cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyphosphazene membranes. III. Solid‐state characterization and properties of sulfonated poly[bis(3‐methylphenoxy)phosphazene]

Poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene] was sulfonated in a solution with SO3 and solution-cast into 100–200-μm-thick membranes from N,N-dimethylacetamide. The degree of polymer sulfonation was easily controlled and water-insoluble membranes were fabricated with an ion-exchange capacity (IEC) as high as 2.1 mmol/g. For water-insoluble polymers, there was no evidence of polyphosphazene degradation during sulfonation. The glass transition temperature varied from −28°C for the base polymer to −10°C for a sulfonated polymer with an IEC of 2.1 mmol/g. The equilibrium water swelling of membranes at 25°C increased from near zero for a 0.04-mmol/g IEC membrane to 900 % when the IEC was 2.1 mmol/g. When the IEC was < 1.0 mmol/g, SO3 attacked the methylphenoxy side chains at the para position, whereas sulfonation occurred at all available aromatic carbons for higher ion-exchange capacities. Differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarized microscopy showed that the base polymer, poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene], was semicrystalline. For sulfonated polymers with a measurable IEC, the 3-dimensional crystal structure vanished but a 2-dimensional ordered phase was retained. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 387–399, 1999
A Developmental Timing MicroRNA and Its Target Regulate Life Span in C. elegans

The microRNA lin-4 and its target, the putative transcription factor lin-14, control the timing of larval development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we report that lin-4 and lin-14 also regulate life span in the adult. Reducing the activity of lin-4 shortened life span and accelerated tissue aging, whereas overexpressing lin-4 or reducing the activity of lin-14 extended life span. Lifespan extension conferred by a reduction in lin-14 was dependent on the DAF-16 and HSF-1 transcription factors, suggesting that the lin-4-lin-14 pair affects life span through the insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 pathway. This work reveals a role for microRNAs and developmental timing genes in life-span regulation.
Tri-Mode Independent Gate FinFET-Based SRAM With Pass-Gate Feedback: Technology–Circuit Co-Design for Enhanced Cell Stability

We present 6T SRAMs with pass-gate feedback using tri-mode independent gate (TMIG) FinFETs as the access transistors. We perform a comprehensive analysis of TMIG FinFETs and the proposed SRAM cell using our simulation framework, which is based on the non-equilibrium Green's function models for FinFETs. We compare our technique with the tied gate (TG) FinFET SRAM and the previously proposed independent gate (IG) FinFET SRAM with pass-gate feedback. The effects of quantum confinement in scaled FinFETs on the device and SRAM characteristics are analyzed in detail. We show that quantum confinement effects lead to severe degradation in access time and write-ability of the IG FinFET SRAM. On the other hand, the SRAM cell proposed in this paper shows 14% improvement in write-ability over the TG FinFET SRAM with comparable read stability, achieving mitigation of the read-write conflict. At the same time, 30% reduction in standby leakage and comparable hold stability is achieved at no cell area penalty, with only 14% increase in the cell access time. We also show that the array-level issues associated with pass-gate feedback are mitigated using the co-design technique presented in this paper.
ICER reverses tumorigenesis of rat prostate tumor cells without affecting cell growth.

BACKGROUND Inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) is an important mediator of cAMP antiproliferative activity that acts as a putative tumor suppressor gene product. ICER is a transcriptional repressor that negatively regulates cAMP-mediated gene expression. Here, we report the effect of ectopically increasing the expression of ICER on in vitro and in vivo proliferation of the highly metastatic and androgen-insensitive AT6.3 rat prostate cells. METHODS The proliferative potential of stable AT6.3 cell clones expressing ICER was studied by cell counts, thymidine incorporation, flow cytometry, colony formation in soft agar, and growth in immunodeficient nude mice. RESULTS cAMP inhibits the growth of AT6.3 cells. ICER mRNA and protein levels were markedly induced by cAMP in AT6.3 cells. Forced expression of ICER in AT6.3 cells did not affect cell growth, thymidine incorporation, or the cell cycle. However, these ICER-bearing AT6.3 cells were rendered unable to grow in soft agar or to form tumors in nude mice. CONCLUSION These results show that ICER specifically affects the tumorigenicity of prostate cancer cell without affecting their growth. Therefore, the manipulation of ICER expression could be used for the treatment of androgen-insensitive prostate tumors without causing undesirable toxicity to the cells. Prostate 53: 225–231, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The influence of restricted posterior neodecortication on brightness preference and brightness discrimination performance of rats.

