cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parenting behavior and the development of children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders in which multiple genetic and environmental factors play roles. Symptoms of deficits in social communication and restrictive, repetitive behavioral patterns emerge early in a child's development. While parents do not cause these difficulties, impairments in social relatedness can strain parent child interactions and parental stress can have negative transactional effects that impede children development. Conversely, as with typically developing children, parental behavior can also enhance development in ASD and parents play a role in many interventions. In this review we examine parental contributions to the development of children with ASD, focusing on social communication and emotion regulation. We address parent and family characteristics that may impede development so they can be identified in families and interventions developed to target them.
Genetic basis of plasticity for forage quality traits in response to water deficit in a diverse germplasm panel of alfalfa

Abstract Plant phenotypic plasticity is the ability of plants to express different phenotypes in response to environmental variations. Genetic bases by which phenotypic plasticity affects plant adaptation to environmental change remain largely unknown. In the present study, we characterized 26 forage quality traits in a panel of alfalfa 198 accessions in a field trial under water deficit gradient. The regression analysis revealed that the values of fiber-related traits decreased, while those among energy-related traits increased, as water deficit increased. Genetic loci for forage quality traits were investigated by Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) under different levels of water deficit. Genetic loci associated with forage quality traits were identified and compared. Similar regions were found between energy-related traits when grand means were used for GWAS. Most of the associated markers were identified under water deficit, suggesting genetic mechanisms for forage quality traits were differ between well-watered and water stressed plants. Although GWAS on forage quality have been reported, we are the first to address the genetic factors for forage quality traits under water deficit in autotetraploid alfalfa. The information gained from the present study will be useful for the genetic improvement of alfalfa with enhanced drought/salt tolerance while maintaining forage quality.
Nonlinear Regression and Optimization

In Chap. 9 we learned how to model a nonlinear relation using a cubic spline; in this chapter we will learn how to model a nonlinear relation using nonlinear regression. Methods for performing nonlinear regression have been around for many years, but they were not commonly used before the ready accessibility of high-speed computers. Instead, nonlinear relations were transformed into linear ones, and the transformed data were analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation. There were sound reasons for adopting this approach, as linear models are easier to analyze and interpret than are nonlinear models. At the same time, not all nonlinear relations can be linearized, and increases in computing power and the attendant refinement of a wide-variety of nonlinear models have led many researchers to abandon linearizing transformations in favor of nonlinear regression. For this reason, all contemporary software packages offer tools for performing nonlinear regression.
Simulation-based enhanced oil recovery predictions from wettability alteration in the Middle Bakken tight reservoir with hydraulic fractures

Abstract Surfactant enhanced oil recovery is promising in tight formations by altering the wettability, reducing the interfacial tension, and promoting the counter-current imbibition process. In this paper, surfactant Huff-n-Puff in Bakken tight reservoir was studied based on modelling and simulation of a Middle Bakken well using actual field data. The effects of wettability alteration and interfacial reduction by surfactant solution were modeled based on laboratory data. The Embedded Discrete Fracture Model (EDFM) method was used to efficiently handle hydraulic fractures in the model in a fast way using non-neighboring connections as a new technique in this simulation study. We used a sector model with the EDFM method to conduct the surfactant Huff-n-Puff sensitivity simulation after the grid size optimization. We considered six sensitivity factors and each simulation case was conducted after history matching. Based on the simulation results, we found that the number of Huff-n-Puff cycles and the surfactant concentration are the most important factors, followed by surfactant adsorption, soaking time, injection time and injection rate. The percentage of oil recovery increase over the primary oil recovery ranges from 1.1% to 25.2%. This study can provide critical insights of key parameters affecting the surfactant flooding efficiency in Middle Bakken tight oil reservoir.
γ-6-Phosphogluconolactone, a Byproduct of the Oxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway, Contributes to AMPK Activation through Inhibition of PP2A.

The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (oxiPPP) contributes to cell metabolism through not only the production of metabolic intermediates and reductive NADPH but also inhibition of LKB1-AMPK signaling by ribulose-5-phosphate (Ru-5-P), the product of the third oxiPPP enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD). However, we found that knockdown of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the first oxiPPP enzyme, did not affect AMPK activation despite decreased Ru-5-P and subsequent LKB1 activation, due to enhanced activity of PP2A, the upstream phosphatase of AMPK. In contrast, knockdown of 6PGD or 6-phosphogluconolactonase (PGLS), the second oxiPPP enzyme, reduced PP2A activity. Mechanistically, knockdown of G6PD or PGLS decreased or increased 6-phosphogluconolactone level, respectively, which enhanced the inhibitory phosphorylation of PP2A by Src. Furthermore, γ-6-phosphogluconolactone, an oxiPPP byproduct with unknown function generated through intramolecular rearrangement of δ-6-phosphogluconolactone, the only substrate of PGLS, bound to Src and enhanced PP2A recruitment. Together, oxiPPP regulates AMPK homeostasis by balancing the opposing LKB1 and PP2A.
Conformational spread and dynamics in allostery of NMDA receptors

