cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Appropriate Use of Transesophageal Echocardiogram for Infective Endocarditis: A Single Center Experience

Background. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is a valuable tool in healthcare today with its ease of use, ability to visualize important structures not seen on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), and the relatively lower cost of TEE, high yield, and no significant radiation exposure. The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) has developed an appropriate use criteria for use of TTE and TEE, which outline various scenarios where a TEE is indicated as an initial diagnostic testing modality and when it is useful as an adjunctive test in hopes of decreasing inappropriate use. Using these criteria as a guide, we devised a quality assessment study to investigate how well TEEs performed at our institution fit the appropriate use criteria specifically for the diagnostic workup of infective endocarditis. Methods. A retrospective chart review was performed for all TEEs performed in 2017 with the indication of endocarditis. Baseline patient characteristics, presence of bacteremia, and the quality of the TTE preceding the TEE were noted, as well as whether a vegetation, abscess, or perforation was visualized. We also determined if there was a cardiology consultation placed prior to TEE and if the patient had met the definition for endocarditis as defined by the Duke criteria. Finally, we made note of the TEE findings and assessed whether the TEE met appropriate use criteria developed by the American Society of Echocardiography. Results. A total of 50 patients who underwent TEE with the indication of “endocarditis” were identified. 36% of the TTEs prior to the TEE were rated as good quality, 40% as adequate, 4% as fair, 4% as suboptimal, 12% as technically difficult, and 4% were not rated. Vegetations were visualized on 12% of TTEs, 6% of patients had a prosthetic valve, and 6% had a cardiac device. In 20% of the cases, there was no cardiology consultation prior to the TEE and in 20% of the cases, there was no documented bacteremia. 26% of patients met the Duke criteria for endocarditis prior to TEE. Only 36% of TEEs revealed evidence of infection and of the patients with no evidence of infection, only 38% met appropriate use criteria. Overall, only 56% of patients met appropriate use criteria for TEE. Conclusion. Transesophageal echocardiography is a valuable tool in a modern physician’s arsenal for managing a variety of diseases and conditions. However, the procedure is not without associated risks and its ease of use and widespread adoption has led to frequent questionable appropriateness of use of the test. Only 56% of the TEEs performed in our analysis met appropriate use. More awareness and education is needed for the appropriate use criteria for transesophageal echocardiography as outlined by the ASE to help reduce patient exposure to procedure related complications and to decrease medical costs on unnecessary procedures.
High-transition-temperature nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices directly written with a focused helium ion beam

In this work, we present nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) with dimensions as small as 10 nm from the high-transition-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3 O 7 − δ (YBCO). The SQUID features and Josephson junctions are directly written into a 35-nm thick YBCO film with a focused helium ion beam. We integrate these nano-SQUIDs with directly written nano-isolated inductively coupled control lines to demonstrate a low power superconducting output driver capable of transimpedance conversion over a very wide temperature range of 4–50 K.
Surface Segregation Across Ternary Alloy Composition Space: CuxAuyPd1-x-y

Surface segregation is a phenomenon common to all multicomponent materials and one that plays a critical role in determining their surface properties. Comprehensive study of surface segregation ver...
1.129 – Engineering the Biophysical Properties of Basement Membranes into Biomaterials: Fabrication and Effects on Cell Behavior

Endothelial and epithelial cells receive biochemical and biophysical cues from a specialized extracellular environment called the basement membrane (BM). Mimicking the biophysical cues, including the elastic modulus and the structural topography of the BM, is one approach used in tissue engineering to fabricate biomaterials for tissue regeneration. The biophysical properties of many BMs present within tissues have been characterized, and the findings highlight that the BM is composed of a compliant protein matrix with nanofibrous texture. Researchers use various fabrication methods to develop materials that probe how the biophysical scale of the BM controls cellular behavior. For example, studies have demonstrated that BM relevant nanotopography can elicit different cell responses (as measured by morphology, proliferation, migration, etc.) compared to micron-scale topography. In addition, cell response to the physical environment is dependent on multiple factors such as the soluble environment and the cell type. These studies demonstrate that biophysical cues are essential components to be included in the design of cell studies for tissue engineering.
The Organic Matrix of Restorative Composites and Adhesives

