cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
mTORC1 promotes proliferation of immature Schwann cells and myelin growth of differentiated Schwann cells

The myelination of axons in peripheral nerves requires precisely coordinated proliferation and differentiation of Schwann cells (SCs). We found that the activity of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a key signaling hub for the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation, is progressively extinguished as SCs differentiate during nerve development. To study the effects of different levels of sustained mTORC1 hyperactivity in the SC lineage, we disrupted negative regulators of mTORC1, including TSC2 or TSC1, in developing SCs of mutant mice. Surprisingly, the phenotypes ranged from arrested myelination in nerve development to focal hypermyelination in adulthood, depending on the level and timing of mTORC1 hyperactivity. For example, mice lacking TSC2 in developing SCs displayed hyperproliferation of undifferentiated SCs incompatible with normal myelination. However, these defects and myelination could be rescued by pharmacological mTORC1 inhibition. The subsequent reconstitution of SC mTORC1 hyperactivity in adult animals resulted in focal hypermyelination. Together our data suggest a model in which high mTORC1 activity promotes proliferation of immature SCs and antagonizes SC differentiation during nerve development. Down-regulation of mTORC1 activity is required for terminal SC differentiation and subsequent initiation of myelination. In distinction to this developmental role, excessive SC mTORC1 activity stimulates myelin growth, even overgrowth, in adulthood. Thus, our work delineates two distinct functions of mTORC1 in the SC lineage essential for proper nerve development and myelination. Moreover, our studies show that SCs retain their plasticity to myelinate and remodel myelin via mTORC1 throughout life.
Intra- and inter-fractional liver and lung tumor motions treated with SBRT under active breathing control

Purpose To assess intra- and inter-fractional motions of liver and lung tumors using active breathing control (ABC). Methods and materials Nineteen patients with liver cancer and 15 patients with lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) were included in this retrospective study. All patients received a series of three CTs at simulation to test breath-hold reproducibility. The centroids of the whole livers and of the lung tumors from the three CTs were compared to assess intra-fraction variability. For 15 patients (8 liver, 7 lung), ABC-gated kilovoltage cone-beam CTs (kV-CBCTs) were acquired prior to each treatment, and the centroids of the whole livers and of the lung tumors were also compared to those in the planning CTs to assess inter-fraction variability. Results Liver intra-fractional systematic/random errors were 0.75/0.39 mm, 1.36/0.97 mm, and 1.55/1.41 mm at medial-lateral (ML), anterior-posterior (AP), and superior-inferior (SI) directions, respectively. Lung intra-fractional systematic/random errors were 0.71/0.54 mm (ML), 1.45/1.10 mm (AP), and 3.95/1.93 mm (SI), respectively. Substantial intra-fraction motions (>3 mm) were observed in 26.3% of liver cancer patients and in 46.7% of lung cancer patients. For both liver and lung tumors, most inter-fractional systematic and random errors were larger than the corresponding intra-fractional errors. However, these inter-fractional errors were mostly corrected by the treatment team prior to each treatment based on kV CBCT-guided soft tissue alignment, thereby eliminating their effects on the treatment planning margins. Conclusions Intra-fractional motion is the key to determine the planning margins since inter-fractional motion can be compensated based on daily gated soft tissue imaging guidance of CBCT. Patient-specific treatment planning margins instead of recipe-based margins were suggested, which can benefit mostly for the patients with small intra-fractional motions.
Spatial association mining between melanoma prevalence rates, risk factors, and healthcare disparities

This project uses association rule mining to explore relationships among potential factors related to Skin Melanoma occurrence. The goal is to see if there are any environmental or demographic factors, such as age, education, poverty, UV exposure, or others that can be identified using their spatial relationship. By analyzing data from 2004 and 2014, this study can investigate decadal trends and differences. In a pilot study of Missouri, melanoma was analyzed with No College Education, Poverty, and Access to Healthcare Facilities. Relationships found were not significant. This study utilized more factors in an effort to explore for stronger associations. These findings will guide future research pertaining to Melanoma prevention and education. The anticipated outcome is a set of quantified rules that describe strong relationships among and between factors and normalized county Melanoma counts as summarized from the SEER data.
Model for the Synthesis of Self Assembling Template-Free Porous Organosilicas

High surface area solids are important materials in science and in many industrial applications but often are produced from expensive and inefficient combinations of materials and processes. New principles for the selection of molecular precursors that yield high surface area solids in simple and efficient sol–gel processes would be useful. Focusing on organosilicas, we show that an index based on rigidity theory can be used to quantify the relative strength of the gel and the level of condensation at which it is able to withstand the capillary stresses imposed by drying, thereby preventing loss of surface area. This index correctly orders precursors according to the surface area of the solid materials produced from them and provides, when correlated to a few data points, a predictive relationship between the index and the surface area. Precursor features leading to early formation of a highly connected rigid network include high ratios of nonhydrolyzing (e.g., methylene) to hydrolyzing (e.g., oxy) groups...
Use of Pipeline™ embolization device for the treatment of traumatic intracranial pseudoaneurysms: Case series and review of cases from literature.

