cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin in Pork Muscle: Effect of Rinse&Chill Technology on Blood Removal

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to use ion exchange chromatography to measure hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) content in ground and salted pork lean obtained from early post-mortem sow carcasses treated with RinseC balance: glucose, polyphosphates, glycerine, and maltose). Sows were electrically stunned (550 V) prior to exsanguination. Six sows were used as the conventional treatment and 6 sows received the RC process. At 30 to 60 min post-mortem, the Boston butt and picnic shoulder were deboned, ground (9.5 mm diameter plate) and mixed with 1% NaCl (w/w). Samples (∼100 g) were vacuum-packaged and stored at –80°C until analysis. After thawing, samples were frozen with liquid nitrogen and ground into a fine powder for extraction and determination of total heme, Mb, and Hb. Total heme was extracted with acid acetone and determined spectrophotometrically (e₆₄₀nm = 4.80 mM–¹cm–¹). Mb and Hb were extracted with 0.01 M PBS buffer (pH 7.4) and after exchange into a 0.01 M Tris buffer (pH 8.6), the heme pigments were separated by ion exchange chromatography in a diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DE52 resin, 2 g) column. Mb was eluted with 0.05 M Tris buffer (pH 8.0) and Hb with 0.5 M NaCl solution. The amount of Mb and Hb in the corresponding eluates was determined spectrophotometrically (e₄₁₈nm = 125 mM–¹cm–¹ for Mb and e₄₁₄nm = 128 mM–¹cm–¹ for Hb). ESI-MS was used to measure the mass of polypeptides in the Mb and Hb fractions. Total heme, Mb, and Hb content in muscle extracts from the 2 treatments were compared using an unpaired student t test. ResultsESI-MS analysis of the Mb fraction indicated a mass of 16,954 Da which was consistent with the mass of pig Mb without its heme moiety. The Hb fraction had masses of 15,040 and 16,036 Da which was consistent with the mass of the ɑ and β chain of pig Hb, respectively, without their heme moiety. These results indicated that the chromatographic separation was satisfactory. Heme and Mb content in the muscle extracts were statistically similar, when comparing conventional to RC process. The corresponding means for heme content were 187.5 and 209.2 μmol/kg muscle and for Mb, 151.9 and 168.1 μmol/kg muscle. Hb content in the RC treatment was significantly lower, 39.6% on average, than that for the conventional treatment. The percentages of Mb and Hb by weight (relative to each other) in the conventional treatment were 80.9 and 19.1%, respectively. For the RC treatment, Mb was 86.4% and Hb was 13.6%. ConclusionThe ion exchange chromatography method presented here allowed the measurement of Mb and Hb in pork lean with a satisfactory recovery compared to the total heme determination. Using Hb content in muscle extracts as a measure of blood content suggested that the RC method removed 40% more blood from the muscle compared to the conventional method, leaving still about 60% of the blood in the muscle of RC-treated pigs. The possibility to quantify Hb and Mb separately offers a method to quantitatively assess blood content in muscle.
Abstract IA04: Novel approaches to study the tumor-stroma interaction and translate immune-directed therapies

Cancer research has long been hampered by the limitations of the current model systems. Both cultured cells and mouse xenografts grow in an environment highly dissimilar to that of their originating tumor, frequently resulting in promising treatments that are ultimately clinically ineffective. The development of highly immunodeficient mouse strains into which human immune systems can be engrafted can help bridge this gap. The need for more representative tools to investigate the human tumor microenvironment (TME) has led to the development of humanized mouse (HM) models. HM allow researchers to examine xenograft growth in the context of a human immune system and resultant tumor microenvironment, and recent studies have highlighted the increased similarities in attendant tumor structure, metastasis, and signaling to those features in cancer patients. This setting also facilitates the examination of investigational cancer therapies, including new immunotherapies. We have developed an improved method for generating mismatched humanized mice (mHM), using a dual infusion of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), isolated from cord blood and expanded in vitro. Engraftment with both HSPCs and MSCs produces mice with almost twice the percentage of human immune cells in their bone marrow, compared to mice engrafted with HSPCs alone, and yields 9- to 38-fold higher levels of mature peripheral human immune cells. When head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors are implanted on the flanks of HSPC-MSC engrafted mice, human T cells, B cells, and macrophages infiltrate the stroma of these tumors at 2- to 8-fold higher ratios. In dually HSPC-MSC engrafted mice we also more frequently observed additional types of immune cells, including regulatory T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and MDSCs. Higher humanization was associated with in vivo response to immune-directed therapy. The complex immune environment arising in tumors from dually HSPC-MSC engrafted mice better resembles that of the originating patient’s tumor, suggesting an enhanced capability to accurately recapitulate a human TME. This review presentation also discusses other recent advancements in the generation and application of HM models, such as engineering mouse strains expressing human cytokines or HLA proteins, and implanting human bone, liver, and thymus tissue to facilitate immune cell maturation and trafficking. Finally, we discuss how these improvements may help direct future HM model cancer studies, and their potential in generating clinically relevant treatments. Citation Format: Antonio Jimeno. Novel approaches to study the tumor-stroma interaction and translate immune-directed therapies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr IA04.
A Control Scheme for In-Conduit Hydropower Generators to Maximize Power Generation From Waste Energy in Pressure Reducing Valves

