cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inorganic nanoparticles for theranostic use

Abstract Nanomedicine is defined as the application of nanomaterials to address health care problems. The recent trend in this field is the achievement of theranostic nanoparticles or nanosystems that can fulfill a therapeutic action and at the same time deliver diagnostic information through an imaging probe. The use of nanostructures in medicine has been widely explored during the last 20 years and a plethora of systems were developed; most of them, more recently, were studied as potential theranostic agents. These nanoparticles can be classified on the basis of their chemical nature, dividing them as organic (including the polymeric ones) or inorganic. On the basis of a large literature survey, the most recent reports on multifunctional theranostic inorganic nanoparticles are discussed in this chapter. Four kinds of materials have been selected: calcium phosphate, iron oxide, gold- and silica-based nanoparticles. For each group, the most important characteristics of the materials, the advantages and disadvantages and the most recent applications as theranostic agents are reported, highlighting whether the innovative electrofluidodynamic technologies are used for their preparation and/or can improve the efficacy of these systems.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Measures of Men and Women with HFrEF Differ in Their Relationship to Prognosis: The Henry Ford Hospital Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (FIT-CPX) Project.

Abstract Background This study evaluated if different prognostic characteristics exist for peak oxygen consumption (VO2), percent predicted peak VO2 (ppVO2), and the slope of the change in minute ventilation to volume of carbon dioxide produced (VE-VCO2) slope between men and women with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods Analysis of the Henry Ford Hospital Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing database (n = 1085; 33% women, 55% black) of individuals with HFrEF who completed a physician-referred cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) between 1997 and 2010. Primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, left ventricular assist device placement, and orthotopic heart transplant . Logistic and Cox regressions were performed and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were developed to describe relationships of the CPX variables and the composite outcome within and between men and women. Results All patients were followed-up for a minimum of 5 years, during which there were 643 combined events (62%; 499 deaths, 64 left ventricular assist device implants, 80 orthotopic heart transplant). Each CPX variable was significantly related to event-free survival among both men and women. Log-rank assessment of Kaplan-Meier curves noted survival differences for peak VO2 and VE-VCO2 slope (p ≤ .002), but not ppVO2 (P = .32), between men and women. Conclusions Prognostic values for peak VO2 and the VE-VCO2 slope might be considered separately for men and women, whereas the ppVO2 value corresponding to 1- and 3-year survival rates may not be different between the sexes.
The Common Sense of Donald J. Trump: A Gramscian Reading of Twenty-First Century Populist Rhetoric

The success of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, culminating in his defeat of Hilary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, has baffled liberal commentators. The writings of Antonio Gramsci, the twentieth-century Italian Marxist, imprisoned by Mussolini, can help us understand Trump’s success. This chapter uses the Gramscian concept of common sense (senso comune) to explore the nature of Trump’s appeal to certain Americans. It also asks the question: from where might oppositional common sense narratives emerge? It is always harder for a narrative that goes against the prevailing hegemonic order to gain the same traction as those that are broadly in line with that order. Nonetheless, political narratives based on common sense can come from the left as well as the right. The chapter takes as an example the Occupy Wall Street movement and the generation of the ‘We are the 99 percent!’ slogan.
EMG Feedback Strategies in Rehabilitation of Neuromuscular Disorders

One of the most promising areas of application of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback is in rehabilitation of neuromuscular disorders. In this context EMG biofeedback training falls into a category which rehabilitative specialists call neuromuscular education. Regardless of the condition being treated, neuromuscular education has three basic aims. Abnormal muscle activity (spasticity, athetoid movements, tremor, spasms, etc.) must be reduced. Useful strength and control must be restored in weak or paralyzed muscles and inappropriate movement patterns wherein muscles hinder one another or participate in primitive reflex patterns must be replaced by normal synergy.
Czechoslovakia: Economic Reforms

This chapter focuses on economic reforms in Czechoslovakia. Relationships between the statistically recorded investments outlay an effectively utilizing capital stock. The original introduction of Soviet command, planning into Czechoslovakia, was accompanied by repeated upward revisions of the first Five-Year-Plan (1949–54), which raised the demands upon Czechoslovak heavy industry, in particular, upon the production of heavy machinery and equipment, which necessitated the construction of new capacities, or a reconstruction of existing ones. Free economic choice, if allowed to be exercised by Czechoslovak economic subjects, can resist the repeated arbitrary turns and increases in Soviet trade orders. Soviet foreign trade orders need direct command methods to be communicated to the elements of the economic system and enforced with minimal resistance. It is not inconceivable for Czechoslovak planning to be veering toward some kind of a mixed planning system, with command elements dominating the segment of economic operations geared to exports to the Soviet Union and market-efficiency elements dominating the segment catering to Western trade and domestic demand.
Macrophage Lipid Uptake and Foam Cell Formation

