cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Working memory training for adult glioma patients: a proof-of-concept study.

CogMed Working Memory Training (CWMT) is a computer-based program shown to improve working memory (WM) among those with cognitive impairments. No study to date has investigated its feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction in adult patients with glioma, despite the well-documented incidence of WM impairment in this population. Twenty patients with glioma and objective and/or perceived WM deficits enrolled in the study: 52% high-grade, 60% female, Mage = 47 (range = 21–72 years). Adverse events were monitored to determine safety. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed based on established metrics. Satisfaction was explored by exit-interviews. Neurocognitive tests and psychological symptoms were analyzed at baseline and post-CWMT to estimate effect sizes. Of 20 enrolled patients, 16 completed the intervention (80% retention rate). Reasons for withdrawal included time burden (n = 2); tumor-related fatigue (n = 1) or loss to follow-up (n = 1). No adverse events were determined to be study-related. Adherence was 69% with reasons for nonadherence similar to those for study withdrawal. The perceived degree of benefit was only moderate. Baseline to post-CWMT assessments showed medium to large effects on neurocognitive tasks. Psychological symptoms remained stable throughout the study period. CWMT was found to be safe and acceptable in adult patients with glioma. Enrollment, retention rates, and treatment adherence were all adequate and comparable to studies recruiting similar populations. Only moderate perceived benefit was reported despite demonstrated improvements in objectively-assessed WM. This may indicate that the time commitment and intervention intensity (5 weeks of 50-min training sessions on 5 days/week) outweighed the perceived benefits of the program. (Trial Registration Number: NCT03323450 registered on 10/27/2017).
Love, Hate, and Controversy in a School District: A Teacher Couple’s Messy Divorce:

Teachers who are married to other teachers within a school district often experience their personal life events in full view of the school community. How should a principal respond when a math teac...
TU-CD-BRD-01: Making Incident Learning Practical and Useful: Challenges and Previous Experiences

It has long been standard practice in radiation oncology to report internally when a patient’s treatment has not gone as planned and to report events to regulatory agencies when legally required. Most potential errors are caught early and never affect the patient. Quality assurance steps routinely prevent errors from reaching the patient, and these “near misses” are much more frequent than treatment errors. A growing number of radiation oncology facilities have implemented incident learning systems to report and analyze both errors and near misses. Using the term “incident learning” instead of “event reporting” emphasizes the need to use these experiences to change the practice and make future errors less likely and promote an educational, non-punitive environment. There are challenges in making such a system practical and effective. Speakers from institutions of different sizes and practice environments will share their experiences on how to make such a system work and what benefits their clinics have accrued. Questions that will be addressed include: • How to create a system that is easy for front line staff to access • How to motivate staff to report • How to promote the system as positive and educational and not punitive or demeaning • How to organize the team for reviewing and responding to reports • How to prioritize which reports to discuss in depth • How not to dismiss the rest • How to identify underlying causes • How to design corrective actions and implement change • How to develop useful statistics and analysis tools • How to coordinate a departmental system with a larger risk management system • How to do this without a dedicated quality manager Some speakers’ experience is with in-house systems and some will share experience with the AAPM/ASTRO national Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System (RO-ILS). Reports intended to be of value nationally need to be comprehensible to outsiders; examples of useful reports will be shown. There will be ample time set aside for audience members to contribute to the discussion. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn how to promote the use of an incident learning system in a clinic. 2. Learn how to convert “event reporting” into “incident learning”. 3. See examples of practice changes that have come out of learning systems. 4. Learn how the RO-ILS system can be used as a primary internal learning system. 5. Learn how to create succinct, meaningful reports useful to outside readers. Gary Ezzell chairs the AAPM committee overseeing RO-ILS and has received an honorarium from ASTRO for working on the committee reviewing RO-ILS reports. Derek Brown is a director of TreatSafely.org . Brett Miller has previously received travel expenses and an honorarium from Varian. Phillip Beron has nothing to report.
Manifolds without $$ \tfrac{1} {k} $$ -geodesics

We will show that for any positive integer k, there exists a smooth manifold that has no \( \tfrac{1} {k} \)-geodesic.
Data Analysis, Specification, and Estimation of an Aggregate Relationship for Sales of Natural Gas per Customer

It is shown in this paper that attention to data issues is able to shed additional light on a much studied market using data, which while not the best, is frequently the type of data available for study. The appropriate use of heating degree day data for such analysis is treated in detail. Regression diagnostics are used as tools for analysis. The ex­ amination of the interaction between data issues, the historical context of the data, and residual anal­ ysis can result in new and informative ways of spec­ ifying a relationship. Results in this study and in a similar study are also compared.
CONSTRICTION OF THE DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS. EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS IN THE NEWBORN LAMB.