Abstract Objective Intracranial traumatic pseudoaneurysms (PSA) are a rare but dangerous subtype of cerebral aneurysm. Reports documenting use of flow-diverting stents to treat traumatic intracranial PSAs are few and lack long-term follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the largest case-series to date demonstrating use of Pipeline Endovascular Device (PED) for traumatic intracranial PSAs. Patients and Methods Retrospective review of 8 intracranial traumatic PSAs in 7 patients treated using only PED placement. Patients were followed clinically and angiographically for at least 6 months. Results Seven patients with a mean age of 37 years were treated for 8 intracranial pseudo-aneurysms between 2011–2015. Six aneurysms were the result of blunt trauma; 2 were from iatrogenic injury during transsphenoidal surgery. Mean clinical and angiographic follow-up in surviving patients was 15.2 months. In patients with angiographic follow-up, complete occlusion was achieved in all but one patient, who demonstrated near-complete occlusion. No ischemic events or stent-related stenosis were observed. One patient developed a carotid-cavernous fistula after PED, which was successfully retreated with placement of a second PED. There were two mortalities. One was due to suspected microwire perforation remote from the target aneurysm resulting in SAH/IPH. The other was due to a traumatic SDH and brainstem hemorrhage from an unrelated fall during follow-up interval. Conclusions Use of PED for treatment of intracerebral PSAs following trauma or iatrogenic injury showed good persistent occlusion, and acceptable complication rate for this high-risk pathology. Risks of this procedure and necessary antiplatelet therapy require appropriate patient selection. Larger prospective studies are warranted.
Transplantation of Human Fetal Retinal Pigment Epithelium Rescues Photoreceptor Cells From Degeneration in the Royal College of Surgeons Rat Retina

Purpose. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat suffers from a well-characterized, earlyonset, and relentless form of photoreceptor cell degeneration. It has been shown that allografts of retinal pigment epithelial cells from normal perinatal rats have rescue effects in this condition. In preparation for human application, the authors determined whether human fetal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) grafts have a photoreceptor rescue effect in RCS dystrophic rat retinas. Methods. Sheets of RPE from human fetal eyes (10 to 16 weeks gestational age) were isolated according to the authors' recently described method. Fragments of the RPE sheets were transplanted to the subretinal space within the superior hemisphere. Transplants were performed within the superior equatorial region of five dystrophic RCS rats, one eye per animal. A similar volume of vehicle was injected into the subretinal space of five age-matched control rats, again one eye per rat. All rats were immunosuppressed with daily injections of cyclosporine. Using light microscopy, photoreceptor cell nuclear profiles of superior equatorial (SE) and inferior equatorial (IE) regions of transplanted and sham-injected control animals were counted. Results. Four weeks after transplantation, a dramatic rescue effect was observed. Microscopically, presumptive donor RPE cells were seen as single pigmented cells and as cell clusters in the subretinal space. An outer nuclear layer three to four profiles thick was present in the area of the RPE transplant but was nearly absent in the rest of the retina, as well as in the retinas of control rats. The number of photoreceptor nuclear profiles per 100 //m was 34.7 ± 2.2 (mean ± SEM) in the SE region of transplanted rats and 3.5 ± 1.4 in the same region of sham-injected rats. There were 3.0 ±1.0 photoreceptor nuclear profiles in the IE region of transplanted rats and 3.5 ± 1.2 in the IE region of sham-injected eyes. No evidence of graft rejection was seen. Conclusions. This study provides the first indication that transplanted human fetal RPE cells are able to rescue photoreceptor cells in a model of hereditary retinal degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996; 37:204-211.
Technical note: Specific PCR amplification of protozoal 18S rDNA sequences from DNA extracted from ruminal samples of cows

A protozoa-specific primer (P-SSU-342f) was designed and paired with a eukarya-specific primer to amplify a 1,360-bp fragment of DNA encoding protozoal small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA from ruminal fluid of cows fed a mixed forage:grain diet or alfalfa hay. Sequencing of clones showed that P-SSU-342f is specific to ruminal protozoa and, with slight modifications, the primer will be useful for ecological studies of ruminal protozoa.
From Lost Highway to Twin Peaks: Representations of Trauma and Transformation in Lynch’s Late Works

