cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
El ensayo: de la retórica restringida a la retórica de la argumentación

El filosofo Chaim Perelman (1977) afirma que la aplicacion de su nueva retorica a los diferentes discursos y textos argumentativos se traduciria en el desarrollo de retoricas particulares para cada uno de ellos, segun el tipo de auditorio al que se dirigen y de la disciplina en la que se practican (p. 19). A partir de esta premisa, nos acercaremos a la retorica del ensayo vista como una teoria particular de la argumentacion ensayistica que resulta de la aplicacion de la nueva retorica de Perelman a este genero literario. Sostendremos que dicha aplicacion confirma el protagonismo de la argumentacion en su estructura composicional y finalidad comunicativa, superando asi las limitaciones de la vision restringida de la retorica que solo considera el elemento estilistico de este tipo de textos.
Brownian dynamics of a protein-polymer chain complex in a solid-state nanopore.

We study the movement of a polymer attached to a large protein inside a nanopore in a thin silicon dioxide membrane submerged in an electrolyte solution. We use Brownian dynamics to describe the motion of a negatively charged polymer chain of varying lengths attached to a neutral protein modeled as a spherical bead with a radius larger than that of the nanopore, allowing the chain to thread the nanopore but preventing it from translocating. The motion of the protein-polymer complex within the pore is also compared to that of a freely translocating polymer. Our results show that the free polymer’s standard deviations in the direction normal to the pore axis is greater than that of the protein-polymer complex. We find that restrictions imposed by the protein, bias, and neighboring chain segments aid in controlling the position of the chain in the pore. Understanding the behavior of the protein-polymer chain complex may lead to methods that improve molecule identification by increasing the resolution of ionic current measurements.
Interactive effects of maternal alcohol problems and parental separation on timing of daughter's first drink

Background Few studies examine risk to offspring who experience both parental alcohol problems and parental separation and still fewer consider gender of the affected parent. We examined interactive effects of maternal versus paternal alcohol problems and parental separation on timing of first alcoholic drink in daughters. Methods Data were drawn from a sample of 3,539 European (or other) ancestry (EA) and 611 African ancestry (AA) female twins born between 1975 and 1985, median age 15 at first assessment. Cox proportional hazards regression models were estimated predicting age at first full drink from parental history of alcohol problems (mother only, father only, or both parents), parental separation during childhood, and the interaction of parental alcohol problems and parental separation. Cox models were estimated without and with adjustment for correlated risk factors, separately for EA and AA twins. Results For both EA and AA twins, a significant interaction between parental separation and mother-only alcohol problems was observed, suggesting reduced risk of drinking associated with mother-only alcohol problems in separated versus intact families. Conclusions Findings highlight parental separation as an important moderator of risk to children of mothers who have a history of problem drinking, with interactive effects observed consistently across racial group. To identify underlying processes, additional research is needed with more detailed characterization of separated families where mother only has a history of alcohol problems.
The Molecular Biology of Sex Steroids in Bone: Similarities and Differences among the Sexes

Publisher Summary Control of bone remodeling by estrogen results from attenuating effects on the birth rate of osteoblast and osteoclast progenitors as well as from suppressing the production and action of cytokines that are responsible for osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis. These effects result, in part, from the transcriptional regulation of genes responsible for osteoclastogenesis and mesenchymal cell replication and/or differentiation. Direct effects on osteoblast differentiation and osteoclast lifespan may also be involved. In parallel, estrogen and androgens regulate the lifespan of osteoclasts, osteoblasts and osteocytes. Indeed, maintenance of the balance between bone formation and resorption depends on two parallel actions. In addition, the estrogen receptor (ER) controls the survival of osteocytes, former osteoblasts that are entombed in the mineralized matrix. Appreciation of the adverse effects of estrogen and androgen deficiency on the skeleton has launched a quest for the elucidation of the mechanism of the skeletal actions of sex steroids and the pathogenesis of the bone loss resulting from sex steroid deficiency. This chapter aims to provide a perspective on the advances that have been made in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which estrogens and androgens influence adult bone homeostasis. By extension, the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for the development of osteoporosis following sex steroid deficiency have become clearer.
The Role of DNA Polymerase β in Neural Genome Stability.

