cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cerebral saturations trend with mixed venous saturations in patients undergoing extracorporeal life support.

Cerebral saturation (SCO2) monitors are noninvasive tools that continuously measure saturations in the cerebral cortex, a predominately venous bed. The purpose of this study was to see if a trend e...
Exploiting multi-channel transmission for opportunistic access with renewable energy sources

We consider an uplink system where multiple users have independent private channels plus a randomly accessible common channel. Moreover, each user is powered by some renewable energy sources via an energy harvester. Due to the variation of channel gains and energy arrivals, each transmitter could opportunistically wait for a better channel state and a higher energy level by postponing transmissions. Clearly, there exists an interesting relationship between channel-energy probing and the achievable average transmission rate. To optimally explore such a relationship, we study a distributed opportunistic scheduling (DOS) scheme, which allows the transmitter to make a choice between continuing to probe the channel-energy state and stopping for data transmission. By applying the optimal stopping theory, we develop the optimal stopping rule that maximizes the average throughput for each user. Numerical results validate the analysis and show that DOS can achieve approximately 10~20% throughput gain over the method of best-effort delivery.
Templated evaporative lithography for high throughput fabrication of nanopatterned films

A new method for the fabrication of well-defined nanostructured deposits by evaporation-driven directed self-assembly of nanoparticles is proposed and studied theoretically. The technique comprises a film of suspended nanoparticles drying with its surface in contact with a topographically patterned membrane which promotes spatially varying evaporation, resulting in a patterned deposit. Membrane thickness and topography (in conjunction with the initial film height and concentration) allow the feature and residual layer dimensions to be controlled independently. Numerical solutions of equations governing the dynamics of the process show how the concentration profile evolves as a result of flow driven by heterogeneous evaporation. Analysis yields bounds on the dimensions of the dried deposit, and provides processing parameters to achieve specific patterns. It is estimated that films with 10 nm to 100 μm features can be fabricated with a drying time of 0.1–10 seconds per 10 μm of feature height above the residual layer (depending on membrane thickness), making this a promising method for high throughput pattern deposition.
An EMWIN and LRIT software receiver using GNU radio

The current generation of Emergency Managers Weather Information Network (EMWIN) and Low-Rate Information Transmission (LRIT) receivers are predominantly software based and require low retail cost [1, 2]. In the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-series (GOES-R) paradigm [3], the rates for EMWIN and LRIT will be increased significantly. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of a low-cost software-based terminal, that can be used to receive GOES-R generation LRIT and EMWIN transmissions, as well as legacy EMWIN and LRIT signals. This work also describes the software architecture used to build the proposed software radio, which was designed using an advanced application programming interface (API) called GNU Radio and is designed to utilize multiple core processors on a desktop workstation [4]. We discuss the hardware requirements needed to demodulate LRIT and EMWIN signals, and summarize key system capabilities and performance.
Assault, PTSD, family substance use, and depression as risk factors for cigarette use in youth: Findings from the national survey of adolescents

A national household probability sample of 4,023 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years was surveyed by telephone via structured clinical interview to determine the impact of familial substance use, sexual and physical assault, witnessed violence, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on risk of smoking. Results indicated that familial substance use increased risk of smoking only for boys and sexual assault or depression increased risk of smoking only for girls. Age, Caucasian ethnicity, and experiencing physical assault or witnessing violence elevated risk of current cigarette use for both genders. By contrast, PTSD per se was not associated with increased risk of smoking, after the effects of other variables were controlled.
Variations in Nutritional Risk Among Mexican American and Non-Mexican American Homebound Elders Who Receive Home-Delivered Meals

Abstract Good nutritional health is essential to prevent functional decline and improve quality of life. Little is known of disparities in the extent of risk for poor nutritional health among homebound Mexican American (MA) elders who receive Older American Act Nutrition Program (OAANP) home-delivered meals. In order to assist OAANP service providers in understanding racial/ethnic differences in nutritional risk, this study examined routinely collected data on 908 homebound MA and non-MA in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley. Homebound MA were more likely to report poverty, risk factors for and indicators of poor nutritional health. Independent of poverty and covariates, MA were more likely to report very high nutritional risk. This underscores the importance of understanding racial/ethnic disparities in the extent of risk for poor nutritional health for the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective strategies to alleviate nutritional health disparities.
Image-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Lung Neoplasm in 100 Consecutive Patients by a Thoracic Surgical Service

