cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nose blowing after endoscopic sinus surgery does not adversely affect outcomes

Objective Patients frequently are advised to abstain from nose blowing following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), despite a lack of evidence supporting this recommendation. This randomized study assessed whether nose blowing in the first postoperative week affects subjective and objective clinical outcomes. Methods Forty patients undergoing ESS were randomized into an interventional arm in which patients blew their nose at least twice daily for the first 7 postoperative days, or a control arm in which patients refrained from nose blowing. All patients were allowed to blow their nose after 7 days. The frequency and degree of epistaxis was documented by daily diary and visual analog scale (VAS). At 1 and 4 weeks postoperatively, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) were collected, and endoscopies were recorded for blinded Lund-Kennedy scale scoring. Results There were no differences between the two groups in terms of frequency and duration of bleeding events, VAS epistaxis scores, SNOT-22 scores, and NOSE scores at every postoperative timepoint. Lund-Kennedy scores also were similar at the 1-week (P = 0.0762) and 4-week (P = 0.2340) postoperative visits, but the nose-blowing group had improved nasal discharge subscores at the first (P = 0.0075) and second (P = 0.0298) postoperative visits. Conclusion Nose blowing after ESS does not appear to measurably improve symptoms of nasal congestion or general sinonasal quality of life, nor does it seem to adversely affect the frequency or severity of postoperative epistaxis during the first postoperative week. Judicious nose blowing may be permissible immediately after uncomplicated ESS. Level of Evidence 1b. Laryngoscope, 2017
NITINOL FLEX LOOP-ASSISTED RETRIEVAL AND SUTURELESS INTRASCLERAL REFIXATION OF A DISLOCATED INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANT.

Background/purpose To describe a novel use of the flexible nitinol loop membrane scraper (FINESSE Flex loop; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) for rescue and refixation of a dislocated intraocular lens (IOL). Methods A 27-gauge nitinol flex loop was used to lasso each haptic of a dislocated 3-piece IOL. By retracting the loop, the haptic could be effectively locked to the instrument and externalized through a scleral tunnel, thereby fixating it to the sclera in a sutureless fashion. Results A 50-year-old man presented with a posteriorly dislocated Sensar AR40e IOL (Abbott Medical Optics, Inc; Santa Barbara, CA) and retained lens material after a complicated cataract surgery in the left eye. His visual acuity was counting fingers at face. The patient underwent 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with successful rescue and refixation of the IOL using the nitinol flex loop. One week postoperatively, his visual acuity had improved to 20/40. Conclusion The nitinol flex loop may be used to lasso the haptics of a dislocated IOL and refixate it using a sutureless intrascleral fixation technique. This instrument may be a safer alternative compared with forceps for retrieving posteriorly dislocated IOLs that are sitting on the retinal surface.
On Equine Language: Jordanus Rufus and Thirteenth-Century Communicative Horsemanship

In his popular thirteenth-century equine training and veterinary manual, La Marechaucie des chevaux, Jordanus Rufus demands that horse trainers modify their own speech to communicate effectively with horses, thus overturning assumptions of human dominance over horses in medieval chivalric partnerships. The resultant tactile, nonverbal equine language becomes constitutive of all training and encourages the horse’s willing participation. In addition, Rufus prohibits the violent use of whips, spurs, and harsh bits—tools that intimidate horses and are therefore incompatible with Rufus’s desire to honor equine emotional sensitivity. When a trainer adopts equine language and avoids coercion, he places the horse’s needs and preferences above his own, becoming a steward and protector of the animals Rufus identified as the most noble of beasts.
Pro-Rata Apportionment in “Long-Tail” Contamination Cases: Will Presumed Efficiencies Undercut Environmental Cleanups?

Environmental contamination often causes injuries that occur over long periods of time. These “long-tail” injuries, which tend to span periods during which a liable party was covered by multiple insurers, do not map neatly onto standard indemnification insurance policies. As a result, liable parties and their insurers frequently engage in protracted litigation to minimize the portion that they must contribute to environmental remediation projects. In Boston Gas Co. v. Century Indemnity, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld an application of Massachusetts’s recently announced pro rata apportionment rule, which greatly reduced the insurer’s liability. Proponents of pro rata apportionment argue that it lessens the burden that indemnification litigation puts on court dockets and that it promotes environmentally conscientious business practices. This Comment challenges those claims and argues that pro rata apportionment may actually undermine environmental remediation projects by limiting the amount of private resources available for them.
Interaction of photosystem I-derived protons with the water-splitting enzyme complex. Evidence for localized domains.

