cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aircrew decision-making behavior in hazardous weather avoidance

A study was conducted to assess the situation awareness and decision-making behavior of aircrews in a line-oriented simulation of the microburst/windshear encounter which occurred on July 11, 1988, at the Denver Stapleton Airport as affected by the manner in which information available at different times and in different forms. Intracrew communications and approach-to-land decisions were evaluated with conventional ATC communications and with automated cockpit alerting and display of weather information. It was found that the avoidance dicision-making performance of aircrews provided only with conventional ATC transmissions of weather information was significantly less efficient than the performance of crews provided with a visual display of microburst events.
Clotting competence of intracavitary blood in trauma victims

In order to assess more rationally the requirement for anticoagulation during intraoperative autotransfusion, the clotting competence of blood collected from the body cavities of 31 trauma victims entering our emergency department with indications for intraoperative transfusion was assessed. Blood was collected at thoracotomy or laparotomy prior to the institution of any anticoagulant measures and was assessed for clotting competence, the presence of fibrinogen, the presence of soluble fibrin monomere, and the appearance of fibrin degradation products. The prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time of this blood were markedly elevated; fibrinogen was absent; soluble fibrin monomer was absent; and fibrin degradation products were markedly elevated. Blood collected from body cavities is then incoagulable, and we suggest that in the autotransfusion of such a product the need for anticoagulation may be reduced.
T-Buddy: Teach Buddy, a socializing medium to enhance learning

We have developed and deployed T-Buddy system which is a social networking platform that significantly enhances the students' comprehension of the class material by promoting collaborative learning outside the classroom setting. T-Buddy system includes an online forum for posting comments on specific research topics posted by the students as well as a socializing medium that allows students to add friends, form communities, send messages, etc. T-Buddy also includes a novel Peer-To-Peer (P2P) credit system. The students reported that the system made learning “more fun and engaging” and was instrumental in facilitating better comprehension of the course material.
Omeprazole induction of cytochrome P-450IA2: the importance of selecting the appropriate human model.

Omeprazole has been shown to induce cytochrome P450IA1 and P450IA2 activity in vitro. To reflect cytochrome P450IA2 (CYPIA2) activity in vivo, the 13C-[N-3-methyl]-caffeine breath test was conducted in 18 volunteers: 12 extensive metabolizers, one intermediate metabolizer, and five poor metabolizers of S-mephenytoin. Breath tests were performed before treatment with an oral dose of 40 mg omeprazole, on the seventh day of treatment, and after a 7-day washout period. The mean percentage exhalation of the 13C test dose, as determined by 13CO2 in breath during 8 hours, was 23.0% ± 8.0% (n = 18) before treatment. The largest increases in exhalation rate of 13CO2 were observed in the poor metabolizers and the intermediate metabolizers (range, 12.8% to 62.9%; median, 38.9%); median area under the plasma concentration–time curves (AUC) of omeprazole was four times higher than in the extensive metabolizers. The change after omeprazole treatment in extensive metabolizers ranged from −9.8% to + 47.7% (median, 12.3%; n = 12) of pretreatment values. In both groups, exhalation rates of 13CO2 returned to near pretreatment values within the 7-day washout period (24.2% ± 7.8%; n = 17). Changes in the 13C-caffeine breath test correlated well with both the pretreatment value R = −0.67, p = 0.003; n = 18 and the plasma AUC of omeprazole (R = 0.61, p = 0.007; n = 18). Therapeutic doses of omeprazole seem to induce CYP1A2 activity in poor metabolizers, whereas they exert minor inducing effects in extensive metabolizers of S-mephenytoin. CLIN PHARMACOL THER 1992;52:170–180.
Characterization and Application of Large Magnetoresistance in Organic Semiconductors

We report on the extensive experimental characterization of a recently discovered (Francis et al., 2004) large and intriguing magnetoresistive effect in OLEDs that reaches up to 10% at room temperature for magnetic fields, B = 10mT. This magnetoresistive effect is therefore amongst the largest of any bulk material. The existence of this effect is highly surprising, since it has generally been believed that large room-temperature magnetoresistive effects can exist only in ferromagnetic devices, whereas our devices are constructed entirely from non-magnetic materials.
Essential eukaryotic core.

Abstract The AIDs-related fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii is unusual in having a remarkably compact genome of 7.7 megabase pairs (mbp) whose small size presents the opportunity to identify the essential eukaryotic core of genes. The essential eukaryotic core is defined to be a collection of essential genes shared by all eukaryotes. Sequencing the 3′ ends of more than 5500 cDNAs from P. carinii allowed us to identify about 200 genes shared with its nearest known but distant relative, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and also Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and with homologs known to be essential in S. pombe or S. cerevisae. As the cDNA library contains about one half of the P. carinii genes, the size of the essential eukaryotic core (∼400) is slightly larger than the prokaryotic core (265–350) being identified by studies of the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma genitalium. The collection of genes in the essential eukaryotic core may prove useful in identifying new broad spectrum antifungal drug targets.
Efficacy of intensive chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia associated with a preleukemic syndrome.

