cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seizure‐Induced Axonal Sprouting: Assessing Connections Between Injury, Local Circuits, and Epileptogenesis

Neurons and neural circuits undergo extensive structural and functional remodeling in response to seizures. Sprouting of axons in the mossy fiber pathway of the hippocampus is a prominent example of a seizure-induced structural alteration which has received particular attention because it is easily detected, is induced by intense or repeated brief seizures in focal chronic models of epilepsy, and is also observed in the human epileptic hippocampus. During the last decade the association of mossy fiber sprouting with seizures and epilepsy has been firmly established. Many anatomical features of mossy fiber sprouting have been described in considerable detail, and there is evidence that sprouting occurs in a variety of other pathways in association with seizures and injury. There is uncertainty, however, about how or when mossy fiber sprouting may contribute to hippocampal dysfunction and generation of seizures. Study of mossy fiber sprouting has provided a strong theoretical and conceptual framework for efforts to understand how seizures and injury may contribute to epileptogenesis and its consequences. It is likely that investigation of mossy fiber sprouting will continure to offer significant opportunities for insights into seizure-induced plasticity of neural circuits at molecular, cellular, and systems levels.
Testing different hypotheses of vascular homeostasis based on mechanical stress or strain in image-based models using an inverse method

Various hypotheses are previously suggested to describe the tendency of vascular tissue to adapt in response to alterations in mechanical stimuli. It is still a matter of controversy which mechanical quantity governs or correlates well with the adaptation, contributing to the mechanical homeostasis. A computational tool that can distinguish between different hypotheses under various physiological conditions may help better understanding of the governing rules. Recently, an inverse optimization method has been developed to estimate the optimal spatial distributions of arterial wall thickness and material anisotropy of image-based models while satisfying a homeostatic condition assumed [1]. The same numerical method can be utilized to investigate the consequent optimal structures resulting from different hypotheses for the mechanical homeostasis. We consider three hypotheses for a homeostatic state based on intramural stress or cyclic stretch and examine their effects on the optimized distributions of thickness and anisotropy. The results show the capability of the presented method in discriminating different hypotheses of vascular homeostasis with image-based models, the validity of which requires more experimental data.© 2011 ASME
Should liver transplantation in patients with model for end-stage liver disease scores ≤ 14 be avoided? A decision analysis approach†

Studies have shown that liver transplantation offers no survival benefits to patients with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores ≤ 14 in comparison with remaining on the waitlist. The consensus of a 2003 transplant community national conference was that a minimum MELD score should be required for placement on the liver waitlist, but no minimum listing national policy was enacted at that time. We developed a Markov microsimulation model to compare results under the present US liver allocation policy with outcomes under a “Rule 14” policy of barring patients with a MELD score of ≤14 from the waitlist or transplantation. For probabilities in the microsimulation model, we used data on all adult patients (≥18 years) listed for or undergoing primary liver transplantation in the United States for chronic liver disease from 1/1/2003 through 12/31/2007 with follow-up until 2/1/2008. The “Rule 14” policy gave a 3% improvement in overall patient survival over the present system at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years and predicted a 13% decrease in overall waitlist time for patients with MELD scores of 15 to 40. Patients with the greatest benefit from a “Rule 14” policy were those with MELD scores of 6 to 10, for whom a 17% survival advantage was predicted from waiting on the list versus undergoing transplantation. Our analysis supports changing the national liver allocation policy to not allow liver transplantation for patients with MELD ≤ 14. Liver Transpl 15:242–254, 2009. © 2009 AASLD.
Effects of Intrauterine Exposure to Cocaine, Opium and Methadone on Gut Myoelectrical Activity of Neonates

Effects of Intrauterine Exposure to Cocaine, Opium and Methadone on Gut Myoelectrical Activity of Neonates
Ultrasound-guided steroid injection for obturator neuralgia.

▪ Abstract: Obturator neuralgia (ON) presents with pain in the groin, medial thigh, and sometimes the medial aspect of the knee. The causes include trauma, obturator hernia, pelvic cancer, pelvic surgery, hip surgery, following pelvic fractures, endometriosis, retroperitoneal hematoma, pregnancy, and delivery. Ultrasound (US) guidance facilitates real-time imaging, identification of vascular structures, and improves patient comfort in situations where nerve stimulation can be unpleasant. This is a case report of ON successfully treated with US-guided steroid injection. A 55-year-old man was referred to the pain clinic with groin pain and allodynia in the medial thigh and knee following a fall. He had tried multiple other therapies and none of them provided significant relief. Using a 10–5-MHz multi-frequency, 38-mm linear array transducer, the obturator nerve was scanned in both longitudinal and transverse directions. Under real-time imaging 10 mg of medroxy-progesterone in a volume of 1 mL was injected. Following the injection, a small area of the medial side of knee was still tender to light touch. A second injection was placed inferiorly and provided pain relief for more than 5 months. This successful demonstration of US guidance in ON may further encourage US guidance in pain clinic interventions. ▪
Callus formation and differentiation in tissue cultures of normal and cytoplasmic male sterile sorghum, pepper, sunflower, and tobacco.