An interval type-2 fuzzy logic (IT2FL)-based technique is proposed to control the operation of an in-conduit hydropower generator for recapturing waste energy in water pressure reducing valves (PRVs) and generating maximum power. Using an experimental setup, an actual water supply station is simulated for testing the operation and control of the in-conduit generator. The test system includes one hydro-powered generator, two PRVs, and two motor-operated valves (MOVs). An IT2FL method developed in MATLAB is used to control MOVs in order to adjust the customer pressure and maximize the generator efficiency. A prototype hardware setup is developed to produce the voltage set points that control the MOV actuators using the pressures, which are measured by transducers and transferred to the IT2FL algorithm via a data acquisition and control system. The generator operational limit is met to avoid any possible damage. The IT2FL control-based algorithm is tested on the hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setup under various flow and pressure values and compared to type-1 fuzzy logic (T1FL) and existing pseudo algorithms. Also, an economic analysis is carried out using real data of a water booster section in Northern Nevada for justifying the economic benefits of the proposed scheme.
It takes a village: examining social capital effects of parental and community agency involvement on school delinquency

Research indicates the importance of parental and community agency involvement for the reduction of adolescent delinquent behavior. However, few studies specifically examine the role of parental in...
Violent Victimization Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations in the United States: Findings From the National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017-2018.

Objectives. To estimate US nonlethal violent victimization rates for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) males and females aged 16 years and older and to compare disparities among LGB and straight males and females, controlling for other correlates of victimization.Methods. We used data from the 2017 and 2018 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to provide nationally representative rates of various forms of violent victimization for self-identified LGB and straight persons. Multivariable models assessed the risk for violence associated with LGB status.Results. Total violence rates were 2 to 9 times higher among LGB persons compared with heterosexuals. For some forms of violence (e.g., rape and sexual assault, violence with serious injuries, and multiple offender violence) there were notably high disparities between bisexuals and heterosexuals. With adjustment for covariates, LGB orientation was associated with odds ratios nearly 2 to 4 times those of heterosexuals.Conclusions. This is one of the first known uses of NCVS data to estimate LGB victimization, revealing substantially higher rates of violence directed at LGB individuals.Public Health Implications. Sexual orientation and gender identity questions in federal surveys such as the NCVS enable monitoring of violent victimization rates and should continue. Collecting these data can help researchers understand victimization risk and guide appropriate resources toward victim services, especially important given the high violent crime levels experienced by LGB individuals.
Sex differences in the relationship between prescription opioid misuse and gun and other weapon-carrying behaviors.

Abstract Background Previous research shows that adolescent prescription opioid misuse is strongly associated with weapon carrying. Method For this research, data from the nationally representative 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed. Average marginal predictions were estimated for gun and weapon carrying as a function of prescription opioid misuse and sex. As per STROBE guidelines, additive interactions with risk differences—in addition to multiplicative interactions with odds ratios and risk ratios—were estimated to investigate sex disparities in the effects of prescription opioid misuse on gun and other weapon-carrying. Results Male US high school students who misused prescription opioids had an especially high prevalence of gun and other weapon carrying. Additive interactions show significantly greater risk differences associated with prescription opioid misuse among male students compared to female students for gun carrying, weapon carrying, and weapon carrying at school. In contrast, multiplicative interactions show lower odds ratios and risk ratios among male students for these same weapon-carrying variables. Discussion Prescription opioid misuse is a significantly greater risk factor for gun and other weapon carrying among male US high school students, which disproportionately increases the risk for violence perpetration, including suicide among these students. Researchers should follow STROBE guidelines and report additive interactions and risk differences separately by sex when investigating risk factors associated with gun and other weapon carrying.
Mutual Fund Tax Implications When Investment Advisors Manage Tax-Exempt Separate Accounts

Investment advisors to mutual funds often operate investment vehicles, such as separate accounts and private funds, in addition to managing mutual funds. This study investigates tax consequences for mutual fund shareholders subject to these arrangements. We find investment advisors with a greater presence of tax-exempt separate account clients (SAs) pass through capital gains distributions that place a significantly greater tax burden on shareholders of their mutual funds. Tax implications for mutual funds are most pronounced when managers have strong fee-based incentives to cater to tax-exempt SAs. Performance analyses of mutual funds managed by advisors with tax-exempt SAs suggest that before-tax outperformance compensates shareholders for the additional tax liabilities incurred.
Hemodynamics in the Normal and Laminitic Bovine Digit