The attraction and sub-endothelial migration of monocytes or macrophages (Mφ) to the early atherosclerotic lesion or fatty streak are central events in atherogenesis. During migration through the endothelium these cells differentiate to Mφ, which subsequently become activated in the milieu of cytokines and reactive products secreted by the dysfunctional endothelial layer, underlying smooth muscle cells and resident tissue leukocytes. As the lesion advances, the products secreted by activated Mφ further escalate the inflammatory process,increasing the recruitment of more activated inflammatory cells. Mφ within the lesion also actively accumulate lipid to become foam cells. Therefore, interventions that target the escalation of the inflammatory cascade, foam cell differentiation, and foam cell lipid metabolism should have distinct therapeutic benefits in altering the progression of CAD. In this chapter, various aspects of Mφ lipid metabolism and foam cell formation are explored. These include the sources of cholesterol for foam cell formation, receptor-dependent and receptor-independent uptake pathways by which foam cells may accumulate cholesterol, cholesterol trafficking within Mφ, cholesterol efflux from Mφ, and foam cell death. All of these processes represent possible therapeutic targets in CAD.
Formal Models of Ego Development: A Practitioner's Response

ABSTRACT Theories of ego development and the practice of psychotherapy have historically had an intimate, interdependent relationship; most models have evolved from clinical settings. Similarly, van den Daele's model of ego development provides a theoretical basis for many issues important to the practitioner. However, it is no longer possible to assume that the relationship is direct and interdependent. Therefore, my response to van den Daele's discussion requires that the relationship between the two also be examined. The first three sections of this discussion are directed at some of the issues raised by van den Daele which are pertinent to practitioners. While there are clinicians who continue to conceptualize their work within the constructs of ego psychology, these remarks come from one who is no longer totally identified with that theoretical framework. In this discussion, the terms practitioner and clinician are used interchangeably to describe those whose professional efforts are primarily the application of principles and theories of human behavior. The last section is designed to clarify some of the changes in the relationship between practitioners and ego theory.
Identification and expression of a common missense mutation (L302P) in the acid sphingomyelinase gene of Ashkenazi Jewish type A Niemann-Pick disease patients

Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) result from the deficient activity of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM; E.C. 3.1.4.12) and the resultant lysosomal accumulation of sphingomyelin. Type A disease is a fatal, neurodegenerative disorder of infancy, whereas type B disease has no neurologic manifestations and is characterized primarily by reticuloendothelial involvement and survival into adulthood. Both disorders occur more frequently among individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry than in the general population. Recently, a missense mutation in the ASM gene (designated R496L) was detected in more than 30% of the ASM alleles from Ashkenazi Jewish type A NPD patients. We report a second, common mutation that resulted from a T to C transition at nucleotide 905 and predicted a leucine to proline substitution at ASM codon 302 (designated L302P). Notably, the L302P mutation occurred in 23.5% (8 of 34) of the Ashkenazi Jewish type A NPD alleles studied. In contrast, it was not found in any of the ASM alleles from non-Jewish type A patients, in 36 alleles from type B patients, or in 100 ASM alleles from normal Ashkenazi Jewish individuals. To confirm the authenticities of the L302P and R496L mutations, each nucleotide change was separately introduced into the full-length ASM cDNA by site- directed mutagenesis and transiently expressed in COS-1 cells. Neither mutation expressed ASM catalytic activity, consistent with the type A phenotype of homoallelic patients. The identification of the L302P mutation should further facilitate molecular carrier detection for NPD in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, particularly because the L302P mutation can be easily detected using the restriction enzyme, AlwNl.
If Lifelong Learning is the Solution, What is the Problem?

This paper, prepared for a conference on lifelong learning in professionalism at the University of Toronto Centre for the Legal Profession, argues that if we are going to design programs for lifelong learning in professionalism, we had better first figure out what is meant by professionalism. In the American literature at least, there are two dominant themes. One is that law was formerly a profession and has devolved into a mere trade or business. The second is that unprofessional conduct is synonymous with incivility and adversarial excesses. There is a more substantive strand of the literature on professionalism, drawing from the sociology of the professions, which observes that professions claim a legitimate monopoly on the production of some service, and must justify this claim on the grounds of having some distinctive expertise that is not suitable for regulation by market forces. This is the most important conception of professionalism to consider if we are thinking about educating lawyers, either in law school or in post-graduate learning experiences. However, the distinctive professional capacity of exercising judgment (which I call reflection-in-action, borrowing from the philosopher of education Donald Schon) is not the sort of thing that can readily be taught in conventional educational settings. Judgment is best learned through practical experience, and unfortunately for the project of professionalism education (at least in the U.S.), practical learning is largely outside the control of legal educators and the organized bar. Whatever we do as educators is thus likely to be swamped by the socializing forces of the workplace.
A competing infection model for the spread of different viewpoints of a divisive idea

