cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Promoting Social Connections in a Synchronous Telepractice, Aphasia Communication Group

Purpose People with aphasia (PWA) frequently experience social isolation due to attitudinal and environmental barriers. The purpose of this study was to determine if PWA could improve social connec...
The experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder: Self-determination and quality of life

Abstract Background Researchers have suggested self-determined individuals are more likely to initiate changes to achieve specific goals, resulting in higher quality of life (QoL). However, the links between self-determination and overall life experiences and QoL of adults with ASD are not well understood. Method A qualitative review based on critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) framework was conducted to investigate what is currently known about the association between self-determination and the life experiences of adults with ASD. A comprehensive structured literature search was conducted to locate empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals that described first-hand experiences of individuals with ASD over 18 years of age. Of 44 identified studies, 14 studies included evidence of self-determined behaviors in adults with ASD. Results Self-determination is implicated in five domains of life experiences– employment status, social participation, advocacy, positive identity, and stress management –and individuals with ASD perceive a relationship between self-determination and QoL. Limitations in the current literature on adults with ASD are identified. Conclusions Services and supports that provide more natural opportunities for acquiring and exercising self-determination skills are needed to promote QoL of adults with ASD.
Testing imaging confocal microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and focus variation microscopy for microscale measurement of edge cross-sections and calculation of edge curvature on stone tools: Preliminary results

Abstract The application of micro- and nanotechnology, adopted from engineering and materials sciences, is proving valuable in studying stone tool surfaces. Measurement systems for surface characterization have been coupled with parameters that allow for the mathematical characterization of stone tool surfaces. For this project, a Sensofar S neox imaging confocal microscope (ICM)/focus variation microscope (FVM) and an Olympus LEXT OLS4100 laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) are used to mathematically document the edge cross-sections on five chipped stone tools made from basalt, chert, obsidian, and quartz. Based on the surface documentation of edge cross-sections, a new algorithm for the calculation of edge curvature at multiple scales is tested. Results indicate the confocal systems experience difficulty documenting edge cross-sections. However, focus variation microscopy can mathematically document edge cross-sections on stone tools made from basalt and chert, thus permitting the calculation of edge curvature over multiple scales of measurement. Microscale documentation of edge cross-sections and calculation of edge curvature will be helpful in understanding the relationships between tool edges, edge sharpness, edge attrition, and microwear. Comparisons between these three measurement systems (ICM, LSCM, FVM) provide information necessary for further method development in edge cross-section measurement and the potential to generate more robust edge analysis protocols.
Why even active people get fatter--the asymmetric effects of increasing and decreasing exercise

Background: Public health policies for preventing obesity need guidelines for active individuals who are at risk due to exercise recidivism. Methods: Changes in adiposity were compared to the running distances at baseline and follow-up in men and women whose reported exercise increased (N=4,632 and 1,953, respectively) or decreased (17,280 and 5,970, respectively) during 7.7 years of follow-up. Results: Per Delta km/wk, decreases in running distance caused over four-fold greater weight gain between 0-8 km/wk (slope+-SE, males: -0.068+ -0.005 kg/m2, females: -0.080+-0.01 kg/m2) than between 32-48 km/wk (-0.017+-0.002 and -0.010+-0.005 kg/m2, respectively). In contrast, increases in running distance produced the smallest weight losses between 0-8 km/wk and statistically significant weight loss only above 16 km/wk in males and 32 km/wk in females. Above 32 km/wk (30 kcal/kg) in men and 16 km/wk (15 kcal/kg) in women, weight loss from increasing exercise was equal to or greater than weight gained with decreasing exercise, otherwise weight gain exceeded weight loss. Substantial weight gain occurred in runners who quit running, which would be mostly retained with resumed activity. Conclusion: Public health recommendations should warn against the risks of irreversible weight gain with exercise cessation. Weight gained due to reductions in exercise below 30 kcal/kg in men and 15 kcal/kg in women may not be reversed by resuming prior activity. Current IOM guidelines (i.e., maintain total energy expenditure at 160 percent of basal) agree with the men s exercise threshold for symmetric weight change with changing exercise levels.
Convection-Enhanced Delivery: Connection to and Impact of Interstitial Fluid Flow

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a method used to increase transport of therapeutics in and around brain tumors. CED works through locally applying a pressure differential to drive fluid flow throughout the tumor, such that convective forces dominate over diffusive transport. This allows therapies to bypass the blood brain barrier that would otherwise be too large or solely rely on passive diffusion. However, this also drives fluid flow out through the tumor bulk into surrounding brain parenchyma, which results in increased interstitial fluid (IF) flow, or fluid flow within extracellular spaces in the tissue. IF flow has been associated with altered transport of molecules, extracellular matrix rearrangement, and triggering of cellular motility through a number of mechanisms. Thus, the results of a simple method to increase drug delivery may have unintended consequences on tissue morphology. Clinically, prediction of dispersal of agents via CED is important to catheter design, placement, and implementation to optimize contact of tumor cells with therapeutic agent. Prediction software can aid in this problem, yet we wonder if there is a better way to predict therapeutic distribution based simply on IF flow pathways as determined from pre-intervention imaging. Overall, CED based therapy has seen limited success and we posit that integration and appreciation of altered IF flow may enhance outcomes. Thus, in this manuscript we both review the current state of the art in CED and IF flow mechanistic understanding and relate these two elements to each other in a clinical context.
The 2014 Riots in Ferguson

