cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Milestone Assessment Extending Through Subspecialty Training: The Relationship Between ACGME Internal Medicine Residency Milestones and Subsequent Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship Milestones.

Purpose The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) milestones were implemented across medical subspecialties in 2015. Although milestones were proposed as a longitudinal assessment tool potentially providing opportunities for early implementation of individualized learning plans in fellowship, the association of subspecialty fellowship ratings with prior residency ratings remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the relationship between internal medicine (IM) residency milestones and pulmonary-critical care medicine (PCCM) fellowship milestones. Method A multicenter retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for all PCCM trainees enrolled in ACGME-accredited PCCM fellowship programs in 2017-2018 who had complete prior IM milestone ratings from 2014-2017. Only professionalism and interpersonal and communication skills (ICS) were included based on shared anchors between IM and PCCM milestones. Using a generalized estimating equations model, the association of PCCM milestones ≤ 2.5 during the first year of fellowship with corresponding IM subcompetencies was assessed at each time-point, nested by program. Statistical significance was determined using logistic regression. Results The study included 354 unique PCCM fellows. For both ICS and professionalism subcompetencies, fellows with higher IM ratings were less likely to obtain PCCM ratings ≤ 2.5 during the first fellowship year. Each ICS subcompetency was significantly associated with future lapses in fellowship (ICS01: β = -0.67, P = 0.003; ICS02: β = -0.70, P = 0.001; ICS03: β = -0.60, P = 0.004) at various residency timepoints. Similar associations were noted for PROF03 (β = -0.57, P = 0.007). Conclusions Findings demonstrated an association between IM milestone ratings and low milestone ratings during PCCM fellowship. IM trainees with low ratings in several professionalism and ICS subcompetencies were more likely to be rated ≤ 2.5 during their first year in PCCM fellowship. This highlights a potential use of longitudinal milestones to target educational gaps at the beginning of PCCM fellowship.
The new literacy: Redefining reading and writing in the schools

Originally published in 1990. This book examines the innovative programs that changed the way reading and writing was taught during the previous ten years. Both teacher and critic of the New Literacy programs, the author gives a perspective that allows educators, parents, and other readers to assess the promise of these programs. Examining the work of educators from the USA, UK and Canada, he compares programs from first grade to college that foster a new level of literate engagement and voice in students while creating a less authoritative place in which to learn. The book opens up wider debate about literacy in a society concerned with shifting authority from text and teacher to student.
Fast track article: Gradient-based target localization in robotic sensor networks

Fast target localization without a map is a challenging problem in search and rescue applications. We propose and evaluate a novel gradient-based method which uses statistical techniques to estimate the position of a stationary target. Mobile nodes can then be directed toward the target using the shortest path. Moreover, localization can be achieved without any assistance from stationary sensor networks. Simulation results demonstrate nearly a 40% reduction in target acquisition time compared to a random walk model. In addition, our method can generate a position prediction map which closely matches the actual distribution in the field. Finally, experiments have been performed using MicaZ motes which further validate our techniques.
Abstract 2689: Breast cancer inhibition by a novel and potent biguanide, N1-hexyl-N5-benzyl-biguanide

Metformin is a widely used biguanide diabetes drug that is associated with decreased breast cancer risk and is currently being studied for treatment and prevention of breast cancer. While metformin and biguanides buformin and phenformin exhibit inhibitory activity against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo, they lack potency (IC50=5-20 mM) and their mechanisms of action remain unclear. More potent biguanides may provide insights into biguanide anti-cancer activity and we therefore studied the novel biguanide N1-hexyl-N5-benzyl-biguanide mesylate (HBB), which potently inhibits the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer lines (IC50=20 uM for both lines). HBB induces AMPK phosphorylation in both lines at 10 uM concentration, whereas similarly dosed metformin, buformin or phenformin exhibits no activity. HBB also inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation at 10 uM concentration, whereas metformin dosed at 10 uM exhibits no activity. HBB reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential of both lines, but the effect was more prominent in the MDA-MB-231 line. HBB also induced ROS within 2.5 hours of exposure in the MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 lines and caused rapid necrosis, but not apoptosis. N-acetylcysteine provides partial protection from HBB for MDA-231 line, but not the MCF-7 line. HBB provides proof of principle that highly potent biguanides can be synthesized with at least 250-fold greater potency than metformin, which can provide insights into the cancer inhibitory mechanisms of biguanide drugs. R01 CA113570, Randy Shaver Foundation, CTSI University of Minnesota Citation Format: Zhijun Guo, Kathryn J. Chavez, Juan Alvarez, Xia Zhang, Beverly Norris, Michael Maher, Monique Morgan, Robert J. Schumacher, Rebecca Cuellar, Irina F. Sevrioukova, Thomas L. Poulos, Ilia Denisov, Stephen G. Sligar, Kalpna Gupta, Ian A. Blair, Jorge Capdevila, Ameeta Kelekar, Elizabeth Amin, Gunda Georg, David A. Potter. Breast cancer inhibition by a novel and potent biguanide, N1-hexyl-N5-benzyl-biguanide. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2689. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2689
Neutron-Induced Swelling of Commercial Alloys at Very High Exposures

