cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of percutaneous circulatory assist devices in acute myocardial infarction and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention in the 21st century

Although the use of percutaneous circulatory assist devices is gaining increasing acceptance as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with cardiogenic shock, their role in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) without hemodynamic compromise and elective high-risk PCI remains controversial. This is reflected by the lack of formal recommendations by the international bodies regarding the use of such devices outside the setting of cardiogenic shock. The purpose of this article was to review the current evidence for the use of these devices in patients presenting with acute MI without cardiogenic shock and in those undergoing elective high-risk PCI.
Visceral Leishmaniasis in Mice Devoid of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Response to Treatment

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-deficient mice were challenged with Leishmania donovani to characterize TNF in the response of visceral intracellular infection to antileishmanial chemotherapy. In wild-type controls (i) liver infection peaked at week 2 and resolved, (ii) discrete liver granulomas developed at weeks 2 to 4 and involuted, and (iii) leishmanicidal responses to antimony (Sb), amphotericin B (AmB), and miltefosine were intact. In TNF knockout (KO) mice (i) initial liver infection was unrestrained, plateaued, and then declined somewhat by week 6, (ii) an absent early granulomatous reaction abruptly accelerated with striking tissue inflammation, widespread hepatic necrosis, and 100% mortality by week 10, and (iii) while the initial response to AmB and miltefosine was intact, killing induced by Sb therapy was reduced by >50%. Although initial AmB treatment during weeks 2 to 3 killed 98% of liver parasites, 75% of AmB-treated KO mice subsequently relapsed and died by week 12; however, additional maintenance AmB preserved long-term survival. These results for a model of visceral infection indicate that endogenous TNF is required early on to control intracellular L. donovani, support granuloma development, and mediate optimal initial effects of Sb and prevent relapse after ordinarily curative AmB treatment. A compensatory, TNF-independent antileishmanial mechanism developed in TNF KO mice; however, its effect was uncontrolled fatal inflammation. Chemotherapeutic elimination of the parasite stimulus reversed the hyperinflammatory response and preserved survival.
Frequency dependent attenuation in the crust

The shear wave attenuation (Q−l) in the crust beneath the northeastern US and Scandinavia is determined as a function of depth and frequency using theoretical modeling of complete waveforms in comparison with observed data. To determine attenuation in the upper crust of the northeastern US, short period (0.25 < T < 2 sec) Rg waves recorded by linear arrays of seismometers are used. For Scandinavia Rg and Lg waves are combined to extend the investigation into the deeper crust. The combination of Rg waves and short period (T < 1.0 sec) Lg waves makes it possible to determine attenuation as a function of depth and frequency in the crust, parameterized as Q = Qo fζ. To match the observations, theoretical models for three mechanisms that contribute to attenuation in the crust-frequency independent anelastic (Qa−1), and frequency dependent fluid flow (Qf−1) and scattering (Qs−1)–are considered. The best fitting models require low Q (Q0 < 100) in the shallow crust that increases with increasing frequency as f0.5 above 1 Hz. In the middle crust between about 2 to 10 km depth Q is moderate (100 < Q0 < 500) with a frequency dependence of f1. In the lower crust, the attenuation is very low (Q ≥ 500) and its frequency dependence is difficult to establish. The low intrinsic Q, and the frequency dependence, in the uppermost crust can be explained by fluid flow in fractures. In the middle crust the frequency dependence suggests scattering. The increase of Q in the lower crust is most likely due to annealing of microcracks under pressure and temperature as observed in the laboratory.
Nodose version 2.0

This paper describes a tool, called Nodose, we have developed to expedite the creation of robust wrappers. Nodose allows non-programmers to build components that can convert data from the source format to XML or another generic format. Further, the generated code performs a set of statistical checks at runtime that attempt to find extraction errors before they are propogated back to users.
Genetic architecture of host use in a widely distributed, polyphagous butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae): adaptive inferences based on comparison of spatio-temporal populations

Abstract Genetic variance-covariance structure of larval performance within and among spatio-temporal populations of the widely distributed, polyphagous tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio glaucus , is described. Performance traits were assessed for full-sibling families on three host species Liriodendron tulipifera , Magnolia virginiana and Prunus serotina . Mean performance varied across hosts, indicating these hosts present unique developmental environments. Although full-sibling families significantly differed in plasticity of across-hosts response in three of the five spatio-temporal populations, additive genetic variation was mostly associated with P. serotina or pupal mass. The relative lack of heritable variation in rate and length of larval development on L. tulipifera and M. virginiana was consistent with an earlier study that established host-associated geographic differentiation of P. glaucus populations. Performance appeared relatively independent across hosts and thus genetic constraints cannot be casually invoked to explain persistence of local adaptation and host specialization in the face of extensive gene flow. I promote the hypothesis that gene flow among geographically distant populations is relatively restricted and that previously established, allozyme-based estimates of panmixia are confounded by effects of Pleistocene glaciations. Significant heterogeneity of variance-covariance structure among spatio-temporal P. glaucus populations supports an interpretation of restricted gene flow and relative evolutionary independence. Despite low precision of estimates of genetic parameters, local variance-covariance structure was remarkably consistent with expectations given the presumed evolutionary history of regional populations.
The Role of Defense in the Life Story