Allostery can be manifested as a combination of repression and activation in multidomain proteins allowing for fine tuning of regulatory mechanisms. Here we have used single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and molecular dynamics simulations to study the mechanism of allostery underlying negative cooperativity between the two agonists glutamate and glycine in the NMDA receptor. These data show that binding of one agonist leads to conformational flexibility and an increase in conformational spread at the second agonist site. Mutational and cross-linking studies show that the dimer-dimer interface at the agonist-binding domain mediates the allostery underlying the negative cooperativity. smFRET on the transmembrane segments shows that they are tightly coupled in the unliganded and single agonist-bound form and only upon binding both agonists the transmembrane domain explores looser packing which would facilitate activation.
Abstract P345: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Screening via Machine Learning for Young Adults

Background: A use of conventional 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria and machine learning for the ECG parameters to identify the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is estimated...
Housing Subsidies and Housing Stability are Associated with Better HIV Medical Outcomes Among Persons Who Experienced Homelessness and Live with HIV and Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorder

Among 958 applicants to a supportive housing program for low-income persons living with HIV (PLWH) and mental illness or a substance use disorder, we assessed impacts of housing placement on housing stability, HIV care engagement, and viral suppression. Surveillance and administrative datasets provided medical and residence information, including stable (e.g., rental assistance, supportive housing) and unstable (e.g., emergency shelter) government-subsidized housing. Sequence analysis identified a “quick stable housing” pattern for 67% of persons placed by this program within 2 years, vs. 28% of unplaced. Compared with unplaced persons not achieving stable housing quickly, persons quickly achieving stable housing were more likely to engage in care, whether placed (per Poisson regression, ARR: 1.14;95% CI 1.09–1.20) or unplaced (1.19;1.13–1.25) by this program, and to be virally suppressed, whether placed (1.22;1.03–1.44) or unplaced (1.26, 1.03–1.56) by this program. Housing programs can help homeless PLWH secure stable housing quickly, manage their infection, and prevent transmission.
Failure analysis of isolation switch in transformer substation

To analyze the fault cause of metal parts of isolation switch, a series of tests including macro check, penetrate testing, hardness measurement, composition tests and metallographic observation have been carried out. The experimental results showed that the failure of connecting lever was caused by improper processing, which resulted in the limitation of cracking and stress corrosion cracking. Based on this, the corresponding noteworthy key points were put forward to avoid similar accidents.
Medico-legal implications of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome.

Abstract Babies who sustain long term neurologic injury and disability are frequent subjects in medical malpractice litigation. In the United States, the tort system enables adjudication of claims through a proscribed system. This paper will review salient elements of the tort system-duty, breach, causation, and damages- and how they apply to encephalopathic infants whose injuries are believed to be the result of fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) and/or hypoxic-ischemic damage. FIRS may confound the diagnosis of neonatal encephalopathy but may be a credible explanation for it as well. The ways in which FIRS may impact malpractice lawsuits are presented.
Distributed Detection of Malicious Attacks on Consensus Algorithms with Applications in Power Networks

Consensus-based distributed algorithms are well suited for coordination among agents in a cyber-physical system. These distributed schemes, however, suffer from their vulnerability to cyber attacks that are aimed at manipulating data and control ow. In this article, we present a novel distributed method for detecting the presence of such intrusions for a distributed multi-agent system following ratio consensus. We employ a Max-Min protocol to develop low cost, easy to implement detection strategies where each participating node detects the intrusion independently, eliminating the need for a trusted certifying agent in the network. The effectiveness of the detection method is demonstrated by numerical simulations on a 1000 node network to demonstrate the efficacy and simplicity of implementation.
Defining the patterns of PAP adherence in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: a clustering analysis using real-world data.

Study Objectives:The implementation of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea in children is a complex process. PAP therapy data are highly heterogeneous in pediatr...
Mixed records, complexity, and ethnic voting in African elections