Summary The reactivity of the ductus arteriosus in response to changes in blood oxygen saturation was studied in newborn lambs. The ductus arteriosus constricted when the blood oxygen saturation was raised and dilated when it was lowered. This relationship was not altered by the elimination of all systemic venous return from the animal nor by the exclusion of fetal blood and the fetal heart from the preparation. The effects of any remotely produced humoral intermediary were thus excluded and a direct action of increased blood oxygen saturation on the wall of the ductus was demonstrated.
Development of SyNRAC

We present newly implemented functions in SyNRAC, which is a Maple package for solving real algebraic constraints derived from various engineering problems. The current version of SyNRAC has added quantifier elimination (QE) by cylindrical algebraic decomposition (CAD), a general QE procedure. We also show a visualization tool for representing the possble region of an output quantifier-free formula for the two-dimensional case.
Probing RNA structure and function by nucleotide analog interference mapping.

Nucleotide analog interference mapping (NAIM) can be used to simultaneously, yet individually, identify structurally or catalytically important functional groups within an RNA molecule. Phosphorothioate-tagged nucleotides and nucleotide analogs are randomly incorporated into an RNA of interest by in vitro transcription. The phosphorothioate tag marks the site of substitution and identifies sites at which the modification affects the structure or function of the RNA molecule. This technique has been expanded to include identification of hydrogen bonding pairs (NAIS), ionizable functional groups, metal ion ligands, and the energetics of protein binding (QNAIM). The analogs, techniques, and data analysis used in NAIM are described here. Keywords: RNAM; phoshphorothioate, nucleotide analog interference mapping
7 Postisoprenylation protein processing: CXXX (CaaX) endoproteases and isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the progress in understanding the “postisoprenylation” processing of CXXX proteins—the endoproteolytic processing step and the carboxyl methylation step. For much of the 1990s, getting a handle on these steps was slow, at least when compared with the rapid progress in understanding the protein isoprenyltransferases, and there was uncertainty about their physiologic importance. More recently, however, there have been exciting advances in understanding these steps, making it an attractive time to review this area. In a landmark study, Boyartchuk, Ashby, and Rine identified two genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae , RCEl and AFCl, that are involved in the proteolytic removal of the “-XXX” from two farnesylated CXXX proteins (Ras2p and the precursor to the yeast mating pheromone a-factor). This breakthrough made it possible to mine the expressed sequence tag (EST) databases and clone the mammalian orthologs for RCEl and AFCl. The chapter provides an overview of earlier work describing the endoproteolysis and carboxyl methylation enzymatic activities, as well as newer work on the identification of the gene products responsible for the endoproteolysis and carboxyl methylation steps in yeast and mammals.
Design optimization of integer lifting DWT circuitry for implantable neuroprosthetics

Neuroprosthetics can benefit greatly from area and power efficient signal processing circuitry suitable for implanting alongside miniature neural probes that interface to the nervous system. This work identifies an optimal VLSI architecture for computing a 1-dimensional multilevel discrete wavelet transform for multiple electrode channels simultaneously. The architecture is based on the lifting-scheme for wavelet computation and integer fixed-point precision for real-time processing under constraints imposed by implantability requirements. Two different computational node designs have been explored and compared to identify an optimal approach that minimizes power and chip area for a given number of levels and channels. Results demonstrate that on-chip computation is feasible prior to data transmission.
Surface diffusion in sodium dodecyl sulfate-stabilized thin liquid films

The surface dynamics of the fluorescent anionic surfactant 5-N-(octadecanoyl) aminofluorescein in microscopic, suspended thin films stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) have been investigated by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. The data revealed that the surface of common black films is in a highly dynamic state and that fluorophore mobility is due to diffusion rather than to flow. The influence of viscosity on film drainage, thickness, and dynamics was investigated with solutions containing glycerol. The rate of film drainage was reduced under these conditions and the limiting thickness of the drained film was significantly increased. The diffusion coefficient of surface-adsorbed fluorophore decreased with increasing viscosity, confirming the presence of an interaction between the surface film and the interlamellar liquid. However, the dependence of lateral diffusion on the reciprocal of bulk viscosity was nonlinear.
Use of Spinal Anesthesia Does Not Reduce Intraoperative Blood Loss

Objectives To determine whether the use of spinal anesthesia (versus general anesthesia) will result in lower intraoperative blood loss for radical retropubic prostatectomy. Methods The patients’ charts for one urologist from July 1999 through June 2005 were obtained and reviewed. The data extracted included demographic and perioperative data, including operative time, estimated blood loss, and length of stay. Results A total of 1084 charts of radical retropubic prostatectomy patients were obtained and reviewed. No difference was found in the demographic or perioperative data between those who received spinal or general anesthesia. Patients who received spinal anesthesia actually had a greater mean intraoperative blood loss than those who received general anesthesia (1125.9 ± 576.0 mL versus 1005.7 ± 518.5 mL, P = 0.60). Conclusions Our results suggest that the type of anesthesia (spinal versus general) does not significantly influence the extent of intraoperative blood loss.
Portal vein thrombosis and outcomes for pediatric liver transplant candidates and recipients in the United States

