cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Hearing Loss: Rising or Not, It Remains a Concern.

* Abbreviation: NHANES — : National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey In this issue of Pediatrics , Barrett and White1 report on the prevalence of adolescent hearing loss using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Specifically, they extend the findings of Shargorodsky et al’s2 2010 publication, which compared the prevalence of adolescent hearing loss in the third NHANES (1988–1994) to NHANES 2005–2006. Shargorodsky et al2 reported a significant rise in the prevalence of adolescent hearing loss from 14.9% to 19.5% using these 2 time points, but when the 2008 and 2010 data are included, the prevalence does not appear to have significantly changed since 1994.1 Barrett and White1 conclude that Shargorodsky’s often cited manuscript on the rising prevalence of adolescent hearing loss is not substantiated when subsequent NHANES data cycles are included. In considering the … Address correspondence to Deepa L. Sekhar, MD, MSc, Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr, HS83, Hershey, PA 17033. E-mail: dsekhar{at}pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Role of chemotherapy and targeted therapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

Introduction: Adjuvant platinum based chemotherapy is accepted as standard of care in stage II and III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and is often considered in patients with stage IB ...
Four assessment methods to measure student gains in a graduate course on mathematical modeling in cell biology

The push for mathematics and quantitative skill development in biology is greater than ever before. The perceptions of these techniques are a barrier to their implementation on a grand scale. Methods to assess the efficacy of approaches to teaching quantitative skills are needed to determine if they effectively overcome social stereotypes and fears of math. In our project we study the effect of a mathematical modeling course in cell biology. We developed four assessments to understand if hands-on modeling increases student understanding of the concepts while simultaneously reducing fear of math. Two concept inventories track students' learning gains both in general and specific knowledge to the course content. Two surveys quantify students' quantitative confidence and opinions of the usefulness of these techniques in biology. We discuss the effectiveness of our methods and the implications for assessment development in mathematical biology education.
Contribution of lactic acid bacteria to cheese ripening.

The fermentation of milk for the production of cheese has been conducted for 8,000 years; however, a well developed understanding of the compounds involved in cheese flavor development, and the mechanism of their formation, is still lacking. Additionally, any discussion of cheese flavor development is complicated by the fact that approximately 4,000 different cheese varieties, with a variety of flavor and/or texture characteristics, are produced world-wide. The ability to manufacture this wide array of products from milk is the result of manufactures using a variety of processing conditions and microorganisms. The intent of this chapter will be to focus on the metabolic properties of lactic acid bacteria which are believed to be of general importance in cheese flavor development.
A vigilance model for latent learning

The author proposes a heuristic model for latent learning. It is concluded that to regard academic learning as qualitatively different from other forms of learning is to deny evolutionary continuity. Academic learning is not a unitary process governed by a single set of parameters. In addition, it is observed that the problem of student motivation may very well turn out to be purely academic. The instructional technique for a captive audience of a class may be so structured as to make the direction of attention irresistible, the performance of a response, when needed, compelling, and the acquisition of knowledge inevitable. Vigilance is an instance of innate foundation. Its most striking characteristics are its universality in the animal world, its ready evocation by a wide range of stimuli, and its apparent behavioral and physiological manifestations. The last two are the natural resources for objective investigation, and the first may well be the basis of broad and valid generalizations.
Surgery for mitral apparatus disorders caused by ischemic heart disease (Figs. 27–29)

Ischemic mitral valve disease ranks third among the most common causes of mitral insufficiency in surgical patients. Mitral insufficiency in association with coronary artery disease is well described and carries a worse prognosis with a higher operative risk compared with either rheumatic or degenerative etiologies. The incidence of concomitant mitral regurgitation in patients with coronary artery disease is reported to range between 6 and 19 % worldwide! The reason usually is previous ischemic damage to the left ventricle.
NATURE OF DOPAMINE RECEPTORS IN THE STRIATUM AND NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS

Both clinical and preclinical studies have suggested that there nay be regional differences in the characteristics of DA receptors. Results obtained from binding studies of tritated dopamine (DA) to guinea pig striatal and nucleus accumbens (NA) membranes, indicate the existence of two types of DA receptors in the striatum and accumbens of mature animals but only a single receptor in younger animals. The high and low affinity striatal and nucleus accumben binding sites appear to have a different ontological order of appearance.
The Impact of Psychological Injury Evidence and Jurors’ Schemas on Civil Case Decisions

