cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Upper Airway Stimulation for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

We proposed to describe hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy of obstructive sleep apnea emphasizing the evidence for benefit and identifying patient selection factors foretelling of favorable outcomes. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation has proven to have lasting efficacy in the treatment of multiple aspects of obstructive sleep apnea including event frequency, nocturnal hypoxemia, sleepiness, patient quality of life, sleep architecture, and treatment adherence. Obstructive sleep apnea severity, pattern of pharyngeal collapse, weight, age, and previous surgery are cited predictors of hypoglossal nerve stimulation outcomes. Advances in science have honed the clinical and historical factors predictive of hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy efficacy. Positive airway pressure therapy is the primary therapeutic modality for sleep apnea. However, some subjects given positive airway pressure fail to accept or reliably adhere to treatment. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation therapy can be offered as alternative in such cases. Science has identified clinical features predictive of efficacy.
Sorption and migration of organophosphate flame retardants between sources and settled dust.

Abstract Dust serves as a strong sink for indoor pollutants, such as organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs). OPFRs are semivolatile chemicals that are slow in emissions but have long-term effects in indoor environments. This research studied the emission, sorption, and migration of OPFRs tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, from different sources to settled dust on OPFR source surfaces and OPFR-free surfaces. Four sink effect tests and six dust-source migration tests, including direct contact and sorption tests were conducted in 53 L stainless steel small chambers at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity. OPFR emission concentrations, and sorption and migration rates were determined. The dust-air and dust-material partition coefficients were estimated based on the experimental data and compared with those from the literature obtained by empirical equations. They are in the range of 1.4 × 107 to 2.6 × 108 (dimensionless) for the dust-air equilibrium partition coefficients and 2.38 × 10−3 to 0.8 (dimensionless) for the dust-material equilibrium partition coefficients. It was observed that the dust with less organic content and smaller size tended to absorb more OPFRs, but different dust did not significantly affect OPFRs emission from the same source to the chamber air. The dust-air partition favored the less volatile OPFRs in the house dust, whereas the emission from the source favored the volatile chemicals. Volatility of the chemicals had much less effect on dust-source partitioning than on dust-air partitioning. The results from this work improve our understating of the fate and mass transfer mechanisms between OPFRs sources, indoor air, surface, and dust.
System Modeling by Ultra High Frequency Sigmoid and Sine Artificial Higher Order Neural Networks

New open box and nonlinear system model of Ultra High Frequency Sigmoid and Sine Artificial Higher Order Neural Network (UGS-HONN) is presented in this paper. A new learning algorithm for UGS-HONN is also developed from this study. A time series data modeling system, UGS-HONN Simulator, is built based on the UGS-HONN system models too. Test results show that average error of UGS-HONN system models are closing to zero (10-6). The average errors of Polynomial Higher Order Neural Network (PHONN), Trigonometric Higher Order Neural Network (THONN), and Sigmoid polynomial Higher Order Neural Network (SPHONN) models are from 2.8128% to 4.9076%. It means that UGS-HONN system models are 2.8128% to 4.9076% better than PHONN, THONN, and SPHONN models.
AN EVALUATION OF A MAJOR AIRLINE FLIGHT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: PARTICIPANT'S PERCEPTIONS OF CURRICULAR PREPARATION FOR, AND COMPONENTS OF, THE INTERNSHIP

This article presents the results of a follow-up survey administered to 110 former university interns who served a semester-long flight operations internship at United Airlines. The intent of the survey was to obtain the participant’s opinions concerning their academic preparation for the internship experience, as well as their overall assessment of the internship experience itself. Of the 78 respondents, 75.7% indicated that their university aviation curriculum had prepared them "very well” or “well” for the internship. Further, 80.7% of all respondents indicated that the semester-long internship had a “great impact” or “significant impact” in helping them achieve their career goals. Also, 96.2% of all respondents said that they would recommend a United Airlines internship to students seeking an aviation career.
SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF IATROGENIC RIGHT HEPATIC DUCT INJURY AFTER LAPORASCOPIC CHOLECYSTECOMY: A CASE REPORT

INTRODUCTION: Iatrogenic bile duct injuries are most frequently caused by laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is one of the most common gastrointestinal surgeries in the world. Unrecognized bile duct injures or even their delayed diagnosis and improper management can result in life threatening complications like biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension and recurrent cholangitis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present a case of a 23 year-old female who sustained an iatrogenic right hepatic duct injury and subsequently required hilar hepatectomy and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. DISCUSSION: Multiple classification systems have been proposed and used because of the complexity of iatrogenic bile duct injuries. The newly proposed Hannover classification is helpful to categorize the lesion. A multidisciplinary approach by surgeons, endoscopists and radiologists is necessary in the management of iatrogenic bile duct injuries. Many alternatives exist like endoscopic stenting, computed tomography (CT) guided drainage, and surgical repair. CONCLUSION: According to the literature, Roux en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is the most frequent surgical reconstruction procedure. The complexity of these lesions and the possible severe adverse effects warrant the treatment of these patients in highly specialized centers.
Use of the Wii Gaming System for Balance Rehabilitation: Establishing Parameters for Healthy Individuals