In modern societies, adults typically provide their lives with some sense of unity and purpose by constructing self-defining life stories that serve as their identities. Such stories are told to others and to an internalized audience or listener who serves as an ultimate judge and interpreter of the narrative. Defense mechanisms specify narrative strategies that persons use to shape how their lives are told to others and to their internalized audiences. Life events and experiences are incorporated into a life story to the extent that the internalized audience can make sense of the telling. Defenses function to make some stories more tellable than they might otherwise be and to keep other potentially storied accounts from ever reaching the status of being told.
Berry's Phase in the Presence of a Non-adiabatic Environment with an Application to Magnetic Resonance

We consider a two-level system coupled to an environment that evolves non-adiabatically. We present a non-perturbative method for determining the persistence amplitude whose phase contains all the corrections to Berry's phase produced by the non-adiabatic motion of the environment. Specifically, it includes the effect of transitions between the two energy levels to all orders in the non-adiabatic coupling. The problem of determining all non-adiabatic corrections is reduced to solving an ordinary differential equation to which numerical methods should provide solutions in a variety of situations. We apply our method to a particular example that can be realized as a magnetic resonance experiment, thus raising the possibility of testing our results in the laboratory.
Theory of the Instrinsic Electronic Thermal Conductivity of Superconductors

The analog to the Bloch equation for the case of thermal conduction in a superconductor limited by phonon scattering is derived by introducing an appropriate general form for the nonequilibrium part of the distribution function into the corresponding Boltzmann equation. This integral equation for the deviation function is solved numerically for different temperatures $T$ by replacing it by sets of simultaneous linear equations with dimensions up to 39. The limiting curve for the deviation function when $T$ approaches the transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ from below turns out to be identical to the curve which has been reported by Klemens for the normal state. With $T$ decreasing below ${T}_{c}$ the maximum of the deviation function rises and shifts to higher energies. The ratio of the thermal conductivity in the superconducting state to that in the normal state, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{s}}{{\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{n}}$, plotted against $\frac{T}{{T}_{c}}$ is found to increase monotonically and to have a limiting slope of about 1.62 at ${T}_{c}$. Consideration of the energy dependence of the energy gap in the case of lead yields a sizable effect on the plot of $\frac{{\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{s}}{{\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{n}}$ vs $\frac{T}{{T}_{c}}$.
Peripheral lymphocyte counts in breast carcinoma. An index of immune competence.

A retrospective study of 305 patients with breast carcinoma provides evidence that pretreatment lymphocyte count levels serve as an index of the host's immune competence. An inverse correlation between the stage of the disease and the lymphocyte counts was observed among patients in the younger age groups. Patients in all stages remaining free of metastases in the first 5 postmastectomy years had significantly higher pretreatment counts than those who developed metastases and/or second primaries. These observations give further insight into the host–tumor interaction in breast carcinoma and indicate that difference in lymphocyte counts, previously attributed to treatment modalities that influence lymphocyte levels and cellular immune responses (radiotherapy, chemotherapy), may be completely independent and may rather reflect the host's responses to tumor growth.
Practicing Change: Curriculum Adaptation and Teacher Narrative in the Context of Mathematics Education Reform

AbstractThe use of reform‐based curricula is one possible avenue for the widespread implementation of mathematics education reform. In this article, we present two urban elementary teachers' models of curriculum use that describe how each teacher used a reform‐oriented mathematics curriculum. In particular, we examine when and how the teachers made adaptations to the curriculum. We find that each teacher had a distinctive pattern of adaptation when using the curriculum. Furthermore, these patterns were related to three key aspects of the teachers' own experiences with mathematics: their early memories of learning mathematics, their current perceptions of themselves as mathematics learners, and their mathematical interactions with family members. Implications for curriculum design and implementation are discussed.
Tumor-derived endothelial cells exhibit aberrant Rho-mediated mechanosensing and abnormal angiogenesis in vitro

Tumor blood vessels exhibit abnormal structure and function that cause disturbed blood flow and high interstitial pressure, which impair delivery of anti-cancer agents. Past efforts to normalize the tumor vasculature have focused on inhibition of soluble angiogenic factors, such as VEGF; however, capillary endothelial (CE) cell growth and differentiation during angiogenesis are also influenced by mechanical forces conveyed by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we explored the possibility that tumor CE cells form abnormal vessels because they lose their ability to sense and respond to these physical cues. These studies reveal that, in contrast to normal CE cells, tumor-derived CE cells fail to reorient their actin cytoskeleton when exposed to uniaxial cyclic strain, exhibit distinct shape sensitivity to variations in ECM elasticity, exert greater traction force, and display an enhanced ability to retract flexible ECM substrates and reorganize into tubular networks in vitro. These behaviors correlate with a constitutively high level of baseline activity of the small GTPase Rho and its downstream effector, Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). Moreover, decreasing Rho-mediated tension by using the ROCK inhibitor, Y27632, can reprogram the tumor CE cells so that they normalize their reorientation response to uniaxial cyclic strain and their ability to form tubular networks on ECM gels. Abnormal Rho-mediated sensing of mechanical cues in the tumor microenvironment may therefore contribute to the aberrant behaviors of tumor CE cells that result in the development of structural abnormalities in the cancer microvasculature.
Song repertoires and sensory exploitation: reconsidering the case of the common grackle