Psychological injury evidence is at the heart of many civil claims. Due to the recent burgeoning of sexual harassment and assault claims which predominantly involve psychological distress, it is especially important to understand how jurors process this evidence at the most basic (or schema) level, and how these preconceived notions influence processing of trial evidence and subsequent legal judgments. As a result, the present paper explores rarely addressed—but fundamental—issues regarding how jurors perceive psychological injury evidence. Specifically, do jurors have psychological injury schemas? And if so, what injuries do these schemas contain, how stable are they, how are they evaluated, and how do they affect jurors’ case perceptions and legal decisions? A review of relevant theory and empirical research reveals that jurors have psychological injury schemas, but they are often poorly developed and susceptible to the influence of prompts used to retrieve these schemas (e.g., questions posed by attorneys during voir dire, the actual injuries adduced by the plaintiff). Also interesting is that despite the relative importance of psychological injury evidence, tremendous gaps remain regarding what actual types of psychological injuries jurors believe typically result in civil cases, how stable these injury schemas are, and precisely how they affect jurors’ decisions. This paper addresses these important issues to help organize and direct future research on the subject, including proposing a model for how psychological injury schemas interact with jurors’ perceptions of the plaintiff’s alleged injuries to affect their legal decisions.
Using Scenario-Based Simulation to Address Affective Behaviors in Sonography Students:

Simulation in health care education is considered an educational strategy in which a particular set of conditions is created or replicated to resemble authentic situations that are possible in real...
Pathogenesis and clinical features of the acute hepatic porphyrias (AHPs)

The acute hepatic porphyrias include four disorders: acute intermittent porphyria [AIP], hereditary coproporphyria [HCP], variegate porphyria [VP], and the rare porphyria due to severe deficiency of ALA dehydratase [ADP]. In the USA, AIP is the most severe and most often symptomatic. AIP, HCP, and VP are due to autosomal dominant genetic abnormalities, in which missense, nonsense, or other mutations of genes of normal hepatic heme biosynthesis, in concert with other environmental, nutritional, hormonal and genetic factors, may lead to a critical deficiency of heme, the end-product of the pathway, in a small but critical 'regulatory pool' within hepatocytes. This deficiency leads to de-repression of the first and normally rate-controlling enzyme of the heme synthetic pathway, delta- or 5-aminolevulinic acid [ALA] synthase-1, and thus to marked up-regulation of this key enzyme and to marked hepatic overproduction of ALA. In addition, except for ADP, there is marked overproduction as well of porphobilinogen [PBG], the intermediate immediately downstream of ALA in the synthetic chain, and, especially in HCP and VP, also porphyrinogens and porphyrins farther down the pathway. The major clinical features of the acute porphyrias are attacks of severe neuropathic-type pain. Pain is felt first and foremost in the abdomen but may also occur in the back, chest, and extremities. Attacks are more common in women than in men [ratio of about 4:1], often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, constipation, tachycardia, and arterial hypertension. Hyponatremia may also occur. Some patients also describe chronic symptoms of pain, anxiety, insomnia, and others.
Micron-Scale. Efficient, Robust Phase Modulators in the Visible

We demonstrate miniature silicon nitride (SiN)pure phase modulators in the visible that are robust to fabrication variations. They offer a one-order-of-magnitude reduction in device footprint and power consumption compared to SiN waveguide phase shifters. © 2019 The Author(s)
Jimenez-Delgado et al. Reply.

We reply to the Comment of Brodsky and Gardner on our paper "New limits on intrinsic charm in the nucleon from global analysis of parton distributions" [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 082002 (2015)]. We address a number of incorrect claims made about our fitting methodology, and elaborate how global QCD analysis of all available high-energy data provides no evidence for a large intrinsic charm component of the nucleon.
Resting-State fMRI Metrics in Acute Sport-Related Concussion and Their Association with Clinical Recovery: A Study from the NCAA-DOD CARE Consortium.

There has been a recent call for longitudinal cohort studies to track the physiological recovery of sport-related concussion (SRC) and its relationship with clinical recovery. Resting-state functio...
Genetic underpinnings of increased BMI and its association with late midlife cognitive abilities

Objectives: First, we test for differences in various cognitive abilities across trajectories of body mass index (BMI) over the later life course. Second, we examine whether genetic risk factors for unhealthy BMIs-assessed via polygenic risk scores (PRS)-predict cognitive abilities in late-life. Methods: The study used a longitudinal sample of Vietnam veteran males to explore the associations between BMI trajectories, measured across four time points, and later cognitive abilities. The sample of 977 individuals was drawn from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Cognitive abilities evaluated included executive function, abstract reasoning, episodic memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, and visual spatial ability. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities. Then, BMI PRS was added to the models to evaluate polygenic associations with cognitive abilities. Results: There were no significant differences in cognitive ability between any of the BMI trajectory groups. There was a significant inverse relationship between BMI-PRS and several cognitive ability measures. Discussion: While no associations emerged for BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities at the phenotypic levels, BMI PRS measures did correlate with key cognitive domains. Our results suggest possible polygenic linkages cutting across key components of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Cancer vaccine induces potent T cell responses — but is it enough?