The primary goal of this study was to establish callus cultures of selected plant taxa containing both normal (N) and cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) lines. A secondary goal was to attempt to differentiate the calli into whole flowering plants. Undifferentiated and organ differentiated calli were produced in specific lines of N and CMS sorghum, pepper, sunflower, and tobacco. Calli from both N and CMS lines of a given species developed similarly and grew well. Even though whole flowering plants have not yet been produced from any of the lines, this approach allows for good production of callus for studies dealing with CMS.
Activating the Centerfold Syndrome: Recency of Exposure, Sexual Explicitness, Past Exposure to Objectifying Media

This experimental study tested whether exposure to female centerfold images causes young adult males to believe more strongly in a set of beliefs clinical psychologist Gary Brooks terms “the centerfold syndrome.” The centerfold syndrome consists of five beliefs: voyeurism, sexual reductionism, masculinity validation, trophyism, and nonrelational sex. Past exposure to objectifying media was positively correlated with all five centerfold syndrome beliefs. Recent exposure to centerfolds interacted with past exposure to predict three of the five centerfold syndrome beliefs. Recent exposure to centerfolds had immediate strengthening effects on the sexual reductionism, masculinity validation, and nonrelational sex beliefs of males who view objectifying media less frequently. These effects persisted for approximately 48 hours.
Study of the performance of thermoelectric modules for use in active building envelopes

Abstract Active building envelope (ABE) systems are a new enclosure technology which integrate photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) technologies. In ABE systems, a PV system supplies electrical power to a TE heat-pump system, which can transfer heat in one direction or another depending on the direction of the current. Both the TE and PV systems are integrated into one enclosure surface. Hence, ABE systems have the ability to actively control the flow of heat across their surface when exposed to solar radiation. Applications for this technology include all types of enclosures that require cooling or heating, such as building enclosures. At this stage of our study, we are developing various ABE system prototypes by using commercially available PV and TE technologies. In this study, two types of commercial available TE modules are studied for their potential application in an ABE prototype window system. We have performed various experiments to determine the coefficient of performance for these TE modules when operating under different voltage regimes, and have tested different electrical connection diagrams. Based upon the measured data, and results based on the computational models of a TE system, the most suitable type of TE modules, the voltage and current, and the preferable connection diagrams are discussed.
Molecular Sieve Separations

The pore structures of adsorbents such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks comprise regular arrays of uniform channels of molecular dimensions, thus offering the possibility of size selective (molecular sieve) separations. Molecular sieve separations have traditionally been carried out in a cyclic batch adsorption/desorption process but, in principle, a steady state membrane process would be an attractive alternative. Considerable success has been achieved at the laboratory scale for several different molecular sieve separations but the difficulty of fabricating, on a large scale, a sufficiently coherent and robust zeolite membrane has largely prevented the commercial application of such processes. Selected examples of kinetic separations are presented in order to illustrate some of the features of such systems.
Endothelial targeting of the Sleeping Beauty transposon within lung.

Endothelial cells have complex roles in the pathophysiology of vascular and heart disease and are increasingly being recognized as targets for gene therapy. The intravenous administration of plasmid DNA complexed to lipid tends to target transfection of endothelial cells within the lung; however, expression from the transgene remains transient. Here we utilize the integrating capability of the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon for durable gene transfer within lung endothelia. To restrict expression of the transgene, an endothelial cell-specific promoter, endothelin-1, was placed within the transposon. Further refinements to the transposon increased in vitro transposition efficiency by 3.6-fold. Utilizing this optimized transposon we evaluated the expression of two reporter molecules, secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and intracellular GFP, following administration of DNA–polyethylenimine complexes to mice. Long-term expression (>2 months) of SEAP occurred only with cotransfection of adequate amounts of transposase. Localization studies using the GFP reporter, at 3 days and 6 weeks postinjection, demonstrated that the majority of transgene-expressing cells were of endothelial origin, while the second most abundant cell type was type II pneumocyte. These results suggest that the SB transposon can be adapted to target particular cell types, in this case, endothelial cells. Such an approach may be useful for gene therapy paradigms involving the long-term modulation of vascular and endothelial cell biology.
Age-dependent effects of nicotine on locomotor activity and conditioned place preference in rats