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to measure the choice behavior and brightness discrimination performance of normal and neodecorticated rats which had sustained damage to striate and/or extrastriate areas of the posterior cortex. Choice of dark environments was reduced when lesions included the striate area, while extrastriate damage reduced repetitive positional responses in a Yerkes apparatus and enhanced choice of a brighter escape door. When tested for discrimination performance in a two-choice task where either bright or dim alternatives served as correct stimuli, differential preferences did not seem to determine the courses of acquisition. Rather, the task requiring dim choice revealed selective impairment in rats without striate cortices. The assessment of brightness discrimination as an indicator of lesion induced behavioral impairment was discussed.
Petrographic study of, and trace element distribution in, high-MgO, transitional and high-Al2O3 basalts from the coastal region and SW-central Syria: A comparative study with similar basalts from the Aleutian Island arc

Abstract Ten Upper Tertiary high-Al 2 O 3 basalt samples, collected from Dahr Safra plateau near the eastern Mediterranean coast, and an Upper Tertiary basalt sample from southwest-central Syria, show >18 wt% Al 2 O 3 , and are subdivided into: high-MgO (14.43 wt% MgO), transitional (6.6 wt% MgO), and high-Al 2 O 3 ( 18 wt% Al 2 O 3 ). The latter is dominant, and amounts to >80 vol%. Three samples are dark and non-magnetic; whereas the others are blue and magnetic. Primary hydrous mafic minerals are absent; however, olivine xenocrysts, averaging 8 vol%, are partly to wholly iddingsitized and serpentinized. Major oxides, and trace element distribution show noticeable differences in Al 2 O 3 , CaO, TiO 2 , and Ba when compared with data measured for similar basaltic groups from the Aleutian island arc. The dark non-magnetic and blue magnetic samples represent two basaltic fractions originated from one parent magma, as supported by their field association, their equal Cr-concentration averages (262 and 266 ppmw), and the same trend for their FeO t MgONa 2 O+K 2 O-wt% averages. A MgO-enrichment, from olivine in the upper lithosphere, by a high-Al 2 O 3 parent magma, during its rise through immature conduits, has been advocated as the possible, but not conclusive, process (lack of isotopic data and RE-analyses) for the generation of high-MgO and transitional basalts. However, a suggested alternative process is to have a high-MgO parent magma which, by deuteric alteration of olivine (iddingsitization and serpentinization are observed in all, but sample 1) and leaching from a superheated fluid phase in the upper magma chamber, loses some MgO to generate high-alumina and transitional basalts. The parent rocks, which partially melted to generate the magma, are probably wehrlite (Cr-bearing clinopyroxene-olivine peridotite) and eclogite (eclogite was found about 30 km NNE from Dahr Safra, and showed an almandine-pyrope garnet). The contribution of eclogite (rich in Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 , and poor in CaO) must have been noticeable in the formation of the parent magma, in order to account for the presence of high concentration of Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , and low concentration of CaO in the Syrian basalts.
A multicenter longitudinal clinical trial of a new system for restorations

Abstract Statement of problem. A new method for fabrication of crowns and fixed partial dentures (Procera system) that involves electric discharge machining and copy milling has been developed. The metal used is unalloyed titanium, which can be processed as a single coping or multiple units joined to a pontic by laser welding. Purpose. The single-unit coping or the fixed partial denture (FPD) substructure is then veneered with a low-fusing porcelain. Material and methods. In this article the clinical application of this technique was evaluated by six major universities in the United States. A total of 114 patients participated in this study, which involved 126 restorations (55 maxillary and 71 mandibular prostheses). There were 179 abutments, of which 73 were crowns and 53 were three-unit FPDs. Surface and color, anatomic form, and margin integrity were assessed 1 month after cementation and at 1 year with the California Dental Association (CDA) quality assessment evaluation system. Results. No statistically significant differences in CDA scores between the 1 month evaluations and the 1 year assessments were found for surface and color ( p = 0.68), anatomic form ( p > 0.99), or margin integrity ( p = 0.57). By use of the lowest ranking in the three categories as the overall quality of the restoration, only 3.3% (two crowns and two FPDs) were not acceptable at the 1-month visit and 4.5% (two crowns and three FPDs) were not acceptable at the 1-year evaluation. At the 1-month visit 96.6% (114) of the restorations were considered to be satisfactory, whereas 95.5% (107 restorations) were evaluated similarly at the 1-year evaluation. Conclusions. The Procera system demonstrated, by use of the CDA criteria, its capability to produce quality prostheses that were rated satisfactory more than 95% of the time after insertion and maintained this high rating at least for 1 year. (J Prosthet Dent 1997;77:1-11.)
Dispersions or solutions? A mechanism for certain thickening agents