Density change measurements have been completed on a wide variety of commercially available structural alloys irradiated to neutron fluence levels as large as 2.8 /times/ 10/sup 23/ n/cm/sup 2/ (E > 0.1 MeV) or /approximately/140 dpa in EBR-II at eight temperatures between 399 and 650/degree/C. While there was essentially no swelling in some ferritic alloys and some austenitic superalloys, other austenitic alloys exhibited a wide range of swelling depending on composition, heat treatment and irradiation temperature. The swelling behavior of the austenitic alloy system is shown to reflect primarily the influence of the overall composition and the irradiation temperature on the duration of the transient regime of void swelling, and secondarily to reflect the influence of precipitation and cold work. 16 refs., 6 figs., 5 tabs.
Crystal Structures of Copper(II) Complexes of Some 2-Methyl-8-quinolinols andImplications for their Antifungal Activity

A hypothesis that the geometry of a potential fungicide must be consistent with that of the pores of the fungal spore wall in order to penetrate it and be toxic has been developed. Certain bis(8-quinolinolato)copper(II) complexes seemed to contradict this. To resolve this issue, structures of bis(7-fluoro-8-quinolinolato)copper(II) (1), bis(2-methyl-8-quinolinolato)copper(II) (2), and bis(2-methyl-7-nitro-8-quinolinolato)copper(II) (3) were solved. The ligands of 1 are square planar with copper at the center of symmetry. In 2 and 3 the methyl group at C2 interacts with the other 8-quinolinol ligand, producing a significant distortion of the square planar geometry which causes a rotation about the N-Cu-N axis and allows the molecules to be polar, more compact, and manifest their toxicity. Bis(7-Nitro-8-quinolinolato)copper(II) is square planar and nontoxic.
A neglected sign for roentgenologic diagnosis of intra-abdominal dermoid cyst

Abstract An intraperitoneal tumor which on a radiograph produces an increased translucency instead of a density is highly suggestive of a dermoid cyst. This becomes definite if the tumor wall itself is visualized. These findings will not be noted on an ordinary ovarian cyst or uterine fibroid. Differential diagnosis from lipoma and “gas filled ovarian cyst” is discussed.
Word Order in Spanish and the Nature of Nominative Case

Much of the research on word order in Romance languages lump Spanish and Italian together and contrast them with French. Spanish and Italian, but not French, are said to allow “free inversion” of the subject. This view is based on the fact that “subject post-posing” in French is only possible in the presence of a triggering element, namely an operator in Comp (a wh-word or its trace) or a subjunctive mood (which might also be analyzed as an operator in Comp). Such a construction, illustrated in (1c-e), is known as stylistic-inversion.1
Transformation of polyfluorinated compounds in natural waters by advanced oxidation processes

The presence of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in source and finished drinking waters is a concern with studies showing bioaccumulation and adverse toxicological effects in wildlife and potentially humans. Per/Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as fluorotelomer alcohols have been identified as precursors for PFCAs in biological pathways. In this study, we investigated the fate of 6:2 and 8:2 homologues of the fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids (FTUCAs) during advanced oxidation process (AOPs). Results showed 6:2 FTUCA and 8:2 FTUCA transformed into 6-C PFCA (PFHxA) and 8-C PFCA (PFOA) respectively with very little other PFCA formation for all AOPs. The degradation of 6:2 FTUCA and 8:2 FTUCA was greater in the GW compared to SW for the ozone processes but similar for UV/H2O2. The formation of n-C PFCA followed O3>O3/H2O2 at same dose and UV/H2O2 had much lower formation at the doses tested. Non-targeted analysis with the LC-MS-qTOF indicated the production of other PFCAs which contribute to the total mass balance, although no intermediate product was discovered indicating a rapid and direct transformation from the FTUCAs to the PFCAs and/or significant volatilization of intermediates. With the use of AOPs essential to water reuse treatment schemes, this work raises concerns over the risk of potential formation of PFCAs in the treatment and their adverse health effects in finished drinking water.
Marker assisted selection for the control of rice blast disease

Yulin Jia, Research Molecular Plant Pathologist of the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center. (Email: yjia@spa.ars.usda.gov) outlines the principal application of DNA-based markers that can be used for accelerating the development of blast-resistant cultivars.
Drop size in power law non-newtonian systems