Bovine laminitis is of great economic importance to the dairy and beef industry. Lameness from laminitis and its sequella results in loss of milk production, decreased weight gain, culling of animals and extra labor. Similar to horses, the digital pathology is thought to occur due to vascular derangements in the digital microvasculature leading to ischemia in the digital laminae. Digital hemodynamics in the horse have been well documented. Although most literature describing bovine laminitis is based on clinical cases or extrapolations from equine laminitis research, the bovid undergoes a different clinical course of disease, with a more mild chronic laminitis process being more common than the acute disease process routinely observed at the onset of equine laminitis. Therefore, hemodynamic data specific to the normal laminitic bovine foot is needed. The present study compared digital hemodynamics between normal and laminitic steers in early stages of laminitis.
Neurocutaneous melanosis

Background Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare phakomatosis characterized by a focal or diffuse proliferation of melanin-producing cells in both the skin and the leptomeninges. This syndrome is believed to result from an error in the morphogenesis of embryonal neuroectoderm.
RTT105 in Ty1 Retrotransposition: a Possible Role in Virus-like Particle (VLP) Assembly

Retrovirus-like transposon mRNA encodes envelope and replication proteins (gag and pol), and serves as genomic material for virus-like particles (VLPs), a cytosolic structure in which the element's genome is reverse transcribed. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, there are several families of such retrotransposons, including the abundant Ty1 element. Previously, genome-wide screens have identified candidate genes that mediate Ty1 mobility. One candidate, RTT105, was identified as a negative regulator of Ty1 mobility. Because RTT105 contains no conserved domains, the nature of RTT105's role in Ty1 retrotransposition remains unknown. Rtt105p localizes at Ty1 RNA and Gag foci, suggesting a role in ribonucleoprotein complexes. Here, we use RNA-Seq analysis of isogenic WT and RTT105 knockout strains to determine changes in gene expression that may explain RTT105's regulation of Ty1. In rtt105Δ, we identified significant down regulation of signal recognition particle (SRP), a conserved chaperone that binds ribosome-n...
Relative contributions to filter-induced Q penalty from eye closure and OSNR degradation

Experimental measurements are made of the relative contributions to optical filter-induced Q penalties from distortion (eye closure) and OSNR degradation. An expression relating Q penalty to simulated eye closure is derived and verified experimentally.
Suppressor Analyses of Temperature-Sensitive Cbp1 Strains of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: The Product of the Nuclear Gene Soc1 Affects Mitochondrial Cytochrome B mRNA Post-Transcriptionally

The induction of mitochondrial function is dependent upon both nuclearly encoded and mitochondrially encoded gene products. To understand nuclear-mitochondrial interactions, we must first understand gene-specific interactions. The accumulation of mitochondrial cytochrome b (COB) RNA is dependent upon Cbp1p, encoded by the nuclear gene CBP1. Thus, respiration is dependent upon Cbp1p. In this study, suppressors of temperature-sensitive cbp1 (cbp1ts) strains were selected for restoration of respiratory capability at the restrictive temperature Ts+). One nuclearly encoded suppressor, extragenic to CBP1, is recessive with respect to the wild-type suppressor allele and is unlinked to other known genetic loci whose gene products are necessary for expression of COB mRNA. The suppressor, called soc1 for Suppressor of cbp1, suppresses several other cbp1ts alleles but does not operate via a bypass mechanism. Molecular analyses indicate that soc1 allows the steady-state level of COB mRNA to increase at high temperature but has little or no effect on the levels of COB pre-mRNA. These data have led us to propose that the product of the nuclear gene SOC1 is required for normal turnover of COB mRNA.
Distribution of bacterial endophytes in peanut seeds obtained from axenic and control plant material under field conditions

Background and Aims The role and linkage of endophytic bacteria to resistance of peanut seeds to biotic stress is poorly understood. The aims of the present study were to survey the experimental (axenic) and control (conventional) peanut plants for the predominant endophytic bacteria, and to characterize isolates with activity against selected A. flavus strains.
IN A TIME OF FEAR AND TERROR SEEING, ASSESSING, ASSISTING UNDERSTANDING AND LIVING THE REALITY AND CONSEQUENCES OF DISASTER

In the aftermath of the terrible earthquake in India in 2001, visual anthropologists, government, aid organizations, and earthquake victims took actions that signaled an incipient applied visual anthropology in practice, such as video and photographic technology and methods of engagement traditionally employed by visual anthropologists. Three case studies provide examples of this activity in the “media invisible” desert villages of Surendranagar District in Gujarat. The need for an engaged applied visual anthropology is demonstrated, and a prescription for its future practice is outlined.
Array of Thermoelectric Coolers for On-Chip Thermal Management