Hydrolyzed starch–polyacrylonitrile (H-SPAN) graft copolymers form highly viscoelastic mixtures with water, even at concentrations less than 1% by weight. In many ways these mixtures behave like ordinary polyelectrolyte solutions, but dilution experiments revealed that linear reduced viscosity–concentration plots could not be obtained even under ostensibly isoionic dilution conditions. This result, combined with a determination of gel content from centrifugation studies, led to the conclusion that high viscosity H-SPAN water mixtures consist of swollen, deformable gel particles closely packed in intimate contact. Under high dilution or at high ionic strength conditions, the gel particles no longer are tightly packed, solvent is present in excess, the viscosity drops precipitously, and the thickening action effectively disappears. For comparative purposes, a commercial thickening agent (Carbopol 941) was examined and found to act in the same way. All reduced viscosity-concentration curves obtained by dilution, either with salt solutions or water, can be shifted to a single normalized reduced viscosity plot. This shift is done by using as the concentration variable the quantity cQ, where c is the polyelectrolyte concentration and Q is the swelling which the gel particles undergo in an excess of solvent at the corresponding total ionic strength of the solution of concentration c.
An Operational Supramolecular Nanovalve

A functioning nanomachine in the form of a supramolecular nanovalve that opens and closes the orifices to molecular-sized pores and releases a small number of molecules on demand is reported. The nanovalve, which is used to open and close the nanocontainer, is a pseudorotaxane composed of two componentsa long thread containing a 1,5-dioxnaphthalene donor unit, which is attached to the solid support, and the moving part, the tetracationic cyclophane acceptor/receptor, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), which controls access to the interior of the nanopore. The nanocontainer is made out of mesoporous silica by using a dip-coating method. Operating the nanovalve involves three steps: (i) filling the container, (ii) closing the valve, and (iii) opening the valve to release the contents of the container on demand. The tubular pores, which are approximately 2 nm wide, are filled with stable luminescent Ir(ppy)3 molecules by allowing them to diffuse into the open pores. The orifices are then closed by pseudorotaxa...
The effect of voltage and diameter of anodic porous alumina in acid solutions

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is fabricated by electrochemical anodization of aluminum. This work is focused on the optimization on the diameter of the pores in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The Al sheet (20 × 20 × 0.15 mm) and Al (1 µm) deposited on silicon wafers (p-type) were used for anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) growth. The growing time, temperatures, kinds of electrolyte, working voltage were used to optimize the anodization of alumina. Besides, the effect of working voltage on the diameter of pores was also investigated. The porous array of alumina film has a uniform; closely packs honeycomb structure approximately 15 nm to 150 nm in diameter. Because of this, the structure is a good material for photonic crystal application in the future. This structure of alumina film is observed by scanning electrical microscope (SEM), and the density of porous channels was also obtained (1010 /cm2).
Law of the iterated logarithm for transitiveC 2 Anosov flows and semiflows over maps of the interval

It is proved that a functional law of the iterated logarithm is valid for transitiveC 2 Anosov flows on compact Riemannian manifolds when the observable belongs to a certain class of real-valued Holder functions. The result is equally valid for semiflows over piecewise expanding interval maps that are similar to the Williams' Lorenz-attractor semiflows. Furthermore the observables need only be real-valued Holder for these semiflows.
Hyper/J: multi-dimensional separation of concerns for Java

Hyper/J supports a new approach to constructing, integrating and evolving software, called multi-dimensional separation of concerns. Developers can decompose and organize code and other artifacts according to multiple, arbitrary criteria (concerns) simultaneously—even after the software has been implemented—and synthesize or integrate the pieces into larger-scale components and systems. Hyper/J facilitates several common development and evolution activities non-invasively, including: adaptation and customization, mix-and-match of features, reconciliation and integration of multiple domain models, reuse, product line management, extraction or replacement of existing parts of software, and on-demand remodularization. Hyper/J works with standard Java software, not requiring special compilers or environments. This demonstration will show it in action in a number of software engineering scenarios at different stages of the software lifecycle.
The roles of state estimator and security analysis in electricity markets

A fundamental attribute of successful electricity market is its ability to harmonize the requirements for secure operation of the physical system with commercial incentives which reside at the core of any competitive market environment. After two decades of deployment as part of the EMS for system operations, state estimator (SE) has become relatively well understood and accepted - even though in many control centers one may find performance reliability of the SE to be less than adequate. Modeling and model maintenance is often a leading source of difficulty. In the operation of a vertically integrated utility, the primary roles of the SE are geared towards security analysis (SA) of the transmission network. It acts as a gate-keeper for real-time security analysis. In the operation of competitive electricity markets, the roles of SE/SA for system reliability are ever more important and challenging for the RTOs. Furthermore, SE and SA are key elements in the market design that harmonizes physical security constraints with market incentives.
Decentralized approximate dynamic programming for dynamic networks of agents