Most adult smokers start smoking during their adolescence. This adolescent initiation may be due to multiple factors, but little evidence is available regarding whether their brains are differentially sensitive to the addictive effects of nicotine during adolescence. To test the hypothesis that adolescents are more sensitive than adults to nicotine’s rewarding actions. An unbiased, counterbalanced, place-conditioning procedure was used to examine drug-induced reward and locomotor activity. Early adolescent (postnatal day 28), late adolescent (P38) and adult (P90) rats received either saline or nicotine (0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) and were tested for place conditioning. During early adolescence, a single nicotine injection (0.5 mg/kg) induced significant conditioned place preference (CPP). In contrast, during late adolescence or adulthood, nicotine did not induce CPP after either one or four conditioning trials. Initial locomotor responses to acute nicotine administration during the first conditioning trial also differed with age, with no effect at P28, but substantial inhibitory responses at all doses studied (0.125–0.5 mg/kg) at later ages. Although not differing in their initial locomotor response to nicotine, there was a significantly greater tolerance/sensitization during the second and subsequent drug exposures in late adolescents than in adults. These findings provide evidence that adolescent brain is differentially sensitive to both the acute and repeated effects of nicotine relative to adult brain. Furthermore, there are significant differences in nicotine sensitivity between early and late phases of adolescence.
Respirator Use Among US Farm Operators: Evidence from the 2006 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to estimate the national prevalence of respirator use among primary farm operators in the United States. The authors analyzed the 2006 Farm and Ranch Safety Survey data collected for 12,278 actively farming primary farm operators. Weighted prevalence and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) of respirator use were calculated by farm operator characteristics, farm characteristics, and selected exposures/hazards. Of the estimated 2.1 million farm operators, 37.2% used a respirator on their farm. Respirator use prevalence was significantly higher among operators aged 16–34 years than those aged ≥65 years (46.9% vs. 30.0%; PR = 1.6); male than female operators (39.0% vs. 24.4%; PR = 1.6); operators managing crop farms than operators managing livestock farms (40.9% vs. 33.7%; PR = 1.2); and operators managing farms with value of sales ≥$100,000 than operators managing farms with value of sales ≤$9999 (57.4% vs. 31.4%; PR = 1.8). Of the operators who used a respirator, 69.9% ...
Convergence of optimal sequential outer bounding sets in bounded error parameter estimation

It is shown in the paper that if the noise is a sequence of random variables and the noise bound is tight, the optimal sequential outer bounding parallelotope and orthotope do not converge in general although the optimal sequential outer bounding ellipsoid converge to a singleton with probability 1.
Disaccharide recognition by binuclear copper(II) complexes

The sugar recognition by binuclear copper(II) complexes in solution is strongly dependent on secondary interactions and cannot be predicted from the intermetallic Cu⋯Cu distance.
Unsuspected inflow disease in candidates for axillofemoral bypass operations: a prospective study.

Abstract Routine arteriography of the axillary, subclavian, and innominate arteries before axillofemoral bypass surgery has not been advocated because of the presumed rarity of stenosis of these inflow vessels. However, we have noted in this patient population with extensive atherosclerosis that inflow disease can cause axillofemoral graft failure despite normal preoperative clinical and noninvasive parameters. We prospectively determined the incidence of unsuspected inflow stenosis with arteriography in 40 consecutive candidates for primary (28) or secondary (12) axillofemoral bypass surgery. A new arteriographic technique with a single translumbar puncture was developed to safely and clearly visualize the potential inflow and outflow tracts. Ten of the 40 patients (25%) exhibited inflow stenosis greater than 50% of luminal diameter (unilateral in eight patients and bilateral in two patients). Seven were on the left side (five subclavian, two axillary) and five were on the right side (three subclavian, one axillary, one innominate). In eight of the 40 patients (20%) the stenotic inflow lesion was ipsilateral to the ischemic leg and therefore proximal to the preferred inflow site of an axillofemoral bypass. Upper extremity arterial pressure measurements suggested potential inflow artery stenosis in only three of the 12 (25%) instances. These findings show that equal arterial pressures in the upper extremities do not ensure adequate inflow for an axillofemoral graft. Routine arteriographic assessment of inflow intacts is recommended before axillofemoral bypass surgery. (J VASC SURG 1990;11:832-7.)
Full-Time Faculty or Part-Time Entrepreneurs

When agents originate and develop inventions, new discoveries, or scientific breakthroughs, do all residual cash flows go to principals - the risk bearers who own the infrastructures, systems, and the productive assets? This research addresses this question, focusing on university scientists who essentially bypass their institutions when they privately sell or license discoveries made at laboratories of said institutions directly to the market. Using a random sample of 54 U.S. universities and 23 394 faculty members, the study shows that bypassing activity is reduced when universities rely on autonomous technology licensing offices (TLOs) and when faculty departments receive greater shares of the royalties from the licensing of said discoveries. Conversely, bypassing activity is increased with more valuable discoveries and heightened entrepreneurial activities on university campuses.
Quantitative trait locus determining dietary macronutrient intakes is located on human chromosome 2p22