Abstract Incumbent politicians often deliver mixed performance records: good results in some areas but poor ones in others. We explore the challenges these records generate for voters attempting to use elections to incentivize better governance, improved development outcomes, and greater accountability. We argue that evaluation of mixed records poses a more complex cognitive task for citizens than the evaluation of either uniformly good or bad records. Unlike uniform records, mixed records require weighting and aggregating information across multiple dimensions, raising the difficulty of arriving at a single, clear evaluation of performance. Evaluative complexity, in turn, induces voters to rely more heavily on informational shortcuts like ethnicity, reducing the effectiveness of elections as accountability mechanisms. We evaluate the link between ethnic voting and mixed performance records using a survey experiment implemented in a nationally representative exit poll during Kenya’s 2013 election. The survey experiment manipulated two factors, the ethnicity of a hypothetical candidate running for president and their performance record (with uniformly good, uniformly bad, and mixed performance conditions). We find that co-ethnicity between respondent and candidate had a large effect on voting when the candidate’s prior record was mixed, but no effect when it was uniform. Our results suggest that ethnic voting is situational rather than dispositional: even performance-oriented citizens vote ethnically when performance records are difficult to evaluate. They also suggest an under-appreciated source of accountability problems in developing countries: not fixed voter attachment to co-ethics, but rather reliance on informational shortcuts to deal with the challenges of evaluating performance in complex environments.
Working With Values: An Overview of Approaches and Considerations in Implementation

Acceptance and commitment training (ACT) has received support for addressing a number of difficulties within clinical behavior analysis, organizational settings, caregiver support, and other behavior change efforts. ACT is distinguished from many other approaches in its emphasis on values: aspects of life that clients find meaningful and important. Working with values lets behavior analysts draw on the functional properties of language to influence behavior. These techniques can help organize behavior to be influenced by long-term reinforcers, even in the face of short-term aversives, which may arise in the course of behavior change. Many exercises have been developed within the values arena with various strengths and limitations. This article provides an overview of commonly used approaches and aspects relevant to implementation. Considerations related to scope of practice, social desirability in responding, and aversive private events are also discussed.
Omission of Planning CT Reduces Patient Radiation Exposure during CT-Guided Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of eliminating a preprocedural planning computed tomography during CT-guided bone marrow biopsy on the technical aspects of the procedure, including patient dose, sample quality, procedure time, and CT fluoroscopy usage. Retrospective analysis of 109 patients between 1 June 2018 and 1 January 2021 was performed. Patients were grouped based on whether they received a planning CT scan. Relative radiation exposure was measured using dose-length product (DLP). Secondary metrics included number of CT fluoroscopic acquisitions until target localization, total number of CT fluoroscopic acquisitions, biopsy diagnostic yield, and procedure time. A total of 43 bone marrow biopsies with planning CT scans (Group 1) and 66 bone marrow biopsies without planning CT scans (Group 2) were performed. The average total DLP for Group 1 and Group 2 was 268.73 mGy*cm and 50.92 mGy*cm, respectively. The mean radiation dose reduction between the groups was 81% (p < 0.0001). Significantly more CT fluoroscopy acquisitions were needed for needle localization in Group 2 than Group 1 (p < 0.0001). Total number of CT fluoroscopy acquisitions was four for Group 1 and eight for Group 2 (p = 0.0002). There was no significant difference between the groups in procedure time or diagnostic yield. Patients without a planning CT scan received more fluoroscopic CT acquisitions but overall were exposed to significantly less radiation without an increase in procedure time.
Decision-making Criteria When Contemplating Disclosure of Transgender Identity to Medical Providers

As identified in HealthyPeople 2020, the transgender population faces various barriers in accessing quality health care. One barrier includes the fear of negative response or refusal of treatment a...
Scheduling to be competitive in supply chains

Supply chain management system has an important role in the globalized trading market, where sub-contracts and sub-tasks are given to other manufacturer or suppliers through competitive auction based contracts. The suppliers can decide their scheduling strategy for completing the contracted tasks depending on their capacity, the nature of the contracts, the profit margins and other commitments and expectations about future contracts. Such decision mechanisms can incorporate task features including length of the task, priority type of the task, scheduling windows, estimated arrival probabilities, and profit margins. Task scheduling decisions for a supplier should be targeted towards creating a schedule that is flexible about accommodating tasks with urgency and in general, those tasks which produce larger profits to the supplier. In previous work, different scheduling heuristics like first fit, best fit and worst fit have been evaluated. We believe that a more opportunistic, comprehensive and robust scheduling approach can significantly improve the competitiveness of the suppliers and the efficiency of the supply chain. We present an expected utility-based scheduling strategy and experimentally compare its effectiveness with previously used scheduling heuristics.
The biozon system for complex analysis of heterogeneous interrelated biological data and discovery of emergent structures

Biological entities are strongly related and mutually dependent on each other. Therefore, there is a growing need to corroborate and integrate data from different resources and aspects of biological systems in order to analyze them effectively.
Application of dynamic programming to robot kinematics

This paper presents a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm to calculate robot manipulator kinematics and plan optimized trajectories. The algorithm optimizes desireable cost functions such as absolute accuracy or time of travel. We show that, when necessary, we can accept sub-optimal (higher cost) alternative to our advantage. For example, if an optimal trajectory is blocked by an obstacle, the robot can reach the destination by following a sub-optimal path. We present computer simulations of many diverse applications of DP to robot kinematic problems. DP algorithm requires more computations than conventional techniques, but permits optimization of objective criteria and flexibility in path planning.
A General Nonlinear Dynamical Analysis of a Second-Order, One-Dimensional, Theoretical Compression System Model

