cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidation-Reduction Potential Methodology Using the MiOXSYS System

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been extensively studied as a cause of male infertility. Oxidative stress (OS) occurs when the physiological redox balance is disrupted, in which excess ROS overwhelm the neutralizing capacity of antioxidants in the seminal plasma. OS attenuates lipid, protein, and DNA integrity, which mandates quick detection of the insult before the downstream consequences are amplified. Currently, there are a number of assays that can detect only individual components of OS. The MiOXSYS system is a novel technology that measures the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), a direct indicator of OS. It provides a comprehensive measure of OS status, quantifying both oxidants and antioxidants in real time. With a high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, the MiOXSYS system provides reference values for OS in semen samples that can help differentiate fertile from infertile semen samples. ORP measurement can be used as an adjunct to basic semen analyses to determine the etiology of male infertility. This chapter outlines a step-by-step protocol for the laboratory measurement of ORP by the MiOXSYS system.
Fabrication of starch - Nanocellulose composite fibers by electrospinning

Abstract Electrospinning has become an increasingly attractive technique to produce micro-to nano-scale fibers from bio-based polymers, including starch. Compared to their synthetic counterparts, fibers electrospun from bio-based polymers generally have inferior mechanical strength. In the present study, we aim to enhance the mechanical strength of electrospun starch-based fibers by using nanocellulose as a reinforcing filler and cationic starch as a binding agent. The potential ionic bonding between cationic starch and anionic nanocellulose, and the hydrogen bonding as well as macromolecular entanglement between the three components, are expected to improve the compatibility of polymers and the mechanical strength of their composite fibers. Rheological properties of nanocellulose, cationic starch, and their mixtures were studied to understand their conformation and interaction in DMSO dispersions. The rheological properties of the ternary systems were studied and correlated with their electrospinnability and the tensile strength of the composite fiber mats. Our results suggested that nanocellulose-cationic starch at its percolation concentration (≈2%, w/w, of starch) has the most profound influence on fiber strength, and CS:NC ratios of 1:2 and 1:1 created improved intermolecular ionic bonding for reinforcing the fiber structure.
Neuroimaging of Non-vascular Congenital Skin Lesions Unrelated to Neurocutaneous Syndromes

This chapter highlights cutaneous manifestations of congenital skin lesions that are non-vascular and not related to underlying neurocutaneous syndromes. These disease include aplasia cutis, branchial apparatus anomalies, epidermoid and dermoid cysts, cephaloceles, and spinal dysraphism.
Regulation of Intracellular Protein Turnover: Covalent Modification as a Mechanism of Marking Proteins for Degradation

Publisher Summary Mixed-function oxidation systems have an ubiquitous distribution, and many of them can cause oxidative modification of proteins presumably by the interaction of active oxygen species, for example, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, with specific amino acid residues in the protein. It is well known that active oxygen species, which can also be produced in vivo during respiration, can affect other cell components causing both lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. However, the effect of radical attack on proteins has only recently been investigated. Protein breakdown can be highly regulated by factors which affect the stability of proteins to modification, or the activity of marking reactions, and the activity of individual proteases and different degradation systems. In mammalian cells, the contribution of the different degradation systems probably varies with changes in hormonal and nutritional states. The rate of degradation may be controlled by uptake into lysosomes or by factors which influence the activity of non-lysosomal proteases.
Compounded Inequities: Tracking School Finance Equity for Districts Serving Low-Income Emergent Bilingual Students

School districts face different costs to produce the same level of educational opportunity because of differences in student populations, geographic variation in average wages, and district size. However, in many states, the school finance system fails to take these factors into account when distributing funds to school districts. Most prior analyses of state school finance systems focus on the relationship between district funding and the percent of low-income students in that district. Other studies explore funding for emergent bilinguals, who are typically classified as English language learners (ELLs) in state data systems. We present the first longitudinal descriptive evidence of the extent to which state school finance systems compound inequities for districts serving high concentrations of both low-income students and ELLs. We assess the extent to which high-ELL high-poverty districts are underfunded relative to otherwise similar districts in the same state and how these trends have changed leading up to and following the recession-era spending cuts. We find that prior to the recession, high-ELL districts received greater funding levels than otherwise similar low-ELL districts in the same state. However, recessionary spending cuts disproportionately impacted funding for ELLs. The remaining resource advantages for high-ELL districts are concentrated in low-poverty districts. We discuss implications for bilingual education and school finance policy.
Integrated BioNMR – “getting by with a little help from my friends”

Single types of methodologies are insufficient to adequately describe complex biological structures. As a result, integrated approaches that combine complementary data are being developed. Here, I describe the benefits of integrating solution and magic angle spinning BioNMR approaches to characterize structure and dynamics of protein assemblies.
Heat capacity measurements on3He−4He mixtures in aerogel

