cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micropatterned Surfaces for the Study of Cancer and Endothelial Cell Interactions with Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix. Studies have shown that various cancers exhibit high levels of HA content, and that an increased amount of HA corresponds to poor patient prognosis. HA has been implicated in cellular interactions that are associated with cancer progression, including cell adhesion, motility, and differentiation. Micropatterned functional HA surfaces were developed to study interactions between cancer cells and HA. The adhesion and migration of cancer cells representing different stages of tumorigenesis were examined. A similar surface patterning approach was used to create HA regions next to fibronectin in two- and three-dimensional settings to visualize and study the interactions between cancer and endothelial cells. The ability to observe the dynamic interactions of cancer cells and angiogenesis within a HA-rich microenvironment will improve the fundamental understanding of cancer progression and contribute to the development of advanced therapeutic targets.
Antinociceptive effects of melatonin in a rat model of post-inflammatory visceral hyperalgesia: a centrally mediated process.

Previous reports suggest that melatonin may play an important role in visceral nociception and neurogenic inflammation. We aimed to examine the role of melatonin on visceral hypersensitivity and to explore the site of action using a rat model of post-inflammatory visceral hyperalgesia. In all rats, a baseline viscero-motor response (VMR) to graded colorectal distension (CRD; 10-60mmHg) was recorded prior and 1 week following tri-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) induced colonic inflammation. Melatonin (30, 45 or 60mg/kg, ip) was given 20min before testing the VMR in naive and TNBS-treated rats. Extracellular single-unit recordings were made from CRD-sensitive pelvic nerve afferent (PNA) fibers and lumbosacral (LS) spinal neurons in TNBS-treated animals. The effect of melatonin (60mg/kg) was examined on responses of PNAs and spinal neurons to graded CRD. In separate experiments, luzindole (non-specific MT(1)/MT(2) receptor antagonist) or naltrexone (non-specific opiod receptor antagonist) was injected prior to melatonin. Following TNBS, there was a significant increase in the VMR to CRD compared to baseline. This increase was attenuated by melatonin (60mg/kg) at pressures >20mmHg. The same dose of melatonin had no effect on the VMR in naive animals. In TNBS-treated rats, melatonin significantly attenuated the responses of CRD-sensitive spinal neurons to CRD, but had no effect in spinal transected rats or PNA fibers. Both luzindole and naltrexone blocked melatonin's effect on the VMR and LS spinal neurons. Results indicate melatonin's antinociceptive effects are not via a peripheral site of action but rather a supra-spinal process linked to the central opioidergic system.
Hazardous alcohol consumption among young adult IDU and its association with high risk behaviors

Background Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with risk-taking behaviors in intravenous drug users (IDU). However, limited information exists on the relationship between alcohol use and injecting and sexual risk in young adult IDU (<30 years) who are at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection.
Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the ant-garden ant, Crematogaster levior (Forel)

Throughout Amazonia, the ant Crematogaster levior is known for its participation in a complex ant-garden mutualism with the ant Camponotus femoratus and several species of epiphytic plants for which it plays an important role in seed viability. We isolated nine polymorphic microsatellite loci for C. levior from a genomic library enriched for di-, tri-, and tetra-nucleotide repeats. Two to 14 alleles were detected per locus, with levels of observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.103 to 0.785.
Sources and transformations of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the Neponset River Watershed

[1] The major source of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in coastal waters is often terrestrial dissolved organic matter originating in coastal watersheds and delivered to the ocean by rivers or streams. While studies of carbon cycling in large rivers dominate the literature, small rivers deliver the bulk of the freshwater to coastal waters (∼60%). However, the variability of organic matter fluxes in small rivers requires high spatial and temporal resolution measurements to adequately represent the processes controlling distributions and fluxes. In this study, CDOM was measured monthly for 2 years at 15 sampling sites throughout a small, coastal, urban watershed (∼300 km2), the Neponset River Watershed, and CDOM variability was found to depend on land use type, discharge/precipitation, and growing degree days (temperature). Forest, wetland, residential, industrial, and golf course CDOM end-members were measured and differentiated using CDOM fluorescence, CDOM absorbance, absorbance slopes, total organic carbon and total nitrogen, and photo- and biological lability. Simple statistical models of CDOM end-member behavior could explain 40–70% of the observed seasonal variability. Using these simple relationships, trends in total CDOM loading behavior can be predicted under various scenarios of land use change and global warming. Overall, detailed measurements of CDOM throughout the Neponset River Watershed yield new insights into the watershed processes that affect terrestrial CDOM delivery to coastal oceans.
The role of the second Painlevé transcendent in nonlinear optics

