cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Label-free assessment of carotid artery biochemical composition using fiber-based fluorescence lifetime imaging

Novel diagnostic tools with the ability to monitor variations in biochemical composition and provide benchmark indicators of vascular tissue maturation are needed to create functional tissue replacements. We investigated the ability of fiber-based, label-free multispectral fluorescent lifetime imaging (FLIm) to quantify the anatomical variations in biochemical composition of native carotid arteries and validated these results against biochemical assays. FLIm-derived parameters in spectral band 415–455 nm correlated with tissue collagen content (R2 = 0.64) and cell number (R2 = 0.61) and in spectral band 465–553 nm strongly correlated with elastin content (R2 = 0.89). These results suggest that FLIm holds great potential for assessing vascular tissue maturation and functional properties based on tissue autofluorescence.
Genomic characterization of metastatic ultra-hypermutated interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma through rapid research autopsy

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) is an extremely rare cancer of dendritic cell origin that lacks a standardized treatment approach. Here, we performed genomic characterization of metastatic IDCS through whole exome sequencing (WES) of tumor tissues procured from a patient who underwent research autopsy. WES was also performed on a treatment-naive tumor biopsy sample obtained from prior surgical resection. Our analyses revealed ultra-hypermutation, defined as >100 mutations per megabase, in this patient's cancer, which was further characterized by the presence of three distinct mutational signatures including UV radiation and APOBEC signatures. To characterize clonal heterogeneity, we used the bioinformatics tool Canopy to leverage single nucleotide and copy number variants to catalog six subclones across various metastatic tumors. Truncal alterations, defined as being present in all clonal tumor cell populations, in this patient's cancer include point mutations in TP53 and CDKN2A and amplifications of c-KIT and APOBEC3A-H, which are likely driver mutations. In summary, we have performed genomic characterization evaluating tumor mutational burden (TMB) and heterogeneity in a patient with metastatic IDCS. Despite ultra-hypermutation, this patient's cancer was not responsive to treatment with PD-1 inhibition. Our results underscore the importance of characterizing clonal heterogeneity in TMB-high cancers.
Hypothermia as an Outcome Predictor Tool in Pediatric Trauma: A Propensity Matched Analysis

Purpose: Trauma is the leading cause of pediatric death in the United States. Hypothermia has been shown to be an independent risk factor for increased mortality in adult trauma patients. Single site studies have shown hypothermia in pediatric trauma patients to be associated with increased mortality. To our knowledge, no investigation of hypothermia in pediatric isolated head injury patients has ever been reported. The purpose of this study is to compare various descriptive outcomes between pediatric hypothermic or normothermic isolated head trauma patients. Methods: Data was …
Structural analysis of the initial lithiation of NiO thin film electrodes.

Observations of the initial lithiation of NiO electrodes demonstrate how to seed conversion reactions using interfaces in a thin film Ni/NiO bilayer architecture. Operando X-ray reflectivity (XRR) reveals that structural changes in a NiO film begin at potentials near the theoretical reduction potential (1.8–2.0 V) with detectable lithiation of both the buried Ni/NiO interface and the outer NiO surface that occur prior to the reaction of the NiO film. This initial conversion reaction is most pronounced in ultrathin NiO films (∼20 A) with only small changes to the NiO film surface for thicker films (∼67 A). The limited reactivity of thicker NiO films probed using operando grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) shows the growth of nanoparticles at the electrode/electrolyte interface during initial lithium ion insertion, with a 16–20 A average radius. Ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and scanning transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM/EELS) confirm our conclusions about the morphological changes accompanying initial stage of lithiation in these conversion reaction electrodes. The present study reveals the interconnected challenges of solid–solid transitions, overpotentials, interfacial nucleation and kinetics, and transition metal dissolution in conversion-type electrodes that are critical for their use as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries.
Restrictive Land Use Regulations and Economic Performance

There is emerging evidence that restrictive land use practices can misallocate economic activity across space and generate significant costs for regional and national economies. Work in this area h...
Diet and nutritional status during early adult life have immediate and persistent effects on queen bumble bees

