cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring Pedagogical Risk-Taking of Engineering Faculty

This Research Work in Progress Paper presents a pilot study focused on understanding how faculty take pedagogical risks in 2nd and 3rd year (mezzanine level) engineering courses. Broadly, we are interested in understanding ways of making widespread changes in the mezzanine level of the curriculum. The purpose of this exploratory research is to develop an understanding of faculty pedagogical risk-taking through observations, interviews, and artifact analysis. The primary data for this project are observations of four mezzanine level engineering courses. During the observation we took detailed field notes and collected course handouts, lesson plans, or other course materials. After the lesson was completed, we conducted a post-observation teacher interview to learn about the broader context of that lesson within the class, how the lesson has evolved over time, and plans for that lesson in future courses. This work in progress serves as a pilot study to better understand how to capture pedagogical risk-taking in the classroom. Analysis of observations, field notes, and course material is being utilized to develop data collection techniques and investigation protocols for the future exploration of pedagogical risk-taking.
Importance of superior dispersion versus filler surface modification in producing robust polymer nanocomposites: The example of polypropylene/nanosilica hybrids

Abstract With polymer nanocomposites, achieving highly effective dispersion of agglomerated nanofiller and major or optimal property enhancements remain challenges. A commonly posited solution is to improve the polymer-filler surface thermodynamic compatibility; this approach has led to significant improvements in some cases, but it has not provided a general solution. We address the question of whether achieving a metastable, well-dispersed state is better than compatibilization in attaining the goal of major property enhancements. We use solid-state shear pulverization to produce well-dispersed polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites with up to 8 or 9 wt% pristine nanosilica ( p -NS) or organically modified nanosilica ( m -NS). Microscopy shows that as-received, tens-of-micron-sized p -NS and m -NS agglomerates undergo very good dispersion, with ∼10–100 nm size-range nanofiller in hybrids. Rheology is consistent with very good dispersion, with only 92/8 wt% PP/ p -NS indicating incipient nanofiller network formation. The PP/ p -NS hybrids have superior Young's modulus and tensile strength. Relative to PP, modulus increases by 22% and 12% and tensile strength by 19% and 14% for 99/1 wt% PP/ p -NS and 99/1 wt% PP/ m -NS, respectively. The PP/ p -NS hybrids have the largest increases in modulus (46% at 8 wt% p -NS) and tensile strength (22% at 6 wt% p -NS). Upon melting and crystallization, both PP/ p -NS and PP/ m -NS result in PP β-crystal formation at 1 wt% nanosilica, with p -NS having a greater effect. The PP/ p -NS hybrid shows larger increases in thermal stability and nucleating efficiency for PP crystallization. Thus, with very good dispersion, unmodified nanofiller in a metastable dispersed state can result in more robust nanocomposites than when modified nanofiller is used to compatibilize the polymer–nanofiller interface.
Kinesio Taping for Pain and Inflammation After Carpal Tunnel Surgery: A Pilot Study

Date Presented 04/05/19 This poster discusses the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping Method to support occupational performance for people who have had a carpal tunnel release. Primary Author and Speaker: Evangeline Randall Additional Authors and Speakers: Kevin Tan, Michelle Winkeljohn, Patricia Siegel
A Comparison of Health Risk and Costs Across Private Insurance Markets.

Background The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) established new parameters for the individual and small group health insurance markets starting in 2014. We study these 2 reformed markets by comparing health risk and costs to the more mature large employer market. Study data For 2017, claims data for all enrollees in PPACA-compliant individual and small group market plans as well as claims data from a sample of large employer market enrollees. Variables and methodology Risk scores and total (unadjusted and risk-adjusted) per-member-per-month (PMPM) allowed charges. Differences across markets in enrollment duration, age, and geographic distribution are addressed. The analysis is descriptive. Results Compared with large employer market enrollees, health risk was 3% lower among PPACA small group market enrollees and 20% higher among PPACA individual market enrollees. After adjusting for differences in health risk, enrollees in the PPACA individual market had 27% lower PMPM allowed charges than enrollees in the large employer market and enrollees in the PPACA small group market had 12% lower PMPM allowed charges than enrollees in the large employer market. Conclusions On average, the PPACA individual market enrolls sicker individuals than the 2 group markets. But this does not translate to higher health costs; in fact, enrollees in the PPACA individual market accumulate lower allowed charges than enrollees in the large employer market. Lower-income enrollees particularly accumulate lower allowed charges. Narrower networks and increased enrollee cost-sharing among individual market plans, though they may reduce the value of coverage, likely significantly reduce allowed charges.
Effects of Short-Term Mental Imagery and Supplemental Visual Feedback on Muscle Coordination in a Myoelectric Task