We develop a non-network, deterministic, competing infections model for the spread of two competing viewpoints of a divisive idea that incorporates external factors in addition to interpersonal int...
Abstract WMP48: The Impact of Brain Health and Long Range Cortical Disconnection on Stroke Recovery

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are linked to poor brain health, cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive decline, and stroke. The cumulative effect of microangiopathic changes and perivascular l...
Delirium in the Elderly Surgical Patient

Delirium is an unfortunately frequent complication in the postoperative course of elderly patients, affecting as much as half of all patients with even higher rates in the intensive care unit. Early recognition and diagnosis are tantamount to prevention of the associated increased morbidity and mortality. In this review, we will summarize the current literature pertaining to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of delirium in the elderly surgical patient population. Several large randomized control trials looking at the treatment of delirium with neuroleptic medications have been published in the last decade. None has proven that these medications have any benefit in terms of incidence, duration, or severity. In the surgical population, there has been particular interest in contributory intraoperative factors. Fluctuations in blood pressure, Bispectral index monitoring, and regional anesthesia have been shown to play a role. Well-validated screening tools are available for use in the hospital setting. Prevention and subsequent treatment with environmental and supportive methods is considered first-line therapy. Precipitating causes, such as sepsis, electrolyte imbalances, and hypoxia, should be identified and treated. Subsequent use of antipsychotic medications is described for patients with severe agitation only, despite a lack of definitive evidence to suggest benefit.
Thermal analyses of cement components hydrated in the presence of calcium carbonate

Tricalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate and tricalcium aluminate + gypsum were hydrated in the presence of 5–50% CaCO3 for different lengths of time (a few minutes to 28 days) and the products were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermo-gravimetry (DTG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and conduction calorimetry. The hydration of tricalcium silicate was accelerated by CaCO3 and there was evidence of incorporation of CaCO3 into the calcium silicate hydrate phase. In the hydration of tricalcium aluminate, carboaluminate complex was identified and the formation of the cubic calcium aluminate hydrate phase was found to be retarded. In the tricalcium aluminate + CaSO4 · 2H2O + CaCO3+ H2O system the rate of formation of ettringite (high calcium sulphoaluminate hydrate) and its conversion to the monosulphoaluminate hydrate was accelerated by CaCO3. On the basis of these results a mechanism has been proposed to explain the effect of CaCO3 on the hydration of cement.
15. USE OF A MODIFIED NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE TO EVALUATE A PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY WELLNESS CURRICULUM

Background Wellness is a hot topic in GME, with many pediatric residency programs adopting formalized curricula. Significant literature describes these efforts but little exists on their evaluation. A modified nominal group technique (MNGT) involves semi-quantitative rank-ordered evaluation on learner perceptions of curricular elements. MNGT has not previously been used to evaluate a residency wellness curriculum. Methods A wellness curriculum was designed and implemented during the 2017-2018 year. Elements included structured didactics meant to grow resiliency and well-being, improvement of retreats to promote team-building, weekly resident recognition, and resident coverage for the annual graduation party. In June, a session was held with about 50% of the residents to evaluate the curriculum. Participants were divided into groups of 6-10 learners. The session was facilitated by two experienced educators not affiliated with the residency program. After MNGT steps were performed, facilitators asked groups to list one item to improve the curriculum Results Elements that scored highest included coverage for all residents to attend the end-of-year graduation party (score 94) and the resident retreats focused on team-building (score 76). Of didactics, the session on approaching difficult conversations with families scored highest (score 19). Elements residents identified as most negatively impacting their wellness included inability to attend sessions if on certain rotations (score 67) and lack of protected time (score 50). Residents identified having more free time while at work and increased ability of residents to attend sessions as the greatest areas for improvement. Conclusions Evaluation of our wellness program via a MNGT elucidated unexpected findings; many formalized sessions were not viewed as important. Residents valued elements that allow teambuilding and socialization. This leaves the question as to whether the formal sessions are truly not advantageous or are undervalued by residents despite long-term benefit.
An Instrumented Ultrasound Probe for Shear Wave Elastography With Uneven Force Distribution

An instrumented ultrasound probe system is designed to estimate the distribution of pressure applied across the probe face during image acquisition. The pressure distribution is used to investigate the effects of varying, and non-uniform, pressure distributions on shear wave elastography measurements in phantoms and ex vivo samples. Pressure distribution has a notable effect on shear wave elastography of ex vivo samples. The gradient in applied pressure across the probe face is mirrored in the gradient of elasticity measurements across the ultrasound elastogram image.
Mobile Device Data Analysis to Determine the Demographics of Park Visitors

