cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of Extracellular Nucleotide-Mediated Signaling by CD39/Nucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolase-1

Extracellular nucleotide stimulation of purinergic/pyrimidinergic type-2 (P2) receptors are components of platelet, endothelial cell (EC), and leukocyte activation that culminate in vascular thrombosis and inflammation in vivo. CD39, the prototype nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (or NTPDase-1), is highly expressed on quiescent endothelium, monocytes, and activated lymphocytes and therefore could influence these pathways. The potential of NTPDase-1 to regulate P2-receptor function in the vasculature has been established by our generation of cd39-null mice. These mice exhibit a prothrombotic vascular phenotype ascribed to overexpression of tissue factor by endothelial cells following aberrant P2- (and potentially adenosine 2a/3) receptor activation. Mutant mice also show perturbations in hemostasis, secondary to platelet P2Y1-receptor desensitization. In addition, administration of soluble NTPDase and/or induction of CD39 overexpression by adenoviral vectors consistently result in amelioration of vascular injury in several animal models tested. CD39 is also the major NTPDase expressed by monocyte-macrophages (Mo). Upregulation of tissue factor expression by Mo in vitro and alterations in splenic populations in vivo have been observed in cd39-null mice. Paradoxical inhibition of integrin-mediated adhesion and transendothelial migration of cd39-null Mo are also related to aberrant P2-receptor activation and have also been observed in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of CD39 following infection with recombinant adenoviral vectors also blocks LPS-induced ATP secretion and inhibits IL-1 release in vitro. These studies confirm a role for CD39 in the differential regulation of P2-receptor activity and function in platelets, vascular, and immune cells. Drug Dev. Res. 53:193–207, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Taste-aroma interactions

Taste and aroma interactions occur each time we eat or drink. In the laboratory, smell and taste stimuli can be physically separated, whereas under normal conditions the consumption of foods and beverages results in the simultaneous perception of aroma and taste coupled with tactile sensations, all of which contribute to an overall impression of flavor. Tastes can increase the apparent intensity of aromas; conversely, the perceived intensity of tastes is increased when we taste flavored solutions, especially when there is a logical association between them, such as between sweetness and fruitiness. Recent investigations of factors that affect aroma and taste interactions are summarized in this brief review.
Eleven biocides are investigated for microbial efficacy and membrane compatibility to use at the Yuma Desalting Plant

Abstract Alternative biocides are being investigated for the Yuma Desalting Plant. Eleven biocides have been screened based on their compatibility with cellulose acetate reverse osmosis membranes and the efficacy of the biocides against the bacteria and fungi in the feedwater to the plant. Based on the results of the screening phases, three of the eleven biocides will be tested in further detail. These three are sodium bisulfite, Minncare, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate.
Temperature dependence of secondary crystallization in linear polyethylene

A specimen of linear polyethylene was subjected to isothermal secondary crystallization at a series of temperatures below the primary isothermal crystallization temperature, the melting and primary crystallization stages being held constant throughout the investigation. Dilatometric measurements exhibit an S–character at low values of undercooling Tp − Ts, where Tp and Ts are, respectively, the primary and secondary crystallization temperatures; at larger undercoolings, however, an initial very rapid crystallization is followed by a very slow stage. When corrected for thermal contraction of the polymer, the net degree of secondary transformation is seen to peak at a temperature in the range 109–113°C. The S-character of the isotherms and the peaked temperature variation of degree of transformation lead to the conclusion that a large portion of the secondary crystallization consists of the nucleation and growth of the new crystallites. Johnson-Mehl-Avrami analysis leads to a model of heterogeneous nucleation within the remaining amorphous zones, followed by one-dimensional, diffusion-controlled growth.
Electron Stark Broadening Database for Atomic N, O, and C Lines

A database for efficiently computing the electron Stark broadening line widths for atomic N, O, and C lines is constructed. The line width is expressed in terms of the electron number density and electronatom scattering cross sections based on the Baranger impact theory. The state-to-state cross sections are computed using the semiclassical approximation, in which the atom is treated quantum mechanically whereas the motion of the free electron follows a classical trajectory. These state-to-state cross sections are calculated based on newly compiled line lists. Each atomic line list consists of a careful merger of NIST, Vanderbilt, and TOPbase line datasets from wavelength 50 nm to 50 micrometers covering the VUV to IR spectral regions. There are over 10,000 lines in each atomic line list. The widths for each line are computed at 13 electron temperatures between 1,000 K 50,000 K. A linear least squares method using a four-term fractional power series is then employed to obtain an analytical fit for each line-width variation as a function of the electron temperature. The maximum L2 error of the analytic fits for all lines in our line lists is about 5%.
Simulation of First-Order Chemical Kinetics Using Cellular Automata