Changing muscle coordination patterns is a critical part of motor learning - yet there is a lack of simple, clinically feasible techniques to alter these patterns. Here, we investigated the effects of short-term mental imagery and supplemental visual feedback on muscle coordination using a myoelectric reaching task with complex mapping of arm and hand muscles to cursor position. Forty participants were divided into four groups, and practiced this task over 180 trials. During a short intervention period, the controls rested, the task- and muscle-imagery groups were given specific instructions meant to simplify the task, and the supplemental feedback group was provided extra visual information of muscle-to-cursor mapping. Results showed that there were no changes in task performance between groups. However, we found that in terms of muscle coordination, the supplemental visual feedback group showed the most efficient coordination. Furthermore, across all groups, individuals with greater efficiency and exploration showed better task performance at the end of practice. The results from this pilot study point to a greater need for understanding strategies for changing muscle coordination, which could be applicable in a rehabilitation setting.
Spiking neurons from tunable Gaussian heterojunction transistors

Spiking neural networks exploit spatiotemporal processing, spiking sparsity, and high interneuron bandwidth to maximize the energy efficiency of neuromorphic computing. While conventional silicon-based technology can be used in this context, the resulting neuron-synapse circuits require multiple transistors and complicated layouts that limit integration density. Here, we demonstrate unprecedented electrostatic control of dual-gated Gaussian heterojunction transistors for simplified spiking neuron implementation. These devices employ wafer-scale mixed-dimensional van der Waals heterojunctions consisting of chemical vapor deposited monolayer molybdenum disulfide and solution-processed semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes to emulate the spike-generating ion channels in biological neurons. Circuits based on these dual-gated Gaussian devices enable a variety of biological spiking responses including phasic spiking, delayed spiking, and tonic bursting. In addition to neuromorphic computing, the tunable Gaussian response has significant implications for a range of other applications including telecommunications, computer vision, and natural language processing.
Systemic Therapy of Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Era of Immunotherapy

In March 2019, the FDA approved the use of the anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody atezolizumab, as a first-line treatment option in combination with platinum-etoposide (PE) for patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ED SCLC) based upon the results of the IMpower133 trial. More recently, the FDA approved the anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab in March 2020 , also in the frontline setting for SCLC based upon the results of the CASPIAN trial. Both these trials demonstrated a small, but significant overall survival (OS) benefit with the addition of a PD-L1 antibody to standard chemotherapy in the treatment of ED SCLC, thereby altering the treatment paradigm for this aggressive disease. Previously, the FDA had approved the anti-PD1 antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab as single-agent third-line treatment options based upon encouraging phase 1/2 data in patients with relapsed SCLC who had not received prior immunotherapy (IO). Despite these recent advances, the overall benefit of IO in SCLC remains somewhat disappointing in comparison with the results seen in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, no reliable biomarkers exist to predict responsiveness to IO in SCLC, and the utility of second- or third-line immunotherapy is questionable in patients who have received IO as part of first-line treatment. There has also been minimal success in identifying targetable mutations in SCLC. Novel approaches include combination approaches with IO, including PARP inhibitors and CDK inhibitors. Few ongoing trials, however, have enrolled patients who have received frontline immunotherapy given the only recent change in standard of care. Consequently, the results of current trials evaluating second- and third-line therapies need to be interpreted and translated into clinical practice with caution. The most significant challenge in SCLC remains the identification of molecular targets for which drugs can be developed that can improve survival over the current standard of care.
Adding CURE to Traditional Labs: Hands-On Microplastics Research in Freshwater Systems Conducted by First-Year Biology Students

This project involves students in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) as part of the traditional introductory biology laboratory course. Recently, research has shown that student engagement in authentic research has significant positive impacts on students, such as development of science literacy and reasoning skills. Being recently featured in the news, microplastics are a timely, interesting, and relevant topic for students. The authentic research conducted by students was the first attempt at quantification of microplastics in the Great Plains, which garnered further student excitement and engagement. Surface water and substrate samples were collected at 23 locations from small streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs in fall 2018. Authentic research, as broadly defined in the pedagogical context, is research conducted primarily by students. In the context of this project, authentic research is specifically defined as research done primarily by students in which the students are asking questions, designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and writing a final manuscript that was submitted, and accepted, as a peer-reviewed publication. This project could be incorporated at the high school or university level, for biology major or nonmajor courses. The purpose of this paper is to serve as a how-to, sharing the lesson design with specific detail on student responsibilities.
Off-Balance: Obama and the Work-Family Agenda

During his bid for the Presidency, Barack Obama specifically identified work-family conflict as a key issue that would receive attention and reform if he became President. After entering the White House, President Obama continued to consistently articulate that work-family balance issues were a priority for America's families and for his administration. In May 2011, the President reaffirmed his dedication to the issues that face working parents, stating that his administration was, "striving to help mothers in the workplace by enforcing equal pay laws and addressing workplace flexibility as families balance the demands of work, child and elder care, and education."Obama recognized the challenges America's working families faced due to work-family conflict. Nevertheless, as Obama's first term comes to a close, it is apparent that he failed to take action to strengthen work-family balance. As a result, little has changed for those struggling to combine paid market and family care work. This article will provide a descriptive account of the Obama administration's record regarding work-family balance.
Abstract 16072: Calcium-Dependent PKC Activation Inhibits Slow Repolarizing Cardiac Current by Decreasing Ion Channel Membrane Expression