Abstract The evolution of dental composites has been astounding since they were first introduced in the early 1960’s. The concerns involving wear of posterior restorations have been virtually eliminated with the introduction of novel filler technologies, which have expanded the realm of applications of these materials. The organic matrix of the material, however, has remained largely unchanged since the early days, and still relies on methacrylate chemistry in virtually all materials currently commercially available. Methacrylates are undoubtedly well-suited for this application, due to the relatively fast polymerization rates at room temperature, and the possibility for on-demand cure via photo-activated mechanisms. Many different photoinitiators have been proposed, and more recently, alternative visible light initiators that are white in color have been used to produce even more esthetic shades. The major potential drawback involving methacrylates is the presence of the relatively labile ester bond, which may be degraded in the presence of aqueous solutions and/or by the action of salivary and dentin-derived enzymes. This degradation of the organic matrix is one the factors responsible for the relatively short life-time of these restorations, with several reports in the literature pointing to an average of 10 years or less. For that reason, in the last 10 years or so, a lot of effort has been concentrated in innovation of the organic matrix phase, with emphasis in alternative chemistries. This chapter will focus on the recent developments in monomers and additives proposed to enhance the durability of dental composite restorations, including materials with reduced degradation and polymerization stress and increased resistance to fracture. Ultimately, the authors seek to stimulate a reflection on the future perspectives for materials development for this application.
1383-P: Longitudinal Observation of Insulin Use and Glucose Time-in-Range in T1D Pregnancy

The target time in range (TIR) for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by the International Consensus on TIR is 70% between 63-140 mg/dL. This is difficult to achieve and is rarely met in the literature. Insulin use increases during pregnancy, but prospective data and guidance on pump setting adjustments are limited. Insulin pump delivery and CGM data for 17 T1D women from 3 U.S. sites were prospectively collected every 2 weeks as part of the LOIS-P trial. Subjects enrolled before 17 weeks gestational age (GA) and wore personal pumps and study Dexcom G6 CGM. Changes in mean daily total, basal and bolus doses per kilogram, and TIR for every 2 weeks GA are reported, and linear mixed effects regression models are used for evaluation across trimesters. Enrollment HbA1C was 6.4±0.8%. Total daily dose increased from 0.68 to 0.73 to 0.98 U/kg during the first, second and third trimesters, respectively (p 70% TIR during pregnancy. Time below target was 5%, 4% and 2%. Doses trended upwards around 24 weeks GA. Postpartum doses decreased significantly. While insulin doses were increased significantly across pregnancy, most subjects did not achieve > 70% TIR. Systems that are customized to this population’s targets with changing insulin sensitivity are needed. Disclosure G. O’Malley: Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc. B. Ozaslan: None. C. Levister: None. M. Trinidad: None. K.N. Castorino: Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Medtronic, Mylan, Novo Nordisk Inc. D. Desjardins: None. M. Church: None. B.H. Smith: None. S.J. Ogyaadu: None. M. Piper: None. C. Reid: None. S.K. McCrady-Spitzer: None. R. Kaur: None. W.K. Kremers: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. F.J. Doyle: Research Support; Self; DreaMed Diabetes, Tandem Diabetes Care, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Mode AGC. Other Relationship; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Roche Diabetes Care. J.E. Pinsker: Advisory Panel; Self; Medtronic. Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Tandem Diabetes Care. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation, Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Tandem Diabetes Care. C.J. Levy: Consultant; Self; Dexcom, Inc. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Allergan plc. Research Support; Self; Abbott, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation. B. Rosenn: None. Y.C. Kudva: Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Roche Diabetes Care. Other Relationship; Self; Abbott. E. Dassau: Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., DreaMed Diabetes, Tandem Diabetes Care, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Roche Diabetes Care. Other Relationship; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Roche Diabetes Care. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01DK120358); Dexcom, Inc. (AP-2018-016)
My Personal Transition

This chapter is constructed slightly different from the other chapters within this text, as it is told exclusively from the perspective of the author. Comprised primarily of the experiences of the author, this examination attempts to provide a more humanistic view of this transition from practitioner to higher education. Included within this chapter are the following topics and considerations that went into the transition, and ultimately, the writing of this book. Topics covered include what drove this transition in the first place, which pieces of advice worked well and which ones could be improved, factors related to possibly relocating for work, how to develop an appropriate and robust academic persona/identity, and whether or not alternative options might make more sense at first. Unique to this chapter in particular, the content and discussion included herein present a unique perspective specific to the author. That said, the feedback and insights created as a result of these experiences might add a different point of view and perspective for potential academics.
Grieving Over Settlement: The Role of Loss in Settlement Negotiations

The development of negotiation theory and growth of mediation has greatly improved, in fact transformed, how disputes are resolved in America and, increasingly, around the world. Yet in emphasizing so strongly the creative potential of these techniques we have obscured an equally important reality—that in even the best settlement negotiations many, perhaps most, parties must deal with significant feelings of loss. The perception of disputants that they are losing as they bargain is important for several reasons: Emotions stimulated by loss have a special intensity and often appear without warning, at times when the bargaining process is most vulnerable. The behaviors provoked by these feelings resemble tactics used by adversarial bargainers, magnifying their disruptive impact. Finally, for some disputants their case takes on a significance that makes them reluctant to resolve it on any terms. Disputants’ struggles with perceptions of loss, and the feelings and behaviors they stimulate, are a primary reason that settlement negotiations fail. This article explores the following issues: What causes parties to feel they are losing as they negotiate? What emotions does this experience provoke, and how do they affect bargaining behavior? And what strategies can mediators use to deal with these feelings and behaviors and assist parties to settle?
High Frequency Spectral Ultrasound Imaging Detects Early Heterotopic Ossification in Rodents

