cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved hardware for higher spatial resolution strain-encoded (SENC) breast MRI for strain measurements.

Rationale and Objectives Early detection of breast lesions using mammography has resulted in lower mortality rates. However, some breast lesions are mammography occult, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended, but it has lower specificity. It is possible to achieve higher specificity by using strain-encoded (SENC) MRI and/or magnetic resonance elastography. SENC breast MRI can measure the strain properties of breast tissue. Similarly, magnetic resonance elastography is used to measure the elasticity (ie, shear stiffness) of different tissue compositions interrogating the tissue mechanical properties. Reports have shown that malignant tumors are three to 13 times stiffer than normal tissue and benign tumors. Materials and Methods The investigators have developed a SENC breast hardware device capable of periodically compressing the breast, thus allowing for longer scanning time and measuring the strain characteristics of breast tissue. This hardware enables the use of SENC MRI with high spatial resolution (1 × 1 × 5 mm 3 ) instead of fast SENC imaging. Simple controls and multiple safety measures were added to ensure accurate, repeatable, and safe in vivo experiments. Results Phantom experiments showed that SENC breast MRI has higher signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio than fast SENC imaging under different scanning resolutions. Finally, the SENC breast device reproducibility measurements resulted in a difference of Conclusions SENC breast magnetic resonance images have higher signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratios than fast SENC images. Thus, combining SENC breast strain measurements with diagnostic breast MRI to differentiate benign from malignant lesions could potentially increase the specificity of diagnosis in the clinical setting.
The laminar axisymmetric wake for power-law fluids

An analytic solution is given for the asymptotic structure of the axisymmetric laminar wake of a power-law fluid valid for rheological indicesn>1/3. For dilatant fluids (n>1) the lateral extent of the wake is finite, a feature not found in Newtonian fluid flows. Velocity profiles are compared with previously published results for two-dimensional laminar wakes of power-law fluids at selected values ofn.
Jet fuel toxicity: skin damage measured by 900-MHz MRI skin microscopy and visualization by 3D MR image processing

The toxicity of jet fuels was measured using noninvasive magnetic resonance microimaging (MRM) at 900-MHz magnetic field. The hypothesis was that MRM can visualize and measure the epidermis exfoliation and hair follicle size of rat skin tissue due to toxic skin irritation after skin exposure to jet fuels. High-resolution 900-MHz MRM was used to measure the change in size of hair follicle, epidermis thickening and dermis in the skin after jet fuel exposure. A number of imaging techniques utilized included magnetization transfer contrast (MTC), spin-lattice relaxation constant (T1-weighting), combination of T2-weighting with magnetic field inhomogeneity (T2*-weighting), magnetization transfer weighting, diffusion tensor weighting and chemical shift weighting. These techniques were used to obtain 2D slices and 3D multislice–multiecho images with high-contrast resolution and high magnetic resonance signal with better skin details. The segmented color-coded feature spaces after image processing of the epidermis and hair follicle structures were used to compare the toxic exposure to tetradecane, dodecane, hexadecane and JP-8 jet fuels. Jet fuel exposure caused skin damage (erythema) at high temperature in addition to chemical intoxication. Erythema scores of the skin were distinct for jet fuels. The multicontrast enhancement at optimized TE and TR parameters generated high MRM signal of different skin structures. The multiple contrast approach made visible details of skin structures by combining specific information achieved from each of the microimaging techniques. At short echo time, MRM images and digitized histological sections confirmed exfoliated epidermis, dermis thickening and hair follicle atrophy after exposure to jet fuels. MRM data showed correlation with the histopathology data for epidermis thickness (R 2 =0.9052, Pb.0002) and hair root area (R 2 =0.88, Pb.0002). The toxicity of jet fuels on skin structures was in the order of tetradecaneNhexadecaneNdodecane. The method showed a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 75%. By MR image processing, different color-coded skin structures were extracted and 3D shapes of the epidermis and hair follicle size were compared. In conclusion, high-resolution MRM measured the change in skin epidermis and hair follicle size due to toxicity of jet fuels. MRM offers a three-dimensional spatial visualization of the change in skin structures as a method of toxicity evaluation and for comparison of jet fuels.
A re-investigation of 19O(β−)19F

