cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of different attachment systems maxillary and mandibular implant overdentures

Data sources Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline, Embase, the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.Study selection Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), including cross-over trials on maxillary or mandibular implant overdentures with different attachment systems with at least one-year follow-up were considered. There were no restrictions on language or date of publication. Data extraction and synthesis Data were abstracted by four reviewers with risk of bias being assessed using the Cochrane tool. Data were combined using a fixed effects meta-analysis. The GRADE approach was used to assess the overall body of evidence.Results Six RCTs with a total of 294 mandibular overdentures were included. All of the trials were considered to be at high risk of bias. No studies on maxillary overdentures were included. For bar and ball attachments there was low quality evidence [two studies] that short-term re-treatment (repair of attachment system) was higher with ball attachments; RR =3.11(95%CI; 1.68 to 5.75) but no difference RR = 1.18(95%CI; 0.38 to 3.71) for replacements of attachment systems. There was no difference between ball and magnet systems in medium-term prosthodontic success or repair of attachment systems, but prosthodontic maintenance costs were higher when magnet attachments were used [one study - very low quality evidence]. Only one trial compared ball and telescopic attachments providing very low quality evidence. Conclusions For mandibular overdentures, there is insufficient evidence to determine the relative effectiveness of different attachment systems on prosthodontic success, prosthodontic maintenance, patient satisfaction, patient preference or costs. No trial evidence was available for maxillary overdentures.
Using opportunities in big data analytics to more accurately predict societal consequences of natural disasters

The availability of data sources has greatly increased due to advances in technology and data sharing. With these new data sources and significantly larger volume of data, engineers have been prese...
Symmetry breaking during morphogenesis of a mechanosensory organ

Actively regulated symmetry breaking, which is ubiquitous in biological cells, underlies phenomena such as directed cellular movement and morphological polarization. Here we investigate how an organ-level polarity pattern emerges through symmetry breaking at the cellular level during the formation of a mechanosensory organ. Combining theory, genetic perturbations, and in vivo imaging assisted by deep learning, we study the development and regeneration of the fluid-motion sensors in the zebrafish9s lateral line. We find that two interacting symmetry-breaking events - one mediated by biochemical signaling and the other by cellular mechanics - give rise to a novel form of collective cell migration, which produces a mirror-symmetric polarity pattern in the receptor organ.
Using content analysis to explore users' perceptions and experiences using a novel citizen first responder app

Our experience report describes a pilot project that investigates users' self-reported perceptions and experiences using PulsePoint---a novel citizen first responder app. Our study includes analyzing select reviewer comments posted on the iOS and Android platforms and using grounded theory distillation practices to develop an evaluative heuristic/framework. We argue that these comments provide a rich source of untapped data for understanding how users experience mHealth apps from users' perspectives. We propose that the preliminary findings from this study can be used to inform the development and design of mHealth apps in the future from a patient/user-centered perspective, especially those that rely on citizen first responders.
Surgical CPT Coding Discrepancies: Analysis of Surgeons and Employed Coders:

Surgeon providers and billing professionals use Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes to specify patient treatment and associated charges. In the present study, coding discrepancies between surgeons' first pass coding and employed coders' final codes were investigated. A total of 500 patients over 3 months were retrospectively analyzed for coding discrepancies. To quantify the impact of change, codes with the most accumulated discrepancies were studied and change to annual relative value unit (RVU) was determined. Final submission of codes to billing demonstrated a 161% increase in total codes by the professional coders, versus original surgeon-derived codes (1594 vs 987 CPT codes). The most common source of change between the surgeon and coder was the addition of distinct codes by the billing professional (270 patients, 54.51%). These results demonstrate the existence of coding discrepancies. Future investigation will evaluate the communication between surgeons and billing professionals.
Control of SiC Based Integrated DC-DC Powertrain Charger for Electric Vehicles

In this paper, an automated controller for an integrated, reconfigurable dc-dc converter for plugin electric vehicles (EVs) is presented. The integrated converter combines both an interleaved boost converter and dual active bridge (DAB) converter, sharing magnetics and switching devices. The converter switches between operating modes using the existing battery management system (BMS) contactors. The integrated converter operates in isolated DAB mode during battery charging operation. During traction operation, the integrated converter is operated in interleaved boost mode for heavy load and DAB mode during light load, high voltage operation. An online transition algorithm is used to transition from interleaved boost mode to DAB mode with minimal bus distortion. The automated controller selects the operating mode and inverter bus voltage at different torque-speed conditions to get maximum overall traction drive efficiency. An experimental prototype of the integrated converter demonstrates the automated controller functionality.
Polska i zagraniczna historiografia na temat stosunków polsko-żydowskich w okresie drugiej wojny światowej