Abstract A transformation of the complex amplitude of the propagating electric field in an optical fiber shows a family of exact nonstationary solutions to the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. These solutions take the form of the second Painleve transcendent. In the case of normal group velocity dispersion (dark solitons), bounded solutions exist only over a finite range of the ratio of the nonlinearity to dispersion.
Oxygen uptake and nitrogenous excretion rates during overwinter degrowth conditions in the pulmonate snail, Helisoma trivolvis

Abstract 1. 1. Unfed snails have oxygen uptake rates 45–55% lower than fed snails and, after 124 days starvation, unfed snails have NH3 excretion rates 67% lower than fed. 2. 2. In starved snails nonprotein carbon supplied 74–83% of total catabolic needs (which was 39–54% of fed snails total) during 124 days, while in fed snails it supplied 91–95%. 3. 3. Tissue degrowth provided approximately 26 and 18%, of the carbon catabolized by unfed and fed snails, respectively. 4. 4. Controlled differential catabolism of protein resources during degrowth is related to the actuarial bioenergetics of reproduction.
Electrochecmical biosensors for DNA sequence detection

A review of reported biosensors for the sequence-selective detection of analyte DNA sequences shows that signal transduction based on electrogenerated chemiluminescence, potentiometry and voltammetry are all capable of detecting analyte DNA at attomole levels. In contrast, optical and piezoelectric transducers detect DNA at picomole and femtomole levels, respectively. The principles and applications of these promising electrochemical DNA biosensors are described and discussed.
What happens where

The explosion of geo-tagged images taken from mobile devices around the world is visually capturing life at amazingly high spatial-, temporal-, and semantic-density. In places like cities, which cover only 3% of the Earth's landmass, yet account for 50% of the world's population, the density of photos averages one photo per every 18 square meters per year. In densely populated cities like New York City, London, Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo the number reaches up to 40 photos. What this means is that computers are able to learn from photos not only what is where - in terms of fixed and persistent objects like landmarks and buildings, but what happens where - in terms of dynamic and transient activities and events. The key idea is to combine semantic concept modeling of photos with geo-spatio-temporal localization to perform {it geo-semantic modeling. In this talk, we describe how different semantic activities and events can be defined using a geo-semantic ontology and used to create geo-semantic probability maps of what happens where from photos. We describe how this provides a powerful capability to learn visually from historical geo-tagged photos things like: "where is a good place to go fishing," "when and where are the street fairs in a location," "where is good vantage spot for the yearly fireworks show," or even "where to meet people with particular fashion or style."
Variation for yield, water-use efficiency, and canopy morphology among nine alfalfa germplasms

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production under irrigated and rainfed conditions may benefit from improvements in water-use efficiency (WUE), the amount of forage and root biomass produced per unit of water transpired. If benefits from improved WUE are to be realized, correlations between important agronomic traits and key physiological traits associated with WUE must be determined. This study characterized variation for dry matter yield, forage maturity, leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR), carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), canopy temperature, ash content, and specific leaf mass (SLM) in alfalfa Associations between traits were also determined. Nine alfalfa germplasms representing eight of the nine historical genetic diversity groups, and a very fall-dormant (VFD) population, were established in seeded, irrigated plots for 2 yr near Las Cruces, NM. Significant variation (P ≤ 0.10) was detected for all traits and was greatest for Δ and maturity, intermediate for yield, canopy temperature, ash content, and LSR, and least for SLM. The African, Peruvian, and Indian germplasms exhibited a higher Δ than either the Turkistan, VFD, M. varia Martyn., or Ladak germplasms. Carbon isotope discrimination was positively correlated with forage yield (r = 0.64; P ≤ 0.10; n = 9) and forage maturity (r = 0.66; P ≤ 0.05; n = 9). No association was detected between Δ and either canopy temperature, ash content, SLM, or LSR. The results indicate that differences in stomatal conductance or photosynthetic capacity exist among the nine populations, and that germplasms with low Δ tended to have slower growth and development rates under irrigated conditions. Neither canopy temperature, ash content, nor SLM provided suitable alternate measurements of Δ among the nine alfalfa germplasms.
Wide-band On-chip Four-Wave Mixing via Coupled Cavity Dispersion Compensation

We demonstrate a dual-cavity resonant structure that employs frequency splitting at one of three resonances to structurally compensate dispersion. We show seeded four-wave mixing across the largest free spectral range to our knowledge of 26nm.
Characterization of vertebrate collagenase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography using a synthetic substrate.

