cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling the Automation Level of Cyber-Physical Systems Designed for Food Preparation

With the increased awareness around environmental, health, and quality-of-life benefits freshly prepared food brings, a new wave of cyber-physical system applications in the food-preparation robotics sector has emerged. These food-preparation robots are cyber-physical systems with widely varying capabilities, leveraging the recent rise in food-related content shared online (e.g., videos, recipes, and images). However, currently, there is no objective, systematic framework for analyzing their capabilities in an application-relevant manner. Therefore, we present a novel model for analyzing the automation level of food-preparation robots. Our model takes into account food preparation steps and is suitable for analyzing advancements in both current and future food-preparation robots. We analyze food preparation robots developed to date and discuss future challenges in autonomous food preparation.
The effect of early use of glucocorticoids on the prognosis of pediatric patients with severe pneumonia complicated with respiratory failure

Objective To preliminarily discuss about the effect of early use of glucocorticoids on the prognosis of pediatric patients with respiratory failure by severe pneumonia. Methods The patients enrolled in our study were treated for respiratory failure by severe pneumonia in PICU of Tianjin Children′s Hospital from January 2011 to December 2014.These patients were divided into two groups: glucocorticoid treatment group and non-glucocorticoid treatment group.The patients in the glucocorticoid treatment group were treated with glucocorticoid in 3 days of onset.Based on this main division, retrospective analyses were performed with regard to the prognosis: survival or death.Survival patients would be further divided into cure group and post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans group.We analyzed the data with χ2-test about the effect of early use of glucocorticoids on the prognosis of pediatric patients with respiratory failure by severe pneumonia. Results Two hundred and sixteen patients were divided into glucocorticoid treatment group(n=68) and non-glucocorticoid treatment group(n=148). Significant difference was not found in age, gender, pediatric critical illness score and complications between the glucocorticoid treatment group and non-glucocorticoid treatment group.Although the mortality rate of glucocorticoid treatment group(22.06%) was slightly lower than that of non-glucocorticoid treatment group(27.70%), there was no statistical difference between the two groups(χ2=0.773, P>0.05). For the 160 survival patients, the occurrence rate of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans in the glucocorticoid treatment group increased compared with that in the non-glucocorticoid treatment group[28.3%(15/53)vs.2.8%(3/107); χ2=23.080, P<0.005]. Conclusion The early use of glucocorticoids cannot reduce the mortality of the pediatric patients with respiratory failure by severe pneumonia, but it can increase the risk of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans for survival patients.Therefore, glucocorticoids should be used with caution in the early treatment of severe pneumonia. Key words: Glucocorticoids; Severe pneumonia; Post infectious bronchiolitis obliterans
Amerikanische Bekleidung. Semper's technique in the work of Albert Kahn

This paper proposes a reinterpretation of Albert Kahn's work through the architectural theories of Semper in order to answer certain questions that have persisted about his work, such as, what is the reason for the heterogeneity of his industrial and non-industrial work and what is the relationship between his radical technical innovations and contemporary tradition. Both questions can be answered by an analysis of Kahn’s work through design tools inherited from Gottfried Semper: Bekleidung, the coating principle, and Stoffwechsel. We establish a parallel study of Kahn's work and the work of other architects in which it is documented the strong influences of these theories. We focus in our analysis on Kahn's industrial architecture, since it is not conceivable that Semper’s influence, so evident in its office, commercial and public buildings, would not have any permeability in his industrial work. To demonstrate this influence, we examine buildings that bridge the gap between the industrial and non-industrial design such as the complex for the U.S Aviation School in Langley Field, Virginia and the Natural Science Building in Ann Arbor, Michigan, among others.
Social memory and niche construction in a hypervariable environment.