Development of the nervous system requires robust expansion of progenitor cells that will generate a diverse population of long-lived mature neurons. Precise transmission of the genomic information from parent cell to daughter cells and the faithful maintenance of this information in the terminally
What Can One Learn from Very Accurate Measurements of the Lepton Magnetic Moments

As you will hear this afternoon, there has been remarkable progress in the measurement of lepton magnetic moments in the last few years. I should like to discuss what can be learned about the fundamental forces of nature from these and forthcoming developments.
Patterns of Vocabulary Acquisition in Spanish-English Bilingual Children with SLI

he parents of 10 bilingual preschoolers with SLI completed vocabulary inventories in Spanish and English detailing their children’s productive vocabulary in each language. Inventories were examined to determine the children’s total number of words in both languages combined, also called Total Vocabulary (TV) as well as total number of words for different concepts, also called Conceptual Vocabulary (CV). The total number of Translation Equivalents (TE) and the number of cognate TEs were also determined. Results indicated that bilingual children with SLI had fewer TEs and fewer cognate TEs than what is expected of typically developing bilingual children. Such difference indicates that the bilingual children with SLI did not take advantage of the facilitative effect of cognate TEs in vocabulary acquisition. Implications for vocabulary intervention for bilingual children with SLI are discussed.
Partitioning and scheduling workflows across multiple sites with storage constraints

This paper aims to address the problem of scheduling large workflows onto multiple execution sites with storage constraints. Three heuristics are proposed to first partition the workflow into sub-workflows. Three estimators and two schedulers are then used to schedule sub-workflows to the execution sites. Performance with three real-world workflows shows that this approach is able to satisfy storage constraints and improve the overall runtime by up to 48% over a default whole-workflow scheduling.
Plasma-surface interactions in atmospheric pressure plasmas: In situ measurements of electron heating in materials

The energy flux to a surface during plasma exposure and the associated surface heating are of long standing interest as they contribute to the physico-chemical changes that occur during plasma-based materials synthesis and processing. Indeed, the energy delivered to the surface, via a flux of particles and photons, in concert with a flux of reactive species serves to chemically modify, etch, and/or deposit materials, with an efficacy that depends on the plasma processing environment. A unique feature of plasma synthesis and processing is that most of the delivered energy is absorbed at or very near the surface over short (picosecond) time scales. The dissipation of thermal energy proceeds through electron-electron and/or electron-phonon interactions as they propagate through the material, with relaxation time scales that can be orders of magnitude slower. Typically then, the surface is not in thermal equilibrium with the bulk material. Fast, surface-sensitive techniques are thus required to fully appreciate the dynamics of the plasma-surface interaction. In this work, we employ pump-probe Time-Domain Thermoreflectance, a surface sensitive technique typically used to measure thermal properties of thin films, to determine electron heating of thin metal films during exposure to an atmospheric pressure plasma jet. The results, in conjunction with current measurements, are used to develop a first order understanding of plasma jet-surface interactions. The results show that the energy delivered by the plasma jet causes a localized increase in electron energy within the thin film over an area commensurate with the plasma jet radius.
Responses to rival exit: Product variety, market expansion, and preexisting market structure

Research Summary This study investigates incumbent responses to a main rival's exit. We argue that long‐time rivals have developed an equilibrium by offering a mix of overlapping and unique products and by choosing geographic proximity to each other. A rival's exit, however, disrupts this equilibrium and motivates surviving firms to expand in both product and geographic spaces to seek a new equilibrium. Using data from all U.S. Best Buy stores before and after the exit of Circuit City, we find that Best Buy uses product variety expansion as its major response in markets where Circuit City was colocated, but it more often responds by opening new stores in non‐colocated markets. Regardless of preexisting market structures, the magnitude of product variety expansion decreases with the opening of new stores. Managerial Summary How do surviving firms respond to a major rival's exit? By studying Best Buy's responses to Circuit City's withdrawal, we find the survivor expands in both product space (increasing product variety) and geographic space (opening new stores), due to two motives. First, the survivor strives to fill in “holes” left in the market. Second, the survivor experiences uncertainty in the postexit world wherein its reference point is gone, threat of potential entry looms, and it lacks information about new entrants. Thus, it must deter potential entry ex ante by preempting many prime product and geographic locations. Best Buy also responds according to preexisting market structures, primarily through product variety expansion in markets wherein Circuit City was colocated and through opening new stores in non‐colocated markets.
Computer Aided System for Users with Visual Impairments

Screen readers enable people with visual impairment (VI) to have equal access to written information both on computers and smartphones. This paper presents an overview of screen readers that allow users with VI read the text materials and describe images on the computer screen by using a special software program to synthesize as speech. We study three aspects of the screen readers in terms of their accessibility. First, we invest on developing websites, apps, and software programs by following web content accessibility guidelines to ensure accessibility. We than conduct research on compatibility of the websites, apps, and software programs with screen readers. Last, we inform about descriptions of the images by creating alternative texts.
Field-level characteristics influence wild bee functional guilds on public lands managed for conservation

