cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Dose–Response Revolution: How Hormesis Became Significant: An Historical and Personal Reflection

Abstract The chapter tells the story of how hormesis emerged from a marginalized dose–response concept that had been significantly weakened by its historical association with homeopathy to become widely recognized as a central concept in evolution, biology, toxicology, and medicine. The chapter is set within the framework of a personal reflection of the author concerning key aspects of how this dose–response revolution occurred and the nature of its biological and biomedical significance.
Assessment of Pediatric Anxiety

Abstract In this chapter, we discuss several aspects of pediatric anxiety for the new clinician to consider in their approach to assessment. First, we describe how to structure and introduce the clinical interview to youth and parent(s), with a review of integrating reports from multiple informants within a developmentally sensitive framework. Second, gold-standard anxiety assessment tools are described in the context of determining diagnosis and comorbidity, as well as distinguishing anxiety from other mental health problems and normative fears. Next, integration of this material into a developmental psychopathology framework is described, with a specific focus on considering age, culture, and family context. Child self- and parent-report questionnaires are also briefly discussed. The chapter ends with a description of how evidence-based assessment tools might be used to guide and adapt psychosocial intervention approaches.
Older Adult Patients Are at Lower Risk of ARDS Compared to Younger Patients at Risk: Secondary Analysis of a Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction:Older adult individuals often have acute illnesses predisposing them to developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to identify the relationship between age and the...
Consensus by Committee: Philosophical and Social Aspects of Ethics Committees

Until recently, the literature of biomedical ethics has not attended in analytical detail to the nature of consensus.1 This is curious if one considers that the origins of modern bioethics are closely tied to the episodes of apparent consensus about the use of human subjects among scientific investigators, uses that are now regarded as wholly unacceptable. Rather, it has been the concept of autonomy that attracted most attention in bioethics, regarded perhaps as the antidote to the moral pitfalls of consensus.
106. IMPROVING THE FREQUENCY AND QUALITY OF FEEDBACK RECEIVED BY RESIDENTS THROUGH EDUCATION, REMINDERS, AND INCENTIVES

Background Feedback is an essential and effective tool for resident learning and improvement. Our residency-wide quality improvement project is focused on feedback, after identifying this as an area for improvement on our annual ACGME survey. The Milestones Guidebook lists the five features of high quality feedback as timeliness, specificity, balance, reflection, and action plans. Our baseline data revealed that, on average, 55% of residents received weekly feedback, and the feedback was rated as 2.9 out of 5 on a Likert scale, with a 3 being moderately helpful. On assessment of quality measures, residents perceived their feedback as 69% timely, 75% specific, 42% balanced, 40% reflective, and 39% actionable. Aim Statement Our goal is to improve the verbal feedback for residents on all rotations by increasing the percentage of residents receiving weekly feedback by 30%, improving the average Likert score by 1, and improving each quality measure by 30%. Interventions We used the model for improvement, with resident-designed monthly PDSA cycles, led by the chief residents. PDSA cycle 1 focused on reminders. Biweekly emails were sent to all residents on setting expectations and asking for feedback, and one email was sent to faculty and fellows about the importance of weekly feedback. PDSA cycle 2 focused on education and incentives. Cards were provided to each resident with tips for receiving high quality feedback and a link to log the feedback, for which points were awarded towards the resident's “House Staff Cup” team. Measures Data are collected via weekly online surveys, which are disseminated through a QR code at grand rounds to provide protected time for survey response. Results We have shown improvement in every outcome measure, though not yet to our goal. The frequency of weekly feedback has improved from 55% to 65% after two PDSA cycles. The average Likert score has improved from 2.9 to 3.23. The five quality measures have improved by an average of 28% from baseline. Conclusions and Next Steps Our largest gains after two PDSA cycles have been in the quality measures, which were likely impacted by improved awareness of what constitutes high quality feedback. The frequency of feedback has improved, but not to our 30% goal. Additional cycles will be designed with input from residents with a goal of overcoming barriers such as time constraints and faculty culture. We hope to see improvements in the evaluation and feedback components on our ACGME survey this year.
Heart Disease in a Mutant Mouse Model of Spontaneous Eosinophilic Myocarditis Maps to Three Highly Significant Loci