Abstract Objective: This study was designed to establish balance parameters for the Nintendo® (Redmond, WA) “Wii Fit™” Balance Board system with three common games, in a sample of healthy adults, and to evaluate the balance measurement reproducibility with separation by age. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective, multivariate analysis of variance, cohort study design. Seventy-five participants who satisfied all inclusion criteria and completed an informed consent were enrolled. Participants were grouped into age ranges: 21–35 years (n=24), 36–50 years (n=24), and 51–65 years (n=27). Each participant completed the following games three consecutive times, in a randomized order, during one session: “Balance Bubble” (BB) for distance and duration, “Tight Rope” (TR) for distance and duration, and “Center of Balance” (COB) on the left and right sides. Results: COB distributed weight was fairly symmetrical across all subjects and trials; therefore, no influence was assumed on or interaction with other “Wi...
The Fundamental Theorem of Algebra for Monosplines with Multiplicities

This paper is devoted to the study of monosplines which have a maximum number of zeros.*) Our results extend those of Karlin and Schumaker [6] and Schoenberg [10]. These authors deal with monosplines which have only simple knots. We relax the continuity restriction at the knots and allow monosplines with multiplicities.
Doublet stimulation to reduce fatigue in electrically stimulated muscle during controlled leg lifts

Stimulation trains using doublets, two closely spaced stimulation pulses, are thought to reduce the rapid fatigue seen in electrically stimulated muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine if doublet trains could elicit more leg lifts than conventional singlet trains when using surface stimulation of human quadriceps muscle. Eighteen subjects had singlet and doublet stimulation trains applied to their quadriceps to produce closed-loop, leg lift trajectory cycles. Trials ran until the muscle fatigued. Data was collected from 23 legs. The mean/spl plusmn/standard deviation of the number of cycles resulting from singlets was 160/spl plusmn/105 while the number for doublets was 127/spl plusmn/114. A paired t-test showed this difference to be significant. It is thought that the conflicting reports of doublet performance seen in the literature is due to the different protocols used by each study.
A Reformulation of the Aumann-Shapley Random Order Values of Non-Atomic Games Using Invariant Measures

In this paper the Aumann-Shapley random order approach to values of non-atomic games is reformulated by restricting the set of random orders and the symmetry group to any subgroup of automorphisms that admits an invariant probability measurable group structure. It is shown that with respect to the uncountably large invariant probability measurable group of Lebesgue measure preserving automorphisms that is constructed in Raut [1997], the random order value exists for most games in BV, and it coincides with the fully symmetric Aumann-Shapley axiomatic value on pNA(\mu). Thus by restricting the set of admissible orders suitably, the paper provides a possibility result to the Aumann-Shapley Impossibility Principle.
Permeability Upscaling Measured on a Block of Berea Sandstone: Results and Interpretation

To physically investigate permeability upscaling, over 13,000 permeability values were measured with four different sample supports (i.e., sample volumes) on a block of Berea Sandstone. At each sample support, spatially exhaustive permeability datasets were measured, subject to consistent flow geometry and boundary conditions, with a specially adapted minipermeameter test system. Here, we present and analyze a subset of the data consisting of 2304 permeability values collected from a single block face oriented normal to stratification. Results reveal a number of distinct and consistent trends (i.e., upscaling) relating changes in key summary statistics to an increasing sample support. Examples include the sample mean and semivariogram range that increase with increasing sample support and the sample variance that decreases. To help interpret the measured mean upscaling, we compared it to theoretical models that are only available for somewhat different flow geometries. The comparison suggests that the nonuniform flow imposed by the minipermeameter coupled with permeability anisotropy at the scale of the local support (i.e., smallest sample support for which data is available) are the primary controls on the measured upscaling. This work demonstrates, experimentally, that it is not always appropriate to treat the local-support permeability as an intrinsic feature of the porous medium, that is, independent of its conditions of measurement.
Clustering with Soft and Group Constraints

Several clustering algorithms equipped with pairwise hard constraints between data points are known to improve the accuracy of clustering solutions. We develop a new clustering algorithm that extends mixture clustering in the presence of (i) soft constraints, and (ii) group-level constraints. Soft constraints can reflect the uncertainty associated with a priori knowledge about pairs of points that should or should not belong to the same cluster, while group-level constraints can capture larger building blocks of the target partition when afforded by the side information. Assuming that the data points are generated by a mixture of Gaussians, we derive the EM algorithm to estimate the parameters of different clusters. Empirical study demonstrates that the use of soft constraints results in superior data partitions normally unattainable without constraints. Further, the solutions are more robust when the hard constraints may be incorrect.
Neuroprotective Immunity: T Cell-Derived Glutamate Endows Astrocytes with a Neuroprotective Phenotype