Drop volume studies were made by forming non-Newtonian pseudoplastic drops in a continuous toluene phase and chlorobenzene drops in non-Newtonian continuous phases. Combination of results for these cases enabled development of a correlation for the prediction of non-Newtonian drop volume in a non-Newtonian continuous phase. The development is confined to power law fluids and provides expressions for both long and short nozzles in terms of a two-stage drop formation process. Variables included nozzle size, formation time, and rheological properties from eight non-Newtonian systems in a program of 144 runs. On a fait une etude du volume des gouttes, en formant des gouttes pseudo-plastiques et non-newtoniennes dans une phase continue de toluene et des gouttes de chlorobenzene dans des phases continues et non-Newtoniennes. En associant les resultats obtenus dans les cas precites, on a pu mettre au point une correlation pour predire le volume d'une goutte non-newtonienne dans une phase continue et non-newtonienne; cette correlation ne s'applique qu'aux fluides qui obeissent a la loi d'energie et elle fournit des expressions dans le cas d'ajutages longs et courts, en fonction d'un procede de formation de gouttes en deux etapes. Les variables comprenncut les dimensions de l'ajutage, le temps de formation et les proprietes rheologiques de huit systemes non-newtoniens dans un programme de 144 marches d'essai.
Is it time to reassess colon cancer screening recommendations and acknowledge ethnic disparities

S i I is well documented that African Americans suffer disproportionately higher incidence (68 vs 55 [men], 53 vs 41 [women] per 100,000) and mortality (31 vs 21 [men], 21 vs 14 [women] per 100,000) rates for colorectal cancer (CRC) in comparison with non-Hispanic whites.1 Younger African Americans (aged 40 – 49) are more likely than those aged 50 –59 to develop high-grade dysplasia, have 10.7 more cases of CRC per 100,000 people than Caucasians, have the youngest age of onset, and the most advanced stage of presentation.2 African Americans older than age 75 are at increased risk of adenomas, and the detection rate is even higher among those with a history of advanced adenomas. In addition, African Americans have an increased incidence of proximal colon lesions.3,4 Multiple explanations for these findings have been offered, including organizational, patient-related, and physician-related factors. Lack of access to care, cost, patient preference, and physician recommendations all affect screening rates.5 Biological and genetic predispositions may exist, and behavioral (eg, diet), and environmental influences might contribute to this CRC disparity.6 –11 Regardless of the explanation, African Americans are less likely to participate in and complete CRC screening procedures, resulting in late-stage diagnosis, more difficult treatment, and decreased survival.12 Barriers to screening are numerous, complicated y low perceived need, fear, fatalism, and mistrust, yet the reatest barriers to screening are lack of awareness and a lack f finances, both of which are more apparent in different ocioeconomic groups. While multiple causes are considered to explain the disparties among ethnic groups, multiple interventions have been roposed to correct these disparities. A common response is a creening promotion program offered in primary care health enters and community-based settings that addresses perceived roblems in access, such as cost and transportation, and enlist articipation from volunteer doctors, other health care profesionals, and staff. In addition, programs and policies that are ulturally appropriate for each socioeconomic group have been roposed and educational programs for primary care doctors nd public educational campaigns are promoted. Interventions o overcome fear and misconceptions about cancer and other
Computational simulation of the interactions between moving rigid bodies and incompressible two-fluid flows

Abstract We present a two-dimensional computational flow solver for simulation of two-way interactions between moving rigid bodies and two-fluid flows. The fluids are assumed to be incompressible and immiscible. The two-step projection method along with Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) acceleration is employed to solve the flow equations. The fluid–solid interaction is captured by using the fictitious domain method. A consistent mass and momentum scheme is implemented, which allows for simulation of multiphase flows characterized by large density ratios. The evolution of interfaces in the three-phase system is tracked by using the volume-of-fluid method with two scalar functions, representing the solid domain and one of the fluids. A geometrical approach is employed to reconstruct the interfaces in cells containing three phases and capture the intersection of phase interfaces (triple point). The performance and accuracy of the flow solver are assessed through a set of canonical test cases. Then, it is used to simulate the interactions between a free-floating buoy and waves generated by a bottom-hinged paddle in a wave tank.
Human Factors in the Epidemiology of Malaria in the Brazilian Amazon

1979 Alternatives to Modem Health Delivery Systems in Africa: Public Policy Issues of Traditional Health Systems. In African Therapeutic Systems. Z. Ademuwagun, J. Ayoade, I. Hamson, and D. Warren, eds. Pp. 191-196. Waltham: Crossroads. Harrison, I. E. 1979 Traditional Healers: A Neglected Source of Health Manpower. In African Therapeutic Systems. Z. Ademuwagun, J. Ayoade, I. Harrison, and D. Warren, eds. Pp. 197-201. Waltham: Crossroads. MacCormack, C. 1986 The Articulation of Western and Traditional Systems of Health Care. In The Professionalisation of African Medicine. M. Last and G. Chavunduka, eds. Pp. 15 1-162. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Reynolds, P. 1986 The Training of Traditional Healers in Mashonaland. In The Professionalisation of African Medicine. M. Last and G. Chavunduka, eds. Pp. 165-187. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Stephan J. 1983 Patterns of Legislation Concerning Traditional Medicine. In Traditional Medicine and Health Care Coverage: A Reader for Health Administrators and Practitioners. R. Bannerman, J. Burton and C. Wen-Chieh, eds. Pp. 290-3 13. Geneva: World Health Organization. TMPCA (Traditional Medical Practitioners Council Act) 1981 Publication No. 38. Harare: Government Printing Office. Ushewokunze, H. 1984 An Agenda for Zimbabwe. Harare: College Press.
Age-related changes in the degeneracy of the mouse T-Cell repertoire

