cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Redo Valve-Sparing Root Replacement for Delayed Cusp Derangement From Ventricular Septal Defect.

A 28-year-old man with ventricular septal defect, double-chambered right ventricle with associated right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and anomalous right coronary artery underwent resection of the double-chambered right ventricle, transaortic ventricular septal defect repair, and unroofing of anomalous right coronary artery. Two years later, he returned with delayed presentation of ventricular septal defect flow funnel–related aortic cusp prolapse and symptomatic severe aortic regurgitation. He underwent reoperative valve-sparing aortic root replacement and aortic cusp repair with an excellent outcome.
CHARACTER EDUCATION AS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF SCHOOLING FOR THE FUTURE

This analysis seeks to examine the history and development of moral/character education in America during the 20th century providing structure for the character education movement in today’s educational context. The common denominator and key to character education for the future is community. The concept of community connects the three aforementioned themes and provides a roadmap for better implementation of character education. Careful consideration is given to the interaction and contributions of the school and society in terms of promoting and developing character education. Though there is generous support from politicians, educators, and parents, character education is still somewhat mired by its lack of scope. This examination proposes that current character education proponents can find new frameworks for implementation by observing the history of character education.
Congenital myopathies in the adult neuromuscular clinic: Diagnostic challenges and pitfalls

Objective To investigate the spectrum of undiagnosed congenital myopathies (CMs) in adults presenting to our neuromuscular clinic and to identify the pitfalls responsible for diagnostic delays. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with CM in adulthood in our neuromuscular clinic between 2008 and 2018. Patients with an established diagnosis of CM before age 18 years were excluded. Results We identified 26 patients with adult-onset CM and 18 patients with pediatric-onset CM who were only diagnosed in adulthood. Among patients with adult onset, the median age at onset was 47 years, and the causative genes were RYR1 (11 families), MYH7 (3 families) and ACTA1 (2 families), and SELENON, MYH2, DNM2, and CACNA1S (1 family each). Of 33 patients who underwent muscle biopsy, only 18 demonstrated histologic abnormalities characteristic of CM. Before their diagnosis of CM, 23 patients had received other diagnoses, most commonly non-neurologic disorders. The main causes of diagnostic delays were mildness of the symptoms delaying neurologic evaluation and attribution of the symptoms to coexisting comorbidities, particularly among pediatric-onset patients. Conclusions CMs in adulthood represent a diagnostic challenge, as they may lack the clinical and myopathologic features classically associated with CM. Our findings underscore the need for a revision of the terminology and current classification of these disorders.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) For Monitoring Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) Equilibrium During High Level Waste (HLW) Vitrification

High-level nuclear waste is being immobilized at the Savannah River Site by vitrification into borosilicate glass at the Defense Waste Processing Facility. Control of the REDuction/OXidation (REDOX) equilibrium in the DWPF melter is critical for processing high level liquid wastes. Based upon previous research, an acceptable iron REDOX ratio was defined for the DWPF melts as 0.09 Fe2/SFe 0.33. Controlling the DWPF melter at a REDuction/OXidation (REDOX) equilibrium ofFe2/SFe 0.33 prevents the potential for metallic and metallic sulfide species to form and accumulate on the floor of the melter. Control of foaming due to deoxygenation of manganic species is achieved by converting 66-100 of the MnO2 or Mn2O3 species in a waste feed to MnO before the waste is fed to the DWPF melter. At the lower redox limit of Fe 2/SFe 0.09 about 99 of the Mn 4/Mn 3 is converted to Mn 2. Therefore, the lower REDOX limit eliminates melter foaming from deoxygenation. Organic and nitrate concentrations in the DWPF melter feed are the major parameters influencing melt REDOX. Organics such as formates act as reductants while nitrates, nitrites, and manganic (Mn 4 and Mn 3) species act as oxidants. During melting, the REDOX of the melt poolmore » cannot be measured. Therefore, the Fe 2/SFe ratio in the glass poured from the melter must be related to melter feed organic and oxidant concentrations to ensure production of a high quality glass without impacting production rate (e.g., from foaming) or melter life (e.g., from metal formation and accumulation).« less
Femoral extraction of transvenous leads and leadless pacemakers—A review of the data, tools, and procedural steps

Extraction of transvenous leads via the femoral route might be needed when extraction via the implant vein fails or when retained lead fragments exist. The skill set required for this procedure is unique as it relies on the ability to snare and the use of a variety of shelf tools. In this era of leadless pacing, this skill set might be called upon more frequently. In this article, we review the data, tools, and procedural steps of femoral lead extraction and retrieval/extraction of leadless pacemakers.
Abstract WP363: Trends and Disparities in Utilization of Palliative Care for Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Thrombolytic Therapies: 10-Year Analysis of Nationwide Data

Introduction: We characterize 10-year nationwide trends in utilization of palliative care (PC) for ischemic stroke (IS) patients and describe in-hospital outcomes and costs for IS patients receivin...
Diagnosis, Management, and Percutaneous Sampling of Nipple-Areolar Calcifications: How Radiologists Can Help Patients Avoid the Operating Room.