The chapter examines the police response to the disorder and the riots in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014 and looks beyond the rhetoric from commenters to find the reasons as to why the police responded as they did. The chapter provides the background and the context in which the riots occurred and also outlines the chronology of the August 2014 events. It discusses the police response in detail and provides a critique of the response within a framework of six operational issues that were identified in an analysis of the police response to the riots. Finally, the chapter discusses the operational issues within the context of what they mean for policing.
Health Information Technologies for Cancer Care: Characterizing Developments for Precision and Personalized Medicine

The point-of-care processes of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and patient recovery require an integration of a variety of data and medical information to ensure optimal management. To better design and utilize these technologies, it is critical to understand the landscape of existing modalities and how they influence the care of cancer patients. Here, we review recent advances in the development and implementation of provider-oriented systems for oncologic care. We propose that these developments may be effectively characterized based on where they are situated in the timeline of cancer care; that is, technologies for cancer detection and diagnosis, intervention and surgery, and longitudinal patient therapy/management. The utility and impact of this class of informatics technologies is highlighted through a comprehensive case analysis of Figure1, a mobile application tailored to improve the continuing clinical education among providers. The advances and advantages showcased by Figure1 demonstrate the potential for provider-centered HIT to facilitate open clinical collaboration, collective growth of medical human capital, and ultimately more effective, personalized cancer care.
Online Summaries as a Framework for Perception and Planning in Marine Robotic Systems

We present a scalable framework that enhances the perception and planning capabilities of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). This framework has two key attributes. First, we use online summaries as a real-time data reduction tool for maintaining a current representation of the data collected at any point during a mission. Second, the data points from this summary are stored in a database and indexed by their spatial and temporal metadata so they can be queried for planning. We demonstrate how this simple yet powerful approach can reduce the amount of data required to represent a data set to a specified resolution.
Robotic selective thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis

Thoracic sympathectomy is indicated in patients with upper extremity hyperhidrosis. The success of dorsal thoracic sympathectomy is judged by the rate of relief of hyperhidrosis, rate of recurrence and rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis.
Device-driven On-demand Deployment of Serverless Computing Functions

Due to its merit of elasticity and scalability, server-less computing has been accepted as a fundamental technology block when building the edge-cloud back end of IoT systems. Though existing edge computing frameworks such as AWS Greengrass and Azure IoT Edge have enabled the deployment of serverless computing functions to edge, users must manually start the deployment process in cloud. Such a user-driven push-model approach demands heavy user involvement, which makes it less efficient and sometimes slow to react to dynamic changes in IoT environments. Considering these limitations, we propose a novel scheme that enables device-driven on-demand deployment of serverless computing functions to edge. This solution can allow a large number of IoT devices to utilize edge computing resources in a more responsive and scalable manner. Extensive evaluations have been conducted in AWS, and the obtained performance results on both end-to-end and step-wise operation latency demonstrated that the proposed scheme could successfully and efficiently achieve the desired on-demand deployment with minimal overhead in various scenarios.
Metaphyseal callus formation in pilon fractures is associated with loss of alignment: Is stiffer better?

Abstract Objective To assess the relationship between metaphyseal callus formation and preservation of distal tibial alignment in pilon fractures treated with internal plate fixation. Design Retrospective Review Setting Academic Level I Trauma Center Patients Forty-two patients with AO/OTA type C2 or C3 pilon fractures treated with plate fixation. Intervention Internal fixation with anterolateral plating, medial plating, or both. Modified Radiographic Union Score in Tibial fracture (mRUST) scores were determined from six-month radiographs. Main Outcome Measurements: Change in lateral and anterior distal tibial angles (LDTA and ADTA) at six months post-operatively. Results High callus formation (mRUST ≥ 11 at six months) was associated with a greater loss of coronal reduction as measured by LDTA compared to low callus formation (mRUST Conclusions Recent literature has popularized dual column fixation for pilon fractures, but it remains unknown whether increased metaphyseal stiffness enhances or impairs healing. In this series, decreased metaphyseal callus formation was associated with maintained coronal alignment, suggesting that a stiffer mechanical environment may be preferable to prevent short term reduction loss in these complex injuries. Level of Evidence III
Okaiannye gody: revoliutsiia Rossii glazami khudozhnika Ivana Vladimirova [The Cursed Years: Revolution in Russia through the Eyes of the Artist Ivan Vladimirov]: edited by Elena S. Danielson, Vladimir Ruga, Andrei Ruzhnikov, and Lada Tremsina; essays by John Bowlt, Elena S. Danielson, Peter Harrington, Vladimir Ruga, Andrei Ruzhnikov, and Irina Velikanova, London, Ruzhnikov Publishing, 2019, 336 pp., £70, (Hardback), ISBN: 9781916048409