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a devastating condition in which ectopic bone forms inappropriately in soft tissues following traumatic injuries and orthopedic surgeries as a result of aberrant me...
Novel KRAS mutation in an unusual tectal low-grade glioma

An 8-year-old boy with no significant medical history or family history presented with 1–2 weeks of decreased visual acuity and blurry vision. The patient denied any headaches, vomiting, dizziness, seizures or weakness. Physical examination was significant for poorly reactive pupils, constricted
Molecular docking studies, in-silico ADMET predictions and synthesis of novel PEGA-nucleosides as antimicrobial agents targeting class B1 metallo-β-lactamases.

Class B1 metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) are metalloenzymes found in drug resistant bacteria. The enzyme requires zinc ions, along with conserved amino acid coordination for nucleophilic attack of the lactam ring to induce hydrolysis and inactivation of β-lactam and some carbapenem antibiotics. To this date there are no clinically relevant class B1 MBL inhibitors, however L-captopril has shown significant results against NDM-1, the most difficult MBL to inhibit. Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of novel nucleoside analogues modified with polyethylene glycolamino (PEGA) as potential inhibitors for class B1 MBLs. Molecular dynamics simulations, using internal coordinate mechanics (ICM) algorithm, were performed on subclass B1 enzyme complex models screened with twenty-one possible PEGA-nucleosides. Analogue A, 3′-deoxy-3′-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethanamino)-β-D-xylofuranosyluracil showed superior binding, with high specificity to the conserved zinc ions in the class B1 MBL active site by utilizing key β-lactam mimic points in the uridine nucleobase. The PEGA moiety showed chelating activity with zinc and disrupted the metal-binding amino acid geometry. In all subclass B1 proteins tested, analogue A had the most effective inhibition when compared to penicillin or L-captopril. Chemical synthesis was performed by condensation of the corresponding keto ribonucleoside with PEGA, followed by enantioselective reduction of the formed imine to produce the amino derivative with desired configuration. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic screenings revealed that PEGA-pyrimidine nucleosides are not toxic, nor violate Lipinski’s rules. These results suggested that analogue A can be proposed as a potential metalloenzyme inhibitor against the widespread antibiotic resistant bacteria and is worth further in vitro and in vivo investigations.
Prevalent and Dynamic Binding of the Cell Cycle Checkpoint Kinase Rad53 to Gene Promoters

Replication of the genome must be coordinated with gene transcription and cellular metabolism. These processes are controlled in part by the Rad53 (CHEK2 in mammals) checkpoint kinase and the Mrc1 replisome component, especially following replication stress in the presence of limiting deoxyribonucleotides. We examined cell cycle regulated, genome-wide binding of Rad53 to chromatin. The kinase bound to sites of active DNA replication initiation and fork progression, but unexpectedly to the promoters of numerous genes (>20% of all genes) involved in many cellular functions. At some genes, Rad53 promoter binding correlated with changes in gene expression. Rad53 promoter binding to certain genes is influenced by sequence-specific transcription factors and less by checkpoint signaling. In checkpoint mutants, untimely activation of late-replicating origins reduces the transcription of nearby genes, with concomitant localization of Rad53 to their gene bodies. We suggest that the Rad53 checkpoint kinase coordinates genome-wide replication and transcription under stress conditions.
ASL-Pro: American Sign Language Animation with Prosodic Elements

Efforts to animate American Sign Language (ASL) are aimed at eliminating barriers preventing ASL-using Deaf children from achieving their full potential. These barriers result from reduced information acces- sibility and affect language, cognitive development, and general education. Deaf children receive limited input with which they are unable to inter- act. Digital learning materials with ASL translation in the form of realistic 3D character animations can provide a solution to this problem. However, existing ASL animations lack the characteristics of natural, intelligible signing, producing stilted, robot-like signing when signs are put into sen- tences. What they lack is linguistic "prosody": rhythmic phrasing, stress, and intonation. In ASL these markers are provided by timing and the face, head, and body. Our goal is to remedy this situation by adding predictable prosodic markers using algorithms that reflect the content and syntax of the signs in sequence. We refer to this new animation capability as ASL- pro, that is, ASL with pro(sody). Specifically, we describe (1) develop- ment of computational algorithms for inserting basic prosodic markers (e.g. facial articulations) and editing basic prosodic modifiers (e.g. length- ening sign duration in phrase-final position), and (2) design, development and initial evaluation of a new user interface allowing users to input Eng- lish sentences in ASL-pro notation to automatically generate correspond- ing signing animations with prosodic elements.
Daily Interruption of Sedatives to Improve Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients

Sedation in critically ill patients has been considered fundamental by intensivists to facilitate clinical care and improve patient comfort. Lately, there is growing evidence that a lower exposure to sedative agents, particularly benzodiazepines, improves patients outcome in term of survival and intensive care unit length of stay.
The Child and the State in India: Twenty Years Later

Twenty years ago, Myron Weiner described the laggard condition of mass education in India in a groundbreaking book, The Child and the State in India. Relative to other countries with similar economies, India trailed across almost every single educational measure. Weiner ascribed much of India's shortcomings in education to lack of governmental support from the leaders at the Centre, leaders whom he suspected would always resist improving mass education. Since the publication of Weiner’s book, however, governmental support for Indian education has improved dramatically. In this paper, I examine what influences national-level government support for social development in the developing world. I do so by examining why Indian national-level government officials have shown a serious commitment to mass education reform when they have historically refused to do so. More than rising incomes, ethnic considerations, or pressures from domestic business, I find evidence that international factors – such as foreign aid and the demands from international institutions such as the World Bank – have played a critical role in bringing education to the forefront of Indian politics.
A standards based ontological approach to information handling for use by organizations providing human tissue for research.

Tissue resources have become an important component of the infrastructure of institutions as well as companies performing biomedical research. Such tissue resources may be in the model of a bank, collecting a limited type of tissues and processing and storing them following a specific protocol. Such banks or archives may be associated with a clinical study or may function indepedently. An alternative type of tissue resource is utilized by many institutions and cancer centers. In this model, the investigator specifies the methods by which selected tissues are to be collected, processed and stored. In such a “prospective model”, initially developed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Ohio State University in the late 1970’s and adopted by the Cooperative Human Tissue Network in 1986, specific types of tissues are not collected unless requested by an investigator. At some sites, both a prospective and an archival (bank) model are followed. This article describes an informatics approach needed to support a prospective tissue resource. It is by necessity more complicated than a model which supports a tissue bank but also can be used by a tissue bank. Of great importance is the approach to vocabulary and common data elements needed to support the informatics system of a prospective tissue resource, especially if the informatics system is to be used by a variety of personnel with greatly varying educational backgrounds.
Towards a modular network-distributed mixed-reality learning space system

We propose a Modular Mixed-Reality Learning Space System (MRLSS) that relies on middleware tools and distributed mixed-reality technologies to support multi-modal communications between local, remote, and virtual audience sets. Each audience set occupies a spatial module represented throughout the system as a cell which is visually displayed on specifically aligned projection surfaces in each module. A module can host multiple cells and can be categorized based on scalability and technical advantage. For example, an Individual Cell (ICell) could contain a participant with only a web cam and audio. A Classroom Cell (CCell) could be a single classroom. A Virtual Cell (VCell) is a graphically rendered space with unique possibilities for interaction, experience, and exploration. A Studio Cell (SCell) is a specialized facility with advanced systems, services, and scalable spatial capabilities. A University Cell (UCell) can host multiple instances of an MRLSS, i.e. simultaneously host and combine more than one MRLSS.
A Framework for Giving Clear Directions: Effective Teacher Verbal Behavior

(1986). A Framework for Giving Clear Directions. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 107-109.
Reply: Hotspotting called into question

Wessel and Kroenke reply — Despite the argument of Aslanian et al.,hotspotting is a valid technique. It is complementary to backtracking in that it constitutes a different representation of the same hotspot-plate motion relationship in which geometry and time are separated.
Bacteriological studies in salpingitis with special reference to gonococcal viability.

