cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoacoustic Tomography of the Brain

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is an emerging hybrid imaging technique with great potential for a wide range of brain imaging applications. A unique feature of PAT is the capability of sensing optical contrasts ultrasonically. Because of the low ultrasonic scattering in tissue, PAT generates high resolution images in both the ballistic and diffusive regimes. With a rich choice of endogenous and exogenous optical contrasts, PAT can provide neurovascular, structural, functional, and molecular brain images at multiple spatial scales. In this chapter, we review the principles and imaging capability of various photoacoustic brain tomography systems and highlight studies published in the past few years.
Complications of pelvic and acetabular fractures in 1331 morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥ 40): a retrospective observational study from the National Trauma Data Bank

There have been no large-scale epidemiological studies of outcomes and perioperative complications in morbidly obese trauma patients who have sustained closed pelvic ring or acetabular fractures. We examined this population and compared their rate of inpatient complications with that of control patients. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated for closed pelvic ring or acetabular fracture, aged 16–85 years, with Injury Severity Scores ≤15 from the National Trauma Data Bank Research Dataset for the years 2007 through 2010. The primary outcome of interest was rate of in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay and discharge disposition. Unadjusted differences in complication rates were evaluated using Student t tests and Chi-squared analyses. Multiple logistic and Poisson regression were used to analyze binary outcomes and length of hospital stay, respectively, adjusting for several variables. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. We included 46,450 patients in our study. Of these patients, 1331 (3%) were morbidly obese (body mass index ≥40) and 45,119 (97%) were used as controls. Morbidly obese patients had significantly higher odds of complication and longer hospital stay in all groups considered except those with pelvic fractures that were treated operatively. In all groups, morbidly obese patients were more likely to be discharged to a skilled nursing/rehabilitation facility compared with control patients. Morbidly obese patients had higher rates of complications and longer hospital stays and were more likely to be discharged to rehabilitation facilities compared with control patients after pelvic ring or acetabular fracture.
Abstract 721: The Exercise Pressor Response to Lower Extremity Dynamic Exercise is Accompanied by an Abnormal Change in Total Peripheral Resistance in Peripheral Arterial Disease Subjects

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have an exaggerated pressor response to dynamic exercise of the affected limb. We tested the hypothesis that this response is mediated by an increase...
Thematic Analysis of Emergency Medicine Applicants’ Personal Statements

The personal statement is an important part of the residency application. Although guidance exists, the composition of personal statements is not standardized; each statement reflects an applicant’s unique personality. In emergency medicine (EM), the personal statement could thus provide insight into why applicants are choosing EM and what they hope to accomplish in the field that could guide advisors and applicants. To perform a thematic analysis of personal statements from applicants accepted into an academic EM residency program to gain insight into what successful applicants include in their personal statements, why applicants are pursuing careers in emergency medicine, and anticipated career goals. Thematic analysis was performed on ten randomly selected personal statements from matched allopathic, U.S. applicants at a single, large, urban 3-year EM residency program between 2008 and 2015. Themes and sub-themes were identified and analyzed for frequency. Ten personal statements were analyzed. Thirty-one (31) unique themes were identified and grouped into five main themes: personal characteristics related to a career in EM (38.3%, 116/303), why I love EM (36%, 109/303), my story (13.5%, 41/303), my career in EM (8.9%, 27/303), and ideal characteristics of a residency program (3.3%, 10/303). The most common personal characteristics described were altruism and the ability to work well under pressure. Applicants love EM due to the diversity of patients and disease presentations and the ability to perform procedures. Thematic analysis of EM applicants’ personal statements highlights the uniqueness of EM as a specialty and what draws applicants to EM.
A dominant-negative mutant of the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain increases survival of hamsters implanted intracerebrally with the highly invasive CxT24-neo3 glioblastoma cell

Evidence is accumulating to suggest a role for PDGF in stimulating malignant growth in astrocytoma, although it has been obtained using model systems (growth in 2-dimensional cell culture, athymic nude mice) that do not assess the complex interactions of these tumors with normal brain tissue. In the current study, the highly invasive hamster glioblastoma cell line CxT24-neo3 was used as a model to study the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in mediating malignant growth both in vitro and in vivo when implanted directly into the right lateral ventricle of the brain. Co-expression of PDGF B-chain mRNA and PDGF α-receptors was detected in these cells, indicating potential for autocrine activation of their growth. CxT24-neo3 cells transfected with wild-type and receptor binding-deficient forms of the PDGF A- and B-chains displayed alterations in their abilities to grow as three-dimensional spheroids, with overexpression of wild-type B-chain resulting in increased spheroid formation, but a decreased rate of spheroid growth. Influence of these PDGF polypeptides on tumor invasion and survival time in vivo was evaluated following implantation of these spheroids in the brain. While all hamsters implanted with control spheroids died within 21 d (average 17 d), those implanted with cells expressing the receptor binding-deficient A-chain survived for much greater periods of time (average 80 d). Modest increases in survival were also seen in cells stably expressing wild-type A-chain (25 d) and mutant B-chain (26 d) proteins. The present study suggests an important role of PDGF in mediating the malignant growth of the CxT24-neo3 cell line in cerebral cortex, possibly via paracrine interactions with normal cortical cell types (i.e., glia, neurons).
MANAGEMENT OF MRSA AND CANDIDAL EUSTACHIAN VALVE ENDOCARDITIS