The Cursed Years: Revolution in Russia Through the Eyes of the Artist Ivan Vladimirov explores the work of Ivan Alekseevich Vladimirov (1869–1947), the batalist (battle painter) who forged his arti...
Pre-incubation Soil Handling Can Influence Comparability of Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen Results

Potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) is a widely used indicator of a soil’s organic nitrogen (N) availability, and is often measured by incubation. While it is known that the handling of soil p...
Divergence of neuroimmune circuits activated by afferent and efferent vagal nerve stimulation in the regulation of inflammation

KEY POINTS It has previously been shown that afferent and efferent vagal nerve stimulation potently inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation Our data show inhibition of inflammation by efferent but not afferent vagal nerve stimulation requires T-cell derived acetylcholine We show that afferent and efferent neuroimmune circuits require β2 -adrenergic receptor signalling ABSTRACT: Chronic inflammation due to inappropriate immune cell activation can have significant effects on a variety of organ systems, reducing lifespan and quality of life. As such, highly targeted control of immune cell activation is a major therapeutic goal. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as a therapeutic modality that exploits neuroimmune communication to reduce immune cell activation and consequently inflammation. Although vagal efferent fibres were originally identified as the primary driver of anti-inflammatory actions, the vagus nerve in most species of animals predominantly comprises afferent fibres. Stimulation of vagal afferent fibres can also reduce inflammation; it is, however, uncertain how these two neuroimmune circuits diverge. Here we show that afferent VNS induces a mechanism distinct from efferent VNS, ameliorating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation independently of T-cell derived acetylcholine (ACh) which is required by efferent VNS. Using a β2 -adrenergic receptor antagonist (β2 -AR), we find that immune regulation induced by intact, afferent, or efferent VNS occurs in a β2- AR-dependent manner. Together, our findings indicate that intact VNS activates at least two distinct neuroimmune circuits each with unique mechanisms of action. Selective targeting of either the vagal efferent or afferent fibres may provide more personalized, robust and effective control over inappropriate immune responses.
Emergence of FRESH 3D printing as a platform for advanced tissue biofabrication

In tissue engineering, an unresolved challenge is how to build complex 3D scaffolds in order to recreate the structure and function of human tissues and organs. Additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D bioprinting, have the potential to build biological material with unprecedented spatial control; however, printing soft biological materials in air often results in poor fidelity. Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) is an embedded printing approach that solves this problem by extruding bioinks within a yield-stress support bath that holds the bioinks in place until cured. In this Perspective, we discuss the challenges of 3D printing soft and liquid-like bioinks and the emergence for FRESH and related embedded printing techniques as a solution. This includes the development of FRESH and embedded 3D printing within the bioprinting field and the rapid growth in adoption, as well as the advantages of FRESH printing for biofabrication and the new research results this has enabled. Specific focus is on the customizability of the FRESH printing technique where the chemical composition of the yield-stress support bath and aqueous phase crosslinker can all be tailored for printing a wide range of bioinks in complex 3D structures. Finally, we look ahead at the future of FRESH printing, discussing both the challenges and the opportunities that we see as the biofabrication field develops.
The significance of exanthems in COVID-19 patients hospitalized at a tertiary care centre.

Cutaneous manifestations have been associated with COVID-19 infection and their significance in hospitalized patients remains unclear. This study catalogues the exanthems observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients to determine prevalence and inform clinicians in devising diagnostic and management strategies.
Diatrizoate (Gastrograffin®) Small Bowel Follow Through for Small Bowel Obstructions: Timing and Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION The advent of the Gastrograffin® small bowel follow through (G-SBFT) has resulted in a decreased rate of operative intervention of small bowel obstructions (SBO); however, there is no data to suggest when G-SBFT should be performed. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 548 patients, admitted to 1 of 9 hospitals with a diagnosis of SBO. Patients were divided into two categories with regards to timing of G-SBFT: before (early) or after (late) 48 hours from admission. Primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and total cost. Secondary outcomes were operative interventions and mortality. RESULTS Of the reviewed patients, 71% had the G-SBFT ordered early. Comparing early versus late, there were no differences in patient characteristics with regards to age, sex, or BMI. There was a significant difference between LOS (4 vs 8 days, P < 0.05) and total cost ($17,056.19 vs $33,292.00, P < 0.05). There was no difference in mortality (1.3% vs 2.6%, P = 0.239) or 30-day readmission rates (15.6% vs 15.9%, P = 0.509). Patients in the early group underwent fewer operations (20.7% vs 31.9%, P = 0.05). DISCUSSION Patients that had a G-SBFT ordered early had a decreased LOS, total cost, and operative intervention. This suggests there is a benefit to ordering G-SBFT earlier in the hospital stay to reduce the overall disease burden, and that it is safe to do so with regards to mortality and readmissions. We therefore recommend ordering a G-SBFT within 48 hours to reduce LOS, cost, and need for an operation.
New views in Risk Assessment: The Case of Natural and Man made Carcinogens