Background: Obesity is generally accompanied by increased food intake. Objective: We sought to identify the genes influencing variation in dietary macronutrient intakes in Mexican Americans. Design: We conducted a genome-wide scan by using data derived fromfood-frequencyquestionnairesin816participantsfromtheSan Antonio Family Heart Study. Household effect was simultaneously estimated in a variance component model with the use of SOLAR. Results: All dietary intake measures (total calories, proteins, fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, carbohydrates, and sucrose) were moderately heritable. Household effect was insignificant except on total calories and sucrose. Suggestive evidence of linkage with saturated fat intake was found on chromosome2p22nearmarkerD2S1346[logarithmofodds(LOD)2.62]. Intakes of total calories, fat, protein, and monounsaturated fat were also suggestively linked to the same marker. A significant linkage signal on chromosome 2p22 for leptin concentrations and fat mass was localized in this population, so we used leptin or fat mass as a covariate. Multipoint LOD scores for saturated fat dropped to 1.27 and 1.90, respectively, which suggested that this region on chromosome 2p contributes to both saturated fat intake and body adiposity. This chromosomal region contains the proopiomelanocortin gene (POMC). However, 2 polymorphisms in exon 3 of the POMC gene showed no association with saturated fat intake. Conclusions: The results strengthen the hypothesis that chromosome 2p22 harbors genes that influence a variety of obesity-related phenotypes, including macronutrient intakes. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:1410–4.
Clinical Interpretation of "In-Hand Manipulation in Young Children: Translation Movements"

As a result of their study, Pehoski et al. (1997) have contributed to our knowledge of the development of in-hand manipulation skills in young children. Although knowledge of skill development in children who are typically developing must be applied with caution to children with disabilities, information about normal development provides us with at least the basis for evaluation and treatment planning. Children with moderate and severe problems with hand skills are very unlikely to be appropriate candidates for intervention for in-hand manipulation skills, but children with mild disabilities may be easier for the therapies to identify when using these data on developmental trends and descriptions of strategies for execution of in-hand manipulation skills. Such identification has the potential to lead to intervention that can positively influence the child's performance of a variety of functional tasks that rely on these skills.
Eating disorders in a national sample of hospitalized female and male veterans: Detection rates and psychiatric comorbidity

Objective Using a national sample of hospitalized female and male veterans, this study examined the point prevalence of detected cases of eating disorders and explored psychiatric comorbidity in cases with an eating disorder. Methods Prevalence rates were determined by reviewing the discharge diagnoses of 24,041 women and 466,590 men hospitalized in Veteran Affairs medical centers during fiscal year 1996. Comorbidity was examined by individually matching eating disorder cases (N = 161) with patients without an eating disorder, using sex, race, and age as matching variables. Results On the basis of routine clinical diagnosis, 0.30% of the female veterans and 0.02% of the male veterans were diagnosed with a current ICD-9-CM eating disorder. Women with eating disorders had significantly elevated rates of comorbid substance, mood, anxiety (particularly posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), adjustment, and personality (particularly borderline personality disorder [BPD]) disorders. Men with eating disorders were found to have high rates of comorbid organic mental, schizophrenic/psychotic, substance, and mood disorder. Conclusions Our study illustrates the value of administrative data sets for the investigation of uncommon diseases. © 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 25: 405–414, 1999.
Human serum for tissue engineering of human nasal septal cartilage

Objective To compare the chondrogenic and proliferative effects of pooled human serum (HS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) on tissue-engineered human nasal septal chondrocytes. Study design and setting Human chondrocytes were expanded for one passage in monolayer in medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 2% HS, 10% HS, or 20% HS. Cells were then suspended in alginate beads for 3D culture for 2 weeks with 10% FBS, 2% HS, 10% HS, or 20% HS. Results Monolayer cell yields were greater with HS than FBS. In alginate, cellular proliferation, glycosaminoglycan production per cell, and type II collagen were significantly higher with 10% HS compared to 10% FBS controls. Conclusion HS results in increased proliferation and production of cartilaginous extracellular matrix by tissue-engineered human nasal septal chondrocytes, compared to FBS controls. Significance Culture with human serum may facilitate creation of neocartilage constructs that more closely resemble native tissue.
A Phenomenological Discrete Brittle Damage-Mechanics Model for Fatigue of MEMS Devices With Application to LIGA Ni

Fatigue initiation and failure of various microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is of significant importance as they gain widespread acceptance in sensors and electronics. This paper presents an approach for utilizing available experimental fatigue data to evaluate the fatigue lives of MEMS components. The approach is based on a phenomenological discrete material representation in which a domain is represented by a collection of rigid elements that interacts via springs along their boundaries. The principles of continuum damage mechanics are used to degrade the spring stiffnesses as brittle damage occurs when the domain is subjected to fatigue loading. The model utilizes experimental stress-life data for LIGA Ni to identify the material properties used in the model. The proposed model captures the statistical distribution of material properties and geometrical randomness of the microstructure commonly observed in a wide variety of MEMS. Consequently, simulations that account for the variability in fatigue life can be readily performed. The model is applied to a dog-bone-shaped specimen to evaluate the influence of material heterogeneity and material flaws on fatigue crack initiation life and scatter. The ability of the model to predict the fatigue life of different types of MEMS devices and loading conditions is also demonstrated by simulating the fatigue stress-life behavior of a MEMS resonator support beam.
Cross-task individual differences in error processing: neural, electrophysiological, and genetic components.