Abstract The hydrolysis of the model collagenase substrate, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-Pro-Gln-Gly-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gln- d -Arg by partially purified tadpole back-skin collagenase was monitored by separation of the substrate peptide from the product peptides 2,4-dinitrophenyl-Pro-Gln-Gly and Ile-Ala-Gly-Gln- d -Arg by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The method provides a sensitive, relatively rapid means of determination of collagenase activity using purified enzyme samples. It is not by itself, however, suitable for use with impure systems since the tissue culture medium from tadpole back skin was found to contain at least three peptidases which could be separated by gel filtration and which showed identical high-performance liquid chromatographic elution profiles using the octapeptide model substrate, but only one of which cleaved triple helical collagen.
Reactive microglia drive tau pathology and contribute to the spreading of pathological tau in the brain

Pathological aggregation of tau is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. We have previously shown that the deficiency of the microglial fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) led to the acceleration of tau pathology and memory impairment in an hTau mouse model of tauopathy. Here, we show that microglia drive tau pathology in a cell-autonomous manner. First, tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation occur as early as 2 months of age in hTauCx3cr1(-/-) mice. Second, CD45(+) microglial activation correlates with the spatial memory deficit and spread of tau pathology in the anatomically connected regions of the hippocampus. Third, adoptive transfer of purified microglia derived from hTauCx3cr1(-/-) mice induces tau hyperphosphorylation within the brains of non-transgenic recipient mice. Finally, inclusion of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (Kineret®) in the adoptive transfer inoculum significantly reduces microglia-induced tau pathology. Together, our results suggest that reactive microglia are sufficient to drive tau pathology and correlate with the spread of pathological tau in the brain.
The Relation Between Masculine Role Conflict and Psychological Distress in Male University Counseling Center Clients

This is the first study to examine the relations between components of masculine gender role conflict and specific symptoms of psychological distress in a sample of men seeking counseling services. One hundred and thirty male clients from 2 university counseling centers completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Participants reported moderate to high levels of psychological symptoms, which were correlated with components of masculine role conflict. Results of simultaneous multiple regressions supported previous findings in nonclinical samples of relations between masculine role conflict and depression and interpersonal issues. In addition, masculine role conflict significantly predicted paranoia, psychoticism, and obsessive compulsivity. Implications for counseling and future research are discussed.
Twin n-Point Boundary Value Problems

Abstract We establish the existence of positive solutions to twin time-scale problems given by the dynamicequation − u Δ ∇ ( t ) = η a ( t ) f ( u ( t ) ) , t ∈ ( t 1 , t n ) ⊂ T , , with boundary conditions u ( t 1 ) = ∑ i = 2 n − 1 α i u ( t i ) , u Δ ( t n ) = 0 , or u Δ ( t 1 ) = 0 , u ( t n ) = ∑ i = 2 n - 1 α i u ( t i ) , using a functional-type cone expansion-compression fixed-point theorem.
How older and younger adults differ in their approach to problem solving on a complex website

Older adults differ from younger ones in the ways they experience the World Wide Web. For example, they tend to move from page to page more slowly, take more time to complete tasks, make more repeated visits to pages, and take more time to select link targets than their younger counterparts. These differences are consistent with the physical and cognitive declines associated with aging. The picture that emerges has older adults doing the same sorts of things with websites as younger adults, although less efficiently, less accurately and more slowly. This paper questions that view. We present new findings that show that, to accomplish their purposes, older adults may systematically undertake different activities and use different parts of websites than younger adults. We examined how a group of adults 18 to 73 years of age moved through a complex website seeking to solve a specific problem. We found that the users exhibited strong age--related tendencies to follow particular paths and visit particular zones while in pursuit of a common goal. We also assessed how experience with the web may mediate these tendencies. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the implications of the finding that users' characteristics not only affect how they navigate but what activities they undertake along the way.
Preparation and Mechanical Properties of a Novel Biomedical Magnesium-Based Scaffold

Magnesium has been recently recognized as a biodegradable metal for bone substitute applications. In the present work, a novel magnesium based scaffold with a specific two-layer structure was prepared for powder metallurgical process. The outer layer of the scaffold shows an interconnected porous structure, so that the fresh fluid can be easily sent into the material, allowing the ingrowth of new bone tissue. The inner compact structure reinforced by the salt particles can increase the strength of the material. Structural characterizations and mechanical tests of the materials demonstrate that the structural and mechanical properties of the magnesium-based scaffold with an appropriate salt content prepared by the current method are quite comparable to those of cancellous bone. Therefore, the magnesium-based scaffold with such a two-layer structure has the potential to serve as degradable implants for bone substitute applications.
A Muscle-Reflex Model That Encodes Principles of Legged Mechanics Produces Human Walking Dynamics and Muscle Activities