Many insects sequester nutrients during developmentally programmed periods, which they metabolize during subsequent life history stages. During these periods, failure to store adequate nutrients can have persistent effects on fitness. Here, we examined a critical but under-studied nutrient storage period in queen bumble bees: the first days of adult life, which are followed by a diapause period typically coinciding with winter. We experimentally manipulated availability of pollen (the primary dietary source of lipids and protein) and the sugar concentration of artificial nectar (the primary source of carbohydrates) for laboratory-reared queens during this period and examined three nutritional phenomena: (i) diet impacts on nutritional status, (ii) the timescale upon which nutrient sequestration occurs and (iii) the fitness consequences of nutrient sequestration, specifically related to survival across the life cycle. We found evidence that pollen and nectar starvation negatively impact lipid storage, whereas nectar sugar concentration impacts stored carbohydrates. The majority of nutrients were stored during the first ~ 3 days of adult life. Nutrients derived from pollen during this period appear to be more critical for surviving earlier life stages, whereas nutrients sequestered from nectar become more important for surviving the diapause and post-diapause periods. Negative impacts of a poor diet during early life persisted in our experiment, even when pollen and a relatively high (50%) nectar sugar concentration were provided post-diapause. Based on these findings, we posit that the nutritional environment during the early adult life of queens has both immediate and persistent impacts on fitness. These findings underscore the importance of examining effects of stage-specific nutritional limitations on physiology and life history traits in this social insect group. Moreover, the findings may shed light on how declining food resources are contributing to the decline of wild bumble bee populations.
Reusable Chemically Micropatterned Substrates via Sequential Photoinitiated Thiol–Ene Reactions as a Template for Perovskite Thin-Film Microarrays

Patterning semiconducting materials are important for many applications such as microelectronics, displays, and photodetectors. Lead halide perovskites are an emerging class of semiconducting materials that can be patterned via solution-based methods. Here we report an all-benchtop patterning strategy by first generating a patterned surface with contrasting wettabilities to organic solvents that have been used in the perovskite precursor solution then spin-coating the solution onto the patterned surface. The precursor solution only stays in the area with higher affinity (wettability). We applied sequential sunlight-initiated thiol-ene reactions to functionalize (and pattern) both glass and conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) transparent glass surfaces. The functionalized surfaces were measured with the solvent contact angles of water and different organic solvents and were further characterized by XPS, selective fluorescence staining, and selective DNA adsorption. By simply spin-coating and baking the perovskite precursor solution on the patterned substrates, we obtained perovskite thin-film microarrays. The spin-coated perovskite arrays were characterized by XRD, AFM, and SEM. We concluded that patterned substrate prepared via sequential sunlight-initiated thiol-ene click reactions is suitable to fabricate perovskite arrays via the benchtop process. In addition, the same patterned substrates can be reused several times until a favorable perovskite microarray is acquired. Among a few conditions we have tested, DMSO solvent and modified FTO surfaces with alternatively carboxylic acid and alkane is the best combination to obtain high-quality perovskite microarrays. The solvent contact angle of DMSO on carboxylic acid-modified FTO surface is nearly zero and 65±3° on octadecane modified FTO surface.
Abstract B134: IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 as therapeutic targets in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) tumors are dependent on purine biosynthesis for proliferation and survival and relapsed ALL is particularly associated with transcriptional up-regulation of this pathway. Increased dependency on purine biosynthesis highlights IMPDH (inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase), the rate-limiting enzyme in guanosine production, as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ALL. To assess the role of IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 in ALL development and progression, we generated NOTCH1-induced leukemias from Impdh1 knockout and Impdh2 conditional knockout mice. In addition, we have completed whole exome sequencing and RNAseq profiling of 12 pairs of ALL xenografts corresponding to matched diagnostic and relapsed ALL samples and have performed dose response assays with the IMPDH inhibitor mizoribine. Additionally and towards the identification of synthetic lethal genetic vulnerabilities with IMPDH inhibition in ALL we have performed a genome wide CRISPR screen in REH ALL cells with the IMPDH inhibitor mizoribine. Overall, these studies highlight the therapeutic potential for IMPDH inhibitors for the treatment of ALL. Citation Format: Chelsea Dieck, Koichi Oshima, Alberto Ambesi-Impiombato, Adolfo Ferrando. IMPDH1 and IMPDH2 as therapeutic targets in acute lymphoblastic leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B134. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-B134
Effect of size and shape of oil well cement test specimen on uniaxial compressive strength measurements

Abstract During unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests of oil well cement, it is not uncommon for standard cubic test specimens to require some processing in order to meet the requirements of end face planarity and parallelism. Also, unique research scenarios may produce cement specimens for which UCS data is required but that deviate slightly from the 50.8 mm cube shape recommended by API for testing UCS of oil well cements. Little has been published with regards to the effect of such minor specimen shape variations on the UCS value measured or on the acceptability of the obtained measurement. Thus, different oil well cement formulations of varying compressive strength were tested for UCS using different specimen shapes and sizes in order to quantify the effect of geometry on the measured UCS. The shapes and sizes tested were chosen to cover the range of sizes that could result due to slight deviations from the API-recommended standard testing geometry. The validity of the UCS measurement for each specimen geometry was also tested for validation using statistical techniques outlined in ASTM C109 and ASTM C670. The results of this study show that there are no discernable direct size effects for the range of sizes tested even though the shape and size strongly affect the reliability or validity of the UCS reading.
Is Contest Experience a Trump Card? The Interaction of Residency Status, Experience, and Body Size on Fighting Success in Misumenoides formosipes (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Game theory models predict that individuals in contests adjust their strategy appropriately to the current value of the contested resource and the resource holding potential (RHP) of their opponent. In the current investigation, I examined interactively operating, multiple contest asymmetries on dyadic disputes for precopulatory guarding positions in the crab spider Misumenoides formosipes. In contests between equally sized adult males with no previous contest experience, residents had clear advantages in fighting success over intruders. Asymmetries in experience predicted outcome when tested against residency status, and experience operating in concert with residency status predicted resolution when tested against size asymmetries. Data from this investigation suggest that crab spiders learn strategies through experience rather than rely solely on the assessment of their opponent's RHP before determining contest effort.
Institutional Initiatives for Risk Management