Scientiest are rapidly gaining an understanding of the biochemical mechanisms of aging and the degenerative diseases associated with aging, such as cancer, heart diseas, and brain deterioration. Many degenerative diseases appear to be caused in large part by accumulative damage to DNA, the genetic material in cells. Such scientific discoveries could potentially have a large impact on health and longevity by spurring research into methods of delaying or preventing many degenerative disease. The lines of evidence that are contributing to our knowledge include: epidemiological studies on the relationship between dietary imbalances and disease (particularly cancer) and between micronutrients and disease prevention; biochemical experiments on the cellular mechanisms of DNA damage and its prevention; and theoretical analyses of the mechanisms of aging and disease.
Recommendations for improving substance abuse treatment interventions for sexual minority substance abusers

To improve substance abuse treatment efforts, some have suggested that interventions should be adapted to cultural characteristics of target populations [1]. In line with these recommendations, empirical investigations of culturally-tailored interventions for individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUD) have gained momentum. In this commentary, I first present recommendations to improve empirical investigations of substance abuse interventions for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals who abuse or are dependent on substances. I then argue for increased clinical training in LGB cultural sensitivity to improve substance abuse treatment for LGB clients.
Enabling the on-line intrinsic evolution of analog controllers

The intrinsic evolution of analog controllers to provide closed-loop control of the speed of a DC motor has been previously demonstrated at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. A side effect of the evolutionary process is that during evolution there are necessarily poor configurations to be evaluated that could cause damage to the plant. This paper concerns the development and implementation of a safe evolvable analog controller (EAC) architecture able to evolve controllers on-line even in the presence of these poor configurations. The EAC concept is discussed and experimental results are presented that show the feasibility of the approach. This EAC architecture represents the first in a series of steps required to make deployment of an evolvable controller a reality.
Characteristics and drug responses of cochlear and vestibular adenylate cyclase.

Adenylate cyclase activity of dissected cochlear and vestibular structures was assayed with the ATP-analog adenylyl imidodiphosphate as substrate. High activities (per mg protein) were found in stria vascularis and in vestibular preparations, lower activities in spiral ligament, VIIIth nerve, and organ of Corti. The enzyme from all structures was stimulated by fluoride, guanylyl imidodiphosphate or manganese(II) ions, and strongly inhibited by ethacrynate and lead ion. The anti-cancer drug cis-diammine-dichloro platinum significantly inhibited adenylate cyclase from stria vascularis.
Skeletal Muscle Lipids: II. NONUTILIZATION OF INTRACELLULAR LIPID ESTERS AS AN ENERGY SOURCE FOR CONTRACTILE ACTIVITY

The extent to which the intracellular lipids of monkey gastrocnemius and soleus muscles are used as a fuel for contractile activity in postabsorptive state was investigated. Under conditions in vivo, one set of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles was caused to undergo vigorous contractile activity for 5 hours while the contralateral muscles served as quiescent controls. The concentration of the various classes of phospholipids and triglyceride in the skeletal muscle was not affected by contractile activity. The significance of this finding is discussed. The conclusion is drawn that intracellular muscle lipids are not used as a net source of fuel for the increased energy metabolism of contracting muscle even after prolonged periods of fasting. It is further concluded that the lipid fuel used by skeletal muscle during contractile activity is derived entirely from sources outside the muscle cell. The question of the effect of muscle activity on the turnover of muscle lipid esters was also studied by means of isotopic tracer techniques. The data provide no evidence that the rate of turnover is increased during muscular activity, and the conclusion is tentatively drawn that the rate of turnover of skeletal muscle lipids is not influenced by contractile activity.
Motivation and Attitude of Preservice Elementary Teachers toward Mathematics

This study investigated preservice elementary teachers' achievement goal orientations for learning mathematics and the relationship of those goals to their attitudes toward mathematics. Self-report instruments were administered to assess three achievement goals—mastery, performance-approach, and performance-avoid, and three constructs of attitude—confidence in learning mathematics, usefulness of mathematics, and mathematics as a male domain. The preservice teachers were higher in mastery goals than in performance goals, and performance-avoid goals were higher than performance-approach goals. Mastery goals correlated positively to all three constructs of attitude. Since mathematics classes are traditionally performance-oriented, these results suggest a mismatch between personal and classroom goals that could result in negative attitudes and the adoption of maladaptive performance-avoid goals. These findings suggest that mathematics content courses for preservice elementary teachers should be taught in a classroom climate that supports and encourages mastery goals.
Induction and organization of Ca2+ waves by enteric neural reflexes.