One hundred ninety-six patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) were treated with intensive induction chemotherapy using similar daunorubicin/cytarabine/thioguanine regimens. Treatment results of 44 patients who had a documented preleukemic syndrome or cytopenia present for more than 2 months before developing over AML were compared with 152 patients with de novo AML. Eighteen (41%) patients with preleukemia evolving into AML achieved complete remission compared with 111 (73%) patients with de novo AML (P less than .01). Patients with preleukemia-AML had a significantly longer period to recovery of granulocytes. Multivariate analysis indicated that presence of a previous preleukemic syndrome and advancing age were independent poor prognostic indicators for achieving remission. For patients who achieved remission, disease-free survival and overall survival were also inferior for patients with previous preleukemia; disease-free survival was 17 +/- 17% at 3 years compared with 29 +/- 10% in patients wi...
Investigating the Link between Learning Progressions and Classroom Assessment.

An increasing number of researchers are calling for learning progressions to be used as interpretive frameworks for teachers conducting classroom assessment. The argument posits that by linking classroom assessments to learning progressions, teachers will have better resources to interpret and take instructional action on the basis of what students know. In this paper, we draw on data from a research project in which we have supported high school biology teachers in interpreting student responses to a multiple-choice classroom assessment linked to a learning progression for natural selection. We draw upon multiple sources of data, including student responses to a pre–post classroom assessment, artifacts from professional development sessions, and videotapes and transcripts of professional development meetings to construct a case study of one department of teachers as they came to understand the learning progression, interpreted results of classroom assessments, and revised their instruction. We use this case to illustrate the promise and challenges associated with linking classroom assessments to learning progressions. We conclude with recommendations to the field and suggestions for future work in this area.
Storage of marine particulate samples for lightabsorption measurements

Spectral absorption studies of marine particulates by spectrophotometry usually require the concentrating of material, and it is often desirable to store concentrated samples prior to analysis. The effects of various storage methods for particles collected on glass-fiber filters were examined using natural marine particles. Sensitivity to storage effects differed for particles collected from different environments, but results consistently indicated that refrigeration for more than a few hours and freezing at -10°C are inadequate for preserving absorption by phytoplankton pigments in the visible region of the spectrum. Storage at -80°C and at liquid-nitrogen temperatures was found to be satisfactory, with liquid nitrogen providing the most reliable results for the longest periods evaluated (up to 1 yr). Increases in absorption were observed at ultraviolet wavelengths under all storage conditions, which suggests that optical properties in this region of the spectrum cannot be reliably assessed unless samples are analyzed immediately after collection.
Barcoded metal nanowires

Recent advances in nanomaterials have opened up new opportunities for designing powerful barcodes for a wide range of important applications. This Highlight article reviews various strategies for creating barcoded nanowires and for decoding their distinct patterns. The arsenal of barcoded nanowires, based on diverse striping, compositional or geometrical patterns, and related readout systems, is discussed. The large number of distinct barcode patterns inherent to these nanowires holds great promise for bioanalytical tagging and authenticity testing.
Risperidone for treating patients with dementia: systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials

Context and Objective: The atypical antipsychotic risperidone is widely used to treat delusions, aggression and agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia. In view of some clinical trials of atypical antipsychotics not showing efficacy in dementia and concerns about adverse events, the evidence for efficacy and safety of risperidone were reviewed. Literature Review and Study Selection: We searched the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (2005) and meetings presentations for published and unpublished clinical trials of risperidone to treat dementia patients. Other sources were searched; some reviews were selected as well. Outcomes and adverse events were tabulated, described and assessed. Results: Eight placebo-controlled trials of risperidone were identified (five unpublished); three did not have results available. The five included were 8–12 weeks in duration; one trial each also compared haloperidol and olanzapine (five comparator controlled trials were also identified). Approxim...
Reconsideration of TIA diagnostic criteria

For a variety of reasons, it has been suggested that the traditional definition of TIA be reconsidered. Any comprehensive reconsideration of TIA diagnostic criteria potentially raises more questions than answers. Do we need a new definition of TIA? Would it make any difference to clinical practice if we had one? Are there characteristics of TIAs that can influence a patient’s risk for subsequent stroke? Are there characteristics that will allow clinicians to accurately or easily determine a mechanism for a patient’s TIA? Are there neuroimaging features that should be incorporated into a definition? Are features such as duration, timing, intensity, or frequency of attacks important? And for whom is the redefinition intended: the neurologist/investigator conducting a clinical trial, the primary care physician looking to make a diagnosis, or the lay person who needs to decide what action to take at the onset of symptoms? Clearly, the answers to such questions will influence the process by which any redefinition is reached. Why might a new definition make a difference? True TIAs, those that are related to focal ischemia, will trigger a variety of diagnostic studies for stroke risk factors. Patients with “mimic” TIAs may undergo inappropriate, often expensive, and sometimes risky tests. Mimic TIAs can be due to causes ranging from migraine, hypoglycemia, ocular disorders, and partial seizure to neuropathy, peripheral …
A New Methodology for Robot Controller Design