Abstract Male common grackles, Quiscalus quiscula , sing one song type each, yet females prefer multiple songs. A pre-existing sensory bias explanation has been proposed to account for these results. Using phylogenetic analysis and published behavioural studies, (1) it is shown that the single-song condition of males is likely to be the derived state, and (2) it is suggested that female common grackles' preference for multiple songs may not be surprising given their natural history, and may in fact be a functional preference. The idea that the female preference is also ancestral and serves no current function, however, cannot be ruled out.
The Influence of Leading Edge Diameter on Stagnation Region Heat Transfer Augmentation Including Effects of Turbulence Level, Scale, and Reynolds Number

Stagnation region heat transfer measurements have been acquired on two large cylindrical leading edge test surfaces having a four to one range in leading edge diameter. Heat transfer measurements have been acquired for six turbulence conditions including three grid conditions, two aero-combustor conditions, and a low turbulence condition. The data have been run over an eight to one range in Reynolds numbers for each test surface with Reynolds numbers ranging from 62,500 to 500,000 for the large leading edge and 15,625 to 125,000 for the smaller leading edge. The data show augmentation levels of up to 110% in the stagnation region for the large leading edge. However, the heat transfer results for the large cylindrical leading edge do not appear to infer a significant level of turbulence intensification in the stagnation region. The smaller cylindrical leading edge shows more consistency with earlier stagnation region heat transfer results correlated on the TRL parameter. These results indicate that the intensification of approaching turbulence is more prevalent with the more rapid straining of the smaller leading edge. The downstream regions of both test surfaces continue to accelerate the flow but at a much lower rate than the leading edge. Bypass transition occurs in these regions providing a useful set of data to ground the prediction of transition onset and length over a wide range of Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensity and scales.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Multiple breath-hold averaging (MBA) method for increased SNR in abdominal MRI

Breath-holding during MR imaging eliminates respiratory motion artifacts but places a major time constraint on data acquisition. This constraint limits image signal-to-noise ratio and hence spatial resolution. A new method, multiple breath-hold averaging, is presented that overcomes these time limitations. Several images are acquired in sequential breath-hold periods, separated by periods of normal breathing, and averaged. This averaged image shows the expected increase in SNR with surprisingly little blurring due to misregistration. SNR improvements can be traded for increased spatial resolution. The MBA methodology can also be applied to 3D data acquisitions, dynamic contrast acquisitions, and image subtractions.
Amikacin population pharmacokinetics among paediatric burn patients

a b s t r a c t Introduction: The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the pharmacokinetics of amikacin among children with severe burn and (2) identify influential covariates. Methods: Population-based pharmacokinetic modelling was performed in NONMEM 7.2 for hospitalized children who received amikacin at 10-20 mg/kg divided two, three, or four times per day as part of early empiric treatment of presumed burn-related sepsis. Results: The analysis included data from 70 patients (6 months to 17 years) with 282 amikacin serum concentrations. Amikacin's mean Cmax was 33.2 � 9.4 mg/mL and the mean Cmin was 3.8 � 4.6 mg/mL. The final covariate model estimated clearance as 5.98 L/h/70 kg (4.97-6.99, 95% CI), the volume of distribution in the central compartment as 16.7 L/70 kg (14.0-19.4, 95% CI), the volume of distribution in the peripheral compartment as 40.1 L/70 kg (15.0-80.4, 95% CI), and the inter-compartmental clearance as 3.38 L/h/70 kg (2.44-4.32, 95% CI). In multivariate analyses, current weight (P < 0.001) was a significant covariate, while age, sex, height, serum creatinine, C-reactive protein, platelet count, the extent and type of burn, and concomitant vancomycin administration did not influence amikacin pharmacokinetics. Discussion: Children with burn featured elevated amikacin clearance when compared to healthy adult volunteers. However, peak amikacin concentrations are comparable to those attained in other critically-ill children, suggesting that elevated amikacin clearance may not result in sub-therapeutic antibacterial effects. In this study, we found that amikacin dis- plays two-compartment pharmacokinetics, with weight exerting a strong effect upon amikacin clearance. Further pharmacodynamic studies are needed to establish the optimal dosing regimen for amikacin in paediatric burn patients.
Drug therapy for the prevention and treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Introduction: As more infants are surviving at younger gestational ages, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains as a frequent neonatal complication occurring after preterm birth. The multifactorial nature of the disease process makes BPD a challenging condition to treat. While multiple pharmacologic therapies have been investigated over the past two decades, there have been limited advances in the field. Often multiple therapies are used concurrently without clear evidence of efficacy, with potential for significant side effects from drug-drug interactions. Methods: Systematic literature review. Conclusion: Although there is physiologic rationale for the use of many of these therapies, none of them has single-handedly altered the incidence, severity, or progression of BPD. Future research should focus on developing clinically significant end-points (short and long term respiratory assessments), investigating biomarkers that accurately predict risk and progression of disease, and creating appropriate stratification models of BPD severity. Applying a multi-modal approach to the study of new and existing drugs should be the most effective way of establishing the optimal prevention and treatment regimens for BPD.
THE FRIEDMAN TEST AND PITUITARY TUMOR