The Eustachian valve is an embryologic remnant of the inferior vena cava valve that if not regressed, can form as a thickened fold of endocardium in the right atrium. Eustachian valve endocarditis (EVE) is extremely rare complication in patients with intravenous drug use, indwelling catheters, and
CHAPTER 4 – Opioids

Publisher Summary Opioids are the drugs that have been used for thousands of years in pain medication. This chapter outlines the history of opioid use, abuse, and addiction. The chapter also focuses on the medicinal uses and behavioral effects of opioids in detail. Opioids can be used to relieve physical and emotional pain, and this forms the main behavioral mechanism of action. At the cellular level, evidence exists for a disinhibitory effect of opioids via glutamatergic or GABAergic interneurons, both in the extended amygdala and the ventral tegmental area. At the molecular level, the μ opioid receptor is most critical for the acute reinforcing effects of opioids as defined by neuropharmacological and knockout approaches. Chronic morphine produces a sensitized aversive response to opioid antagonists in the extended amygdala and a shift in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate activity in the amygdala to the NMDA NR2 receptor subunits.
On the Importance of Silane Infusion Order on the Microscopic and Macroscopic Properties of Multifunctional Charge Gradients.

Four multicomponent charge gradients containing acidic and basic functionalities were prepared via sol–gel processes and the controlled-rate infusion (CRI) method to more clearly understand how pre...
Modulation of Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARP) Levels and Activity by Alcohol Binge-Like Drinking in Male Mice

Binge drinking is a frequent pattern of ethanol consumption within Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs). Binge-like ethanol exposure increases Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) expression and activity. PARP enzymes have been implicated in addiction and serve multiple roles in the cell, including gene expression regulation. In this study, we examined the effects of binge-like alcohol consumption in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adult C57BL/6J male mice via a 4-day Drinking-in-the-Dark (DID) paradigm. The role of PARP in associated gene expression and behavioral changes was assessed by administering the PARP inhibitor ABT-888 on the last DID day. We then conducted an RNA-seq analysis of the PFC gene expression changes associated with DID-consumed ethanol or ABT-888 treatment. A separate cohort of mice was inoculated with an HSV-PARP1 vector in the PFC and subject to a DID experiment to verify whether overexpressed PARP1 increased ethanol drinking. We confirmed that alcohol increases Parp1 gene expression and PARP activity in the PFC. RNA-seq showed significantly altered expression of 41 genes by DID-consumed ethanol, and of 48 genes by ABT-888. These results were confirmed by qPCR in 7 of the 10 genes validated, 4 of which have been previously associated with addiction. ABT-888 reduced, and overexpression of PFC PARP1 increased DID ethanol consumption. In our model, alcohol binge drinking induced specific alterations in the PFC expression of genes potentially involved in addiction. Pharmacological PARP inhibition proved effective in reversing these changes and preventing further alcohol consumption. Our results suggest an involvement of ethanol-induced PARP1 in reinforcing binge-like addictive behavior.
Investigating Misinformation in Online Marketplaces: An Audit Study on Amazon.

Search and recommendation systems are ubiquitous and irreplaceable tools in our daily lives. Despite their critical role in selecting and ranking the most relevant information, they typically do not consider the veracity of information presented to the user. In this paper, we introduce an audit methodology to investigate the extent of misinformation presented in search results and recommendations on online marketplaces. We investigate the factors and personalization attributes that influence the amount of misinformation in searches and recommendations. Recently, several media reports criticized Amazon for hosting and recommending items that promote misinformation on topics such as vaccines. Motivated by those reports, we apply our algorithmic auditing methodology on Amazon to verify those claims. Our audit study investigates (a) factors that might influence the search algorithms of Amazon and (b) personalization attributes that contribute to amplifying the amount of misinformation recommended to users in their search results and recommendations. Our audit study collected ~526k search results and ~182k homepage recommendations, with ~8.5k unique items. Each item is annotated for its stance on vaccines' misinformation (pro, neutral, or anti). Our study reveals that (1) the selection and ranking by the default Featured search algorithm of search results that have misinformation stances are positively correlated with the stance of search queries and customers' evaluation of items (ratings and reviews), (2) misinformation stances of search results are neither affected by users' activities nor by interacting (browsing, wish-listing, shopping) with items that have a misinformation stance, and (3) a filter bubble built-in users' homepages have a misinformation stance positively correlated with the misinformation stance of items that a user interacts with.
Assessing Grief in Family Caregivers of Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder or Substance Use Disorder using the Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory Short Form (MM-CGI-SF).

