cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assay sensitivity in “Hybrid thorough QT/QTc (TQT)” study

A concurrent positive control should be included in a thorough QTc clinical trial to validate the study according to ICH E14 guidance. Some pharmaceutical companies have started to use "hybrid TQT" study to meet ICH E14 regulatory requirements since the release of ICH E14 Q&A (R3). The "hybrid TQT" study includes the same treatment arms (therapeutic and/or supratherapeutic dose of investigational drug, placebo, and positive control) with sample size less than traditional TQT studies, but use concentration-QTc (C-QTc) analysis as primary analysis and assay sensitivity analysis. To better understand the statistical characteristics of assay sensitivity with a commonly used positive control - Moxifloxacin - in "hybrid TQT" studies, we examined the original and subsampled moxifloxacin and placebo data from more than a hundred of TQT studies submitted to FDA. The assay sensitivity results are quite consistent between classical E14 analysis and C-QTc analysis using the original datasets. Performance of assay sensitivity in "hybrid TQT" studies using subsampled data depends on number of moxifloxacin subjects, study design (crossover design and parallel design), and C-QTc model. The results presented here can aid the design of future "hybrid TQT" studies.
Optically controlled reconfigurable terahertz waveguide filters based on photo-induced electromagnetic band gap structures using mesa arrays

In this work, we present a novel approach to the implementation of optically controlled reconfigurable terahertz (THz) waveguide filters based on photo-induced electromagnetic band gap (PI-EBG) structures using semiconductor mesa arrays. In this approach, EBG structures are dynamically generated through spatially-resolved photogeneration of free carriers in semiconductor mesa structures; the use of mesa arrays improves the spatial resolution, leading to more refined PI-EBG patterns and improved circuit operation at THz frequencies. A band-stop filter prototype in the WR-5.1 band (140-220 GHz) was designed, simulated, and analyzed in detail. Simulations show that the stop-band rejection and bandwidth of the proposed device can be adjusted by changing the filling factor of the photo-patterns illuminated onto the mesa array. The center frequency of the stop-band can also be tuned from 166 to 200 GHz by changing the period of the PI-EBG patterns. The proposed reconfigurable THz waveguide filters based on PI-EBG are promising for a wide range of applications in advanced THz sensing, imaging, and communications.
Quantitative Determination of Ecdysteroids in Sida rhombifolia L. and various other Sida Species Using LC-UV, and their Anatomical Characterization:

The genus Sida is used extensively in herbal medicine. A simple and specific analytical method for the quantitative determination of ecdysteroids in S. rhombifolia is reported. The ecdysteroids wer...
Expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) in human retinal pigment epithelial cells and its interaction with BAPSG, a novel aldose reductase inhibitor

Purpose. The objective of this study was to determine the expression and activity of multidrug resistance–associated protein (MRP) in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and to further assess whether BAPSG, a novel anionic aldose reductase inhibitor, interacts with MRP.
Participation in Younger and Older Adults Post-stroke: Frequency, Importance, and Desirability of Engagement in Activities.

Purpose: To characterize and compare frequency and subjective dimensions of post-stroke participation in younger ( age 65), in social, productivity and leisure activities, 6 months post-inpatient rehabilitation. Secondary aims included exploration of demographic and clinical factors influencing desire for increased participation and comparison of two measures of participation. Methods: A prospective cohort study of people with stroke (n = 99) who were identified during their inpatient rehabilitation stay and followed-up 6 months post-discharge with telephone interviews using two self-report participation measures. The Stroke Impact Participation subscale (SIS-P) measured the frequency of perceived limitations in social, leisure, productive activities and extent of stroke recovery. The Community Participation Indicators (CPI) examined activity frequency, importance, and desire for increased activity engagement. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic variables and characterize SIS-P and CPI items. Differences between age groups on individual items were examined. Associations between measures and demographic variables were explored. Results: Both groups reported a wide variation in participation restrictions that was not associated with stroke severity and weakly associated with discharge functional status (rho = 0.20-0.35). There were no significant differences between age groups in CPI frequency (for 18/19 items), or the SIS-P. However, there was a trend toward more participation restrictions on the SIS-P among those <65 (p = 0.07). Younger adults (n = 46; median age = 53) were significantly more likely to indicate that they were not doing selected activities enough on the CPI, compared with older adults (n = 56; median age = 76). While age and ethnicity were independently associated with some activities, it was not associated with other activities. The CPI and SIS-P were moderately related at a correlation of rho = 0.54, p < 0.001. Conclusion: The CPI demonstrated value and utility in examining subjective perspectives of activity importance and desire for change for people who are 6 months post-stroke. Although the CPI and SIS-P are moderately related, subjective appraisal of participation in selected individual activities (CPI) better distinguished between age groups and provided unique and distinct information from the SIS-P.
A Frequency Digital Pre-Distortion Compensation Method for FMCW LiDAR System