BACKGROUND Communities in southwest Madagascar have co-evolved with a hypervariable environment and climate. The paleoclimate record reflects major fluctuations in climatic conditions over the course of Holocene human settlement. Archeological evidence indicates short-term occupations of sites, suggesting that frequent residential mobility and flexible subsistence strategies have been central features of life on the southwest coast for millennia. Today, despite rapid changes linked to globalization and increasing market integration, mobility and subsistence flexibility remain key to the lives of communities of the region. AIMS In this article, we advocate closer consideration of the social dimensions of the human niche, and their inextricable links to the biophysical world. Specifically, we explore the theoretical implications of applying a Niche Construction Theory framework to understanding the role of social memory in constructing the human niche of SW Madagascar. We look at how social memory facilitates mobility, resource use, and the creation and maintenance of social identities and ties among communities of foragers, farmers, herders, and fishers living under hypervariable climatic conditions. MATERIALS & METHODS We conducted an extensive oral history survey in SW Madagascar between 2017 and 2018. We interviewed over 100 elders from 32 different communities. RESULTS Our analysis of the oral history archive resulted in the development of a theoretical model of human niche construction centered on the maintenance and transmission of social memory. DISCUSSION We argue that social memory and the ability to transmit oral histories of exchange, reciprocity, and cooperation, as well as ecological knowledge are key adaptive mechanisms that facilitate mobility and access to resources in a hypervariable environment. CONCLUSION The preservation and transmission of oral histories and ecological knowledge are thus critical to future resilience and sustainability.
Redox-Induced Structural Reorganization Dictates Kinetics of Cobalt(III) Hydride Formation via Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Two-electron, one-proton reactions of a family of [CoCp(dxpe)(NCCH3)]2+ complexes (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, dxpe = 1,2-bis(di(aryl/alkyl)phosphino)ethane) form the corresponding hydride species [HCoCp(dxpe)]+ (dxpe = dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), depe (1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane), and dcpe (1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane)) through a stepwise proton-coupled electron transfer process. For three [CoCp(dxpe)(NCCH3)]2+ complexes, peak shift analysis was employed to quantify apparent proton transfer rate constants from cyclic voltammograms recorded with acids ranging 22 pKa units. The apparent proton transfer rate constants correlate with the strength of the proton source for weak acids, but these apparent proton transfer rate constants curiously plateau (kpl) as the reaction becomes increasingly exergonic. The absolute apparent proton transfer rate constants across both these regions correlate with the steric bulk of the chelating diphosphine ligand, with bulkier ligands leading to slower kinetics (kplateau,depe = 3.5 × 107 M-1 s-1, kplateau,dppe = 1.7 × 107 M-1 s-1, kplateau,dcpe = 7.1 × 104 M-1 s-1). Mechanistic studies were conducted to identify the cause of the aberrant kPTapp-ΔpKa trends. When deuterated acids are employed, deuterium incorporation in the Cp ring is observed, indicating protonation of the CoCp(dxpe) species to form the corresponding hydride proceeds via initial ligand protonation. Digital simulations of cyclic voltammograms show ligand loss accompanying initial reduction gates subsequent PCET activity at higher driving forces. Together, these experiments reveal the details of the reaction mechanism: reduction of the Co(III) species is followed by dissociation of the bound acetonitrile ligand, subsequent reduction of the unligated Co(II) species to form a Co(I) species is followed by protonation, which occurs at the Cp ring, followed by tautomerization to generate the stable Co(III)-hydride product [HCoCp(dxpe)]+. Analysis as a function of chelating disphosphine ligand, solvent, and acid strength reveals that the ligand dissociation equilibrium is directly influenced by the steric bulk of the phosphine ligands and gates protonation, giving rise to the plateau of the apparent proton transfer rate constant with strong acids. The complexity of the reaction mechanism underpinning hydride formation, encompassing dynamic behavior of the entire ligand set, highlights the critical need to understand elementary reaction steps in proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.
Stereotactic guide for posterior approach to lateral ventricle

Free-hand tapping of the lateral ventricle through the posterior approach is a standard procedure. There are occasions, however, when more than one pass is needed. One way to make it easy and safe is to use a neuro-navigation approach. This requires extra setup. Therefore, the authors in this paper describe the use of a simple device to accurately place the catheter tip in the frontal horn. The device is rectangular with two open arms with co-linear free ends. Based on axial CT or MR images, a trajectory that travels within the ventricle from the posterior to the anterior horn is chosen. The anterior and posterior points of the trajectory are marked on the scalp. A burr hole is placed at the posterior point. The anterior free end is then attached to the anterior trajectory point on the scalp using an EKG pad and to the posterior to a plug placed in the burr hole. The ventricle is tapped through a central hole in the burr hole plug. All 12 patients had accurate catheter placement at the first attempt using this system. This is a simple device that used CT or MR images and surface markings to accurately tap the ventricle.
Dine in or Take out? Trends on Restaurant Service Demand amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to restaurant businesses, especially for indoor dining services, due to the widespread fear of coronavirus exposure. In contrast, the online food ordering and delivery services, led by DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats, filled in the vacancy and achieved explosive growth. The restaurant industry is experiencing a dramatic transformation under the crossfire of these two driving forces. However, we are not fully exposed to those changes due to the lack of first-hand data, let alone the potential consequences and implications. To address such needs, this study applies foot traffic data from the Washington metropolitan area to understand the evolving trends of restaurant service demand through the pandemic. We first analyze the aggregate foot traffic volumes to reveal the disruptions to restaurant services across the different stages of the pandemic. A probabilistic learning model is then proposed to decompose the aggregate foot traffic by service modes into those for dine-in and takeout, respectively. The transitions in demand structures are identified for restaurants of various service types, price levels, and locations. In general, our results evidence that the overall restaurant demand still drifted around half of the pre-pandemic level, far from a complete recovery, one year after the mandatory lockdown was ended. But limited-service and budget restaurants, given their comparative advantages in takeout channels, saw a significantly more speedy recovery than full-service counterparts. Meanwhile, restaurants in exurban areas top the race in recovery followed by those in suburban and urban areas.
VTE and anticoagulation in menstruating women