Background Surgical resection is the standard of care for patients with resectable non–small cell lung cancer or selected patients with pulmonary metastases. However, for high-risk patients radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may offer an alternative option. The objective of this study was to evaluate computed tomography–guided RFA for high-risk patients and report our initial experience in 100 consecutive patients by a thoracic surgical service. Methods Medically inoperable patients were offered RFA. Thoracic surgeons evaluated and performed RFA under computed tomography guidance. Patients were followed in the thoracic surgery clinic. The primary end point evaluated was overall survival. Results One hundred patients underwent image-guided RFA for lung neoplasm (40 men, 60 women; median age, 73.5 years; range, 26 to 95 years). Forty-six patients (46%) with primary lung neoplasm, 25 patients (25%) with recurrent cancer, and 29 patients (29%) with pulmonary metastases underwent RFA. The mean follow-up for alive patients was 17 months. The median overall survival for the entire group of patients was 23 months. The probabilities of 2-year overall survival for the entire group, primary lung cancer patients, recurrent cancer patients, and metastatic cancer patients were 49% (95% confidence interval, 37 to 60), 50% (95% confidence interval, 33 to 65), 55% (95% confidence interval, 25 to 77), and 41% (95% confidence interval, 19 to 62), respectively. Conclusions Our experience indicates that image-guided RFA done by the thoracic surgeons is feasible and safe in high-risk patients with lung neoplasm with reasonable results in patients who are not fit for surgery. Thoracic surgeons can perform RFA safely, and should continue to investigate this new image-guided modality that may offer an alternative option in medically inoperable patients.
Effects of Polyethylene Glycol Substitution on Enzyme Activity

The effects of polyethylene-glycol (PEG) substitution on protein activity, us ing alkaline phosphatase as a model, have been studied. Such variables as PEG molecular weight, degree of substitution, and PEG mono- and di-functionality have been examined. Modification with the monomethyl ether of PEG 1900 (M- PEG-1900) does not alter enzyme activity until greater than 40% of the protein lysine groups are substituted, at which point increasing the degree of modifica tion gives increasing deactivation. Substitution with M-PEG-5000 gives more deactivation than does substitution with M-PEG-1900. Interestingly, modifica tion with PEG itself gives active protein conjugates in which there is little de pendence on molecular weight or degree of substitution.
Glutamate Excitotoxicity Inflicts Paranodal Myelin Splitting and Retraction

Paranodal myelin damage is observed in white matter injury. However the culprit for such damage remains unknown. By coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging of myelin sheath in fresh tissues with sub-micron resolution, we observed significant paranodal myelin splitting and retraction following glutamate application both ex vivo and in vivo. Multimodal multiphoton imaging further showed that glutamate application broke axo-glial junctions and exposed juxtaparanodal K+ channels, resulting in axonal conduction deficit that was demonstrated by compound action potential measurements. The use of 4-aminopyridine, a broad-spectrum K+ channel blocker, effectively recovered both the amplitude and width of compound action potentials. Using CARS imaging as a quantitative readout of nodal length to diameter ratio, the same kind of paranodal myelin retraction was observed with applications of Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Moreover, exclusion of Ca2+ from the medium or application of calpain inhibitor abolished paranodal myelin retraction during glutamate exposure. Examinations of glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists further showed that the paranodal myelin damage was mediated by NMDA and kainate receptors. These results suggest that an increased level of glutamate in diseased white matter could impair paranodal myelin through receptor-mediated Ca2+ overloading and subsequent calpain activation.
IMPROVING INVENTORY EFFICIENCY: A CASE STUDY OF LEAF‐LITTER ANT DIVERSITY IN MADAGASCAR

For most invertebrates, ecologists lack efficient inventory methods for assessing geographic patterns of species richness, complementarity (distinctness), and areas of endemism. I evaluated the efficiency of quantitative inventory methods developed for leaf-litter ants in tropical rain forests in eastern Madagascar. The aim was to maximize the number of species captured per sampling effort in a systematic design subject to standard statistical analysis. I used species and complementarity accumulation curves to evaluate the efficiency of the inventory design based on all ant species sampled and based on four species-rich genera that could potentially act as surrogates for estimating total ant diversity. I evaluated: (1) efficiencies of pitfall and Winkler sifting methods to capture leaf-litter ant assemblages, (2) effects of sample size and spacing on completeness and ranking of species richness, (3) completeness of complementarity values, and (4) four species-rich ant genera that could potentially act as ...
Considerations for hospital approval of human participant research.

BACKGROUND Hospitals often accept as sufficient the federal requirement that human participant research studies have Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and approval, but IRBs usually do not consider many practical matters that arise in the implementation and operation of an interventional clinical trial in the complex environment of the modern acute care hospital. METHODS A large hospital system in Texas implemented a policy requiring that any activity associated with human participant research receive prior hospital system review and approval. This hospital system review and approval process, which occurs in parallel with IRB review, focuses separately on patient safety and operational, financial, and special risk issues. RESULTS A centralized research institute proactively gathers information needed to evaluate a proposed research study and forwards this information to unit directors and other key personnel in the affected hospitals for their review. When all reviewers have signed off on the study and the institute is satisfied that all pertinent issues have been resolved, it authorizes the principal investigator to begin the study in the designated hospitals. CONCLUSIONS This review and approval process reduces risk, benefiting patients, hospital personnel who support research studies, research teams, and hospitals as institutions. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:E17–E24. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Passive ranging through wave-front coding: information and application