Abstract Throughout the Midwestern US, many public lands set aside for conservation engage in management activities (e.g., agriculture) that may act as stressors on wild bee populations. Several studies have investigated how wild bees respond to large-scale agriculture production; however, there has been limited assessment of how wild bees may be impacted by agricultural activity on public lands or how local variables may influence bee communities in these same areas. In this study, we assessed the abundance and richness of wild bee floral and nesting guilds at 30 agricultural field margins located on five Conservation Areas in Missouri. Generally, regardless of guild, bee abundance and richness was greater in field margins with more floral diversity and taller vegetation. Bee guilds responded negatively to agricultural production in Conservation Areas with fewer soil- and cavity-nesting bees collected in margins adjacent to annually cropped fields. Although fewer diet specialists were collected, specialist bee abundance and richness was greater in margins near fields that were uncropped (i.e., vegetated, but not row-cropped) during the previous year. Overall, the percentage of trees and shrubs within 800 m of study fields (i.e., “woodland”) was negatively associated with abundance and richness of bees, but specifically, reduced richness of soil-nesters and diet specialists. Our findings indicate agricultural management activities on public lands may lead to decreased abundance and richness of wild bee guilds. If public lands are to be managed for species diversity, including wild bees, maintaining diverse plant communities with taller vegetation (>100 cm) near cultivated fields and/or modifying agricultural production practices on public lands may greatly improve the conservation of local bee communities.
Progressive supranuclear palsy treatment—A systematic review

Abstract Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an uncommon neurodegenerative disease associated with postural instability, falling, and memory loss. Different therapeutic approaches have been suggested for PSP, but their efficacy is unclear. With our growing understanding of Parkinson’s-related syndromes, it is likely that PSP will be increasingly diagnosed, so it is even more important now to know the usefulness of the possible therapies. To our knowledge, no systematic review of PSP therapy has been published. Objective To determine the effectiveness of published PSP treatments. Evidence review A systematic review of published literature was completed. We searched using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, PsychInfo, Cochrane and CINAHL for related articles. To maximize sensitivity, we also searched “gray” literature. Standard exclusion criteria were used: no comparison group; no clear, defined interventions; outcome(s) that were not objective; and outcome assessors not blinded to the intervention. Findings The initial search obtained 1073 publications. Of these studies, 24 were relevant to the question of therapy efficacy. Fifteen dealt with medications, 4 with intra- or transcranial procedures, 2 with physical therapy, 1 dealt with ophthalmic treatment, and 2 dealt with two simultaneous types of interventions, ophthalmic and physical rehabilitation. Of these studies, 13 remained after application of our exclusion criteria. In this final group, all either showed no benefit, or found changes that were not reflected in any benefit to the subject’s quality of life or longevity. Conclusion At the patient level, effectiveness has not been established for any treatment for PSP.
Ilse/Lies: Nietzsche and/in Pynchon

Nietzsche and Pynchon have, as has been said recently of Nietzsche and Emerson, an "elective affinity" (Stack). This affinity is especially close on questions of truth and knowledge, and closest in Nietzsche's later philosophy and Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow (hereafter GR ). While Nietzsche's early theories of truth and knowledge have won most attention recently, his later writings – from On the Genealogy of Morals (hereafter GM ) onward – reject these theories as being indebted to a Schopenhauerian representationalism and pursue the claim that knowledge is perspectival. In this essay I argue for an affinity between Nietzsche's later philosophy and GR on questions of truth and knowledge. In particular, I focus on the ways GR rejects theories of truth and knowledge based on objectivity and coherence, and offers instead a theory of truth and knowledge similar to Nietzsche's perspectivism.
Rapid Prediction of Sudden Death Using Fluorescent Nanoparticles

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major, unsolved public health issue in the United States, claiming 300,000-400,000 deaths annually. The time and mode of death is highly unexpected, stimulating a great interest in improving the predictive mechanism for sudden death prevention. Since the most common cause for SCD is cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, interests have intensified in developing biochemical markers (e.g., troponins and CK-MB) to predict susceptibility to cardiac events and aid in the early diagnosis and patient management. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that nerve growth factor (NGF) up-regulation is an indicative of cardiac nerve sprouting which is believed to be the underlying mechanism of many cardiac arrhythmias and SCD. However, the standard analytical method with ELISA for NGF assay in hospital central lab is time-consuming (3 days) and technically complicated. For this reason, we developed a more rapid (~ 5 min), point-of-care, and cost-effective fiber-optic biosensor (FOB) for sudden death prevention. FOB employs fluorophore-mediated sandwich immunoassay on the surface of an optical fiber. To enhance the sensitivity, stability, and reliability of the FOB system, we investigated the effect of doping thousands of fluorophore (Alexa Fluor 647) inside silica nanoparticles (20-100 nm) and the applications of the highly fluorescent nanoparticles in NGF assay. Monodispersed silica nanoparticles were fabricated using a reverse microemulsion process. Characterization of the fluorescent silica nanoparticles in terms of size, shape, distribution, and fluorescent intensities were performed. A significant enhancement of the biosensing performance of the fiber-optic biosensor is achieved.
Extreme municipal fiscal stress and austerity? A case study of fiscal reform after Chapter 9 bankruptcy:

Post-recession urban restructuring in the U.S. has involved national and state governments pushing budget problems to the local level, with municipalities implementing a variety of responsive refor...
Development and application of a survey instrument to measure collaboration among health care and social services organizations.