We consider control systems consisting of teams of agents operating in stochastic environments and communicating through a network with dynamic topology. An optimal centralized control policy can be derived from the Q-function associated with the problem. However, computing and storing the Q-function is intractable for systems of practical scale, and having a centralized policy may lead to prohibitive requirements on communication between agents. On the other hand, it has been shown that decentralized optimal control is NP-hard even in the case of small systems. Here we propose a general approach for decentralized control based on approximate dynamic programming. We consider approximations to the Q-function via local approximation architectures, which lead to decentralization of the task of choosing control actions and can be computed and stored efficiently. We propose and analyze an approximate dynamic programming approach for fitting the Q-function based on linear programming. We show that error bounds previously developed for cost-to-go function approximation via linear programming can be extended to the case of Q-function approximation. We then consider the problem of decentralizing the task of approximating the Q-function and show that it can be viewed as a resource allocation problem. Motivated by this observation, we propose a decentralized gradient-based algorithm for solving a class of resource allocation problems. Convergence of the algorithm is established and its convergence rate, measured in terms of the number of iterations required for magnitude of the gradient to approach zero, is shown to be O(n/sup 2.5/ ), where n is the number of agents in the network.
Learning Construction Performance Improvement through Planning

Construction operations can be categorized as either routine and repetitive or unique and complex. Routine and repetitive construction operations can be improved through traditional field operations analysis techniques, while unique and complex operations can be improved through reactively analyzing and proactively planning similar operations. The intent of planning is to assemble the information and knowledge necessary to successfully execute the work. Laboratory exercises were developed as part of both undergraduate and graduate level construction engineering and management education programs to demonstrate the benefits of detailed operations pre-planning for unique and complex construction operations. The undergraduate exercise improved the understanding of the construction requirements, reduced the amount of rework required, and reduced the average construction duration by nearly 30%. The graduate exercise reduced construction duration by approximately 40% and significant improvements were reported in...
Sex hormones change adrenoceptors in blood vessels of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

In this study we investigated how male sex hormones, which increase blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), affect adrenergic receptors in the cardiovascular system. Testosterone treatment significantly increased blood pressure in male SHRs (P<0.05). Testosterone treated male SHRs also showed a significant increase(P<0.05) in total apparent numbers of alpha1 adrenoceptors in tail artery preparations as compared to controls. Gonadectomy attenuated blood pressure and caused a decrease in the total apparent number of alpha1 adrenoceptors in tail artery preparations (P<0.05). Testosterone replacement therapy in these gonadectomized rats reversed this decrease in apparent number of alpha1 adrenoceptors to control values. KD values for dihydroalprenolol, isoproterenol, prazosin and norepinephrine were not significantly different between treatment groups. These results indicate that sex hormones (androgens) modulate numbers of alpha1 adrenoceptors in the cardiovascular system of the male SHR.
Analytical Modeling of Metal Transfer for GMAW in the Globular Mode

A lumped parameter dynamical model is developed to describe the metal transfer for gas metal arc welding (GMAW) in the globular mode. The oscillations of molten drop are modeled using a mass-spring-damper system with variable mass and spring coefficient. An analytical solution is developed for the variable coefficient system to better understand the effect of various model parameters on the drop oscillations. The effect of welding drop motion on the observed current and voltage signals is investigated and the model agrees well with the experimental results. Furthermore, the effect of wire feeding rate (or welding current) on the metal transfer cycle time is studied and the model successfully estimates the cycle times for different wire feeding rates.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Registration Under Topological Change for CT Colonography

Computed tomography (CT) colonography is a minimally invasive screening technique for colorectal polyps, in which X-ray CT images of the distended colon are acquired, usually in the prone and supine positions of a single patient. Registration of segmented colon images from both positions will be useful for computer-assisted polyp detection. We have previously presented algorithms for registration of the prone and supine colons when both are well distended and there is a single connected lumen. However, due to inadequate bowel preparation or peristalsis, there may be collapsed segments in one or both of the colon images resulting in a topological change in the images. Such changes make deformable registration of the colon images difficult, and at present, there are no registration algorithms that can accommodate them. In this paper, we present an algorithm that can perform volume registration of prone/supine colon images in the presence of a topological change. For this purpose, 3-D volume images are embedded as a manifold in a 4-D space, and the manifold is evolved for nonrigid registration. Experiments using data from 24 patients show that the proposed method achieves good registration results in both the shape alignment of topologically different colon images from a single patient and the polyp location estimation between supine and prone colon images.
Survivability Analysis of Large-Scale Intelligent Transportation System Networks:

A case study to assess the survivability of a large-scale urban intelligent transportation system (ITS) network is presented. The ITS for Boise, Idaho, was analyzed on the basis of two survivability assessment techniques, which are discussed and summarized. The first approach provides a qualitative assessment of the Boise ITS; it is based on the survivable systems analysis method as modified for critical infrastructure. The second approach provides a quantitative assessment of network survivability by using a multilayer graph-based approach consisting of the greater Boise area power grid and surface transportation system. The power grid and the physical and control transportation graphs were analyzed to determine the relative criticality of various network components. Macroscopic modeling was used to investigate the effect of components' failure on the network's operational characteristics. The greater Boise area has a population of more than half a million. The analysis presented here serves as a case st...
The role of graphics in training documents: toward an explanatory theory of how they communicate

