cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Hand Movements During Speech: Studies of the Role of Self-Stimulation in Communication under Conditions of Psychopathology, Sensory Deficit, and Bilingualism

I would like to describe a particular line of research which I and my colleagues at the Clinical Behavior Research Unit have been engaged in over the past few years. This research has been concerned with hand movements accompanying the speech of those who, for various reasons, experience disruptions in their communicative contact with others. These studies have been conducted within the context of a larger research program which aims at understanding the function of kinesic behavior during speech. A basic assumption underlying this program has been that hand movements which accompany speech, quite apart from their intrinsic communicative value for the listener, play an important supportive and regulating role in the organization and coding of thought for the speaker himself. Our focus upon those who experience disruption in communicative contact was chosen as a way of testing this assumption.
Atomically Thin Resonant Tunnel Diodes

Vertical integration of 2D vdW materials is predicted to display novel electronic and optical properties absent in their constituent layers [1]. In this chapter the direct synthesis of two unique, atomically thin, multi-junction heterostructures is demonstrated by combining graphene with some important 2D TMDC: MoS2, MoSe2, and WSe2, aiming to achieve “epitaxy-grade” material interfaces. Surprisingly, the realization of MoS2-WSe2-graphene and WSe2-MoSe2-graphene heterostructures leads to resonant tunneling in an atomically thin stack with spectrally narrow, room-temperature negative differential resistance characteristics.
“What Shall I Call You?” (with Julian of Norwich)1

ABSTRACTJulian of Norwich (1342–1430), anchorite and seer, was, according to the twentieth-century mystic poet and monk Thomas Merton, “one of the most wonderful of all Christian voices” and “with ...
Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Serum Trypsinogen in Cystic Fibrosis Carriers.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine if infants carrying 1 cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor (CFTR) mutation demonstrate pancreatic inflammation in response to tobacco exposure. METHODS Cystic fibrosis carrier infants aged 4 to 16 weeks were prospectively enrolled. Tobacco exposure was assessed by survey and maternal hair nicotine analysis. Serum immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) levels at birth and at the time of recruitment were analyzed relative to the presence or absence of tobacco exposure. The effect of the severity of the CFTR mutation carried by the infant on the tobacco-IRT relationship was also analyzed. RESULTS Forty-eight infants completed the study. Newborn screen and follow-up IRT levels were not different between exposed infants (19 by hair analysis) and nonexposed infants (29 by hair analysis). Follow-up IRT levels were lower in infants with more severe CFTR mutations (P = 0.005). There was no difference in follow-up IRT based on CFTR mutation severity in exposed infants. Nonexposed infants with milder CFTR mutations had higher median IRT values on follow-up testing than those with more severe CFTR mutations (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The pancreas of cystic fibrosis carrier infants is affected by tobacco exposure, and those carrying less severe CFTR mutations may be more susceptible to tobacco effects.
Feasibility of measuring the bioavailability of topical betamethasone dipropionate in commercial formulations using drug content in skin and a skin blanching bioassay

An in vivo technique has been developed which simultaneously compares a skin blanching bioassay with drug content in human stratum corneum following topical application of four 0.05% beta-methasone dipropionate formulations. Bioavailability of drug from commercial cream and ointment formulations was assessed by quantification of drug content in tape-stripped stratum corneum and skin blanching in the treated skin site under occluded conditions. Tape-stripping removed stratum corneum to a varying degree between individuals but was consistent (35%) within an individual with all formulations, day to day. A correlation (r = 0.9935) between the amount of drug in the treated stratum corneum normalized for surface area and the corresponding skin blanching score was observed with four 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate formulations. Increasing the amount of drug in the tape-stripped stratum corneum correlated with an increased skin blanching score. Ointment formulations delivered more drug to the skin and produced greater blanching scores than the cream formulations. Topical corticosteroid content in the treated skin site can therefore be quantified and correlates well with the resulting pharmacodynamic activity.
Splenectomy does not affect the development of pneumonia following severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway offers a proposed mechanism to describe the increased risk of pneumonia following severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Vagal activity transmitted to the spleen results in decreased inflammatory cytokine production and immunosuppression. However, no clinical evidence exists. We sought to compare pneumonia rates among patients with TBI and splenectomy using a retrospective analysis of all trauma patients with splenic injury requiring splenectomy or TBI admitted to an ACS verified level one trauma center from 2011 to 2016. Admission Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ≤ 8 was used to identify sTBI. Pneumonia was defined by respiratory culture obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage. Analysis included χ2 and one-way analysis of variance followed by multivariate logistic regression to determine the association of sTBI and splenectomy of development of pneumonia. Four hundred and twenty-seven patients were included for primary analysis, 247 with sTBI, 180 with splenectomy, and 14 with both sTBI and splenectomy. Rates of pneumonia were increased, although not significant among patients with sTBI and splenectomy and both sTBI alone (71.4 vs. 49.4%, p = 0.11). On multivariate regression, the risk of pneumonia was increased with both splenectomy and sTBI (OR 3.18; 95% CI, 0.75–13.45) and sTBI alone, although significant in the latter only (OR 3.56; 95% CI, 2.12–5.97). Based on these results, splenectomy does not appear to influence the development of pulmonary immunosuppression and pneumonia following sTBI.
Pin Status: An Arduino Debugging Library for High School E-textile Courses