The effect of occlusive portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on the mortality of pediatric liver transplant candidates and recipients is poorly defined. Using standard multivariate techniques, we studied the relationship between PVT and waiting-list and posttransplant survival rates with data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (September 2001 to December 2007). In all, 5087 liver transplant candidates and 3630 liver transplant recipients were evaluated during the period. PVT was found in 1.4% of the liver transplant candidates (n = 70) and in 3.7% of the liver transplant recipients (n = 136). PVT was not associated with increased wait-list mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-2.4, P = 0.77]. Conversely, PVT patients had a significantly lower unadjusted survival rate in the posttransplant period (P = 0.01). PVT was independently associated with increased posttransplant mortality in multivariate models (30-day survival: HR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.6-5.3, P = 0.001; overall survival: HR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.4, P = 0.01). The presence of PVT in pediatric liver candidates was not associated with increased wait-list mortality but was clearly associated with posttransplant mortality, especially in the immediate postoperative period.
Nitrate assimilation in tobacco leaves treated with maleic hydrazide to control axillary bud growth

After removal of the upper stalk containing the developing inflorescence and small expanding leaves (<20 cm) of burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), maleic hydrazide (MH) is used to control axillary bud growth (suckers) and enhance economic yield. Maleic hydrazide has numerous physiological effects on tobacco; many represent delayed or secondary effects on plant metabolism and may affect chemical composition of leaves. The effects of MH level (0, 0.17, 0.34, and 0.68 g plant-1) on the in situ assimilation of nitrate and other selected physiological traits of the second leaf from the top in plants grown in 1989 and 1990 were determined at weekly intervals for 3 wk beginning approximately 10 d after the MH application. Total chlorophyll in laminal tissue decreased as MH level increased; this response to MH became increasingly pronounced with time. The dry weight of the second leaf from the top increased with time, but differences in leaf weight due to treatment were not significant. Leaf total N and nitrate concentrations of the lamina averaged across both years and three sampling dates decreased with increasing MH level. However, in situ assimilation of nitrate was unaffected by MH. Differences in leaf N concentrations due to MH are partly the consequence of greater leaf dry weight accumulation and possibly to decreased uptake and partitioning of nitrate rather than nitrate assimilation. The slightly lower levels of nitrate in the upper leaves of MH-treated burley tobacco should be a desirable benefit of chemical suppression of suckers, because lower levels of tissue nitrate are often associated with decreased production of nitrosamines in cigarette smoke.
Investigating temporal properties of covert shifts of visual attention using the attentional walk task

The attentional walk task was used to investigate the temporal properties of covert shifts of attention. Observers shifted attention within arrays of identical items in response to a series of auditory commands and reported the color of the final disk. The density of the arrays and the timing of the shift commands varied. Performance decreased as density increased, and the minimal amount of time needed to shift attention depended on the density of the display, varying from 350 to 750 msec. In addition, the observers were able to maintain attentional focus for at least 3,500 msec without a decline in performance, regardless of density. Thus, although the ability to maintain attention at a given position was found to be independent of the precision with which that location was defined, more precise attentional shifts required more time to execute.
Saccade latency and warning signals: Effects of auditory and visual stimulus onset and offset

Previous studies have found that a nonspecific visual event occurring at the fovea 50–150 msec after the onset of a peripheral target delayed the initiation of the saccade to that target. The present studies replicated and extended this finding by studying the effects of both visual and auditory warning signals, by examining the effects of onset and offset warning on manual response latency, and by investigating the effects of presenting the warning events in the periphery of the visual field. The results indicated that the interfering effects occur with visual but not auditory stimuli, with saccades but not motor responses, and when the visual warning event occurs either foveally or in the subject’s periphery. Implications for the processes involved are discussed.
Morphometric analysis of platyrrhine femora with taxonomic implications and notes on two fossil forms

Abstract Postcranial elements have been relatively neglected in primate evolutionary studies, especially for platyrrhine primates. We have analyzed 38 variables of the femur in 92 specimens of fossil and extant platyrrhines to determine patterns of shape affinity for comparison with other, more traditional information. Callitrichids∗ and advanced cebids were separated along a morphological continuum bridged by the more generalized cebids (Cebus, Callicebus, Saimiri, Aotus). Callitrichids were very closely interrelated and included Callimico as an integral member. Pithecines (Pithecia, Chiropotes and Cacajao) and atelines (Ateles, Brachyteles, Lagothrix plus Alouatta) form two clusters with considerably greater intra-group variability, inferentially related to the great adaptive radiation and changes undergone by these groups. Two fossil specimens, Homunculus and Cebupithecia, are significantly divergent from all extant ceboids but are nearest callitrichids, lying at the extreme callitrichid pole as that grade is contrasted with cebids.
Atomic geometries of zincblende compound semiconductor surfaces: Similarities in surface rehybridizations