The issue of institutional initiatives for risk management is a crucial topic for discussion, as it confronts an important next step in the evolution of risk assessment as a tool of public policy. We know that risk analysis has become a defined discipline with well-known techniques and methodologies. We’re well beyond using it in public policy on a “risk only” basis, in which we trigger actions regardless of the gradation of the risk. We’re also beyond the naive technocratic notion that we can use it in public policy in a purely mathematical way, computing a hierarchy of risks and expecting public policymakers to let the numbers dominate whatever other values or philosophies they have. Similarly, the notion of a “science court” has dimmed in attractiveness, as we have grasped the complexity of non-technical factors which must be weighed in a risk decision. But, having turned away from the most simplistic applications, we must now face the question of devising institutions which can credibly handle the full array of uncertain and ambigious technical and non-technical issues in risk management decisionmaking.
Representation and Evolution of Knowledge Structures to Detect Anomalies in Financial Statements

Deep learning, has delivered a variety of practical uses in the past decade. It has revolutionized customer experience and machine translation. It has made language recognition, autonomous vehicles and computer vision a reality. A multitude of other AI applications are common now. With Deep Learning we gain insights about hidden correlations. We extract features and distinguish categories. But we lack transparency of reasoning behind these conclusions. Most importantly, there is the absence of common sense. Deep learning models might be the best at perceiving patterns. Yet they cannot comprehend what the patterns mean. And they lack the ability to model their behaviors and reason about them.We present a new approach to augment Deep Learning using model based Deep Reasoning and its application to address fraud detection using financial statements. Recent theoretical models of computing structures with cognizing agents go beyond neural networks to provide models of observations, abstractions and generalizations from experience and create time dependent evolution and history to provide reasoning and predictive. We use Knowledge Structures defined therein to represent relevant domain knowledge. In this case, in a company’s financial statements. We analyze their history to detect potential fraud based on specific rules and observations. We use information from governance and compliance rules and experience of past violations. We analyze SEC 10-K statements using Deep Learning and model based Deep Reasoning. We use the Knowledge Structures to identify red flags and anomalies.
Intersectional analysis of Advanced Placement Physics participation and performance by gender and ethnicity

As the selectivity and rigor increases among Advanced Placement Physics courses, the enrollment distribution of student ethnicities increasingly diverge from the U.S. school population.
Minimum wages and youth binge drinking

Binge drinking is associated with many health problems, including unintentional injuries, intentional injuries (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assault), unintended pregnancy, and liver disease. Moreover, high-volume episodic binge drinking is very prevalent among teenagers and young adults. Given that approximately 90 % of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the USA is in the form of binge drinking (Murphy et al. in Addict Res Theory 20(6):456–465, 2012), understanding the determinants of binge drinking behavior, particularly among youth, is important from the perspective of health and policy. In this paper, we explore the relationship between youth binge drinking and an unanticipated determinate of this behavior, minimum wage laws. Using a fixed effects regression model, we observe a positive relationship between minimum wage increases and binge drinking among teenagers. We find that, after accounting for demographic characteristics, different types of risky behaviors, excise tax, state and time fixed effects, and time-varying state effects, a $1 increase in minimum wage increases binge drinking among teenagers by approximately 9 %. Our results support recent findings that minimum wage increases are positively associated with alcohol-related accidents among teenagers (Adam et al. in Rev Econ Stat 94(3):828–840, 2012). Findings suggest that authorities should consider the unexpected impacts that minimum wage increase may have on alcohol consumption among teens and consider parallel policies to help mitigate potential negative consequences.
Computational Modeling and Experimental Validation of Microstructure Development in Nickel‐Base Superalloys Processed through Scanning Laser Epitaxy (SLE)