When learning to code a student must learn both to create a program and then how to debug said program. Novices often start with print statements to help trace code execution and isolate logical errors. Eventually, they adopt advance debugger practices such as breakpoints, "stepping" through code execution, and "watching" variables as their values are updated. Unfortunately for students working with Arduino devices, there are no debugger tools built into the Arduino IDE. Instead, a student would have to move onto a professional IDE like Atmel Studio and/or acquire a hardware debugger. Except, these options have a steep learning curve and are not intended for a student who has just started to learn how to write code. I am developing an Arduino software library, called Pin Status, to assist novice programmers with debugging common logic errors and provide features specific to the e-textile microcontroller, Adafruit Circuit Playground Classic. These features include a breakpoint method which pauses an Arduino program's execution and offers, via Serial communication, a menu for viewing and/or updating the current value of digital pins and "watched" variables. On the Adafruit Circuit Playground Classic, the library also uses on-board LEDs to show the current value of the digital pins (High/Low). This work has been funded by NSF STEM+C, award #1742081.
Refiguring the perpetrator in Rithy Panh’s documentary films: S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine and Duch, Master of the Forges of Hell

During the Pol Pot regime an estimated two million Cambodians were systematically exterminated by torture, disease, starvation, and forced labour. Understanding what happened was necessary in order...
The Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Pediatric Chronic Migraine: A Literature Review.

Aims:To conduct a review of the literature on the use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of pediatric chronic migraine.Methods:A review of the literature was performed using EMBASE, PubMed, and C...
A comparison of the effects of plyometric and virtual training on physical and functional performance: a randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND This study compared the effects of plyometric training (PT) and virtual training (VT) on physical and functional performance. METHODS Fifty-five moderately-trained women participated in this randomized, controlled, prospective study. The subjects were randomly assigned to VT (N.=20), PT (N.=18), and control (CG, N.=17) groups. The VT was performed using the Your Body Shape Fitness Evolved 2012™ exergame in an Xbox360/Kinetic™ environment. The PT was based on the methods used in previous studies. Both interventions were performed 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Participants in the CG were not submitted to any type of intervention. Physical performance (fitness and athleticism levels) was assessed using the Nike+ Kinetic Training™ exergame in an Xbox360/Kinetic™ environment. Functional performance was assessed using the shuttle run (SR), triple hop test (THT), and six-meter timed hop test (STHT). RESULTS Postintervention fitness and athleticism levels were significantly greater in VT (P<0.001 and P=0.009) and in PT (P<0.001 and P=0.003) than baselines values. Only VT postintervention fitness level was significantly greater compared to CG (P=0.03). Postintervention SR values were significantly lower than baselines values in all groups (P<0.001). VT (P=0.08) and PT (P=0.006) postintervention values were significantly lower compared to CG. Postintervention THT values were significantly greater than baselines values in VT and PT (P<0.001). VT (P=0.04 - dominant limb) and PT (P=0.003 - dominant limb; and P=0.03 - non-dominant limb) postintervention values were significantly greater compared to CG. Postintervention STHT values were significantly lower than baselines values in VT (P<0.001), PT (P<0.001) and CG (P=0.01-0.02). PT postintervention dominant (P=0.01) and non-dominant (P=0.03) limb values were significantly lower compared to CG. CONCLUSIONS Both VT and PT are beneficial for improving physical and functional performance. Therefore, VT might be a new tool that can be used for physical exercise practice and conditioning training in moderately-trained women.
Youth Gangs and Victimization: An Investigation of the Impact of Gang Dynamics on Experiences of Victimization

Studies comparing gang members to similarly situated non-gang members find youth gang involvement is positively associated with experiencing simple and aggravated assault (i.e., violent victimizati...
Correlation of Biomarker Expression in Colonic Mucosa with Disease Phenotype in Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation due to immunological, microbial, and environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. Advances in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of IBD require the identification of robust biomarkers that can be used for molecular classification of diverse disease presentations. We previously identified five genes, RELA, TNFAIP3 (A20), PIGR, TNF, and IL8, whose mRNA levels in colonic mucosal biopsies could be used in a multivariate analysis to classify patients with CD based on disease behavior and responses to therapy. We compared expression of these five biomarkers in IBD patients classified as having CD or UC, and in healthy controls. Patients with CD were characterized as having decreased median expression of TNFAIP3, PIGR, and TNF in non-inflamed colonic mucosa as compared to healthy controls. By contrast, UC patients exhibited decreased expression of PIGR and elevated expression of IL8 in colonic mucosa compared to healthy controls. A multivariate analysis combining mRNA levels for all five genes resulted in segregation of individuals based on disease presentation (CD vs. UC) as well as severity, i.e., patients in remission versus those with acute colitis at the time of biopsy. We propose that this approach could be used as a model for molecular classification of IBD patients, which could further be enhanced by the inclusion of additional genes that are identified by functional studies, global gene expression analyses, and genome-wide association studies.
Training, Perceptions, and Practices of Elementary Educators regarding Health Instruction