The error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) are electrophysiological markers of error processing thought to originate in the medial frontal cortex. Previous studies using probabilistic reinforcement showed that individuals who learn more from negative than from positive feedback (negative learners) had larger ERNs than did positive learners. These findings support the dopamine (DA) reinforcement-learning hypothesis of the ERN and associated computational models. However, it remains unclear (1) to what extent these effects generalize to tasks outside the restricted probabilistic reinforcement-learning domain and (2) whether there is a dopaminergic source of these effects. To address these issues, we tested subjects’ reinforcement-learning biases behaviorally and recorded EEG during an unrelated recognition memory experiment. Initial recognition responses were speeded, but the subjects were subsequently allowed to self-correct their responses. We found that negative learners, as assessed via probabilistic learning, had larger ERNs in the recognition memory task, suggestive of a common underlying enhanced error-processing mechanism. Negative learners also had enhanced Pes when selfcorrecting errors than did positive learners. Moreover, the ERN and Pe components contributed independently to negative learning. We also tested for a dopaminergic genetic basis of these ERP components. We analyzed the COMT val/met polymorphism, which has been linked to frontal DA levels. The COMT genotype affected Pe (but not ERN) magnitude; met/met homozygotes showed enhanced Pes to self-corrected errors, as compared with val carriers. These results are consistent with a role for the Pe and frontal monoamines in error awareness.
The New Scaling Paradigm

The FET device will lead the Silicon Nanoelectronics era until at least the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century by using the equivalent scaling approach. New process techniques like self-assembly will be required to augment the capabilities of the traditional evolution of top-down manufacturing techniques. Multiple materials will be introduced in the FET process and eventually all of the materials introduced in the 60's will be replaced, including possibly silicon itself. Thermal limitations will most likely represent the ultimate limitation of the FET device requiring the adoption of heterogeneous integration of multiple technologies on the same substrate as a way of achieving higher system performance. Devices using other quantum state variables have been proposed and an extensive and systematic evaluation program needs to be carried on in this decade in order to identify possible candidates in the next decade for manufacturing implementation beyond the year 2020. This new device will operate in conjunction with CMOS and other types of devices in a heterogeneous integration.
Enhanced Stimulation of Anti-Ovarian Cancer CD8+ T Cells by Dendritic Cells Loaded with Nanoparticle Encapsulated Tumor Antigen

Citation Hanlon DJ, Aldo PB, Devine L, Alvero AB, Engberg AK, Edelson R, Mor G. Enhanced stimulation of anti-ovarian cancer CD8+ T cells by dendritic cells loaded with nanoparticle encapsulated tumor antigen. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65: 597–609 Problem Dendritic cell (DC)-based cancer therapies are favored approaches to stimulate anti-tumor T-cell responses. Unfortunately, tolerance to tumor antigens is difficult to overcome. Biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NP) are effective reagents in the delivery of drugs and tumor-associated antigens (TAA). In this study, we assessed the capacity of a PLGA NP-based delivery system to augment CD8 T-cell responses to ovarian cancer TAA. Method of Study Human DC were generated from blood monocytes by conventional in vitro differentiation and loaded with either soluble tumor lysate or NP/lysate conjugates (NPL). These antigen-loaded DC were then used to stimulate autologous CD8+ T cells. Cytokine production and activation markers were evaluated in the CD8+ T cells. Results DC loading with NPL increased cytokine production by stimulated CD8 T cells and induced T-cell expression of cell surface co-stimulatory molecules, typical of anti-tumor immune responses. In contrast, delivery of naked tumor lysate antigens preferentially induced a T-cell profile characteristic of tolerization/exhaustion. Conclusion These findings indicate that delivery of TAA in NP enables DC to efficiently activate anti-tumor CD8+ T cells. PLGA NP encapsulation of tumor-derived lysate protein antigens is an encouraging new preparative methodology for DC-based vaccination meriting clinical testing.
Responsible Research Involving Children

Each year, advances in biomedical science save the lives of tens of thousands of children worldwide, prevent or limit disease or disability in many more, and improve the quality of life for countless others. Still, pediatricians and others have long argued that infants, children, and adolescents have not shared equally with adults in biomedical progress. In particular, many drugs that are prescribed for children have not been tested with children. This gap puts them at risk for dosing miscalculations and preventable harms related to metabolic and other differences between children and adults.
Dewey, Derrida, and 'the double bind'