We propose a digital pre-distortion (DPD) compensation method for FMCW LiDAR system and demonstrate that the proposed method can enhance the ranging accuracy more than three times in our FMCW ranging experiment.
Extended x-ray emission times of clusters in intense x-ray pulses

Recently, intensity correlation of x-ray fluorescence, based on the principle introduced by Hanbury Brown and Twiss [R. Hanbury Brown and R. Q. Twiss, Nature (London) 177, 27 (1956)], has been proposed for high-resolution imaging of a three-dimensional arrangement of atoms. To explore the applicability of this fluorescence approach, we theoretically investigate fluorescence dynamics of nonperiodic systems subject to x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) pulses over a range of fluences from the linear to nonlinear x-ray absorption regimes as a function of system size, from a single atom to a cluster of 149 171 atoms. Fluorescence dynamics in the nonlinear x-ray regime differs from that in the weak x-ray field in that intense x-ray pulses interrupt the fluorescence dynamics by multiphoton absorption creating a dense electron environment within the sample on a femtosecond timescale. In large systems, the presence of both recombination and photoionization pathways gives rise to an enhanced $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{h}$ emission yield and an extended emission time beyond the lifetime of the core-excited states. Our analysis suggests that, in an intense x-ray pulse, the $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{h}$ emission line can be a good candidate for fluorescence imaging as it has a higher yield and an emission time that is short relative to the x-ray-induced lattice distortion time.
Characteristics and Frequency of Children With Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Elective Polysomnography.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and demographics features of pediatric patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who would not undergo preoperative polysomnography (PSG) under current...
Challenges Experienced by Parents of Emerging Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus During the Transition to College.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges experienced by parents of emerging young adults (EYAs) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who completed their ...
Niobium nitride devices for SIS mixers

The superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction is an attractive candidate for millimeter wave mixers offering conversion gain and quantum limited noise.1 SIS mixers have been operated at 36 GHz with a single sideband noise temperature of 3.7K which is within a factor of 2 of quantum limited performance.2 These results were obtained with devices fabricated from lead alloy technology. While this technology is very useful for the demonstration of quantum limited noise an all refractory junction technology would be desirable as it would have the advantages of being mechanically rugged, cycle well between room temperature and 4K be resistant to radiation damage and have enhanced high frequency response.
Personal Data as Property

Today, a growing chorus of experts, journalists, and policymakers calls for the creation of property rights in personal data. In theory, property rights emerge when the gains from propertization outweigh the costs of securing those rights. This formula, originally identified by Harold Demsetz, explains the development of property rights in land, intellectual property, and many other assets. Applying Demsetz’s theory, this Article asks whether the time has come to extend property rights in personal data. The answer is yes. The first half of Demsetz’s formula estimates the gains from extending property rights. Under the contract-law-based status quo, the market for personal data suffers from high information and enforcement costs along with inadequate incentives to supply and safeguard data. Propertization promises to mitigate — though not completely resolve — those challenges. The second half of Demsetz’s formula trains on the cost of securing property rights. For property rights to be secure in practice — not just desirable in theory — institutional investments are necessary. The conventional wisdom holds that only state-run institutions, such as courts and regulators, can protect property. But rather than rely on regulators and courts, policymakers should deputize private adjuncts to define and enforce property rights. This approach enlists the most efficient managers of information — data processing firms — in securing property. Compared with a propertization regime that relies on state-run institutions, mobilizing private adjuncts promises to substantially lower the cost of securing property rights. Because the gains from propertization are larger, and the costs smaller, than previously thought, both prongs of Demsetz’s formula favor the creation of property rights in personal data.
Tuning electronic properties of conductive 2D layered metal–organic frameworks via host–guest interactions: Dioxygen as an electroactive chemical stimuli

Thermodynamics and kinetics of O2 adsorption and its impacts on structural features and conductive behavior of 2D π-stacked layered metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are studied using periodic PBE-D3 quantum mechanical calculations. Our computed O2 adsorption energies of Co3(HTTP)2 (HTTP = hexathiotriphenylene), as a representative of the 2D MOFs family, show that not only open-Co(II) sites but also redox-active HTTP linkers take part in chemisorption of O2 by forming strong S=O bonds. This is in contrast to conventional 3D Co2(OH)2(BBTA) and Fe2(dobdc) MOFs with similar hexagonal 1D channels where O2 adsorption occurs solely via coordination to the open-metal sites. Due to the adsorptive capability of its redox-active linkers, Co3(HTTP)2 is superior to the analogues 3D MOFs where the change in the oxidation state of the transition metal centers is suggested to result in hindering both the kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption process. Our calculated band structures and density of states show that the conductive behavior of the studied Co3(HTTP)2 2D MOF changes dramatically from metallic in the parent system to semiconducting under oxygen rich conditions, with direct bandgap openings that range from 123 to 251 meV. The results presented in this work are helpful in understanding the effects of different electroactive guest molecules on the structure and conductive behavior of 2D layered MOFs and related nonporous materials.
T1DM during COVID-19: A retrospective analysis on access to ophthalmology care and health habits