Historiography of the Holocaust published in Poland in the period from the end of the Second World War and until the nineties seems rather complex. While it did not ignore the topic altogether, it avoided some topics. Especially in the period immediately after the war, Jewish historians in the Central Jewish Historical Commission in Poland engaged in research and published important pioneering studies along collections of documents. From 1968 until the 1980s. historical research on the fate of Polish Jews during the war became marginalized and was carried out almost exclusively in Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw. Despite a large number of local studies and research on the controversial topic of Polish-Jewish relations during the war, the historiography still lacks a more theoretical study and a new synthesis of the Holocaust of Polish Jewry has not yet been written.
Discussion of “Psychoanalysis in the Meantime”

The article discusses Lisa Beritzhoff’s article titled “Psychoanalysis in the Meantime” (this issue). The author highlights how Beritzhoff avoids the use of a psychoanalysis that is indifferent. Sh...
Right Side Fractional Integral Inequalities of E.R. Love Type

Motivated for the work of E.R. Love ([5], 1985) on integral inequalities we produce general right side direct and reverse integral inequalities. We apply these to ordinary and right side fractional integral inequalities. The last involves ordinary derivatives, right side Riemann–Liouville fractional integrals, right side Caputo fractional derivatives, and right side generalized fractional derivatives.
Auditory cortex: Representing sound locations during active sensing.

Summary Active exploration changes how the brain processes auditory space. A new study reveals the dynamic properties of neural activity that encode combinations of sound identity and location during active sensing.
Using the Python programming language for image processing in nuclear medicine

1322 Learning Objectives After this presentation, attendees should 1) be able to list several advantages of the Python language, 2) be aware of how Python compares to other general purpose languages, 3) know how to obtain Python resources for their own use. Python is a general purpose programming language with a number of potential advantages for image handling and data presentation in nuclear medicine. The language is open source, so its use incurs no cost or licensing. It runs under Microsoft Windows, MAC OS X, and linux, and has been ported to the Java and .NET virtual machines. Technical advantages, which will be demonstrated, include an English-like syntax, introspection, object orientation, dynamic typing, and a high degree of self-documentation. Most importantly for application to nuclear medicine, there are a large number of modules both included in the Python core and available as add-ons, for performing the kind of image manipulation and data presentation tasks useful in nuclear medicine contexts. These include numpy for the array manipulation needed in image processing, and matplotlib, for display of graphs and data plots. Examples of each of the basic tasks that can be performed will be demonstrated as part of a complete application, with example code and output, including: 1) interacting with a graphical user interface , 2) reading DICOM or Interfile images, 3) assigning regions of interest, 4) image processing functions, 5) time-activity curve construction and display, and 6) saving data and calculated results for later use. In this presentation, online sources for obtaining the language and various useful modules, and learning resources will be given.
Isotone Recursive Methods: the Case of Homogeneous Agents

Over the last decade, isotone recursive methods have provided unified catalog of results on existence, characterization, and computation of Markovian Equilibrium Decision Processes (MEDPs) in infinite horizon economies where the second welfare theorem fails. Such economies include models with production nonconvexities, taxes, valued fiat money, models with monopolistic competition, behavioral heterogeneity, and incomplete markets. In this paper, we survey this emerging class of methods. Our methods use a qualitative approach to economic equilibria first introduced in the work in operations research by Veinott and Topkis. As the methods emphasize the role of order, they are amenable for obtaining conditions for monotone comparison theorems on the space of economies. We are also able to describe monotone iterative procedures that provide the needed foundations for a theory of numerical solutions for MEDPs and stationary Markov equilibrium (SME). One interesting additional result of independent interest is we construct sufficient conditions for the existence of a new class of envelope theorems for nonconcave programming problems.
Plasma Discharge in Water