This study assessed grief in caregivers of family members with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) using the Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory Short Form (MM-CGI-SF). ...
Effect of Genistein on Bovine Herpes virus 1 Infections In vivo

Finding natural antivirals to feed to cattle in their receiving diets following shipping and other stressors is important to help limit bovine respiratory disease complex (shipping fever). Previously, we had demonstrated that bovine cells treated with the naturally occurring soya isoflavone, genistein, produced 10-1000 times less virus than untreated cells. In this study, we established a level of genistein to treat calves with in vivo and then challenged them with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1; IBR). Calves that received genistein produced as much virus but shed virus for a shorter period of time and also had less severe clinical signs.
Making Room for Love in Kantian Ethics

What place, if any, does love have in Kantian ethics? This chapter is divided into three parts. First, I discuss Kant’s own account of moral versus non-moral love as found throughout his various writings and show how this closely parallels his account of moral versus non-moral friendship. Second, I discuss contemporary Kantian accounts of both friendship (Badhwar) and love (Velleman), highlighting how they go beyond, and in some ways seem to significantly improve upon, Kant’s own views via their appeal to Kant’s Formula of Humanity. Lastly, I discuss the overall merits of what I call ‘Kantian moral love’. I argue that while Kantian moral love might rightly identify, from the moral point of view, how we ought to act and think when loving other people, it fails to provide a complete account of love, crucially leaving out certain key elements from the wide range of loving relationships we find ourselves in, especially romantic love. That is, while Kantian moral love might successfully identify a morally ideal way to love other people, it falls short of capturing the full essence of love—mainly because love is not simply a moral affair but also a matter of the heart.
Nutrition and AIDS

Nutrition and AIDS - an introductory chapter, S.B. Vaghefi nutrition and AIDS in Africa, C.O. Enwonwu and R. Warren AIDS in Europe, D. Serraino et al nutrition in HIV-positive drug addicts, P. Vareal and A. Marcos energy metabolism in HIV-infected patients, J.C. Melchior pathogenesis and clinical aspects of diarrhea and its effect on nutrition in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, L.A. Cone and D.R. Woodward Vitamins in HIV infection - an overview, G.O. Coodley the B-complex vitamins, immune regulation, cognitive function and HIV-1 infection, M.K. Baum et al ascorbic acid and AIDS - strategic functions and therapeutic possibilities, R.J. Jariwalla and S. Harakeh vitamin A and HIV infection, B.J. Ward and R.D. Semba effect of HIV on metabolism and the relationship to muscle and body protein content, T.P. Stein AIDS and food safety, R. Meer specialized nutrition support, C. Thomson optimization of nutritional support in HIV disease, J.M. Aron AIDS and traditional food therapies, J.H. Flaskerud.
Language socialization: Themes and advances in research

This paper reviews the work by researchers employing a language socialization (LS) perspective in attempts to bring social factors into SLA theory. Second language socialization research conceptualizes second language learners as novices being socialized into not only a target language but also a target culture. The paper overviews the theoretical underpinnings of LS and then presents some of the overlapping themes that unite research in the first and second language fields. Recent advances in LS research in the second language field are considered and finally some concluding comments regarding the value of SLS and directions for future research are made.
S-Ribosylhomocysteine analogs containing a [4-thio]ribose ring

The [4-thio]-S-ribosylhomocysteine (SRH) analogs containing substitution of a sulfur atom for the endocyclic oxygen were synthesized by coupling of the 4-thioribose substrates with a thiolate generated from the protected homocysteine. Coupling of the protected 1-deoxy-5-O-mesyl-S-oxo-4-thio-D-ribofuranose with homocysteinate salt gave the C4 epimers of [4-thio]-SRH at the sulfoxide oxidation level lacking a hydroxyl group at anomeric carbon. Treatment of these sulfoxides with BF3⋅Et2O/NaI affected simultaneous reduction to sulfide and global deprotection affording 1-deoxy-4-thio-SRH analog. Treatment of the protected 1-deoxy-S-oxo-4-thio-D-ribofuranose sulfoxide with DAST/SbCl3 resulted in the fluoro-Pummerer rearrangement to give 4-thio-β-D-ribofuranosyl fluoride. Mesylation of the latter at 5-hydroxyl position followed by coupling with homocysteinate salt and subsequent global deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid afforded [4-thio]-SRH thiohemiacetal.
Gender differences in middle school adjustment, physical fighting, and social skills: evaluation of a social competency program

