cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Neck Flexion Exercise and the Shaker Exercise on the Activities of the Suprahyoid Muscles in Chronic Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) neck flexion exercise and the Shaker exercises on the activity of the suprahyoid muscles in chronic stroke patients with dysphagia and to show what exercise methods are effective for swallowing rehabilitation. METHODS: This study was conducted at F hospital in Daegu from August 2014 to February 2017 with 60 participants who understood the purpose of the study and desired to participate. The 60 participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (PNF neck flexion exercise) (n=30) and a control group (Shaker exercise) (n=30). PNF neck flexion exercise was performed in the experimental group and the Shaker exercise was performed in the control group for 30 minutes, 5 times a week for 6 weeks. The activity of the suprahyoid muscles was measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and the control group showed a statistically significant change in the activity of the suprahyoid muscles before and after the treatment. The changes were also statistically significant when compared by group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PNF neck flexion exercise should be used in addition to Shaker exercise when rehabilitating a patient with a swallowing disability.
Training a Remote-Control Car to Autonomously Lane-Follow using End-to-End Neural Networks

This paper describes the implementation of an end-to-end learning approach that enables a small, low-cost, remote-control car to lane-follow in a simple indoor environment. A deep neural network (DNN) and a convolutional neural network (CNN) were trained to map raw images from a forward-looking camera to steering and speed commands (right, left, forward, reverse). The mechanical, electrical, and software design of the autonomous car is presented and the architectures of the DNN and CNN are discussed. The accuracy and loss of both types of neural networks is compared to two existing models VGG16 and DenseNet. A finite state machine is used to control the behavior of the car as it transitions between lane-following and stopped states during experimental demonstrations. The car enters the stopped state when either a stop sign is detected (using a Haar classifier and monocular vision) or an ultrasonic sensor indicates the presence of an obstacle.
Depression as a Pivotal Component in Secondary Aging

There is increasing evidence that depression, together with related affective and behavior symptoms, can play a pivotal role in secondary aging, the process by which medical illnesses accumulate as a correlate of increasing age. In addition to mechanisms by which it can result from psychological mechanisms associated with the stress and losses of function associated with medical illness, depression can result from disease-related changes in the brain and the cerebral environment. Moreover, once depression occurs, it can affect the course of associated medical illness, amplifying distress, disability, morbidity, and, possibly, mortality. Thus, knowledge of depression and of medical—psychiatric comor-bidity in late life can be critical to understanding the downward spiral of deterioration and disability that is frequent in late life.
Impact of Polarization- and Mode-Dependent Gain on the Capacity of Ultra-Long-Haul Systems

Motivated by the recent interest in single-mode semiconductor optical amplifiers and multimode erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, we present a unified, comprehensive treatment of the effect of polarization- and mode-dependent gain (PDG and MDG) on the capacity of ultra-long-haul transmission systems. We study the problem using simulations of a multisection model, including the effects of PDG or MDG and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) or modal dispersion. We also analytically derive exact expressions for the capacity distribution of PDG-impaired single-mode systems. In agreement with previous work, we find that PDG and MDG cause fluctuations in capacity, which reduces average capacity and may cause outage. We show that the multimode systems studied, with at least $D = 14$ spatial/polarization modes, have sufficient modal diversity and frequency diversity to strongly suppress capacity fluctuations and reduce outage probability so that the outage capacity approaches the average capacity. We show that single-mode systems, by contrast, inherently provide low modal and frequency diversity, making them more prone to outage. To alleviate this problem, frequency diversity can be increased by artificially inserting PMD. Finally, we quantify the PDG/MDG requirements of optical amplifiers to ensure that the average capacity is close (within a 1-2 dB effective SNR loss) to the theoretical optimum. We show that these PDG/MDG requirements are stringent, especially considering the minimum-mean-square error linear equalizers implemented in typical multiple-input multiple-output receivers.
3PointTM: Faster Measurement of High-Dimensional Transmission Matrices

A transmission matrix (TM) describes the linear relationship between input and output phasor fields when a coherent wave passes through a scattering medium. Measurement of the TM enables numerous applications, but is challenging and time-intensive for an arbitrary medium. State-of-the-art methods, including phase-shifting holography and double phase retrieval, require significant amounts of measurements, and post-capture reconstruction that is often computationally intensive. In this paper, we propose 3PointTM, an approach for sensing TMs that uses a minimal number of measurements per pixel—reducing the measurement budget by a factor of two as compared to state of the art in phase-shifting holography for measuring TMs—and has a low computational complexity as compared to phase retrieval. We validate our approach on real and simulated data, and show successful focusing of light and image reconstruction on dense scattering media.
Sound discrimination and explicit mapping of sounds to meanings in preschoolers with and without developmental language disorder.