This chapter compares the radical shifts that protagonists undergo in the late works of David Lynch (Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire, and Twin Peaks: The Return). The changes (whether figured as dreams, psychological breakdowns, or fantasmatic projections) compel audiences to reconceptualize characters’ relations to traumatic events, but, in each work, the transformations shift in narrative function and psychological register. Beyond providing much needed context for understanding Peaks, Galow’s analysis demonstrates how the series incorporates elements from the earlier films but employs them to very different effect. The ‘dream within a dream’ reflects a promise of transformation and unification that remains elusive within the narrative and threatens to displace the heroic Agent Cooper, leaving him amidst a postmodern scattering of fragments, echoes, and loose ends.
Design of bicontinuous metallic nanocomposites for high-strength and plasticity

Abstract We demonstrate design of Cu/Mo nanocomposite thin films with bicontinuous intertwined morphologies for high strength and plastic deformability. Through co-sputtering Cu and Mo at different temperatures, nanocomposites with lateral and random concentration modulations (LCMs and RCMs) were fabricated. Ligament size and coherency of the Cu/Mo interfaces was also controlled via the deposition conditions. It was discovered that nanocomposites with LCM structure and coherent interfaces have high strength but limited deformability. Enhanced deformability was achieved when the interface was altered to semi-coherent, although plasticity was localized in kink bands. The RCM structure design with semi-coherent interfaces showed an excellent combination of high flow strength and plastic deformability due to suppression of shear and kink bands.
Production, Distribution, and Consumption: Extending Studies of Racialized Media beyond Racial Representations:

The recent 2016 presidential campaign season and subsequent presidency has created a context in which the general public is looking deeper into the “behind the scenes” influences on the media. Of p...
You Talk Too Much: Limiting Privacy Exposure Via Voice Input

Voice synthesis uses a voice model to synthesize arbitrary phrases. Advances in voice synthesis have made it possible to create an accurate voice model of a targeted individual, which can then in turn be used to generate spoofed audio in his or her voice. Generating an accurate voice model of target's voice requires the availability of a corpus of the target's speech. This paper makes the observation that the increasing popularity of voice interfaces that use cloud-backed speech recognition (e.g., Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa) increases the public's vulnerability to voice synthesis attacks. That is, our growing dependence on voice interfaces fosters the collection of our voices. As our main contribution, we show that voice recognition and voice accumulation (that is, the accumulation of users' voices) are separable. This paper introduces techniques for locally sanitizing voice inputs before they are transmitted to the cloud for processing. In essence, such methods employ audio processing techniques to remove distinctive voice characteristics, leaving only the information that is necessary for the cloud-based services to perform speech recognition. Our preliminary experiments show that our defenses prevent state-of-the-art voice synthesis techniques from constructing convincing forgeries of a user's speech, while still permitting accurate voice recognition.
Development of the Weight Management Skills Questionnaire in a Prebariatric Surgery Sample

Weight loss after bariatric surgery is largely predicted by adherence to diet and lifestyle changes. There is no validated measure of self-reported adherence to a range of behaviors including self-monitoring, portion control, healthy food choice, and awareness of hunger and satiety. The goal of the present study was to develop and provide initial evidence for the validity of the Weight Management Skills Questionnaire, a measure of adherence to these changes, by identifying its factor structure and relating the total score and subscale scores to baseline BMI, weight change during a preoperative education program, dysregulated eating, and binge eating disorder (BED). University hospital, USA. Four hundred twenty-two bariatric surgery candidates responded the WMSQ and measures of eating behavior. Weight collected at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the presurgical program was used to compute percent total weight loss (%TWL) prior to surgery. Hierarchical factor analysis was used to explore the factor structure of the WMSQ while allowing the items to load onto a single general factor reflecting overall adherence to behavioral weight management. The WMSQ has three interpretable subfactors, with all items loading onto the general factor. All scales were unrelated to starting BMI; total score and subfactors measuring general and bariatric-specific weight management skills were associated with %TWL. The scale measuring hunger/satiety responsiveness was negatively related to dysregulated eating/BED. The WMSQ may be a useful tool in future research exploring the key weight management skills associated with successful weight loss before and after bariatric surgery.
Swirlifying Stats Training: Facilitating the Transition to R

What works well in teaching statistics and statistical programming to a novice group of students? I present key insights from more than a decade of teaching statistical methods with constant tinkering. These boil down to having frequent online quizzes with unlimited attempts and providing starter scripts with embedded tasks for each lab. Because some changes took effect during the same semester and cohorts vary considerably, this is not a cut-and-dried template for success. However, assessment data is presented to support the value of online quizzes with unlimited attempts. The paper also includes a discussion of transitioning the class from Stata to R and creating interactive tutorials (using the Swirl library in R) to aid learning.
Time Resolution Measurements of EJ-232Q With Single- and Dual-Sided Readouts