Passive-ranging systems based on wave-front coding are introduced. These single-aperture hybrid optical–digital systems are analyzed by use of linear models and the Fisher information matrix. Two schemes for passive ranging by use of a single aperture and a single image are investigated: (i) estimating the range to an object and (ii) detecting objects over a set of ranges. Theoretical limitations on estimator-error variances are given by use of the Cramer–Rao bounds. Evaluations show that range estimates with less than 0.1% error can be obtained from a single wave-front coded image. An experimental system was also built, and example results are given.
Radiation Therapy for Spinal Epidural Metastases with Complete Block

Myelography was performed in 535 patients at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital from January 1979 to December 1979. In 110 cases a complete block was demonstrated and of these, 78 had epidural metastases. A uniform treatment was applied using radiation therapy and high dose steroid. The neurologic outcome for each patient was evaluated, correlating pre-treatment neurologic status, pathologic type, nature of block (level, structural versus tumoral), and result of repeat fluoromyelography. Only 2 patients improved, but 11 became completely paraplegic. The survival was influenced by the ambulatory status after treatment (median survival: 52.7 weeks in the ambulatory group and 4.6 weeks in the paraplegic). Based on this series, rational approach and management of complete block secondary to spinal epidural metastases are discussed.
Reality-based needle insertion simulation for haptic feedback in prostate brachytherapy

There is a strong need to improve the tools clinicians use for training in procedures such as prostate brachytherapy where the success rate is directly related to the clinician's level of experience. Accurate haptic feedback is needed for developing improved surgical simulators and trainers for such procedures. In prostate brachytherapy, accurate needle placement of radioactive seeds in the prostate is crucial to the success of the surgery and to the quality of life of the patient. Therefore, a trainer or simulator for this and other types of needle insertion tasks require an accurate reality-based quantification and model of the needle and soft tissue interaction. To achieve this, we utilize the X-ray images produced by a dual C-arm fluoroscope setup during a needle insertion task to obtain parameters needed for accurate modeling of soft tissue and needle interactions. The needle and implanted markers in the tissue are tracked during the insertion and withdrawal of the needle at speeds of 1.016 mm/sec, 12.7 mm/sec and 25.4 mm/sec. Both image and force data are utilized to determine important parameters such as the local effective modulus during puncture and the approximate cutting force for soft tissue samples. A finite element model was built using the data to model needle puncture of tissue
A New Hierarchical Data Cache Architecture for iSCSI Storage Server

With the emergence of data-intensive applications, recent years have seen a fast-growing volume of I/O traffic propagated through the local I/O interconnect bus. This raises up a question for storage servers on how to resolve such a potential bottleneck. In this paper, we present a hierarchical data cache architecture called DCA to effectively slash local interconnect traffic and thus boost the storage server performance. A popular iSCSI storage server architecture is chosen as an example. DCA is composed of a read cache in NIC called NIC cache and a read/write unified cache in host memory called helper cache. The NIC cache services most portions of read requests without fetching data via the PCI bus, while the helper cache (1) supplies some portions of read requests per partial NIC cache hit, (2) directs cache placement for NIC cache, and (3) absorbs most transient writes locally. We develop a novel state-locality-aware cache placement algorithm called SLAP to improve the NIC cache hit ratio for mixed read and write workloads. To demonstrate the effectiveness of DCA, we develop a DCA prototype system and evaluate it with an open source iSCSI implementation under representative storage server workloads. Experimental results showed that DCA can boost iSCSI storage server throughput by up to 121 percent and reduce the PCI traffic by up to 74 percent compared with an iSCSI target without DCA.
Properties of cholesteryl esters in pure and mixed monolayers.

The surface properties of cholesteryl palmitate, stearate, linoleate, linolenate, arachidonate, and acetate were investigated. Long-chain esters were not surface-active and force-area (PA) isotherms were not obtained. Unsaturated cholesteryl esters were oxidized at the air-water interface and these oxidized lipids gave expanded PA isotherms. Cholesteryl acetate had an equilibrium spreading pressure of 14.0 dynes/cm and formed a stable monolayer indistinguishable from choles- terol below that surface pressure. Cholesteryl linoleate formed mixed monolayers with surface-active lipids, and the amount of cholesteryl linoleate in the monolayer depended both on its solubility in the other lipid and on the surface pressure. Even at moderate surface pressures cholesteryl linoleate was extruded from the monolayer into a bulk phase. Cholesteryl acetate ex- hibited the well-known condensing effect of cholesterol in mixed monolayers with egg lecithin.
Interocular Axial Length Difference in Eyes With Pediatric Cataracts