A well-controlled T cell response to CNS injury may result in increased neuronal survival. However, the precise mechanism of T cell-induced neuroprotection is unknown. In this study, we report the unexpected finding that during culture of T cells, high levels of glutamate accumulate, which are efficiently cleared if T cells are cocultured with astrocytes. The T cell-derived glutamate elicits in turn, the release of neuroprotective thiols (cysteine, glutathione, and cysteinyl-glycine) and lactate from astrocytes. Media obtained from astrocytes conditioned in the presence of T cells reduce neuronal apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in primary neuronal cultures from 48 ± 14 to 9 ± 4% ( p
Skin cancer: an African perspective

The objective of this review article is to assess skin cancer and sun protection trends in darker-skinned Africans. The published information suggests that in order to reduce the skin cancer mortality rate amongst people of colour, a broader effort towards public awareness/education is necessary.
Soil structure and organic matter: I. Distribution of aggregate-size classes and aggregate-associated carbon.

Cultivation reduces soil C content and changes the distribution and stability of soil aggregates. We investigated the effect of cultivation intensity on aggregate distribution and aggregate C in three soils dominated by 2:1 clay mineralogy and one soil characterized by a mixed (2:1 and 1:1) mineralogy. Each site had native vegetation (NV), no-tillage (NT), and conventional tillage (CT) treatments. Slaked (i.e., air-dried and fast-rewetted) and capillary rewetted soils were separated into four aggregate-size classes ( 2000 μm) by wet sieving. In rewetted soils, the proportion of macroaggregates accounted for 85% of the dry soil weight and was similar across management treatments. In contrast, aggregate distribution from slaked soils increasingly shifted toward more microaggregates and fewer macroaggregates with increasing cultivation intensity. In soils dominated by 2:1 clay mineralogy, the C content of macroaggregates was 1.65 times greater compared to microaggregates. These observations support an aggregate hierarchy in which microaggregates are bound together into macroaggregates by organic binding agents in 2:1 clay-dominated soils. In the soil with mixed mineralogy, aggregate C did not increase with increasing aggregate size. At all sites, rewetted macro- and microaggregate C and slaked microaggregate C differed in the order NV > NT > CT, In contrast, slaked macroaggregate C concentration was similar across management treatments, except in the soil with mixed clay mineralogy. We conclude that increasing cultivation intensity leads to a loss of C-rich macroaggregates and an increase of C-depleted microaggregates in soils that express aggregate hierarchy.
Histopathologic Diagnosis Made in Lung Tissue Resected From Patients With Severe Emphysema Undergoing Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Study objectives This study reports histopathologic findings in a group of emphysema patients who underwent thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (75) or sternotomy (five) with the purpose to induce functional improvement and relief of dyspnea. Immediate outcome and complications were correlated to histologic patterns. Design Histopathologic material obtained in lung volume reduction surgery in 80 consecutive patients was analyzed. Thirty patients who had other histopathologic diagnoses in addition to emphysema were grouped and compared with 50 patients found to have emphysema exclusively. Postoperative outcome and preoperative lung function variables were compared. Measurements and results All patients had severe obstructive lung disease and significant air trapping preoperatively documented by pulmonary function testing. All had severe exertional dyspnea. All had chest radiographs, CT, and nuclear medicine lung scans consistent only with emphysema. All portions of resected lung tissue were weighed, lung volume was estimated, and routine histopathologic studies were made. Thirty patients (37.5%) had unsuspected findings such as interstitial fibrosis, noncaseating granulomatosis, chronic inflammation, and unsuspected neoplasia (three carcinomas, one carcinoid). Retrospective review of imaging studies in these patients failed to show infiltrative processes. The average lung weight resected in this group was significantly heavier (65±18 g) compared with the other group (56±13 g), although both had the same estimated lung volume. Average number of days requiring chest tubes and length of hospitalization was also significantly higher (12.8±19 vs 6.4±5 days with chest tubes and 17.4±22 vs 8.5±6 days of hospitalization, respectively). None of the preoperative pulmonary function tests variables were different between the two groups. Serious postoperative complications were more frequent in these patients compared with those who showed only emphysema. Conclusions A significant portion of patients diagnosed as having severe emphysema will have other unsuspected histologic findings. When subjected to lung volume reduction surgery, this subgroup will have more serious complications and longer periods of air leaks, requiring longer hospitalization time. Retrospective review of imaging studies and preoperative pulmonary function tests used to select patients for lung volume reduction failed to identify this subgroup.
Some results in the effective theory of heavy quarks

Abstract An effective theory of QCD systems containing heavy quarks is introduced. Heavy meson and heavy baryon matrix elements relevant for the semileptonic weak decays are discussed. Applications to the e + e − production of heavy mesons and baryons are presented.
Formaldehyde concentrations in biology department teaching facilities