The induction of millisecond delayed fluorescence mediated by PS I-dependent proton pumping has been used as an indicator of the time course with which those protons equilibrate with sites on the oxygen-evolving enzyme complex (Bowes, J. M., and Crofts, A. R. (1978).Z. Naturforsch. 33C, 271–275). We found that the induction curves were retarded by a reversible exposure of non-energized thylakoids to low concentrations of the uncoupler, desaspidin, at alkaline, but not at neutral, pH. The induction curves were not retarded by increasing the buffering capacity of the thylakoid lumen with Tricine, and were inhibited by the energy transfer inhibitors, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and triphenyltin chloride (TPT). These data suggest that (i) the catalytic site of the water-splitting complex is located in proton-sequestering membrane domains, rather than at the lumen-exposed inner membrane surface, (ii) protons released during PS I-mediated electron transport might equilibrate with protonatable sites on the oxygen-evolving complex without passing through the lumen, and (iii) those protons may travel over specific conducting pathways which can be blocked by DCCD and TPT.
Exercise for weight loss: what are the facts?

Abstract When combined with other lifestyle changes, exercise is important for the overall reduction of body weight and subsequent maintenance of weight loss. The perception about the role that exercise can play in energy expenditure has become exaggerated over time. This article focuses on three commonly held perceptions about exercise and weight loss: that exercise consumes a lot of energy, that "fat-burning" exercise is the most effective way to consume fat as a fuel, and that exercise will stimulate energy expenditure for hours after completing exercise. The pertinent literature is reviewed to illustrate that although exercise does increase energy output during and after exercise and can expend energy from fat for many overweight persons, excessive caloric expenditure has limited implications for substantially reducing body weight independent of nutritional modifications. This article includes recommendations for practicing dietitians and nutritionists to assist clients in initiating and maintaining an exercise program by considering clients' emotional and physical states regarding their excess weight when prescribing exercise, and by using intermittent exercise in an exercise prescription for very deconditioned clients. J Am Diet Assoc 1995, 95; 1414-1417 .
Manifestations of Chaos in Quantum Scattering Processes

In the late 1970s, the field of “quantum chaos” underwent a transformation when two seemingly different branches of physics, random matrix theory and chaos theory, merged. The motivating force behind the development of random matrix theory (RMT) as a tool to analyze quantum processes was the inability of the nuclear shell model to describe and classify nuclear scattering states at intermediate energies. Contact between random matrix theory and chaos theory occurred when numerical studies of the statistical properties of the quantized chaotic billiards showed agreement with some nuclear scattering data (see, for example, [McDonald and Kaufman 1979]). This led to the realization that one might see signatures of chaos in nuclear scattering data that involved moderately high-energy nuclear states and opened new directions for the application of quantum chaos theory in open quantum systems.
A 480 MHz Band-Pass Sigma Delta Analog to Digital Modulator with Active Inductor Based Resonators

This chapter presents a 480 MHz, continuous time, 6th order band-pass Sigma Delta Analog to Digital modulator in IBM 0.18 um CMOS technology. We replace traditional RLC circuits, containing spiral inductors with high quality factor, active inductor based resonators utilizing negative impedance circuits. This reduces chip area and eliminates post processing needs. Pad to pad simulation of the extracted layout in Cadence yields an enhanced SNDR of 70 dB and power consumption of 29 mW. The modulator occupies 0.5 mm2 of chip area.
Tests Involving Pressing for Intracranial Stimulation as an Early Procedure for Screening Likelihood of Addiction of Opioids and Other Drugs

On the basis that the medial forebrain bundle system of the anterior brainstem is a major component of the system whose activity is positive affect, it is submitted that any drug that would increase activity in that system has a high risk of becoming the focus of an addiction. When an increase in activity of that system is a contingency of an act (such as imbibing, inhaling, snorting, or injecting), then that act will occur more and more frequently (i.e., positive reinforcement occurs) and this is a basis for an addiction. The potential for a drug to increase activity in the system is often manifested by measuring the lever pressing of rats for a fixed intensity of electrical stimulation of the system. Drugs, therefore, can be screened for their addiction likelihood by observing their effects on pressing for brain stimulation.
Innovation in Corporate Risk Management: the Case of Catastrophe Risk

Recent financial innovation in managing catastrophe risk, such as catastrophe bonds and catastrophe options, may be seen as a specific response to the problem of insurance and reinsurance capacity. This view is bolstered by a clear upward revision of estimates of loss potential. An equally compelling case can be made that such innovation is a natural expression of a conceptual revolution, in which the nature of risk and its impact on firms, has been reworked. This so called revolution is known in financial circles simply as “risk management”.
Quantification of amine functional groups on silica nanoparticles: a multi-method approach