Abstract Background Heart disease (HD) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hypereosinophilic diseases. Due to a lack of adequate animal models, our understanding of the pathophysiology of eosinophil-mediated diseases with heart complications is limited. We have discovered a mouse mutant, now maintained on an A/J inbred background, that spontaneously develops hypereosinophilia in multiple organs. Cellular infiltration into the heart causes an eosinophilic myocarditis, with affected mice of the mutant line (i.e., A/JHD) demonstrating extensive myocardial damage and remodeling that leads to HD and premature death, usually by 15-weeks old. Maintaining the A/JHD line for many generations established that the HD trait was heritable and implied the mode of inheritance was not too complex. Backcross and intercross populations generated from mating A/JHD males with females from four different inbred strains produced recombinant populations with highly variable rates of affected offspring, ranging from none in C57BL/6J intercrosses, to a few mice with HD using 129S1/SvImJ intercrosses and C57BL/6J backcrosses, but nearly 8% of intercrosses and >17% of backcrosses from SJL/J related populations developed HD. Linkage analyses of these SJL/J derived recombinants identified three highly significant loci: a recessive locus mapping to distal chromosome 5 (LOD=4.88; named Emhd1 for eosinophilic myocarditis to heart disease-1); and two dominant variants mapping to chromosome 17, one (Emhd2; LOD=7.51) proximal to the major histocompatibility complex, and a second (Emhd3; LOD=6.89) that includes the major histocompatibility region. Haplotype analysis identified the specific crossovers that defined the Emhd1 (2.65Mb), Emhd2 (8.46Mb) and Emhd3 (14.59Mb) intervals. These results indicate the HD trait in this mutant mouse model of eosinophilic myocarditis is oligogenic with reduced penetrance, due to multiple segregating variants and possibly additional genetic or nongenetic factors. The A/JHD mouse model represents a unique and valuable tool to understand the interplay of causal factors that underlie the pathology of this newly discovered eosinophil-associated disease with cardiac complications.
Pathogen reduction with riboflavin and ultraviolet light induces a quasi‐apoptotic state in blood leukocytes

Background Alloimmunization to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) transfusions can cause adverse reactions such as platelet refractoriness or transplant rejection. Pathogen reduction treatment with ultraviolet light and riboflavin (UV + R) of allogeneic PRP was shown to reduce allogeneic antibody responses and confer partial antigen-specific immune tolerance to subsequent transfusions in mice. Studies have shown that UV + R was effective at both rapidly killing donor white blood cells (WBCs) and reducing their ability to stimulate an allogeneic response in vitro. However, the manner in which UV + R induces WBC death and its associated role in the immune response to treated PRP is unknown. Methods and materials This study evaluates whether UV + R causes WBC apoptosis by examining phosphatidylserine exposure on the plasma membrane, membrane asymmetry, caspase activity, and chromatin condensation by flow cytometry. The immunogenicity of WBCs killed with UV + R versus apoptotic or necrotic pathways was also examined in vivo. Results WBCs after UV + R exhibited early apoptotic-like characteristics including phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane and loss of membrane asymmetry, but unlike canonical apoptotic cells, caspase activity and chromatin condensation were not apparent. However, in vivo studies demonstrated, unlike untreated or necrotic WBCs, both apoptotic WBCs and UV + R-treated WBCs failed to prime alloantibody responses to subsequent untreated transfusions. Conclusion Overall, the mechanism of WBC death following UV + R treatment shares some membrane characteristics of early apoptosis but is distinct from classic apoptosis. Despite these differences, UV + R-treated and apoptotic WBCs both offer some protection from alloimmunization.
Upper Extremity and Hip Range of Motion Changes Throughout a Season in Professional Baseball Players.

Background:Loss of upper and lower extremity range of motion (ROM) is a significant risk factor for injuries in professional baseball players.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose was to determine changes...
Adoption of electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems in New York state hospitals and the associated impact on hospital-acquired C. difficile infection rates

Background Approximately 721,800 hospital acquired infections occur annually, generating an estimated $10 billion in provider costs. Proper hand hygiene (HH) prevents hospital acquired infections, yet compliance is low. Electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems (EHHMS) are a potential solution, tracking and signaling HH events. Methods We explored adoption of EHHMS in New York State acute care hospitals through a survey and interviews. Trend analysis was used to evaluate the impact of EHHMS on hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (HA-CDI) rates. Results Survey respondents represented approximately 30% (N = 56) of the total population of hospitals (N = 184) and EHHMS adoption was low (N = 2). The primary reason for nonadoption was cost (79.6%). HH compliance increased 20%-30% and HA-CDI decreased 70% for one hospital after an EHHMS, though not sustained; robust HH culture was mentioned as a necessary accompaniment. The trend analysis showed negligible impact on HA-CDI post-EHHMS for the second hospital. A critical access hospital without an EHHMS reported HH compliance of 90% attributed to strong HH culture. Conclusions Proliferation of EHHMS is low in New York State acute care hospitals and its impact on HH compliance and infection rates is questionable. Putting technology aside, strong HH culture seems essential for high compliance.
Machine Learning Detects Pattern of Differences in Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Data between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI).