As students and faculty in the biological sciences can attest, low grade exposure to formaldehyde by skin contact and inhalation during dissection is quite irritating. Health effects noted upon exposure to formaldehyde at concentrations of 0.1 to 5 ppm are burning of the eyes, lacrimation, and general irritation to the upper respiratory passages. Symptoms reported for higher exposures, 10 to 20 ppm, include coughing, tightening of the chest, headache and palpitation of the heart. Long exposures at 50 to 100 ppm or more might result in pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, and even death. There is also concern with regard to potential long term detrimental effects. Formaldehyde has been cited as a possible carcinogen in animals. It is a known mutagen in laboratory experimental systems involving Drosophilia, grasshoppers, flowering plants, fungi and bacteria. Animal testing has led investigators to postulate that the primary damage resulting from formaldehyde exposure may involve DNA synthesis and ribosomal RNA transcription. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NIOSH) investigators have been studying occupational exposure to formaldehyde for over a decade in a variety of industries. This study was undertaken to assess formaldehyde concentrations in biology department dissecting facilities in the 1982-1983 academic year inmore » order if routine dissection produces levels of formaldehyde which were unsafe according to NIOSH and OSHA standards. Chronic formaldehyde exposure is cause for greater concern than incidental exposure.« less
Cancer patients' decisions about discussing Internet information with their doctors.

Objective: To explore cancer patients' and caregivers' decisions regarding whether to discuss cancer-related information they found on the Internet with their doctors. Methods: 238 participants (cancer patients and caregivers) from three online cancer communities responded to a survey about their experiences finding information on the Internet about their cancer and their reasons for discussing or not discussing that information with their doctors. The reasons were coded into mutually exclusive categories. Results: Participants most frequently reported discussing information in order to be proactive in improving their health. Other reasons included appealing to the doctor as expert, wanting to become more educated, meeting a psychological or coping need, and checking up on or testing the doctor. Of the participants, caregivers were more likely than patients to cite checking up on or testing the doctor as a reason for discussing Internet information. Sixty-two percent of participants reported sometimes or never talking about Internet information that they thought was important with their doctors. Across all participants, the most frequently reported reasons for not talking about Internet information were attributions about the information and systems-related reasons. Participants who reported information attribution as a reason for not discussing it with their doctors had higher overall comfort levels with these types of discussions. Conclusions: Many factors influence cancer patients' and caregivers' decisions about discussing Internet information with their doctors. The coherence of the reasons across the communities in this study and in other studies suggests that this typology of reasons is both thorough and valid. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frizzled-7 turnover at the plasma membrane is regulated by cell density and the Ca2+-dependent protease calpain-1

Abstract Frizzled are seven-transmembrane domain G-protein coupled receptors involved in cell polarity and Wnt signaling. The mechanisms regulating their turnover at the plasma membrane remain unclear. We have identified a regulated C-terminus cleavage of Frizzled-7 in endothelial cells using ectopic expression of N- and C-termini-tagged Frizzled-7 proteins. This specific cleavage produced a 10 kDa C-terminus fragment that remained associated with intracellular vesicles and was localized within the 3rd intracytoplasmic loop using N-terminal sequencing and targeted mutagenesis. Frizzled-7 mutated forms displaying reduced C-terminus cleavage were also defective for dvl2 translocation at the plasma membrane. PMA, an activator of PKC and endocytosis, but not Wnt13A and Wnt5A, increased the appearance of Frizzled-7 C-terminus-containing vesicles and Frizzled-7 cleavage. Concanavalin-A, an inhibitor of receptor internalization decreased both constitutive and PMA-induced Frizzled-7 cleavage, while inhibition of the endocytic pathway with Δ95–295-Eps15 dominant-negative prevented only PMA-induced Frizzled-7 cleavage. Frizzled-7 C-terminus cleavage was increased with cell density and by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin and was decreased by specific calpain inhibitors, by the expression of DN-calpain-1 and the down-regulation of calpain-1 levels by siRNAs. Altogether, our findings pinpoint calpain-1 as a regulator of Frizzled-7 turnover at the plasma membrane and reveal a link between Frizzled-7 cleavage and its activity.
Life Satisfaction, Dieting Behavior, and Weight Perceptions among College Students

This study examined the relationships among perceived life satisfaction, perceptions of body weight, and dieting behaviors among 522 college students. Adjusted multiple logistic regression analyses and multivariate models constructed separately were utilized for this study. Perceptions of underweight and extreme worry over weight were significantly associated with dissatisfaction with life for both males and females (p < 0.01). However, vomiting; perceptions of overweight; binge eating behavior; extreme worry over binge eating behavior; and engaging in binge eating behavior for more than one year were significantly related to dissatisfaction with life for only females (p < 0.01). In addition, both males and females were less likely to self-identify problematic disordered eating, with males being particularly less likely to report concern over extreme dieting behaviors. Results suggest that carefully designed educational and intervention efforts for college students with eating disorders must take gender differences into account. Programs for males may need to differ from those for females in terms of recruitment, intervention integrity, and evaluation considerations.
Metrics for dispersion ripple in optical systems

Abstract An analysis of the relationship between group delay ripple and eye closure penalty is used to develop two metrics that parameterise signal degradation due to optical filter group delay ripple. These metrics, which are based upon the standard deviation of the group delay ripple, correlate very well with the signal eye closure penalty. The metrics provide an upper and lower limit to the eye closure penalty applicable over a wide range of group delay ripple amplitudes and pitches as well as bit rates.
Precipitation of 78 PCB congeners from aqueous solution by clay.

