cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using MODIS snow cover and precipitation data to model water runoff for the Mokelumne River Basin in the Sierra Nevada, California (2000–2009)

article i nfo Climate change will affect snowpack and water supply systems in California, and methods for predicting daily stream flow help prepare for these changes. This research provides a daily model to predict stream flow based on snow cover and precipitation in the Mokelumne River Basin in the Sierra Nevada in California. The snow cover of the Mokelumne River Basin is monitored using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images. Using data from these images as well as precipitation data from 2000 to 2009, we produced a predictive statistical model. The final results show that with an R 2 of 0.71, the true natural flow (TNF) of the Mokelumne River is based on the daily area of snow cover in each of seven equal area elevation zones according to the time lag of that zone as well as the accumulated precipitation functioning as a proxy for snow depth. The capability of this model to predict water supply suggests the potential for developing new spatial hydrologic informational products based on MODIS and the probability of improving the accuracy of the prediction of hydrologic processes for water resource managers.
Silicates and germanates at high pressure

Abstract Thermochemical and phase equilibrium data for high pressure transitions in silicates and germanates are summarized. The kinetics and mechanisms of these transitions are discussed.
CO2‐welded venous anastomosis: Enhancement of weld strength with heterologous fibrin glue

The milliwatt CO2 laser was used to perform end-to-end anastomoses in canine jugular veins. There was a high disruption rate (50%) in laser-welded veins (n = 10). Fibrin glue (n = 17), formed from human fresh-frozen plasma, enhanced the weld strength decreasing the disruption rate (18%), resulting in an 82% patency which nearly equaled the contralateral sutured vein patency (93%). The bursting strength was improved with fibrin glue. Transmural necrosis was present initially in all groups but extended for a longer distance in the vessel wall in laser-welded anastomoses. Sutured anastomoses exhibited a greater inflammatory response. In laser-welded anastomoses endothelial cells were not as confluent as in sutured anastomoses by six weeks. Carbon dioxide laser-welded end-to-end vein anastomoses appear to be impractical because they disrupt too easily. However, the addition of heterologous fibrin glue to the weld results in a reasonably strong anastomosis with histologic properties that may be beneficial in vein bypass grafts.
Extreme sea level events at Hawaii: Influence of mesoscale eddies

[1] The highest daily mean sea levels recorded at the Honolulu Harbor tide gauge occurred during September 2003. Examination of tide gauge, satellite altimeter, and hydrographic measurements in the region indicate that the extreme event was largely due to an anticyclonic eddy with offshore amplitude of about 15 cm and a diameter of 300 km. The eddy propagated from approximately 3,000 km to the east over a one- to two-year period. Although eddies of this size are not uncommon at Hawaii, the September 2003 sea level was extreme because the eddy coincided with high periods in both the seasonal and decadal cycles, and because sea level at Honolulu has been rising at ∼1.5 cm/decade for the past century. This long-term trend has increased the impact of short-term events on coastal sea level. Prediction of such events requires real-time altimeter data and improved modeling near Hawaii.
Spectroradiometric Determination of the Freezing Temperature of Gold

A direct spectroradiometric determination of the temperature of freezing gold was performed by measuring the spectral radiances of a gold blackbody relative to those of a laser-irradiated integrating sphere which was calibrated with absolute silicon detectors and an electrically calibrated radiometer. The measurements were performed at three laser wavelengths near 600 nm, and the temperature of the blackbody was calculated by substituting the measured spectral radiances into Planck's radiation formula. The result obtained, TAu=(1337.33± 0.34) K, is 0.25 K below the gold-point assignment in the International Practical Temperature Scale of 1968 (IPTS-68) and has been adopted in September 1990 as the new gold-point value in the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). The effect of this change in the gold-point assignment on pyrometric, radiometric, and photometric measurement services provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology is assessed.
Emergency department thoracotomy

Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) is defined as a thoracotomy performed in the emergency department for patients who are in extremis. The goals of the procedure are to treat pericardial tamponade, control hemorrhage, treat systemic air embolism, perform open cardiac massage and temporarily occlude the thoracic aorta. The lack of clarity in the medical literature, the need for rapid intervention in those patients deemed appropriate for the procedure, the life and death nature of the decision, and the low but finite functional survival rates following EDT for trauma, have made the conduct of this procedure a subject of great controversy among trauma experts. In this brief review, we summarize the available literature, technical concerns and indications for the procedure. We aim to provide suitable information for individual readers to refine their approach to EDT.
The localization of acetylcholine receptor clusters in areas of cell-substrate contact in cultures of rat myotubes