Background: Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are two debilitating disorders that share similar symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue, and exertional exhaustion after exercise. Many physicians continue to believe that both are psychosomatic disorders and to date no underlying etiology has been discovered. As such, uncovering objective biomarkers is important to lend credibility to criteria for diagnosis and to help differentiate the two disorders. Methods: We assessed cognitive differences in 80 subjects with GWI and 38 with CFS by comparing corresponding fMRI scans during 2-back working memory tasks before and after exercise to model brain activation during normal activity and after exertional exhaustion, respectively. Voxels were grouped by the count of total activity into the Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL) atlas and used in an “ensemble” series of machine learning algorithms to assess if a multi-regional pattern of differences in the fMRI scans could be detected. Results: A K-Nearest Neighbor (70%/81%), Linear Support Vector Machine (SVM) (70%/77%), Decision Tree (82%/82%), Random Forest (77%/78%), AdaBoost (69%/81%), Naive Bayes (74%/78%), Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) (73%/75%), Logistic Regression model (82%/82%), and Neural Net (76%/77%) were able to differentiate CFS from GWI before and after exercise with an average of 75% accuracy in predictions across all models before exercise and 79% after exercise. An iterative feature selection and removal process based on Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) and Random Forest importance selected 30 regions before exercise and 33 regions after exercise that differentiated CFS from GWI across all models, and produced the ultimate best accuracies of 82% before exercise and 82% after exercise by Logistic Regression or Decision Tree by a single model, and 100% before and after exercise when selected by any six or more models. Differential activation on both days included the right anterior insula, left putamen, and bilateral orbital frontal, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, superior, inferior, and precuneus (medial) parietal, and lateral temporal regions. Day 2 had the cerebellum, left supplementary motor area and bilateral pre- and post-central gyri. Changes between days included the right Rolandic operculum switching to the left on Day 2, and the bilateral midcingulum switching to the left anterior cingulum. Conclusion: We concluded that CFS and GWI are significantly differentiable using a pattern of fMRI activity based on an ensemble machine learning model.
Identifying subgroups of age and cohort effects in obesity prevalence

The obesity epidemic represents an important public health issue in the United States. Studying obesity trends across age groups over time helps to identify crucial relationships between the disease and medical treatment allowing for the development of effective prevention policies. We aim to define subgroups of age and cohort effects in obesity prevalence over time by considering an optimization approach applied to the age-period-cohort (APC) model. We consider a heterogeneous regression problem where the regression coefficients are age dependent and belong to subgroups with unknown grouping information. Using the APC model, we apply the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm to develop a two-step algorithm for (1) subgrouping of cohort effects based on similar characteristics and (2) subgrouping age effects over time. The proposed clustering approach is illustrated for the United States population, aged 18-79, during the period 1990-2017.
On the Causality Between Export Growth and GDP Growth: An Empirical Re-investigation

Although conventional wisdom suggests that export growth contributes positively to economic growth, empirical studies on the causal links between exports and output have provided little support for the export-led growth hypothesis. This paper re-examines the direction of causation by handling properly two important issues in causality tests: the characteristics of the data, and the choice of optimal lags. The results of this study show that in a sample of thirty-two economies, the export-led growth hypothesis is supported by seventeen economies and is strongly supported by nine economies.
Abstract 15657: Influenza Vaccination and All-cause Mortality Among Adults With Heart Failure in an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System, 2009-2018

Background: Vaccinations prevent respiratory infections in heart failure (HF) patients, leading to less HF decompensation. Given a growing interest around influenza vaccination and mortality reduct...
RLibm-Prog: Progressive Polynomial Approximations for Fast Correctly Rounded Math Libraries.

This paper presents a novel method for generating a single polynomial approximation that produces correctly rounded results for all inputs of an elementary function for multiple representations. The generated polynomial approximation has the nice property that the first few lower degree terms produce correctly rounded results for specific representations of smaller bitwidths, which we call progressive performance. To generate such progressive polynomial approximations, we approximate the correctly rounded result and formulate the computation of correctly rounded polynomial approximations as a linear program inspired by our RLibm project. In contrast to our prior work, we avoid storing large lookup tables for the polynomial coefficients. We observe that the problem of computing polynomial approximations to elementary functions is a linear programming problem in low dimensions, i.e., with a small number of unknowns. We design a fast randomized algorithm for efficiently computing polynomial approximations with progressive performance. Our method produces polynomial approximations that are faster than the RLibm project and other mainstream libraries while also having progressive performance.
Applications of Fluorescence Techniques in the Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Carcinogen—DNA Adduct

Some typical applications of fluorescence techniques in chemical carcinogenesis research are reviewed. These applications include: the kinetics of metabolism, fluorometric identification of the metabolically generated reactive diol epoxide derivatives which bind to cellular macromolecules, quantitative determination of the level of binding of these carcinogens to cellular DNA, and physico-chemical studies of the conformational properties of the carcinogenic moieties bound to DNA, and the relationships between the properties of the adducts and biological activity. It is shown that in many of these fluorometric applications it is important to first establish the intrinsic fluorescence properties of the bound polycyclic fluorophores, as well as the chemical stabilities of the adducts in the presence of light.
Support Approximations Using Bonferroni-Type Inequalities