While neuroscientists identify increasingly complex neural circuits that control animal and human gait, biomechanists find that locomotion requires little control if principles of legged mechanics are heeded that shape and exploit the dynamics of legged systems. Here, we show that muscle reflexes could be vital to link these two observations. We develop a model of human locomotion that is controlled by muscle reflexes which encode principles of legged mechanics. Equipped with this reflex control, we find this model to stabilize into a walking gait from its dynamic interplay with the ground, reproduce human walking dynamics and leg kinematics, tolerate ground disturbances, and adapt to slopes without parameter interventions. In addition, we find this model to predict some individual muscle activation patterns known from walking experiments. The results suggest not only that the interplay between mechanics and motor control is essential to human locomotion, but also that human motor output could for some muscles be dominated by neural circuits that encode principles of legged mechanics.
A psychobiological framework of the substrates that mediate nicotine use during adolescence

Adolescents are especially likely to initiate tobacco use and are more vulnerable to long-term nicotine dependence. A unifying hypothesis is proposed based largely on animals studies that adolescents, as compared to adults, experience enhanced short-term positive and reduced aversive effects of nicotine, as well as less negative effects during nicotine withdrawal. Thus, during adolescence the strong positive effects of nicotine are inadequately balanced by negative effects that contribute to nicotine dependence in adults. This review provides a neural framework to explain developmental differences within the mesolimbic pathway based on the established role of dopamine in addiction. This pathway originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and terminates in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) where dopamine is increased by nicotine but decreased during withdrawal. During adolescence, excitatory glutamatergic systems that facilitate dopamine are overdeveloped, whereas inhibitory GABAergic systems are underdeveloped. Thus, it is hypothesized that adolescents display enhanced nicotine reward and reduced withdrawal via enhanced excitation and reduced inhibition of VTA cell bodies that release dopamine in the NAcc. Although this framework focuses on adolescents and adults, it may also apply to the understanding of enhanced vulnerability to nicotine in adults that were previously exposed to nicotine during adolescence. The hypothesis presented in this review suggests that the clinical diagnostic criteria developed for nicotine dependence in adults, based primarily on withdrawal, may be inappropriate during adolescence when nicotine withdrawal does not appear to play a major role in nicotine use. Furthermore, treatment strategies involving nicotine replacement may be harmful for adolescents because it may cause enhanced vulnerability to nicotine dependence later in adulthood.
Rural School Principals' Perception of the School Counselor's Role

Responding to the lack of clarity related to the defined role of the school counselor, the authors investigated school principals (n = 538), in a rural Midwest state, and their perceptions of the role of the school counselor. The survey utilized was developed based on professional standards of service delivery for professional school counselors as identified by the American School Counselor Association and a listing of identified appropriate and inappropriate school counselor tasks. Results indicate that school principals see responsive service provision as an essential task of the school counselor. School principals also perceive a number of ASCA identified inappropriate tasks as being important. Recommendations are made to further enhance school principals' understanding of the appropriate role of the school counselor.
Leukemoid reaction and autocrine growth of bladder cancer induced by paraneoplastic production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor – a potential neoplastic marker: a case report and review of the literature

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor produced by nonhematopoietic malignant cells is able to induce a leukemoid reaction by excessive stimulation of leukocyte production. Expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and its functional receptors have been confirmed in bladder cancer cells. In vitro studies have demonstrated that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor/receptor exhibits a high affinity binding and this biological axis increases proliferation of the carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is rarely associated with a leukemoid reaction and autocrine growth induced by paraneoplastic production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. In the world literature, there have been less than 35 cases reported in the last 35 years. The clinicopathological aspects, biology, prognosis and management of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-secreting bladder cancers are poorly understood. A 39-year-old Caucasian woman with an invasive high-grade urothelial carcinoma presented with hematuria and low-grade fevers. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated white blood cell count and absolute neutrophil count and an elevated 24-hour urine protein. Upon further evaluation she was found to have locally advanced high-grade urothelial carcinoma without nodal or distant metastasis. Her serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor level was 10 times the normal limit. This led to the diagnosis of a paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction. Her white blood cell count immediately normalized after cystectomy but increased in concordance with recurrence of her disease. Unfortunately, she rapidly progressed and expired within 10 months from the time of first diagnosis. This is one of the few cases reported that illustrates the existence of a distinct and highly aggressive subtype of bladder cancer which secretes granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Patients presenting with a leukemoid reaction should be tested for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor/receptor biological axis. Moreover, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor could be a potential neoplastic marker as it can follow the clinical course of the underlying tumor and thus be useful for monitoring its evolution. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be considered in these patients due to the aggressive nature of these tumors. With a better understanding of the biology, this autocrine growth signal could be a potential target for therapy in future.
Black bears (Ursus americanus) as a novel potential predator of Agassiz’s desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) at a California wind energy facility

