cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Central Nervous System

This chapter will discuss malignant glioma, low-grade glioma, brainstem glioma, optic glioma, CNS lymphoma, ependymoma, choroid plexus tumor, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, craniopharyngioma, pituitary tumor, pineal tumor, medulloblastoma, primary spinal cord tumor, arteriovenous malformation, and trigeminal neuralgia. Brain metastases will be discussed in the palliative care chapter.
A synthetic approach to compare the large truck crash causation study and naturalistic driving data.

Abstract Truck crashes represent a significant problem on our nation’s highways. There is a great opportunity to learn about crash causation by analyzing and comparing the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) and naturalistic driving (ND) data. These data sets provide in-depth information, but have contrasting strengths and weaknesses. The LTCCS contains information on high-severity crashes (crashes and fatal crashes), but relied on data collected during crash investigations. The LTCCS identified principal driver errors in the crash, such as the Critical Reason, but not detailed behaviors or scenario sequences. The ND data sets relate primarily to non-crashes that are detectable from dynamic vehicle events, such as hard braking, swerve, etc. , provide direct video observations of the driver and the surrounding driving scene and precise information on driver inputs (kinematics) and captured events, and provide certain types of exposure data that cannot easily be obtained using crash reconstruction data. The ND data are collected continuously, thereby capturing both safety-critical events and normative driving ( i.e. , baseline). The current project evaluated large-truck crash data from the LTCCS and two large-truck ND data sets, the Naturalistic Truck Driving Study and the Drowsy Driver Warning System Field Operational Test. A synthetic risk ratio analysis on the associated factor, Following Too Closely, indicated that truck drivers in the LTCCS were 1.34 times more likely to be involved in a crash, than an ND crash-relevant conflict, if they were following too closely ( i.e. , tailgating). Given several caveats noted in the paper, this study suggests it’s possible to use the ND data set to calculate the exposure of a given behavior and use the LTCCS data set to calculate the crash exposure to the same behavior.
Novel ACE2-Fc chimeric fusion provides long-lasting hypertension control and organ protection in mouse models of systemic renin angiotensin system activation

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a carboxypeptidase that potently degrades angiotensin II to angiotensin 1-7. Previous studies showed that injection of the enzymatic ectodomain of recombinant ACE2 (rACE2) markedly increases circulatory levels of ACE2 activity, and effectively lowered blood pressure in angiotensin II-induced hypertension. However, due to the short plasma half-life of rACE2, its therapeutic potential for chronic use is limited. To circumvent this, we generated a chimeric fusion of rACE2 and the immunoglobulin fragment Fc segment to increase its plasma stability. This rACE2-Fc fusion protein retained full peptidase activity and exhibited greatly extended plasma half-life in mice, from less than two hours of the original rACE2, to over a week. A single 2.5 mg/kg injection of rACE2-Fc increased the overall angiotensin II-conversion activities in blood by up to 100-fold and enhanced blood pressure recovery from acute angiotensin II induced hypertension seven days after administration. To assess rACE2-Fc given weekly on cardiac protection, we performed studies in mice continuously infused with angiotensin II for 28 days and in a Renin transgenic mouse model of hypertension. The angiotensin II infused mice achieved sustained blood pressure control and reduced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. In chronic hypertensive transgenic mice, weekly injections of rACE2-Fc effectively lowered plasma angiotensin II and blood pressure. Additionally, rACE2-Fc ameliorated albuminuria, and reduced kidney and cardiac fibrosis. Thus, our chimeric fusion strategy for rACE2-Fc is suitable for future development of new renin angiotensin system-based inhibition therapies.
Learning Disjunctions of Features

Littlestone's WINNOW algorithm for learning disjunctions of Boolean attributes where most attributes are irrelevant is one of the most fundamental results in learning theory. Because of the importance of WINNOW, it is natural to try extending WINNOW to learn disjunctions of features (i.e., concepts). In doing so, we may generalize some earlier applications of WINNow. In this paper, we extend WiNNow to learn k-disjunctions of indicator-feature pairs where each pair is a conjunction of a Boolean attribute and a feature (concept) from a certain type of feature (concept) class. (When all the Boolean attributes are always set to 1, then the concept class is the class of disjunctions of features.)
Design for Hardware Trust: Layout-Aware Scan Cell Reordering

Side-channel signal analysis techniques based on transient power have proven highly effective in extracting information about the internal operations of a circuit [1, 2]. In power-based side-channel signal analysis, it is possible to extract a Trojan signal by monitoring power pads/ports, even in the presence of various types of noise including measurement noise, ambient noise, and other random signal variations that manifest during the circuit operation [5].
Dirac plasmons and beyond: the past, present, and future of plasmonics in 3D topological insulators