Abstract We have used interference reflection and fluorescence microscopy to investigate the relationship between cell-substrate contact and the location of clusters of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in cultures of rat myotubes. We have found that AChR clusters on the ventral myotube surfaces are always located within broad regions of close cell-substrate contact. Detailed analysis of the fine structure of the AChR cluster and its associated contact region showed that AChRs within a cluster are concentrated between the points of closest cell-substrate apposition. Vinculin, a recently discovered intracellular smooth muscle protein, is also concentrated in broad regions of close contact, interdigitating with AChRs within the clusters.
Transport of contrast agents in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) often appears to display vessels with good resolution, but it does not adequately visualize the throat of a tight stenosis. Image quality in CEMRA is also governed by the timing of contrast injection and data acquisition. We developed a numerical technique to predict the image appearance of a target vessel by taking into account the passage of contrast agent. Experiments were conducted on a phantom with both centric and linear ordering. An effort to prolong the duration in which the contrast passes by employing a double injection technique gives a wider window of opportunity to acquire quality images.
Strategic Foundations of Productivity Improvement

Effective strategies are built upon common foundations of productivity, quality, time and customer service. Although each are important, their relative importance varies with the performance of competitors and the expectations of customers. Productivity and quality have gained renewed importance in international markets, especially among mature firms with excess capacity that seek to differentiate their products of services. In many industries, however, productivity and quality differences are narrow, forcing the search for competitive advantage into areas of timeliness and service. Resume Les strategies efficaces reposent toutes sur la productivite, la qualite, le “temps-voulu” et le service. Toutes comptent, mais leur importance relative est fonction des performances des concurrents et des attentes des clients. La productivite et la qualite ont acquis une importance nouvelle sur les marches internationaux, en particulier pour les entreprises a surcapacite de production qui ont opte pour la differenciation de leurs produits ou services. Toutefois, dans maintes branches de l'industrie, la productivite et la qualite sont relativement homogenes, d'ou I'importance du temps-voulu et du service.
Mechanical retention versus bonding of amalgam and gallium alloy restorations

The retention of amalgam and gallium alloy restorations in proximal box forms was measured in vitro, and three different adhesives to conventional undercuts were compared. For control, restorations were placed without undercuts or adhesives. No significant difference was found between amalgam and gallium alloys with each of the five methods of retention used. Alloys placed without retention or adhesives were significantly less retentive than all other groups. When Tytin alloy was used, no difference was found in retention among the restorations retained with Panavia or All-Bond adhesive or an occlusal dovetail and retention grooves, but Amalgambond adhesive was less retentive than all three of these methods. When gallium alloy was used, both Panavia and All-Bond adhesive were more retentive than undercuts, but the effect of Amalgambond adhesive was more retentive than undercuts, but the effect of Amalgambond adhesive was comparable to that of undercuts. The results of this study indicate that adhesives could be used in place of traditional undercuts to retain amalgam and gallium alloys, thus saving a considerable amount of tooth structure.
GPS-aided recognition-based user tracking system with augmented reality in extreme large-scale areas

We present a recognition-based user tracking and augmented reality system that works in extreme large scale areas. The system will provide a user who captures an image of a building facade with precise location of the building and augmented information about the building. While GPS cannot provide information about camera poses, it is needed to aid reducing the searching ranges in image database. A patch-retrieval method is used for efficient computations and real-time camera pose recovery. With the patch matching as the prior information, the whole image matching can be done through propagations in an efficient way so that a more stable camera pose can be generated. Augmented information such as building names and locations are then delivered to the user. The proposed system mainly contains two parts, offline database building and online user tracking. The database is composed of images for different locations of interests. The locations are clustered into groups according to their UTM coordinates. An overlapped clustering method is used to cluster these locations in order to restrict the retrieval range and avoid ping pong effects. For each cluster, a vocabulary tree is built for searching the most similar view. On the tracking part, the rough location of the user is obtained from the GPS and the exact location and camera pose are calculated by querying patches of the captured image. The patch property makes the tracking robust to occlusions and dynamics in the scenes. Moreover, due to the overlapped clusters, the system simulates the "soft handoff" feature and avoid frequent swaps in memory resource. Experiments show that the proposed tracking and augmented reality system is efficient and robust in many cases.
Effective Yard Supervision: From Needs Assessment to Customized Training.