Aging is associated with a decline in T-cell-dependent immune responses. As the number of T-cells remains relatively constant throughout life, the observed decline in T-cell function may reflect qualitative changes in the T-cells themselves or in the composition of the T-cell population. In this investigation, the quality of the T-cell response was studied in young-adult and aged B6C3F1 mice by assessing the degeneracy of the hapten-specific proliferative response to the antigen-MHC complex. Degeneracy was defined as the ability of lymph node cells from mice contact-sensitized to the hapten TNP to proliferate in response to in vitro stimulation with haptenated allogeneic antigen-presenting cells, thus escaping strict MHC restriction. It was found that, although degeneracy occurred in both age groups, it was more prevalent and of a greater magnitude in the young than in the old lymphocytes. These results suggest that there are qualitative differences in T-cell populations derived from young-adult and aged mice.
Algorithms for subpixel edge reconstruction

For a staring-array imaging system the location of a scene edge can be reconstructed by digital techniques to a sub- pixel scale even if the image data is blurred, undersampled and noisy. In this paper three algorithms are presented for solving this sub-pixel edge reconstruction problem. The performance of these algorithms is analyzed by extensive model-based simulations using a comprehensive image formation system model that accounts for blurring, noise and sampling.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Transverse jets and their control

Abstract The jet in crossflow or transverse jet has been studied extensively because of its relevance to a wide variety of flows in technological systems, including fuel or dilution air injection in gas turbine engines, thrust vector control for high speed airbreathing and rocket vehicles, and exhaust plumes from power plants. These widespread applications have led over the past 50+ years to experimental, theoretical, and numerical examinations of this fundamental flowfield, with and without a combustion reaction, and with single or multi-phase flow. The complexities in this flowfield, whether the jet is introduced flush with respect to the injection wall or from an elevated pipe or nozzle, present challenges in accurately interrogating, analyzing, and simulating important jet features. This review article provides a background on these studies and applications as well as detailed features of the transverse jet, and mechanisms for its control via active means. Promising future directions for the understanding, interrogation, simulation, and control of transverse jet flows are also identified and discussed.
Pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in paediatric patients with uncontrolled seizures.

Summary Purpose: The pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in paediatric patients with uncontrolled seizures was studied. Methods: Thirteen paediatric patients (mean age: 9·4 years) with uncontrolled partial seizures were included. Patients received gabapentin orally until doses were individualized to 9·6–39·8 mg/kg/day. Blood samples were obtained just prior to the dose and over 8 h after gabapentin was administered in the fasting state. The plasma concentration of gabapentin was measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters for gabapentin were determined by non-compartment methods using multivariate regression analysis. Results: Data from nine patients were suitable for pharmacokinetic analysis. The Cmax from 0·9 to 5·8 μg/mL (mean: 2·6 ± 1·7 μg/mL) and Tmax from 0·5 to 2·0 h (mean: 1·6 ± 1·0 h). The apparent clearance (Cl/F) ranged from 0·12 to 1·12 L/h/kg (mean: 0·50 ± 0·29 L/h/kg), and the elimination half-life from 3·2 to 12·2 h (mean: 5·5 ± 0·8 h). Five patients experienced moderate (n = 4) to severe (n = 1) aggressive behaviour and another gained weight on gabapentin. Conclusions: Our data suggests that gabapentin pharmacokinetics can vary substantially among paediatric patients. Gabapentin was well tolerated in patients with uncontrolled partial seizures up to 6 months of therapy.
Jupiter's zone-belt structure at radio wavelengths. I - Observations

VLA maps of Jupiter's thermal emission at 1.3, 2, 6, and 20 cm wavelengths are presented. The resolution at the four wavelengths is 0.218, 0.075, 0.108, and 0.144 Jovian radii, respectively. Bright bands across the disk are clearly visible at 2 and 6 cm. These bands agree with the dark belts seen at optical and the bright bands seen at infrared wavelengths.
A SINGLE CRYSTAL Ge(Li) CONVERSION-COEFFICIENT SPECTROMETER.

