cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proteomic analysis of human T cell‐derived exosomes reveals differential RAS/MAPK signaling

Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. More specifically, it has been shown that T cell-derived exosomes can induce immunological responses; however, little is known about the mechanism and the molecular content of these vesicles. Here, we used a proteomic approach to characterize human T cell-derived exosomes. We found that specific proteins of the RAS signaling pathway were enriched in exosomes derived from activated T cells, and that these vesicles induced ERK phosphorylation in recipient immune cells. Our findings support a mechanistic role of exosomes in cellular activation, and further studies should consider exosomes as a biomarker for inflammatory diseases.
Probability discounting of treatment decisions in multiple sclerosis: associations with disease knowledge, neuropsychiatric status, and adherence.

Patients weigh risks and benefits when making treatment decisions. Despite this, relatively few studies examine the behavioral patterns underpinning these decisions. Moreover, individual differences in these patterns remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to test a probability discounting model to explain the independent influences of risks and benefits when patients make hypothetical treatment decisions. Furthermore, we examine how individual differences in this probability discounting function are associated with patient demographics, clinical characteristics, disease knowledge, neuropsychiatric status, and adherence. Two hundred eight participants with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) indicated their likelihood (0–100%) of taking a hypothetical medication as the probability of mild side effects (11 values from .1 to 99.9%) and reported medication efficacies (11 values from .1 to 99.9%) varied systematically. They also completed a series of questionnaires and cognitive tests. Individual components of medication treatment decision making were successfully described with a probability discounting model. High rates of discounting based on risks were associated with poor treatment adherence and less disease-specific knowledge. In contrast, high rates of discounting of benefits was associated with poorer cognitive functioning. Regression models indicated that risk discounting predicted unique variance in treatment adherence. Insights gained from the present study represent an important early step in understanding individual differences associated with medical decision making in MS. Future research may wish to use this knowledge to inform the development of empirically supported adherence interventions.
Pressure-dependent modulation of inward-rectifying K + channels: implications for cation homeostasis and K + dynamics in glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, resulting from degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which form the optic nerve. Prior to structural degeneration, RGCs exhibit physio...
Real-time augmented reality for delineation of surgical margins during neurosurgery using autofluorescence lifetime contrast

Current clinical brain imaging techniques used for surgical planning of tumor resection lack intraoperative and real-time feedback; hence surgeons ultimately rely on subjective evaluation to identify tumor areas and margins. We report a fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) instrument (excitation: 355 nm; emission spectral bands: 390/40 nm, 470/28 nm, 542/50 nm and 629/53 nm) that integrates with surgical microscopes to provide real-time intraoperative augmentation of the surgical field of view with fluorescent derived parameters encoding diagnostic information. We show the functionality and safety features of this instrument during neurosurgical procedures in patients undergoing craniotomy for the resection of brain tumors and/or tissue with radiation damage. We demonstrate in three case studies the ability of this instrument to resolve distinct tissue types and pathology including cortex, white matter, tumor and radiation-induced necrosis. In particular, two patients with effects of radiation-induced necrosis exhibited longer fluorescence lifetimes and increased optical redox ratio on the necrotic tissue with respect to non-affected cortex, and an oligodendroglioma resected from a third patient reported shorter fluorescence lifetime and a decrease in optical redox ratio than the surrounding white matter. These results encourage the use of FLIm as a label-free and non-invasive intraoperative tool for neurosurgical guidance.
Differential expression of genes encoding the light-dependent and light-independent enzymes for protochlorophyllide reduction during development in loblolly pine.

The expression patterns of the two distinct subfamilies of genes (designated porA and porB) encoding the light- dependent NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductases (PORs) in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were examined. Transcripts arising from both gene subfamilies were shown to be present at high levels in the cotyledons of dark-grown pine seedlings and to a lesser extent in their stems. Exposure of dark-grown seedlings to light resulted in increased levels of both porA and porB transcripts, as well as increased levels of mRNAs encoding other photosynthesis-related gene products, suggesting that they are under a common mode of regulation. Relative levels of the porA and porB transcripts were similar in seedling cotyledons and primary needles of two-month-old pine trees, whereas only porB transcripts were present at a significant level in mature secondary needles of two-year-old trees. Immunoblot analysis showed that the 37 kDa PORA protein was most abundant in dark- grown tissues, decreased dramatically upon exposure to light, but could still be detected at low levels in light-grown seedlings. In comparison, levels of the 38 kDa PORB protein were not significantly changed upon transfer of dark-grown tissues to light. While both PORA and PORB were detected in cotyledons and primary needles, only PORB could be detected in mature needles. Transcripts derived from the three plastid genes, chlL, chlN, and chlB, encoding subunits of the light-independent protochlorophyllide reductase were detected in the cotyledons and stems of dark-grown seedlings, and in mature needles. The highest levels of chlL, chlN, and chlB transcripts were detected within the top one-third of the stem and decreased gradually towards the stem/root transition zone. Correspondingly, the highest levels of light-independent chlorophyll formation took place near the top of the hypocotyl. A similar pattern of expression was observed for other photosynthesis-related gene products, including porA and porB. Our results suggest that many aspects of the light-dependent, tissue-specific and developmental regulation of POR expression first described in angiosperms were already established in the less evolutionarily advanced gymnosperms. However, unlike angiosperms, light is not the dominant regulatory factor controlling porA expression in these species.
Recruiting, Selecting, and Retaining Talent