Jeffrey E. Lovich,* David Delaney, Jessica Briggs, Mickey Agha, Meaghan Austin, and Jason Reese U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, 2255 North Gemini Drive, MS-9394, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, USA U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826-9005, USA Colorado State University, Warner College of Natural Resources, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry, Lexington, KY 40546
Diffuse aneurysmal disease (chronic aortic dissection, Marfan, and mega aorta syndromes) and multiple aneurysm. Treatment by subtotal and total aortic replacement emphasizing the elephant trunk operation.

The life expectancy of patients with aortic aneurysm is significantly prolonged by graft replacement therapy. Regardless, a significant predictor of late death is complications of either residual aortic aneurysmal disease or the development of additional aortic aneurysm. This paper reviews a personal experience in the treatment of 4170 patients with aneurysmal disease of either dissection or medial degenerative origin, indicating that multiple segment involvement was or became present in 1262 (30%) patients, 463 (67%) of 694 patients with dissection, and 799 (23%) of 3476 patients without dissection. Regardless of etiology, multiple involvement varied with the location of the presenting involved segment, i.e., ascending aorta (38%), ascending and arch (70%), descending thoracic aorta (73%), and abdominal aorta (26%). This study was limited in detail to 811 patients who had ascending and ascending and aortic arch replacement for aneurysm. These patients were divided into 3 subgroups: (1) 524 patients with no distal disease; (2) 135 patients with distal disease treated by subtotal replacement in 82 and total replacement in 53; and (3) 152 patients with distal disease not treated. The 5-year survival rate from the time of first operation, including early death from operation was 75% in group 1, 65% in group 2, and 39% in group 3. The causes of death in group 3 patients were aneurysmal rupture and/or associated disease. It is concluded that initial total aortic study and regular postoperative monitoring with computed tomographic scanning is indicated to detect extensive disease or recurrence of disease and that aggressive replacement is indicated except in patients with associated disease that does not permit operation.
A twisted-bundle layout structure for minimizing inductive coupling noise

In this paper, we propose a novel twisted-bundle layout structure for minimizing inductive coupling noise. In this structure, we create several routing regions and re-order the routing of nets in each of these routing regions. The purpose is to create complementary and opposite current loops in the twisted-bundle layout structure, such that the magnetic fluxes arising from any signal net within a twisted group cancel each other in the current loop of a net of interest. The effectiveness of the twisted-bundle structure in minimizing coupling inductance has been verified by the application of FastHenry extraction on a 16-bit bus structure. We achieve about two orders of magnitude reduction in inductive coupling. SPICE simulations also show that the 16-bit twisted-bundle bus structure is able to maintain high signal integrity at high frequency of operation.
Testability features of the MC68332 modular microcontroller

The MC68332 is a high-performance 32-b microcontroller with reusable macromodules attached to a backplanelike internal bus. The macromodules include a 68020-like CPU, a microprogrammable 16-channel timer, a 2-kbyte static RAM module, a two-channel serial communications module, and a system integration module. The chip includes ad-hoc testability features, including built-in self-test of large regular structures and CPU-independent modular test patterns. >
Emission Line Properties of Active Galactic Nuclei from a Post-COSTAR Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph Spectral Atlas

We present consistent emission-line measurements for active galactic nuclei (AGNs), useful for reliable statistical studies of emission line properties. This paper joins a series including similar measurements of 993 spectra from the Large Bright Quasar Survey and 174 spectra of AGNs obtained from the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) prior to the installation of COSTAR. This time we concentrate on 220 spectra obtained with the FOS after the installation of COSTAR, completing the emission line analysis of all FOS archival spectra. We use the same automated technique as in previous papers, which accounts for Galactic extinction, models blended optical and UV iron emission, includes Galactic and intrinsic absorption lines, and models emission lines using multiple Gaussians. We present UV and optical emission line parameters (equivalent widths, fluxes, FWHM, and line positions) for a large number (28) of emission lines including upper limits for undetected lines. Further scientific analyses will be presented in subsequent papers.
DNA Repair Pathway Gene Expression Score Correlates with Repair Proficiency and Tumor Sensitivity to Chemotherapy