Surface chemistry is an important factor for quality control during production of nanomaterials and for controlling their behavior in applications and when released into the environment. Here we report a comparison of four methods for quantifying amine functional groups on silica nanoparticles (NPs). Two colorimetric assays are examined, ninhydrin and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, which are convenient for routine analysis and report on reagent accessible amines. Results from the study of a range of commercial NPs with different sizes and surface loadings show that the assays account for 50–100% of the total amine content, as determined by dissolution of NPs under basic conditions and quantification by solution-state 1H NMR. To validate the surface quantification by the colorimetric assays, the NPs are modified with a trifluoromethylated benzaldehyde probe to enhance sensitivity for quantitative 19F solid state NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Good agreement between the assays and the determination from solid-state NMR is reinforced by elemental ratios from XPS, which indicate that in most cases the difference between total and accessible amine content reflects amines that are outside the depth probed by XPS. Overall the combined results serve to validate the relatively simple colorimetric assays and indicate that the reactions are efficient at quantifying surface amines, by contrast to some other covalent modifications that have been employed for functional group quantification.
Effects of Dietary Cholesterol and its Oxidation Products on Pathological Lesions and Cholesterol and Lipid Oxidation in the Rabbit Liver

The effects of dietary cholesterol (CHO) and cholesterol oxidation productions (COPs) on the induction of pathological lesions in rabbit liver tissues were determined. Rabbits were fed with a chow containing no additives or added with 1 g CHO, 2 g CHO, 0.9 g CHO + 0.1 COPs, 0.8 g CHO + 0.2 g COPs, 0.5 g CHO + 0.5 g COPs, 1.6 g CHO + 0.4 g COPs, or 1.2 g CHO + 0.8 g COPs per kg diet. Liver lesions were induced only when the levels of CHO and COPs in the diet were very high. The amount of CHO in the liver increased when dietary CHO was increased; by comparison, dietary COPs affected liver CHO amounts to a lesser extent. The TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) value of the liver samples also increased when dietary CHO and COP levels were elevated, and the TBARS value was more strongly affected by the amount of COPs in the diet than by the amount of CHO. At 6 and 12 weeks, COP levels were highest in the group that received 1.2 g CHO + 0.8 g COPs, followed by the 0.5 g CHO + 0.5 g COPs and 1.6 g CHO + 0.4 g COPs groups; the control (0 g) group showed the lowest COP levels among all groups. This indicated that not only dietary CHO but also COPs were involved in hypercholesterolemia-induced liver lesions when the amount of CHO and COPs was high.
Temperature and Time Effects of Sous Vide on Tenderness in Beef Semitendinous Muscles

ObjectivesTo determine the time and temperature combination required to improve tenderness in undervalued cuts of beef while maintaining quality attributes; and to understand the biochemical effects of sous vide cooking and how it might be advantageous to tough cuts of meat.Materials and MethodsWhole beef semitendinosus muscles (IMPS #171C) were purchased from 2 beef groups: fed beef ( 42 mo. of age; n = 20). Beef muscles were portioned into 6 cm roasts using a template. Roasts were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 cook times: 2 or 8 h at 2 different temperature treatments: 55°C and 70°C. Percent cook loss, objective color (L*a*b*, Minolta), and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF, kg) were analyzed. Purge accumulated in the cook-in bag was saved and analyzed to determine soluble and total protein concentrations. Soluble protein concentrations were determined using a ThermoFisher Scientific BCA assay and total protein concentrations were determined using a Bio- Rad RC DC assay. Data were analyzed with a mixed model in JMP. The LSMeans were compared within an age classification using a Student’s t test and considered significant at P ≤ 0.05.ResultsWBSF values decreased as time increased for roasts representing the cow group when cooked at 55°C (P < 0.0144). However, roasts representing the fed group resulted in a decrease in WBSF values when temperature was increased from 55°C to 70°C (P < 0.002). Lightness values (L*) increased in both groups as time and temperature increased (P < 0.0611); whereas, redness values (a*) significantly decreased across all cooking treatments (P < 0.0145). Additionally, percent cook loss significantly increased as cooking temperature and time increased in both groups (P < 0.0322). Total protein concentrations in the purge significantly decreased as temperature and time increased in both groups (P < 0.0287). Cooking loss could be correlated to the decrease in total protein concentrations. As cooking temperature and time increase the amount of water expelled from the muscle (purge) could increase, resulting in a dilution of protein concentration. Soluble protein concentration in both age groups significantly decreased as cooking temperature and time increased (P < 0.0266).ConclusionThrough the application of sous vide cooking we can improve tenderness in tough cuts of beef, especially undervalued beef cuts originating from cows. To capitalize on value in dealing with cow meat cuts, cooking to an internal degree of doneness of 55°C (rare) for 8+ hours may be the most suitable.
How the Pathologist Can Help the Surgeon Collect Better Specimens for Microbiology Culture.