In this chapter, the author describes the processes of how workers in pornography are recruited and/or endeavor to work in the porn industry. As the author has seen, like in traditional organizations, employers in pornography are looking for workers who are motivated, have a great attitude and good work ethic. For example, before they cast someone, producers of pornography want to tell a little bit about a prospect’s psychological state, too. How eager they are to do it? How motivated by money they are to do it, as opposed to the fun aspect? Specific worker profiles will be explored, as well as, worker turnover and retention.
Influence of corporate culture strength to subcultures and organizational performance

The article deals with corporate culture strength and its reference to cubcultures in an organization. The aim of research was to specify corporate culture strength in chosen grocery company and short description of its cubcultures. Within the discussion we summary relationship between corporate culture strength and organization performance and its utilize to praxis.
Ghādat al-Ṣīn: the literary trace of Arab–China relations in the Nahda

In the late nineteenth century, Nahdawi writers increasingly turned their attention to China. This article explores the political and literary function representations of China served in Nahdawi di...
Machine learning in reflectance confocal imaging for aiding cancer diagnosis: opportunities and challenges

Machine learning in reflectance confocal imaging for aiding cancer diagnosis: opportunities and challenges
Social inferences from the use of just as an exclusive particle

Recent work has begun to investigate the interaction between semantics and social meaning. This study contributes to that line of inquiry by investigating how particular social meanings that are popularly believed to arise from the English discourse particle just are related to the conventional semantic meaning of just . In addition to proposing an inferential process by which the social meanings associated with just arise, this paper reports the results of a social perception experiment designed to test whether those social inferences arise when just is used in particular speech acts and whether they depend on the speaker’s gender and level of authority relative to the addressee. The use of just was found to significantly increase the perceived insecurity of men but not of women. This suggests that listeners may more strongly perceive speaker qualities that stereotypes cause them not to expect.
On Relevance and Two Aspects of the Corporate Memory Problem

This paper addresses and distinguishes two important problems in information retrieval: the document retrieval problem (classically the central problem of Information Retrieval as a field) and the resource location problem. Each problem falls under the more general corporate memory problem, which itself may be characterized as follows: Information pertinent to the task at hand has passed through the organization. Was this information captured? If so, how can it be effectively retrieved and brought to bear on the present task? The paper develops and illustrates an effective text mining algorithm, called DCB, for addressing these questions.
Quantum Dynamics and Random Matrix Theory

The energy spectrum of a quantum system, whose classical counterpart is chaotic, has statistical properties like those of random matrices that extremize information. In the 1950s, Wigner surmised that classically chaotic quantum systems have energy eigenvalue spacing distributions similar to those of a Hamiltonian matrix whose matrix elements are random numbers determined by Gaussian distributions. This gives a distribution for nearest neighbor spacings (the Wigner distribution) between eigenvalues that has been verified by experiment. The Wigner distribution predicts a very low probability of finding small spacings between nearest neighbor energy eigenvalues.
DANCE: DAta-Network Co-optimization for Efficient Segmentation Model Training and Inference.

Semantic segmentation for scene understanding is nowadays widely demanded, raising significant challenges for the algorithm efficiency, especially its applications on resource-limited platforms. Current segmentation models are trained and evaluated on massive high-resolution scene images ("data level") and suffer from the expensive computation arising from the required multi-scale aggregation("network level"). In both folds, the computational and energy costs in training and inference are notable due to the often desired large input resolutions and heavy computational burden of segmentation models. To this end, we propose DANCE, general automated DAta-Network Co-optimization for Efficient segmentation model training and inference. Distinct from existing efficient segmentation approaches that focus merely on light-weight network design, DANCE distinguishes itself as an automated simultaneous data-network co-optimization via both input data manipulation and network architecture slimming. Specifically, DANCE integrates automated data slimming which adaptively downsamples/drops input images and controls their corresponding contribution to the training loss guided by the images' spatial complexity. Such a downsampling operation, in addition to slimming down the cost associated with the input size directly, also shrinks the dynamic range of input object and context scales, therefore motivating us to also adaptively slim the network to match the downsampled data. Extensive experiments and ablating studies (on four SOTA segmentation models with three popular segmentation datasets under two training settings) demonstrate that DANCE can achieve "all-win" towards efficient segmentation(reduced training cost, less expensive inference, and better mean Intersection-over-Union (mIoU)).
Impact of livestock production type vaccination priority order on the control of a foot and mouth disease outbreak in the central United States