Mutagenesis is a hallmark of malignancy, and many oncologic treatments function by generating additional DNA damage. Therefore, DNA damage repair is centrally important in both carcinogenesis and cancer treatment. Homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining are alternative pathways of double-strand DNA break repair. We developed a method to quantify the efficiency of DNA repair pathways in the context of cancer therapy. The recombination proficiency score (RPS) is based on the expression levels for four genes involved in DNA repair pathway preference (Rif1, PARI, RAD51, and Ku80), such that high expression of these genes yields a low RPS. Carcinoma cells with low RPS exhibit HR suppression and frequent DNA copy number alterations, which are characteristic of error-prone repair processes that arise in HR-deficient backgrounds. The RPS system was clinically validated in patients with breast or non–small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). Tumors with low RPS were associated with greater mutagenesis, adverse clinical features, and inferior patient survival rates, suggesting that HR suppression contributes to the genomic instability that fuels malignant progression. This adverse prognosis associated with low RPS was diminished if NSCLC patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, suggesting that HR suppression and associated sensitivity to platinum-based drugs counteract the adverse prognosis associated with low RPS. Therefore, RPS may help oncologists select which therapies will be effective for individual patients, thereby enabling more personalized care.
Emergency management of pediatric skin and soft tissue infections in the community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus era.

Objectives: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are increasing in incidence, yet there is no consensus regarding management of these infections in the era of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). This study sought to describe current pediatric emergency physician (PEP) management of commonly presenting skin infections. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of subscribers to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Emergency Medicine (AAP SoEM) list-serv. Enrollment occurred via the list-serv over a 3-month period. Vignettes of equivocal SSTI, cellulitis, and skin abscess were presented to participants, and knowledge, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches were assessed. Results: In total, 366 of 606 (60.3%) list-serv members responded. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) duration of practice was 13.6 (±7.9) years, and 88.6% practiced in a pediatric emergency department. Most respondents (72.7%) preferred clinical diagnosis alone for equivocal SSTI, as opposed to invasive or imaging modalities. For outpatient cellulitis, PEPs selected clindamycin (30.6%), trimethoprim-sulfa (27.0%), and first-generation cephalosporins (22.7%); methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) was routinely covered, but many regimens failed to cover CA-MRSA (32.5%) or group A streptococcus (27.0%). For skin abscesses, spontaneous discharge (67.5%) was rated the most important factor in electing to perform a drainage procedure; fever (19.9%) and patient age (13.1%) were the lowest. PEPs elected to prescribe trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-Sx; 50.0%) or clindamycin (32.7%) after drainage; only 5% selected CA-MRSA–inactive agents. All PEPs suspected CA-MRSA as the etiology of skin abscesses, and many attributed sepsis (22.1%) and invasive pneumonia (20.5%) to CA-MRSA, as opposed to MSSA. However, 23.9% remained unaware of local CA-MRSA prevalence for even common infections. Conclusions: Practice variation exists among PEPs for management of SSTI. These results can be used to measure changes in SSTI practices as standardized approaches are delineated. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:187–193 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Adatom Fe(III) on the hematite surface: Observation of a key reactive surface species

The reactivity of a mineral surface is determined by the variety and population of different types of surface sites (e.g., step, kink, adatom, and defect sites). The concept of "adsorbed nutrient" has been built into crystal growth theories, and many other studies of mineral surface reactivity appeal to ill-defined "active sites." Despite their theoretical importance, there has been little direct experimental or analytical investigation of the structure and properties of such species. Here, we use ex-situ and in-situ scanning tunneling microcopy (STM) combined with calculated images based on a resonant tunneling model to show that observed nonperiodic protrusions and depressions on the hematite (001) surface can be explained as Fe in an adsorbed or adatom state occupying sites different from those that result from simple termination of the bulk mineral. The number of such sites varies with sample preparation history, consistent with their removal from the surface in low pH solutions.
Monochromatic imaging studies of sustained metal vapor arcs burning on 150 mm diameter molten iron electrodes

Monochromatic imaging was used to investigate the excited-state density distributions of Fe and Fe/sup +/ in the inter-electrode gap region of a 3,100 A DC metal vapor arc burning between molten iron surfaces in a vacuum arc furnace. Multiple images were acquired at four wavelengths. The images were corrected and Abel inverted to yield the absolute radial intensity distributions for Fe and Fe/sup +/ in the inter-electrode gap region. The results show a structured, axisymmetric plasma consisting of a high density "core" of Fe/sup +/ emitters centered between the electrode surfaces situated against a relatively broad, flat excited-state Fe distribution.
Pyrolysis of Organometallic Precursors As A Route to Novel Ceramic Materials