OBJECTIVE. Both benign and malignant causes of calcifications in the nipple-areolar complex exist. BI-RADS terminology applies to the description and classification of nipple-areolar calcifications...
Feasibility and usability study of a pilot immersive virtual reality-based empathy training for dental providers.

Purpose Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly impact individuals' engagement with the healthcare system. To address SDOH-related oral health disparities, providers must be equipped with knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) to understand how SDOH affect patients and how to mitigate these effects. Traditional dental school curricula provide limited training on recognizing SDOH or developing empathy for those with SDOH-related access barriers. This study describes the design and evaluation of such a virtual reality (VR)-based simulation in dental training. We hypothesize the simulation will increase post-training KSAs. Methods We developed "MPATHI" (Making Professionals Able THrough Immersion), a scripted VR simulation where participants take the role of an English-speaking caregiver with limited socioeconomic resources seeking dental care for a child in a Spanish-speaking country. The simulation is a combination of 360° video recording and virtual scenes delivered via VR headsets. A pilot was conducted with 29 dental residents/faculty, utilizing a pre-post design to evaluate effectiveness in improving immediate and retention of KSAs toward care delivery for families facing barriers. Results MPATHI led to increased mean scores for cognitive (pre = 3.48 ± 0.80, post = 4.56 ± 0.51, p Conclusions This pilot study supports using VR SDOH training in dental education. VR technology provides new opportunities for innovative content design.
Status of the Microwave Power Transmission Components for the Solar Power Satellite (SPS)

The status of key microwave components in the transmitter and reception portion of the solar satellite (SPS are reviewed.
Endgroup and Sidechain Functionalization of Surface-Initiated ROMP Thin Films: Progress Towards ROMP-Based Molecular Wires

A set of experiments in surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization, including end-functionalization of growing brushes and contact angle/cyclic voltammetry measurements. We report preparation and CV of two different conjugated polymer films, and several endgroup and sidechain functionalization experiments using cross-metathesis and active ester substitution.
Vegetation green-up date is more sensitive to permafrost degradation than climate change in spring across the northern permafrost region.

Global climate change substantially influences vegetation spring phenology, i.e., green-up date (GUD), in the northern permafrost region. Changes in GUD regulate ecosystem carbon uptake, further feeding back to local and regional climate systems. Extant studies mainly focused on the direct effects of climate factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and insolation, however, the responses of GUD to permafrost degradation caused by warming (i.e., indirect effects) remain elusive yet. In this study, we examined the impacts of permafrost degradation on GUD by analyzing the long-term trend of satellite-based GUD in relation to permafrost degradation measured by the start of thaw (SOT) and active layer thickness (ALT). We found significant trends of advancing GUD, SOT, and thickening ALT (P < 0.05), with a spatially averaged slope of -2.1 days decade-1 , -4.1 days decade-1 , and +1.1 cm decade-1 , respectively. Using partial correlation analyses, we found more than half of the regions with significantly negative correlations between spring temperature and GUD became non-significant after considering permafrost degradation. GUD exhibits dominant-positive (37.6% versus 0.6%) and dominant-negative (1.8% versus 35.1%) responses to SOT and ALT, respectively. Earlier SOT and thicker ALT would enhance soil water availability, thus alleviating water stress for vegetation green-up. Based on sensitivity analyses, permafrost degradation was the dominant factor controlling GUD variations in 41.7% of the regions, whereas only 19.6% of the regions were dominated by other climatic factors (i.e., temperature, precipitation, and insolation). Our results indicate that GUDs were more sensitive to permafrost degradation than direct climate change in spring among different vegetation types, especially in high latitudes. This study reveals the significant impacts of permafrost degradation on vegetation GUD and highlights the importance of permafrost status in better understanding spring phenological responses to future climate change.
RECENT RESULTS FOR TIME SERIES IN M DIMENSIONS

Recent results for time series in m dimensions are reviewed and a brief summary is given of previous fundamental theory. Many important fields which have been unexplored so far, are outlined briefly.
The influence on blood pressure during daily activities of a single session of aerobic exercise.