Purpose : Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) has had immense effects on access to medical care. Loss of medical care is alarming for individuals with pre-existing conditions like Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) which require uninterrupted care for best outcomes. Consistent care and medication use can reduce risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (DR) by 76% or progression by 54%. Healthy habits have also been linked to reduced risk of DR. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of COVID-19 on care access and health habits in individuals with T1DM Methods : Surveys were administered from July-November of 2020 to multinational groups including the Children with Diabetes Conference (USA) and online groups, the American Diabetes Association and Connected in Motion Canadian Conference for T1DM. Data was collected from 125 patients from the USA, UK, Canada, and Bolivia. Age range was 5-81, and average years with T1DM was 17.9. The survey was online so responder rate is unclear, though response rates from previous surveys with similar groups averaged less than 10%. Results : While 73.6% of respondents saw an ophthalmologist within 1 year and 98.4% had medication without rationing, 40% postponed medical visits. Reasons for postponement included lack of appointments or transportation, financial issues and safety concerns. The majority (86.4%) were from the US where private insurance is prevalent, 12% were from Europe and Canada, where socialized medicine is common. Of respondents, 90.4% are willing to use telemedicine as an alternative. For most, diet remained the same (48.8%);25.6% stated their diet was healthier and 20% stated their diet was less healthy. 16.8% had problems accessing their usual foods due to the pandemic. A majority (55.2%) reported decreased exercise with 18.4% reporting more exercise. These overall trends were consistent across countries, and gender trends remained the same as pre-COVID, with women having better lifestyle and medical care adherence. Conclusions : Though patients delayed appointments, most were able to see an ophthalmologist and access medication. Physical activity levels decreased, though diets were mostly unchanged. In individuals with T1DM, disruptions in medical care and health habits can have negative long-term outcomes on overall and eye health. Telemedicine offers a promising solution for mitigating this risk.
Flow regime evolution and stress-dependent permeability in nanoporous rocks

Abstract Researchers have studied microstructural controls on permeability of tight-matrix rocks, like coal and shale, in the recent years with growing interest in recovery of unconventional gas from deep rocks. Rock matrix in these reservoirs has significant proportion of microporoisty and, hence, the effective permeability is typically very low. Flow in tight-rock matrix is usually dependent on a complex and dynamic combination of pressure-governed Darcy flow regime in the fractures and macropores and concentration gradient-governed diffusive/non-Darcy flow regime in the meso- and micro- pores. Hence, multiple flow-regimes co-exist at any given pressure in these rocks. In this study, we present the experimental and modeling work carried out on tight coal from the San Juan basin and Marcellus shale. A methodology that uses pore size distribution to estimate the proportion of these dynamically changing and co-existing flow regimes in these rocks is presented. The appropriate proportions of Darcy and non-Darcy flow regime estimated using the methodology is then used in a flow model developed to assess the effective permeability variation of these rocks with depletion, that is, pressure decline. Finally, the stress path sensitivity is included in the model to estimate stress-dependent permeability variation in rocks. The developed model is validated against both coal and shale permeability data. The study establishes that effective permeability is dependent on pore size distribution and stress conditions since both dynamically affect the proportion of multiple co-existing flow regimes in these tight reservoirs.
Spasmolytic polypeptide: A trefoil peptide secreted by rat gastric mucous cells

Abstract Background/Aims: Spasmolytic polypeptide (SP) is a trefoil peptide expressed in the digestive tract. This study aimed to determine the structure and distribution of SP expression in the rat gastrointestinal tract. Methods: The structure of rat SP was determined from the sequence of complementary DNAs isolated from antral RNA. SP gene expression was localized by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization in the adult and fetal rat digestive tract. Expression of the SP peptide was localized by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. Results: SP messenger (m)RNA was found predominantly in the stomach with highest expression in the antrum. High levels of SP mRNA were expressed in the fetal stomach before gastrin and somatostatin expression. Surprisingly, SP mRNA and peptide did not colocalize in the gastric mucosa, SP mRNA being superficial to SP peptide immunoreactivity throughout the gastric mucosa. Abundant SP immunoreactivity was seen in the lumen of the gastric glands and the mucus layer adherent to the gastric mucosa, indicating luminal secretion. Conclusions: In the rat, SP is a peptide secreted predominantly from antral mucous cell. The high concentrations of SP in the adherent gastric mucus layer (approximately 10 μmol/L) suggest that SP functions as a structural peptide rather than a regulatory peptide.
Gain-guiding and thermal distortion in diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ microchip lasers

Summary form only given. Nd:YVO/sub 4/ is a commonly used four-level laser gain material in microchip lasers with a positive change in refractive index with temperature and short absorption depth, producing a positive 'thermal' lens within the bulk of the crystal, as well as surface deformation when pumped cw with a laser diode. We have developed an analytical computer model based on the work of Farrukh (1988) and a numerical model based on finite element theory, to help predict behavior under different modes of operation and present a comparison of these models with observed results.
Membrane structure and function. I. An electron microscope study of the alteration induced by laser irradiation on the chloroplast lamellar membranes.