Gauss’ principle of least constraint and its generalizations have provided a useful insights for the development of tracking controllers for mechanical systems [1]. Using this concept, we present a novel methodology for the design of a specific class of robot controllers. With our new framework, we demonstrate that well-known and also several novel nonlinear robot control laws can be derived from this generic framework, and show experimental verifications on a Sarcos Master Arm robot for some of these controllers. We believe that the suggested approach unifies and simplifies the design of optimal nonlinear control laws for robots obeying rigid body dynamics equations, both with or without external constraints, holonomic or nonholonomic constraints, with over-actuation or underactuation, as well as open-chain and closed-chain kinematics.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The Differential Relationships of Shame–Proneness and Guilt–Proneness to Psychological and Somatization Symptoms

Abstract Historically, much attention has been focused on the role of guilt in psychopathology. However, recent theorists have posited that the association between guilt and psychopathology may be better accounted for by shame or by the overlapping features of guilt and shame. The current investigation assessed the relationships of shame–proneness versus guilt–proneness to psychological symptoms, somatization symptoms, attributional style, and concealment (n= 156). The shared variance between shame–proneness and guilt–proneness and the unique component of shame–proneness were related to both psychological and somatization symptoms, whereas the unique component of guilt–proneness was not related to these measures. Further, increased shame–proneness was associated with making depressogenic attributions, whereas guilt–proneness was not. Concealment was found to mediate the relationship between shame–proneness and psychological symptoms. These findings provide further evidence that the association between gui...
Oxidative carbonylation of toluene to p-toluic acid catalyzed by rhodium in the presence of vanadium and oxygen

Abstract The mechanism and kinetics of the liquid phase, oxidative carbonylation of toluene to toluic acid were investigated. The catalyst system consisted of Rh(acac)3, NH4VO3, trifluoroacetic acid (TFAH), and trifluoracetic anhydride (TFAA). Liquid toluene together with gaseous CO and O2 was used as the reactant. The effects of temperature, the partial pressures of O2 and CO, the concentrations of TFAH and TFAA, the concentrations of Rh(acac)3 and NH4VO3, and time on the activity and selectivity of the catalyst for forming p-toulic acid were investigated. The conversion of toluene to toluic acid increased with temperature but the p/m and p/o isomer ratios decreased. A conversion maximum occurred with CO partial pressure, and conversion increased monotonically with O2. The conversion of toluene to toluic acid increased with time. Under optimal conditions, 700 mole of toluic acid were produced per mole of Rh in 4 h. During the course of reaction, Rh(III) is reduced to Rh(I). The latter species is reoxidized by reaction with V(V) in the form of VO2+. The V(IV) produced in this process is then reoxidized by O2. The concentration of water, produced during the reoxidation of Rh(I) to Rh(III), in the reaction system must be controlled by reaction with TFAA, since the accumulation of excess water can lead to the generation of H2 via the water-gas-shift reaction leading to a reduction of Rh(III) to Rh(I). A mechanism for the overall catalytic process is proposed and discussed.
A simple, accurate method to compute brightness temperature and/or radiance for the thermal infrared channels of the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

Abstract Users of thermal infrared data from the AVHRR on a NOAA polar-orbiting operational satellite convert the count value output to radiance units, and then assign an equivalent blackbody temperature to the radiance value. Assigning a blackbody temperature to the radiance value is an indirect process, which requires knowledge of the AVHRR spectral response function and a fairly complex calculation. Both difficulties can be avoided by the simple two-step process shown in this Letter. First, blackbody temperature is estimated from a square-root of the measured radiance, then the estimate is refined by values from a ‘universal’ correction curve. The RMS difference between this approximation and the complex calculation is a few hundredths deg K for temperatures in the 200-320 deg K range. The inverse computation, radiance from temperature, is accurate to within 0·01-0·02mWm−2sr−1 (cm−1)−1. Results are shown for the NOAA-7, -9, -11, and -12 spacecraft.
Chest Pain After Kidney Transplantation Owing to Pneumomediastinum: A Case Report

Abstract Background Chest pain in kidney transplant recipients can signify a life-threatening condition. Case Report A patient with polycystic kidney disease who underwent living donor kidney transplantation with open bilateral native nephrectomy developed acute substernal chest pain 10 days post-transplantation. History, physical, and diagnostic studies identified no cardiac or pulmonary causes for the pain, but radiography showed mediastinal air. No vascular or thoracic injury explained the development of the pneumomediastinum. After 1 day on oxygen, the chest pain symptoms resolved. Repeat x-rays showed resolution of the pneumomediastinum. Discussion Pneumomediastinum resulting from air migrating from the abdominal cavity to the thorax has not been described after open removal of diseased abdominal organs. This case illustrates that creation of a potential space in the abdominal cavity can be associated with the development of pneumomediastinum. Conclusions Conservative measures were sufficient to resolve the pneumomediastinum and symptoms in this patient.
Using students as subjects in experiments on decision support systems

