cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated 2D photonic crystal stack filter fabricated using nanoreplica molding

The design, fabrication, and characterization of an integrated 2D photonic crystal stack are described for application as optical filters with improved optical density and angle tolerance compared to single photonic crystal slabs. The 2D photonic crystals are designed as polarization independent reflectance filters with a narrow spectral bandwidth centered at λ = 532 nm by utilizing the guided mode resonance effect. Up to three photonic crystal layers are vertically stacked upon a single plastic substrate by using repeated nanoreplica molding process steps, with no alignment required between stacked layers. The photonic crystal stack filters achieve optical density of 2.24 with an angular tolerance of 14.8 degrees.
Effects of Cocaine on Canines' Coronary Arteries:

Nine canines were anesthetized with pentobarbital and studied by both selective and semiselective coronary artery angiography following intravenous bolus doses of 1,3,5,8, or 10 mg/kg of cocaine. Catheterization was accomplished with a 5 Fr catheter over a 0.035 inch guidewire under fluoroscopic control, and angio grams were obtained by injection of a diatrizoate solution. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed prior to cocaine administration and at minutes 0.5, 1,1.5, 3, 5, and, in some cases, minutes 10 and 15 after cocaine administra tion. The 1 and 3 mg/kg doses of cocaine had no effect on the coronary arter ies. The 5 mg/kg dose significantly dilated the coronary arteries. The 8 mg/kg dose produced significant dilation at 30 seconds after cocaine but nonsignifi cant dilation of the coronary arteries at all other times. The 10 mg/kg dose produced significant dilation at 30 seconds, nonsignificant dilation at 60 seconds followed by significant constriction at 90 seconds after cocaine, whic...
A survey of state medicaid policies on nursing home legal risk management programs

This survey studied Medicaid policies on reimbursing long-term care facilities for costs associated with legal risk management programs. Of the 45 responding jurisdictions, 26 allow risk management reimbursement (within allowable limits) as a general administrative expense, while 19 states do not reimburse for risk management costs. To the extent that (a) risk management can be demonstrated as cost/beneficial, and (b) that Medicaid policy influences institutional behavior, states should liberalize Medicaid reimbursement for risk management in long-term care.
Comparison of V Values for Some Nitrogen- and Metal-Centered π-Bridged Mixed-Valence Compounds

Delocalized radical cations having two nitrogen-centered charge bearing units bridged by π systems may be considered Class III intervalence compounds. The transition energy of the longest wavelengt...
Damage Detection Accommodating Varying Environmental Conditions

Although many algorithms have been developed in the last two decades to detect damage in civil structures using dynamic properties, few studies have considered the challenge imposed by the variability of these properties due to changing environmental conditions. To address this concern, a statistically based analysis is proposed herein to analyze the distribution of identified structural parameters over an unknown number of external conditions and to effectively reduce their influence on the localization of damage. The proposed SHM scheme can be divided into three main steps: (1) identification of modal properties using acceleration responses of the structure to ambient loads under the influence of environmental conditions; (2) characterization of the structure as a function of the detected dynamic properties and an identification model (ID-model) representative of the system; and (3) accommodation of the influence of external conditions by means of a principal component analysis of the identified paramet...
Surgical management of frontal sinus inverted papilloma: a systematic review.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Surgical management of frontal sinus (FS) inverted papilloma (IP) remains a significant challenge. This study systematically reviews the FS IP literature to delineate outcomes based on surgical strategy. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: Cases for inclusion were identified by literature query for the terms frontal sinus and inverted papilloma between 1995 and 2010. Cases reported with sufficient outcomes data, defined as specific surgical approach and disease-free follow-up, were included. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant risk factors for recurrence. The reported length of follow-up for each surgical approach was analyzed as an indicator of the strength of the reported literature for each approach. Results: Fifty-seven cases were identified in 13 studies, with 49 cases deemed adequate for additional analysis. Twenty-four cases (49%) were primary, and 25 (51%) were secondary (residual or recurrent disease) IP. Bilateral FS involvement was reported in eight cases (16.3%). Surgical approaches employed included endoscopic frontal sinusotomy (EFS) in 21 (42.9%), endoscopic modified Lothrop (EML) in 10 (20.4%), osteoplastic flap in 13 (26.5%), and endoscopic trephination and EFS in five (10.2%) patients. The overall rate of recurrence was 22.4%. Mean follow-up time was 27 months. Conclusions: The recent reported literature of FS IP demonstrates high prevalence of recurrent and bilateral cases. Although statistical analysis of this accrued data is unable to delineate the best surgical approach for FS IP, more aggressive approaches frequently employed for secondary or bilateral disease may facilitate better disease control.
Preconditioning Enters the Era of “Physiological Proteomics”