Tumour-associated antigens are an attractive therapeutic target in immuno-oncology. Here, the exploratory analyses of T cell responses and preliminary clinical outcomes of the Lipo-MERIT trial of a melanoma vaccine are discussed in the context of prior efforts to harness the immunogenicity of such antigens for antitumour immunity.
Restricting the growth of Pt nanoparticles through confinement in ordered nanoporous structures

Abstract Accelerated aging of Pt diesel oxidation catalysts at 800 °C in the air causes vapor-phase emission of PtO2 leading to severe deterioration in catalyst activity. Here we show that the growth of Pt nanoparticle size can be restricted by locating the Pt within nanosized pores. The mechanism of Pt sintering within the pores changes from vapor phase transport to surface diffusion because the pore volume is rapidly saturated with gas-phase PtO2. This causes Pt particle growth within the pores to be restricted. Knudsen diffusion helps to slow the rate of Pt emission compared to an open-pore silica gel. However, the PtO2 that escapes from the pores grows to micron-sized particles, leading to loss of activity. The Pt retained in the pores grows large enough to block access to gas-phase reactants. These results provide insights for the design of pore structures to improve the durability of exhaust emission catalysts.
General strategy for tuning the Stokes shifts of near infrared cyanine dyes

We report a significant Stokes shift enhancement in near-infrared fluorescing cyanines as a result of C4′-substitution with cyclic or acyclic amines. Based on a combined experimental and density functional study, a simple strategy for optimizing the Stokes shift is proposed. By tuning the relative energies of cyanine-like and bis-dipolar conformers, differing in the rotational angle of the amine substituent, it is possible to develop molecules that undergo conformational change upon excitation, resulting in a predictable Stokes shift.
Nested Variant of Urothelial Carcinoma Is a Luminal Bladder Tumor With Distinct Coexpression of the Basal Marker Cytokeratin 5/6.

Objectives The nested variant of urothelial carcinoma (NVUC) is a rare bladder tumor that may possess a luminal molecular phenotype. We sought to determine whether a small immunohistochemical (IHC) panel using common surrogates for molecular phenotypes would reliably classify a cohort of pure NVUC cases. Methods IHC staining with a panel composed of markers for basal subtypes (CK5/6, CK14) and luminal subtypes (FOXA1, GATA3) was performed on pure small NVUC cases (n = 23) and 5 large NVUC cases (n = 5). Scoring of IHC stains was performed semiquantitatively. Individual cases were analyzed using previously reported IHC-based surrogates for molecular subtype. Results The phenotype of NVUC was classified as luminal from 60.1% (FOXA1+/CK5/6-) to 100% (GATA3+/CK14-) of cases using composite phenotypes. No cases possessed a basal or squamous cell carcinoma-like phenotype. The majority of small NVUC cases (69.5%) showed subset CK5/6 expression distinctly localized to the basal layers of tumor cell nests. Intratumoral heterogeneity was also noted in CK5/6 (21.7% of small NVUC cases) but no other markers. Conclusions NVUC appears to express markers of both basal and luminal bladder tumors. Definitive gene expression profiling may be valuable to further characterize this unique histologic variant.
Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) for plant nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N) in soybean

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) meets a large portion of its nitrogen (N) need via biological N2 fixation, which is highly sensitive to drought stress. Nitrogen isotope ratios between 15N and 14N (δ15N) can be used as a metric for relative differences among soybean genotypes for N2 fixation, as δ15N is negatively associated with N2 fixation. This study aimed to dissect the genetic basis of δ15N using a mapping population of 196 F6-derived recombinant inbred lines developed from a cross between PI 416997 and PI 567201D that was evaluated in multiple environments. There was a wide range of δ15N in all environments and narrow-sense heritability for δ15N was 35% when estimated across environments. Analysis of variance of δ15N showed significant effects of genotype and environment, whereas the genotype × environment interaction was not significant (P < 0.05). Inclusive composite interval mapping for individual environments identified 10 additive QTLs on seven chromosomes with additive effects ranging from 0.02 to 0.13‰ and that individually explained phenotypic variations from 1.72 to 9.34%. In total, eight QTL × environment interactions were found, and several genomic regions were involved in QTL × QTL interactions that were not identified as additive QTLs. These identified QTLs were co-localized with genomic regions associated with N2 fixation and other physiological traits identified in previous studies. A search for candidate genes resulted in detection of genes for nodulation and N-metabolism underlying many additive and epistatic QTLs. These identified regions may serve as potential targets for enhancing N2 fixation in soybean.
Exploitation and Cooperation in Networks

A fundamental question in social sciences is how trust emerges. We provide an answer which relies on the formation of social and economic relationships. We argue that behind trust lies the fact that individuals invest in connections taking into account the potential externalities networks produce. Once social ties are in place, these externalities shape the individuals' incentives to behave efficiently in their interactions and thereby efficient social norms are sustained. We also show that the individual's incentives depend on the architecture of the network as well as on the position of the individual within the network. In particular, when an efficient interaction requires players to mutually cooperate, efficient social norms are easily sustained in symmetric networks. By contrast, when an efficient interaction requires players to play asymmetrically (one cooperates and the other free-rides), efficient social norms are best sustained in fully centralized architectures. We interpret these results indicating that a structural analysis is important to understand how individuals' incentives are shaped in many strategic contexts.
Modeling Magnetically Influenced Phase Transformations in Alloys