Abstract Women of childbearing potential have a high prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to high estrogen states, such as pregnancy and the use of estrogen-containing contraceptives. Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) affects up to two-thirds of menstruating women on anticoagulation (AC), and can severely impair a woman's quality of life. Rates of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and other forms of AUB including inter-menstrual and postmenopausal bleeding are consistently underreported in the original clinical trials utilizing AC. VTE can occur at any time in a woman's life, and the aim of this review article is to discuss the current landscape of literature on AUB for women on AC, VTE and AC in women of child bearing potential, planning for pregnancy while on AC, VTE during pregnancy, and considerations for VTE risk in postmenopausal women. This survey of the current literature may offer data for providers to consider while making clinical decisions on the duration of and appropriate choice of anticoagulation.
Does education modify the association between depression and cardiovascular health? (from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 2013–14 and 2015–16)

Abstract Study objective Depression and education have associations with cardiovascular health. We hypothesized educational attainment would modify the association between depression and cardiovascular health. Design We used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), a validated instrument to categorize individuals as having minimal (0–4), moderate (5–9) or severe (≥10) depression. We employed the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 (LS7) comprised of known cardiovascular risk factors. In multivariable-adjusted analyses we related PHQ to cardiovascular health measured by LS7. We then evaluated the modification of the association between depression and cardiovascular health by educational attainment. Participants Individuals age ≥18 years participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–214 and 2015–16 cycles. Main outcome measures LS7, continuous (0–14) and categorized as poor (0–4), intermediate (5–9) or ideal (10–14). Results In total 8727 individuals (age 48 ± 17 years; 51% female sex; 70% white race; 14% Conclusions Our findings suggest that educational attainment modifies the association between depression and cardiovascular health. This study provides insight on how social factors modify depression, a well-recognized contributor to cardiovascular health.
Binding protein-dependent active transport in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium.

Publisher Summary This chapter illustrates a schematic representation of 3 different types of active transport systems. The phosphotransferase systems require cytoplasmic and membrane-bound proteins, whereas the systems that are active in membrane vesicles require only membrane-bound proteins. A number of the membrane-bound protein components of several of the shock-sensitive systems have been identified genetically and biochemically. It appears that between two and four membrane associated proteins are required for interaction with a given binding protein, depending on the specific system. The concept that a protein associated with a high affinity transport system should bind its substrate with high affinity led to the isolation of a sulfate-binding protein from Salmonella typhimurium. The chapter illustrates that the sulfate-binding protein appeared to be localized in the periplasmic space as the binding protein was released when the cells were converted to spheroplasts or subjected to an osmotic shock procedure. This chapter deals primarily with the osmotic shock-sensitive or binding protein-dependent nutrient transport systems of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimuium.
(Un)natural disaster: vulnerability, long-distance displacement, and the extended geography of neighborhood distress and attainment after Katrina.

After Hurricane Katrina, socioeconomically vulnerable populations were slow to return to their poor and segregated pre-disaster neighborhoods. Yet, very little is known about the quality of their post-disaster neighborhoods. While vulnerable groups rarely escape neighborhood poverty, some Katrina evacuees showed signs of neighborhood improvement. The current study investigates this puzzle and the significance of long-distance moves for neighborhood change among participants in the Resilience in the Survivors of Katrina Project. Seven hundred low-income, mostly minority mothers in community college in New Orleans before Katrina were tracked across the country a year and a half later. The findings show that respondents’ immediate and extended neighborhoods and metropolitan areas after Katrina were less disadvantaged, less organizationally isolated, and more racially and ethnically diverse compared to their pre-hurricane environments, and to the environments of those staying or returning home. Counterfactual analyses showed that more than within-neighborhood changes over time, between-neighborhood mobility and long-distance migration decreased respondents’ exposures to distress in their neighborhood, extended geographic area, and metropolitan area.
Seismic and Aseismic Slip Along Subduction Zones and their Tectonic Implications