We review progress studying unique plasmonics in topological insulators (TIs). First, we describe exfoliation and deposition synthesis approaches. TI materials have substantially improved: it is now possible to grow samples with few trivial electrons and controllable doping. We then describe the theory behind the unique behavior of the coupled, 2D Dirac plasmons. While reviewing experimental efforts, we note that Dirac plasmons have been conclusively demonstrated in TIs and they show remarkable properties including long lifetimes, large mode indices, and huge modulation depths. Finally, we describe the opportunities that are present now that high-quality materials can be obtained, including spin and nanoparticle plasmons.
Systematic identification of drag coefficients for a heaving wave follower

Abstract This paper describes the implementation of an extended Kalman filter for point absorbing wave energy converter models. The extended Kalman filter was used to observe the dynamic states and estimate the viscous drag coefficient of a heaving float in irregular waves. Numerical data was generated to recreate the conditions of a wave tank test performed on a 1:10 scale wave energy conversion system. Three lumped parameter models were evaluated for use in the extended Kalman filter. A modification to the extended Kalman filter to ensure stability of the state space realization of the radiation is discussed. A systematic estimate of the process noise covariance based on the steady state response of the heaving object and the incident wave was implemented. The drag identification and state observation capabilities are shown to be effective with limited sampled data and imperfect estimations of the process noise covariance. Some simplified models are shown to be effective if only state identification is needed, but a detailed model is needed for parameter identification. With the use of a sufficiently detailed model the extended Kalman filter is shown to be able to identify a time varying drag coefficient of a semi-submerged floating object.
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Beyond BCR-ABL1

In this review, we emphasize up-to-date practical cytogenetic and molecular aspects of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and summarize current knowledge on tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance and treatment response monitoring of CML. The introduction of TKIs has changed the natural course of CML and markedly improved patient survival. Over the past decades, many research efforts were devoted to elucidating the leukemogenic mechanisms of BCR-ABL1 and developing novel TKIs. More recent studies have attempted to answer new questions that have emerged in the TKI era, such as the cytogenetic and molecular bases of treatment failure and disease progression, the clinical impact of genetic aberrations in Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive and Ph-negative cells, and the biological significance of Ph secondarily acquired during therapy of other hematological neoplasms. Recent progresses in the understanding of the cytogenetic and molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic failure and disease progression have improved the risk stratification of CML and will be helpful in the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
Elaborating Complex Heteroaryl‐Containing Cycles via Enantioselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Cycloadditions

A general method for asymmetric synthesis of heteroaryl-containing cycles via palladium-catalyzed cyclization is reported. Most classes of nitrogen-containing aromatics, including pyridines, quinolines, pyrimidines, various azoles and the derivatives of nucleobases are compatible substrates, offering various heteroaryl-substituted cyclopentane, pyrrolidine, furanidine and bicyclo[4.3.1]decadiene derivatives with good to excellent enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity.
Migrant and refugee mobilisation in North African host states: Egypt and Morocco in comparison

ABSTRACTScholarly work on migration to Europe and North America asserts that states adopt liberal migration policies when migrants are able to mobilise and when they are assisted by state and non-s...
“I Kicked Those Babies Off and Put the Typical Lesbian Birkenstocks on:” Authentic Style-Fashion-Dress Negotiations of Lesbian Married Couples on Their Wedding Day

We explored how lesbian married couples negotiated their style-fashion-dress on their wedding days, conducting in-depth interviews with 10 lesbian married couples. Our work was guided by theory exploring authenticity as related to self-expression through appearance. We analyzed our data using an abbreviated version of the constructionist grounded theory approach. Four themes emerged, including (1) ambivalence, re-negotiations, and labor surrounding the identity or concept of “bride” or what it means to be a bride; (2) gender expressions and experiences as central to the negotiation and construction of style-fashion-dress for the wedding day; (3) representations of the authentic self in wedding day style-fashion-dress; and (4) heteronormative experiences. The gender and other symbolic negotiations in the couples’ style-fashion-dress led to an authentic expression of self, resulting in feelings of empowerment for these couples on their wedding days, despite the fact that their style-fashion-dress sometimes prompted feelings of ambivalence, labor, re-negotiations and/or heteronormative experiences.
Effect of consonants on onset F0: Evidence from Kansai Japanese

This study investigates the effect of voicing on onset F0 in Kansai Japanese. In tone languages, the effect of initial consonants on F0 tends to be smaller and shorter, hypothetically to maximize the tonal contrast preserved for lexical items. A recent study (Gao and Arai, 2019) found that despite Tokyo Japanese being a pitch-accent language, the consonant effect on F0 was not necessarily inhibited. However, this might be due to decreased laryngeal control in Tokyo Japanese because of its simple tonal contrast. Since the pitch accent system of Kansai Japanese is more complex than that of Tokyo Japanese, Kansai Japanese should show less F0 perturbation. In the experiment, five native speakers (4 females, 1 male) produced the target words /CVma/ (C: /n, b, p/, V: /i, a/) in different pitch accent types (HH, HL, LH) and focus conditions (broad, narrow, contrast focus). My data show that overall, F0 following /p/ is significantly higher. The more complex pitch-accent system did not lessen the F0 perturbation. Consistent across focus, the effect is slightly larger in words with a high pitch accent and in the high vowel /i/ context. This may be due to the congruence in laryngeal settings for high F0 production.
Delivering clinical trials at home: protocol, design and implementation of a direct-to-family paediatric lupus trial.