Site-specific on-demand cooling of hot spots in microprocessors can reduce peak temperature and achieve a more uniform thermal profile on chip, thereby improve chip performance and increase the processor’s life time. An array of thermoelectric coolers (TECs) integrated inside an electronic package has the potential to provide such efficient cooling of hot spots on chip. This paper analyzes the potential of using multiple TECs for hot spot cooling to obtain favorable thermal profile on chip in an energy efficient way. Our computational analysis of an electronic package with multiple TECs shows a strong conductive coupling among active TECs during steady-state operation. Transient operation of TECs is capable of driving cold-side temperatures below steady-state values. Our analysis on TEC arrays using current pulses shows that the effect of TEC coupling on transient cooling is weak. Various pulse profiles have been studied to illustrate the effect of shape of current pulse on the operation of TECs considering crucial parameters such as total energy consumed in TECs peak temperature on the chip, temperature overshoot at the hot spot and settling time during pulsed cooling of hot spots. The square root pulse profile is found to be the most effective with maximum cooling and at half the energy expenditure in comparison to a constant current pulse. We analyze the operation of multiple TECs for cooling spatiotemporally varying hot spots. The analysis shows that the transient cooling using high amplitude current pulses is beneficial for short term infrequent hot spots, but high amplitude current pulse cannot be used for very frequent or long lasting hot spots.
Current Approaches to Support the Psychosocial Care of African American Adults with Diabetes: A Brief Review

African Americans are disproportionately affected by Type 2 diabetes and experience significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of the disease. Psychosocial support, material resources, and education can have a significant impact on successful diabetes management, particularly among populations with diabetes-related psychological distress such as African Americans. This brief review of the literature identifies and synthesizes current evidence on faith-based, community-based, empowerment-based, strength-based, and culturally competent strategies that may be particularly relevant for social work practitioners supporting African American adults at risk for or diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Discussion focuses on multiple influences on the self-determination of clients working to manage their condition.
Expression and Purification of his-tagged Recombinant Mouse ζ-Crystallin

Abstract ζ-Crystallin is an NADPH-binding protein consisting of four identical 35 kD subunits. The protein possesses quinone oxidoreductase activity, and is present in large amounts in the lenses of camelids, certain hystricomorphic rodents, and the Japanese tree frog, and in lower catalytic amounts in certain tissues of various species. In this study, recombinant methods were used to produce substantial quantities of his-tagged recombinant mouse ζ-crystallin, which was then purified to homogeneity. The yield of pure recombinant mouse ζ-crystallin was five times that obtained previously for purification of recombinant guinea pig ζ-crystallin. The quinone oxidoreductase activity of purified his-tagged recombinant mouse ζ-crystallin was comparable to that of purified native guinea pig lens ζ-crystallin, and to that previously reported for recombinant guinea pig ζ-crystallin. The method permits production of substantial amounts of recombinant ζ-crystallin for conducting studies on the biological role of this interesting protein, which exists in such high concentration in the lenses of certain species.
Coal rank trends in the Central Appalachian coalfield: Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky

Abstract Coal rank, determined from vitrinite maximum reflectance and from chemical rank parameters, increases from high volatile C bituminous in portions of the Eastern Kentucky coalfield to low volatile bituminous in Buchanan County, Virginia, and McDowell County, West Virginia, and then decreases significantly to the Dry Fork anticline, 20 km to the southeast. The latter rank decrease, as noted when rank data from individual coals is used across the fold (400–500 m structural relief), can be accounted for by post-tectonic coalification at a paleogeothermal gradient of about 40–45°C/km. Reflectance gradients decrease from about 0.09% Rmax /100 m in central Buchanan County, Virginia, to 0.06% Rmax/100 min southeastern Pike County, Kentucky, to 0.03% max/100 m and less among the high volatile A and B coals to the nortwest of Pike County. The reflectance gradients are likely an indication of a decrease in paleogeothermal gradient to the northwest. Depth of burial may have also decreased to the northwest. Northward-trending rank anomalies superimposed on the regional trend in Kentucky may have been caused by subtle changes in the geothermal gradients associated with basement discontinuities or, alternately, by a depth of burial not accounted for at present, perhaps under now-eroded thrust sheets.
Fixed-apex mitral annular descent correlates better with left ventricular systolic function than does free-apex left ventricular long-axis shortening

Abstract Echocardiographic measures of mitral annular descent (MAD) assume a fixed left ventricular (LV) apex throughout the cardiac cycle, ignoring the apical component of LV long-axis shortening (LAS). We tested whether apical motion contributes significantly to LAS, making LAS a better surrogate of LV systolic function than MAD. Three-dimensional LV systolic MAD, LAS, and apical motion were measured in sheep using implanted radiopaque markers and biplane videofluoroscopy. End-diastolic volume-stroke work relationship (preload recruitable stroke work) was computed as a load-independent index of LV systolic function. Apical motion was 1.4 ± 0.8 mm, representing 22% of LAS ( P r = 0.808) than LAS ( r = 0.792, both P
Characterization of Mitral Valve Annular Dynamics in the Beating Heart