The motility of the gastrointestinal tract consists of local, non-propulsive mixing (pendular or segmental) and propulsive (peristaltic) movements1,2,3,4,5. It is generally considered that mixing movements are produced by intrinsic pacemakers which generate rhythmic contractions4,5,6, and peristalsis by intrinsic excitatory and inhibitory neural reflex pathways1,2,3,4,5,7,8, but the relationship between mixing and peristalsis is poorly understood4,5,6. Peristalsis is compromised in mice lacking interstitial cells of Cajal9, suggesting that these pacemaker cells10,11,12,13,14 may also be involved in neural reflexes. Here we show that mixing movements within longitudinal muscle result from spontaneously generated waves of elevated internal calcium concentration which originate from discrete locations (pacing sites), spread with anisotropic conduction velocities in all directions, and terminate by colliding with each other or with adjacent neurally suppressed regions. Excitatory neural reflexes control the spread of excitability by inducing new pacing sites and enhancing the overall frequency of pacing, whereas inhibitory reflexes suppress the ability of calcium waves to propagate. We provide evidence that the enteric nervous system organizes mixing movements to generate peristalsis, linking the neural regulation of pacemakers to both types of gut motility.
Thromboelastography Defines Late Hypercoagulability After TBI (P5.328)

OBJECTIVE:To determine whether thromboelastography could identify a late hypercoagulable state after TBI, defined by elevations in TEG parameters: maximal amplitude (MA), thrombin generation (TG), G value (G), and alpha angle (αA). BACKGROUND:The coagulopathy associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is comprised of both a hypo- and hypercoagulable phenotype. The mechanism and duration of the coagulopathy remains unclear. DESIGN/METHODS:Patients with moderate-severe TBI, defined as a GCS 2-point worsening, admitted between 1/2012 - 8/2013 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. TEG profiles were obtained between 0-24 hours (T1), 24-48h (T2), 48-96h (T3) and greater than 96h (T4) after admission. Early TEG was defined as 0-48h, late TEG was defined as >48h. RESULTS: 33 patients and 15 control subjects were studied. 25/33 (76%) patients were men and median age was 47 years (range 18-85). When compared to controls, study patients had higher MA values at T3 [70 mm (6.2) versus 64 mm (6.6); p=0.03] and T4 [71 mm (6.5) versus 64 mm (6.6); p=0.005]. Thrombin generation was also more elevated in study patients at T3 [838 mm/min (77) versus 764 mm/min (80); p=0.02] and T4 [868 mm/min (80) versus 764 mm/min (80); p=0.002]. G values showed a similar relationship at T3 [12 d/cm2 (4) versus 9 d/cm2 (2.5); p=0.03] and T4 [13.4 d/cm2 (3.7) versus 9 d/cm2 (2.5); p=0.002]. In addition, early TEG compared to late TEG was significant for MA (p=0.0003), TG (p= 0.0002), and G (p=0.0005). There was a linear increase of MA by 2.9 mm daily (p=0.001) and TG by 36.5 mm/min per day (p=0.0001) when clustered by pairs in linear regression. Alpha angle was not statistically significant at any timepoint. CONCLUSIONS:The data suggest that there is a delayed hypercoagulable state observed after TBI. The hypercoagulable state may reflect excessive platelet activity, however, the exact mechanism remains elusive. Disclosure: Dr. Massaro has nothing to disclose. Dr. Doerfler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nawalinski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Driscoll has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ju has nothing to disclose. Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nyirjesy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Quattrone has nothing to disclose. Dr. Frangos has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maloney-Wilensky has nothing to disclose. Dr. Siman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Grady has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kasner has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer Inc, Novartis, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Parexel, Brainsgate, Medtronic, Inc., and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr. Kasner has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Up To Date. Dr. Kasner has receied research support from WL Gore & Associates, Acorda, and Asubio. Dr. Kumar has received research support from Haemonetics.
Efficacy of MR-guided focused ultrasound ablation for localized adenomyosis in comparison to leiomyoma.