The central United States (US) has a large livestock population including cattle, swine, sheep, and goats that are fully susceptible to foot and mouth disease (FMD). Introduction of FMD to the US would have potentially devastating consequences to the livestock industry. Identification of optimal control measures including potential vaccination strategies is essential to minimize the impact of a FMD outbreak. Both dairy and large feedlot operations have frequent indirect contacts, which make them key production types for FMD transmission and thus should be the focus of control strategies. To address this issue, we developed simulation scenarios to assess the impact of livestock production type vaccination priority on FMD outbreaks using the North American Animal Disease Spread Model (NAADSM), a spatially explicit, stochastic infectious disease model.
Decision Making in Obstetric Anesthesia

Obstetric anesthesiologists provide care under unique conditions, where frequently unscheduled cases demand flexibility in thinking and acting. And although most obstetric patients may be healthy, they can quickly deteriorate, necessitating rapid team diagnostic and treatment interventions. Examining decision making is a critical step in improving care to these patients. This article reviews evidence-based models of decision making both with individuals and with teams, and presents strategies to improve decision making under any circumstance.
Effect of scaling on stand-by current in PD-SOI pseudo-nMOS circuits

As technology is scaled, the leakage currents pose significant problems during active and stand-by modes of operation. This scenario leads us to re-evaluate less commonly used logic styles for future use. In this paper we consider the pseudo-nMOS logic circuits and evaluate the effect of scaling on the stand-by current in 130nm and 90nm PD-SOI technology.
Within-Group Effect-Size Benchmarks for Problem-Solving Therapy for Depression in Adults:

This article provides benchmark data on within-group effect sizes from published randomized clinical trials that supported the efficacy of problem-solving therapy (PST) for depression among adults. Benchmarks are broken down by type of depression (major or minor), type of outcome measure (interview or self-report scale), whether PST was provided to elderly participants in poor health, and whether an intent-to-treat analysis was conducted. Practitioners can compare these benchmarks to their effect size in providing PST with depressed clients as a basis for deciding whether the way they are adopting or adapting this intervention is satisfactory or needs to be modified or replaced by a different intervention approach. These benchmarks also have potential utility for future implementation research on PST for depression.
A Review of Studies on Strongly‐Coupled Coulomb Systems Since the Rise of DFT and SCCS‐1977

The conferences on “Strongly Coupled Coulomb Systems” (SCCS) arose from the “Strongly Coupled Plas-mas” meetings, inaugurated in 1977. The progress in SCCS theory is reviewed in an ‘author-centered’ frame to limit its scope. Our efforts, i.e., with Francois Perrot, sought to apply density functional theory (DFT) to SCCS calculations. DFT was then poised to become the major computational scheme for condensed matter physics. The ion-sphere models of Salpeter and others evolved into useful average-atom models for finite-T Coulomb systems, as in Lieberman's Inferno code. We replaced these by correlation-sphere models that exploit the description of matter via density functionals linked to pair-distributions. These methods provided practical computational means for studying strongly interacting electron-ion Coulomb systems like warm-dense matter (WDM). The staples of SCCS are wide-ranged, viz., equation of state, plasma spectroscopy, opacity (absorption, emission), scattering, level shifts, transport properties, e.g., electrical and heat conductivity, laser- and shock-created plasmas, their energy relaxation and transient properties etc. These calculations need pseudopotentials and exchange-correlation functionals applicable to finite-T Coulomb systems that may be used in ab initio codes, molecular dynamics, etc. The search for simpler computational schemes has proceeded via proposals for orbital-free DFT, statistical potentials, classical maps of quantum systems using classical schemes like HNC to include strong coupling effects (CHNC). Laughlin's classical plasma map for the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) is a seminal example where we report new results for graphene. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Seismic evidence that the source of the Iceland hotspot lies at the core–mantle boundary

Although Morgan proposed in 1971 that hotspots such as Iceland were the result of hot, rising mantle plumes, it is still debated whether plumes originate from a thermal boundary just above the core-mantle boundary or at the base of the upper mantle. Although seismic evidence of plumes in the upper mantle is accumulating, narrow plume conduits in the deep mantle have yet to be detected. Details of plume formation in the lower mantle have therefore remained largely unconstrained. Here, however, we present seismic evidence for the presence of a localized patch of material with ultra-low seismic wave speed, located at the core-mantle boundary beneath the Iceland hotspot, and propose that this zone represents the hot, partially molten source region of the Iceland mantle plume. Through the modelling of seismic waveforms, we constrain the seismic velocity structure at this patch of the core-mantle boundary using a numerical-analytical interfacing code5 designed to reproduce the complex interference of shear-wave phases transmitted through, and refracted at, the boundary. Although this structure is difficult to constrain precisely, our preferred model consists of a dome which is 250 km wide, 40 km high and contains P- and S-wave velocity (wave-speed) reductions of 10% and 30%, respectively.
Construction Challenges of Adaptive Reuse of Historical Buildings in Europe