In this paper we present a nonlinear dynamical analysis of a second-order, one-dimensional, theoretical compression system model. As in previous analyses of this type, a nondimensional speed parameter is regarded as a variable system parameter. However, in contrast to previous analyses of this type, here the nondimensional compressor and throttle characteristics embedded within the model are also regarded as variable system parameters. This results in an explicit characterization of the way in which the nonlinear dynamical behavior exhibited by the model depends on these characteristics. In applications this characterization provides guidelines for specifying unmeasurable details of these characteristics in such a way as to ensure that the nonlinear dynamical behavior exhibited by the model corresponds to that observed in the underlying physical compression system.
Robust Fingerprint Matching Using Spiral Partitioning Scheme

Fingerprint matching for low quality or partial fingerprint images is very challenging. It is mainly because the features such as minutia points can not be extracted reliably. In the case of partial fingerprint images captured using solid state sensors, enough number of minutia points may not be included. In this paper, we introduce a novel fingerprint representation that combines information from each extracted minutia with detected ridges in its neighborhood. The proposed algorithm first enhances a fingerprint image and generates a binary image. Then instead of using thinning-based algorithms, the ridges are extracted using a chaincode scheme, which retains the original thickness of the ridges and precise local orientations. The minutia points are detected by tracing the ridge lines. Finally the enriched local structural features are built for each minutia by a spiral coding using the ridge line orientations around the minutia. The new features are translation and rotational invariant. Each feature vector represents a minutia and its neighboring ridge structures. Matching of two fingerprints is performed by calculating the Euclidean distances between pairs of corresponding feature vectors. Preliminary experiments show that the proposed algorithm is effective.
Basic Interval Orders

An interval order of lengthn has elements in correspondence with a collection of intervals in the linearly ordered set {1, 2, ..., n}. A basic interval order of length n has the property that removal of any element yields an order with length less than n. We construct and enumerate the set of basic length n interval orders.
Nidovirus genome replication and subgenomic mRNA synthesis. Pathways followed and cis-acting elements required.

Nidoviruses, specifically coronaviruses and arteriviruses, are recognized as unique among RNA viruses for utilizating a discontinuous transcription step during sgmRNA synthesis. Details of this pathway and of genome replication remain enigmatic, and identification of cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors involved is far from complete. The apparent absence of a common leader in toroviruses and differences in genome size among the viruses hint that fundamental differences in pathways of RNA synthesis might still be revealed. What are the current views?
Dynamic Regulation of microRNA Networks in the Brainstem Characterize Hypertension Development

This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which microRNAs (miRNA) regulate autonomic control networks driving hypertension development. Using a high-throughput assay for 419 miRNAs in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control at three stages of hypertension development, significant differences in expression occurred in 9 miRNAs of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Alterations were stage- and region-dependent, differing at hypertension onset in NTS vs prehypertension stage in RVLM. 144 gene targets corresponding to catecholaminergic processes and neuromodulation were predicted using miRWALK and RNA22 databases and tested with high-throughput qPCR. Using correlational relationships between miRNAs and mRNAs, we observed a double-negative regulatory motif consisting of a miRNA down-regulating a negative regulator of a pro-hypertensive signaling pathway like Angiotensin II signaling or leukotriene-based inflammation. We observe dur...
Measurement of dark, particle-generated superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production and decay in the subtropical and temperate North Pacific Ocean

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include the superoxide radical ( O 2 - ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), are thought to be generated mostly through photochemical reactions and biological activity in seawater and can influence trace metal speciation in the ocean. This study reports the results of an intercomparison of two methods to measure particle-generated [ O 2 - ] in seawater samples, as well as measurements of particle-generated O 2 - and H 2 O 2 concentrations, decay kinetics, and dark production rates in seawater samples at Station ALOHA and ( O 2 - only) in the southern California Current Ecosystem. O 2 - was measured using two different methods relying on chemiluminescence detection. The first method measured the difference between steady-state [ O 2 - ] in filtered and unfiltered seawater, while the second method (standard method) measured O 2 - decay to baseline in freshly filtered seawater. Because both methods detected [ O 2 - ] relative to the background signal from filtered seawater, both should have measured [ O 2 - ] generated by particles (presumably biota). However, the O 2 - concentrations determined by the first method were always much smaller than those obtained from the second (standard) method. Follow-up laboratory and field experiments showed that the increased signal in the standard method was due to a filtration artifact that could neither be eliminated nor consistently accounted for under the tested conditions. We therefore recommend the first method for measuring particle-generated [ O 2 - ]. Measured by this method, Station ALOHA had particle-generated O 2 - concentrations that ranged from undetectable to 0.02 nM, with production rates less than 0.6 nM hr −1 and decay rate coefficients from 0.003 to 0.014 s −1 . The southern California Current Ecosystem had particle-generated O 2 - concentrations that ranged from undetectable to 0.05 nM, with production rates up to 4.7 nM hr −1 and decay rate coefficients from 0.006 to 0.017 s −1 . H 2 O 2 concentrations were measured by chemiluminescence detection, using dark incubations of unfiltered water samples to simultaneously determine production and decay rates. H 2 O 2 concentrations at Station ALOHA ranged from 7 to 88 nM. Dark production rates and decay rate coefficients were low (mostly −1 and −1 , respectively); higher values were detected when biota were pre-concentrated with net tows. These rates of ROS production are lower than those reported by previous studies in other regions of the Pacific Ocean, but could still be significant compared to photochemical production.
The difficulties and problems encountered in establishing a computer network in Poland CRT — POLKOM

