cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Image-based Refocusing for Transcranial Therapies

Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) has the potential to provide precision ultrasonic targeting of brain circuits in the treatment neurological disorders. However, this potential is severely limited by FUS beam distortions through the skull. We have previously demonstrated the feasibility of using dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) capabilities to perform refocusing based on target identification on DMUA imaging. Furthermore, we have demonstrated improved refocusing when the target echoes are sufficiently coherent, as measured using a focusing data matrix (FDM) evaluated from raw channel data. The objective of this study is to characterize this geometric refocusing-aberration correction method and extend its use. Specifically, refocusing off of coherent echoes in the vicinity of the intended target as identified on DMUA imaging. In vitro transskull experiments were performed with sample skulls placed in the path of DMUA focused beams. Beam distortions were characterized using 2D hydrophone scans in planes orthogonal to the FUS beam axis before and after refocusing. The results provide experimental verification of the improved focusing gain achieved when refocusing at the target or points in its vicinity. The improvement was in the range of 3 7 dB for a variety of target locations with respect to the skull−suture lines.
Racism and the Weakness of Christian Identity: Religious Autoimmunity

Despite the command from Christ to love your neighbour, Western Christianity has continued to be afflicted by the evil of racism and the acts of violence that accompany it. Through a systems theoretical and deconstructive account of religion and the political theology of St. Paul, this book traces how the racism and violence of modern Western Christianity is a symptom of its failure to secure its own myth of sovereignty within a complex world of plurality. Divided into three sections, the book begins with a philosophical and critical account of what it calls the immune system of Christian identity. Focusing on Pauline political theology as reflective of an inherent religious "autoimmunity" built into Christian community, a theory of theological-political violence is located within Western Christianity. The second section traces major theoretical aspects of the historical "apparatus" of Christian Identity. It demonstrates that it is ultimately around the figure of the black slave that racialized Christian identity becomes a system of anti-blackness and white supremacy. The book concludes by offering strategies for thinking resistance against such racialised Christian identity. It does this by constructing a "pragmatics of faith" by engaging Deleuze’s and Guattari’s use of the term pragmatics, Moten’s theory of black fugitivity, and Long’s account of African American religious production. This wide-ranging and interdisciplinary view of Christianity’s relationship to racism will be of keen interest to scholars of Religious Studies, Theological Studies, Cultural Studies, Critical Race Studies, American Studies, and Critical Theory.
Oocyte Elimination Through DNA Damage Signaling from CHK1/CHK2 to p53 and p63.

Eukaryotic organisms have evolved mechanisms to prevent the accumulation of cells bearing genetic aberrations. This is especially crucial for the germline, because fecundity and fitness of progeny would be adversely affected by an excessively high mutational incidence. The process of meiosis poses unique problems for mutation avoidance because of the requirement for SPO11-induced programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) in recombination-driven pairing and segregation of homologous chromosomes. Mouse meiocytes bearing unrepaired meiotic DSBs or unsynapsed chromosomes are eliminated before completing meiotic prophase I. In previous work, we showed that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2; CHEK2), a canonical DNA damage response protein, is crucial for eliminating not only oocytes defective in meiotic DSB repair (e.g., Trip13Gt mutants), but also Spo11−/− oocytes that are defective in homologous chromosome synapsis and accumulate a threshold level of spontaneous DSBs. However, rescue of such oocytes by Chk2 deficiency was incomplete, raising the possibility that a parallel checkpoint pathway(s) exists. Here, we show that mouse oocytes lacking both p53 (TRP53) and the oocyte-exclusive isoform of p63, TAp63, protects nearly all Spo11−/− and Trip13Gt/Gt oocytes from elimination. We present evidence that checkpoint kinase I (CHK1; CHEK1), which is known to signal to TRP53, also becomes activated by persistent DSBs in oocytes, and to an increased degree when CHK2 is absent. The combined data indicate that nearly all oocytes reaching a threshold level of unrepaired DSBs are eliminated by a semiredundant pathway of CHK1/CHK2 signaling to TRP53/TAp63.
Translating Pediatric Hospital Interpreters' Feedback From Difficult Conversations into Improved Communication.

Background:Medical interpreters are critical mediators in communication with pediatric subjects and families to include participation in difficult conversations.Objective:The objective of this pilo...
Current Practice Diagnosing Brain Death Is Not Consistent With Legal Statutes Requiring the Absence of All Brain Function.