Results of detailed mechanism studies of great earthquakes are used together with their repeat times to determine the amount of seismic slip along various subduction zones. Comparison of the seismic slip with the rate of plate motion suggests that, in Chile, and possibly Alaska, the seismic slip rate is comparable to the rate of plate motion while, in the Kuriles and Northern Japan, the seismic slip constitutes only a very small portion, approximately 1/4, of the total slip. In the Sanriku region, and to the south of it, the relative amount of seismic slip is even smaller. These results suggest that in Chile and Alaska the coupling and interaction between the oceanic and continental lithosphere are very strong, resulting in great earthquakes with a very large rupture zone, and in break-off of the undergoing lithosphere at shallow depths. In the Kuriles and Northern Japan, the oceanic and continental lithosphere are largely decoupled, so that the slip becomes largely aseismic, and the rupture length of earthquakes reduced. The reduced interaction at the inter-plate boundary may allow the oceanic lithosphere to subduct more easily and to form a continuous Benioff zone extending to depths. It may also facilitate ridge subduction beneath island arcs, which may play an important role in the formation of marginal seas such as the Japan Sea. The decoupling is also evidenced by silent or tsunami earthquakes [e.g., the 1896 Sanriku earthquake], great intra-plate normal-fault earthquakes [e.g., the 1933 Sanriku earthquake], and crustal deformation. A natural extension of this concept of inter-plate decoupling is the spontaneous sinking of the oceanic lithosphere with a consequent retreating subduction. Retreating subduction may be an important mechanism in the format ion of marginal seas such as the Philippine Sea, and explains the complete lack of major shallow earthquake activity along some subduction zones such as the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (PL 108–73; MMA), signed into law in December 2003, represents the biggest expansion of Medicare in the program’s history. In addition to adding outpatient prescription drug coverage, the bill contains scores of other changes affecting the nation’s 40 million older and disabled Americans and the providers who care for them. Responsibility for implementing the complex law and educating beneficiaries about their new options falls to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is in the process of issuing regulations and preparing outreach materials for seniors to meet the deadlines mandated by Congress. During last year’s debate on the Medicare bill, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) actively lobbied for a number of provisions in the legislation, including improvements in the physician fee schedule, and enactment of the Geriatric Care Act (GCA). We are pleased to report that the MMA replaces a scheduled 4.5% decrease in reimbursement fees paid to geriatric health providers with an increase of 1.5% in 2004 and 2005 and incorporates two provisions based on the GCA, which are summarized below. In 2004 AGS is committed to educating its members about how the legislation will affect geriatric providers and their patients while pursuing other elements of its legislative agenda. Below is a summary of some of the major provisions of the MMA. Readers are also encouraged to consult the AGS Web page devoted exclusively to the law, located at http:// www.americangeriatrics.org/policy/medicare_info.shtml.
Effect of Cataract Surgery on Falls and Mobility in Independently Living Older Adults

Aim:To determine the effect of cataract surgery on the occurrence of falls and mobility and balance problems in older adults with cataract. Longitudinal follow-up study. Clinical Research Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Persons aged 55 and older with a cataract were recruited from 12 eye clinics in Alabama from October 1994 through March 1996. Participants were classified into two groups: those who had cataract surgery (surgery group, n=122) and those who had not (no-surgery group, n=92). At baseline and 1-year follow-up visits, information on the occurrence of falls and mobility and balance problems was collected based on subjects' recall of events during the prior 12 months. After adjusting for demographic, behavioral, medical, and visual characteristics, there was no difference between the two groups in the likelihood of falling (risk ratio (RR)=0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.64-1.42) or in having mobility (RR=0.81, 95% CI=0.55-1.18) or balance difficulties (RR=0.71, 95% CI=0.37-1.39). Cataract surgery had no association with the occurrence of falls or mobility or balance problems in independently living older adults with a cataract. Language: en
Molecular cloning of a protein associated with soybean seed oil bodies that is similar to thiol proteases of the papain family.

A 34,000-Da protein (P34) is one of the four major soybean oil body proteins observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of isolated organic solvent-extracted oil bodies from mature seeds. P34 is processed during seedling growth to a 32,000-Da polypeptide (P32) by the removal of an amino-terminal decapeptide (Herman, E.M., Melroy, D.L., and Buckhout, T.J. (1990) Plant Physiol, in press). A soybean lambda ZAP II cDNA library constructed from RNA isolated from midmaturation seeds was screened with monoclonal antibodies directed against two different epitopes of P34. The isolated cDNA clone encoding P34 contains 1,350 base pairs terminating in a poly(A)+ tail and an open reading frame 1,137 base pairs in length. The open reading frame includes a deduced amino acid sequence which matches 23 of 25 amino-terminal amino acids determined by automated Edman degradation of P34 and P32. The cDNA predicts a mature protein of 257 amino acids and of 28,641 Da. The open reading frame extends 5' from the known amino terminus of P34 encoding a possible precursor and signal sequence segments with a combined additional 122 amino acids. Prepro-P34 is deduced to be a polypeptide of 42,714 Da, indicating that the cDNA clone apparently encodes a polypeptide of 379 amino acids. A comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences in the GenBank Data Bank with the sequence of P34 has shown considerable sequence similarity to the thiol proteases of the papain family. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA indicated that the P34 gene has a low copy number.
Scleroderma; its oral manifestations.