The author reviews the research on the effectiveness of graphics in instruction and then proposes a framework for developing a theory that accounts for the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of graphics. His goal is to lay the groundwork for developing prescriptive guidelines for the design of effective graphics in training documents. He stresses that further research needs to be done in order that a theory of learning from graphics can be developed in sufficient detail for design prescriptions to be provided and that prescriptive theory for graphic design is necessary. >
Estimation of Progression-Free Survival in the Randomized Discontinuation Trial Design

TO THE EDITOR: Nosov et al recently published an article reporting on a study with a randomized discontinuation trial (RDT) design. Inthisdesign,allpatients initially receivedtivozanib for16weeks.After16 weeks, patients who responded (response was considered as 25% tumor shrinkage) continued on tivozanib, those with progressive disease were removed from the study, and those with stable disease were randomly assigned to either continue tivozanib or to be given a placebo. In Figure 4 of the article, a Kaplan-Meier curve is presented as an estimate of the progression-free survival (PFS) rate of all patients who were treated with tivozanib, measured from the time of initial dosing. However, this estimate may be biased, given that the method described was to simply censor patients who were assigned to the placebo at the time of random assignment. The reason for the bias is that the censoring is selectively performed only in the stable disease subgroup. If these patients have subsequent survival rates that are lower than those with initial tumor shrinkage (a likely possibility), the estimate will be positively biased. The solution is to combine the PFS estimate for the first 16 weeks (based on all patients) with a weighted average of the PFS rates beyond 16 weeks intherespondingandstabledisease/continually treatedsubgroups, asdescribedinthearticlebyRatainetal (seealsothearticlebyKarrisonet al). In the study by Nosov et al, 78 patients had an initial response and 118 had stable disease. The extent of the bias would depend on the magnitude of the difference in subsequent PFS in these two subgroups.
Sequence Differentiation Associated With an Inversion on the Neo-X Chromosome of Drosophila americana

Sex chromosomes originate from pairs of autosomes that acquire controlling genes in the sex-determining cascade. Universal mechanisms apparently influence the evolution of sex chromosomes, because this chromosomal pair is characteristically heteromorphic in a broad range of organisms. To examine the pattern of initial differentiation between sex chromosomes, sequence analyses were performed on a pair of newly formed sex chromosomes in Drosophila americana. This species has neo-sex chromosomes as a result of a centromeric fusion between the X chromosome and an autosome. Sequences were analyzed from the Alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), big brain (bib), and timeless (tim) gene regions, which represent separate positions along this pair of neo-sex chromosomes. In the northwestern range of the species, the bib and Adh regions exhibit significant sequence differentiation for neo-X chromosomes relative to neo-Y chromosomes from the same geographic region and other chromosomal populations of D. americana. Furthermore, a nucleotide site defining a common haplotype in bib is shown to be associated with a paracentric inversion [In(4)ab] on the neo-X chromosome, and this inversion suppresses recombination between neo-X and neo-Y chromosomes. These observations are consistent with the inversion acting as a recombination modifier that suppresses exchange between these neo-sex chromosomes, as predicted by models of sex chromosome evolution.
Observations on the ontogeny of feeding behavior in mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei)

This report describes observations on the ontogeny of food choice in mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei), made during a 17-month field study of mountain gorilla feeding ecology in the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda. Data are presented on the feeding behavior of two infants observed from birth to the age of 8 months and on older infants and juveniles. This information is compared with data on the composition and diversity of the diets of young adults and adults in the same social group. Initial feeding by infants is usually synchronized with the mother's behavior: infants ingest the same food, or a different part of the same plant species, currently being eaten by the mother or just eaten by her. This suggests that observational learning is largely responsible for the transmission of food preferences. Most feeding by young infants, whether or not synchronized with the mother's, is on those foods eaten most frequently by adults. Infants also independently sample potential foods, some of which are apparently not consumed by adults. The frequency of sampling declines with age, although even adults occasionally ingest foods not observed to be eaten by other adults. By the age of 3 years, young mountain gorillas have developed the basic dietary patterns of adults, in terms of the number of foods eaten, the proportions in which specific foods are consumed, and diet diversity and equitability. There is a strong possibility that chemical cues influence food choice, but their role remains unclear.
Histologic Analysis of Placental Tissue in First Trimester Abortions

The value of histologic evaluation in the analysis of material from first trimester abortions is not completely defined. We prospectively analyzed placenta and decidua from 75 first trimester, spon...
Examining an Online Microbiology Game as an Effective Tool for Teaching the Scientific Process