An examination is made of the decision-making of managers and undergraduate business students for the production scheduling problem, using decision support systems (DSS). The experiment described found significant differences between undergraduate students and managers in costs, the effectiveness of their decision heuristics, and in level of erratic decision-making. These differences occurred in both the learning phase and the stable decision-making phase. It appears that in DSS research using tasks such as production scheduling, undergraduate students with little business experience differ from managers. >
Gravitational wave memory in de Sitter spacetime

We examine gravitational wave memory in the case where sources and detector are in an expanding cosmology. For simplicity, we treat the case where the cosmology is de Sitter spacetime, and discuss the possibility of generalizing our results to the case of a more realistic cosmology. We find results very similar to those of gravitational wave memory in an asymptotically flat spacetime, but with the magnitude of the effect multiplied by a redshift factor.
Exciton size and quantum transport in nanoplatelets.

Two-dimensional nanoplatelets (NPLs) are an exciting class of materials with promising optical and energy transport properties. The possibility of efficient energy transport between nanoplatelets raises questions regarding the nature of energy transfer in these thin, laterally extended systems. A challenge in understanding exciton transport is the uncertainty regarding the size of the exciton. Depending on the material and defects in the nanoplatelet, an exciton could plausibly extend over an entire plate or localize to a small region. The variation in possible exciton sizes raises the question how exciton size impacts the efficiency of transport between nanoplatelet structures. Here, we explore this issue using a quantum master equation approach. This method goes beyond the assumptions of Forster theory to allow for quantum mechanical effects that could increase energy transfer efficiency. The model is extremely flexible in describing different systems, allowing us to test the effect of varying the spatial extent of the exciton. We first discuss qualitative aspects of the relationship between exciton size and transport and then conduct simulations of exciton transport between NPLs for a range of exciton sizes and environmental conditions. Our results reveal that exciton size has a strong effect on energy transfer efficiency and suggest that manipulation of exciton size may be useful in designing NPLs for energy transport.
The effects of environmental and luxury beliefs on intention to patronize green hotels: the moderating effect of destination image

Recent research has demonstrated a disconnect between environmental beliefs and behavior when it comes to the consumption of hospitality products. Unfortunately, while many consumers believe that hotels should engage in green practices, there is mounting evidence that such beliefs do not necessarily translate into actual purchases of sustainable products. The purpose of this research is to examine this issue by developing an integrated framework establishing the relationships among the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors associated with the consumption of the green hotel product. In particular, we are concerned with the effects of consumers' beliefs regarding the luxury-based trade-offs associated with staying in green hotels. Additionally, we seek to establish the role of destination image as a determinant of the relationships specified in the proposed nomology. The results support our overall hypothesis that the established disconnect between environmental values and sustainable hospitality consumption be...
Aspirin dosing frequency in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events

Aspirin has been a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease prevention since the late 1980s. Despite the popularity of aspirin and its wide use, the proper dosing and frequency of aspirin has yet to be determined. Early aspirin trials focused on its utility in broad target populations, but this strategy did not magnify the benefit of aspirin, and rather increased the complication rate. We have learned from previous studies that laboratory and clinical response to aspirin therapy in patients with different conditions and settings are diverse. This difference in aspirin response necessitates a personalized, tailored aspirin therapy. We aim to perform a comprehensive review of the current evidence surrounding aspirin responsiveness in several distinct patient populations and the rationale of different aspirin frequency and dosing strategies. Our conclusions call for future studies to determine individualized aspirin strategies to maximize the benefit and minimize the risk of aspirin.
The Human–Computer Interaction of Cross-Cultural Gaming Strategy:

This article explores the cultural dimensions of the human–computer interaction that underlies gaming strategies. The article is a desktop study of existing literature and is organized into five se...
History of Life

History of Life (fourth edition). Richard Cowen. 2005. Blackwell Publishing, 324 p. (pb) ISBN 1-4051-1175-67. I had a sudden thought as I sat down to write this article: “Why am I reviewing this book?” Not, “why in the world did I ever agree to do another book review?” That particular thought crosses my mind every time I guiltily move the draft of a promised critique to the bottom of my To-Do list. Rather, why this book? I cannot imagine that there is anyone who teaches paleontology, historical geology, or similar courses who has not already read or used one of the previous three editions of Cowen's History of Life . It is simply one of the best introductory texts on the macroevolutionary history of life on Earth written to date. I could stop there. I really should stop there, but I've been given to understand that a book review ought to be more than a 114-word-long paean to the text in question. Indulge me a bit then, and let me refresh your memory concerning this terrific book. Richard Cowen taught a History of Life course at UC-Davis for more than 35 years. He developed this textbook specifically for that course. As in all the best textbooks (and courses), the fourth edition is not merely a repackaging of old material, it is an …
Autonomous Microgrid Design Using Classifier-Guided Sampling.