See related article, pages 706–714 Cardiac ischemic preconditioning was first described in 1986 by Murry et al,1 who reported that brief periods of ischemia dramatically reduced myocardial infarct size caused by a subsequent, more prolonged period of ischemia. Since the initial report, the phenomenon has been shown to occur in many cell types, including human cardiomyocytes,2 raising hopes that ischemic injury to human myocardium might be prevented. The discovery that pretreatment with several pharmacological agents including adenosine, diazoxide, bradykinin, and insulin could also precondition the heart and prevent subsequent ischemic damage, provided an as yet unfulfilled promise that drugs could be developed which limit cardiac cell death caused by myocardial infarction in patients.3 As is always true of complex physiological problems, it is likely that understanding the fundamental molecular mechanism of preconditioning will be necessary to develop effective medical therapies. In recent years the mitochondrion has become the subject of intense scrutiny for the key to preconditioning. The formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is an essential step in ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte death because its formation accounts for collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and failure of oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP which leads to cardiomyocyte death. Furthermore, inhibitors and activators of the mPTP inhibit or favor preconditioning, respectively, suggesting both the mPTP and the mitochondrion are key participants.3,4 Further evidence that the mitochondrion is key to the initial physiological response to preconditioning is provided by Arrell et al in this issue of Circulation Research , who used a proteomic approach to measure changes in the amount of cardiomyocytes undergoing preconditioning.5 Relatively few of the proteins they identified changed at all. Of the 19 that did, about half were classified as mitochondrial proteins. The purpose of this editorial is not to review the …
In vitro enamel demineralization and the marginal gap of simulated cast restorations with three different cements.

Purpose This study investigated 1) the relationship between marginal gap sizes and enamel demineralization, and 2) the influence of three cements on this enamel demineralization. Materials and Methods Horizontal sections of 60 noncarious, freshly extracted human third molars were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Simulated cast restorations were attached to the specimens with 1) zinc phosphate cement, 2) glass ionomer cement, 3) composite resin cement, or 4) no cement (control). The tooth/restoration gaps were controlled at 51, 102, and 204 μm. The specimens were incubated for 16 weeks in buffered lactic acid gelatin to induce demineralization. Photomicrographs were obtained from sections of each sample using a polarized light microscope. Three evaluators measured wall and primary enamel lesion depths allowing for the determination of a demineralization ratio (DR). Data were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA (α= 0.05). Results The between-evaluator effects were not significant. All evaluators agreed that DR was significantly related to cement (p= .0001) but not to marginal gap size. The resin cement had the smallest DR (0.7 ± 0.3), and the control group had the greatest (4.4 ± 2.0). Conclusions The presence of any one of the three investigated cements resulted in decreased demineralization. The amount of demineralization was unaffected by marginal gap size.
Perceptual Responses during Prolonged Work

This study was conducted to determine if cardiac frequency is a factor in the rating of perceived exertion. 10 fit male Ss were exposed to a design that used heat to manipulate cardiac frequency. Five treatments of various work loads in neutral and hot-dry environments were used to elicit unequal cardiac frequencies for equal work loads and equal cardiac frequencies for unequal work loads. Respiratory and body temperature variables were also collected. Multivariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference between ratings of perceived exertion of equal work loads even though cardiac frequency had been significantly elevated by the heat. The rating of perceived exertion seemed to follow alterations in work load when an increment of more than 200 to 300 kpm/min. was used. Ss also demonstrated ability to partial out thermal sensations from ratings of perceived exertion.
iLeak: A Lightweight System for Detecting Inadvertent Information Leaks

Data loss incidents, where data of sensitive nature are exposed to the public, have become too frequent and have caused damages of millions of dollars to companies and other organizations. Repeatedly, information leaks occur over the Internet, and half of the time they are accidental, caused by user negligence, misconfiguration of software, or inadequate understanding of an application’s functionality. This paper presents iLeak, a lightweight, modular system for detecting inadvertent information leaks. Unlike previous solutions, iLeak builds on components already present in modern computers. In particular, we employ system tracing facilities and data indexing services, and combine them in a novel way to detect data leaks. Our design consists of three components: uaudits are responsible for capturing the information that exits the system, while Inspectors use the indexing service to identify if the transmitted data belong to files that contain potentially sensitive information. The Trail Gateway handles the communication and synchronization of uaudits and Inspectors. We implemented iLeak on Mac OS X using DTrace and the Spotlight indexing service. Finally, we show that iLeak is indeed lightweight, since it only incurs 4% overhead on protected applications.
From wing to wing: the persistence of long ecological interaction chains in less-disturbed ecosystems