Abstract Previous research has examined the effectiveness of a single session of aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure responsivity to the subsequent presentation of a nonexercise stressor in the laboratory. This case study was designed to explore the possibility that a single session of aerobic exercise might lower blood pressure for up to 4 hours postexercise as the subject engaged in his usual activities at home and at work. The subject was an untrained, unmedicated, borderline hypertensive who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as he maintained a normal schedule of activities over a 5-day period. On 2 of the 5 days, the subject exercised at 8:30 AM for 30 minutes at 70% Vo2max. Blood pressure readings on days when the subject read for 30 minutes were compared with readings on days when he exercised. He showed an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 26.4 mm Hg at 2 hours after exercise, 24.2 mm Hg at 4 hours afterward, and 12.2 mm Hg at 9 hours after the exercise. Changes i...
Additive partitioning of diversity across hierarchical spatial scales in a forested landscape

Summary 1 Ecological phenomena exist at multiple scales, but measurements of diversity frequently consider only the smallest scale, that of the original sample plots. Additive partitioning of diversity allows multiple, hierarchical spatial scales of analysis to reveal the scale at which diversity is maximized. 2 We examined the spatial partitioning of diversity across 378 permanent plots established in 10 7–369-ha research natural areas (RNA) in the 294 455-ha Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, USA. Diversity (richness and Shannon's and Simpson's indices) was partitioned across four spatial scales, i.e. within and between plots, and between RNA and natural divisions (corresponding to α and three levels of β diversity), for two strata of vegetation (trees and woody understorey). 3 For both strata, the highest contribution to diversity measured as species richness was between plots and between RNA. Diversity was lower than expected within plots, although Simpson's and Shannon's indices achieved their maximum values at this scale. However, Shannon's index values were higher than Simpson's index values at the between-RNA scale and for all strata, indicating that the most common species were found at this scale. 4 There was a simple asymptotic relationship between plot occupancy and local abundance, suggesting high colonization rates and rapid colonization of open habitat indicative of a wide niche breadth of the most abundant species. 5 Synthesis and applications. The implications of these findings are that maximum diversity across a forested landscape is not necessarily at the scale of sampling (i.e. within plots) but may be at higher scales corresponding to larger landscape units. Moreover, the largest contribution of richness to total diversity occurred at a larger scale than diversity expressed using measures based upon information theory, which incorporate species abundance and evenness. Conservation efforts seeking to preserve diversity must identify and target the correct scales to allow effective management. In this study, management at and within the RNA represents the most appropriate scale for conserving maximum diversity.
Multidestination Message Passing Mechanism Conforming to Base Wormhole Routing Scheme

A new concept of multidestination wormhole mechanism is proposed which allows a message to be propagated along any valid path in a wormhole network conforming to the underlying base routing scheme (ecube, planar, turn, or fully adaptive). Two schemes are developed and evaluated to perform fast multicasting and broadcasting in 2D/3D meshes/tori using this new mechanism. Not only do these schemes demonstrate superiority over Umesh [10] and Hamiltonian Path [9] schemes, they indicate an interesting result that the cost of multicast can be reduced or kept near-constant as the degree of multicast increases. Variations of the proposed schemes to take advantage of routing-adaptivity are also presented. These results are the first ones in the wormhole-routing literature to propose multicasting schemes with such reduced overhead and provision for taking advantage of adaptivity. It lays a new foundation in building high-performance wormhole architecture for supporting fast collective communication operations.
Structures in high-energy fusion data

Structures observed in heavy-ion fusion cross sections at energies above the Coulomb barrier are interpreted as caused by the penetration of centrifugal barriers that are well separated in energy. The structures are most pronounced in the fusion of lighter, symmetric systems, where the separation in energy between successive angular momentum barriers is relatively large. It is shown that the structures or peaks can be revealed by plotting the first derivative of the energy weighted cross section. It is also shown how an orbital angular momentum can be assign to the observed peaks by comparing to coupled-channels calculations. This is illustrated by analyzing high-energy fusion data for ${}^{12}$C+${}^{16}$O and ${}^{16}$O+${}^{16}$O, and the possibility of observing similar structures in the fusion of heavier systems is discussed.
LOSS of Mrp1 alters detoxification enzyme expression in a tissue- and hormonal-status-specific manner

The multidrug resistance-associated protein1 (MRP1/ABCC1) is a member of the ABCC transporter subfamily that mediates the efflux of pharmaceuticals, xenobiotics and steroid hormones, typically as glutathione, glucuronide or sulfate conjugates. Since loss of one transporter can be compensated by increasing the expression of other transporters and conjugation enzymes, we sought to examine compensatory changes in phase I, II and III enzyme expression in extrahepatic tissues, including the kidney, lungs and small intestine of intact or castrated Mrp1(-/-) male mice. In the kidney, the expression of several P450s, sulfotransferase 1a1 (Sult), glucuronosyltransferases (Ugt) and Mrps2-4, were significantly changed owing to castration alone. The only time genotype mattered was between the castrated FVB and Mrp1 knockout mice. In contrast, expression of the Ugts, Sult 1a1 and Mrp3 in the lungs was significantly downregulated in the Mrp1 knockout mice, so based exclusively on genotype. In the small intestine, there were interactions between steroid hormone levels and genotype, as the expression differences were only found in mice lacking Mrp1, and were changed between intact and castrated animals. The mechanism behind this pattern of expression may be to due to Nrf2 regulation, as its expression mirrors that of the phase II and phase III enzymes. These results indicate that compensatory responses owing to the loss of Mrp1 vary dramatically, depending on the particular tissue. This information will aid in the understanding of how drug uptake, disposition and elimination can be influenced by both hormone status and the presence and magnitude of transporter expression.
Immunohistochemical study of human costotransverse joints: A preliminary investigation.