The systematic gathering of data on visitors to parks and protected areas (PPAs) is an important aspect of adaptive management, but also presents an ongoing challenge to conduct. Visitor questionnaires, often administered at entrance facilities, trailheads and parking areas, are the most common approach, but require significant staff time for field work and analysis and may not be inclusive of all visitors. In this paper, we present a novel, mobile device-based assessment strategy that can determine basic visitor demographic attributes without the need for field-based assessments. We compared results from this strategy to a common, trailhead questionnaire approach in three urban-proximate park locations and generally found similar results, except in a situation where a significant number of visitors may not have entered via the main location, and thus were missed by the survey. Overall, the mobile device strategy is likely more accurate in situations where visitors enter parks from multiple, sometimes informal entry locations, but is also somewhat limited in the types of data available. Subscribe to JPRA
Neo-Behaviorism and Learning Theory

The most persistent advocate of conditioning is undoubtedly E. R. Guthrie. Guthrie considers association by contiguity in time, or “simultaneous conditioning,” the most general law in psychology. “Stimuli acting at the time of a response tend on their recurrence to evoke that response,” he says. Any other type of behavior can be derived from simultaneous conditioning. Especially the processes of learning represent the general law of stimulaneous conditioning or association by contiguity in time of stimuli and responses. “The outstanding characteristics of learning which have been expressed in forms of frequency, intensity, irradiation, temporary extinction, conditioned inhibition, forgetting, forward and backward conditioning, and so on, are all derivable from this more general law,”1 Guthrie believes.
The Circadian Phase Response Curve to Light: Conservation across Seasons and Anchorage to Sunset

Abstract Phototherapy outcomes are dependent on the precision by which the magnitude and direction of light’s circadian phase-shifting effects can be predicted. Such predictions are largely based on photic phase-response curves (PRCs) generated from animals housed under seasonally agnostic equatorial photoperiods with alternating 12-hour segments of light and darkness. Most of the human population, however, lives at northerly latitudes (20-50° N of the Equator) where seasonal variations in the light-dark schedule are pronounced. Here, we address this disconnect by constructing the first high-resolution seasonal atlas for light-induced circadian phase-resetting. Testing the light responses of nearly 4,000 Drosophila at 120 timepoints across 5 seasonally relevant photoperiods (i.e., LD 8:16, 10:14, 12:12, 14:10, and 16:8; 24 hourly intervals surveyed in each), we determined that many aspects of the circadian PRC waveform are conserved with increasing daylength. Surprisingly though, irrespective of LD schedule, the start of the PRCs always remained anchored to the timing of subjective sunset, creating a differential overlap of the advance zone with the morning hours after subjective sunrise that was maximized under summer photoperiods and minimized under winter photoperiods. These data suggest that circadian photosensitivity is effectively extinguished by the early winter morning and out of optimal phase alignment with the wake schedules of many individuals (which revolve around the timing of sunrise regardless of season). They raise the possibility that phototherapy protocols for conditions such as seasonal depression might be improved with programmed light exposure during the final hours of sleep.
A Deep Learning Approach for Discrimination of Single- and Multi-Source Corona Discharges

Insulation system health is crucial for reliable, lifelong operation of almost any electrical apparatus. While many studies have focused on the testing, modeling, and analysis of insulation aging mechanisms, research is needed to overcome new challenges in electric power systems. Fortunately, the progress in data analytics methods has opened up new opportunities to extract information from datasets. This study aims to make use of deep learning algorithms to lay the foundation for an online condition monitoring system that is capable of discriminating single- and multi-source corona discharges. In this article, we report the results of experimental testing and conversion of the data into phase-resolved partial discharge images, which we fed into deep neural networks. We begin by reviewing some of the most successful image recognition models including AlexNet, Inception-V3, residual network (ResNet), and DenseNet. Thereafter, we develop and optimize a ResNet model to achieve the highest accuracy model with the lowest computational cost.
Toe-to-Thumb Transfer

The toe-to-thumb transfer provides the best functional outcome in patients sustaining traumatic amputations of the thumb who desire reconstruction. While it can be used successfully in patients with congenital hypoplastic thumbs, index finger pollicization is often the procedure of choice. Adequate length of the proximal phalanx with preservation of an intact and supple MCP and CMC joint is a prerequisite for a toe-to-thumb transfer. This procedure is technically challenging and should not be attempted by inexperienced surgeons in extremity reconstruction. A successful outcome for this procedure requires detailed knowledge of the structural anatomy. The first webspace needs to be of normal width. Any first webspace contracture needs to be treated well in advance. The first webspace may be addressed with scar excisions, z-plasty, or pedicled flap at least 3 months prior to a toe-to-thumb transfer.
Activation of iGluR5 kainate receptors inhibits neurogenic dural vasodilatation in an animal model of trigeminovascular activation