Human impact on biodiversity usually is measured by reduction in species abundance or richness. Just as important, but much more difficult to discern, is the anthropogenic elimination of ecological interactions. Here we report on the persistence of a long ecological interaction chain linking diverse food webs and habitats in the near-pristine portions of a remote Pacific atoll. Using biogeochemical assays, animal tracking, and field surveys we show that seabirds roosting on native trees fertilize soils, increasing coastal nutrients and the abundance of plankton, thus attracting manta rays to native forest coastlines. Partnered observations conducted in regions of this atoll where native trees have been replaced by human propagated palms reveal that this complex interaction chain linking trees to mantas readily breaks down. Taken together these findings provide a compelling example of how anthropogenic disturbance may be contributing to widespread reductions in ecological interaction chain length, thereby isolating and simplifying ecosystems.
Serial acquisition of PN sequences in chip-asynchronous DS/SS systems

The problem is to obtain an estimate of the unknown delay /spl delta/=(k+/spl epsiv/)T/sub c/, where k is an integer, /spl epsiv//spl isin/[0,1], and T/sub c/ is the chip time duration. This paper concentrates on the estimation of k using sequential probability ratio tests (SPRTs), details on the estimation of /spl epsi/ being published separately. It assumes a random sequence model for the PN sequences arising in the out-of-phase hypothesis, and derives an SPRT which does not depend on /spl epsi/. The error probabilities and expected sample sizes are compared with those obtained in both ideal case where the SPRT depends on /spl epsi/, and in the case where the SPRT is based on a zero sequence model for the out-of-phase hypothesis. These comparisons are made in both of the situations where the observations are random sequences, or actual PN sequences as would be used in practice. The analytical and numerical results indicate that the SPRT based on the random sequence model yields excellent performance independent of the unknown value of /spl epsi/, and significantly outperforms the SPRT based on the zero sequence model. >
“A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down”: Bitter Masking by Sucrose Among Children and Adults

Sweeteners are often added to liquid formulations of drugs but whether they merely make them better tasting or actually reduce the perception of bitterness remains unknown. In a group of children and adults, we determined whether adding sucrose to urea, caffeine, denatonium benzoate, propylthiouracil (PROP), and quinine would reduce their bitterness using a forced-choice method of paired comparisons. To better understand individual differences, adults also rated each solution using a more complex test (general Labeled Magnitude Scale [gLMS]) and were genotyped for the sweet taste receptor gene TAS1R3 and the bitter receptor TAS2R38. Sucrose suppressed the bitterness of each agent in children and adults. In adults, sucrose was effective in reducing the bitterness ratings from moderate to weak for all compounds tested, but those with the sensitive form of the sweet receptor reported greater reduction for caffeine and quinine. For PROP, sucrose was most effective for those who were genetically the most sensitive, although this did not attain statistical significance. Not only is the paired comparison method a valid tool to study how sucrose improves the taste of pediatric medicines among children but knowledge gleaned from basic research in bitter taste and how to alleviate it remains an important public health priority.
Motile organelles: The importance of specific tubulin isoforms

The requirements for building flagellar axonemes and centrioles are beginning to be uncovered. The carboxyl terminus of a specific beta tubulin isoform plays an important role in forming the '9 + 2' structure of the axoneme; delta tubulin plays an essential role in forming the triplet microtubules of centrioles and basal bodies.
Decision feedback multipath cancellation for coherent direct sequence spread spectrum wireless networks

We describe a new receiver structure for direct-sequence spread spectrum signals in highly dispersive multipath wireless channels. This structure uses spread-spectrum correlation detection in combination with decision feedback multipath cancellation (DFMC). The multipath discrimination capability of correlation detection is used for suppression of symbol self-interference, and DFMC performs cancellation of intersymbol interference. We demonstrate that a significant performance improvement is possible over that for correlation detection alone. In particular, simulation results show that the joint correlator-DFMC detector does not suffer from error propagation at typical error rates and can approach the performance of the ideal single-path matched filter detector. This technique holds promise for high-rate wireless applications and where bandwidth limitations allow only modest spreading gains.
Asymptotic capacity of two-dimensional channels with checkerboard constraints