European cities celebrate their past by preserving significant buildings that mark their history. Building preservation can range from complete restoration to adaptive reuse. While restoration is an expensive process of returning a building to its original condition, adaptive reuse is a more practical process of preserving part of a building's historical fabric, while updating it for modern uses. Adapting historical buildings creates many construction challenges, which are best addressed during pre-construction. Careful planning and creative techniques are required to meet these unique challenges. This paper addresses some of the challenges, including feasibility, construction, and structural issues of adaptive reuse of buildings using examples from four significant European projects: 1) Musee d'Orsay, Paris, 1986; 2) Tate Modern Museum, London, 2000; 3) Alter Hof, Munich, 2005; and 4) Maritim Hotel Erlweinspeicher, Dresden, 2005. All projects were visited by the authors in summer 2005 as part of a Study ...
Direct Determination of Total Serum Phospholipid by X-Ray Fluorescence

An x-ray fluorescence method for measurement of total serum phospholipid is described. A Folch extract of 1 ml of serum is evaporated and deposited on a paper disc by washing with chloroform. A coefficient of variation of 4% was obtained for samples containing at least 1 micromole of lipid, as phosphorus. The major advantage of the method is its speed (5 min/sample) in comparison to the phosphomolybdenum blue procedure. The method is free of interference from other lipid constituents and phosphorous content can be standardized by comparison with very stable inorganic phosphates.
Findings vs. Interpretation in “The Long-Term Impacts of Teachers” by Chetty et al.

The authors of the study “The Long-Term Impact of Teachers” claim that their study shows that increases in teacher value-added lead to significant and lasting increases in test scores and significant increases in income that will last throughout adulthood. Instead, I show that these claims are false because they are contradicted by the findings of the study itself. In fact, the results of the Chetty et al. study raise serious questions about the benefits of using the value-added method for evaluating teachers.
Basic two-dimensional core types for sandwich structures

Abstract The mechanical characteristics of three types of core with two-dimensional isotropic patterns – triangular, hexagonal, and starcell – were studied as related to applications in sandwich structures. The Young's modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio were calculated for the three core types in the direction normal to the faces. The compressive buckling strength and shear buckling strength were calculated for the three core types by modeling each cell wall of the core as a plate under compressive or shear load. To verify this model, tests were conducted on scaled specimens to measure the compressive buckling strength of each core. The bending flexibilities of the three cores were also studied. Compliances for the three cores were measured using biaxial flexural tests. Tests were performed on each core type in which the deflection of a circular core sample loaded at its center was measured. The three isotropic core patterns exhibited distinct characteristics. In the direction normal to the faces, all three cores had the same stiffness. However, the triangular core had lower compressive and shear buckling strengths than the other two core types. The starcell core exhibited high flexibility compared to the other cores, indicating a potential for application in curved sandwich structures.
Using Standardized Patients to Teach Clinical Ethics

A literature search shows multiple uses for standardized patients for teaching and evaluating clinical skills. However, there is little written about the use of standardized patients for teaching clinical ethics. When the Standardized Patient Program was organized at the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo in 1991, the Ethics Program realized the potential for innovative and interactive learning opportunities for medical students. Topics including ethical issues in psychiatry, domestic violence, physician assisted suicide, taking a sexual history, giving bad news and discussing DNR status have been incorporated into cases in which standardized patients are trained. These cases are then used to help students learn about these difficult issues. Student interaction with standardized patients in the second year teaches them how to communicate with a manic patient refusing psychotropic medication; and how to take a sexual history without embarrassment. In the third year medicine clerkship, students have to discuss "bad news" with a patient and try to obtain a "code status" decision. By using standardized patients, we make our teaching more clinically relevant for students. We build didactic presentations around case studies to demonstrate what physicians are likely to encounter in the clinical setting. In this paper we will describe how the synergistic relationship between the standardized patient and ethics programs has enhanced the educational process for our medical students.
Shallow impurity states in semiconductors: Absorption cross-sections, excitation rates, and capture cross-sections☆

Abstract Shallow impurity state wave functions are derived for both a coulomb and δ-function binding potential within the effective mass formalism of Kohn. These wave functions, along with the Bloch functions of a perfect crystal are then used to obtain analytic expressions for photon spectral absorption cross-sections, thermal photon excitation rates, and carrier radiative capture cross-sections into the shallow centers. The calculated absorption cross-sections are in satisfactory agreement with both magnitude and spectral shape of experimentally measured cross-sections. The absorption cross-sections are such as to make the centers very sensitive to thermal photon excitation over a wide range of temperatures or center ionization energies. Finally, it is shown that radiative carrier trapping is normally negligible for shallow centers.
Statistical power in three-arm cluster randomized trials.