Abstract Negative-staining and thin-section techniques were used to study the ultrastructural change produced in isolated chloroplasts by high energies of the ruby laser (6943 A). Various degress of alterations were observed as a function of laser energy input. Two to four pulses of the ruby laser (2.34 J/pulse) mainly caused a decrease in granularity and an increase in vacuolization of the membrane. After 8–16 pulses, fragmentation and complete destruction of the chloroplast membrane were observed. This damage to the chloroplast membrane is a result of the large absorption of the laser light by chlorophyll; however, the chlorophyll itself is not changed. Correlation of ultrastructural damage with the biochemical alterations suggest that the main effect of the laser is to block energy coupling, whereas the photosystems remain intact. We conclude that ultrastructural damage to the chloroplast membranes by laser treatment is much more drastic than biochemical alterations.
Modification of Sodium Channel Inactivation by α-chymotrypsin in Canine Cardiac Purkinje Cells

Modification of Cardiac INa by α-chymotrypsin. Introduction: Studies of tetrodotoxinsensitivc sodium current (INa) after modification of inactivation by intracellular enzymes in mammalian cells have demonstrated a markid increase in peak INa at test potentials near current threshold causing a large, negative shift of the peak INa conductance-voltage relationship by approximately -20 mV. These findings support a kinetic model in which the unmodified Na channel has rapid and voltage-independent inactivation from the open state. However, the kinetics of cardiac Na channels differ from those of mammalian nenronal Na channels. In particular, inactivation of cardiac Na channels has been proposed to be more voltage dependent than that of tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na channels. To help understand the role of inactivation in cardiac Na channel kinetic hehavior, we studied Na currents before and after modification of inactivution by the proteolytic enzyme, α-chymotrypsin. Methods and Results: Whole cell INa was measured in single canine cardiac Purkinje cells that were voltage clamped and internally perfused with a large-bore suction pipette. The decay of INa in response to step depolarizations was dramatically slowed after perfusion with intracellular α-chyniotrypsin consistent with modification of inactivation. In contrast to mammalian tetrodotoxin-sen-sitive Na current, Boltzmann distribution fits to peak INa conductance-voltage (GNa-V) relationships after α-chymotrypsin showed no change in either the potential at half maximum conductance (V1/2), after correction for the spontaneous background shift of INa kinetics, or in the voltage-dependence of conductance (i.e., slope factor of GNa-V relationships). Maximal peak INa conductance increased by 18%. INa tail-current relaxations at potentials ≤−110 mV, after correction for spontaneous shifts in Na channel kinetics, were also similar before and after modification by α-chymotrypsin. Conclusion:α-chymotrypsin modified inactivation of cardiac INa with little or no change in activation, and cardiac Na channel inactivation was slow near threshold and played little role in determining V1/2 for peak INa conductance-voltage relationships.
Stress relaxation of vulcanized rubbers I — Theoretical study

Abstract Consideration of the physical behaviour of polysulphide vulcanizates of natural rubber, when aged in air at elevated temperatures, has led to postulates of kinetic mechanisms which appear to explain the physical changes which occur. The basic postulates are that during thermal oxidation the rubber degrades by scissions at random points along the hydrocarbon polymer and by scissions of the polysulphide crosslinks. It is further postulated that scission of a crosslink is followed by a process of recombination leading to formation of new networks. Theoretical expressions have been derived for continuous relaxation of stress at constant elongation and for the variation of stress with time for a given elongation performed intermittently. It is shown that equations of this type lead to curves for continuous and intermittent stress relaxation similar to those obtained experimentally.
Generation and Characterization of a Polyclonal Antipeptide Antibody to Human Glycodelin