A checkerboard constraint is a bounded measurable set S/spl sub/R/sup 2/, containing the origin. A binary labeling of the Z/sup 2/ lattice satisfies the checkerboard constraint S if whenever t/spl isin/Z/sup 2/ is labeled 1, all of the other Z/sup 2/-lattice points in the translate t+S are labeled 0. Two-dimensional channels that only allow labelings of Z/sup 2/ satisfying checkerboard constraints are studied. Let A(S) be the area of S, and let A(S)/spl rarr//spl infin/ mean that S retains its shape but is inflated in size in the form /spl alpha/S, as /spl alpha//spl rarr//spl infin/. It is shown that for any open checkerboard constraint S, there exist positive reals K/sub 1/ and K/sub 2/ such that as A(S)/spl rarr//spl infin/, the channel capacity C/sub S/ decays to zero at least as fast as (K/sub 1/log/sub 2/A(S))/A(S) and at most as fast as (K/sub 2/log/sub 2/A(S))/A(S). It is also shown that if S is an open convex and symmetric checkerboard constraint, then as A(S)/spl rarr//spl infin/, the capacity decays exactly at the rate 4/spl delta/(S)(log/sub 2/A(S))/A(S), where /spl delta/(S) is the packing density of the set S. An implication is that the capacity of such checkerboard constrained channels is asymptotically determined only by the areas of the constraint and the smallest (possibly degenerate) hexagon that can be circumscribed about the constraint. In particular, this establishes that channels with square, diamond, or hexagonal checkerboard constraints all asymptotically have the same capacity, since /spl delta/(S)=1 for such constraints.
Diverse Origin and Function of Cells With Endothelial Phenotype Obtained From Adult Human Blood

Cells with endothelial phenotype generated from adult peripheral blood have emerging diagnostic and therapeutic potential. This study examined the lineage relationship between, and angiogenic function of, early endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and late outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) in culture. Culture conditions were established to support the generation of both EPCs and OECs from the same starting population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Utilizing differences in expression of the surface endotoxin receptor CD14, it was determined that the vast majority of EPCs arose from a CD14+ subpopulation of PBMCs but OECs developed exclusively from the CD14− fraction. Human OECs, but not EPCs, expressed key regulatory proteins endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and caveolin-1. Moreover, OECs exhibited a markedly greater capacity for capillary morphogenesis in in vitro and in vivo matrigel models, tube formation by OECs being in part dependent on eNOS function. Collectively, these data indicate lineage and functional heterogeneity in the population of circulating cells capable of assuming an endothelial phenotype and provide rationale for the investigation of new cell-therapeutic approaches to ischemic cardiovascular disease.
High-sensitivity diamond magnetometer with nanoscale resolution

Impurity centres in diamond have recently attracted attention in the context of quantum information processing. Now their use as magnetic-field sensors is explored, promising a fresh approach to single-spin detection and magnetic-field imaging at the nanoscale.
Emergency department quality: an analysis of existing pediatric measures.

Objectives: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended the development of national standards for the measurement of emergency care performance. The authors undertook this study with the goals of enumerating and categorizing existing performance measures relevant to pediatric emergency care. Methods: Potential performance measures were identified through a survey of 1) the peer-reviewed literature, 2) websites of organizations and societies pertaining to quality improvement, and 3) emergency department (ED) directors. Performance measures were enumerated and categorized, using consensus methods, on three dimensions: 1) the IOM quality domains; 2) Donabedian’s structure ⁄process ⁄outcome framework; and 3) general, cross-cutting, or disease-specific measures. Results: A total of 405 performance measures were found for potential use for pediatric emergency care. When categorized by IOM domain, nearly half of the measures were related to effectiveness, while only 6% of measures addressed patient-centeredness. In the Donabedian dimension, 67% of measures were categorized as process measures, with 29% outcome and 4% structure measures. Finally, 31% of measures were general measures relevant to every ED visit. Although 225 measures (55%) were diseasespecific, the majority (56%) of these measures related to only five common conditions. Conclusions: A wide range of performance measures relevant to pediatric emergency care are available. However, measures lack a systematic and comprehensive approach to evaluate the quality of care provided. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:519‐526 a 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Evidence That Erythropoietin Modulates Neuroinflammation through Differential Action on Neurons, Astrocytes, and Microglia

Neuroinflammation is a normal and healthy response to neuronal damage. However, excessive or chronic neuroinflammation exacerbates neurodegeneration after trauma and in progressive diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Therefore, molecules that modulate neuroinflammation are candidates as neuroprotective agents. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a known neuroprotective agent that indirectly attenuates neuroinflammation, in part, by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis. In this review, we provide evidence that EPO also modulates neuroinflammation upstream of apoptosis by acting directly on glia. Further, the signaling induced by EPO may differ depending on cell type and context possibly as a result of activation of different receptors. While significant progress has been made in our understanding of EPO signaling, this review also identifies areas for future study in terms of the role of EPO in modulating neuroinflammation.
ParaNets: A Parallel Network Architecture for Challenged Networks

Networks characterized by challenges, such as intermittent connectivity, network heterogeneity, and large delays, are called "challenged networks". We propose a novel network architecture for challenged networks dubbed Parallel Networks, or, ParaNets. The vision behind ParaNets is to have challenged network protocols operate over multiple heterogenous networks, simultaneously available, through one or more devices. We present the ParaNets architecture and discuss its short-term challenges and longterm implications. We also argue, based on current research trends and the ParaNets architecture, for the evolution of the conventional protocol stack to a more flexible cross-layered protocol tree. To demonstrate the potential impact of ParaNets, we use Delay Tolerant Mobile Networks (DTMNs) as a representative challenged network over which we evaluate ParaNets. Our ultimate goal in this paper is to open the way for further work in challenged networks using ParaNets as the underlying architecture.
Trust and informed consent to rationing.