Cellular automata are dynamical systems composed of arrays of cells that change their states in a discrete manner following local, but globally applied, rules. It is shown that a two-dimensional asynchronous cellular automaton simulates both the deterministic and the stochastic features of first-order chemical kinetic processes in an especially simple manner, avoiding the chore of solving either the deterministic coupled differential rate equations or the stochastic master equation. Processes illustrated include first-order decay, opposing first-order reactions, consecutive reactions, the steady-state approximation, a rate-limiting step, pre-equilibrium, and parallel competing reactions. The deterministic solutions are seen to emerge as statistical averages in the limit of large cell numbers. Some additional stochastic and statistical features of the solutions are examined.
A comparison of the sixth and seventh editions of the AJCC TNM systems for T classification and predicting the outcomes of advanced (T2–T4) non-melanoma skin cancers treated with radiotherapy

In 2009, the AJCC released the seventh edition staging manual. We aimed to retrospectively apply this updated staging criteria to a cohort of previously treated NMSC treated with radiation therapy (RT) and compare outcomes between the two editions in regard to T classification. Seventy-two lesions were identified. By the sixth edition, there were 38 T2 (52.7 %), 16 T3 (22.2 %), and 18 T4 lesions (25.0 %). We restaged the 72 lesions according to the seventh edition criteria and applied an analysis to determine outcome changes as related to stage. Twenty-nine lesions (40.3 %) had their tumor category restaged. Thirteen (72.2 %) of 18 T4 and all (100 %) T3 lesions were downstaged. Cumulatively, there are now 65 T2 (90.3 %), 2 T3 (2.8 %), and 5 T4 lesions (6.9 %). These restaged lesions showed changes in CR and DFS following RT for T2 (84.2 and 93.1 % to 87.7 and 92.2 %, p < 0.0001), T3 (81.3 and 85.7 % to 0 and 0 %, p < 0.0001), and T4 lesions (66.7 and 72.2 % to 40.0 and 40.0 %, p < 0.0001). The AJCC seventh edition potentially results in a poorer outcome prediction in advanced lesions treated with radiation therapy. The elimination of size and the requirement of specific bone invasion location as a staging criterion have substantially changed the staging pattern and outcome analysis.
Cognitive self-statements in depression: Findings across clinical populations

The Automatic Thought Questionnaire (ATQ; Hollon & Kendall, 1980) is a frequency measure of depression-related cognitions which was developed using mildly to moderately depressed college students as subjects and which needs further clinical validation. The ATQ was administered to 120 consecutive admissions to a western U.S. VA Medical Center psychiatric service who met inclusionary criteria. The ATQ showed high positive correlations with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and MMPI-D scale for all clinical groups, schizophrenics (S), depressives (D), substance abusers (SA) and depressed substance abusers (SAD). Significant differences between groups were found for amounts of depression and for ATQ factor scores.
Physiological and ecological controls on carbon sequestering in terrestrial ecosystems

Carbon cycling processes in ecosystems are generally believed to be well understood. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other essential elements are chemically converted from inorganic to organic compounds primarily in the process of photosynthesis. Secondary metabolic processes cycle carbon in and among organisms and carbon is ultimately released back to the environment as CO2 by respiratory processes. Unfortunately, our understanding of this cycle was determined under the assumption that the primary inorganic form of C (CO2 in the atmosphere) was relatively constant. With the emerging concensus that atmospheric carbon concentration is increasing, we must now reassess our understanding of the carbon cycle. How will plants, animals and decomposers respond to a doubling of carbon supply? Will biological productivity be accelerated? If plant productivity increases will a predictable percentage of the increase be accumulated as increased standing crop? Or, is it possible that doubling the availability of CO2 will increase metabolic activity at all trophic levels resulting in no net increase in system standing crop? The purpose of this paper is to review evidence for physiological and growth responses of plants to carbon dioxide enhancement. Essentially no research has been completed on the ecological aspects of these questions. From this review, I conclude that accurate predictions of future ecosystem responses to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration are not possible without additional understanding of physiological and ecological mechanisms.
G-nome surfer: a tabletop interface for collaborative exploration of genomic data

Molecular and computational biologists develop new insights by gathering heterogeneous data from genomic databases and leveraging bioinformatics tools. Through a qualitative study with 17 participants, we found that molecular and computational biologists experience difficulties interpreting, comparing, annotating, sharing, and relating this vast amount of biological information. We further observed that such interactions are critical for forming new scientific hypotheses. These observations motivated the creation of G-nome Surfer, a tabletop interface for collaborative exploration of genomic data that implements multi-touch and tangible interaction techniques. G-nome Surfer was developed in close collaboration with domain scientists and is aimed at lowering the threshold for using bioinformatics tools. A first-use study with 16 participants found that G-nome Surfer enables users to gain biological insights that are based on multiple forms of evidence with minimal overhead.
Microelectromechanical systems in urology.