We have investigated four models for calculating the contribution of an applied magnetic field to the free energy of Fe and Fe alloys—Weiss Molecular Field Theory (WMFT), Kuz’min, Arrott, and Curie-Weiss. On the basis of these models, the shifts in phase transformation including both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases as a function of magnetic field and alloy content can be predicted. The Kuz’min model is easiest to solve and is also best able to predict the trends in experimentally observed shifts in ferrite/austenite phase transformations for Fe-based alloys under an applied magnetic field both below and near the Curie temperature. For phase transformations above the Curie temperature, the predictions using the Curie-Weiss form with WMFT parameters, here extended to alloy systems, are in good agreement with experimental results. Different aspects of the four models have been discussed in detail with a view to developing a reliable methodology to predict shifts in phase diagrams as a function of alloy content.
Early Impact of the U.S. COVID-19 Pandemic on Drinking Motives and Alcohol Use.

Background: The goal of this study was to empirically examine the degree to which alcohol use and drinking motives changed during the first month of the pandemic and to examine individual differenc...
Incidence and Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Stimulator Lead Migration With or Without Loss of Efficacy: A Retrospective Review of 91 Consecutive Thoracic Lead Implants.

Objective Lead migration after spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implant is a commonly reported complication and the most common reason for revision surgery in cases of loss of efficacy. The primary aims of this study are to describe the incidence and degree of lead migration in the subacute postoperative period after SCS implant and to report potential risk factors for lead migration. Materials and methods We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients at a single academic center who received an SCS implant from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. Information on patient (age, sex, weight, and height) and operative factors (device manufacturer, epidural access level and method, and implantable pulse generator location) were extracted from medical records. Intraoperative imaging was compared to subacute follow-up imaging obtained less than 20 days postimplant to measure lead migration distance. Regression models were fitted to determine associations between lead migration distance and potential clinical risk factors. Results A total of 91 cases (182 leads) were included in the study. Within 20 days of implantation, 88.5% of leads had migrated (86.3% caudal and 2.2% cephalad). Mean migration distance for leads with caudal migration only was 12.34 ± 12.19 mm based on antero-posterior radiographs and 16.95 ± 15.68 mm on lateral radiographs. There was an association of greater caudal lead migration as patient body mass index increased (β-coefficient 0.07 [95% confidence interval 0.01-0.13], p = 0.031). Within the entire cohort, one patient (1.1%) required lead revision for loss of efficacy. Conclusions In the subacute postoperative period after SCS implant, the majority of SCS leads migrated caudally with an average of two lead contacts. Knowledge of this expected migration and risk factors can better inform implanting physicians intraoperatively when deciding final lead placement location. The finding of high likelihood of caudal lead migration in the subacute postoperative period brings the need for a well-designed prospective study to the forefront of our field. This will allow implanting providers to make well-informed decisions for intraoperative lead placement.
Preparation of Magnetically Labeled Cells for Cell Tracking by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the preparation of magnetically labeled cells for cell tracking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Magnetic resonance (MR) tracking of magnetically labeled cells following transplantation or transfusion is a rapidly evolving new field. At one hand, MR cell tracking with its excellent spatial resolution can be used as a noninvasive tool to provide unique information on the dynamics of cell movement within and from tissues in animal disease models. As for MR contrast agents, gadolinium is the most effective paramagnetic contrast agent, owing to its seven unpaired electrons, but its relaxivity is far lower than the so-called superparamagnetic iron oxides. A significant improvement of labeling of nonphagocytic cells has been achieved by linking the particles to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tat peptide. The distribution of magnetic microsphere-labeled porcine mesenchymal stem cells has been studied in a swine myocardial infarct model using MRI. Control cells are run side-by-side to determine the percent increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the labeled cells. A transient increase in ROS production is also observed for the labeled cells.
Gas Exchange Measurements in Natural Systems

Our direct knowledge of the rates of gas exchange in lakes and the ocean is based almost entirely on measurements of the isotopes 14c, 222Rn and 3He. The distribution of natural radiocarbon has yielded the average rate of CO2 exchange for the ocean and for several closed basin lakes. That of bomb produced radiocarbon has been used in the same systems. The 222Rn to 226Ra ratio in open ocean surface water has been used to give local short term gas exchange rates. The radon method generally cannot be used in lakes, rivers, estuaries or shelf areas because of the input of radon from sediments. A few attempts have been made to use the excess 3He produced by decay of bomb produced tritium in lakes to give gas transfer rates. The uncertainty in the molecular diffusivity of helium and in the diffusivity dependence of the rate of gas transfer holds back the application of this method. A few attemps have been made to enrich the surface waters of small lakes with 226Ra and 3H in order to allow the use of the 222Rn and 3He methods.
Transformative Linguistic Styles in Divorce Mediation