Abstract A bacteriological survey, with special reference to the presence of the gonococcus, has been made on 80 patients. We wished to determine whether “flare-ups” of acute salpingitis were due to reinfections arising from dormant cells in the tubal wall or from infections existing in the urethra and cervix. No chemotherapy or antibiotics were used preoperatively in this series of cases. Of the patients operated upon, uterine myomas were present in 51 instances and there were varying degrees of salpingitis noted in 73. The bacteriological findings were as follows: positive gonococcal infections of the urethra and cervix, 41.25 per cent; Fallopian tubes showed 6.25 per cent positive. Every tubal infection was associated with infection of the cervix and urethra. The Fallopian tubes were sterile in 76.1 per cent; the cervix sterile in 2.5 per cent; and the urethra sterile in 3.75 per cent. Persistent viable gonococcal infection is a disease of the lower generative tract; the Fallopian tube is not a focal point for reinfection, reinfection coming from the cervix and Bartholin's glands, most likely at the time of menstruation for at this period, and also at time of ovulation, the cervical mucus is penetrable. Our preliminary observations on pH determinations of the urethra, cervix, and tubes as yet have shown nothing conclusive in relationship to the longevity of the gonococcus. In general the readings have shown slight acidity, many nearly neutral, and a few showing alkalinity. In regard to tuberculous salpingitis, no evidence of tuberculosis was found in this bacteriological study. In a survey of 1,069 patients with tubal disease, the incidence of tuberculosis was only 1.7 per cent. This infrequent occurrence we feel is due to the great decline in pulmonary tuberculosis. Puerperal infections are also infrequent, being in the order of 3.8 per cent. In conclusion, we believe that gonococcal infection of the tubes is short-lived and repeated attacks of salpingitis are due to reinfection from the lower generative tract. We also feel it would not seem too speculative to believe that there will be a decreasing incidence of these infections, brought about by lay education, ever improving obstetrical practice, and above all by the use of chemotherapy and antibiotics.
Viruses in Rodent Colonies: Lessons Learned from Murine Noroviruses.

Noroviruses (NoVs) are highly prevalent, positive-sense RNA viruses that infect a range of mammals, including humans and mice. Murine noroviruses (MuNoVs) are the most prevalent pathogens in biomedical research colonies, and they have been used extensively as a model system for human noroviruses (HuNoVs). Despite recent successes in culturing HuNoVs in the laboratory and a small animal host, studies of human viruses have inherent limitations. Thus, owing to its versatility, the MuNoV system—with its native host, reverse genetics, and cell culture systems—will continue to provide important insights into NoV and enteric virus biology. In the current review, we summarize recent findings from MuNoVs that increase our understanding of enteric virus pathogenesis and highlight similarities between human and murine NoVs that underscore the value of MuNoVs to inform studies of HuNoV biology. We also discuss the potential of endemic MuNoV infections to impact other disease models.
Disability and Native American Counterculture in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and House Made of Dawn

The two novels examined in the article, Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and N. Scott Momaday’s House Made of Dawn, are connected by Native American characters who are unable to join dominant culture because, at the very level of cognition, they do not conform to its aggressive and rigid codes. This non-conformity is expressed as disability, raising important questions about the links between disability and the norms by which dominant cultures operate. Like the countercultural critique of rationality launched by Herbert Marcuse and others in the sixties, the “disabilities” of Abel and Bromden indicate the irrationality lying under the surface of an apparently functional, reasonable Western industrial culture.
The Measurement of Art

IT is conceivable that art cannot be measured. Nevertheless, there have been many attempts to do so, and it is not a little remarkable that these efforts are characteristic of the age of the Greek philosophers in much the same way as they are being made now, alongside the rapid progress of theoretical physics.
Sonography of exophytic gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma

Five cases of exophytic gastrointestinal leiomyosarcoma were evaluated by sonography. In 3 of the 5 cases, identification of intraluminal air or intestinal lumen in an eccentric location to the mass was helpful in recognizing the exophytic nature of the mass. Tumor necrosis was present in all of the masses and also in 1 case of hepatic metastasis. Recognition of the exophytic nature of the mass and the presence of tumor necrosis favor the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma.
The relationship between in-line and cross-flow vortex-induced vibration of cylinders

Cable strumming experiments were conducted at Castine, Maine in 1981 and from an icebreaker in 1983. The purpose was to study the vibration characteristics of long flexible cylinders subjected to vortex-induced oscillation. Particular emphasis was placed on the investigation of the relationship between in-line and cross-flow vibration. Under non-lock-in, random vibration conditions, linear spectral analysis indicated that in-line and cross-flow response were linearly independent of each other, while the results of modal analysis showed that the moving average vibration energies in these two directions were strongly related. A higher order spectral analysis was performed to demonstrate a non-linear correlation between in-line and cross-flow vibration of flexible cylinders excited by vortex shedding in both uniform flow and sheared flow conditions. The results of bispectral analysis demonstrated the existence of a quadratic relationship between in-line and cross-flow motion under both lock-in and non-lock-in conditions. The well-known frequency doubling phenomena in in-line response was proven to be the result of such a quadratic correlation.
Functional and pharmacological mechanisms of nucleoside transport across the basolateral membrane of rabbit tracheal epithelial cells.

