of RNA interference reversed the ethanol-induced alterations to TNF signaling, resulting in a preservation of mitochondrial function and cell viability.
The Variations and Strategies of Faith-Based Advocacy Organizations in Virginia

While recent discourse has focused on the role of religion in direct social service provision, religious groups also participate in other facets of the social welfare system. Faith-Based Advocacy Organizations (FBAOs) are religious organizations that work through legislative bodies to create social change. Representing a variety of theological and political perspectives, these groups are active in Washington, DC and in a number of state legislatures throughout the country. Such religious institutions, however, are rarely considered in academic literature. This article reviews existing literature on FBAOs and reports findings from an exploratory study of such organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Development of PLZT dielectrics on base metal foils for embedded capacitors

We have deposited Pb{sub 0.92}La{sub 0.08}Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} (PLZT) films on nickel and copper substrates to create film-on-foil capacitors that exhibit excellent dielectric properties and superior breakdown strength. Measurements with PLZT films on LaNiO3-buffered Ni foils yielded the following: relative permittivity of 1300 (at 25 C) and 1800 (at 150 C), leakage current density of 6.6 x 10{sup -9} A/cm{sup 2} (at 25 C) and 1.4 x 10{sup -8} A/cm{sup 2} (at 150 C), and mean breakdown field strength {approx}2.5 MV/cm. With PLZT deposited directly on Cu foils, we observed dielectric constant {approx}1100, dielectric loss (tan {delta}) {approx}0.06, and leakage current density of 7.3 x 10{sup -9} A/cm{sup 2} when measured at room temperature.
Atherosclerosis masks Hill's sign in severe chronic aortic regurgitation.

Increased systolic blood pressure gradient (SBPG) between the lower and upper extremities is a sign of severe chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). Among 23 patients (58±19 years) with severe AR≥3 months, we prospectively found the SBPG (BP difference between the lower and ipsilateral upper extremities) to be inversely related to maximal aortic intimal-medial thickness measured on transesophageal echocardiography and to coronary disease. In severe chronic AR, SBPG is decreased in the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and more marked aortic atherosclerosis.