Most educational scholars agree that appropriate supervision of children is critical for positive youth development. Supervision is especially important during situations where children have a large degree of freedom and unstructured interaction, such as during recess. Despite the apparent importance of supervision of children at recess, there is little published research on the training of yard supervisors. The goal of the present study was to conduct a needs assessment and develop a customized training for yard supervisors at a public elementary school in an effort to help yard supervisors respond more effectively to student conflicts and promote a positive school climate. Needs assessment data used to inform the yard supervisor training were gathered through two methods: (a) playground observations of yard supervisor and student behavior and (b) yard supervisor interviews and student focus groups. Results of the needs assessment, and a description of the yard supervisor training developed from these findings, are presented, with particular emphasis placed on the implications of the study for practicing school psychologists.
Two-crystal scintillation pair-spectrometer

A total absorption x-ray spectrometer has been develop in which a coincidence requirement selects only those xray photons that have produced an electron-positron pair near the surface of a large sodium-iodide scintillation spectrometer. The x-ray energy resolution of the spectrometer that results is 2.0 plus or minus 0.2% and the detection efficiency is 4.6 plus or minus 0.5% for 17.6-Mev Li/sup 7/(p, gamma ) rays. Measurements and calculations of resolutions and efficiencies for 6 to 100 Mev photons are given, as well as an illustration of the spectrometer application to the measureNonement of synchrotron bremsstrahlung spectra transmitted by long absorbers. (auth)
Effect of ions on sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments.

Abstract Fragments of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (FSR) were prepared from homogenates of dog hearts and skeletal FSR from rabbit white skeletal muscle by differential centrifugation. The effect of substituting NO 3 − , I − , and SCN − for Cl on the ATPase and Ca uptake of fragmented dog cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (grana) was studied. Calcium uptake and ATPase were depressed in the order SCN − > I − > N0 3 − , the sequence found for skeletal FSR (2). The effects of the divalent cations Zn 2+ and UO 2 2+ were studied on both rabbit white skeletal muscle and dog cardiac FSR; 1 m m Zn 2+ and uranyl depressed calcium uptake of both preparations. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of these ions on cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction and current views of excitation-contraction coupling.
Effect of a modified, well-tolerated niacin regimen on serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and the cholesterol to high density lipoprotein ratio.

Abstract One hundred one patients with coronary artery disease and pretreatment ratios of total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol >4.0 were treated with niacin, commencing at low dosages (100 to 250 mg twice daily) and gradually increasing the dosage over 4 to 8 weeks to 1,000 mg twice daily. Dosage adjustments were made to minimize side effects. At a mean follow-up duration of 11 ± 7 months, and a mean dosage of 1,415 ± 698 mg/day, the group had a 13% reduction in total cholesterol, 31% increase in HDL and 32% decrease in the cholesterol to HDL ratio. A subgroup of 62 patients taking >1,000 mg/day of niacin had an 18% reduction in total cholesterol, 32% increase in HDL and 36% improvement in the cholesterol to HDL ratio. A subgroup of 39 patients taking
First principles electronic structure and band gap pressure coefficient for cadmium‐oxide

The static–lattice equation of state (EOS) and electronic energy bands of rocksalt structure cadmium-oxide (CdO) have been calculated for lattice constants ranging from 9.2 to 8.2 bohr, with and without relativistic corrections included, using two distinct density functional theory models; the local density approximation (LDA) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The zero-pressure lattice constants obtained with the LDA and GGA models bracket the measured value. For all models considered here, the fundamental band gap decreases linearly with increasing lattice constant over the full range of the calculations. The calculations with relativistic corrections incorrectly predict that CdO is a metal at ambient conditions, transforming to an insulator under pressure. The nonrelativistic calculations predict insulating behavior for all pressures greater than or equal to zero. The large discrepancies between previous predictions of the energy gap for CdO are shown to be due to model differences, not methodological variations. The predicted pressure coefficient for the fundamental band gap is positive and ranges from 13 to 22 meV/GPa, depending on the model used, with the “best” estimate being 15 meV/GPa. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Preprofessional Accomplished Practice Indicators: A Metric for Learning to Teach

Abstract A series of statewide educational reforms in Florida included a mandate to develop a system for identifying teacher competency and determining program approval. The resulting Florida Educator Accomplished Practices created a continuum of career-long competencies for the education professional for progress monitoring, goal setting and feedback. The accomplished practices system identified competencies and benchmarks for accomplished teachers, beginning teachers, and preprofessional teachers in the last year of their teacher preparation program. The present study investigated the usefulness of the preprofessional benchmarks and competencies as a metric for learning to teach for preservice students entering a teacher preparation program. Data were also collected from the cooperating teachers with whom the students were placed to determine the correlation between student self-report of skill and knowledge acquisition and evidence of application in the elementary classroom. Results indicate that the s...
Electron mobility in the 1:1 charge-transfer crystal phenanthrene-PMDA

Abstract Electron drift mobilities have been measured in single crystals of the 1:1 charge transfer complex phenanthrene-pyromellitic-acid-dianhydride (PMDA) as a function of temperature and crystal direction. The mobility shows an activated temperature dependence and has a maximum value along the short crystal stack axis of alternating donor and acceptor molecules. The magnitude of the mobility at room temperature, 10−2 cm2/V s, and the measured activation energy of 880 cm−1 is consistent with electron motion which can be described within the framework of small polaron theory. The anisotropy of the mobility suggests that the excess electron wavefunction responsible for electron motion is delocalized over the donor molecules as well as the acceptor molecules.
Bone formation periods studied with triple tetracycline labels in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis

In Adult Cancellous Bone, Cyclic Remodeling Occurs In Discrete Locations (Bmus, Or Basic Multicellular Units). Some Aspects Of These Remodeling Cycles Are Still Not Clear. Only About Half The Osteoid Surface Normally Has Tetracycline Labels; The Remainder Is Thought To Be Immature Or In A Resting Phase. This Study Was Designed To Test The Assumption That Pauses Occur During The Bone Formation Periods. Iliac Crest Bone Biopsies Were Performed In 84 Women With Postmenopausal Osteoporosis. The Subjects Were Given Three Tetracycline Labels; The Middle Label Had A Distinctive Color. The Osteoid Surface Was 10 s± 6% Of The Bone Surface; The Range Was 0.6–24.4%. The Mineralizing Surface Was 42 ± 26% Of The Osteoid Surface. Immature Osteoid Was 7.6 ± 5.3% Of The Osteoid Surface. There Were No Bmus With The First And Third Tetracycline Label But Without The Middle Demeclocycline Label. The Expected Length Of Double 1–3 Label, Based On An Assumption That Unlabeled Mature Osteoid Was Temporarily In A Resting Phase, Was Significantly Higher Than The Observed Length (68 ± 77 μm/Mm2 tissue area versus 0, p < 0.0001). The mean active formation period was 77 ± 16 days calculated by standard methods but was only 55 ± 26 days when calculated by label escape (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient between these two methods was only modest (r = 0.27, p < 0.01). The failure to find any double 1–3 labels despite abundant triple labels provides strong evidence against the presence of pauses in bone mineralization between 3 and 34 days. Adjusting the formation period or the mineral apposition rate by the mineralizing surface/osteoid surface ratio may not be valid in women with osteoporosis.
Rhodanese conformational changes permit oxidation to give disulfides that form in a kinetically determined sequence

Abstract When the structure of the monomeric enzyme rhodanese is perturbed by urea or SDS and heat, sulfhydryl assays combined with SDS gel analyses reveal that intrachain disulfides are formed rapidly. Two intrachain disulfide bonded species can be distinguished. One contains a single disulfide and comigrates on SDS gels with fully reduced rhodanese (Band I), while a second species contains two disulfides and migrates faster than the reduced enzyme (Band II). The kinetic path and identity of the participating sulfhydryl groups are suggested by the results with sulfhydryl mutants. On mild oxidation or perturbation, a single disulfide forms that involves two of the three sulfhydryl groups in C-terminal domain of the protein, i.e., two of the sulfhydryl groups from among the three residues: the active-site Cys-247, Cys-254 and Cys-263. These disulfides are the same as those that are formed upon oxidation of the native enzyme. The remaining sulfhydryl group of these three, in a kinetically slower process, can form a disulfide with Cys-63 which is in the N-terminal domain in native rhodanese. The resulting looped structure is so conformationally constrained that its shape and/or altered SDS binding gives rise to the ‘fast’ Band II on the SDS gels. The conformationally constrained species with two disulfides may be related to oxidized rhodanese species that are difficult to reduce.
Fumonisin B1 analysis with capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by a common fungal contaminant of corn, Fusarium moniliforme, was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. System performance was maximal with uncoated columns. System efficiencies of approximately 44 000 plates/m and reproducible analysis times of about 13 min were obtained. System efficiency with methyl-coated columns was approximately 24 000 plates/m. Reproducible analysis times of about 3.5 min were obtained with these columns. With uncoated columns, the concentration limit of detection was 156 ppb with a s/n ratio of approximately 10. The estimated injected mass at 156 ppb was 1.1 pg. Repeated injections of extracts containing constant fumonisin B1 concentrations showed that peak areas were slightly inconsistent, although generally similar to variations encountered with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The source of this inconsistency was traced to sample solubility, errors inherent in electrophoresis injections, and electrospray instability. Minimizing these problem areas will produce a technique with peak area reproducibilities comparable to liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, but with potentially greater resolving power.
The Paradyn parallel performance measurement tool

Paradyn is a tool for measuring the performance of large-scale parallel programs. Our goal in designing a new performance tool was to provide detailed, flexible performance information without incurring the space (and time) overhead typically associated with trace-based tools. Paradyn achieves this goal by dynamically instrumenting the application and automatically controlling this instrumentation in search of performance problems. Dynamic instrumentation lets us defer insertion until the moment it is needed (and remove it when it is no longer needed); Paradyn's Performance Consultant decides when and where to insert instrumentation. >
Generation of nonimmune islet cells using genetic engineering.