Homogeneously mixed nanocrystalline composites incorporating SiC, Si3N4, AIN, BN and TiN, and SiC/AIN solid solutions were prepared from mixtures of known precursors to the separate components and specially prepared singlesource precursors. These novel materials are of potential interest as tough, abrasion-resistant coatings, continuous fibers and matrices for high temperature composites and, possibly, superplastic ceramics. Solid state NMR spectroscopy along with other chemical and materials characterization methods have been employed in studies of the precursor-to-ceramic conversion process and the characterization of the final ceramic products. The results of these studies are described and their implications with respect to the relationship between precursor structure, pyrolysis chemistry and the final ceramic composition and microstructure are discussed.
Large-scale (512kbit) integration of multilayer-ready access-devices based on mixed-ionic-electronic-conduction (MIEC) at 100% yield

BEOL-friendly Access Devices (AD) based on Cu-containing MIEC materials [1–4] are integrated in large (512 × 1024) arrays at 100% yield, and are successfully co-integrated together with Phase Change Memory (PCM). Numerous desirable attributes are demonstrated: the large currents (>200µA) needed for PCM, the bipolar operation required for high-performance RRAM, the single-target sputter deposition essential for high-volume manufacturing, and the ultra-low leakage (&#60; 10 pA) and high voltage margin (1.5V) needed to enable large crosspoint arrays.
American Scientists and Calculating Machines - From Novelty to Commonplace

Over the period 1865-1920, individual fascination with new commercial computing devices transformed the reduction of scientific data in the United States. At Columbia University, arithmometers and Brunsviga calculating machines, purchased as novelties, were put to use by astronomers. At the New York Meteorological Observatory, comptometers offered a new way to average large numbers of records. By 1914, calculating machines like the Millionaire were an accepted tool at institutions like the National Bureau of Standards. Surviving artifacts and manuscripts from each of these.
Experimental demonstration of a conformal optical metamaterial absorber

In this paper, we present the first ever experimental demonstration of a conformal optical metamaterial absorber. This metamaterial absorber, composed of a doubly periodic array of stub-loaded H-shaped nanopatches optimized by a genetic algorithm, has two polarization-insensitive and angularly-independent absorption bands at 3.3µm and 3.9µm with absorption larger than 90% up to an angle of incidence of 50°. The metamaterial structure was fabricated and characterized, showing strong agreement with theoretical predictions. Due to the Au ground plane, the performance of this metamaterial absorber is independent of the surface if covers.
Dopamine alleviation of diaphragm contractile dysfunction and reduction of deoxyribonucleic acid damage in rats

Background Weaning difficulties from mechanical ventilation are associated with diaphragm fatigue and reduced respiratory muscle endurance capacity. Often the work of breathing is increased during the weaning process as a result of inspiratory resistance loading (IRL). IRL produces increased free radical formation that contributes to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dopamine reduced nuclei DNA damage when the work of breathing was increased. We hypothesized that the administration of low-dose dopamine (2 μg/kg/min) during IRL decreases myonuclei DNA damage associated with free radical formation. Methods In this in vivo study, 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: (1) the sham group receiving no IRL or no intravenous fluids, (2) IRL with administration intravenous saline, and (3) IRL with intravenous low-dose dopamine (2 μg/kg/min). All rats from the same breed and similar colonies were purchased from one laboratory facility to ensure homogeneity. The animals were anesthetized and tracheotomized, and an ultrasonic sensor was attached to the right hemidiaphragm to measure diaphragm shortening. Diaphragm fatigue was produced by IRL. Dopamine (2 μg/kg/min) was infused intravenously before and during loading. The diaphragms were excised, and myonuclei DNA damage was measured using the fluorescent dyes ethidium bromide and acridine orange and comet analyses as indices of free radical injury. Results In rats receiving saline, diaphragm shortening decreased by 37% after 45 minutes of IRL ( P = .002) compared with baseline. In contrast, rats infused with dopamine exhibited a 31% increase in diaphragm shortening after 45 minutes of IRL ( P = .037). With the use of differential dye uptake, in the saline group 59% of the nuclei were apoptotic, and 18% were necrotic. However, in the dopamine group there was significantly less apoptotic nuclei (16%, P P = .005). Myonuclei DNA damage, measured by comet analyses, was associated with tail length and tail olive moment, which were 37% and 60% greater, respectively, in the saline group than in the dopamine group ( P Conclusion These data support the hypothesis that low-dose dopamine during IRL reduced myonuclei DNA damage as measured by the fluorescent dyes and comet analysis. In addition, diaphragm fatigue was prevented by the administration of dopamine during IRL.
Designing for an acceptable wind environment