Context.— Specimen quality is paramount for microbiology culture in order to ensure the testing is performed appropriately and the results, generated accurately, reflect the patient's clinical situ...
Culture and the Self: Implications for Psychological Theory

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by J.G. Miller, volume 5, pp. 3139–4313, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
The Geography of Inequality: How Land Use Regulation Produces Segregation

Public goods in the United States are largely funded and delivered at the local level. Local public goods are valuable, but their production requires overcoming several collective action problems including coordinating supply and minimizing congestion, free-riding, and peer effects. Land use regulations, promulgated by local governments, allow communities to solve the collective action problems inherent in the provision of local public goods and maintenance of property values. A consequence of these efforts is residential segregation between cities along racial lines. I provide evidence that more stringent land use regulations are supported by whiter communities and that they preserve racial homogeneity. First, I show that cities that were whiter than their metropolitan area in 1970 are more likely to have restrictive land use patterns in 2006. Then, relying on Federal Fair Housing Act lawsuits to generate changes in land use policy, I show that restrictive land use helps to explain metropolitan area segregation patterns over time. Finally, I draw on precinct level initiative elections from several California cities to show that whiter neighborhoods are more supportive of restricting development. These results strongly suggest that even facially race-neutral land use policies have contributed to racial segregation.
Metrology for Microsystems Manufacturing

Microsystems fabrication utilizes a number of metrology techniques during development and manufacturing that are reviewed in Chap. 5. These techniques are used in development after processing steps are performed (reviewed in Chaps. 3 and 4) to find and diagnose problems that may be present. In manufacturing, metrology is employed to maintain quality control and thereby increase production yields. Metrology also enables the process engineers to monitor the status of the processing equipment used in production. There are a wide variety of metrology tools that are available, including inspection of the devices during and after fabrication; measurement of the dimensions of various important elements of the microsystems; and chemical analysis of materials used in fabrication. Some of the basic metrology techniques that have been developed for the IC industry are discussed, followed by a review of several more specialized metrology techniques specific for MEMS fabrication. Guidance as the accuracy of each of the metrology methods is given in Tables 5.2 through 5.5 providing a quick look-up summary of these metrology methods along with their resolution, precision, and accuracy.
Extirpative Cultures Reveal Infectious Pubic Bone Osteomyelitis in Prostate Cancer Survivors With Urinary-Pubic Symphysis Fistulae (UPF).

Abstract OBJECTIVE To examine the infectious features of patients with urinary pubic symphysis fistula (UPF) and their association with osteomyelitis. METHODS We conducted a review of our quality improvement database for 36 patients with UPF undergoing bone resection and extirpative surgery from October 2012 to January 2019. An assessment of bone and urine cultures was carried out along with surgical, radiologic, and demographic data. We analyzed descriptive statistics and used Fisher Exact Tests and unpaired Welch t tests to assess for associations with positive bone cultures. RESULTS In our cohort, 33 patients (91.7%) had positive bone cultures with the 3 most common organisms being candida (22.0%), enterococcus (18.0%), and pseudomonas (10.0%). There was a correlation between positive preoperative urine culture and positive bone culture (P CONCLUSION In this series, 91.7% of patients undergoing extirpative surgery for UPF at our institution have positive bone cultures at time of pubic bone debridement. Additionally, we demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between positive urine cultures and positive bone cultures in these patients. This supports the need for a multidisciplinary approach including infectious disease, orthopedic surgery and reconstructive urology in order to address this complex clinical condition.
Career Outlook and Performance of Professional Athletes After Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Systematic Review:

Background:The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the literature on Achilles tendon (AT) injuries in professional athletes to determine their rate of return to play (RTP), performance,...
Frequent Episodic Utilizers of Veterans Health Administration Homeless Programs Use: Background Characteristics and Health Services Use.

OBJECTIVE To assess sociodemographic, diagnostic, and services use factors associated with veterans' repeated, episodic use of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Homeless Programs. DESIGN This retrospective cohort study used stepwise multivariate logistic regression to assess the odds of veterans being frequent episodic utilizers of VHA Homeless Programs (ie, ≥4 services use episodes during the observation period). SETTING The study used administrative data from veterans who accessed VHA services across the United States. PARTICIPANTS The sample comprised 31 098 veterans who completed a VHA Homeless Program intake assessment in 2013 and accessed VHA Homeless Programs during 2013-2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Frequent episodic use of VHA Homeless Programs (ie, ≥4 services use episodes during the observation period). RESULTS Only 2.4% of the study sample had 4 or more episodes of VHA Homeless Program use during the observation period; risk factors included experience of military sexual trauma, history of incarceration, diagnosis of psychosis and substance use disorder, and use of acute care. CONCLUSIONS Addressing veterans' needs related to poverty, income, and postincarceration reintegration may reduce the frequent episodic use of VHA Homeless Programs. Interventions embedded in emergency departments and inpatient units may also be considered.
Quantitative Fit Tested N95 Respirator-Alternatives Generated With CT Imaging and 3D Printing: A Response to Potential Shortages During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional (3D) printing allows innovative solutions for personal protective equipment, particularly in times of crisis. Our goal was to generate an N95-alternative 3D-printed respirator that passed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-certified quantitative fit testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3D printed prototypes for N95 solutions were created based on the design of commercial N95 respirators. Computed tomography imaging was performed on an anthropomorphic head phantom wearing a commercially available N95 respirator and these facial contour data was used in mask prototyping. Prototypes were generated using rigid and flexible polymers. According to OSHA standards, prototypes underwent subsequent quantitative respirator fit testing on volunteers who passed fit tests on commercial N95 respirators. RESULTS: A total of 10 prototypes were 3D printed using both rigid (nâ¯=â¯5 designs) and flexible materials (nâ¯=â¯5 designs), Prototypes generated with rigid printing materials (nâ¯=â¯5 designs) did not pass quantitative respirator fit testing. Three of the five prototypes with flexible materials failed quantitative fit testing. The final two prototypes designs passed OSHA-certified quantitative fit tests with an overall mean fit factor of 138 (passing is over 100). CONCLUSION: Through rapid prototyping, 3D printed N95 alternative masks were designed with topographical facial computed tomography data to create mask facial contour and passed OSHA-certified quantitative respiratory testing when flexible polymer was used. This mask design may provide an alternative to disposable N95 respirators in case of pandemic-related shortages. Furthermore, this approach may allow customization for those that would otherwise fail fit testing on standard commercial respirators.
95355 Potential Drug Therapy for Fragile X Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome

ABSTRACT IMPACT: The ability to restore mitochondrial health in neurons derived from FXTAS patient-induced pluripotent stem cells by novel natural compounds is critically important to the management of patients experiencing this syndrome and other Fragile X associated disorders. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The goal of this research is to assess the biological potency of MAM, NADA and MAM analogues’ neuroprotective capacity with respect to mitochondrial damage, and antioxidant properties that can restore mitochondrial health in patients with FXTAS. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: To establish mitochondrial dysfunction, normal human cell lines and human induced pluripotent cells will be exposed to multiple concentrations of glucose/ glucose oxidase (GluOx) at several time points to induce varying intensities of oxidative stress. The degrees of oxidative stress will be measured by apoptosis and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. N-arachidonoyldopamine (NADA), macamides (MAM) and its analogue compounds, effective against oxidative damage in mitochondria, will be used to rescue glucose oxidase induced oxidative damage in both cell lines. To test the ability of these drugs to restore mitochondrial health, cell viability and cellular superoxide production will be assessed by propidium iodide and the MitoSox fluorescence assay, respectively. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We anticipate that GluOx at varying concentrations and time points will proportionally increase levels of apoptosis and mitochondrial ROS, reflective of mitochondrial damage, with the most severe dysfunction occurring at the maximum dose of 40µM and the longest duration of 72-hr exposure. Moreover, administration of NADA, MAM, and MAM analogues at seven concentrations, ranging from 10-8 to 10-5 M in half-log increments, will successfully treat the oxidative defects induced in the cell lines by decreasing apoptosis, and superoxide production, and increasing cell viability. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: This research allows for the development of an in vitro neuronal model of FXTAS, lends flexibility to testing therapeutics, and expands the discovery of mitochondrial biomedical markers for the syndrome. Data generated should inform mechanistic studies of the relationship between mitochondrial damage and FXTAS-induce neurodegeneration.
Glycosylation limits forward trafficking of the tetraspan membrane protein PMP22.

Peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) folds and trafficks inefficiently, with only 20% of newly expressed protein trafficking to the cell surface. This behavior is exacerbated in many of the mutants associated with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, motivating further study. Here we characterized the role of N-glycosylation in limiting PMP22 trafficking. We first eliminated N-glycosylation using an N41Q mutation, which resulted in an almost 3-fold increase in trafficking efficiency of wildtype (WT) PMP22 and a 10-fold increase for the severely unstable L16P disease mutant in HEK293 cells, with similar results in Schwann cells. Total cellular levels were also much higher for the WT/N41Q mutant, although not for the L16P/N41Q form. Depletion of oligosaccharyltransferase OST-A and OST-B subunits revealed that WT PMP22 is N-glycosylated posttranslationally by OST-B, whereas L16P is cotranslationally glycosylated by OST-A. Quantitative proteomic screens revealed similarities and differences in the interactome for WT, glycosylation-deficient, and unstable mutant forms of PMP22 and also suggested that L16P is sequestered at earlier stages of endoplasmic reticulum quality control. CRISPR knockout studies revealed a role for retention in endoplasmic reticulum sorting receptor 1 (RER1) in limiting the trafficking of all three forms, for UDP-glucose glycoprotein glucosyltransferase 1 (UGGT1) in limiting the trafficking of WT and L16P but not N41Q, and calnexin (CNX) in limiting the trafficking of WT and N41Q but not L16P. This work shows that N-glycosylation is a limiting factor to forward trafficking PMP22 and sheds light on the proteins involved in its quality control.
Low heat rejection diesel ceramic coupon tests