Abstract 1. 1. The various forms of progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) have been described, and the associated oral and dental findings have been discussed. 2. 2. Two cases have been presented to demonstrate the manifestations of the disease. 3. 3. The characteristic dental roentgenographic finding of widening of the periodontal membrane was observed in one patient. 4. 4. It is recommended that all patients with progressive systemic sclerosis receive periodic dental roentgenographic examination to determine whether the changes in the periodontal membrane are permanent or transitory. 5. 5. The dental profession is again reminded of its obligation to detect systemic diseases when they present themselves in the oral cavity.
Parents' emotion expression as a predictor of child's social competence: children with or without intellectual disability

Background Parents' expression of positive emotion towards children who are typically developing (TD) is generally associated with better social development. However, the association between parents' negative emotion expression and social development can be positive or negative depending upon a number of factors, including the child's emotion regulation abilities. Given the lower emotion regulation capabilities of children with intellectual disability (ID), we hypothesised that parents' negative emotion expression would be associated with lower social development in children with ID compared to those with TD. Methods Participants were 180 families of children with or without ID enrolled in a longitudinal study. Parents' positive and negative affect were coded live from naturalistic home interactions at child ages 5–8 years, and child's social skills were measured by using mother report at child ages 6–9 years. We examined mothers' and fathers' emotion expression as a time‐varying predictor of social skills across ages 5–9 years. Results Mothers, but not fathers, expressed less positive affect and more negative affect with ID group children. Parents' positive affect expression was related to social skills only for TD children, with mothers' positive affect predicting higher social skills. Contrary to expectations, fathers' positive affect predicted lower social skills. Parents' negative affect predicted significantly lower social skills for children with ID than for children with TD. Conclusions Findings support the theory that low to moderate levels of negative expression may be less beneficial or detrimental for children with ID compared to children with TD. Implications for further research and intervention are discussed.
Plasmid transfection and retroviral transduction of porcine muscle cells for cell-mediated gene transfer.

Cell-mediated gene transfer is a potential tool for studying muscle growth, but efficient genetic manipulation and implantation strategies have not been developed for pigs. The objectives of the present study were to determine methods for transient and stable incorporation of reporter genes into porcine muscle cells and to investigate their use for cell-mediated gene transfer in pigs. Porcine myoblasts and fibroblasts were isolated from muscle of 2-wk-old male pigs. Myogenic cell lines were identified using muscle-specific monoclonal antibodies, myotube fusion assays, and the presence of muscle-specific markers (MyoD and desmin). Four commercial cationic liposomes (lipofectAMINE, lipofectin, cellFECTIN, and DMRIE-C) were tested at different DNA:lipid ratios for their ability to transfect myoblasts and fibroblasts transiently with a luciferase reporter plasmid. LipofectAMINE resulted in the greatest (P 80% of porcine muscle cells. Transduced GFP-positive cells were separated from GFP-negative cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and implanted into 2-wk-old male pigs. On d 4, implanted muscles were removed and subjected to immunodetection of GFP protein. Fibroblast implantation resulted in limited GFP expression within muscle, whereas myoblast implantation resulted in GFP within muscle fibers. This suggests that cell-mediated gene transfer is possible in porcine muscle and may be useful as an approach for studying muscle growth in pigs.
Amyloid Fibril-Forming Hexapeptides Modulate The Immune Response And Reduce Symptoms In An Animal Model Of Multiple Sclerosis (S14.002)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the immune pathways modulated by amyloid fibril-forming peptides composed of six amino acids that have been found to be anti-inflammatory and therapeutic in an animal model of multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). BACKGROUND: Our earlier work showed that amyloid fibril formation of a small peptide corresponding to residues 73-92 from the small heat shock protein alpha B crystallin (HspB5) correlated with chaperone activity and amelioration of EAE. However, exchange of one hydrophobic amino acid at position 77, 79, or 81 with a lysine disrupted amyloid formation, chaperone function, and therapeutic efficacy of the peptide. To eliminate the toxicity of amyloid fibrils formed by larger peptides and proteins, we used the minimum number of amino acids capable of forming amyloid fibrils. Peptides composed of six amino acids that form amyloid fibrils were shown to have chaperone activity and were therapeutic in EAE. RESULTS: The levels of IL-6, IL-2, TNF alpha, and IFN gamma were all decreased following treatment with the hexapeptide tau 623-628. We also show that tau 623-628 induces type I interferon (IFN), which is a treatment in MS and indicates a distinct effect not seen in HspB5 treatment. Tau 623-628 was therapeutic in Th1 adoptively transferred EAE, but ineffective in Th17 adoptively transferred EAE, which corresponds with the observation that type I IFN is beneficial in Th1 EAE, but not in Th17 EAE (Axtell et al., Nat Med 2010; 16: 406-412). Amylin 28-33, a polar, non-ionizable peptide, induces very low levels of type I IFN and is therapeutic in Th17 EAE, indicating other immune pathways play a role in amelioration of EAE. CONCLUSIONS: The mode of action of the amyloid-forming hexapeptides is similar to HspB5 in its capacity to bind pro-inflammatory proteins in the plasma, which could have pleiotropic effects including the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the amyloidogenic peptides also modulate diverse immunological pathways, which can differ based upon the composition of the hexapeptides. Disclosure: Dr. Kurnellas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rothbard has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schartner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Steinman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, MedImmune, Sanofi-Aventis, and Bayer.
An Alternative Strategy For Building Sales Of Computers: Generic Advertising