We report here a simulation of an event where clean clay enters a polluted stream from a tributary and later settles out in a region of low turbulence, for example upstream from an impoundment or weir
S-band radar based on Lyrtech Software Defined Radio

The focus of this paper is on the development of Sband radar using the Lyrtech Small Form Factor (SFF) Software Defined Radio (SDR) for generating the Chirp-Z signal. The Lyrtech SDR platform has a high speed AD/DA conversion board and a tunable RF board, which enable a flexible radar design. To achieve a functional radar system, the development kids of the SFF SDR have to be fully utilized. This paper introduces the usage of both software and hardware resources of the SDR for converting the SDR into a waveform-programmable radar, which can benefit the study of radar systems using generic SDR platforms. Based on our approach, we develop an S-band radar which is used to transmit a Chirp-Z radar waveform modulated on a 2.2GHz carrier. The structure and the development kits of the SFF platform are introduced, and the development of the S-band radar by using the development kits discussed. Finally, both transmitted and received Chirp-Z signals using the developed radar system are demonstrated.
A new method of measuring dimensional change.

Abstract A new method of measuring linear dimensional change in denture base resins is presented and its precision in determining distances between two points was investigated. Chrome steel ball bearings 1.57 mm in diameter were invested in a stone mold and were used to record measurements by a reflection from the surface of the ball bearings. The accuracy of this method was determined by performing repeated measurements between two points in a stone mold. Random measurements were made to an accuracy of 0.002 mm. The dimensional change of light-cured, heat-cured, and self-cured denture base resins was also determined with this method, followed by an analysis of variance of the data. The findings support the accuracy and reproducibility of this new method in recording linear measurements. The dimensional changes of all three resins were different from each other after the specimens were processed and stored in distilled water for 7 days at 37 °C.
Positivity of entropy in the semiclassical theory of black holes and radiation.

Quantum stress-energy tensors of fields renormalized on a Schwarzschild background violate the classical energy conditions near the black hole. Nevertheless, the associated equilibrium thermodynamical entropy [Delta][ital S] by which such fields augment the usual black hole entropy is found to be positive. More precisely, the derivative of [Delta][ital S] with respect to the radius, at a fixed black hole mass, is found to vanish at the horizon for [ital all] regular renormalized stress-energy quantum tensors. For the cases of conformal scalar fields and U(1) gauge fields, the corresponding second derivative is positive, indicating that [Delta][ital S] has a local minimum there. Explicit calculation shows that indeed [Delta][ital S] increases monotonically for an increasing radius and is positive. (The same conclusions hold for a massless spin-1/2 field, but the accuracy of the stress-energy tensor we employ has not been confirmed, in contrast with the scalar and vector cases.) None of these results would hold if the back reaction of the radiation on the spacetime geometry were ignored; consequently, one must regard [Delta][ital S] as arising from both the radiation fields and their effects on the gravitational field. The back reaction, no matter how small,'' is therefore always significant in describing thermalmore » properties of the spacetime geometries and fields near black holes.« less
Performance, mood, satisfaction, and task type in various work environments: a preliminary study.

We investigated the influence of windows on performance, mood, and satisfaction for different task types. Forty students worked computational or managerial tasks in offices with or without windows. Contrary to expectation, windowed offices did not effect higher performance, positive mood, or satisfaction. Actually, students felt slightly more confident (p < .10) and more in control (p < .01) in the windowless condition, suggesting a need for privacy to reduce evaluation apprehension. How windows affect performance, mood, and satisfaction remains unclear.
Determination of surface area and particle size of synthetic latex by adsorption I. Latices containing fatty acid soaps

Abstract A method is described for the determination of the surface area and average particle size of synthetic latices containing fatty acid soaps. The method involves the titration of a latex with soap until the critical micelle concentration of the soap in solution is attained. From the total amount of soap adsorbed per gram of polymer at this point, and the effective molecular surface area of the soap, the above quantities can be calculated. The particle size given by this method is a volume to surface average diameter. Two techniques have been used to determine the titration end point, surface tension and conductance. Both methods give identical results. A scheme is also presented by which correction can be applied for the amount of unadsorbed soap in solution without assumption of the value of the critical micelle concentration of the soap used. In the soap titrations any free fatty acid present in the latices is completely displaced from the polymer surface by the added soap. The effective molecular soap areas required in the calculation of particle size and area have been determined for laurate, myristate, oleate, palmitate, stearate, and OSR soaps. It is shown that these areas are valid from about room temperature to 50°C.
Abnormal NF-κB signaling pathway with enhanced susceptibility to apoptosis in immortalized keratinocytes

