cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient Ischemic Attack: Symptom Patterns and Imaging Associations (P2.128)

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate between-symptom associations in TIA and their relation to MRI findings. BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis and recurrence risk of TIA has focused on vascular risk factors, praxis symptoms, especially weakness and speech impairment (ABCD2), and relevant imaging findings, especially DWI and non-contrast FLAIR. We sought to examine between-symptom and symptom-to-imaging relationships, including hyperintense acute reperfusion injury marker (HARM) on post-contrast FLAIR (Karageorgiou et al. Cerebrovasc Dis 2012;34:326-327). DESIGN/METHODS: We analyzed 80 consecutive TIA admissions, divided into probable-TIA (pTIA; N=68) vs. not-TIA (nTIA; N=12) by the respective absence or presence of alternative final diagnoses. The pTIA group was further divided by presence or absence of relevant imaging abnormalities. Symptoms were categorized in 13 domains, correlated using the φ-statistic, and hierarchically clustered. Group comparisons utilized Mann-Whitney and χ 2 tests as appropriate. Hypothesis testing accounted for multiple comparisons (p Symptom combination mildly predicts presence of FLAIR, but not DWI, abnormalities. Disclosure: Dr. Anderson has received personal compensation for activities with CVRx.
Identifying Corresponding Lesions from CC and MLO Views Via Correlative Feature Analysis

In this study, we present a computerized framework to identify the corresponding image pair of a lesion in CC and MLO views, a prerequisite for combining information from these views to improve the diagnostic ability of both radiologists and CAD systems. A database of 126 mass lesons was used, from which a corresponding dataset with 104 pairs and a non-corresponding dataset with 95 pairs were constructed. For each FFDM image, the mass lesions were firstly automatically segmented via a dual-stage algorithm, in which a RGI-based segmentation and an active contour model are employed sequentially. Then, various features were automatically extracted from the lesion to characterize the spiculation, margin, size, texture and context of the lesion, as well as its distance to nipple. We developed a two-step strategy to select an effective subset of features, and combined it with a BANN to estimate the probability that the two images are of the same physical lesion. ROC analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the individual features and the selected feature subset for the task of distinguishing corresponding and non-corresponding pairs. With leave-one-out evaluation by lesion, the distance feature yielded an AUC of 0.78 and the feature subset, which includes distance, ROI-based energy and ROI-based homogeneity, yielded an AUC of 0.88. The improvement by using multiple features was statistically significant compared to single feature performance (p< 0.001).
Optical techniques for microwave generation, transmission and control

Techniques for optical generation of microwave signals to 35 GHz, including direct laser diode modulation, FM sideband injection locking of laser diodes, and offset frequency phase locking of solid-state lasers, are reviewed. Optical methods for controlling microwave devices, including phased array radar and oscillators, are described. Recent advances in optical transmission of microwave signal are examined. >
Regulation of the effector stages of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis via neuroantigen-specific tolerance induction. II. Fine specificity of effector T cell inhibition.

Ag-specific tolerance induced by the i.v. administration of splenocytes coupled with mouse spinal cord homogenate, containing a mixture of myelin Ag, dramatically inhibits development and expression of clinical and histologic signs of both active and adoptive forms of relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (R-EAE) in the SJL/J host. Here we examined the dose-dependency, route of tolerogen administration, and fine neuroantigen specificity of inhibition of adoptive R-EAE. Expression of clinical R-EAE induced by a polyclonal population of bovine myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific effector T cells was dramatically inhibited in a dose-dependent manner following the i.v., but not s.c. or i.p., injection of MBP-coupled splenocytes. The exquisite Ag specificity of the inhibition was evident by the observation that splenocytes coupled with intact bovine MBP or species variants of MBP homologous with bovine MBP within the major encephalitogenic region (amino acids 84-104), but not with proteolipid protein or mouse kidney homogenate, were able to suppress disease expression. Splenocytes coupled with the MBP84-104 peptide, containing a nested set of the major SJL/J encephalitogenic epitopes, completely inhibited peptide-specific T cell responses, but only partially inhibited the expression of disease transferred by T cells specific for intact MBP, suggesting the participation of T cell responses specific for additional MBP determinants in disease pathogenesis. However, splenocytes coupled with previously identified minor SJL/J encephalitogenic epitopes (MBP91-104 or MBP17-27), or with the Lewis rat major encephalitogenic epitope (MBP68-86), did not suppress disease expression. Collectively, the results demonstrate that MBP84-104-specific T cells and T cells specific for an as yet unidentified MBP epitope(s) contribute to the pathology of R-EAE. In addition, the results demonstrate that peptide-specific tolerance induction appears to have potential for the treatment of T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Light propagation in a nonlinear plasmonic nanowire