INTRODUCTION: Direct-to-family clinical trials efficiently provide data while reducing the participation burden for children and their families. Although these trials can offer significant advantages over traditional clinical trials, the process of designing and implementing direct-to-family studies is poorly defined, especially in children with rheumatic disease. This paper provides lessons learnt from the design and implementation of a self-controlled, direct-to-family pilot trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a medication management device on adherence to hydroxychloroquine in paediatric SLE. METHODS: Several design features accommodate a direct-to-family approach. Participants meeting eligibility criteria from across the USA were identified a priori through a disease registry, and all outcome data are collected remotely. The primary outcome (medication adherence) is evaluated using electronic medication event-monitoring, plasma drug levels, patient questionnaires and pill counts. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include (1) lupus disease activity measured by a remote SLE Disease Activity Index examination and the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire; and (2) hydroxychloroquine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Recruitment of the initial target of 20 participants was achieved within 10 days. Due to initial recruitment success, enrolment was increased to 26 participants. Additional participants who were interested were placed on a waiting list in case of dropouts during the study. DISCUSSION AND DISSEMINATION: Direct-to-family trials offer several advantages but present unique challenges. Lessons learnt from the protocol development, design, and implementation of this trial will inform future direct-to-family trials for children and adults with rheumatic diseases. Additionally, the data collected remotely in this trial will provide critical information regarding the accuracy of teleresearch in lupus, the impact of adherence to hydroxychloroquine on disease activity and a pharmacokinetic analysis to inform paediatric-specific dosing of hydroxychloroquine. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04358302).
Chronic lung allograft dysfunction

Lung transplantation remains the only cure for selected patients with advanced irreversible lung diseases. More than 4000 lung transplants are performed worldwide annually. In the last two decades, significant advances have been made in this arena, the most impactful being a modest but improved survival of the recipients. Unfortunately majority of recipients still succumb to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), and it remains the most common cause of death after the first year of transplantation. Below is a concise review of the current definition of CLAD, including the various phenotypes, and a brief discussion of the tools available for its diagnosis and management.
Using genetic information while protecting the privacy of the soul

Computing plays an important role in genetics (and vice versa). Theoretically, computing provides a conceptual model for the function and malfunction of our genetic machinery. Practically, contemporary computers and robots equipped with advanced algorithms make the revelation of the complete human genome imminent – computers are about to reveal our genetic souls for the first time. Ethically, computers help protect privacy by restricting access in sophisticated ways to genetic information. But the inexorable fact that computers will increasingly collect, analyze, and disseminate abundant amounts of genetic information made available through the genetic revolution, not to mention that inexpensive computing devices will make genetic information gathering easier, underscores the need for strong and immediate privacy legislation.
Sexual Dysfunction, Female

Population surveys highlight the fact that female sexual disorders are highly prevalent. The 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey, conducted with a probability sample of the U.S. population between the ages of 18 and 59 years, found that 43% of women had significant sexual complaints lasting several months in the preceding year. The most common concern was lack of sexual interest (reported by 33% of women), followed by difficulty reaching orgasm (24%) and problems with lubrication (19%). Keywords: female sexual dysfunction; hypoactive sexual desire disorder; female arousal problems; sexual pain
The effects of maternal hyperthermia on maternal and fetal cardiovascular and respiratory function.

Abstract The fetus, by virtue of its location, is faced with a problem of heat elimination. Sixteen acute pregnant ewe preparations were studied. Thermistors were inserted in the maternal abdominal aorta and the umbilical artery and vein. Electromagnetic flowmeters were applied to the umbilical and uterine arteries. Maternal hyperthermia was induced by radiant heat. The fetus maintained a temperature difference to the mother during the hyperthermia. The fetal-maternal difference decreased with increasing maternal temperature. With a 1.5° C. to 2.0° C. rise in maternal temperature there was an increase in umbilical blood flow (36 per cent) and a decrease in umbilical vascular resistance (40 per cent). The fetal arteriovenous temperature and O 2 content difference decreased. Maternal arterial pressure did not change but respiratory rate, cardiac output, and rate of uterine blood flow increased. Maternal systemic vascular resistance decreased (20 per cent). At a maternal 2.0° C. temperature rise, maternal cardiovascular collapse occurred. At this point fetal-maternal temperature difference increased markedly. The umbilical circulation is not only a carrier of O 2 and nutrients but is a major pathway for fetal heat exchange. The ability of the fetus to aliminate heat is another reflection of the adequacy of the uteroplacental circulation.
Digital Image Correlation in Experimental Mechanics for Aerospace Materials and Structures