Abstract Gamma rays observed in 19 O(β − ) 19 F have been studied with Ge(Li) spectroscopy utilizing activity created via the 18 O(d, p) 19 O reaction. Precision measurements of γ-ray energies and intensities, in conjunction with previous work, define the following excitation energies (in keV) and β-branching ratios (in %) for states of 19 F: 109.894(5), 0.055(13/38); 197.143(4), 45.4(1.5); 1345.67(13), 0.017(2); 1554.038(9), 54.4(1.2); 2779.849(34), ft are 8.34(30/10); 5.384(14); 8.25(5); 4.625(10); > 8.17; 6.133(27); and 3.859(17), respectively. The β-branches to the 1346 and 3908 keV states had not been observed previously. The β-branch for the 4378 keV state is in significantly better accord with theoretical expectations than the previous value of 0.160(12) %.
Activation of CMV promoter-controlled glycosyltransferase and β-galactosidase glycogenes by butyrate, tricostatin A, and 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early promoter is a powerful promoter frequently used for driving the expression of transgenes in mammalian cells. However, this promoter gradually becomes silenced in stably transfected cells. We employed Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) and human pancreatic cancer (Panc 1) cells stably tansfected with three glycogenes driven by a CMV promoter to study the activation of silenced glycogenes. We found that butyrate, tricostatin A (TSA), and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) can activate these CMV-driven glycogenes. The increase in mRNA and protein of a glycogene occurred 8-10 h after butyrate treatment, suggesting an indirect effect of butyrate in the activation of the transgene. The enhanced expression of the trangenes by butyrate and TSA, known inhibitors of histone deacetylase, was independent of the transgene or cell type. However, the transgene can be activated by these two agents in only a fraction of the cells derived from a single clone, suggesting that inactivation of histone deacetylase can only partially explain silencing of the transgenes. Combination treatment of one or both agents with 5-Aza-dC, a known inhibitor of DNA methylase, resulted in a synergistic activation of the transgene, suggesting a cross-talk between histone acetylation and DNA demethylation. Understanding the mechanisms of the inactivation and reactivation of CMV promoter-controlled transgenes should help develop an effective strategy to fully activate the CMV promoter-controlled therapeutic genes silenced by the host cells.
Multi-area ATC evaluation based on Kron reduction

In a deregulated power system, the need to perform fast multi-area available transfer capability (ATC) evaluation emerges. This paper introduces a multi-area ATC evaluation method based on system decomposition and Kron reduction. The new method is a four-step procedure including system decomposition, area equivalencing, data exchange and topology checking. The implementation of the new method requires only limited information exchanges between different control areas and the central coordinator. Due to the distributed nature of the new method, the massive calculation of multi-area ATC is broken down and parallel computed in each control area in a distributed way. An enhanced DC-ATC model is adopted to boost speed with reasonable accuracy. The method is validated through both an IEEE 118-BUS test case and a real case in East China.
Erosion of Amplatzer septal occluder device after closure of secundum atrial septal defects: Review of registry of complications and recommendations to minimize future risk

The objectives of this study were to identify possible risk factors that may lead to erosion of the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) and recommend ways to minimize future risk. There have been rare occurrences of adverse events with development of pericardial effusion after ASO placement. Identification of high-risk cases, early recognition, and prompt intervention may minimize the future risks of adverse events. In all patients who developed hemodynamic compromise after ASO placement, echocardiograms (pre-, intra-, and postprocedure), atrial septal defect (ASD) size (nonstretched, stretched), size of the device used, cineangiograms, and operative records were reviewed by a panel selected by AGA Medical Corporation. The findings were compared to the premarket approval data obtained from FDA-approved clinical trials that were conducted in the United States, before the device was approved. A total of 28 cases (14 in United States) of adverse events were reported to AGA Medical. All erosions occurred at the dome of the atria, near the aortic root. Deficient aortic rim was seen in 89% and the defect described as high ASD, suggesting deficient superior rim. The device to unstretched ASD ratio was significantly larger in the adverse event group when compared to the FDA trial group. The incidence of device erosion in the United States was 0.1%. The risk of device erosion with ASO is low and complications can be decreased by identifying high-risk patients and following them closely. Patients with deficient aortic rim and/or superior rim may be at higher risk for device erosion. Oversized ASO may increase the risk of erosion. The defect should not be overstretched during balloon sizing. Patients with small pericardial effusion at 24 hr should have closer follow-up.
Undergraduate research in a biotechnology teaching laboratory: Expression and purification of a tyrosine kinase

The class consisted of senior molecular biology majors who had previously taken cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology lecture courses but who had little or no previous lab experience. These students were asked to design and create an expression vector and purify the expressed protein. This project provides the students with the opportunity to appreciate interconnections between experiments while learning the necessary techniques. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 359–363.
Knowledge-Driven Ultrasonic Three-Dimensional Organ Modeling