Nonlinear transmission of optical nanowires consisting of metallic spheres embedded in dielectric nanoshells made of Kerr material is demonstrated. Nonlinear optical phenomena, such as power dependence of mode frequency, switching, or optical limiting are discussed.
A proline-rich motif in the C terminus of Akt contributes to its localization in the immunological synapse

The serine/threonine kinases of the Akt/protein kinase B family are regulated in part by recruitment to the plasma membrane, which is accomplished by the binding of an N-terminal PH domain to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase products phosphoinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and phosphoinositol 3,4-bisphosphate. We have examined Akt localization in a murine T cell clone (D10) before and after stimulation by APC/Ag, and we found that whereas the pleckstrin homology domain is required for plasma membrane recruitment of Akt upon T cell activation, the C terminus of the kinase restricts its cellular localization to the immunologic synapse formed at the site of T cell/APC contact. A recently described proline-rich motif in this region appears to be important for proper localization of full-length Akt. Moreover, a form of Akt in which this motif was mutated acts as a potent dominant negative construct to block T cell activation. Therefore, multiple mechanisms are involved in the proper targeting of Akt during the early events of T cell activation.
Projection registration in reflective tomography

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, is in the process of demonstrating an advanced space surveillance capability with a heterodyne laser radar system to be used for range-resolved imaging of orbiting satellites. This system, called HI-CLASS (High Performance CO2 Ladar Surveillance Sensor), uses a CO2 laser in a modelocked configuration to generate approximately 10 microsecond(s) bursts of approximately 1 ns pulses repeated at a 30 Hz rate. When reflected from an orbiting satellite, these pulses contain information about the range-resolved reflectivities and the Doppler spectrum of the target. For earth-stabilized satellites, cross-range motion is insufficient to produce Doppler-resolved images from the range-resolved data for the HI-CLASS system parameters. However, an image reconstruction method called reflection tomography can be used to reconstruct satellite images by using a tomographic reconstruction approach. An important issue in tomographic image reconstruction is correct registration of the individual projections. For accurate image reconstruction, all projections must be aligned to the target center of rotation. Due to typical system alignment uncertainties, atmospheric fluctuations, and random satellite displacements, range cannot be measured accurately enough to determine the satellite center of rotation. Therefore, this information must be inferred from the projection data itself. Here, we present an algorithm that uses a phase-retrieval approach to determine the required center of rotation from the projection data. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm using computer-simulated data. We also discuss the future application of this algorithm to actual ladar data.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modeling of Wheeled Mobile Robot on Rough Terrain

This paper presents kinematic and dynamic modeling of a wheeled mobile robotic platform for rough terrain operations. In the model, the body of the robot and each wheel set are considered as rigid bodies translating and rotating in space. For robots navigating on the ground, the external forces to the system are all coming from the road-tire interactions. In the kinematic model, it is assumed that the ground can provide whatever forces required to satisfy kinematic constraints at contact points, and in the dynamic model, the dynamic interactions between the tires and the terrain are considered.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The Effect of Tenebrio obscurus on Elementary Preservice Teachers' Content Knowledge, Attitudes, and Self-efficacy

This study explores the extent to which an activity used in an elementary science methods course affected the preservice teachers’ content knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. The participants were 172 students enrolled in five sections of elementary science methods. Students participated in a 9-week investigation on life cycles using mealworms (Tenebrio obscurus). Multiple data sources indicate that most of the students had limited prior content knowledge about mealworms, expressed neutral attitudes toward mealworms upon first exposure to them, and were uncomfortable with the idea of having to teach with and about them. At the end of 9 weeks, content knowledge on mealworms had greatly improved. The preservice teachers’ attitudes about mealworms and their self-efficacy about using mealworms with children had also improved.
Exploration of the contribution of teachers' knowledge about reading to their students' improvement in reading

Recent studies of elementary teachers’ knowledge about reading have been built on the premise that teachers need thorough knowledge about language and reading processes, but these studies have provided only limited evidence that teachers’ performance on tests of such knowledge contributes to their students’ reading achievement. The present study was designed to examine the contribution of first- through third-grade teachers’ knowledge about early reading to their students’ improvement on tests of word analysis and reading comprehension, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics of students, their prior reading achievement, and teachers’ educational attainment, professional experiences, and socio-demographic characteristics. Preliminary analyses indicated that the test of teachers’ knowledge had adequate psychometric characteristics. However, performance on this measure of teachers’ knowledge did not significantly explain students’ improvement on the two reading subtests. The complexity of the factors that influence teachers’ knowledge acquisition and the context in which the study was carried out offer possible explanations for these results. In addition, teachers’ content knowledge about reading might not be closely associated with the practices they use in reading instruction, and therefore might not be significantly related to their students’ improvement in reading over a year.
Effect of Temperature on the Dynamics of Benzophenone Anion Solvation in Alcohol

The solvation of the benzophenone anion in 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 1-butanol has been measured over the temperature range −10 to −50 °C. The initial spectra of the benzophenone anion were very similar in all three alcohols. The final spectrum of the benzophenone anion in 2-propanol is less blue-shifted (17 nm) than the spectrum of the anion in 1-propanol and 1-butanol. The activation energies for solvation are 22 kJ/mol for 1 propanol and 1-butanol and 16 kJ/mol for 2-propanol, which are similar to the energy for hydrogen bond breakage in the pure solvents. This suggests that the solvent H-bond breakage plays an important role in anion solvation.
Studies on the interrelation between the Golgi zone and lysosomes in the spinal cords of rats chronically poisoned with carbon tetrachloride.