Background: Sudden cardiac death due to fatal arrhythmias is a major cause of mortality in patients with congestive heart failure. Decrease in the slow delayed rectifier K + current (IKs) is linked to increased propensity to ventricular arrhythmias observed in human failing hearts and animal models of heart failure, but the mechanisms are largely unknown. Ca 2+ -dependent PKC isoforms (cPKC) are strongly activated in human heart failure. Methods: Human IKs channels were expressed in HEK293T cells and infected into isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes. IKs current was measured by patch clamp. Subcellular localization of GFP-tagged KCNQ1 subunits was observed by confocal microscopy. Results: IKs currents were inhibited by α 1 -adrenergic receptor stimulation (α 1 -AR), application of a cPKC activator peptide, or overexpression of PKCα catalytic subunit, due to a dramatic decrease in plasma membrane localization (Figure A&B). Internalization was abolished by expression of dominant-negative dynamin. Application of a non-isoform-specific PKC inhibitors or cPKC inhibitory peptide abolished channel internalization (Figure B). Expression of the auxiliary KCNE1 subunit was necessary for the effect and mutation of a putative cPKC phosphorylation site in KCNE1 abolished inhibition. In adult ventricular myocytes, 2-hr α 1 -AR-cPKC stimulation strongly decreased IKs membrane expression at transverse tubule. Conclusion: Persistent cPKC activation strongly inhibits IKs currents by decreasing channel plasma membrane expression via direct phosphorylation of the KCNE1 auxiliary subunit. Our results suggest that PKCα-dependent phosphorylation of the IKs channel contributes to QT prolongation and arrhythmogenesis in heart failure and implicate cPKC inhibitors as potential novel antiarrhythmic drugs.
Success of the Artificial Urinary Sphincter After Failed Surgery for Incontinence

AbstractWe implanted the artificial urinary sphincter in 15 incontinent patients for whom multiple urethral and bladder neck operations, including sphincter placement, had been unsuccessful. The 5 male and 10 female patients ranged from 3 to 26 years old (mean age 11 years). The etiology of incontinence was neurogenic bladder in 10 patients, epispadias in 2, exstrophy in 1, ectopic ureters in 1 and traumatic urethral disruption in 1. Of the 15 patients 13 required augmentation enterocystoplasty and clean intermittent catheterization. The initial anti-incontinence procedures were Young-Dees-Leadbetter bladder neck reconstruction in 10 patients, artificial urinary sphincter placement in 4 and bladder neck suspension in 1. Causes of failure of the primary treatment were erosion (artificial urinary sphincter), and incontinence and/or difficult catheterization (Young- Dees-Leadbetter). Followup from the last salvage operation averaged 21 months (range 6 to 37 months). A total of 58 operations was performed. Am...
Wavelet based system identification for nonlinear control applications

Compactly supported orthogonal wavelets have certain properties that are useful for system identification and learning control. Drawing on the rich theory of wavelets, the authors propose a system identification scheme based on wavelets. Better accuracy of estimation can be obtained by adding more terms to the wavelet based identifier, and these terms do not alter the coefficients of the existing terms. These terms can be selectively added depending upon the region of interest, for example the authors may require more terms in regions where the identified functions vary rapidly. The authors illustrate the concepts by applying the procedure to determine a speed-controller for an electric vehicle.
γ-Tocotrienol Inhibits Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway through Inhibition of Receptor-interacting Protein and TAK1 Leading to Suppression of Antiapoptotic Gene Products and Potentiation of Apoptosis

Unlike the tocopherols, the tocotrienols, also members of the vitamin E family, have an unsaturated isoprenoid side chain. In contrast to extensive studies on tocopherol, very little is known about tocotrienol. Because the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway has a central role in tumorigenesis, we investigated the effect of γ-tocotrienol on the NF-κB pathway. Althoughγ-tocotrienol completely abolished tumor necrosis factor α (TNF)-induced NF-κB activation, a similar dose of γ-tocopherol had no effect. Besides TNF, γ-tocotrienol also abolished NF-κB activation induced by phorbol myristate acetate, okadaic acid, lipopolysaccharide, cigarette smoke, interleukin-1β, and epidermal growth factor. Constitutive NF-κB activation expressed by certain tumor cells was also abrogated by γ-tocotrienol. Reducing agent had no effect on the γ-tocotrienol-induced down-regulation of NF-κB. Mevalonate reversed the NF-κB inhibitory effect of γ-tocotrienol, indicating the role of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase. γ-Tocotrienol blocked TNF-induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα through the inhibition of IκBα kinase activation, thus leading to the suppression of the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65. γ-Tocotrienol also suppressed NF-κB-dependent reporter gene transcription induced by TNF, TNFR1, TRADD, TRAF2, TAK1, receptor-interacting protein, NIK, and IκBα kinase but not that activated by p65. Additionally, the expressions of NF-κB-regulated gene products associated with antiapoptosis (IAP1, IAP2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, cFLIP, XIAP, Bfl-1/A1, TRAF1, and Survivin), proliferation (cyclin D1, COX2, and c-Myc), invasion (MMP-9 and ICAM-1), and angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor) were down-regulated byγ-tocotrienol. This correlated with potentiation of apoptosis induced by TNF, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin. Overall, our results demonstrate that γ-tocotrienol inhibited the NF-κB activation pathway, leading to down-regulation of various gene products and potentiation of apoptosis.
MODULATION OF GAP JUNCTION EXPRESSION DURING TRANSIENT HYPERPLASIA OF RAT EPIDERMIS