The legal standard for the determination of death by neurologic criteria in the United States is laid out in the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), which requires the irreversible cessation...
Innovation Under Section 2 of the Sherman Act

Antitrust cases, including recent complaints filed against dominant technology platforms, have alleged conduct that harms innovation. Section 2 of the Sherman Act is sufficiently broad to address conduct that harms innovation, but courts have little experience adjudicating such allegations. This article briefly reviews the economics literature regarding the effects of market power on innovation incentives. We identify circumstances in which structural conditions warrant a presumption that anticompetitive conduct by a dominant firm is likely to harm or promote innovation and describe various ways in which consideration of likely innovation effects might support finding an antitrust violation or provide a defense of otherwise anticompetitive conduct.
Does the evidence support brief (≤30-mins), moderate (31–60-mins), or long duration naps (61+ mins) on the night shift? A systematic review

Summary We performed a systematic review of four databases to determine if the evidence supports a short or long duration nap during night shifts to mitigate fatigue, and/or improve health, safety, or performance for emergency services and public safety personnel (PROSPERO CRD42020156780). We focused on experimental research and evaluated the quality of evidence with the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) framework. We used the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool to assess bias and reported findings using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Our search yielded n = 10,345 records and n = 44 were reviewed in full-text. Inter-rater agreement during screening was substantial (Kappa = 0.66). We retained n = 11 publications, reporting on n = 7 experimental studies with a cumulative sample size of n = 140. We identified wide variation in study design, napping interventions (i.e., timing, placement, and duration), and outcomes. We identified mixed findings comparing brief, moderate, and long duration naps on outcomes of interest. All seven studies presented serious risk of bias and the quality of evidence was rated as low. Based on the best available evidence, decisions regarding nap duration during night shift work should be based on time (post-nap) and outcome.
In-the-Wild Interference Characterization and Modelling for Electro-Quasistatic-HBC With Miniaturized Wearables

The emergence of Human Body Communication (HBC) as an alternative to wireless body area networks (WBAN) has led to the development of small sized, energy efficient and more secure wearable and implantable devices forming a network in and around the body. Previous studies claim that though HBC is comparatively more secure than WBAN, nevertheless, the electromagnetic (EM) radiative nature of HBC in >10 MHz region makes the information susceptible to eavesdropping. Furthermore, interferences may be picked up by the body due to the human body antenna effect in the 40-400 MHz range. Alternatively, electro-quasistatic (EQS) mode of HBC forms an attractive way for covert data transmission in the sub 10 MHz region by allowing the signal to be contained within the body. However, there is a gap in the knowledge about the mechanism and sources of interference in this region (crucial in allowing for proper choice of data transmission band). In this paper, the interference coupling modality in the EQS region is explained along with its possible sources. Interferences seen by the wearable in the actual scenario is a non-trivial problem and a suitable measurement EQS HBC setup is designed to recreate it by employing a wearable sized measurement setup having a small ground plane. For the first time, a human biophysical interference pickup model is proposed and interference measurement results using a wearable device are presented up to 250 kHz in different environmental settings.
Rules for Optimal Perpetual Gossiping Schemes

Perpetual gossiping is an all-to-all communication problem on social networks, or any coordinated distributed system in general. In perpetual gossiping, a state of universal reachability is maintained by a continuous sequence of communications between participants. Unlike the well-understood static case, perpetual gossiping is a difficult problem, with some NP-complete classes of solutions. A basic question which remains open is whether an optimal scheme of contiguous calls is guaranteed to exist for a tree. This paper presents a series of theoretical tools directed towards answering the question.
Extending the Dissipating Energy Flow Method to Flexible AC Transmission Systems

In recent years, the dissipating energy flow (DEF) method has emerged as a promising tool for online localization of oscillation sources. In literature, the mathematical foundations of this method are well-studied for networks with synchronous generators. In this paper, we extend the analysis to flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS). To that end, we derive the DEF-expressions for a thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) and a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) operating with conventional control strategies. Analyzing their respective DEFs, we obtain the conditions for which these FACTS devices could behave as the sources of oscillation energy. Our findings are structured into propositions and are supported through numerical case studies on IEEE test systems.
Actuator Performance and Preliminaries

Actuators perform useful work on the environment in response to a command or a control signal. The amount of work that they perform and the energy expenditure that they require to do the desired work depend drastically on the method of actuation. These methods can be divided into six categories: electrical, magnetic, thermal/phase, optical, mechanical/acoustic, and chemical /biological.
Prospecting for Prehistoric Gardens: Results of a Pilot Study

Non-intensive agricultural systems leave little physical trace on the surface of the landscape. Geochemical analyses are useful in analysing known fields, but often cost-prohibitive for prospection. A method of soil phosphate and magnetic susceptibility survey is proposed as a solution. Either or both soil characteristics should be altered by most agricultural systems. Anomalies in these two soil properties combined with archaeological data indicate at least one possible garden detected in the initial pilot study plot in central Indiana. The detected potential gardens match, in size and distribution, ethnographic accounts of non-intensive agricultural fields. The promise of the proposed method of prospecting for gardens for the study of prehistoric impacts on our inherited landscapes is enormous. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Partnership-Directed School-Based Intervention for Child Physical Abuse and Neglect: Beyond Mandatory Reporting