Frequent upgrading and aggressive price-cutting have become standard practice in the computer sector. While necessitated in part by declining production costs and a highly competitive market, these strategies have also served to make computers more affordable, growing the size of the overall market. Recently downturns in the sales of computers motivate us to examine the impact of these strategies on overall sales growth. We find evidence to suggest that excessive upgrading and overly aggressive price-cutting can be detrimental to overall sales growth. We also find that the computer sector exhibits characteristics that suggest that generic advertising would be an effective mechanism to enhance overall sales growth.
Education matures to the undergraduate level

tempted to assess the profession's manpower needs, they have depended on the concept of supply and demand. They have simply asked how many jobs are now available for social workers and have compared this with how many social workers there are. If slightly more sophisticated, they have asked employing agencies to predict how many social workers might be needed in five or ten years. This approach is simplistic be cause it ignores the realities of the situation, the social and economic forces that affect
Two-way Antagonistic Shape Actuation Based on the One-way Shape Memory Effect

The stress created by the austenite transformation of mechanically constrained NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) significantly exceeds that required to deform (detwin) its low temperature martensitic phase. The one-way shape memory effect can therefore be used to create antagonistic, fully reversible flexural shape morphing structures by assembling opposing pairs of linear contractile SMA actuators. These structures possess two distinct inactive configurations, neither of which requires continuous power for shape retention making them potentially suitable for long-term applications. Here, the shape changes of a representative antagonistic flexural unit cell have been experimentally evaluated, and the effect of the pre-strain of near equiatomic NiTi alloys on the actuation strain has been analyzed and discussed. The predicted deformations are then successfully compared to the response of prototype actuators.
SU-E-I-53: Variation in Measurements of Breast Skin Thickness Obtained Using Different Imaging Modalities

Purpose: To investigate variation in measurements of breast skin thickness obtained using different imaging modalities, including mammography, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Breast skin thicknesses as measured by mammography, CT, ultrasound, and MRI were compared. Mammographic measurements of skin thickness were obtained from published studies that utilized standard positioning (upright) and compression. CT measurements of skin thickness were obtained from a published study of a prototype breast CT scanner in which the women were in the prone position and the breast was uncompressed. Dermatological ultrasound exams of the breast skin were conducted at our institution, with the subjects in the upright position and the breast uncompressed. Breast skin thickness was calculated from breast MRI exams at our institution, with the patient in the prone position and the breast uncompressed. Results: T tests for independent samples demonstrated significant differences in the mean breast skin thickness as measured by different imaging modalities. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences in breast skin thickness across different quadrants of the breast for some modalities. Conclusion: The measurement of breast skin thickness is significantly different across different imaging modalities. Differences in the amount of compression and differences in patient positioning are possible reasons why measurements of breast skin thickness vary by modality.
Does Postmenopausal Estrogen Replacement Therapy Reduce Lens Opacities

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal estrogen use affects many organ systems. It's impact on the development of cataracts is unclear. PURPOSE: To examine whether postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy is associated with the occurrence of lens opacities, a precursor to cataract formation. METHODS: 553 women, aged 66 to 93 years, participated in the Framingham Eye Study (1986 to 1989) and had menopausal and lifetime estrogen use data available from Framingham Study biennial exams conducted from 1948 to 1990. Lens opacities were determined by two certified examiners who evaluated lens status by means of dilated pupils and the use of a standardized grading system. The presence or absence of a lens opacity and the anatomical location of the lens opacity (nuclear, cortical, posterior-subcapsular) were recorded. Multivariate logisitic regression adjusting for potential confounders including age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, smoking was used to evaluate the association between estrogen use and lens opacity. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, use of postmenopausal estrogens for ≥10 years was inversely associated with the presence of all types of lens opacities (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2, 1.0). Women who had used estrogen for ≥10 years had a 60% reduction in risk of nuclear lens opacities compared with non-users (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2, 0.9). An association of borderline statistical significance was seen for longer duration estrogen use and fewer posterior subcapsular opacities (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–1.0), and no association between estrogen therapy and cortical opacities was observed. Age of menopause, comparing early (age 23–44) and late (greater than age 54 years) to normal (age 45 to 53 years) was not associated with any type of lens opacities nor was type of menopause (natural compared to surgical). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that long term estrogen use was associated with a reduction in overall, nuclear and posterior-subcapsular lens opacities; thereby suggesting that estrogen may be protective in cataract formation.
Statistical Treatment of Stability Data