This study investigates the effectiveness of the online Flash game Disease Defenders in producing knowledge gains for concepts related to the scientific process. Disease Defenders was specifically designed to model how the scientific process is central to a variety of disciplines and science careers. An additional question relates to the game’s ability to shift attitudes toward science. Middle school classes from grades six to eight were assigned to the experimental group (n = 489) or control group (n = 367) and asked to participate in a threesession intervention. The sessions involved completing a pretest, a game play session, and taking a posttest. Students in the experimental group played Disease Defenders while students in the control group played an alternative science game. Results showed a significant increase in mean science knowledge scores for all grades in the experimental group, with sixth grade and seventh grade students gaining more knowledge than eighth grade students. Additionally, results showed a significant positive change in science attitudes only among sixth graders, who also rated their satisfaction with the game more favorably than students in higher grades. No differences in mean test scores were found between genders for science knowledge or science attitudes, suggesting that the game is equally effective for males and females.
Delays in Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

Purpose: To investigate delays in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Subjects and methods: We prospectively identified 1,152 patients in whom DVT or PE had been diagnosed at 70 North American medical centers. We recorded demographic characteristics and dates of symptom onset, initial medical evaluation, and confirmatory diagnostic tests. Results: We identified substantial numbers of patients for whom there were delays in the diagnosis of DVT, PE, or both. For acute DVT, 170 of 808 patients (21%) received diagnoses > 1 week after symptom onset, and 40 of 808 patients (5%) received diagnoses > 3 weeks after symptom onset. On average, 80% of the delay in diagnosis of DVT occurred between symptom onset and medical evaluation. Acute PE was diagnosed in 59 of 344 patients (17%) > 1 week after symptom onset, and in 17 of 344 patients (5%) > 3 weeks after the onset of symptoms. Delays in the diagnosis of PE represented both delays in seeking medical attention (mean, 3 days; upper limit of 95% confidence interval [CI], 12 days); and delays from the first medical evaluation to diagnosis (mean, 2 days; upper limit of 95% CI, 9 days). Conclusions: Although the majority of patients with DVT and PE seek medical attention and receive diagnoses promptly after symptom onset, substantial delays exist in the diagnosis of DVT and PE for many patients. There is a need to develop and test strategies that reduce delays in diagnosis.
Scorekeeping in a defective language game

One common criticism of deflationism is that it does not have the resources to explain defective discourse (e.g., vagueness, referential indeterminacy, confusion, etc.). This problem is especially pressing for someone like Robert Brandom, who not only endorses deflationist accounts of truth, reference, and predication, but also refuses to use representational relations to explain content and propositional attitudes. To address this problem, I suggest that Brandom should explain defective discourse in terms of what it is to treat some portion of discourse as defective. To illustrate this strategy, I present an extension of his theory of content and use it to provide an explanation of confusion. The result is a theory of confusion based on Joseph Camp’s recent treatment. The extension of Brandom’s theory of content involves additions to his account of scorekeeping that allow members of a discursive practice to accept different standards of inferential correctness.
Are Big Cities More Segregated? Neighbourhood Scale and the Measurement of Segregation

Many studies show that larger metropolitan areas are more segregated than smaller ones. To some extent, this tendency is part of the conventional wisdom. However, the reason for this tendency is not apparent. This paper suggests that the correlation between segregation and metropolitan scale is spurious. Segregation measures based on census data will tend to rank larger cities higher because larger cities have more neighbourhoods that are big enough to 'fill up' entire census tracts, while smaller cities with equally homogeneous, but smaller, neighbourhoods have to pair neighbourhoods to fill up a census tract. This bias will be reduced at smaller levels of spatial aggregation. This prediction is tested by comparing segregation measures computed at several levels of spatial aggregation and with American Housing Survey data. The results suggest that spatial aggregation effects are important: the correlation between city size and measured segregation appears to be at least partly spurious.
The Pharmacology of Multiple Drug and Alcohol Addiction

The importance of identifying multiple drug addictions is crucial to clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment as well as to the formulation of the etiology and research models for abuse and addiction to alcohol and drugs. The theoretical implications for the genetic vulnerability and transmission of alcoholism and drug addiction are interesting and far reaching. The traditional understanding of the behavioral principles of addiction and the neurobiology of addiction to individual drugs is challenged by the concept of the multiple addicted, which suggests a universal susceptibility to alcohol and drug addictions.
A proposed integrated data collection, analysis and sharing platform for impact evaluation

Abstract Global poverty reduction efforts value monitoring and evaluation, but often struggle to translate lessons learned from one intervention into practical application in another intervention. Commonly, data is not easily or often shared between interventions and summary data collected as part of an impact evaluation is often not available until after the intervention is complete. Equally limiting, the workflows that lead to research results are rarely published in a reproducible, reusable, and easy-to-understand fashion for others. Information and communication technologies widely used in commercial and government programs are growing in relevance for international global development professionals and offer a potential towards better data and workflow sharing. However, the technical and custom nature of many data management systems limits their accessibility to non-ICT professionals. The authors propose an end-to-end data collection, management, and dissemination platform designed for use by global development program managers and researchers. The system leverages smartphones, cellular based sensors, and cloud storage and computing to lower the entry barrier to impact evaluation.
A Low-Cost Inkjet-Printed Glucose Test Strip System for Resource-Poor Settings.