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the status of health education programming in elementary schools in Texas. Six hundred and forty teachers in six school districts were surveyed, with 286 (44.6 percent) usable surveys being completed. Results indicated that 115 teachers (40.2 percent) have never taken a formal health education course in college, while 126 respondents (44.3 percent) had taken only one course. Only 75 teachers (26.3 percent) had ever attended a health education inservice workshop. Yet, 223 teachers (79.8 percent)felt “competent/qualified” to teach health education. Teachers felt that development of positive self-esteem was the most important topic to teach, but only 126 teachers (44.3 percent) actually developed a formal lesson on the topic. One focus of the comprehensive school health education model is sequential K-12 programming. Elementary teachers are expected to play a critical role in the impact of this model, yet few of the respondents in this study had actually had ...
Physical and Cultural Dimensions of Movement Related to Horizon

Each of these images of horizon evoke romantic notions: mystery, intrigue, uncertainty of what can be found beyond that horizon. These images imply movement related to that horizon. These sailors and riders are moving toward an end in view. However, these images also evoke ends that are not truly ends. There is no true closure; if it is a film, images of horizon set-up the audience for a sequel. Such images give a sense of “beyond,” of continuation, of a possibly but not certainly similar scene, not of behind, of breaking through a barrier into a probably different realm. The horizon invites us to imagine the possibilities, as it includes us in its domain. We do not need to break with ourselves to take part in the horizon, to continue in our vision.
Love and the Brazilian Imaginary in National Fiction and Popular Cinema: From O Guaraní to As Melhores Coisas do Mundo

Brazil’s national and cultural self-conception arguably begins with, and was definitely impacted by, the Romantic fictional narratives of Jose de Alencar, most notably Iracema and O Guarani . In establishing racial hybridity as a positive and uniquely Brazilian characteristic, Alencar appropriated that most universal of themes, love, as the vehicle by which the Brazilian culture was established and continues to define itself. More than one hundred and fifty years later, the pervasiveness of Alencar’s idea, as well as his subversive appropriation of distinctly foreign elements to declare a separate identity, is evident even in artistic narratives that do not explicitly examine questions of national identity. As Melhores Coisas do Mundo , a coming-of-age film set in modern-day Sao Paulo, illustrates the degree to which Alencar’s ideas continue to inform the most basic assumptions in individual and collective identity precisely because the movie’s narrative presents no conscious meditation on such issues. Keywords: identity formation, foundational literature, popular cinema
An evaluation of system-level fault tolerance on the Intel hypercube multiprocessor

A discussion is presented of a fault-tolerant hypercube multiprocessor architecture which uses a novel algorithm-based fault-detection approach for identifying faulty processors. The scheme involves the detection and location of faulty processors concurrently with the actual execution of parallel applications on the hypercube. The authors have implemented system-level fault-detection mechanisms for various parallel applications on a 16-processor Intel iPSC hypercube multiprocessor. They report on the results of two applications: matrix multiplication and fast Fourier transform. They have performed extensive studies of fault coverage of their system-level fault-detection schemes in the presence of finite-precision arithmetic, which affects the system-level encodings. They propose a reconfiguration strategy for reconfiguring the system around faulty processors by introducing spare links and nodes. >
Increasing Servers' Tips: What Managers Can Do and Why They Should Do It

Abstract Tipping is generally regarded in the industry as more of a server concern than a managerial one. For this reason, it is the rare restaurant executive or manager who tries to actively influence the level of his or her servers' tip incomes. I believe that is a mistake—that restaurant executives and managers can and should increase their servers' tip incomes. First, I present several tactics that servers can use to increase their own tips. Then, I describe the role that executives and managers can play in encouraging servers' use of these tactics. Finally, I explain how executives and managers will benefit from encouraging servers to try these tactics.
A liquid-metal tunable electromagnetic-bandgap microstrip filter

The electromagnetic-bandgap filter described here has a stopband that can be tuned using liquid metal to adjust the spacing of EBG elements. This was demonstrated by shifting the stopband center frequency of the filter from 10.1 GHz to 5.5 GHz. The frequency shift was achieved by pumping liquid metal into fluidic chambers built on the ground plane of the filter, filling in the holes in the ground plane. Although the liquid metal in the current system was manually pumped using a syringe, future filters may use programmable micropumps to achieve the desired tuning between different filter states.
A Mössbauer spectroscopic study of rust formed during simulated atmospheric corrosion