(2003). Dewey, Derrida, and ‘the Double Bind’. Educational Philosophy and Theory: Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 349-362.
Acceptability of an Advance Directive That Limits Food and Liquids in Advanced Dementia

Some individuals fear living with advanced dementia and may even commit suicide if they receive dementia diagnosis. Living with advanced dementia could be prevented if a person who cannot feed himself or herself would not be fed by others. The purpose of the study was to find out how acceptable would be an advance directive that includes discontinuation of feeding at certain stage of dementia for relatives of persons who died with dementia. All participants of 2 focus groups would be willing to indicate at least 1 condition in which they would not want to be fed. Some of them would be willing to make a proxy decision to stop feeding in the absence of advance directives.
'Template-switching': a supramolecular strategy for the quantitative, gram-scale construction of a molecular target in the solid state.

A template–switching strategy based on the modularity of template-directed solid-state synthesis has been successfully utilised to achieve a quantitative, stereospecific solid-state synthesis of a p-[2.2]-cyclophane target in gram quantities.
Critical Thinking Disposition and Library Anxiety: Affective Domains on the Space of Information Seeking and Use in Academic Libraries

Because both critical thinking and library anxiety have been found to play an important role in determining learning outcomes, it is possible that these two constructs are related in some way. To date, however, this link has not been empirically examined. In the present study, we have attempted to identify the nature of the association between critical thinking disposition and library anxiety among 170 graduate students. Findings revealed a negative multivariate relationship between these two sets of affective variables. Specifically, weak dispositions toward critical thinking were associated with high levels of library anxiety. Implications of the findings were discussed with respect to the approach to teaching information literacy in academic libraries.
Joint CFO, data symbol and channel response estimation in OFDM systems

A joint iterative estimator is developed that estimates both the carrier frequency offset (CFO) and data sequence for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing systems. For frequency-selective fading channels, the estimator also incorporates channel response estimation. The estimator operates in the frequency domain, after the Fourier transformation. Convergence analysis shows that the CFO estimator converges to the actual value in the almost sure sense if the initial CFO is less than approximately one half of the subcarrier spacing. The complexity of the proposed algorithm can be made manageable by using proper windowing prior to the Fourier transformation and decision feedback techniques. A simulation study is also conducted to show the bit error rate as well as the mean squared error performances of the proposed algorithms.
On the interaction of a hydrogen atom with a lithium metal surface

Abstract In this paper we adopt a molecular cluster approach to study the interaction of a hydrogen atom with a (100) surface of solid lithium metal. In this study, the spin-unrestricted Hartree-Fock equation is solved for the molecular cluster. We also solve for the potential energy surface of the LiH molecule and the Li 2 molecule. We find that the essential features of the hydrogen surface interaction can be understood in terms of the molecule two body interactions. We also find that the hydrogen atom sits below the surface of the Li metal rather than above the surface.
High speed optical imaging of spiral waves in cardiac tissue

Many cardiac arrhythmias are hypothesized to be composed of one or more reentrant circuits. Using a 10/spl times/10 photodiode array and the potentiometric dye di-4-ANEPPS, the authors have recorded high-speed "movies" of the initiation, maintenance, and termination of spiral waves artificially induced in thin isolated slices of canine ventricular tissue. These spiral waves, which rotate at approximately 4-5 Hz, could be terminated consistently with field strengths greater than /spl sim/7 V/cm. Successful termination occurred when all regions of the tissue were simultaneously depolarized to excitation levels greater than /spl sim/30% of the normal action potential amplitude. Thus, this technique of high-speed optical imaging affords a unique method for the quantitative investigation of spiral waves and their interactions with external fields. >
Pulmonary cytokine composition differs in the setting of alcohol use disorders and cigarette smoking

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs), including alcohol abuse and dependence, and cigarette smoking are widely acknowledged and common risk factors for pneumococcal pneumonia. Reasons for these association...
Plant Protein and Animal Proteins: Do They Differentially Affect Cardiovascular Disease Risk?