The objective of this study is to establish a mathematical characterization of the mitral valve annulus that allows a precise qualitative and quantitative assessment of annular dynamics in the beating heart. We define annular geometry through 16 miniature markers sewn onto the annuli of 55 sheep. Using biplane videofluoroscopy, we record marker coordinates in vivo. By approximating these 16 marker coordinates through piecewise cubic splines, we generate a smooth mathematical representation of the 55 mitral annuli. We time-align these 55 annulus representations with respect to characteristic hemodynamic time points to generate an averaged baseline annulus representation. To characterize annular physiology, we extract classical clinical metrics of annular form and function throughout the cardiac cycle. To characterize annular dynamics, we calculate displacements, strains, and curvature from the discrete mathematical representations. To illustrate potential future applications of this approach, we create rapid prototypes of the averaged mitral annulus at characteristic hemodynamic time points. In summary, this study introduces a novel mathematical model that allows us to identify temporal, regional, and inter-subject variations of clinical and mechanical metrics that characterize mitral annular form and function. Ultimately, this model can serve as a valuable tool to optimize both surgical and interventional approaches that aim at restoring mitral valve competence.
Incidentally identified adrenal lipoma: case report and review of related literature.

Objective: To report a case of an incidentally identified adrenal lipoma in a 68-year-old man with flank pain and hypertension.Methods: The clinical, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance im...
The miR-200 family inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer cell migration by direct targeting of E-cadherin transcriptional repressors ZEB1 and ZEB2.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression by interacting with multiple mRNAs and inducing either translation suppression or degradation of mRNA. Recently, several miRNAs were identified as either promoters or suppressors of metastasis. However, it is unclear in which step(s) of the multistep metastatic cascade these miRNAs play a defined functional role. To study the functional importance of miRNAs in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process thought to initiate metastasis by enhancing the motility of tumor cells, we used a well established in vitro EMT assay: transforming growth factor-β-induced EMT in NMuMG murine mammary epithelial cells. We found that members of the miR-200 family, organized as two clusters in the genome, were repressed during EMT. Overexpression of each miRNA individually or as clusters in NMuMG cells hindered EMT by enhancing E-cadherin expression through direct targeting of ZEB1 and ZEB2, which encode transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin. In the 4TO7 mouse carcinoma cell line, which expresses low levels of endogenous E-cadherin and displays a mesenchymal phenotype, ectopic expression of the miR-200 family miRNAs significantly increased E-cadherin expression and altered cell morphology to an epithelial phenotype. Furthermore, ectopic expression of each miR-200 miRNA cluster significantly reduced the in vitro motility of 4TO7 cells in migration assays. These results suggested that loss of expression of the miR-200 family members may play a critical role in the repression of E-cadherin by ZEB1 and ZEB2 during EMT, thereby enhancing migration and invasion during cancer progression.
Temporal trends in the use of intraaortic balloon pump associated with percutaneous coronary intervention in the United States, 1998-2008.

Background With conflicting evidence regarding the usefulness of intraaortic balloon pump (IABP), reports of IABP use in the United States have been inconsistent. Our objective was to examine trends in IABP usage in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the United States and to evaluate the association of IABP use with mortality. Methods This is a retrospective, observational study using patient data obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 1998 to 2008. Patients undergoing any PCI (1,552,602 procedures) for a primary diagnosis of symptomatic coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome, including non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction, were evaluated. Results The overall use of IABP significantly decreased during the study period from 0.99% in 1998 to 0.36% in 2008 (univariate and multivariate P for trend P P P for trend for both P for trend Conclusions The utilization of IABP associated with PCI significantly decreased between 1998 and 2008 in the United States, even among patients with acute myocardial infarction and shock.
Power scheduling for wireless sensor and actuator networks

We previously presented a model for some wireless sensor and actuator network (WSAN) applications based on the vector space tools of frame theory. In this WSAN model there is a weight associated to each sensor-actuator link denoting the importance of that communication link to the actuation fidelity. These weights were shown to be useful in pruning away communication links to reduce the number of active channels. Inspired by recent work in power scheduling for decentralized estimation, we investigate the optimal allocation of system resources for achieving a desired actuation fidelity. In this scheme, each sensor acquires a noisy observation and sends a message to a subset of actuators using an MQAM transmission strategy. The message sent on each sensor-actuator communication link is quantized with a variable number of bits, with the number of bits optimized to minimize the total network power consumption subject to a constraint on the actuation distortion. We show analytically and verify through simulation that performing this optimal power scheduling can yield significant power savings over communication strategies that use a fixed number of bits on each communication link.
The rhinitis control assessment test: implications for the present and future

Purpose of reviewTo summarize the development of the Rhinitis Control Assessment Test (RCAT), its usefulness in clinical practice, and the benefit it provides for patients who are bothered by allergic and nonallergic rhinitis.Recent findingsThe RCAT, a simple, brief, self-administered questionnaire,
Continuous Plug Flow Crystallization of Pharmaceutical Compounds