Retinoids and phorbol esters have profound effects on proliferation and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes when applied topically on rodent skin. Since both agents also modulate gap junction (GJ)-mediated cell-cell communication, we have examined the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the expression of alpha1 (Cx43) and beta2 (Cx26) connexins, the two major gap junction gene products in mature rat epidermis. In fully differentiated, mature epidermis, alpha1 is expressed in the lower, less differentiated portion, while beta2 is localized in upper, more differentiated layers. Dorsal skin of 21-day old rats was treated topically with a single dose of RA, TPA or vehicle alone and used for histological and molecular analyses at different time points. Keratinocytes in interfollicular epidermis were examined for proliferation and differentiation using specific antibodies for keratins (K10, K14) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). An increase in epidermal thickness was noticed within 4 hours after the application of RA or TPA. This increase, however, appeared to be primarily due to hypertrophy, since no substantial changes were observed in the proliferative index of epidermal keratinocytes. PCNA immunoreactivity significantly increased after 8 hours treatment of RA or TPA, suggesting a hyperproliferative growth response. Epidermal hyperplasia was confirmed by monitoring the expression patterns of K10 and K14 in RA- or TPA-treated skin. RA-induced hyperplasia lasted longer as compared to TPA induction. Changes in keratin phenotypes were paralleled by an increase in alpha1 and beta2 connexin expression as well as their colocalization in same epidermal layers. Differences in hyperplastic growth response kinetics were also confirmed at the connexin level, with beta2 antigen sustained for longer and at higher levels in suprabasal layers of RA-treated skin. Overall, this type of connexin expression resembled that observed in the non-differentiated rat epidermis during embryonic development. An increase in alpha1 and beta2 connexin abundance was also observed at the protein and RNA levels. At 96 hours after RA or TPA treatment, expression of both connexins was similar to that of the control epidermis. Taken together, these findings suggest that a higher level of GJ-mediated cell-cell communication, is required for the maintenance of homeostasis during periods of rapid epidermal growth and differentiation.
Home Care Reimbursement for Technology- Dependent Children: Its Impact on Parental Distress

The distress of 52 parents with a technology-dependent child at home is measured using a standardized psychological inventory. Fifty-eight percent of these parents report enough symptoms to classify them as needing psychiatric intervention. Cost savings to third-party payers are accelerating the trend toward home care (rather than institutionalized care). Yet, these findings point to an underestimated cost to families in terms of parents' psychological well-being. One factor associated with less distress for mothers is having services reimbursed through the Medicaid Model Waiver Program, which provides a comprehensive plan for home care services. In contrast, services reimbursed by private third-party payers are more variable, placing greater financial strain and uncertainty on parents, which is associated with greater psychological distress. These results suggest the need for further study of the long-term impact on parents caring for technology-dependent children at home.
Cross sections from observable fields

The observable fields of QED are used to construct operators which project onto states with prescribed configurations of incoming or outgoing observable particles. These operators are used to define the physical cross sections of QED. It is heuristically argued that the cross sections thus defined are free of infrared divergences and in fact equal the traditional results.
β blockers for heart failure: which works best?

There seems to be a class effect; “some β blocker is better than no β blocker” In recent decades, important gains have been made in the treatment of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.1 β blockers are a cornerstone of the medical management of heart failure. The long term use of certain β blockers in patients with heart failure reduces hospital admissions and improves symptoms, quality of life, and survival. However, it is still unclear whether this is a class effect or whether one β blocker is superior to another. In a linked paper (doi:10.1136/bmj.f55), Chatterjee and colleagues conducted a network meta-analysis of trials to clarify the mortality benefits and tolerability of different β blockers in the treatment of patients with heart failure.2 Three landmark placebo-controlled trials of nearly 9000 patients with heart failure demonstrated the efficacy of carvedilol, long acting metoprolol succinate, and bisoprolol in reducing mortality and hospital admission in patients with heart failure.1 However, large trials of nebivolol and bucindolol found no reductions in all cause mortality compared with placebo, despite benefits in cardiovascular morbidity or mortality.3 4 Taken together, these data …
Learner-centered teaching in the college science classroom: a practical guide for teaching assistants, instructors, and professors