Background and purpose: Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder involving activation, or the perception of activation, of trigeminovascular afferents containing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Released CGRP from peripheral trigeminal afferents causes dilatation of dural blood vessel, and this is used to measure trigeminal nerve activation. Kainate receptors with the GluR5 subunit (iGluR5, ionotropic glutamate receptor) are present in the trigeminal ganglion and may be involved in nociception. We investigated the possible involvement of prejunctional iGluR5 kainate receptors on CGRP release from trigeminal afferents. Experimental approach: We used neurogenic dural vasodilatation, which involves reproducible vasodilatation in response to CGRP release after electrical stimulation of the dura mater surrounding the middle meningeal artery. The effects of the specific iGluR5 receptor antagonist UBP 302 and agonist (S)-(-)-5-iodowillardiine were investigated on neurogenic and CGRP-induced dural vasodilatation in rats, by using intravital microscopy. Key results: Administration of 10 and 20 mg·kg−1 of iodowillardiine inhibited electrically induced dural vessel dilatation, an effect blocked by pretreatment with 50 mg·kg−1 UBP 302. Administration of the iGluR5 receptor antagonist UBP 302 alone had no significant effect. CGRP (1 mg·kg−1)-induced dural vasodilatation was not inhibited by the iGluR5 receptor agonist iodowillardiine. Conclusions and implications: This study demonstrates that activation of the iGluR5 kainate receptors with the selective agonist iodowillardiine is able to inhibit neurogenic dural vasodilatation probably by inhibition of prejunctional release of CGRP from trigeminal afferents. Taken together with recent clinical studies the data reinforce CGRP mechanisms in primary headaches and demonstrate a novel role for kainate receptor modulation of trigeminovascular activation.
Writing Geospatial Concepts: Assessing Student Knowledge Accrued Through Both Writing‐Intensive and Methods‐Oriented Coursework

While writing is touted as a way to learn, little has been written about the use of writing in courses focused on the geospatial technologies: geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and the Global Positioning System (GPS). This study, therefore, aimed to assess student knowledge gained through two types of coursework, writing-intensive and methods-oriented. The study used a pre-/post-test strategy to measure gains in student knowledge. Results illustrate that student learning took place in both types of courses. The results, while encouraging, point to the need for more refined study of the use of writing in courses on geospatial technologies.
Forest Ecosystem Destruction: A Localized Response to Excessive Air Pollution

Under conditions of excessive exposure, that is, atypically high atmospheric concentrations of one or more contaminants for extended (or continuous) time periods, the impact on forest ecosystems may be very severe and dramatic. This response is designated a Class III interaction. The reaction of vegetation in this case is characterized by severe morbidity and mortality caused directly and unambiguously by air pollutants.
Corruption and Educational Outcomes: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.

Corruption is a problem that continues to plague developed and developing countries worldwide. Previous studies have explored the negative implications of corruption on several aspects of human development, but, despite its serious and long-lasting consequences, the impact of corruption on educational outcomes has started to receive attention only in recent years. This study empirically investigates the relationship between corruption and educational outcomes, using a sample of 50 countries. Study findings show that corruption is negatively associated with educational outcomes, after controlling for other variables, and suggest that continued efforts be made to control corruption.
Functional DNA J domain is required for methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ/DNAJC15)-mediated chemosensitivity

B67 Members of the DNAJ protein family stimulate Hsp70 ATPase activity and target its chaperone activity to participate in many complex biologic processes, such as cell cycle regulation, protein folding and translocation, exocytosis, tumor cell growth, DNA replication and apoptosis. We had previously identified Methylation Controlled J-protein (MCJ/DNAC15) as a downregulated gene in ovarian cancer and showed that clonal lines expressing wild-type MCJ are more sensitive to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in ovarian cancer. However, the subcellular location or the function MCJ is currently unknown. Confocal microscopy of GFP tagged MCJ revealed that it localizes to mitochondria. In order to determine the contribution of MCJ-DNAJ domain in chemoresponse, we generated an inducible system in 293T HEK Flp IN T-Rex cells to express both the wild-type and the mutant MCJ (H124Q), with a mutation within the J domain that abrogates its activity. Cell survival and apoptosis were measured after treatment with cisplatin and paclitaxel in cells following induction. Cell survival analyses revealed that wild-type MCJ expression confers sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Hoechst staining indicates that wild-type MCJ expression potentiates cisplatin and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. In contrast, the H124Q mutation attenuates chemotherapy induced cytotoxicity. The highly conserved histidine residue within the signature tripeptide HPD has been shown to be important for J domain-mediated activation of Hsp70 proteins in other systems. However, MCJ expression does not affect cell cycle distribution. Based on these data, we hypothesize that the DNAJ domain of MCJ may play a role in chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity. Identification of MCJ binding proteins may elucidate the mechanism by which MCJ confers chemosensitivity to agents commonly used to treat ovarian cancer patients.
Simultaneous optimization of variables influencing selectivity and elution strength in micellar liquid chromatography : Effect of organic modifier and micelle concentration