Results are reported from studies in which several monolithic ceramic materials in the form of modulus-of-rupture bars were exposed for 100 h to the combustion conditions found in either a small single- or two-cylinder diesel engine. Fuels included a standard Phillips D-2 diesel or synthetic mixture of the Phillips D-2 and an aromatic blend. Tbe ceramics included two commercial grades of partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ-TS and PSZ-MS), silicon nitride (GTE WESGO SNW-1000 and Norton NT-154), and (Hexoloy SA) silicon carbide. Results are presented from postexposure fourpoint bend rupture tests conducted at either room temperature or 700°C. Partially stabilized zirconia TS grade showed considerable reduction while the other materials showed only a slight or no change in rupture strength.
Measuring Perceived Usability: The SUS, UMUX-LITE, and AltUsability

The purpose of this research was to investigate various measurements of perceived usability, in particular, to assess (a) whether a regression formula developed previously to bring Usability Metric for User Experience LITE (UMUX-LITE) scores into correspondence with System Usability Scale (SUS) scores would continue to do so accurately with an independent set of data; (b) whether additional items covering concepts such as findability, reliability, responsiveness, perceived use by others, effectiveness, and visual appeal would be redundant with the construct of perceived usability or would align with other potential constructs; and (c) the dimensionality of the SUS as a function of self-reported frequency of use and expertise. Given the broad use of and emerging interpretative norms for the SUS, it was encouraging that the regression equation for the UMUX-LITE worked well with this independent set of data, although there is still a need to investigate its efficacy with a broader set of products and methods...
Muscle tension and physiologic hyperarousal, performance, and state affectivity: assessing the independence of effects in frequent headache and depression.

Anxiety, depression, and frequent headache are closely associated. The comorbidity may be due to selection bias (such as inherent in treatment seeking), shared environmental or genetic factors, or a common underlying process. In this study, comorbidity is considered an alternative explanation for correlates of frequent headache found in earlier work. This study addressed whether EMG, peripheral temperature, performance measures, and measures of affect were independently attributable to depression or headache proneness, after control of trait anxiety. Headache state was evaluated in parallel analysis. Seventy-two participants, comprising four groups, were tested: depressedt/ptheadache-prone, depressed/headache-resistant, not depressed/headache-prone, and not depressed/headache-resistant. Participants completed a performance task that allowed assessment of ambition and performance accuracy while measures of affect, headache state, EMG, and peripheral temperature were obtained. Headache proneness, independently of depression and trait anxiety, was related to heightened EMG. Depression was related to EMG, ambition, and performance accuracy independently of headache proneness and trait anxiety. Headache state was associated only with negative affect, independently of depression and anxiety. These results suggest that headache states during assessment, as well as comorbid depression and anxiety, are not primarily responsible for the heightened EMG found in headache-prone individuals. Negative affect often reported in the headache prone, however, may be due to concommitant anxiety. Other analyses address a variety of issues surrounding distinctions among these variables raised in previous research.
A Large Deviation Result on the Number of Small Subgraphs of a Random Graph

Fix a small graph H and let YH denote the number of copies of H in the random graph G(n, p). We investigate the degree of concentration of YH around its mean, motivated by the following questions.• What is the upper tail probability Pr(YH ≥ (1 + e)E(YH))?• For which λ does YH have sub-Gaussian behaviour, namely***** Insert formula here *****where c is a positive constant?• Fixing λ = ω(1) in advance, find a reasonably small tail T = T(λ) such that***** Insert formula here *****We prove a general concentration result which contains a partial answer to each of these questions. The heart of the proof is a new martingale inequality, due to J. H. Kim and the present author [13].
Neuronal survival and cell death signaling pathways.

Neuronal viability is maintained through a complex interacting network of signaling pathways that can be perturbed in response to a multitude of cellular stresses. A shift in the balance of signaling pathways after stress or in response to pathology can have drastic consequences for the function or the fate of a neuron. There is significant evidence that acutely injured and degenerating neurons may die by an active mechanism of cell death. This process involves the activation of discrete signaling pathways that ultimately compromise mitochondrial structure, energy metabolism and nuclear integrity. In this review we examine recent evidence pertaining to the presence and activation of anti-and pro-cell death regulatory pathways in nervous system injury and degeneration.
Differences between esophageal body and lower esophageal sphincter in mitochondria of smooth muscle in opossum

Abstract In opossum, contractions of smooth muscle of the circular layer of the esophageal body resist oxygen deprivation, while tone of the lower esophageal sphincter requires oxygen. Thus, morphologic differences in mitochondria could distinguish the two types of muscle. Transverse strips, cut at regular intervals along the smooth-muscle segment of the esophageal body, were physiologically identified as muscle of body or sphincter. Transverse sections of the circular muscle layer were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Muscle cell profiles located between the ends of the nucleus and the tips of the cells were used to evaluate the number of mitochondrial profiles per muscle cell profile, mitochondrial mass (relative total area of mitochondrial profiles in each muscle cell profile), mitochondrial position (distance from the center of each mitochondrial profile to the nearest point on the cell membrane relative to mean radius of that muscle cell profile), and mass of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (relative total area of profiles in each muscle cell profile). In the nonnucleated part of the muscle cells, sphincter muscle had a greater ratio of mitochondrial profile area to cell profile area (p 0.05).
The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster contains a novel charged adipokinetic-hormone-family peptide.