In view of its importance to applications in high-energy physics, nuclear security, and time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET), the time resolution of 0.5% benzophenone-quenched EJ-232Q plastic scintillators of various lengths was studied using a fast waveform digitizer and fast photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The scintillator sizes were 5 mm $\times 5$ mm $\times10$ , 25, 50, 75, or 100 mm. First, the timing measurements were performed by using a single PMT reading out one end. The degradation in time resolution with increasing scintillator length was studied. The irradiation geometry was also observed to have a nonnegligible impact on the time resolution due to the variation of depth-of-interaction (DOI) positions, especially for the scintillators with a high aspect ratio. Second, two PMTs were employed for a dual-sided readout. This readout together with the mean time method was demonstrated to be an effective approach to improve the timing performance since the DOI-related effect was considerably mitigated. A time resolution of 79 ± 1 ps (full-width at half-maximum) has been achieved for the $5 \times 5 \times 10$ mm3 scintillator. The $5\times 5\,\,\times100$ mm3 scintillator can still provide a time resolution as good as 172 ± 1 ps. The energy range used for each was between 340 and 450 keVee. In addition, the time information from individual PMTs in a dual-sided readout was able to show a time resolution almost identical to that determined with the mean-time-based technique after correcting for the DOI variation for the 100-mm-long scintillator.
Rapid expression of COVID-19 proteins by transient expression in tobacco.

In 2020 we suffered from a major global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Efforts to contain the virus include the development of rapid tests and vaccines, which require a ready supply of viral proteins. Here we report the production of two SARS-CoV-2 proteins by transient transformation of tobacco, leading to high expression within three days, and subsequent purification of the intact proteins. Such efforts may help to develop testing resources to alleviate the major impacts of this global pandemic.
Space–time dependence of compound hot–dry events in the United States: assessment using a multi-site multi-variable weather generator

Abstract. Compound hot and dry events can lead to severe impacts whose severity may depend on their timescale and spatial extent. Despite their potential importance, the climatological characteristics of these joint events have received little attention regardless of growing interest in climate change impacts on compound events. Here, we ask how event timescale relates to (1) spatial patterns of compound hot–dry events in the United States, (2) the spatial extent of compound hot–dry events, and (3) the importance of temperature and precipitation as drivers of compound events. To study such rare spatial and multivariate events, we introduce a multi-site multi-variable weather generator (PRSim.weather), which enables generation of a large number of spatial multivariate hot–dry events. We show that the stochastic model realistically simulates distributional and temporal autocorrelation characteristics of temperature and precipitation at single sites, dependencies between the two variables, spatial correlation patterns, and spatial heat and meteorological drought indicators and their co-occurrence probabilities. The results of our compound event analysis demonstrate that (1) the northwestern and southeastern United States are most susceptible to compound hot–dry events independent of timescale, and susceptibility decreases with increasing timescale; (2) the spatial extent and timescale of compound events are strongly related to sub-seasonal events (1–3 months) showing the largest spatial extents; and (3) the importance of temperature and precipitation as drivers of compound events varies with timescale, with temperature being most important at short and precipitation at seasonal timescales. We conclude that timescale is an important factor to be considered in compound event assessments and suggest that climate change impact assessments should consider several timescales instead of a single timescale when looking at future changes in compound event characteristics. The largest future changes may be expected for short compound events because of their strong relation to temperature.
Frozen Sections in Kidney Transplantation

Frozen section analysis can be a useful adjunct to transplant diagnostics both for donor kidney assessment and for routine care and management of transplant patients. While limitations exist due to sampling and frozen section artifacts that may obscure relatively subtle histologic findings, big picture assessments are still possible with excellent overall concordance, particularly when performed in conjunction with adequate clinical information. This chapter covers frozen section utility both in choosing donor organs and in making immediate diagnoses for allograft dysfunction.
Bone biomechanical properties and tissue-scale bone quality in a genetic mouse model of familial dysautonomia