Crystallization processes in the pharmaceutical industry are usually designed to obtain crystals with controlled size, shape, purity, and polymorphic form. Knowledge of the process conditions required to fabricate crystals with controlled characteristics is critical during process development. In this work, continuous crystallization of ketoconazole, flufenamic acid, and l-glutamic acid in a nonconventional plug flow crystallizer was investigated. Kenics type static mixers were used to promote homogeneous mixing of active pharmaceutical ingredient solution and antisolvent. A strategy of multiple points of addition of antisolvent along the crystallizer was evaluated to control the size of the crystals. Interestingly, it was found that crystal size can be increased or decreased with an increased number of antisolvent addition points, depending on the kinetics of the system. It was also found that smaller crystals with a narrower size distribution can be obtained with the static mixers. A model to describe t...
Nonreciprocal and unidirectional optical bloch oscillations

Nonreciprocal optical Bloch oscillations are shown to suppress optical beam revival in one propagation direction in asymmetric waveguide arrays. Their application to optical isolation is predicted to yield isolation ratios as large as 55 dB.
Assessment of a resource limited process for multidisciplinary projects

Collaborative multidisciplinary team based education is increasingly recognized as a necessary component in the preparation of technical students for the workplace. This article presents a quantified assessment of a limited-resource process for teaching software product development combining students in computer science, engineering, and business at multiple universities within existing curriculum. Results indicate that the approach is useful in a resource restricted setting, as well as a providing an evolutionary step to the development of full-scale curricular changes that aim to provide students the skills needed to function in an increasingly distributed, multidisciplinary product development environment.
Spindle Cell Lesions of the Breast

Spindle cell lesions of the breast represent a heterogeneous group of reactive and neoplastic disorders that commonly present diagnostic challenges. Arguably, the most important of these lesions to recognize is spindle cell carcinoma, a type of metaplastic carcinoma. This review focuses on those spindle cell lesions of the breast that are most likely to be encountered in clinical practice or that produce particular diagnostic difficulties.
The utility of unenhanced computed tomography in appendicitis in children

To evaluate the utility of unenhanced helical computed tomography (UHCT) in appendicitis in children, we performed a retrospective study of 112 consecutive patients. The radiologist's interpretation of the UHCT was compared with disease status using appendix pathology findings as the gold standard for diagnosis. The performance characteristics of UHCT were as follows: sensitivity 87.5% (95% CI: 75.8-94.8%), specificity 93.7% (95% CI: 85.4%-98.0%), positive predictive value 91.3% (95% CI: 83.2%-99.4%), negative predictive value 90.8% (95% CI: 83.7%-97.8%), overall diagnostic accuracy 90.9% (95% CI: 85.7-96.3%). Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 13.8 (95% CI: 5.3-35.8) and 0.13 (95% CI: 0.06-0.28), respectively. UHCT seems to be a very useful diagnostic test for the evaluation of childhood appendicitis when interpreted by experienced radiologists. The diagnostic accuracy of UHCT found in this study is comparable to that reported for contrast-enhanced CT as well as graded compression ultrasound in appendicitis in children.
Analysis of chicken progesterone receptor function and phosphorylation using an adenovirus-mediated procedure for high-efficiency DNA transfer

The expression of heterologous DNA in mammalian cells is crucial to understanding physiological functions or determining biological properties of encoded proteins. However, expression for biological assay or at levels sufficient for recovery and subsequent physical analysis has been limited by the poor efficiency, variability, or cost of current DNA transfer methodologies. We have modified a DNA transfer procedure which exploits the capacity of replication-deficient adenovirus to infect a wide range of cell types, carrying with it transiently associated DNA. We have established conditions for achieving 80% transfection of CV1 cells and have used this procedure for DNA transfer into several mammalian cell lines and primary cell cultures. We have shown that biologically active avian progesterone receptor may be readily detected, both immunologically and functionally, using less than 1 ng of progesterone receptor-encoding plasmid DNA per 2 x 10(5) cells. We previously reported the identification of four phosphorylation sites in chicken progesterone receptor using oviduct tissue minces labeled with [32P]PO4 under nonequilibrium conditions. We now find, using adenovirus-mediated infection and equilibrium labeling conditions, that the same sites are phosphorylated in receptor expressed in CV1 cells and report that there are no additional major phosphorylation sites in chicken progesterone receptor. The ease, efficiency, sensitivity, and wide applicability of this DNA transfer method should simplify current efforts to study heterologous protein expression in mammalian cells.
Fluorescent light photosensitivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective. To determine the prevalence of fluorescent light toxicity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. SLE patients were polled about their symptomatic responses to sunlight and cool white fluorescent light. Photometry was used to determine the levels of ultraviolet (UV) emissions from fluorescent lamps. Results. Thirteen of 30 photosensitive SLE patients described increases in disease activity following exposure to unshielded fluorescent lamps. Photometry indicated that these lamps emit substantial levels of UV-B (280–320 nm) radiation, which is toxic to patients with SLE. Standard acrylic diffusers absorbed this radiation, and their use was associated with almost no patient-reported problems. Conclusion. Fluorescent lamps, emitting UV-B radiation, induce disease activity in photosensitive SLE patients. Standard acrylic diffusers absorb UV-B radiation and appear to be protective against induction of disease activity with the use of fluorescent lamps.
Arachnoiditis and epidural fibrosis: the Relationship to chronic pain

Arachnoiditis and epidural fibrosis, conditions of scarring during healing after laminecto my for lumbar degenerative disorders, have been clinically associated with persistent chronic pain in some patients.Although accepted as causative of the pain by many physicians, there has been some concern that these conditions may not be responsible for pain production, especially because studies with magnetic resonance imaging have found similar conditions of scarring in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.This paper reviews the literature on those conditions and leads to the conclusion that scarring, of itself, does not appear to be related to chronic pain, although neuropathic pain related to underlying spinal cord or nerve root damage may be present along with scarring.
FERMI: A Flexible Expert Reasoner with Multi-Domain Inferencing.