This paper focuses on computational modeling and experimental validation of microstructure evolution in Scanning Laser Epitaxy (SLE), an additive manufacturing technology aimed at the repair and production of turbine engine hot-section components made of for superalloys. A coupled thermal and fluid flow model is developed to simulate the melt pool created by the scanning laser’s heat source. The detailed effects of natural and Marangoni convection on the flow field are studied and the results are analyzed in terms of the temperature gradient, the vorticity parameter, the melt pool dimensions and the mushy region extent. The geometrical parameters and the temperature gradient of the melt pool then are used to estimate the resulting solidification microstructure in alloy CMSX-4 for any given position of the beam. The critical parameter values for columnar-to-equiaxed and the oriented-to-misoriented transitions are identified. The microstructural predictions show excellent agreement with experimental metallography and process observations. This work is sponsored by the US Office of Naval Research through grant N00014-11-1-0670.
Developing a Research Program in Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems

Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems (IVHS) improve the operation of cars and trucks on public roads by combining information technology with road transportation technologies. The basic idea about IVHS are by no means new but a number of converging forces have encouraged significant IVHS development in North America recently. Based on results of a Delphi survey to project realistic future scenarios, both applied and fundamental research agenda are being formulated in a Michigan-based IVHS program to push the IVHStechnologies for advanced motorist information systems and for backup vehicle controls under emergency conditions. The scope of the research agenda includes social/human elements as well as hardware and software technological systems. The Mighigan research program is expected to contribute to the development of IVHS in North America, both technically and institutionally.
Economic Sustainability of Kosova as an Independent State, and the Role of Resolution 1244 in Achieving Economic Sustainability

Four years of political trusteeship by the international community over Kosovo have produced insufficient progress on the economic front. The unemployment rate remains close to 60%; no overall vision for economic self-sufficiency exists; privatization has barely begun; and few steps have been taken to exploit the potential of entrepreneurial energy to start new small and medium enterprises. Uncertainly about final status is partly responsible. UN lawyers have questioned legal authority to restructure inefficient enterprises, and Kosovo's lack of independent identity discourages outside investors. Kosovar political leaders are distracted from the important job of developing concrete programs for developing the private economy. In other respects, uncertainty about final status is merely an excuse for public entities not doing their jobs. UNMIK does not promptly and reliably public its "regulations" - legislative acts. The EU Stability Pact mostly leaves Kosovo out of regional economic development activities. Kosovo political parties have not developed coherent economic programs. The United States should begin the process of convening an international conference to decide the final status of Kosovo. UNMIK and provisional governmental institutions must meet their responsibilities to reform law and public administration to create a better investment climate, and must establish important financial services intermediation to make it easier for entrepreneurs and investors to get together and to make deals.
Nucleotide sequences of dnaE, the gene for the polymerase subunit of DNA polymerase III in Salmonella typhimurium, and a variant that facilitates growth in the absence of another polymerase subunit

The dnaE gene of Salmonella typhimurium, like that of Escherichia coli, encodes the alpha subunit containing the polymerase activity of the principal replicative enzyme, DNA polymerase III. This gene, or one nearby, has been identified as the locus of suppressor mutations that promote growth by cells deleted for dnaQ, the gene for the editing subunit of this enzyme complex. Using a combination of nucleotide sequencing and marker rescue experiments, the alteration in one such suppressor was identified as a valine-to-glycine substitution at amino acid 832 of the 1,160-amino-acid alpha polypeptide. The alpha polypeptides of E. coli and S. typhimurium are identical in size and in 97% of their amino acid residues. Their identity includes the valine residue that was changed in the suppressor allele of S. typhimurium. We also localized a temperature-sensitive dnaE mutation to the 3' half of dnaE.
Binge drinking and insomnia in middle-aged and older adults: the Health and Retirement Study.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol use in later life has been linked to poor sleep. However, the association between binge drinking, which is common among middle-aged and older adults, and insomnia has not been previously assessed. METHODS: We studied participants aged 50 years and older (n = 6027) from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study who reported the number of days they had ≥4 drinks on one occasion in the prior 3 months. Participants also reported the frequency of four insomnia symptoms. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association between binge drinking frequency and insomnia. RESULTS: Overall, 32.5% of participants had >0 to ≤2 binge drinking days/week; and 3.6% had >2 binge drinking days/week. After adjusting for demographic variables, medical conditions, body mass index, and elevated depressive symptoms, participants who binged >2 days/week had a 64% greater odds of insomnia than non-binge drinkers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-2.47, p = 0.017). Participants reporting >0 to ≤2 binge days/week also had a 35% greater odds of insomnia than non-binge drinkers (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.15-1.59, p = 0.001). When smoking was added to the regression model, these associations fell just below the level of significance. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that binge drinking is associated with a greater risk of insomnia among adults aged 50 years and older, although this relationship may be driven in part by current smoking behavior. The relatively high prevalence of both binge drinking and sleep complaints among middle-aged and older populations warrants further investigation into binge drinking as a potential cause of late-life insomnia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
The DNA damage-inducible gene DIN1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a regulatory subunit of ribonucleotide reductase and is identical to RNR3.