Professionals in the schools are the major source of child maltreatment reports nationally. However, a review of the literature indicates that these professionals contribute only a small amount of ...
Transport of bunched beams with space charge through a periodic lattice

We present a numerical study of beam transport through a FODO HEBT typical of proposed large current ion linear accelerator systems. Previous studies of this problem have usually assumed uniform and linear focusing forces. In contrast, our study includes non uniform focusing as well as nonlinearities associated with space charge forces, fringe fields and RF gaps. We examine current limits, beam mismatch and emittance growth. These simulations are conducted with the high order Northrop Grumman Topkark code, which implements the Garnett and Wangler 3-D space charge model. We compare our results to the analytic studies of Hofmann (1983), Reiser (1994) and others.
Principles of Antibody Catalysis

A wide range of chemical transformations can be catalyzed by antibody molecules elicited with rationally designed transition state analogs. The development of catalytic antibodies consequently represents one of the most versatile and general strategies for creating new enzymes to emerge in the last several years. Recent advances in the production and characterization of these agents are reviewed.
Mitochondrial cytochrome c biogenesis: no longer an enigma

Cytochromes c (cyt c) and c1 are heme proteins that are essential for aerobic respiration. Release of cyt c from mitochondria is an important signal in apoptosis initiation. Biogenesis of c-type cytochromes involves covalent attachment of heme to two cysteines (at a conserved CXXCH sequence) in the apocytochrome. Heme attachment is catalyzed in most mitochondria by holocytochrome c synthase (HCCS), which is also necessary for the import of apocytochrome c (apocyt c). Thus, HCCS affects cellular levels of cyt c, impacting mitochondrial physiology and cell death. Here, we review the mechanisms of HCCS function and the roles of heme and residues in the CXXCH motif. Additionally, we consider concepts emerging within the two prokaryotic cytochrome c biogenesis pathways.
An adaptive control approach to satellite formation flying with relative distance constraints

We present a spacecraft control for rigid fleet rotations. This is done by creating a fleet template which is slowly rotated to generate desired trajectories for each individual spacecraft. By rotating the template slowly enough each spacecraft is able to track these trajectories to within a given tolerance in the presence of actuator saturation. Simulations for a three spacecraft fleet are given.
The effects of steroids during sepsis depend on dose and severity of illness: an updated meta-analysis.

A previous meta-analysis determined that the effects of steroids during sepsis were dose-dependent; since then, additional trials have been published. The current analysis updates our previous analysis examining the effects of steroids during sepsis. A literature search from 2004 to 2008 identified seven randomized controlled trials in adult patients; these were added to 14 previously identified trials. The effects of steroids on mortality were highly variable among the 21 trials (p <0.001, I2 = 60%). In trials published before 1989, which involved short courses of high-dose steroids, steroids increased mortality (n = 8, I2 = 14%, OR of death 1.39 (95% CI 1.04–1.86), p 0.03). In trials published after 1997, which involved longer courses of lower-dose steroids, steroids consistently improved shock reversal (n = 7, I2 = 0%, OR of shock reversal 1.66 [95% CI 1.25–2.20), p <0.001), but demonstrated a more heterogeneous beneficial effect on mortality (n = 12, I2 = 25%, OR of death 0.64 (95% CI 0.45–0.93), p 0.02). An inverse linear relationship between severity of illness and the effects of steroids on mortality was identified across all trials (p 0.03) and within the subgroup of trials published after 1997 (p 0.03); steroids were harmful in less severely ill patient populations and beneficial in more severely ill patient populations. There was no effect of response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation testing concerning the effects of steroids and no increase in steroid-associated adverse events. Low-dose steroids appear to improve mortality rates in patients with septic shock who are at high risk of death; however, additional trials in this subpopulation are necessary to definitively determine the role of low-dose steroids during sepsis.
Automating GPU computing in MATLAB

MATLAB is a popular software platform for scientific and engineering software writers. It offers a high level of abstraction for fundamental mathematical operations and extensive highly optimized domain-specific libraries for several scientific and engineering disciplines. With the recent availability of GPU libraries for MATLAB, it has become possible to easily exploit GPGPUs as coprocessors. However, this requires changing the code by carefully declaring variables that would live on the GPU, breaking the simplicity of the MATLAB programming model.We present a fully automatic source-level compilation technique to exploit a given GPU library for MATLAB, enabling coarse-grained heterogeneous parallelism across CPU and GPU. Our approach is based on empirically characterizing the library's functions, in order to build a comparative model of their performance on the CPU and GPU, which is then used along with a data communication cost model to maximize parallelism by selectively offloading some computation on the GPU. We achieve this by phrasing the problem as a binary integer linear programming problem aimed at minimizing CPU-GPU data movement, and using a hierarchical approach to keep the computational complexity in check. We have implemented our approach in a source-level MATLAB compiler, and present experimental results on a set of MATLAB kernels and applications using the GPUmat library. We show speedups of up to 7 times when the GPU is harnessed, compared to a standalone 8-core CPU.
The capacitance of solid and hollow hexagonal ice columns