The Office of Instruction and Assessment at the University of Arizona currently offers a Certificate in College Teaching Program. The objective of this program is to develop the competencies necessary to teach effectively in higher education today, with an emphasis on learner-centered teaching. This type of teaching methodology has repeatedly shown to have superior effects compared to traditional teacher-centered approaches. The success of this approach has been proven in both short term and long term teaching scenarios. Students must actively participate in class, which allows for the development of depth of understanding, acquisition of critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. As optical science graduate students completing the teaching program certificate, we taught a recitation class for OPTI 370: Photonics and Lasers for two consecutive years. The recitation was an optional 1-hour long session to supplement the course lectures. This recitation received positive feedback and learner-centered teaching was shown to be a successful method for engaging students in science, specifically in optical sciences following an inquiry driven format. This paper is intended as a guide for interactive, multifaceted teaching, due to the fact that there are a variety of learning styles found in every classroom. The techniques outlined can be implemented in many formats: a full course, recitation session, office hours and tutoring. This guide is practical and includes only the most effective and efficient strategies learned while also addressing the challenges faced, such as formulating engaging questions, using wait time and encouraging shy students.
Pharmacogenetics of psychoactive drugs

Abstract Response to psychoactive drugs is subject to genetic variation. Heritable differences in metabolism of antidepressants have been demonstrated and appear to be clinically relevant. More complex genetic variations in drug response are important in alcoholism and possibly other forms of substance abuse. Pharmacologic challenge studies in volunteer twins have shown familial variation in responses to the cholinergic agonist arecoline and to the monoaminergic aginist amphetamine. Arecoline responses also differentiate well-state bipolar patients from controls; this is consistent with a hypothesis of muscarinic supersensitivity in affective disorder. Genetically characterized animal models may be useful in futher analyzing such neurochemical differences.
Concurrent intravenous administration of a labeled tracer to determine the oral bioavailability of a drug exhibiting Michaelis-Menten metabolism

The theoretical accuracy of concurrent administration of labeled intravenous tracer and oral doses to estimate the bioavailability of drugs exhibiting Michaelis-Menten kinetics was determined by computer simulation. The simulation model consisted of sampling and hepatic compartments with elimination occurring by hepatic metabolism according to the venous equilibration model. The relationships between error in bioavailability estimation and dose, metabolic activity (Vmax),first-order absorption rate constant (ka), and volume of distribution (V) and the fraction of the dose absorbed were examined. Error was hypothesized to be relatively low when conditions result in a relatively constant value of clearance after oral dosing or when the concentration-time curves after intravenous and oral dosing are similar. The results were consistent with these hypotheses and, under most conditions, error was less than 15%. The effects, on error, of altering the intravenous tracer dose input and having a lag time in absorption of drug from the oral dose were also determined. In general, accuracy was improved by delaying administration of the iv tracer for a time equal to 50% of the oral dose peak time or by administering the tracer dose by constant-rate infusion from the time of oral dosing to the peak time. Lag time in absorption of the oral dose was shown to often result in overestimates in bioavailability of greater than 50%.
Mechanisms of Altered Cardiac Myofibril Relaxation Caused by the Cardiac Troponin-I R145G Mutation

The cardiac troponin I (cTnI) mutation R145G, associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, increases the calcium sensitivity of contraction and alters the kinetics of relaxation. It is unclear whether this results from altered calcium binding of cTn, altered interaction with troponin C (cTnC), or both. It is also unclear how this alters protein kinase A (PKA) mediation of cTn function and myofibril relaxation. We are studying this using an experimental and computational approach. Steady-state fluorescence experiments indicate a significant increase in calcium binding affinity of cTn with R145G vs. wild-type (WT) cTnI. PKA phosphorylation of cTnI resulted in a similar reduction in this affinity for both cTn complexes. Interaction of cTnC with cTnI (C-I) was greater with R145G vs. WT-cTnI. PKA treatment of cTnI weakened C-I interactions for WT, but not R145G-cTnI. PKA treatment of WT-cTnI exchanged rat ventricular myofibrils significantly affected the slow phase of relaxation, increasing the slow phase rate (kREL,slow) and decreasing slow phase duration (tREL,slow). These effects were larger at submaximal calcium levels. Interestingly, R145G-cTnI blunted PKA mediated effects. Molecular dynamics simulations of the crystal structure of cTn were used to investigate the molecular contacts between the cTnI switch peptide region and cNTnC for WT and R145G-cTnI. Preliminary results suggest a profound effect of the mutation on the interaction of residues 147-149 cTnI with cNTnC. For R145G cTn, switch peptide residues 148 and 149 lose most of their strong contacts with cNTnC, and residue 147 forms strong contacts not observed with WT-cTnI. The results suggest the C-I interaction as a molecular level site of R145G effects on relaxation of cardiac muscle. HL65497 (MR), AHA 7400069 (VR), GM103426-19S1 (PA), AHA 12POST11570005 (SL), GM31749 (JAM), NSF MCB 1020765 (JAM), HHMI (JAM), SDSC (JAM), CTBP (JAM).
Linguistic and Erotic Innocence in Virginia Woolf's The Waves

(2009). Linguistic and Erotic Innocence in Virginia Woolf's The Waves. The Explicator: Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 75-77.
Synthesis of aliphatic isocyanates via a two-phase Hofmann reaction

Abstract A convenient method of preparing aliphatic isocyanates via a two-phase Hofmann reaction using a phase transfer catalyst is described.
The PPPL Event Control System (ECS), a Dependency-Driven Process Scheduler