S ince the mid-1980s, minimally invasive surgery has evolved with the creation of such devices as 3-mm instruments and miniature probes for percutaneous therapies. However, one must ask, “When does it end? How small is too small?” This fundamental question is the foundation of microelectromechanical systems or MEMS technology. Although images of the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, in which a group of humans are miniaturized and travel within the vascular system of a human, may come to mind, MEMS technology is in no way science fiction. Rather, it is the integration of decades of knowledge from many fields that allows us to interact with the physical world at a level once thought to be impossible. MEMS technology is based on techniques used in the semiconductor fabrication industry and has generated significant enthusiasm among physicians and surgeons in recent years. At their most basic levels, MEMS are devices with dimensions of micrometers to a few millimeters that combine electrical and mechanical components to acquire data or do work. An exhaustive review of the biomedical applications of MEMS is beyond the scope of this review. Rather, its purpose is to introduce the urologist to this exciting technology and present the existing and future ways in which this technology will aid the clinician.
Clinical utility of blood cultures drawn from central vein catheters and peripheral venipuncture in critically ill medical patients.

Study objective To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of blood cultures obtained through a central vein catheter compared with peripheral venipuncture. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting A medical ICU (19 beds) from a university-affiliated urban teaching hospital. Patients Between February 2001 and October 2001, 300 paired blood culture specimens were obtained from 119 patients (2.52 paired cultures per patient). Intervention Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. Measurements and main results Thirty-four paired culture results (11.3%; 95% confidence interval, 7.8 to 14.8%) were accepted as true-positives representing a true bacteremia. The sensitivity of catheter-drawn and peripheral venipuncture samples was 82.4% and 64.7%, respectively, and specificity was 92.5% and 95.9%. The positive predictive value was 58.3% for catheter-drawn samples and 66.7% for peripheral venipuncture samples, and the respective negative predictive values were 97.6% and 95.5%. Conclusions In critically ill medical patients, the negative predictive value of blood samples obtained by catheter draw or peripheral venipuncture for suspected bloodstream infection is good. However, the sensitivity of blood samples obtained by either catheter draw or peripheral venipuncture alone is not adequate to recommend the elimination of blood samples obtained from the other site. Clinicians should also be aware that additional blood samples may be necessary when interpreting positive blood culture results for common skin or central vein catheter contaminants.
Clinical and Cost Effectiveness of a New Hepatocellular MRI Contrast Agent, Mangafodipir Trisodium, in the Preoperative Assessment of Liver Resectability

Background: Improved preoperative assessment of focal liver disease and tumors could have a potentially significant impact on their treatment. Mangafodipir trisodium (Teslascan; Nycomed Amersham Imaging, Little Chalfont, UK) is a new hepatocellular contrast agent for use with state-of-the-art MR imaging that, in early reports, is accurate in detection and characterization of liver lesions.
Dopaminergic Modulation of Axon Initial Segment Calcium Channels Regulates Action Potential Initiation

Action potentials initiate in the axon initial segment (AIS), a specialized compartment enriched with Na+ and K+ channels. Recently, we found that T- and R-type Ca2+ channels are concentrated in the AIS, where they contribute to local subthreshold membrane depolarization and thereby influence action potential initiation. While periods of high-frequency activity can alter availability of AIS voltage-gated channels, mechanisms for long-term modulation of AIS channel function remain unknown. Here, we examined the regulatory pathways that control AIS Ca2+ channel activity in brainstem interneurons. T-type Ca2+ channels were downregulated by dopamine receptor activation acting via protein kinase C, which in turn reduced neuronal output. These effects occurred without altering AIS Na+ or somatodendritic T-type channel activity and could be mediated by endogenous dopamine sources present in the auditory brainstem. This pathway represents a new mechanism to inhibit neurons by specifically regulating Ca2+ channels directly involved in action potential initiation.
Voluntary Quadriceps Activation Deficits in Patients with Tibiofemoral Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis

The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of quadriceps activation deficits in the involved extremity and contralateral extremity of patients with knee joint osteoarthritis (OA), as well as matched controls. An exhaustive search of the literature was performed using Web of Science between 1970 and February 24, 2010, using the search terms "osteoarthritis" AND "quadriceps activation" OR "quadriceps inhibition" and cross-referencing pertinent articles. Studies written in English reporting quadriceps activation means and standard deviations in patients with tibiofemoral OA via a method using an exogenous electrical stimulation were evaluated for methodological quality and were included for data analysis. Fourteen individual studies met the criteria for inclusion into data analysis. The number of participants and mean activation levels were used to calculate weighted means for the involved limb (14 studies), the contralateral limb (from a subset of 6 studies), and an involved limb subset from only the studies evaluating the contralateral limb and population of control subjects (5 studies). Weighted means from the involved limb (82.2; 95% CI = 81.4-83.3%), contralateral limb (81.7; 80.1-83.3%), and involved limb subset (76.8; 74.8-78.8%) groups were found to have lower volitional quadriceps activation compared with the control groups (90; 88.9-91.7%). Although the weighted involved limb mean was not different from that of the contralateral limb, the mean and 95% confidence intervals for the involved limb subset were lower than that of the contralateral limb group, suggesting that the involved limb had less volitional activation within OA subjects. This provides evidence that bilateral quadriceps volitional activation deficits are present in persons with knee OA.
Facts and artifacts in using analysis of covariance to "undo" the law of initial values.