Abstract The sequence of the DIN1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is identical to RNR3, a gene encoding a DNA damage-inducible regulatory subunit of ribonucleotide reductase. Two sequence elements located upstream of DIN1 (RNR3) are homologous to putative DNA damage regulatory elements in the promoter of the reductase catalytic subunit gene, RNR2. The transcript start sites for DIN1(RNR3) have been localized, and induction by different agents has been compared with other DNA damage-regulated genes.
Breakthrough pain: definition, prevalence and characteristics

In the cancer population, the term breakthrough pain typically refers to a transitory flare of pain in the setting of chronic pain managed with opioid drugs. The prevalence and characteristics of this phenomenon have not been defined, and its impact on patient care is unknown. We developed operational definitions for breakthrough pain and its major characteristics, and applied these in a prospective survey of patients with cancer pain. Data were collected during a 3 month period from consecutive patients who reported moderate pain or less for more than 12 h daily and stable opioid dosing for a minimum of 2 consecutive days. Of 63 patients surveyed, 41 (64%) reported breakthrough pain, transient flares of severe or excruciating pain. Fifty-one different pains were described (median 4 pains/day; range 1-3600). Pain characteristics were extremely varied. Twenty-two (43%) pains were paroxysmal in onset; the remainder were more gradual. The duration varied from seconds to hours (median/range: 30 min/1-240 min), and 21 (41%) were both paroxysmal and brief (lancinating pain). Fifteen (29%) of the pains were related to the fixed opioid dose, occurring solely at the end of the dosing interval. Twenty-eight (55%) of the pains were precipitated; of these, 22 were caused by an action of the patient (incident pain), and 6 were associated with a non-volitional precipitant, such as flatulence. The pathophysiology of the pain was believed to be somatic in 17 (33%), visceral in 10 (20%), neuropathic in 14 (27%), and mixed in 10 (20%). Pain was related to the tumor in 42 (82%), the effects of therapy in 7 (14%), and neither in 2 (4%). Diverse interventions were employed to manage these pains, with variable efficacy. These data clarify the spectrum of breakthrough pains and indicate their importance in cancer pain management.
Is Laparoscopic Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion a Useful Minimally Invasive Procedure

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion (LALIF) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective. Its use as a standard surgical technique has been recommended for arthrodesis in the lumbosacral region. We reviewed our experience with LALIF for safety, effectiveness, and usefulness. METHODS: Retrospective review of 14 patients who underwent LALIF was performed. All patients had a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease with medically retractable mechanical back pain. RESULTS: No intranperative vascular or neurological injury was encountered. An average operating time of 300 minutes with blood loss of 60 ml was found. The average hospital stay was 3.4 days. At 3 to 6 months after surgery, 80% fusion rates were achieved. CONCLUSION: Although LALIF is a safe and effective procedure, it has many disadvantages, which make it a less than optimal procedure for routine use. Other minimally invasive approaches to the anterior lumbar spine result in similar beneficial results without the drawbacks associated with LALIF.
Late Cenozoic deformation in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska: Three-dimensional strain in a forearc region

The Matanuska Valley is located in the forearc terrane of the Alaska-Aleutian volcanic arc. A period of extensive faulting occurred in the western Matanuska Valley during the Neogene. Faulting was a response to intraplate strain caused by subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the convergent margin. The Neogene fault system consisted of three sets of faults: two sets of north-trending strike-slip faults and a set of east-northeast–trending reverse faults. Three fault sets were required to accommodate the general three-dimensional deformation. Crustal shortening in a north-northwest direction was accompanied by lateral and vertical extension. The direction of maximum horizontal shortening strain has apparently been constant since the Neogene, although there is no evidence for extensive faulting of Quaternary deposits in the area we have studied. The western Matanuska Valley is located only 50 km above the Benioff zone, and the predicted maximum principal shortening direction is north-northwest, on the basis of the slip-vector azimuth between the North American and Pacific plates and the nature of surficial ground displacements during the 1964 (M = 8.4) subduction zone earthquake. Focal mechanisms for earthquakes in the vicinity of the Benioff zone and in the lower part of the North American plate indicate west-northwest extension and north-northeast shortening. This means that the strain field at depths below 20 km may differ significantly from the near-surface strain field.
Identifying critical periods of neurodevelopmental risk: the turning point in schizophrenia research.