The subject of these studies was the spinal cords of rats chronically poisoned with Carbon tetrachloride. The thiamine pyrophosphatase and acid phosphatase were investigated.
Impact Evaluation of Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER) Randomized Control Trial.

Background. The family and home environment is an influential antecedent of childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to pilot test The Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER) intervention; a newly developed, theory-based, online program for prevention of childhood obesity. Method. The two-arm, parallel group, randomized, participant-blinded trial targeted mothers with children between 4 and 6 years of age. Measures were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks to evaluate programmatic effects on constructs of social cognitive theory (SCT) and obesity-related behaviors. Process evaluation transpired concurrently with each intervention session. Results. Fifty-seven participants were randomly assigned to receive either experimental EMPOWER (n = 29) or active control Healthy Lifestyles (n = 28) intervention. Significant main effects were identified for child physical activity, sugar-free beverage consumption, and screen time, in...
The role of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, filgrastim) in the management of pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-IFN) induced neutropenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)

The role of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, filgrastim) in the management of pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-IFN) induced neutropenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)
A critical evaluation of the acute systemic toxicity test for dental alloys using histopathologic criteria.

The A.D.A. acute systemic test for type II, class 11 materials defines compliance on the basis of fewer than 50% mortality at 2 weeks. Histopathologic criteria were developed from pilot study data to evaluate the effects of these materials. In this double blind study, the frequency of histopathological changes in lung, liver, small intestine, and kidney were rated at 2 and 5 weeks, for six dental crown and bridge alloys ranging from 44% to 97% (Au, Pt, and Pd). Two positive 360 mg/kg and 1 g/kg of cadmium and two negative, a blank capsule and untreated control groups were used. There was significant difference (chi square test, X2 = 0.95) between the positive and negative controls at 2 and 5 weeks. The lung, liver, kidney showed the highest level of histopathological changes. Significant changes occurred in the four tissues for all alloys at two and five weeks. At five weeks, alloys with a lower noble metal content (44-62%, Au, Pd, and Pt) elicited significant chronic changes, while higher noble metal content (78-97%) showed healing and no significant difference from the negative controls. Applying histopathologic criteria and statistical parameters independent examiners can examine experimental animals and arrive at conclusive and reproducible results.
Regulatory effect of endogenous zinc and inhibitory action of toxic metal ions on calcium accumulation by matrix vesicles in vitro

Abstract Matrix vesicles (MV) isolated from chicken growth plate by collagenase digestion and incubated in 45 Calabelled synthetic cartilage lymph (SCL) rapidly induce mineral formation. 45 Ca uptake occurs in three distinct stages: (1) an initial lag period of limited accumulation, (2) a period of rapid ion uptake and (3) an extended period of slower uptake. Treatment of MV with buffered aqueous 1,10-phenanthroline (OP), a metal ion chelator, eliminated the lag period, promoting immediate, enhanced Ca 2+ uptake. Analysis of MV for trace metals showed them to contain relatively high concentrations of Zn (1.58 μmol/g MV) and lesser amounts of Cu (0.07 μmol/g MV). At least 30–40% of the Zn was readily extractable in isosmotic buffers. Addition of Zn to SCL at levels as low as 5 μM completely inhibited MV mineralization; addition of OP to Zn-inhibited MV restored their ability to mineralize. The findings suggest that Zn 2+ ions act as an endogenous regulator of MV Ca 2+ uptake and that the normal lag period results from a competition between Zn 2+ and Ca 2+ for high affinity Ca 2+ binding sites in the MV membrane or within the MV lumen. Other metals tested included Cu 2+ , Pb 2+ and Cd 2+ which had little or no effect on MV mineralization, Mn 2+ , which had an intermediate effect, and Al 3+ , which was found to be almost as inhibitory as Zn 2+ . This finding may have implications for aluminum-associated osteomalacia.
Photochemical release of protected oligonucleotides containing 3′-glycolate termini

Abstract Protected oligonucleotides containing 3′-glycolate termini that are suitable for further elaboration are released from their solid phase supports using the o -nitrobenzyl intramolecular photochemical redox reaction. The yields of isolated oligonucleotides of varying sequence, ranging between 12 and 20 nucleotides long are between 45% and 79%, under conditions that have been previously shown to form less than 2% thymine•thymine photodimers.
Transition state stabilization by six arginines clustered in the active site of creatine kinase.