Abstract Steel coupons were subjected to 100% relative humidity and were inoculated every day with 100 μl of 0.01 N solutions of NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , LiCl or CsCl. The first solid rust constituent that formed contained significant amounts of both γ-FeOOH and ferrihydrite. In contrast, only γ-FeOOH was observed in the rust formed during atmospheric corrosion and during wet-dry cycling with distilled water in the laboratory. The ferrihydrite in time was converted to γ-FeOOH, α-FeOOH, and γ-Fe 2 O 3 . The fractions of ferrihydrite + γ -FeOOH in the rust formed as a function of time during atmospheric exposure and during rusting in the laboratory environment were the same in the two cases.
Optical vector network analyzer for single-scan measurements of loss, group delay, and polarization mode dispersion

We present a method for measuring the complete linear response, including amplitude, phase, and polarization, of a fiber-optic component or assembly that requires only a single scan of a tunable laser source. The method employs polarization-diverse swept-wavelength interferometry to measure the matrix transfer function of a device under test. We outline the theory of operation to establish how the transfer function is obtained. We demonstrate the enhanced accuracy, precision, and dynamic range of the technique through measurements of several components.
Performance/Economics Comparison of Sensible and Thermochemical Energy Transport Systems for Solar Thermal Dish Applications

A major challenge facing the development of distributed receiver solar systems is the efficient transport of high temperature thermal energy from the collectors to the point of use. As receiver temperatures increase, conventional sensible (SEN) energy transport methods become less attractive because of increased heat losses and insulation costs. A promising alternative that is particularly attractive for the high temperatures characteristic of paraboloidal dishes and the extensive piping associated with large collector fields is the concept of thermochemical (TC) energy transport. Estimates of the performance and economics of 4 SEN and 2TC transport systems for a dish collector field are compared at 4 delivery temperatures ranging from 400 to 815/sup 0/C. On the basis of levelized energy cost (LEC), there is no clear choice between SEN and TC energy transport at 400/sup 0/C. At higher output temperatures, TC transport is more cost-effective and is the only viable choice at temperatures above --700/sup 0/C. The TC system based on the carbon-dioxide reforming of methane has the best performance and lowest costs at temperatures >400/sup 0/C and appears closest to meeting the DOE Solar Thermal Technology (STT) Program long-term IPH goal of 3 cents/kWH/sub th/ (9$/MBtu/sub th/) LEC.
Learning in the Pacific starfish Pisaster giganteus.

Summary Eight Pacific starfish (Pisaster giganteus) learned to associate a light stimulus with food. This took eight trials at most. The association disappeared when response to the light stimulus was no longer rewarded. The ability of starfish to learn may help to explain why they are able to move actively yet stay in areas where the probability of finding food is high. It is important for active predators to be able to do this.
Gene flow from transgenic maize to landraces in Mexico: An analysis

A highly publicized study in 2001 reported that maize landraces in Oaxaca, Mexicowere found to contain transgenes, yet not all follow-up research has detected transgenes in the same region. Continued testing for transgenes in Mexican maize, and calls for the removal of transgenes from landraces, have only fueled the debate about the dynamics of gene flow from transgenic maize to landraces in Mexico. This paper reviews these recent findings and discusses how evolution may be expected to alter the frequency of transgenes in crop populations over time. Further, it shows that calls for removing transgenes must be interpreted in light of two ecological complexities: (a) it may be impossible to purge a particular gene from a population and (b) scientists’ ability to accurately determine the presence or absence of transgenes is limited by challenges related to sampling. The paper concludes by outlining two ways forward for removing transgenes from landraces. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
RATE OF CHOLESTEROL SYNTHESIS IN HYPO- AND HYPERTHYROID RATS

The rate of cholesterol synthesis, measured by the rate of incorporation of tritium from body water into the cholesterol molecule, was found to be greater than normal in the hyperthyroid rat and below normal in the hypo-thyroid rat.
Complete Restoration of Visual Cortical Responses is Possible Late in Development. Focus on “Recovery of Cortical Binocularity and Orientation Selectivity After the Critical Period for Ocular Dominance Plasticity”

This story began about 40 years ago when [Wiesel and Hubel (1963][1], [1965][2]) first reported that closing one eye early in development (by monocular lid suturing) produced devastating consequences later in life on the ability of the deprived eye to activate cells in the visual cortex. In the
Natural convection experiments with a finite-length, vertical, cylindrical heat source in a water-saturated porous medium