The human costotransverse joint (CTJ) is the articulation between the posterior tubercle of the ribs with the first through tenth costal facet of the thoracic transverse processes. While the CTJ is well defined anatomically and considered a synovial joint, the human CTJ as a pain generating structure is controversial and not supported from a histological perspective. The objective of the present study was to investigate the histological pain producing properties of CTJ capsule tissue. Ten micron cross-sections at each level (1–10) were stained with H & E or immunostained with antisera against Substance P (SP), calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Immunoreactivity was confirmed for SP, CGRP, and NPY within the CTJ tissue samples of two unembalmed male cadavers. The presence of previously mentioned neuropeptides suggests that human CTJ is capable of producing pain through somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Therefore, clinicians should consider the CTJ as a differential diagnostic possibility when examining and treating painful thoracic conditions. Clin. Anat. 24:741–747, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives Based on Oleic Acid

Existing pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) are mostly based on petrochemical-based polymers. This study reveals a new class of bio-based polymers that can be used as PSA. The polymers are hydroxyl-containing polyesters from the step-growth polymerization of epoxidized oleic acid (EOA), an AB-type monomer containing both a carboxylic acid group (A) and an epoxy group (B). The monomer is derived from epoxidation of renewable methyl oleate followed by selective hydrolysis of the ester group. The polymers (PEOA) of EOA were characterized for their chemical structure and molecular weight. The PEOA after being cured with a very small amount of a crosslinking agent could serve as a PSA with high peel strength, high tack force, superior shear resistance, excellent aging resistance, and excellent thermal stability. The PSA contains 99 wt% of green renewable materials. The PSA were also characterized for their viscoelastic properties and thermal properties.
Ingestion of hydroxyethyl starch by human leukocytes.

Following infusion into animals, hydroxyethyl starch (HES) can be found in nearly all tissues, including phagocytic leukocytes (WBCs) of the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Conceivably, the ingestion of HES molecules by these cells might lead to RES blockade. We studied the ability of WBCs obtained from human blood (neutrophils, mononuclear leukocytes, and mixtures of these cells) and from the RES (alveolar macrophages) to interact with radioactive HES in vitro in the presence of normal serum. In general, 14C-HES failed to associate with blood WBCs (i.e., the cells did not acquire significant amounts of radioactivity). Generally, less than 0.1 percent of radioactivity available in the reaction mixtures became cell associated. Moreover, when used as a phagocytic stimulus, HES elicited practically no superoxide anion production from blood WBCs. Alveolar macrophages acquired significant amounts of 14C-HES (presumably by ingestion). However, only tiny quantities (0.09%) of the total amount of radioactivity available in the reaction mixture became cell associated. Despite this slight interaction with alveolar macrophages, it seems unlikely that the internalization of HES by WBCs will lead to phagocytic dysfunction (such as RES blockade) in humans since human WBCs seem quite limited in their ability to interact with this drug.
Tumor size on abdominal MRI versus pathologic specimen in resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma: implications for radiation treatment planning.

Purpose We assessed the accuracy of abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for determining tumor size by comparing the preoperative contrast-enhanced T1-weighted gradient echo (3-dimensional [3D] volumetric interpolated breath-hold [VIBE]) MRI tumor size with pathologic specimen size. Methods and Materials The records of 92 patients who had both preoperative contrast-enhanced 3D VIBE MRI images and detailed pathologic specimen measurements were available for review. Primary tumor size from the MRI was independently measured by a single diagnostic radiologist (P.M.) who was blinded to the pathology reports. Pathologic tumor measurements from gross specimens were obtained from the pathology reports. The maximum dimensions of tumor measured in any plane on the MRI and the gross specimen were compared. The median difference between the pathology sample and the MRI measurements was calculated. A paired t test was conducted to test for differences between the MRI and pathology measurements. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the association of disparity between the MRI and pathology sizes with the pathology size. Disparities relative to pathology size were also examined and tested for significance using a 1-sample t test. Results The median patient age was 64.5 years. The primary site was pancreatic head in 81 patients, body in 4, and tail in 7. Three patients were American Joint Commission on Cancer stage IA, 7 stage IB, 21 stage IIA, 58 stage IIB, and 3 stage III. The 3D VIBE MRI underestimated tumor size by a median difference of 4 mm (range, −34-22 mm). The median largest tumor dimensions on MRI and pathology specimen were 2.65 cm (range, 1.5-9.5 cm) and 3.2 cm (range, 1.3-10 cm), respectively. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced 3D VIBE MRI underestimates tumor size by 4 mm when compared with pathologic specimen. Advanced abdominal MRI sequences warrant further investigation for radiation therapy planning in pancreatic adenocarcinoma before routine integration into the treatment planning process.
Application of negative ion mass spectrometry to the identification of long chain aldehydes and alcohols

The negative ion mass spectra of a number of long chain aldehydes and alcohols are reported. The small number of fragment ions in the mass spectra of these compounds was a characteristic feature. The prominent P-1 negative ion in the mass spectra enabled identification of the molecular ions of long chain alcohols and aldehydes whose positive ion mass spectra have negligible molecular ion intensities. The potential of the method for analysis of complex mixtures of long chain aldehydes and alcohols has been demonstrated with the identification of the components of a 14 component mixture.
A lasting legacy: clinical commissioning groups and sport medicine.