Purpose: We sought to report interocular axial length difference (IALD) between the operated eye and fellow eye at the time of pediatric cataract surgery. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 171 cataractous (operated) eyes (mean patient age at surgery, 56.9 months; range, 0.2–230.0) was undertaken. Descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, and regression analysis were used in statistical analysis. Results: The mean IALD was 0.05 ± 1.15 mm. If absolute values were used, mean IALD was 0.76 ± 0.86. Nearly half of the subjects (48.0%) showed an IALD of ≥0.5 mm. Forty-one patients (24.0%) had operated (cataractous) eyes that were ≥0.5 mm shorter than the fellow eye, and 41 patients (24.0%) had operated eyes that were ≥0.5 mm longer than the fellow eye. The mean IALD in unilateral and bilateral cases was 0.10 ± 1.33 and −0.03 ± 0.76, respectively ( P = 0.4). If absolute values were used, it was 0.98 ± 0.90 and 0.40 ± 0.65 in unilateral and bilateral cases, respectively ( P P P = 0.04) and AL of the operated eye ( P Conclusions: An IALD of ≥0.5 mm occurred in 48.0% of patients with pediatric cataracts and occurred more often with unilateral cataractous patients than with bilateral cases. In patients with unilateral cataract, age at surgery and AL of the operated eye could help predict the IALD.
Separating Leadership from Leaders: An Assessment of the Effect of Leader and Follower Roles in Organizations

Findings reported in the research literature concerned with labeling, status and communication in groups, power, expertise, responsibility, and resistance support the position that leader-follower distinctions in organizations are likely to undermine the very goals they are established to achieve. Rather than being inspired by leaders to do their best, it is likely that followers will either limit themselves to status-appropriate behaviors or resist their low power roles. A case study is presented describing one organization's comprehensive set of internal structures that allows them to successfully fulfill leadership functions without creating leader roles. By drawing comparisons between this organization and another enterprise that has a flat structure, some preliminary suggestions regarding necessary conditions for the success of leaderless organizational structures are made. The implications for behavioral scientists are discussed.
Terminological, Diagnostic, Nosological, and Anatomical-Developmental Aspects of Developmental Defects in Man

Man’s experience of congenital malformations antedates recorded history and can be inferred from philology and the most ancient of legends. Indeed, the presence of Down syndrome in the chimpanzee (McClure et al., 1969, 1970) and of various X-linked disorders in other mammals (Ohno, 1967) means that even during phylogeny man lived side by side with mammalian cousins affected with homologous forms of his own genetic aberrations. The history of teratology has been written many times and is astoundingly voluminous (Gruber, 1964). It shows that the accomplishments of the early workers in the field consisted primarily of anatomical and clinical descriptions.
Olympus Corporation Financial Statement Fraud Case Study: The Role That National Culture Plays On Detecting And Deterring Fraud

Recent cases provide insight into the role that an unethical corporate culture plays in financial statement fraud. The case of financial statement fraud in Olympus Corporation, a Japanese firm, provides the opportunity to examine how national culture plays a role in corporate governance and fraud detection. This case study focuses on the impact of Japanese culture on the corporate culture of The Olympus Corporation, and how that corporate culture resulted in financial statement fraud.
Mechanistic Modeling of Dose and Dose Rate Dependences of Radiation-Induced DNA Double Strand Break Rejoining Kinetics in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mechanistic modeling of DNA double strand break (DSB) rejoining is important for quantifying and medically exploiting radiation-induced cytotoxicity (e.g. in cancer radiotherapy). Most radiation-induced DSBs are quickly-rejoinable and are rejoined within the first 1–2 hours after irradiation. Others are slowly-rejoinable (persist for several hours), and yet others are essentially unrejoinable (persist for >24 hours). The dependences of DSB rejoining kinetics on radiation dose and dose rate remain incompletely understood. We hypothesize that the fraction of slowly-rejoinable and/or unrejoinable DSBs increases with increasing dose/dose rate. This radiation-dependent (RD) model was implemented using differential equations for three DSB classes: quickly-rejoinable, slowly-rejoinable and unrejoinable. Radiation converts quickly-rejoinable to slowly-rejoinable, and slowly-rejoinable to unrejoinable DSBs. We used large published data sets on DSB rejoining in yeast exposed to sparsely-ionizing (electrons and γ-rays, single or split-doses, high or low dose rates) and densely-ionizing (α-particles) radiation to compare the performances of the proposed RD formalism and the established two-lesion kinetic (TLK) model. These yeast DSB rejoining data were measured within the radiation dose range relevant for clonogenic cell survival, whereas in mammalian cells DSB rejoining is usually measured only at supra-lethal doses for technical reasons. The RD model described both sparsely-ionizing and densely-ionizing radiation data much better than the TLK model: by 217 and 14 sample-size-adjusted Akaike information criterion units, respectively. This occurred because: the RD (but not the TLK) model reproduced the observed upwardly-curving dose responses for slowly-rejoinable/unrejoinable DSBs at long times after irradiation; the RD model adequately described DSB yields at both high and low dose rates using one parameter set, whereas the TLK model overestimated low dose rate data. These results support the hypothesis that DSB rejoining is progressively impeded at increasing radiation doses/dose rates.
Gaining on reward prediction errors.