Abstract An experimental effort is under way to investigate convective heat transfer in liquid-saturated porous media utilizing a geometry, and hydrodynamic/thermal boundary conditions, relevant to the problem of nuclear waste isolation in geologic repositories. In the present work, measurements were made of the transient and steady-state thermal fields throughout an annular region bounded by vertical, coaxial cylinders. The inner cylinder was comprised of a finite-length heat source, supported above and below by insulating sections; the outer cylinder was maintained at a constant temperature. An overlying liquid layer was used to impose a permeable upper-surface boundary condition; this layer was maintained at a constant temperature equal to that of the outer cylinder. All properties of the porous medium, including porosity, permeability, and effective thermal conductivity were measured. Experimental results obtained in this effort showed steady-state heater surface temperatures (at constant heater power) to increase with increasing vertical distance due to the buoyancy-driven upflow. The measured steady-state radial temperature drop across the annulus was found to systematically depart from the finite-length-cylinder conduction solution as heater power was increased, consistent with the presence of increased convective-energy transport. Comparisons between measured results and numerical predictions obtained using the finite element code MARIAH showed good agreement, thereby contributing to the qualification of this code for repository-design applications.
On the determination of potentials without bound state data

Abstract We investigate the feasibility of recovering a compactly supported potential from the S-matrix. For general potentials this is known to be insufficient, information on the bound states being essential. We prove uniqueness results and derive reconstruction algorithms for potential recovery, using several different combinations of S-matrix data. The basic device is the transformation of the scattering data into boundary conditions for a related hyperbolic boundary value problem. Some generalizations to the case of step-like potentials are proved.
ISMB/ECCB 2009 Stockholm

The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB; http://www.iscb.org) presents the Seventeenth Annual International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB), organized jointly with the Eighth Annual European Conference on Computational Biology (ECCB; http://bioinf.mpi-inf.mpg.de/conferences/eccb/eccb.htm), in Stockholm, Sweden, 27 June to 2 July 2009. The organizers are putting the finishing touches on the year's premier computational biology conference, with an expected attendance of 1400 computer scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, biologists and scientists from other disciplines related to and reliant on this multi-disciplinary science. ISMB/ECCB 2009 (http://www.iscb.org/ismbeccb2009/) follows the framework introduced at the ISMB/ECCB 2007 (http://www.iscb.org/ismbeccb2007/) in Vienna, and further refined at the ISMB 2008 (http://www.iscb.org/ismb2008/) in Toronto; a framework developed to specifically encourage increased participation from often under-represented disciplines at conferences on computational biology. During the main ISMB conference dates of 29 June to 2 July, keynote talks from highly regarded scientists, including ISCB Award winners, are the featured presentations that bring all attendees together twice a day. The remainder of each day offers a carefully balanced selection of parallel sessions to choose from: proceedings papers, special sessions on emerging topics, highlights of the past year's published research, special interest group meetings, technology demonstrations, workshops and several unique sessions of value to the broad audience of students, faculty and industry researchers. Several hundred posters displayed for the duration of the conference has become a standard of the ISMB and ECCB conference series, and an extensive commercial exhibition showcases the latest bioinformatics publications, software, hardware and services available on the market today. The main conference is preceded by 2 days of Special Interest Group (SIG) and Satellite meetings running in parallel to the fifth Student Council Symposium on 27 June, and in parallel to Tutorials on 28 June. All scientific sessions take place at the Stockholmsmassan/Stockholm International Fairs conference and exposition facility. Contact: [email protected]
Cylindrical dielectric elastomer actuators reinforced with inextensible fibers

Novel actuator configurations for various applications can be obtained using cylindrical dielectric elastomer actuators. A new configuration for a contractile electro-elastomer is presented here for the first time. A cylindrical or tubular configuration is used to realize simultaneous axial shortening and radial expansion when a voltage is applied across the thickness of the hollow cylinder. In this configuration, the inner and outer surfaces of a cylindrical dielectric elastomer are coated with compliant electrodes. The outer cylindrical surface is then enclosed by a network of helical fibers that are very thin, very flexible and inextensible. Fiber networks or cord families are commonly used in many different materials and for a variety of applications. The primary purpose of these networks is structural, that is to say, for reinforcement. The composite active structure proposed here is reminiscent of the McKibben actuator, a pneumatically actuated cylindrical construct consisting of a flexible rubber bladder sheathed in a fiber network, which garners its impressive contracting force from the inextensible fibers that prevent axial extension when an inflation pressure is applied to the internal bladder [1]. The system is modeled using an electro- elastic formulation derived from the large deformation theory of reinforced cylinders [2]. The model combines Maxwell-Faraday electrostatics and nonlinear elasticity theory [3]. Illustratively, solutions are obtained assuming a Mooney-Rivlin material model for a silicone actuator. The results indicate that the relationship between the axial contraction force and the axial shortening is linear for the voltage range considered. The importance of other system parameters such as the fiber angle and the applied constant pressure is also reported.
SIRT1 regulates oxidant- and cigarette smoke-induced eNOS acetylation in endothelial cells: Role of resveratrol