Abstract Atomic geometries of zincblende compound semiconductor surfaces are reviewed in the light of recent work done on (111) and (311) GaAs surfaces. The geometries derived from low-energy electron diffraction and from energy-minimization calculations, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy data on the surface electronic transitions indicate that the microscopic structures of the (110), (111)-A and (311)-B surfaces have common features and suggest that similar bond rehybridization mechanisms dominate atomic displacements at these surfaces.
Mechanisms of trace element deposition from the free atmosphere to surfaces in a remote High Sierra Canyon

Abstract Field experiments to determine size distributions and deposition rates of airborne K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Pb were conducted in Thompson Canyon, California (elevation 3000 m) during 1976 and 1977 in order to study deposition mechanisms at this remote site. The data suggest that sedimentation accounts for most of the deposition of the first six elements on smooth, flat surfaces in winds of 2 m s−1, but that turbulent inertial deposition becomes more important at greater windspeeds. Pb is found in smaller particle sizes and is less influenced by sedimentation. The data and associated calculations also suggest that inertial impaction plays a dominant role in transporting these elements to pine needle surfaces in the canyon.
Fabrication of Complex Crystals Using Kinetic Control, Chemical Additives, and Epitaxial Growth

The growth kinetics of crystals of bis(imidazolium 2,6-dicarboxypyridine) M (II) dihydrate, where M = Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, and Mn, were studied in situ using atomic force microscopy. The aspect ratios of specific crystal facets were found to vary systematically with changes in the total concentration of the three components in this crystal system, which can be explained in terms of the growth kinetics at the (100) and (011) faces. Furthermore, inclusion of chemical additives in the growth solutions altered both the habit and faceting of these crystals. Crystallographic analysis of the molecular packing revealed a mechanism by which changes in the habit and faceting occur in the presence of chemical additives. This mechanism was exploited to facet selectively the (001) face for epitaxial studies between crystals containing different metal (II) ions. Epitaxial deposition of crystalline layers containing one metal (II) ion onto the (001) face of a crystal substrate containing a different metal (II) ion was found ...
Interband absorption due to dipole coupling and interference in isolated quantum-wire structures

We present a self-consistent field theory and numerical calculations for a set of temperatures and electron densities for the interband absorption coefficient and the frequency-dependent refractive index for an array of isolated quantum wires. The peaks in the absorption coefficient correspond to interband transitions, resulting in the resonant absorption of light. The peaks in the refractive index are slightly redshifted from those in the absorption coefficient because the former involve both the real and imaginary parts of the response function, whereas the latter is directly proportional to the imaginary part of the response and inversely proportional to the refractive index. There is interference between the real and imaginary parts when the derivative of the absorption coefficient is taken with respect to frequency, which greatly modifies the line shape in the absorption spectrum. The oscillations in the derivative spectrum are due to the quantization of the energy levels related to the in-plane confining potential for such reduced dimensional systems. There are appreciable changes in the absorption spectrum when the electron density or temperature is increased. One interband transition peak is suppressed in the high electron density limit and the thermal depopulation effect on the electron subbands can be easily seen when the temperature is high. We also find that the exciton coupling weakens the shoulder features in the absorption spectrum. This paper is relevant to optical characterization techniques.
Tactual and visual concept identification.

Summasy.-128 male and female Ss participated in a study in which information processing efficiencies for the visual and tactual modalities were compared. With the same set of stimulus objects used for the 2 modalities no difference between visual and tactual concept identification (CI) was obtained. Significant interactions were found between S's sex, relevant dimensions, and similarity of stimulus levels. Independent measures of the salience and discriminability of the stimulus dimensions were obtained in an attempt to relate these factors to CI performance. Recently studies of information processing in modalities other than vision have appeared. Auditory concept identification has been studied in several recent experiments, e.g., Bulgarella and Archer (1962), Pishkin and Blanchard ( 1964), Pishkin and Shurley ( 1965 ) . More recently Wolfgang ( 1969) reported a study involving tactual information processing in which the tactual and visual modalities were compared. However, as Wolfgang pointed out, his experiments contained tasks in which the information to be processed in the two modalities did not arise from the same stimulus objects. With Wolfgang's ap proach a problem arises because it is not possible to separate the effects on performance of information processing factors per se from those sources of influence related to the use of different stimulus objects. The major purpose of the present experiment was to compare tactual and visual information processing where the information is provided by a single set of objects whose stim~ilus dimensions can be discriminated both visually and tactually. In addition, independent measures of stimulus salience, defined in terms of the order in which stimulus features are mentioned, and discriminability were obtained. It was anticipated that these measures might help in examining performance within and between modalities. METHOD
Evaluation of Right and Left Ventricular Diastolic Filling