Abstract Six fully conserved arginine residues (R129, R131, R235, R291, R319, and R340) closely grouped in the nucleotide binding site of rabbit muscle creatine kinase (rmCK) were mutated; four to alanine and all six to lysine. Kinetic analyses in the direction of phosphocreatine formation showed that all four alanine mutants led to substantial losses of activity with three (R129A, R131A, and R235A ) having no detectable activity. All six lysine mutants retained variable degrees of reduced enzymatic activity. Static quenching of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence was used to measure the binding constants for MgADP and MgATP. Nucleotide binding was at most only modestly affected by mutation of the arginine residues. Thus, the cluster of arginines seem to be primarily responsible for transition state stabilization which is further supported by the observation that none of the inactive mutants demonstrated the ability to form a transition analogue complex of MgADP·nitrate·creatine as determined by fluorescence quenching assays. As a whole, the results suggest that the most important role these residues play is to properly align the substrates for stabilization of the phosphoryl transfer reaction.
Stereoselective diels-alder reactions between 9-alkyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-1,4-imines and 2-alkylisoindoles

Abstract The Diels-Alder reaction between 9-alkyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-1,4-imines ( 1 ) and 2-alkylisoindoles ( 2 ) occurs in refluxing xylene to give exclusively the exo-endo cyclo-adducts 3 ( D ).
Use of β2 microglobulin to diagnose tubulo-interstitial renal lesions in children

Fractional excretion (FE) of beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2M) was studied in children with glomerular (N = 114), tubular (N = 50) or other (N = 18) renal diseases. FE-beta 2M (normal less than 0.36%) was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower in glomerular diseases (mean 0.104%) than in tubular lesions (mean 4.27%). Unexpectedly, several patients with glomerular disease were found to have increased values for FE-beta 2M. To determine whether this was due to a tubular component in a primary glomerular disease process, FE-beta 2M was measured in 30 children with various glomerulopathies who underwent renal biopsy. Thirteen of these patients had tubulo-interstitial lesions in addition to their glomerular disease. FE-beta 2M in these patients averaged 3.76% (range 0.14 to 44.6%); only two results were normal. Mean FE-beta 2M in the 17 patients without biopsy evidence of tubulo-interstitial disease was 0.063% (range 0.02 to 0.34%); all values were in the normal range. The types of glomerular diseases in the two groups of patients were similar. Patients with a glomerular lesion complicated by tubulo-interstitial lesions had a poorer prognosis than did those with a pure glomerular disease. The high incidence of tubulo-interstitial lesions in patients with glomerular diseases was unexpected. Our data demonstrates that FE-beta 2M represents a reliable non-invasive method to diagnose such involvement. Measurements of beta 2M also provide a convenient method to follow the course and response to treatment of renal tubular injury.
Human‐environment Interaction: A Modification of the Neuman Systems Model for Aggregates, Families, and the Community

The human-environment interaction model is a modification of the Neuman systems model and is a macro systems approach designed to provide an organizing framework to understand the client's relationship with the environment and to intervene appropriately through preventive, corrective, and rehabilitative measures. It assists in organizing phenomena and shows relationships of various components. The structural elements of the model include context, process, and substantive categories. The substantive parts include theoretical concepts, operational definitions, and a mental-visual picture that permits the theoretical concepts to be readily perceived and understood. The major categories are the physiologic, psychologic, sociocultural, and developmental (PPSD) variables. These are defined and applied as they relate to the health of clients. The model incorporates and illustrates the collaborative decision-making process encompassing three levels of prevention. Together, these provide a framework for action to promote, maintain, and restore the health of individuals, families, aggregates, and the community.
Equilibrium short‐range order in the isotropic phase of a poly(ester‐imide) with a C22H44 alkane spacer

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was performed on a sample of poly(4,4′- phthaloimidobenzoyldoeicosamethyleneoxycarbonyl) (PEIM-22) as a function of temperature. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry were used to follow the isotropization of the crystalline PEIM-22. The crystals of PEIM-22 consist of biphasic layers up to the isotropization temperature. A series of SAXS peaks are observed for the crystals between θ = 0.3 and 3.5°. The width of these peaks indicates the formation of a smectic-like, crystalline layer structure of a coherently scattering domain size of only 3–4 repeating units. In the isotropic phase, a single, broader peak remained at a spacing of ≈2.6 nm, suggesting even at high temperature the existence of equilibrium, short-range, local order. The SAXS profiles were calculated based on a model of alternating layers of a linear, paracrystalline lattice. The results were discussed together with similar data on model compounds in the literature, and it is suggested that the short-range order in the isotropic phase is due to a nanometer-scale separation of the polar, aromatic phthaloimidobenzoyl from the flexible doeicosamethyleneoxycarbonyl. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 611–621, 2000
Mechanical Properties and Oxidation Resistance of Hot Pressed B4C Ceramics Material