The comfort and safety of pedestrians has been neglected by designers because few criteria exist on acceptable wind velocities and it is difficult to predict the climatic characteristics around proposed buildings. Available information on wind effects on pedestrian comfort and safety are summarized. The mechanical effects of wind on comfort are now better understood than the thermal effects of climate. Limiting values of wind speed become the criteria to determine whether a space is comfortable or safe over time, and allow judgments to be made about project acceptability. Microclimatic-prediction techniques are explored, as are procedures for determining the probability of a proposed pedestrain area being uncomfortable or unsafe.
Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum and subcostal transversus abdominis plane blocks

Abdominal field blocks are commonly used for postoperative analgesia in major abdominal surgeries. The original transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is limited in its dermatomal coverage to T10-L1. However, modifications made to the classic TAP block technique can enhance the spread of local anesthetic and provide more effective analgesia. In this article, we describe 2 of such modifications of the classic TAP block, namely quadratus lumborum and subcostal TAP blocks.
On using BPEL extensibility to implement OGSI and WSRF Grid workflows: Research Articles

This paper discusses the benefits and challenges of using BPEL4WS in Grid environments. In particular, we look at how BPEL4WS built-in extensibility can be used to facilitate execution of BPEL-based workflows in OGSI- and WSRF-based Grids. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biochar sorbents for sulfamethoxazole removal from surface water, stormwater, and wastewater effluent

This study examined sorption of the human and veterinary antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at environmentally relevant concentrations from laboratory clean water, surface water, stormwater, and wastewater effluent to wood and wastewater-sludge derived biochars produced under a wide range of conditions. SMX sorption by commercial powdered activated carbon (PAC) was also quantified as a benchmark. Wood-based biochar produced around 850 °C performed similarly to PAC. Biochar sorption capacity increased with surface area up to ∼400 m(2)/g. However, a further increase in surface area did not correspond to an increase in sorption capacity. Sorbent H:C ratios correlated with SMX uptake by PAC and wood-based biochars, but not for the sludge-based biochars. This is possibly due to an indirect influence of the high ash content in sludge-based biochars, as the isolated ash fraction exhibited negligible SMX sorption capacity. The presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the natural and anthropogenic waters fouled most of the sorbents (i.e., decreased SMX uptake). The sludge-based biochars experienced less DOM fouling relative to wood-based biochar, particularly in the wastewater effluent. Biochar and PAC sorption kinetics were similar when examined over a contact time of four-hours, suggesting their performance ranking would be consistent at contact times typically utilized in water treatment systems. In the presence of DOM, SMX relative removal (C/C0) was independent of SMX initial concentration when the initial concentration was below 10 μg/L, thus permitting the relative removal results to be applied for different SMX initial concentrations typical of environmental and anthropogenically impacted waters.
Apneic oxygenation is associated with a reduction in the incidence of hypoxemia during the RSI of patients with intracranial hemorrhage in the emergency department.

Critically ill patients undergoing emergent intubation are at risk of oxygen desaturation during the management of their airway. Patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of hypoxemia. Apneic oxygenation (AP OX) may be able to reduce the occurrence of oxygen desaturation during the emergent intubation of these patients. We sought to assess the effect AP OX on oxygen desaturation during the rapid sequence intubation (RSI) of patients with ICH in the emergency department (ED). We prospectively collected data on all patients intubated in an urban academic ED over the 2-year period from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015. Following each intubation, the operator completed a standardized continuous quality improvement (CQI) data form, which included information on patient, operator and intubation characteristics. Operators recorded data on the use of AP OX, the oxygen flow rate used for AP OX, and the starting and lowest saturations during intubation. Adult patients with ICH who underwent RSI by emergency medicine (EM) residents were included in the analyses. The primary outcome variable was any oxygen saturation <90 % during the intubation. We performed a backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify variables associated with oxygen desaturation. The primary independent variable of interest was the use of AP OX during the intubation. Inclusion criteria for the study was met by 127 patients. AP OX was used in 72 patients (AP OX group) and was not used in 55 patients (NO AP OX group). The incidence of desaturation was 5/72 (7 %) in the AP OX group and was 16/55 (29 %) in the NO AP OX group. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis the use of AP OX was associated with a reduced odds of desaturation (aOR 0.13; 95 % CI 0.03–0.53). Patients with ICH who received AP OX during RSI in the ED were seven times less likely to have an oxygen saturation of <90 % during the intubation compared to patients who did not receive AP OX. AP OX is a simple intervention that may minimize the risk of oxygen desaturation during the RSI of patients with ICH.