A conceptual fluid–dynamics framework for diastolic filling is developed. The convective deceleration load (CDL) is identified as an important determinant of ventricular inflow during the E wave (A wave) upstroke. Convective deceleration occurs as blood moves from the inflow anulus through larger-area cross-sections toward the expanding walls. Chamber dilatation underlies previously unrecognized alterations in intraventricular flow dynamics. The larger the chamber, the larger becomes the endocardial surface and the CDL. CDL magnitude affects strongly the attainable E wave (A wave) peak. This underlies the concept of diastolic ventriculoannular disproportion. Large vortices, whose strength decreases with chamber dilatation, ensue after the E wave peak and impound inflow kinetic energy, averting an inflow-impeding, convective Bernoulli pressure rise. This reduces the CDL by a variable extent depending on vortical intensity. Accordingly, the filling vortex facilitates filling to varying degrees, depending on chamber volume. The new framework provides stimulus for functional genomics research, aimed at new insights into ventricular remodeling.
Addimer diffusion along the trough between dimer rows on Si(001)

Abstract The diffusion pathways along the trough on the Si(001) surface are investigated by tight-binding molecular dynamics calculations using the environment-dependent tight-binding silicon potential and by ab-initio calculations using the Car–Parrinello method. A new diffusion pathway is discovered, consisting of rotation of the addimer. The energy barrier is calculated to be 1.22 eV per dimer, which is in excellent agreement with the experiment.
Application of a Special Yield Stress Strain Rate Law to Structural Impulse Problems

ABSTRACT This paper presents approximate solutions to the dynamic response of three impulsively loaded structures: a wire with an impulsively loaded end mass, an impulsively loaded circular ring, and a cantilever beam with a tip mass subjected to an impulsive load at its tip. The material is assumed to be rigid, perfectly plastic with strain rate sensitivity. A proposed power law form of yield stress strain rate relationship is used to simplify the theoretical development. Numerical solutions are presented for mild steel and are compared with previously published results. Elastic effects and wave propogations are ignored.
Schizophrenia and the mirror system: an essay ☆

We analyze how data on the mirror system for grasping in macaque and human ground the mirror system hypothesis for the evolution of the language-ready human brain, and then focus on this putative relation between hand movements and speech to contribute to the understanding of how it may be that a schizophrenic patient generates an action (whether manual or verbal) but does not attribute the generation of that action to himself. We make a crucial discussion between self-monitoring and attribution of agency. We suggest that vebal hallucinations occur when an utterance progresses through verbal creation pathways and returns as a vocalization observed, only to be dismissed as external since no record of its being created has been kept. Schizophrenic patients on this theory then confabulate the agent. © 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Modulation of Ten-Eleven Translocation 1 (TET1), Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH) Expression, α-Ketoglutarate (α-KG), and DNA Hydroxymethylation Levels by Interleukin-1β in Primary Human Chondrocytes

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) generated by ten-eleven translocation 1–3 (TET1–3) enzymes is an epigenetic mark present in many tissues with different degrees of abundance. IL-1β and TNF-α are the two major cytokines present in arthritic joints that modulate the expression of many genes associated with cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis. In the present study, we investigated the global 5-hmC content, the effects of IL-1β and TNF-α on 5-hmC content, and the expression and activity of TETs and isocitrate dehydrogenases in primary human chondrocytes. The global 5-hmC content was found to be ∼0.1% of the total genome. There was a significant decrease in the levels of 5-hmC and the TET enzyme activity upon treatment of chondrocytes with IL-1β alone or in combination with TNF-α. We observed a dramatic (10–20-fold) decrease in the levels of TET1 mRNA expression and a small increase (2–3-fold) in TET3 expression in chondrocytes stimulated with IL-1β and TNF-α. IL-1β and TNF-α significantly suppressed the activity and expression of IDHs, which correlated with the reduced α-ketoglutarate levels. Whole genome profiling showed an erasure effect of IL-1β and TNF-α, resulting in a significant decrease in hydroxymethylation in a myriad of genes including many genes that are important in chondrocyte physiology. Our data demonstrate that DNA hydroxymethylation is modulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines via suppression of the cytosine hydroxymethylation machinery. These data point to new mechanisms of epigenetic control of gene expression by pro-inflammatory cytokines in human chondrocytes.
Ammonothermal Crystal Growth of Germanium and Its Alloys: Synthesis of a Hollow Metallic Crystal