Publisher Summary The key issue in large cooling systems is precipitation and removal of mineral ions such as calcium and magnesium from circulating cooling water so that the CaCO3 scales can be prevented at the condenser tubes and at the same time the cycle of concentration (COC) can be increased. Also the availability of clean water is an issue that has paralleled the continual increase in water consumption due to both global population growth and the economic development in a number of developing countries. High-voltage (HV) electrical discharges in water are able to induce various reactions including the degradation of organic compounds, the destruction of bacteria and viruses, the oxidation of inorganic ions, and the synthesis of nanomaterials and polymers. This chapter discusses four experiments relating to plasma generation and discharge in water. The first experiment is designed to study the dynamics of non-equilibrium plasma in liquid water. This experiment demonstrates that discharge in liquid water develops in nanosecond time scale, and the trailing edge of the nanosecond pulse generates a significant electric field and the excitation of the media. This effect can be considered as a proof that there was no void formation or phase transition during the first stage of the discharge. The second experiment deals with the application of spark discharge for scale removal on filter membranes, results of which helps in the third experiment that illustrates plasma-assisted CaCO3 precipitation. The fourth experiment highlights the application of plasma discharge in mineral fouling mitigation in heat exchangers. The chapter also discusses the application of plasma discharge for sterilization of water, focusing on the role of ultraviolet radiation, pulsed spark discharge, and comparison of different types of plasma discharge for water sterilization.
Abstract 429: HERP2 as a novel molecular marker and therapeutic target in glioblastoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most lethal and difficult-to-treat cancers of the central nervous system despite a multi-modality approach. The poor prognosis in GBM patients is due to therapeutic resistance which calls for identifying novel molecular therapeutic targets. Recently, HES-related repressor protein 2 (HEPR2), a mediator of notch signaling has been identified as a molecular target implicated in chemoresistance. This current study aims at both the epigenetic and transcription factor regulation as the potential mechanisms resulting in the expression of HES-related repressor protein 2 (HERP2) in GBM patient specimens and cell lines. Using immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis, we observed that the HERP2 protein is highly expressed in human GBM tissues and glioma cells (4910, U251 and 5310) and is significantly correlated with O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (MGMT) levels. We also observed that the expression of HERP2 was dependent on the methylation status of a HERP2 promoter-associated CpG island region as evidenced by prominent PCR products using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) analysis. Interestingly, treatment of GBM cells with demethylating agent, 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine resulted in hypomethylation, whereas sodium butyrate-treated cells remained specific for methylated CpG islands. Additionally, we also demonstrated a positive regulatory loop between HERP2 and NOTCH1 using rescue experiments. Further, we show the anti-tumorigenic role of siHERP2 to be mediated by the negative regulation of NOTCH1 protein. Our studies indicate that targeting HERP2 in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy will have favorable therapeutic implications. Citation Format: Kiran Kumar Velpula, Swapna Asuthkar, William Lee, Andrew J. Tsung. HERP2 as a novel molecular marker and therapeutic target in glioblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 429. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-429
PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS, HUMAN CAPITAL, AND LABOR MARKET SEGMENTS: Services and the Distribution of Rewards in Labor Market Transactions

This article contends that one key to understanding different forms of work organization lies in the nature of the products being created. Product characteristics are proposed to be critical determinants of the type of human capital, either general or firmspecific. Following from prior theory, labor market barriers develop based on type of human capital. These barriers then have a direct bearing on employee rewards. The nature of the product distinction is captured with a comparison of two product-types (goods and services) conceived as theoretically distinct. General skills are hypothesized to be more important in the service-producing sector, while firm-specific skills are hypothesized to be more important in the goods-producing sector. Empirical analyses using the 1991 General Social Survey compare workers in the service-producing and goods-producing sectors to illustrate differences in the salience of firmspecific and general skills. Two hypotheses are supported. Firm-specific skills have a stronger effect on earnings in manufacturing industries than in service industries. Also, skills acquired from on-the-job training, when compared with other skills, are more weakly related to service employee rewards. These distinctions between sectors suggest insights into structures unique to the service employment workplace. A variety of theoretical traditions have arisen to explain variations in employment relationships in the U.S. labor market. This article makes two contributions to this literature. First, we outline an argument by which two of the major perspectives, human capital theory and segmented labor market theory, can be partially reconciled. While both approaches have proven valuable in understanding employment relationships, they are often viewed as competing explanations. The purpose here is to highlight one way in which they are complementary rather than contradictory. Second, these perspectives are reconciled by bringing attention to an aspect of the employment relationship regularly ignored in explanations
Raman study of olivines in 37 heavily and moderately shocked ordinary chondrites

Raman spectra, generally in the delta wavelength range of 500–1200 cm−1, were taken from olivines in 37 ordinary chondrites to test whether the prominent laboratory-produced high-shock feature of olivine near 1100 cm−1 occurs in the olivines of the heavily shocked black chondrites. In addition to the lines of olivine, lines from the abundant orthopyroxene were also detected. It was found that the 1100 cm−1 feature was absent from all of the spectra and that all spectra, except that taken from the chondrite Ramsdorf (which showed line broadening and strong luminescence), were essentially indistinguishable and very similar to spectra taken from the unshocked mineral. The absence of the 1100 cm−1 feature and of strong luminescence from the chondritic Raman spectra, even in meteorites whose olivines are nearly X-ray amorphous, is thought to be due to thermal annealing during the comparatively slow cooling from peak shock temperatures.
Magnetic resonance and computed tomographic evaluation of congenital heart disease