The purpose of this study is to test the influence of the transformative mediation (TM) linguistic markers of empowerment and recognition on mediation outcome. The linguistic structure of the word usage in 20 divorce mediation cases was analyzed with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count program. Overall empowerment and recognition linguistic markers for husbands and wives were compiled and analyzed to determine the differences in linguistic usage between disputants. While some linguistic markers differed in the hypothesized direction, others remained relatively static. Husbands and wives in settled mediations had higher levels of linguistic synchrony for positive empowerment markers than husbands and wives in unsettled mediations. Findings were partially supportive of the role that language reflective of the TM model plays in helping disputants reach a settlement. The implications of current findings for future research are also discussed.
A 32/spl times/24-bit multiplier-accumulator with advanced rectangular styled Wallace-tree structure

We introduce the advanced rectangular styled Wallace-tree construction method. This method realizes a compact layout and high-speed operation of multiplier. A 32/spl times/24-bit multiplier-accumulator was constructed using this new method. 540 um/spl times/840 um area size and 300 MHz clock speed were achieved using 0.15 um CMOS logic process technology with flash memory.
Alloimmunization to platelets in heavily transfused patients with sickle cell disease

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is now an option for some patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Many SCD patients are multiply transfused with red blood cells (RBCs), and may be immunized to alloantigens other than erythrocyte antigens. Because platelet refractoriness is a significant complication during BMT, we wished to determine the prevalence of alloimmunization to platelets in transfused SCD patients. Sera collected from 47 transfused and 14 untransfused SCD patients were screened for HLA and platelet-specific antibodies. Transfusion and RBC antibody histories were reviewed. A subset of the patients were rescreened 1 year later. Eighty-five percent of patients with at least 50 RBC transfusions (22 of 26), 48% of patients with less than 50 transfusions (10 of 21), and none of 14 untransfused patients demonstrated platelet alloimmunization (P < .05). Platelet alloimmunization was more prevalent than RBC alloimmunization (20% to 30%). Half of the platelet reactivity was chloroquine-elutable. Eighteen of 22 patients (82%) on chronic RBC transfusion remained platelet-alloimmunized 11 to 22 months after initial testing. In summary, 85% of heavily transfused SCD patients are alloimmunized to HLA and/or platelet-specific antigens. These patients may be refractory to platelet transfusion, a condition that would increase their risk during BMT. Leukodepletion in the transfusion support of SCD patients should be considered to prevent platelet alloimmunization.
Vitamin A and carotenoid inter-relationships in bovine plasma and liver.

Summary Arithmetic and log functions of bovine liver and plasma vitamin A and carotenoid were correlated in all possible combinations within each of four sampling periods. Little or no relationship existed between plasma and hepatic vitamin A or between hepatic carotenoid and plasma vitamin A. Positive relationships were found to exist between plasma carotenoid and hepatic carotenoid, hepatic carotenoid and hepatic vitamin A, plasma carotenoid and plasma vitamin A, and hepatic vitamin A and plasma carotenoid. The correlation coefficients were, however, so small that any known variable had little predictive value. There was no apparent advantage in using the exponential functions for any of the variables. The correlations were not conspicuously superior in magnitude for any given sampling period. The variances for sex and year subclasses were found to be homogeneous within most of the sampling periods, but considerable variation existed among the correlation coefficients computed.
Reduction of classroom noise levels using group contingencies

The therapeutic workplace is an employment-based abstinence reinforcement intervention for unemployed drug users where trainees receive on-the-job employment skills training in a classroom setting. The study is an extension of prior therapeutic workplace research, which suggested that trainees frequently violated noise standards. Participants received real-time graphed feedback of noise levels and had the opportunity to earn monetary group reinforcement for maintaining a low number of noise violations. Results suggested that feedback and monetary reinforcement reduced the number of noise violations.
Separate and unequal: Prison versus free-world medical care

Rusche and Kirchheimer argued that attempts at penal reform are limited by a principle of less eligibility, by which the regimen of punishment is made harsher than the conditions of life among the least well-off members of the working classes. In addition, Black posited that the benefits of law are inversely related to stratification and morphology; that is, inmates would be entitled to fewer benefits in law than would free-world citizens. Today the penal harm movement strives to make prison life harder, asserting that comfortable prison conditions are responsible for high crime rates. Critics frequently blame judicial intervention in prison operations for upsetting the careful calibration necessary to deter crime. In this article we examine these assertions by focusing on medical care litigation. Comparing the legal rules and precedents used to hold prison physicians liable for inadequate medical care under 42 U.S.C., Section 1983 with the standards customarily employed by courts in evaluating medical ma...
Involvement of nitric oxide in synaptic plasticity and learning