A representation is described for nonstructured biologic objects which are single-valued distortions of a sphere. The representation is implemented in a model-driven system for extracting three-dimensional (3-D) organ reconstructions from a series of arbitrarily oriented ultrasound slices. A training set of ultrasonic reconstructions of similarly shaped objects is used to give the computer generic knowledge of a given shape class. This knowledge is in the form of local slope constraints defined on an object coordinate system. The combination of constraints, interacting together via a relaxation process on continuous label sets, attempts to capture the essential shape and range of variation for an organ class. An initial tolerance region and ``bestguess'' organ surface are established by the interaction of the learned shape knowledge with manually input organ landmarks. A hypothesize-verify paradigm is employed to alternately request new data and to update the tolerance region and bestguess surface. Examples from runs on two balloon classes are presented. These examples show: 1) the local constraints interact to produce a reasonable global depiction of the essential shape and range of variation, 2) the use of shape knowledge permits accurate results from only one third of the available data, and 3) the 3-D shape knowledge provides a two-dimensional (2-D) tolerance region for plan-guided edge detection.
Measuring the ratio of aqueous diffusion coefficients between 6Li+Cl− and 7Li+Cr− by osmometry

Abstract Osmotic equilibrium is a singular occurrence in the evolution of an osmotic cell because at this event the net solution flux is zero such that −J w · V w = J s · V s . At this juncture, the diffusion coefficient of the solute through the membrane (ω) equals the solute flux (Js) divided by the osmotic pressure (ΔΠ). Because the solute permeability coefficient (ω) is related to the Fickian diffusion coefficient (D) through the gas constant, temperature, and the membrane's thickness and tortuosity, the ratio of ω values for individual isotopic species equals the ratio of D values for the same isotopic components. A 0.9450 molal LiCl solution was placed within sealed dialysis tubing and osmoted against a kilogram of deionized water at 22°C. Osmotic equilibrium occurred at 164 ± 10 min. The ratio of ω6 Li + Cl − ω7 Li + Cl − was measured to be 1.011 ± 0.003—a value close to the square root of the mass ratio between 7LiCl and 6LiCl (= 1.012) as calculated by Graham's Law. The measured diffusion coefficient ratio was used to predict the degree of hyperfiltration-induced fractionation of Li isotopes as a function of membrane ideality. When a membrane's σ exceeds 0.95 (as is likely for low-porosity shales) the 6 Li 7 Li ratio on the high-pressure side of the membrane can theoretically vary by more than 0.0017.
Does quality improvement work? Evaluation of the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative.

Every year there are thousands of decedents who could donate organs but do not (Sheehy et al. 2003). Many families of potential donors refuse consent, others are never asked in the first place. According to a recent estimate, the number of life years lost as a result of the failure to transplant all suitable organs is comparable with the years lost as a result of suicide, homicide, or perinatal conditions (Schnitzler et al. 2005). Frustration with the growing imbalance between organ demand and supply has led policy makers to contemplate new strategies for promoting organ donation, including financial incentives for donor families and use of a “presumed consent” regime (Howard, in press). A recent Institute of Medicine report recommended against these policies (Committee on Increasing Rates of Organ Donation 2006).1 The report cited the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, a nationwide quality improvement initiative, as evidence that it is possible to increase donation rates within the confines of the current system. While initial findings from the Breakthrough Collaborative are promising, neither the Breakthrough Collaborative nor other large scale quality improvement programs to promote donation (Burris and Jacobs 1996; Plessen et al. 1997; Bozzi et al. 2004; Tokalak et al. 2005) have been rigorously evaluated. This study fills the gap on the effectiveness of quality improvement in organ procurement by estimating the impact of the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative on donation rates. Our evaluation is limited to the first phase of the Collaborative, which took place from September 2003 to August 2004 and involved 95 hospitals in 43 organ procurement organizations (OPOs).
Purification of bovine liver S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase by affinity chromatography on blue dextran-agarose

S-Adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase (adenosylhomocysteinase, EC 3.3.1.1) was purified from bovine liver by conventional protein purification procedures (differential centrifugation, ammonium sulfate fractionation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography) followed by affinity chromatography on blue dextran coupled to agarose. The enzyme was eluted from the blue dextran-agarose column with adenosine and the adenosine was removed by chromatography on Sephadex G-75. The affinity chromatography step resulted in a substantial increase in total AdoHcy hydrolase activity (about 600%) suggesting either removal of some inhibitory substance or a change in the structure of the protein producing a more catalytically efficient enzyme. The isolation procedure afforded over 3400-fold purification of the enzyme, which was shown to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using high pressure liquid chromatography, the nucleotide content of the freshly purified enzyme was determined to be 2 mol of nicotinamide adenine nucleotide per mol of enzyme tetramer. The ratio of the reduced to the oxidized form of the nucleotide was correlated to the activity of the enzyme preparation.
Higher Performance Networking For Interactive Visualization

Requirements for fast access to larger data sets and the desire to provide better interactions between high performance computers and visualization subsystems are calling for a new generation of workstation networking facilities. This new generation of networking will be 10 to 50 times faster than the existing one based on the presently established Ethernet and TCP/IP industry standard components. It will take advantage of both increased raw hardware bandwidth (100-200 Mbit/s) and also improved efficiencies (50-80%). In the near term and for selected applications, these facilities will replace or supplement Ethernet and TCP/IP. The FDDI physical layer protocol based on fiber optic technology and logical layer protocols based on simpler and more efficient ("light-weight") software models offer prospects for these near term, mid-range-performance applications. However, there are needs as well for even higher networking performance at 1 Gbit/s. These needs will also drive special solutions for workstations in the near term - and perhaps even standards where workstations are used in combination with supercomputer processing. In all cases the implications for system architectures are significant, and numerous changes are required in today's workstation products to support these new levels of network performance.
The evolution of mandibular distraction: device selection.