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) provide noninvasive visualization of morphologic changes in pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease, as well as the functional changes caused by the underlying morphologic abnormalities. Clinical experience with MRI is richer than that with fast CT, but CT appears to provide accurate and high-quality imagery for diagnosis. The two modalities may be complementary. That is, intracardiac anatomy is so well depicted by MRI, and CT provides exquisite images of the great vessels. Furthermore, in adult patients, MR and CT are helpful in demonstrating and quantitating physiologic changes superimposed by acquired cardiovascular disease on the underlying congenital malformations. Using MRI, spin echo acquisitions provide the image data for evaluation of morphologic changes, and gradient reversal techniques add functional and flow data to complement morphologic changes. Contrast-enhanced electrocardiographic (ECG)-gated multidetector and electron beam CT examination provide morphologic information and may be used as a data set for off-line functional quantitation. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;19:827–847. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Viewers' Relationship to Television Personalities

A series of semantic differential scales were administered to 195 adult television viewers. The scales measured distance in semantic space between the concepts, self and best friend, acquaintance, and favorite television personality. Mean ratings for favorite television personality were in between those for friend and acquaintance in closeness to the self. Of the types of television personalities, news commentators were closest to the self, followed by talk show hosts and situation-program characters. This relationship was limited to male respondents.
Dilatation Symmetry of Classical Electrodynamics with Charged Particles of Finite Mass

It is shown that classical electrodynamics with charged particles of finite mass is invariant with respect to a one-parameter group of "dilatation transformations" if the theory is expressed in covariant Hamiltonian form. The "mass transformations," which seem somewhat puzzling in the usual discussions of this invariance group, appear in a natural way. A corresponding conservation law is derived and discussed.
Colchicine for treatment of relapsing polychondritis

This report describes the effectiveness of oral colchicine, 0.6 mg twice daily, in abating three attacks of chondritis in two patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for relapsing polychondritis (RP). Chondritis of the pinnae of the ears was utilized as a therapeutic guideline toward improvement. Collagen antibodies and urinary mucopolysaccharides were negative during flares and after improvement; antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were present in one patient. Both patients experienced a continued chondritis for at least 10 days before colchicine was started. Marked improvement was observed in 4 days, and complete resolution occurred after 7 days' treatment with colchicine. These observations indicate that the effectiveness of colchicine, as a relatively safer medicine, should be evaluated further in the treatment of RP.
Functional outcome and quality of life after repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for complications of ileoanal surgery.

PURPOSE: Disconnection of an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis has been proposed for treatment of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis failure caused by septic or functional complications. We report our experience with repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, and document functional outcome and quality of life. METHODS: Of 101 patients undergoing laparotomy, ileoanal disconnection, and repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, 80 were referred from other institutions. Indications included: chronic anastomotic leak (n = 27), perineal or pouch-vaginal fistula (n = 47), anastomotic stricture (n = 22), dysfunction/long efferent limb of S-pouch (n = 36), and previous ileal pouch-anal anastomosis excision or exclusion (n = 6). In 64 cases a “septic” indication was observed. Pathologic features of Crohn’s disease were present in 4 patients preoperatively and 15 more after repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Four patients had clinical features of Crohn’s disease. RESULTS: Three patients had no ileostomy, and 82 patients had temporary ileostomy closure. Of these, 82 percent have a functioning pouch, with a median follow-up of 32 functioning months. Two were rediverted and 13 had the pouch excised. Five-year pouch survival was 74 percent, higher for ulcerative colitis (79 percent) than Crohn’s disease (53 percent; P = 0.06). No differences were seen between those having repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for septic or nonseptic indications, or whether using a new or repaired pouch. Patients defecated 6.3 ± 2.8 (mean ± standard deviation) times per day, and 2 ± 1.9 per night. Thirty-five percent of patients never described urgency. Fecal seepage occurred in 50 percent during the day and 69 percent at night. Using the Cleveland Global Quality of Life Score to assess the patient’s quality of life, health, level of energy, and happiness with surgery (each scored from 0–10), quality of life was 8.2 ± 1.6, and happiness with surgery was 9 ± 2. Ninety-seven percent would undergo repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis again, and 99 percent would recommend it to others. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is a valid alternative for patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis failure. A controlled septic condition should not preclude salvage surgery. Although pouch failure occurs more frequently than after primary ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, patient satisfaction and quality of life are high.
α-Synuclein Genetic Variants Predict Faster Motor Symptom Progression in Idiopathic Parkinson Disease