We have measured the heat capacity of3He−4He mixtures in aerogels for high3He concentrations. For temperatures greater than 150 mK the heat capacity is linear in T. This linear region grows substantially with increasing4He concentration and for sufficiently lwo temperature the heat capacityper unit volume becomes independent of the total concentration.
Investigating the interplay between institutional, spousal, parental and personal demands in tenure track faculty everyday life

Tenure track faculty face a multitude of work–family demands as part of their progression in academia. By engaging in a autoethnography, we examine the amount of time spent in institutional, spousa...
Comparative implementation-effectiveness of three strategies to perform hearing screening among older adults in primary care clinics: study design and protocol

The burden of hearing loss among older adults could be mitigated with appropriate care. This study compares implementation of three hearing screening strategies in primary care, and examines the reliability and validity of patient self-assessment, primary care providers (PCP) and diagnostic audiologists in the identification of ‘red flag’ conditions (those conditions that may require medical consultation and/or intervention). Six primary care practices will implement one of three screening strategies (2 practices per strategy) with 660 patients (220 per strategy) ages 65–75 years with no history of hearing aid use or diagnosis of hearing loss. Strategies differ on the location and use of PCP encouragement to complete a telephone-based hearing screen (tele-HS). Group 1: instructions for tele-HS to complete at home and educational materials on warning signs and consequences of hearing loss. Group 2: PCP counseling/encouragement on importance of hearing screening, instructions to take the tele-HS from home, educational materials. Group 3: PCP counseling/encouragement, in-office tele-HS, and educational materials. Patients from all groups who fail the tele-HS will be referred for diagnostic audiological testing and medical evaluation, and complete a self-assessment of red flag conditions at this follow-up appointment. Due to the expected low incidence of ear disease in the PCP cohort, we will enroll a complementary population of patients (N = 500) from selected otolaryngology head and neck surgery clinics in a national practice-based research network to increase the likelihood of occurrence of medical conditions that might contraindicate hearing aid fitting. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients who complete the tele-HS within 2 months of the PCP appointment comparing Group 3 (PCP encouragement, in-office tele-HS, education) versus Groups 2 and 1 (education and tele-HS at home, with and without PCP encouragement, respectively). The several secondary outcomes include direct and indirect costs, patient, family and provider attitudes of hearing healthcare, and accuracy of red flag condition evaluations compared with expert medical assessment by an otolaryngology provider. Determining the relative effectiveness of three different strategies for hearing screening in primary care and the assessment accuracy of red flag conditions can each lead to practice and policy changes that will reduce individual, family and societal burden from hearing loss among older adults. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02928107; 10/10/2016 protocol version 1.
Distress screening through PROMIS at an academic cancer center and network site: Implementation of a hybrid model.

2021Background: The NCCN guidelines recommend routine distress screening of patients with cancer, but the implementation of such programs is inconsistent. Up to one in three such patients experienc...
Risk-price dynamics

We present a novel approach to depicting asset pricing dynamics by characterizing shock exposures and prices for alternative investment horizons. We quantify the shock exposures in terms of elasticities that measure the impact of a current shock on future cash-flow growth. The elasticities are designed to accommodate nonlinearities in the stochastic evolution modeled as a Markov process. Stochastic growth in the underlying macroeconomy and stochastic discounting in the representation of asset values are central ingredients in our investigation. We provide elasticity calculations in a series of examples featuring consumption externalities, recursive utility, and jump risk.
Effects of using a whole-body powered exoskeleton during simulated occupational load-handling tasks: A pilot study.

Abstract Whole-body powered exoskeletons (WB-PEXOs) can be effective in reducing the physical demands of heavy occupational work, yet almost no empirical evidence exists on the effects of WB-PEXO use. This study assessed the effects of WB-PEXO use on back and leg muscle activities during lab-based simulations of load handling tasks. Six participants (4M, 2F) completed two such tasks (load carriage and stationary load transfer), both with and without a WB-PEXO, and with a range of load masses in each task. WB-PEXO use reduced median levels of muscle activity in the back (∼42–53% in thoracic and ∼24–43% in lumbar regions) and legs (∼41–63% in knee flexors and extensors), and mainly when handling loads beyond low-moderate levels (10–15 kg). Overall, using the WB-PEXO also reduced inter-individual variance (smaller SD) in muscle activities. Future work should examine diverse users, focus on finding effective matches between WB-PEXO use and specific tasks, and identify applications in varied work environments.
Irradiation Inactivation of Four Salmonella Serotypes in Orange Juices with Various Turbidities