HE LAW OF INFORMED CONSENT IS IMPORTANT, BUT it has distinct limitations for framing the crucial questions as we encounter an increasing gap between what medical science and technology make theoretically possible and the willingness of our society to finance it. The dialogue between Hall (1993) and Appelbaum (1993) raises fascinating questions, but it is distant from the realities of everyday practice and clinical decision making. Hall (1993) cites me as a proponent of prior consent on health care rationing, but the implications of my discussion are somewhat different than he implies. My proposal was a response to a tendency in marketing efforts to engage in expansive rhetoric, promising comprehensive benefits and health maintenance without revealing the utilization control mechanisms likely to be used. As I wrote:
Matrix Inversion on a PIM (Processor-in-Memory)

Many computational applications in science and engineering involve solving matrix inversions with large data sets. To reduce the computation time, parallel architectures are used with appropriate data partitioning and placement schemes. In this paper, matrices are inverted on a PIM (processor-in-memory) architecture by applying a blockwise analytical matrix inversion scheme in a recursive manner, and whose performance is evaluated and analyzed.
Intelligent decision support to assist real-time collaboration

Under conditions associated with real-time decisions, humans may experience stressors such as information overload, time pressure, emotional intensity, and uncertainty. These pressures increase with distributed teams that must collaborate to make decisions in rapidly changing environments over networks due to factors such as delays or misunderstandings in communication. Intelligent decision support systems attempt to mitigate these issues by integrating capabilities from the human user and artificial intelligence. One of the most promising technologies for real applications is intelligent agents. Agents are generally described as software programs that are autonomous, adaptive, proactive, reactive, communicative, cooperative, mobile, goal- driven and persistent in performing their tasks. Using these characteristics, agents and multi-agent teams can be integrated into decision support systems to perform tasks such as monitoring, alerting, learning, and even making decisions. This talk looks at intelligent decision support for real-time collaboration. We present an application to an autonomous robotic vehicle in which decision making is shared by the human/machine team.
Citizenship and Diaspora: A State Home for Transnational Politics?

This paper, a revised version of which will appear in Politics from Afar: Transnational Diasporas and Networks (Hurst/Columbia University Press), explores the legal status of citizenship as a vehicle for diaspora and globalized forms of community. The paper focuses on the rise in the acceptance of plural citizenship and the expansion of external citizen rights, especially political rights. Citizenship’s increasing flexibility enhances state capacity to comprehend diaspora, that is, to allow the state to serve as the agent of diaspora community. Because individuals who are, as a matter of social fact, members in diaspora communities can now express and actualize that attachment through the citizenship tie, the state would seem a plausible home to diaspora. The trend towards extending full political rights to nonresident citizens is consistent with this hypothesis. These developments do not necessarily establish citizenship as a sustainable home for diaspora, however. The extension of citizenship rights to diaspora communities may not evidence a strong tie. Little is required of external citizens. In most cases, external citizens who naturalize in their new state of residence maintain their original citizenship as a default. The cost of retaining original citizenship is effectively zero. Electoral participation rates among external citizens are low. There may also be normative issues with the state acting as institutional home of diaspora resulting from the continuing territorial governance authorities of the state. These concerns might be addressed by detaching citizenship from territorial governance, composing a polity to include both internal and external citizen populations, then devolving territorial governance to a sub-entity with respect to which voting participation rights would be limited to resident citizens. But this device would not address homeland interests on the part of external citizens and rising circular migration. Citizenship and the state may thus fall short as institutional vehicles for political diaspora.
Infiltration of Nanoparticles into Porous Binder Jet Printed Parts