[1] The capacitances of solid and hollow hexagonal ice columns are calculated using the classical electrostatic analogy theory. Finite element techniques are used to solve the Laplace equation to obtain water vapor density distribution from which the capacitance can be determined. The results show that solid and hollow columns of the same dimensions have nearly the same capacitance despite the existence of cavities in the latter, which implies the same mass growth rates of the two. The computed capacitances agree well with experimental measurements. Since the volume of a hollow column is smaller than that of a solid column of the same dimensions, the same mass growth rate prompts the hollow column to grow faster in linear dimensions and hence interact stronger with radiation. This will have important implications on the cirrus influence on climate.
Measurement of cholesterol bidirectional flux between cells and lipoproteins

We developed an assay that quantitates bidirectional cholesterol flux between cells and lipoproteins. Incubating Fu5AH cells with increasing concentrations of human serum resulted in increased influx and efflux; however, influx was 2- to 3-fold greater at all serum concentrations. With apolipoprotein B (apoB)-depleted serum, the ratio of influx to efflux (I/E) was close to 1, indicating cholesterol exchange. The apoB fraction of serum induced influx and little efflux, with I/E > 1. Using block lipid transport-1 to block scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-mediated flux with different acceptors, we determined that 50% to 70% of efflux was via SR-BI. With HDL, 90% of influx was via SR-BI, whereas with LDL or serum, 20% of influx was SR-BI-mediated. Cholesterol-enriched hepatoma cells produced increased efflux without a change in influx, resulting in reduced I/E. The assay was applied to cholesterol-normal and -enriched mouse peritoneal macrophages exposed to serum or LDL. The enrichment enhanced efflux without shifts in influx. With cholesterol-enriched macrophages, HDL efflux was enhanced and influx was greatly reduced. With all lipoproteins, cholesterol enrichment of murine peritoneal macrophages led to a reduced I/E. We conclude that this assay can simultaneously and accurately quantitate cholesterol bidirectional flux and can be applied to a variety of cells exposed to isolated lipoproteins or serum.
Reproductive Technology, Family Law, and the Post-Welfare State: The California Same-Sex Parents' Rights ‘Victories’ of 2005

A critical discussion of three landmark decisions handed down by the California Supreme Court in 2005: Elisa B. v. Superior Court, K.M. v. E.G., and Kristine H. v. Lisa R. In each of these cases, the court decided that where a lesbian couple is raising dependent children born as a result of artificial insemination, the children’s biological mother and social mother are both legal parents, and that in the event of the break-up of their non-marital relationship, the lower courts should give due consideration to the social mother in their decisions about child custody, visitation, and child support. The author argues that Elisa B. should have been regarded by LGBT advocates as a problematic case since it was brought by the state of California under the poverty law governing the TANF welfare program, and therefore involved the application of TANF’s mandatory child support enforcement law. The article discusses the three cases and their most important precedents in detail and reflects on a broader set of questions revolving around the post-welfare state’s interest in using family law to enhance the private provision of economic support for all children, including the children born into non-marital families with the assistance of reproductive technology.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis Dysregulation in Depersonalization Disorder

Background: The purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate HPA axis function in dissociation. Methods: Nine subjects with DSM-IV depersonalization disorder (DPD), without lifetime Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or current major depression, were compared to nine healthy comparison (HC) subjects of comparable age and gender. Results: DPD subjects demonstrated significant hyposuppression to low-dose dexamethasone administration and significantly elevated morning plasma cortisol levels when covaried for depression scores, but no difference in 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion. Dissociation scores powerfully predicted suppression whereas depression scores did not contribute to the prediction. Conclusions: Primary dissociative conditions, such as depersonalization disorder, may be associated with a pattern of HPA axis dysregulation that differs from PTSD and merits further study.
US clinical-research system in need of review.

An imminent rethink is required on the country’s approach to government-supported health and pharmaceutical studies, says Arthur J. Ammann.
Development and initial feedback about a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine comic book for adolescents.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates do not meet the Healthy People 2020 objective of 80 % coverage among adolescent females. We describe the development and initial feedback about an HPV vaccine comic book for young adolescents. The comic book is one component of a multilevel intervention to improve HPV vaccination rates among adolescents. Parents suggested and provided input into the development of a HPV vaccine comic book. Following the development of the comic book, we conducted a pilot study to obtain initial feedback about the comic book among parents (n = 20) and their adolescents ages 9 to 14 (n = 17) recruited from a community-based organization. Parents completed a pre-post test including items addressing HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine attitudes, and about the content of the comic book. Adolescents completed a brief interview after reading the comic book. After reading the comic book, HPV knowledge improved (2.7 to 4.6 correct answers on a 0–5 scale; p < 0.01) and more positive attitudes toward HPV vaccination (p < 0.05) were reported among parents. Parents confirmed that the comic book’s content was acceptable and adolescents liked the story, found it easy to read, and thought the comic book was a good way to learn about being healthy. Parents provided valuable information in the development of a theoretically-based comic book and the comic book appears to be an acceptable format for providing HPV vaccine information to adolescents. Future research will include the comic book in an intervention study to improve HPV vaccination rates.
Azotobacter vinelandii siderophore can provide nitrogen to support the culture of the green algae Neochloris oleoabundans and Scenedesmus sp. BA032.