Familial dysautonomia (FD) is associated with a high prevalence of bone fractures, but the impacts of the disease on bone mass and quality are unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tissue through whole-bone scale bone quality in a mouse model of FD. Femurs from mature adult Tuba1a-Cre; Elp1LoxP/LoxP conditional knockouts (CKO) (F = 7, M = 4) and controls (F = 5, M = 6) were evaluated for whole-bone flexural material properties, trabecular microarchitecture and cortical geometry, and areal bone mineral density (BMD). Adjacent maps spanning the thickness of femur midshaft cortical bone assessed tissue-scale modulus (nanoindentation), bone mineralization, mineral maturity, and collagen secondary structure (Raman spectroscopy). Consistent with prior studies on this mouse model, the Elp1 CKO mouse model recapitulated several key hallmarks of human FD, with one difference being the male mice tended to have a more severe phenotype than females. Deletion of Elp1 in neurons (using the neuronal-specific Tuba1a-cre) led to a significantly reduced whole-bone toughness but not strength or modulus. Elp1 CKO female mice had reduced trabecular microarchitecture (BV/TV, Tb.Th, Conn.D.) but not cortical geometry. The mutant mice also had a small but significant reduction in cortical bone nanoindentation modulus. While bone tissue mineralization and mineral maturity were not impaired, FD mice may have altered collagen secondary structure. Changes in collagen secondary structure were inversely correlated with bone toughness. BMD from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was unchanged with FD. The deletion of Elp1 in neurons is sufficient to generate a mouse line which demonstrates loss of whole-bone toughness, consistent with the poor bone quality suspected in the clinical setting. The Elp1 CKO model, as with human FD, impacts the nervous system, gut, kidney function, mobility, gait, and posture. The bone quality phenotype of Elp1 CKO mice, which includes altered microarchitecture and tissue-scale material properties, is complex and likely influenced by these multisystemic changes. This mouse model may provide a useful platform to not only investigate the mechanisms responsible for bone fragility in FD, but also a powerful model system with which to evaluate potential therapeutic interventions for bone fragility in FD patients.
Survival bias may explain the appearance of the obesity paradox in hip fracture patients.

Patients with low-energy hip fractures do not follow the obesity paradox as previously reported. In datasets where injury mechanism is not available, the use of age >50 years (as opposed to commonly used >65 years) as a surrogate for a low-energy hip fracture patients may be a more robust inclusion criterion. In elderly patients with a hip fracture, limited data suggests that obese patients counterintuitively have improved survival compared to normal-weight patients. This "obesity paradox" may be the byproduct of selection bias. We hypothesized that the obesity paradox would not apply to elderly hip fracture patients. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project dataset identified 71,685 hip fracture patients ≥50 years-of-age with complete body mass index (BMI) data that underwent surgery. Patients were stratified into under and over 75-year-old cohorts (n=18,956 and 52,729, respectively). Within each age group, patients were stratified by BMI class and compared with respect to preoperative characteristics and 30-day mortality. Significant univariate characteristics (p<0.1) were included in multivariate analysis to determine the independent effect of obesity class on 30-day mortality (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis of <75-year-old patients with class-III obesity were more likely to die within 30-days than similarly aged normal-weight patients (OR 1.91, CI 1.06-3.42, p=0.030). Multivariate analysis of ≥75-year-old overweight (OR 0.69, CI 0.62-0.77, p<0.001), class-I obese (OR 0.62, CI 0.51–0.74, p<0.001), or class-II obese (OR=0.69, CI 0.50–0.95, p=0.022) patients were less likely to die within 30-days when compared to similarly aged normal-weight patients. Our data suggest that obesity is a risk factor for mortality in low-energy hip fracture patients, but the appearance of the "obesity paradox" in elderly hip fracture patients results from statistical bias that is only evident upon subgroup analysis.
Cage-Busting Leadership by Frederick M. Hess

This book review must start out with an open statement of bias. When asked to review Cage-Busting Leadership by Frederick M. Hess, I wanted to find fault with the book. Hess has never led a public ...
A Review of “No longer separate, not yet equal: Race and class in elite college admission and campus life”

In No Longer Separate, Not Yet Equal: Race and Class in Elite College Admission and Campus Life, Espenshade and Radford investigate how race and class are associated with transitioning into and exp...
Persistence of Campylobacter fetus bacteremia associated with absence of opsonizing antibodies.

Campylobacter fetus causes systemic infections in immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case in which C. fetus bacteremia apparently relapsed after 7 years in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia and characterize the serum resistance of the patient9s C. fetus strain and the inability of the patient9s serum, with and without commercial intravenous immunoglobulin, to opsonize this and another C. fetus strain effectively. The probable presence of a sequestered site of infection in bone, the intrinsic serum resistance of the C. fetus strain, and the absence of specific antibody may account for the persistent infection in this patient. These studies suggest that intravenous immunoglobulin treatment is not useful in eradicating C. fetus bacteremia.
Unstrange Bedfellows: Hip Hop and Religion

In the past two decades, an expansive archive of hip hop scholarship has emerged. In response to reductive criticisms of hip hop culture as nihilistic, violent, and inartistic, scholars in a variety of disciplines have endeavored to show the complexities, nuances, and possibilities within hip hop culture. In this article, I trace the connections between broader trends within hip hop scholarship and recent work exploring the relationship between religion and hip hop. Although I look at the impact of Islam and Christianity on hip hop, I am more interested in Anthony Pinn’s attempt to develop a notion of religiosity within hip hop that is not reducible to institutional forms. Although his notion of religion as “the search for a complex identity” does some productive interpretive work, I conclude with some concerns about the ways in which Pinn’s formulation of identity formation is divorced from broader configurations of power.
Evolution of an antibiotic resistance enzyme constrained by stability and activity trade-offs.