Can non-immunogenic insulin-producing pancreatic cells be created by genetic engineering? Brownlee relates the rationale for and substantive progress to date in this’ star Wars’ level research. By inserting an immortalized cell line with no potential for malignant mutagenesis, murine β-cells from transgenic mice expressing a rat insulin promoter-driven immortalizing gene plus an internal suicide gene were synthesized. Brownlee envisions combination of several genetic engineering strategies to produce a non-immunogenic β-cell line that will be clinically effective. Protection against autoimmune destruction would be included by transducing these cells with an anti-apoptotic gene. Alternatively, the insulin-producing cells would be encapsulated as a means of avoiding rejection. How long will it be before genetic engineering makes obsolete all previous treatment regimes for type 1 diabetes? As in so many fields of medicine, traditional physicians observe the rapidly arriving future in a state of wonderment. Clearly, 21st Century diabetes care is likely to be unrecognizable in the protocols now becoming obsolete.
Mathematical analysis of isovolemic hemodilution indicates that it can decrease the need for allogeneic blood transfusion.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of acute isovolemic hemodilution prior to surgical blood loss is a strategy used in an attempt to diminish the need for or obviate allogeneic transfusion and to avert the potential, attendant complications. Studies examining the efficacy of this technique have produced conflicting results. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The present mathematical analysis was undertaken to resolve these conflicts by determining the efficacy of hemodilution and examining the influence of the variables affecting the outcome. Efficacy was defined as the volume of additional blood loss permitted and the volume and number of units of allogeneic blood saved from transfusion. A mathematical analysis evaluated the impact of circulating blood volume and initial and target hematocrits on the efficacy of isovolemic hemodilution. It was assumed that 1) hemodilution was completed before surgical blood loss; 2) transfusion of removed blood was begun when the target hematocrit was reached and lost surgical blood was replaced at a rate that maintained the target hematocrit; 3) allogeneic transfusion was begun after all autologous blood drawn was transfused; 4) normovolemia was maintained; and 5) a unit of allogeneic blood contains 175 mL of red cells. RESULTS: The analysis showed that isovolemic hemodilution can result in substantial additional allowable surgical blood loss that can diminish the need for or obviate allogeneic transfusion of red cells. Larger circulating blood volume, higher initial hematocrits, and lower target hematocrits increase the efficacy of hemodilution. Removal and isovolemic replacement of 1 to 2 units of blood provide minimal potential savings, as does hemodilution to a circulating (target) hematocrit of 30 percent. The extension of hemodilution to a hematocrit of (or below) 20 percent allows a disproportionately greater surgical blood loss and diminishes the need for allogeneic transfusion. It allows, for example, an additional 4.5 L of surgical blood loss, which represents a savings of 4 units of allogeneic blood when a patient with an initial blood volume of 5.0 L and a hematocrit of 45 percent undergoes isovolemic hemodilution to a hematocrit of 15 percent. CONCLUSION: Isovolemic hemodilution can diminish or in some circumstances eliminate the need for allogeneic transfusion.
Particle aggregation on dewetting solid water films

Solid water films are used to create a wide range of nanostructures through buffer-layer-assisted growth. Metal atoms vapor-deposited onto solid water films form clusters that aggregate as the film is heated. The aggregation process is driven by the dewetting, islanding, and sublimation of the ice films. The sizes, shapes, and densities of the resulting nanostructures are determined by the formation of ice islands whose sizes and densities are controlled by the thickness of the ice film.
Laser satellite communications with adaptive optics

Laser satellite communications (LCS) appear to have potential applications in the future global communication network. However, bidirectional ground-to-space link performance is degraded by atmospheric turbulence. This paper presents the simulations results of laser uplink and downlink propagation through atmospheric turbulence based on turbulence strength and link specification data obtained from the European Space Agency (ESA) ARTEMIS satellite and its associated optical ground station (OGS). The results obtained using this NMSU bidirectional link model indicate that the uplink performance can be improved significantly using tip-tilt error compensation alone while the downlink performance can be improved with higher order adaptive optics compensation.
Implementation of a substance abuse awareness program for high school students and parents

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 55% of persons age 12 years or older reported using pain relievers obtained from a friend or relative for nonmedical purposes in the past 12 months.[1][1] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 15,000
Effects of intrahypothalamic administration of antisense DNA for progesterone receptor mRNA on reproductive behavior and progesterone receptor immunoreactivity in female rat