This study was designed to explore the effects of previous exposure to the Reach Out to Schools: Social Competency Program (SCP) on the middle school adjustment of sixth grade students. SCP is designed to teach children social skills to help them to communicate better, solve problems and build stronger relationships. Students (n = 277), parents (n = 166), and teachers (n = 13) were surveyed. Results show associations between program exposure and the middle school adjustment of girls, according to teacher and student ratings, and on physical fighting among boys, according to their self-reports. Differences were also found for teacher-rated levels of girls' assertiveness and boys' self-rating of self-control.
GeoSensor Networks: Second International Conference, GSN 2006, Boston, MA, USA, October 1-3, 2006, Revised Selected and Invited Papers

This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the Second GeoSensor Networks Conference, held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, in October 2006. The conference addressed issues related to the collection, management, processing, analysis, and delivery of real-time geospatial data using distributed geosensor networks. This represents an evolution of the traditional static and centralized geocomputational paradigm. The 13 carefully reviewed and selected papers included in the volume constitute extended versions of the papers presented at the conference. They are preceded by an introduction written by the volume editors. The book is structured in sections on Data Acquisition and Processing, Data Analysis and Integration, and Applications. The papers represent key research areas that are fundamental in order to realize the full potential of the emerging geosensor network paradigm. The contributions cover theentire spectrum of the field from low-level energy consumption issues at the individual sensor level to the high-level abstraction of events and ontologies or models to recognize and monitor phenomena using geosensor networks.
Charge fluctuations in YBa2Cu3O7-x high-temperature superconductors

Understanding the behaviour of the electrons in the high-temperature copper oxide superconductors remains a challenging problem. An important class of models1,2,3,4,5 argues that the distribution of electronic charge and spin is not homogeneous: rather, spin and charge adopt a dynamic arrangement in which the spins on the copper form antiferromagnetic stripes, separated by domain walls containing the charge1,2,3,4,5. The dynamic behaviour of the spins has been extensively studied by neutron scattering, and recent results6 have shown that the low-frequency fluctuations for different classes of materials display a universal spatial behaviour that is consistent with the stripe picture. But arguments for the existence of the stripe phases are difficult to sustain without a demonstration that charge is distributed in the domain walls. Here we report phonon measurements for the YBa2Cu3O7-x high-temperature superconductors, which reveal the presence of charge fluctuations. The inferred periodicity is that expected if the charge is located in the domain walls separating the spin stripes. Our results therefore provide strong support for the existence of a dynamic stripe phase in the high-temperature superconductors.
Behavior of turbine and Venturi flowmeters in superfluid helium

Turbine and Venturi flowmeters were calibrated in both normal and superfluid helium in an apparatus designed specifically for that purpose. Simple in concept, the facility forces liquid helium from a calibrated bellows through the flowmeter. An ambient temperature stepping motor drives the welded stainless steel bellows whose capacity is 10 L. Flow rates range up to 0.35 L/s, and helium temperatures span from 1.25 K to 4.0 K. For the 9.3 mm bore turbine meter, identical meter factors are obtained for normal and superfluid helium. For the Venturi meter, discharge coefficients between 0.98 and 1.0 are obtained with normal and superfluid.
Wideband Receiver Design

An important element of cognitive radios is to be able to receive data signals from a wide frequency spectrum range. The wider the range, the more efficient use of spectrum becomes. In this chapter, techniques for wideband receiver design are discussed. The main components of a wideband receiver are detailed. This includes a discussion of wideband low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), high-performance radio frequency (RF) tracking filters, and image and harmonic reject mixers.
A New Material Mapping Procedure for Quantitative Computed Tomography-Based, Continuum Finite Element Analyses of the Vertebra

Inaccuracies in the estimation of material properties and errors in the assignment of these properties into finite element models limit the reliability, accuracy, and precision of quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-based finite element analyses of the vertebra. In this work, a new mesh-independent, material mapping procedure was developed to improve the quality of predictions of vertebral mechanical behavior from QCT-based finite element models. In this procedure, an intermediate step, called the material block model, was introduced to determine the distribution of material properties based on bone mineral density, and these properties were then mapped onto the finite element mesh. A sensitivity study was first conducted on a calibration phantom to understand the influence of the size of the material blocks on the computed bone mineral density. It was observed that varying the material block size produced only marginal changes in the predictions of mineral density. Finite element (FE) analyses were then conducted on a square column-shaped region of the vertebra and also on the entire vertebra in order to study the effect of material block size on the FE-derived outcomes. The predicted values of stiffness for the column and the vertebra decreased with decreasing block size. When these results were compared to those of a mesh convergence analysis, it was found that the influence of element size on vertebral stiffness was less than that of the material block size. This mapping procedure allows the material properties in a finite element study to be determined based on the block size required for an accurate representation of the material field, while the size of the finite elements can be selected independently and based on the required numerical accuracy of the finite element solution. The mesh-independent, material mapping procedure developed in this study could be particularly helpful in improving the accuracy of finite element analyses of vertebroplasty and spine metastases, as these analyses typically require mesh refinement at the interfaces between distinct materials. Moreover, the mapping procedure is not specific to the vertebra and could thus be applied to many other anatomic sites.
DNA Suspension Arrays: Silencing Discrete Artifacts for High-Sensitivity Applications