Microalgae are viewed as a potential future agricultural and biofuel feedstock and also provide an ideal biological means of carbon sequestration based on rapid growth rates and high biomass yields. Any potential improvement using high-yield microalgae to fix carbon will require additional fertilizer inputs to provide the necessary nitrogen required for protein and nucleotide biosynthesis. The free-living diazotroph Azotobacter vinelandii can fix nitrogen under aerobic conditions in the presence of reduced carbon sources such as sucrose or glycerol and is also known to produce a variety of siderophores to scavenge different metals from the environment. In this study, we identified two strains of green algae, Neochloris oleoabundans and Scenedesmus sp. BA032, that are able to utilize the A. vinelandii siderophore azotobactin as a source of nitrogen to support growth. When grown in a co-culture, S. sp. BA032 and N. oleoabundans obtained the nitrogen required for growth through the association with A. vinelandii. These results, indicating a commensalistic relationship, provide a proof of concept for developing a mutualistic or symbiotic relationship between these two species using siderophores as a nitrogen shuttle and might further indicate an additional fate of siderophores in the environment.
Mozart in the Market-Place

Mozart's financial situation has been the subject of controversy and speculation since his death in December 1791, when a rumour circulated through Vienna that he had left debts of 30,000 fl. (see Table 1 for information on currencies). Although this fantastic figure was ten times too high, his widow's situation was indeed precarious, at least at first.
The international energy agency cooperative programs on hydrogen: past achievements and future potential

Abstract Work under the Hydrogen Agreement of the International Energy Agency was started in 1977. A cooperative research and development program has evolved around the production of hydrogen by thermochemical, electrolytic and photochemical methods. There has recently been added a new subject area relating to storage, energy conversion and safety. The first five years of the IEA program on hydrogen have seen considerable progress made towards the common goal of developing cost-effective, high-efficiency water-splitting technologies for use with renewable or inexhaustible energy sources. The past achievements and present programs are described. The current perception of the potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier is examined to permit a critical appraisal of the relevance of the content and scope of the cooperative program. Possible new research and development activities are discussed along with other factors which impact upon the adoption and/or viability of hydrogen energy technologies. The desirability of continuing and expanding international cooperative activities is considered as well as the directions of such activities and the obstacles to them.
Effects of selective ultraviolet irradiation of cytoplasm of living cells.

Nuclear protection from ultraviolet irradiation during continuous ultraviolet irradiation of cytoplasm confers no degree of protection on cytoplasm or on longevity of the cell. Nuclear protection from ultraviolet irradiation during continuous ultraviolet irradiation of cytoplasm prevents nuclear manifestations of ultraviolet induced nuclear damage. (auth)
Analysis of test results of a ground demonstration of a Pluto/Express power generator

Abstract Results of recent tests of a Pluto/Express electric power generator ground demonstration were analyzed. The performance parameters of each of the eight ground demonstrations vapor anode, multi-tube alkali-metal thermal-to-electric conversion (AMTEC) cells, designated PX-3G, were analyzed and compared. The ground demonstration cells produced a total peak electric power of 27 W e at a load voltage of 16 V when tested at hot and cold side temperatures of 1123 K and 553 K, respectively. The electric power output and terminal voltage of the individual cells, however, differed by as much as 25%, from 2.94 to 3.76 W e , and from 1.73 to 2.21 V, respectively. These variations were attributed to differences among the cells in the values of: (a) the contact resistance of the BASE/electrode and of the electrode/current collector; (b) the leakage current between the anode and cathode electrodes through the metal–ceramic braze joint between the BASE tubes and the metal support plate; and (c) the charge-exchange polarization losses. Analysis of results suggested the existence of large electrical leakage currents in some of the PX-3G cells. The performance of the PX-3G cells was below that needed for meeting the Pluto/Express mission’s electric power requirement.
METH-1, a Human Ortholog of ADAMTS-1, and METH-2 Are Members of a New Family of Proteins with Angio-inhibitory Activity