Elemental germanium and other metals, including Cu, In, Ag, Bi, Sn, and In, are transported under acidic ammonothermal conditions from the hot zone of a sealed quartz tube to the cool zone, where both crystalline and amorphous materials can deposit. Red amorphous Ge deposits when finely divided Ge that is covered with surface oxide is used along with NH4Br mineralizer. When the Ge feedstock is mixed with other metals or metal salts prior to heating, crystals of intermetallic compounds can be grown. Hexagonal crystals of a Cu−Sn−Ge alloy, Cu3Ge, [Sn6O8Ge(NH3)]n, and unusual hollow crystals of a Ag−Sn−Ge alloy were obtained from these reactions.
Forward Time Domain Ground Penetrating Radar Modeling of Scattering from Anomalies in the Presence of Steel Reinforcements

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) for nondestructive testing is applied to civil infrastructure such as bridges and roadways. Conventional methods of processing and analyzing GPR data for civil infrastructure are often qualitative, using relative reflection amplitude from subsurface boundaries or reinforcing steel (rebars) as an indicator of health. A Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulation of GPR is used to generate a bridge deck response of a heterogeneous model of a healthy bridge deck. The result is a healthy deck background that can be removed from measured data to bring anomalies to attention. For the purpose of this article, the measured data is also simulated. In lieu of modeling the identified rebars as perfect electrical conductors (PECs), they are modeled as hard point source excitations to allow for examination of the effect that the scattered waves from the rebar can have on an anomaly. This is an important consideration for application of many inversion methods.
Familial Influences on Adolescent Delinquent Behavior

A path model was tested to examine a modified version of coercion theory. Results suggested that family cohesion is a salient issue in adolescent delinquent behavior, particularly as mediated by involvement with deviant peers.
Optical properties and cross-sections of biological aerosols

There is an urgent need to develop standoff sensing of biological agents in aerosolized clouds. In support of the Joint Biological Standoff Detection System (JBSDS) program, lidar systems have been a dominant technology and have shown significant capability in field tests conducted in the Joint Ambient Breeze Tunnel (JABT) at Dugway Proving Ground (DPG). The release of biological agents in the open air is forbidden. Therefore, indirect methods must be developed to determine agent cross-sections in order to validate sensor against biological agents. A method has been developed that begins with laboratory measurements of thin films and liquid suspensions of biological material to obtain the complex index of refraction from the ultraviolet (UV) to the long wave infrared (LWIR). Using that result and the aerosols' particle size distribution as inputs to Mie calculations yields the backscatter and extinction cross-sections as a function of wavelength. Recent efforts to model field measurements from the UV to the IR have been successful. Measurements with aerodynamic and geometric particle sizers show evidence of particle clustering. Backscatter simulations of these aerosols show these clustered particles dominate the aerosol backscatter and depolarization signals. In addition, these large particles create spectral signatures in the backscatter signal due to material absorption. Spectral signatures from the UV to the IR have been observed in simulations of field releases. This method has been demonstrated for a variety of biological simulant materials such as Ovalbumin (OV), Erwinia (EH), Bacillus atrophaeus (BG) and male specific bacteriophage (MS2). These spectral signatures may offer new methods for biological discrimination for both stand-off sensing and point detection systems.
Mnemonic Device for Relating the Eight Thermodynamic State Variables: The Energy Pie.

A mnemonic device, the energy pie, is presented that provides relationships between thermodynamic potentials (U, H, G, and A) and other sets of variables that carry energy units, TS and PV. Methods are also presented in which the differential expressions for the potentials and the corresponding Maxwell relations follow from the energy pie.
Experimental validation of physico-chemical models of effective diffusion in chromatographic columns packed with superficially porous particles

The effective diffusion coefficient of a non-retained compound (uracil) was measured with the peak parking (PP) method for two series (4.6 mm×100 mm and 2.1 mm×100 mm) of six replicate columns packed with the same batch of superficially porous 2.6μm Kinetex-C18 particles. The abilities of four different models of effective diffusion in packed beds to account for the experimental data are compared. These models include the conventional Knox time-averaged model, the extension to molecular diffusion of the Landauer electrical conductance model, the Garnett diffusion model for the inclusion of core-shell spheres down to infinitesimal small sizes, and the stochastic Torquato model for a random dispersion of spheres in contact. The choice of a non-retained compound for this purpose is justified by the facts that the diffusivity of this compound through the porous shell can be estimated independently from its internal porosity derived from inverse size-exclusion chromatography (ISEC) data, that the internal obstruction factor can be assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) using the spin-echo pulsed field-gradient method, and that the hindrance diffusion factor can be estimated with either the Renkin or the Brenner correlations. The experimental effective diffusion coefficient of uracil was found to be in excellent agreement with the value predicted by Knox semi-empirical model, in good agreement with those predicted by Torquato and Landauer models while the Garnett model failed definitely. In conclusion, the longitudinal diffusion terms of columns packed with core-shell particles cannot yet be accurately predicted by any of the sophisticated, physically relevant models of effective diffusion actually available in the scientific literature.
Endogenous adenosine does not activate ATP-sensitive potassium channels in the hypoxic guinea pig ventricle in vivo

