cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age-related microvascular dysfunction: novel insight from near-infrared spectroscopy.

NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Can near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived post-occlusion tissue oxygen saturation recovery kinetics be used to study age-related impairments in microvascular function? What is the main finding and its importance? Using a previously established 5 min cuff occlusion protocol, we found that NIRS-derived indices of microvascular function were markedly reduced in elderly compared with young participants. However, when we controlled for the absolute level of vasodilatory stimulus and matched the tissue desaturation level between groups, we found similar responses in young and elderly participants. Overall, these data highlight the important role NIRS can serve in clinical vascular biology, but also establish the need for assessing tissue ischaemia during cuff occlusion protocols. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as a promising tool to evaluate vascular reactivity in vivo. Whether this approach can be used to assess age-related impairments in microvascular function has not been tested. Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) post-occlusion recovery kinetics were measured in two distinct age groups ( 65 years of age) using NIRS placed over the flexor digitorum profundus. Key end-points included the following: (i) the desaturation rate during cuff occlusion; (ii) the lowest StO2 value obtained during ischaemia (StO2min); (iii) StO2 reperfusion rate; (iv) the highest StO2 value reached after cuff release (StO2max); and (v) the reactive hyperaemia area under the curve (AUC). At first, using a conventional 5 min cuff occlusion protocol, the elderly participants achieved a much slower rate of oxygen recovery (1.5 ± 0.2 versus 2.5 ± 0.2% s-1 ), lower StO2max (85.2 ± 2.9 versus 92.3 ± 1.5%) and lower reactive hyperaemia AUC (2651.8 ± 307.0 versus 4940.0 ± 375.8% s-1 ). However, owing to a lower skeletal muscle resting metabolic rate, StO2min was also significantly attenuated in the elderly participants compared with the young control subjects (55.7 ± 3.5 versus 41.0 ± 3.4%), resulting in a much lower ischaemic stimulus. To account for this important difference between groups, we then matched the level of tissue ischaemia in a subset of young healthy participants by reducing the cuff occlusion protocol to 3 min. Remarkably, when we controlled for tissue ischaemia, we observed no differences in any of the hyperaemic end-points between the young and elderly participants. These data highlight the important role NIRS can serve in vascular biology, but also establish the need for assessing tissue ischaemia during cuff occlusion protocols.
The effect of changing seawater Ca and Mg concentrations upon the distribution coefficients of Mg and Sr in the skeletons of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damicornis

Abstract The skeletal composition of calcifying organisms, in particular Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios, have been widely used to understand fluctuations in seawater chemistry throughout the Phanerozoic. While the success of applying these data to the geologic record depends on a knowledge of the distribution coefficients for these elements (DMg and DSr), there are scarcely any studies which have described how these values vary as a result of changing seawater Mg/Ca ratios. To address this, we have cultured the scleractinian coral, Pocillopora damicornis, in seawater with ranges of Mg and Ca concentrations. Here, we demonstrate that Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of coral skeletons correlate with total seawater Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca molar ratios, but that apparent DMg and DSr values do not remain constant across the range of experimental seawater treatments, with DMg values significantly increasing with seawater Mg/Ca ratios and DSr values significantly increasing with seawater Ca concentrations. These trends are not rate dependent and may be best explained by a Rayleigh distillation model, in which the calcifying space is semi-isolated from seawater during skeletogenesis (i.e. leaky). As there is a slight increase in DMg and decrease in DSr values between our “Jurassic” and “Modern” seawater treatments, the application of a constant distribution coefficient to estimate changes in ancient seawater chemistry may underestimate seawater Mg/Ca ratios and overestimate Sr/Ca throughout the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. We suggest that interpretations of seawater chemistry from fossil corals may be improved by using the relationships derived for skeletal and seawater Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios established by our experiments, as they incorporate the effect of seawater Mg/Ca ratios on skeletal Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios.
Programming the Central Dogma: An Integrated Unit on Computer Science and Molecular Biology Concepts

Much of modern biology requires quantitative and computational skills for the proper analysis of large-scale datasets, and there is a recognized need for computational training in undergraduate biology programs. This experience report describes a four-week unit designed to introduce fundamental computer science concepts and molecular biology concepts in an integrated fashion. The unit serves as the first four weeks of an introductory course taught within the Biology Department at an undergraduate institution, and is designed to introduce computational thinking to non-computational science majors. Survey results reveal that the course has attracted students from all years (first years through seniors), the majority of students have been women, and students have large self-perceived learning gains in computer science concepts. The unit shows promise for engaging non-computational students through applications in introductory molecular biology. Materials are available at http://www.reed.edu/biology/courses/bio131/resources.html.
A Novel Active Power Control Framework for Wind Turbine Generators to Improve Frequency Response