Background: Mandibular distraction has evolved from the use of external to the use of intraoral and semiburied devices. The authors highlight the evolution of the semiburied technique. The authors evaluate advantages and limitations, and report perioperative events for external and semiburied techniques to establish the indications for selection of the different devices. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients undergoing man dibular distraction at the New York University Langone Medical Center from the authors' introduction of mandibular distraction in May of 1989 to June 30, 2009. Perioperative events were stratified into three groups: minor incidents, moderate incidents, and major incidents. Results: A total of 211 mandibular distraction procedures were performed: 129 external procedures on native bone, 37 external procedures on grafted bone, and 45 semiburied procedures on native bone. Minor incidents were more common with the semiburied device (62 percent) compared with external devices on native (26 percent) and grafted (38 percent) bone. There were fewer moderate incidents with the semiburied device (18 percent) than with the external device on native (22 percent) and grafted (30 percent) bone. In contrast to the external technique, no major incidents were seen with semiburied distraction. Conclusions: The semiburied device reduces scarring and has the mechanical advantages of being applied directly to the bone, less vulnerable to dislodgment, and more favorable for a vertical vector. However, its use requires more bone stock and it has the disadvantage of requiring a second operation for removal. Semiburied distraction is safe, reliable, and indicated for lengthening of the hypoplastic mandible where there is adequate bone stock for its attachment.
Can I Talk to You? The Effects of Instructor Position, Nationality, and Teaching Style on Students' Perceived Willingness to Communicate and on Teacher Evaluations

The influence of instructor position, nationality, and teaching style on student perceived willingness to communicate and on teaching evaluations in a college math course is examined in this study. Students are more willing to communicate both in class and outside of class during lecture-based courses rather than discussion-based courses. Students are more willing to communicate outside of the classroom with an American instructor than they are with a Chinese instructor. Additionally, students give higher evaluations to instructors who use a lecture-based teaching style than instructors who use a discussion-based format. Social identity theory helps to explain these findings.
The detection and quantitation of diphtheria and tetanus antibodies in human plasma or serum by counterelectrophoresis.

Summary Counterelectrophoresis has been found to be a rapid, reproducible and inexpensive means of screening human plasma and serum for diphtheria and tetanus antibody. The minimal detectable level was five international units per ml and methods of increasing sensitivity as well as quantitation of these antibodies is discussed.
A generalized power law approximation for fluvial incision of bedrock channels

[1] Sediment flux is known to influence bedrock incision rates in mountain rivers. Although the widely used stream power incision model lacks any explicit representation of sediment flux, the model appears to work in a variety of real settings. We address this apparent contradiction using numerical experiments to explore the morphology of fluvial landscapes evolved with four different incision models, three of which include the influence of sediment flux on incision rate. The numerical landscapes have different spatial patterns of uplift and are at steady state. We analyze these landscape using the common “stream power” approach, which views incision rates to be primarily a function of the local channel gradient S and the upstream drainage area A. We find that incision rates I for these landscapes are well described by an empirical power law equation I = K′Am′Sn′. This equation is functionally equivalent to the widely used stream power model, with the important distinction that the parameters K′, m′, and n′ are entirely empirical. These parameters take on constant values within a single landscape, but can otherwise be quite different between landscapes mainly due to differences in the pattern of rock uplift within the drainage. In particular, the parameters m′ and n′ decrease as the rate of rock uplift becomes more focused in the upland part of a mountain belt. The parameter m′ is particularly important in that it describes the sensitivity of a tectonically active mountain belt to changes in precipitation or tectonic accretion. It also defines how incision rates will change as the discharge becomes flashier.
Chapter 5 The purposes of arts-based educational research

Abstract The author describes the confusion surrounding postmodern conceptions of social science, including the blurring of traditional distinctions between science and art. He argues that the disinction is an important one, for, as the two basic forms of human inquiry, science and art serve fundamentally distinct purposes. Unfortunately, only (social) scientific texts are considered useful by many educationists. The author attempts to clarify the basic purpose of value negation that is served by good arts-based research texts and argues for their legitimacy as a form of educational research.
Serum White Blood Cell Count and Differential Do Not Have a Role in the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Serum white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil differential are frequently ordered during preoperative workup of suspected cases of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). However, their roles in diagnosis of PJI have remained unclear despite previous studies. In this study, preoperative serum WBC and neutrophil percentages were retrieved from hospital charts. The diagnostic cutoff point determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 7800 cells/μL with 55% sensitivity and 66% specificity for WBC count, whereas the cutoff value for neutrophil percentage was 68% with 52% sensitivity and 75% specificity. Our study confirms the long-held belief that serum WBC count and differential has minimal role in routine workup of patients with suspected PJI.
Evaluation of Spatially Fractionated Radiotherapy (GRID) and Definitive Chemoradiotherapy With Curative Intent for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Initial Response Rates and Toxicity