Abstract We discuss the design and operation of a conversion-coefficient spectrometer in which a single small Ge(Li) crystal serves as the detector both for γ-rays and conversion electrons. We show a calibration curve for our detector and discuss both its advantages and faults as compared with a spectrometer that uses separate detectors for γ-rays and electrons.
Binge Eating Disorder: Identification and Management

Binge eating disorder is a new diagnostic entity that refers to a pattern of recurrent binge eating episodes without the regular use of compensatory behaviors. Effective identification and management of binge eating disorder is important because of the distress experienced by individuals with the problem and because of the impact that binge eating disorder can have on physical health, particularly through its relationship with obesity. Identification can be facilitated with basic awareness of the demographic, behavioral, and psychological correlates of binge eating disorder, and by routinely asking patients appropriate questions. Research on treatment of binge eating disorder is still in its infancy, but we provide empirically based treatment recommendations. We describe a stepped-care approach for managing binge eating disorder in health care settings. Low-intensity interventions include physical activity, pure self-help, and nutritional counseling or self-help behavioral weight loss. Middle-intensity options are guided self-help and brief cognitive-behavioral therapy. Lastly, high-intensity treatments include group or individual psychotherapy, structured behavioral weight loss programs, and medication. Research findings on the effectiveness of self-help treatments for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder raise hope for the possibility of managing binge eating problems in nonspecialty, primary care settings.
Antitumor 2-(aminocarbonyl)-1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)- hydrazines.

Several 2-(aminocarbonyl)-1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazines were synthesized and primarily evaluated for antitumor activity against the murine L1210 leukemia. All of the compounds tested were capable of producing “cures” of mice bearing this tumor. One of the most active agents of this class, 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[[(2-chloroethyl)amino]carbonyl]hydrazine, was further evaluated against a spectrum of transplanted murine and human solid tumors. Pronounced activity was found against all of the tumors including the murine B16F10 melanoma, M109 lung carcinoma, M5076 reticulum cell sarcoma, and the human LX-1 lung carcinoma. The activities observed compared favorably with those of the established antitumor drugs, cyclophosphamide, mitomycin C, and the nitrosoureas, evaluated concomitantly.
Multimodal image registration of ex vivo 4 Tesla MRI with whole mount histology for prostate cancer detection

In this paper we present novel methods for registration and subsequent evaluation of whole mount prostate histological sections to corresponding 4 Tesla ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) slices to complement our existing computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for detection of prostatic adenocarcinoma from high resolution MRI. The CAD system is trained using voxels labeled as cancer on MRI by experts who visually aligned histology with MRI. To address voxel labeling errors on account of manual alignment and delineation, we have developed a registration method called combined feature ensemble mutual information (COFEMI) to automatically map spatial extent of prostate cancer from histology onto corresponding MRI for prostatectomy specimens. Our method improves over intensity-based similarity metrics (mutual information) by incorporating unique information from feature spaces that are relatively robust to intensity artifacts and which accentuate the structural details in the target and template images to be registered. Our registration algorithm accounts for linear gland deformations in the histological sections resulting from gland fixing and serial sectioning. Following automatic registration of MRI and histology, cancer extent from histological sections are mapped to the corresponding registered MRI slices. The manually delineated cancer areas on MRI obtained via manual alignment of histological sections and MRI are compared with corresponding cancer extent obtained via COFEMI by a novel registration evaluation technique based on use of non-linear dimensionality reduction (locally linear embedding (LLE)). The cancer map on MRI determined by COFEMI was found to be significantly more accurate compared to the manually determined cancer mask. The performance of COFEMI was also found to be superior compared to image intensity-based mutual information registration.
Temperature and excitation dependence of photoluminescence line shapein InAs/GaAs quantum-dot structures

We report measurements of the temperature and intensity dependence of photoluminescence from self-organized InAs quantum dots grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on GaAs(100). At low temperatures we observed a reduction in the emission linewidth with increasing temperature that is followed by an increase in the linewidth at higher temperatures. We have also found that the photoluminescence spectra from our samples undergo an asymmetric temperature-dependent blueshift with increasing pump intensity. The dependence of the photoluminescence spectra on the temperature and degree of excitation are explained in terms of a competition between a saturable confined-electron to confined-hole transition and an excited-state transition involving the ground confined-electron state and the two-dimensional hole continuum associated with the wetting layer. At high excitation levels the photoluminescence spectra appear to be dominated by the wetting layer transition.
Transient random interaction of dam reservoir systems

Abstract A simple gravity dam-reservoir system is selected for studying the interaction of structure-fluid systems under nonstationary random excitation. For an idealized random excitation with a zero start and a white power spectrum, the transient response mean square for the structural displacement is obtained by a simple time domain approach. Using this transient solution the random interaction effect is examined in detail. This transient interaction effect is important because it simulates random and time dependent earthquake ground accelerations.
A chick embryo model for the study of allograft rejection.