Wind generation is expected to reach substantially higher levels of penetration in the near future. With converter interface, the wind unit's rotor inertia is effectively decoupled from the system, causing a reduction in inertial response. Moreover, the replacement of conventional synchronous generators with governors also reduces primary control capability. This paper proposes a novel active power control framework to enable doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) to participate in frequency regulation. The DFIG is controlled in different operating modes with switching among the different modes achieved by modifying reserve input. The DFIG is designed to provide both inertial and primary frequency support considering both underfrequency and overfrequency events. The effectiveness of the proposed control framework is demonstrated through case studies on a 181-bus WECC system with 50% wind penetration.
In Situ X-ray Scattering Guides the Synthesis of Uniform PtSn Nanocrystals

Compared to monometallic nanocrystals (NCs), bimetallic ones often exhibit superior properties due to their wide tunability in structure and composition. A detailed understanding of their synthesis at the atomic scale provides crucial knowledge for their rational design. Here, exploring the Pt–Sn bimetallic system as an example, we study in detail the synthesis of PtSn NCs using in situ synchrotron X-ray scattering. We show that when Pt(II) and Sn(IV) precursors are used, in contrast to a typical simultaneous reduction mechanism, the PtSn NCs are formed through an initial reduction of Pt(II) to form Pt NCs, followed by the chemical transformation from Pt to PtSn. The kinetics derived from the in situ measurements shows fast diffusion of Sn into the Pt lattice accompanied by reordering of these atoms into intermetallic PtSn structure within 300 s at the reaction temperature (∼280 °C). This crucial mechanistic understanding enables the synthesis of well-defined PtSn NCs with controlled structure and composi...
Diagnosis of Other Primary Headaches

The other primary headaches are a heterogeneous collection of generally short primary headaches without autonomic features, distinguishing them from the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Workup for secondary causes is particularly important in these headaches, as many have frequent and serious secondary etiologies, such as aneurysm in thunderclap headache or headache associated with sexual activity, or posterior fossa lesions or Chiari malformation in cough headache.
Fluorescence Photochemical Techniques for the Study of Transport in Cytoplasm and Cytoplasmic Models

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses fluorescence photochemical techniques for the study of transport in cytoplasm and gytoplasmic models. There are many variations of instrumental design for fluorescence photobleaching recovery (FPR) measurements. The common features generally include a research microscope with epi-illumination, a source of intense light, a means for changing the intensity of the light by several orders of magnitude, a means for detecting the fluorescence, and a means for measuring the time dependence of the fluorescence recovery. The chapter also discusses cytoplasmic actin. The utilization of fluorescent analogs of cytoplasmic proteins to study the distribution and dynamics of specific cytoplasmic components is an established technique now referred to as fluorescence analog cytochemistry. The combination of this approach with FPR has provided valuable new perspectives. Photobleaching techniques may also be used to measure translational motion of labeled species across membrane barriers. The application of fluorescence photobleaching technique to the study of the structure and dynamics of cell cytoplasm and cytoplasmic components is a new and exciting area of investigation.
Motion tracking and prediction using fuzzy logic

With the increasing need for flexibility and adaptivity in computerized systems, the application of fuzzy expert systems is becoming increasingly commonplace in today's industry. Fuzzy logic expert systems often improve performance by allowing knowledge to generalize without requiring the knowledge engineer to anticipate all possible situations. Thus, for many types of applications, "soft computing" such as Fuzzy logic can incur lower overhead in terms of representing and engineering task knowledge. My project investigates the application of fuzzy expert systems to motion tracking. Previous research showed that Fuzzy Logic can be used to track the motion of a brightly colored object against a dark background, with relatively low development and run-time costs. The system I am developing identifies, tracks, and predicts the motion of multiple objects using unique identification patterns against a dark background. My poster will describe the fuzzy inference systems for tracking and motion prediction of such objects. An essential step to obtaining the fuzzy inputs for the motion tracking fuzzy inference system is to use convolution correlation data to obtain the centers of mass of the objects. Image processing information from the region around the center of each object provides good fuzzy inputs for recognizing object patterns and determining orientation. I am investigating two fuzzy inference systems for motion tracking and prediction in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses. In the long run, I hope to exploit the strengths of both by dividing the task between the two approaches. The Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is effective for pattern recognition. Fuzzy Proportional Derivative (FPD) is useful for computing errors and tuning inferences. Cascading the two fuzzy systems allows the system first to acquire generalized patterns and then fine-tune them for error tolerance. To perform this work, I am using the Matlab fuzzy logic toolkit, which is a simple and flexible tool for designing fuzzy inference systems.
Reproducibility of three different scoring systems for measurement of coronary calcium.

