cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Melt rheology of ion‐containing polymers. I. Effect of molecular weight and excess neutralizing agent in model elastomeric sulfonated polyisobutylene‐based ionomers

Melt rheology of elastomeric triarm sulfonated polyisobutylene model ionomers has been studied. The molecular weights (Mn) of the polymers have been varied from 8300 to 34,000. The sulfonated materials were neutralized with potassium hydroxide either to the exact stoichiometric equivalence point or to twice this amount, i.e., 100% excess neutralizing agent was added. For comparison one nonsulfonated precursor of Mn = 8300 was also studied. It was observed that the introduction of one sulfonate group at each chain end of the triarm poly-isobutylene molecule changes the state of matter at room temperature. Specifically, the unsulfonated materials are viscous liquids while the sulfonated ionomers are solid elastomers at room temperature. The zero-shear melt viscosity of the unsulfonated precursor is 900 poise (90 Pa·s), at room temperature while for those materials neutralized with potassium hydroxide to the exact stoichiometric point it is above 9 × 103 poise (900 Pa·s) at 180°C. As expected, the zero shear viscosity increases with an increase in the molecular weight. Significant ionic interactions still persist at 180°C as evident by the high viscosity of the ionomers. However, at higher frequencies (∼600 rad/s), the melt viscosity decreases to about 5 × 103 poise for the different molecular weight materials. The melt viscosity of ionomers containing 100% excess neutralizing agent shows a dramatic increase. The excess KOH is speculated to be incorporated into the ionic domains rather than uniformly distributed throughout the matrix. This results in an increased strength of the ionic aggregates, thereby increasing the melt viscosities. Thus, due to the very pronounced effect on rheological properties it is important to know not only the extent of neutralization (up to full neutralization) but also the amount of excess neutralizing agent, if any, which is present in the sample.
Properties analysis and optimization of primary air volume in power station

In the coal-fired generating units, the primary air that used to dry and carry coal dust had a direct effect on the burning operation mode in boiler furnace. Too large or too small air-coal ratio would affect the formal combustion of coal dust in the boiler. A high primary air flow which could lead to a high wind pressure had an adverse effect on the primary air tube and burner wear. Moreover, when the mill was at low load condition, the high primary air could easily lead to low pulverized coal concentration and thick coal fineness which had an adverse effect on stable combustion; While the lower primary air could easily lead to coal plugging and large amount of pebble coal. Therefore, an appropriate amount of primary air had great significance for the normal operation of the pulverizer and the entire unit. Against the high wind pressure under the low load condition for the mill of the #1 boiler, the test study was carried on to reduce the volume of primary air and make full combustion of the coal dust at more appropriate areas and make a more reasonable heat transfer, Besides, it would reduce the energy consumption and fully realized the objectives of energy-saving potency.
Production Of Intense Negative Ion Beams In Strong Magnetic Field Ion Sources: Vitex And Ringatron

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Fusion Energy Division (FED) negative ion development program has concentrated on the use of Penning discharges in a strong magnetic field. Extraction from the discharge has taken place both perpendicular and parallel to the confining magnetic field. The former has received by far the greater development effort. The ion source produced is called VITEX for Volume Ionization with Transverse EXtraction. Attempts to extract parallel to themagnetic field have recently begun and the ion source principle has been labeled Ringatron. A plan view of a Penning discharge as used in VITEX is shown in Fig. 1. An elevation view is shown in Fig. 2. A thin sheet plasma of thickness D(1) is formed with energetic electrons of density on the order of 1013 cm-3. A secondary cold plasma of thickness D(2) is formed in the region immediately surrounding the energetic electron sheet due to diffusion. Negative ions formed in the discharge may be extracted transverse to the magnetic field with suitable electrodes as shown in Fig. 2. Probe studies coupled with geometrical variations on the thickness of D(1) and D(2) indicate that the two chamber model of Hiskesl is a valid production mechanism. A variation to the extraction geometry of VITEX is to take the sheet plasma of energetic electrons and wrap it around into a cylinderical annulus as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, excited molecular neutrals are fed into the core of the discharge from the entire annulus. The core is similar to the region D(2) of the VITEX geometry. Negative ions produced in the core are free to drift along the magnetic field to the extraction electrodes at which point they are accelerated parallel to the magnetic field. This source is called Ringatron due to the ring or annular nature of the discharge.
The heat capacity of water in silica pores

Abstract In this study the heat capacities of water confined to silica pores of various radii were measured at 25°C. Radii from 1.2 to 12.1 nm were studied. The results show that the heat capacity passes through a maximum (23.8 cal/K mole or 99.4 J/K mole) for pores near 7 nm when it is plotted against temperature. The results of this study are discussed in terms of their implication for the understanding of vicinal (interfacial) water structure and to similar results found in the literature. More specifically the data appear to be consistent with a model for vicinal water advanced earlier by the senior author (F.M.E.) and earlier experimental evidence suggesting that vicinally structured water extends to distances of at least 6 nm.
Factors determining survival after ruptured aortic aneurysm: The hospital, the surgeon, and the patient ☆