The purpose of this paper is to examine the usability of Bonferroni-type combinatorial inequalities to estimation of support of itemsets as well as general Boolean expressions. Families of inequalities for various types of Boolean expressions are presented and evaluated experimentally.
Class Action Litigation after Dukes: In Search of a Remedy for Gender Discrimination

In this Article we argue for substantial reforms to our system of combating workplace gender discrimination in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes. To help counter discrimination victims’ decreasing access to the courts, our proposals call for a narrow construction of the holding of Dukes. At the same time, agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) can better use their regulatory authority to address gender discrimination. Further, regulatory agencies, arbitrators, and courts can mandate mentoring programs to assist employees in overcoming the effects of discrimination and provide a potential pathway for career success.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment for Kidney Stone Disease

Minimally invasive interventions for stone disease in the United States are mainly founded on 3 surgical procedures: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopic lithotripsy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. With the advancement of technology, treatment has shifted toward less invasive strategies and away from open or laparoscopic surgery. The treatment chosen for a patient with stones is based on the stone and patient characteristics. Each of the minimally invasive techniques uses an imaging source, either fluoroscopy or ultrasound, to localize the stone and an energy source to fragment the stone. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy uses a shock wave energy source generated outside the body to fragment the stone. In contrast, with ureteroscopy, laser energy is placed directly on the stone using a ureteroscope that visualizes the stone. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy requires dilation of a tract through the back into the renal pelvis so that instruments can be inserted directly onto the stone to fragment or pulverize it. The success of the surgical intervention relies on performing the least invasive technique with the highest success of stone removal.
Catalytic strand separation by RECQ1 is required for RPA-mediated response to replication stress.

Three (BLM, WRN, and RECQ4) of the five human RecQ helicases are linked to genetic disorders characterized by genomic instability, cancer, and accelerated aging [1]. RECQ1, the first human RecQ helicase discovered [2-4] and the most abundant [5], was recently implicated in breast cancer [6, 7]. RECQ1 is an ATP-dependent DNA-unwinding enzyme (helicase) [8, 9] with roles in replication [10-12] and DNA repair [13-16]. RECQ1 is highly expressed in various tumors and cancer cell lines (for review, see [17]), and its suppression reduces cancer cell proliferation [14], suggesting a target for anti-cancer drugs. RECQ1's assembly state plays a critical role in modulating its helicase, branch migration (BM), or strand annealing [18, 19]. The crystal structure of truncated RECQ1 [20, 21] resembles that of E. coli RecQ [22] with two RecA-like domains, a RecQ-specific zinc-binding domain and a winged-helix domain, the latter implicated in DNA strand separation and oligomer formation. In addition, a conserved aromatic loop (AL) is important for DNA unwinding by bacterial RecQ [23, 24] and truncated RECQ1 helicases [21]. To better understand the roles of RECQ1, two AL mutants (W227A and F231A) in full-length RECQ1 were characterized biochemically and genetically. The RECQ1 mutants were defective in helicase or BM but retained DNA binding, oligomerization, ATPase, and strand annealing. RECQ1-depleted HeLa cells expressing either AL mutant displayed reduced replication tract length, elevated dormant origin firing, and increased double-strand breaks that could be suppressed by exogenously expressed replication protein A (RPA). Thus, RECQ1 governs RPA's availability in order to maintain normal replication dynamics, suppress DNA damage, and preserve genome homeostasis.
Comparison of gif-type reactivity towards alkanes with standard radical reaction selectivity. Gif oxidation of n-butane and propane

Abstract A precise comparison has been made between radical bromination of a series of saturated hydrocarbons using BrCCl 3 and the bromination of the same series with the same reagent under Gif-type (GoAgg III ) conditions. The relative reactivities in the two series are completely different and confirm a difference in mechanism. Experiments with n -butane and with propane have shown that these gases react with the usual Gif selectivity to furnish 2-butanone and acetone respectively.
Helical focal plane detectors

Abstract A general description is given of the theory, design and construction of helical delay line proportional counters for position determination along the focal plane of magnetic spectrometers. A discussion of the numerous designs now in use at various facilities is also presented together with their advantages and disadvantages. Spatial resolutions of 0.3–0.5 mm appear typical of this type of position sensitive detector. The energy loss information in the proportional region is also used for particle identification in many applications. The use of helical delay lines in hybrid heavy ion detectors is also discussed.
The precision of estimating protein intake of patients with chronic renal failure