Abstract Objective: To develop and characterize an antiglycodelin antibody using a 15-amino acid synthetic peptide as antigen, derived from the sequence of human glycodelin. Design: We have developed a chicken antiglycodelin-derived peptide antibody and have characterized the antibody with the use of endometrial and ovarian cell lines. The antibody was also tested for its ability to detect glycodelin by ELISA assay, immunocytochemistry, and by Western blot. Setting: Various cell lines, cell culture medium, and amniotic fluid were used in the experiments. Patient(s): Amniotic fluid was collected from pregnant patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Intervention(s): No intervention. Main Outcome Measure(s): Detection of glycodelin. Result(s): The cell lines RL95-2 (human endometrial carcinoma cells), OVCAR-3 (human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells), HeLa (human cervical epitheloid carcinoma cells), and EM42-D (human endometrial epithelial cells) reacted with the antibody, indicating the presence of glycodelin. A specific 45-kd protein representing glycodelin was detected by Western blot in the amniotic fluid. Conclusion(s): Antipeptide antibodies can be successfully used to detect and quantify the presence of glycodelin in cells and fluids.
Age-Related Decreases in IL-2 Production by Human T Cells Are Associated with Impaired Activation of Nuclear Transcriptional Factors AP-1 and NF-AT

Although transcriptional factors AP-1 and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT) are important for the normal induction of IL-2, it is unknown if the age-related decline in IL-2 production by activated human T cells may be associated with aberrancies in transcriptional regulatory proteins. In the current studies, IL-2 production by T cells from elderly (mean 78 years) and young (mean 37 years) humans was measured in cultures stimulated with PHA, PHA plus PMA, crosslinked anti-CD3 mAB OKT3 plus PMA, or PMA plus ionomycin. Substantial decreases of IL-2 production were observed for cell cultures from 7 of 12 elderly individuals in response to the different stimuli, whereas the levels of IL-2 produced by stimulated T cells from other elderly individuals were equivalent to those observed for stimulated T cells of young subjects. Analyses of nuclear extracts by electrophoretic DNA mobility shift assays showed that decreased IL-2 production by stimulated T cells of elderly individuals was closely associated with impairments in the activation of both AP-1 and NF-AT. By contrast, T cells from elderly subjects with normal levels of IL-2 production exhibited normal activation of AP-1 and NF-AT. In addition, the results of competition experiments analyzing the normal components of NF-AT showed that the age-related reductions in stimulus-dependent NF-AT complexes corresponded to the slow migrating complexes that were composed of c-Fos/c-Jun AP-1. The resting and stimulated levels of NF kappa B were reduced in T cells from certain elderly individuals; however, alterations of NF kappa B did not correlate with changes in IL-2 expression. Thus, these results show that age-related impairments in the activation of AP-1 and NF-AT are closely associated with decreased expression of IL-2 and further suggest that aberrancies in the signaling pathways important for the induction of transcriptionally active c-Fos/c-Jun AP-1 may contribute to the impaired activation of NF-AT.
Semipractical alarms: a parable.

Current alarms protect the manufacturers of medical equipment from liability but do little to improve the quality of patient care. Existing alarms are so intrusive that the response of the anesthesiologist and others in the operating room is to want the offensive noise to go away, rather than to address potentially life-threatening situations. Alarms need to be refined so that only those whose attention is required (e.g., the anesthesiologist) are disturbed. It should always be immediately clear which particular variable is outside accepted limits, and alarms for different variables should operate independently so that if one alarm fails, others will still work.
Multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD): Coronary bypass surgery versus coronary angioplasty

With jeopardized viable myocardium in the distributions of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries, it was decided to perform bypass surgery. Saphenous venous bypass grafts were placed to the left anterior descending, right and obtuse marginal coronary arteries. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged.
On the midpoint potential of the FAD chromophore in a BLUF‐domain containing photoreceptor protein

The redox-midpoint potential of the FAD chromophore in the BLUF domain of anti-transcriptional regulator AppA from Rhodobacter sphaeroides equals ∼−260 mV relative to the calomel electrode. Altering the structure of its chromophore-binding pocket through site-directed mutagenesis brings this midpoint potential closer to that of free flavin in aqueous solution. The redox-midpoint potential of this BLUF domain is intermediate between those of LOV domains and Cryptochromes, which may rationalize the primary photochemistry observed in these three flavin-containing photoreceptor families. These results also imply that LOV domains, among the flavin-containing photosensory receptors, are least sensitive to intracellular chemical reduction in the dark.
Segmental heat transfer in a pin fin channel with ejection holes

Abstract An experimental investigation has been conducted to study, for turbulent air flow through a pin fin channel with ejection holes, the effects of varying the ejection hole configuration on the distribution of the regionally-averaged heat transfer and the overall pressure drop. The channel models the internal cooling passages near the trailing edges of rotor or stator blades in modern gas turbine engines. When air exits through ejection holes, the segmental heat transfer decreases much faster with increasing distance from the channel entrance and the overall channel pressure drop is lower than in the straight-flow-only ease. Increasing the number of ejection holes and increasing the size of the ejection holes lower the distribution of the segmental heat transfer and the overall pressure drop.
Automatic segmentation of the facial nerve and chorda tympani using image registration and statistical priors