In this issue of Nature Neuroscience, Eshel et al. characterize the homogeneity with which individual dopamine neurons encode reward prediction error, a teaching signal that is thought to be crucial for associative learning.
Characterization of drilling fluids filtration through integrated laboratory experiments and CFD modeling

Abstract The filtration experiments have always been the focal point for drilling researchers. The physical, chemical, and mechanical behavior of drilling fluid is critical for successful drilling operation. In order to characterize it, permeability plugging test is carried out. But there are certain limitations of this experiment. As the actual field condition cannot be simulated at laboratory scale experiments, there is a need to replicate the same laboratory experiments in numerical models with significant accuracy. After achieving, the desired accuracy of this numerical model, the upscaling of the same numerical model can be used to predict the behavior of drilling fluid with significant accuracy. The current study uses our past laboratory experiments and a genuine effort has been made to model the permeability plugging test using Fluent package of ANSYS. This paper includes the procedure and results on filtrate and filter-cake characteristics obtained during the laboratory experiments to validate the numerical model. First of all, a comparison between existing numerical models and our current model has been studied to verify the accuracy of our model. Then the model has been extended to characterize the laboratory conditions. Good agreement was observed in comparison of the simulation's results with experimental data.
“Always” the target?

While U.S. bomb scientists were racing against Germany, military planners were looking toward the Pacific.
Abstract LB-22: Repression of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin genes by SNAI2 in human breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC SNAI2 is a transcriptional repressor protein implicated in the proliferation and metastasis of several human cancer cells. It binds to the E2-box sequence of its target gene promoters and down regulates their expressions by chromatin remodeling. While studying SNAI2-binding gene promoters in the human breast cells by ChIP-DSL technique, we found that SNAI2 binds to the promoters of the cytoskeleton proteins alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins. These proteins help cells to maintain their epithelial phenotype and apico-basal polarity. Reduced expression of these proteins has been shown by IHC in high grade metastatic breast carcinoma. Here we report the molecular characterization of this repression. Highly invasive breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and BT-549) express high levels of SNAI2 while mildly invasive (MCF 7 and MDA-MB-468) cells do not express SNAI2. Over-expression of SNAI2 in the SNAI2-negative MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 cells down regulated the mRNA and protein levels of the catenins in these cells. siRNA-mediated knock down of SNAI2 in the SNAI2-positive MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells elevated the mRNA and protein levels of these proteins in these cells. SNAI2 over-expression induces the invasion and migration in non invasive cells, while down-regulation of the SNAI2 decreases the invasion and migration potential of highly invasive breast cancer cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation data revealed co-recruitment of CtBP1 and HDAC1 at the catenin gene promoters in the SNAI2-expressing cells further indicating that SNAI2 represses these genes through chromatin remodeling. Our study thus adds to the mode of action of SNAI2 in mediating metastatic conversion of human breast cancer cells. Supported by the DOD-CDMRP IDEA Grant# W81XWH-06-1-0466 and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation grant# BCTR0707627 to GC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-22.
Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: a Risk Factor or a Risk Marker?

In the USA, 69 % of adults are either overweight or obese and 35 % are obese. Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of various cardiovascular disorders. Obesity is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease, in that it is associated with a much higher prevalence of comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, which then increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. However, in addition, obesity may also be an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, although obesity has been shown to be an independent risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases, it is often associated with improved survival once the diagnosis of the cardiovascular disease has been made, leading to the term “obesity paradox.” Several pathways linking obesity and cardiovascular disease have been described. In this review, we attempt to summarize the complex relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disorders, in particular coronary atherosclerosis, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
Chemistry of [1-Cp*-arachno-1-IrB4H10] and [1-Cp*-arachno-1-IrB3H9]: Synthesis and Characterization of the New Substituted Iridaboranes [1-Cp*-arachno-1-IrB3H7-2-L], [1-Cp*-arachno-1-IrB2H6-2-L], and [1-Cp*-arachno-1-IrB4H8-2,5-(Br)2] (L = PMe3, PMe2Ph, PMePh2, py, NEt3)