One of the key factors in London being awarded the Olympic Games was its potential to leave a ‘lasting legacy’. There was a romantic notion that the hype that accompanies the Olympic bandwagon would herald a renaissance in grass root participation in sports and a general shift in attitude where individuals would choose exercise over TV. The increased participation in sport in today’s children was supposed to have led to a decrease in obesity in tomorrow’s adults. It is a matter of debate as to what public health impact the Games have actually had. However two events have occurred in recent times that potentially could get Britain moving and provide the legacy that we were all promised. One …
Barium-induced electro-mechanical uncoupling in myocardial cells

Abstract 1. 1. The heart of the adult moth Hyalophora cecropia requires extracellular calcium to maintain electrogenesis as well as tension development. In this study we ask whether the processes of autorhythmicity, driven electrogenesis and tension development require calcium specifically or whether the divalent cation Ba 2+ can be substituted for calcium to support these activities. 2. 2. Ba 2+ substituted for Ca 2+ in equimolar amounts caused a marked (25 mV) hyperpolarization, suppression both of pacemaker activity and of tension development in spontaneously beating semi-isolated heart cells. 3. 3. Heart cells bathed in Ba 2+ saline and paced by action potentials (produced by external stimuli) of greatly increased amplitude, prolonged phase 2 (plateau) and increased latency, and after 30 min, no mechanical activity was observed. These changes were completely reversible when calcium was reintroduced. 4. 4. We conclude that Ba 2+ substitution for Ca 2+ is an effective electromechanical uncoupler in moth heart cells. Although Ba 2+ can support electrogenesis, it cannot replace ‘trigger’-Ca 2+ needed to release calcium from sarcoplasmic stores to effect tension development.
Using variance tracking to improve outcomes and reduce costs

Clinical pathways outline patient-care delivery over time for specific patient populations, but their true utility is derived from information obtained through variance tracking-documenting when and why a patient's care varies from the clinical pathway. This article describes one health care facility's variance tracking for pulmonary, medical oncology, and nephrology patients and their associated measured outcomes. Avoidable hospital days were tracked and a performance improvement initiative, focused on the pathways most often used on the medical unit, was undertaken, resulting in decreased length of patient stay and cost savings of more than $160,000.
Water-Soluble Copolymers .26. Fluorescence Probe Studies of Hydrophobically Modified Maleic-Acid Ethyl Vinyl Ether Copolymers

Abstract Pyrene fluorescence spectra and lifetimes have been employed to study the pH-induced conformational transitions of maleic acid-ethyl vinyl ether copolymers that have been hydrophobically modified with varying amounts of 4-butylaniline (4-BA). Results indicate that those copolymers containing up to 50 mol% 4-BA (relative to the total number of maleic acid groups) undergo a transition from a highly collapsed ‘hypercoil’ conformation at low degrees of ionization (α) to an open, hydrated conformation at high α. In contrast, a copolymer containing 70 mol% 4-BA moieties forms compact, hydrophobic microdomains over the entire range of α. Fluorescence quenching of the pyrene probe by Tl + and nitromethane indicates that the accessibility of these microdomains is related to α and/or the degree of hydrophobe incorporation. Diffusion coefficients and effective coil diameters of these polymers as determined via dynamic light scattering measurements indicate an increasing degree of intramolecular association with increasing hydrophobe content at high α, while fluorescence measurements indicate no such interactions. It is suggested that, though the pyrene probe may associate with the hydrophobic regions of these polymers, it is not adequately ‘protected’ from the bulk aqueous solution for fluorescence enhancement to occur.
Proinflammatory cytokines differentially modulate their own expression in human intestinal mucosal mesenchymal cells