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Although my name appears in the conference programme I dared to ask a few of our colleagues and associates to present what we are going to talk about. I, like you, will be a listener. This is because first of all, we are an international corporation, and secondly, because the project we want to present to you was carried out thanks to international co‐operation.
Norepinephrine decreases EGF binding in primary rat hepatocyte cultures

Norepinephrine (NE) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding to adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture. This effect was maximal after 1 hr of incubation with NE and could be blocked by the presence of an alpha 1-specific adrenergic receptor antagonist. The inhibition of binding correlates with the ability of NE to enhance hepatocyte DNA synthesis in the presence of EGF and appears to be mediated by a reduction in EGF receptor number, without a significant change in receptor affinity.
Trends over time and regional variations in the rate of laser trabeculoplasty in the Medicare population.

Importance Laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) is routinely used to treat open-angle glaucoma; hence, understanding variations in its use over time and region is important. Objective To determine trends over time and the regional variation in the performance of LTP. Design, Setting, and Participants Database analysis of a 5% random sample of all Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older with continuous Part B (medical insurance) coverage and no enrollment in a health maintenance organization for each year from 2002 through 2009. Interventions We counted unique claims with a Current Procedural Terminology code of 65855 (LTP) submitted by ophthalmologists, optometrists, ambulatory surgery centers, or outpatient hospitals by region for each year. We examined trends over time and regional variation in LTP rates in 9 large geographic regions. Main Outcomes and Measures Rate of LTP per 10 000 Medicare beneficiary person-years and per 10 000 diagnosed open-angle glaucoma (OAG) person-years. Results The LTP rates per 10 000 Medicare beneficiary person-years were 36.3, 60.1, and 53.5 for 2002, 2006, and 2009, respectively. The 65.6% increase between 2002 and 2006 and the 11.0% decrease between 2006 and 2009 were statistically significant (tests for linear trend, P = .009 and P P = .009) and then decreased to 741 per 10 000 person-years by 2009 (10.1% decrease; P = .004). The rates per 10 000 OAG person-years differed significantly by region, ranging from 314 in the East South-Central region to 607 in the East North-Central region in 2002 (93.2% higher; P Conclusions and Relevance The rate of LTP for Medicare patients with OAG peaked in 2006 and then decreased through 2009. Nearly twice as many LTP procedures per Medicare beneficiary were performed in some regions compared with others throughout the period.
Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Patients Presenting With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Process Improvements in Rural Prehospital Care Delivered by Emergency Medical Services

Abstract Background Safe and effective patient care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) relies on prompt emergency medical service (EMS) and established care coordination with receiving hospitals to conduct primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Likewise, a new emphasis has been placed on first medical contact-to-balloon (E2B) times as opposed to door-to-balloon times, identifying prehospital care as an important contributing factor for high-quality STEMI care. Therefore, we evaluated EMS processes of care before and after a period of continuous quality improvement to improve E2B times in our rural tertiary care medical center. Methods A retrospective, consecutive cohort study was conducted on 177 patients who received primary PCI at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, a rural hospital, from January 1, 2006 to October 31, 2009. This cohort was stratified from January 1, 2008 to May 1, 2008 (n = 88) and May 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009 (n = 89), to acknowledge periods of no improvement (pre) and continuous quality improvement (post) in STEMI care. Primary outcome measures included frequency of non–PCI-capable hospital bypass, E2B, and frequency of prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activation. Descriptive statistics and log-rank tests were used to determine whether measures differed significantly by time period. A time-to-event analysis was conducted using a Cox proportional hazards model to assess the impact of outcomes measures on E2B pre/post–May 1, 2008. Results Patients who presented before May 1, 2008 had longer E2B times compared with patients in the post–May 1, 2008 cohort (145.1 minutes vs 115.2 minutes, t test P = .01). A log-rank test confirmed this (pre: 130 minutes vs post: 106 minutes, χ 2 = 5.3, log-rank P = .02). Similarly, patients who presented before May 1, 2008 had lower percentages of prehospital ECGs (49% vs 80%, P = .001) and CCL activations (4% vs 32%, P χ 2 = 5.9, log-rank P = .01) or CCL activations (125 minutes vs 98 minutes, χ 2 = 4.2, log-rank P = .04) were conducted, E2B times were significantly reduced. Patients who received both prehospital ECGs and prehospital CCL activations had significantly reduced E2B times compared with those who did not (125 minutes vs 91 minutes, χ 2 = 4.8, P = .02). Conclusions The time saving benefits of prehospital ECGs may not be fully realized unless prehospital CCL activations also occur. EMS providers achieved further reductions in median E2B of approximately 24 minutes when prehospital ECGs were combined with prehospital CCL activation. Every effort should be made by PCI-capable medical centers to assess prehospital STEMI care and to integrate EMS providers into regional STEMI care quality improvement initiatives and education.
High-precision flexible fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds using distinct polymers