Abstract Previously, the simultaneous enhancement of separation with elution strength was reported in micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) using the hybrid eluents of water—organic solvent—micelles The practical implication of this phenomenon is that better separations can be achieved in shorter analysis times by using the hybrid eluents. Since both micelle concentration and volume fraction of organic modifier influence selectivity and solvent strength, only an investigation of the effects of a simultaneous variation of these parameters will disclose the full separation capability of the method, i.e. the commonly used sequential solvent optimization approach of adjusting the solvent strength first and then improving selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography is inefficient for the case of MLC with the hybrid eluents. This is illustrated in this paper with two examples: the optimization of the selectivity in the separation of a mixture of phenols and the optimization of a resolution-based criterion determined for the separation of a number of amino acids and small peptides. The large number of variables involved in the separation process in MLC necessitates a structured approach in the development of practical applications of this technique. A regular change in retention behavior is observed with the variation of the surfactant concentration and the concentration of organic modifier, which enables a successful prediction of retention times. Consequently interpretive optimization strategies such as the iterative regression method are applicable.
Chemopreventive Effects of RXR-Selective Rexinoid Bexarotene on Intestinal Neoplasia of ApcMin/+ Mice

Retinoid X receptor (RXR) has been implicated in several neoplastic diseases. Previously, we have shown that RXR-α is downregulated in human and rodent colonic tumors, suggesting a potential target for colon cancer prevention (http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/ColonandRectumCancer/DetailedGuide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics). Experiments were designed to assess the chemopreventive efficacy of the selective RXR agonist bexarotene for the suppression of intestinal tumorigenesis in ApcMin/+ mice. Before the efficacy studies, we determined that the maximal tolerated dose in C57BL/6J mice was less than 400 ppm. For the efficacy study, 6-week-old male and female C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ mice (nine mice per group) were fed diets containing 0, 30, and 60 ppm of bexarotene or 200 ppm of bexarotene for 80 days before intestinal tumors were evaluated. Dietary administration of 30 and 60 ppm of bexarotene suppressed the intestinal polyp formation by 38% (P < .015) and 60% (P < .0001) in males, respectively, and by 8.5% and 37% (P < .007) in females, respectively. Also, significant inhibition (50%–100%) of colonic tumor formation was observed in both male and female mice with bexarotene treatment. Administration of 200 ppm of bexarotene showed significant suppression of tumor formation (66%, P < .0001); however, it had significant toxicity. Intestinal tumors of bexarotene-fed mice showed significantly reduced expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (60%, P < .0001), cyclin D1, and cyclooxygenase 2 and increased RXR-α messenger RNA and uptake of oleate (34%, P < .01). Also, bexarotene-fed mice showed dose-dependent suppression of serum triglycerides (25%–72%, P < .0001) and inflammatory cytokines.
Brave new worlds

Using Robert Kennedy's 1966 speech at the University of Cape Town as a method of introduction, the author discusses his experience teaching a comparative U.S. and South African course and provides both the rationale for such a course and the syllabus used in the classroom.
Association of epicardial adipose tissue with cardiometabolic risk and metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with increased prevalence of early cardiovascular disease (1, 2), a major cause of mortality (3). Additionally, the prevalence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, are increased in patients with RA (4). However, the cause of accelerated atherosclerosis in RA is unclear and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease remains higher than that of the general population after consideration of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (1). One potential contributor may be visceral adiposity, particularly epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). Patients with RA are more likely to have central obesity, or visceral adiposity, than control subjects of similar BMI (5). Adipose tissue, particularly visceral adipose tissue, is strongly related to cardiometabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia in the general population and in RA patients (6, 7). EAT, a fat layer between the myocardium and visceral pericardium, is a type of visceral fat that is emerging as an important cardiovascular risk factor (8, 9). This may be because of local inflammation and paracrine effects resulting from the proximity of EAT to coronary vessels and a shared microcirculation with the myocardium (10–14). In the general population, EAT volume is independently associated with obstructive coronary artery plaque and non-calcified atherosclerotic lesions (15), and is an independent predictor of ischemia (16). EAT is associated with insulin resistance (17, 18), and is considered a marker of metabolic syndrome in other populations (19–21). Because it is a rich source of bioactive molecules like inflammatory cytokines and adipokines, EAT is regarded as a potential therapeutic target for treatment of the metabolic syndrome (22, 23). There is little information about EAT in RA. We hypothesized that EAT is a marker of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome, as well as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis in patients with RA. Thus, the purpose of this study was to measure EAT volume in patients with RA and control subjects and determine its relationship with markers of cardiometabolic risk and coronary artery calcium in RA.
Review of Engineering Design, by Rudolph J. Eggert