Excessive quantities of urinary prolan have been reported not only in cases of pregnancy (1, 2, 3), but also in the presence of such conditions as malignant chorionepitheliomata (4), hydatid mole (5), or in tumors which contain chorionic tissue, such as teratomata (6). Hirsch-Hoffman (7) reported 10 cases of pituitary disease, including unverified cases of tumor, in which the Aschheim-Zondek test gave positive findings. Such an excess has also been reported in the presence of migraine (8), hypogonadism (9) and other conditions. In this series, the Friedman test has been made in a selected group of 946 non-pregnant individuals and 209 positive reactions have been observed. Endocrine disease was suspected in each case in this group and this explains the large proportion of positive results. In 131 cases in the group, a clinical diagnosis of pituitary disease was made and excessive amounts of urinary prolan by means of this test were found in 59 of these cases. Among the cases diagnosed as pituitary disease,...
Processing of the precursor to corticotropin and beta-lipotropin in humans.

Abstract The biosynthesis of human corticotropin (ACTH) was studied in organ culture of pituitary adenomas and by translating mRNA from an ectopic ACTH-producing tumor in a cell-free system. Peptides similar to human ACTH, beta-lipotropin, and the amino-terminal glycopeptide are cleaved from a common precursor with an apparent molecular weight of 35,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels. The precursors synthesized in pituitary and ectopic ACTH-producing tissues are indistinguishable. The cleavage sites of the peptide chain appear to be similar to those previously deduced for murine and bovine ACTH. Immunoprecipitation studies suggest that the primary structure of the precursor peptide is similar in all three species. However, glycosylation is different in the human and murine precursors: the precursor to human ACTH appears to be glycosylated only in the amino-terminal fragment, not in the ACTH or beta-lipotropin sequences. Studies with an autopsied normal human pituitary suggest that neither normal nor adenomatous pituitary tissue glycosylates the ACTH sequence.
Exenatide exerts a potent antiinflammatory effect.

Objective: Our objective was to determine whether exenatide exerts an antiinflammatory effect. Research Design and Methods: Twenty-four patients were prospectively randomized to be injected sc with either exenatide 10 μg twice daily [n = 12; mean age = 56 ± 3 yr; mean body mass index = 39.8 ± 2 kg/m2; mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) = 8.6 ± 0.4%] or placebo twice daily (n = 12; mean age = 54 ± 4 yr; mean body mass index = 39.1 ± 1.6 kg/m2; mean HbA1c = 8.5 ± 0.3%) for 12 wk. Fasting blood samples were obtained at 0, 3, 6, and 12 wk. Blood samples were also collected for up to 6 h after a single dose of exenatide (5 μg) or placebo. Results: Fasting blood glucose fell from 139 ± 17 to 110 ± 9 mg/dl, HbA1c from 8.6 ± 0.4 to 7.4 ± 0.5% (P < 0.05), and free fatty acids by 21 ± 5% from baseline (P < 0.05) with exenatide. There was no weight loss. There was a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species generation and nuclear factor-κB binding by 22 ± 9 and 26 ± 7%, respectively, and the mRNA expression...
Effect of the Yield to Tensile Ratio, Y/T, on Structural Reliability of Linepipes

The effect of the Yield (Y) to Tensile (T) ratio, Y/T, on the structural reliability of linepipes with longitudinal defects was studied in this work. A model based on elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM) and plasticity theory, was developed for that purpose. The analysis allows for load or deformation control situations. The results are shown in terms of curves of critical defect size vs. the controlling variable, i.e. load or deformation. For each one of the several materials studied, different cases with different Y/T values were considered. Even for the lower limits of experimental data, i.e. larger Y/T, the materials have adequate defect tolerance.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Numerical simulation of stoichiometric premixed flames burning CH3Cl / CH4 / air mixtures at atmospheric pressure with a full and short reaction mechanism and comparison of the flame speeds with experimental results