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a non-contact optical method used to measure full-field surface deformations. The technique is a fast, robust, highly scalable and accurate method for determining both the surface profile of a three-dimensional object and the displacements (Lagrangian strains) on the surface of the object. From its inception in the early 1980s, the capabilities of computer-based digital image correlation have grown tremendously. Since that time, it has proven to be an indispensable tool in the experimental characterization of structures and materials over a wide range of length and time scales. This chapter discusses the fundamental principles underlying the technique and its application in the experimental characterization of aerospace materials and structures. Keywords: digital image correlation; DIC; optical strain; full-field strain; deformation measurements; digital methods; experimental mechanics
Successful Resection After Neoadjuvant Therapy in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

A 59-year-old woman presented with borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving the neck and body of the pancreas. She was treated with systemic chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation, with subsequent downstaging of the tumor by imaging. Subsequent resection had negative margins and negative lymph nodes with only microscopic disease present in the tumor specimen. Neoadjuvant therapy is controversial but could play a role in borderline resectable disease by allowing for higher chance of negative margins at surgery and increasing the chance for cure in these patients. Microscopic disease at time of resection is rare.
Cytoplasmic substitution in Solanum. II: Tuber characteristics of reciprocal backcross progeny

Recurrent backcrosses (BC) were used to introduce nuclear factors ofS. tuberosum L. ssp.tuberosum into the cytoplasm of Andean potatoesS. tuberosum ssp.andigena (Juz. and Buk.) Hawkes andS. phureja Juz. and Buk. Each generation BC was produced in reciprocal directions to test the effect of cytoplasmic substitution on yield. This report analyses tuber number, tuber weight, and tuber length of BC2 and BC3 substitution into ssp.andigena cytoplasm and BC2 and BC2 substitutions intoS. phureja cytoplasm. Direction of cross had no consistent significant effect on yield components of ssp.andigena substitution lines. InS. phureja reciprocal progenies direction of cross was responsible for significant differences of some reciprocal sets. When there were significant differences the higher yield usually occurred when ssp.tuberosum was the pistillate parent, but in some progenies when ssp.tuberosum was the pistillate parent the yield was significantly lower than in the reciprocals. It is suggested that differences between reciprocals resulted from chromosomally encoded gene action, resulting from maternal and/or paternal effects, rather than cytoplasmic factors.
Electrodeposition and characterization of nano-crystalline antimony telluride thin films

Abstract Electrodeposition is a promising low-cost method to fabricate nanostructured thermoelectric thin films such as Sb 2 Te 3 . However, electrodeposition of crystalline Sb 2 Te 3 without the need for additional processing and with good compositional control has presented a challenge. Here we report on the electrodeposition of crystalline Sb 2 Te 3 thin films at room temperature from a tartaric–nitric acid electrolyte using a pulsed, potentiostatic process. The effects of synthesis conditions on the resulting microstructure and compositional homogeneity are investigated using x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The composition of the Sb–Te films was found to be dependent on the interval between pulses, a result that is likely due to the slow kinetics associated with Sb 2 Te 3 formation at the surface. We also observed a change in texture and microstructure with varied applied pulse duration: for short pulse durations a lamellar microstructure with a {000l} texture forms, whereas for longer pulse durations a more equiaxed and randomly oriented microstructure forms. The thermal conductivities of the pulsed electrodeposited films are surprisingly low at less than 2 W/K·m and are found to systematically decrease with reduced pulse time.
Clinical and serological follow-up studies of endemic pemphigus foliaceus (fogo selvagem) in Western Parana, Brazil (2001-2002).

Summary Background Fogo selvagem (FS) has been described in several regions of Brazil, including the Western regions of the state of Parana. In 1990, Empinotti et al. reported case studies of 213 patients with FS that were collected from 1976 to 1988. The same author (J.C.E.) has observed that the frequency of cases in these regions of Parana has decreased. Objectives The purpose of this study was to clinically and serologically evaluate a small group of the patients originally reported in 1990 and compare data with a group of control individuals. These patients were treated at the onset of the disease with systemic steroids. Patients and methods Patients with FS, their unaffected relatives (n = 80) and genetically unrelated controls (n = 15) were identified during a field study from 1 May 2001 to 30 June 2002. Sera from nine patients with FS and six normal controls that were collected in the 1976–1988 evaluation were available for this study. The sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoprecipitation using recombinant human desmoglein 1 (Dsg1). Results Only 16 of the originally identified 213 patients with FS were found during the field studies. Thirteen of the 16 patients were in clinical and serological remission; 20% of normal controls (19 of 95) were positive in the Dsg1 ELISA. The majority of these subjects (17 of 19) were genetically related to FS patients. Six normal controls that were positive in the Dsg1 ELISA in the original survey were found to be negative or weakly positive in this evaluation. Conclusion The reduced frequency of positive serological markers of disease in patients and normal controls from Western Parana, as well as the absence of recurrent disease in previously identified patients, suggest that environmental antigenic stimulation of the population at risk may have decreased in recent years.
Escalation of commitment in professional tax preparers.