Expert reasoning combines voluminous domain-specific knowledge with more general factual and strategic knowledge. Whereas expert system builders have recognized the need for specificity and problem-solving researchers the need for generality, few attempts have been made to develop expert reasoning engines combining different kinds of knowledge at different levels of generality. This paper reports on the FERMI project, a computer-implemented expert reasoner in the natural sciences that encodes factual and strategic knowledge in separate semantic hierarchies. The principled decomposition of knowledge according to type and level of specificity yields both power and cross-doman generality, as demonstrated in FERMI's ability to apply the same principles of invariance and decomposition to solve problems in fluid statics, DC-circuits, and centroid location. Hierarchical knowledge representation and problem-solving principles are discussed, and illustrative problem-solving traces are presented.
MEASURING THE WATER HOLDING CAPACITY OF NATURAL ACTOMYOSIN FROM CHICKEN BREAST MUSCLE IN THE PRESENCE OF PYROPHOSPHATE AND DIVALENT CATIONS

The water holding capacity (WHC) of natural actomyosin (NAM) extracted at pH 9.2 in 0.6M KCl was measured in the presence and absence of various combination of sodium pyrophosphate (PPi), MgCl2 and CaCl2 using a modification of the classical centrifugation technique. Samples, in the presence of 0.15M NaCl and 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 6, were spun at 30,900 X G (as measured at the bottom of the centrifuge tube) for 15 min at 2–4dC. The results show that between 17 and 20 g water/g protein were bound over a wide range of NAM concentrations. In each case the amount of water held by the experimental sample was equal to or less than the amount held by a control run at the same time: 5 mM PPi= 100%; 5 mM PPi+ 5 mM MgCl2= 58%; 5 mM MgCl2= 85%; 5 mM PPi+ 5 mM CaCl2= 68% and 5 mM CaCl2= 92% of the control. Thus polyphosphate addition in the presence of divalent cations lowers the WHC of NAM. The absence of the organized structure of muscle in NAM is postulated to be the reason that polyphosphate plus divalent cation reduced WHC in these samples. A series of preliminary experiments were run in order to determine the effect of experimental parameters on WHC.
The Intergenerational Transmission of Smoking in Adulthood: A 25-Year Study of Maternal and Offspring Maladaptive Attributes

Abstract While smoking is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, and maternal smoking is a risk factor for smoking among their offspring, the mechanisms involved in the intergenerational transmission of smoking are not well understood. This study examines the pathways from maternal and adolescent child factors, and the parent–child relationship, to smoking among the adult offspring, approximately 25 years later. Data for the present analysis were based on time waves 2 (T2; 1983) and 7 (T7; 2007–2009) of an on-going study of a community sample of mothers and their children. Offspring and mother X ¯ ages were 14.1 and 40.0 years, respectively, at T2, and 36.6 and 65.0 years, respectively, at T7. At T2, trained interviewers administered individual structured interviews. Psychosocial questionnaires were self-administered at T7. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the interrelationships among maternal and offspring attributes (T2 and T7). SEM results indicated a satisfactory model fit (RMSEA = 0.052; CFI = 0.91; SRMR = 0.057), and confirmed hypothesized pathways. One pathway linked maternal maladaptive attributes (T2) to the mother–adolescent child attachment relationship (T2), which was associated with the offspring's maladaptive attributes over time (T2 to T7), which then predicted the adult offspring's smoking (T7). Other pathways highlighted the stability of maternal smoking, the continuity of maladaptive attributes, and less offspring educational attainment as predictors of offspring smoking at T7. Findings suggest the importance of early interventions to treat maternal smoking, maternal and offspring maladaptive attributes, and the mother–child relationship in order to reduce risk factors for the intergenerational transmission of smoking behavior. Interventions which enhance educational success should also prove effective in reducing smoking.
Energy Based Laboratory Fatigue Failure Criteria for Asphalt Materials