Proteins from plant-based compared with animal-based food sources may have different effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Numerous epidemiologic and intervention studies have evaluated their respective health benefits; however, it is difficult to isolate the role of plant or animal protein on CVD risk. This review evaluates the current evidence from observational and intervention studies, focusing on the specific protein-providing foods and populations studied. Dietary protein is derived from many food sources, and each provides a different composite of nonprotein compounds that can also affect CVD risk factors. Increasing the consumption of protein-rich foods also typically results in lower intakes of other nutrients, which may simultaneously influence outcomes. Given these complexities, blanket statements about plant or animal protein may be too general, and greater consideration of the specific protein food sources and the background diet is required. The potential mechanisms responsible for any specific effects of plant and animal protein are similarly multifaceted and include the amino acid content of particular foods, contributions from other nonprotein compounds provided concomitantly by the whole food, and interactions with the gut microbiome. Evidence to date is inconclusive, and additional studies are needed to further advance our understanding of the complexity of plant protein vs. animal protein comparisons. Nonetheless, current evidence supports the idea that CVD risk can be reduced by a dietary pattern that provides more plant sources of protein compared with the typical American diet and also includes animal-based protein foods that are unprocessed and low in saturated fat.
Mining Sector Reform in Guinea: An Agenda Forward

Guinea’s new government began the process of reform in its mineral sector by passing, in September, 2011, a new mining code. But much remains to be done to create policy and practice out of the statutory framework, and many issues remain unresolved between the government and the multinational companies that mine in Guinea. This paper considers key issues for the mining concession review process the new administration has announced and for future concession negotiations. It does so with an eye towards provisions of a model contract and future statutory reform. Key issues covered include revenue generation, stabilization, and transparent revenue management. In its recommendations, the paper draws on West African regional experience, particularly that of Liberia, which has drawn recognition and praise for its efforts to manage responsibly the natural resources that fueled its 14-year conflict.
Image of the Month: A Small Bowel With Too Many Exits: An Astonishing Surgical Finding in a Patient With Crohn's Disease.

A Small Bowel With Too Many Exits: An Astonishing Surgical Finding in a Patient With Crohn's Disease
Avoiding bias and incorrect confidence interval coverage in prescription drug labeling.

Background:The primary purpose of prescription drug labeling is to give healthcare professionals the information needed to prescribe drugs appropriately. Therefore, labeling typically reports the effects that the treatment might be expected to have on several efficacy measures, including not only the primary endpoint used to establish effectiveness but also a number of key secondary endpoints that are important to practitioners and patients.Methods:One possible regulatory approach to drug labeling is to include results on important secondary efficacy endpoints in labeling only if there is statistical evidence of a treatment effect and a clinically meaningful estimated effect. We evaluate the statistical consequences of this approach by deriving and discussing the potential bias in point estimates and deviation from nominal coverage in confidence intervals that are reported in labeling.Results:Such an approach can lead to substantial conditional bias in point estimates (toward spuriously greater effects th...
Covalent Attachment for Surface Enhancement of Lanthanide Emission

We have used functionalized disulfide organic precursors for covalent linkage of labeled fluorophore to silver nanoparticles in solution. This approach is meant to optimize surface-fluorophore separation for plasmon enhancement applications in biological assay.
Sphere-to-Cylinder Transitions in Thin Films of Diblock Copolymers under Shear: The Role of Wetting Layers

Shear-induced sphere-to-cylinder transitions in diblock copolymer thin films have been studied using coarse-grained Langevin dynamics simulations. Parameters of the coarse-grained model were chosen...
Determination of hyaluronic acid in health foods by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA)

Enzyme-linked immonoadsorbent assay(ELISA) was established to determine the hyaluronic acid(HA) in health foods products. The key steps of the ELISA method,such as incubation time and wash time,were performed comparison assay,as well as the linearity,recovery,precision and repeatability. According to the assay results,the method was HA specific and had good linearity in the range of 0.37~90ng/mL. The precision and repeatability were 3.33% and 2.48% respectively. The averages recoveries of four different contents of HA sample were 86.87%,111.57%,91.60% and 96.59% respectively. Moreover,comparison test between Bitter-Muir method and ELISA method showed that the ELISA method was more specific and sensitive for the HA detection in such health foods products. The method was worth extending to health food industry.
Survey of Laribacter hongkongensis in grass carps in Beijing

Objective:To get information about L.hongkongensis contamination in freshwater fish.Methods:A total of 40 freshwater fishes(grass carp) were collected from three markets in Beijing from August to October 2007.All of the samples were plated onto two kinds of MacConkey agars(CMA).Results:seven L.hongkongensis were isolated solely from 40 grass carps(17.5%(7/40)).Conclusion:L.hongkongensis needs to be particularly monitored in freshwater fish in Beijing.
Tandem Microwire Solar Cells for Flexible High Efficiency Low Cost Photovoltaics