The precision of estimating protein intake of patients with chronic renal failure. Background Biochemical methods for estimating protein intake are based on the concept that nitrogen-containing products of protein in diet plus the products arising from endogenous protein are excreted as either urea or non-urea nitrogen (NUN). This formulation is based on the fact that the urea is the principal end product of amino acid degradation and, hence, the urea appearance rate (or net urea production) is parallel to protein intake. The urea nitrogen appearance (UNA) rate is measured as the amount of urea excreted in urine plus the net amount accumulated in body water. A more difficult problem is how to estimate NUN, the sum of fecal nitrogen, and all forms of non-urea urinary nitrogen. Maroni, Steinman, and Mitch ( Kidney Int 27:58-65, 1985) proposed estimating nitrogen intake (I N MARONI ) from UNA plus NUN excretion rate of 0.031 g nitrogen/kg body weight/day, as they found NUN correlated with body weight but not with dietary nitrogen. Kopple, Gao, and Qing ( Kidney Int 27:486-494, 1997) proposed a different equation for estimating nitrogen intake (I N KOPPLE ) = 1.20 UNA + 1.74, concluding that dietary nitrogen directly correlates with fecal nitrogen and that NUN is constant for all patients. Their report prompted us to review all nitrogen balance measurements we had conducted in order to address the following questions. Does dietary protein increase fecal nitrogen excretion? Does NUN vary with weight or is it constant? How do the two methods (I N MARONI and I N KOPPLE ) compare in estimating dietary protein from UNA? Methods We examined nitrogen balance and its components measured in 33 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who were eating diets varying from 4.1 to 10.1 g nitrogen/day. We evaluated relationships between dietary nitrogen [intake nitrogen (I N )], NUN, fecal nitrogen, body weight, and the predictability of the two methods. Results Neither fecal nitrogen nor NUN were significantly correlated with I N ( r = 0.04 and r = -0.07, respectively). NUN significantly correlated with body weight ( P = 0.008). Measured I N averaged 5.75 ± 0.41 g nitrogen/day; the estimated I N MARONI value was 5.61 ± 0.27 g nitrogen/day; the estimated I N KOPPLE was 6.04 ± 0.44 g nitrogen/day. The prediction errors associated with the I N KOPPLE equation were slightly but not statistically higher than that associated with I N MARONI . Conclusion Fecal nitrogen is not correlated with I N . NUN is not constant but varies with weight, and the traditional method of estimating I N in stable chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) patients from UNA and weight as proposed by Maroni, Steinman, and Mitch is valid.
Electron Microprobe Analysis of Ca, P, and Mg in Mandibular Bone

Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium content and variability and CalP molar ratios in cortical and trabecular bone of the mandible of the rhesus monkey were determined with the electron microprobe. Ca, P, and Mg content was more variable in areas of trabecular bone than in areas of cortical bone. CalP molar ratios were similar in each monkey regardless of bone type.
A Review of Multidimensional, Multifluid, Intermediate-Scale Experiments: Flow Behavior, Saturation Imaging, and Tracer Detection and Quantification

A review is presented of original multidimensional, intermediate-scale experiments involving nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) flow behavior, imaging, and detection and quantification with solute tracers. In a companion paper (Oostrom et al., 2006a), experiments related to aqueous dissolution and enhanced remediation were discussed. The experiments investigating flow behavior include infiltration and redistribution experiments with both light and dense NAPLs in homogeneous and heterogeneous porous medium systems. The techniques used for NAPL saturation mapping for intermediate-scale experiments include photon-attenuation methods such as gamma and X-ray techniques, and photographic methods such as the light reflection, light transmission, and multispectral image analysis techniques. Solute tracer methods used for detection and quantification of NAPL in the subsurface are primarily limited to variations of techniques comparing the behavior of conservative and partitioning tracers. Besides a discussion of the experimental efforts, recommendations for future research at this laboratory scale are provided.
ORTHO- AND PARAMYXOVIRUSES IN THE MIGRATORY WATERFOWL OF MICHIGAN

Four hemagglutinating agents were isolated from 100 cloacal samples collected from migratory water foul during the 1977 hunting season in Michigan. Three of the isolates are paramyxoviruses and they show no reactivity with antisera to Newcastle disease virus. The fourth isolate is an orthomyxovirus, A/Duck/Michigan/77 (Hswl Nav2). Under experimental conditions two of the paramyxoviruses were recovered from the intestinal tract of chicks, and the third paramyxovirus was recovered from both the respiratory and intestinal tract of chicks. One paramyxovirus was pathogenic for chicks. The type A influenza virus was recovered from both the respiratory and intestinal tracts of chicks and caused subclinical infections
Molecular model of internal viscosity

Intrinsic viscosity measurement in highly viscous solvents at high frequency of the shear flow have demonstrated the molecular weight independence of limiting intrinsic viscosity and the constancy of the ratio of internal and solvent viscosity. The former fact proves the adequacy of the formulation of the internal viscosity concept in the normal coordinate space. The latter observation requires the introduction in the molecular model of a new term derived from the excess displacement of chain elements inherent to any deformation of the necklace. As a consequence of conformational limitations by the valency angles and rotational potential energy any deformation of the necklace as described by the displacement of the beads requires displacement of some elements of the real chain in a direction perpendicular to the deformation considered. The resulting frictional forces proportional to the viscosity of the solvent are not included in the frictional coefficient of the beads and hence have to be considered separately as a contribution to internal viscosity.
Maskless writing of microfluidics: Rapid prototyping of 3D microfluidics using scratch on a polymer substrate