B4C ceramics were obtained using hot-pressing method. The effect of different sintering temperatures on the microstructures and mechanical properties of B4C ceramics were investigated. Oxidation resistances were studied over the range 600-850°C. The experimental results showed that the relative density, bending strength and fracture toughness all increased first and then decreased with increasing the sintering temperature. The Vickers-hardness increased as the sintering temperature increasing. When the sintering temperature was 1950°C, the B4C ceramics showed the optimized properties. The values of its relative density, Vickers-hardness, bending strength and fracture toughness were 99.1%, 34.0 GPa, 524.6 MPa and 6.56 MPa·m1/2, respectively.
Behaviors of pre-venture entrepreneurs and perceptions of their financial needs

Some studies have examined different barriers faced by entrepreneurs in starting their firms. For example, lack of business education, training, or managerial experience may have an impact on the firm’s success. This study sought to determine whether there were any differences in the assistance and training needs between male and female pre-venture entrepreneurs as well as between Hispanic and Anglo pre-venture entrepreneurs. The training needs focused on the areas of finance and accounting. A sample of 133 clients of a regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was used to make this comparison. The results indicated differences between males and females in most cases and especially between Hispanic females and Hispanic males. The Hispanic males felt they needed less assistance in the areas of finance and accounting than the Hispanic females did. However, the SBDC consultants felt that both the Anglo and Hispanic females needed less assistance in those areas than the Anglo and Hispanic males needed.
Effect of Sorbitol on the Phosphate Adsorptive Capacity of Ferrihydrite Suspensions

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to stabilize the phosphate adsorptive capacity of aqueous suspensions of ferrihydrite, a potential phosphate binder. Ferrihydrite was precipitated by the addition of 1 N NaOH to 1 M FeCl3 until pH 8.0 was reached. The ferrihydrite suspension was divided into three portions and an amount of sorbitol was added to produce sorbitol concentrations of 0, 1, or 5% w/v, respectively. The phosphate adsorptive capacity and X-ray diffraction pattern were periodically determined during aging at room temperature. The phosphate adsorptive capacity of the ferrihydrite suspension containing 0% sorbitol decreased steadily from 0.012 mgP/mg to 0.007 mgP/mg during the 1-year aging period. In contrast, suspensions containing 1 or 5% sorbitol exhibited constant phosphate adsorptive capacities during this period. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that ferrihydrite transformed to hematite and goethite during aging of the control suspension. The presence of 1 or 5% sorbitol prevented the t...
Measurements on the NIST GEC reference cell

Measurements performed on the NIST GEC Reference Cell are described. The Reference Cell concept grew out of a workshop held at the 1988 Gaseous Electronics Conference (GEC) (October 18-22 1988 Minneapolis MN). The design was refined by the GEC community reviewed at a workshop hosted by SEMATECH1 (March 9 1989) and the final design was engineered at Sandia National Laboratory. The purpose of the discharge cell is to provide an affordable experimental platform for researchers that is physically identical from laboratory to laboratory so that reference data can be generated and various experimental techniques and models can be cross correlated. Four laboratories (Sandia Bell Labs WrightPatterson Air Force Base and NIST) agreed to conduct identical initial measurements on four cells manufactured at the same time. This would ensure the greatest possible uniformity and allow direct comparison of results. The experimental conditions for the present measurements are those specified for intercomparison and include 1" interelectrode spacing grounded lower electrode capacitively coupled RF power cooled electrodes (20 C) electrode ground shields and 99. 999 argon. The specific measurements to be made were: 1) the waveforms of the fundamental through the fifth harmonic of the RF voltage and current including their magnitude and phase 2) the gas flow rate and pressure and 3) the DC self-bias voltage.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Some oscillation results for matrix and vector differential equations with forcing term

In Eq. (M), P, Q, X are real ?z x n matrices, and in (V), Q, x are real nvectors and g is real valued. A real n > 0, constant) is said to be “oscillatory ” if its determinant det X(t) has an infinity of zeros on [ar, m). Otherwise X(t) is called “nonoscillatory.” A real n-vector x(t), t E [01, cc) (a > 0, constant), is said to be “oscillatory” if (x(t), h) has an infinity of zeros on [c+ co) for any h E R” (R = (-CO, co)). Here (., .) denotes the inner product of R”. Although there is a large number of oscillation criteria for solutions of (M) with Q(t) = 0, problem (NI) with Q(t) + 0 becomes extremely difficult, and there are virtually no results concerning the oscillation of (RI) even in simple linear cases. One of the main reasons for this is the absence of “prepared” solutions of (NI). Prepared solutions of (M) with Q(t) = 0 are certain solutions with a symmetry property that can be effectively employed in oscillation theory. Our main purpose here is to give a result for (RI), where P satisfies an integral condition involving a second antiderivative It(t) of Q, and F’(t) is bounded on [01, 00) (with ci > 0, constant) and “stays away from zero,” in a sense to be more precise in Corollary 1. This result extends to the present case a result of Kartsatos and Manougian (see [4]) concerning Izth-order scalar equations. As far as (V) is concerned, we first give an oscillation result with Q(t, .r) = Q(t) which extends a second-order result of Domshlak [l] for Q(t) G 0. Our method is based on reducing the problem to a scalar equation, and then applying a comparison result of Kartsatos [3]. L% ‘e also give a second result, which deals
Using a TV Game Show to Explain the Concept of a Dominant Strategy