BACKGROUND The activation of ATP-sensitive K+ (K+ ATP) channels by K+ ATP openers, eg, pinacidil, hypoxia, and ischemia, is known to shorten the ventricular action potential. Since adenosine is released in increased amounts during cardiac hypoxia and ischemia, the hypothesis that endogenous adenosine activates K+ ATP channels was tested in vivo in a guinea pig model. METHODS AND RESULTS Anesthetized animals (n = 37) were subjected to transient acute global hypoxia by ventilation with 100% N2. Monophasic action potentials (MAP) were recorded in ventricular and atrial myocardium by use of custom-made Ag/AgCl electrode catheters. In addition, right atrial and left ventricular electrograms as well as systemic arterial blood pressure were monitored throughout the experiments. Under normoxic conditions, pinacidil (1.8 microgram/kg i.v., n = 8), a K+ ATP channel opener, shortened ventricular MAP duration (APD); this effect was reversed by glibenclamide, a potent K+ ATP channel blocker, but not by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT), a potent A1-selective adenosine antagonist. Global hypoxia shortened atrial and ventricular APD. Glibenclamide but not CPT reversed this effect of hypoxia on ventricular but not atrial MAP. CPT but not glibenclamide reversed the effect of hypoxia on atrial MAP. In addition, CPT delayed the appearance of the atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction block associated with global hypoxia. Finally, the ability of CPT to selectively attenuate A1-adenosine receptor-mediated effects of adenosine agonists in ventricular and supraventricular tissues was confirmed in 17 animals. CPT reversed the negative dromotropic effect of adenosine on AV nodal conduction and the antiadrenergic effect of N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) mediated by A1-adenosine receptor but not the adenosine-induced decrease in systemic blood pressure caused by the vasodilatory action of the nucleoside mediated by A2-adenosine receptor. CONCLUSIONS (1) Endogenous adenosine released during global cardiac hypoxia mediates, in part, AV nodal conduction delay and shortening of atrial but not ventricular APD. (2) The action of adenosine on atrial APD is mediated by A1 adenosine receptors, probably via IK,Ado,Ach. (3) Endogenous adenosine apparently does not play an important role in the early stages of acute global hypoxia-induced activation of K+ ATP channels. The present results are consistent with the hypothesis that the shortening of ventricular APD in the hypoxic heart is due, in part, to activation of K+ ATP channels.
Isolation of 5,8-oxyretinoic acid from rat intestinal mucosa.

Abstract Polar metabolites of retinoic acid accumulate in the intestine of vitamin A-deficient rats 3 h after administration of 450 μg of [11,12- 3 H]retinoic acid. Using new Chromatographic procedures developed for the purification of vitamin A metabolites, a major polar derivative of retinoic acid was isolated from intestine in pure form as its methyl ester and positively identified as 5,8-oxyretinoic acid.
Animal Models to Assess the Effects of Air Pollutants on Allergic Lung Disease

: Animal models provide toxicologists with useful tools for assessing risks associated with respiratory allergy. Both the mouse and BN rat models described exhibit many of the features of human allergic asthma. It is clear that environmental contaminants can exacerbate the expression of these features. Work is under way to explore underlying mechanisms and to develop methods for applying these data to human health risk assessment.
1D and 2D Monte Carlo Simulations of Pulsed Laser Ablation of Si/Ga Into Ar/O2 with a Substrate

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is applied to the problem of pulsed laser deposition in both ID and 2D axisymmetric simulations. A source of target atoms expands into a cylindrical volume containing a background gas at room temperature and pressures up to 100 mTorr in the presence of a diffusely reflecting substrate. At regular intervals, the density and temperature of each species are computed. Particle flux and energy per particle incident on the substrate are also monitored as functions of time. The simulation results qualitatively compare, well with experimental plume diagnostics, with measured film growth rates as a function of background gas pressure, and with measured changes in film growth stoichiometry resulting from the introduction of a background gas into a two-component PLD system.
Breast Ductal Lavage for Assessment of Breast Cancer Biomarkers