To investigate links between sound discrimination and explicit sound-meaning mapping by preschoolers with and without developmental language disorder (DLD).We tested 26 children with DLD and 26 age...
Critical methodological considerations for entrepreneurial cognition research

This article synthesizes and explores the methods used in Entrepreneurial Cognition research based on a review of articles published between 1993–2017. Through analysis and classification of 182 en...
COP9 signalosome is an essential and druggable parasite target that regulates protein degradation

Understanding how the protozoan protein degradation pathway is regulated could uncover new parasite biology for drug discovery. We found the COP9 signalosome (CSN) conserved in multiple pathogens such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma, and used the severe diarrhea-causing Entamoeba histolytica to study its function in medically significant protozoa. We show that CSN is an essential upstream regulator of parasite protein degradation. Genetic disruption of E. histolytica CSN by two distinct approaches inhibited cell proliferation and viability. Both CSN5 knockdown and dominant negative mutation trapped cullin in a neddylated state, disrupting UPS activity and protein degradation. In addition, zinc ditiocarb (ZnDTC), a main metabolite of the inexpensive FDA-approved globally-available drug disulfiram, was active against parasites acting in a COP9-dependent manner. ZnDTC, given as disulfiram-zinc, had oral efficacy in clearing parasites in vivo. Our findings provide insights into the regulation of parasite protein degradation, and supports the significant therapeutic potential of COP9 inhibition.
Method for Inkjet-printing PEDOT:PSS polymer electrode arrays on piezoelectric PVDF-TrFE fibers

We present a method for printing conductive polymers onto P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers to create all-polymer piezoelectric devices. Inkjet printing is an attractive fabrication approach for rapid prototyping of flexible electronics, but until now with limited applications in developing P(VDF-TrFE) nanofiber-based devices. We have demonstrated an approach to infill the void space within a piezoelectric nanofibrous matrix to allow for the inkjet printing of aqueous inks while avoiding leakage that typically leads to electrical shorting and without significant loss of voltage output. This was done using a diluted PDMS solution and a commercially available conductive ink. The 1 cm2 devices showed a 254 mV/N sensitivity to impact as well as a sensitivity to bending. The device was shown to be able to detect breathing and pulse rate when placed superficially to the carotid and radial arteries. Using these techniques, flexible piezoelectric sensing can be done in an array format, shown with applications in foot movement sensing.
Grain growth of nanocrystalline aluminum under tensile deformation: A combined in situ TEM and atomistic study

Abstract Nanocrystalline Al thin films have been strained in situ in a transmission electron microscope using two separate nanomechanical techniques involving a push-to-pull device and a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. Deformation-induced grain growth was observed to occur via stress-assisted grain boundary migration with extensive grain growth occurring in the necked region, indicating that the increase in local stress drives the boundary migration. Under applied tensile stresses close to the ultimate tensile strength of 450 MPa for a nanocrystalline Al specimen, measured boundary migration speeds are 0.2 – 0.7 nm s−1 for grains outside necked region and increases to 2.5 nm s−1 for grains within the necked region where the local estimated tensile stresses are elevated to around 630 MPa. By tracking grain boundary motion over time, molecular dynamics simulations showed qualitative agreement in terms of pronounced grain boundary migration with the experimental observations. The combined in situ observation and molecular dynamics simulation results underscore the important role of stress-driven grain growth in plastically deforming nanocrystalline metals, leading to intergranular fracture through predominant grain boundary sliding in regions with large localized deformation.
Compact forced simple shear specimen: Design improvement based on quasi-static experiments and finite element simulations

Abstract Determination of the large-strain shear response of materials is important for an improved understanding of shear driven failure mechanisms as well as constitutive modeling efforts. While many shear specimen designs have been proposed in the literature, few systematic studies have examined the effects of varying sample geometry on the homogeneity of the resultant stress state and strain path. Here we propose modifications to the compact forced simple shear specimen of Gray et al. (2016), and use both digital image correlation and finite element analysis to determine the effect of specimen geometry on simple shear deformation at quasi-static rates in high purity wrought tantalum. For the specimens considered here, where a notch is used to create the shear zone, it is found that a notch inclination angle of 45 degrees provides a substantial improvement in the deformation behavior compared to a horizontally oriented notch. A parametric study of notch inclination angle is conducted using FEA simulation.
Kirchhoff’s Insufficiently-Celebrated Equations of Motion

Gustav Robert Kirchhoff (1824–1887) made pioneering contributions to physics and engineering. His most famous contributions were in electrical circuits, black body radiation, elasticity, and spectroscopy.
Characterization of the Interactions between Staphylococcal Phage 80 Alpha Scaffold and Capsid Proteins

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN STAPHYLOCOCCAL PHAGE 80 ALPHA SCAFFOLD AND CAPSID PROTEINS
Films of protein in biological processes.