Discussion and SummaryThe data presented here indicate that fragments of heart tissue from outbred chick embryo donors of 5–14 days of incubation may be successfully grafted to the CAM of chick embryos which are 8 days of incubation or older. The cardiac tissue becomes vascularized, continues to grow and continues contractions which rhythmically expel blood from the vascular channels. The CAM of embryos younger than 13 days of incubation do not accept the grafts. Rejection of the grafts in more than 90% of the embryos can be effected by administration of peripheral blood lymphoid cells from outbred chickens. Washed cells obtained from the spleens of chickens can also bring about graft rejection but experiments comparing lymphoid cells from the spleen and the blood of the same chicken showed that the blood lymphoid cells are consistrntly more effective in producing rejection The incidence of rejection reactions is directly related to the cell dosage. Conversely the number of surviving. rhythmically contrac...
Quantitative trait loci underlying resistance to sudden death syndrome (SDS) in MD96-5722 by ‘Spencer’ recombinant inbred line population of soybean

The best way to protect yield loss of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] due to sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium virguliforme (Aoki, O’Donnel, Homma & Lattanzi), is the development and use of resistant lines. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked to SDS help developing resistant soybean germplasm through molecular marker-assisted selection strategy. QTL for SDS presented herein are from a high-density SNP-based genetic linkage map of MD 96-5722 (a.k.a ‘Monocacy’) by ‘Spencer’ recombinant inbred line using SoySNP6K Illumina Infinium BeadChip genotyping array. Ninety-four F5:7 lines were evaluated for 2 years (2010 and 2011) at two locations (Carbondale and Valmeyer) in southern Illinois, USA to identify QTL controlling SDS resistance using disease index (DX). Composite interval mapping identified 19 SDS controlling QTL which were mapped on 11 separate linkage group (LG) or chromosomes (Chr) out of 20 LG or Chr of soybean genome. Many of these significant QTL identified in one environment/year were confirmed in another year or environment, which suggests a common genetic effects and modes of the pathogen. These new QTL are useful sources for SDS resistance studies in soybean breeding, complementing previously reported loci.
Kinetic and magnetic resonance studies of substrate binding to galactose oxidase copper(II).

Abstract Alcohol substrate binding to the copper-containing enzyme galactose oxidase (GOase) has been studied by kinetic competition against cyanide and fluoride, 13 C nmr relaxation, and esr competition experiments. The 13 C nmr spectra of the substrate β-O-methyl- d -galactopyranoside (β-O-me-gal) show no apparent paramagnetic relaxation rate enhancement that could be attributed to innersphere equatorial binding of this molecule at the Cu(II) center. Moreover, the kinetics observed when CN − or F − are used as inhibitors of GOase with β-O-me-gal as the substrate suggest that these anions act as apparent noncompetitive inhibitors; the binding of the substrates β-O-me-gal and O 2 is not hindered per se, but the catalytic activity of the enzyme substrate complex is greatly decreased. The esr competition data also confirm that, in the absence of O 2 , CN − and β-O-me-gal do not compete for the same GOase binding site. Previously reported esr and 19 F nmr data show that CN − binds to the GOase Cu(II) at an equatorial coordination site, as does the F − detected in esr experiments. Thus, the results from the various competition experiments support a model in which alcohol substrates bind outersphere to the GOase Cu(II), or, possibly, to an axial site.
Contact kinematics of biomimetic scales

Dermal scales, prevalent across biological groups, considerably boost survival by providing multifunctional advantages. Here, we investigate the nonlinear mechanical effects of biomimetic scale like attachments on the behavior of an elastic substrate brought about by the contact interaction of scales in pure bending using qualitative experiments, analytical models, and detailed finite element (FE) analysis. Our results reveal the existence of three distinct kinematic phases of operation spanning linear, nonlinear, and rigid behavior driven by kinematic interactions of scales. The response of the modified elastic beam strongly depends on the size and spatial overlap of rigid scales. The nonlinearity is perceptible even in relatively small strain regime and without invoking material level complexities of either the scales or the substrate.
Preferences for involvement in medical decision-making: situational and demographic influences

We examined desires to be involved in decisions about one's own medical treatment in a sample of 459 health maintenance organization members. Demographic variables (age, sex and education level) that have been found to be related to decision preferences were also tested. As predicted, respondents expressed a desire to be involved in decisions that do not require medical expertise, but had significantly lower preferences for involvement in decisions that required medical expertise. Younger and better-educated individuals reported a higher desire for involvement, but there were no sex differences in preferences. The higher desire for involvement in decisions not requiring medical knowledge was found both for groups that traditionally have wanted involvement and for those that have not. The implications of the results for patient participation in decision-making are discussed.
Differential dissection of the rat E16 ventral mesencephalon and survival and reinnervation of the 6-OHDA-lesioned striatum by a subset of aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive TH neurons