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a crucial role in endothelial cell functions. SIRT1, a NAD + -dependent deacetylase, is shown to regulate endothelial function and hence any alteration in endothelial SIRT1 will affect normal vascular physiology. Cigarette smoke (CS)-mediated oxidative stress is implicated in endothelial dysfunction. However, the role of SIRT1 in regulation of eNOS by CS and oxidants are not known. We hypothesized that CS-mediated oxidative stress downregulates SIRT1 leading to acetylation of eNOS which results in reduced nitric oxide (NO)-mediated signaling and endothelial dysfunction. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and H 2 O 2 showed decreased SIRT1 levels, activity, but increased phosphorylation concomitant with increased eNOS acetylation. Pre-treatment of endothelial cells with resveratrol significantly attenuated the CSE- and oxidant-mediated SIRT1 levels and eNOS acetylation. These findings suggest that CS- and oxidant-mediated reduction of SIRT1 is associated with acetylation of eNOS which have implications in endothelial dysfunction.
Are we ready for the clinical use of novel acute kidney injury biomarkers

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common event in several neonatal populations, and those neonates with AKI have poor outcomes. Serum creatinine (SCr)-based definitions of AKI are not ideal and are additionally limited in neonates whose SCr reflects the maternal creatinine level at birth and normally drops over the first weeks of life dependent on gestational age. Recent studies show that urine and serum biomarkers may provide a better basis than SCr on which to diagnose AKI. In this month's issue of Pediatric Nephrology, Sarafidis et al. show that urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), serum NGAL (sNGAL), and urine cystatin c (uCysC) are highest in those neonates with asphyxia who have elevated SCr. Furthermore, those with asphyxia without a concomitant rise in SCr levels have elevated levels of biomarkers compared to controls, suggesting a dose response. Once the SCr level returns to normal, the levels of novel AKI biomarkers continue to be elevated. While these findings strengthen the argument for the clinical use of these AKI biomarkers, further work is needed before they can be implemented in clinical practice. Large-scale observational multi-center studies are needed to test these biomarkers against hard clinical endpoints. In addition, randomized intervention trials which use biomarkers to define AKI need to be performed.
Growth of (101) faces of tetragonal lysozyme crystals: determination of the growth mechanism

Measurements of the macroscopic growth rates of the (101) face of tetragonal lysozyme crystals indicate an unusual dependence on the supersaturation [Forsythe et al. (1999), Acta Cryst. D55, 1005–1011] similar to that observed for the (110) face. As performed previously for the (110) face, the surface packing arrangement for the (101) face was constructed in this study based on earlier microscopic observations and theoretical analysis of the internal molecular packing. This allowed the minimum growth unit for this face to be identified as a tetramer corresponding to a single turn of helices centered about the 43 axes and the minimum growth step to be identified as of unimolecular height. A macroscopic mathematical model for the growth of the (101) face was developed based on the reversible formation of multimeric growth units in solution and the addition of a unit to the crystal face by dislocation and two-dimensional nucleation mechanisms. The calculations showed that the best fits were obtained for tetramer or octamer growth units in this model. This and other evidence suggests that while growth may proceed by a variety of growth units, the average size of these units is between that of a tetramer and an octamer.
Roles and responsibilities of a medical geneticist.

Medical geneticists must generate a differential diagnosis, practice evidence-based medicine, and apply ethical, legal, and social issue (ELSI) principles in the clinical setting. Several clinical scenarios are presented which illustrate dilemmas in the cancer genetics setting. These include the differential diagnosis of breast and gastric cancer, and the predicament posed by the need to practice evidence-based medicine in light of limitations in the medical genetics literature, which may mean recommending prophylactic surgery. Also discussed are three BRCA1/2 genetic testing scenarios which illustrate the difficulty of knowing where to “draw the line”, i.e., when to offer testing and what level of testing to pursue. Decision-making about BRCA1/2 gene testing including Ashkenazi Jewish founder mutation testing, comprehensive reflex testing, and expedited testing, is explored. The duty to recontact as standard of care evolves requires that medical geneticists determine how to prospectively set expectations with patients as well as to decide which situations require recontact and to determine how to systematically do so. The case of patient recontact regarding new mutation detection techniques with improved sensitivity, e.g., BART testing which is based on the ability to detect large BRCA1/2 rearrangements, is discussed. General principles are highlighted so that these specific cases can be extrapolated to other genes and hereditary conditions by medical geneticists, genetic counselors, and others practicing in the field of cancer genetics.
Dose-dependent effects of d-N-allylnormetazocine on regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose

Cerebral metabolic patterns produced by different doses of the benzomorphan opioid drug,d-N-allylnormetazocine (d-NANM), were stud using the 2-deoxy-d-[1-14C]glucose method in rats. The lowest dose ofd-NANM (0.5 mg/kg) decreased regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (rCMRglc) in areas, such as cranial nerve nuclei, that contain high densities of sigma (σ) receptors. However, higher doses of the drug (2.7 and 5 mg/kg) increased rCMRglc in components of the extrapyramidal motor and limbic systems. Some of these latter areas (e.g. molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, accumbens nucleus, globus pallidus, ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus) are not enriched in σ receptors. Reductions in rCMRglc produced by the lowerst dose ofd-NANM probably reflect direct interactions of the drug with σ receptors, whereas increases in rCMRglc observed with the highest doses more likely result from effects ofd-NANM on PCP receptors.
Transient sensitivity of intracellular psittacosis virus to x-rays.