Detection of low frequency single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has important implications in early screening for tumorgenesis, genetic disorders and pathogen drug resistance. Nucleic acid arrays are a powerful tool for genome-scale SNP analysis, but detection of low-frequency SNPs in a mixed population on an array is problematic. We demonstrate a model assay for HIV-1 drug resistance mutations, wherein ligase discrimination products are collected on a suspension array. In developing this system, we discovered that signal from multiple polymorphisms was obscured by two discrete hybridization artifacts. Specifically: 1) tethering of unligated probes on the template DNA elicited false signal and 2) unpredictable probe secondary structures impaired probe capture and suppressed legitimate signal from the array. Two sets of oligonucleotides were used to disrupt these structures; one to displace unligated reporter labels from the bead-bound species and another to occupy sequences which interfered with array hybridization. This artifact silencing system resulted in a mean 21-fold increased sensitivity for 29 minority variants of 17 codons in our model assay for mutations most commonly associated with HIV-1 drug resistance. Furthermore, since the artifacts we characterized are not unique to our system, their specific inhibition might improve the quality of data from solid-state microarrays as well as from the growing number of multiple analyte suspension arrays relying on sequence-specific nucleic acid target capture.
Near Infrared Solar Radiation Measurements by Balloon to an Altitude of 100 000 Feet

The first recordings of the near infrared solar spectrum from high altitudes were made by an infrared spectrograph carried to an altitude of 102 000 feet by a skyhook plastic balloon on June 22, 1955, between 0559 and 0830 MST. The total absorption in the 1.9-micron water vapor absorption band and in the 2.0-micron carbon dioxide absorption bands was measured as a function of altitude. The amount of absorbing constituent above each level was determined. Some indication of the pressure dependence of the carbon dioxide absorption is determined. A comparison is made with other water vapor measurements in the atmosphere. A description of the infrared spectrograph, the recording equipment, and of the biaxial pointing control is given.
Phase stability limits and solid-state decomposition of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ in reduced oxygen pressures

Abstract We measured the phase stability of the Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ and Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10+δ superconductors as a function of temperature and oxygen pressure. Below the solidus temperature of ∼790°C, Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ is stable at oxygen pressures one fourth of those where CuO becomes metastable, while Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10+δ is stable at the same pressures where CuO is stable. Above the solidus temperature, the pressure required to stabilize either phase increases rapidly with temperature. The major solid-state decomposition products of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ are Bi 2 Sr 3− x Ca x O 6+δ and Cu 2 O, and also Bi 2 Sr 2− x Ca x O 5 for bismuth-rich samples. For Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10+δ the major decomposition products are Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ , Ca 2− x Sr x CuO 3 , and Cu 2 O. The solid-state decomposition reaction is reversible for the Bi-2212 phase, but not for the Bi-2223 phase.
Photocatalytic Oxidation of Toluene in Water From an Algae Pond With High Dissolved Oxygen Content

Water in well-mixed ponds containing photosynthetic algae has been observed to have an extremely high Dissolved Oxygen (DO) content. Up to four times saturation levels of DO have been recorded. Since DO is known to have an important role in the photocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants in water, it was hypothesized that a faster rate of contaminant destruction would be observed in water drawn from algae ponds supersaturated with DO. In order to verify this hypothesis a bench scale, batch type photoreactor was constructed. Some baseline tests were performed to investigate the influence of UV intensity, water pH and DO content on the photocatalytic destruction of toluene in water. An array of ultraviolet “blacklight” lamps in a lamp box was used to simulate solar ultraviolet radiation. First-order reaction rate constants were calculated from the destruction data, using a kinetic model proposed earlier. The reaction was found to proceed forward equally fast at pH 4 and 10. A power law relation was derived for the reaction rate dependence on UV intensity. Presence of DO in the water was found to be required for the reaction to go forward. Water from an algae pond, supersaturated with dissolved oxygen was spiked with toluene and destruction tests were then conducted in the same reactor. These tests did not show the expected improvement in destruction rates.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Retinoid Receptor Expression and all-trans Retinoic Acid–Mediated Growth Inhibition in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Background Retinoids have been used in the successful treatment of a variety of human hyperproliferative diseases. Their role in smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth control, however, has not been clearly established. The present study was designed to assess the retinoid receptor mRNA expression profile in SMCs and to determine whether retinoids exert a growth-inhibitory effect in these cells. Methods and Results Five of the six retinoid receptors were expressed in both cultured SMCs and aorta as determined by Northern blotting or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Receptor activity was demonstrated in SMCs with the use of a reporter assay with a retinoid receptor DNA binding sequence linked to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. DNA synthesis and cell proliferation assays were performed to show that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) antagonized platelet-derived growth factor-BB and serum-stimulated SMC growth. Growth inhibition was distal to early growth-signaling events because indu...
Radionuclide Therapy of Intractable Bone Pain: Emphasis on Strontium-89