Symptomatic localized adenomyosis is generally treated conservatively, or with more radical treatments such as hysterectomy. An effective non-invasive therapy is needed, especially for those who wish to preserve their fertility. MR-guided Focused Ultrasound ablation (MRgFUS) has been shown as an effective treatment for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas with a large non-perfused volume (NPV) immediately after treatment. Our specific aim was to compare the change in NPV in subjects with localized adenomyomas treated with MRgFUS, with the change in NPV in subjects treated with MRgFUS for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas to determine if similar results were achieved in the localized adenomyoma cohort.
Design criteria extensions for stable lateral inhibition networks in the presence of circuit parasitics

In the analog VLSI implementation of neural systems, it is sometimes convenient to build lateral inhibition networks by using a locally connected on-chip resistive grid. A serious problem of unwanted spontaneous oscillation often rises with these circuits and renders them unusable in practice. A report is presented on extensions of earlier work on circuit design criteria for stability in this type of network. The criteria are local in the sense that no overall analysis of the interconnected system is required for their use, empirical in the sense that they involve only measurable frequency response data on individual cells, and robust in the sense that they are not affected by unmodeled parasitic resistances and capacitances in the grid. The method is based on Tellegen's theorem (from circuit theory) and the multiplier concept (from control theory). >
Self focusing acoustic transducer (SFAT) with 10-mm focal length for cancer-specific localized cytolysis of 3D cell spheroids in 3D Matrigel

This paper reports three-dimensional (3D) localized cytolysis of cell spheroids by Self Focusing Acoustic Transducers (SFAT) with 10 mm focal length. In previous studies, it has been demonstrated that an SFAT with 800 μm focal length caused localized cytolysis on monolayer cells. Since practical ultrasonic cancer therapeutics are usually performed in a 3D biological environment, an SFAT having a long penetration depth and focusing acoustic energy at 10 mm within an area of 160 μm in diameter has been designed and fabricated. Also, the acoustic intensity thresholds (AITs) of spheroids for cancer-specific cytolysis of malignant cells (breast cancer MCF-7 and prostate cancer 22RV1) are investigated. According to experiments with the spheroids in 3D Matrigel environment, the crosslinks between Matrigel and spheroids greatly increase AITs of 22RV1 and MCF-7 cell spheroids from 0.11 W/cm2 to 11.10 ~ 15.14 W/cm2. In addition, in both “unsolidified” (without crosslink) and solidified (with crosslink) Matrigel environments, spheroids of non-malignant cell line MCF-10A are not lysed even with two to three times higher acoustic intensities than the AITs of MCF-7. Therefore, the general trend associating a lower AIT with a more malignant still stands for MCF-7 and MCF-10A 3D spheroids in 3D Matrigel environment.
Calcium-phosphorus product and troponin-T values in renal failure

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to see if there is a significant association between calcium-phosphorus product (CPP) and initial troponin-T values in patients with renal insufficiency. Basic Procedures A retrospective study over 4 months from the laboratory database of all patients with serum creatinine values greater than 3 mg/dL who had concomitant troponin T and creatine kinase isoenzymes measured was conducted. The most recent calcium and phosphorus values were also abstracted. Results There were 87 patients with a mean age of 59 years, a median creatinine value of 51 mg/dL, a mean CPP of 47, and a median initial troponin-T value of 0.18 ng/mL. The troponin level was elevated (>0.05 ng/mL) in 74% of the patients. The CPP was higher than 55 in 28% of the patients. When comparing the troponin values with the CPP, there was no association noted ( P = .72). Conclusions Although both elevated CPP and troponin values are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in the intermediate term, we could not demonstrate a useful relationship between the 2 values that would indicate causality or help with the interpretation of the initial troponin level when patients with renal insufficiency present with suspected acute myocardial infarction.
Additional Pressure Drop at a Bifurcation Due to the Passage of Flexible Disks in a Large Scale Model

The flow of red blood cells (RBC) through a microvascular capillary bifurcation was modeled in a large scale system in which rigid circular tubes and bifurcations (diameter = .95 cm) simulated capillaries and capillary bifurcations, flexible disks (undeformed diameter = 0.75 cm) simulated RBC and glycerol simulated plasma. At low Reynolds numbers (0.01 to 0.1), pressure drop was measured in the tubes upstream and downstream from the bifurcation as well as across the bifurcation itself, for various flow splits at the bifurcation while the inflow in the upstream tube was held constant. Pressure gradient across the bifurcation is taken to be the average of the upstream and downstream pressure gradients if the additional pressure drop at the bifurcation due to the partitioning of flow and disks is negligible. For the case of glycerol alone, the ratio of pressure gradient (G) at the bifurcation to the one at the upstream region was always greater than expected and reached 1.14 when the flow in the side branch was zero. With introduction of flexible disks into the system, G at the bifurcation was as much as 10 times the G at the upstream region as disks came in contact with, or close to, the dividing line of the bifurcation and paused momentarily before they entered one or the other side of the bifurcation. The largest G was for even flow split at the bifurcation and the smallest G was for the case where the flow in the side branch was smallest. Therefore, for the range of tube hematocrits (0-30 percent) and flow splits tested here, a significant additional pressure drop at the bifurcation is observed.
Synthesis of biotin-tagged chemical cross-linkers and their applications for mass spectrometry