Purpose To present results and acute toxicity in 14 patients with bulky (≥6 cm) tumors from locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who received spatially fractionated radiotherapy (GRID) therapy to the bulky mass followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy using simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT). Methods and Materials GRID therapy to the GTV was delivered by creating one treatment field with a checkerboard pattern composed of open–closed areas using a multileaf collimator. The GRID prescription was 20 Gy in one fraction. Chemotherapy started the day of GRID therapy and continued throughout the course of SIB-IMRT. The SIB-IMRT prescription was 66, 60, and 54 Gy to the planning target volume (PTV), intermediate-risk PTV, and low-risk PTV, respectively, in 30 fractions. Results With a median follow-up of 19.5 months (range, 2–38 months), the overall control rate of the GRID gross tumor volume was 79% (11 of 14). The most common acute skin and mucosal toxicities were Grade 3 and 2, respectively. Conclusion For the treatment of locally advanced neck squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, GRID followed by chemotherapy and SIB-IMRT is well tolerated and yields encouraging clinical and pathologic responses, with similar acute toxicity profiles as in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy without GRID.
Electrolytical method for hydrogenation of silicon

Abstract Several electrolytic techniques are shown to introduce hydrogen into crystalline silicon at room temperature without introducing defects. Infrared results of samples treated thus are shown.
Particle evaporation from semiclassical dynamics.

Particle evaporation from excited nuclei is calculated with the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck equation, which is solved numerically using the test-particle method. If the collision integral is omitted, the resulting Vlasov dynamics is very sensitive to numerical noise inherent in the test-particle method. With the collision integral included, the numerical error can be reduced to a point where the system reaches a steady state of evaporative decay. The evaporation rate is found to be consistent with the Weisskopf statistical formula. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Vibrational Spectroscopy of Rubbed Polymer Surfaces

Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy was used to probe rubbed polymer surfaces. The spectra allowed a quantitative determination of the orientational distribution of the surface polymer chains.
Restoring the capacity of spent mushroom compost to treat coal mine drainage by reducing the inflow rate: A microcosm experiment

Four volumes of spent mushroom compost were exposed to synthetic coal mine drainage (pH 3.5, 48 mg L−1 Fe, 22 mg L−1 Mn) under oxidizing conditions (Eh 300 to 400 mV) at a relatively high rate of flow. After 15 days, the compost lost its ability to elevate pH, to lower the redox potential, to lower outlet iron concentrations, and to lower manganese concentrations, with larger volumes retaining more Fe and H+, but less Mn. Estimated retention maxima per liter of spent mushroom compost were 281 μeq H+, 5.56 g Fe, and 0.15 g Mn. These values are similar to those reported elsewhere for peat. The ‘saturated’ compost was then mixed and exposed to mine water in order to eliminate ‘dead zones’ in the compost. Subsequently, the compost was re-exposed to synthetic mine water (pH 4.0, 60 mg L−1 Fe, O mg L−1 Mn) under a much lower flow rate and less oxidizing regime for a period of 114 days. Under the low flow regime, iron was first exported from the compost as reducing conditions were established, and then retained on a stable basis. In addition, Eh was lowered and pH was elevated by the compost. On a net basis, the capacity of the compost to retain iron was increased and apparently stable under the decreased flow conditions.
Predicting the Effects of Lubricant Chemistry on Bearing Fatigue Life

A method for predicting the effects of lubricant chemistry on bearing fatigue life was evaluated. The method was based on a correlation that was developed from wear test data, obtained with a ring-on-black tester, and full-scale bearing life test data. The correlation revealed that the degree of wear was inversely proportional to bearing fatigue life. The relationship between wear and bearing life was developed by using both light- and heavy-viscosity base oils, single- and multicomponent-additive formulations, and various commercial lubricant formulations. It was concluded that the ring-on-block tester may represent a method for predicting the chemical effects of mineral oil formulations on bearing fatigue life. A lubricant chemical adjustment factor for predicting such effects was derived. The wear tester appeared to identify an important property of lubricants that should enhance the process of selecting lubricants for various applications. The data revealed that a small number of lubricants exerted a ...
Research note: Capture Aloha with two random power levels

In this paper the interference process in an unslotted Aloha network using two power levels is used to obtain the throughput in a channel with power capture. In the model considered, each user randomly chooses a power level from a given set for each packet transmitted. It is shown that unslotted Aloha with power capture can achieve an ideal throughput of 0.26.
Immediate recall of oral contraceptive instructions: implications for providers.