Previous research has shown that decision makers tend to lock into a chosen course of action and continue this decision process even under changing conditions, suggesting alternative courses of act...
Synthesis and structural characterization of copper-alumina composites prepared by high rate physical vapor deposition

Abstract The program involved the synthesis of alumina-dispersed copper prepared by high rate physical vapor deposition. Dual-source electron beam heating was employed to evaporate OFHC copper and high purity alumina. The vapors intermixed and then condensed on a stationary preheated substrate to produce thick films. Fully dense deposits (up to 0.2 cm thick) with a very fine distribution of the oxide phase (particle size less than 40 A) were obtained at a maximum deposition rate of about 4000 A s−1. Glass and metallic substrates were used over a range of surface roughnesses. The substrate temperature and the evaporation rates for the two sources were varied. The microstructure and surface topography were characterized by metallography, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Crystallographic texture was studied by X-ray diffraction. Compositions were determined by the electron microprobe, spectography and mass spectrometric gas analysis. Very encouraging results were obtained, and this process is clearly a rival to the conventional powder metallurgy process. The structure was extremely refined. In general, the morphology agreed with the Movchan-Demchishin model. The surface topography gave evidence of interesting nucleation and growth phenomena influenced by varying amounts of alumina. Excellent transmission electron micrographs showed the fine-grained (grain size about 1 μm) matrix and the particle distribution even for deposits with very low amounts (0.1 vol.%) of alumina. The texture revealed intriguing results.
The distribution of ω-conotoxin MVIICnle-binding sites in rat brain measured by autoradiography

Abstract An analogue of ω-conotoxin MVIIC,[ 125 I]ω-MVIIC nle , has been employed in an autoradiographic assay to define the distribution of binding sites in rat brain of this neuronal calcium channel antagonist. In comparison with N-type channels (labeled by [ 125 I]ω-conotoxin GVIA), ω-MVIIC nle sites are much denser in cerebellum (molecular layer) than in forebrain. Binding in thalamus is also comparatively high for ω-MVIIC nle . Under these conditions, [ 125I ]ω-MVIIC nle binding to rat brain sections is not displaceable by the N-channel antagonist, ω-conotoxin GVIA. The calcium channel blocker [ 125 I]ω-conotoxin MVIIC nle labels a unique set of binding sites in mammalian brain.
Nitric oxide and related enzymes in asthma: relation to severity, enzyme function and inflammation

Background Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) associates with asthma and eosinophilic inflammation. However, relationships between nitric oxide synthases, arginase, FeNO, asthma severity and inflammation remain poorly understood.
Disinhibition, Apathy, Indifference, Fatigability, Complaining, and Negativism

A wide range of neuropsychiatric disturbances, which include noncognitive behavioral problems and mood changes, can accompany the unrelenting cognitive deterioration seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Aggression, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, or depression occur in more than 50% of patients with Alzheimer's disease, both those living in the community and those cared for in nursing homes. Disinhibition, apathy, indifference, fatigability, complaining, and negativism, as well as incontinence, changes in appetite, and sexual disturbances, also occur in patients with dementia.
System effectiveness of knowledge-based technology: the relationship of user performance and attitudinal measures

User satisfaction surveys are frequently used as surrogate measures of system effectiveness in spite of uncertainty whether user perceptions adequately measure system effectiveness. Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence whether effective system use is the cause, or the consequence, of user satisfaction. This study examines the relationship of effectiveness measures in the use of advisory knowledge-based applications. Two objective performance measures and three subjective attitudinal constructs are recorded as users engage in problem solving tasks supported under several interface software conditions. The objectives of the study are to rest and validate an attitudinal instrument relevant to system effectiveness, and to determine the relationships of the objective and subjective measures within the context of a general user acceptance model. >
Field-activated combustion synthesis in the Nb-Si system

Abstract The activation of self-propagating combustion reactions in the Nb-Si system was investigated using an electric field. Self-sustaining combustion in elemental reactants with compositions corresponding to Nb 5 Si 3 can be initiated only when the imposed field is above a threshold value of 7.4 V cm −1 . The mode of wave propogation and the nature of the product depended on the magnitude of the field. Under steady-state wave propagation, the product contained the high temperature (β) and low temperature (α) modifications of Nb 5 Si 3 . The relative concentration of these phases showed a dependence on the applied field and on the relative density of the reactant compacts. The effect of Nb particle size on the synthesis of Nb 5 Si 3 was investigated and the feasibility of the synthesis of Nb/silicide composites was demonstrated.
Shape of a worn slider

Abstract A slider can be expected to wear in due time to a shape that gives a uniform contact pressure and consequently uniform friction stress. Computation of the worn shape is discussed using the theory of elasticity. The results show that the trailing edge may be worn down more than the leading edge. The worn shape at a sharp corner may be either convex or concave depending on the elastic constants, the friction coefficient and the corner angle.
Differential regulation of PDE5 expression in left and right ventricles of feline hypertrophy models.