We have studied two related proteins that contain a repeated amino acid motif homologous to the anti-angiogenic type 1 repeats of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1). Complete sequence analysis revealed no other similarities with TSP1, but identified unique signal sequences, as well as metalloprotease and disintegrin-like domains in the NH(2) termini. We named these proteins METH-1 and METH-2 due to the novel combination of metalloprotease and thrombospondin domains. Overall amino acid sequence identity between METH-1 and METH-2 is 51. 7%, yet transcript distribution revealed non-overlapping patterns of expression in tissues and cultured cell lines. To characterize these proteins functionally, we isolated full-length cDNAs, produced recombinant protein, and generated antisera to the recombinant proteins. Both METH-1 and METH-2 represent single copy genes, which encode secreted and proteolytically processed proteins. METH proteins suppressed fibroblast growth factor-2-induced vascularization in the cornea pocket assay and inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. Suppression of vessel growth in both assays was considerably greater than that mediated by either thrombospondin-1 or endostatin on a molar basis. Consistent with an endothelial specific response, METH-1 and METH-2 were shown to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, but not fibroblast or smooth muscle growth. We propose that METH-1 and METH-2 represent a new family of proteins with metalloprotease, disintegrin, and thrombospondin domains. The distinct distribution of each gene product suggests that each has evolved distinct regulatory mechanisms that potentially allow for fine control of activity during distinct physiological and pathological states.
Ras-related signaling pathways in valve development: ebb and flow.

Congenital heart defects affect ~1 in every 100 live births, and deficits in the formation of the mitral, tricuspid, and outflow tract valves account for 20–25% of all cardiac malformations. Mutations in genes that affect Ras signaling have been identified in individuals with congenital valve disease associated with Noonan syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1. Dissection of Ras-related signaling pathways during valvulogenesis provides seminal insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to congenital heart disease.
Results following surgery for recurrent Dupuytren's disease

This study was designed to assess the subjective and objective results following surgery for recurrent Dupuytren's disease. Nineteen patients (28 fingers) were treated surgically for recurrent contracture and were located for follow-up analysis at a median of 4 years (range, 1-15 years). Seventeen of 28 recurrences involved the small finger and 16 patients had at least one component of Dupuytren's diathesis. For the purpose of analysis the patients were divided into 3 groups: group A (total active range of motion [TAM] /= 150 degrees ) consisted of 8 digits treated with dermatofasciectomy and full-thickness skin graft, and group C (TAM >/= 150 degrees ) consisted of 13 digits treated with fasciectomy and local flaps. Total active range of motion reflecting the preoperative, immediately postoperative, and final follow-up values revealed that group C (fasciectomy and local flap) was the only group to maintain a statistically significant TAM improvement from preoperative (205 degrees ) to final follow-up (230 degrees ) analysis. Dermatofasciectomy and full-thickness skin grafting did not prevent recurrent contracture (preoperative TAM = 175 degrees; final follow-up TAM = 150 degrees ). Thirteen patients had abnormal Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing and 8 had abnormal 2-point discrimination. There were 3 anesthetic digits. Despite these findings, 18 of the 19 patients were unconditionally satisfied with their experience and would undergo the procedure again.
Color formation in nitrite-free dried hams as related to Zn-protoporphyrin IX and Zn-chelatase activity

The development of red pigment Zn-protoporphyrin IX (ZPP) in nitrite-free Parma hams was investigated in 5 leg muscles at several stages of processing and the activity of muscle Zn-chelatase was concurrently assayed for its potential role in ZPP formation. A steady increase of the pigment was observed throughout the manufacturing stages at mild temperatures while no development was observed during the prior cold resting phase. The enzyme was partly inactivated according to a muscle-dependent pattern, resulting in similar ZPP contents, hence color, in finished hams. It is concluded that enzyme-dependent synthesis of ZPP in nitrite-free dried hams contributes to color development, enabling muscles in dried hams to become more similar in redness than in green thighs. Therefore, checking raw meat for the enzyme content may be a means to control color formation in nitrite-free dry-cured meat derivatives.
Imaging recognition of inhibition of multidrug resistance in human breast cancer xenografts using 99mTc-labeled sestamibi and tetrofosmin.

Abstract Background 99m Tc-sestamibi (MIBI) and 99m Tc-tetrofosmin (TF) are avid transport substrates recognized by the multidrug resistance (MDR) P-glycoprotein (Pgp). This study was designed to compare the properties of MIBI and TF in assessing the inhibition of Pgp by PSC833 in severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing MCF7 human breast tumors using SPECT imaging. Methods Animals with drug-sensitive (MCF/WT) and drug-resistant (MCF7/AdrR) tumors were treated by PSC833 and by carrier vehicle 1 h before imaging, respectively. Dynamic images were acquired for 30 min after intravenous injection of MIBI/TF using a SPECT system, FastSPECT. The biodistribution of MIBI and TF was determined at the end of the imaging session. Results MCF7/WT in the absence and presence of PSC833 could be visualized by MIBI and TF imaging within 5 min and remained detectable for 30 min postinjection. MCF7/AdrR could be visualized only 2–5 min without PSC833 treatment but could be detected for 30 min with PSC833, very similar to MCF7/WT. MCF7/AdrR without PSC833 showed significantly greater radioactive washout than MCF7/WT and MCF7/AdrR with PSC833 treatment. PSC833 increased the accumulation (%ID/g) in MCF7/AdrR 3.0-fold (1.62±0.15 vs. 0.55±0.05, P P Conclusions The feasibility of MIBI and TF for assessment of MDR expression and inhibition was demonstrated in mice through FastSPECT imaging. The results indicate that TF may be at least comparable with MIBI in recognizing Pgp expression and modulation.
ATV injury experience at a pediatric trauma center: A 5-year review:

BACKGROUND All terrain vehicles (ATVs) have grown in size and speed, and contribute significantly to pediatric trauma injuries. We compared pediatric ATV and All Trauma injuries, and sought to determine if there has been an improvement in ATV safety. METHODS We reviewed the CMCD Trauma Registry for all ATV injuries from 2007-2011, and compared data with data previously compiled for All Trauma admissions from 2006 to 2008. RESULTS There were 197 ATV and 4473 All Trauma admissions. The two groups differed in that the ATV group had a greater number of transfers from outside hospitals, trauma activations, Injury Severity Score, and need for operation. Mortality was 0.5% for ATV and 1.3% for All Trauma injuries. 51% of children ≤10 years were drivers; only 18% wore helmets. CONCLUSION ATV admissions are associated with higher acuity injuries than All Trauma admissions. Pediatric ATV safety does not appear to have improved; efforts should be refocused to improve it. Language: en
Psychological ‘self–other overlap’ and support for slavery reparations

Abstract Neurobiological and social psychological studies suggest the existence of non-conscious ‘self–other overlap’ that can lead individuals to identify with other individuals or groups. This paper investigates whether this effect may help to explain support by some Whites for an otherwise unpopular policy on behalf of African Americans-slavery reparations. A representative telephone survey ( n = 1200) serves as baseline of comparison for an online reaction time study with a non-representative sample ( n = 1341) that measures ‘self–other overlap’ (interchangeably referred to as “implicit closeness” to Blacks). Partial proportional odds ordered logit analyses reveal implicit closeness to Blacks as the single most powerful predictor of support for reparations among White respondents. The magnitude of the absolute effect of implicit closeness exceeds that of traditional predictors such as racial resentment, ideology, and party identification. Methodological and political implications are discussed.
Bringing sketching tools to keychain computers with an acceleration-based interface

We report the use of an embedded accelerometer as a gestural interface for an extremely small ("keychain") computer. This tilt- and shake-sensitive interface captures the expressive nuances of continuously varying spatio-temporal input, making possible a set of applications heretofore difficult or impossible to implement in such a small device. We provide examples of such applications, including a paint program and some simple animation authoring systems.
Direct current testing to measure corrosiveness of wood preservatives

A qualitative test that mimics the corrosion behaviour of metals in contact with treated wood without using wood specimens would be of great value in rapidly evaluating the corrosiveness of new wood preservatives. The objective of this study was to determine whether the linear polarisation resistance of metals immersed in a solution of preservative chemicals is related to corrosion of metals in wood. This technique was used to measure the corrosion rate of four types of metals in three different aqueous solutions of wood preservatives. The four metals were UNS G10180 (SAE 1018 steel), UNS S30400 (AISI 304 stainless steel), UNS S43000 (AISI 430 stainless steel), and UNS Z15001 (zinc). The metals were subjected to various concentrations of alkaline copper quat (ACQ-D), ammoniacal copper citrate (CC), and chromated copper arsenate type C (CCA-C). It was found that the corrosion of metals in the solutions of the wood preservatives did not correlate well to what is known about the corrosion of metals in contact with wood. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Applying Stage-Wise Treatment to a Mixed-Stage Co-occurring Disorders Group

The authors present a case study in which Stages of Change (SOC), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and illness management concepts are applied to a mixed-stage co-occurring disorders group. The authors explore the difficulties of applying stage-wise treatment to a mixed-stage group and discuss the benefits and disadvantages of two approaches. The authors observed that applying stage-appropriate interventions individually to members in a mixed-stage group (the tailored interventions approach) seemed to better address the immediate needs individuals were facing in their day-to-day recovery by allowing members to take the lead in the group process and responding to that lead. In the workbook approach, we offered the same exercise to each group member regardless of the stage of change or recovery need each member was facing. We propose that the tailored interventions approach provided more relevant and engaging treatment to group members, increased group cohesiveness and bet...
Plug-In Electric Cars for Work Travel: Evaluation of Four Electric Powertrains