This project has developed components of a waferless, flexible, low-cost tandem multijunction III-V/Si microwire array solar cell technology which combines the efficiency of wafered III-V photovoltaic technologies with the process designed to meet the Sunshot object. The project focused on design of lattice-matched GaAsP/SiGe two junction cell design and lattice-mismatched GaInP/Si tandem cell design. Combined electromagnetic simulation/device physics models using realistic microwire tandem structures were developed that predict >22% conversion efficiency for known material parameters, such as tunnel junction structure, window layer structure, absorber lifetimes and optical absorption and these model indicate a clear path to 30% efficiency for high quality III-V heterostructures. SiGe microwire arrays were synthesized via Cu-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth with inexpensive chlorosilane and chlorogermance precursors in an atmospheric pressure reactor. SiGe alloy composition in microwires was found to be limited to a maximum of 12% Ge incorporation during chlorogermane growth, due to the melting of the alloy near the solidus composition. Lattice mismatched InGaP double heterostructures were grown by selective epitaxy with a thermal oxide mask on Si microwire substrates using metallorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirms the growth of individual step graded layers and a high density of defects near themore » wire/III-V interface. Selective epitaxy was initiated with a low temperature nucleation scheme under “atomic layer epitaxy” or “flow mediated epitaxy” conditions whereby the Ga and P containing precursors are alternately introduced into the reactor to promote layer-bylayer growth. In parallel to our efforts on conformal GaInP heteroepitaxy on selectively masked Si microwires, we explored direct, axial growth of GaAs on Si wire arrays as another route to a tandem junction architecture. We proposed axial, lattice-mismatched growth of a GaAs segment that extrude out of a Si wire via a self-aligned SiO2 hollow cylindrical mask. With this growth strategy, misfit dislocations that would normally form at the GaAs/Si interface during thin film epitaxy may bend over to and thus terminate at the sidewall of the SiO2 tube. A reactive-ion etching technique was employed 1) to remove Si to form a hollow, self-aligned SiO2 cylindrical tube as a growth template for GaAs epitaxy using a vertical, showerhead, low-pressure metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition reactor that was operated at 0.1 atm. Successful epitaxy of axial GaAs wires on non-polar, -oriented Si wire substrates was found at temperatures of ~850C. This and the other III-V/Si heterojunction wire synthesis strategies described here are promising approaches to realize future III-V/Si tandem solar cell designs.« less
Abstract IA23: An ancient signaling mechanism mediates the response of cells to fitness differences arising during tissue growth

Much work indicates that cells in developing tissues and organs use conserved mechanisms that allow them to cooperate or compete with their neighbors. These mechanisms allow cells to sense and respond to growth changes in their immediate environment, help to promote appropriate size control and ensure optimal organ fitness. One such mechanism, called cell competition, monitors cellular fitness so that potentially unfit cells are prevented from contributing to the tissue. We have developed models to determine how cell competition is regulated. In one model, mosaic tissues that contain cells with increased activity of the Myc transcription factor “compete” with wild-type cells and instruct them to die. As a result the higher-Myc cells (“winners”) are stimulated to proliferate more to fill the space. In another, cells deficient in one copy of a ribosomal protein compete with wild-type cells for occupancy of the tissue. Our recent work reveals that both types of cell competition use specific cohorts of components of the evolutionarily ancient innate immune system to eliminate the weaker cells. We find that Toll-related receptors (TRRs) and the cytokine Spatzle lead to NFkB-dependent apoptosis in both “loser” cell populations. However, diverse “loser” cells require different TRRs and NFkB factors, and activate distinct pro-death genes. Our results imply that the particular response to cell fitness differences is stipulated by context, just as innate immune genes respond to a variety of microbial pathogens. Our findings demonstrate a functional repurposing of components of TRRs and NFkB signaling modules in an internal cell fitness surveillance system that operates during development. Citation Format: Laura A. Johnston. An ancient signaling mechanism mediates the response of cells to fitness differences arising during tissue growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA23.
Orchiopexy: an experimental study of the effect of surgical technique on testicular histology.

AbstractOrchiopexy was performed in 35 mature Sprague-Dawley rats using absorbable suture, nonabsorbable suture or a classical dartos pouch technique without suture fixation. Examination of the chromic-fixed testes revealed severe acute inflammation of the suture site and most of the parenchyma in 76 per cent, with abscess formation in 65 per cent, complete absence of spermatogenesis in 82 per cent and evidence of tubular necrosis in 88 per cent. Nylon-fixed testes were adherent only at the sutures, with absent spermatogenesis in 29 per cent, moderate to severe tubular necrosis in 29 per cent and tubular atrophy in 58 per cent. Dartos-fixed testes demonstrated complete circumferential adherence, normal spermatogenesis in 94 per cent and minimal focal tubular atrophy in 23 per cent. Contralateral testes appeared normal in all animals.
Transureteroureterostomy with Cutaneous: Ureterostomy: A 25-Year Experience

AbstractWe reviewed 67 patients who underwent transureteroureterostomy with cutaneous ureterostomy for benign (32) and malignant (35) disease in regard to the indications for and complications of the procedure. The most common complications included urine leakage at the ureteroureterostomy, stomal stenosis and calculus formation. Renal function Improved or remained stable in 75% of the patients. Transureteroureterostomy with cutaneous ureterostomy is a viable alternative diversion technique in a select group of patients.