Reconstituted orange juice inoculated with Salmonella Anatum, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, or Salmonella Stanley was treated with gamma radiation at 2°C. To determine the relationship between juice antioxidant power and Dγ (dose required to achieve 90% mortality), juice solids were removed prior to inoculation by centrifugation and/or filtration to create juice preparations of varying turbidity. In unadulterated orange juice, Salmonella Anatum (Dγ = 0.71 kGy) was significantly more resistant than the other species tested. Salmonella Newport (Dγ = 0.48 kGy) and Salmonella Infantis (Dγ = 0.35 kGy) were significantly different, while Salmonella Stanley (Dγ = 0.38 kGy) was intermediate between the two. Neither the resistance of each isolate nor the pattern of relative resistance among isolates was altered in reduced turbidity juice preparations. Although total antioxidant power was associated with the level of juice solids resuspended in phosphate buffer, antioxidant power was not significantly as...
Lipid and Membrane Metabolism of the Malaria Parasite and the African Trypanosome

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the Apicomplexan intracellular parasites Plasmodium and Toxoplasma and compares them with the extracellular African trypanosomes. The lipid and membrane metabolism of the Apicomplexa, particularly Plasmodium, has been extensively reviewed and only phenomena of current investigation are presented. Their location and position are largely dependent on lipid anchoring but their functions are quite specific to their structure. Their function is a result of the complementarity of lipid and glycoprotein biochemistry.. The differences between the salivarian trypanosomes and the Plasmodium species highlight the distinctions among situations where the host has limited access to the parasite, and a totally extracellular existence. The African trypanosome that produces only one daughter cell while maintaining a very rapid metabolic rate, anticipate the stresses of temperature and nutrient changes upon entering the tsetse fly midgut. This is partially accomplished through alteration in the lipid composition of the bloodstream stumpy form. Both organisms acquire host lipid, through different paths, possess significant pathways to modify these lipids, and have enzymic activities, for example, phospholipases or transporters with unusual properties that are able to facilitate the process. The chapter summarizes that the malaria parasite, sequestered within the host erythrocyte, manipulate the host membrane lipid composition and shows greater biosynthetic power than the trypanosome. A significant part of the African typanosomes' lipid metabolism is directed toward synthesis of not only membrane lipid, but supply of the glycolipid anchor of its unique surface coat.
Comparison of surface and subdermal electrodes for monitoring bispectral index in anesthetized dogs.

Bispectral index (BIS) is a value derived from the EEG used to assess central nervous system depression. In a previous report, canine BIS values using adhesive surface electrodes were inversely related to sevoflurane (SEVO) minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)-multiples. However, use of subdermal needle electrodes would allow more practical measurement of BIS in animals. The purpose of this study was to compare canine BIS values obtained using both surface and subdermal electrodes. SEVO MAC was determined in eight English pointer dogs (four males, four females; mean ± SD age and weight of 3.9 ± 2.2 years and 20.7 ± 4.1 kg, respectively). One week later, BIS was determined at 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 MAC multiples using both electrode sets applied in randomized order. Ventilation was controlled and atracurium (0.2 mg kg−1 followed by 6 µg kg−1 minute−1 IV) was administered to eliminate EMG artifact from the EEG. BIS was determined using an A-2000 monitor connected to a computer for data collection at 5-second intervals. After a 15-minute equilibration period at each MAC multiple, BIS data were collected for 5 minutes and median BIS values calculated. Heart rate, direct mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), esophageal temperature, and arterial blood gases were measured at each BIS collection period. End-tidal CO2 and percentage [SEVO] were continuously monitored using an infrared gas analyzer. Median BIS values were analyzed by simple linear regression and other variables were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (p < 0.05). Mean ± SD SEVO MAC was 2.1 ± 0.3%. Mean ± SD BIS values at 0.8, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 X MAC were 77 ± 3, 73 ± 5, 57 ± 7 and 53 ± 7, respectively, for surface electrodes and 80 ± 6, 72 ± 7, 56 ± 4 and 50 ± 5, respectively, for subdermal electrodes. At 2X MAC, BIS could not be determined in six dogs due to burst suppression. The regression equation comparing electrodes was: BIS (subdermal) = − 5.5 + [1.1 X BIS (surface)]; R2 = 0.846. Of the other measured variables, only mean MAP was significantly different among MAC-multiples. We conclude that use of subdermal needle electrodes for measurement of BIS in anesthetized dogs is a reliable and practical alternative to use of adhesive surface electrodes.
Responses of Leptasterias hexactis (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) to low salinity