Background: There is great interest in measuring and tracking atherosclerosis using electron beam tomography (EBT). We sought to assess the reproducibility of two new software systems, InSight and AccuImage, and the console workstation of an EBT scanner for measuring coronary calcification. Methods: Two sets of non-contrast EBT scans were obtained in 85 subjects. The calcium volume (CV) score and the Agatston score (AS) were analyzed and the relative differences were compared on three workstations. Results: The intra- and inter-observer variabilities by InSight and AccuImage were both significantly better than variabilities on the console workstation. Both intra- and inter-observer differences for the AS were significantly smaller than those for the CV on each workstation. However, inter-scan variability was lower for the volume method (13.3%) as compared to the AS (17%). Scores were divided into tertiles (T), and the relative inter-scan differences for the AS in T-I (scores 98%). There is minimal inter-scan variability for subjects with higher scores (>65) for both scoring methods.
Securing the feedstock procurement for bioenergy products: a literature review on the biomass transportation and logistics

Abstract The importance of transportation and logistics in the biomass supply chain has been recognized, yet the specific research on those topics has been limited. This paper reviews the peer-reviewed literature to assess the current challenges, trends, and ideas in the biomass transportation and logistics research. All papers were selected based on three English keywords: transportation, logistics, and biomass. We addressed literature statistics per research category and then discussed four criteria that significantly influence the viability of the supply chain: transportation/logistics cost, shipping distance, plant capacity, and system efficiency. A brief review of industry literature was also conducted to identify topics potentially absent from the peer-reviewed literature. The study findings included the great variability of values used in the literature, both related to the fixed and variable costs of transportation and to the optimal shipping distance based on logistics conditions. From transportation mode and plant capacity perspective, we found that studies have concentrated on improving system efficiency of truck transportation for smaller plants while large plants have received less attention. The research gaps included the seemingly poor fit of typical logistics and supply chain frameworks with biomass systems. There is also a lack of sustainable transportation cost model to account for economic, environmental, and social factors. Finally, there is a need to explore the effects of feedstock conversion and upgrading options to biomass transportation logistics (BTL) and to combine the BTL studies with long-term biomass sourcing strategies to mitigate supply variations.
Post-Truth, Social Media, and the “Real” as Phantasm

This chapter will examine social media as an apparatus that implodes the concept of “truth” and allows the creation of regimes of political discourse that are purposefully at a distance from what are traditionally framed as “facts”. It argues that culture has accepted the online presence of a phenomenon as coincident with truth and that this logic can be stretched to allow online phenomena to serve as events in and unto themselves without a relationship to an actual event or experience. This, in turn, means that social media can create an infinite number of networks that operate in a fashion that facilitates the creation of discourses of internally coherent “truth” that are true only in relation to themselves and in fact are designed to obscure, eliminate, or decenter the notion of what amounts to a fact. Events can be created out of whole cloth or framed in such a way that they comport with the ethos of the subject employing the made-up phenomenon to fit a narrative.
Role of ADHD in the Co-Occurrence Between Heavy Alcohol Use and Depression Trajectories in Adulthood.

Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with greater heavy alcohol use and depressive symptoms in adulthood. Yet, few studies have investigated whether childhood ADHD predicts an increased association between heavy drinking and depression in adulthood when this co-occurrence becomes more common. We examined associations among heavy alcohol use and depression longitudinally from ages 21 to 29 and whether these associations differed for those with or without childhood ADHD, as well as for those with or without persistent ADHD in adulthood. Methods Data were from the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study, a prospective cohort of children diagnosed with ADHD and demographically similar individuals without ADHD histories. ADHD symptoms in adulthood were self- and parent reported; depressive symptoms and frequency of drinking 5 or more drinks in a single drinking occasion were self-reported and measured at 5 time-points from ages 21 to 29. Depression and alcohol use were modeled in a multiple-group, parallel process longitudinal growth model. Results The slopes of heavy alcohol use and depression were significantly and positively associated from ages 25 to 29 but not at the younger ages. Although the strength of these associations did not differ by group (with or without ADHD, childhood or adulthood), the slopes of depression and heavy drinking at the older ages were highly variable and individuals with ADHD showed significantly faster growth in depression from ages 25 to 29. Conclusions Due to the strengthening association between heavy drinking and depression for adults in their late 20s, and increasing depression for adults with ADHD histories, individuals with ADHD may be at greater risk for co-occurring depression and binge drinking. Negative reinforcement-related alcohol use may strengthen as these individuals age toward the fourth decade of life. More rigorous testing of this possibility is warranted.
Clinical and Microbiological Outcomes in Obese Patients Receiving Colistin for Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection.