Publisher Summary The importance of surface phenomena in biology has been recognized for a long time. This importance is due to the considerable extension of interphases in the animal body caused by the small sine of the basic structural unit of living organisms, the cell. Proteins have a very remarkable property in common that of spreading easily at water interphase. This spreading usually involves a considerable change in the shape of the protein molecule. Three general methods are used in testing films of proteins for biological activity: (1) tests made at the water interphase where the films are spread, (2) collecting the films at the interphase, suspended or dissolved in aqueous media, and subsequently assaying them in animals, and (3) transferring of films onto metal or glass slides, which are convenient for studies in vitro. Three physiologically active proteins are investigated including (1) metakentrin, a gonadotropic hormone of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, (2) the oxytocic pressor hormone of the posterior lobe, (3) crystalline insulin. These three proteins spread on buffered solutions at their respective isoelectric point form expanded films 7 to 9 A thick.
Magnetic traction force on paramagnetic particles in an HGMS utilizing a single-wire system carrying current

The magnetic traction force which attracts paramagnetic particles from a fluid towards a single-wire system carrying current is calculated. The equations are developed when an external magnetic field H/sub 0/ is applied along: the positive x-, the negative x-, the positive y-, and the negative y-directions, respectively. >
Gauging potential demand for new events : A case study with a multi-stage, mixed method approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to gauge potential interest in equestrian events for a proposed multi-use international horse park. Design/methodology/approach – Multi-stage, mixed methods were employed, including interviews with industry professionals at competing horse parks, a survey of potential visitors and an economic impact analysis. Findings – Both industry professionals and equine tourists felt that the proposed facility had the potential to succeed with an international horse park especially as it already has a strong equine culture. Potential visitors already possess a high awareness of city as an equestrian tourist destination, and the majority said they would visit the new facility to take part in, or watch equine events. At medium utilization, the facility has the potential to attract 225 events to the park annually, attracting approximately 428,000 attendees. This would have an annual spending impact of about US$38 million, generating 575 full-time jobs. Practical implications – Base...
Detection of phospholipids on paper chromatograms by neutron activation

Improvements in the detection of phospholipids on paper chromatograms by neutron activation (with the formation of P32-compounds) have been made. Formaldehyde-treated papers were subjected to low neutron dosage after chromatographic development and the resulting radioactive spots were detected by automatic scanning and autoradiography.
Research Article: Novel features for identifying A-minors in three-dimensional RNA molecules

We present eleven novel features for identifying A-minors in 3D RNA molecules.These features include inter-atomic distances, bond angle and bond types.The features are highly effective when used with machine learning algorithms.This approach will be useful in RNA tertiary motif analysis and applications. RNA tertiary interactions or tertiary motifs are conserved structural patterns formed by pairwise interactions between nucleotides. They include base-pairing, base-stacking, and base-phosphate interactions. A-minor motifs are the most common tertiary interactions in the large ribosomal subunit. The A-minor motif is a nucleotide triple in which minor groove edges of an adenine base are inserted into the minor groove of neighboring helices, leading to interaction with a stabilizing base pair. We propose here novel features for identifying and predicting A-minor motifs in a given three-dimensional RNA molecule. By utilizing the features together with machine learning algorithms including random forests and support vector machines, we show experimentally that our approach is capable of predicting A-minor motifs in the given RNA molecule effectively, demonstrating the usefulness of the proposed approach. The techniques developed from this work will be useful for molecular biologists and biochemists to analyze RNA tertiary motifs, specifically A-minor interactions.
Immunoaffinity isolation of the sulfate conjugate of 4'-hydroxypropranolol from plasma

Selective extraction of sulfate conjugates of basic drugs from biological matrices has been difficult because of their highly polar nature. Immunoaffinity isolation may be the best solution to this analytical problem. This was tested for a model compound, the metabolite 4'-hydroxypropranolol sulfate (HOPS), which was effectively extracted from plasma by a column containing antibodies to the parent drug propranolol. The specificity was very high, giving little interference from the biological material in subsequent high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis with fluorometric detection. The method for HOPS was highly reproducible and provided a sensitivity of 1 ng/ml plasma. The technique was applied to measurements of HOPS in plasma after therapeutic doses of propranolol as well as to the individual enantiomers after chiral derivatization.
A Test Method for Monitoring Modulus Changes during Durability Tests on Building Joint Sealants

The durability of building joint sealants is generally assessed using a descriptive methodology involving visual inspection of exposed specimens for defects. It is widely known that this methodology has inherent limitations, including that the results are qualitative. A new test method is proposed that provides more fundamental and quantitative information about changes occurring in a sealant during durability testing. This test method utilizes a stress relaxation experiment to evaluate the non-linear viscoelastic behavior of sealants. In particular, changes in the time dependence of the apparent modulus can be observed and related to molecular changes in the sealant. Such changes often precede the formation of cracks and theultimate failure of the sealant. This paper compares results obtained from the new test method and the currently used descriptive methodology.
Navigating Community College Transfer in Science, Technical, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields

Given financial barriers facing community college students today, and workforce projections in science, technical, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, the costs of unnecessary delays while navigating transfer pathways are high. In this phenomenological study, we analyzed the delay experiences of 172 students (65% female) navigating community college transfer pathways in STEM fields in Massachusetts. When focusing on institutional delays, three central elements emerged: (a) informational setbacks from dissatisfactory advising, (b) imperfect program alignment with four-year institutions, and (c) college resource limitations. Students took unnecessary courses or could not get into courses in a timely manner, resulting in lost time, money, and credit. An accumulation of delays is particularly detrimental to STEM women and men, given the sequential nature of their programming. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Emerging nanotherapeutic strategies in breast cancer

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms are emerging as powerful chemotherapeutic modalities in breast cancer. Doxorubicin and paclitaxel nanoparticle formulations are currently used clinically, yielding distinct pharmacokinetic parameters that prolong blood circulation times, enhance drug accumulation in tumors, and limit adverse side effects to patients. And while these nanoconstructs have shown substantial improvements in patient tolerability and survival, several emerging trends stand to make a significant impact on future generations of nanoparticle platforms for breast cancer therapy. Firstly, there is a heightened understanding of several processes involved in tumor growth, potentiation, and invasion, resulting in the identification of several attractive molecular targets. This in turn has given rise to antibody-based therapeutics, drug repositioning, and the burgeoning field of RNA interference (RNAi). Secondly, an enhanced understanding of transport phenomena involved in delivery of chemotherapeutics has led to a rethinking and retooling of nanoscale drug carrier designs. Nanoparticle platforms are now incorporating features meant to overcome biological barriers and enhance drug accumulation within tumors, all the while incorporating unique chemistries that enable for controlled release of therapeutic payloads. This review aims to detail the current clinical state of nanoparticle-based therapeutics in breast cancer, as well as highlight several platforms that exemplify the future generation of innovative approaches to chemotherapy in breast cancer.
Real time micro-fiberoptic monitoring of endogenous fluorescence in the rat conceptus during hypoxia

A micro-fiberoptic methodology has been developed for non-invasive, real time measurement of endogenous pyridine nucleotide fluorescence from the surface of the visceral yolk sac (VYS) in intact, viable rat conceptuses. Gestational day (GD) 10-12 conceptuses are maintained in a customized perifusion system, which allows for control of oxygenation, as well as the continuous measurement of pH and oxygen concentration in the effluent perifusate. Miniaturized light guides were constructed by drawing 250 microns ESKA acrylic optical fibers through a stainless steel sheath with a high strength epoxy polymer. A single fiber supplied the excitation signal from a mercury arc lamp at a wavelength of 366 nm. The emission signal was returned via three additional fibers, electronically amplified, processed, and recorded, using a dual channel lamp-compensated fluorometer, optimized for detection of reduced pyridine nucleotides at 455 nm. Endogenous fluorescence in the conceptus was monitored by placing the polished tip of the sensor directly on the surface of the VYS. Oxygen-equilibrated conceptuses, exposed to 100% nitrogen, produced a reproducible biphasic surface fluorescence peak, which returned to baseline levels upon reoxygenation of the perifusate. This biphasic response consisted of an initial rapid rise in fluorescence (phase I), followed by an attenuated rate in fluorescence signal increase (phase II). The hypoxia produced age-dependent rates of fluorescence change during phase I, while phase II remained relatively unchanged throughout GD 10-12. These results demonstrate the ability to monitor endogenous fluorescence, non-invasively and in real time, during the period of organogenesis in the intact rat conceptus and will provide valuable information in studies of embryonic metabolism and response to chemical embryotoxicants.
Framing Effects: Implications in Complex Problem Solving Tasks

In decision-making literature, framing effects have been studied in a wide number of task and context conditions. In much of these studies, there is strong support that decision framing can result ...
The Influence of Ground‐Water Flow Systems on Pavement Stability in Highway Cuts

The failure or “breaking up” of pavement in cuts in glacial till is a phenomenon commonly observed in northeastern Illinois and other areas in the midwest. Failure commonly follows periods of significant ground-water recharge, especially when such periods are concomitant with freezing and thawing conditions. Water levels in piezometers installed in glacial till in northeastern Illinois indicate that during periods of high precipitation or rapid snow melt, the potential surface normally occurs at shallow depths. Therefore, cuts of appreciable depth intersect the zone of saturation and establish local, gravity, ground-water flow systems with the bottom of the cut acting as a ground-water discharge zone. Such shallow gravity flow systems may bring about pavement failure by facilitating the growth of thick ice lenses or by developing high pressure beneath the pavement due to poor drainage.
Extending the Utility of Modis Daily Snow-Cover Products through Snow-Cover Prediction of Cloud-Obscured Areas in Idaho's Big Lost River Basin (USA)