An introduction to game theory is now a standard part of the undergraduate economics curriculum. To the best of my knowledge, all current intermediate microeconomics textbooks contain a discussion of game theory, as do the vast majority of introductory texts. One concept important to basic game theory is that of a dominant strategy. A game player has a dominant strategy when one of the actions available to him or her always leaves the player better off (or at least no worse off) than would any of the other possible actions, no matter what decisions are made by the other player(s) in the game. An informal survey of microeconomics textbooks shows how regularly the concept of a dominant strategy appears. I checked 9 intermediate textbooks (with copyright dates of 1994 or later), and every one of them defines and discusses a dominant strategy. In addition, 20 out of 25 introductory textbooks (with the same copyright dates) either explicitly define the term (14 cases) or clearly describe the characteristics.
Conferences as organizations: advising, steering and establishing expectations

While most of us are involved in organizing conferences in some way, we probably do not pay too much attention to the organizational model of these events. This is somewhat surprising, given that conferences are probably the most visible activity of most professional societies, and also entail significant expenditures of money and volunteer labor. While the local square dance club with a $500 annual budget probably has bylaws and statutes, most conferences with hundred thousand dollar budgets operate more by oral tradition than by formal descriptions of responsibilities. In almost all cases, this works just fine, but this informality can lead to misunderstandings or problems when expectations differ among the volunteers or when there is a crisis. Thus, I believe that it is helpful to have clearer models, so that conferences and volunteers can reach a common understanding of what is expected of everybody that contributes their time to the conference, and also who is responsible when things go wrong. For long-running conferences, the typical conference organization involves four major actors: the sponsoring professional organization, a steering committee, the general chairs and the technical program chairs. However, the roles and reporting relationships seem to differ rather dramatically between different conferences.
Thalamic projecting neurons in the feline nucleus cuneatus. A combined horseradish peroxidase and high voltage electron microscopic study.

The retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been employed to identify thalamic projection neurons (TPN) in the feline nucleus cuneatus by means of light microscopy and high voltage electron microscopy. Forty-eight hours after injection of HRP in the contralateral ventrobasal complex of the thalamus, labelled neurons at levels caudal to the obex are concentrated in the cell clusters of the dorsal two-thirds of the nucleus. In plastic sections, labelled TPN are identified by the presence of HRP-positive granules in the perinuclear cytoplasm. TPN are typically about 25 μm in diameter, have a round nucleus with a smooth contour and abundant cytoplasm. In contrast, neurons unlabelled after thalamic injection are located at the periphery of clusters of TPN. Unlabelled neurons are characterized by their fusiform shape (hence, round when encountered in cross-section), small diameter (10–15 μm), a nucleus with an irregular or highly indented contour, and sparse cytoplasm.
Membrane Association of the Myristoylated Alanine-rich C Kinase Substrate (MARCKS) Protein. MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS PROVIDES EVIDENCE FOR COMPLEX INTERACTIONS

The myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein, a prominent cellular substrate for protein kinase C, is associated with membranes in various cell types. MARCKS is myristoylated at its amino terminus; this modification is thought to play the major role in anchoring MARCKS to cellular membranes. Recent studies have suggested that the protein's basic phosphorylation site/calmodulin binding domain may also be involved in the membrane association of MARCKS through electrostatic interactions. The present studies used mutations in the primary structure of the protein to investigate the nature of the association between MARCKS and cell membranes. In chick embryo fibroblasts, activation of protein kinase C led to a decrease in MARCKS membrane association as determined by cell fractionation techniques. Cell-free assays revealed that nonmyristoylated MARCKS exhibited almost no affinity for fibroblast membranes, despite readily demonstrable binding of the wild-type protein. Similar experiments in which the four serines in the phosphorylation site domain were mutated to aspartic acids, mimicking phosphorylation, decreased, but did not eliminate, membrane binding when compared to either the wild-type protein or a comparable tetra-asparagine mutant. Addition of calmodulin in the presence of Ca2+ also inhibited binding of the wild-type protein to membranes, presumably by neutralizing the phosphorylation site domain, or by physically interfering with its membrane association. Surprisingly, expression of a nonmyristoylatable mutant form of MARCKS in intact cells led to only a 46% decrease in its plasma membrane association, as determined by cell fractionation and immunoelectron microscopy. These results are consistent with a complex model of the interaction of MARCKS with cellular membranes, in which the myristoyl moiety, the positively charged phosphorylation site domain, and possibly other domains make independent contributions to membrane binding in intact cells.
Pulmonary Artery Catheter‐Associated Thrombosis