We present a new rapid prototyping method designed for simple fabrication of 3D microfluidics using a maskless direct writing technique on polymer substrates. The entire process is enabled by a commercial cutter plotter with [email protected] resolution precision and high speed. A CAD design of top and bottom microstructures is directly written on a polymer substrate using a cutter plotter after setting up the suitable force. The smallest channel width of [email protected] was obtained with the minimum force and [email protected] from the maximum. Also the written depth increased linearly with force from 30 to [email protected] Several 3D microfluidic devices are demonstrated using a maskless writing technique. The entire fabrication process from CAD layout to a final 3D device can be completed in 30min outside the clean room facilities.
Evaluation of SiGe multiple quantum well modulators for short-reach, dense wavelength division multiplexed optical interconnects

By modeling temperature-dependent SiGe MQW electroabsorption, we calculate the number of allowed DWDM channels as a function of operating temperature, applied voltage, and a figure of merit related to the laser power penalty. We find that 20 to 40 DWDM channels at 100 GHz and 50 GHz channel spacing is possible in DWDM links with a ~12° temperature range with less than a 1 dB laser power penalty compared to the optimum single channel, single temperature case. The same number of channels can be supported over a 37° temperature range with a 3 dB power penalty.
Test effectiveness evaluation through analysis of readily-available tester data

Test metrics and fault models continue to evolve to keep up with defect characteristics associated with ever-changing fabrication processes. Understanding the relative effectiveness of current and proposed metrics and models is therefore important for selecting the best mix of methods for achieving a desired level of quality at reasonable cost. Test-metric and fault model evaluation traditionally relies on large, time-consuming silicon-based test experiments. Specifically, tests generated for some specific metric/model are applied to real chips, and unique chip-fail detections are used as relative measures of effectiveness. To reduce the cost of evaluating new test metrics, fault models, DFT techniques, etc., this work proposes a new approach that exploits the readily-available test-measurement data in chip-failure log files. The new approach does not require the generation and application of new patterns but uses analysis results from existing tests. We demonstrate the method by comparing several metrics and models that include: (i) stuck-at, (ii) N-detect, (iii) PAN-detect (physically-aware N-detect), (iv) bridge fault models, and (v) the input pattern fault model (also more recently referred to as the gate-exhaustive metric).
A polarized proton target for low energy n-p scattering

Abstract A polarized proton target of lanthanum magnesium nitrate is described, which was used to measure the spin correlation function C NN for n-p scattering at 23 MeV. Also described are problems associated with low energy scattering experiments, which determined the design of the microwave cavity, NMR coil, and window for recoil protons. The factors determining target polarization are discussed, as well as improvements that were made to increase the polarization to the 60–70% range. The cryostat, microwave, and NMR systems are described. Further improvements are suggested, which would make the target more convenient to use.
Synthesis and Characterization of Oligonucleotides Containing a 4‘-Keto Abasic Site†

DNA strand breaks can result as a direct or indirect consequence of oxidative damage to the nucleic acid bases and/or deoxyribose sugars. Ionizing radiation and the antitumor agents, the bleomycins (BLMs) and enediynes, share in common the ability to indirectly cause DNA strand scission after C4‘ hydrogen atom abstraction from the deoxyribose moiety. In the case of extensively studied BLMs, the C4‘ radical generated under anaerobic conditions results in production of a 4‘-keto abasic site after C4‘ oxidation to a cation and H2O addition. To study the structure, stability, and repair of this lesion, a general method is reported for its homogeneous preparation in any sequence context. 4‘-Azido-2‘-deoxyuridine-5‘-triphosphate is incorporated into duplex DNA using a primer, a template containing a restriction enzyme (NgoM IV) cleavage site at its 3‘-end, and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The two strands of the duplex are separated based on size after cleavage with the restriction enzyme. The single-stranded (s...
Exposure of Solidago altissima plants to volatile emissions of an insect antagonist (Eurosta solidaginis) deters subsequent herbivory

Recent work indicates that plants respond to environmental odors. For example, some parasitic plants grow toward volatile cues from their host plants, and other plants have been shown to exhibit enhanced defense capability after exposure to volatile emissions from herbivore-damaged neighbors. Despite such intriguing discoveries, we currently know relatively little about the occurrence and significance of plant responses to olfactory cues in natural systems. Here we explore the possibility that some plants may respond to the odors of insect antagonists. We report that tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) plants exposed to the putative sex attractant of a closely associated herbivore, the gall-inducing fly Eurosta solidaginis, exhibit enhanced defense responses and reduced susceptibility to insect feeding damage. In a field study, egg-laying E. solidaginis females discriminated against plants previously exposed to the sex-specific volatile emissions of males; furthermore, overall rates of herbivory were reduced on exposed plants. Consistent with these findings, laboratory assays documented reduced performance of the specialist herbivore Trirhabda virgata on plants exposed to male fly emissions (or crude extracts), as well as enhanced induction of the key defense hormone jasmonic acid in exposed plants after herbivory. These unexpected findings from a classic ecological study system provide evidence for a previously unexplored class of plant–insect interactions involving plant responses to insect-derived olfactory cues.
Optical coherence tomography monitoring of cardiac ablation by high-intensity focused ultrasound