Management of bone pain in patients with multiple osseous metastases is a significant clinical problem. Phosphorus-32 has been used as systemic radioisotope therapy for the management of bone pain for over 40 years. However, significant hematological depression usually results and its use is limited. More recently, the bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals strontium-89, samarium-153-ethylenediaminetetramethylene phosphonic acid, and rhenium-186-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate have all been used as palliative treatment for patients with clinically significant bone pain. Excellent clinical responses with acceptable hematological toxicity have been observed. The clinical results rival those of external beam radiation therapy, with fewer systemic and hematological side effects. Systemic radionuclide therapy is indicated in the management of patients with painful metastatic prostate cancer in bone as soon as they escape primary hormonal management. This therapy also should play a role in the management of many patients with advanced breast cancer metastatic to bone. The role of radionuclidic therapy in osseous metastases from other malignancies is still being investigated. These compounds also hold promise as primary therapy for tumors of osseous origin. Systemic radionuclide therapy of painful bony metastases will become common in nuclear medicine practice in the next decade.
Advances in the production and handling of encoded microparticles.

Here we highlight emerging technologies in the synthesis, handling, and application of encoded microparticles for multiplexed assays. Traditionally, in drug discovery and life sciences research, multiple reactions will be conducted in parallel using microwell plate formats or microfluidic implementations, in which volumes are confined and reactions annotated by knowledge of what reagents were added to each volume. Microparticle-based information carriers provide an alternative approach to performing such multiplexed reactions, in which reactions and events are instead annotated with unique codes associated with the solid-phase particle. One challenge has been in creating a unique and large enough code set that is also easily readout, and we highlight two approaches that have brought orthogonal optical tagging techniques to bear. Another challenge has been that in such approaches, reactions have usually been confined to the surface of, or within the bulk of the specifically-tagged particle. We also highlight a creative approach and strategy for multiplexing – called “partipetting” – in which the coded particle can be a carrier of a unique fluid reagent.
The Monday merger effect

Abstract We explored relationships between daily market returns, Mondays, and the level of merger activity during 1982–1998 in a multivariate model. Once other factors (interest rates and future market directions) are accounted for, we found no statistically significant relationship between daily market returns and either Mondays or the level of merger activity. On the other hand, we did find an impact for both Mondays and the level of merger activity on market volatility, which is measured either by the absolute value of daily returns of the implied volatility or the OEX index.
Hydrogen oxidation-driven hot electron flow detected by catalytic nanodiodes.

Hydrogen oxidation on platinum is shown to be a surface catalytic chemical reaction that generates a steady state flux of hot (>1 eV) conduction electrons. These hot electrons are detected as a steady-state chemicurrent across Pt/TiO{sub 2} Schottky diodes whose Pt surface is exposed to hydrogen and oxygen. Kinetic studies establish that the chemicurrent is proportional to turnover frequency for temperatures ranging from 298 to 373 K for P{sub H2} between 1 and 8 Torr and P{sub O2} at 760 Torr. Both chemicurrent and turnover frequency exhibit a first order dependence on P{sub H2}.
End-to-end network QoS via scheduling of flexible resource reservation requests

Modern data-intensive applications move vast amounts of data between multiple locations around the world. To enable predictable and reliable data transfers, next generation networks allow such applications to reserve network resources for exclusive use. In this paper, we solve an important problem (called SMR3) to accommodate multiple and concurrent network reservation requests between a pair of end sites. Given the varying availability of bandwidth within the network, our goal is to accommodate as many reservation requests as possible while minimizing the total time needed to complete the data transfers. First, we prove that SMR3 is an NP-hard problem. Then, we solve it by developing a polynomial-time heuristic called RRA. The RRA algorithm hinges on an efficient mechanism to accommodate large number of requests in an iterative manner. Finally, we show via numerical results that RRA constructs schedules that accommodate significantly larger number of requests compared to other, seemingly efficient, heuristics.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Arachidonic Acid Complexes with COX-1 and COX-2: Insights into Equilibrium Behavior

The cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes are responsible for the committed step in prostaglandin biosynthesis, the generation of prostaglandin H(2). As a result, these enzymes are pharmacologically important targets for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and newer COX-2 selective inhibitors. The cyclooxygenases are functional homodimers, and each subunit contains both a cyclooxygenase and a peroxidase active site. These enzymes are quite interesting mechanistically, as the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H(2) requires two oxygenation and two cyclization reactions, resulting in the formation of five new chiral centers with nearly absolute regio- and stereochemical fidelity. We have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the equilibrium behavior of both COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme isoforms with bound arachidonate. These simulations were compared with reference simulations of arachidonate in solution to explore the effect of enzyme on substrate conformation and positioning in the active site. The simulations suggest that the substrate has greater conformational freedom in the COX-2 active site, consistent with the larger COX-2 active site volume observed in X-ray crystal structures. The simulations reveal different conformational behavior for arachidonate in each subunit over the course of extended equilibrium MD simulations. The simulations also provide detailed information for several protein channels that might be important for oxygen and water transport to or from active sites or for intermediate trafficking between the cyclooxygenase and peroxidase active sites. The detailed comparisons for COX-1 versus COX-2 active site structural fluctuations may also provide useful information for design of new isozyme-selective inhibitors.
Electrosorptive detection based on double-layer capacitance for selected ion monitoring in ion chromatography. II: Silver

Abstract A scheme is presented for the detection of selected anions in ion chromatography based on changes in differential double-layer capacitance, Δ C d , induced by specific anion adsorption on a solid metal electrode. The detector in the liquid chromatography-double-layer capacitance (LC-DLC) arrangement described here is a silver electrode configured in a large-volume wall-jet geometry. The aqueous-phase anions most readily determined by this approach are chloride, bromide, iodide, azide and thiocyanate; additional ions, including iodate, periodate, bromate, thiosulfate and sulfide, are also determinable. Detection limits are sub ppm in most cases. The measurement scheme developed includes provision for faradaic current measurement, thereby providing for simultaneous capacitive and amperometric detection. The benefits of electrode rotation in capacitance detection are also discussed. It is shown that DLC detection is suitable for use with either low-capacity ion chromatography columns or conventional ion exchange columns.
Improving ozone modeling in complex terrain at a fine grid resolution – Part II: Influence of schemes in MM5 on daily maximum 8-h ozone concentrations and RRFs (Relative Reduction Factors) for SIPs in the non-attainment areas

Abstract Part II presents a comprehensive evaluation of CMAQ for August of 2002 on twenty-one sensitivity simulations (detailed in Part I) in MM5 to investigate the model performance for O3 SIPs (State Implementation Plans) in the complex terrain. CMAQ performance was quite consistent with the results of MM5, meaning that accurate meteorological fields predicted in MM5 as an input resulted in good model performance of CMAQ. In this study, PBL scheme plays a more important role than its land surface models (LSMs) for the model performance of CMAQ. Our results have shown that the outputs of CMAQ on eighteen sensitivity simulations using two different nudging coefficients for winds (2.5 and 4.5 × 10−4 s−1, respectively) tend to under predict daily maximum 8-h ozone concentrations at valley areas except the TKE PBL sensitivity simulations (ETA M-Y PBL scheme with Noah LSMs and 5-layer soil model and Gayno-Seaman PBL) using 6.0 × 10−4 s−1 with positive MB (Mean Bias). At mountain areas, none of the sensitivity simulations has presented over predictions for 8-h O3, due to relatively poor meteorological model performance. When comparing 12-km and 4-km grid resolutions for the PX simulation in CMAQ statistics analysis, the CMAQ results at 12-km grid resolution consistently show under predictions of 8-h O3 at both of valley and mountain areas and particularly, it shows relatively poor model performance with a 15.1% of NMB (Normalized Mean Bias). Based on our sensitivity simulations, the TKE PBL sensitivity simulations using a maximum value (6 × 10−4) among other sensitivity simulations yielded better model performance of CMAQ at all areas in the complex terrain. As a result, the sensitivity of RRFs to the PBL scheme may be considerably significant with about 1–3 ppb in difference in determining whether the attainment test is passed or failed. Furthermore, we found that the result of CMAQ model performance depending on meteorological variations is affected on estimating RRFs for attainment demonstration, indicating that it is necessary to improve model performance. Overall, G_c (Gayo-Seaman PBL scheme) using the coefficient for winds, 6 × 10−4 s−1, sensitivity simulation predicts daily maximum 8-h ozone concentration closer to observations during a typical summer period from May to September and provides generally low future design values (DVFs) at valley and mountain areas compared to other simulations.
A Second-Law Study on Packed Bed Energy Storage Systems Utilizing Phase-Change Materials