The writer has proposed (Benjamin, 1963) that the criterion for a score linearly independent of initial level be that the score have no correlation with initial level. The criterion makes analysis of covariance (anacova) the method of choice for undoing LIV. This paper reviews miscellaneous artifacts said to be associated with anacova and finds that none of them precludes this procedure. Some presumed artifacts considered are: that rxd is “… so complexly constituted that it does not allow simple interpretation” (Lacey and Lacey, 1962); that anacova can cause a loss of valuable information (Heath and Oken, 1965); that anacova introduces an artifactual association with final level (Heath and Oken, 1965); that LIV as measured by anacova techniques can be an artifact of whether resistance or conductance happens to be chosen (Hord, Johnson, and Lubin, 1964); that the use of anacova in (clinically important) instances where groups are defined by a fixed variable is sure to vitally violate its assumptions (Lubin, 1965).
Myocardial Cell Death in Human Diabetes

The renin-angiotensin system is upregulated with diabetes, and this may contribute to the development of a dilated myopathy. Angiotensin II (Ang II) locally may lead to oxidative damage, activating cardiac cell death. Moreover, diabetes and hypertension could synergistically impair myocardial structure and function. Therefore, apoptosis and necrosis were measured in ventricular myocardial biopsies obtained from diabetic and diabetic-hypertensive patients. Accumulation of a marker of oxidative stress, nitrotyrosine, and Ang II labeling were evaluated quantitatively. The diabetic heart showed cardiac hypertrophy, cavitary dilation, and depressed ventricular performance. These alterations were more severe with diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes was characterized by an 85-fold, 61-fold, and 26-fold increase in apoptosis of myocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, respectively. Apoptosis in cardiac cells did not increase additionally with diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes increased necrosis by 4-fold in myocytes, 9-fold in endothelial cells, and 6-fold in fibroblasts. However, diabetes and hypertension increased necrosis by 7-fold in myocytes and 18-fold in endothelial cells. Similarly, Ang II labeling in myocytes and endothelial cells increased more with diabetes and hypertension than with diabetes alone. Nitrotyrosine localization in cardiac cells followed a comparable pattern. In spite of the difference in the number of nitrotyrosine-positive cells with diabetes and with diabetes and hypertension, apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts were detected only in cells containing this modified amino acid. In conclusion, local increases in Ang II with diabetes and with diabetes and hypertension may enhance oxidative damage, activating cardiac cell apoptosis and necrosis.
Evidence for a widespread basaltic breccia component in the martian low-albedo regions from the reflectance spectrum of Northwest Africa 7034

Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034 is the first breccia meteorite from Mars, and unlike the shergottite, nakhlite, and chassignite (SNC) martian meteorites, it matches the estimated chemical composition of martian crust. Here we show that the visible-infrared reflectance spectrum of NWA 7034 is unique compared to other SNCs and is more similar than them to remotely sensed data from Mars, suggesting the martian regolith may contain significant brecciated material produced during heavy bombardment of the crust.
Nonlinear evolution of the temperature gradient instability in the midlatitude ionosphere

The midlatitude Super Dual Auroral Radar Network radars frequently observe quiet time decameter-scale irregularities in the nightside subauroral ionosphere. Since opposed temperature and density gradients are a persistent feature in the vicinity of the ionospheric projection of the plasmapause, the temperature gradient instability (TGI) is proposed to explain the observed irregularities. In this paper, modeling of the TGI is extended into the kinetic regime appropriate for HF radar frequencies and analyzed as the cause of these irregularities. The nonlinear evolution of the TGI is investigated utilizing gyrokinetic particle-in-cell simulation techniques with Monte Carlo collisions for the first time. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the mechanism responsible for the nonlinear saturation as well as the associated anomalous transport. It is found that the saturation amplitude level and the associated diffusion are greatly enhanced as a result of electron collisions. The simulation results indicate that the nonlinear E×Bconvection (trapping) of the electrons is the dominant TGI saturation mechanism. The spatial power spectra of the electrostatic potential and density fluctuations associated with the TGI are also computed, and the results show wave cascading of TGI from kilometer scales into the decameter-scale regime of the radar observations. This implies that the E region may be responsible for shorting out the F region TGI electric fields before and around sunset. This also suggests that the observed midlatitude decameter-scale ionospheric irregularities may be produced directly by the TGI or by turbulent cascade from primary longer-wavelength irregularity structures produced from this instability.
Comment on George C. Galster's "Consequences From the Redistribution of Urban Poverty During the 1990s: A Cautionary Tale"