In cochlear implant surgery, an electrode array is permanently implanted in the cochlea to stimulate the auditory nerve and allow deaf people to hear. A minimally invasive surgical technique has recently been proposed--percutaneous cochlear access--in which a single hole is drilled from the skull surface to the cochlea. For the method to be feasible, a safe and effective drilling trajectory must be determined using a pre-operative CT. Segmentation of the structures of the ear would improve trajectory planning safety and efficiency and enable the possibility of automated planning. Two important structures of the ear, the facial nerve and chorda tympani, present difficulties in intensity based segmentation due to their diameter (as small as 1.0 and 0.4 mm) and adjacent inter-patient variable structures of similar intensity in CT imagery. A multipart, model-based segmentation algorithm is presented in this paper that accomplishes automatic segmentation of the facial nerve and chorda tympani. Segmentation results are presented for 14 test ears and are compared to manually segmented surfaces. The results show that mean error in structure wall localization is 0.2 and 0.3 mm for the facial nerve and chorda, proving the method we propose is robust and accurate.
Lytic activity localized to membrane-spanning region of ϕX174 E protein

Lytic activity of the φX174E (lysis) protein had previously been localized to the amino terminal 51 amino acids (a.a.) of the molecule (Blasi and Lubitz 1985). This E gene lytic activity has here been further localized to the amino terminal 29 a.a., a region of the protein which is thought to just span the cell membrane (Young and Young 1982). φX174 E gene fusions to both the lacZ gene and the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene resulted in fusion proteins with lytic activity. Fusion to a third protein, trpE, did not result in lytic activity. These results support a model of oligomerization of the φX174 E protein for lytic activity since both β-galactosidase and CAT exist as tetramers in their native state. A difference in the composition of the charged amino acids at the cytoplasmic boundary between the various fusion proteins could also account for these results, since these amino acids may play a role in proper anchoring of the E protein in the cell membrane. In a spontaneous E gene mutant, which introduces a proline residue at position 9 of the E protein, lytic activity of the E protein was decreased, but not abolished. The presence of the helix-breaking proline at this position may interfere with insertion of the lysis protein into the cell membrane, leading to the decreased functional activity of the protein.
Implementation of compressive sensing for preclinical cine-MRI

This paper presents a practical implementation of Compressive Sensing (CS) for a preclinical MRI machine to acquire randomly undersampled k-space data in cardiac function imaging applications. First, random undersampling masks were generated based on Gaussian, Cauchy, wrapped Cauchy and von Mises probability distribution functions by the inverse transform method. The best masks for undersampling ratios of 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 were chosen for animal experimentation, and were programmed into a Bruker Avance III BioSpec 7.0T MRI system through method programming in ParaVision. Three undersampled mouse heart datasets were obtained using a fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence, along with a control undersampled phantom dataset. ECG and respiratory gating was used to obtain high quality images. After CS reconstructions were applied to all acquired data, resulting images were quantitatively analyzed using the performance metrics of reconstruction error and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM). The comparative analysis indicated that CS reconstructed images from MRI machine undersampled data were indeed comparable to CS reconstructed images from retrospective undersampled data, and that CS techniques are practical in a preclinical setting. The implementation achieved 2 to 4 times acceleration for image acquisition and satisfactory quality of image reconstruction.
Fumonisin hepatotoxicity is reduced in mice carrying the human tumour necrosis factor α transgene

Our previous studies have indicated that tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) is involved in fumonisin B1 (FB1)-induced toxic responses. To investigate the role of TNFα in FB1 toxicity further we employed male transgenic mice expressing human TNFα gene (TG) and their wild-type equivalent C57BL/6 (WT). It was hypothesized that TG animals would have enhanced response to FB1. Repeated subcutaneous treatment of animals with 2.25 mg/kg per day of FB1 for 5 days caused minimal changes in body weight, organ weights, blood cell counts, and TNFα levels in plasma 1 day after the last injection. The mRNA for TNFα in liver increased in both TG and WT after FB1 treatment, providing evidence that FB1 induces hepatic TNFα expression. Liver and kidney lesions were found in TG after FB1 treatment; however, liver lesions seen in FB1-treated TG were considerably less than those observed in WT. The decreased hepatotoxicity in TG after FB1 treatment correlated with plasma concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Free sphinganine levels increased significantly in both the liver and kidney of WT and TG mice treated with FB1. The increase of free sphinganine in the liver from TG mice was 40% less than in WT mice and paralleled the changes in serum liver enzymes. Regional brain neurotransmitters and their metabolites were increased to a similar extent by FB1 in both WT and TG mice. Since the data did not support the original hypothesis, we investigated the levels of NFκB in liver. The cytosolic NFκB was significantly higher in TG compared with WT. Induction of NFκB, caused by increased endogenous production of TNFα, is a possible explanation of decreased FB1 hepatotoxicity in TG. The results suggest a protective role for NFκB in FB1-induced liver damage.
The decrease of volume during loading to finite plastic strain