Carbapenem-resistant infections are associated with poor outcomes, and treatment options are limited. Colistin is one of few antibiotics which retain in vitro activity against carbapenem-resistant pathogens. However, despite the availability of international consensus guidelines for the dosing of polymyxins, there are limited data on the effects of dosing on clinical outcomes among obese patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia. This retrospective study evaluated whether obesity was associated with day 7 global cure rates among patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia who were treated with an ideal body weight (IBW)-based colistin dosing regimen. Secondary outcomes included microbiological cure, clinical cure, length of hospital stay, in-hospital mortality, and day 7 acute kidney injury. After screening to identify 167 patients, 77 (46.1%) and 90 (53.9%) were classified as obese and nonobese, respectively. Patient characteristics were well balanced at baseline, except that obese patients were more often female and received a higher daily dose per IBW (3.7 versus 2.9 mg/kg/day, P = 0.03). Global cure rates were similar between groups (44.2% for obese versus 55.6% for nonobese, P = 0.14). After adjusting for baseline differences, obesity was not a significant predictor of global cure (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31 to 1.11; P = 0.10). Obesity was associated with a lower likelihood of microbiological clearance (72.7% versus 91.1%, P = 0.02). No other secondary outcome differences were observed, though each outcome was numerically worse among obese patients. Obesity was not associated with differences in global cure rates. However, the difference in microbiological clearance warrants further investigation.
Individual differences in math problem solving and executive processing among emerging bilingual children.

Abstract This study identified cognitive processes that underlie individual differences in working memory (WM) and mathematical problem-solving accuracy in emerging bilingual children (English learners). A battery of tests was administered in both English and Spanish that assessed problem solving, achievement, and cognitive processing in children in first grade (n = 155), second grade (n = 129), and third grade (n = 110). The results were that (a) the executive component of WM predicted solution accuracy of word problems independent of first language and second language measures of vocabulary, reading, domain-specific knowledge (e.g., calculation, estimation), and short-term memory and (b) first language (Spanish) measures of the executive component of WM and magnitude comparisons were major predictors of math problem-solving accuracy in both languages. The results support the notion that the executive system of WM is a unique predictor of emerging bilingual children’s math problem-solving accuracy in both languages.
Photochemistry of Ozone–Water Ices

Ozone is known to be present within the surface ice of Jupiter’s moon Ganymede as well as Saturn’s moons Dione and Rhea. Given the ubiquity of solar photons incident on these water-ice-dominated su...
Uncertainty quantification of mesoscale models of porous uranium dioxide

Abstract In this chapter, we provide three case studies for carrying out sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification (UQ) on mesoscale simulations. These three examples are focused on understanding the behavior of porous UO2, looking at grain growth and fracture simulations (using the phase field method) and effective thermal conductivity (using heat conduction simulations). UQ was also applied to mechanistic macroscale models that have been developed to predict the average grain size and the effective thermal conductivity. UQ and sensitivity analysis were carried out using the Dakota tool. The most sensitive parameters in the three areas were the grain boundary migration activation energy for the grain growth models, the thermal conductivity of bulk UO2 for the thermal conductivity models, and the UO2 energy release rate for the fracture model. In the future, the predicted simulation distributions need to be compared to experimental data for validation of the models.
Clinical Efficacy of Combined Hysteroscopic and Laparoscopic Surgery and Reversible Ligation of the Uterine Artery for Excision and Repair of Uterine Scar in Patients with Type II and III Cesarean Scar Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND With the changes in China's family planning policy, the incidence of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) significantly increased in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of combined hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgery and reversible ligation of the uterine artery for cesarean scar excision and repair in patients with type II and III CSP. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of 173 patients with type II and III CSP. They were assigned to the hysteroscopy and laparoscopy group (group A), hysteroscopy group (group B), and curettage group (group C) according to the surgery they underwent. The surgical indicators (intraoperative bleeding volume and hospital stay), postoperative recovery (time of serum s-hCG returning to the normal, postoperative residual lesion, the thickness of the uterine scar, and recovery time of menstruation), and the postoperative complications were compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS In patients with type II and III CSP, significant differences (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS For patients with type II and III CSP, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy surgery and reversible ligation of the uterine artery achieved better clinical outcomes than hysteroscopy or curettage with respect to postoperative recovery. This could be suitable for patients with CSP and desire for fertility.
Sexual Health in the SARS-CoV-2 Era.