Members of the psittacosis virus group of microorganisms replicate through a series of cytochemically defined reactions, as visualized by fluorescence microscopy of infected cells stained with acridine orange. Procedures are described for examining radiation effects in these organisms. It is pointed out that the system provides a dynamic, intracellular, cytochemical indicator system with which quantitative dose-response relationships can be studied. Results are presented from studies on radiation effects on active virus in tissue cultured cells and control preparations. The effects of x rays on intracellular virus suggests that it was an irreversible reaction. During the sensitive stage of replication the logarithm of the survival ratio was proportional to the dose of x rays, except for a deviation shown at 6,000 r. Response of the virus to irradiation was more decisive than that of the host cell. It is postulated that the effect of x-ray treatment was on the initial viral desoxyribonucleic acid.
Correlates of organizational commitment: Differences in the public and private sector

Private and public sector managers were compared regarding their job characteristics and organizational commitment. We hypothesized that job characteristics would be positively related to commitment and that sector would moderate that relationship. Moderated regression analyses revealed partial support for both hypotheses. The existence of clarity and challenge were positively related to commitment. Job characteristics demonstrated a stronger relationship with commitment among private sector managers. Explanations for these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Gravity-Driven reactive coating flow down an inclined plane

The coating flow of a reactive fluid on an inclined plane is studied. The fluid viscosity steadily increases due to a sustained cross-linking reaction. Using well-known long wave approximations and a simple kinetic relation, we find that the linear stability of a uniform coating is affected not only by the inclination angle but also by the reaction order. In the weakly nonlinear limit, a generalized Kuramoto-Sivashinsky (K-S) equation is derived. Two interesting cases are identified in the limit of creeping flow. One is when surface tension is moderate and a generalized Burger's equation results, and the other is when the surface tension is large and the traditional K-S equation is recovered when the inclination angle is greater than 90°. The solution in this case represents a shock-like traveling wave down the incline and it appears to be unique for reacting coating flows.
Macular Hole Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using Autologous Serum Adjuvant

This randomized controlled trial of PPV alone versus PPV with autologous serum in the primary treatment of 47 eyes with idiopathic macular hole showed no benefit to using autologous serum adjuvant as determined by anatomic and visual outcomes.
The Autoxidation of αα Cross-Linked Hemoglobin: A Possible Role in the Oxidative Stress to Endothelium

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of hemoglobin autoxidation in the induction of endothelial heme oxygenase (HO), an inducible “stress” protein which is responsible for heme catabolism. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were incubated for six hours in the presence of 60 μM unmodified hemoglobin (HbA0), hemoglobin cross-linked between the a chains with bis-(3,5-dibromosalicyl) fumarate (ααHb) or cyanomet-αα-hemoglobin (CNmetααHb). Microsomal HO content increased 4.1-fold in the presence of ααHb, 2.7-fold with HbA0 and 1.8-fold with CNmetααHb over the control value. The rates of methemoglobin formation exhibited a linear relationship over the time of incubation (r = 0.94) and the apparent rate constant was 1.8-fold higher for ααHb (0.023 h-1) than HbA0 (0.013 h-1). In addition, a linear relationship was obtained by plotting the rates of autoxidation of hemoglobins versus the HO activity (r = 0.99). When cells were incubated with 100% methemoglobin, HO activity increased 5.0-fold and 4....
Purification of porphyrin esters by gel filtration

Abstract A relatively simple yet reproducible method has been developed for the separation of porphyrin esters on the micro or macro scale. This method is based on the principle of gel filtration. Though separation appears to result primarily as a consequence of size of the porphyrin esters, evidence is presented suggesting that adsorption of the porphyrin ester to the Sephadex LH-20 does play some role.
The spongy state: A form due to the agonal or postmortem evolution of gaseous carbon dioxide from glycogen

Histological study of the spongy state reveals that discontinuous segements of myelinated axons severed by the formation of the sponge cavities often appear morphologically intact. Since fibers severed from their cell bodies degenerate rapidly, it is concluded that the process occurs agonally or postmortem. The resemblance between the sponge cavities and postmortem gas cysts is emphasized, as are the differences between the spongy state and the liquid accumulation in cerebral edema.
Molecular Simulation of Strain Dependence of Vibrational Frequencies for Montmorillonite Clay and Analysis of Strain Transfer in a Polymer−Clay Nanocomposite