Abstract The transcriptional activation and proper regulation of NF-κB is known to be important to the apoptotic resistant phenotype of epidermal-derived keratinocytes. By comparing and contrasting the responses of normal foreskin-derived keratinocytes versus an immortalized skin-derived keratinocyte cell line (i.e. HaCaT cells), several molecular defects involving NF-κB signaling pathway were delineated in the immortalized keratinocytes. While exposure to IFN-γ plus TPA produces growth arrest in both normal and immortalized keratinocytes, with rapid phosphorylation of MEKKI and recruitment of distinctive protein kinase C isoforms into the signalosome complex, subsequent molecular events necessary for NF-κB activation were abnormal in HaCaT cells. This disrupted NF-κB activation in HaCaT cells was accompanied by enhanced susceptibility to UV-light induced apoptosis, which was associated with elevated levels of E2F-1 and decreased TRAF1/TRAF2 levels. Additional defects in HaCaT cells included markedly diminished levels of IKKβ (and lack of induction of kinase activity) in response to inflammatory stimuli, a failure of p21 WAF1/CIP1 to associate with CDK2, and a decreased association between p65 and p300. These studies suggest caution in using HaCaT cells as a substitute for normal keratinocytes to study apoptosis in the skin. Thus, it appears that while the immortalized cells can escape cell cycle checkpoints by elevated levels of E2F-1, an adverse biological consequence of such dysregulated cell cycle control is the inability to activate the anti-apoptotic NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, exploiting this apoptosis vulnerability in pre-malignant, or immortalized cells, prior to acquiring a death-defying phenotype characteristic of more advanced malignant cell types, provides the basis for an early interventional therapeutic strategy for cutaneous oncologists.
Current status of cardiac MRI in small animals

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on small animals is possible but remains challenging and not well standardized. This publication aims to provide an overview of the current techniques, applications and challenges of cardiac MRI in small animals for researchers interested in moving into this field. Solutions have been developed to obtain a reliable cardiac trigger in both the rat and the mouse. Techniques to measure ventricular function and mass have been well validated and are used by several research groups. More advanced techniques like perfusion imaging, delayed enhancement or tag imaging are emerging. Regarding cardiac applications, not only coronary ischemic disease but several other pathologies or conditions including cardiopathies in transgenic animals have already benefited from these new developments. Therefore, cardiac MRI has a bright future for research in small animals.
Histidine decarboxylase inhibitors and the survival of skin homofrafts.

CHANG and I (unpublished results) have observed that skin homografting in rats results in a significant increase in urine histamine excretion and that the greatest histamine excretion occurs within a 3 day period of the observed time of graft rejection. The possibility that intracellular histamine metabolism and histamine formation from histidine decarboxylase activity might be involved in the mechanics of homograft rejection led to the present study of the effect of histidine decarboxylase inhibitors on rat skin homograft survival.
Cation off-stoichiometry leads to high p -type conductivity and enhanced transparency in Co 2 ZnO 4 and Co 2 NiO 4 thin films

We explore the effects of cation off-stoichiometry on structural, electrical, optical, and electronic properties of Co${}_{2}$ZnO${}_{4}$ normal spinel and Co${}_{2}$NiO${}_{4}$ inverse spinel using theoretic and experimental (combinatorial and conventional) techniques, both at thermodynamic equilibrium and in the metastable regime. Theory predicts that nonequilibrium substitution of divalent Zn on nominally trivalent octahedral sites increases net hole density in Co${}_{2}$ZnO${}_{4}$. Experiment confirms high conductivity and high work function in Co${}_{2}$NiO${}_{4}$ and Zn-rich Co${}_{2}$ZnO${}_{4}$ thin films grown by nonequilibrium physical vapor deposition techniques. High $p$-type conductivities of Co${}_{2}$ZnO${}_{4}$ (up to 5 S/cm) and Co${}_{2}$NiO${}_{4}$ (up to 204 S/cm) are found over a broad compositional range, they are only weakly sensitive to oxygen partial pressure and quite tolerant to a wide range of processing temperatures. In addition, off-stoichiometry caused by nonequilibrium growth decreases the optical absorption of Co${}_{2}$ZnO${}_{4}$ and Co${}_{2}$NiO${}_{4}$ thin films, although the 500-nm thin films still have rather limited transparency. All these properties as well as high work functions make Co${}_{2}$ZnO${}_{4}$ and Co${}_{2}$NiO${}_{4}$ thin films attractive for technological applications, such as hole transport layers in organic photovoltaic devices or $p$-type buffer layers in inorganic solar cells.
Functional Form and Rental Housing Market Analysis