Sexual contact carries some risk for exposure to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This commentary provides clinicians wit...
The Whole Name Exercise: A Self of the Therapist Activity to Support Culturally Attuned and Inclusive Communities in MFT Training

The Whole Name Exercise is a self of the therapist training strategy designed to highlight the significance of family history and culture in the everyday lived experiences of the participants. This...
Hearing on the Deaf Penalty: The Intersection of Deafness and Criminal Justice

The Deaf population in America’s criminal justice system is far under-acknowledged, researched, and accommodated. Each year, gross negligence toward Deaf individuals results in exponentially costly lawsuits regarding violations of their constitutional and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rights. The purpose of this study is to empirically identify the current deficits experienced by the Deaf within the criminal justice system through 18 qualitative interviews with two sub-populations: Deaf individuals who have directly interacted with the criminal justice system and professionals who witness the interaction of the Deaf within the criminal justice system. Results from the qualitative investigation revealed that the top three problems in the system were: 1) the lack of qualified, reliable interpreters; 2) the lack of communication accommodations available in prisons and jails; and 3) the lack of accommodative resources. The results suggest a disconnect between the professionals who serve the Deaf in the system and the Deaf themselves, which limits the potential benefit of those professionals to aid the population. The research implications of this investigation are presented.
“Problematic phonemes” and German /ɛ:/: An acoustic analysis

The decision to include or exclude phonemes in the description of a language is not always straightforward; presentations of the phoneme inventory of Modern Standard German (MSG) often include a discussion of why /ɛ:/ is problematic as a phoneme. This study describes the acoustic realization of /ɛ:/ in comparison to /e:/ in spoken German, specifically South Westphalian. 39 native German speakers produced /ɛ:/ and /e:/ in hVt non-word frames and vowel productions were measured for: (1) first and second formants from the steady state of the vowel, (2) duration, and (3) fundamental frequency (f0). Measurements were analyzed with a logistic regression model using the glm package in R. The model showed that while the main effects of F2, duration, and pitch were not significant, F1 was; speakers reliably produced /ɛ:/ lower in the vowel space than /e:/, but not fronter. This preliminary investigation into the acoustic realizations of /ɛ:/ and /e:/ through the lens of the debate on whether these two sounds truly are phonetically and phonemically contrastive is a first step toward truly understanding these two sounds within the larger phonemic inventory of MSG. We hope that this study will reopen a discussion on this topic and help answer the question of whether /ɛ:/ really is a problematic phoneme.
Neighborhood Broadband and Use of Telehealth Among Older Adults: Cross-sectional Study of National Survey Data Linked With Census Data.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the role of telehealth in health care delivery. Regional variation in internet access and telehealth use are well-documented, but the effect of neighborhood factors, including the pervasiveness of broadband internet, on older adults’ telehealth usage in the context of internet access is not known. Objective: This study aimed to investigate how individual and neighborhood characteristics, including the pervasiveness of neighborhood broadband internet subscription, are associated with engagement in telehealth among older adults with internet access. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 5117 community-living older adults aged ≥65 years, who participated in the 2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study with census tract–level data for participants’ places of residence from the American Community Survey. Results: Of an estimated 35.3 million community-living older adults, 21.1 million (59.7%) were internet users, and of this group, more than one-third (35.8%) engaged in telehealth. In a multivariable regression model adjusted for individual- and neighborhood-level factors, age, education, income, and the pervasiveness of neighborhood broadband internet subscription were associated with engagement in telehealth, while race, health, county metropolitan status, and neighborhood social deprivation were not. Among internet users, living in a neighborhood at the lowest (versus highest) tertile of broadband internet subscription was associated with being 40% less likely to engage in telehealth (adjusted odds ratio 0.61, 95% CI 0.42-0.87), all else equal. Conclusions: Neighborhood broadband internet stands out as a mutable characteristic that is consequential to engagement in telehealth.
A Lesson From a Sarcastic Jesus

Mutuality is a salient feature of any spirituality that is authentically Catholic. While there are at least four different forms of mutuality, a comprehensive view of its various forms establishes mutuality as a formal moral norm for Christian conduct. As such, mutuality proves to be a vital incarnational principle that can assist Catholic educators in critically evaluating their ministry.
Design of antivibration gloves