Currently, there are no reported genetic predictors of motor symptom progression in Parkinson's disease (PD). In familial PD, disease severity is associated with higher α-synuclein (SNCA) expression levels, and in postmortem studies expression varies with SNCA genetic variants. Furthermore, SNCA is a well-known risk factor for PD occurrence. We recruited Parkinson's patients from the communities of three central California counties to investigate the influence of SNCA genetic variants on motor symptom progression in idiopathic PD. We repeatedly assessed this cohort of patients over an average of 5.1 years for motor symptom changes employing the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Of 363 population-based incident PD cases diagnosed less than 3 years from baseline assessment, 242 cases were successfully re-contacted and 233 were re-examined at least once. Of subjects lost to follow-up, 69% were due to death. Adjusting for covariates, risk of faster decline of motor function as measured by annual increase in motor UPDRS exam score was increased 4-fold in carriers of the REP1 263bp promoter variant (OR 4.03, 95%CI:1.57-10.4). Our data also suggest a contribution to increased risk by the G-allele for rs356165 (OR 1.66; 95%CI:0.96-2.88), and we observed a strong trend across categories when both genetic variants were considered (p for trend = 0.002). Our population-based study has demonstrated that SNCA variants are strong predictors of faster motor decline in idiopathic PD. SNCA may be a promising target for therapies and may help identify patients who will benefit most from early interventions. This is the first study to link SNCA to motor symptom decline in a longitudinal progression study.
An Exploratory Analysis of Stream Teratogenicity and Human Health Using Zebrafish Whole-Sediment Toxicity Test

This study demonstrates a novel application of effect-based toxicity testing for streams that may provide indications of co-perturbation to ecological and human health. For this study, a sediment contact assay using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos was adapted to serve as an indicator of teratogenic stress within river sediments. Sediment samples were collected from Lake Michigan tributary watersheds. Sediment contact assay responses were then compared to prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) and vital statistic birth indicators aggregated from civil divisions associated with the watersheds. Significant risk relationships were detected between variation in early life-stage (ELS) endpoints of zebrafish embryos 72 h post-fertilization and the birth prevalence of human congenital heart disease, low birthweight and infant mortality. Examination of principal components of ELS endpoints suggests that variance related to embryo heart and circulatory malformations is most closely associated with human CHD prevalence. Though toxicity assays are sometimes used prospectively, this form of investigation can only be conducted retrospectively. These results support the hypothesis that bioassays normally used for ecological screening can be useful as indicators of environmental stress to humans and expand our understanding of environmental–human health linkages.
The miR-430/427/302 Family Controls Mesendodermal Fate Specification via Species-Specific Target Selection

The role of microRNAs in embryonic cell fate specification is largely unknown. In vertebrates, the miR-430/427/302 family shows a unique expression signature and is exclusively expressed during early embryogenesis. Here, we comparatively address the embryonic function of miR-302 in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and its ortholog miR-427 in Xenopus laevis. Interestingly, we found that this miRNA family displays species-specific target selection among ligands of the Nodal pathway, with a striking conservation of the inhibitors, Lefties, but differential targeting of the activators, Nodals. The Nodal pathway plays a crucial role in germ layer specification. Accordingly, by gain and loss of function experiments in hESCs, we show that miR-302 promotes the mesendodermal lineage at the expense of neuroectoderm formation. Similarly, depletion of miR-427 in Xenopus embryos hinders the organizer formation and leads to severe dorsal mesodermal patterning defects. These findings suggest a crucial role for the miR-430/427/302 family in vertebrate embryogenesis by controlling germ layer specification.
Source-Aware Non-Uniform Transmission for Minimum Distortion

This paper considers to minimize the overall input-output distortion for wireless systems with analog inputs through joint source-channel coding. Taking a mixed analog-digital perspective, the source-aware non-uniform data transmission schemes are proposed by exploiting the non-uniformity in both channel coding and modulation design. Effect of channel coding is discussed and extension to systems with space-time diversity is also presented. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the proposed approaches.
Nature's Way To Make the Lantibiotics

Antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat for human health. Renewed effort towards discovery of new antibiotics is essential to ward off a widespread return of lethal infectious diseases to the developed world and to continue combating infectious diseases in the developing world. Traditionally, chemical education focuses on synthetic chemical means of producing pharmaceuticals. However, with the enormous advances in molecular biology techniques in the 1980s and genome sequence information in the 1990s, the use of nature's synthetic tools is on the rise as an important alternative avenue for production of drugs. This article focuses on one class of antimicrobial compounds, the lantibiotics, and discusses their biosynthetic pathways as well as their molecular mode of action. In the course of the review, the meaning of the terms regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity are discussed.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits chemokine production by human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.