This paper tests functional form for hedonic rent regressions and for rental housing demand regressions for 19 United States metropolitan areas. In the hedonic rent regressions, both linear and loglinear forms are rejected through Box-Cox maximum likelihood procedures. Similar tests for demand regressions also reject both linear and loglinear forms. These results have useful applications to the analysis of rental housing demand by low income households. The more popular logarithmic and linear forms lead to very low estimated income elasticities for households in the low income range, whereas the preferred form provides elasticities that are significantly higher. This implies greater responsiveness to income subsidies than might otherwise be estimated.
A modular architecture for multi-channel external cavity quantum cascade laser-based chemical sensors: a systems approach

A multi-channel laser-based chemical sensor platform is presented, in which a modular architecture allows the exchange of complete sensor channels without disruption to overall operation. Each sensor channel contains custom optical and electronics packages, which can be selected to access laser wavelengths, interaction path lengths and modulation techniques optimal for a given application or mission. Although intended primarily to accommodate mid-infrared external cavity quantum cascade lasers and astigmatic Herriott cells, channels using visible or near infrared lasers or other gas cell architectures can also be used, making this a truly versatile platform. Analog and digital resources have been carefully chosen to facilitate small footprint, rapid spectral scanning, low-noise signal recovery, fail-safe autonomous operation, and in-situ chemometric data analysis, storage and transmission. Results from the demonstration of a two-channel version of this platform are also presented.
Next-Generation Light Sources in 2010

As electron beam quality and control continue to improve, so do the capabilities of free-electron lasers (FELs). Significant advances have occurred in the field over the last few years and have greatly enabled the end users of the FELs, i.e., those doing cutting-edge research via use of the extremely high-brightness FEL light pulses. After a brief review of the basics of FELs, we describe the present frontiers of FEL research and development (R&D), along with several of the most recent demonstrated advances.
Correlations between genetic and species diversity: effects of resource quantity and heterogeneity

Questions It is hypothesized that species and genetic diversity are correlated because niche differentiation among species and genotypes is either affected by the same processes (positive) or each level restricts the amount of diversity in the other (negative). Although many studies have observed both positive and negative relationships, others have found no correlation between the two diversity measures. Are measures of species (richness, diversity and evenness) and genetic diversity correlated, and how does resource (soil moisture, light, nitrogen and phosphorus) quantities and heterogeneity affect both levels of diversity? Location Intact tallgrass prairie at Konza Prairie Biological Station, northeast Kansas, US. Methods We investigate the correlation between plant species and genetic diversity in a long-term precipitation manipulation experiment – the Rainfall Manipulation Plots (RaMPs) – located in intact tallgrass prairie as well as adjacent non-manipulated prairie. The RaMPs experiment has been imposing ambient and more variable precipitation regimes (a 50% increase in timing between rainfall events without changing total rainfall amount) during the growing season since 1998, resulting in reduced mean soil moisture and increased soil moisture variability. Thus, the RaMPs and non-manipulated prairie plots capture a range of soil moisture amounts and variability. Genetic diversity (measured as genotype richness and genomic dissimilarity among individuals) was quantified for the dominant grass species, Andropogon gerardii, which has large impacts on plant community structure and ecosystem function. Results We found species and genetic diversity were not significantly correlated. Genotypic richness was negatively related to soil moisture variability, but measures of species diversity were not. In the non-manipulated plots only, we found generally negative relationships between resource quantity (light and nitrogen) and community diversity, and positive relationships between resource heterogeneity (CV of light) and community diversity. Conclusions Our results suggest that a lack of a positive or negative relationship between species and genetic diversity could be due to these two levels of diversity responding differently to the identity, quantity and heterogeneity of resources.
Heart-Lung Transplantation for Irreversible Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract Combined heart and lung transplantation was carried out in 17 patients at Stanford University between March, 1981, and December, 1983. The recipients were between 22 and 45 years old. All patients had end-stage pulmonary hypertension; 10 had Eisenmenger's syndrome and the remaining 7, primary pulmonary hypertension. Five patients died within the first few postoperative weeks. The remainder are well between four weeks and 33 months from operation. The immunosuppressive protocol has consisted of cyclosporine with an initial course of rabbit antithymocyte globulin. Azathioprine also was given for the first two weeks and then was replaced with prednisone. Rejection, as diagnosed by cardiac biopsy, was treated with high doses of methylprednisolone. Modifications of technique that have developed include the removal of the recipient heart and lungs separately, and preservation of the lungs with a modified Collins' solution instead of a cardioplegic solution. Rejection occurred in 6 of the 12 survivors. Infections developed in 9 patients, but only one resulted in a fatal outcome ( Legionella ). Thus, the results of clinical heart-lung transplantation have been considerably superior to clinical efforts in lung transplantation. It is suggested that the combined operation is preferable for the following reasons: (1) all diseased tissue is removed, thus eliminating recurrent infection and ventilation/perfusion disparity; (2) transplantation of the entire heart-lung block preserves coronary–bronchial vascular anastomoses and makes airway dehiscence less likely; and (3) to date, diagnosis of rejection by cardiac biopsy has appeared to be a satisfactory method of diagnosing and treating pulmonary rejection. Cardiopulmonary transplantation represents a viable therapeutic approach for patients with end-stage pulmonary hypertension with or without associated congenital heart disease.
Evidence for a “consolidation” effect during changes in ocular dominance of cortical neurons in kittens