Objective To measure strategies of interorganizational collaboration among health care and social service organizations that serve older adults. Study setting Twenty Hospital Service Areas (HSAs) in the United States. Study design We developed and validated a novel scale to characterize interorganizational collaboration, and then tested its application by assessing whether the scale differentiated between HSAs with high vs low performance on potentially avoidable health care use and spending for Medicare beneficiaries. Data collection Health care and social service organizations (N = 173 total) in each HSA completed a 12-item collaboration scale, three questions about collaboration behaviors, and a detailed survey documenting collaborative network ties. Principal findings We identified two distinguishable subscales of interorganizational collaboration: (a) Aligning Strategy and (b) Coordinating Current Work. Each subscale demonstrated convergent validity with the organization's position in the collaborative network, and with collaboration behaviors. The full scale and Coordinating Current Work subscale did not differentiate high- vs low-performing HSAs, but the Aligning Strategy subscale was significantly higher in high-performing HSAs than in low-performing HSAs (P = .01). Conclusions Cross-sector collaboration-and particularly Aligning Strategy-is associated with health care use and spending for older adults. This new survey measure could be used to track the impact of interventions to foster interorganizational collaboration.
Teaching econometrics with data on coworker salaries and job satisfaction

Abstract Recent research studied how relative salary affects job satisfaction. It gave a random sample of University of California employees information about their coworkers’ salaries and estimated the effect of this information on job satisfaction. This article suggests ways the dataset created by this research can be used in econometrics and statistics classes. It provides examples using these data to calculate frequency distributions, contingency tables, Chi-square tests, and linear probability models. It also explains how these examples can be used productively in class.
A randomized controlled trial of antibody response to 2018–19 cell-based vs. egg-based quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in children

Abstract Background Current influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) improvement efforts focus on minimizing egg adaptation mutations during manufacture. This study compared immune response of two FDA-approved quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines in an unblinded randomized controlled trial. Methods Participants were 144 community dwelling, healthy children/adolescents aged 4–20 years, randomized 1:1 in blocks of 4 to a vaccine grown in cell culture (ccIIV4 [Flucelvax®]; n = 85); or in egg medium (IIV4 [Fluzone ®]; n = 83). Blood was drawn at day 0 prevaccination and at day 28 (19–35 days) post vaccination. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays against A/H1N1 and both B strains and microneutralization (MN) assays against egg-based and cell-based A/H3N2 strains were conducted. The primary outcome measure was seroconversion (day 28/day 0 titer ratio ≥ 4 with day 28 titer ≥ 40). Secondary outcomes were elevated titers (day 28 HI titer ≥ 1:110), geometric mean titers (GMTs) and mean fold rise (MFR) in titers. Outcomes were compared for 74 ccIIV4 recipients and 70 IIV4 recipients, and for those vaccinated and unvaccinated the previous year. Only the HI and MN laboratory analysis team was blinded to group assignment. Results In this racially diverse (81% non-white) group of children with a median age of 14 years, baseline demographics did not differ between vaccine groups. At day 0, half or more in each vaccine group had elevated HI or MN titers. Low seroconversion rates (14%-35%) were found; they did not differ between groups. Among 2018–19 ccIIV4 recipients, those unvaccinated in the previous season showed significantly higher MFR against A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 cell-grown virus than the previously vaccinated. Similar results were found for MFR against B/Victoria among 2018–2019 IIV4 recipients. Conclusion In mostly older children with high baseline titers, no differences in seroconversion or other measures of antibody titers were found between ccIIV4 and IIV4 recipients against egg- and cell-grown influenza vaccine viruses. Clinical Trials No NCT03614975.
Parahydrogen-orthohydrogen conversion on catalyst loaded scrim for vapor cooled shielding of cryogenic storage vessels /

As long-distance human space travel becomes more realistic, the need for long-term storage of cryogenic propellants becomes a forefront issue. Effective cryo-fluid system management becomes a neces...
Responding to a Pandemic: The Role of EM-CCM on ICU Boarders in an Urban Emergency Department.