Abstract This study examined whether the sensory neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibits release of chemokines by dermal microvascular endothelial cells. Dermal blood vessels are associated with nerves containing CGRP, suggesting that CGRP-containing nerves may regulate cutaneous inflammation through effects on vessels. We examined CGRP effects on stimulated chemokine production by a human dermal microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) and primary human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (pHDMECs). HMEC-1 cells and pHDMECs expressed mRNA for components of the CGRP and adrenomedullin receptors and CGRP inhibited LPS-induced production of the chemokines CXCL8, CCL2, and CXCL1 by both HMEC-1 cells and pHDMECs. The receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP)1/calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CL)-specific antagonists CGRP 8–37 and BIBN4096BS, blocked this effect of CGRP in a dose-dependent manner. CGRP prevented LPS-induced IκBα degradation and NF-κB binding to the promoters of CXCL1, CXCL8 and CCL2 in HMEC-1 cells and Bay 11-7085, an inhibitor of NF-κB activation, suppressed LPS-induced production of CXCL1, CXCL8 and CCL2. Thus, the NF-κB pathway appears to be involved in CGRP-mediated suppression of chemokine production. Accordingly, CGRP treatment of LPS-stimulated HMEC-1 cells inhibited their ability to chemoattract human neutrophils and mononuclear cells. Elucidation of this pathway may suggest new avenues for therapeutic manipulation of cutaneous inflammation.
Orchestrating data transfer for the cell/B.E. processor

In heterogeneous multi-core systems, such as the Cell/B.E. or certain embedded systems, the accelerator core has its own fast local memory without hardware supported coherence between the local and global memories. It is software's responsibility to dynamically transfer the working set into the local memory when the total data set is too large to fit in the local memory. The data can be transferred through either a software controlled cache or a direct buffer. Such a software cache can maintain correctness and exploit reuse among references, especially when complicated aliasing or data dependences exist. However, the software cache introduces the extra overhead of cache lookup. Direct buffering, on the other hand, is fast but is limited by the compiler's ability to disambiguate memory references. It is desirable to judiciously use both methods, for irregular and regular accesses respectively. However, when a datum resides in both the software cache and the direct buffer, coherence problems occur.In this paper, we propose a solution which provides compile time analysis and runtime maintenance to address this coherence issue. We use compiler analysis to guarantee that there is no access to software cache within the local live range of a direct buffer, and rely on runtime support to update values from or to software cache at the entry or exit of the direct buffer. Further, we present a global data flow analysis design to eliminate redundant coherence maintenance, and overlap computation and DMA accesses to reduce runtime overhead. We have implemented this method in our Single Source Compiler for Cell, and have conducted experiments with the NAS OpenMP benchmarks. The results show that our method maintains correctness while keeping most of the opportunities for direct buffering. The execution performance can increase more than 3x compared to approaches using only the software cache. Furthermore, compile time analysis can reduce 90% of the runtime updates, thereby improving performance by 20% further.
Modeling Natural Convection in Obstructed Channel

Simulation results for fluid and natural convective heat transfer within obstructed channels are presented. Analyses of obstructed regions are important in many engineering applications such as the design of heat exchangers, electrical devices, reactors and energy storage systems. In this study, an h-adaptive FEM algorithm is used to solve for fluid flow and heat transfer in channels with single and multiple obstructions. For comparison purposes, simulation results are also obtained for natural convective heat transfer in a smoothed channel. Results are compared with data in the literature and good agreement is observed. The model is especially attractive for accurately and efficiently assessing designs involving obstructed flow geometries.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) yield and disease incidence with potassium fertilization

Abstract Six cultivars and three lines of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were planted at two locations in Delaware in 1974 and 1975. Potassium fertilizer (KCl) at 0, 56, or 223 kg/ha actual K was added to the soil and the plants were evaluated for seed yield and incidence of gray‐moldy and purple‐stained seed. Potassium application was related to a decrease in yield in one year at one location but had no significant effect in the other year or at the other location. Cultivars differed in yield over the two years, with Kent, Cutler 71, and York having the most consistent yield in this study. The pathogen incidence was not affected by potassium application in contrast to earlier studies with soybeans grown in aluminum cylinders with a partially restricted soil volume. In this study, gray‐moldy and purple‐stain was highest in short season cultivars and higher at Georgetown than at Newark. Use of soybean cultivars resistant to diseases as well as maintaining adequate soil potassium levels should reduce high...
Sonochemical functionalization of mesoporous carbon for uranium extraction from seawater

Extracting uranium from seawater is challenging due to its low concentration (3.3 ppb) and the myriad of competing ions. Mesoporous carbon materials provide a high surface area alternative to the traditional polymeric fiber braids developed for seawater extractions, specifically uranium extraction. In this work, sonochemical grafting of acrylonitrile onto the pores of soft-templated mesoporous carbons followed by its conversion to amidoxime functionalities was used to prepare an effective sorbent material with a high density of binding sites. Pore blockage, often observed for free radical polymerization, leads to poor adsorbent performance but can be easily overcome by the use of ultrasound during polymerization. Parameters such as surface area and surface pre-treatment, sonication intensity, solvent system, and monomer/initiator ratios were varied to optimize the polymerization and uranium adsorption capacity while not blocking the porosity, a significant hurdle in the utilization of functionalized porous materials. The results show that neither the surface oxidation with nitric acid nor CO2 activation alone is sufficient to cause significant improvement in grafting and uranium uptake. However, when coupled together, a greatly enhanced performance of the adsorbent materials was observed.
Gold nanoisland structures integrated in a lab-on-a-chip for plasmonic detection of bovine growth hormone