Numerical simulations of freely moving premixed flames burning mixtures of methane and methyl chloride in air are conducted at atmospheric pressure in order to understand the effect of hydrocarbon bound chlorine on hydrocarbon-air flames. A chemical kinetic mechanism is employed, the adopted scheme involving 38 gas-phase species and 358 elementary reaction steps due to 179 forward reactions. A simplification procedure is followed in order to reduce the reaction set to a smaller one, in order to make the simulations less time intensive. A 63-reaction set containing 25 species is determined after the application of detailed sensitivity analyses, and found to accurately predict the salient features of the simulated flames. The flame speeds predicted by both the full and short mechanism are found to be in good agreement with those deduced from experiments on symmetrical stretched planar counterflow premixed flames. Further study is required if the short mechanism is to be extended to other systems involving XCl compounds, such as HCl.
Exsanguinating hemorrhage from a caput medusae: Cutaneous variceal bleeding

We report the case of a 45-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with massive umbilical hemorrhage from a cutaneous varix. The patient had a long-standing history of alcohol-related liver disease and ascites. Her clinical course was complicated by coagulopathy and hemorrhagic shock, and she ultimately expired. Ectopic or nongastroesophageal bleeding constitutes a significant site of variceal hemorrhage. In this report we review the literature and explore methods of treatment.
Hydroxamic acid polymers

A polymer bearing hydroxamic acid groups and having a high affinity for iron(III) was prepared through the following procedure. Acryloylalanine (III), prepared by the reaction of acryloyl chloride with alanine, was treated with N-hydroxysuccinimide in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to give the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (IV). The ester IV was polymerized by using AIBN in dioxane to give polymer V. Treatment of polymer V with methylhydroxylamine in DMF gave the hydroxamic acid polymer II. The water-soluble polymer II was purified by dialysis or by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) on Sephadex G-25. Analytical GPC on Sephadex G-200 and Sepharose 4B indicate that the average molecular weight of the polymer is in the range of 5 × 105 to 1 × 106. The presence of hydroxamic acid groups is confirmed by the intense red-brown color produced by the addition of iron(III) to a 50% aqueous DMF solution of the polymer under acidic conditions. In pure water the polymer-iron complex precipitates as a tan solid. Iron-binding studies of the polymer reveal that the iron(III) trihydroxamic acid complex FeA3 forms at low concentrations of iron. At higher iron levels a lower order of stability is apparent, which can be accounted for by the conversion of FeA3 to FeA2+. In contrast, the FeA3 complex of the trihydroxamic acid deferoxamine-B is stable at all iron levels. These results are consistent with the polymer structure, which for steric reasons would favor a stable complex, FeA2+, between iron and two adjacent hydroxamic acid groups. An FeA3 complex would be expected to have a lower stability as a result of either bond angle strain and atomic compression, or a lower probability in bringing a third hydroxamic acid into position to form the octahedral complex.
Interplay of superfluidity and phase separation in adsorbed films.

We note that when the line of superfluid transitions intersects a line of phase separation near the critical point of the latter, one should expect the simultaneous occurrence of both high- and low-density superfluids. The signals from a third-sound experiment depend distinctively upon the density, there being seven different regions of characteristic response, which facilitates the identification of such a possibility. This scenario may provide an explanation for recent observations on helium adsorbed on hydrogen, in which case the critical point would be that of a layer transition. We also describe the interesting progression which would be observed in the temperature\char21{}chemical potential plane as the superfluid line approaches such a point. This progression might be observable in microbalance experiments on the approach of the superfluid transition to the prewetting critical point.
Performance of the Levenberg–Marquardt neural network training method in electronic nose applications

Abstract The focus of this study is to find the appropriateness of the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) neural network (NN) training algorithm for recognition of odor patterns associated with an electronic nose (e-nose). Multiple time-patterns represent step response of the array of sensors to the odorants. The experiments are performed on four representative classes of odorants: coffees, fragrances, hog farm air, and cola beverages. The odor recognition system is composed of a Karhunen–Loeve (KL) based pre-processing unit, and a feedforward neural network with the LM training algorithm. The parameters of the pre-processing unit and the neural network are fine-tuned using a genetic algorithm. Back-propagation algorithm with adaptive learning rate is selected as a standard neural network training method, for the purpose of comparison. The results of the experiments indicate that the LM algorithm provides high correct recognition ratios. In addition, the results confirm that the LM method outperforms the back-propagation (BP) method with adaptive learning rate, for the classes of the odorants provided in this study.
Rayleigh-Taylor Growth Stabilization in Direct-Drive Plastic Targets at Laser Intensities of ∼ 1 × 10 15 W / cm 2

Direct-drive, planar-target Rayleigh-Taylor growth experiments were performed for the first time to test fundamental physics in hydrocodes at peak drive intensities of ignition designs. The unstable modulation growth at a drive intensity of $\ensuremath{\sim}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{15}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ was strongly stabilized compared to the growth at an intensity of $\ensuremath{\sim}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The experiments demonstrate that standard simulations based on a local model of electron thermal transport break down at peak intensities of ignition designs (although they work well at lower intensities). The preheating effects by nonlocal electron transport and hot electrons were identified as some of the stabilizing mechanisms.
Efficacy of oncolytic adenovirus expressing suicide genes and interleukin-12 in preclinical model of prostate cancer