Three-dimensional porous structures using biodegradable materials with excellent biocompatibility are critically important for tissue engineering applications. We present a multi-nozzle-based versatile deposition approach to flexibly construct porous tissue engineering scaffolds using distinct polymeric biomaterials such as thermoplastic and photo-crosslinkable polymers. We first describe the development of the deposition system and fabrication of scaffolds from two types of biodegradable polymers using this system. The thermoplastic sample is semi-crystalline poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) that can be processed at a temperature higher than its melting point and solidifies at room temperature. The photo-crosslinkable one is polypropylene fumarate (PPF) that has to be dissolved in a reactive solvent as a resin for being cured into solid structures. Besides the direct fabrication of thermoplastic PCL scaffolds, we specifically develop a layer molding approach for the fabrication of crosslinkable polymers, which traditionally can only be fabricated by stereolithography. In this approach, a thermoplastic supporting material (paraffin wax) is first deposited to make a mold for each specific layer, and then PPF is deposited on demand to fill the mold and cured by the UV light. The supporting material can be removed to produce a porous scaffold of crosslinked PPF. Both PCL and crosslinked PPF scaffolds fabricated using the developed system have been characterized in terms of compressive mechanical properties, morphology, pore size and porosity. Mouse MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblastic cell studies on the fabricated scaffolds have been performed to demonstrate their capability of supporting cell proliferation and ingrowth, aiming for bone tissue engineering applications.
Raptor Swoops in on Metabolism

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) serine/threonine kinase plays a central role in insulin signaling and cell growth, through two distinct complexes with its subunits raptor or rictor. In this issue, two reports utilizing tissue-specific knockout mice detail key roles for mTORC1 in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue function.
EVIDENCE FOR VASODILATORY DA 1 RECEPTORS IN THE PULMONARY VASCULAR BEDS OF RATS

The vasodilating effects of the post-synaptic, vascular dopamine receptor (DA1) agonist, fenoldopam (Fen) on the systemic and renal vascular beds have been widely investigated. The effect of Fen on the pulmonary vascular bed is not well known. Using an isolated, in situ, salt perfused, isogravimetric rat lung preparation, we devised an experiment in which we infused Fen into the isolated lung during normotensive pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), during prostaglandin (PGF2α) induced pulmonary hypertension, and after DA1 blockade with SCH 23390, during a hypertensive state. Four Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. For all experiments, PAP and LAP were directly measured while flow (Q) was maintained at a constant rate, (Q ≥ 0.03 ml/kg/min). PVR was calculated, PVR = (PAP - LAP)/Q. ΔPAP and ΔPVR for all experimental conditions were evaluated by normal distribution analysis with a null hypothesis stating that PAP=0 and PVR=0. The null hypothesis is rejected at p<0.05. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Fen infused during normotensive PAP caused no significant change in PAP (ΔPAP=−0.05±0.06 mm Hg) and PVR (ΔPVR=−0.001±0.002 r units). During a PGF2α induced pulmonary hypertensive state, infusion of Fen significantly (P≤0.05) decreased PAP (ΔPAP= −1.25±0.5 mm Hg) and PVR (ΔPVR=−0.41±0.028 r units). The DA1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, effectively blocked the action of Fen during hypertensive PAP (ΔPAP=−0.08±0.3 mm Hg) and PVR (ΔPVR=−0.003±0.013 r units). Our results suggest that vasodilatory DA1 receptors are present in the pulmonary vascular beds of rats, DA1 induced vasodilation occurs during vasoconstrictive states, and the vasodilatory effect is blocked by DA1 receptor blockade.
A Comparison of Oral Transmucosal Fentanyl Citrate and Oral Hydromorphone for Inpatient Pediatric Burn Wound Care Analgesia