AbstractThe establishment of the expiration date of pharmaceutical product through the statistical treatment of stability data is discussed in detail for both the stability studies under normal storage conditions and accelerated storage conditions.
Designing Effective Nutrition Interventions for Adolescents

By altering dietary behaviors, nutrition interventions during adolescence have the potential of affecting children at that time and later in life. The majority of interventions implemented in the teen years have occurred in schools, but other intervention sites have included after-school programs, summer camps, community centers, libraries, and grocery stores. Programs with successful outcomes have tended to be behaviorally based, using theories for the developmental framework; included an environmental component; delivered an adequate number of lessons; and emphasized developmentally appropriate strategies. One planning method that can be used in the development of nutrition interventions is Intervention Mapping. The steps of Intervention Mapping include conducting a needs assessment, developing proximal program objectives, mapping appropriate strategies and methods to address the objectives, planning the program design, planning program adoption and implementation, and evaluation. The use of intervention-planning techniques, coordination of nutrition and physical education interventions, using technological advances such as CD-ROMs, incorporation of policy changes into intervention efforts, and dissemination of effective programs are all trends that will influence the future development of effective nutrition programs for adolescents.
Time-resolved spectral-line-filtered velocimetry

Measurements were obtained with a velocimeter that simultaneously illuminates the particulate in a flow with argon and He–Ne lasers and the scattered light is passed through a carefully controlled iodine filter. The iodine cell absorbs the argon emission at a rate proportional to the velocity of the scattering particle, while the absorption of scattered He–Ne light is independent of velocity. A tunable acousto-optic filter is used to multiplex the argon and He–Ne signals collected from a single photodetector. The problem of detector alignment in conventional Doppler global velocimetry is thus avoided. Experimental results on a scattering disk and an axisymmetric jet are presented and compared with laser Doppler anemometry measurements.
Mutagenicity of thioxanthenes (hycanthone, lucanthone and four indazole derivatives) at the TK locus in cultured mammalian cells.

Summary Hycanthone methanesulfonate-a highly efficacious antischistosomal drug—has previously been shown to induce forward mutations at the thymidine kinase (TK) locus in cultured L5178Y mouse lymphoma heterozygote (TK +/− ) cells. It is also mutagenic in microorganisms, in Drosophila, and in rats but not in mice. In this study a number of structural analogs of hycanthone have been examined in the TK heterozygote system in order to relate structural modifications to mutagenic and toxic events. Mutagenicity as a function of molar concentration varies extensively and sometimes in a quite complex manner among the analogs tested. Thus, to cite extremes, the 6-chloro indazole derivative of lucanthone, IA-3, is nearly non-mutagenic at concentrations resulting in up to 90% inhibition of growth, while the corresponding des-chloro indazole derivative, IA-5, is between 10- and 100-fold more mutagenic than IA-3. Further, the dose-mutagenic response curves of IA-5, IA-6 (the des-chloro indazole derivative of hycanthone) and, to a lesser extent, of lucanthone and hycanthone exhibit at low concentrations a dose-dependent increase in mutagenicity, peaking at 20–50 μ M ; this portion of the curve is followed by an intermediate concentration range over which mutagenic response decreases with increasing concentration. Finally, at high concentrations the mutagenic response again increases with concentration or levels off. These complex mutagenic responses are mirrored by the dose-toxicity curves which show a minimum survival at concentrations yielding mutagenicity maxima and increased survivals where mutagenicity is low.
Abstract spatial reasoning as an autistic strength.

Autistic individuals typically excel on spatial tests that measure abstract reasoning, such as the Block Design subtest on intelligence test batteries and the Raven’s Progressive Matrices nonverbal test of intelligence. Such well-replicated findings suggest that abstract spatial processing is a relative and perhaps absolute strength of autistic individuals. However, previous studies have not systematically varied reasoning level – concrete vs. abstract – and test domain – spatial vs. numerical vs. verbal, which the current study did. Autistic participants (N = 72) and non-autistic participants (N = 72) completed a battery of 12 tests that varied by reasoning level (concrete vs. abstract) and domain (spatial vs. numerical vs. verbal). Autistic participants outperformed non-autistic participants on abstract spatial tests. Non-autistic participants did not outperform autistic participants on any of the three domains (spatial, numerical, and verbal) or at either of the two reasoning levels (concrete and abstract), suggesting similarity in abilities between autistic and non-autistic individuals, with abstract spatial reasoning as an autistic strength.
Dye incorporation to enhance the laser ablation of standard and reduced-modulus bone cements.