The densification of parts that are produced by binder jetting Additive Manufacturing (AM; a.k.a. “3D Printing”) is an essential step in making them mechanically useful. By increasing the packing factor of the powder bed by incorporating nanoparticles into the binder has potential to alleviate the amount of shrinkage needed for full densification of binder jet parts. We present preliminary data on the use of 316L Stainless Steel Nanoparticles (SSN) to densify 316L stainless steel binder jet parts. Aqueous solutions of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) or Ethylene Glycol (EG) were prepared at different DEG/water and EG/water molar ratios; pH of the solutions was adjusted by the use of 0.10 M sodium hydroxide. Nanoparticles were suspended in a resulted solution at a volume percentage of SSN/solution at 0.5%. The suspension was then sonicated for thirty minutes. One milliliter of the suspension was added stepwise to a sintered, printed disk with the dimensions: (d = 10 mm, h = 3 mm) in the presence of a small magnet. The 3D part was then sintered again. Moreover, the increase in the mass of the 3D part was used as indication of the amount of nanoparticles that diffused in the 3D part. This mass percent increasemore » was studied as a function of pH of the suspension and as function DEG/water molar ratio. Unlike EG, data show that change in pH affects the mass percent when the suspension was made with DEG. Finally, optical analysis of the discs’ cross sections revealed trends metallic densities similar to trends in the data for mass increase with changing pH and water molar ratio.« less
Abstract 5427: EGCG prevents hepatocellular carcinoma development in a diethylnitrosamine-induced rat model

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in incidence and treatment is often unsuccessful. Thus, prevention in high-risk patients with established cirrhosis has been proposed as an alternative strategy. It has been suggested that the increased inflammation and fibrogenesis observed during cirrhosis predisposes the liver to future malignant transformation to HCC through a “field effect”. A growing body of evidence indicates that the green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), can reduce inflammation and fibrogenesis during chronic liver injury. Here, we test the hypothesis that physiological concentrations of EGCG administered in the setting of cirrhosis can prevent future HCC development. Methods: A rat model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced cirrhosis was used to examine the efficacy of EGCG for inhibition of HCC formation in these cirrhotic livers. DEN (50 mg/kg) was administered weekly throughout the study while 0.02% EGCG was given in drinking water beginning at the onset of cirrhosis. At the end of the study, rats were sacrificed, livers were sectioned and stained to analyze disease progression and tumor nodules were counted. Liver function tests were performed to determine liver injury and overall liver function. Finally, genome-wide gene expression profiling on the surrounding, non-tumoral liver tissue was used to monitor the “field effect” in response to EGCG. Results: EGCG significantly (p < 0.01) prevented the development of HCC tumor nodules from on average 18.8 in vehicle controls to on average 9.1 in EGCG-treated animals. EGCG also reduced liver injury and improved liver function as assessed by serum chemistry tests. Finally, a gene expression signature predictive of poor survival and HCC development in human cirrhosis patients was reversed in response to EGCG. Conclusions: Our data are consistent with the growing body of evidence suggesting that EGCG has protective effects in liver disease. Further, our results suggest that EGCG is a potentially effective HCC prevention strategy that can be monitored using gene expression signatures. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5427. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5427
Development and Reproduction of Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) After Treatments with Hydroprene and Pyriproxyfen

Hydroplane and pyriproxyfen, as liquid sprays applied to soil and as bait formulations, were evaluated against nymphs of Scapteriscus abbreviates Scudded in the laboratory. Small and large nymphs were treated. Survival, development, and resulting progeny production were observed. Hydroplane treatments affected neither survival and development of nymphs nor reproduction of resulting adults. Pyriproxyfen treatments causing substantial mortality were the 0.5% spray to small nymphs (33% mortality), 0.1% spray to large nymphs (33% mortality of females), 0.5% spray to large nymphs (87 and 67% mortality of females and males, respectively), and baits offered to large nymphs (40% mortality of females). Concentrations of pyriproxyfen within each treatment group that caused the most deformities of surviving adults were the 0.1% spray to small nymphs (85% of females and males deformed), 0.5% spray to large nymphs (100% of males deformed), and the 0.5% bait offered to large nymphs (46% of females deformed). Baits offered to small nymphs caused no deformities. Nymphal development times were significantly lengthened by most pyriproxyfen treatments. Treatments significantly reducing progeny (egg and nymph) production of surviving adults were 0.1 and 0.5% sprays to small nymphs and 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5% sprays to large nymphs. Progeny production was significantly reduced when one or both members of a mating pair were deformed. The potential of pyriproxyfen for mole cricket control and possible limitations are discussed.
POLICE BRIEFING STATIONS: A LOCATION PROBLEM

Abstract The paper presents a successful application of location theory in the public sector. The problem involved development of a reliable technique to assist the Oklahoma City Police Department in selecting the locations of two police briefing stations to supplement an existing police headquarters. Difficulties encountered in applying "textbook methods" to solve an actual problem and how they were resolved are discussed. Accordingly, data collection, model development, and solution techniques are also presented. Quantitative results of a test application are included. Final site selection was based upon results of this study and other qualitative factors such as zoning requirements, land availability, political considerations, potential growth and environmental impact.
Tissue Lactates and Blood Lactates as Affected by Muscular Exercise.