Identifying high-performance, system-level microgrid designs is a significant challenge due to the overwhelming array of possible configurations. Uncertainty relating to loads, utility outages, renewable generation, and fossil generator reliability further complicates this design problem. In this paper, the performance of a candidate microgrid design is assessed by running a discrete event simulation that includes extended, unplanned utility outages during which microgrid performance statistics are computed. Uncertainty is addressed by simulating long operating times and computing average performance over many stochastic outage scenarios. Classifier-guided sampling, a Bayesian classifier-based optimization algorithm for computationally expensive design problems, is used to search and identify configurations that result in reduced average load not served while not exceeding a predetermined microgrid construction cost. The city of Hoboken, NJ, which sustained a severe outage following Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012, is used as an example of a location in which a well-designed microgrid could be of great benefit during an extended, unplanned utility outage. The optimization results illuminate design trends and provide insights into the traits of high-performance configurations.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Optical Characterization of Ion Implanted SIC

We present the preliminary results of our investigation of producing nanoclusters of gold and tin in 6H-SiC. In this work we study the changes in the linear optical properties as a function of ion fluence and post-implantation heat treatment. The optical absorption is complemented by micro-Raman spectroscopy to investigate lattice damage and recovery. We implanted 1.0 MeV Au and 120 and 160 keV Sn into the Si face of SiC at 30 or 500°C followed by annealing at various temperatures. Using optical absorption spectrophotometry, we determined the location of the absorption band for each metal nanocluster in SiC. Elevated temperature implantation greatly reduced optical absorption due to ion implantation induced defects. Using Mie theory, we determined the index of refraction in the implanted volume and estimated the size of the Au nanoclusters as 5 nm in diameter. Rutherford backscattering analysis of the oxide layer grown during annealing showed an increase of 20 percent in on the implanted side. It was found that the Au clusters occurred only in the oxide layer.
Calculation of Radio Interference from HV AC Transmission Line to Aeronautical Radionavigation Stations

Compared with 500 kV transmission line,1000 kV UHV transmission line is characterized by high voltage,high tower and capacious right of way. Radio interference of 1000 kV UHV transmission line to NDB(Non-Directional Beacon) is more complex than 500 kV transmission line. GB6364-1986 Electromagnetic Environment Requirements for Aeronautical Radio Navigation Stations do not provide specific regulations on protection distance between NDB and 1000 kV UHV transmission line,which brings about uncertainties during designing 1000 kV UHV transmission line. Therefore,radio interference from HV AC transmission line is analyzed,including generating mechanism,frequency characteristic,and attenuation characteristic,and the operation mode of this system is described. According to Electromagnetic Environment Requirements for Aeronautical Radio Navigation Stations,effect of HV AC transmission line active interference on aeronautical radio navigation stations is analyzed ,the main affected objects are non-directional beacon ,the protecting distance between the HV AC transmission line and aeronautical radio navigation stations is calculated in detail with flying track,if the interference from transmission line is less than 15 dB,the direction finding error is acceptant. Calculation results show that HV AC transmission line can be set away from line course station 38.9 km,and anywhere between near station and far station. If the error of direction finding is less than 1 deg,the protective distance between the HV AC transmission line and aeronautical radio navigation stations is 700 m,and the calculated protective distance is 700 m.
Strong signature of natural selection within an FHIT intron implicated in prostate cancer risk

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 1903 Previously, we identified a locus of prostate cancer susceptibility at D3S1234 within FHIT using a candidate gene-based linkage approach on brother pairs affected with prostate cancer. Subsequent association tests in Americans of European descent on 16 SNPs spanning approximately 381 kb surrounding D3S1234 revealed significant evidence of association for a single SNP within intron 5 of FHIT . Resequencing and genotyping within a 28.5 kb region surrounding this SNP further delineated association of prostate cancer risk to a 15 kb region. Several SNPs in sequences under evolutionary constraint within intron 5 of FHIT gene may function interactively to determine increased risk of prostate cancer in European Americans. In addition to highly conserved sequences, population studies (13 European Americans, 16 Yorubans, and 10 Japanese) revealed strong signatures of natural selection in human and primate populations. In conclusion, these results strongly support the involvement of the FHIT intronic region in an increased risk of prostate cancer. The current study also demonstrates the power of population genetics in mapping a common human disease.
Usability Testing of an Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome System for Survivors of Critical Illness