Author(s): Pflaum-Carlson, Jacqueline; Gardner-Gray, Jayna; Jayaprakash, Namita; Hurst, Gina; Coba, Victor; Kinni, Harish; Rivers, Emanuel
Adaptive Optics Imaging of Low-redshift Damped Lyman-alpha Quasar Absorbers

We have carried out a high angular resolution near-infrared imaging study of the fields of 6 quasars with 7 strong absorption line systems at z < 0.5, using the Hokupa'a adaptive optics system and the QUIRC near-infrared camera on the Gemini-North telescope. These absorption systems include 4 classical damped Lyman-alpha absorbers (DLAs), 2 sub-DLAs, and one Lyman-limit system. Images were obtained in the H or K' filters with FWHM between 0.2"-0.5" with the goal of detecting the absorbing galaxies and identifying their morphologies. Features are seen at projected separations of 0.5"-16.0" from the quasars and all of the fields show features at less than 2" separation. We find candidate absorbers in all of the seven systems. With the assumption that some of these are associated with the absorbers, the absorbers are low luminosity < 0.1 L*_H or L*_K; we do not find any large bright candidate absorbers in any of our fields. Some fields show compact features that are too faint for quantitative morphology, but could arise in dwarf galaxies.
Assessing additive effects of air pollutants on mortality rate in Massachusetts.

We previously found additive effects of long- and short-term exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on all-cause mortality rate using a generalized propensity score (GPS) adjustment approach. The study addressed an important question of how many early deaths were caused by each exposure. However, the study was computationally expensive, did not capture possible interactions and high-order nonlinearities, and omitted potential confounders. We proposed two new methods and reconducted the analysis using the same cohort of Medicare beneficiaries in Massachusetts during 2000–2012, which consisted of 1.5 million individuals with 3.8 billion person-days of follow-up. The first method, weighted least squares (WLS), leveraged large volume of data by aggregating person-days, which gave equivalent results to the linear probability model (LPM) method in the previous analysis but significantly reduced computational burden. The second method, m-out-of-n random forests (moonRF), implemented scaling random forests that captured all possible interactions and nonlinearities in the GPS model. To minimize confounding bias, we additionally controlled relative humidity and health care utilizations that were not included previously. Further, we performed low-level analysis by restricting to person-days with exposure levels below increasingly stringent thresholds. We found consistent results between LPM/WLS and moonRF: all exposures were positively associated with mortality rate, even at low levels. For long-term PM2.5 and O3, the effect estimates became larger at lower levels. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 posed the highest risk: 1 μg/m3 increase in long-term PM2.5 was associated with 1053 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 984, 1122; based on LPM/WLS methods) or 1058 (95% CI: 988, 1127; based on moonRF method) early deaths each year among the Medicare population in Massachusetts. This study provides more rigorous causal evidence between PM2.5, O3, and NO2 exposures and mortality, even at low levels. The largest effect estimate for long-term PM2.5 suggests that reducing PM2.5 could gain the most substantial benefits. The consistency between LPM/WLS and moonRF suggests that there were not many interactions and high-order nonlinearities. In the big data context, the proposed methods will be useful for future scientific work in estimating causality on an additive scale.
Environmental populism: the politics of survival in the anthropocene: by Mark Beeson, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019

Mark Beeson has written a provocative monograph that argues for an environmental populism, especially to solve climate change. At first, the idea is frankly terrifying given the right-wing populism...
Deep learning for radial SMS myocardial perfusion reconstruction using the 3D residual booster U-net

Abstract Purpose To develop an end-to-end deep learning solution for quickly reconstructing radial simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) myocardial perfusion datasets with comparable quality to the pixel tracking spatiotemporal constrained reconstruction (PT-STCR) method. Methods Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) radial SMS myocardial perfusion data were obtained from 20 subjects who were scanned at rest and/or stress with or without ECG gating using a saturation recovery radial CAIPI turboFLASH sequence. Input to the networks consisted of complex coil combined images reconstructed using the inverse Fourier transform of undersampled radial SMS k-space data. Ground truth images were reconstructed using the PT-STCR pipeline. The performance of the residual booster 3D U-Net was tested by comparing it to state-of-the-art network architectures including MoDL, CRNN-MRI, and other U-Net variants. Results Results demonstrate significant improvements in speed requiring approximately 8 seconds to reconstruct one radial SMS dataset which is approximately 200 times faster than the PT-STCR method. Images reconstructed with the residual booster 3D U-Net retain quality of ground truth PT-STCR images (0.963 SSIM/40.238 PSNR/0.147 NRMSE). The residual booster 3D U-Net has superior performance compared to existing network architectures in terms of image quality, temporal dynamics, and reconstruction time. Conclusion Residual and booster learning combined with the 3D U-Net architecture was shown to be an effective network for reconstructing high-quality images from undersampled radial SMS datasets while bypassing the reconstruction time of the PT-STCR method.
Physics Informed Machine Learning of SPH: Machine Learning Lagrangian Turbulence.

Smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is a mesh-free Lagrangian method for obtaining approximate numerical solutions of the equations of fluid dynamics; which has been widely applied to weakly- and strongly compressible turbulence in astrophysics and engineering applications. We present a learn-able hierarchy of parameterized and "physics-explainable" SPH informed fluid simulators using both physics based parameters and Neural Networks (NNs) as universal function approximators. Our learning algorithm develops a mixed mode approach, mixing forward and reverse mode automatic differentiation with forward and adjoint based sensitivity analyses to efficiently perform gradient based optimization. We show that our physics informed learning method is capable of: (a) solving inverse problems over the physically interpretable parameter space, as well as over the space of NN parameters; (b) learning Lagrangian statistics of turbulence (interpolation); (c) combining Lagrangian trajectory based, probabilistic, and Eulerian field based loss functions; and (d) extrapolating beyond training sets into more complex regimes of interest. Furthermore, this hierarchy of models gradually introduces more physical structure, which we show improves interpretability, generalizability (over larger ranges of time scales and Reynolds numbers), preservation of physical symmetries, and requires less training data.
Preparation of Total RNA

The purity and integrity of isolated RNA are essential prerequisites for a successful analysis of differential gene expression by DDRT-PCR. Thus extreme care should be taken during all the steps of RNA preparation.
EFFECT OF HYALURONIDASE TREATMENT ON THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENDOTHELIAL GLYCOCALYX LAYER

EFFECT OF HYALURONIDASE TREATMENT ON THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENDOTHELIAL GLYCOCALYX LAYER By Kristin LeAnne Simmons A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Advisor: Roland N. Pittman, Ph.D. Department of Physiology and Biophysics The endothelial glycocalyx plays an important role as part of the permeability barrier between the blood and the interstitium. In this study, we used different sized fluorescently labeled dextran molecules to determine the size of the macromolecular exclusion zone in capillaries. The width of the exclusion zone was calculated as one half the difference between the anatomic luminal diameter, as determined by transillumination, and the width of a fluorescent dextran column. During the first hour after systemic injection of labeled dextrans, neither 70 kDa dextran (Dextran 70) nor 500 kDa dextran (Dextran 500) labeled with the anionic fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) penetrated the endothelial glycocalyx to the endothelial cell surface. However, the 40 kDa dextran (Dextran 40) labeled with the neutral fluorophore Texas Red was able to penetrate to the endothelial cell surface. Under these control conditions, the width of the exclusion zone for Dextran 500 was 0.55 ± 0.02 μm (n=46); for Dextran 70 it was 0.50 ± 0.01 μm (n=111); and for Dextran 40 it was 0.08 ± 0.01 μm (n=53). One hour after systemically injecting the enzyme hyaluronidase, measurements of the exclusion zone were made using Dextrans 40, 70 and 500. After the enzyme treatment,
TU‐EF‐204‐09: A Preliminary Method of Risk‐Informed Optimization of Tube Current Modulation for Dose Reduction in CT

Purpose: X-rays from CT scans can increase cancer risk to patients. Lifetime Attributable Risk of Cancer Incidence for adult patients has been investigated and shown to decrease as patient age. However, a new risk model shows an increasing risk trend for several radiosensitive organs for middle age patients. This study investigates the feasibility of a general method for optimizing tube current modulation (TCM) functions to minimize risk by reducing radiation dose to radiosensitive organs of patients. Methods: Organ-based TCM has been investigated in literature for eye lens dose and breast dose. Adopting the concept in organ-based TCM, this study seeks to find an optimized tube current for minimal total risk to breasts and lungs by reducing dose to these organs. The contributions of each CT view to organ dose are determined through simulations of CT scan view-by-view using a GPU-based fast Monte Carlo code, ARCHER. A Linear Programming problem is established for tube current optimization, with Monte Carlo results as weighting factors at each view. A pre-determined dose is used as upper dose boundary, and tube current of each view is optimized to minimize the total risk. Results: An optimized tube current is found to minimize the total risk of lungs and breasts: compared to fixed current, the risk is reduced by 13%, with breast dose reduced by 38% and lung dose reduced by 7%. The average tube current is maintained during optimization to maintain image quality. In addition, dose to other organs in chest region is slightly affected, with relative change in dose smaller than 10%. Conclusion: Optimized tube current plans can be generated to minimize cancer risk to lungs and breasts while maintaining image quality. In the future, various risk models and greater number of projections per rotation will be simulated on phantoms of different gender and age. National Institutes of Health R01EB015478
Approximate Testing of Visual Properties