Laser ablation of acrylic bone cement is an alternative method of cement removal that can be used during revision arthroplasty of cemented implants. This study investigated the feasibility of using a continuous-wave Argon ion laser (wavelength = 514 nm) with the addition of methylene blue or red dye no. 13 to enhance the ablation of two types of bone cements: polymethylmethacrylate and polybutylmethylmethacrylate. Six cement/dye combinations were studied while power (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 W) and exposure times (30, 45, 60, and 90 seconds) were varied. The Argon laser was unable to ablafre undyed polymethylmethacrylate or polybutylmethylmethacrylate. However, ablation was shown for both cements with either dye. The red dye had a stronger absorption peak at 514 nm than did the blue dye. Statistically larger ablation areas were seen for red polymethylmethacrylate than for blue polymethylmethacrylate (p < 0.013) at all levels tested. Ablation areas were larger in red than in blue polybutylmethylmethacrylate cement. Blue polybutylmethylmethacrylate cement produced larger ablation areas than did blue polymethylmethacrylate cements at all energy levels tested, with smaller surrounding damage areas. Red polybutylmethylmethacrylate cement also produced larger ablation areas than did red polymethylmethacrylate cement (at 0.75 and 1.0 W), again with smaller damage areas. Damage zones were smallest in red polybutylmethylmethacrylate cements at all test levels. These results suggest that, by using dyes to selectively alter the absorption characteristics of bone cement, laser ablation can be an effective method for cement removal. Changes in the chemical structure of the cement can also influence the response to laser treatment. Furthermore, the absorption spectra of the bone cement can be altered to maximize energy absorption at a wavelength that is not absorbed by bone tissue; this potentially minimizes damage to bone during revision surgery.
Observation of EHO in NSTX and theoretical study of its active control using HHFW antenna

Two important topics for tokamak edge-localized modes (ELM) control, based on non-axisymmetric (3D) magnetic perturbations, are studied in NSTX and combined envisioning ELM control in the future NSTX-U operation: experimental observations of the edge harmonic oscillation (EHO) in NSTX (with lower frequency than EHOs in DIII-D and elsewhere), and theoretical study of its external drive using the high-harmonic fast wave (HHFW) antenna as a 3D field coil. EHOs were observed particularly clearly in NSTX ELM-free operation with very low n core modes. A number of diagnostics have confirmed n?=?4?6 edge-localized and coherent oscillations in the 2?8?kHz frequency range. These oscillations seem to have a favoured operational window in rotational shear, similar to EHOs in DIII-D quiescent H modes. However, in NSTX, they are not observed to provide significant particle or impurity transport, possibly due to their weak amplitudes, of a few mm displacements, as measured by reflectometry. The external drive of these modes has been proposed in NSTX, by utilizing audio-frequency currents in the HHFW antenna straps. Analysis shows that the HHFW straps can be optimized to maximize n?=?4?6 while minimizing n?=?1?3. Also, ideal perturbed equilibrium code calculations show that the optimized configuration with only 1?kAt current can produce comparable or larger displacements than the observed internal modes. Thus it may be possible to use externally driven EHOs to relax the edge pressure gradient and control ELMs in NSTX-U and future devices. Fine and external control over the edge pressure gradient would be a very valuable tool for tokamak control.
Engineering analysis of ex vivo retroviral transduction system.

The overall dynamics of the retrovirus-cell encounter under a static retroviral transduction system can be described in terms of the process of uptake (adsorption/internalization), decay, and diffusion. In this study, a mathematical model illustrating these processes was derived assuming a semi-infinite domain and solved analytically using the Laplace transform. The closed-form solutions for retroviral concentrations and time course profile of transduced cell colonies are presented to clarify the contributions of the processes involved in the retroviral transduction system. To manifest the usefulness of the closed-form solutions, the neomycin-resistant gene encoding retroviruses produced by two different packaging cells (human 293 cells and murine GP+E86/LNCX cells) were employed to transduce NIH 3T3 cells, which formed neomycin-resistant colonies after G418 selection. The experimental results were curve fitted with the model-derived analytical solutions to quantitatively determine transduction rate constant k and initial concentration of infectious retrovirus C0. Our study showed that the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein pseudotyped retrovirus produced from 293 packaging cells exhibited much higher transduction rate (k=0.0480cm/h} than the ecotropic retrovirus (k=0.0102 cm/h) produced from GP+E86/LNCX cells. The fitted values of C0 are approximately two orders of magnitude higher than the experimentally estimated titers for both retroviruses. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8717Jj, 8718Ed, 8716Sr