Respiration and excretion rates were measured for Leptasterias hexactis (Stimpson, 1862) that had been gradually exposed to 30, 20 and 15‰ S. These rates were integrated with feeding, absorption efficiency and growth rates of the same starfish to develop energy budgets and indices of physiological stress for them at the different salinities. Salinity had significant effects on respiration, with the rates at 30‰ S being significantly higher than the rates at the lower salinities. Salinity did not affect total nitrogen excretion rates. Ammonia was the major excretory product, but urea and primary amines were excreted in significant amounts. The oxygen:nitrogen ratio varied directly with salinity and significant differences were found between the rate at 30‰ S and the two lower salinities. Both gross (K1) and net (K2) growth efficiency varied directly with salinity. No significant differences existed between the means of either K1 or K2 at 30 or 20‰ S, but both were significantly higher at 30 and 20‰ S than at 15‰ S. Scope for growth (SG), the caloric balance after metabolic expenditures, varied directly with salinity and significant differences existed between the means at all salinities. The effectiveness of SG as a predictor of growth was verified by comparison to actual growth measurements. The ability of L. hexactis to maintain positive SG for 3 wk in the laboratory at 20‰ S is indicative of tolerance to hyposmotic stress and may partially explain its success in habitats subjected to seasonal reductions of salinity.
Physical Activity and Stroke Risk: The Framingham Study

The authors prospectively examined the influence of increased levels of physical activity on risk of stroke in members of the Framingham Study cohort. Two separate analyses were performed, one during midlife in 1,897 men (mean age = 49.7 years) and 2,299 women (mean age = 49.9 years) and another when the cohort was older (1,361 men (mean age = 63.0) and 1,862 women (mean age = 63.7)). A structured questionnaire administered at two separate examinations was used to estimate the amount of metabolic work done during a typical 24-hour period. Physical activity was categorized into tertiles, and medium and high levels of physical activity were compared with a low level of physical activity, which was used as the referent group. Cox proportional hazards, life table, and time-dependent covariate analyses were used to examine the relation between level of physical activity and stroke risk over a follow-up period of up to 32 years. In men, adjusted analyses revealed that increased levels of physical activity were protective. The strongest effect was obtained from an analysis involving older cohort members in the medium tertile (risk ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.69). High levels of physical activity did not confer an additional benefit over medium levels. Adjusted analyses showed no significant protective effect in women. These results indicate that medium and high levels of physical activity among men are protective against stroke relative to low levels.
Traveling-wave tube limiters

Good broad-band microwave limiters can be built by appropriately modifying conventional traveling-wave tubes. For example, with a single one-watt tube modified suitably the output power could be held constant to within ±½ db over a range of input power of approximately 20 db. By modifying two such tubes in the proper way and using them in cascade the range of input power for limiting could be increased to greater than 45 db, and this accomplished over a 700-mc frequency range centered at S band. This was done with commercially available traveling-wave tubes. All the necessary modifications were made from outside the tube envelope. Experimental results indicate that beam saturation for these tubes when operated conventionally occurs first under the attenuator section. By increasing the gain between the attenuator and the output coupler, the beam saturation can be made to occur first under the output coupler. This fact was of great use in the development of the limiters.
Social and Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters

Economic and social development throughout the world is frequently interrupted by extreme events. The Pacific Rim is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, thus to social and economic losses...
The metastable formation of di-ethylchloronium ions from ethylchloride dimer ions in a seeded molecular beam

Cluster ions of ethylchloride and their dissociation products have been produced in a supersonic expansion of ethylchloride seeded in Ar and energy selected by the threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) method. The peak widths of the ion time of flight distribution indicate that all of the clusters are produced by dissociative photoionization of higher order clusters. Thus, trimer ions dissociate to form dimer ions and an ethylchloride monomer. This dimer ion was found to be metastable with respect to the formation of the di-ethylchloronium ion and a chlorine atom. The measured dissociation rate as a function of the dimer ion internal energy was compared to the calculated rates based on the statistical RRKM/QET theory. Good agreement was found when the dimer adiabatic IP was assumed to be 10.2 eV. The Cl loss from the ethylchloride dimer ion is associated with a reverse activation energy of about 0.32 eV.
Critical phenomena in a nonequilibrium model of heterogeneous catalysis.

A simple irreversible kinetic model recently introduced by Ziff, Gulari, and Barshad [Phys. Rev. Lett. 56, 2553 (1986)] to describe the catalysis of chemical reactions on regular surfaces has been shown to have a second-order phase transition from an absorbing state, wherein the surface is passivated (rendered catalytically inactive or ``poisoned'') by one of the chemical constituents, to an active steady state. We argue here that this transition belongs in the universality class of Reggeon field theory, i.e., of directed percolation.
(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits Hsp90 function by impairing Hsp90 association with cochaperones in pancreatic cancer cell line mia paca-2