The 10-year experience of a single community was reviewed and a multivariate analysis was performed to determine the relative importance of clinical and environmental factors in mortality after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm resection. Ruptured aneurysms were repaired in 243 patients in six area hospitals (one university, five community) by 25 surgeons (16 vascular, 9 general). Overall, 30-day mortality was 55% (133/243). Although the mortality by hospital ranged from 44% to 68%, these differences were not statistically significant. However, significant variations occurred in the mortality rates of individual surgeons, ranging from 44% to 73%. The mortality rate for the vascular surgeons was less than that of the general surgeons, 51% versus 69% (p less than 0.05). Clinical factors were evaluated, and the most significant parameters were systolic blood pressure, presence of chronic obstructive lung disease, and history of chronic renal insufficiency. These results support the implication that the degree of specialization of the surgeon and the preexisting health of the patient are the most important determinants of survival after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The size and sophistication of the hospital appear to be less influential factors.
Nonresectional Single-Suture Leaflet Remodeling for Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation Facilitates Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair

Background Both leaflet resection and neochordal construction are effective mitral repair techniques, but they may become incrementally time-consuming when using minimally invasive approaches. We have used a single-suture leaflet-remodeling technique of inverting the prolapsed or flail segment tissue into the left ventricle. This repair is straightforward, expeditious, and facilitates a minimally invasive approach. Methods Ninety-nine patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) underwent a minimally invasive single-suture repair of the mitral valve from May 2007 through December 2012. Preoperative and perioperative echocardiograms as well as patient outcomes were analyzed and compared with those obtained from patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair using quadrangular resection at the same institution during the same period. Results All 99 patients had a successful mitral repair through a sternal-sparing minimally invasive approach. Ninety-one of the 99 patients had zero MR on postoperative echocardiogram, and 8 of 99 had trace to mild MR. Patients in the nonresectional group had significantly shorter cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times compared with the quadrangular resection group (115.8 ± 41.7 minutes versus 144.9 ± 38.2 minutes; p p Conclusions An effective, highly efficient, and thus far durable single-suture mitral leaflet-remodeling technique facilitates minimally invasive repair of degenerative MR.
Style and ethics of communication in science and engineering

Abstract Scientists and engineers seek to discover and disseminate knowledge so that it can be used to improve the human condition. Style and Ethics of Communication in Science and Engineering serves as a valuable aid in this pursuit—it can be used as a textbook for undergraduate or graduate courses on technical communication and ethics, a reference book for senior design courses, or a handbook for young investigators and beginning faculty members. In addition to presenting methods for writing clearly and concisely and improving oral presentations, this compact book provides practical guidelines for preparing theses, dissertations, journal papers for publication, and proposals for research funding. Issues of authorship, peer review, plagiarism, recordkeeping, and copyright are addressed in detail, and case studies of research misconduct are presented to highlight the need for proactive attention to scientific integrity. Ample exercises cause the reader to stop and think. Style and Ethics of Communication ...
CLUSTER EXPANSIONS AND THE THEORY OF MANY-BOSON SYSTEMS

The previous configuration-space cluster integral treatment of the properties of the ground state of a many-boson system is modified by including those higher order diagrams consistent with the pair excitation approximation, which were p~eviously omitted. The cluster expansions involve a parameter, analogous to the fugacity in classical expansions, whose definition automatically accounts for the depletion of the free particle ground state. The resulting expectation value for the Hamiltonian is .in agreement with that obtained by field-theoretic methods for states of pair-excitation type. § I. This paper is concerned with the connection between two different methods for describing the ground state and low-lying excited states of a many particle boson system under the assumption of strong short range repulsive forces between pairs of particles. One of these methods uses perturbation theory in the op­ erator formalism of " second quantization," as developed by Lee, Huang, and Yang1', by Brueckner and Sawada,2> and extended by others. 3>-5> These are well­ ordered calculations, in the sense that results given for the energy of the ground state and low-lying excited states are exact to a certain order in the relevant expansion parameter. These calculations are valid at low densities, for example, the region of validity of the ground state energy for hard spheres is defined by (pa3)11 2 -15> Here the ·ground state wave function is expressed as a product of pair functions f(ri 1), and thus takes account of correlations in pairs of particles brought about by the repulsive interactions. The expectation value for the ground state energy is then expressed in terms of cluster integrals, similar to the Ursell-Mayer de­ velopment in classical statistical mechanics.16 > Finally, the variational principle is used to derive a Schrodinger-like equation for the pair function, or is used to vary a parameter in an assumed form for the pair function. 7>,B),lO) In this procedure, only certain subsets of the complete set of cluster integrals can in
Genetic resilience to amyloid-related neurodegeneration in older adulthood