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a promising method for ablation therapy in the heart. Little is understood about early lesion development with HIFU because the lesions cannot be imaged reliably with sufficient resolution, and no other real time monitoring techniques are available to date. We investigated Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for monitoring early lesion formation. We created a series of lesions in fresh canine cardiac tissue using 5W (frequency=4.23Mhz, F#=1.2) of acoustic power with 10sec., 7sec., and 5sec. exposures. The lesions were then imaged using an OCT imaging system with an axial resolution of 12μm and a lateral resolution of 15μm. The maximum width of the lesions were measured using custom software. In separate experiments, lesion formation was investigated under varying acoustic power levels ranging from 5W to 20W at 0.1sec. and 0.2 sec. exposures. The average maximum widths of the lesions were 1.06mm for 10sec. lesions, .65mm for 7sec. lesions, and .59mm for 5sec. lesions. We observed both subsurface lesions and superficial blister-like formations, which may be a precursor of cavitation inception or tissue vaporization. The subsurface lesion forms over time as expected from thermal energy deposition. The surface blister forms prior to the subsurface lesion at high power, and after subsurface lesion formation at lower powers. OCT provides a method for monitoring HIFU lesion formation at high resolution, and can potentially be used to optimize HIFU dose for clinical applications.
Cerebral blood flow velocity in term newborn infants: changes associated with ductal flow.

The effects of ductal closure on range-gated pulsed Doppler cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) patterns in the internal carotid, anterior cerebral, and middle cerebral arterles were studied in 10 normal term infants (mean birth weight 3302±294 g (SD) and mean gestational age 39.6±1.3 weeks). Pulsatility was calculated from flow velocities and used as an estimate of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Ductal closure was associated with a rise in mean blood pressure from 45.0±4.2 to 51.3±6.5 mm Hg (P
Reversible and Irreversible Chemisorption in Nonporous-Crystalline Hybrids

The tools of synthetic chemistry allow us to fine-tune the reactivity of molecules at a level of precision not yet accessible with inorganic solids. We have investigated hybrids that couple molecules to the superior thermal and mechanical properties of solids. Herein we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of reactivity between hybrid perovskites and substrates. Reaction with iodine vapor results in a remarkable expansion of these materials (up to 36 % in volume) where new covalent CI bonds are formed with retention of crystallinity. These hybrids also show unusual examples of reversible chemisorption. Here, solid-state interactions extend the lifetime of molecules that cannot be isolated in solution. We have tuned the half-lives of the iodinated structures from 3 h to 3 days. These nonporous hybrids drive substrate capture and controlled release through chemical reactivity. We illustrate the strengths of the hybrid by considering radioactive iodine capture.
Is a Protocol Aware test system feasible

A Protocol Aware (PA) test system would greatly assist the test engineer in multiple highly leveraged activities but is such a system in fact possible to build? One must construct the system so that pins can be grouped by membership in the various protocols on the DUT. Once grouped, local processing must be flexible enough to understand each protocol and respond properly to commands with reasonable latency. Since the supply of new protocols is unlimited, it must be possible to add new protocols at any time. And then, when all this is complete, it must be possible to synchronize operation of the various protocols so that a complete test of the DUT results.
Holdups and overinvestment in capital markets

Abstract This paper considers a decentralized capital market characterized by trading frictions in which firms and suppliers need to make investment decisions before meeting with each other and bargaining over the price of capital. The resulting holdup problem provides firms with a strategic incentive to overaccumulate capital so as to reduce their marginal productivity and thus the bargained price. In equilibrium, this strategic incentive can outweigh the usual distortionary effects of holdup problems that on their own would lead to underinvestment, thus resulting in the economy to overinvest. In a setting with both capital and labor, the holdup problem in capital markets interacts with holdup problems in labor markets. This presents firms with a trade-off that has non-trivial equilibrium effects and that – depending on the substitutability of capital and labor and the firm's bargaining power in each market – can mitigate or exacerbate the overinvestment result.
Laminin α2-mediated focal adhesion kinase activation triggers Alport glomerular pathogenesis