The retinoic acid-generating enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase (AHD), is expressed in a subpopulation of dopaminergic neurons found in the substantia nigra. Using AHD and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) as immunohistochemical markers, we determined whether differential dissection of the embryonic (E16) ventral mesencephalon (VM) into its lateral and medial portions contributed equally to the number of TH cells surviving transplantation, if grafted AHD/TH neurons reinnervate the host striatum according to their normal projection patterns, and examined the functional recovery caused by the implanted cells as assessed by amphetamine-induced rotation in a 6-OHDA-lesioned model of Parkinson's disease. The embryonic tissue was transplanted as solid pieces injected via a 20-gauge lumbar puncture needle into the center of the deafferented striatum. Groups received either one complete ventral mesencephalic piece (VM), two medial pieces of ventral mesencephalic tissue (MVM), or two lateral pieces of ventral mesencephalic tissue (LVM). Both VM and MVM groups showed a significant decrease in amphetamine-induced rotation over time and, there was no difference in the degree of reduction observed between the two groups. Histological evaluation of the transplants revealed a much larger total number of surviving TH cells in grafts from the VM and MVM groups compared to the LVM group. Surviving AHD/TH neurons were found in all groups. Whereas TH staining of the transplanted striatum displayed a halo of graft-derived fibers all around the transplant and integration of these fibers into the host neuropil, AHD staining showed a preferential reinnervation of the dorsolateral striatum corresponding to the normal projection pattern of AHD/TH neurons. In summary, selective dissection of the embryonic ventral mesencephalon is possible, functional recovery as assessed by amphetamine-induced rotation in animals transplanted with MVM is similar to that seen in animals grafted with VM, and AHD/TH neurons have a selective reinnervation pattern in the PD transplantation paradigm. These findings may have implications for the grafting of fetal mesencephalic tissue in PD patients.
CT angiographic imaging characteristics of thoracic idiopathic aortitis

Abstract Background Idiopathic aortitis (IA) is characterized by giant cell or lymphoplasmacytic inflammation of aorta without a secondary cause. Objective We undertook a retrospective case–control study to identify characteristic CT angiographic findings in these patients and to correlate them with known atherosclerotic risk factors. Methods IA cases and controls with noninflammatory aneurysm (control group I) and patients with secondary aortitis (control group II) were identified with a pathology database. Preoperative CT angiographic images of thoracic aorta were reviewed. Diameter of thoracic aorta, wall thickness, and calcification were measured at various sites. Traditional atherosclerotic risk factors were identified from case records and included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking. Results Twenty-two idiopathic aortitis cases were compared with 18 patients in control group I and 16 patients in control group II. No differences were found in prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, but hyperlipidemia was more prevalent in the control group I than in cases (72% vs 36%; P = .03). Current smoking was more prevalent in cases (24%) than for patients in control group I (6%) and group II (19%) but not statistically significant ( P = .18 and .69, respectively). Thoracic aortic diameters at various points were significantly larger in cases than for patients in control group I. Calcification was more frequent in cases than for patients in control group II. No differences in wall thickness were found. No meaningful correlation was observed between atherosclerotic risk factors and aortic diameter and calcification scores. Conclusions Patients with IA have significantly larger and more diffuse dilatation of the thoracic aorta than patients with noninflammatory aneurysms.
Reduction of Fluorescence Background in Raman Spectra by the Pulsed Raman Technique

The pulsed Raman technique utilizing a Q-switched frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser and a pulse-activated nanosecond photon-counting detection system has been used to reduce the fluorescence background in Raman spectra when the fluorescence-pump lifetime is much shorter than the duration of the laser output pulse. A fluorescence discrimination factor shows the improvement of the Raman signal-to-noise ratio obtained with pulsed Raman over cw Raman. Dark-current-limited operation can be virtually eliminated using the pulsed Raman technique. When applied to a sample of Mn-doped ZnSe using an uncooled 1P28 photomultiplier and about 10 mW of average laser power at 532 nm, a 60-count/s fluorescence peak of 125-μs lifetime, observed with a 200-μs detection interval, was reduced by a factor of ≳60 with a 1-μs detection interval. The computed factor is 63.
Effect of cyclophosphamide on experimental staphylococcus infection in the rat.

A COMMON drawback associated with the use of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drugs is an increased susceptibility to infection1–4. This can be attributed, at least in part, to leucopenia5,6, hypogammaglobulinaemia7 and impairments of the normal processes of phagocytosis8 and the primary antibody response9–11. It was recently demonstrated that the antineoplastic agent cyclophosphamide depresses the production of interferon12 and causes higher peak titres of EMC virus in the mouse13, thus producing a striking increase in mortality. We now report that treatment of rats with Cyclophosphamide produces a rapidly increasing bacteriaemia together with significant bacterial proliferation within various organs following experimental infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
A quantitative physical model for the band-to-band tunneling-induced substrate hot electron injection in MOS devices

A quantitative physical model for band-to-band tunneling-induced substrate hot electron (BBISHE) injection in heavily doped n-channel MOSFETs is presented. In BBISHE injection, the injected substrate hot electrons across the gate oxide are generated by impact ionization by the energetic holes which are left behind by the tunneling electrons and become energetic when traveling across the surface high-field region in silicon. The finite available distance for the holes to gain energy for impact ionization is taken into account. A previously published theory of substrate hot electron injection is generalized to account for the spatially distributed nature of the injected electrons. This model is shown to be able to reproduce the I-V characteristics of the BBISHE injection for devices with different oxide thicknesses and substrate dopant concentration biased in inversion or deep depletion. Moreover, it is shown that the effective SiO/sub 2/ barrier height for over-the-barrier substrate hot electron injection is more accurately modeled. >
3D luminescent photonic crystal structures