Thermal modeling of packed bed, thermal energy storage systems has traditionally been limited to first-law considerations. The exceptions include a few second-law studies of sensible heat storage systems and the latent heat storage systems. The cited second-law studies treat the storage and removal processes essentially as batch heating and cooling. The approximation effectively ignores the significant temperature gradient, especially in the axial direction, in the storage medium over a substantial portion of both the storage and removal processes. The results presented in this paper are for a more comprehensive model of the packed bed storage system utilizing encapsulated phase-change materials. The fundamental equations for the system are similar to those of Schumann, except that a transient conduction equation is included for intraparticle conduction in each pellet. The equations are solved numerically, and the media temperatures obtained are used for the determination of the exergy (or availability) disposition in complete storage-removal cycles. One major conclusion of the study from both the first-law and second-law perspectives is that the principal advantage in the use of phase-change storage material is the enhanced storage capacity, compared with the same size of packed bed utilizing a sensible heat storage material. Thermodynamically, however, it does notmore » appear that the system employing phase-change storage material will always, or necessarily, be superior to that using a sensible heat-storage material. The latter conclusion is reached only on the basis of the second-law evaluation.« less
What Moves Macropartisanship? A Response to Green, Palmquist, and Schickler

decade ago (MacKuen, Erikson, and Stimson 1989), we saw our contribution as the following basic points. First, we showed that macrolevel party identification undergoes considerable movement over time. Second, we showed that much of this movement tracks changes in presidential approval and the economy as monitored by the Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment. In retrospect, "Macropartisanship" is remarkable for what it did not say. Apart from chiding the then conventional view that national partisan sentiment seldom moves except when shaken by rare "realignments," the article offered few specifics about the nature of the macropartisanship time series. And it offered no specific viewpoint about microlevel party identification, other than dutifully citing competing "schools" ("psychological attachment" versus "running tally"). The motivating theoretical argument of that article, evidently original for its time, was that the relative stability of microlevel party identification did not logically require that macrolevel partisanship be a constant. These empirical results merely put partisanship back in the realm of politics. Green, Palmquist, and Schickler (1998) charge that our earlier work seriously overestimated the effects of consumer sentiment and presidential approval on macropartisanship. More may be at stake than the size of a
A tracer test to determine the fate of nitrate in shallow groundwater

The effectiveness of shallow groundwater areas to serve as a sink for NO{sub 3} is affected by many biological and physical properties. However, the direct impact of these biological and physical properties. However, the direct impact of these properties on the fate of NO{sub 3} in shallow groundwater is not well understood, especially where the soils are intermittently saturated. This study was conducted to assess in situ reaction and transport of NO{sub 3}-N in an intermittent shallow groundwater system. Tracer experiments were conducted within an imposed constant flowing shallow groundwater. A constant-head, single injection well technique was adapted for this study using multilevel soil water samplers placed at 14 locations around the center injection well. The use of Br as a tracer for NO{sub 3}-N in these constant-flow experiments provided the means to assess in situ NO{sub 3}-N removal both with and without added C. In experiments without added C, an average NO{sub 3} removal rate of 0.33gNm{sup {minus}2}d{sup {minus}1} was estimated. In a second experiment with dextrose added as an added C source, an average NO{sub 3} removal rate of 0.33 gNm{sup {minus}2}d{sup {minus}1} was estimated. In a second experiment with dextrose added as an added C source, anmore » average NO{sub 3} loss rate 1.06 g N m{sup {minus}2} d{sup {minus}1} was observed. The observed response to added dextrose indicates that the N removal processes were primarily microbial in origin, i.e., the NO{sub 3} was denitrified or immobilized into microbial biomass. 19 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.« less
Logrolling and Budget Allocation Games

In this paper we approach the concept of logrolling by examining a voting system where choices are made among sets of competing projects as a game in characteristic function form. We translate the question: “Will there be prices for votes on different projects which clear the market?” into a different, but equivalent question: “Is the formal game we have described amarket game?” We show that in general the answer is no, unless all voters have virtually the same preferences.
A comparative analysis of health-related quality of life and family impact between children with ADHD treated in a general pediatric clinic and a psychiatric clinic utilizing the PedsQL.

Objective: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) from the perspective of children with ADHD and their parents being seen in a Pediatric Clinic in comparison to healthy children and children with ADHD being seen in a Psychiatric Clinic. Method: Participants were children with a physician diagnosis of ADHD ages 5-18 years and their parents (n = 17, General Pediatric Clinic; n = 181, Psychiatric Clinic). Children and parents completed the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Parents completed the PedsQL Family Impact Module and Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scales. Results: Pediatric patients with ADHD being seen in the Pediatric Clinic demonstrated substantially lower HRQOL in comparison to the matched healthy sample, and significantly higher HRQOL and family functioning than pediatric patients with ADHD being seen in the Psychiatric Clinic. Conclusion: These data demonstrate the substantial negative impact of ADHD on HRQOL from the perspective of both children and parents. (J. of Att. Dis. 2010; XX(X) 1-XX)
A supergravity model without elementary gauge singlets

Abstract We present some further calculations regarding a previously derived model which exhibits spontaneous supergravity breaking without using elementary gauge singlet scalars. The model in its simplest form does not possess a hidden sector since all particles have gauge interactions. The tree level mass matrices are shown to be completely diagonalisable. The resulting tree level spectrum is not phenomenologically useful. Some extensions of the model, which have better behaviour, are then discussed.