In dogs anesthetized with amytal the following preparations were made: 3 fore limb muscles and 2 hind limb muscles were prepared for rapid excision, with care to avoid injury to said muscles or interference with their blood and nerve supply. A carotid artery was cannulized, and a brachial vein and the inferior vena cava below junction with the renal veins were exposed. The blood vessels leading to both kidneys were tied off. Stimulating electrodes were imbedded under the skin of the back at the levels of the first lumbar and last sacral vertebrae.1Continuous records of arterial blood pressure and of oxygen consumption were made. At the end of a 15-minute basal period a sample of arterial blood was drawn and one fore limb muscle rapidly excised and thrown at once into liquid air. Artificial exercise (confined to the hind quarters by the location of the electrodes) was then induced for 15 minutes. At the end of the exercise period blood samples were drawn from the cannulized artery, from the inferior vena c...
Status of secondary contamination of bottled drinking water and its influencing factors

[Objective]To understand the status of microbe secondary contamination of bottled drinking water in the use of drinking water supply apparatus and explore its influencing factors,and provide scientific basis for improving the sanitary status of drinking water supply apparatus to decrease secondary contamination.[Methods]A total of 79 ordinary drinking water supply apparatus in use were randomly sampled as the objects of bacteriological investigation,among them,19 drinking water supply apparatus had not been cleaned and another 13 drinking water supply apparatus had been cleaned,and their status of microbe contamination were tracked and observed.[Results] The contamination rates of the water that discharged from cold water valve of 79 drinking water supply apparatus for total bacterial count,mould + yeast and coliform group were 82.3%,34.2% and 10.1%,respectively.thermotolerant coliform bacteria and pathogenic bacteria were not detected.After cleaning,the contamination rates of bottled drinking water showed significant difference as compared with the same apparatus before cleaning(χ2 = 12.764,P 0.01).[Conclusion] The serious microbe secondary contamination of bottled drinking water that caused by drinking water supply apparatus in use still exists in Jiangmen City.It is very necessary to clean drinking water supply apparatus regularly and appropriately.
Cause analysis of drug users dropping out methadone maintenance treatment in newly opened clinics in Guangxi from 2009 to 2011

Objective To explore the influencing factors of drug users dropping out methadone maintenance treatment(MMT) and their effect on treatment compliance in Guangxi from 2009 to 2011.Methods Using unified questionnaire investigation of state of community drug users dropping out MMT,telephone or family interview was adopted to investigate the drug users dropping out MMT or their families to find out the reason dropping out MMT.Results In total 374 cases dropped out MMT,the main reasons for dropping out MMT were as follows: unknown reason accounted for 31.6%,illegal crime for 27.0%,death / disease / pregnant for 15.5%,compulsory drug treatment or detention for 9.9%.Conclusion Unknown reason,illegal crime,death / disease / pregnant,compulsory drug treatment or detention were the main reasons for dropping out MMT.It is necessary to take the corresponding measures for outpatients to reduce dropping out and improve compliance.
Self-Aligning Microfluidic Interconnects with Low Dead Volume

In this paper, we present a novel self-aligning fluidic interconnection technique with low dead volume and pressure drop for generic microfluidic systems and CE chips. We have successfully designed, fabricated and characterized two self-aligning fluidic interconnection techniques in this work, both resulting in low dead volume and low pressure drop across the interconnects. The first technique is a serial assembly technique, in which each fluidic interconnect is assembled individually, exhibiting a pressure drop of 0.14 psi at a flow rate of 100 μl/min. The second technique is a parallel assembly technique that is suitable for high density interconnects with multi-stacked generic microfluidic systems, which has a pressure drop of 0.15 psi at a flow rate of 100 μl/min. We have also characterized these interconnects in terms of physical robustness of the interconnection scheme.
“If you have been on Top of an Unequal System for a Really Long Time, Meritocracy Sucks”

Michael Kimmel analyses gender equality from a sociological perspective encompassing both women and men. He argues that women, but also men will win by promoting gender equality due to the societal and organizational changes and the enhanced work-life-flexibility this brings about. Michael Kimmel promotes active and conscious recruiting processes, awareness for biases and private goals as well as multidimensional solutions in order to bring about this change.
Disorders of the gall bladder and biliary tract