Transesophageal echocardiography has become increasingly important in the assessment of critically ill patients. We report a 39-year-old patient who was incidentally noted to have a large right intraatrial thrombus associated with an indwelling pulmonary artery catheter identified by transesophageal echocardiography. This led to eventual catheter removal by open venotomy. Careful examination of intravascular devices during transesophageal echocardiography may lead to early diagnosis of catheter-associated thrombosis and thus alter management appropriately.
Further Validation of the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders in Middle and Junior High School.

The Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD), a screening system to identify elementary students at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, was evaluated for use in middle and junior high schools. Teachers completed SSBD Stages One and Two on students in grades 6 to 8 who had characteristics of internalizing or externalizing disorders. Teacher, parent, and self-rating forms of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) and the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS) were also completed on 66 students nominated via the SSBD as at risk for internalizing and externalizing problems. Office discipline referrals and grade point averages, for students nominated at SSBD Stage One, were compared with nonnominated students resulting in medium to large effect sizes. Small to moderate correlations were also found between SSBD Stage Two scores and ASEBA and SSRS scores, including several from the parent and student forms. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The psychosocial impact of cancer: evidence in support of independent general positive and negative components

Purpose Considerable research has demonstrated the negative psychosocial impact of cancer. Recent work has highlighted positive psychosocial outcomes. Research is now needed to evaluate the relationship between negative and positive impacts. This paper reports the development and validation of a measurement model capturing positive and negative psychosocial illness impacts.
On the triangularization of arbitrary matrices

The main object of this note is to show that a matrix of order 3 can be triangularized by just one sequence of rotations. In [1] we describe a process to triangularize a matrix of order 3. The process consists of two steps. The first step is to apply a sequence of two Greenstadt's rotations [1] with pivot-pairs (1, 2) and (2, 3). This sequence of rotations shall either triangularize the matrix, or the resulting matrix becomes the exceptional form (see equation (8) of [1]). The second step of the process wants to change the matrix from the exceptional form to the non-exceptional so that the first step can resume its function again. Parlett and Wang [2] point out that it probably would take the first step an infinite sequence of rotations to bring the matrix to the exceptional form. Therefore, in order to triangularize the matrix, the process would have to apply a concatenation of infinitely many infinite sequences of rotations. Wang [2] proposes a way to eliminate this concatenation by trying to apply the second step prior to the "end" of the first step, i.e., prior to some point where the matrix is turning into the exceptional form. In this note we show that the process described in [1] does not require a concatenation of many infinite sequences of rotations, it only requires one sequence of rotations to triangularize a matrix. Here we consider only the matrix of order 3, but we believe that a similar analysis can also be applied to matrices of higher order. Throughout this note we assume that notations that are used without specification are the same notations used in [1].
DNA Mismatch Repair-dependent Activation of c-Abl/p73α/GADD45α-mediated Apoptosis

Cells with functional DNA mismatch repair (MMR) stimulate G2 cell cycle checkpoint arrest and apoptosis in response to N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). MMR-deficient cells fail to detect MNNG-induced DNA damage, resulting in the survival of “mutator” cells. The retrograde (nucleus-to-cytoplasm) signaling that initiates MMR-dependent G2 arrest and cell death remains undefined. Since MMR-dependent phosphorylation and stabilization of p53 were noted, we investigated its role(s) in G2 arrest and apoptosis. Loss of p53 function by E6 expression, dominant-negative p53, or stable p53 knockdown failed to prevent MMR-dependent G2 arrest, apoptosis, or lethality. MMR-dependent c-Abl-mediated p73α and GADD45α protein up-regulation after MNNG exposure prompted us to examine c-Abl/p73α/GADD45α signaling in cell death responses. STI571 (Gleevec™, a c-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and stable c-Abl, p73α, and GADD45α knockdown prevented MMR-dependent apoptosis. Interestingly, stable p73α knockdown blocked MMR-dependent apoptosis, but not G2 arrest, thereby uncoupling G2 arrest from lethality. Thus, MMR-dependent intrinsic apoptosis is p53-independent, but stimulated by hMLH1/c-Abl/p73α/GADD45α retrograde signaling.
Procedure for fabricating biofunctional nanofibers.