It has been known for some time that laminins containing α1 and α2 chains, which are normally restricted to the mesangial matrix, accumulate in the glomerular basement membranes (GBM) of Alport mice, dogs, and humans. We show that laminins containing the α2 chain, but not those containing the α1 chain activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) on glomerular podocytes in vitro and in vivo. CD151-null mice, which have weakened podocyte adhesion to the GBM rendering these mice more susceptible to biomechanical strain in the glomerulus, also show progressive accumulation of α2 laminins in the GBM, and podocyte FAK activation. Analysis of glomerular mRNA from both models demonstrates significant induction of MMP-9, MMP-10, MMP-12, MMPs linked to GBM destruction in Alport disease models, as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. SiRNA knockdown of FAK in cultured podocytes significantly reduced expression of MMP-9, MMP-10 and IL-6, but not MMP-12. Treatment of Alport mice with TAE226, a small molecule inhibitor of FAK activation, ameliorated fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis, significantly reduced proteinuria and blood urea nitrogen levels, and partially restored GBM ultrastructure. Glomerular expression of MMP-9, MMP-10 and MMP-12 mRNAs was significantly reduced in TAE226 treated animals. Collectively, this work identifies laminin α2-mediated FAK activation in podocytes as an important early event in Alport glomerular pathogenesis and suggests that FAK inhibitors, if safe formulations can be developed, might be employed as a novel therapeutic approach for treating Alport renal disease in its early stages.
Neutrophil-mediated injury to gastric mucosal surface cells

Neutrophils (PMNs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastritis. This study evaluates the magnitude and mode of PMN-mediated damage to gastric mucosal surface cells (GSC) in a system independent of vascular and neural factors. Rabbit GSC were freshly isolated and preloaded with51Cr. GSC were then incubated for 1 hr or 4 hr with freshly isolated human PMNs at varying effector-to-target cell ratios. Injury to GSC was assessed as percent specific51Cr released and by electron microscopy. We found minimal GSC injury using nonactivated PMNs. Incubation with PMNs activated with formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenalalanine (FMLP), however, resulted in significant GSC injury at the 20:1 PMN/GSC ratio, 33.2±1.8%51Cr release (P<0.001 compared to nonactivated PMNs). Electron microscopy revealed well-preserved gastric surface cells after exposure to nonstimulated PMNs. GSC exposed to activated PMNs (20:1 PMN/GSC ratio) were severely injured. Proteinase inhibitors and dimethylsulfoxide failed to diminish PMN-mediated GSC injury. Conversely, superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited GSC injury by more than 50% (P<0.001). In addition, glutathione peroxidase inhibited injury by 84% (P<0.001). These data suggest that neutrophil-mediated injury to gastric surface cellsin vitro involves superoxide anion and hypochlorous acid and not neutral trypsinlike proteinases or hydroxyl radicals.
Ionic and metabolic requirements for the hydroosmotic response to antidiuretic hormone in toad urinary bladder.

A study has been conducted to determine the ionic and metabolic requirements for full expression of the hydroosmotic response to antidiuretic hormone in the toad urinary bladder. By appropriate manipulation of incubation conditions it can be shown that there is a pool of serosal sodium necessary for a full hormone response. This serosal sodium pool is not related to the transepithelial sodium transport pool. A full hydroosmotic response also requires serosal potassium; however, no specific anion requirement was demonstrated. Additionally, anaerobic or aerobic metabolism support a full hydroosmotic response equally well.
Neurobehavioral Characteristics of Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This study investigated cognitive, metacognitive, and psychosocial aspects of neurobehavioral functioning in 22 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and 18 unaffected siblings, all between the ages of 6 and 16 years. Probands and siblings completed the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, as well as selected subtests from the Children's Memory Scale and from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System, while parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Compared to siblings, probands demonstrated relative weaknesses on both verbal and nonverbal measures of delayed recall and response generation and were rated by parents as having more difficulties with social interaction, initiation, and adaptation. It is concluded that DMD is associated with mild but potentially significant difficulties in a range of neurobehavioral areas, likely related to deficient dystrophin levels in an integrated brain circuit that includes the cerebellum, hippocampus, and association neocortex.
Power-law shot noise

The behavior of power-law shot noise, for which the associated impulse response functions assume a decaying power-law form, is explored. Expressions are obtained for the moments, moment generating functions, amplitude probability density functions, autocorrelation functions, and power spectral densities for a variety of parameters of the process. For certain parameters the power spectral density exhibits 1/f-type behavior over a substantial range of frequencies, so that the process serves as a source of 1/f/sup alpha / shot noise for alpha in the range 0 >
Threefold Electron Scattering on Graphite Observed with C60-Adsorbed STM Tips

The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has been used to observe threefold symmetric electron scattering from point defects on a graphite surface. These theoretically predicted electronic perturbations could not be observed with a bare metal tip but could only be imaged when a fullerene (C 60 ) molecule was adsorbed onto the tunneling region (apex) of an STM tip. Functionalizing an STM tip with an appropriate molecular adsorbate alters the density of states near the Fermi level of the tip and changes its imaging characteristics.
Foreign Investment in the Petroleum and Mineral Industries: Case Studies of Investor-Host Country Relations

Raymond F. Mikesell deals with sources of conflict between private foreign investors and the governments of developing countries. He concludes that government ownership and control will expand and that foreign investors are most likely to become sellers of their special services rather than remain investors who act freely for the benefit of parent companies. Originally published in 1971.