This chapter discusses the clinical feature, diagnosis, and treatment of choledochal cyst, spontaneous perforation of the bile duct in infancy, stones in the common bile duct, calculous cholecystitis, non-calculous cholecystitis, non-calculous distension of the gall bladder, and Kawasaki disease. Choledochal cysts are dilatations of all or part of the extrahepatic biliary system. The dilatation may be fusiform or cystic. If unrecognized these cysts may be complicated by progressive biliary obstruction leading to biliary cirrhosis, cholangitis, and carcinoma. Careful ultrasonic examination of the biliary tree is the most helpful investigation demonstrating a cystic dilatation of the common bile duct without gall bladder dilatation although the intrahepatic bile ducts may be widened. The treatment of choice is radical excision of the cyst with hepatico-jejunostomy or porto-jejunostomy to a Roux-en-Y loop. Pathological effects of gall-stones include obstruction to bile flow, cholecystitis, cholangitis and, rarely, rupture of the biliary tree. The most common type is a mixed gall-stone. It contains cholesterol, bile pigment, calcium, and an organic or protein matrix. Such gall-stones are usually multiple with faceted surfaces and contain enough calcium to be radio-opaque. Calculous cholecystitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the gall bladder associated with the presence of gall-stones in the gall bladder. Non-calculous cholecystitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the gall bladder in the absence of cholelithiasis.
Understanding Nonprofit Organizations' Use of Social Networking Sites: An Examination of Management Factors

This study examined how nonprofit organizations use social networking sites to enhance stakeholder relations and what organizational management factors may contribute to the effective use of social networking sites. Local nonprofit organizations in the Central Florida area were surveyed. The authors found that the strategic use of social networking sites can better foster online connections between nonprofit organizations and their stakeholders. Organizational managerial decisions can have a great impact on how effectively organizations use their social networking sites.
Multi-spectral Remote Sensing of Sea Fog with Simultaneous Passive Infrared and Microwave Sensors

Mitigating the impacts of sea fog can be facilitated with accurate detection of sea fog events in satellite observations. While low stratus clouds and fog layers are apparent in both visible and infrared passive imager observations, some challenges remain in positively identifying cases of fog. Low liquid water clouds typically appear bright in visible imagery, but are difficult to distinguish from high clouds based only on visible reflectance. Emission from cloud tops in common infrared imagery is increasingly difficult to distinguish from surface emission as the cloud top altitude decreases. Prior work suggests that knowledge of the surface temperature can increase the reliability of satellite fog detection based on visible and infrared satellite observations. However, that work relied on output from a complex weather model. Here we exploit the co-location of sea surface temperature retrievals from passive microwave imagery with visible and infrared brightness temperature observations on the NASA Aqua polar-orbiting satellite to test a method for sea fog detection that does not rely on ancillary data from weather models or surface station data. The method exploits sea surface temperature retrievals based on microwave emission even in the presence of non-precipitating clouds. Two examples of sea fog are explored that have been verified as true cases of fog in the literature. They are found to have substantial areas of cloud where the 11 μm emission temperature of the cloud is very close to the sea surface temperature value. This differs substantially from an example of subtropical stratus and stratocumulus cloud, which has been similarly explored and found to have cloud tops substantially colder relative to the sea surface compared to the fog cases. This result suggests that the multispectral approach including microwave sea surface temperature retrievals may be able to discriminate between some types of fog and other types of low water clouds that are not fog. Application of the method is currently limited by the poor spatio-temporal sampling of polar orbiting satellites and a lack of data in the coastal zone. Validation of the method will require an independent identification of open-ocean fog cases as ground-truth. Combining the microwave sea surface temperature retrievals with geostationary visible and infrared observations may be able to overcome the sampling bias of polar-orbiting satellites, which limit views of any location to only once or twice per day. Greater than 10 years of microwave sea surface temperature retrievals allow for the possibility of constructing a global climatology of sea fog if the distinguishing features of sea fog found in this study can be validated with many more cases.
Music Teacher Educator Perspectives on Social Justice

Given the shifting demographics in American education, the rising likelihood of students with special needs being taught in inclusive classrooms, and the increasing openness with which students are...
Erythrocyte Coupled tPA Improves Outcomes of Percussion Brain Trauma in Rats.

Coupling tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to carrier red blood cells (RBC): i) restricts tPA’s permeation into tissues and pre-existing hemostatic clots, minimizing hemorrhage; ii) protects it from plasma inhibitors; and iii) prolongs its circulation, permitting incorporation into nascent clots and their lysis from within. These features support the thromboprophylactic utility of RBC coupled tPA (RBC/tPA). In this study we explored the utility of RBC/tPA in traumatic brain injury (TBI), a disorder in which both cerebral thrombosis leading to cerebral ischemia and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have been implicated. Eleven male, Sprague-Dawley rats (340–400g) were subjected to a moderate (avg. peak pressure 2.6atm) lateral fluid percussion injury to the left hemisphere. Rats were given a single intravenous dose of RBC/tPA (0.05mg/Kg, n=5) or vehicle (n=4), 15 min post-injury. Animals were sacrificed 48h later for histopathology and staining for fibrin. The lesions in control animals occupied 8.3 ± 2.8% (mean±SD) of the hemispheric volume. Animals treated with RBC/tPA had a significant decrease in mean lesion volume (1.4±0.7%; p