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate [(-)-EGCG], the most abundant polyphenolic catechin in green tea, showed chemoprevention and anticancer activities. (-)-EGCG was reported to bind to the C-terminal domain of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). The purpose of this study is to investigate (-)-EGCG as a novel Hsp90 inhibitor to impair Hsp90 superchaperone complex for simultaneous downregulation of oncogenic proteins in pancreatic cancer cells. MTS assay showed that (-)-EGCG exhibited antiproliferative activity against pancreatic cancer cell line Mia Paca-2 in vitro with IC50 below 50 muM. (-)-EGCG increased caspase-3 activity up to 3-fold in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that (-)-EGCG induced downregulation of oncogenic Hsp90 client proteins by approximately 70-95%, including Akt, Cdk4, Raf-1, Her-2, and pERK. Co-immunoprecipitation showed that (-)-EGCG decreased the association of cochaperones p23 and Hsc70 with Hsp90 by more than 50%, while it had little effect on the ATP binding to Hsp90. Proteolytic fingerprinting assay confirmed direct binding between (-)-EGCG and the Hsp90 C-terminal domain. These data suggest that the binding of (-)-EGCG to Hsp90 impairs the association of Hsp90 with its cochaperones, thereby inducing degradation of Hsp90 client proteins, resulting antiproliferating effects in pancreatic cancer cells.
The Teaching of Swahili

THE introduction of a course in Swahili at the William Howard Taft High School in New York has been the subject of some controversy as seen in the correspondence columns of the New York Times. A member of the Sunday Times staff has written: "To the general white community there is apparently something unsettling about the teaching of Swahili; to the militant black community it has become an important symbol of pride."' It is doubtful if the general white community is sufficiently well informed about the status of Swahili in Africa to be objective in their understanding of this matter. More likely the desire of the black community to learn an African language is interpreted in a vague sort of way as another manifestation of black aggression in this country. There can be little doubt that some members of the black community do not themselves have an objective attitude in this respect, but for the majority the desire to learn an African language is the legitimate expression of their search for some kind of self-identity. If they were fully integrated citizens, the question of learning an African language would not arise for them. Their interest in Swahili is not academic, but springs from a sense of deprivation. This is why their attitude towards African life and language is deserving of sympathy and understanding. To take a negative, prohibitory attitude on this matter is to deny them what, in the circumstances, is on the whole a good and worthy aspiration. Even so, there is something doubly ironic in the status of Swahili both in East Africa and
Leaf Water Repellency as an Adaptation to Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Environments

Adaptations that reduce water retention on leaf surfaces may increase photosynthetic capacity of cloud forests because carbon dioxide diffuses slower in water than air. Leaf water repellency was examined in three distinct ecosystems to test the hypothesis that tropical montane cloud forest species have a higher degree of leaf water repellency than species from tropical dry forests and species from temperate foothills-grassland vegetation. Leaf water repellency was measured by calculating the contact angle of the leaf surface and the line tangent to a water droplet through the point of contact on the adaxial and the abaxial surface. Leaf water repellency was significantly different between the three study areas. The hypothesis that leaf water repellency is higher in cloud forest species than tropical dry forests and temperate foothills-grassland vegetation was not confirmed in this study. Leaf water repellency was lower for cloud forest species (adaxial surface = 50.8°; abaxial surface = 82.9°) than tropical dry forest species (adaxial surface = 74.5°; abaxial surface = 87.3°) and temperate foothills-grassland species (adaxial surface = 77.6°; abaxial surface = 95.8°). The low values of leaf water repellency in cloud forest species may be influenced by presence of epiphylls and loss of epicuticular wax on the leaf surfaces.
Welfare Reform and Black Women's Economic Development

In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, placing emphasis on individuals to take responsibility for separating themselves from governmental dependence by becoming economically self-sufficient through employment. Using a qualitative approach, this study explored the experiences of 15 African American women as they transitioned from welfare to determine the extent to which they were developing economic sufficiency as a result of their labor force participation. It also sought the perspectives of employers on the work-first approach to economic development among former recipients and their chances of becoming self-sufficient through employment. The study found three systems of barriers to impede the participants' economic progress: the “work-first” philosophy, labor market conditions and employment practices, and personal history and individual responsibility. These findings suggest that a more integrative approach is necessary, one that ...
Mental animation in the visuospatial sketchpad: Evidence from dual-task studies

We used the dual-task paradigm to provide evidence that inferring the motion of a component of a mechanical system (mental animation) is a spatial visualization process. In two experiments, participants were asked to solve mental animation problems while simultaneously retaining either a visuospatial working memory load (a configuration of dots in a grid) or a verbal memory load (a list of letters). Both experiments showed that mental animation interferes more with memory for a concurrent visuospatial load than with memory for a verbal load. Experiment 1 also showed that a visuospatial working memory load interferes more with mental animation than does a verbal memory load. Furthermore, Experiment 2 showed that mental animation interferes more with a visuospatial memory load than does a verbal reasoning task that takes approximately the same amount of time.
Evaluation of the Obese Patient: 2. Clinical Findings

IN A previous issue, 1 we provided an algorithm for use in evaluating the cases of obese patients. To determine the frequency of abnormalities among the various measurements in this algorithm, we have evaluated a large group of obese patients, and the results are reported in this article. Measures and Procedures Obese patients telephoning the Harbor General Hospital in response to an article in the daily newspaper were offered the opportunity to obtain a free medical evaluation in our Obesity Clinic. Each patient was seen once, on one of three separate weekends (Table 1). They were requested not to eat for 12 hours before the clinic appointments. Upon arrival, they filled out questionnaires concerning their present and past history of obesity. A blood sample was obtained on each patient, and those attending the third clinic received 40 gm/ sq m of a dextrose solution. A second blood sample was drawn
A Novel Nanoparticle Formulation for Sustained Paclitaxel Delivery

Purpose To develop a novel nanoparticle drug delivery system consisting of chitosan and glyceryl monooleate (GMO) for the delivery of a wide variety of therapeutics including paclitaxel.
Targeting tissue factor for immunotherapy of choroidal neovascularization by intravitreal delivery of factor VII-Fc chimeric antibody.