The ideal oral wound care analgesic for children should be palatable, provide potent analgesia of rapid onset and short duration, and require minimal, yet appropriate, monitoring. With use of a double-blinded crossover design, we compared the efficacy and safety of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) (approximately 10 micrograms/kg) with the efficacy and safety of oral hydromorphone (60 micrograms/kg) in 14 pediatric inpatients (ages 4 to 17 years) undergoing daily burn wound care in a ward setting. Pulse oximetry, vital signs, side effects, patient pain scores, and observer scores for cooperation, anxiety, and sedation were recorded. Pulse oximetry, vital signs, cooperation, sedation, incidence of nausea or vomiting, and the amount of time it took to resume normal activities were similar in both treatment groups. OTFC resulted in improved pain scores before wound care and improved anxiolysis during wound care, but at other points it was similar in effect to hydromorphone. We conclude that OTFC is a safe and effective analgesic, that it may provide minor improvements in analgesia and anxiolysis compared with hydromorphone, and that it offers a palatable alternative route of opioid administration without intravenous access for wound care procedures in children.
Design, fabrication, performance and reliability of Pt- and RuO2-coated microrelays tested in ultra-high purity gas environments

We have fabricated, tested and analyzed the reliability of Pt- and RuO2-coated ohmic microrelays in ultra-high purity gas environments. RuO2-coated relays could survive 3 × 108 contact cycles without electrical degradation, while Pt-coated devices degraded after 105 cycles. Thermally actuated microrelays were fabricated using a process that employed a polysilicon surface-micromachined substructure. After releasing the devices, just a few blanket metal depositions were required to create the different coatings. This method allowed direct comparisons between different coating materials, and was enabled by a self-aligned shadow mask that provides electrical isolation between different traces. Testing was performed in a clean environment achieved through in situ ultra-high vacuum bakeouts, chamber cooling to <5 × 10−9 Torr and chamber refill with ultra-high purity gases. The RuO2 coatings were formed by two avenues—reactive sputtering and thermal oxidation. No significant difference in contact resistance or reliability was detected for these two deposition methods. For all coatings, post-test analysis by scanning electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy indicated no difference in carbon concentration on real contact versus non-contacting areas, implying that carbon did not play a role in limiting the switches’ reliability. The Pt-coated switch reliability limit was attributed to surface wear rather than to the growth of a contaminating film. For the RuO2 switches, trace resistance was reduced by ten times using an Al underlayer, so that the total device resistance was compatible with commercial device requirements. Because RuO2 is expected to be resistant to hydrocarbon contamination, this work shows that the RuO2 coating provides a promising path toward achieving ultra-high reliability ohmic microswitches.
Variable Refractive Index Polymer Thin Films Prepared by Plasma Copolymerization

We have developed plasma copolymerization techniques to fabricate photonic films with two (or more) monomers, whose composition can be controlled to manipulate the optical properties of the films. Spectroscopic ellipsometry confirmed that by changing monomer feed ratios (benzene and octafluorocyclobutane), films in the nanometer thickness range with refractive indices between those of the homopolymerized films could be fabricated. Spectroscopic analysis of the chemical structure of the copolymerized films using FTIR and XPS confirmed a nonlinear variation of chemical composition as a function of the monomer feed ratios. However, the refractive index of these films changes linearly with the film composition (characterized as the fluorine/carbon ratio). Facile control of optical thickness was demonstrated by fabricating multilayer antireflecting (AR) coatings on substrates of differing refractive indices. Very good agreement between the design and experimental spectra was obtained. This growth process creat...
Raman studies of the thermal oxide of silicon

Abstract We report the Raman spectra of silicon oxide films that have been formed by the wet oxidation of Si wafers at ∼ 10 atmospheres of steam and at temperatures near 800° C. Apart from small features due to differing water content, the Raman spectra are identical to those of melt-quenched fused silica that has been annealed at the film growth temperature. We detect no growth anisotropy and conclude that the gross structures are the same, that numerous properties of steam oxide films can be safely inferred from measurements on appropriately annealed samples of bulk fused silica, and vice-versa.
Classical, non-classical critical divergences and partial molar properties from adsorption measurements in near-critical mixtures

Abstract This paper presents results related to the development of methods for measuring and analyzing dilute solute thermodynamic properties in near-critical solvent mixtures. An analysis of limiting conditions at the system's critical point provides results that were used to analyze capacity factor data for a variety of organic solutes in near-critical mixtures of carbon dioxide and ethane. Both classical and non-classical perspectives were employed in the analysis, with particular focus on solvent mixtures with compositions close to that of the critical azeotrope in the carbon dioxideethane system. These solvent mixtures have unique critical divergence properties and the theoretical results obtained for this system are qualitatively borne out by the data taken. Partial molar volumes and enthalpies for several dilute solutes at a range of thermodynamic conditions have been presented in mixtures of 0.26, 0.30 and 0.70 mole fraction ethane in carbon dioxide. The isothermal data were taken at three temperatures (308, 328 and 343 K) and pressures ranged from 50 to 107 bar. The isobaric data were taken at 65.3 and 75.5 bar over a temperature range of 295.5–441 K. The solutes used were benzene, toluene, o -xylene, naphthalene and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene. Because at the present time such data are not available in the published literature these data were often compared with values obtained by model calculations. Agreement between the two approaches has been fairly good and suggests that the approach taken here should contribute towards developing methods for reliable and rapid thermodynamic property estimation in mixtures.
Sequential validation of cluster analytic subtypes of homeless veterans