Consistent with earlier hypotheses,1 multiple lines of evidence suggest that abnormalities of fetal and neonatal brain formation, of genetic2 or nongenetic origin, may be involved in the development of schizophrenia.3 A number of postmortem investigations of patients with this disorder4,5 have shown abnormalities of the limbic cerebral cortex that are unaccompanied by gliosis, indicative of neurodevelopmental pathology. In investigations of twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia,6 the affected twin has had greater ventricular volume than the unaffected one, suggesting that the disorder may be associated with abnormalities of brain development. In addition, follow-up investigations of infants at risk for schizophrenia7 have shown increased incidence of neurointegrative deficits in children who expressed psychotic disorders as adults.
IPMC microgripper research and development

Described are the state of the art on designing and developing a microgripper using ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs), an electroactive material, as an actuator to grasp and manipulate micro-sized flexible and rigid objects and yet also serve as a sensor for position feedback control. IPMCs, as a material, are compliant and can work in both wet and dry environments. This makes it ideally suited for both industrial operations, e.g., building microsystems from MEMS components, as well as for a variety of bio-micromanipulation tasks, e.g., bacterium and cell handling. We derive a theoretical force model for the microgripper. The model estimates that an IPMC finger of dimensions 5mm × lmm × 0.2mm exerts a force of 85 μN when grasping a solder ball of 15mg. We experimentally measure the load carrying capacity of the IPMC microgripper. Furthermore, we show empirically that the relationship between load carry capability and the length of microgripper fingers is linear. Experiments with three different microgripper finger shapes show that load carrying performance is related to the area of the finger rather than the shape. This implies that manufacturing ease favours microgrippers with tapered fingers. Finally, we show how flexible objects (hydrogel crystals in this case) are grasped with this IPMC microgripper.
Recycling of Waste Acetone by Fractional Distillation.

Distillation is a ubiquitous technique in the undergraduate organic chemistry curriculum; the technique dates back to ca. 3500 B.C.E. With the emergence of green chemistry in the 1990s, the importance of emphasizing responsible waste management practices for future scientists is paramount. Combining the practice of distillation with the message that waste generation should be minimized conveys green concepts from the beginning of the student’s experience in the lab. In this experiment, acetone waste collected from the cleaning of student glassware is purified by fractional distillation. The purity of the resulting distillate is determined by refractive index and density calculation. The distilled acetone is of sufficient purity (∼88%) that students can reuse it to wash glassware, collect the waste, and add it to a communal still that is operated by the instructor or support personnel. Students learn how to set up and perform a fractional distillation experiment, learn how to test the distillate for purity...
Genetic identity and differential gene expression between Trichomonas vaginalis and Trichomonas tenax

Background Trichomonas vaginalis is a human urogenital pathogen responsible for trichomonosis, the number-one, non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) worldwide, while T. tenax is a commensal of the human oral cavity, found particularly in patients with poor oral hygiene and advanced periodontal disease. The extent of genetic identity between T. vaginalis and its oral commensal counterpart is unknown.
Sulfur trioxide in the lower atmosphere of Venus

Inconsistencies and ambiguities are noted by the present consideration of Pioneer Venus and Venera atmospheric composition measurement of Venus in the context of lower atmosphere thermodynamic equilibrium. Among the scenarios projected on the basis of assumed correctness for selected data subsets, the O2 and SO2 concentrations reported by the Pioneer Venus chromatograph and the H2O concentrations reported by Venera 11 suggest that large concentrations of SO3 are present in the lower atmosphere of Venus. Such SO3 concentrations lead, however, to difficulties in explaining the atmosphere at and above the cloud tops, and in addition require specific assumptions concerning chemical reaction rates at and near the surface.
In vivo microleakage of luting cements for cast crowns

Standardized tooth preparations were completed on previously intact human molars in vivo, and castings were made with a precious metal ceramic alloy by conventional techniques. The castings were randomly assigned to the following luting agents: zinc phosphate, composite resin-glass ionomer hybrid, and a composite resin-glass ionomer hybrid with a dentinal bonding agent and were cemented in a standardized manner to periodontally compromised molars. After 6 months the teeth were carefully extracted, stained, embedded, and sectioned, and the in vivo microleakage was measured. ANOVA disclosed significant differences between groups, and a multiple comparisons test revealed that the zinc phosphate group leaked significantly more than other cement groups.
On spanning subgraphs of 4-connected planar graphs

Abstract We show that any 4-connected planar graph G contains a spanning figure-eight subgraph based at g for any vertex g of G . We also show that the complexity of finding such a spanning subgraph is polynomially equivalent to the complexity of finding a Hamiltonian cycle in a 4-connected planar graph.
Fungal infections and antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric cardiac extracorporeal life support.