Abstract Pressured by antibiotic use, resistance enzymes have been evolving new activities. Does such evolution have a cost? To investigate this question at the molecular level, clinically isolated mutants of the β-lactamase TEM-1 were studied. When purified, mutant enzymes had increased activity against cephalosporin antibiotics but lost both thermodynamic stability and kinetic activity against their ancestral targets, penicillins. The X-ray crystallographic structures of three mutant enzymes were determined. These structures suggest that activity gain and stability loss is related to an enlarged active site cavity in the mutant enzymes. In several clinically isolated mutant enzymes, a secondary substitution is observed far from the active site (Met182→Thr). This substitution had little effect on enzyme activity but restored stability lost by substitutions near the active site. This regained stability conferred an advantage in vivo. This pattern of stability loss and restoration may be common in the evolution of new enzyme activity.
31P NMR spectroscopy of isolated perfused lungs.

31P NMR spectra of isolated blood-perfused pig lungs were obtained by degassing the lungs in vivo to remove field inhomogeneities caused by air-tissue interfaces. The spectra show the presence of ATP, phosphodiester, inorganic phosphate, and phosphomonoester, but no phosphocreatine. All the metabolites remained stable for more than 4 h when the lungs were perfused with oxygenated blood. Blood gas tensions, glucose concentration, pH, and temperature were controlled throughout the experiment. During anoxia or isch-emia, ATP and intracellular pH declined and Pi increased but returned to control levels during subsequent normoxia or reperfusion. These results demonstrate the applicability of NMR spectroscopy to isolated perfused lungs, enabling studies of metabolic processes in normal and pathologic lungs, as well as establishment of optimal conditions for lung preservation for transplantation. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Standards for vision science libraries: 2014 revision.

The Association of Vision Science Librarians (AVSL)—whose more than 150 members represent ophthalmology, optometry, and industry libraries throughout the world—has defined standards for its libraries since 1976 1–3. AVSL recommends that vision science libraries (VSLs) have at least one active member in AVSL. Standards for this very specialized area of library service have evolved owing to the work of librarians who, since 1937, have been developing and refining standards for their libraries 4. The standards reported here reflect the changes that have taken place during the decade and a half since the last edition of these standards were published. Changes include recommended staffing and technology, and the addition of a section addressing online access to information. AVSL convened a task force to first evaluate whether a standards revision was needed. Once it was agreed to do so, the task force guided the process of the revision, which included member surveys and discussions at meetings over the span of two years. The standards are intended to provide qualitative information such as appropriate staffing levels and collection scope, which can be used to evaluate existing vision science libraries or to develop new vision science libraries. In addition, these libraries should reflect the purpose and mission of the institution to which each belongs, and each library should have policies in place that outline the various areas to support the education, research, and patient care information needs of their institutions.
Reliability of college student self-reported drinking behavior

College students represent a unique population among substance users, with developmental needs and motivational factors different from those of other adults with substance abuse problems. As most college-based treatment programs focus on harm reduction, the reliability of self-reported substance use is critical to assessing treatment needs and outcomes. This study examined the reliability of students' self-reported alcohol consumption for the month prior to entering a treatment program at two points in time. It was hypothesized that: (a) students required to attend a drug and alcohol educational program would underreport their history of use when asked about it at intake (Time 1), relative to their self-report of use for the same historical timeframe after attending the program (Time 2); and (b) students would describe these discrepancies as a function of feeling more or less concerned about the impact of their disclosure. Findings supported both hypotheses. Implications for an evaluation of student drinking behaviors are discussed.
Modified Dunn Procedure is Superior to In Situ Pinning for Short-term Clinical and Radiographic Improvement in Severe Stable SCFE

Background In situ pinning is the conventional treatment for a stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). However, with a severe stable SCFE the residual deformity may lead to femoroacetabular impingement and articular cartilage damage. A modified Dunn subcapital realignment procedure has been developed to allow for correction at the level of the deformity while preserving the blood supply to the femoral head.
Cross-cultural validity of a model of self-worth: Application to Finnish children