Background Web-based electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) measures are increasingly used to facilitate patient-centered health assessments. However, it is unknown if ePRO completion is feasible for recently ill intensive care unit (ICU) survivors and their families. Objective To develop and evaluate the usability of a novel ePRO system (ePRO to Support People and Enhance Recovery [ePROSPER]) among ICU survivors and their families within an ongoing clinical trial. Methods Paper-based PROs were iteratively adapted to electronic forms (ePROs). Then, the usability of ePROSPER was assessed among 60 patients, their family members, and PRO and programming experts via questionnaires (eg, Systems Usability Scale), "think aloud" open-ended feedback, task completion times, and error rates. Results Input from patients and their families was used to incorporate user-experience modifications into ePROSPER. This feedback also led to inclusion of automated reminders for questionnaire completion and real-time alerts for staff triggered by high symptom levels. Median usability scores increased over testing cycles from 40 to 73 to 95, nearing the maximum score and showing excellent usability. All users completed ePROSPER within 20 minutes; 87% preferred it to a written version. ePROSPER was then implemented in a clinical trial without data errors. Conclusions Automated ePRO systems can be successfully integrated in a post-ICU clinical trial setting. The value of integrating such systems in direct clinical care should be assessed in future studies.
Raf Inhibitor BAY 43-9006 Induces Bim Dephosphorylation and Activates the Intracellular Apoptotic Pathway in AML.

We have previously demonstrated constitutive activation of MAPK signaling in 70% of primary AML samples (Millela et al, JCI108:851–859, 2001), suggesting that upstream kinases (Raf and MEK) may play a role in the leukemic transformation of myeloid cells. BAY 43-9006 is a small molecule Raf kinase inhibitor that has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity against solid human tumors in xenograft models. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that BAY 43-9006 inhibits leukemia cell growth and/or induces apoptosis by suppressing the activity of the MAPK pathway. In the in vitro kinase assay, BAY 43-9006 inhibited both Raf-1 and B-Raf-mediated MEK1 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner, with Raf-1 kinase being more sensitive to the inhibitory effects of BAY 43-9006 (IC 50Raf-1 , 1.37 μM vs. IC 50B-Raf , 4.64 μM). BAY 43-9006 suppressed MEK1/2 and ERK phosphorylation in the AML cell lines OCI-AML3, HL-60, U937 and KG-1 in a dose-dependent manner after 24 hr treatment. Unexpectedly, BAY 43-9006 also inhibited AKT phosphorylation on Ser473 (after 4.5 hrs). BAY 43-9006 inhibited growth of AML cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of BAY 43-9006 was 0.39, 1.14, 2.86 and 2.80 μM, respectively in OCI-AML3, HL-60, U937 and KG-1 cells after 72 hrs. This growth-inhibitory effect was mediated by a dose-dependent induction of cell cycle arrest in G1 mediated by the down-regulation of the cell cycle-related proteins cyclin E, cdk2 and cdc2, followed by induction of apoptosis after 72 hrs. In primary AML patient samples, BAY 43-9006 not only inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis after 48–72 hrs in vitro , but also preferentially inhibited colony formation of AML progenitor cells compared to normal bone marrow cells [IC 50 : 2.33 μM vs . 9.34μM (CFU-GM), 5.69 μM (Erythroid) and 3.75 μM (Mixed), respectively]. Time-course analyses demonstrated that BAY 43-9006 suppressed phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim (at 4.5 hrs), caused loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release (at 6 hrs) followed by cleavage of caspases-3 and -9 but not of caspase-8, suggesting primary involvement of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic proteins Bim and Bax were up-regulated after 48 hrs of BAY 43-9006 treatment, and the level of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein Survivin was down-regulated after 48 hrs. In summary, our data demonstrates that BAY 43-9006 inhibits Raf-MEK-ERK signaling and induces apoptosis in AML via Bim de-phosphorylation and activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The potential of BAY 43-9006 in the therapy of AML patients will be tested in a Phase I clinical trial.
613. Characterization of IPSC-Derived Myogenic Progenitors Isolated from Mouse Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) affects approximately 1 in 5000 children and is characterized by progressive muscle wasting, weakness and premature death. DMD is caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, which plays an essential role in maintaining muscle integrity by providing a structural link between the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. In the absence of dystrophin, affected muscles experience repeated bouts of injury, inflammation and necrosis, resulting in reduced regenerative capacity and the replacement of muscle mass with fibrotic and adipose tissue. Both gene and cell therapies are candidate approaches to replace the defective dystrophin gene. While gene therapy has the potential to halt disease progression in targeted muscles, cell therapies could both introduce replacement genes and generate new muscle or muscle stem cells to affected tissues. Cell therapies for DMD have thus far shown moderate success due to limited ex vivo expansion potential of progenitor cells, poor survival and migration of cells following transplantation, inefficient myogenic conversion of non-myogenic cells as well as host rejection of donor cells. Most of these limitations could potentially be addressed using gene corrected induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from biopsies of affected patients.We have established and characterized several iPSC lines from control, dystrophic (mdx) and transgenic-mdx mice. Selected iPS cells expressed markers associated with pluripotency, exhibited normal karyotypes and were able to form all three germ layers during in vivo teratoma assays. To generate myogenic progenitors from iPS cells, we have investigated the use of an inducible form of the myogenic regulatory factor MyoD (MyoD-ER[T]). Upon transient activation of MyoD-ER[T], iPSCs are readily converted into myogenic progenitor cells that can efficiently differentiate into myocytes and fuse into myotubes in vitro. iPS cells derived from dystrophic mice and which carry different versions of dystrophin expression cassettes can engraft into mdx muscles in vivo and generate dystrophin-positive myofibers. We are currently comparing the efficiency of various myogenic cell populations resulting from MyoD-ER[T] induction to generate functional myogenic engraftment in vivo following transplantation into mdx mouse hosts. We are also comparing the relative efficiency of dystrophin production in myogenic cells derived from mdx iPSCs using gene replacement vs. gene modification approaches. Together, these approaches show potential for ex vivo gene therapy of DMD using dystrophin-corrected autologous cell transplantation.
Opioids: keeping the good, eliminating the bad