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to determine the vibrational density of states for a model montmorillonite clay as well as the spectral shifts with applied strain for significant peaks in the 1000−1300 cm-1 range. Under uniaxial deformation with fixed lateral dimensions, the spectral shifts are found to be around −29 and −40 cm-1/% strain in the clay, with little dependence on direction of applied strain within the plane of the clay platelet. Using Eshelby's method, a strain transfer efficiency of 5.6% is predicted for the nanocomposite with 5 wt % exfoliated clay. This results in a predicted spectral shift of −1.6 to −2.2 cm-1/% macrostrain in the nanocomposite, in reasonable agreement with the experimental results of Loo and Gleason (Macromolecules 2003, 36, 2587).
Colloidal synthesis of metastable zinc-blende IV-VI SnS nanocrystals with tunable sizes

Here we report the colloidal synthesis of size-tunable SnS nanocrystals that have an unusual meta-stable cubic zinc-blende phase instead of the more stable layered orthorhombic phase. The single-crystalline zinc-blende SnS nanocrystals with sizes of 8 nm, 60 nm, and 700 nm were achieved by injecting the sulfur–oleylamine precursor into tin–oleylamine solution in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) at different temperatures. The morphology and structure of the SnS nanocrystals were studied by high-resolution electron microscopy techniques. The small SnS nanoparticles (∼8 nm and ∼60 nm) are nearly spherical and have the polyhedral shape. The large (∼700 nm) crystals display a unique crystal morphology that have Td symmetry with a truncated tetrahedron configuration, and the four truncated surfaces each outgrow to form a convex triangular pyramid corner. Careful structural analysis revealed that each of the crystal is enclosed by 4 low-index {111} hexangular facets and 12 high-index {220} triangular facets using a lift-out technique with a focused ion beam (FIB) and followed by high resolution electron microscope imaging. The direct band gaps of the different sized SnS nanocrystals range from 1.63 eV to 1.68 eV. These heavy-metal-free and low cost nanocrystals are highly efficient absorptive materials in the whole UV-visible range, suitable for applications in photovoltaic cells.
Strategic planning for endgame

Abstract This article is based on the author's study of 61 firms managing businesses in environments of declining demand. It suggests ways in which firms might better prepare for this problem by managing their own exit barriers and by making strategic investments to affect the level of their competitors' exit barriers.
Are nonextremal black holes supersymmetric

In field theories, it is generally thought that BPS solutions are in one-to-one correspondence with supersymmetry preserving solutions. While extremal Reissner-Nordstrom black holes are known to be BPS, it has long been thought that their nonextremal counterparts are not. It is shown that these nonextremal black holes are indeed BPS solutions, but that there is no supergravity theory that contains them as solutions that preserve a fraction of the supersymmetry.
Large-scale isolation of CD133+ progenitor cells from G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood stem cells

We have evaluated the feasibility of large-scale isolation of CD133+ progenitors from healthy mobilized adult donors for potential clinical use in autologous and allogeneic transplantation. A total of 11 healthy volunteer adult donors were mobilized with G-CSF. CD133+ stem cells were isolated from a single leukapheresis using the Clinimacs method. The median percentage of CD133 before positive selection was 0.75% (range 0.39–2.03%). After selection, the median purity and recovery was 94% (range 85.2–98.0%) and 69% (range 44–100%), respectively. The median log10 T-cell depletion obtained by CD133+ positive selection was 4.2 (range 3.8–4.7). The CD133+ progenitors were highly enriched in colony-forming units (CFU) and transplantation into NOD/SCID mice resulted in a high engraftment rate. Transplantation of sorted CD133+/CD34+ cells into NOD/SCID mice showed a higher engraftment compared to CD133−/CD34+ cells. Mobilized peripheral CD133+ stem cells can be purified in large scale for potential clinical use. The biological function of the cells is not impaired. The majority of the NOD/SCID repopulating cells are within the CD133+/CD34+ subpopulation. Therefore, clinical studies using purified CD133+ stem cells can be envisoned to further clarify the role of CD133+ stem cells in hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation.
The Sensitivity of Value-Added Modeling to the Creation of a Vertical Score Scale

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of growth and value-added modeling to the way an underlying vertical score scale has been created. Longitudinal item-level data were analyzed with both student- and school-level identifiers for the entire state of Colorado between 2003 and 2006. Eight different vertical scales were established on the basis of choices made for three key variables: the item response theory modeling approach, the calibration approach, and the student proficiency estimation approach. Each scale represented a methodological approach that was psychometrically defensible. Longitudinal values from each scale were used as the outcome in a commonly used value-added model (the “layered model” popularized by William Sanders) as a means of estimating school effects. Our findings suggest that while the ordering of estimating school effects is insensitive to the underlying vertical scale, the precision of such value-added estimates can be quite sensitive to the combinati...