This article shows how to compute statistical power for testing the main effect of treatment in three-arm cluster randomized trials. Using orthogonal coding, we derive the exact test statistic of the treatment effect and its non-central distribution. The non-centrality parameter in the omnibus test is found to be related to the non-centrality parameters in the contrast tests. A study of physician and pharmacist comanagement of patients’ blood pressure is used as an example to show the power computation in a three-arm cluster randomized trial.
Quantification of bone healing. Comparison of QCT, SPA, MRI, and DEXA in dog osteotomies.

Four noninvasive imaging modalities were used to quantitatively evaluate and compare tibial osteotomy healing in dogs. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon absorptiometry (SPA), and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were the four techniques examined. Bilateral tibial osteotomies were performed in 32 dogs divided into four groups. The osteotomies were stabilized with a 2-mm gap using unilateral external skeletal fixation. Dogs were anesthetized, imaged with the four noninvasive techniques, and killed at 2–12 weeks. Invasive techniques were used to determine: 1) the torsional properties of the bone; and 2) the local stiffness properties and calcium content within the bone.The techniques which had the strongest associations with the torsional properties of the osteotomies were QCT, SPA and DEXA. Generally, QCT and SPA had marginally stronger correlations than DEXA; but, overall, there were no differences between the techniques. MRI had the poorest asso...
Building a Hypervisor on a Formally Verifiable Protection Layer

Virtualization promises significant benefits in security, efficiency, dependability, and cost. Achieving these benefits depends upon the reliability of the underlying hyper visor. Hyper visors provide complete control of the virtualized resources (protection), a reasonably accurate view of these resources (fidelity), and performance. To facilitate formal verification of protection, we present an architecture, aligned with the hardware virtualization barrier, that separates hyper visor protection from the other goals. The hyper visor is constructed on a minimal trusted computing base or "min visor" whose main responsibility is protection. Each real guest is paired with an untrusted fidelity guest that builds on the protection layer to provide a fully virtualized environment. This allows verification of protection without considering much of the functionality of a traditional hyper visor. We have coded such a protection layer, developed a simple hyper visor on it, and begun formally verifying its protection properties at the machine code level. The current paper is a progress report.
The successive formation constants and proposed models of the lighter lanthanide mandelates

Abstract The step formation constants of the lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium and samarium mandelate chelate species have been determined at 25·00° ± 0·2°, at ionic strengths of 0·100 and 1·00, by a potentiometric method. The supporting electrolyte used was KNO3. Contrary to the findings of Thun et al.(1) the LaSm mandelate species are less stable than the corresponding glycolates, lactates and α-hydroxyisobutyrates; thus it appears advisable that the atrolactate data reported by Thun also be re-examined.
CONSTRAINED AEROTHERMODYNAMIC DESIGN OF HYPERSONIC VEHICLES

An investigation was conducted into possible methods of incorporating a hypersonic design capability with aerothermodynamic constraints into the CDISC aerodynamic design tool. The work was divided into two distinct phases: develop relations between surface curvature and hypersonic pressure coefficient which are compatible with CDISC's direct-iterative design method; and explore and implement possible methods of constraining the heat transfer rate over all or portions of the design surface. The main problem in implementing this method has been the weak relationship between surface shape and pressure coefficient at the stagnation point and the need to design around the surface blunt leading edge where there is a slope singularity. The final results show that some success has been achieved, but further improvements are needed.
Predicting OSS Development Success: A Data Mining Approach

Open Source Software OSS has reached new levels of sophistication and acceptance by users and commercial software vendors. This research creates tests and validates a model for predicting successful development of OSS projects. Widely available archival data was used for OSS projects from Sourceforge.net. The data is analyzed with multiple Data Mining techniques. Initially three competing models are created using Logistic Regression, Decision Trees and Neural Networks. These models are compared for precision and are refined in several phases. Text Mining is used to create new variables that improve the predictive power of the models. The final model is chosen based on best fit to separate training and validation data sets and the ability to explain the relationship among variables. Model robustness is determined by testing it on a new dataset extracted from the SF repository. The results indicate that end-user involvement, project age, functionality, usage, project management techniques, project type and team communication methods have a significant impact on the development of OSS projects.
Phage T4 lysozyme. Physical properties and reversible unfolding.