ABSTRACT Increasing demand for water resources in the Western United States has given rise to many conflicts and has increased the need for more accurate and timely water management decisions. Snow-Covered Area (SCA) is an important hydrologic variable for both volumetric and daily stream flow forecasting. Satellite data provide the ideal way to map snow cover in mountain regions; however, the utility of these datasets have been limited due to the large number of scenes that are contaminated with cloud cover. To improve the utility of these datasets for the snowmelt season, in particular the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Daily Snow-Cover Product dataset, a new procedure was developed to predict snow-cover in cloud-obscured areas using a snow-occurrence map technique. Results show that this method effectively increases the usefulness of the MODIS Snow-Cover product in mapping the daily evolution of snow cover extent in the Big Lost River Basin located in southeastern Idaho.
Oxygenation and ion transport in red cells.

Ion transport in red blood cells may depend on the binding of 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (DPG) to deoxyhemoglobin.
Development of free convection axial flow through a tube bundle

Abstract An open tube bundle is immersed in a fluid. The tubes, which are oriented vertically, generate heat and the fluid enters the bottom of the bundle with uniform velocity and temperature and flows up through the bundle outside of the tubes. The flow is assumed to be stable and laminar. The thermal boundary layer equations were solved for pitch-to-diameter ratios of 1.2–2.0 with air as the fluid, allowing density, viscosity and thermal conductivity to vary with temperature. Local Nusselt numbers were correlated with a modified Graetz number and showed parametric dependence on both pitch-to-diameter ratio and dimensionless flow rate. Correlations of dimensionless flow rate with dimensionless tube bundle length were unaffected by considerations of variable physical properties provided the dimensionless flow rates were evaluated at outlet conditions. Experiments performed on two tube bundles (pitch-to-diameter ratios of 1.68 and 2.03) under the condition of constant wall heat flux verified the theoretical predictions of Nusselt numbers. Predicted flow rates were displaced below the predicted curves due to constrictions in the flow area caused by the tube spacers.
Interferon-gamma regulates collagen and fibronectin gene expression by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms

Abstract Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) regulates the expression of collagen and fibronectin genes by molecular mechanisms not completely understood. We investigated the effects of IFN-γ on the expression of the genes encoding α 1 (I) procollagen (COL1A1), α 1 (III) procollagen (COL3A1), and fibronectin (FN) in cultured normal human lung fibroblasts. Labeled newly synthesized proteins were analysed by electrophoresis, mRNA levels and stability by Northern hybridizations, and transcription rates by in vitro assays. IFN-γ caused a reduction in the production of α 1 (I) and α 1 (III) procollagens and of fibronectin. The reduction in the production of procollagen chains was shown to result from a combination of IFN-γ-induced inhibition of the transcription rates of the COL1A1 and COL3A1 genes and destabilization of the corresponding transcripts. IFN-γ increased the transcription rate of FN, but also decreased the stability of the corresponding transcripts. The net results indicate that the regulation of the expression of extracellular matrix genes by IFN-γ is a complex process that involves changes in gene transcription rates, alterations in mRNAs stability, and possibly, modulation of the rates of translation.
Learning an intelligibility map of individual utterances

Predicting the intelligibility of noisy recordings is difficult and most current algorithms only aim to be correct on average across many recordings. This paper describes a listening test paradigm and associated analysis technique that can predict the intelligibility of a specific recording of a word in the presence of a specific noise instance. The analysis learns a map of the importance of each point in the recording's spectrogram to the overall intelligibility of the word when glimpsed through “bubbles” in many noise instances. By treating this as a classification problem, a linear classifier can be used to predict intelligibility and can be examined to determine the importance of spectral regions. This approach was tested on recordings of vowels and consonants. The important regions identified by the model in these tests agreed with those identified by a standard, non-predictive statistical test of independence and with the acoustic phonetics literature.
Micrometer-scale machining: tool fabrication and initial results

Conventional milling techniques scaled to ultrasmall dimensions have been used to machine polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with micrometer-sized milling tools. The object of this work is to achieve machining of a common material over dimensions exceeding 1 mm while holding submicrometer tolerances and micrometer size features. Fabricating the milling tools themselves was also an object of the study. A tool geometry for nominal 25 micrometer diameter cutting tools was found that cuts PMMA with submicrometer tolerances over trench lengths of 2 mm. The tool shape is a simple planar facet cut by focused ion beam milling on ground and polished 25 micrometer diameter steel tool blanks. Pairs of trenches 24 micrometers wide, 26 micrometers deep, 2.3 mm long, with a 14 micrometer separation were milled under various machining conditions. The results indicate that the limits of the machining process in terms of speed, pattern complexity, and tolerances have not been approached. This is the first demonstration of a generic method for microtool making by focused ion beam machining combined with ultraprecision numerically controlled milling. The method is shown to be capable of producing structures and geometries that are considered inaccessible by conventional materials removal techniques, and generally regarded as applications for deep X-ray lithography.
Safety and efficacy of left ventricular assist device support in postmyocardial infarction cardiogenic shock.