We initiate a study of property testing as applied to visual properties of images. Property testing is a rapidly developing area investigating algorithms that, with a small number of local checks, distinguish objects satisfying a given property from objects which need to be modified significantly to satisfy the property. We study visual properties of discretized images represented by n× n matrices of binary pixel values. We obtain algorithms with query complexity independent of n for several basic properties: being a half-plane, connectedness and convexity.
The Interaction Effect of Spirituality and Negative Life Experiences on Depression

Individuals experience stressful negative life events, and they may turn to their religion or their spirituality to assuage the depression that ensues from such events. This research investigates the healing/ameliorating effect of one’s spiritual beliefs and practices in moderating depression when faced with negative life experiences. The theoretical hypotheses are that a significant relationship would be found between the dependent variable, depression, and the independent variables of negative life experiences and spirituality; and that spirituality would serve a buffering effect on depression when an individual experiences negative life events. Beck’s Depression Inventory II, Piedmont’s ASPIRES (Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments), and Sarason’s Life Experiences Survey were the instruments administered to 51 adult patients at two pastoral counseling centers over a four month period. Findings indicate significant inverse correlations between spirituality and depression, as well as a moderating effect of spirituality on depression when negative life experiences are included. Multiple regression analysis indicate that spirituality, when added to the simple linear regression between depression and negative life experiences, provide a significant additional contribution. Study results illuminate the need to continue research into the distinctive contributions of spirituality to a reduction in depression and point to the need to increase therapists’ understanding and ability to discuss spirituality with clients.
Modeling of thermal plasmas

Summary form only given. In this paper, a brief overview of the history of thermal plasma modeling will be presented, including the effects of turbulence and deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium in certain parts of thermal plasma systems. Based on some typical examples, the development over the past 60 years will be illustrated, restricted to high-intensity DC arcs, their electrode regions, and to plasma jets generated by such arcs.
A Guide to Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome: Origins and Treatment

Origins Origins of Obesity in the Scientific Era-AD 1500 to the Present Introduction Sixteenth Century Seventeenth Century Eighteenth Century Nineteenth Century Twentieth Century: An Age of Specialization in Science and Medicine Definition, Measurement, and Prevalence Introduction Definitions Describing Body Composition Methods of Measuring Body Weight and Body Fat Instruments Used to Measure Body Composition Instrumental Methods for Measuring Visceral Fat Body Fat through the Life Span Body Fat and Body Energy Stores Criteria for the Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence of Obesity Metabolic Syndrome Conclusion Genetic, Metabolic, and Social Origins of Obesity Introduction Genetic Factors Epigenetic and Intrauterine Imprinting Environmental Agents and Obesity: An Epidemiologic Approach Regulation of Body Fat: A Homeostatic Model of Energy Regulation Effects of Obesity on Health and Metabolism Introduction Historical Context for the Risks of Overweight as a Disease Costs of Obesity The Pathology of Obesity The Pathophysiology of Central and Total Fat Benefits and Potential Risks of Weight Loss Treatment Prevention, Evaluation, and Introduction to Treatment Introduction Prevention of Obesity Introduction to Treatment Criteria for Evaluating Outcomes Lifestyle, Diet, and Exercise: Cognitive Solutions Introduction to Cognitive Solutions for Weight Loss Lifestyle Change: A Cognitive Solution Diet: A Cognitive Solution Physical Activity: A Cognitive Solution Cognitive Strategies to Maintain Weight Loss Medications for Obesity Brief History of the Drug Treatment for Obesity Mechanisms that Modulate Food Intake and Energy Expenditure: The Basis for Pharmacological Interventions Drugs Approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the Treatment of Obesity Drugs Approved for Other Uses that Have Effects on Body Weight Combinations of Drugs Used for Weight Loss Drugs in Late Stages of Clinical Evaluation Concepts for Antiobesity Drugs in Earlier Stages of Development Complementary and Herbal Medicine Surgery for Obesity Introduction Rationale for Surgical Intervention for Obesity Indications Contraindications Bariatric Surgery for Pediatric Patients Effectiveness of Surgical Procedures Mechanisms for Weight Loss Benefits from Bariatric Surgery Complications Other Procedures Postscript-Obesity in the Twenty-First Century Lessons We Have Learned in this Book Where Do We Go in the Twenty-First Century?
Una valoración de la geografía y la diáspora africana

Resumen es: El estudio de la diaspora Africana se ha vuelto un area vibrante de investigacion y ensenanza en los anos recientes a traves de las disciplinas. Sin emba...
Comparing FICDM and wafer-level CDM test methods: Apples to Oranges?