Abstract Phage T4 lysozyme has been used extensively in studies of the genetic code. However, little work has been done on the characterization of the purified enzyme. Therefore, we determined the spectral properties of native T4 lysozyme and used these properties to follow the unfolding transition. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum and solvent perturbation difference spectrum indicate that the aromatic amino acids are extensively exposed to solvent. The CD and ORD spectra are characteristic of a high fraction of helix. Guanidine hydrochloride denaturation results show that over a T4 lysozyme concentration range of 0.07–1 g/l the cm = 2.7 M guanidine hydrochloride at pH 5 and that the transition is 100% reversible as judged by enzymatic assay and four different spectrophotometric criteria: CD at 295 nm, CD at 223 nm, fluorescence intensity at 350 nm and wavelength of maximum fluorescence. Guanidine hydrochloride denaturation at pH 2.5 was followed using fluorescence emission and has a cm = 1.7 M guanidine hydrochloride, indicating a strong pH dependence of chemical unfolding. Reversible thermal denaturation conditions were located at acid pH, 0.2 M NaCl, 10−4 M dithiothreitol and 10−6 M T4 lysozyme. The CD signal at 223 nm was used to measure the unfolding. Thermodynamic analysis of the thermal data showed an increase in Tm, ΔHunf and ΔSunf with increasing pH.
Creating shared resources for pharmaceutical technology education—Simulation tools

Abstract This article describes the use of the HUBZero middleware to create shared simulations of particulate processes in drug product manufacturing. These simulations are deployed on the pharmaHUB.org Web-site and are accessible through a Web-browser. The simulations may be used to introduce basic concepts in solids processing and their application to drug product design and process development. Graphical interfaces that allow students to visualize the models being studied may be constructed with the Rappture toolkit. This toolkit generates an interface from a simple input/output description that is applicable to many simple but useful engineering models. The toolkit allows contributors to convert existing simulation programs, which typically rely on text based input and output, into Web-based tools with graphical interfaces. As an example, the article presents a simulation tool that models roller compaction, a unit operation used in dry granulation processes for drug product manufacturing. The article also reviews instructional frameworks for integrating simulation tools and other shared resources into courses. Supporting materials that provide a more detailed description of roller compaction are also identified.
Design Considerations For Soft X-Ray Television Imaging Detectors

Television sensors for X-rays can be coupled to converters and image intensifiers to obtain active areas, high flux capabilities, quantum efficiency, high time resolution, or ease of construction and operation that may not be obtained with a directly illuminated sensor. A general purpose system which makes use of these capabilities for a number of applications is decribed. Some of the performance characteristics of this type of system are examined, and the expected future developments for such systems are briefly addressed.
Controlling Secondary-Flow Structure by Leading-Edge Airfoil Fillet and Inlet Swirl to Reduce Aerodynamic Loss and Surface Heat Transfer

Computations, based on the ensemble-averaged compressible Navier-Stokes equations closed by the shear-stress transport (SST) turbulence model, were performed to investigate the effects of leading-edge airfoil fillet and inlet-swirl angle on the flow and heat transfer in a turbine-nozzle guide vane. Three fillet configurations were simulated: no fillet (baseline), a fillet whose thickness fades on the airfoil, and a fillet whose thickness fades on the endwall. For both fillets, the maximum height above the endwall is positioned along the stagnation zone/line on the airfoil under the condition of no swirl. For each configuration, three inlet swirls were investigated: no swirl (baseline) and two linearly varying swirl angle from one endwall to the other (+30° to −30° and −30° to +30°). Results obtained show that both leading-edge fillet and inlet swirl can reduce aerodynamic loss and surface heat transfer. For the conditions of this study, the difference in stagnation pressure from the nozzle’s inlet to its exit were reduced by more than 40% with swirl or with fillet without swirl. Surface heat transfer was reduced by more than 10% on the airfoil and by more than 30% on the endwalls. When there is swirl, leading-edge fillets became less effective in reducing aerodynamic loss and surface heat transfer, because the fillets were not optimized for swirl angles imposed. Since the intensity and size of the cross flow were found to increase instead of decrease by inlet swirl and by the type of fillet geometries investigated, the results of this study indicate that the mechanisms responsible for aerodynamic loss and surface heat transfer are more complex than just the intensity and the magnitude of the secondary flows. This study shows their location and interaction with the main flow to be more important, and this could be exploited for positive results.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Developmental Biology: Cell Intercalation One Step beyond

Formation of the primitive streak, the equivalent of the blastopore, is a critical step during the early development of amniote embryos. Medio-lateral cell intercalation and the planar cell polarity pathway play a role during this earliest step of gastrulation in the chick embryo.
An experimental and theoretical investigation of spray characteristics of impinging jets in impact wave regime