The hand-arm vibration (HAV) syndrome is associated with the destruction of the small blood vessels and with nerve damage in the fingers. It is caused by excessive vibration directed into the hands from vibrating hand tools and vibration-intensive work processes. To minimize the occurrence of HAV, it is important to reduce vibration energy into the hand and arm. One way to do this is to use protective clothing, in particular antivibration gloves. The factors to be considered in the design of an antivibration glove are discussed. Paying close attention to these factors increases the effectiveness of the glove in reducing vibration while making the glove comfortable to wear.
Phase I clinical trial of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and fractionated stereotactic radiation for recurrent malignant glioma

C21 Purpose: Based on preclinical studies showing the radioenhancement of ATO in human malignant glioma, a phase I dose escalation trial was conducted in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Patients and Methods: This phase I trial was performed at Stanford University in Stanford, California. 12 patients with 15 index lesions were enrolled between the years of 2004 and 2007. Dose escalations occurred according to protocol. Three patients were female, nine were male, with a mean age of 54 (range, 34-75). Nine patients presented with grade IV disease and three presented with grade III disease. All patients had KPS greater than or equal to 60. All patients were post radiation therapy as a part of their primary treatment and had not received chemotherapy in the three weeks prior to enrollment. All patients received ATO infusion daily with radiation. Patients were treated at one of four ATO dose levels (0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 mg/kg/dose). ATO was delivered intravenously over 120 minutes within 2 hours of stereotactic radiation on 3 consecutive days to total radiation doses of 22 - 27 Gy. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic adverse events, QT prolongation >500msec or >450 msec if associated with ventricular arrhythmias, or persistent grade 4 hematologic toxicity. During the treatment phase, patients were monitored for hemodynamic changes, electrolyte abnormalities, and EKG abnormalities. The patients were clinically and radiographically followed by a multidisciplinary team on a 1-3 monthly basis. Follow up ranged from every 1 to 3 months. Two of twelve patients were alive at last follow up. Results: In this phase I study we report data which demonstrates very low toxicity for ATO doses as high as 0.25mg/kg/dose with concurrent stereotactic radiosurgery. Furthermore, a max cumulative dose of 1.70mg/kg could be achieved without significant toxicity. None of assessable study patients experienced a significant grade 3+ dose limiting toxicity. To date three patients completed dose level 4 (0.25mg/kg/dose) with no significant 3+ DLTs. Conclusion: ATO up to 0.25 mg/kg dose combined with stereotactic radiation is very well-tolerated for recurrent malignant glioma. Given the positive initial response and tolerability, phase II trials in patients with Malignant glioma are encouraged.
Commentson Breast-Feeding and Immunity

Dr. Gerrard9s recent review, "Breast-Feeding: Second Thoughts"1 concluded that breast-feeding offered a measure of immunological protection during the first six months of extrauterine life. Before this conclusion is accepted, further examination of the surveys cited in the article is warranted. Gerrard states that Grulee et al.9s 1934 survey2 is "the most convincing evidence on the subject." The author9s review fails to mention the design or controls employed in Grulee et al.9s "study." In fact, Grulee et al. merely compiled statistics on all those infants (20,061 from 1924 to 1929) who had been observed periodically during the first nine months of life, not including those who died.
A Distributed Algorithm for Content Based Indexing of Images by Projections on Ritz Primary Images

Large collections of images can be indexed by their projections on a few “primary” images. The optimal primary images are the eigenvectors of a large covariance matrix. We address the problem of computing primary images when access to the images is expensive. This is the case when the images cannot be kept locally, but must be accessed through slow communication such as the Internet, or stored in a compressed form. A distributed algorithm that computes optimal approximations to the eigenvectors (known as Ritz vectors) in one pass through the image set is proposed. When iterated, the algorithm can recover the exact eigenvectors. The widely used SVD technique for computing the primary images of a small image set is a special case of the proposed algorithm. In applications to image libraries and learning, it is necessary to compute different primary images for several sub-categories of the image set. The proposed algorithm can compute these additional primary images “offline”, without the image data. Similar computation by other algorithms is impractical even when access to the images is inexpensive.
Cyclic Regression For Multiple Coherent Signal Estimation Via The EM Algorithm

Cyclic regression achieves the maximum likelihood es- timation for multiple signal direction finding by iterating a finite sequence of linear regressions. With the aid of the EM algorithm, the estimation for each signal is handled separately, thereby circumventing the signal coherency dif- ficulty.
Patterns of Information Use in Graduate Research in Forestry: A Citation Analysis of Master's Theses at Mississippi State University

This study analyzes the citations included in forestry master's theses at Mississippi State University from 1999 to 2003 in order to increase librarians' understanding of the sources used by forestry researchers. The results, which are compared with related citation studies, demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of the field as well as the variety of sources used in forestry research. Forestry graduate students cited journal articles, books, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, government and university publications, association and company reports, and miscellaneous other resources. Knowledge of these various sources can strengthen the services provided by librarians who assist forestry researchers through reference services, library instruction, and collection management.
Competitive and Cooperative Decision-Making Groups An Analysis of Differences and Communication Patterns