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a recently appreciated, short-lived diffusible messenger which serves as an important signaling molecule in both the central and peripheral nervous system. The enzyme that synthesizes nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is broadly distributed in the brain in several distinct neuronal populations. The distribution of the NOS, as well as the short half-life and diffusible nature of NO, has prompted several studies exploring the potential role of NO in various forms of animal learning and synaptic plasticity. In this review, we discuss the evidence that NO is involved in two major forms of long-lasting neuronal plasticity: hippocampal long-term potentiation and cerebellar long-term depression. In addition, the possibility that NO is involved in several different forms of animal learning, including water maze performance, passive avoidance conditioning and associatively conditioned eyeblink responses, is also examined.
Expression of an Extracellular Calcium-Sensing Receptor in Human and Mouse Bone Marrow Cells

The cloning of a G protein–coupled, extracellular calcium (Ca2+e)-sensing receptor (CaR) from bovine parathyroid provided direct evidence that Ca2+e-sensing can occur through receptor-mediated activation of G proteins and their associated downstream regulators of cellular function. CaR transcripts and protein are present in various tissues of humans and other mammals that are involved in Ca2+e homeostasis, including parathyroid, kidney, and thyroidal C-cells. The present study was performed to determine whether bone marrow cells express the CaR, since cells within the marrow space could be exposed to substantial changes in Ca2+e related to bone turnover. Using DNA and RNA probes from the human parathyroid CaR cDNA, we identified CaR transcripts of 5.2 and ∼4.0 kilobases by Northern analysis of poly(A+) RNA from low-density mononuclear cells isolated from whole human bone marrow that are putatively enriched in marrow progenitor cells, including bone cell precursors. In situ hybridization also identified CaR transcripts in the same cell preparations. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated >99% nucleotide identity between transcripts from human bone marrow cells and the corresponding regions of the human CaR cDNA. Antisera specific for several different regions within the extracellular domain of the CaR were reactive with low-density human marrow cells that were either adherent or nonadherent to plastic. About one-third of the adherent, CaR-immunoreactive cells were also positive for alkaline phosphatase, a nonspecific marker of preosteoblasts, osteoblasts, and assorted cells of the colony-forming unit-fibroblast lineage. In addition, a substantial fraction (∼60%) of low density murine marrow cells cultured for 1 week at 4.8 mM Ca2+e expressed both CaR immunoreactivity and nonspecific esterase, an enzyme expressed by monocyte/macrophages and fibroblasts. Finally, erythroid precursors and megakaryocytes from murine marrow as well as blood platelets expressed abundant CaR immunoreactivity, while peripheral blood erythrocytes and most polymorphonuclear leukocytes did not. These studies indicate that the CaR is present in low-density mononuclear bone marrow cells as well as in cells of several hematopoietic lineages and could potentially play a role in controlling the function of various cell types within the marrow space.
Pyrophoricity of nascent and passivated aluminum particles at nano-scales

Abstract Pyrophoricity of nascent and passivated nano-aluminum particles in air is studied theoretically using energy balance analyses. The work incorporates size-dependence of physicochemical properties of particles at nano-scales, and considers free-molecular and radiation heat exchange with the surrounding environment. The heterogeneous oxidation process is modeled using the Mott–Cabrera mechanism. Nascent aluminum particles with diameters lower than 32 nm are predicted to be pyrophoric. The critical diameter for particles passivated with 0.3-nm thick oxide layer is calculated as 3.8 nm. Particles with oxide layers thicker than 0.3 nm are found to be non-pyrophoric. The sensitivity analysis suggests that the model results are significantly affected by the choice of physicochemical properties, polymorphic state of the oxide layer, parameters of the Mott–Cabrera oxidation kinetics, and heat-transfer correlation. The critical particle size increases by 40%, when bulk material properties calculated at room temperature are used and the oxide layer is assumed to be in a crystalline form. It decreases by 43%, when free-molecular effects are neglected.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of an Enteral Nutrition Feeding System

Methods: Costs associated with an O-ENS were compared to a C-ENS using contract pricing for each system. Potential for wastage of formula with either system was evaluated based on total formula delivered in a 24 hour period. Data was collected over a 3 week period in forty-seven enterally fed patients resulting in data points for 189 enteral feeding days. Waste was determined based on the amount leftover in a 24 hour period with each system.
Calcium phosphate-chitosan composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Macroporous calcium phosphate–chitosan composite scaffolds were fabricated and evaluated for use in bone tissue engineering. Human osteoblast-like MG63 cells were cultured on the composite scaffolds, and their response to the materials was studied. Cell morphology, total protein content, and expression of classic markers for osteoblast differentiation were characterized. MG63 cells on the hydroxyapatite scaffolds nesting chitosan sponges (HC1) showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level and osteocalcin (OC) production during the 11-day culture period, compared with the control culture on tissue culture plates. Cells on the chitosan scaffolds incorporated with hydroxyapatite powders (HC2) exhibited lower ALP activity during the 11-day culture period and OC secretion during the first 7 days, in comparison with that on HC1. The addition of calcium phosphate glass as in HC3 scaffolds increased the ALP and OC levels of MG63 cells. Our study indicated that the hydroxyapatite–matrix composite sc...
Novel model for uniaxial strain‐rate–dependent stress–strain behavior of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber in compression or tension