Abstract Background & Aims: Intestinal homeostasis is coordinated through the response of different cell types, including the interaction of immune with nonimmune cells. This study investigated the effect of immune cell–derived proinflammatory cytokines on mesenchymal cell proliferation and gene product expression. Methods: Primary cultures of human mucosal mesenchymal cells were activated with interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Proliferation was measured by thymidine incorporation, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis, and IL-1 receptor type was identified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Mesenchymal cells dose-dependently proliferated in response to IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Each cytokine differentially induced mRNA expression in a dose-dependent and selective fashion: IL-1β was the most potent inducer, TNF-α was weaker, and IL-6 induced little or no mRNA; in contrast, IL-6 mRNA was the most abundantly induced, followed by IL-1β mRNA, whereas TNF-α mRNA was weakly and infrequently expressed. The IL-1 receptor antagonist inhibited cytokine mRNA expression, and mesenchymal cells expressed the type II, but not the type I, IL-1 receptor. Conclusions: The ability of intestinal mesenchymal cells to express proinflammatory gene products implicates them as regulators of local immune cells through immune-nonimmune interactions. Thus, mesenchymal cells should be considered as active regulators of intestinal immunity under normal and inflammatory conditions. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;114:1244-1256
Rat lung glutathione S-transferases: Subunit structure and the interrelationship with the liver enzymes

Abstract 1. 1. Six forms of glutathione S-transferases designated as GSH S-transferase I (pI 8.8), II (pI 7.2), III (pI 6.8), IV (pI 6.0), V (pI 5.3) and VI (pI 4.8) have been purified from rat lung. 2. 2. GSH S-transferase I (pI 8.8) is a homodimer of M r 25,000 subunits; GSH S-transferases II (pI 7.2) and VI (pI 4.8) are homodimers of M r , 22,000 subunits; and GSH S-transferases III (pI 6.8), IV (pI 6.0) and V (pI 5.3) are dimers composed of M r 23,500 and 22,000 subunits. 3. 3. Immunological properties, peptide fragmentation analysis, and substrate specificity data indicate that M r , 22.000, 23,500 and 25,000, are distinct from each other and correspond to Ya, Yb, and Yc subunits, respectively, of rat liver.
Gas-dynamic phenomena in chemical lasers

Abstract Gas-dynamic effects, broadly interpreted to include gas-kinetic phenomena as well as macroscopic attributes, are largely responsible for governing the performance and behavior of chemical lasers. A number of topics may be identified as ones where gas dynamicists may make substantial contributions in this area. While the subject of nonequilibrium, chemically active flows is not new, the need for relatively accurate representation of local flow conditions with regard to the optical properties of the laser medium places heavy demands on both the theory and experimental aspects of some of the topics. Rotational and translational relaxation may be important under some conditions. Extension of existing methods in kinetic theory accounting for chemical reactions and radiation can be profitably explored further in this connection, probably with the BGK approximation. Measurements of the characteristics of the laser radiation and other methods may be employed to provide additional information on relaxation phenomena in chemical lasers. In premixed, pulsed systems, the possibility of instabilities in the medium resulting from local regions of accelerated combustion has been virtually unexplored, with respect to chemical lasers but could have significant consequences for those devices. The use of detonations and blast waves has not been fully exhausted for initiating reactions in chemical lasers. For diffusion-type chemical lasers employing transverse, high-speed flow, there is justification for new experimental research at a range of levels, even for laminar flow. For turbulent flow, there is much to be done to achieve even an adequate representation of the details of the flow. Second-order closure methods in the theory are being developed for these problems, but require guidance from carefully conceived experiments. Transitional flows exhibiting large-scale structure and the recently observed characteristics of a distorted interface may be of interest and could require a substantial departure from conventional methods of treating mixing layers. Low Reynolds number nozzle flows may be investigated further with benefit to chemical lasers of the diffusion type. Progress in these topics, among others, seems likely to pace the realization of the performance potential exhibited by chemical lasers.
The Public Fountains of the City of Dijon

A modern reader would grasp the nature of this work more readily if its title, which to the uninitiated might suggest a coffee-table book full of beautiful color pictures, were instead something like “Draft Final Interim Report on the Rosoir-Spring Remedy for Public Water Supply of Dijon:
Provocative angiography in patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage of obscure origin.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: A standard diagnostic evaluation including upper and/or lower endoscopy, tagged red blood cell scintigraphy, and visceral angiography identifies the source of GI bleeding in the majority of patients who present with acute GI hemorrhage. However, in a small group of patients the source of bleeding remains obscure; this form of GI hemorrhage is uncommon but represents a considerable diagnostic challenge. Some investigators have advocated provocation of bleeding with vasodilators, anticoagulants, and/or thrombolytics in association with tagged red blood cell scans or angiography. Unfortunately, the available literature on this topic is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to report our experience with provocative GI bleeding studies. METHODS: The radiology databases at Duke University Medical Center and the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center were reviewed from 1994 to 1999. Any patient who received a vasodilator, anticoagulant, or thrombolytic to induce bleeding during a tagged red blood cell scan or visceral angiogram was included. RESULTS: Seven provocative bleeding studies were performed on seven patients. All patients underwent a visceral angiogram with intra-arterial administration of tolazoline (a vasodilator), heparin (an anticoagulant), and/or urokinase (a thrombolytic). Of the seven provocative studies, only two induced angiographically identifiable bleeding. Both of these patients underwent surgical therapy. There were no complications attributed to the provocative bleeding studies. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that provocative GI bleeding studies can be performed safely. However, because an active bleeding source was identified in only a small proportion of patients, we believe that further study is required to optimize patient selection and to clarify the cost-effectiveness of this approach in patients with GI hemorrhage of obscure origin.
Rare B decays, rare tau decays, and grand unification.