This study investigates differences among four decision-making groups and describes the patterns of communication unique to two groups. In the first part of the investigation, four decision-making groups are given either competitive or cooperative inducements and are compared on two measures: competition and satisfaction. The two groups given the competitive inducement (Groups I and III) were found to have significantly higher competition and lower satisfaction than the groups given cooperative inducements (Groups II and IV). In the second part of the study a lag sequential analysis is conducted on the coded communicative sequences in the highest and lowest competition groups (I and II, respectively). This analysis yields patterns to decision-making unique to each sample group. Group I's communication is characterized by highly probable (above-chance) sequences of disagreement messages and few probable agreement messages. Group II's communication patterns consist of highly probable sequences of decision d...
A modified two-factor multivariate analysis of variance: asymptotics and small sample approximations

In this paper, we present results for testing main, simple and interaction effects in heteroscedastic two factor MANOVA models. In particular, we suggest modifications to the MANOVA sum of squares and cross product matrices to account for heteroscedasticity. Based on these modified matrices, we define some multivariate test statistics and derive their asymptotic distributions under non-normality for the null as well as non-null cases. Derivation of these results relies on the perturbation method and limit theorems for independently distributed random matrices. Based on the asymptotic distributions, we devise small sample approximations for the quantiles of the null distributions. The numerical accuracy of the large sample as well as small sample approximations are favorable. A real data set from a Smoking Cessation Trial is analyzed to illustrate the application of the methods.
From dwarfs to giants - Signposts of galaxy formation

A two-dimensional parametrization of galactic evolution from the primordial state involving mean surface density and velocity dispersion is presented. A dissipation diagram for large-scale structure is presented and its evolutionary significance explored while considering both the pancake and the hierarchical clustering models of galaxy formation. Gaseous dissipation is studied by assuming that individual clouds or turbulent elements of gas interact supersonically, producing strong shocks. It is found that many diverse properties of galaxies can be understood in terms of an evolutionary sequence operative during an early gas-rich protogalactic phase in which dissipation played a key role. Dwarf galaxies may be the fossilized link between primordial fluctuations and the giant galaxies observed today, relics of a past era of prolific galaxy formation.
Constructivism in pharmacy school

Constructivism is a theory about learning and not a teaching strategy or method. It states that students must actively construct their own knowledge. Learning according to the philosophy of constructivism should be student-driven by having he or she create and answer his/her own hypotheses. More emphasis is needed to develop student skills necessary to becoming eager and effective lifelong learners and to concentrate on increasing student confidence in his/her own critical thinking skills. According to this philosophy, teachers are guides and facilitators and cannot do the learning for the student. Hence, the current traditional lecture-based style of education is ineffective and can increase the chance of misconceptions occurring in our students. Health care programs currently emphasize memorization, imitation, and acquisition rather than spending classroom time on dispelling misconceptions, building upon knowledge, and honing in on key principles that can be applied to various situations. This article is a brief overview of the philosophy of constructivism. It also provides strategies and methods based on the constructivist philosophy to use in the classroom.
Developing research criteria to define medical necessity in emergency medical services

"The Neely Conference: Developing Research Criteria to Define Medical Necessity in EMS" convened emergency medical services (EMS) physicians, researchers, administrators, providers, and federal agency representatives to begin the development of a set of uniform triage criteria and outcome measures that could be used to study and evaluate medical necessity among EMS patients. These standardized criteria might be used in research studies examining EMS dispatch and response (e.g., dispatch triage protocols, alternative response configurations), and EMS treatment and transport (e.g., field triage protocols, alternative care destinations). The conference process included review and analysis of the literature, expert judgment, and consensus building. There was general agreement on the following: 1. Any dispatch triage or field triage system that is developed must be designed to offer patients alternatives to EMS, not to refuse care to patients. 2. It is theoretically possible to develop a set of clinical criteria for need. Some groups of patients will clearly need a traditional EMS response and other groups will not, but this has yet to be defined. 3. In addition to clinical criteria, certain social and other nonclinical criteria such as pain or potential abuse may be used to justify a response. 4. Communication barriers, patient age, special needs, and other conditions complicate patient assessment but should not exclude patients from consideration for alternate triage or transport. 5. These research questions are important, and standard sets of outcome measures are needed so that different studies and innovative programs can be compared.
Extracellular ubiquitin increases in packed red blood cell units during storage.