Abstract The role of basolateral membrane nucleoside transport in primary cultured rabbit tracheal epithelial cells (RTEC) was studied. Primary cultured RTEC were grown on permeable support at an air-interface. Transport studies were conducted in the uptake, efflux, and transepithelial transport configurations using 3 H-uridine as a model substrate. Time, temperature and concentration dependency of 3 H-uridine transport were evaluated in parallel to the metabolism of this substrate using scintillation counting and thin layer chromatography. Inhibition of 3 H-uridine uptake from basolateral fluid was estimated in presence of all unlabeled natural nucleosides as well as analogs and nucleobases. Functional modulation pathways of 3 H-uridine uptake were studied after treatment of RTEC with pharmacological levels of A23187, forskolin, tamoxifen, H89 and colchicine. The basolateral aspect has a low-affinity and high-capacity transport system that exhibits characteristics of bi-directionality, temperature/concentration dependency, and broad specificity towards purines and pyrimidines without requiring Na + . Basolateral equilibrative-sensitive/insensitive ( es / ei ) type transport machinery manifested as a biphasic dose response to nitro-benzyl-mercapto-purine-ribose (NBMPR) inhibition. In addition, a number of therapeutically relevant nucleoside analogs appeared to compete with the uptake of uridine from basolateral fluid. Short-term pre-incubation of primary cultured RTEC with the calcium ionophore A23187 inhibited basolateral uridine uptake without affecting the J max and K m . The inhibitory effect was not reversible with a protein kinase C (PKC) antagonist, tamoxifen. In contrast, basolateral uridine uptake was increased by adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin (reversible with protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89), resulting in a decreased K m , but a lower J max . Uridine exit across the basolateral membrane of primary cultured RTEC occurs via a facilitative diffusion carrier, which can be modulated by intracellular Ca 2+ levels and PKA. Information about these carriers will help improve the transportability of antitumor and antiviral nucleoside analogs in the pulmonary setting.
Effects of equine assisted activities on autism spectrum disorder.

Quality of life assessments were used in this study to determine the behavioral changes of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in equine assisted activities. Behavioral changes of children with ASD participating in 9 weeks of equines assisted activities (EAA) (N = 10) were compared to behavioral changes of children who participated in a non-equine intervention (N = 8). Parents noted significant improvements in their child’s physical, emotional and social functioning following the first 6 weeks of EAA. The children participating in the non-equine program also demonstrated improvement in behavior, but to a lesser degree. The favorable outcome of this study lends support for continuation of programs utilizing EAA in the treatment of children with ASD.
Atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremity: prospective evaluation with two-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography.

A prospective, blinded comparison of two-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and conventional arteriography was performed in 25 patients who underwent routine arteriography for symptomatic atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremity. MR angiography was performed from the distal abdominal aorta through the popliteal trifurcation. The native arterial tree was divided into nine segments; each segment was assessed for patency (defined as stenosis < 50% of arterial diameter), moderate stenosis (50%-69%), severe stenosis (70%-99%), or occlusion (100%). In all 206 segments examined, the sensitivity of MR angiography in diagnosis of occlusion was 100%; the specificity, 98%. All long occlusions were correctly classified. In specific categories of occlusive disease, the sensitivity and specificity were as follows: in all segments with 70% or greater stenosis, including occlusions, 90% and 97%; in all segments with 50% or greater stenosis, including occlusions, 92% and 8...
The Human Sweet Tooth

Humans love the taste of sugar and the word "sweet" is used to describe not only this basic taste quality but also something that is desirable or pleasurable, e.g., la dolce vita. Although sugar or sweetened foods are generally among the most preferred choices, not everyone likes sugar, especially at high concentrations. The focus of my group's research is to understand why some people have a sweet tooth and others do not. We have used genetic and molecular techniques in humans, rats, mice, cats and primates to understand the origins of sweet taste perception. Our studies demonstrate that there are two sweet receptor genes (TAS1R2 and TAS1R3), and alleles of one of the two genes predict the avidity with which some mammals drink sweet solutions. We also find a relationship between sweet and bitter perception. Children who are genetically more sensitive to bitter compounds report that very sweet solutions are more pleasant and they prefer sweet carbonated beverages more than milk, relative to less bitter-sensitive peers. Overall, people differ in their ability to perceive the basic tastes, and particular constellations of genes and experience may drive some people, but not others, toward a caries-inducing sweet diet. Future studies will be designed to understand how a genetic preference for sweet food and drink might contribute to the development of dental caries.
Continuously informing vibrotactile displays in support of attention management and multitasking in anesthesiology

Objective: A novel vibrotactile display type was investigated to determine the potential benefits for supporting the attention and task management of anesthesiologists.Background: Recent research h...
A decomposition algorithm for quadratic programming

A decomposition algorithm using Lemke's method is proposed for the solution of quadratic programming problems having possibly unbounded feasible regions. The feasible region for each master program is a generalized simplex of minimal size. This property is maintained by a dropping procedure which does not affect the finiteness of the convergence. The details of the matrix transformations associated with an efficient implementation of the algorithm are given. Encouraging preliminary computational experience is presented.
Metabolism of progesterone by the term human placenta perfused in-situ.