In multi-Higgs-boson extensions of the standard model, tree-level flavor-changing neutral currents exist naturally, unless suppressed by some symmetry. For a given rate, the exchanged scalar or pseudoscalar mass is very sensitive to the flavor-changing coupling between the first two generations. Since the Yukawa couplings of the first two generations are unknown and certainly very small, bounds which rely on some assumed value of this flavor-changing coupling are quite dubious. One might expect the size (and reliability) of the Yukawa couplings involving the third generation to be greater. In this paper, we consider processes involving $\ensuremath{\tau}'\mathrm{s}$ and $B'\mathrm{s}$, and determine the bounds on the flavor-changing couplings which involve third-generation fields. The strongest bound in the quark sector comes from $B\ensuremath{-}\overline{B}$ mixing and in the lepton sector, surprisingly, from $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}e\ensuremath{\gamma}$. It is then noted that the flavor-changing couplings in the quark sector are related to those in the lepton sector in many grand unified theories, and one can ask whether an analysis of rare $\ensuremath{\tau}$ decays or rare $B$ decays will provide the strongest constraints. We show that rare $B$ decays provide the strongest bounds, and that no useful information can be obtained from rare $\ensuremath{\tau}$ decays. It is also noted that the most promising decay modes are $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\tau}$ and ${B}_{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\tau}$, and we urge experimenters to look for rare decay modes of the $B$ in which a $\ensuremath{\tau}$ is in the final state.
Parent Management of School Choice in a Large Urban District

With No Child Left Behind legislation permitting students to switch from so-called failing schools, key questions are whether parents will act to select another school and which schools they will choose. Long-standing school choice systems provide evidence about low-income parents’strategies to gather information and negotiate the application process. Interviews with parents of eighth graders in Philadelphia indicate that faced with little high-quality official information about schools, parents’ social networks played an important role in the decision. Most parents were hungry for information about schools but lacked specifics on academic performance or children’s chances of admission. The data suggest that more detailed school information and a district commitment to counseling parents are essential for making well-informed choices. Even so, in districts with few good school options for students, there are limits to parents’ability to find a school that represents a substantial improvement over the scho...
Characterization of oxidized Ni3Al(1 1 0) and interaction of the oxide film with water vapor

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to characterize the oxidation of Ni3Al(1 1 0) and interaction of the oxide film at ambient temperature with increasing pressures of water vapor (10−6–5 Torr). The Ni3Al(1 1 0) substrate was oxidized in 10−6 Torr O2 at 800 K followed by annealing to 1100 K. The Ni(2p), Al(2p) and O(1s) spectra were monitored to investigate the changes in spectral features and binding energy due to oxidation. The data indicate that the oxide film, upon annealing in UHV, is composed of NiO, Al2O3 and an intermediate phase denoted here as “AlOx”. Upon exposure of the oxide film at ambient temperature to increasing water vapor pressure, a shift in both the O(1s) and Al(2p)oxide peak maxima to lower binding energies is observed. In contrast, exposure of Al2O3/Al(poly) to water vapor under the same conditions results in a high binding energy shoulder in the O(1s) spectra (indicating hydroxylation). Spectral decomposition provides further insight into the difference in reactivity between the two oxide films. The corresponding trends of the O(1s)/Ni0(2p3/2) and Al(2p)/Ni0(2p3/2) spectral intensity ratios suggest conformal changes of the oxide film on Ni3Al(1 1 0).
Targeted Neighborhood Sampling: A New Approach for Recruiting Abusive Couples

We conducted two studies to test the utility of a new strategy for recruiting couples experiencing intimate partner violence. This new strategy, Targeted Neighborhood Sampling, involves utilizing police reports of family fight calls to target particular areas within a city for recruitment efforts. Study I compared the efficacy of using this method to recruit a random versus a convenience sample. Results demonstrated that Targeted Neighborhood Sampling was most effective when recruiting a convenience sample of participants who responded to flyers left at their residences. Study II used a convenience sample and replicated the findings from Study I. Across the two studies, 40.4% of those who called after receiving a flyer experienced male-to-female partner violence within the past year. In addition, we combined data across studies and correlated types of violence the couples experienced with variables commonly associated with abuse. Psychological aggression, physical assault, and injury were all positively associated with reports of demand-withdrawal and mutual avoidance during conflict, as well as depression and symptoms of post traumatic disorder syndrome. Sexual coercion was associated with drug abuse. These results demonstrate the utility and validity of Targeted Neighborhood Sampling.
The cilia protein IFT88 is required for spindle orientation in mitosis