Chemical cross-linking combined with mass spectrometry (MS) has been used to elucidate protein structures and protein-protein interactions. However, heterogeneity of the samples and the relatively low abundance of cross-linked peptides make this approach challenging. As an effort to overcome this hurdle, we have synthesized lysine-reactive homobifunctional cross-linkers with the biotin in the middle of the linker and used them to enrich cross-linked peptides. The reaction of biotin-tagged cross-linkers with purified HIV-1 CA resulted in the formation of hanging and intramolecular cross-links. The peptides modified with biotinylated cross-linkers were effectively enriched and recovered using a streptavidin-coated plate and MS-friendly buffers. The enrichment of modified peptides and removal of the dominantly unmodified peptides simplify mass spectra and their analyses. The combination of the high mass accuracy of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) MS and the tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) capability of the linear ion trap allows us to unambiguously identify the cross-linking sites and additional modification, such as oxidation.
Enhanced integrative repair of the porcine meniscus in vitro by inhibition of interleukin‐1 or tumor necrosis factor α

Objective To examine the hypotheses that increasing concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibit the integrative repair of the knee meniscus in an in vitro model system, and that inhibitors of these cytokines will enhance repair. Methods Explants (8 mm in diameter) were harvested from porcine medial menisci. To simulate a full-thickness defect, a 4-mm–diameter core was removed and reinserted. Explants were cultured for 14, 28, or 42 days in the presence of 0–1,000 pg/ml of IL-1 or TNFα. Explants were also cultured in the presence of IL-1 or TNFα with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) or TNF monoclonal antibody (mAb). At the end of the culture period, biomechanical testing, cell viability, and histologic analyses were performed to quantify the extent of repair. Results Mechanical testing revealed increased repair strength, cell accumulation, and tissue formation at the interface over time under control conditions. Pathophysiologic concentrations of both IL-1 and TNFα significantly decreased repair strength, cell migration, and tissue formation at the interface. The addition of IL-1Ra or TNF mAb to explants prevented the effects of IL-1 or TNFα, respectively. Conclusion Our findings document that physiologically relevant concentrations of IL-1 and TNFα inhibit meniscal repair in vitro and therefore may also inhibit meniscal repair during arthritis or following joint injury. The finding that IL-1Ra and TNF mAb promoted integrative meniscal repair in an inflammatory microenvironment suggests that intraarticular delivery of IL-1Ra and/or TNF mAb may be useful clinically to promote meniscal healing following injury.
Phase chemistry, structure, and radiation effects in lunar samples

Phase chemistry, structure, and radiation effects were studied in rock, breccia, and soil samples. The regolith apparently developed in the final stages of accretion and was modified by later impact processes and radiation weathering. Exposure ages indicate transfer of buried igneous rock fragments to the near surface late in lunar history. With a few exceptions igneous rock fragments, soil, and breccia share the same distinctive chemistry, probably acquired before accretion of the moon. The igneous rocks texturally resemble basaltic achondrites, and the soil and breccias contain glassy spheres analogous to chondrules.
Mechanisms of gastric and esophageal perforations during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine possible mechanisms of 17 gastric and esophageal perforations that occurred during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.MethodsSpecific details of each perforation relating to mechanism of injury, surgeon experience, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome
Exploration of pulse timing for multiple laser hits within a combined heat transfer, phase change, and gas dynamics model for laser ablation

Laser ablation involves heat transfer, phase changes and/or chemical reactions, and gas dynamics. All three of these processes are tightly coupled with each other. A model has previously been developed to simulate the nanosecond scale laser ablation of carbon. This model has been extended to accommodate longer term simulations and multiple laser pulses. The effects of varying the timing of a second laser pulse by tens of nanoseconds are explored. It is shown that by changing this interval one can control the total mass ablated and the mass transfer rate.
Microscale bending using pulsed and cw laser

target is irradiated by a focusedlaser beam passing across the target surface with a certain speed. Heating and cooling cause plastic deformation in the laserheated area, thus change the curvature of the target permanently. The bending mechanisms are determined by the temperaturefield induced by the laser, the thickness and thermophysical properties of the specimens, scanning speed of the laser beam,etc. Three mechanisms have been discussed [1-3]: the temperature gradient mechanism, the buckling mechanism, and theupsetting mechanism. Bending is always toward the laser beam with the temperature gradient mechanism, while the bending
Pressure and temperature dependence of the reaction of vinyl radical with alkenes II: Measured rates and predicted product distributions for vinyl + propene