Abstract Objective: The object of the study was to determine the patient characteristics associated with inadequate recall of oral contraceptive pill-taking instructions. Study Design: Sexually active women aged 13 to 40 years (n = 150) attending university-based family planning clinics completed anonymous self-report measures that assessed demographic and reproductive characteristics, understanding of pill-taking instructions, and contraceptive compliance. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with inadequate recall for the sample, stratified by minority versus nonminority women. Results: Minority women with inadequate recall were almost 6 times more likely than minority women with adequate recall not to know the name of the prescribed oral contraceptive and were 3 times more likely to have less than a high school education. In addition there were 1-fold and 2-fold increases in likelihood of inadequate recall as certainty of pill-taking instructions and general oral contraceptive knowledge, respectively, decreased. Inadequate recall was associated with poor compliance. Conclusion: Women with inadequate recall may be identified at the conclusion of their visit so that interventions to enhance their pill-taking skills can be provided. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:1399-406.)
Aspergillus niger mutants with increased glucose oxidase production

Aspergillus niger NRRL-3, an organism used for the industrial scale production of d-gluconic acid and glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4), was subjected to mutagenesis and selection for acid production on diagnostic media containing methyl red. The plates contained 0.1 M d-glucose, a concentration that does not produce a color change in the medium surrounding mycelia of the parental strain under the conditions employed. Mutagenized spores yielded occasional colonies which were able to grow rapidly and were surrounded by a reddish zone. A number of such presumptive mutants were selected and isolated. Twenty-six such strains were grown in shaken cultures with liquid media containing 0.01, 0.1 or 0.5 M d-glucose, harvested, disrupted and the specific activity of d-glucose oxidase determined. Seven of the mutant strains had glucose oxidase specific activities markedly higher than the parental strain.
Use of acid cleanser in endodontic therapy.

Scanning electron and light microscopy were used to determine the effectiveness of a citric acid-based cleanser in pulp destruction and its use for root canal debridement and cleansing procedures. The use of a 50% citric acid cleanser in root canals after pulpectomy produced well-cleaned surfaces as shown by scanning electron microscopy. Compared with other cleaning agents, this cleanser provided improved penetration of rosin into the dentinal tubules and better wall adaptation of gutta-percha. No contraindication has been encountered in clinical practice. Application of the cleanser directly to the exposed pulp resulted in satisfactory destruction similar to the results obtained with strong acids.
Problems of low‐light detection in real‐time at high resolution

Various kinds of low-light-level detectors and image intensifiers are described and specific charge-coupled device (CCD) developments are discussed from the perspective of the astronomical community, with possible application to optical microscopy. A number of research groups are reporting success at obtaining custom CCDs for application to high-quality cameras working at low-light levels. CCDs offer significant advantages in image quality and sensitivity compared with more traditional devices. Signal to noise (S/N) is derived for both CCDs and intensified devices. There is a tradeoff between the two and, because of the high read-out rate required by microscopists, intensified devices still offer a S/N advantage at the lowest light levels.
A multiobjective programming framework for integrating timber and wildlife management

This article describes a multiobjective programming (MOP) framework for integrating timber and wildlife management. The framework allows for the simultaneous consideration of timber and wildlife objectives. Management strategies are defined in terms of management regimes consisting of a time-identified and site-specific schedule of activities. A MOP model is described and demonstrated using an integrated planning example involving a forest managed for timber production and a variety of wildlife species.
Age-associated increases of α-synuclein in monkeys and humans are associated with nigrostriatal dopamine depletion: Is this the target for Parkinson's disease?

α-Synuclein is a synaptic protein that has been directly linked to both the etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. We have previously shown that only nigral neurons in PD expressing α-synuclein inclusions display a loss dopaminergic phenotype. The present study tested the hypothesis that normal aging contributes to this effect. The relative abundance of α-synuclein protein within individual nigral neurons was quantified in eighteen normal humans between the age of 18 and 102 and twenty four rhesus monkeys between the age of 2 and 34. Optical densitometry revealed a robust age-related increase in α-synuclein protein within individual nigral neurons in both species. This effect was specific for nigral α-synuclein as no age-related changes were found in the ventral tegmental area nor were there changes in the nigra for non-pathogenic β-synuclein. The age-related increases in nigral α-synuclein were non-aggregated and strongly associated with age-related decreases in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate limiting enzyme for dopamine production. In fact, only cells expressing α-synuclein displayed reductions in TH. We hypothesize that age-related increases in α-synuclein result in a subthreshold degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine which, in PD, becomes symptomatic due to lysosomal failure resulting in protein misfolding and inclusion formation. We further hypothesize that preventing the age-related accumulation of non-aggregated α-synuclein might be a simple and potent therapeutic target for patients with PD.
A unique low frequency Raman band associated with metal binding to metallothionein.