Background: Biomarkers are the only feasible approach to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in its presymptomatic stages, when a disease-modifying agent will have the greatest impact. Blood-based markers, that are inexpensive and easily obtainable, could become useful for presymptomatic diagnosis. Pittsburgh compound B is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer that binds to fibrillar A b in the brains of symptomatic and presymptomatic AD subjects. Here we examined the association between several AD-relevant blood plasma proteins and PIB binding in the brain. Methods: Our dataset consisted of 18 AD, 56 mild cognitive impairment and 3 normal control Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) subjects with available [11 C] PIB and peripheral blood protein data. MRI-coregistered PET data was smoothed with a 15 mm kernel and convected onto the 3D hemispheric models along the warping deformations computed in cortical pattern matching of the associated MRI scans. We applied linear regression to examine in 3D the associations between apolipoprotein E (ApoE), apolipoprotein J (ApoJ), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R), interleukin 13 (IL13) and tumor-necrosis factor a (TNF a) and PIB SUVR, while adjusting for age and sex. We used permutation statistics thresholded at p<0.01, for multiple comparisons correction.Results: Plasma ApoE showed significant negative association with PIB SUVR throughout the brain, except in the sensorimotor and entorhinal cortex (left p corrected 1⁄40.004, right p corrected 1⁄40.008). Plasma BDNF levels showed significant negative associations with left greater than right amyloid burden in the lateral temporal, inferior parietal, inferior frontal, anterior and posterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal regions (left p corrected1⁄40.03). ApoJ, IL6R, IL13 and TNF a failed to show significant associations with PIB SUVR. Conclusions: Lower peripheral blood levels of proteins that are involved in A b degradation and clearance (ApoE) and neuroprotection against A b toxicity (BDNF) showed a significant widespread association with severity of brain amyloidosis. This further establishes the role of these two proteins in AD. The lack of association between IL6R, IL13 and TNF a may be explained by their stronger relevance to the neuroinflammatory aspects of AD, which are not directly measured by amyloid imaging.
The Journal of Bible and Religion: The Formative Years

s, Archaeological Editors, Religious Education Editors, Book Review Editor and Assistant Book Review Editor. The list is too long to read in view of the time and space at my disposal. But I know them all by name and do thank them from the bottom of my heart for their help. I think you know them, too, and will wish to give them your appreciation. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.168 on Sat, 09 Apr 2016 06:18:21 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Performance Characteristics of Postpartum Screening Tests for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

Background Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus are at high risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We systematically reviewed and synthesized the literature on the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of postpartum screening tests for type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes to inform screening guidelines.
New Urban Teachers Experience Induction Coaching: “Moving Vision Toward Reality”

Educational policy is increasingly recognizing the role mentored induction support plays in new teachers' professional learning. This qualitative study explored eight new urban teachers' experiences with and perceptions of mentored induction, referred to in this study as “coaching.” As an alternative to the predominant emotional or socialization constructs of induction support, this study investigates coaching from an “educative” stance that is instructionally oriented, collaborative, situated, and frequently enacted. Results indicate that interactions with coaches facilitated new teachers' transition into urban classrooms; enhanced their ability to provide the type of student-centered instruction they envisioned, but struggled to achieve; and that coaching is a relationship that requires time, trust, and commitment. Insights and recommendations are provided to guide the development or strengthening of induction programs though a collaborative approach aimed towards instructional improvement and professio...
c-Myc and E2F1 drive PBK/TOPK expression in high-grade malignant lymphomas

Abstract c-Myc has been implicated in a variety of hematologic malignancies including Burkitt's lymphoma. Targeting c-Myc driven growth pathways could be therapeutically useful but might require the identification of critical downstream proteins. Here we show that the serine–threonine kinase PBK/TOPK is frequently overexpressed in high-grade lymphomas and its expression is positively correlated to that of c-Myc and E2F1. Further we demonstrate that c-Myc regulates PBK expression through E2F1. Additionally, inhibition of c-Myc, E2F1 or PBK comparably decreased cell growth and survival. In conclusion, a c-Myc–E2F1–PBK signaling pathway operates in high-grade lymphomas and may provide a useful target for novel antineoplastic therapeutics.
Structural basis of activity against aztreonam and extended spectrum cephalosporins for two carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D β-lactamases from Acinetobacter baumannii.

The carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D β-lactamases OXA-23 and OXA-24/40 have emerged worldwide as causative agents for β-lactam antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter species. Many variants of these e...
Competition and facilitation: a synthetic approach to interactions in plant communities

Interactions among organisms take place within a complex milieu of abiotic and biotic processes, but we generally study them as solitary phenomena. Complex combinations of negative and positive interactions have been identified in a number of plant communities. The importance of these two processes in structuring plant communities can best be understood by comparing them along gradients of abiotic stress, consumer pressure, and among different life stages, sizes, and densities of the interacting species. Here, we discuss the roles of life stage, physiology, indirect interactions, and the physical environment on the balance of competition and facilitation in plant communities.
Adhesion study of silicone coatings: the interaction of thickness, modulus and shear rate on adhesion force.

Abstract Interactions between coating thickness, modulus and shear rate on pseudobarnacle adhesion to a platinum-cured silicone coating were studied using a statistical experimental design. A combined design method was used for two mixture components and two process variables. The two mixture components, vinyl end-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes (V21: MW = 6 kg mole−1 and V35: MW = 4 9.5 kg mole−1, Gelest Inc.) were mixed at five different levels to vary the modulus. The dry coating thickness was varied from 160 – 740 μm and shear tests were performed at four different shear rates (2, 7, 12, and 22 μm s−1). The results of the statistical analysis showed that the mixture components were significant factors on shear stress, showing an interaction with the process variable. For the soft silicone coating based on the high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane (E = 0.08 MPa), shear stress significantly increased as coating thickness decreased, while shear rate slightly impacted shear force especially at 160 μ...
Close Friendship in Adulthood: Conversational Content Between Same-Sex Friends.

This study was designed to examine ongoing close friendships among same-sex adults. An analysis of frequency and depth of conversational topics was undertaken. The self-reports of female participants showed that they converse more frequently than the male participants about intimate topics and daily and shared activities. Sex differences on depth of topic discussion also emerged, with females reporting greater depth in topics involving personal and family matters. Sports was the only topic for which males, rather than females, reported both more frequent discussion and conversation in greater depth. The topic frequency data were factor analyzed for each sex group. The factor analyses indicated patterns for the males on “personal issues,” “sociocultural issues,” and “activity” and patterns for females on “domestic matters,” “personal issues,” and “worldly issues.” The results of the study generally support sex-stereotypical assumptions about the nature of male-male and female-female conversations.
Analyzing industrial trends—A collaborative approach

Abstract Dynamic, complex environments demand sensitive, timely scanning. This paper describes a scanning process of use to interdependent organizations for collaboratively assessing issues active in their shared environment. Collaborative scanning expands the field of vision of an individual organization and produces several other benefits to participating organizations. The need for matching an organization's allocations of resources and attention to the patterns of issues revealed by the scanning process is stressed.
International Human Rights Law and Mental Disability

ditions of confinement, civil rights, an d access to mental health services . 5 Two landmark cases by the Europea n Court of Human Rights (ECHR) hav e addressed the liberty interests of person s with mental disabilities. Winterwerp v . the Netherland sestablished that civi l commitment must follow a “procedur e prescribed by law” and cannot be arb i trary; the person must have a recognize d mental illness and require confinemen t for the purposes of treatment . 6 X v. th e United Kingdom mandated speedy per i odic legal review with the essential el e ments of due process . 7 Mental health advocates in Europ e are now urging the ECHR to rule o n two other issues: detention of “non protesting” patients and communit y treatment orders. The problem of “non protesting” patients arises when person s are confined in fact but not under th e force of law. A person may succumb to a show of authority, or may be unable t o provide informed consent. In such cases , advocates argue, they should be treate d as if they were under detention and a f forded all appropriate procedural saf e guards . Pressure for community treatmen t orders arises from the enduring albei t mistaken belief that mental disorde r predisposes people to behave violently . Community supervision orders, d e signed to compel psychiatric treatment , are increasingly common in the Unite d States and are hotly debated in Europe . Thus far, the European Commission ha s not viewed compelled outpatient trea t ment as a deprivation of liberty, but a d
Effects of Phenytoin on Glutathione Status and Oxidative Stress Biomarker Gene mRNA Levels in Cultured Precision Human Liver Slices

Cellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated as an important mechanism of chemical teratogenesis and developmental toxicity. Unfortunately, the lack of relevant model systems has precluded studies targeting the role of ROS in human teratogenesis and prenatal toxicity. In the current study, we have used cultured precision human prenatal liver slices to study the effects of the human teratogen phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin; Dilantin) on cell toxicity, glutathione redox status, and steady-state mRNA expression of a panel of oxidative stress-related biomarker genes. The biomarker genes analyzed were p53, bcl-2, alpha class glutathione S-transferases isozymes A1 and A4 (hGSTA1 and hGSTA4), and the catalytic subunit of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gammaGCS-HS). Liver slices (200 microm) were prepared from second trimester prenatal livers and cultured in the presence of 0, 250 microM, and 1000 microM phenytoin for 18 h. Exposure to 1000 microM phenytoin elicited 41% and 34% reductions in slice intracellular potassium and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations, respectively. The reduction in slice GSH concentrations at 1000 microM phenytoin was accompanied by a 2.2-fold increase in the percentage of total slice glutathione consisting of GSSG, and a 3.9-fold increase in hGSTA1 steady-state mRNA expression. Exposure to 250 microM or 1000 microM phenytoin also elicited a relatively minor (less than 2-fold) but significant increase in p53 steady-state mRNA expression. In contrast, the steady-state levels of gammaGCS-HS, hGSTA4, and bcl-2 mRNAs were not affected by phenytoin exposure. Our findings in a relevant human model system are supportive of a protective role of GSH and hGSTA1 against phenytoin toxicity and teratogenesis. These studies also demonstrate the utility of using cultured human prenatal liver slices as a relevant tool for developmental toxicology studies.
Some Factors Influencing the Vasomotor Response to Cold Pressor Stimulation

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of initial level of vasomotor tonus, as measured by pulse-wave amplitude, on the cutaneous blood-volume response to a 1-min cold immersioa of an extremity. The design included 3 test sessions, I wk apart, in which room temperature was set at either 32°C, 22°C, or 12°C. Pulse-wave amplitude and blood volume of the left thumb were recorded plethysmographically. Room temperature manipulated the state of the peripheral vasculature successfully, with subjects at 12°C having smaller pulse-wave amplitudes than at 32°C, during rest, It has been specifically hypothesized that when subjects were more constricted at rest, as at 12°C, the response to cold immersion would be an increase in blood volume, and when they were more dilated, as at 32°C, that the response would he a drop in blood volume, while subjects at 22°C would fall in between. It was further hypothesized that should CP habituation occur over the 3 sessions, it would be seen as a smaller drop for the 32°C and 22°C sessions and a smaller volume increase for the 12°C sessions. Both hypotheses were supported by the data. The results indicate that the magnitude and direction of change in cutaneous vascular systems depends on prestimulus tonus, and that the response to cold stress is not strictly stimulus bound, but that is dependent equally as much upon initial level of tonus. Habituation is seen as a decrease in response magnitude, regardless of direction.
Disentangling Age, Cohort and Time Effects in the Additive Model*

This paper presents a new approach to the old problem of linear dependency of age, cohort and time effects. It is shown that second differences of the effects can be estimated without any normalization restrictions, providing information on the shape of the age, cohort and time effect profiles, and enabling identification of structural breaks. A Wald test is provided to test the popular linear and quadratic specifications against a very general alternative. First differenced and level effects can then be consistently estimated with a small number of additional normalizing assumptions. Moreover, it is demonstrated that coefficients on additional exogenous regressors can be consistently estimated in this framework without the need for normalizing assumptions.
Class III b-tubulin overexpression in gynecologic tumors: implications for the choice of microtubule targeted agents?

The tubulins are significant players in maintaining microtubule dynamics and have important signaling and apoptotic functions. Alterations in microtubules as a result of changes in tubulin isotype content or polymerization affect the sensitivity of cell lines to tubulin-binding agents (e.g., taxol) in vitro. Epothilones, such as patupilone and ixabepilone, contain a 16-membered macrolide ring and act as competitive inhibitors of taxol. Class III β-tubulin overexpression has been linked to resistance to paclitaxel and correlated with poor survival in ovarian, breast, gastric, non-small-cell lung cancer and unknown primary tumors. Recent data suggest that class III β-tubulin may not only serve as a marker for sensitivity to epothilones, but also as a mediator of a bioaggressive tumor phenotype through activation of multiple cell survival pathways active under stress conditions.
Identity Status and Interpersonal Style.

A group of 22 undergraduates at a large Midwestern state university were interviewed to determine their "identity states," i.e., identity foreclosure, identity diffusion, identity moratorium, moratorium-diffusion, or identity achievement. A distinctive interpersonal style, both toward peers and toward authority, was associated with each identity status. For example, the identity foreclosed people were talkative, compliant toward authority, and covetous of the regard of peers; the identity moratorium people were rebellious toward authority and counterdependent toward peers. The significance of these findings for a theory of identity development is discussed.
Simultaneous controller design: a linear matrix inequalities approach

Designing a single controller for several linear time-invariant plants is a challenging and interesting question in robust control theory which has been attacked from different angles. A powerful class of techniques are based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI) and convex optimization methods. In this paper, the authors extend their earlier LMI-based algorithm to the discrete-time case and use the flexibility of LMI solvers to incorporate various criteria on the closed loop performance.
Frictional slip between a layer and a substrate due to a periodic tangential surface force