Background Though long known to affect smooth muscle biology, recent studies indicate that phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) is also expressed in myocardium. Recognizing that the regulation of PDE5 in hypertrophy is not well understood, we assessed the response of PDE5 expression and the level of cGMP-dependent kinase I (cGKI) in the left and right ventricles of feline hypertrophy models. Methodology/Principal Findings Using a cDNA library of feline aortic smooth muscle cells, we identified and cloned PDE5 cDNA for the first time in this species. The sequence shares 98% identity with its human orthologue at the amino acid level. E. coli expression of the cloned allele allowed selection of antibodies with appropriate specificity, facilitating the analysis of PDE5 expression in feline models created by selective proximal aortic (Ao) or pulmonary artery (PA) banding that resulted in hypertrophy of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV), respectively. We demonstrated that PDE5 expression responded differentially with a decreased expression in the LV and an increased expression in the RV in the Ao-banded model. Similarly, in the PA-banded model, LV showed reduced expression while the RV expression was unaltered. In addition, the expression of cGKI was significantly decreased in the RV of Ao-banded group, correlating inversely with the increase in PDE5 expression. Conclusions/Significance The differential regulation of PDE5 and cGKI expression suggests that the mechanisms involved in hypertrophy could be different in RV vs. LV. Reciprocal PDE5 and cGKI expression in the RV of Ao-banded model suggests functional significance for PDE5 up-regulation.
Soil enzyme response to vegetation disturbance in two lowland Costa Rican soils.

Abstract Conversion of forests to intensive agriculture often leads to degradation of weathered soils. The effects of two intensities of vegetation management on soil β-glucosidase (β-GLC) and phosphomonoesterase (PME) activities were studied on two river-terrace soils of differing fertility in Costa Rica. After approximately four years of annual harvest or continuous vegetation removal to bare soil, soil organic matter carbon (SOM-C), microbial biomass carbon (Mb-C), β-GLC and PME activity were reduced. Effects of continuous cropping to bare soil on Mb-C, β-GLC and PME were greater in the more weathered, acidic, Al-rich, P-limited upper-terrace soil than in the more neutral, base cation-rich lower-terrace soil. In contrast, more SOM-C was lost in the lower terrace. The annual harvest treatment produced intermediate decreases in SOM-C, Mb-C, β-GLC and PME on upper-terrace soils, intermediate reduction in lower terrace β-GLC, and no significant effect on lower terrace Mb-C or PME. β-GLC activity was the most sensitive indicator of treatment effect and may be a suitable alternative to Mb-C or SOM-C as a measure of change in soil health.
The amplitude of post-tetanic potentiation of the EPSP RC1-RC15 in aplysia is modulated by environmental parameters

Evidence is presented that the EPSP called RC1-R15, which is recorded from cell R15 of the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica upon appropriate stimulation of the right connective, is endogenously active. In previous studies we showed that after repetitive stimulation the amplitude of this EPSP increases and then slowly decays over many minutes, a phenomenon called post-tetanic potentiation (PTP). The rate of endogenous firing of this EPSP varies with time of day and tonicity of the animal's external environment. It is shown that this endogenous firing increases the magnitude of the PTP component of the amplitude of the EPSP. The degree of this potentiation varies with the endogenous firing rate. In general, daytime or a hypertonic external environment increases the firing rate of the EPSP and its degree of potentiation. Since the degree of this PTP reflects time of day and environmental tonicity, it is inferred that it conveys physiologically significant information to the postsynaptic cell R15.
Liquid and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Assisted Blending of Poly(vinyl acetate) and Citric Acid

The use of liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide was explored for the blending of poly(vinyl acetate) and citric acid as a basis for developing a new process for making chewing gum which would allow for flavorings to be released slower during chewing. Mixtures of 75% of polymer and 25% citric acid by mass were blended with carbon dioxide from 5 to 60 min over a temperature range of 25 to 55 °C and a pressure range of 83 to 241 bar in a batch process. Samples were then artificially chewed and citric acid dissolution monitored. Comparisons were made with samples prepared without carbon dioxide. In all cases, carbon dioxide blending produced polymers which retained the critic acid longer and hence produced more desirable products. With carbon dioxide, temperature had the largest effect on citric acid retention while pressure (or density) had only a modest effect. To make the flavoring be retained the longest in the polymer, the highest temperature and pressure (density) should be used with the longest blen...
Clinical data representation in multidimensional space