Since reproductive behaviors of female rats can be correlated with estrogen-induced increases in progestin binding by hypothalamic neurons, we hypothesized that specific progesterone receptor (PR) antisense DNA sequences might decrease these behaviors. Antisense oligonucleotides (15 bases), spanning the translation start site of rabbit PR mRNA, were microinjected directly among ventromedial hypothalamic neurons, and their behavioral effects were compared to control oligonucleotides composed of the same nucleotide bases in scrambled order. When applied 12 but not 24 hr after estradiol, the PR antisense treatment significantly reduced iordosis behavior, measured either as a reflex or in a mating behavior test. Notably, proceptive behaviors, which are strongly progesterone dependent, were greatly reduced in their occurrence (80% decrease). To see if PR protein was also reduced, antisense DNA was administered near the ventromedial hypothalamus on one side of the brain, while the other side received the scrambled control sequence or vehicle. The total number of PR- immunoreactive cells on the antisense side was significantly lower in the ventromedial nucleus, but not in control measurements from the medial preoptic area. Interrupting gene expression for PR, a transcription factor, in hypothalamic neurons, can have behavioral and immunocytochemical effects.
Fundamental building blocks for molecular biowire based forward error-correcting biosensors

This paper describes the fabrication, characterization and modeling of fundamental logic gates that can be used for designing biosensors with embedded forward error-correction (FEC). The proposed logic gates (AND and OR) are constructed by patterning antibodies at different spatial locations along the substrate of a lateral flow immunosensor assay. The logic gates operate by converting binding events between an antigen and an antibody into a measurable electrical signal using polyaniline nanowires as the transducer. In this study, B. cereus and E. coli have been chosen as model pathogens. The functionality of the AND and OR logic gates has been validated using conductance measurements with different pathogen concentrations. Experimental results show that the change in conductance across the gates can be modeled as a log-linear response with respect to varying pathogen concentration. Equivalent circuits models for AND and OR logic gates have been derived based on measured results. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Implant‐Supported Reconstruction in a Patient With Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis

Background: A 31-year-old female was diagnosed with generalized aggressive periodontitis based on clinical and radiographic findings. Dental implants were used to restore her dentition. The long-term success of osseointegrated implants in periodontally healthy patients has been documented well in the literature. However, only a few cases of full-mouth rehabilitation, using dental implants, have been reported in periodontally compromised patients, especially those who exhibited generalized aggressive periodontitis.Methods: Following extraction of all teeth except #6 through #11 in the maxilla, oral rehabilitation was accomplished with the use of implant-supported restorations; detailed treatment planning and sequence are presented.Results: Eight implants were loaded immediately in the mandible. Six implants were placed in the posterior maxilla with a conventional two-stage approach. The maxillary implants were loaded after a 4-month healing period. The patient was followed for 18 months postloading in the ...
Phonon-polariton excitations in photonic crystals

The incorporation of materials which exhibit transverse phonon-polariton excitations into a photonic crystal produces an intricate optical system possessing unique and varied photon phenomena. In particular, we demonstrate theoretically that such a system will exhibit both near-dispersionless bands with field localization in the polaritonic material and metalliclike bands with complete flux expulsion in an extremely small frequency interval around the characteristic phonon frequency. Moreover, when the fundamental resonances of the polaritonic rods overlap with the bands of a geometrically identical metallodielectric crystal, nearby states will couple to produce a band in which the localized field varies continuously between two distinct nodal patterns, in an exceedingly small frequency range. We also discuss the implications of losses on these phenomena and verify that our results can be realized experimentally.
Identifying essential features for the classification of real and pseudo microRNAs precursors using fuzzy decision trees

MicroRNAs play an important role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Experimental approaches to identify microRNAs are expensive and time-consuming. Computational approaches have proven to be useful for identifying microRNA candidates. Most approaches rely on features extracted from miroRNA precursors (pre-microRNA) and their secondary structure. Selecting the appropriate set of features plays a critical role in improving the prediction accuracy of pre-microRNA candidates. This work aims to investigate the triplet elements encoding scheme and to identify essential features needed for the correct classification of pre-microRNAs. To achieve these goals, an extension of the triplet elements encoding scheme is introduced. Features extracted using the extended scheme were combined with global features introduced in the literature, and fuzzy decision tree (FDT) is used as a classification and a feature selection tool. Unlike previous machine-learning-based approaches, FDT produces a human comprehensible classification model. The interpretability of the classification model provides a means to identify the essential features needed to recognize microRNA candidates and offers a better understanding of this problem. Our results indicate that the triplet elements scheme is not superior to any of its proposed extensions. Further analysis revealed that including the features extracted using triplet elements scheme does not add any value to this classification problem but rather introduces some noisy features, and comparable classification results can be achieved by using only the six global features identified by FDT.
Metallothionein Expression in Animals: A Physiological Perspective on Function

An integration of knowledge concerning regulation of metallothionein expression with research on metallothionein's proposed functions is necessary to delineate how this metalloprotein affects cellular processes, especially zinc metabolism. Metallothionein expression is driven by a number of physiological mediators through several response elements in the metallothionein gene promoter. Cellular accumulation of metallothionein depends on both gene expression and protein degradation. Both depend largely on availability of cellular zinc derived from the dietary zinc supply. Metallothionein expression is related to zinc accumulation in certain organs. Evidence has been produced, which suggests that metallothionein could act in a number of biochemical processes. It may act in zinc trafficking and/or zinc donation to apoproteins, including zinc finger proteins that act in cellular signaling and transcriptional regulation. As a result, metallothionein expression may affect a number of cellular processes including gene expression, apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. The ability of metallothionein to exchange other metals with zinc in these proteins may explain a role in metal toxicity. Similarly, mobilization of zinc from metallothionein by oxidative stresses may explain its proposed antioxidant function. Apparent good health of metallothionein-deficient mice argues against a critical biological role for metallothionein; however, expression may be critical in times of stress.
A comparison of methods for assessing mortality risk.