Background:The prevalence of diabetes is increasing in low-resource settings; however, accessing glucose monitoring is extremely difficult and expensive in these regions. Work is being done to address the multitude of issues surrounding diabetes care in low-resource settings, but an affordable glucose monitoring solution has yet to be presented. An inkjet-printed test strip solution is being proposed as a solution to this problem.Methods:The use of a standard inkjet printer is being proposed as a manufacturing method for low-cost glucose monitoring test strips. The printer cartridges are filled with enzyme and dye solutions that are printed onto filter paper. The result is a colorimetric strip that turns a blue/green color in the presence of blood glucose.Results:Using a light-based spectroscopic reading, the strips show a linear color change with an R2 = .99 using glucose standards and an R2 = .93 with bovine blood. Initial testing with bovine blood indicates that the strip accuracy is comparable to the ...
Circumstances and contexts of heroin initiation following non-medical opioid analgesic use in New York City

Abstract Background As the prevalence of opioid analgesic (OA) misuse and associated harms have increased in the United States, the prevalence of heroin use and rates of unintentional overdose have concurrently risen. Research has begun to identify connections between OA misuse and heroin use, although this relationship remains under explored. The present study explores the context of heroin initiation among persons with histories of OA misuse in New York City. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 individuals with histories of OA misuse who initiated heroin use within the past five years. Data were collected between August 2013 and January 2015. All participants' OA misuse temporally preceded their heroin use. Interviews were coded and analyzed utilizing thematic qualitative methods. Results Participants ranged in age from 18 to 44 years; 25 identified as male and 30 identified as non-Hispanic white and heterosexual. All participants had stable housing at the time of interview and all were high school graduates. Participants described several key points of transition along their trajectories from OA misuse to heroin initiation: dual- to single-entity OAs; oral to intranasal OA administration; and the development of physical opioid dependence. Participants described the breaking down of heroin-related stigma across social networks as new drug use permeated social groups. Conclusion Several points of transition were identified in participants' trajectories from OA misuse to heroin initiation. In particular the development of physical dependence was a critical factor as existing heroin stigma was rapidly overcome in the face of opioid withdrawal. The relatively short time to heroin initiation documented among new user groups serves as an added challenge to the development of interventions.
Optical Properties of Gold Nanorattles: Evidences for Free Movement of the Inside Solid Nanosphere

Gold nanorattles (AuNRTs), hollow gold nanospheres with internal small solid gold nanospheres (AuNSs), were prepared with different sizes. The presence of AuNS inside the hollow gold nanospheres in the nanorattle shape was found to improve their sensing efficiency. The sensitivity factor of the nanorattles is in the range of 450 nm/RIU, while the individual hollow nanosphere’s efficiency is ∼300 nm/RIU. This improvement is due to the strong plasmon field on the cavity and around the inner gold nanosphere as shown by using the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) calculations. Interestingly, this nanoparticle produces a strong enhancement for the interaction of light at 850 nm due to the excitation of both the inner sphere and outer nanoshell, despite being the fact that NIR radiation (850 nm) has very low energy to excite the inner gold nanosphere when present alone. Comparing the experimental and simulated scattering spectrum for a single colloidal nanorattle suggests that the interior gold nanosphere mov...
Designing matched bandpass and azimuthal filters for the separation of potential-field anomalies by source region and source type

Matched bandpass filtering of potential-field data, based on a multi-layer equivalent source model, provides a useful way to separate short-wavelength anomalies that originate at shallow depths from long-wavelength anomalies that generally originate at greater depths. Matched azimuthal filtering is a new concept that can be used in conjunction with the bandpass filtering to suppress directional noise or to enhance directional signal. An implementation of matched bandpass and azimuthal filtering using multiple equivalent-source layers is demonstrated on aeromagnetic data collected over the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico, USA.
Drug Prophylaxis against Lethal Effects of Severe Anoxia VI. Neostigmine Bromide and Diphenylhydantoin.

SummaryProphylactic effects of diphenylhydantoin vs. anoxia in rats are confirmed for mice also. Oral administration of 0.2 mg/kg of neostigmine bromide to mice reduces mortality in severe anoxia but larger doses are not prophylactic. Together, the 2 agents prevented death of any of 40 mice exposed to anoxic conditions simultaneously killing 27 of 40 untreated mice.
Fracture and Flow Via Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics

The scope of molecular dynamics problems designed to simulate materials properties is described, focussing on the limits computation imposes on space and time scales, as well as the limits theoretical understanding imposes on our knowledge of interatomic forces. Five strategies for improving the efficiency of the simulations are described. Shock-induced solid-solid phase transformations are discussed to illustrate these ideas.
Recurrent disease following endoscopic ablation of Barrett's high-grade dysplasia with spray cryotherapy.