Three-dimensional gold nanostructures fabricated through a novel convective assembly method are treated thermally to obtain a nanoisland morphology. The new structure is proved to be adequate for the detection of bovine growth hormone, by using an immunoassay method based on the localized surface plasmon resonance band of gold. The nanoisland structures are integrated into a microfluidic device and the spectral measurements are carried out by introducing the device directly in the light beam of a ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The principal motivation for this work is the need for a simple and rapid method of detection of hormone levels in milk and milk products.
Simulating the effect of cochlear-implant electrode insertion depth on speech understanding

Normally hearing listeners were presented with vowels, consonants, and sentences for identification through an acoustic simulation of a five-channel cochlear implant with electrodes separated by 4 mm (as in the Ineraid implant). The aim of the experiment was to simulate the effect of depth of electrode insertion on identification accuracy. Insertion depth was simulated by outputing sine waves from each channel of the processor at a frequency determined by the cochlear place of electrodes inserted 22–25 mm into the cochlea. The results indicate that simulated insertion depth had a significant effect on performance. Performance at 22- and 23-mm simulated insertion depths was always poorer than normal, and performance at 25-mm simulated insertion depth was, most generally, the same as normal. It is inferred from these results that, if insertion depth could be unconfounded from other coexisting factors in implant patients, then insertion depth would be found to affect speech identification performance significantly.
Multiple-Answer Multiple-Choice Test Items: Responding and Scoring Through Bayes and Minimax Strategies.

A multiple-answer multiple-choice test item has a certain number of alternatives,any number of which might be keyed. The examinee is also allowed to mark any number of alternatives. This increased flexibility over the one keyed alternative case is useful in practice but raises questions about appropriate scoring rules. In this article a certain class of item scoring rules called thebinary class is considered. The concepts ofstandard scoring rules and equivalence among these scoring rules are introduced in the “misinformation” model for which the traditional “knowledge” model is a special case. The examinee's strategy with respect to a scoring rule is examined. The critical role of a quantity called the scoring ratio is emphasized. In the case of examinee uncertainty about the number of correct alternatives on an item, a Bayes and a minimax strategy for the examinee are developed. Also an appropriate response for the examiner to the minimax strategy is outlined.
Effects of Backing Reflectance and Mold Size on Polymerization of Photo-activated Composite Resin

The in vitro depth of cure of a visible-light-activated microfilled composite, as influenced by backing reflectance and mold size, was investigated using microhardness measurements. More extensive polymerization was obtained with higher values of backing reflectance. Mold size larger than the cross-sectional area of the photo-activating beam also increased the degree of polymerization. Backing reflectance and mold size are influential factors and need to be defined in depth-of-cure evaluations if in vitro measurements are to be valid predictors of clinical performance.
Experienced clinicians improve detection of third and fourth heart sounds by viewing acoustic cardiography.

Background Clinical assessment of diastolic heart sounds is challenging. Hypothesis We sought to examine whether visual inspection of acoustic cardiographic tracings augments the accuracy of medical students' and physicians' detection of third and fourth heart sounds (S3, S4) compared to auscultation alone. Methods A total of 90 adults referred for left heart catheterization underwent digital precordial heart sound recordings by computerized acoustic cardiography. Two blinded, experienced readers using a consensus method determined the presence of the S3/S4 on each file. There were 35 subjects from the following 5 groups participating in this study from 1 teaching institution: first-year medical students (n = 5), fourth-year medical students (n = 5), interns (n = 5), medicine residents (n = 5), cardiology fellows (n = 5), and attendings (n = 10). Using a computer module, each subject listened to the heart sounds alone and documented whether an S3/S4 was present. Next, subjects listened to each recording in random order while viewing phonocardiographic tracings, and recorded S3/S4 presence. Results An S3 was present in 21 patients (23%) and an S4 in 31 patients (34%) by consensus overread in 90 recordings. Baseline accuracy for auscultation of S3/S4 did not change with level of experience. While viewing the acoustic cardiogram, first-year medical students had minimal improvement in S3 (2%) and S4 (11%) accuracy. More experienced subjects improved S3 accuracy by 8% to 18% and S4 by 15% to 32% (P < .05). Accuracy was superior for S3 compared to S4 in all ausculatory groups. Conclusions While listening to heart sound recordings, viewing acoustic cardiography increased subjects' accuracy in detecting diastolic heart sounds, particularly among more experienced subjects. There was greater improvement for S4 compared to S3 detection. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microthrusters Employing Catalytically Reacted N2—O2—H2 Gas Mixtures, Tridyne