Oncolytic adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy has been shown to improve local tumor control in preclinical tumor models and in the clinic. Although local tumor control is important, for most human cancers, new therapies must also target metastatic disease if they are to have an impact on survival. Here, we test the hypothesis that adding cytokine gene therapy to our multimodal platform improves both local and metastatic tumor control in a preclinical model of prostate cancer. An oncolytic adenovirus (Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-mIL12) expressing two suicide genes and mouse interleukin-12 (IL-12) was generated. Relative to an adenovirus lacking IL-12 (Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep), Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-mIL12 improved local and metastatic tumor control in the TRAMP-C2 prostate adenocarcinoma model, resulting in a significant increase in survival. Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-mIL12 resulted in high levels of IL-12 and interferon gamma in serum and tumor, increased natural killer (NK) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte lytic activities, and the development of tumor-specific antitumor immunity. Immune cell depletion studies indicated that both the innate and adaptive arms of immunity were required for maximal Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-mIL12 activity. The results demonstrate that the addition of IL-12 significantly improves the efficacy of oncolytic adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy and provide the scientific basis for future trials targeting locally aggressive cancers.
Thiophene-Fused Tropones as Chemical Warfare Agent-Responsive Building Blocks

We report the synthesis of dithienobenzotropone-based conjugated alternating copolymers by direct arylation polycondensation. Postpolymerization modification by hydride reduction yields cross-conjugated, reactive hydroxyl-containing copolymers that undergo phosphorylation and ionization upon exposure to the chemical warfare agent mimic diethylchlorophosphate (DCP). The resulting conjugated, cationic copolymer is highly colored and facilitates the spectroscopic and colorimetric detection of DCP in both solution and thin-film measurements.
Delay model for static CMOS complex gates

This paper presents a novel approach for delay modeling of CMOS complex gates, containing series and parallel transistor arrangements. The model uses a charge based approach instead of evaluating voltages as function of time. The impact of input transition time, input-to-output coupling capacitance and short-channel effects, such as drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) and velocity saturation, are taken into account. The only empirical parameters are those required to calibrate the transistor model. Analytical results are in good agreement with HSPICE simulation data, based on BSIM4 transistor model, over a wide range of input slopes and output loads. Additionally, model accuracy has been improved when compared to previous related work.
Development of Social Behavior in the Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

Zusammenfassung An einer halbwilden Herde des Damhirsches (Dama dama) wurde 19 Monate lang das Sozialverhalten, vor allem die Bedeutung fruhontogenetischer Erfahrungen fur die Entwicklung des arttypischen Verhaltens untersucht. Zahlreiche optische, akustische und Beruhrungs-Reize dienen der Warnung, der Rangordnung oder der Verstandigung zwischen Geschlechtspartnern oder Eltern und Kindern. Isoliert aufgezogene Jungtiere reagierten in typischen Situationen mit den gleichen Signalen wie in der Herde aufgewachsene und beantworteten, in die Herde gebracht, die arttypischen Signale der anderen richtig. Allerdings wurden diese Tiere von der Herde nicht aufgenommen und standen noch nach 3 Jahren abseits. Die isolierte Aufzucht beeintrachtigt also das Sozialleben stark, indem es die Bindung an Artgenossen verhindert. Diese Bindung ist aber wohl notig, wo bestimmte Verhaltenselemente von Artgenossen gelernt werden mussen.
Energy Conservation for Image Retrieval on Mobile Systems

Mobile systems such as PDAs and cell phones play an increasing role in handling visual contents such as images. Thousands of images can be stored in a mobile system with the advances in storage technology: this creates the need for better organization and retrieval of these images. Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) is a method to retrieve images based on their visual contents. In CBIR, images are compared by matching their numerical representations called features; CBIR is computation and memory intensive and consumes significant amounts of energy. This article examines energy conservation for CBIR on mobile systems. We present three improvements to save energy while performing the computation on the mobile system: selective loading, adaptive loading, and caching features in memory. Using these improvements adaptively reduces the features to be loaded into memory for each search. The reduction is achieved by estimating the difficulty of the search. If the images in the collection are dissimilar, fewer features are sufficient; less computation is performed and energy can be saved. We also consider the effect of consecutive user queries and show how features can be cached in memory to save energy. We implement a CBIR algorithm on an HP iPAQ hw6945 and show that these improvements can save energy and allow CBIR to scale up to 50,000 images on a mobile system. We further investigate if energy can be saved by migrating parts of the computation to a server, called computation offloading. We analyze the impact of the wireless bandwidth, server speed, number of indexed images, and the number of image queries on the energy consumption. Using our scheme, CBIR can be made energy efficient under all conditions.
A Massively Parallel Algorithm for Fault Simulation on the Connection Machine