Electrospinning is an effective processing method for preparing nanofibers decorated with functional groups. Nanofibers decorated with functional groups may be utilized to study material-biomarker interactions i.e. act as biosensors with potential as single molecule detectors. We have developed an effective approach for preparing functional polymers where the functionality has the capacity of specifically binding with a model protein. In our model system, the functional group is 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) and the protein is anti-DNP IgE (Immunoglobulin E). The functional polymer, α,ω-bi[2,4-dinitrophenyl caproic][poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(2-methoxystyrene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)] (CDNP-PEO-P2MS-PEO-CDNP), is prepared by anionic living polymerization. The difunctional initiator utilized in the polymerization was prepared by electron transfer reaction of α-methylstyrene and potassium (mirror) metal. The 2-methoxystyrene monomer was added first to the initiator, followed by the addition of the second monomer, ethylene oxide, and finally the living polymer was terminated by methanol. The α,ω-dihydroxyl polymer [HO-PEO-P2MS-PEO-OH] was reacted with N-2,4-DNP-∈-amino caproic acid, by DCC coupling, resulting in the formation of α,ω-bi[2,4-dinitrophenylcaproic][poly(ethyleneoxide)-b-poly(2-methoxystyrene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)] (CDNP-PEO-P2MS-PEO-CDNP). The polymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The molecular weight distributions of the polymers were narrow (1.1-1.2) and polymers with molecular weights greater than 50,000 was used in this study. The polymers were yellow powders and soluble in tetrahydrofuran. A water soluble CDNP-PEO-P2MS-PEO-CDNP/ DMEG (dimethoxyethylene glycol) complex binds and achieves steady state binding with solution IgE within a few seconds. Higher molecular weight (water insoluble i.e. around 50,000) CDNP-PEO-P2MS-PEO-CDNP polymers, containing 1% single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were processed into electroactive nanofibers (100 nm to 500 nm in diameter) on silicon substrate. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that anti-DNP IgE interacts with the nanofibers by binding with the DNP functional groups decorating the fibers. These observations suggest that appropriately functionalized nanofibers hold promise for developing biomarker detection device.
Improving dispersed growth of Frankia using Carbopol

In laboratory culture, strains of the actinomycete Frankia grow slowly and form dense mycelial pellets. In this study, we have shown that by adding the anionic polymer Carbopol 941® to liquid growth media, dispersed growth of Frankia is improved. Cell protein measurements indicated higher biomass production in cultures maintained in media supplemented with Carbopol. Fluorescence staining and microscopy were used to compare viability of well-dispersed mycelia and pellets.
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: Evolving Definitions and Preventive Strategies

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most frequent hospital-acquired infections occurring in intubated patients. Because VAP is associated with higher mortality, morbidity, and costs, there is a need to solicit further research for effective preventive measures. VAP has been proposed as an indicator of quality of care. Clinical diagnosis has been criticized to have poor accuracy and reliability. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced a new definition based upon objective and recordable data. Institutions are nowadays reporting a VAP zero rate in surveillance programs, which is in discrepancy with clinical data. This reduction has been highlighted in epidemiological studies, but it can only be attributed to a difference in patient selection, since no additional intervention has been taken to modify pathogenic mechanisms in these studies. The principal determinant of VAP development is the presence of the endotracheal tube (ETT). Contaminated oropharyngeal secretions pool over the ETT cuff and subsequently leak down to the lungs through a hydrostatic gradient. Impairment of mucociliary motility and cough reflex cannot counterbalance with a proper clearance of secretions. Lastly, biofilm develops on the inner ETT surface and acts as a reservoir for microorganism inoculum to the lungs. New preventive strategies are focused on the improvement of secretions drainage and prevention of bacterial colonization. The influence of gravity on mucus flow and body positioning can facilitate the clearance of distal airways, with decreased colonization of the respiratory tract. A different approach proposes ETT modifications to limit the leakage of oropharyngeal secretions: subglottic secretion drainage and cuffs innovations have been addressed to reduce VAP incidence. Moreover, coated-ETTs have been shown to prevent biofilm formation, although there is evidence that ETT clearance devices (Mucus Shaver) are required to preserve the antimicrobial properties over time. Here, after reviewing the most noteworthy issues in VAP definition and pathophysiology, we will present the more interesting proposals for VAP prevention.
/kappa/ MESON K*(725) AND THE STRANGENESS-CHANGING CURRENTS OF UNITARY SYMMETRY

The hypothesis that the vector mesons M and M (to be identified with the observed K/sup */ meson of mass 885 Mev) are coupled to strangeness-conserving currents that are conserved as exactly as possible is examined in the framework of unitary symmetry. The hypothesis is shown to suggest the existence of Y = plus or minus 1, T = 1/2, and J = 0/sup +/ mesons (with no unitary partners) whose couplings to other strongly interacting particles vanish in the limit of exact unitary symmetry. The possible connection between the conjectured scalar meson and the experimentally observed kappa meson (725-Mev meson (K/sup */)) is discussed. (auth)
Rapid resolution of a massive left ventricular thrombus by usual systemic anticoagulation

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