Abstract A solution is given for the problem of an elastic layer pressed against an elastic half-plane and subjected to a tangential force varying periodically in time. A loading cycle which initially causes localized slip is followed through unloading and reloading. A limiting load is established below which the steady state of the interface does not involve slip.
Inhibition of the AKT pathway in cholangiocarcinoma by MK2206 reduces cellular viability via induction of apoptosis

Introduction Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive disease with limited effective treatment options. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway represents an attractive therapeutic target due to its frequent dysregulation in CCA. MK2206, an allosteric Akt inhibitor, has been shown to reduce cellular proliferation in other cancers. We hypothesized that MK2206 mediated inhibition of Akt would impact CCA cellular viability.
Machine hearing: Audio analysis by emulation of human hearing

While many approaches to audio analysis are based on elegant mathematical models, an approach based on emulation of human hearing is becoming a strong challenger. The difference is subtle, as it involves extending such mathematically nice signal-processing concepts as linear systems, transforms, and second-order statistics to include the messier nonlinear, adaptive, and evolved aspects of hearing. Essentially, the goal is to form representations that do a good job of capturing what a signal “sounds like”, so that we can make systems that react accordingly. Some of our recent experimental systems, such as sound retrieval from text queries, melody matching, and music recommendation, employ a four-layer machine-hearing architecture that attempts to simplify and systematize some of the methods used to emulate hearing. The peripheral level utilizes nonlinear filter cascades to model wave propagation in the nonlinear cochlea. The second level computes one or more types of auditory image, as an abstraction of what goes on in the auditory brainstem, and projecting to cortical sheets much as visual images do. The third level is where application-dependent features are extracted from the auditory images, abstractly modeling what likely happens in auditory cortex. Finally, and most abstractly, any appropriate machine-learning system is used to address the needs of an application, the brain-motivated neural network being a prototypical example. Each layer involves different disciplines, and can leverage the experiences of different fields, including hearing science, signal processing, machine vision, and machine learning.
Context-dependent nestmate discrimination and the effect of action thresholds on exogenous cue recognition in the Argentine ant

The optimal acceptance threshold model predicts that kin/nestmate discrimination is context dependent and that, in a fluctuating environment, the action component of nestmate discrimination is plastic, rather than static. We examined changes in intraspecific aggression among colonies of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, in various discrimination contexts, and found that aggression occurred at higher rates when either nestmates or familiar territory indicated nest proximity, but not when social context was absent, thereby providing additional support for the optimal acceptance threshold model. Context-dependent aggression in the Argentine ant appears to result from a shift in acceptance threshold in response to fitness costs associated with accepting nonkin. The change in the action component of Argentine ant nestmate discrimination was explained to some degree by the hypothesis that the presence of nestmates indicates nest proximity and denotes a fitness payoff for active defence (nest indicator hypothesis) and by the hypothesis that nestmates share the cost of nest defence in groups, but not singly (cost minimizer hypothesis). Isolated nest referents (familiar territory, conspecific brood, or single familiar nestmates), however, had no effect on aggression thresholds. We provide mixed support for the hypothesis that workers from genetically less diverse colonies attack workers from more diverse colonies. We found that, in the context of nest defence, genetically more diverse colonies initiated attacks on colonies with lower genetic diversity. Therefore, the role of asymmetrical aggression in reducing genetic diversity within introduced populations of L. humile remains unknown and other extrinsic factors such as nest status and/or colony size may affect the outcome of aggressive interactions in the field. Finally, our finding that colonies reared under uniform conditions showed diminished intraspecific aggression only when assayed in a social and/or ecological context underscores the importance of using appropriate aggression assays for testing patterns of intercolony aggression in L. humile, and that the use of different rearing regimes, source colonies and collection times may produce contradictory results.
A Graph-Theoretic Method for Choosing a Spanning Set for a Finite-Dimensional Vector Space, with Applications to the Grossman-Larson-Wright Module and the Jacobian Conjecture

It is well known that a square zero pattern matrix guarantees non-singularity if and only if it is permutationally equivalent to a triangular pattern with nonzero diagonal entries. It is also well known that a nonnegative square pattern matrix with positive main diagonal is sign nonsingular if and only if its associated digraph does not have any directed cycles of even length. Any $m\times n$ matrix containing an $n\times n$ sub-matrix with either of these forms will have full rank. We translate this idea into a graph-theoretic method for finding a spanning set of vectors for a finite-dimensional vector space from among a set of vectors generated combinatorially. This method is particularly useful when there is no convenient ordering of vectors and no upper bound to the dimensions of the vector spaces we are dealing with. We use our method to prove three properties of the Grossman-Larson-Wright module originally described by David Wright: $\overline{\cal M}(3,\infty)_m=0$ for $m\ge 3$, $\overline{\cal M}(4,3)_m=0$ for $5\le m\le 8$, and $\overline{\cal M}(4,4)_8=0$. The first two properties yield combinatorial proofs of special cases of the homogeneous symmetric reduction of the Jacobian conjecture.
Animal‐Assisted Therapy at an Outpatient Pain Management Clinic