To identify subgroups within the homeless population, a number of researchers have employed cluster analytic statistical procedures. Although this is an appropriate application of cluster analysis, many studies have not employed important statistical safeguards against arbitrary results. This study demonstrates a cluster analytic procedure—sequential validation—that enhances the replicability, external validity, and cross-validity of cluster solutions. The procedure is applied to a nationwide sample of 745 homeless veterans. After 12 different clustering procedures were subjected to derivation, replication, external validation, and cross-validation phases, a 4-cluster Ward solution emerged as the most sound. Substantively, the clusters were an alcoholic subtype, a psychiatrically impaired subtype, a best functioning subtype, and a multiproblem subtype. The generalizability of these subgroups to other contexts was assessed by comparing them to subgroups identified in other homelessness research. Suggestions were made for improving the quality of cluster analytic research in community psychology.
An Interleukin-6 Neutralizing Antibody Prevents Cyclosporine Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice

Introduction Chronic use of cyclosporine A (CyA) induces nephrotoxicity primarily due to endothelial dysfunction. In our previous studies, potential mechanisms were identified in vitro and implicated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as key components in causing endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that NADPH oxidase activity and IL-6 are key components in renal damage in an in vivo model. Methods Male mice C57B/6 mice from Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME) at 6–8 wks were subjected to a low-salt diet throughout the trial. After 1 week on a low-salt diet, the mice were injected daily with treatments in 50 μL vehicle composed of 75% cremaphor (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and ethanol for 5 wks. A vehicle-alone group was also set aside. Mice were weighed and 25 mg/kg/day cyclosporine (Novartis Pharma, St. Louis, MO) was injected daily. Apocynin (Calbiochem, Gibbstown, NJ) 20 mg/kg were injected either alone or concomitantly with CyA. Another group of mice were administered IL-6 antibody (Cat no. MAB406; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) at 2 μg/day along with CyA. The kidneys were removed en bloc immediately and submitted in formalin for paraffin sections. Trichrome stains were performed. Slides were blinded and 10 photographs of cortical areas per treatment group were taken, which covered an estimate of 10% surface area in random fashion. Areas of renal damage, which were determined by tubular necrosis, were identified and quantified by amount of necrosis per photograph. Each photograph was divided into 10 blocks, and the number of blocks that contained necrotic tubules per photo was recorded. Results The two control mice (low salt only) had no damage. The four vehicle mice had trace amounts of tubular necrosis. CyA treatment group demonstrated the highest amount of damage (29/70; 41%). CyA with apocynin, a specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, was found to have 36% (22/60) damage, whereas the CyA with IL-6 antibody only was observed to have 15% (6/40) damage. Comparing imaging analysis, there was no difference between mice treated with CyA alone and with CyA with apocynin. However, the amount of damage in mice treated with CyA and IL-6 antibody was found to be significantly lower than both CyA and CyA with apocynin. Conclusions CyA action as a calcineurin inhibitor has allowed prolongation of kidney transplants, but its chronic use has led to devastating consequences such as allograft nephropathy. Previously, we have identified potential mechanisms of CyA-induced endothelial dysfunction in vitro. The current study identifies increased IL-6 expression as a mechanism by which CyA induces renal damage and that the use of an IL-6-neutralizing antibody may be useful in reducing CyA-induced renal damage.
Glycogen and Water Responses to Estrogen in the Hamster Reproductive Tract

The glycogen and water content of the uterus, cervix, upper and lower vagina was determined on castrate hamsters administered either 1, 10 or 100 μg estradiol and sacrificed 1, 6, 12 or 24 hr later. Uterine tissue glycogen synthesis was maximal with 1 μg estradiol and was completed by 12 hr. In cervical and upper vaginal tissue, a positive linear response relationship was demonstrated between estradiol and glycogen synthesis, and this response was a function of dose and time. In these tissues, a linear increase was demonstrated at 1 μg level until 12 hr, with heightened glycogen values at 10 and 100 μg estradiol by 24 hr, when significantly greater glycogen synthesis resulted from the 100 μg dose as compared to that caused by the 10 μg estradiol. The uterine water content was increased with all levels of estrogen, but vaginal tissue affected by the 1.0 μg level only. Administration of progesterone increased glycogen values above castrate levels but not to the high levels obtained with estradiol. The speci...