Based on quasi-static and dynamic experimental results, a novel strain-rate–dependent model for ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber was developed. This model, composed of a base model and rate-sensitivity terms, has a relatively simple form to be embedded in computer codes for numerical simulations. The base model combines a Maxwell model and a Mooney function. The Maxwell model is necessary to describe small-strain behavior, whereas the Mooney function dominates the large-strain behavior. Each of these two components is then multiplied by a rate-sensitive term to describe the material's strain-rate sensitivities at both small and large strains. This model gives a good description of EPDM response in both compression and tension over a wide range of strain rates with a minimum number of material constants. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1553–1558, 2004
The queer life of Christian exceptionalism

This response to Jasbir Puar's monograph, Terrorist Assemblages: Homonationalism in Queer Times (2007. Durham, NC: Duke University Press), brings Puar's analysis to bear on the current attraction to ‘Christian identity’ as a historical analytic in the fields of New Testament and early Christian Studies, and to increasing associations of the ancient emergence of ‘Christian identity’ with transgressive queerness. I argue that this latter trend, especially, abets certain forms of Christian exceptionalism under the guise of resistance against empire, but I also suggest that this scholarship reveals certain affinities between the notion of queerness as pure transgression and contemporary Christianity.
Sex Differences in Exercise Motivation and Body-Image Satisfaction among College Students:

The current study was an expansion of one by Cash, Novy, and Grant in 1994, in which responses of 101 female nursing students were examined for associations between reasons for exercise, frequency of exercise, and body-image satisfaction. In the current study, 78 male and 100 female undergraduates between the ages of 18 and 25 years (M = 21.2, SD = 1.9) from various majors completed a demographics/frequency of exercise survey, two body-assessment inventories, and the Reasons for Exercise Inventory of Silberstein, Striegel-Moore, Timko, and Rodin. Contrary to Cash, et al.'s findings, only health and fitness reasons were predictive of women's frequency of exercise, and women's dissatisfaction with specific bodily attributes was not significantly related to any reasons for exercising; however, like women in their sample, the current students who experienced more situational body dissatisfaction exercised for appearance and weight control. Sex comparisons indicated similar dissatisfaction with specific bodily attributes among men and women, but values were not significantly associated with any reasons for exercising. Women reported higher situational body dissatisfaction and exercising for appearance-related reasons more than men. Current participants may represent a more diverse group than previously tested, and the inventory's factor structure may not be generalizable to men and women.
Microwave impedance spectroscopy of dense carbon nanotube bundles.

We have performed impedance spectroscopy of dense carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles in the broad frequency range from 10 MHz to 67 GHz. Dense CNT bundles were formed on sharp tips from aqueous suspensi...
Ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids alleviate childhood atopic dermatitis: Changes in barrier function provide a sensitive indicator of disease activity