Background Cardiogenic shock secondary to acute myocardial infarction (CS-AMI) is the leading cause of death in all acute coronary syndromes. Experience with the use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in patients with CS-AMI is limited. One of the surgical dilemmas when implanting an LVAD into a patient with an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction is the safety of apical cannulation. We present a decade of experience with the use of LVAD with apical cannulation in patients with CS-AMI. Methods A retrospective review of the ventricular assist device (VAD) database at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania was instituted. Results From April 1995 to February 2005, 49 patients received LVAD support for CS-AMI (group I). The majority of these patients suffered anterior wall myocardial infarctions. This group of patients was compared with a separate cohort of 61 patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy who received LVAD support (group II). The VAD support successfully bridged 38 (74%) group I patients and 37 (61%) group II patients to heart transplantation. Of the 38 patients transplanted in group I, 33 (87%) were discharged from the hospital. In group II, 36 of the 37 patients transplanted (97%) survived to hospital discharge. The overall in-hospital mortality rates for the series were 33% for group I patients, and 41% for group II patients. Conclusions Left ventricular assist device support in patients with CS-AMI is a safe and effective therapy which should be incorporated into the standard treatment paradigm for appropriate patients presenting with this lethal disease.
Medical management of soft tissue sarcomas

Local therapies for STS, including aggressive surgical resection and radiation therapy, have improved dramatically over the last 10 years. This has resulted in improvement of important clinical outcomes such as enhanced rates of local control and higher quality of life for patients. Systemic therapy for STS, although efficacious to a certain degree, remains investigational. A major task for oncologists will be to measure accurately the single-agent activity of drugs and to integrate promising agents into multiagent regimens. This approach may allow significant progress in the management of STS in canine and feline patients.
Compression technique for plume hyperspectral images

The authors recently developed a hyperspectral image output option for a standardized government code designed to predict missile exhaust plume infrared signatures. Typical predictions cover the 2- to 5-m wavelength range (2000 to 5000 cm-1) at 5 cm-1 spectral resolution, and as a result the hyperspectral images have several hundred frequency channels. Several hundred hyperspectral plume images are needed to span the full operational envelope of missile altitude, Mach number, and aspect angle. Since the net disk storage space can be as large as 100 GB, a Principal Components Analysis is used to compress the spectral dimension, reducing the volume of data to just a few gigabytes. The principal challenge was to specify a robust default setting for the data compression routine suitable for general users, who are not necessarily specialists in data compression. Specifically, the objective was to provide reasonable data compression efficiency of the hyperspectral imagery while at the same time retaining sufficient accuracy for infrared scene generation and hardware-in-the-loop test applications over a range of sensor bandpasses and scenarios. In addition, although the end users of the code do not usually access the detailed spectral information contained in these hyperspectral images, this information must nevertheless be of sufficient fidelity so that atmospheric transmission losses between the missile plume and the sensor could be reliably computed as a function of range. Several metrics were used to determine how far the plume signature hyperspectral data could be safely compressed while still meeting these end-user requirements.
The electrocardiogram, vectorcardiogram and ventricular gradient in combined pulmonary stenosis and interatrial communication☆

Abstract Valvular pulmonary stenosis may exist with either a right to left or a left to right interatrial shunt. The right to left shunt may be through a patent foramen ovale or a true atrial septal defect. The left to right shunt is through a true atrial septal defect. The electrocardiograms of the patients with left to right shunt usually resembled those of patients with uncomplicated atrial septal defect. The electrocardiograms in patients with right to left shunt were quite similar to those seen in patients with pulmonary stenosis. However, in some of the latter patients the electrocardiogram manifested features of both pulmonary stenosis and an interatrial septal defect. In many patients the QRSsE loop of the spatial vectorcardiogram was oriented superiorly, to the right and posteriorly. Such an orientation of the QRSsE loop was never seen in tetralogy of Fallot.
Elimination of drain I/V collapse in MODFETs through the use of thin n-GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice

We report on the elimination of collapse of drain I/V characteristics in modulation-doped field-effect transistors at 77 K by replacing the doped AlGaAs with a thin GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice where only the GaAs is doped. Such thin barriers (10 A/15 A) are transparent to the electrons making the electron transfer into the bulk GaAs (undoped) possible. Room-temperature transconductances of 180 mS/mm which increased to 210 mS/mm at 77 K under both dark and light conditions were obtained. Furthermore, the threshold voltage of these devices did not shift appreciably on cooling (+0.12 V), and no noticeable light sensitivity at 77 K was observed for this device structure.
Hemodynamic and electrocardiographic correlates of symptomatic and silent myocardial ischemia: Pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications

Numerous hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, metabolic and radionuclide measurements in various subsets of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) reveal that ischemia does not always occur on the basis of increases in myocardial oxygen consumption. Continuous hemodynamic monitoring indicates that most episodes of myocardial ischemia are not preceded by increases in such major determinants of oxygen consumption as heart rate or blood pressure, but that these usually increase in response to the development of ischemia. The development of pain during ischemia is a late feature and most episodes are silent. There are no significant differences in the hemodynamic characteristics of symptomatic versus asymptomatic episodes of myocardial ischemia in patients with angina at rest or between those associated with ST-segment depression and those with ST-segment elevation. Continuous Holter recordings analyzed by compact analog technique in hospitalized and ambulatory patients with ischemic heart disease indicate that in both unstable and chronic stable angina, over two-thirds of myocardial ischemic episodes are clinically silent. Symptomatic and silent episodes do not differ significantly with respect to duration. Most symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes are not triggered by increases in the determinants of oxygen demand. Such episodes may arise on the basis of a critical reduction in the lumen of the diseased coronary artery leading to a primary reduction in blood flow. Intermittent obstruction due to changes in coronary vasomobility or possibly formation of thrombi may be a common mechanism for the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia in patients with a varying spectrum of coronary artery lesions. At present, the precise clinical and prognostic significance of silent ischemia in CAD is not completely defined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An Exploration of the Impact of Invalid MMPI–2 Protocols on Collateral Self-Report Measure Scores

Although a number of studies have examined the impact of invalid MMPI-2 (Butcher et al., 2001) response styles on MMPI-2 scale scores, limited research has specifically explored the effects that such response styles might have on conjointly administered collateral self-report measures. This study explored the potential impact of 2 invalidating response styles detected by the Validity scales of the MMPI-2, overreporting and underreporting, on scores of collateral self-report measures administered conjointly with the MMPI-2. The final group of participants included in analyses was 1,112 college students from a Midwestern university who completed all measures as part of a larger study. Results of t-test analyses suggested that if either over- or underreporting was indicated by the MMPI-2 Validity scales, the scores of most conjointly administered collateral measures were also significantly impacted. Overall, it appeared that test-takers who were identified as either over- or underreporting relied on such a response style across measures. Limitations and suggestions for future study are discussed.
Dumbarton Oaks: The Origins of the United Nations and the Search for Postwar Security

Hilderbrand explains why, with the Second World War moving toward an Allied victory in the summer of 1944, the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China began to give greater priority to protecting their own sovereignty than to preventing another global conflict. At Dumbarton Oaks, therefore, they essentially turned away from the organization of a forceful and active United Nations, creating a world body that created only the illusion of a powerful peacekeeping agency.
Rate and Periodicity of Pheromone Release from Individual Female Artichoke Plume Moths, Platyptilia carduidactyla (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae)

The rate and periodicity of the emission of the sex pheromone [(Z)-11-hexadecenal] from the pheromone glands of individual female artichoke plume moths, Platyptilia carduidactyla, were quantified. The mean rate of volatilization of (Z)-11-hexadecenal from the glands of the moths peaked at 1.52 ± 0.41 (SE) ng/min during the scotophase, and was at low levels during the entire photophase. This periodicity in emission rate paralleled the behavioral periodicity of calling by females, indicating a close coordination of the biochemical and behavioral aspects of pheromone release. The highest recorded emission rate from a female P. carduidactyla was 5.1 ng/min. No other pheromone-like compounds were detected in these pheromone collections.
Characterization of a Common-Source Amplifier Using Ferroelectric Transistors

This paper presents empirical data that was collected through experiments using a FeFET in the established common-source amplifier circuit. The unique behavior of the FeFET lends itself to interesting and useful operation in this widely used common-source amplifier. The paper examines the effect of using a ferroelectric transistor for the amplifier. It also examines the effects of varying load resistance, biasing, and input voltages on the output signal and gives several examples of the output of the amplifier for a given input. The difference between a commonsource amplifier using a ferroelectric transistor and that using a MOSFET is addressed.
Feeling Supported: Curricular Learning Communities for Basic Skills Courses and Students Who Speak English as a Second Language:

This study examined the relationship between enrollment in learning communities and students’ self-reported learning outcomes at 13 community colleges. Students included in the analysis were enroll...
Assessing Executive Functioning: A Pragmatic Review

Despite the common usage of the term executive functioning in neuropsychology, several aspects of this concept remain unsettled. In this paper, we will address some of the issues surrounding the notion of executive functioning and how an understanding of executive functioning and its components might assist school-based practitioners to better understand children and their difficulties in being successful in school. Specifically, we will review current definitions of executive functioning and discuss the strengths and limitations of different approaches to the assessment of executive functioning for school-based practitioners.
Nanoscale Cellular Structures at Phase Boundaries of Ni-Cr-Al-Ti and Ni-Cr-Mo-Al-Ti Superalloys