The Event Control System (ECS) is a VAX/VMS-based process scheduler for controlling the activation of data-acquisition and data-reduction and display programs. ECS provides the user the ability to specify inter-process "dependencies" which must be satisfied before a particular program (VAX/VMS process) is "activated". In addition, ECS regulates the number of "active" processes, selects processes for activation, and dynamically adjusts VMS priorities for the processes.
Gaussian multiple descriptions with common and constrained reconstruction constraints

The problem of multiple descriptions for a Gaussian source is considered, in which all the decoders have access to correlated Gaussian side-information. Two variations of this problem are studied. First, the rate-distortion tradeoff is characterized under the assumption of a common reconstruction constraint, in which the estimate produced at each of the decoders is also exactly recoverable at the encoder. Secondly, a generalization of this setup is studied in which possibly different distortions are tolerable between the estimates at the encoder and the respective estimates at each of the decoders.
Tolerance of cranial nerves of the cavernous sinus to radiosurgery

Abstract Purpose: Stereotactic radiosurgery is becoming a more accepted treatment option for benign, deep seated intracranial lesions. However, little is known about the effects of large single fractions of radiation on cranial nerves. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of radiosurgery on the cranial nerves of the cavernous sinus. Methods and Materials: We examined the tolerance of cranial nerves (II–VI) following radiosurgery for 62 patients (4262 with meningiomas) treated for lesions within or near the cavernous sinus. Twenty-nine patients were treated with a modified 6 MV linear accelerator (Joint Center for Radiation Therapy) and 33 were treated with the Gamma Knife (University of Pittsburgh). Three-dimensional treatment plans were retrospectively reviewed and maximum doses were calculated for the cavernous sinus and the optic nerve and chiasm. Results: Median follow-up was 19 months (range 3–49). New cranial neuropathies developed in 12 patients from 3–41 months following radiosurgery. Four of these complications involved injury to the optic system and 8 (38 transient) were the result of injury to the sensory or motor nerves of the cavernous sinus. There was no clear relationship between the maximum dose to the cavernous sinus and the development of complications for cranial nerves III–VI over the dose range used (1000–4000 cGy). For the optic apparatus, there was a significantly increased incidence of complications with dose. Four of 17 patients (24°10) receiving greater than 800 cGy to any part of the optic apparatus developed visual complications compared with 035 who received less than 800 cGy ( P = 0.009). Conclusion: Radiosurgery using tumor-controlling doses of up to 4000 cGy appears to be a relatively safe technique in treating lesions within or near the sensory and motor nerves (III–VI) of the cavernous sinus. The dose to the optic apparatus should be limited to under 800 cGy.
Weak and strong extensions of ordinary differential operators

Abstract Let A be a second order differential operator with positive leading term defined on an interval J of R. In this paper we study conditions for the equality D0(A) = D1(A) to hold. Here D0(A) and D1(A) are the domains of the minimal and maximal extensions of A respectively. Under the general assumption that A(1) and A ∗ (1) are bounded above it is proven that under certain conditions D0(A) = D1(A) if functions which are constant near the boundaries of J are in D 0 (A) ∩ D 0 (A ∗ ) whenever they are in D 1 (A) ∩ D 1 (A ∗ ) . In particular if A is formally selfadjoint and 1 ϵ D1(A) then D1(A) = D0(A) if and only if 1 ϵ D0(A). When the measure of J is infinite at both ends D0(A) is always equal to D1(A). This fact is used to show that the leading term of A as well as its terminal coefficient can be chosen arbitrarily (although not independently of one another) in such a way that the equality D0 = D1 holds.
Synthesis of anti- and syn-Diol Epoxides of trans-3,4-Dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[ghi]fluoranthene: Model Planar Diol Epoxides

We describe the preparation of anti- and syn-3,4-dihydroxy-5,5a-epoxy-3,4,5,5a-tetrahydrobenzo[ghi]fluoranthene (2 and 3) as model planar diol epoxides. These compounds were synthesized by a dihydroarene method in 10 steps starting from 4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthrene. These are the first examples of diol epoxides in which a five-membered ring is fused to the saturated ring bearing an epoxide group, and they are the rigid analogues of the extensively studied benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxides (5 and 6). In accord with expectation, 1H NMR data indicated that the diol conformations of 2 and 3 are locked into diequatorial and diaxial conformations, respectively, and thus are suitable for comparative DNA binding studies.
Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene by a Group VIII carbene complex in protic media