Abstract Background: It is currently fashionable to consider atopic dermatitis (AD), like other inflammatory dermatoses, as immunologic in pathogenesis ("inside-outside" hypothesis). Accordingly, topical glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressive agents are mainstays of therapy, but the risk of toxicity from these agents is not insignificant, particularly in children. Alternatively, because stratum corneum (SC) permeability barrier function is also abnormal in AD, it has been hypothesized that the barrier abnormality could drive disease activity. Yet commonly used emollients and moisturizers do not correct the SC ceramide deficiency, the putative cause of the barrier abnormality. Objectives: We assessed the efficacy of a newly developed, ceramide-dominant, physiologic lipid-based emollient, when substituted for currently used moisturizers, in 24 children who were also receiving standard therapy for stubborn-to-recalcitrant AD. Methods: All subjects continued prior therapy (eg, topical tacrolimus or corticosteroids), only substituting the barrier repair emollient for their prior moisturizer. Follow-up evaluations, which included severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) values and several biophysical measures of SC function, were performed every 3 weeks for 20 to 21 weeks. Results: SCORAD values improved significantly in 22 of 24 patients by 3 weeks, with further progressive improvement in all patients between 6 and 20 or 21 weeks. Transepidermal water loss levels (TEWL), which were elevated over involved and uninvolved areas at entry, decreased in parallel with SCORAD scores and continued to decline even after SCORAD scores plateaued. Both SC integrity (cohesion) and hydration also improved slowly but significantly during therapy. Finally, the ultrastructure of the SC, treated with ceramide-dominant emollient, revealed extracellular lamellar membranes, which were largely absent in baseline SC samples. Conclusion: These studies suggest that (1) a ceramide-dominant, barrier repair emollient represents a safe, useful adjunct to the treatment of childhood AD and (2) TEWL is at least as sensitive an indicator of fluctuations in AD disease activity as are SCORAD values. These studies support the outside-inside hypothesis as a component of pathogenesis in AD and other inflammatory dermatoses that are accompanied by a barrier abnormality. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;47:198-208.)
A novel modified dynamic conformal arc technique for treatment of peripheral lung tumors using stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Abstract Purpose To describe and compare a novel, modified dynamic conformal arc (MDCA) technique for lung stereotactic body radiation therapy with the standard noncoplanar beam (NCB) technique based on stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) coverage, dose conformality, normal tissue constraints, and treatment time. Materials and Methods Twenty consecutive medically inoperable patients with early stage, peripheral, non–small cell lung cancer treated with SBRT using an NCB technique were re-planned with a novel MDCA technique. Treatment plans were compared based on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0236 criteria for planning treatment volume (PTV) coverage and normal tissue dose constraints, as well as high- and moderate-dose conformality. Treatment times necessary to deliver the NCB plans were compared with the times of a separate group of 12 consecutive patients treated with the MDCA technique at our institution. Results The MDCA technique resulted in improved coverage of the cranial and caudal regions of the PTV and generated plans that were significantly more conformal by all high-dose criteria proposed by the RTOG protocol. In terms of moderate-dose criteria, MDCA plans had a significantly lower maximum dose (2 cm from the PTV), whereas the ratio of the 50% dose volume to the volume of the PTV was equivalent between the 2 techniques. All normal tissue dose constraints proposed in the RTOG 0236 protocol were met by each plan, although the median lung V20 and mean lung dose were slightly higher in the MDCA plans, whereas the chest wall dose was slightly lower. A 42% reduction in treatment time was observed when patients treated with the NCB technique were compared with a separate cohort of 12 patients treated with the MDCA technique (P Conclusions The new MDCA technique described in this study resulted in enhanced PTV coverage, improved high- and moderate-dose conformality, simplified treatment planning, and reduced treatment time compared with results using the standard NCB technique.
Re-emission of implanted deuterium from the back side of a stainless steel membrane☆

A magnetically analyzed beam of Dt ions of energy 2.5-20 keV is directed onto a type 301 stainless steel target of thickness 0.0025 cm. The implanted deuterium atoms which are not trapped can diffuse to both the front and back surfaces of the target where they can combine with other deuterium atoms and be re-emitted as neutral D, molecules. The present experiment monitors the re-emission of D, from the back side of the target by following the rise in the partial pressure of mass 4 within the chamber behind the target using a residual gas analyzer (RGA). At the projectile energies of this experiment, the projectile range is insignificant compared with the target thickness. Prior to bombardment, the target was outgassed at or above 100°C for several minutes and then allowed to stabilize at the desired temperature. Recent work by Thomas et al. [l] has shown that trapped deuterium is largely released at a temperature of 95’C, so this outgassing procedure should be sufficient to remove trapped D in the target. The lack of detectable mass 18 (DO) and mass 20 (D,O) pressures during implantation suggested the surface of the target did not have significant oxygen contamination. Temperature measurement of the target showed no significant beam heating of the target. In fig. 1 we show a series of RGA traces of the deuterium re-emission from the back surface taken with 10 keV D’ incident on a target at 1OO’C. There is no significant time delay between commencing bombardment (t = 0) and the onset of re-emission. Conventional diffusion theory [2] suggests that the time for the deuterium to diffuse through a distance I of a target where the diffusion coefficient is D should be given by
Age-Related Expression of PEDF/EPC-1 in Human Endometrial Stromal Fibroblasts: Implications for Interactive Senescence

Aging is the major risk factor for many cancers, and age-related changes in the tissue microenvironment can facilitate tumor growth. This study uses human endometrial cells to begin to test the hypothesis that age-related changes in pigment epithelium-derived factor/early population doubling cDNA-1 (PEDF/EPC-1) levels create an environment that is more permissive to tumor growth. Endometrial stromal fibroblasts (ESF) are the predominant cell type in the human endometrium and exert regulatory control over the glandular epithelial cells, which are the source of most tumors. As ESF age in vitro, their ability to regulate appropriate growth and differentiation of epithelial cells declines. Endometrial epithelial cells in primary culture expressed relatively low levels of PEDF/EPC-1 mRNA. In contrast, early passage quiescent ESF from adult donors produce higher levels of the 1.5-kb PEDF/EPC-1 mRNA and 50-kDa secreted protein than epithelial cells. As ESF age in vitro the relative abundance of PEDF/EPC-1 mRNA declines, as does the level of PEDF/EPC-1 protein secreted into cell culture medium. Treatment with PEDF/EPC-1 protein had no effect on ESF proliferation but did inhibit anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent proliferation of endometrial carcinoma cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings imply that an age-related loss of PEDF/EPC-1 expression by ESF could eliminate a negative regulator of cancer cell growth and, thereby, contribute to the age-related increase in cancer incidence.