The microstructural evolution of Ni-20 pct Cr wires was studied during pack cementation where Al and Ti, with and without prior cementation with Mo, are deposited to the surface of the Ni-Cr wires and subsequently homogenized in their volumes. Mo deposition promotes the formation of Kirkendall pores and subsequent co-deposition of Al and Ti creates a triple-layered diffusional coating on the wire surface. Subsequent homogenization drives the alloying element to distribute evenly in the wires which upon further heat treatment exhibit the γ + γ′ superalloy structure. Unexpectedly, formation of cellular structures is observed at some of the boundaries between primary γ′ grains and γ matrix grains. Based on additional features (i.e., ordered but not perfectly periodic structure, confinement at γ + γ′ phase boundaries as a cellular film with ~100 nm width, as well as lack of topologically close-packed phases), and considering that similar, but much larger, microstructures were reported in commercial superalloys, it is concluded that the present cellular structure solidified as a thin film, composed of eutectic γ + γ′ and from which the γ′ phase was subsequently etched, which was created by incipient melting of a region near the phase boundary with high solute segregation.
Rigidity of spinal origin: Quantitative evaluation of agents with muscle relaxant activity in cats

Summary (1) The effects of pentobarbital, mephenesin, chlorpromazine, and caramiphen on the chronic hind-limb extensor rigidity following ischemia of the spinal cord were assessed. The rigidity was produced by occluding the thoracic aorta and internal mammary arteries for 47 min. The rigidity was measured as the force developed in opposition to flexion of the ankle through 20°. Each agent was given in a timed, interrupted infusion and the dose-effect curves obtained were compared to those reported previously on decerebrate rigidity. (2) Pentobarbital and mephenesin depressed the rigidity following spinal cord ischemia, but were only one-fourth to one-fifth as potent as they were in depressing decerebrate rigidity. Pentobarbital produced a decrease in the monosynaptic reflex of normal and rigid spinal preparations in doses which suppressed the rigidity, whereas mephenesin, in equi-relaxant doses, only had slight effects on the monosynaptic reflex. (3) Chlorpromazine was approximately equi-active in suppressing ischemic cord rigidity and decerebrate rigidity. (4) Caramiphen caused excitation in the forequarters of rigid animals and failed to produce significant relaxation of the rigidity following spinal cord ischemia.
Observational Analysis of Tropical Cyclogenesis in the Western North Pacific. Part I: Structural Evolution of Cloud Clusters

Abstract This paper is the first of a two-part series summarizing recent attempts to advance omit understanding of the physical processes associated with tropical cyclone formation in the western North Pacific. A combination of rawinsonde composite and individual case analyses are shown for both pre-cyclone tropical cloud clusters (genesis) and those-prominent cloud cluster that do not develop into tropical cyclones (nongenesis). This research is an extension of previous works at Colorado State University by McBride, Zehr, and Love. The first part of the study concerns the structural evolution of the genesis cloud clusters and nongenesis cloud clusters. Results show that nongenesis cloud clusters have about the same mean vertical motion and cumulus activity as the genesis cloud clusters. However, genesis cloud clusters are found to have much stronger middle-to low-level cyclonic circulation extending over a radius 2°–8° outward from the center. The buildup of this strong precyclogenesis circulation is ass...
Behavioral Intentions to Join a Union: Instrumentality × Valence, Locus of Control, and Strike Attitudes

Intention to join a nursing union was investigated among 102 advanced undergraduate BSN students. Instrumentality × Valence, the instrumentality of intrinsic outcomes, and the valence of extrinsic outcomes were each positively and significantly related to intentions to join a union. Internal-external locus of control beliefs were unrelated to joining intentions. Pro-strike attitudes were also related to intentions to join a nursing union. Implications of these findings were discussed.
The recognition and retrotranslocation of misfolded proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Secretory and membrane proteins that fail to fold in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are retained and may be sorted for ER-associated degradation (ERAD). During ERAD, ER-associated components such as molecular chaperones and lectins recognize folding intermediates and specific oligosaccharyl modifications on ERAD substrates. Substrates selected for ERAD are then targeted for ubiquitin- and proteasome-mediated degradation. Because the catalytic steps of the ubiquitin–proteasome system reside in the cytoplasm, soluble ERAD substrates that reside in the ER lumen must be retrotranslocated back to the cytoplasm prior to degradation. In contrast, it has been less clear how polytopic, integral membrane substrates are delivered to enzymes required for ubiquitin conjugation and to the proteasome. In this review, we discuss recent studies addressing how ERAD substrates are recognized, ubiquitinated and delivered to the proteasome and then survey current views of how soluble and integral membrane substrates may be retrotranslocated.