Abstract This work reports measurements of the absolute rate coefficients and Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Markus (RRKM) master equation (ME) simulations of the C 2 H 3 + C 3 H 6 reaction. Direct kinetic studies were performed over a temperature range of 300–700 K and pressures of 15, 25, and 100 Torr. Vinyl radicals were generated by laser photolysis of vinyl iodide at 266 nm, and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy was used to probe vinyl radicals through absorption at 423.2 nm. A weighted modified Arrhenius fit to the experimental rate constant is k 1 = (1.3 ± 0.2) × 10 −12 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 ( T /1000) 1.6 exp[−(1510 ± 80/ T )]. Fifteen stationary points and 48 transition states on the C 5 H 9 potential energy surface (PES) were calculated using the G3 method in Gaussian 03. RRKM/ME simulations were performed using VariFlex on a simplified PES to predict pressure dependent rate coefficients and branching fractions for the major channels. For temperatures between 350 and 700 K, the calculated rate coefficient agrees with the experimental rate coefficient within 20%. At low temperatures, the primary products are the initial adducts 4-penten-2-yl and 2-methyl-3-buten-1-yl. At higher temperatures, the dominant products are 1,3-butadiene + methyl, allyl + ethene, and 1,3-pentadiene + H. Although C 2 H 3 + C 3 H 6 → allyl + ethene is thermodynamically favored, the simulations predict that it does not become the dominant product until 1700 K.
Consideration of Lewis Acidity in the Context of Heme Biochemistry: A Molecular Visualization Exercise

Molecular visualization software is widely available and readily incorporated into a variety of teaching environments. By taking full advantage of the wealth of structural information available, relationships between structure and reactivity are readily extracted. These exercises are designed to engage students in discussions that invoke principles introduced in general chemistry (e.g., Lewis acidity, hydrogen bonding, reduction potentials) and are presented here in the context of heme biochemistry. Students are asked to determine the coordination environment of the iron center for several heme proteins and use these structures to predict relative reactivities toward dioxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide. What they discover is that perturbation of the axial ligand(s) has a profound effect on the Lewis acidities of these metal centers and thus on heme iron reactivity. Therefore, their diverse reactivities can be rationalized as a natural consequence of their bioinorganic coordination chemistry. Several questions are posed to initiate further discussion.
Transmission electron microscopy of tissue culture preparations on polystyrene coverslips.

Polystyrene coverslips have been utilized in preparing tissue cultures for transmission electron microscopy. A method is described for processing the coverslips, including the marking of selected groups of cells with epoxy-carbon mixture. The epoxy-carbon markings aid in locating the cells during sectioning and the method can be used for small or large numbers of cells. In addition, the methodology allows high power phase contrast photography before and after fixation.
The geochemical ideas of Mikhail Lomonosov

Summary Lomonosov began his scientific career with the study of mining, but his active mind quickly led him to the considerations of physics and chemistry which occupied most of his life. Only toward the end of his career did he begin the systematic treatment of geology and metallurgy. The guiding principle of his thought in these fields became and remained a belief in the extreme age of the earth and the constant modification of its surface. He assumed the presence of a central fire produced by the gradual consumption of sulphur, whose combustion produced earthquakes and mountain formation. Rock formed from clay and eroded into sand which could again be compacted to rock. Plants and animals produced alkaline and earthy materials which by combination with vitriolic acid and phlogiston from burning sulphur gave salt and metals. Fossils were petrified organic remains.
NNScore 2.0: a neural-network receptor-ligand scoring function.

NNScore is a neural-network-based scoring function designed to aid the computational identification of small-molecule ligands. While the test cases included in the original NNScore article demonstrated the utility of the program, the application examples were limited. The purpose of the current work is to further confirm that neural-network scoring functions are effective, even when compared to the scoring functions of state-of-the-art docking programs, such as AutoDock, the most commonly cited program, and AutoDock Vina, thought to be two orders of magnitude faster. Aside from providing additional validation of the original NNScore function, we here present a second neural-network scoring function, NNScore 2.0. NNScore 2.0 considers many more binding characteristics when predicting affinity than does the original NNScore. The network output of NNScore 2.0 also differs from that of NNScore 1.0; rather than a binary classification of ligand potency, NNScore 2.0 provides a single estimate of the pKd. To fac...
“I am the baby's real mother”: Reproductive tourism, race, and the transnational construction of kinship

Synopsis This essay examines what I call “crossracial gestational surrogacy,” a practice in which prospective parents of one race contract with a woman of another race to carry their child. I situate surrogacy within transnational circuits of reproductive labor, particularly “reproductive tourism” from the United States to India. This essay examines how Western notions of race and genetic determinism are mapped uneasily onto surrogacy in India, including the ways in which Indian surrogates resist or complicate these discourses in creating their own narratives of surrogacy. The essay also interrogates the question of agency; while many critique reproductive tourism in India as yet another example of the wealthy elite exploiting the labor of poor women of color, or celebrate it as an empowering transnational example of women-helping-women, the reality is far more complicated. Moreover, intended parents benefit from the racial and economic “differences” between themselves and Indian surrogates.