Abstract In situ perfusions using labelled progesterone as substrate were carried out in the human term placenta. Rapid metabolism was demonstrated. The major metabolites isolated in radiochemically pure form were 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one and 6β-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione. Another metabolite was identified tentatively as 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione. No C-18 or C-19 steroids were found. Previous hypotheses have stressed the role of the fetus in the production of certain metabolites identified in umbilical cord blood. It is suggested that placenta I production be considered as well.
4-isoxazolyl-1,4-dihydropyridines: a tale of two scaffolds.

The association of the isoxazole and dihydropyridine (DHP) ring systems fused at the 4'-isoxazolyl- to the 4-position of the DHP has produced a combination scaffold, the isoxazolyl-DHPs (IDHPs) with unique conformational characteristics. The IDHPs are useful in probing biological activity, as exemplified by our efforts in the fields of voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antagonists and inhibitors of the multi-drug resistance (MDR) transporter. A strategically placed methyl group produced a signifcant change at the VGCC, with (R)-(+)-1-phenyl-prop-2-yl (3.7 nM) > phenethyl (22.9 nM) > (S)-(-)-1-phenyl-prop-2-yl (210 nM), a eudismic ratio of 56.7. Branching at the C-5 of the isoxazole produced a 25% increase in MDR binding, and replacing the DHP C-3 ester with a functionalized amide also gave a dramatic increase in binding affinity. Opportunities for combined scaffolds – including examples containing IDHPs – are waiting to be discovered: because new biology is driven by new chemistry.
Digital logic with molecular reactions

This paper presents a methodology for implementing digital logic with molecular reactions based on a bistable mechanism for representing bits. The value of a bit is not determined by the concentration of a single molecular type; rather, it is the comparison of the concentrations of two complementary types that determines if the bit is "0" or "1". This mechanism is robust: any small perturbation or leakage in the concentrations quickly gets cleared out and the signal value is not affected. Based on this representation for bits, a constituent set of logical components are implemented. These include combinational components -- AND, OR, NOR, and XOR -- as well as sequential components -- D latches and D flip-flops. Using these components, three full-fledged design examples are given: a square-root unit, a binary adder and a linear feedback shift register. DNA-based computation via strand displacement is the target experimental chassis. The designs are validated through simulations of the chemical kinetics. The simulations show that the molecular systems compute digital functions accurately and robustly.
A Review of the False Spider Mite Genus Tenuipalpus Donnadieu (Acarina: Phytoptipalpidae)

Mites belonging to the genus Tenuipalpus feed on plants. One species, T. pacificus Baker, is known to be a serious pest of orchids. T. granati Sayed occurs on grapes, pomegranates, and citrus in the Mediterranean region, but this species is not yet considered to be of agricultural significance. Others feed on tropical plants that have been introduced into the southern United States, and some may prove to be of economic importance on ornamentals.
Electron Acceleration and the Propagation of Ultrashort High-Intensity Laser Pulses in Plasmas

Reported are interactions of high-intensity laser pulses ( lambda = 810 nm and I</=3x10(18) W/cm(2)) with plasmas in a new parameter regime, in which the pulse duration ( tau = 29 fs) corresponds to 0. 6-2.6 plasma periods. Relativistic filamentation is observed to cause laser-beam breakup and scattering of the beam out of the vacuum propagation angle. A beam of megaelectronvolt electrons with divergence angle as small as 1 degrees is generated in the forward direction, which is correlated to the growth of the relativistic filamentation. Raman scattering, however, is found to be much less than previous long-pulse results.
An inclined jet in crossflow under the effect of streamwise pressure gradients

An inclined turbulent jet discharging a passive scalar into a turbulent crossflow is investigated under conditions of favorable, zero and adverse streamwise pressure gradient. Experiments are conducted in water by means of magnetic resonance velocimetry and magnetic resonance concentration measurements. The velocity ratio and density ratio are equal to one for all cases. The flow configuration is relevant to film cooling technology, the molecular properties of the fluid being immaterial in the fully turbulent regime. Under favorable pressure gradient (FPG), the streamwise acceleration tilts the jet trajectory toward the wall, which would be beneficial for the film cooling performance. However, the counter-rotating vortex pair is strengthened in the accelerating flow by streamwise stretching. Also, the crossflow boundary layer is significantly thickened by increasingly adverse pressure gradient, which affects the mass transfer from the jet. Overall, the more intense counter-rotating vortices and the thinner boundary layer associated with increasingly FPG enhance the scalar dispersion into the main flow, hampering the film cooling performance in terms of surface effectiveness.
Paths from Pesticides to Parkinson's