George C. Galster presents a static model showing how the deconcentration of poverty to neighborhoods with mid-level poverty rates rather than low-poverty neighborhoods (as occurred in the 1990s) could result in systemwide increases in socially problematic outcomes. This is not seen as a significant concern. The authors present data to suggest that, in the dynamic real world, the potential increases in problems resulting from the workings of Galster’s model could well be more than offset by (a) the effects of subsequent decreases in poverty rates in those tracts or (b) reductions in the level of problems associated with any given poverty rate. Furthermore, they judge that the policies and conditions that led to the deconcentration of poverty that did occur in the 1990s are still essential for yet more complete deconcentration in the future. Galster gives us no clear indication of how we might change them or any strong motivation for doing so.
The Pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc), also known as scleroderma, is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by vascular and immune dysfunction, leading to fibrosis that can damage multiple organs. Its pathogenesis is complex and poorly understood. Two major clinical subtypes are the limited and diffuse forms. Research into SSc has been hampered by its rarity, its clinical heterogeneity, and the lack of mouse models that accurately recapitulate the disease. Clinical and basic studies have yielded some mechanistic clues regarding pathogenesis. Recent insights gained through the use of microarrays have revealed distinctive subsets of SSc within and beyond the limited and diffuse subsets. In this review, we discuss potential mechanisms underlying the vascular, autoimmune, and fibrotic points of dysregulation. Proper categorization of SSc patients for research studies by use of microarrays or other biomarkers is critical, as disease heterogeneity may explain some of the inconsistencies of prior studies.
Reaction mechanisms relevant to the formation of iron and ruthenium nitric oxide complexes

Presented here is a review of recent mechanistic work related to the formation of iron and ruthenium nitrosyl complexes. Given the importance of NO as a biological molecule and that the targets for NO in vivo are metal centers, knowledge of the mechanisms by which metal nitrosyls are formed is fundamental for understanding the diverse roles that NO plays in biology. The kinetics of metal nitrosyl formation from the reactions of free NO with metal complex precursors are dominated by the lability of the complexes. The free radical character of NO however, asserts itself especially if the precursors are relatively substitution inert or are coordinatively unsaturated.
Resonance forever: existence of a critical mass and an infinite regime of resonance in vortex-induced vibration

In this paper, we study the transverse vortex-induced vibrations of a cylinder with no structural restoring force (k = 0). In terms of the conventionally used normalized flow velocity, U*, the present experiments correspond to an infinite value (where U* = U/f N D, f N = natural frequency, D = diameter). A reduction of mass ratios m* (mass/displaced mass) from the classically studied values of order m* = 100, down to m* = 1, yields negligible oscillations. However, a further reduction in mass exhibits a surprising result: large-amplitude vigorous vibrations suddenly appear for values of mass less than a critical mass ratio, m* crit = 0.54. The classical assumption, since the work of den Hartog (1934), has been that resonant large-amplitude oscillations exist only over a narrow range of velocities, around U* ∼ 5, where the vortex shedding frequency is comparable with the natural frequency. However, in the present study, we demonstrate that, so long as the body's mass is below this critical value, the regime of normalized velocities (U*) for resonant oscillations is infinitely wide, beginning at around U* ∼ 5 and extending to U* → ∞. This result is in precise accordance with the predictions put forward by Govardhan & Williamson (2000), based on elastically mounted vibration studies (where k > 0). We deduce a condition under which this unusual concept of an infinitely wide regime of resonance will occur in any generic vortex-induced vibration system.
Room Temperature Deformation Mechanisms of Alumina Particles Observed from In Situ Micro-compression and Atomistic Simulations

Aerosol deposition (AD) is a solid-state deposition technology that has been developed to fabricate ceramic coatings nominally at room temperature. Sub-micron ceramic particles accelerated by pressurized gas impact, deform, and consolidate on substrates under vacuum. Ceramic particle consolidation in AD coatings is highly dependent on particle deformation and bonding; these behaviors are not well understood. In this work, atomistic simulations and in situ micro-compressions in the scanning electron microscope, and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) were utilized to investigate fundamental mechanisms responsible for plastic deformation/fracture of particles under applied compression. Results showed that highly defective micron-sized alumina particles, initially containing numerous dislocations or a grain boundary, exhibited no observable shape change before fracture/fragmentation. Simulations and experimental results indicated that particles containing a grain boundary only accommodate low strain energy per unit volume before crack nucleation and propagation. In contrast, nearly defect-free, sub-micron, single crystal alumina particles exhibited plastic deformation and fracture without fragmentation. Dislocation nucleation/motion, significant plastic deformation, and shape change were observed. Simulation and TEM in situ micro-compression results indicated that nearly defect-free particles accommodate high strain energy per unit volume associated with dislocation plasticity before fracture. The identified deformation mechanisms provide insight into feedstock design for AD.
Identification and Quantification of Hydroxamic Acids in Maize Seedling Root Tissue and Impact on Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Larval Development