The current study focuses on experimentally and theoretically improving the characterization of the drop size and drop velocity for like-on-like doublet impinging jets. The experimental measurements were made using phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) at jet Weber numbers We j corresponding to the impact wave regime of impinging jet atomization. A more suitable dynamic range was used for PDA measurements compared to the literature, resulting in more accurate experimental measurements for drop diameters and velocities. There is some disagreement in the literature regarding the ability of linear stability analysis to accurately predict drop diameters in the impact wave regime. This work seeks to provide some clarity. It was discovered that the assumed uniform jet velocity profile was a contributing factor for deviation between diameter predictions based on models in the literature and experimental measurements. Analytical expressions that depend on parameters based on the assumed jet velocity profile are presented in this work. Predictions based on the parabolic and 1/7th power law turbulent profiles were considered and show better agreement with the experimental measurements compared to predictions based on the previous models. Experimental mean drop velocity measurements were compared with predictions from a force balance analysis, and it was observed that the assumed jet velocity profile also influences the predicted velocities, with the turbulent profile agreeing best with the experimental mean velocity. It is concluded that the assumed jet velocity profile has a predominant effect on drop diameter and velocity predictions.
Robotic surgical telepathology between the Iron Mountain and Milwaukee Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers: a 12-year experience

Since mid-1996 we have operated a diagnostic robotic telepathology (TP) system at the Iron Mountain, Michigan, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin VAMC, located some 220 miles away. No on-site pathologist is present in Iron Mountain. Instead, an experienced, well-trained pathologist assistant, under direction of pathologists located in Milwaukee, is responsible for tissue grossing and sectioning. The pathologist assistant places slides onto the stage of the robotic microscope, which is then controlled by pathologists in Milwaukee. Each case read by TP is subsequently read by light microscopy (LM) by the same pathologist. Three distinct phases of TP have been recognized. Our experience during Phase I (mid-1996 through early 1999) has been published previously. During Phase II (early 1999 through mid-2004), one of the two senior telepathologists in Phase I retired and three junior pathologists were hired. During Phase III (mid-2004 though June 2008), two new junior pathologists were hired and ASAP Imaging (Apollo Telemedicine, Inc., Falls Church, VA) was implemented. The number of TP case opportunities in Phases I, II and III was 2,200; 5,841 and 3,512; respectively resulting in a total of 11,553. A total of 1,834 cases were deferred to LM for a variety of reasons. The number of TP diagnoses rendered in Phases I, II and III was 2,144; 4,636 and 2,939; respectively, for a total of 9,719. The major discordance rates in Phases I, II and III were 0.33%, 0.45% and 0.20%, respectively with an overall rate of 0.35%. Pathologist-specific discordance rates were not significantly different and ranged from a low of 0.12% to a high of 0.77%, while case deferral rates were significantly different ( P
Three-dimensional inversion rendering in the first- and early second-trimester fetal brain: its use in holoprosencephaly.

Objectives To explore the feasibility and added value of three-dimensional (3D) inversion rendering of the developing embryonic/fetal ventricular system, and to apply this display technique to enhance the sonographic examination of holoprosencephaly. Methods 3D volumes of the embryonic/fetal brain were acquired from four normal fetuses at 8–11 postmenstrual weeks, and four fetuses diagnosed with holoprosencephaly between 9 and 14 postmenstrual weeks. The volumes were then analyzed offline to obtain inversion rendered 3D shapes of the ventricular systems. Results All inversion rendering displays were successful and provided the opportunity to study normal as well as pathological aspects of the early fetal brain. Conclusions Inversion rendering of early fetal brain ventricles is feasible and should be attempted if additional information about the early normal or pathological fetal brain is needed. It may have scientific value in embryologic or genetic studies. Copyright © 2008 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The (dis)ownership of English: language and identity construction among Zulu students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

This paper explores the role English and isiZulu play in the identity construction of a group of black South African university students from disadvantaged backgrounds enrolled in a bridge programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I will discuss how, in post-apartheid South Africa, language practices continue to foster inequality, despite a constitution that grants official status to 11 languages. Attitudes towards language in South Africa are extremely complex. While native speakers of African languages tend to be highly invested in their mother tongues as markers of identities and carriers of traditional culture, they often oppose policies aimed at promoting a greater use of their mother tongue in domains of power, especially in education. I will unravel some of these complexities by adopting a theoretical framework that draws on post-modern, feminist and post-colonial conceptions of identity to examine students’ discourses about the ownership of English. These discourses reveal that while there is ...
Novel potential reservoirs for Borrelia sp. and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Colorado.