During the past two decades, intense research efforts have enabled an in-depth understanding of the olefin metathesis reaction as catalyzed by early transition metal complexes. In contrast, the nature of the intermediates and the reaction mechanism for group VIII transition metal metathesis catalysts remain elusive. Such knowledge is important in view of the promise group VIII metals show in polymerizing a wide variety of functionalized cyclic olefins in protic solvents. Highly active late transition metal catalysts should also open the way to the metathesis of functionalized acyclic olefins. Previous studies in our group have focused on the chemistry of highly active, functional-group-tolerant catalysts prepared from aquoruthenium(II) olefin complexes. In these systems, characterization of the catalytic intermediates is difficult due to their very low concentrations and high activity in the reaction mixtures. Although it is reasonable to assume that the active species are ruthenacyclobutanes and ruthenium carbenes (ruthenaolefins), the oxidation state and ligation of these intermediates are not known. Furthermore, the discrete ruthenium carbene complexes that have been isolated to date do not exhibit both metathesis activity and stability to protic/aqueous solvents. We report here the reaction of an Ru(II) complex with a strained olefin to produce a carbene species that polymerizes norbornene in organic media both in the absence and presence of protic/aqueous solvents. In both solvent systems, a stable propagating carbene complex can be observed throughout the course of the polymerization, as has been previously found with titanium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, and ruthenium complexes.
Development of an explicit multigrid algorithm for quasi-three-dimensional viscous flows in turbomachinery

A rapid quasi three-dimensional analysis was developed for blade-to-blade flows in turbomachinery. The analysis solves the unsteady Euler or thin layer Navier-Stokes equations in a body-fitted coordinate system. It accounts for the effects of rotation, radius change, and stream-surface thickness. The Baldwin-Lomax eddy-viscosity model is used for turbulent flows. The equations which are solved by a two-stage Runge-Kutta scheme made efficient by use of vectorization, a variable time-step, and a flux-based multigrid scheme, are described. A stability analysis is presented for the two-stage scheme. Results for a flat-plate model problem show the applicability of the method to axial, radial, and rotating geometries. Results for a centrifugal impeller and a radial diffuser show that the quasi three-dimensional viscous analysis can be a practical design tool.
CNDO/2 calculations on the relative basicities of alkyl benzenes

Abstract CNDO/2 calculations were performed for toluene, ethyl benzene, iso-propyl benzene, t-butyl benzene, and neo-pentyl benzene, and the corresponding ortho, meta, and para protonated species. All rotational conformers against the benzene ring were examined and detailed energy differences and charge analyses are presented and discussed. The calculated energy differences suggest that for gas phase species the order of alkyl substituent rate enhancement for electrophilic aromatic reactions is t-Bu>i-Pr>Et>Me>H, thus the inductive order is found, rather than the hyperconjugative or Baker-Nathan order.
Matrix Infrared Spectra and Density Functional Calculations of ScCO, ScCO-, and ScCO+

Laser-ablated Sc atoms and ions react with CO molecules to give primarily the ScCO, ScCO-, and ScCO+ products, which have been isolated in solid argon and/or neon matrices. Based on isotopic substitution as well as density functional calculations, absorptions at 1834.2 cm-1 in argon and 1851.4 cm-1 in neon are assigned to C−O stretching vibrations of the ScCO molecule, 1923.5 cm-1 in argon and 1962.4 cm-1 in neon to the ScCO+ cation, and 1732.0 cm-1 in neon to the ScCO- anion, respectively. Higher carbonyls Sc(CO)2,3,4 and Sc(CO)+2,3 are also produced on annealing. Similar argon matrix experiments with Y give YCO and YCO+.
Genetics and molecular biology of Huntington's disease

Abstract In 1993, the genetic abnormality responsible for Huntington's disease was identified as a trinucleotide-repeat expansion in a novel gene. Much has been learned about the molecular genetics of Huntington's disease and the possible effects of the trinucleotide expansion in the development of this disease and other neurological disorders. The Huntington's disease locus is widely expressed throughout the brain and in many non-neural tissues. Current speculation about the pathogenesis of neuronal death concentrates on a ‘gain of function' effect in which the abnormal protein has acquired a new and lethal property. Future research will define the normal function of the Huntington's disease locus, test hypotheses regarding the putative gain of function, and explore the factors that determine neuronal susceptibility to the effects of the abnormal allele.
Expression of immunoglobulin lambda chains in the laboratory rat.

SUMMARY We immunized a BALB/c mouse with the lambda-bearing rat IgG, myeloma IR31, fused its spleen cells with the hybridoma parent line P3.X63.Ag8.653, and isolated a monoclonal antibody (G33/11) directed against rat immunoglobulin lambda chains. We used this antibody to classify two existing rat hybridomas as lambda-bearing proteins (D4.37HL.252 and PC61.5, and isolated one new lambda-bearing rat IgM hybridoma, G36/1. All the normal inbred rat sera that were tested contained lambda-bearing Ig as detected by G33/11, at levels ranging from 1.5% to 13% of the total serum Ig, the mean value being 7.9%. This antibody will be valuable for broadening our understanding of the immunogenetics of the rat, and for the characterization of monoclonal antibodies made in this species.
System dependence graphs based on parse trees and their use in software maintenance