Abstract A number of measured and binary categorical variables were observed for several days in a group of patients hospitalized for suspected myocardial infarction: temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, P-R interval (electrocardiogram), white blood count, serum enzyme levels (LDH, SGOT, SGPT), along with the presence or absence of chest pain, abnormal rhythm, ventricular gallop, rales, cardiac arrest, external cardiac pacing, assisted respiration, and the administration of digitalis, diuretics, antiarrhythmic agents, and vasopressors. Volumes of data of this magnitude are often not comprehensible in graphical or numerical form. In order to aid in the compression and interpretation of the data, each patient on a given day was represented as a single point in a multidimensional space. Computed distances between points are measures of clinical dissimilarity. Trajectories in the space are indicative of the clinical course of the patient's illness. A computer program was used to connect points to their nearest neighbors so as to yield a “minimum coverage tree,” of which the connections, branches, etc., provide information concerning relationships between points. A two-dimensional graphical representation of the points was generated, locating the points by minimizing the sum of the squared differences between n-dimensional and two-dimensional squared distances. The presence of an important nonobserved variable may be signaled by a long series of minimum coverage connections between two apparent neighbors. These multidimensional spatial techniques offer promise of usefulness in a variety of other types of clinical research studies.
Families of Incarcerated Male Alcohol and Drug Offenders: A Multisystemic Study.

ABSTRACT There has been little empirical research regarding the needs of family members of incarcerated male alcohol and drug offenders. This study surveyed the perceptions of eighty-five family members using FACES II, Quality of Life, and Quality of Counseling Services instruments. Statistically significant results yielded a relationship between significant others with a low quality of life and an interest in counseling services. The findings from this exploratory study, coupled with previous research linking the needs of family members to the quality of interaction with the multiple systems in which they interact, substantiate the value of counseling interventions for significant others and other family members related to offenders.
Parental perspectives on adolescent hearing loss.

Importance: Data indicate that 1 in 6 adolescents has high-frequency hearing loss, which is typically noise related and preventable. Parental participation improves the success of adolescent behavioral interventions, yet little is known about parental perspectives regarding adolescent noise-induced hearing loss. Objective: To perform a survey to determine parental knowledge of adolescent hearing loss and willingness to promote hearing conservation to discern information that is critical to design adolescent hearing loss prevention programs.
Ablation of Driver Domains During Persistent Atrial Fibrillation A Call for More Understanding

In this issue of Circulation , readers will find a fascinating study presented by Dr Haissaguerre and several members of a promising and newly created institute for cardiovascular research located in Bordeaux, France, the LIRYC (L’institut de Rythmologie et de Modelisation Cardiaque [The Institute for Arrhythmia and Computer Modeling Research]).1 This is yet another pioneering contribution from the Bordeaux group that, if confirmed, may improve the management of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Article see p 530 AF is commonly classified as paroxysmal (PAF) or persistent (PsAF), depending on the duration of the arrhythmic episodes, 7 days.2 PsAF may also be subclassified as long-standing persistent (LPsAF) when fibrillation has been continuous for >1 year.2 In the late 1990s, Dr Haissaguerre and team’s seminal work indicated that, in patients with PAF, a catheter ablation procedure may be targeted at discrete pulmonary vein (PV) electric foci and that PV electric isolation from the remainder of the atrial muscle may prevent AF reinitiation.3,4 Although the exact nature of PV foci has never been fully elucidated, this procedure proved successful in terminating AF and in preventing its recurrence.5,6 Later, a consensus emerged to propose PV isolation to patients with PAF, alone or in combination with an antiarrhythmic drug therapy.2 Thereafter, many suggested that this procedure may also improve the outcome of patients with PsAF,7–9 with, however, the need for adjustments in the ablation strategy.8–11 Despite these efforts, the success rate of catheter ablation for patients with PsAF, let alone LPsAF, has remained substantially lower than that of PAF ablation.5,6 A nearly unanimous view is that ablation works well for PAF but that the procedure is more tedious and the outcome less predictable …
High heritability of fingertip arch patterns in twin-pairs

The presence of an arch pattern on at least one fingertip has previously been suggested as an autosomal dominant trait with reduced penetrance, although the examination of pedigrees with this trait segregating is also consistent with major gene or multifactorial inheritance. We utilized fingerprints in 2,484 twin-pairs to estimate heritability for the presence of at least one fingertip arch pattern. The frequency of arches in the entire sample was 4.3% (2,175/50,850), 5.5% in females and 3.2% in males. There were 267 twin-pairs concordant for the presence of an arch on any finger. Structural equation modeling was performed to contingency table data for five groups (MZ male, MZ female, DZ male, DZ female, and unlike-sexed DZ). The best fitting model, which allowed for the prevalence of arches to differ between males and females, had a heritability of 91%. There was some evidence for small dominant genetic effects in females and shared environmental effects in males, although both were not significant. With such high heritability, the search for specific genes influencing the occurrence of fingertip arch patterns is justified.
Cultural perceptions of pain and pain coping among patients and dentists.