Purpose: ICON is a fusion protein composed of factor VII, the natural ligand for tissue factor, conjugated to the Fc domain of a human IgG1 immunoglobulin. It binds to the tissue factor expressed on neovascular endothelia and initiates a cytolytic immune attack that destroys the neovascular tissue. We previously showed that mouse factor VII-Fc chimeric antibody (mICON) dramatically decreases the frequency of choroidal neovascularization in a laser-induced choroidal neovascularization model in mice. Herein, we determined the safety and efficacy of mICON in destroying subretinal choroidal neovascularization in pig eyes. Methods: mICON (150–1200 μg) was administered into the midvitreous cavity of the pig eye either before (on Day 0) or after (on Day 10) induction of choroidal neovascularization with laser photocoagulation. On Day 14, the incidence of choroidal neovascularization was determined using confocal microscopy. We also determined the binding specificity (% binding to choroidal neovascularization/% b...
SU-E-T-464: Dosimetric Assessment of a New Multi-Center Protocol for Radiotherapy of Multiple Ipsilateral Breast Cancers

Purpose: To assess dosimetric planning feasibility for enrolling patients into a new prospective multi‐center protocol (ACOSOG Protocol Z11102) of breast conservation surgery with radiotherapy (RT) of multiple ipsilateral breast cancers (MIBC) including multicentric and/or multifocal breast cancers. Methods: CT data for 9 representative breast patients with two lumpectomy cavities in a breast treated in prone position were retrospectively analyzed. The boost PTV for lumpectomy cavity was delineated based on the seroma and/or surgical clips with 1 to 2 cm non‐uniform 3D expansion, not including chestwall, skin, and bone. A whole breast irradiation (WBI) of 50 Gy in 25 fractions was planned using 3D tangential beams of 6 or 15 MV photons with necessary wedges and/or field‐in‐field techniques to provide uniform dose coverage. No nodal irradiation was planned. The dose was calculated with heterogeneity correction using a treatment planning system (Xio v4.80, Elekta). For each boost PTV, additional 10 Gy in 5 fractions was planned by using one single photon beam, either 6 or 15 MV depending on the depth of the PTV, oriented in the direction with shortest depth to the PTV. All plans were evaluated to check whether all the dose‐volume criteria required by the protocol can be met. Results: All plans generated for patients in our study meet the dose‐volume criteria required by the protocol. For all dose‐volume parameters, the discrepancies between the patient averages and dose‐volume goals were separated by at least 1.4 sigmas (standard deviation). The average for the percentage breast volume receiving 60 Gy, a major concern because of the large boost PTVs, was (29.7±7.3)%, well below the required value of 40%. Conclusion: The dose‐volume criteria required for the new multi‐center protocol of radiotherapy for multiple ipsilateral breast cancers can be met with no major difficulties with the standard planning techniques.
EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON THE RESISTANCE OF CESIUM

Discontinuities in resistance and volume were studied for 99.95% pure cesium at 296 deg K at 0 to 500 kilobars. The mode of volume change by band promotion of electrons is discussed. (R.E.U.)
Dopamine receptor-mediated depression of spinal monosynaptic transmission.

Abstract The effects of the dopamine agonists apomorphine, lisuride and lergotrile were evaluated on cat spinal cord monosynaptic transmission by stimulating the dorsal root and recording the ventral root compound action potential. All 3 agonist decreased the area of the monosynaptic response. This effect was prevented by pretreatment with the dopamine antagonist haloperidol and metoclopramide, but not with the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine. These results suggest the existence of spinal cord dopamine receptors which can modulate motor output.
Identification of a potential HIV-induced source of bystander-mediated apoptosis in T cells: Upregulation of TRAIL in primary human macrophages by HIV-1 tat