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of brief therapy dog visits to an outpatient pain management facility compared with time spent in a waiting room. Design. The design of this study is open-label. Setting. This study was conducted in a university tertiary care adult chronic pain outpatient clinic. Subjects. The subjects of this study include outpatients, adults accompanying outpatients to their appointments, and clinic staff. Intervention. Participants were able to spend clinic waiting time with a certified therapy dog instead of waiting in the outpatient waiting area. When the therapy dog was not available, individuals remained in the waiting area. Outcome Measures. Self-reported pain, fatigue, and emotional distress were recorded using 11-point numeric rating scales before and after the therapy dog visit or waiting room time. Results. Two hundred ninety-five therapy dog visits (235 with patients, 34 family/friends, and 26 staff) and 96 waiting room surveys (83 from patients, 6 family/friends, and 7 staff) were completed over a 2-month study period. Significant improvements were reported for pain, mood, and other measures of distress among patients after the therapy dog visit but not the waiting room control, with clinically meaningful pain relief (decrease ≥2 points) in 23% after the therapy dog visit and 4% in the waiting room control. Significant improvements were likewise seen after therapy dog visits for family/friends and staff. Conclusions. Therapy dog visits in an outpatient setting can provide significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients. Therapy dog visits can also significantly improve emotional distress and feelings of well-being in family and friends accompanying patients to appointments and clinic staff.
Niacin, but Not Gemfibrozil, Selectively Increases LP-AI, a Cardioprotective Subfraction of HDL, in Patients With Low HDL Cholesterol

Evidence indicates that the high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfraction containing apolipoprotein A-I without apolipoprotein AII (LP-AI) is more antiatherogenic than HDL particles containing apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II (LP-AI+AII). This study examined the effect of extended-release niacin (niacin-ER) and gemfibrozil on LP-AI and LP-AI+AII particles in patients with low levels of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). Mechanisms by which these agents modulate HDL particles were investigated by in vitro studies using human hepatoblastoma (Hep G2) cells. A total of 139 patients with low HDL-C (≤40 mg/dL) were randomized to niacin-ER or gemfibrozil in a multicenter double-blind trial. Patients were dose-escalated with once-nightly niacin-ER (1 to 2 g) or gemfibrozil (1.2 g) for 19 weeks. Niacin-ER had a greater effect in raising HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I levels than did gemfibrozil. Niacin-ER at 1- and 2-g doses increased LP-AI levels by 8.7±4.0% ( P =0.033) and 24.0±4.4% ( P <0.001), respectively. Gemfibrozil had no consistent effect on LP-AI levels. LP-AI+AII levels increased 5% to 8% by both agents. In vitro studies showed that niacin, but not gemfibrozil, selectively decreased the uptake of 125I-labeled LP-AI holoparticles by Hep G2 cells. The uptake of [3H]cholesterol ester was ≈75% greater from LP-AI versus LP-AI+AII particles, but neither niacin nor gemfibrozil affected cholesterol ester uptake. These data indicate that unlike gemfibrozil, niacin selectively increases LP-AI compared with LP-AI+AII particle concentration in patients with low HDL-C levels. The mechanism of action of increased LP-AI concentration appears to be mediated by decreased hepatic removal of LP-AI particles, which are more efficient in reverse cholesterol transport, thus suggesting an additional mechanism by which niacin mediates its antiatherogenic properties.
Educational Perspectives: Changes in The Neonatal Resuscitation Program

In the fall of 2005, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) Consensus on Science and Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) as well as the American Heart Association’s Guidelines for Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) were published in Circulation . The guidelines were prepared by the American Heart Association Pediatric Subcommittee and American Academy of Pediatrics Neonatal Resuscitation Program Steering Committee based on an extensive review of the existing literature on neonatal resuscitation. The guidelines were used to develop and revise the Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation , 5th edition, and accompanying Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) education materials. Based on their findings, various changes have been made to the NRP, including new recommendations for the use of supplemental oxygen and endotracheal epinephrine. These changes have the potential for a profound impact on medical practice around the world. Newborns who do not require resuscitation generally can be identified by a rapid assessment of the following four characteristics: Of note, a fifth question, “Is the baby pink?” no longer appears as part of the rapid assessment immediately after birth. The sequential approach to a newborn in the delivery room remains the same (Figure⇓). NRP providers should continue to adhere to the ABCs of resuscitation: airway before breathing before circulation. The four categories of action in sequence are: Figure. Neonatal flow algorithm. Reprinted with permission from American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics. 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) of pediatric and neonatal …
Transgenic targeting of a dominant negative corepressor to liver blocks basal repression by thyroid hormone receptor and increases cell proliferation.