The definition of fatigue failure in the laboratory is not only an important but also a controversial issue. Researchers have developed a number of fatigue failure criteria, including the most traditional one, which defines failure at the cycle to 50 % initial modulus reduction. However, this definition is always challenged due to its lack of physical background. Recent studies showed that the dissipated energy ratio approach appears to be a favorable concept, which takes into account the fundamental dissipated energy evolution behavior of asphalt materials during a cyclic fatigue test. This paper conducted a review of three different energy based fatigue failure criteria and evaluated their applicability for fatigue data from asphalt binders and mixtures and under both stress and strain controlled loading modes. A macroscopic failure criterion is recommended, which is defined as the sudden change of the dissipated energy evolution curve and is consistently related to the beginning of macrocrack propagation. In addition, by comparing different failure criteria, the traditional 50 % initial modulus reduction criterion was found to have a strong correlation with energy based macroscopic fatigue failure for both mixtures and binders. It is thus suggested that the 50 % initial modulus reduction failure can be used as a simple but reasonable fatigue criterion, which indicates the transition from microcrack to macrocrack.
Atlantic ophiuroids: some post-larval forms

Abstract The developmental series from initial post-larval to more mature stages of brittlestars are figured for four species occurring in the shallow and/or deep waters of the Atlantic. These are: Ophiomisidium speciosum Koehler; Anthophiura ingolfi Fasmer; Ophiura sarsi Lutken; and Ophiomusium armigerum Lyman. All belong to the family Ophiuridae. In the case of the last two species, post-larval stages of related species have previously been described for these genera, indicating that at least some species specific identifications can be made quite early in post-larval development.
Boundary Regularity for Harmonic Hardy–Sobolev Spaces

On introduit deux echelles d'espaces de Hardy-Sobolev harmoniques et on etudie leur regularite a la frontiere
Recent progress in the synthesis of oxide films from liquid solutions

This review surveys recent advances in the synthesis of oxide materials, primarily as supported thin films but also in other forms such as free-standing films, mesoporous solids, and nanostructured fibers, from liquid (primarily aqueous) solutions. New studies using chemical bath deposition (CBD), liquid phase deposition (LPD), and successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) to produce single- and multi-component oxide films, and the role that functionalized substrates can play in these deposition techniques, are surveyed. This review highlights significant new insights that have been gained in areas such as: nucleation and growth kinetics as they pertain to film growth in oxide systems; multicomponent films; the roles of polymers and other organic additives on the film deposition mechanism; and fabrication of patterned films and other advanced material morphologies.
Meaning making, communities of practice, and analytical toolkits

Eckert and Wenger argue that we should not build particular assumptionsabout hierarchies of social power into the notion of a‘community of practice’(hereafter‘COP’).What sortof hierarchyexists withinanyspecific COPshouldbe left as a matter to be discovered through ethnographic observation.This isto say that any particular hierarchy is not definitive of what a COP is, ratherdifferentCOPsincorporatedifferentsortsof hierarchies.I agree with this point, but I also believe it applies more generally. It is notalways clear what features are best takenas definitive of a COPand which arebest leftas matters of variationacross different COPs, features tobe uncoveredthrough empirical investigation, not assumed present by definition. Take, forinstance, the very notion of practice itself. Can we ^ should we ^ separateacceptancebyaCOPfromsomeformofparticipationintheCOP?Daviesargueswe can and should; Eckert andWenger argue we can’t. One tack we can takehere is to say that anactivitycounts as a practice ina given COP just invirtueof its role inallowingapersontobe accepted (recognized)as a memberof theCOP(likewearingtherightcolorof lipstickinEckert’sexample).Onthissortoftackwereallycannotseparateacceptance,participation,practice,and learninginaCOPframeworkastheyareallmutuallyimplicated.Butconsideranextreme case,sayagroup of Neo-Nazis. Herman isacentralparticipant in every way, let us assume, but one day it is discovered thatHerman isJewishand has hiddenthis matter from his colleagues. Now, allofasudden, all of Herman’s activities that once counted as practices within theNeo-Nazi COP, don’t count. Herman is no longeraccepted and his doings don’tanylongercount.He’sanimposter.Herman’sbeingJewishneednot,fortheNeo-Nazis, reside in any particular practice in which Herman participates insome other COP ^ any more than someone’s black skin need reside in anycompeting practice in order to get them excluded from being a Neo-Nazi. Hisfailure to count now has to do not with practice per se, but with a (social andhistorical)attributeandtheworkingsof belief/ideology.So,itwouldseem,theextent to which practices are wholly constitutive of a COP and definitive ofacceptanceisitselfamattertobediscovered.
Biomarkers in psychosis: an approach to early identification and individualized treatment

Numerous biomarkers for somatic disorders are used in routine medical practice. Yet, despite remarkable advances in mental health research, we are not able to identify biomarkers with established clinical utility for mental disorders such as schizophrenia. While identification and characterization of biomarkers are crucial first steps in this process, their predictive diagnostic and treatment utility need to be better developed for clinical practice. The heterogeneity of psychotic disorders etiologically, pathologically and symptomatically presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the use of biomarkers in clinical practice. Simply said, a single biomarker might not exist that necessitates the search for a biomarker profile. In this review we discuss research findings in light of such an approach. We summarize some examples of emerging biomarkers in early psychosis research and delineate how these can be applied to a clinical setting to inform treatment on an individual basis fostering a personalized treatment approach.