Vehicles with electrified powertrains such as hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and all-electric vehicles (AEVs, which use grid-supplied battery energy exclusively) are potentially marketable because of their low operating costs. However, each vehicle type incurs a significant initial cost penalty compared with a conventional vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. Three PHEV cars and an AEV car are selected to assess cost-effectiveness from the consumers' perspective. Daily travel to and from work is isolated from other vehicle travel data from the U.S. National Household Travel Survey, and five daily distance categories are investigated. Three driving cycle runs are used: one developed by following cars in Los Angeles, California, in 1992, the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Test Cycle, and a real driving record selected from the Kansas City metropolitan area in Kansas and Missouri. Probable charging patterns for each PHEV and the AEV are investigated for thre...
Barriers to Optimum End‐of‐life Care for Minority Patients

Although major efforts are underway to improve end-of-life care, there is growing evidence that improvements are not being experienced by those at particularly high risk for inadequate care: minority patients. Ethnic disparities in access to end-of-life care have been found that reflect disparities in access to many other kinds of care. Additional barriers to optimum end-of-life care for minority patients include insensitivity to cultural differences in attitudes toward death and end-of-life care and understandable mistrust of the healthcare system due to the history of racism in medicine. These barriers can be categorized as institutional, cultural, and individual. Efforts to better understand and remove each type of barrier are needed. Such efforts should include quality assurance programs to better assess inequalities in access to end-of-life care, political action to address inadequate health insurance and access to medical school for minorities, and undergraduate and continuing medical education in cultural sensitivity.
Epidemiological approach to quality assessment in echocardiographic diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine whether statistical analysis of a computerized clinical diagnostic database can be used as a tool for quality assessment by determining the contribution of reader bias to variance in diagnostic output. BACKGROUND In industry, measurement of product uniformity is a key component of quality assessment. In echocardiography, quality assessment has focused on review of small numbers of cases, or prospective determination of reader variability in selected and relatively small subsets. However, diagnostic biases in clinical practice might be discerned utilizing large computerized databases to determine interreader differences in diagnostic prevalence and, with use of appropriate statistical methods, to determine the association of reader selection with diagnostic prevalence independently of other covariates. METHODS We analyzed 6,026 echocardiograms in a computerized database, read by one of three level 3 (American Society of Echocardiography) readers, for differences in frequency among four coded echocardiographic diagnoses: mitral valve prolapse, valvular vegetations, left ventricular (LV) thrombus, and LV regional wall-motion abnormality. RESULTS Significant differences (up to fourfold) were found between readers, which persisted after statistical adjustment for those population characteristics, which differed slightly between readers. The low population prevalence of these conditions would have made it unlikely that these interreader differences could be detected by nonstatistical methods. Additionally, chamber dimensions differed between readers and were not normally distributed. CONCLUSIONS Statistically based quality assessment analysis of computerized clinical databases facilitates ongoing monitoring of interreader bias despite low diagnostic prevalence, and targets opportunities for subsequent quality improvement.
Presentation and outcome of patients with punctate inner choroidopathy at a tertiary referral center.

Purpose To describe the clinical course of patients with punctate inner choroidopathy seen at the University of Illinois, with emphasis on development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods Patients with a diagnosis of punctate inner choroidopathy were identified retrospectively. The diagnosis was made clinically based on findings of multiple, small "punched-out" lesions in the posterior pole without intraocular inflammation. Medical records were evaluated for evidence of CNV. Results Twelve patients with a diagnosis of punctate inner choroidopathy were identified. Average age at presentation was 32 years (range, 24-52 years). Eleven were women, and 11 were white. Eleven patients had available refractive data: 10 were myopic. Eight had CNV at initial presentation, and 1 later developed CNV. Eight had follow-up averaging 4 years (range, 1.4-9.6 years). Of these, five had CNV at initial presentation, and five developed new CNV. Four had multiple CNV membranes. All 6 patients with follow-up of ≥ 3 years had visual acuity at 3 years postpresentation of >20/40 in at least 1 eye. Four had visual acuity >20/40 bilaterally. Conclusion Of punctate inner choroidopathy patients in this series, 75% had CNV, and more than 30% developed multiple neovascular membranes. With treatment, all patients with follow-up of ≥ 3 years had >20/40 vision in at least 1 eye.
Prediction of Kindergartners' Academic Achievement from Their Effortful Control and Emotionality: Evidence for Direct and Moderated Relations.

The relations between effortful control, emotionality (anger, sadness, and shyness), and academic achievement were examined in a short-term longitudinal study of 291 kindergartners. Teachers and parents reported on students' effortful control and emotionality. Students completed the Continuous Performance Task and the Letter-Word, Passage Comprehension, and Applied Problems subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson tests of achievement. Effortful control was positively related to achievement. Parent- and teacher-reported anger and teacher-reported sadness and shyness were negatively related to achievement, but many of the main effects were qualified by interactions with effortful control. At low levels of anger or sadness, students high in effortful control performed best, but at high levels of these emotions, all children performed similarly.