A member of the RPCH/AKH (red-pigment-concentrating hormone/adipokinetic hormone) family of arthropod neuropeptides was identified in the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, and its structure was determined by automated Edman degradation and m.s. using fast-atom-bombardment ionization and a tandem hybrid instrument capable of high sensitivity. The sequence of this peptide, which we call 'DAKH', is pGlu-Leu-Thr-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asp-Trp-NH2 (where pGlu is pyroglutamic acid and Trp-NH2 is tryptophan carboxyamide). H.p.l.c. analyses of extracts of the three body segments revealed that more than 80% of the peptide is contained in the thorax. Although DAKH is typical of family members in its general structure and distribution in the animal, it is unique in containing a residue which is charged under physiological conditions. The evolutionary significance of this change is considered.
A Case-Based and Team-Based Learning Model in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

The purpose of this article is to describe the process of transitioning a traditional face-to-face oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMR) lecture course to a case-based, team-based learning model for students ready to enter their fourth and final year of dental school. Data were collected from 294 new fourth-year students (Classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011) who participated in the newly formatted OMR course. At the time the course was taken, students had completed one year of clinical experience in taking and evaluating radiographic images on patients with various clinical conditions. Each class of approximately 100 students was divided into ten teams of ten each, and a topic on oral and maxillofacial lesions was assigned to each team. The teams researched their assigned topics, created PowerPoint presentations, and posted them on the course management system Blackboard site. The instructor posted on Blackboard eight to ten cases representing various lesions on that topic. Minimal clinical history was released at that point. Students reviewed the teams' PowerPoint presentations and the cases, answered the questions for each case, and turned in written assignments to be graded. The diagnoses were discussed in class. An end-of-course survey found that 71 percent of the students felt the case-based instruction helped them learn the content in a more comprehensive manner and 77 percent felt the in-class discussion increased their knowledge of radiographic interpretation. Some students said they felt uncomfortable being called on randomly during the class discussion. National Board Dental Examination results for the classes of 2009 and 2010 showed slight improvement when compared to national scores. As a result of student feedback, the course continues to be offered in the case-based, team-based format.
Markets and Patents Enforcement: A Comparative Investigation of Non-Practicing Entities in the United States and Europe

Is it true that non-practicing entities (NPEs) are primarily a U.S. phenomenon? Over time, several definitions of NPEs have been presented. They range from research institutions that hold patent portfolios for their inventions but do not develop and commercialize any products, to IP asset management firms whose exclusive business is asserting patent claims to collect significant fees from companies operating in certain industries. The latter are also referred to as “patent trolls” and have been the subject of significant debate as to their role in the innovative process in different fields. NPEs are a relatively new phenomenon. Studies have shown that their activity has only become prominent in the United States during the last decade. And these studies have suggested that NPEs are not nearly as active in other countries, namely European countries. Nevertheless, no prior research has attempted to quantify the extent of the international NPE problem nor find possible explanations for the difference. This article investigates whether NPEs are indeed less active in Europe. Interestingly, the findings indicate that NPEs are present in Europe, but their operations there are minimal compared to their operations in the United States. This article discusses possible explanations for this finding, including a comparative analysis of key differences between European and US industries, remedy systems, and judicial cultures. This article demonstrates that NPE activity in Europe is more depressed than in the United States because the affected industries–electronics, machinery and computer equipment, software and communication–are smaller in Europe than on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. It also shows that NPEs operate in Europe DESPITE the presence of certain features of local legal systems – such as fee-shifting - that advocates of patent reform have recommended for adoption to control NPE activity in the United States. Consequently, this article questions the supposed effects of those proposed reforms. Finally, this article cautions against reforming the current U.S. patent system to make it more similar to European ones, as the European industries targeted by NPEs are less prosperous than their US equivalents. The impact of these proposed reforms on the activities of PRACTICING entities has not yet been adequately questioned. Even the question of whether NPE activity is in fact harming innovation has not been conclusively answered. Thus, much more investigation is necessary in this field before it would be wise to reform the patent system.
Development Of A Large Scale Electro-Optical Simulation