We report the fabrication of photonic crystal phosphors by atomic layer deposition and the subsequent removal of self-assembled opal templates. ZnS:Mn and TiO2 inverse opals as well as ZnS:Mn/TiO2 composite inverse opals were formed. Shifts in the G-L photonic band gap positions were confirmed by reflectivity and transmission measurements and were consistent with photonic band structure calculations. The peak positions confirm that filling terminates at ~86% of the pore volume in agreement the maximum possible filling fraction for the "shell" infiltration of an opal structure. For TiO2 depositions, SEM and AFM analysis reveals ultra-smooth highly conformal films. In addition, infiltration control to < 1 nm was achieved, making fine-tuning of PC properties possible. Significant changes were observed in the emission characteristics for composite ZnS:Mn/TiO2 photonic crystals. This work demonstrates that precisely controlling the placement of materials is possible by ALD, enabling the fabrication of "optimized" structures, including those which modify emission properties.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sequential products of quantum subtests

The sequential product A o B of two subtests A and B on a sequential σ-effect algebra E with an order determining set of σ-states is defined. The concepts of sharp, compatible and coexistent subtests are defined. It is shown that a subtest is repeatable if and only if it is sharp. It is also shown that if A is sharp and A, B coexist, then A and B are compatible. A partial order on subtests is defined using the notion of refinement. It is shown that if A is sharp, then the infimum A Λ B exists if and only if A and B are compatible and in this case A Λ B = A o B. A generalization of a stochastic matrix called a transition effect matrix (TEM) on E is defined. A TEM is then used to describe a quantum Markov chain. These chains possess two types of natural dynamics called state and matrix dynamics. It is demonstrated that these two types of dynamics are statistically equivalent.
The static temperature distribution of a thermoelement with temperature varying parameters

Abstract A new method of solving the differential equation which describes the performance of the thermoelectric generator with temperature-dependent material properties is presented. The static temperature distribution is calculated by the use of Jacobi Expansion. The influence of the Thomson effect on the temperature distribution is studied.
Application of the molecular orbital ω-technique to aromatic substitution

Abstract The ω-technique of the simple MO method is found to provide a reasonably good correlation with the available experimental data on partial rate factors of nitration of alternant and non-alternant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Maskless imaging of dense samples using pixel super-resolution based multi-height lensfree on-chip microscopy

Lensfree in-line holographic microscopy offers sub-micron resolution over a large field-of-view (e.g., ~24 mm2) with a cost-effective and compact design suitable for field use. However, it is limited to relatively low-density samples. To mitigate this limitation, we demonstrate an on-chip imaging approach based on pixel super-resolution and phase recovery, which iterates among multiple lensfree intensity measurements, each having a slightly different sample-to-sensor distance. By digitally aligning and registering these lensfree intensity measurements, phase and amplitude images of dense and connected specimens can be iteratively reconstructed over a large field-of-view of ~24 mm2 without the use of any spatial masks. We demonstrate the success of this multi-height in-line holographic approach by imaging dense Papanicolaou smears (i.e., Pap smears) and blood samples.
Ultra-High Quality Factor Microdisk Resonators for Chipscale Visible Integrated Photonics

Ultra-high-quality (Q>4x106) microdisk resonators are demonstrated in a Si3N4platform at 655nm with curved in-plane coupling waveguides on a Si substrate. Critical coupling to different radial modes is demonstrated using pedestal layer to control coupling.
Relays, base stations, and meshes: enhancing mobile networks with infrastructure

Networks composed of mobile nodes inherently suffer from intermittent connections and high delays. Performance can be improved by adding supporting infrastructure, including base stations, meshes, and relays, but the cost-performance trade-offs of different designs is poorly understood. To examine these trade-offs, we have deployed a large-scale vehicular network and three infrastructure enhancement alternatives. The results of these deployments demonstrate some of the advantages of each kind of infrastructure; however, these conclusions can be applied only to other networks of similar characteristics, including size, wireless technologies, and mobility patterns. Thus we complement our deployment with a demonstrably accurate analytical model of large-scale networks in the presence of infrastructure.Based on our deployment and analysis, we make several fundamental observations about infrastructure-enhanced mobile networks. First, if the average packet delivery delay in a vehicular deployment can be reduced by a factor of two by adding x base stations, the same reduction requires 2x mesh nodes or 5x relays. Given the high cost of deploying base stations, relays or mesh nodes can be a more cost-effective enhancement. Second, we observe that adding small amount of infrastructure is vastly superior to even a large number of mobile nodes capable of routing to one another, obviating the need for mobile-to-mobile disruption tolerant routing schemes.