Cilia dysfunction has long been associated with cyst formation and ciliopathies. More recently, misoriented cell division has been observed in cystic kidneys, but the molecular mechanism leading to this abnormality remains unclear. Proteins of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery are linked to cystogenesis and are required for cilia formation in non-cycling cells. Several IFT proteins also localize to spindle poles in mitosis, indicating uncharacterized functions for these proteins in dividing cells. Here, we show that IFT88 depletion induces mitotic defects in human cultured cells, in kidney cells from the IFT88 mouse mutant Tg737(orpk) and in zebrafish embryos. In mitosis, IFT88 is part of a dynein1-driven complex that transports peripheral microtubule clusters containing microtubule-nucleating proteins to spindle poles to ensure proper formation of astral microtubule arrays and thus proper spindle orientation. This work identifies a mitotic mechanism for a cilia protein in the orientation of cell division and has important implications for the etiology of ciliopathies.
Learning impairment in schizophrenic and brain-damaged patients.

An experiment reporting evidence of one type of learning impairment in schizophrenic and brain-damaged patients was replicated. Results supported the findings in the first experiment relating to these two diagnostic groups. A random sample of patients in the experiment was selected for additional testing. The correlations between performance in the experiment and intelligence test scores and also performance on a clinical test battery for diagnosing brain injury are reported.
Topological AFM characterization of graft polymerized silica membranes

Abstract The topology of porous silica membranes (500 A native pore size) that were surface modified by silylation with vinyl trimethoxysilane (VTMS) and graft polymerization with poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polymer-modified membrane surfaces were populated by terminally anchored polymer chains with the depth of modification of about 200 nm as assessed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Surface roughness increased upon silylation but decreased as the result of surface graft polymerization. AFM imaging of surrogate silicon wafers, silylated or grafted in a manner similar to the membranes, revealed that silylation increased the root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness by about 1.0 nm, while poly(vinyl acetate) modification reduced the RMS surface roughness by approximately 0.4 nm. The distributions of surface heights for the modified surfaces were asymmetric with the tails of the distribution representing the sparse larger features. Surface roughness analysis revealed that the tails make a significant contribution to the measured RMS surface roughness. Although the RMS surface roughness values of the polymer-modified surfaces were essentially similar (0.81–0.85 nm), skewness of the distribution decreased while the width of the Gaussian portion of the distribution increased with decreasing initial monomer concentration.
Frequency and impact of pulmonary hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

The correlates and consequences of pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are poorly understood. Patients undergoing pulmonary artery catheterization within 6 months of an overnight polysomnography showing OSA were included in the present analysis. A total of 83 patients with complete data were analyzed (no PH, n = 25 [30%]; PH, 58 [70%]; of these, 18 had a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of or =26 kg/m(2) (p = 0.08), and right ventricular systolic pressure of > or =30 mm Hg (p <0.001) on multivariate analysis. Patients with PH had a lower 6-minute walk distance (285.5 +/- 122 m vs 343 +/- 213 m, p = 0.4). The survival rate at 1, 4, and 8 years for patients with PH was 93%, 75%, and 43% compared to 100%, 90%, and 76% for patients without PH, respectively. Patients with severe PH (n = 27; 33%) had more nocturnal desaturation (p = 0.045), worse pulmonary hemodynamics, and greater mortality (37%) than the groups with mild or moderate PH (16%) or no PH (16%). In conclusion, our results have shown that, although generally mild to moderate, severe PH can occur in patients with OSA. Female gender, younger age, obesity, and nocturnal desaturation were associated with PH. PH can cause functional limitations and increased mortality in patients with OSA.
Adult respiratory distress syndrome after limited thoracic radiotherapy

The authors report three patients who developed fatal respiratory failure after limited or unilateral thoracic radiation therapy for neoplasms. The respiratory failure was characteristic of the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with refractory hypoxemia and diffuse bilateral infiltrates including areas of lung well outside of the radiation ports. No patient received drugs known to cause lung injury, and cardiogenic edema and infections were excluded. At autopsy the lungs exhibited interstitial fibrosis, Type II alveolar cell hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltrates, and squamous metaplasia. The etiology of the pulmonary injury is unclear.
Brittle failure of columnar freshwater ice under off-axis compression loading

Several studies related to failure of columnar ice under biaxial compression loading have surfaced in the literature. The aim of the present study was to examine the failure of columnar freshwater ice in the brittle regime when the material column axes are misaligned with respect to the biaxial load axes. This is important because the relative position of the material axes in a floating ice sheet with respect to the structure indentation direction can be largely random, as in the case of river ice. Indeed, as shown later, such loading configurations are critical as the failure stress is reduced by almost a factor of 3 to 4 compared with the column-aligned loading.
Reading up books: Discrete mathematics for computer science: Studying this branch of mathematics can provide you with a solid background for computer theory and applications

The importance of mathematics to the study of both electrical engineering and computer science and engineering is well understood by educators and students alike. The topics learned in mathematics courses are often reviewed in engineering courses that partly focus on relevant mathematical concepts.