Abstract The concept of static program slicing was first introduced by Weiser. Ottenstein et al. indicated that an intraprocedural slice can be found in linear time by traversing a suitable graph representation of the program referred to as the program dependence graph (PDG). Horwitz et al. introduced algorithms to construct interprocedural slices by extending the program dependence graph to a supergraph of the PDG referred to as the system dependence graph (SDG). This extension captures the calling context of procedures. In this paper, the SDG is further extended so that it handles a grammar with additional constructs. Algorithms are introduced that permit one to build the SDG so that it is based on a parse tree instead of statements. A new method is described to calculate the transitive dependences and therefore build the SDG. In addition, we demonstrate how the parse tree-based SDG can be used to provide us with “smaller” and, therefore, more precise slices and we show how slices of variables that are used in a statement can be obtained. Finally, the versatility of the SDG as an internal program representation is illustrated by briefly presenting a tool that we have developed that permits slicing, dicing, and ripple analyzing in addition to other software engineering activities to be performed on programs written in a subset of ANSI C.
Isomerization barriers for the conrotatory and disrotatory isomerizations of 3-aza-dihydrobenzvalene to 1,2-dihydropyridine and 3,4-diaza-dihydrobenzvalene to 1,2-dihydropyridazine

Abstract The isomerizations of 3-aza-dihydrobenzvalene to 1,2-dihydropyridine and 3,4-diaza-dihydrobenzvalene to 1,2-dihydropyridazine have been studied using ab initio methods with a multiconfigurational wavefunction. Transition states for both the allowed, conrotatory and forbidden, disrotatory reaction channels were located. The isomerizations occur through the cleavage of a bond pair in the bicyclobutane moiety. The four allowed pathways for 3-aza-dihydrobenzvalene isomerization are nonconcerted forming intermediates with a trans double bond in a six-membered ring: two isomers of (E, Z)-2,4-dihydro-1,6-pyridine and two isomers of (Z, E)-2,4-dihydro-1,6-pyridine. These intermediates can isomerize to the final 1,2-dihydropyridine product through trans double bond rotation with barriers of only a few kcal mol −1 . The allowed pathways have initial activation barriers which range from 35.6 to 42.2 kcal mol −1 . The four forbidden pathways lead directly to the final 1,2-dihydropyridine product in a concerted mechanism with transition states of substantial singlet biradical character. Their activation barriers range from 47.0 to 56.1 kcal mol −1 . The two allowed pathways for 3,4-diaza-dihydrobenzvalene isomerization are also nonconcerted forming two isomers of (E, Z)-3,5-dihydro-1,2-pyridazine intermediates which then isomerize to 1,2-dihydropyridazine through trans double bond rotation with barriers of only about 2 kcal mol −1 . The initial barriers for the two allowed pathways are 32.0 and 41.6 kcal mol −1 with one pathway substantially lower due to steric effects. The two forbidden pathways lead to 3,4-diaza-dihydrobenzvalene through a concerted mechanism and are also highly singlet biradical in character. Their barriers are calculated to be 50.4 and 52.9 kcal mol −1 . For both starting structures, there is a substantial lowering of the allowed barriers relative to the analogous dihydrobenzvalene structure due to the presence of the heteroatom(s).
Discrete Data Transfer Technique for Fluid-Structure Interaction

This paper presents a general three-dimensional algorithm for data transfer between dissimilar meshes. The algorithm is suitable for applications of fluid-structure interaction and other high-fidelity multidisciplinary analysis and optimization. Because the algorithm is independent of the mesh topology, we can treat structured and unstructured meshes in the same manner. The algorithm is fast and accurate for transfer of scalar or vector fields between dissimilar surface meshes. The algorithm is also applicable for the integration of a scalar field (e.g., coefficients of pressure) on one mesh and injection of the resulting vectors (e.g., force vectors) onto another mesh. The author has implemented the algorithm in a C++ computer code. This paper contains a complete formulation of the algorithm with a few selected results.
Therapy of pediatric ALL: from Bowie to Obama.

In this issue of Blood , van der Veer et al report that the Ph-like/BCR-ABL1-like phenotype and IKZF1 deletions, but not CRLF2 alterations, are independent negative prognostic factors in a large study encompassing 4 cohorts of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).[1][1] Changing therapy
Effect of hot electrons on the polar wind

A semikinetic model is used to describe the steady state collisionless flow of H(+), O(+), and electrons along diverging geomagnetic field lines in the high-latitude topside ionosphere. The effect that hot electron populations have on the polar wind is emphasized. Several such populations are considered, including the polar rain, polar showers, and polar squall. Hot electron densities and temperatures are calculated from the characteristic energy and flux measurements. The results indicate that the hot/cold electron temperature ratio varies from 10 to 10,000 and that the hot/cold electron density ratio varies from 0.001 to 0.1 at the baropause. For higher hot electron temperatures and a greater percentage of hot electrons, there is a discontinuity in the kinetic solution, which indicates the presence of a sharp transition corresponding to a contact surface between the hot and cold electrons. Along this surface, a double-layer potential barrier exists which reflects the cold ionospheric electrons and prevents their penetrations to higher altitudes.
Does N1 or N2 control the onset of edge fracture

The “edge fracture” instability which occurs at the air/liquid interface in a cone-and-plate rheometer is studied for six elastic polymer solutions. Theoretical models for the onset of edge fracture are evaluated in light of the experimental data. The data are well-described by the Tanner-Keentok model, which predicts that fracture will occur whenever a critical value of the second normal stress difference is exceeded in magnitude.