A massively parallel algorithm for fault simulation on the Connection Machine is presented. This algorithm achieves two to three orders of magnitude speedup over the one presented in [1]. The fault simulation methodology used here is a combination of parallel fault simulation [2] and PPSFP [3]. Simulation rates of over 2.7 billion gate evaluations per second have been achieved.
Historical Detection of Atmospheric Impacts by Large Bolides Using Acoustic-Gravity Wavesa

: During the period from about 1960 to the early 1980's a number of large bolides (meteor-fireballs) entered the atmosphere which were sufficiently large to generate blast waves during their drag interaction with the air. For example, the remnant of the blast wave from a single kiloton class event was subsequently detected by up to six ground arrays of microbarographs which were operated by the U.S. Air Force during this presatellite period. Data have also been obtained from other sources during this period as well and are also discussed in this summary of the historical data. The Air Force data have been analyzed in terms of their observable properties in order to infer the influx rate of NEOs (near-Earth objects) in the energy range from 0.2 to 1100 kt. The determined influx is in reasonable agreement with that determined by other methods currently available such as Rabinowitz [21], Ceplecha[4], [5] and by Chapman and Morrison [8] despite the fact that due to sampling deficiencies only a portion of the “true” flux of large bodies has been obtained by this method, i.e., only sources at relatively low elevations have been detected. Thus the weak, fragile cometary bodies which do not penetrate the atmosphere as deeply are less likely to have been sampled by this type of detection system. Future work using the proposed CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) global scale infrasonic network will be likely to improve upon this early estimate of the global influx of NEOs considerably.
New optical means for cosmetizing the unilaterally deformed eye socket

Three new optical methods - two developed and one, proposed; all patented in the United States by the author/inventor - for cosmetizing the unilaterally deformed eye socket are presented. The first, called the ‘columnar lens’, applies Snell's law of optics wherein objects appear to be forwardly displaced when the image thereof passes from a more dense (high index of refraction glass) transparent medium into a less dense one (air). This is used for enophthalmic states. The second, called the ‘progressive polyprism’, imparts greater motility to a prosthetic eye than is actually taking place. It utilizes serial and circumferentially arranged prisms in a paste-on Fresnel-type disposable lens so that the observer of the patient sees exaggerated movements in all directions. The third, the ‘normal eye imaging device’, consists of eyeglasses in which the normal, retained eye is seen both directly and again on the opposite side, so that the observer sees the ‘good’ eye twice over, in fully normal coloration and mo...
In vitro production of rabbit macrophage tumor cell cytotoxin

Rabbit pulmonary lavage cells, consisting mostly of macrophages (90-95%), cultured in the presence of LPS, secreted tumor cell cytotoxin that was similar to tumor necrosis serum cytotoxin. A similar cytotoxin was produced by phorbol-ester-pretreated rabbit bone marrow cells and by blood mononuclear cells when cultured in the presence of LPS. All cytotoxins had molecular weights of approximately 48,000 daltons by gel filtration and eluted from DEAE-Sephadex between 0.28 and 0.32 M NaCl. All were stable to 56 degrees C for 60 min, but labile to 70 degrees C for 20 min. B16C3 melanoma cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts were resistant to the cytotoxins. By 3 h in culture, all effector cells secreted detectable cytotoxin levels. Kinetics of cytotoxin production differed for effector cells derived from the different tissues. No additional cytotoxin production could be demonstrated after 30 h in pulmonary lavage or bone marrow cell cultures, despite a change to fresh medium with LPS. Actinomycin D (I microgram/ml) added with LPS inhibited cytotoxin production (greater than 95%) by pulmonary lavage cells. Delaying addition of actinomycin D after LPS treatment demonstrated that messenger RNA production for cytotoxin was completed by 2 to 6 h.
Repair of Radiation Damage in Mammalian Cells

The responses, such as survival, mutation and carcinogenesis, of mammalian cells and tissues to radiation are dependent not only on the magnitude of the damage to macromolecular structures — DNA, RNA, protein and membranes — but on the rates of macromolecular syntheses of cells relative to the half-lives of the damages. Cells possess a number of mechanisms for repairing damage to DNA. If the repair systems are rapid and error free, cells can tolerate much larger doses than if repair is slow or error prone. The general subject of repair of DNA damage has been reviewed extensively [1–4].
Digital Tools for Bringing Evolution to Everyone

Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) programs, conceived of in the terms elaborated by David Sloan Wilson in his book Evolution for Everyone, are intrinsically interdisciplinary. They are also intended to bring individuals and organizations outside the university teaching and research environment together with academe. Internet technologies in use at present are designed for the purpose of promoting such collaboration and community building. This paper explains several such technologies, describing their best uses and the differences between them, in the context of a project management framework.
Community Support for Constructionist Learning