We find that the low frequency Raman spectrum of Zn(II) metallothionein has a single prominent band at 138 cm−1 which is absent from the Raman spectrum of the metal-free protein. This feature is also found for Cd(II) binding to both of the independent metallothionein domains and the metallothionein fromNeurospora crassa. TcO(III) coordination to metallothionein results in a similar Raman band which is also found for the complex (Ph4As)[ReO(SCH2CH2S)2]. By comparing these results to literature data for metal-thiolate complexes, this feature is identified as a bending vibration which appears to be characteristic of metal ion coordination by the metallothionein cysteines. Two likely assignments are a symmetric metal-centered mode (δS-M-S) or a bending mode of the metal-coordinated cysteine thiolates (δM-S-C).
The amino acid sequence of rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C: gene replication and homology with calcium-binding proteins from carp and hake muscle.

Troponin, a protein found in the thin filaments of muscle of a wide variety of species [l] , in combination with tropomyosin regulates muscle contraction by conferring a calcium sensitivity on the interaction of actin and myosin, as originally shown by Ebashi [2] . Troponin is a complex of three proteins [3,4] : a calcium binding protein (TN-C); an inhibitory protein (TN-I) and a protein (TN-T) which binds to tropomyosin. TN-C is a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight about 18 000 [ 51. In lower vertebrates (but not in mammals) a family of low mol. wt (about 12 000), soluble muscle calcium-binding proteins (MCBP), or parvalbumins, are found in abundance [6111. Although the biological role of the MCBPs is unknown, it has been speculated that they may be homologous with TN-C [6]. We report here the amino acid sequence of TN-C. The possibility of gene replication in the evolution of TN-C and the relationship of its sequence with that of MCBP are discussed.
The feasibility of an expenditure tax

Argues that while an expenditure tax would increase the complexity and administrative burdens of taxation, these problems are not overwhelming. The problems which have led others to conclude that an expenditure tax is infeasible, or would result in gross inequities, are not insuperable. At worst they can be handled with a little ingenuity and a suitable transition scheme. The case for or against an expenditure tax must rest on whether the economic benefits of adopting such a tax exceed the minor administrative costs of the tax. The expenditure tax cannot be rejected as infeasible merely because of practical or administrative problems.
Workflow representation and runtime based on lazy functional streams

Workflows are a successful model for building both distributed and tightly-coupled programs based on a dataflow-oriented coordination of computations. Multiple programming languages have been proposed to represent workflow-based programs in the past. In this paper, we discuss a representation of workflows based on lazy functional streams implemented in the strongly typed language Haskell. Our intent is to demonstrate that streams are an expressive intermediate representation for higher-level workflow languages. By embedding our stream-based workflow representation in a language such as Haskell, we also gain with minimal effort the strong type system provided by the base language, the rich library of built-in functional primitives, and most recently, rich support for managing concurrency at the language level.
Conversion of a phase‐ to a rate‐coded position signal by a three‐stage model of theta cells, grid cells, and place cells

As a rat navigates through a familiar environment, its posi- tion in space is encoded by firing rates of place cells and grid cells. Oscil- latory interference models propose that this positional firing rate code is derived from a phase code, which stores the rat's position as a pattern of phase angles between velocity-modulated theta oscillations. Here we describe a three-stage network model, which formalizes the computational steps that are necessary for converting phase-coded position signals (repre- sented by theta oscillations) into rate-coded position signals (represented by grid cells and place cells). The first stage of the model proposes that the phase-coded position signal is stored and updated by a bank of ring attractors, like those that have previously been hypothesized to perform angular path integration in the head-direction cell system. We show ana- lytically how ring attractors can serve as central pattern generators for producing velocity-modulated theta oscillations, and we propose that such ring attractors may reside in subcortical areas where hippocampal theta rhythm is known to originate. In the second stage of the model, grid fields are formed by oscillatory interference between theta cells residing in dif- ferent (but not the same) ring attractors. The model's third stage assumes that hippocampal neurons generate Gaussian place fields by computing weighted sums of inputs from a basis set of many grid fields. Here we show that under this assumption, the spatial frequency spectrum of the Gaussian place field defines the vertex spacings of grid cells that must provide input to the place cell. This analysis generates a testable predic- tion that grid cells with large vertex spacings should send projections to the entire hippocampus, whereas grid cells with smaller vertex spacings may project more selectively to the dorsal hippocampus, where place fields are smallest. V C 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reliable and energy-efficient digital signal processing