The treatment of [Cp*IrB4H10] (1) and [Cp*IrB3H9] (2) with typical Lewis bases afforded the new substituted iridatetra- and iridatriboranes [Cp*IrB3H7L] (L = PMe3 (3), PMe2Ph (5), PMePh2 (7), PPh3 (10), py (12), NEt3 (14)) and [Cp*IrB2H6L] (L = PMe3 (4), PMe2Ph (6), PMePh2 (8), PPh3 (11), py (13), NEt3 (15)), respectively, plus the adduct BH3L as coproduct. With PPh3, py, and NEt3, the formation of the iridapentaborane [1-Cp*-nido-1-IrB4H8] (9) was also observed. The molecular structure of [Cp*IrB2H6L] was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis on compounds 4, 8, and 13. The substituted iridatetraboranes were found to decompose in solution and in the solid state with decomposition pathways that depend on the nature of the L−B bond and the concentration of the free Lewis bases. Two routes involving the apparent disproportionation of iridaborane−base adducts were found to compete with the loss of a {BH} unit. A reaction cycle driven by the Lewis acid/base chemistry of BH3 was constructed from these reactio...
Addressing challenges of clinical trials in acute pain: The Pain Management of Vaso-occlusive Crisis in Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Study:

Background/aims:Neuropathic pain is a known component of vaso-occlusive pain in sickle cell disease; however, drugs targeting neuropathic pain have not been studied in this population. Trials of acute pain are complicated by the need to obtain consent, to randomize participants expeditiously while optimally treating pain. We describe the challenges in designing and implementing the Pain Management of Vaso-occlusive Crisis in Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Study (NCT01954927), a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of gabapentin for vaso-occlusive crisis.Methods:In the Pain Management of Vaso-occlusive Crisis in Children and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Study, we aim to assess the analgesic effect of gabapentin during vaso-occlusive crisis. Difficulties we identified included avoiding delay of notification of study staff of potential participants which we resolved by automated notification. Concern for rapid randomization and drug...
War and Peace in Contemporary Eritrean Poetry

War and Peace in Contemporary Eritrean Poetry focuses on Eritrean written poetry from roughly the last three decades of the twentieth century. The poems appear in the anthology Who Needs a Story? Contemporary Eritrean Poetry in Tigrinya, Tigre and Arabic from which a selection is offered here in their original scripts of Ge'ez or Arabic, and in English translation. Who Needs a Story? is the first anthology of contemporary poetry from Eritrea ever published, and War and Peace in Contemporary Eritrean Poetry is the first book on the subject. Therefore, the groundbreaking effort of the former warrants a discussion of its means of cultural production. All of the poets in Who Needs a Story? participated in the Eritrean struggle for independence (1961-91) as freedom fighters and/or as supporters in the Eritrean diaspora. Thus, contemporary Eritrean poetry divides itself between experiences of war and peace, although one can contain the other as well. War and Peace in Contemporary Eritrean Poetry also includes an extended analysis of one of Eritrea's most famous contemporary poets Reesom Haile, as an example of the kind of extended analysis that many of the poets of Who Needs a Story? should stimulate and, last but not least, a meditation on how the author, a non-native speaker, personally becomes involved in Eritrean poetry translation.
The Farmers’ Improvement Society and the Women’s Barnyard Auxiliary of Texas: African American Community Building in the Progressive Era

Historians have brought attention to African-American women’s contributions to planning including housing and social service program delivery. This article builds upon that scholarship by adding th...
Comparison of Spoilage Rates in Ground Turkey and Ground Beef

Spoilage rates of ground turkey and ground beef were compared. Clean muscle tissue of the two livestock species were ground in a hygienic manner, providing initial mesotrophic counts (72 h at 25°C) in the range of ca. 102-3 CFU/g. Moisture, fat, and protein contents for the ground products were similar. Each ground product was subjected to the following treatments: a) uninoculated control, b) inoculated with a low level of turkey flora, c) inoculated with a high level of turkey flora, d) inoculated with a low level of beef flora, and e) inoculated with a high level of beef flora. Three replicate analyses were performed on the products which were held at 5°C in air-permeable plastic bags. Five subsamples (20-25 g) were taken for each of the five analysis times over 10 d of storage. At completion of storage, bacterial counts varied from 103.5 to 109.2 CFU/g, with the turkey control group at the lower end of the range. Our findings indicate no significant difference between the spoilage rates of the two ground products, regardless of treatment or origin of species.
Successful treatment of paroxysmal ataxia and dysarthria in multiple sclerosis with levetiracetam

Abstract Background Paroxysmal ataxia and dysarthria (PAD) is a relatively rare symptom in Multiple Sclerosis patients. PAD involves transient dysfunction in control, coordination and initiation of speech and/or limb movements. Objective To describe the successful use of levetiracetam for the treatment of PAD. Methods Case report. Results A 37-year-old woman with MS developed PAD approximately 3 months after a multifocal MS relapse. Brain MRI showed a lesion in the posterior aspect of the midbrain as well as in the right posterior internal capsule, both of which were adjacent to the red nucleus. Attack frequency was reduced after starting levetiracetam at a dose of 500 mg twice daily, and attacks stopped completely once the dose was increased to 750 mg twice daily. Conclusions Given its advantages (in terms of side effects, safety profile and ease of use compared to other anticonvulsants), we suggest that levetiracetam be considered for management of PAD, and perhaps for other paroxysmal MS symptoms as well.
Structural Pathways Between Race/Ethnicity, Substance Use, Military Service, and Male-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence in Pre-9/11 Military Families:

Along with service members, military families bear the brute consequences of global U.S. military intervention. Various studies have concluded that these deployments put military families at high r...
Wideband high-efficiency digital power amplifier in GaN

This work presents a wideband digital PA topology implemented in Gallium Nitride MMIC for a direct-digital RF transmitter. The topology employs a differential current mode driver and GaN inverter stage with active pull-up to drive an efficient switch-mode PA. By applying digital circuit design techniques in GaN, our approach enables wide-band digital drive of a switched-mode PA through pulse-width and pulse-position control. The approach is experimentally validated in a 0.2 pm GaN on SiC foundry process at C band. The digital PA operates over a 2.5–6.0 GHz range with total drain efficiency greater than 30%, final-stage drain efficiency yielded over 40%, and peak output power of 35.2 dBm.
An Ovariectomy-Induced Rabbit Osteoporotic Model: A New Perspective

Study Design Experimental Animal Model. Purpose The aim of our study was to validate a pure bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) female New Zealand white rabbit model of postmenopausal osteoporosis utilizing animal-sparing in vivo techniques for evaluating bone mineral density (BMD). We also sought to demonstrate that bilateral OVX in female New Zealand white rabbits can produce diminished BMD in the spinal column and simulate osteoporosis, without the need for adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents (i.e., no additional glucocorticosteroids or other drugs were used for stimulating accelerated BMD loss), which can be assessed by in vivo BMD testing. Overview of Literature Multiple animal models of postmenopausal osteoporosis have been described. Rat ovariectomy models have been successful, but are limited by rats' inability to achieve true skeletal maturity and a slight morphology that limits surgical instrumentation. Rabbit models have been described which do not have these limitations, but previous models have relied on adjunctive steroid therapy to achieve osteoporosis and have required animal sacrifice for bone mineral density assessment. Methods Thirty-six skeletally mature female rabbits underwent bilateral OVX. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry on the metaphysis of the proximal tibia and distal femur, at baseline and 17 weeks postoperatively. Results Mean BMD values were significantly reduced by 21.9% (p<0.05) in the proximal tibia and 11.9% (p<0.001) in the distal femur at 17 weeks. Conclusions This study is the first to demonstrate a significant bone loss within four months of pure OVX in rabbits using animal-sparing validation techniques. We believe that this OVX model is safe, reproducible, and can be employed to longitudinally evaluate the effect of anti-osteoporosis therapeutics and surgical interventions.
Bridging between electrochemistry and microbiology for a brighter future: Microbial fuel cells

In a world of global warming and limited renewable resources, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) gain momentum in relevance and efficiency. Utilizing just organic waste and electrogenic mud microbes found in most parts of the world, these battery-like mechanisms can recycle waste to produce consumable electricity. After inserting mud and a food substrate, the microbes in the MFCs feed on the substrate and release electrons. These electrons flow through the MFC wiring from an anode to a cathode, can be used for external use, and ultimately react with oxygen to form purifiable water. MFCs from a supplier were used to test the effects of amount and different types of food substrates such as white sugar and compost on maximum electrical output. Results yielded that different cultures of mud and bacteria need certain optimal amounts and proportions of nutrients in order to yield the highest output. High amounts of sugar substrate kills the microbes due to dehydration, and the microbes need a 1:2:1 ratio of nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorous compounds (tested with soil indicators). Using the substrate that provides the highest output at a certain amount in multiple MFCs, a high electron flow was generated after connecting the MFCs in a series circuit. An external USB boost converter hardware mechanism was attached to the circuit, and channeled the electricity made into charging smartphones. In the future, the USB boost converter hardware must be able to charge a smartphone faster to improve its efficiency. Through this research, the combination of electrochemistry, mechanical engineering, and microbiology work in tandem to provide consistent accessible sources of energy in African villages.
Theoretical and Instrumental Rationales of Student Empowerment through Social and Web-Based Technologies

Empowering students in public affairs education is vital to the mission of developing effective and ethical public servants. Emergent technologies present new opportunities for modeling, simulating...
Green Priorities: How economic frames affect perceptions of renewable energy in the United States

Abstract This study focuses on the power of economic frames in shaping public perceptions on renewable energy. We use panel survey with embedded experimental treatments that randomly assign different economic frames for the costs and benefits of renewable energy. We find that economic frames affect how people think about renewable energy and framing renewable energy policies in terms of costs, i.e. high electricity bills, has more impact on attitudes than framing it in terms of economic benefits. Positive frames in which renewable energy is linked to greater job creation and economic development are less effective. We theorize this asymmetrical framing effect may be happening because individuals evaluate the direct economic costs to themselves to be more important than broad, dispersed economic benefits to society. It may also be because people generally have more information about the benefits of renewable energy but less so about the personal economic costs. When exposed to information that renewable energy might be directly costly to them, individuals react to the negative treatment more. There has been relatively little systematic experimental research on renewable energy attitudes and as such our study makes an important contribution to the literature by examining the relative effectiveness of economic cost and benefit frames on public opinion toward different dimensions of renewable energy. Our findings may also inform policymaking by emphasizing the power of couching renewable energy in ways that individuals can connect with directly and on a personal level.
DNA·RNA triple helix formation can function as a cis-acting regulatory mechanism at the human β-globin locus.