Hydroxamic acid content was analyzed in the root tissue of four maize, Zea mays L., lines using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and related to western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, larval development and survivorship. Maize lines evaluated included Mp710 (PI 596627), MpSWCB-4 (PI 550498), Sc213 (PI 548792), and Dk580 (DeKalb commercial hybrid). Maize plants from each line were grown in test tubes containing a transparent agarose gel medium in a growth chamber. After 8 d of growth, root tissue of each line was harvested and hydroxamic acid content analyzed using HPLC. Three hydroxamic acids, 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (MBOA), and 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIBOA), were identified in the maize roots tested. DIMBOA concentration was quantified and ranged from 246.37 ± 70.53 μg to 91.84 ± 49.82 μg DIMBOA per gram of root tissue. No significant difference was found among lines in D. v. virgifera larval development and survivorship.
Prognostication of Myocutaneous Flap Viability using Laser Doppler Velocimetry and Fluorescein Microfluorometry

Formerly, flap perfusion was assessed clinically by gross evaluation of the amount of fluorescein in the developed flap prior to transfer. Recently the laser Doppler velocimeter and the perfusion microfluorometer have been developed as aids in perfusion assessment. We have used each instrument in a series of reconstructive procedures employing pectoralis or trapezius myocutaneous flaps and a series of pig groin myocutaneous flaps to assess the contribution of each to the prognostication of flap viability. While the laser Doppler does provide useful information, we have found that the microfluorometer is more selective in representing the hemodynamics of the developed flap.
Relic abundance of light photinos

We solve the coupled Boltzmann equation for the system of light photinos interacting with pions and R{sup 0}{close_quote}s (the gluon-gluino bound state) to determine the relic abundance of light photinos in the light gaugino scenario. Cosmology bounds the ratio r of the R{sup 0} mass to the {tilde {gamma}} mass to be less than about 1.8. We also use a model Lagrangian embodying crossing symmetry between the R{sup 0}{leftrightarrow}{tilde {gamma}}{pi}{pi} and R{sup 0}{pi}{leftrightarrow}{tilde {gamma}}{pi} reactions to identify cosmologically favored regions of R{sup 0} lifetime as a function of R{sup 0} and {tilde {gamma}} masses. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Acute Phlegmonous Gastritis

Summary 1.A case of acute phlegmonous gastritis with symptoms directing attention to the liver is presented. 2.Post-mortem examination showed this case to be of the diffuse variety. No obvious portal of entry of infection was found in the stomach mucosa.
Deafness as a Natural Experiment

Deafness is a unique experiment of nature. Through the accident of hearing loss, deaf people grow up in a world deprived of sound and speech. Most deaf children are born into a world in which their parents, siblings, relatives, and neighbors converse, argue, joke, and learn in the inaccessible medium of sound. Consequently, deaf children must make their way in the world with little exposure to and limited mastery of language.
Abstract 130: Hypercholesterolemia Suppresses Carotid Artery Endothelial NOS3 Expression via Epigenetic Mechanisms

Objective: One of the first clinically detectable changes in the vasculature during atherogenesis is the accumulation of cholesterol within the vessel wall. Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by dysfunctional endothelial-dependent vessel relaxation and impaired NOS3 function. Since DNA methylation at gene promoter regions strongly suppresses gene expression, we postulated that high-fat/high-cholesterol diet suppresses endothelial NOS3 through promoter DNA methylation. Methods: Domestic male pigs were fed control diet (CD) or isocaloric high fat and high cholesterol diet (HC; 12% fat and 1.5% cholesterol) for 2, 4, 8 or 12 weeks prior to tissue collection. Furthermore, to determine the effects of risk factor withdrawal, an additional group of swine received HC for 12 weeks and then CD for 8 weeks; a control group received HC continuously for 20 weeks. Endothelial cells were harvested from common carotid aorta. In parallel in vitro studies, cultured human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were treated with...
Distributed optimal charging of electric vehicles for demand response and load shaping

This paper proposes three novel distributed algorithms to optimally schedule Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) charging. We first define the global optimization problem, where we seek to control large heterogeneous fleets of PEVs to flatten a net Load Curve. We demonstrate that the aggregated objective can be distributed, via a new consensus variable. This leads to a dual maximization problem that can be solved in an iterative and decentralized manner: at each iteration, PEVs solve their optimal problem, communicate their response to the aggregator, which then updates a price signal. We propose three distributed algorithms to compute the optimal solution, namely a gradient ascent and two incremental stochastic gradient methods. We prove their rate of convergence, their precision level and expose their characteristics in terms of communication and privacy. Finally, we use the Vehicle-To-Grid simulator (V2Gsim), and present a set of case studies, with an application to flattening the “Duck Curve” in California.
Vulnerability to Contralateral Pneumonia in Patients with Hemispheric Strokes (P07.007)