This paper provides an overview of algorithmic noise-tolerance (ANT) for designing reliable and energy-efficient digital signal processing systems. Techniques such as prediction-based, error cancellation-based, and reduced precision redundancy based ANT are discussed. Average energy-savings range from 67% to 71% over conventional systems. Fluid IP core generators are proposed as a means of encapsulating the benefits of an ANT-based low-power design methodology. CAD issues resident in such a methodology are also discussed.
Infliximab for psoriasis

Abstract This review summarizes the use of inflximab in psoriasis and other immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs). The magnitude and speed of the response to infliximab monotherapy of moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris is substantial, being similar to those achieved with cyclosporin. In contrast with cyclosporin, clinical improvement after the initial 3 intravenous influsions of infliximab is maintained for as long as 6 months in approximately half the patients with the absence of any additional treatment. Additionally, infliximab monotherapy normalizes keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and markedly decreases epidermal inflammation. These results provide a convincing argument for the role of TNF-α in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and for the clinical development of infliximab for the treatment of psoriasis.
Improving the Performance of Two-Stage Gas Guns By Adding a Diaphragm in the Pump Tube

Herein, we study the technique of improving the gun performance by installing a diaphragm in the pump tube of the gun. A CFD study is carried out for the 0.28 in. gun in the Hypervelocity Free Flight Radiation (HFF RAD) range at the NASA Ames Research Center. The normal, full-length pump tube is studied as well as two pump tubes of reduced length (approximately 75% and approximately 33% of the normal length). Significant improvements in performance are calculated to be gained for the reduced length pump tubes upon the addition of the diaphragm. These improvements are identified as reductions in maximum pressures in the pump tube and at the projectile base of approximately 20%, while maintaining the projectile muzzle velocity or as increases in muzzle velocity of approximately 0.5 km/sec while not increasing the maximum pressures in the gun. Also, it is found that both guns with reduced pump tube length (with diaphragms) could maintain the performance of gun with the full length pump tube without diaphragms, whereas the guns with reduced pump tube lengths without diaphragms could not. A five-shot experimental investigation of the pump tube diaphragm technique is carried out for the gun with a pump tube length of 75% normal. The CFD predictions of increased muzzle velocity are borne out by the experimental data. Modest, but useful muzzle velocity increases (2.5 - 6%) are obtained upon the installation of a diaphragm, compared to a benchmark shot without a diaphragm.
Communication system architectures for missions to Mars-a preliminary investigation

This paper presents various communication system architectures for multiple-link communications with single aperture (MULSA) ground station. The proposed architectures are capable of supporting a multiplicity of spacecraft that are within the beamwidth of a single ground station antenna simultaneously. Both short and long term proposals to address this scenario are discussed. In addition, the paper also discusses the top-level system designs of the proposed architectures and identifies the associated advantages and disadvantages for each system.
Recent Advances in Durability and Damage Tolerance Methodology at NASA Langley Research Center

Durability and damage tolerance (D&DT) issues are critical to the development of lighter, safer and more efficient aerospace vehicles. Durability is largely an economic life-cycle design consideration whereas damage tolerance directly addresses the structural airworthiness (safety) of the vehicle. Both D&DT methodologies must address the deleterious effects of changes in material properties and the initiation and growth of damage that may occur during the vehicle s service lifetime. The result of unanticipated D&DT response is often manifested in the form of catastrophic and potentially fatal accidents. As such, durability and damage tolerance requirements must be rigorously addressed for commercial transport aircraft and NASA spacecraft systems. This paper presents an overview of the recent and planned future research in durability and damage tolerance analytical and experimental methods for both metallic and composite aerospace structures at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).
Hollow nanoparticles from zein for potential medical applications

Hollow nanoparticles from corn storage protein zein, with average diameters as small as 65 nm and capable of loading a large amount of drug and penetrating into the cell cytoplasm, have been developed for potential drug delivery applications. As an important protein co-product of corn-based ethanol, zein is biocompatible and has been proved to be useful for medical applications through in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Zein can overcome the limitations of inorganic or metal nanoparticles that tend to accumulate in the organs and tissues and is therefore preferable for drug delivery applications. However, it has been observed that only small proteins and peptides are able to penetrate into cells and zein with a molecular weight of 14–44 kDa may not be able to enter into the cells. In this research, hollow zein nanoparticles have been developed and the potential of the hollow zein nanoparticles to load drugs and enter the cell cytoplasm was investigated. Hollow zein nanoparticles developed in this research were capable of loading as high as 369 mg g−1 of the drug metformin at an equilibrium concentration of 3 g L−1. Metformin in hollow zein nanoparticles showed a more sustained and controlled release profile than that in solid zein nanoparticles. Hollow zein nanoparticles were found to be able to enter the fibroblast cells 1 hour after incubation. The biocompatibility, nano-scale diameters, potential for loading a large amount of drugs and the ability to penetrate into cells make hollow zein nanoparticles ideal candidates for carrying various payloads for intracellular drug delivery.