Background. Ubiquitin (Ub) is involved in intracellular protein metabolism, but may also have extracellular roles in host defense and immunomodulation. Erythrocytes contain high amounts of Ub and hemolysis is one potential source of extracellular Ub in vivo. Since hemolysis also occurs with storage of packed RBC units (pRBCs) in vitro, we hypothesized that Ub is released during storage and that it correlates with immunological properties of pRBCs. Materials and methods. Daily aliquots were drawn from pRBCs (n = 3) for 42 days and plasma was isolated. Ub was measured by ELISA. Immunomodulatory properties of plasma were assessed by measuring endotoxin-stimulated cytokine (TNF-a, IL-6, IL-8) production of normal whole blood, and cell proliferation in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results. Plasma Ub linearly increased (49 ± 2 ng/mL/ day; r2 = 0.82, P < 0.001) 20-fold to 2170 ± 268 ng/mL on day 42. Plasma inhibited TNF-a production but stimulated IL-8 production of normal whole blood, which correlated with time-dependent Ub release (TNFa: r spearman = -0.626, P < 0.001; IL-8: r spearman = 0.427, P = 0.004). Addition of exogenous Ub (equaling day 42 concentration) to day 0-4 plasma inhibited TNF-a production by one-third of the effect detected for day 42 plasma, but also inhibited IL-8 production by 40%. IL-6 production and cell proliferation was unchanged between day 0-4 plasma with or without Ub supplementation and day 42 plasma. Conclusions. Extracellular Ub release in pRBCs correlates with in vitro immunomodulatory effects and may partially contribute to transfusion-related immune modulation. Additionally, the linear kinetics of the ubiquitin release during pRBC storage suggest Ub is a suitable in vitro quality control parameter.
Cellular level models as tools for cytokine design

Cytokines and growth factors are critical regulators that connect intracellular and extracellular environments through binding to specific cell-surface receptors. They regulate a wide variety of immunological, growth, and inflammatory response processes. The overall signal initiated by a population of cytokine molecules over long time periods is controlled by the subtle interplay of binding, signaling, and trafficking kinetics. Building on the work of others, we abstract a simple kinetic model that captures relevant features from cytokine systems as well as related growth factor systems. We explore a large range of potential biochemical behaviors, through systematic examination of the model's parameter space. Different rates for the same reaction topology lead to a dramatic range of biochemical network properties and outcomes. Evolution might productively explore varied and different portions of parameter space to create beneficial behaviors, and effective human therapeutic intervention might be achieved through altering network kinetic properties. Quantitative analysis of the results reveals the basis for tensions among a number of different network characteristics. For example, strong binding of cytokine to receptor can increase short-term receptor activation and signal initiation but decrease long-term signaling due to internalization and degradation. Further analysis reveals the role of specific biochemical processes in modulating such tensions. For instance, the kinetics of cytokine binding and receptor activation modulate whether ligand-receptor dissociation can generally occur before signal initiation or receptor internalization. Beyond analysis, the same models and model behaviors provide an important basis for the design of more potent cytokine therapeutics by providing insight into how binding kinetics affect ligand potency.
Reproductive ecology of the black reef leatherjacket, Eubalichthys bucephalus (Monacanthidae) in temperate Australia

Reproductive ecology of the black reef leatherjacket, Eubalichthys bucephalus (Monacanthidae), was studied in temperate Australia. The fish lived in the same heterosexual pairs, and each pair shared a home range composed of rocky reefs and boulders where they reproduced and fed on sponges. Spawnings were conducted in pairs, and fertilized eggs were attached to the algae-like Bryozoa species. Reproductive ecology of E. bucephalus was compared to other pair swimming fishes and confamilial species, and ecological features were discussed.
Observations of multi-layered clouds using K-band radar

Rudimentary ground-based K-band radars were once used by the U.S. Air Force to monitor clouds over air bases. The NOAA wave Propagation Laboratory has developed a significantly advanced dual-polarization Doppler K-band system that provides remarkably detailed visualizations of the structure and kinematics of nonprecipitating and weakly precipitating clouds. Unlike lidar and infrared radiometer systems, K-band radar can penetrate liquid water cloud layers and obtain measurements through moderate rainfall and heavy snowfall to reveal intricate cloud features including multiple layers of cloud. This is accomplished at less cost than would be possible with traditional longer wavelength weather radars. The radar's capabilities have been demonstrated in several recent cloud research field projects. In combination with measurements by other remote sensors, the radar can help detect aircraft icing hazards and infer microphysical properties of clouds. An automated, unattended version of the radar could provide a continuous, detailed depiction of the cloud environment in the vicinity of airports.