The induction of apoptosis in T cells by bystander cells has been repeatedly implicated as a mechanism contributing to the T cell depletion seen in HIV infection. It has been shown that apoptosis could be induced in T cells from asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals in a Fas-independent, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-dependent manner if the cells were pretreated with anti-CD3. It has also been shown that T cells from HIV-infected patients were even more sensitive to TRAIL induction of apoptosis than they were to Fas induction. Recently, it has been reported that in an HIV-1 SCID-Hu model, the vast majority of the T cell apoptosis is not associated with p24 and is therefore produced by bystander effects. Furthermore, few apoptotic cells were associated with neighboring cells which were positive for either Fas ligand or TNF. However, most of the apoptotic cells were associated with TRAIL-positive cells. The nature of these TRAIL-positive cells was undetermined. Here, we report that HIV infection of primary human macrophages switches on abundant TRAIL production both at the RNA and protein levels. Furthermore, more macrophages produce TRAIL than are infected by HIV, indicating that a bystander mechanism may, at least in part, upregulate TRAIL. Exogenously supplied HIV-1 Tat protein upregulates TRAIL production by primary human macrophages to an extent indistinguishable from infection. The results suggest a model in which HIV-1-infected cells produce extracellular Tat protein, which in turn upregulates TRAIL in macrophages which then can induce apoptosis in bystander T cells.
Increased serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels as an early sign of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

ABSTRACT Objective To emphasize the potential association between increased levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the presence of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Methods We present two case reports of this association, including long-term serial measurements of CEA in one patient. Results CEA is a tumor marker often associated with colon cancer. In recent years, increased CEA in plasma has been reported in patients with other cancers. Diagnoses of MTC in two patients were preceded by increased CEA levels (for 6 years in one patient). Because CEA levels returned to normal after thyroidectomy, MTC may have been the cause of the increases. Conclusion In patients with increased plasma CEA levels, MTC should be considered in the differential diagnosis even if thyroid palpation is nonrevealing and thyroid function is normal. (Endocr Pract. 1998;4:195-196)
The current role and limitations of surrogate endpoints in advanced prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives The identification of appropriate surrogate endpoints for evaluating cancer therapeutics has been of ongoing interest across various tumor types. Metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has been a particularly challenging area. As more targeted and novel therapies are being developed in this disease space, an urgent need exists to identify surrogate endpoints in mCRPC. The ability to discern patient benefit in the absence of patient death or other complications would facilitate both drug development and more appropriate patient care. Methods and materials We reviewed the available literature and guidelines used in the development and approval of recent agents for mCRPC. Results The majority of regulatory approvals of new medications have relied on overall survival (OS) or prevention of complications such as skeletal related events (SRE’s). Progression-free survival measures, such as bone scans, computed tomography scans, and prostate-specific antigen related changes, have not been validated nor uniformly accepted as outcome surrogates. All of the successful recent pivotal Phase III trials designed to achieve regulatory approval in mCRPC have used either OS or SRE’s as the primary endpoint. Conclusions There are significant problematic issues that exist associated with defining and implementing surrogate markers in mCRPC beyond survival and complications. Suggestions are made as to how the current situation might be improved.
Experimental study of thermally generated reverse stratified layers in a fire tunnel

The behavior of thermally generated stratified layers in a fire tunnel in the presence of ventilating-air flow is investigated experimentally. In the present work the hot combustion products are produced using burners in a high temperature wind tunnel so that measurements can be made under steady conditions. At sufficiently low ventilation velocity, a hot reverse stratified layer is formed near the ceiling and flows against the ventilation. The present paper reports measurements of the mean velocity and mean temperature distributions across the tunnel cross sections where the reverse stratified layer exists. Some probing of the plume zone is also made to understand the formation of stratified layers when a fire occurs in a ventilated tunnel. The factors that are considered are the velocity and temperature of the stratified layer, the ventilation flow velocity, and the angle of inclination of the channel. The lengths of reverse stratified layers are determined under various test conditions.
Electron Impact Excitation Cross Section Measurement for n = 3 to n = 2 Line Emission in Fe17+ to Fe23+

We have measured the electron impact excitation cross sections for the strong iron L-shell 3 {yields} 2 lines of Fe XVIII to Fe XXIV at the EBIT-I electron beam ion trap using a crystal spectrometer and NASA-Goddard Space Flight Centers 6 x 6 pixel array microcalorimeter. The cross sections were determined by direct normalization to the well established cross section of radiative electron capture through a sophisticated model analysis which results in the excitation cross section for the strong Fe L-shell lines at multiple electron energies. This measurement is part of a laboratory X-ray astrophysics program utilizing the Livermore electron beam ion traps EBIT-I and EBIT-II.
Thermoelectrically Powered Sensing for Small Modular Reactors