One of the more difficult tasks in engineering education is to effectively teach the concept of “design.” The design process is very broad and involves a wide range of activities, from abstract thinking to detailed modeling and calculations. In Engineering Design, author Rudolph J. Eggert presents a well-structured and thorough overview of engineering design concepts and methods. A major strength of this book is the presentation of the overall design process, the illustration of the systematic concepts that are involved in every phase of design, and definitions of the terms that are used in design. The author has experience with various organizations, including General Electric, Fisher-Price Toys, Wurlitzer, and the New York State Energy and Development Authority, and that experience with the design process no doubt contributed to the effective organization of this text. The author states that this is a text for undergraduate or firstyear graduate engineering students. He also states that the book has a focus of integrating engineering design with topics about the business of manufacturing. This reviewer teaches civil engineering. In my opinion this textbook might be particularly appropriate for use in senior-level capstone design courses. It is my observation that engineering educators are very good at teaching the science of design. By this I mean they are good at making appropriate engineering calculations once a design concept has been established. However, the more abstract processes of design, such as developing an initial design concept or working with customers, are not as easy to teach. The strength of this textbook is its presentation of a coherent structure for understanding the more abstract processes. In this book Rudolph Eggert provides a systematic description for every phase of the design process. Chapter 3 gives an example of the design of a motorcycle that clearly illustrates the steps involved in developing design concepts. Other examples in the text also use items that students can relate to, including the design of a coffee pot and the manufacturing of bicycles. The discussion of customer satisfaction curves, in Chapters 3 and 8, is particularly useful in terms of providing the basis for the concepts of performance functions and ultimately multicriteria decision analysis techniques. These tools provide a basis for both guiding decisions as well as documenting decisions made during the design process. Chapter 10 covers topics of design failure, safety, and environment that it is crucial to present to engineering students. Finally, Chapter 14 on Projects, Teamwork, and Ethics has some very useful material. While I believe that this would be a textbook strongly worth considering for an engineering capstone design course, as a civil engineer I would have liked some detailed examples of design that relate to large, one-of-a-kind projects. While the material
Wrist Kinematics and Ultrasound Measures of the Median Nerve During Computer Keyboarding

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common, costly problem in the general population and particularly in manual workers [1–3], with as many as 3 million individuals experiencing its symptoms and signs, including pain, tingling, numbness, fatigue and weakness in the hands and fingers [4]. Treatment of CTS is estimated to cost over one billion dollars a year [5]. The most prevalent theory for the pathogenesis of CTS is compression of median nerve in the carpal tunnel [6]. Although this theory is widely accepted, the cause of the compression in the carpal tunnel is not fully understood. Epidemiological research has identified several occupational risk factors associated with the development of CTS in general industry including: force, repetition, awkward/static postures, localized mechanical compression, and vibration [7]. Several studies have found greater prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in workers with highly repetitive manual jobs [8]. Keyboarding is a highly repetitive daily task, and its association with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity has been a public health concern since the 1980s [1]. However, there are controversial results regarding the association between computer keyboarding and CTS which indicate that we have an insufficient understanding of an association between keyboarding and upper limb neuropathy. Using ultrasonographic techniques, our laboratory was able to explore acute changes in the median nerve following a one-hour keyboarding task [9].Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Induction of Antiviral Antibodies by DNA Immunization Requires neither Perforin-Mediated nor CD8+-T-Cell-Mediated Lysis of Antigen-Expressing Cells

DNA immunization induces antibodies to the encoded protein, which indicates that the protein must gain access to the extracellular milieu, allowing it to interact with naive B lymphocytes. It has been suggested that antigen release may be effected by cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-mediated lysis of transfected antigen-expressing cells; this might be particularly important for the induction of responses to a noncytopathic, cytosolic protein. Here we show that the induction of antibody responses to one such DNA-encoded protein required neither perforin nor CD8+ T cells. In addition, there was no skewing of the immunoglobulin G isotypes in the absence of perforin.
Use of an emergency department by nonurgent patients