Lavage of the ductal systems of the breast provides fluid (ductal lavage fluid, DLF) containing hormones and products of hormone actions that may represent more accurately the composition of the breast than samples collected from blood or urine. The present study was undertaken to assess the presence of potential cancer biomarkers, their variation among individuals at high risk for breast cancer, and differences associated with menopause and tamoxifen treatment. Seventy seven tamoxifen-eligible subjects with a 5-year breast cancer risk estimate (Gail > 1.6%; N = 53) or recently diagnosed breast cancer (N = 24) were offered tamoxifen therapy; those not accepting tamoxifen were under observation only. After 6 months, all subjects underwent ductal lavage (DL) in an unaffected breast. Estradiol (E2), estrone sulfate, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, progesterone, cathepsin D, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were measured in ductal lavage fluid (DLF) by immunoassays. Data were expressed as the mass of analyte per milligram of protein in DLF and normalized by natural log transformation. With the exception of DHEA, none of the analytes measured were significantly lower in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. The mean loge concentration difference in estradiol was 10.9%. Tamoxifen treatment for 6 months did not result in a significantly greater concentration of E2 or in any of the other analytes in DLF of pre- or postmenopausal women. The between-duct variance of the concentration of free steroids within the same breast averaged 51% less than that between subjects, and was similar to that of non-diffusible proteins. The maintenance of estradiol concentrations in the breast after menopause demonstrates the importance of local biosynthesis. The fact that DLF E2 does not reflect the high serum concentrations of E2 during tamoxifen treatment indicates that breast concentrations of estradiol may be under feedback control. Unlike studies of low risk populations, progesterone concentrations were not significantly less in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. The similarity in variance of free steroids and protein analytes between ducts of a breast indicates little transfer of steroids between lobules.
Soluble derivatives of the β amyloid protein precursor in cerebrospinal fluid Alterations in normal aging and in Alzheimer's disease

We isolated and sequenced a soluble ∼25 kDa amino-terminal derivative of the β amyloid protein precursor (βAPP) that is readily detected in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In CSF samples from 24 Alzheimer9s disease (AD) patients and 12 controls, we then quantitated this ∼25 kDa form as well as the ∼125 and ∼105 kDa derivatives that we previously identified. Our analysis shows (1) that, in AD, there is a significant decrease in the relative amount of the ∼105 kDa form and a corresponding significant increase in the relative amount of the ∼25 kDa form; (2) that these changes correlate with the mental status of the AD patients; and (3) that the same changes occur to a lesser extent in elderly as compared with young control patients. These observations indicate that processing of the βAPP changes in normal individuals as they age and to a greater extent in those who develop AD. The changes in βAPP derivatives that we have observed in CSF could have major implicataions because they may reflect fundamental mechanisms responsible for amyloid deposition and can be measured in living patients.
Trends in the Nursing Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Process: A National Survey

The doctoral comprehensive or qualifying examination (CE/QE) is a traditional rite of passage into the community of scholars for the nursing profession. This exploratory, descriptive cross-sectional study examined trends in the process, timing, and methodology of comprehensive and qualifying examinations in nursing doctoral programs in the United States. Administrators from 45 schools responded to an online survey from 27 states across the country (37% response rate). Participants reported wide variations in the process. The most common method of implementation was the written take-home test (47%), two thirds of which had a subsequent oral examination. Eleven survey respondents (24%) reported using a form of the traditional written, timed, on-site examination; however, only 4 of these also followed up with an oral defense. Nine schools (20%) moved to a requirement for a written publishable paper; three schools consider the written proposal and its defense as the CE/QE. Approximately half had changed their policy in the past 5 years. With the increase in nursing doctor of philosophy programs over the past decade, information is needed to facilitate the development of methods to achieve program outcomes. An understanding of national CE/QE trends can provide a starting point for discussion and allow innovative ideas to meet the need of individual programs.
Longitudinal study of acculturation and BMI change among Asian American men

Abstract Background Cross-sectional studies examining the association between Western acculturation and BMI in Asians have been inconsistent, and studies on BMI change are lacking. Objective This study examined the associations between indicators of acculturation (generational status, length of US residence, and age at immigration) and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) as well as 5-year BMI changes in 7,073 Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese men who lived in the US and were 44–71 years old at baseline of the California Men's Health Study (2002–2003). Methods Indicators of acculturation were reported at baseline. Repeated clinical measures of BMI were extracted from electronic health records (2005–2012). Results Using generalized estimating equations we found that lower generational status, shorter duration of US residence and older age at immigration were inversely associated with being overweight. However, analysis of BMI curves using linear mixed models showed that shorter length of US residence and older age at immigration were associated with larger 5-year increases in BMI. Conclusions Asian immigrants who were less acculturated had larger BMI increases as they became more acculturated but had not achieved overweight status. Healthy weight interventions among Asians immigrants may be most effective when targeting weight maintenance early in the process of acculturation.
MOVING BED CHROMATOGRAPHY

Moving bed chromatography, and simulated moving bed chromatography has been known for over 50 years, but has recently become important in the isolation of pure substances where the components are very similar, as in the case of enantiomers and in the isolation of substances which would be difficult or impossible by other means. The first example of moving bed chromatography was in the separation of pure acetylene from methane oxidation products, reported in 1956. Subsequently, in 1958, the separation of pure benzene from coal gas was described using gas liquid chromatography and a moving bed system. The movement of solely the chromatographic packing proved difficult to control and an alternative method using circular columns with moving ports to simulate the moving bed proved to be partially successful. Eventually, the circular columns were replaced by a group of static packed columns connected in series by a rotary valve that simulated a moving bed. This device proved very successful and was developed fu...