Objectives Concepts such as Allostatic Load, Framingham Risk Score, and Biological Age were developed to combine information from multiple measures into a single latent variable that can be used to quantify a person's biological state. Given these varying approaches, the goal of this article is to compare how well these three measures predict subsequent all-cause and disease-specific mortality within a large nationally representative U.S. sample. Methods Our study population consisted of 9,942 adults, ages 30 and above from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves and Cox Proportional Hazard models for the whole sample and for stratified age groups were used to compare how well Allostatic Load, Framingham Risk Score, and Biological Age predict ten-year all-cause and disease-specific mortality in the sample, for whom there were 1,076 deaths over 96,420 person years of exposure. Results Overall, Biological Age predicted 10-year mortality more accurately than other measures for the full age range, as well as for participants ages 50 to 69 and 70+. Additionally, out of the three measures, Biological Age had the strongest association with all-cause and cancer mortality, while the Framingham Risk Score had the strongest association with CVD mortality. Conclusions Methods for quantifying biological risk provide important approaches to improving our understanding of the causes and consequences of changes in physiological function and dysregulation. Biological Age offers an alternative and, in some cases a more accurate summary approach to the traditionally used methods, such as Allostatic Load and Framingham Risk Score. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:768–776, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Community Commitment and Activist Scholarship Chicana/o Professors and the Practice of Consciousness

In this study, we explored 12 Chicana/o Professors of Education's sense making about their role in the academy in terms of community commitments, activist scholarship, and practices of consciousness. Consciously exercising their agency, for these Chicana/o professors was not only in reaction to White dominance in the acad- emy, but also in proactive, enduring ways through day-to-day practices. Practices of consciousness sought to subvert and challenge the White-stream norms and practices of higher education. Resumen: En este estudio exploramos como doce profesores Chicana/os de educacion entienden su papel en la academia en cuanto a su compromiso con la comunidad, su erudicion activista, y su practica de concientizacion. Estos profesores Chicana/os ejercitan concientemente su agencia; no solo como reaccion al dominio Blanco en la academia, sino ademas a traves de sus practicas diarias de una manera pro-activa y continua. Sus practicas de concientizacion buscan revolucionar y desafiar las normas de dominio Blanco y las practicas de educacion superior.
Silicone thorax due to a ruptured breast implant

A woman with a history of bilateral mastectomy and silicone implants for fibrocystic disease and a history of atrial septal defect repair presented with pleural nodules on a chest radiograph. A thorascopic biopsy performed for possible mesothelioma demonstrated chronic inflammation and focal pleural fibrosis due to a foreign-body reaction secondary to silicone. This was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive radiograph elemental analysis. As the population ages, the increasing frequency of ruptured silicone implants and the need for heart surgery may result in a corresponding increase in the risk for fibrothorax secondary to inadvertent silicone introduction during surgery.
Focal myositis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle: A case report and review of the literature

The otolaryngologist is often confronted with the challenge to diagnose and treat neck masses in the adult population. The differential diagnosis includes both inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. History, physical examination, fine needle aspiration, and computed axial tomography (CAT) scanning are among the tests frequently performed to assist the clinician in making the diagnosis. Despite performing these tests, uncommon diseases often masquerade as common diseases and may make correct clinical diagnosis difficult. The clinician must be aware of unusual diseases that may present in this fashion. We present an unusual case of focal myositis (of Heffner) in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This inflammatory pseudotumor of skeletal muscle most commonly affects the calf and thigh musculature. We believe we add to the medical literature a fourth case of focal myositis affecting the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This is only the second report of this diagnosis in an adult patient. We present clinical and pathological features of this benign pseudotumor of the head and neck. This will better familiarize the otolaryngologist when confronted with this rare inflammatory mass.
Rapid Stool-Based Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection by Real-Time PCR in a Children's Hospital