Two techniques for the computer simulation of optical and electro-optical systems have evolved: direct convolution and Fourier. These two techniques were examined from the viewpoints of computer efficiency, accuracy and ease of implementation for the purpose of developing a large scale electro-optical simulation. With the increase of the size of simulations, the trend has been toward Fourier techniques because of their computer efficiency. It was found, however, that, for the image and system being simulated, the direct convolution technique offered a significant run-time advantage. The results of that study and the development of the simulation are described.
Stereoscopic Visualization of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Data: A Comparative Survey of Visualization Techniques

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data has traditionally been displayed as a grayscale functional anisotropy map (GSFM) or color coded orientation map (CCOM). These methods use black and white or color with intensity values to map the complex multidimensional DTI data to a two-dimensional image. Alternative visualization techniques, such as V max maps utilize enhanced graphical representation of the principal eigenvector by means of a headless arrow on regular nonstereoscopic (VM) or stereoscopic display (VMS). A survey of clinical utility of patients with intracranial neoplasms was carried out by 8 neuroradiologists using traditional and nontraditional methods of DTI display. Pairwise comparison studies of 5 intracranial neoplasms were performed with a structured questionnaire comparing GSFM, CCOM, VM, and VMS. Six of 8 neuroradiologists favored V max maps over traditional methods of display (GSFM and CCOM). When comparing the stereoscopic (VMS) and the non-stereoscopic (VM) modes, 4 favored VMS, 2 favored VM, and 2 had no preference. In conclusion, processing and visualizing DTI data stereoscopically is technically feasible. An initial survey of users indicated that V max based display methodology with or without stereoscopic visualization seems to be preferred over traditional methods to display DTI data.
The influence of thermospheric winds on exospheric hydrogen on Venus

Monte Carlo models of the distribution of atomic hydrogen in the exosphere of Venus were computed which simulate the effects of thermospheric winds and the production of a 'hot' hydrogen component by charge exchange of H(+) and H and Q in the exosphere, as well as classic exospheric processes. A thermosphere wind system that is approximated by a retrograde rotating component with equatorial speed of 100 m/sec superimposed on a diurnal solar tide with cross-terminator day-to-night winds of 200 m/sec is shown to be compatible with the thermospheric hydrogen distribution deduced from Pioneer Venus orbiter measurements.
Contribution of Chitinases to Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenesis

Listeria monocytogenes secretes two chitinases and one chitin binding protein. Mutants lacking chiA, chiB, or lmo2467 exhibited normal growth in cultured cells but were defective for growth in the livers and spleens of mice. Mammals lack chitin; thus, L. monocytogenes may have adapted chitinases to recognize alternative substrates to enhance pathogenesis.
Thyroid Hormone Receptors: Release of Receptor to the Medium During in Vitro Incubation of Isolated Rat Liver Nuclei

Isolated rat liver nuclei show a substantial amount of T3 receptor releaseto the medium during in vitro incubation. This has been shown to be a general feature of nuclei compared after several methods of isolation and incubation. About 50% of nuclear receptors are released to the medium when incubated in sucrose-MgCl2-Tris, pH 7.85, for 2 h at 20 C. DNA, histones, and non-histone proteins (NHP) are also released. CaCl2 inhibits about 90% of the release of DNA and histones, but has less effect on inhibiting leakage of NHP and nuclear T3-binding protein (NTBP). The highest leakage for each fraction was found when incubating nuclei in the presence of EDTA. The receptor released to the medium has an affinity virtually identical to the receptor remaining in the nuclei. At least 1 mM dithiothreitol is needed to avoid degradation of the receptor. The NTBP has a sedimentation constant of 4.5 Swhen studied in low ionic strength gradients. Increasing KC1 concentration decreases progressivelyits sedimentation consta...
Knowing we are White: narrative as critical praxis

A critical concern in preparing teachers for urban schools is helping them make sense of race, identity and racism in schools. Teacher education programs struggle with how to address these issues in classes of primarily White students. Through a document analysis, the present study highlights how teacher educators can use narrative – particularly autobiographies – to help understand the racial and cultural consciousness of White teachers. Narrative construction provides a method to highlight how White teachers understand their identities and how Whiteness functions in society. Places of resistance, and stories yet untold, are also explored as a teacher educator looks to refine her own practice.
Apodization schemes for short-lag spatial coherence imaging

Short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) imaging has been used to reduce clutter in ultrasound imaging by using echo coherence instead of signal magnitude as a contrast mechanism. Apodization strategies used to reduce off-axis scattering in conventional B-mode imaging are shown to extend coherence length and reduce SLSC contrast, resulting in decreased in image quality. It is possible to invert these schemes to increase scattering, improving contrast but not preventing recorrelation in hypoechoic regions. Adding channel noise to the signals can reduce the correlation and reduce clutter. Similarly, we propose adding uncorrelated properties to the aperture by randomizing magnitude or phase, taking advantage of their uncorrelated properties to modify the coherence curve. These effects can be exploited to relax system requirements and simplify SLSC imaging while improving image quality.