Spacecraft attitude control microthrustors utilizing catalytically reactive gas mixtures during pulse mode and steady state operation
A negative association of schizophrenia with an allele of the HLA DQB1 gene among African-Americans

Abstract Using polymorphisms of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQB1 gene, a case-control study was conducted in a group of patients with schizophrenia (DSM-III, n=58) and psychiatrically normal controls matched for ethnicity (n=72), living in the same geographical area. A significant negative association of allele HLA DQB1∗0602 with schizophrenia was present among African-Americans (odds ratio 0.19), but could not be detected in Caucasians.
Mice Deficient in Golf Are Anosmic

We have used gene targeting to examine the role of the G alpha subunit, G(olf), in olfactory signal transduction. Mice homozygous for a null mutation in G(olf) show a striking reduction in the electrophysiological response of primary olfactory sensory neurons to a wide variety of odors. Despite this profound diminution in response to odors, the topographic map of primary sensory projections to the olfactory bulb remains unaltered in G(olf) mutants. Greater than 75% of the G(olf) mutant mice are unable to nurse and die within 2 days after birth. Rare surviving homozygotes mate and are fertile, but mutant females exhibit inadequate maternal behaviors. Surviving homozygous mutant mice also exhibit hyperactive behaviors. These behavioral phenotypes, taken together with the patterns of G(olf) expression, suggest that G(olf) is required for olfactory signal transduction and may also function as an essential signaling molecule more centrally in the brain.
Experimental Measurement of Mechanical Forces in Electric Circuits

This paper presents a simple laboratory method of measuring the mechanical forces exerted on the parts of a complete circuit due to current flowing in the circuit. Tests, using the method, show that the ``classic'' methods of computing such forces are reliable. Curves are included which show the comparison between the theoretical and measured forces. Tests were made on a rectangular circuit, representing a disconnecting switch, and on a circle of round wire.
Optimisation of Permanganate Oxidation and Suzuki−Miyaura Coupling Steps in the Synthesis of a Nav1.8 Sodium Channel Modulator

The development is described of a viable kilo-scale synthesis of the Nav1.8 sodium channel modulator, N-methyl-6-amino-5-(2,3,5-trichlorophenyl)pyridine-2-carboxamide (PF-1247324) in five steps, starting from 6-amino-5-bromo-2-picoline, in 33% overall yield. Two key steps required significant optimisation to improve yield and reproducibility. Oxidation of 6-acetamido-5-bromo-2-methylpyridine by permanganate to give the corresponding carboxylic acid derivative was improved by adding potassium dihydrogen phosphate, which moderated the reaction mixture pH and doubled the yield. The potassium fluoride-promoted Suzuki−Miyaura coupling between 2,4,5-trichlorophenylboronic acid and methyl 6-amino-5-bromopyridine-2-carboxylate, catalysed by tri(tert-butyl)phosphinepalladium (0), proceeded reliably to completion at room temperature in high yield when water was added. Anhydrous reaction mixtures reacted much more slowly, and ‘wet’ mixtures led to significant proto-deboronation in the absence of sufficient active ca...
Perturbative corrections to factorization in B decay

The amplitudes for processes like B → Dπ− and B → D∗π− are dominated by factorizable contributions wh relate these amplitudes to the semileptonic form factors in B → Deve and B → D∗eve. Factorization, together w heavy quark symmetry, leads to absolute predictions for ratios of decay rates. For example, Γ(B → Dπ−)Γ(B → D∗π−) = 1. We calculate perturbative strong interaction corrections to factorization and discuss their influence on the ration of decay rates Γ(B → Dπ−)/Γ(B → D∗π−). The decays B → Dϱ− and B → D∗ϱ− are also discussed.
The Helix switch: a single chip cell switch design

Abstract A VLSI architecture for a high speed, non-blocking, cell switch is proposed. The architecture is particularly well suited for VLSI implementation, and is scalable to support many connections at high data rates. The switch employs a self-routing shift register ring design to transfer cells between the inputs and the outputs, and utilizes an efficient shared buffer scheme at the output. The shift register ring design is advantageous from a VLSI standpoint because it uses short interconnections, low fan-out for the gates, and very few levels of logic, thus reducing the delay, and area; a critical requirement for a high bandwidth switch. Furthermore, the switch is designed using dynamic latches which require very small area. Thus, the shift register ring provides a compact, low delay interconnection fabric for high throughput switching. Since the shift register ring serializes (pipelines) the delivery of cells to the destination, the concurrent cells destined for the same output arrive in an interleaved fashion. Thus, the Helix switch resolves output contention by serializing the delivery of cells without impacting performance. Furthermore, the ring design is a very effective means of supporting multicast and broadcast. The details of the implementation and performance evaluation of a single-chip VLSI design of a 16-port (1Gbps/s per port) ATM switch, based on the Helix architecture, are presented in this paper.