This project aims to develop thermoelectric generator (TEG)-based devices for sensing during normal and off-normal conditions in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). TEGs will be placed on key reactor components including pipes, pump housings, heat exchangers and reactor vessels. The heat is conducted by heat pipes to the TEGs and removed by a heat sink in natural convection. The electrical power generated by is then used to drive sensors and wireless communications. The estimated power generated by one TEG is 19 W, and sensors with related circuit only require less than 7 W. Extra power can be stored into batteries and used for actuation and similar high-current, short duration power needs. Initial enclosure designs are also presented to protect the electrical devices from fire, force, water, and radiation. Preliminary experiments have been set up for testing TEGs. An experimental test stand design has been simulated, and is now being built. Radiation dosage at different locations and its effects on electrical devices and TEGs are also investigated. A fin analysis of the cooling side of the TEG is also presented. According to the results, the annular finned-tube with an inner pipe diameter of 58 cm can provide a maximum heat dissipation of 1,700 W.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A graphics-oriented personal computer-based microscope charting system for neuroanatomical and neurochemical studies

Abstract This report describes a computerized microscope charting system based on the IBM personal computer or compatible. Stepping motors are used to control the movement of the microscope stage and to encode its position by hand manipulation of a joystick. Tissue section contours and the location of cells labeled with various compounds are stored by the computer, plotted at any magnification and manipulated into composites created from several charted sections. The system has many advantages: (1) it is based on an industry standardized computer that is affordable and familiar; (2) compact and commercially available stepping motor microprocessors control the stage movement. These controllers increase reliability, simplify implementation, and increase efficiency by relieving the computer of time consuming control tasks; (3) the system has an interactive graphics interface allowing the operator to view the image during data collection. Regions of the graphics display can be enlarged during the charting process to provide higher resolution and increased accuracy; (4) finally, the digitized data are stored at 0.5 μm resolution and can be routed directly to a multi-pen plotter or exported to a computer-aided design (CAD) program to generate a publication-quality montage composed of several computerized chartings. The system provides a useful tool for the acquisition and qualitative analysis of data representing stained cells or chemical markers in tissue. The modular design, together with data storage at high resolution, allows for potential analytical enhancements involving planimetric, stereologic and 3-D serial section reconstruction.
An ultrafine sea-salt flux from breaking waves: Implications for cloud condensation nuclei in the remote marine atmosphere

[1] Sea-salt aerosol (SSA) is an important constituent of natural marine aerosol to which anthropogenic aerosols must be compared when assessing their climatic influence. Size distributions of particles, produced by bubbles from coastal oceanic breaking waves, were found to have sizes as small as 0.01 μm, with 60% smaller than 0.1 μm diameter. The thermal stability of these particles and their growth factor measured under increasing humidity indicate that most are sea salt. These SSA size distributions were used in conjunction with the measured number flux for bubbles from coastal breaking waves to develop a new sea-salt source function. This source function and the associated SSA flux compare favorably with previously published estimates available for sizes larger than 0.5 μm but extend the source function down to much smaller sizes. When this SSA flux is applied to oceanic whitecaps that have a highly nonlinear dependence on wind speed, it implies strong regional and temporal differences in the open ocean surface number flux. In marine regions with little continental impact we estimate that this SSA flux can contribute ∼5–90% of the marine cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), with the rest accounted for by the flux of aerosol entrained from the free troposphere. These two fluxes are large enough to account for commonly observed aerosol and CCN concentrations in the clean MBL without requiring a nucleation source in the MBL. These observations have significant implications for modeling marine aerosol concentrations and evolution.
Process detection in homeland security and defense applications

Process detection is a fundamental problem arising in a variety of homeland security, national defense and commercial applications, including network security, sensor network data fusion, dynamic social network analysis and video tracking of kinematic objects. Our approach to process detection is based on a generic algorithmic approach called Process Query Systems which has been developed at Dartmouth over the past 3 years. This paper surveys the general area of process detection, its applications and recent progress made in various implementations.
Medial preoptic area knife cuts in the lactating female rat: Effects on maternal behavior and pituitary-adrenal activity

Parasaggital knife cuts that transect the mediolateral connections between the medial and lateral preoptic areas and anterior and lateral hypothalamic structures severely disrupt maternal behavior in the postpartum lactating rat. These cuts increased stress-induced pituitary-adrenal responsiveness in lactating females while having no effect in virgins. These data support the hypothesis that pituitary-adrenal buffering that accompanies lactation facilitates the expression of maternal behavior.
Structure of Ti4AlN3—a layered Mn+1AXn nitride

Abstract Recent high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron probe X-ray microanalysis show that the compound originally thought to be Ti3Al2N2 is Ti4AlN3. In this paper we report on the crystal structure determination by Rietveld refinement on neutron and X-ray powder diffraction data. Ti4AlN3 crystallizes with a hexagonal unit cell, space group P63/mmc, and with lattice parameters a = 2.9880(2) and c = 23.372(2) A. The stacking sequence is such that every four layers of Ti atoms is separated by a layer of Al atoms. The N atoms occupy octahedral sites between the Ti atoms making up a network of corner shared octahedra. This compound is closely related to other layered, ternary, machinable, hexagonal nitrides and carbides, namely, M2AX and M3AX2, where M is an early transition metal, A is a A-group element and X is either C and/or N.