Objective Infections acquired by children during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) increase mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic fluconazole on the incidence of fungal infections and to assess whether hospital-acquired fungal infection is associated with increased in-hospital mortality in pediatric cardiac patients requiring ECMO. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained database and collected data on all hospital-acquired infections in patients supported for cardiac indications at a tertiary children's hospital from 1989 to 2008. Results ECMO was deployed 801 times in 767 patients. After exclusion criteria were applied, 261 pediatric patients supported for cardiac indications were studied. Fungal infection (blood, urine, or surgical site) occurred in 12% (31/261) of patients, 9 (7%) of 127 patients receiving fluconazole prophylaxis versus 22 (16.4%) of 134 without antifungal prophylaxis ( P = .02). Using a multivariable logistic regression model, the absence of fluconazole prophylaxis was associated with an increased risk of fungal infection (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.2, 6.7; P = .016). In a multivariable logistic regression model for in-hospital mortality, the presence of fungal infection was associated with increased odds (OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.5, 9.6; P = .005) of in-hospital mortality among cardiac patients requiring ECMO, and the absence of antifungal prophylaxis showed a trend toward the same (OR = 1.6; 95% CI, 0.96, 2.8; P = .072). Conclusions Children with cardiac disease supported with ECMO who acquire fungal infections have increased mortality. Routine fluconazole prophylaxis is associated with lower rates of fungal infections in these patients.
“Opportunity” and “willingness’ as ordering concepts in the study of war

(1978). “Opportunity” and “willingness’ as ordering concepts in the study of war. International Interactions: Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 363-387.
Teacher and librarian collaboration : A qualitative study

The twenty-first century is marked by increased challenges in education and limited resources to address them. A solution proposed within school librarianship is teacher and librarian collaboration. This qualitative study examines the practices of highly collaborative teachers and librarians and identifies mechanisms that operate within schools to facilitate high-end collaboration. Five broad themes emerge from the data and identify essential elements of successful collaboration: school culture, positive attributes of collaborators, communication, management, and motivation. This study adds to the body of knowledge of teacher and librarian collaboration by providing empirical support for collaborative practices described in school librarianship literature. The model of teacher and librarian collaboration that emerged from the data provides a preliminary framework for high-end collaborative environments in schools. Of particular interest were findings regarding time management. Participants indicated that in spite of limited time, time issues are overcome when collaboration is highly valued.
Impurity effects on the three-dimensional ordering of magnetic chain systems

We demonstrate the drastic reduction of the magnetic-ordering temperature ${T}_{c}$ by nonmagnetic impurities in quasi-one-dimensional magnetic systems. Single-chain spin correlations are treated exactly for the classical Heisenberg and $S=\frac{1}{2}$ Ising systems, with interchain correlations included in a mean-field approximation.
The deduced amino acid sequences of human platelet and frontal cortex monoamine oxidase B are identical

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) A and B play important roles in the metabolism of neuroactive, vasoactive amines. Human platelets contain only MAO B, often used as an indicator of brain MAO B. The validity of this model remained to be evaluated. This report describes the molecular cloning of human MAO B from frontal cortex and platelets. Two overlapping PCR-amplified clones of human platelet MAO B and four PCR-amplified clones of human frontal cortex MAO B covering the entire coding region were sequenced using five internal oligomers and M13 reverse and forward primers. The nucleotide sequences of human MAO B cDNA from platelet and frontal cortex were identical to that of human liver MAO B except for three nucleotides that differed in frontal cortex: nucleotides 440 A-->G, 794 C-->T, and 825 C-->T. Whether or not these differences are artifactual, all three represent silent mutations, which would not alter the amino acid of the encoded polypeptides. Thus, the deduced amino acid sequences of MAO B from frontal cortex, platelet, and liver are identical. These findings indicate the validity of using platelet MAO B mRNA as a marker for brain MAO B and provide a new approach to study the role of brain MAO B in humans.
Quadratic analytical solution of general systems through formal hamiltonization

A technique for the quadratic analytical solution of general nonlinearly perturbed periodic systems is presented. It relies on a device recognized as early as Birkhoff (1927), through which any system of ordinary differential equations can be cast in Hamiltonian form through the introduction of a set of auxiliary ‘conjugate’ variables. The particular implementation applies the author's quadratic Hamiltonian approach, utilizing Lie transforms (so admitting of easy inversion), and featuring the ability to determine the frequencies of the system to twice the order of the solution at the last step. The method is exemplified through an analysis of the van der Pol equation to find the solution to second order, and frequencies to fourth, of the limit cycle of the system. Finally, the relationship of the approach to other perturbation techniques, particularly the vector/matrix Lie transform method, is discussed.
The Role of the Second Trimester Genetic Sonogram in Screening for Fetal Down Syndrome

The Genetic Sonogram is an ultrasound examination done on second trimester fetuses that not only evaluates the fetus for structural malformations, but also searches for the sonographic markers of fetal Down syndrome. The main markers that comprise the genetic sonogram include the nuchal fold, short femur and humerus, pyelectasis, hyperechoic bowel, echogenic intracardiac focus, and any major abnormality. The absence of any marker on a second trimester scan conveys a 60-80% reduction in prior risk of Down syndrome based on advanced maternal age or serum screen risk. The presence of sonographic markers, either singly or in combination, will raise the baseline risk of Down syndrome using likelihood ratios calculated for each individual marker. Using this approach, approximately 75% of fetuses with Down syndrome can be identified by modifying the patient's baseline risk according to the results of the ultrasound. The second trimester scan will likely continue to play an important role in the future in the detection of aneuploidy.
Structural insights into RipC, a putative citrate lyase β subunit from a Yersinia pestis virulence operon.