Interest in the relationship between exposure to pesticides and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease (PD) is long-standing ( 1 ). PD, in particular, has been the subject of much debate in this context ( 2 ). Its symptoms typically occur later in life (at age 60 or older), with the destruction of neurons manifesting most obviously as loss of motor function. Decades of epidemiological studies have suggested that pesticide exposure is connected to the development of PD. Yet there is still much that is not clear about this relationship. The disorder likely has multiple contributing genetic and environmental factors, but how exposure to a particular chemical leads to neuronal loss and the symptoms of PD is not known. A recent meta-analysis indeed shows that epidemiologic data generally support an association between pesticides and the risk of PD ( 3 ). But what is needed is detailed information on the nature of exposure—which pesticides, at what dose, and for how long—to help design policies and practices that prevent the relevant exposures. Also needed is information on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that, over time, lead from pesticide exposure to neurodegeneration and ultimately to PD. Although many questions still linger, some recent studies appear to be advancing the field.
Dietary carotenoids and male mating success in the guppy: an environmental component to female choice

This study examined the relationship between dietary carotenoids, female choice, and male mating success in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Using a split-brood design, male siblings were either raised on a diet enhanced with astaxanthin and canthaxin or fed a basal diet without carotenoids. Males were photographed, and the location, size, and brightness of their red and orange pigment spots on the body were measured. Courtship behaviors were recorded during visual and mating trials. Males fed the carotenoid-enhanced diet had red and orange spots that averaged 2.5 times brighter, spent significantly more time near the female in visual response trials, were preferred by females in visual choice tests, and had a higher mating success than their siblings raised on the carotenoid-free diet. Diet did not affect male size, location or size of the red and orange pigment spots, or the intensity of courtship behavior. The results of this study show that females respond to environmentally-induced variation in the expression of a secondary sexual trait and that this has important consequences for male mating success.
Development of a 2.6-kV light-triggered thyristor for electric power systems

The status of a present Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) funded research program on a directly light-triggered thyristor for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) application is reviewed. An existing 53-mm, 2600-V, 1000-A electrically fired device was suitably modified to be turned on with an incident photopulse of 30 nJ, the basic problem being the retension of a 2000-V/µs dV/dt capability. Design tradeoffs between dV/dt and gate sensitivity are discussed as well as di/dt problems encountered in turning on a 2-in device with such a small gate signal. Special experiments and design and analysis computer programs have helped in assessing temperature excursion during turn-on and led to improved design with a di/dt capability approaching that of the original electrically gated device.
A systems view of the smoking problem: Perspective and limitations of the role of science in decision-making

The complex issues and relationships surrounding the smoking problem indicate the desirability of a system dynamics computer simulation model for policy development and analysis. This paper describes an initial model-building effort, including reports of initial policy and sensitivity testing of the model. The lack of scientific research on most of the relationships and parameters required in such a model forced heavy reliance upon intuition in the model development. The sensitivity of simulated model outcomes to many of these assumptions demonstrates the need for a more concentrated multi-disciplinary research effort if forecasting and policy determination are to be carried out with confidence.
Non-invasive pre-bond TSV test using ring oscillators and multiple voltage levels

Defects in TSVs due to fabrication steps decrease the yield and reliability of 3D stacked ICs, hence these defects need to be screened early in the manufacturing flow. Before wafer thinning, TSVs are buried in silicon and cannot be mechanically contacted, which severely limits test access. Although TSVs become exposed after wafer thinning, probing on them is difficult because of TSV dimensions and the risk of probe-induced damage. To circumvent these problems, we propose a non-invasive method for pre-bond TSV test that does not require TSV probing. We use open TSVs as capacitive loads of their driving gates and measure the propagation delay by means of ring oscillators. Defects in TSVs cause variations in their RC parameters and therefore lead to variations in the propagation delay. By measuring these variations, we can detect resistive open and leakage faults. We exploit different voltage levels to increase the sensitivity of the test and its robustness against random process variations. Results on fault detection effectiveness are presented through HSPICE simulations using realistic models for 45nm CMOS technology. The estimated DfT area cost of our method is negligible for realistic dies.
How much do 'attention' tests tell us?

Abstract Twelve measures commonly used to assess attentional processes were examined in a sample of 120 outpatients referred for neumpsychological evaluation. A singlefactor solution emerged. A second analysis partially replicated factors derived by Shum. McFarland, Bain, and Humphreys (1990). Classification rates (impaired vs. unimpaired) for the measures are presented. The implications of these findings for clinical assessment of attention are discussed