Two new studies show that mechanisms mediating the opioid side effects of tolerance, hyperalgesia and physical dependence are mediated spinally and can be dissociated from analgesia. These side effects can be selectively targeted by clinically available drugs without affecting their pain-relieving effects.
Representative “Identity”: The Case of Latino Populations in a Representative Bureaucracy

With the growing U.S. Latino population, the concept of “representative bureaucracy” needs to be reevaluated. Specifically, Latino populations present a unique challenge for a representative bureaucracy and require an unorthodox vision of what an individual’s identity represents. Public administrators run the risk of overlooking the diversity among Latino populations by focusing solely on representative figures (under the umbrella terms of Latino/Hispanic). I pose the question: Is the study of Latino Representation inherently flawed in application, given the cultural, political, and historical diversity of over twenty distinct Latino populations? Employing an analysis of past and current literature of Latinos and public administration, it becomes evident that past studies of Latino representation overlook the group’s diversity. There are various challenges for such research which requires a unique approach.
Occupational Therapists Share Deployment Experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan

Providing occupational therapy (OT) in a deployed environment can be demanding, but the opportunity to provide rehabilitative care for fellow Service Members in a combat theater, although momentous, far outweighs any challenge. Throughout 15 years of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, deployed military occupational therapists (OTs) conducted rehab missions in austere environments, performed therapy in fast-paced nontraditional clinical settings, and adjusted to and overcome provider burnout. This chapter highlights firsthand experiences from OTs who deployed with Army behavioral health (BH) units. Deployed OTs primarily worked in secure locations performing routine rehab missions according to doctrine and training. A few shared their experiences that did not proceed as planned. Risk and challenges exist for everyone over the duration of a deployment, which requires perseverance, prudence, and courage.
Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals

(1964). Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 365-366.
Maintenance for Case Streams: A Streaming Approach to Competence-Based Deletion

The case-based reasoning community has extensively studied competence-based methods for case base compression. This work has focused on compressing a case base at a single point in time, under the assumption that the current case base provides a representative sample of cases to be seen. Large-scale streaming case sources present a new challenge for competence-based case deletion. First, in such contexts, it may be infeasible or too expensive to maintain more than a very small fraction of the overall set of cases, and the current system snapshot of the cases may not be representative of future cases, especially for domains with concept drift. Second, the interruption of processing required to compress the full case base may not be practical for large case bases in real-time streaming contexts. Consequently, such settings require maintenance methods enabling continuous incremental updates and robust to limited information. This paper presents research on addressing these problems through the use of sieve streaming, a submodular data summarization method developed for streaming data. It demonstrates how the approach enables the maintenance process to trade off between maintenance cost and competence retention and assesses its performance compared to baseline competence-based deletion methods for maintenance. Results support the benefit of the approach for large-scale streaming data.
The role of addressee backchannels and conversational grounding in vicarious word learning in four-year-olds:

Children successfully learn words through overhearing others engaged in verbal interactions. The current studies investigated the degree to which four-year-old overhearers are influenced by the res...
Aquaporin 0 Modulates Lens Gap Junctions in the Presence of Lens-Specific Beaded Filament Proteins.