The on-chip stresses induced by FICDM, WCDM2, CC-TLP, and VF-TLP are compared on the basis of voltage monitor readings and IC functional failures. In general, core circuit failures induced by FICDM are replicated on the wafer level. Package-related parasitics increase the FICDM current rise-time at an I/O pad relative to that measured externally, causing miscorrelation with wafer-level testers.
Imperfect physician assistant and physical therapist admissions processes in the United States

We compared and contrasted physician assistant and physical therapy profession admissions processes based on the similar number of accredited programs in the United States and the co-existence of many programs in the same school of health professions, because both professions conduct similar centralized application procedures administered by the same organization. Many studies are critical of the fallibility and inadequate scientific rigor of the high-stakes nature of health professions admissions decisions, yet typical admission processes remain very similar. Cognitive variables, most notably undergraduate grade point averages, have been shown to be the best predictors of academic achievement in the health professions. The variability of non-cognitive attributes assessed and the methods used to measure them have come under increasing scrutiny in the literature. The variance in health professions students’ performance in the classroom and on certifying examinations remains unexplained, and cognitive considerations vary considerably between and among programs that describe them. One uncertainty resulting from this review is whether or not desired candidate attributes highly sought after by individual programs are more student-centered or graduate-centered. Based on the findings from the literature, we suggest that student success in the classroom versus the clinic is based on a different set of variables. Given the range of positions and general lack of reliability and validity in studies of non-cognitive admissions attributes, we think that health professions admissions processes remain imperfect works in progress.
Characteristics of the accumulation of methotrexate polyglutamate derivatives in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and isolated rat hepatocytes.

The intracellular synthesis and retention of polygammaglutamyl derivatives of methotrexate and their interactions with H2folate reductase was evaluated in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell and the isolated rat hepatocyte. Methotrexate polyglutamates were detected within 15 minutes in hepatocytes exposed to 1 µM methotrexate, and continued to accumulate for at least 60 minutes producing a large transmembrane gradient. These derivatives appeared to be preferentially retained within the cell even under conditions where release of intracellular methotrexate was induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or isobutyl methyl xanthine. Deoxycholate and bromo-sulfophthalein, compounds which inhibited methotrexate influx into hepatocytes, reduced the ratio of methotrexate polyglutamates to methotrexate, suggesting that these agents also inhibit the metabolism of methotrexate.
Nonlinear dynamics issues for quasi-isochronous storage rings

The synchrotron equation of motion in quasi-isochronous (QI) storage rings was transformed to a universal Weierstrass equation, where solution is given by Jacobian elliptic functions. Scaling properties of QI Hamiltonian were derived. The effects of phase space damping and the sensitivity of particle motion to external harmonic modulation were studied. We found that rf phase modulation is particularly enhanced in QI storage rings. This means that the operators of QI storage rings should pay special attention to rf phase modulation. Exact formulae and sum rules for resonance strength coefficients were derived. In the presence of radiation damping and rf phase modulation, the QI system exhibits a sequence of period-two bifurcations enroute to global chaos (instability) in a region of modulation tune. The critical modulation amplitude for the onset of global chaos shows a cusp as a function of modulation tune. This cusp was shown to arise from the transition from the 2:1 to the 1:1 parametric resonances. We also studied the effect of rf voltage modulation and found that the tolerance of rf voltage modulation is much larger than that of rf phase modulation.
Low-Noise Amplifiers for Centimeter and Shorter Wavelengths

A number of new techniques for detecting signals at centimeter and shorter wavelengths are making possible far better noise performance than ever before attainable. Over the past ten years, noise temperatures have been reduced from around 3,000°K to less than 5°K. The low-noise devices which are currently competitive or which show future promise include traveling-wave tubes, parametric amplifiers, tunnel diodes, masers, photon counters, and photosensitive detectors. This paper discusses the various techniques for attaining low noise and summarizes the achievements relative to each technique. Effective noise reduction in traveling-wave tubes is accomplished by making the beam flow through an extended low-velocity region. Noise temperatures as low as 250°K have been measured on traveling-wave tubes at S band. Low noise has been attained in parametric devices using both electron beams and semiconductor diodes. Some of the lowest noise temperatures measured on any unrefrigerated microwave amplifiers are those for electron-beam parametric amplifiers. Refrigerated semiconductor-diode parametric amplifiers have given even lower noise temperatures. The tunnel-diode amplifier is the most recent negative resistance microwave device. It seems to have limitations as far as extremely low-noise performance is concerned, but nevertheless it is a good competitor for many low-noise applications. So far, the maser is the best in microwave low-noise amplification. Intrinsic maser noise temperatures of a few degrees are readily attainable. Photon counters and photosensitive detectors are inherently even quieter and give promise of considerable future potential.
The legal protection of computer software

As new as the technology itself, a sometimes confusing array of legal protections are now available to safeguard the huge investment of time and money that goes into the development of sophisticated commercial software.