In this study the cross-cultural validity of Harter’s (1985, 1986a, 1986b, 1987b, 1987c) measures and model of self-worth was investigated using a sample of 306 Finnish elementary school students. Principal components analyses supported the original factor structures of Harter’s (1985, 1986a) self-report questionnaires, the Self-Perception Profile for Children, and the Social Support Scale for Children. Consistent with Harter’s (1986b, 1987b, 1987c) model of the determinants of self-worth, multiple regression analysis indicated that both the competence-importance discrepancy and perceived social support explained the variability in self-worth. Implications of these findings for theory, research, and practice are discussed.
Central cardiovascular activity of prostaglandin E2, prostagladin F2∝ and prostacyclin

Abstract Prostacyclin (PGI2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2∝ (PGF2∝) were tested here in unanesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats for their effects on the cardiovascular system as mediated by the Central nervous system. Cannulae were chronically implanted into the third cerebral ventricle, femoral arteries and femoral veins of rats. Both PGE2 and PGF2∝ induced increased arterial blood pressure and tachycardia by an action on the central nervous system. The changes seen with PGE2 were larger than those observed with PGF2∝. Only transient depressor effects were seen with PGI2 and these changes appeared to be due to the leakage of the substance into the peripheral vascular system.
Menstrual irregularity from hormonal contraception: a cause of reproductive health concerns in minority adolescent young women

Abstract Context Adolescents are frequent users of hormonal contraception (HC), yet their adherence to these methods is often poor. Concerns about side effects, especially those affecting the menstrual system, are often given as reasons for contraceptive nonadherence or discontinuation. We sought to identify teens' concerns and misperceptions about the menstrual-related side effects of HC. Methods Open focus groups were conducted with both sexually active and virgin adolescent women aged 12–18 years who were recruited from the Philadelphia area. The adolescents did not have to be contraceptive users in order to participate. The question put to each group was, “What are the things you have heard about the birth control pill, Depo-Provera and Norplant?” Groups were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using qualitative software. Results We conducted 13 female-only groups. Participants raised frequent concerns about menstrual-related side effects, believing that these side effects were evidence of possible negative effects of HC on their reproductive health. Four themes related to hormonal contraceptive-induced menstrual irregularity emerged from the groups. Theme 1: Menstruation is natural and should not be altered in any way. Theme 2: The menstrual period is necessary for cleansing of the body. Theme 3: “Spotting,” intermenstrual bleeding and amenorrhea cause doubts about the method's effectiveness and worries about pregnancy. Theme 4: All menstrual irregularity, from intermenstrual bleeding to amenorrhea, causes worry about the effects on fertility and on physical health. Conclusions Teens have concerns about the menstrual irregularity caused by HC. Providers understand that these side effects are minor and of little medical consequence. Yet, adolescent patients may be ascribing great significance to these effects and may be declining these methods because of fear and misperceptions.
A Tool for the Automated Design and Evaluation of Habitat Interior Layouts

The objective of space habitat design is to minimize mass and system size while providing adequate space for all necessary equipment and a functional layout that supports crew health and productivity. Unfortunately, development and evaluation of interior layouts is often ignored during conceptual design because of the subjectivity and long times required using current evaluation methods (e.g., human-in-the-loop mockup tests and in-depth CAD evaluations). Early, more objective assessment could prevent expensive design changes that may increase vehicle mass and compromise functionality. This paper describes a new interior design evaluation method to enable early, structured consideration of habitat interior layouts. This interior layout evaluation method features a comprehensive list of quantifiable habitat layout evaluation criteria, automatic methods to measure these criteria from a geometry model, and application of systems engineering tools and numerical methods to construct a multi-objective value function measuring the overall habitat layout performance. In addition to a detailed description of this method, a C++/OpenGL software tool which has been developed to implement this method is also discussed. This tool leverages geometry modeling coupled with collision detection techniques to identify favorable layouts subject to multiple constraints and objectives (e.g., minimize mass, maximize contiguous habitable volume, maximize task performance, and minimize crew safety risks). Finally, a few habitat layout evaluation examples are described to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method and tool to influence habitat design.
Minimum discrimination information estimator of the mean with known coefficient of variation

Abstract Estimation of a mean when the coefficient of variation is known is treated as a constrained optimization of the Kullback-Leibler distrimination information function. The procedure is semi-parametric in that it uses a normal distribution as the maximum entropy model to develop an estimator for the mean of all distributions in the location-scale family with finite entropy. The performance of the proposed procedure is compared with some existing methods in a bootstrap study of data from a laboratory experiment. Monte Carlo simulations are also used to compare the mean squared error of several estimators under various distribution assumptions and over a wide range of values for the coefficient of variation and sample size. The new estimator shows smaller mean squared error than its nonprametric counterpart and it competes well with its parametric counterparts.
Strategies for Steam Flood Optimization in a High-Water Saturation Reservoir in the Midway-Sunset Field