Abstract A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods were developed to describe pain and pain coping perceptions of 25 Chinese, 25 Anglo-Americans and 35 Scandinavians (54 patients and 21 dentists). Results revealed universal dimensions of pain such as time, intensity, location, quality, cause and curability. More culture-specific dimensions included the Chinese concept suantong, a multivariate concept of bone, muscle, joint, tooth and gingival pain. “Real” and “imagined” pains were mostly described by Western subjects, especially dentists; “imagined pain” being the conversion of fear or anxiety into perceived pain. These data indicate that the methods were sensitive to culture as a variable and indicate that ethnicity may play a stronger role in the perceptions of pain description than does professional socialization, but that professional socialization processes may have more influence on the perception of pain coping modes for this sample population.
Assessing the Quality of Distance Education Programs: The Faculty's Perspective.

IN THE SPRING OF 2000, the National Education Association and Blackboard Inc. commissioned The Institute of Higher Education Policy, to identify the benchmarks considered essential to ensuring excellence in Internet-based distance learning. The Institute’s study revealed that there were 24 benchmarks considered essential to ensuring excellence in Internet-based distance learning. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the extent to which the benchmarks in the Course Development, Teaching/Learning Process, Course Structure and Faculty Support categories of the Institute’s study are being incorporated in the policies, procedures, and practices of a random sample of institutions of higher education offering Internet-based distance education courses.
The In-Transit Vigilant Covering Tour Problem of Routing Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Abstract : The routing of unmanned ground vehicles for the surveillance and protection of key installations is modeled as a new variant of the Covering Tour Problem (CTP). The CTP structure provides both the routing and target sensing components of the installation protection problem. Our variant is called the in-transit Vigilant Covering Tour Problem (VCTP) and considers not only the vertex cover but also the additional edge coverage capability of the unmanned ground vehicle while sensing in-transit between vertices. The VCTP is formulated as a Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) with a dual set covering structure involving vertices and edges. An empirical study compares the performance of the VCTP against the CTP on test problems modified from standard benchmark TSP problems to apply to the VCTP. The VCTP performed generally better with shorter tour lengths but at higher computational cost.
Visible/near-infrared spectroscopy for physical characteristics of cooked chicken patties.

Cooking loss and Kramer shear properties (yield force, yield deformation, and yield energy) of chicken patties were measured after various degrees of cooking. Cooking loss and yield deformation were related (R=0.91 and -0.76, respectively) to the integrated time-temperature history. In contrast, yield force and energy were well related (R=0.85 and 0.84, respectively) to endpoint temperature. Visible/ near-infrared (NIR) calibrations were developed and validated for the physical characteristics. Among the tested properties, visible/NIR spectroscopy was most accurate In predicting cooking loss and yield force. Standard errors of prediction were 7.9 and 8.2% of the corresponding property range among samples.
Seasonal Oscillation of Human Infection with Influenza A/H5N1 in Egypt and Indonesia

As of June 22, 2011, influenza A/H5N1 has caused a reported 329 deaths and 562 cases in humans, typically attributed to contact with infected poultry. Influenza H5N1 has been described as seasonal. Although several studies have evaluated environmental risk factors for H5N1 in poultry, none have considered seasonality of H5N1 in humans. In addition, temperature and humidity are suspected to drive influenza in temperate regions, but drivers in the tropics are unknown, for H5N1 as well as other influenza viruses. An analysis was conducted to determine whether human H5N1 cases occur seasonally in association with changes in temperature, precipitation and humidity. Data analyzed were H5N1 human cases in Indonesia (n = 135) and Egypt (n = 50), from January 1, 2005 (Indonesia) or 2006 (Egypt) through May 1, 2008 obtained from WHO case reports, and average daily weather conditions obtained from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. Fourier time series analysis was used to determine seasonality of cases and associations between weather conditions and human H5N1 incidence. Human H5N1 cases in Indonesia occurred with a period of 1.67 years/cycle (p<0.05) and in Egypt, a period of 1.18 years/cycle (p≅0.10). Human H5N1 incidence in Egypt, but not Indonesia, was strongly associated with meteorological variables (κ(2)≥0.94) and peaked in Egypt when precipitation was low, and temperature, absolute humidity and relative humidity were moderate compared to the average daily conditions in Egypt. Weather conditions coinciding with peak human H5N1 incidence in Egypt suggest that human infection may be occurring primarily via droplet transmission from close contact with infected poultry.
Reaction of chlorine with Ag surfaces and radiation effects by X-ray photons and Ar + ions

Reaction of chlorine with Ag surfaces has been studied at 300 K with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger depth profiling over a wide range of Cl2 exposures. Formation of AgCl and subsurface diffusion are observed. At exposures lower than 107 L, the Ag−Cl2 reaction is logarithmic in time and the surface layer is Ag enriched. This behavior can be related to a field-assisted diffusion mechanism known from oxidation of metal surfaces. At higher exposures, however, a t1/2 time dependence of the chlorination reaction is found. The Cl penetration saturates, and a stoichiometric AgCl layer is formed on the surface. It is further observed that a solid AgCl can be reduced to metallic Ag in the surface region when bombarded by Ar+ ions. Irradiation by X-ray photons can cause more complex chemical changes on the solid surfaces.