Unliganded thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) interact with corepressors and repress basal transcription of target genes in cotransfection and in vitro studies. Currently, little is known about the function of corepressorsin vivo. We thus used a mouse albumin promoter to generate several transgenic mouse lines that overexpressed a dominant negative mutant corepressor, NCoRi, in liver. The transgenic mice had normal liver weight, appearance, and minimal changes in enzyme activity. To study the effects of NCoRi on transcription of hepatic target genes, we examined T3-regulated gene expression of hypo- and hyperthyroid transgenic mice. In hypothyroid mice, hepatic expression of Spot 14, Bcl-3, glucose 6-phosphatase, and 5′-deiodinase mRNA was higher in transgenic mice than littermate controls whereas these genes were induced to similar levels in T3-treated mice. Derepression was not observed for malic enzyme mRNA expression in hypothyroid mice. Thus, NCoRi selectively blocked basal transcription of several thyroid hormone-responsive genes but had no effect on ligand-mediated transcription. Additionally, compensatory increases in endogenous SMRT and NCoR mRNA were observed in hypothyroid transgenic mice. Interestingly, hepatocyte proliferation as detected by BrdUrd incorporation was increased in transgenic mice. The gene profile in transgenic mouse livers was studied by cDNA microarray, and several genes related to cell proliferation were induced. In summary, our studies show that NCoR plays important roles in mediating basal repression by TRs and may prevent cellular proliferation in vivo.
Alternative Models of Government-Nonprofit Sector Relations: Theoretical and International Perspectives

Economic theories of the nonprofit sector suggest several different ways of understanding the relationship between government and private, not-for-profit organizations. In particular, different strands of theory support the alternative views that nonprofits (a) operate independently as supplements to government, (b) work as complements to government in a partnership relationship, or (c) are engaged in an adversarial relationship of mutual accountability with government. A historical review of the United States revealed that all three views have validity and that government-nonprofit sector relations must be understood as a multilayered phenomenon. In this article, the foregoing analysis is extended internationally. The three theoretical perspectives are applied to four countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Japan, in an effort to illuminate nonprofit-government relations in those countries and to assess whether the multilayered approach provides a substantially richer understanding than any one theoretical perspective.
Mechanisms of HCV-induced liver cancer: What did we learn from in vitro and animal studies?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a cause of liver diseases that range from steatohepatitis, to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The challenge of understanding the pathogenesis of HCV-associated liver cancer is difficult as most standard animal models used in biomedical research are not permissive to HCV infection. Herein, we provide an overview of a number of creative in vivo, mostly in the mouse, and in vitro models that have been developed to advance our understanding of the molecular and cellular effects of HCV on the liver, specifically with their relevance to HCC.
The influence of substrate and electron acceptor availability on bioactive zone dynamics in porous media.

Two approaches were used to investigate the influence of dissolved oxygen (DO) and substrate availability on the formation and dynamics of ‘‘bioactive zones’’ in a water-saturated porous medium. A bioactive zone is defined as a region where a microbial community is sufficiently active to metabolize bioavailable substrates. In the first approach, microbial activity was characterized by monitoring the spatial and temporal variability of DO and aqueous substrate (salicylate and naphthalene) concentrations during miscible-displacement experiments. In the second approach, microbial activity was monitored using multiple fiber optics emplaced in the porous medium to detect luminescence produced by Pseudomonas putida RB1353, a bioluminescent reporter organism that produces light when salicylate (an intermediate of naphthalene degradation) is present. The results of both approaches show that the location and size of the bioactive zones were influenced by in situ DO and substrate availability. When DO was not a limiting factor (i.e., lower substrate input concentrations), the bioactive zone encompassed the entire column, with the majority of the microbial activity occurring between the inlet and midpoint. However, as the availability of DO became limiting for the higher substrate input
Anionic Synthesis of α‐Functionalized Polymers by Combination of 1,1‐Diphenylethylene and Hydrosilation Chemistry

A new general anionic functionalization method (GFM) for preparing α-chain-end functionalized polymers utilizes the initiator formed from sec-butyllithium and dimethyl[4-(1-phenylvinyl)-phenyl]silane (DPESiH) followed by hydrosilation with substituted alkenes. α-(4-dimethylsilyl hydride)phenyl-functionalized polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) were synthesized in quantitative yield by living anionic polymerization. These α-silyl hydride-functionalized polymers were further functionalized by reaction with tridecafluorooctene in the present of Karstedt's hydrosilation catalyst. These tridecafluorooctane-functionalized polymers were characterized by SEC, FTIR, 1H-, 13C- and 19F-NMR spectroscopy.