PRU Fee, an idle lease in the Midway Sunset Field has been a site of a U.S. DOE-sponsored Class III project. A geologic and stratigraphic model of the site was constructed using logs and core data. Geostatistical approach was used in generating reservoir images. Reservoir simulations were performed to study the effectiveness of various processes and to examine the sensitivity of parameters. The study showed that oil can be recovered economically from the lease using conventional steam flood technology provided the injectors are completed an optimum distance above the oil water contact. Simulations also showed that it was possible to recover additional oil by appropriately placing horizontal producers later in the life of the flood.
The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in photodynamic therapy with the phthalocyanine photosensitizer Pc 4

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is an 18 kDa protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane that interacts with the voltage-dependent anion channel and may participate in formation of the permeability transition pore. The physiological role of PBR is reflected in the high-affinity binding of endogenous ligands that are metabolites of both cholesterol and heme. Certain porphyrin precursors of heme can be photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), which depends on visible light activation of porphyrin-related macrocycles. Because the apparent binding affinity of a series of porphyrin analogs for PBR paralleled their ability to photoinactivate cells, PBR has been proposed as the molecular target for porphyrin-derived photocytotoxicity. The phthalocyanine (Pc) photosensitizer Pc 4 accumulates in mitochondria and structurally resembles porphyrins. Therefore, we tested the relevance of PBR binding on Pc 4‐PDT. Binding affinity was measured by competition with
OBSERVATION OF PERSISTENT CURRENT IN A SUPERCONDUCTING SOLENOID

Modern nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques were applied to measure a persistent current in a closed super-conducting circuit. The trapped magnetic field was measured and recorded with time. Two measurements extending over a period of 21 and 37 days respectively, were described. An attempt was made to correlate the data with the flux-creep theory. This experiment was performed in the superconducting portion of the critical state diagram. (C.E.S.)
Indian gaming in Oklahoma: implications for community welfare.

Abstract In the 1980s the United States began to establish an institutional framework for Indian gaming. Since then over 100 Indian gaming centers have sprung up across Oklahoma. Casino gambling can have a great affect on surrounding communities. However, there is a distinct possibility that these gains from casino gambling could be offset by social costs associated with problem gambling and crime, the cannibalization of existing industry (where funds are simply redirected from existing industries), and by any additional public expenditure needed to regulate or maintain the casino. For twenty years Native Americans have been operating casinos all over Oklahoma, yet the economic effects of these Indian gaming institutions have gone largely unstudied. This paper offers significant conclusions regarding how Indian gaming impacts communities using data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 500 Nations Indian gaming website, and phone interviews with various gaming centers. Testable, quantitative conclusions provide a tool not only for Native American tribes but also policy makers in determining optimal amounts of gaming centers and how these centers are regulated and operated.
SOCIAL BARRIERS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY LANDSCAPES

After many years of slow progress, we find that worldwide environmental, political, and economic pressures are providing greater purchase for the accelerated development of renewable energy. Althou...
Prediction of geometry of sonic boom waves incident on arbitrarily oriented plane walls

Sonic boom incident and ground reflected waves action on exterior wall, calculating arrival time as functions of aircraft speed and altitude and wall slope
Mapping the Venusian surface

President Carter has agreed to include in the fiscal 1982 budget a request for start-up funds for NASA's 1986 mission to map the surface of Venus, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar (Voir) is expected to disclose the presence of such features as continents, ocean basins, mountain belts, rift valleys, fault belts, or volcanos on the planet's surface. Plate tectonic activity may also be revealed. Robert A. Frosch, NASA Administrator, said the Office of Management and Budget assured him that the necessary funding will be requested by the President in the fiscal 1982 budget.
Regenerative pull (Kanban) production control policies

Abstract A production system consists of a set of parallel robotic cells manufacturing parts for several distinct work stations. The stations order parts from these cells and withdraw parts from their buffers only at the rate and at the time of consumption. The desired decision vector provides for the instantaneous number of cells assigned to produce parts for each work station. Two novel tractable and optimal regenerative pull (‘Kanban’) control policies are formulated: one policy minimizes the weighted starvation penalty, while the other maximizes the weighted throughputs per unit time. Following these regenerative policies the production schedules are re-evaluated at each decision epoch to mitigate the effects of processing time variability. Several important properties regarding the inherent interaction between the structure of the optimal policy, the performance of the system and the desired allocation of productive capabilities among the manufacturing resources are examplified. It is shown that the optimal policy attempts to marginally assign as much of the cells capacity as possible to certain critical part types. Substantial changes in the structure of the optimal policy, resulting either from incrementing the number of cells or from increasing their capacity, are also identified. More generally, attention is drawn to the qualitative behavior of the optimal pull control policy in certain manufacturing systems with stochastic processing rates.