Background and aims: Recurrent disease after endoscopic ablation of Barrett’s esophagus should be detected early to prevent malignant progression. We assessed the incidence and patterns of disease recurrence in patients after liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy ablation of Barrett‘s esophagus with high grade dysplasia (HGD), including the area below the neosquamocolumnar junction (NSCJ). Patients and methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study of prospectively collected data on consecutive cases of endoscopic ablation with liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy for Barrett’s HGD. Post-treatment surveillance biopsies were obtained of suspicious lesions and in 4 quadrants every 1 cm in the treated esophagus and just below the NSCJ. Primary outcome measures were location and histology of recurrent disease. Results: 36 patients (median age 62 years, 92% men) were enrolled, and 11 (30%) developed recurrent disease in a median of 6.5 months; three developed a second recurrence. Ten recurrences (71%) were identified below the NSCJ in 9 patients, including HGD (4), low grade dysplasia (LGD) (2), and intestinal metaplasia (4). Six recurrences were identified in the treated esophagus in five patients, including intramucosal cancer (1), HGD (1), and intestinal metaplasia (4). Two patients had recurrent disease involving both locations. Ultimately 33 patients (92%) achieved a complete response. Diagnosis in the remaining three was LGD (1) and intestinal metaplasia (2). Conclusion: Most patients with recurrent intestinal metaplasia with or without dysplasia after ablation achieve a complete response. Recurrent disease commonly involves the area just below the NSCJ. Surveillance endoscopies should include this area to accurately identify patients with disease recurrence.
Iodine as a skin disinfectant in animal surgery

In experimental physiology where it is necessary that the animal be allowed to recover after the removal of an organ or the establishment of a lesion, the operative procedure is carried out under full anaesthesia and with aseptic or antispetic precautions as in human surgery. The preliminary disinfection of the skin by scrubbing with soap and water and the subsequent washing with bichloride, carbolic or alcohol, takes considerable time and in most cases must be done after the animal is anaesthetized; besides where the operative field includes the head or face there is always danger of the eyes being accidentally injured by the irritative fluids. Then again, after operation everyone has experienced the difficulty of keeping the dressing properly applied to the wound which must be protected from outside contamination unless the animal be kept in aseptic surroundings—a condition practically impossible in most laboratories. Any method, therefore, which will materially save time and trouble and at the same time ...
Urinary high-mobility group box-1 associates specifically with lupus nephritis class V.

IntroductionHigh-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN). There is increased HMGB-1 expression in the kidneys and increased levels are observed in serum and urine of patients with LN. This study was performed to determine whether the increased urinary HMGB-1 was specific for active lupus or secondary to renal damage.MethodsUrine from 61 lupus patients (32 had active LN and 29 had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with no evidence of LN) and 14 control proteinuric patients (all with hypertension and eight also with diabetes) were included in this study. HMGB-1 was detected by Western blot. Urine protein was normalized to urine creatinine to account for volume of the specimen.ResultsMedian normalized urine HMGB-1 levels were significantly elevated in LN patients compared to lupus patients without kidney disease (53.81 vs 9.46, p < 0.001). A difference in median levels was seen between LN classes, with a significant difference between proliferati...
Characteristics and exploration potential of Lower Paleozoic marine shale gas reservoir in middle-upper Yangtze area,China

In the Lower Paleozoic marine facies of the middle-upper Yangtze area of China,there develop sets of mud shale source rocks.They become the important areas of the shale gas exploration and development in the south of China.On the basis of classifying the genetic types of oil and gas reservoirs,the authors consider that this mud shale oil and gas reservoir belongs to one of the source rock oil and gas reservoirs.Based on controlling the main geological parameters of the source rock type gas reservoir distribution,the authors analyse the distribution characteristics of the content of TOC,the mass fraction of TOC(w TOC)2% shale rock thickness and Ro of the two rich in organic shale reservoirs in Qiongzhusi Group and Niutitang Group of the middle-upper Yangtze area.The authors think that the abundance of organic mass of these two reservoirs is high,the degree of thermal evolution is high and the distribution of the mud shale in the two strata is wide based on the analysis results and that these two reservoirs have the basic geological conditions for the occurrence of shale gas.Based on the characteristics of the shale reservoir distribution,it can be sure that the favorable exploration blocks of the Qiongzhusi Group and Niutitang Group mud shale gas reservoir are located in South Sichuan,North Guizhou,and West Hubei,and that of the Longmaxi mud shale gas reservoir in South Sichuan-North Yunnan,East Sichuan-West Hubei and North Sichuan.