We have identified regulatory mechanisms in which an RNA transcript forms a DNA duplex·RNA triple helix with a gene or one of its regulatory elements, suggesting potential auto-regulatory mechanisms in vivo. We describe an interaction at the human β-globin locus, in which an RNA segment embedded in the second intron of the β-globin gene forms a DNA·RNA triplex with the HS2 sequence within the β-globin locus control region, a major regulator of globin expression. We show in human K562 cells that the triplex is stable in vivo. Its formation causes displacement from HS2 of major transcription factors and RNA Polymerase II, and consequently in loss of factors and polymerase that bind to the human e- and γ-globin promoters, which are activated by HS2 in K562 cells. This results in reduced expression of these genes. These effects are observed when a small length of triplex-forming RNA is introduced into cells, or when a full-length intron-containing human β-globin transcript is expressed. Related results are obtained in human umbilical cord blood-derived erythroid progenitor-2 cells, in which β-globin expression is similarly affected by triplex formation. These results suggest a model in which RNAs conforming to the strict sequence rules for DNA·RNA triplex formation may participate in feedback regulation of genes in cis.
The Hispanic Paradox in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis: Current Evidence From a Large Regional Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Despite lower socioeconomic status, Hispanics in the United States paradoxically maintain equal or higher average survival rates compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). Methods We used multivariable Cox regression to assess whether this "Hispanic paradox" applies to patients with liver cirrhosis using a retrospective cohort of twenty 121 patients in a Chicago-wide electronic health record database. Results Our study population included 3279 (16%) Hispanics, 9150 (45%) NHW, 4432 (22%) African Americans, 529 (3%) Asians, and 2731 (14%) of other races/ethnic groups. Compared to Hispanics, NHW (hazard ratio [HR] 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.37), African American (HR 1.26; 95% CI, 1.15-1.39), and other races/ethnic groups (HR 1.55; 95% CI, 1.40-1.71) had an increased risk of death despite adjustment for age, sex, insurance status, etiology of cirrhosis, and comorbidities. On stratified analyses, a mortality advantage for Hispanics compared to NHW was seen for alcohol cirrhosis (HR for NHW 1.35; 95% CI, 1.19-1.52), hepatitis B (HR for NHW 1.35; 95% CI, 0.98-1.87), hepatitis C (HR for NHW 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.38), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (HR for NHW 1.14; 95% CI, 0.94-1.39). There was no advantage associated with Hispanic race over NHW in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma or cholestatic liver disease. Conclusions Hispanic patients with cirrhosis experience a survival advantage over many other racial groups despite adjustment for multiple covariates.
Arginine Starvation and Docetaxel Induce c-Myc-Driven hENT1 Surface Expression to Overcome Gemcitabine Resistance in ASS1-Negative Tumors.

Purpose: he response to acute and long-term arginine starvation results in a conditional adaptive metabolic reprogramming that can be harnessed for therapeutic opportunities in ASS1-negative tumors. Here, we investigate the underlying biology of priming ASS1(-) tumors with arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) before treatment with gemcitabine (GEM) and docetaxel (DTX) in sarcoma, pancreatic cancer and melanoma cell lines. Experimental Design: ASS1(-) tumor cell lines were treated to create LTAT (long term ADI treated) cell lines (ASS1+) and used for drug combination studies. Protein expression of ASS1, dCK, RRM2, E2F1, c-MYC and hENT1 were measured. c-MYC activity was determined, live-cell immunofluorescent studies for hENT1, uptake assays of FITC-cytosine probe and rescue studies with a c-MYC inhibitor were all determined in the presence or absence of the ADI-PEG20:GEM:DTX. Results: In examining modulations within the pyrimidine pathway, we identified that the addition of docetaxel (DTX) to cells treated ADI-PEG20 resulted in translocation of stabilized c-Myc to the nucleus. This resulted in an increase of hENT1 cell surface expression and rendered the cells susceptible to GEM. In vivo studies demonstrate that the combination of ADI-PEG20:GEM:DTX was optimal for tumor growth inhibition, providing the preclinical mechanism and justification for the ongoing clinical trial of ADI-PEG20, GEM, and DTX in sarcoma. Conclusions: The priming of tumors with ADI-PEG20 and docetaxel results in the stabilization of c-MYC potentiating the effect of GEM treatment via an increase in hENT1 expression. This finding is applicable to ASS1-deficient cancers that are currently treated with GEM.