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated infectious diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Detection of C. difficile by anaerobic bacterial culture and/or cytotoxicity assays has been largely replaced by rapid enzyme immunoassays (EIA). However, due to the lack of sensitivity of stool EIA, we developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay targeting the C. difficile toxin genes tcdA and tcdB. Stool samples from hospitalized pediatric patients suspected of having C. difficile-associated disease were prospectively cultured on cycloserine-cefoxitin-fructose agar following alcohol shock. Six testing modalities were evaluated, including stool EIA, culture EIA, and real-time PCR (tcdA and tcdB) of cultured isolates and stool samples. Real-time PCR detection was performed with tcdA and tcdB gene-specific primers and hydrolysis probes using the LightCycler platforms (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN). A total of 157 samples from 96 pediatric patients were analyzed. The sensitivities of stool real-time PCR and stool EIA were 95% and 35%, respectively, with a specificity of 100% for both methods. The lower limit of detection of the stool real-time PCR was 30 CFU/ml of stool sample per reaction for tcdA and tcdB. This study highlights the poor performance of stool toxin EIAs in pediatric settings. Direct detection of C. difficile toxin genes in stool samples by real-time PCR showed sensitivity superior to that of stool and culture EIAs and performance comparable to that of real-time PCR assay of cultured isolates. Real-time PCR of DNA from stool samples is a rapid and cost-effective diagnostic modality for children that should facilitate appropriate patient management and halt the practice of serial testing by EIA.
Structure and mechanical properties of resistance arteries in hypertension: role of adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix determinants.

Abstract —Abnormalities of resistance arteries may play a role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of hypertension in experimental animals and humans. Vessels that, when relaxed, measure <400 μm in lumen diameter act as the major site of vascular resistance and include a network of small arteries (lumen ≈100 to 400 μm) and arterioles (<100 μm). Because increased peripheral resistance is generated by a narrowed lumen diameter, significant effort has been focused on determining the mechanisms that reduce lumen size. Three important vascular components are clearly involved, including alterations of vascular structure, mechanics (stiffness), and function. Structural abnormalities comprise a reduced lumen diameter and thickening of the vascular media, resulting in an increased media-lumen ratio. Changes in the mechanical properties of an artery, particularly increased stiffness, may also result in a reduced lumen diameter. These vascular abnormalities may be caused or influenced by the expression and/or topographic localization of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen and elastin, and by changes in cell-extracellular fibrillar attachment sites, such as adhesion molecules like integrins. This article discusses the abnormalities of resistance arteries in hypertension and reviews the evidence suggesting an important role for adhesive and extracellular matrix determinants.
El ruido y la nación: cómo el rock iberoamericano redefinió el sentido de comunidad en Latino América

Este articulo describe el proceso como el rock paso de ser considerado una expresion cultural ajena a convertirse en el eje de promocion regional de unificacion al romper las barreras nacionales erigidas durante siglo 20. Argumenta que la base de este deslice cultural se debio al capitalismo auditivo, la posibilidad de compra-venta de bienes culturales lo que permitio su auto-sustentabilidad. No obstante, debido a su origen extranjero, el rock interactuo, reto y puso a la defensiva identidades nacionales patrocinadas por el estado en la primera mitad del siglo veinte, en particular en Mexico. En varias ocasiones, esta defensiva cultural se convirtio en una lucha politica de represion cultural directa en varios paises latinoamericanos. No obstante, en los 80’s el rock salio de su clandestinidad, y las clases bajas comenzaron a usar esta musica como plataforma de expresion de su realidad injusta, convirtiendo al rock en una demanda politica, pasando asi de las clases altas hasta la clase baja. Con la llegada de MTV en 1993, las fronteras culturales nacionales se colapsaron, y los espacios geograficos se expandieron al incluir Brasil, Miami y Espana. Asi, el medio cultural que en los 50’s pertenecia a la clase alta y en los 70’s puso a la defensiva a varios gobiernos, en los 90’s se convierta en el medio por la cual se cartografiaba una nueva comunidad iberoamericana en el imaginario colectivo de los jovenes.
Calculation of Double Differential Cross Section for Fast Ion and Electron Impact Ionization of Atoms

The theory of the energy and angular distribution of electrons ejected in electron-atom and ion-atom collisions, within the framework of Born approximation, is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the case where the incident ion carries along its own electrons. Examples are given for e, H+, and He+ collisions with He. It is shown that for fast collisions, excellent agreement with experiment is obtained for electron impact and fairly good agreement for proton and He+ impact when both projectile and target ionization are taken into account.
Reprogramming Somatic Cells into Pluripotent Stem Cells Using miRNAs

Reversal of terminally differentiated somatic cells to ground-state pluripotency has rejuvenated our hopes of generating patient-specific stem cells for therapeutic use in regenerative medicine and drug screening. Originally generated using defined exogenous protein-coding DNA, several methods have been described in reprogramming somatic cells into iPSC. Majority of published methods seek to improve or refine the techniques of reprogramming. This chapter describes reprogramming to pluripotency using miRNAs.