Objective: We hypothesized that there is laterality in motor deficits and coordination of muscles involved in upper airway and respiration in acute stroke resulting in greater vulnerability to contralateral pneumonia in supratentorial stroke patients. Background Stroke is associated with contralateral focal motor, visual, and sensory deficits. It remains unclear whether there is laterality to muscle deficits involved in upper airway and respiration. Design/Methods: We reviewed medical records, chest radiographs, and laboratory testing to identify patients with pneumonia among a study population of 1033 adults (239 with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and 794 with ischemic stroke) admitted to two University affiliated hospitals from 2008-2010. Hospital-acquired pneumonia was defined by new or progressive radiographic infiltrate and at least two clinical features (fever, leukocytosis, or purulent tracheal secretions) based on definitions used in previous studies. Results: Overall, 76 patients (7.36%) were diagnosed with pneumonia during their hospitalization; 24 patients with bilateral pneumonia at the time of diagnosis were excluded. In all stroke patients with a unilateral stroke, a higher number of unilateral pneumonias were found in the contralateral lung (40) as compared to the ipsilateral lung (12) (OR 3.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-7.75) after correction for endotrachial and nasogastric tube placement. The relationship was more prominent in patients with ischemic stroke patients (OR 5.20, 95% CI 1.57-17.18) as compared with patients with ICH ( OR 2.00, 95% 0.57-7.06). Conclusions: Unilateral vulnerability to pneumonia in patients with hemispheric stroke supports targeted chest percussions and postural drainage therapies to reduce the rate of such events and associated morbidity. Disclosure: Dr. Anderson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chaudhry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hassan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Anderson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rodriguez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Suri has nothing to disclose. Dr. Qureshi has nothing to disclose.
Vaginal birth after cesarean: what's new in the new millennium?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This brief review will focus exclusively on very recent developments and controversial aspects of vaginal birth after cesarean. Only papers published in 2001 or 2002 are included. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have addressed the intrapartum management of vaginal birth after cesarean patients and the safety of trial of labor compared with elective repeat cesarean. SUMMARY The recent trend has been towards a more cautious approach to vaginal birth after cesarean. Some are concerned that this trend may limit childbirth options for those women who wish to avoid repeat cesarean operations.
Soft-gluon corrections in FCNC top-quark production via anomalous gluon couplings

We present a calculation of soft-gluon corrections in flavor-changing neutral current top-quark production via anomalous $t$-$q$-$g$ couplings. The soft anomalous dimension matrix is explicitly calculated at one-loop accuracy. This calculation allows threshold resummation at next-to-leading-logarithm accuracy. We also derive expressions for the soft-gluon corrections at next-to-leading order and at next-to-next-to-leading order.
Oviposition Site Selection of the Northern Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Oviposition habits of adult Diabrotica bar-beri Smith & Lawrence were studied in relation to varying sources of vegetative cover during 1986 and 1987 at three locations in east central South Dakota. Treatments included the following: Corn, Zea mays L.; soybeans, Glycine max L.; simulated volunteer oats, Avena sativa L.; a mixture of green and yellow foxtails, Setaria viridis (L.) Beauvois and S. lutescens (Weigel) Hubb.; Common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L.; redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L.; and Pennsylvania smartweed, Polygonum pennsylvanicum L. Sticky trap data indicated the presence of high beetle populations in plot areas during both years. Totals of 3,447, 8,758, and 14,178 D. barberi were captured at Aurora, Rutland, and Wentworth, respectively. Typically, greater numbers of adults were captured in the Corn plots; however, high numbers were also present within all other treatments. Soil sampling conducted before D. barberi oviposition produced overall means of 1.81, 0.23, and 0.06 eggs per 0.47-liter sample at Rutland, Aurora, and Wentworth, respectively, and indicated that negligible numbers of diapausal eggs were present. Egg recovery after oviposition was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in Corn plots than in noncorn plots, thus indicating that cornfields provide the preferred site for D. bar-beri oviposition.
Repairing the ruptured supervisory alliance: Humility as a foundational virtue in clinical supervision

In this article we contend that supervisor humility is a critical variable in making rupture repair increasingly likely and give consideration to how that is so. Humility is defined and its research is briefly summarized. Humility's definition is then applied to supervision, specific ways by which supervisors display humility in the supervision relationship are identified, and some researchable supervisor humility hypotheses are proposed. Two case examples are presented, one showing the effects of a lack of supervisor humility in instigating alliance rupture, the other showing the power of supervisor humility in instigating alliance repair.
Dynamic Dead-Time Optimization and Phase Skipping Control Techniques for Three-Phase Microinverter Applications

This paper introduces a combination of two proposed efficiency improvement techniques for a microinverter with current mode control zero-voltage switching output stages. The first technique is dynamic dead-time optimization wherein pulse width modulation dead times are dynamically adjusted as a function of load current. The second method is advanced phase skipping control which maximizes inverter efficiency by controlling power on individual phases depending on the available input power from the photovoltaic source. Neither of the techniques requires any additional circuit components and both can be easily implemented in digital controller firmware. The two techniques were designed and implemented in a 400-W three-phase microinverter prototype. The experimental results validate the theoretical analysis of these techniques and demonstrate that a significant efficiency improvement can be achieved by combining the two proposed control techniques.
Social media in higher education: understanding how colleges and universities use Facebook