Yersinia pestis remains a threat, with outbreaks of plague occurring in rural areas and its emergence as a weapon of bioterrorism; thus, an improved understanding of its various pathogenicity pathways is warranted. The rip (required for intracellular proliferation) virulence operon is required for Y. pestis survival in interferon-γ-treated macrophages and has been implicated in lowering macrophage-produced nitric oxide levels. RipC, one of three gene products from the rip operon, is annotated as a citrate lyase β subunit. Furthermore, the Y. pestis genome lacks genes that encode citrate lyase α and γ subunits, suggesting a unique functional role of RipC in the Y. pestis rip-mediated survival pathway. Here, the 2.45 A resolution crystal structure of RipC revealed a homotrimer in which each monomer consists of a (β/α)8 TIM-barrel fold. Furthermore, the trimeric state was confirmed in solution by size-exclusion chromatography. Through sequence and structure comparisons with homologous proteins, it is proposed that RipC is a putative CoA- or CoA-derivative binding protein.
Influence of bacterial adherence to intravascular catheters on in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility

Abstract Slime-producing and non-slime-producing strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were evaluated for nafcillin susceptibility in the presence and absence of polyvinylchloride (PVC) catheters. Semiquantitative roll cultures of catheters with adherent organisms after exposure to predicted bactericidal concentrations of nafcillin were carried out to assess survival of these organisms. Slime-producing and non-slime-producing CNS had similar minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations in the absence of catheters and similar MIC in the presence of catheters. However, the mean MBC of slime-producing CNS, and to a lesser extent of non-slime-producing strains was higher in the presence than in the absence of catheters. Slime-producing CNS were recovered from PVC catheters after overnight incubation in cidal concentrations (>4·0 μg/ml) of nafcillin (average 350 colony-forming units per 1 cm). Thus nafcillin-sensitive CNS strains, particularly those producing slime, are able to survive exposure to cidal concentrations of the drug when adherent to PVC catheters.
Counting Active Sites on Titanium Oxide–Silica Catalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Activation through In Situ Poisoning with Phenylphosphonic Acid

Quantifying specific active sites in supported catalysts improves our understanding and assists in rational design. Supported oxides can undergo significant structural changes as surface densities increase from site-isolated cations to monolayers and crystallites, which changes the number of kinetically relevant sites. Herein, TiOx domains are titrated on TiOx–SiO2 selectively with phenylphosphonic acid (PPA). An ex situ method quantifies all fluid-accessible TiOx, whereas an in situ titration during cis-cyclooctene epoxidation provides previously unavailable values for the number of tetrahedral Ti sites on which H2O2 activation occurs. We use this method to determine the active site densities of 22 different catalysts with different synthesis methods, loadings, and characteristic spectra and find a single intrinsic turnover frequency for cis-cyclooctene epoxidation of (40±7) h-1. This simple method gives molecular-level insight into catalyst structure that is otherwise hidden when bulk techniques are used.
Non-invasive ion probes — tools for measuring transmembrane ion flux

lonophores, used in non-invasive vibrating electrodes, can directly monitor steady-state ion flux from single cells, even when the source is non-electrogenic.
Inhibition of carcinogenesis by tea: bioavailability of tea polyphenols and mechanisms of actions.

The inhibitory activity of tea and tea polyphenols has been demonstrated in many studies with animal models in different laboratories, but such activity has been observed only in some of the epidemiological studies. A key question is whether tea consumption lowers cancer risk in humans. To answer this question, we need to know the effective components of tea and the mode of their inhibitory actions against tumorigenesis. It is important to know the levels of the putative active components in the target tissues and whether such levels are capable of inhibiting cancer formation and growth. In this report, we plan to review the inhibitory activities of tea and tea polyphenols against the development of lung tumors in animals and the growth of human cancer cells in culture, discuss the possible active components involved and mechanisms of action, and describe the tissue levels and pharmacokinetics of tea polyphenols in animal models and humans.Inhibition of Lung Tumorigenesis in Animal ModelsThe tobacco carci...
A Subroutine Package for Solving Slider Lubrication Problems

The paper presents a subroutine package that solves the inverse problem of slider lubrication considering such features as finite bearing width, squeeze action, and starvation. The underlying analysis and computational algorithm are described. A representative example of piston ring and cylinder bore contact is used to demonstrate the use of the subroutine package.