Purpose The objective of this study was to understand the molecular and physiologic mechanisms behind the lens cataract differences in Aquaporin 0-knockout-Heterozygous (AQP0-Htz) mice developed in C57 and FVB (lacks beaded filaments [BFs]) strains. Methods Lens transparency was studied using dark field light microscopy. Water permeability (Pf) was measured in fiber cell membrane vesicles. Western blotting/immunostaining was performed to verify expression of BF proteins and connexins. Microelectrode-based intact lens intracellular impedance was measured to determine gap junction (GJ) coupling resistance. Lens intracellular hydrostatic pressure (HP) was determined using a microelectrode/manometer system. Results Lens opacity and spherical aberration were more distinct in AQP0-Htz lenses from FVB than C57 strains. In either background, compared to wild type (WT), AQP0-Htz lenses showed decreased Pf (approximately 50%), which was restored by transgenic expression of AQP1 (TgAQP1/AQP0-Htz), but the opacities and differences between FVB and C57 persisted. Western blotting revealed no change in connexin expression levels. However, in C57 AQP0-Htz and TgAQP1/AQP0-Htz lenses, GJ coupling resistance decreased approximately 2.8-fold and the HP gradient decreased approximately 1.9-fold. Increased Pf in TgAQP1/AQP0-Htz did not alter GJ coupling resistance or HP. Conclusions In C57 AQP0-Htz lenses, GJ coupling resistance decreased. HP reduction was smaller than the coupling resistance reduction, a reflection of an increase in fluid circulation, which is one reason for the less severe cataract in C57 than FVB. Overall, our results suggest that AQP0 modulates GJs in the presence of BF proteins to maintain lens transparency and homeostasis.
Escape or Sink into the Mud? Effects of Technological Resource Divestiture on Large Bankrupt Firms

This project studies the effect of divestiture of technological resources on large insolvent firms to see whether the divestiture strategy will help a bankrupt firm to overcome a competitive disadv...
Clostridium difficile in gnotobiotic mice

Abstract Germfree mice associated with Clostridium difficile developed intestinal disease characterized by polymorphonuclear cell infiltration of the lamina propria, diarrhea, and cecal cytotoxin concentrations positive at a 10(-6) dilution. The numbers of viable bacteria never exceeded 10(10) colony-forming units per g (dry weight). Despite the high toxin levels and chronic inflammation over a 30-day period, the mortality rate was low (less than 2%). Daily treatment of these animals with two oral doses of 2 mg of vancomycin resulted in stool levels of greater than 200 micrograms/ml, well in excess of the minimum inhibitory concentration for C. difficile. This therapy decreased viable cell density by 2 to 3 logs and increased the spore counts from 10(5.8) to 10(7.8) colony-forming units per g (dry weight) by day 7, and animals were free of detectable toxin. However, once therapy was stopped, viable bacteria and spore counts and cytotoxin concentrations returned to previous levels. Treatment of mice with concentrations of clindamycin shown to be inhibitory in vitro had no effect on C. difficile toxin titers or bacterial counts, although the appearance of a clindamycin-resistant population was noted. These data indicate that vancomycin, given orally, decreases the concentration of toxin, but C. difficile survive as spores. By contrast, large populations of vegetative cells and high cytotoxin levels persist when clindamycin is used, even at an inhibitory concentration.
The Heat Shock/Stress Response after Ischemia

The heat shock/stress response constitutes a mechanism of coordinate gene regulation, conserved throughout evolution that has provided considerable insight into the means by which neurons and other cell types respond to global and focal ischemic insults in brain. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of heat shock protein expression are in many respects well defined. The key identifying feature of a heat shock gene is the presence of a heat shock regulatory element (HSE) upstream of its transcription initiation site. HSE provides the recognition motif for binding heat shock transcription factors (HSF), which contribute to regulation of these genes in response to inducing stimuli. It is now evident that there are several classes of HSF, although a single factor, HSF1, appears to be responsible for the regulation of heat shock genes under conditions of stress-induced expression such as hyperthermia and ischemia. The mechanism by which such diverse environmental signals are transduced to activate HSF remains to be fully elucidated. It has been suggested that protein denaturation under conditions of injury may play a role in the sensing mechanism, and there is also evidence that more conventional pathways involving calcium influx and protein phosphorylation are involved.
Using Resonance Raman Spectroscopy to Study the Structure and Dynamics of Enzyme-Bound Substrates

The chemical nature of the enzyme-substrate intermediates studied by resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy is defined. The information available on these intermediates from RR spectroscopy is compared to that obtained from absorption and fluorescence techniques. Two major classes of substrates useful for RR studies are discussed. The first class involves the use of substrates which are chromophoric by virtue of the fact that they have acyl groups, e.g. cinnamoyl, based on delocalised π-systems. Their use to probe the effect on the substrate’s C=0 group of going to active-pH in serine proteases, and to probe the strong electron polarisation forces available in cysteine proteases, is detailed. The second class of substrate involves thionoesters RC(=S)OCH, which form chromophoric dithioester intermediates, RC(=S)S-enzyme, with cysteine proteases, HS-enzyme. Because the dithioester RR spectrum is sensitive to conformational changes in the R-C(=S)-S-C bonds it is used to characterise conformational activation in the scissile linkages which occur for substrates specific for the cysteine protease papain. In addition RR spectra of these dithio-intermediates have been obtained under cryoenzymological conditions at 77°K and offer the opportunity to characterise such dynamical events as the thermal activation of the substrate in the active-site.