ABSTRACTThis study provides an understanding of the current social media landscape for higher education institutions. While it is recognized that consistency in school branding across all communications with stakeholders is important to attract and retain students, relatively little work has been done to determine specifically what type of content should be included in a school’s social media campaign, nor has there been an investigation as to the relative frequency of the content. The authors use content analysis to examine Facebook posts from 66 top US colleges and universities and engagement from their constituents on these posts. Results show that there are significant differences in engagement received on posts across institution type. Additionally, media type and posting frequency are factors that contribute to engagement. This study provides direction on how university social media managers can better manage their social media content to improve engagement and increase the reach of their posts.
Preanalytical Considerations for Joint Fluid Evaluation

Synovial fluid analysis is a key component of the minimum database needed to diagnose and manage primary and secondary articular joint disorders. Unfortunately, preanalytical variables can drastically alter samples submitted for evaluation to veterinary laboratories and it is considered the stage at which most laboratory error occurs. This article addresses common sources of preanalytical variability and error that are seen in veterinary medicine. With consistent quality control and reporting of specimens, downstream clinical decision making and management of patients can be accelerated and improved.
Choices or Rights? Charter Schools and the Politics of Choice-Based Education Policy Reform

Simply put, charter schools have not lived up to their advocates’ promise of equity. Using examples of tangible civil rights gains of the twentieth century (e.g. Brown v. Board, Lau v. Nichols) and extending feminist theories of invisible labor to include the labor of democracy, the authors argue that the charter movement renders invisible the labor that secured civil protections for historically marginalized groups. The charter movement hangs a quality public education—previously recognized as a universal guarantee—on the education consumer’s ability to navigate a marketplace. The authors conclude that the neoliberal agenda of positioning choice as the best mechanism for securing an education rolls back the rights that were already secured through the labor of democracy.
A Total Quality-Control Plan with Right-Sized Statistical Quality-Control

A new Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments option for risk-based quality-control (QC) plans became effective in January, 2016. Called an Individualized QC Plan, this option requires the laboratory to perform a risk assessment, develop a QC plan, and implement a QC program to monitor ongoing performance of the QC plan. Difficulties in performing a risk assessment may limit validity of an Individualized QC Plan. A better alternative is to develop a Total QC Plan including a right-sized statistical QC procedure to detect medically important errors. Westgard Sigma Rules provides a simple way to select the right control rules and the right number of control measurements.
Pencil Puzzles for Introductory Computer Science: an Experience- and Gender-Neutral Context

The teaching of introductory computer science can benefit from the use of real-world context to ground the abstract programming concepts. We present the domain of pencil puzzles as a context for a variety of introductory CS topics. Pencil puzzles are puzzles typically found in newspapers and magazines, intended to be solved by the reader through the means of deduction, using only a pencil. A well-known example of a pencil puzzle is Sudoku, which has been widely used as a typical backtracking assignment. However, there are dozens of other well-tried and liked pencil puzzles available that naturally induce computational thinking and can be used as context for many CS topics such as arrays, loops, recursion, GUIs, inheritance and graph traversal. Our contributions in this paper are two-fold. First, we present a few pencil puzzles and map them to introductory CS concepts that the puzzles can target in an assignment, and point the reader to other puzzle repositories which provide the potential to lead to an almost limitless set of introductory CS assignments. Second, we have formally evaluated the effectiveness of such assignments used at our institution over the past three years. Students reported that they have learned the material, believe they can tackle similar problems, and have improved their coding skills. The assignments also led to a significantly higher proportion of unsolicited statements of enjoyment, as well as metacognition, when compared to a traditional assignment for the same topic. Lastly, for all but one assignment, the student's gender or prior programming experience was independent of their grade, their perceptions of and reflection on the assignment.
Tweens’ perspectives on their parents’ media-related attitudes and rules: an exploratory study in the US

AbstractParent–child relationships are redefined during early adolescence, as tweens become increasingly independent and begin to assert their autonomy. Because today’s youth are growing up in a digitally saturated world, investigating the technology use of tweens is key to understanding the changing dynamics in parent–child relationships in early adolescence. Through surveys (N = 79) and follow-up focus groups (N = 30) with middle school students, we investigated how tweens described and made sense of their technology use, how they responded to their parents’ rules about technology, and how they navigated technology-related conflicts at home. Tweens perceived a misalignment between their parents’ technology-related rules and their own purposes for using digital media, which they said created a tension between them and their parents. This exploratory study contributes new insight into how tweens relate their technology use to their interpretations of their parents’ rules and messages around technology.