Eight kittens, 5 to 6 weeks of age, were monocularly deprived for 2 1/2 days. Ocular dominance of cortical neurons in area 17 was found to have shifted toward the experienced eye. Two were recovered from paralysis and the deprived eye was then stimulated for 4 hr with high-contrast rotating gratings. “Poststimulation” ocular dominance histograms were obtained and no change in ocular dominance was observed. In two kittens the deprived eye was stimulated for 4 hr as in the previous experiment, but the kittens were put in total darkness for 3 to 4 days before obtaining a poststimulation histogram. In these two animals the two eyes became almost equally effective in driving cortical neurons. As a control two monocularly deprived kittens were placed in the dark for 3 to 4 days without any prior visual stimulation. Only a slight recovery was observed. Lastly, two of the animals had their deprived eye stimulated in four 1-hr sessions distributed over 4 days. Observed recovery was even more striking, suggesting that distributed practice is especially effective. It is concluded that (a) for reversing the effects of monocular deprivation one needs only 4 hr of visual experience; (b) the effects of this brief experience are more obvious after some time has elapsed in the dark. Hence some process akin to “consolidation” must occur in the dark.
Career Maturity Aspects of the Kuder Occupational Interest Survey.

Abstract The Kuder Occupational Interest Survey (1979) (KOIS) is used in counseling services as an aid in career counseling, but the KOIS does not have a measure of career maturity. The purpose of this study was to determine if selected scores from the KOIS could be indicative of client career maturity. The data for each subject included three scores from the KOIS and one measure of career maturity. The three scores from the KOIS included the highest Occupation score, the highest College Major score, and either the Father score for male subjects or the Mother score for female subjects. Career maturity was assessed with the Career Maturity Inventory Attitude Scale (1973) (CMI). The three scores from the KOIS were correlated with the score from the CMI to determine the relationship between the KOIS and career maturity. t tests were used to test for significant differences between men and women on the four measures. Significant correlations were found between the KOIS scores and career maturity, supporting the statements in the KOIS manual regarding the relationship between high KOIS scores and maturity. There was no significant difference between females and males on the CMI, Occupation, or College Major scores, but females scored significantly higher on the Mother scale than males did on the Father scale. Implications for career counseling were discussed.
The rapid mode of calcium uptake into heart mitochondria (RaM): comparison to RaM in liver mitochondria.

A mechanism of Ca(2+) uptake, capable of sequestering significant amounts of Ca(2+) from cytosolic Ca(2+) pulses, has previously been identified in liver mitochondria. This mechanism, the Rapid Mode of Ca(2+) uptake (RaM), was shown to sequester Ca(2+) very rapidly at the beginning of each pulse in a sequence [Sparagna et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 27510-27515]. The existence and properties of RaM in heart mitochondria, however, are unknown and are the basis for this study. We show that RaM functions in heart mitochondria with some of the characteristics of RaM in liver, but its activation and inhibition are quite different. It is feasible that these differences represent different physiological adaptations in these two tissues. In both tissues, RaM is highly conductive at the beginning of a Ca(2+) pulse, but is inhibited by the rising [Ca(2+)] of the pulse itself. In heart mitochondria, the time required at low [Ca(2+)] to reestablish high Ca(2+) conductivity via RaM i.e. the 'resetting time' of RaM is much longer than in liver. RaM in liver mitochondria is strongly activated by spermine, activated by ATP or GTP and unaffected by ADP and AMP. In heart, RaM is activated much less strongly by spermine and unaffected by ATP or GTP. RaM in heart is strongly inhibited by AMP and has a biphasic response to ADP; it is activated at low concentrations and inhibited at high concentrations. Finally, an hypothesis consistent with the data and characteristics of liver and heart is presented to explain how RaM may function to control the rate of oxidative phosphorylation in each tissue. Under this hypothesis, RaM functions to create a brief, high free Ca(2+) concentration inside mitochondria which may activate intramitochondrial metabolic reactions with relatively small amounts of Ca(2+) uptake. This hypothesis is consistent with the view that intramitochondrial [Ca(2+)] may be used to control the rate of ADP phosphorylation in such a way as to minimize the probability of activating the Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MPT).
Three years later: Presidential address to MYOPAIN '04

(2004). Three Years Later: Presidential Address to MYOPAIN '04. Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain: Vol. 12, No. 3-4, pp. 1-12.