Objectives: The objectives of this study are (1) to determine whether patients seeking emergency department (ED) nonurgent care have primary care providers (PCP) or know of other care sources and (2) to determine the reasons why they choose to use the ED. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in a university ED was administered to self-referred nonurgent patients for 6 weeks. Use of a PCP, knowledge and attempts to seek other care, past use of the ED, urgency self-report, time of visit, and reasons for choosing an ED were recorded. Results: Of the 563 approached subjects, 314 were eligible and 279 agreed to participate. One hundred fifty-seven (56%) had PCPs. For 183 (66%) subjects, the ED was the only place they knew to go for their present problem, and 75 (27%) reported that they depended on the ED for all medical care. Of those patients with a PCP, 73 (47%) rated the ED better for unscheduled care. Eighty-one (52%) subjects thought their PCP would be more efficient and 66 (42%) thought their PCP would be cheaper. Conclusions: Although most ED nonurgent patients were not dependent upon the ED, the majority was unaware of other places to go for their current health problem. Even those patients with a PCP sought care in the ED because the ED was believed to provide better care despite its perceived increase in both waiting time and cost.
Lanthanum solvent extraction mechanisms using di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid

Abstract The equilibrium extraction mechanism of lanthanum nitrate from aqueous solutions by purified water equilibrated di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid was studied at 25°C through material balance analysis of equilibrium phases. No organic diluent was used, and the lanthanum nitrate concentration in the neutral aqueous phase varied from 10 to 40 per cent by weight. Equilibrium data for lanthanum distributed between di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid and water were gathered and used to determine complex formations and reaction stoichiometry. Infrared spectral analysis of several organic phase samples supported the material balance data and verified the movement of water molecules from the organic phase to the aqueous phase as lanthanum entered the organic layer. Three predominant extraction mechanisms involving pure lanthanum ions and partially nitrated lanthanum ions were prescribed from the experimental data.
Nanoindentation of polymeric thin films with an interfacial force microscope

Abstract The mechanical properties of interphase regions at bi-material interfaces can be quite different from the surrounding bulk materials. For composite materials, this interphase region is usually thin but plays an important role in their overall mechanical properties. Nanoindentation has become a commonly used experimental technique for measuring the mechanical properties of materials, especially when one of the dimensions is small. However, the extraction of reduced elastic modulus from the nanoindentation of thin films on substrates can pose challenges due to the influence of the substrate. In this study, the nanoindentation of thin films on substrates has been examined with a view to extracting the reduced modulus of thin polymer films. Thin films of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (C9H23NO3Si, γ-APS) were deposited on silicon. An interfacial force microscope (IFM) was used to indent the γ-APS films. The effect of the substrate was studied by considering two very different thicknesses ( 4 μm and 46 nm ). The nanoindentation data were analyzed via contact mechanics theories and a finite element analysis that incorporated surface interactions. The analyses showed that nanoindentation experiments can provide reliable values of film modulus when the film is very different from the substrate. It was found that the commonly used rule of thumb that the indentation depth should be less than 10% of the thickness did not eliminate substrate effects for a wide range of material combinations. Instead, it is proposed that the contact radius should be less than 10% of the thickness so that contact mechanics theories for monolithic materials can be used without considering the presence of the substrate. The modulus of γ-APS polymer films and the surface energy between the tungsten tip of the IFM and γ-APS films were extracted and were related to their cure. A completely cured 46 nm thick γ-APS film had a reduced modulus of 3.5±0.5 GPa . This value falls in the usual range for polymers due to the amorphous nature of the γ-APS films.
Seismic response of exterior RC column-to-steel beam connections

The inelastic cyclic response of hybrid connections consisting of RC columns and steel beams (RCS) is studied in this paper. Experimental results from the lateral load testing of nine exterior RCS connections are presented. The primary joint details investigated are two-part U-shaped stirrups passing through holes in the web of the steel beams, steel band plates or cover plates surrounding the joint region, steel fiber concrete or engineered cementitious composite material in the connection, and bearing bars attached to the steel beam. Experimental results indicate that RCS frames are suitable for use in high seismic risk zones. All of the specimens maintained their strength at large levels of story drift without significant loss of stiffness. A joint hoop volumetric ratio of 0.9% was found to be adequate for confinement in RCS joints. However, the amount of joint stirrups can be reduced or even eliminated if steel band plates, engineered cementitious composite material, or fiber reinforced concrete are u...
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Analysis of B1 field profiles and SAR values for multi-strut transverse electromagnetic RF coils in high field MRI applications

In this work, the B1 field homogeneity and specific absorption rate (SAR) values were evaluated for three high-frequency (340 MHz) radio frequency coils designed for use in human magnetic resonance imaging at 8 tesla. Eight-, 16-, and 24-strut transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators were examined both experimentally and with the finite difference time domain numerical method. It was observed that increasing the number of TEM elements acted to lower the maximal achievable frequency of the coil and to increase the experimental complexities associated with tuning and matching. In addition, it is demonstrated from experiment and numerical analysis that the circularly polarized component of the B1 (B1+) field homogeneity in the head improved most from 8- to 16-strut coils. Numerical analysis revealed little difference in terms of SAR distribution between these coils; however, stronger tissue/coil coupling and consequently higher SAR peak values were obtained for the 8-strut case.