Previous work demonstrated that Ixodes spinipalpis ticks maintained an enzootic cycle of Borrelia bissettii and the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (aoHGE) within woodrats (Neotoma mexicana) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in northern Colorado (USA). Because I. spinipalpis is the only known vector of B. bissettii and aoHGE in Colorado, this study was designed to determine the reservoir status of other hosts of I. spinipalpis in five distinct ecological zones along the front range and foothills of Colorado. One hundred and twelve rodents of nine species were examined and 11 (10%) were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for aoHGE; 37 (33%) were culture positive for B. bissettii, and five (4%) were coinfected with both organisms based on PCR and culture. Of these, three chipmunk species (Tamias minimus, T. quadrivittatus, and T. umbrinus) were culture positive for B. bissettii, with a single T. minimus coinfected with B. bissettii and aoHGE. In addition, one golden-mantled ground squirr...
Strategies for managing highway transportation professional needs

Abstract Growth in highway spending and the loss of approximately one-third of the nation's professional engineers in state highway agencies will create significant problems and opportunities over the next decade. Careers in transportation will be attractive, rewarding and interesting, with promise for growing responsibility and advancement. This paper describes the dimensions of the problem and suggests approaches that should result in dynamic future-oriented organizations. Recruitment, education and training, compensation, professional satisfaction, skill requirements and other aspects of human resources management must be carefully matched to meet changing needs and skill requirements.
Curcumin attenuates staurosporine-mediated death of retinal ganglion cells.

Irreversible loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is a major cause of blindness in glaucoma. Although the only proven risk factor to date is elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), the events that cause the damage to RGCs in glaucoma are unclear. Several hypotheses have been proposed and continue to be investigated to explain the mechanisms underlying RGC death in glaucoma. These include mechanical damage,1–3 insufficient retrograde transport of trophic factors such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF),4 insufficient vascular nutrition,5–7 glutamate neurotoxicity,8–10 nitric oxide synthesis,11,12 hypoxia-inducible factor,13 inflammatory cytokines,14,15 altered immunity,16 accumulation of advanced glycation products,17 endothelin-mediated ischemia,18,19 glial cell activation,12 β-amyloid neurotoxicity,20,21 and autonomous axonal self-destruction.22–24 Despite these various hypotheses, the mechanisms connecting IOP to RGC loss in POAG are still unclear. Recent studies suggest that curcumin, a free radical scavenger and herbal medicine extracted from the Indian yellow curry spice, Curcuma longa, prevents the damage associated with several of the triggers mentioned above, including NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in the retina.25 By employing some of the animal models related to glaucoma, such as retinal ischemia26 and excitotoxicity,27 we found that elevated levels of the three proteases matrix metalloproteins (MMP)-9, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) promotes the death of RGCs. Furthermore, by employing undifferentiated and transformed retinal ganglion-like cells (RGC-5), and by treating them with the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (SS), we found that RGC-5 cells differentiated on treatment with SS and produced elevated levels of tPA and uPA and that elevated levels of tPA and uPA directly caused the death of the RGC-5 cells.28,29 Despite recent reports indicating that SS induces significant loss of RGCs in vivo,30–32 the downstream mechanisms causing RGC loss remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we used SS to induce loss of RGCs in vivo and loss of RGC-5 cells in vitro, and investigated whether SS induces elevated levels of proteases in vivo, and whether curcumin attenuates SS-mediated loss of RGC-5 cells in vitro and RGCs in vivo.
Thermodynamics for ionization of water at temperatures from 278.15 K to 393.15 K and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: apparent molar volumes of aqueous KCl, KOH, and NaOH and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous HCl, KCl, KOH, and NaOH☆

Abstract Apparent molar volumes Vφof aqueous KCl, KOH, and NaOH and apparent molar heat capacities Cp, φof aqueous HCl, KCl, KOH, and NaOH have been determined at the pressure p = 0.35 MPa, and at molalities 0.015 ⩽m / mol · kg − 1⩽ 0.5. Densities were measured using a vibrating-tube densimeter (DMA 512, Anton Paar, Austria) at temperatures 278.15 ⩽T / K⩽ 368.15. These values were used to calculate the apparent molar volumes. A fixed-cell, differential-output, power-compensating, temperature-scanning calorimeter (NanoDSC model 6100, Calorimetry Sciences Corporation, Spanish Fork, UT, U.S.A.) was used to measure the heat capacities of the same solutions at temperatures 278.15 ⩽T / K⩽ 393.15. Results were fitted by using equations that describe the surfaces (m, T, Vφ) and (m, T, Cp, φ). Using these equations, we have calculated the surfaces (m, T, ΔrVm), (m, T, ΔrCp, m), (m, T, ΔrHm), (m,T , p Qa), and (m, T,ΔrSm ) for the ionization of water in the presence of combinations of the above electrolytes. The last three surfaces were calculated by integration using our (m,T , ΔrCp, m) surface and literature values for the molality dependence of ΔrHmand pQa at T = 298.15 K.