From the 1870s to the present, basic tenets of most theories of plasticity in ordered solids have included the assumption of incompressibility as an internal constraint, the tacit belief that rigid body rotations become large as the finite strain increases, the historical misinterpretation of the location and stress configuration of Tresca's observations for his domain of constant stress, and the unquestioned foregone conclusion that simple shear is always a permissible form of deformation. The laboratory finding in the 1970s that an internal constraint very different from incompressibility applies at finite strain in ordered solids and, with respect to all of the above, the general theory of finite strain plasticity that followed from this laboratory discovery in the 1980s, have raised questions that are described in the present paper. As illustrative, the definitive experiment of P. W. Bridgman in 1946 on the two-dimensional compression of steel is compared with its restudy in more comprehensive detail during the 1980s.
CMB-cluster lensing

Clusters of galaxies are powerful cosmological probes, particularly if their masses can be determined. One possibility for mass determination is to study the cosmic microwave background (CMB) on small angular scales and observe deviations from a pure gradient due to lensing of massive clusters. I show that, neglecting contamination, this technique has the power to determine cluster masses very accurately, in agreement with estimates by Seljak and Zaldarriaga. However, the intrinsic small scale structure of the CMB significantly degrades this power. The resulting mass constraints are useless unless one imposes a prior on the concentration parameter c. With a modest prior on c, an ambitious CMB experiment ${(0.5}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ resolution and $1\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$ per pixel) could determine masses of high redshift $(zg0.7),$ large $(Mg5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}{h}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}})$ clusters with $\ensuremath{\sim}30%$ accuracy.
Using technology in assessing integrated science and mathematics learning

Drawing from current models, research, and science and mathematics education reform documents, this article first defines and/or delimits three broad domains of education: integrated school science and mathematics, assessment, and technology. Based upon this three-tiered discussion, a list of characteristics is then distilled to guide in the development of assessment for integrated school science and mathematics using technology. Two integrated school science and mathematics activities are provided to illustrate the alignment of instruction and assessment and the systematic integration of technology into both.
New region feature descriptor-based image registration method

Successful content-based image registration relies on the accurate identification of corresponding features across images. Geometric and photometric transformations between images may hinder an algorithm's ability to precisely match features. In this work, we propose a novel region descriptor detection and matching algorithm for use with image registration. The detection process utilizes invariant feature points, as well as their spatial relationships and textural characteristics to create a connected graph whose structure represents an invariant region descriptor. With such a framework, feature matching can be accomplished by graph matching with a defined similarity metric. Subsequent image registration steps are outlined that employ the invariant region descriptors. The results provide strong evidence of the region descriptor's effectiveness in applications involving image registration. Several scenarios are presented including the registration of general objects, aerial photography, as well as scenes before and after a disaster.
Incarcerated Mothers and Fathers: A Comparison of Risks for Children and Families

The current study investigates differences between inmate mothers' and fathers' reported rates of incarcera- tion for family members, adult children, predictors of adult children's incarceration, and living situations of minor children. Participants included 6,146 inmates who participated in the U.S. Department of Justice Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. Mothers were 2.5 times more likely to report that their adult children were incarcerated than fathers; mothers' regular drug use predicted adult child incarceration. Incarcerated mothers reported greater familial incarceration and their minor children were more likely to be in foster and other nonfamil- ial care situations than incarcerated fathers. As risk factors accumulated, there were greater rates of adult child incar- ceration, with a more obvious relationship for mothers.
Magnetic-field-induced gapless state in multiband superconductors

We investigate theoretically the properties of $s$-wave multiband superconductors in the weak-coupling (BCS) limit in the presence of pair-breaking effects of magnetic field. It is shown that a gapless superconducting state must appear in quasi-two-dimensional superconductors in magnetic fields parallel to the plane, corresponding to a Sarma state induced on one of the Fermi surfaces. The emergence of the state in $s$-wave multiband superconductors in the absence of anisotropy or spin-orbit interaction is usually accompanied by a zero-temperature first-order metamagnetic phase transition. For anisotropic or non-$s$-wave multiband superconductors the order of the zero-temperature metamagnetic transition depends on model parameters, and it may take the form of a smooth crossover. The details of the temperature--magnetic-field phase diagram for multiband superconductors are investigated analytically at zero temperature and numerically at a finite temperature. It is shown the zero-temperatures first-order phase transition gives rise to a critical region on the $B\text{\ensuremath{-}}T$ phase diagram. We suggest possible experiments to detect the gapless state.
Cell Therapy of Renal Failure

The kidney is unique in that it is the first organ for which long-term ex vivo substitutive therapy has been available. The first hemodialyzer was successfully applied to a human patient with acute renal failure in 1948, and the first successful allograft transplantation was performed with a kidney in 1951. Both treatments are used today. There is ample evidence that the small solute clearance function provided by hemodialysis does not confer the same survival advantage as a functional kidney, both in acute and in chronic renal failure. To mimic the metabolic, endocrine, and immunologic functions of the kidney, our group has successfully engineered a bioartificial device that includes a conventional dialysis filter and a bioreactor containing 10(9) renal proximal tubule cells. We have demonstrated differentiated activity of these cells both in vitro and ex vivo in a large animal model. The bioreactor has been shown to confer a survival advantage in two large animal models of gram-negative sepsis, seemingly due to modulation of inflammatory mediators. This bioartificial kidney has now completed a Phase I clinical trial in acute renal failure.
Diving: what to tell the patient with asthma and why?