MOOSE Crossing is a text-based virtual reality environment (or “MUD”) designed to be a constructionist learning environment for children ages eight to thirteen. The constructionist philosophy of education argues that learning through designing and constructing personally meaningful projects is better than learning by being told. Children on MOOSE Crossing learn computer programming and improve their reading and writing by working on self-selected projects in a self-motivated, peer-supported fashion. In experience with over 180 children and 90 adults using the system since October 1995, we have found that the community provides essential support for the children‘s learning experiences. The community provides role models; situated, ubiquitous project models; emotional support to overcome technophobia; technical support; and an appreciative audience for completed work. This paper examines the nature of that support in detail, and argues that community support for learning is an essential element in collaborative work and learning on the Internet.
In vivo delivery of caspase-8 or Fas siRNA improves the survival of septic mice

Although studies have shown increased evidence of death receptor-driven apoptosis in intestinal lymphoid cells, splenocytes, and the liver following the onset of polymicrobial sepsis, little is known about the mediators controlling this process or their pathologic contribution. We therefore attempted to test the hypothesis that the hydrodynamic administration of small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the death receptor, Fas or caspase-8, should attenuate the onset of morbidity and mortality seen in sepsis, as produced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We initially show that in vivo administration of green fluorescent protein (GFP) siRNA in GFP transgenic mice results in a decrease in GFP fluorescence in most tissues. Subsequently, we also found that treating septic nontransgenic mice with siRNA targeting Fas or caspase-8 but not GFP (used as a control here) decreased the mRNA, in a sustained fashion up to 10 days, and protein expression of Fas and caspase-8, respectively. In addition, transferase-mediated dUTP (deoxyuridine triphosphate) nick end labeling (TUNEL) and active caspase-3 analyses revealed a decrease in apoptosis in the liver and spleen but not the thymus following siRNA treatment. Indices of liver damage were also decreased. Finally, the injection of Fas or caspase-8 given not only 30 minutes but up to 12 hours after CLP significantly improved the survival of septic mice.
Reducing Risk During Endoscopy in Patients with Implanted Electronic Devices

The implantation of electronic devices to monitor and alter cardiac or neurologic function or to deliver pharmaceuticals is becoming commonplace. Gastrointestinal endoscopists should be attentive to the presence of implanted electronic devices and aware of the basic means for limiting risk during the use of electrocautery in patients who have such devices in place. The risk is relatively limited in most patients, and precautions for reducing risk are easily employed. Generic and specific recommendations are discussed pertinent to use of electrocautery in patients with cardiac and neurologic devices. Selected pacemaker-dependent patients with implanted intracardiac defibrillators and those with implanted deep brain stimulators or gastric pacing devices warrant specific specialty comment before endoscopy. Additional data are needed regarding the general safety of endoscopic electrocautery and the recommended precautions in these patients.
Catalytic steam reforming of bio-oils for the production of hydrogen: effects of catalyst composition

Abstract Catalytic steam reforming of condensable vapors (i.e. bio-oils) derived from pyrolysis of biomass is a technically viable process for hydrogen production. In this study the aqueous fraction of bio-oil, generated from fast pyrolysis, was catalytically steam reformed at 825 and 875°C, high space velocity (up to 126,000 h−1) and low residence time (26 ms). Using a fixed-bed micro-reactor interfaced with a molecular beam mass spectrometer (MBMS), a variety of research and commercial nickel-based catalysts were tested. The catalysts were prepared by impregnation of an α-Al2O3 support with nickel and additives. Since the main constraint in reforming bio-oils is catalyst deactivation caused by carbon deposition, two strategies were applied to improve the performance of the catalysts. The first approach aimed at enhancing steam adsorption to facilitate the partial oxidation, i.e. gasification of coke precursors. The second one attempted to slow down the surface reactions leading to the formation of the coke precursors due to cracking, deoxygenation, and dehydration of adsorbed intermediates. Magnesium and lanthanum were used as support modifiers to enhance steam adsorption while cobalt and chromium additives were applied to reduce coke formation reactions. The cobalt-promoted nickel and chromium-promoted nickel supported on MgO-La2O3-α-Al2O3 catalysts showed the best results in the laboratory tests. At the reaction conditions progressive catalyst deactivation was observed leading to a decrease in the yields of hydrogen and carbon dioxide and an increase in carbon monoxide. The loss of activity also resulted in the formation of higher amounts of methane, benzene and other aromatic compounds. Commercial catalysts that were developed for steam reforming of natural gas and crude oil fractions proved to be more efficient for hydrogen production from bio-oil than most of the research catalysts mainly due to the higher water–gas shift activity.
The synthesis, characterization, evaluation, and processing of selected cyclo‐olefin sulfone copolymers as electron beam resists

The potential usefulness of electron beam sensitive polymers depends to a large extent on a variety of polymer characteristics such as solubility, sensitivity, and processability which are, in turn, required by the application. This paper details results obtained for methylcyclopentene sulfone copolymers as electron beam recording media. The determination of physical properties and the optimization of processing conditions are reported.
Renal Cell Cancer Treated with a Single-Edged Sword

Preclinical and early clinical data suggest that antiangiogenic treatments may lead to more aggressive tumors. In this issue of Cell Reports, Blagoev et al. (2013) show that sunitinib, a multikinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic effects, does not worsen the survival of patients with metastatic kidney cancer.