Until a decade ago, divers with asthma were uniformly barred from diving with compressed air. This prohibition was based more on theoretical concerns for barotrauma than on actual data. Follow-up studies, although retrospective, do not support a ban on recreational or commercial diving for divers with stable asthma. These studies have noted that, despite the prohibition on diving, many divers with asthma have logged multiple dives without negative consequences. When those who have suffered diving-related barotrauma have undergone physiologic testing, measurements of small airways dysfunction (maximal mid-expiratory flow rates) have been lower than measurements for comparable divers who have never suffered diving accidents. Follow-up studies with long-term commercial divers have shown that a small percentage of individuals who have sufferred diving-related barotrauma also develop abnormal maximal mid-expiratory flow rates and even some airway hyperreactivity. These latter findings correlate with the changes that occur in chronic asthmatic patients, especially those who are not well treated. The decision as to whether an asthmatic patient should be allowed to dive rests on the individual's physiologic function, maturity, and insight into the consequences of poorly managed airway inflammation and bronchospasm. Language: en
Melting point and heat of fusion of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Differential thermal analysis was used to study the effect of a diluent, glycerol, and copolymer units, acetate groups, on the melting point of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The melting point of PVA was found to be 228°C. and the heat of fusion by the diluent and copolymer methods was 1.64 and 0.56 kcal./mole, respectively, based on vinyl alcohol units. Flory's theory was used as a basis for analysis. The results are compared with literature values for the heat and entropy of fusion of polyethylene, and the differences briefly discussed.
Dynamics of the chemo-optical response of supported films of nematic liquid crystals

Abstract We report a study that elucidates key physicochemical phenomena that underlie the dynamics of adsorbate-induced ordering transitions in micrometer-thick films of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) supported on chemically functionalized surfaces. By flowing a gas containing dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) over a film of nematic 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) supported on a surface decorated with aluminum perchlorate, we quantify the dynamics of the optical response (intensity of transmitted light) of the LC film as a function of key experimental parameters, including linear flow rate of the gas over the surface of the film and the concentration of the DMMP within the gas. Building from prior infrared spectroscopic analysis revealing that the optical response of the LC is due to an ordering transition triggered by competitive ligand-exchange reactions at the chemically functionalized surface (i.e., between the phosphonate and nitrile groups of the DMMP and LC, respectively, with the aluminum perchlorate-decorated surface), we interpret the measurements reported herein within the framework of a simple model of mass transport. The model reveals that the rate-limiting process underlying the response of the LC is the mass transport of the DMMP across the concentration boundary layer formed on the vapor side of the LC–vapor interface, and not the mass transport of DMMP across the LC film nor the intrinsic ligand exchange kinetics. The analysis also reveals that the response of the LC is triggered once the concentration of DMMP within the LC film rises to approximately 0.25 mM. By flowing a stream of gas free of DMMP over a LC film pre-exposed to DMMP, we established that the relaxation of the LC film to the initial state is also largely controlled by mass transport of the DMMP across the vapor side of the LC–vapor interface. Analysis of the relaxation of the system leads to an estimate of the sensitivity of the supported LC film to the concentration of DMMP in the gas phase (approximately 150 ppb for the non-optimized system reported in this paper). These results and others reported in this paper identify key physical phenomena that dictate the dynamics of adsorbate-induced ordering transitions in LC systems, and provide important guidance to the design of LCs as chemo-responsive materials for use in sensors.
Nitric oxide and shock.

Abstract Shock can be defined as the failure of the circulatory system to provide necessary cellular nutrients, including oxygen, and to remove metabolic wastes. Although it is now recognized that more than 100 different forms of shock exist, this recognition is more a reflection of the widespread use of the term to describe a variety of disease states. For the purpose of this monograph, we concentrate on various forms of cardiovascular shock, in particular, shock that may be linked to inappropriate vasodilation from overproduction of the endogenous vasodilator, nitric oxide. Some forms of shock have been extensively studied, and convincing evidence exists for the role of nitric oxide. Other disease states have been less well characterized in terms of their association with excess nitric oxide production.Available evidence of a role for nitric oxide is discussed in the hope of stimulating the interest of investigators to explore these areas more thoroughly.