cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intravitreal Voriconazole: An Electroretinographic and Histopathologic Study

Background Voriconazole, a novel triazole antifungal agent, presents potent activityagainst a broad spectrum of yeast and molds. Objective To determine whether voriconazole could be safely used as an intravitrealagent in the treatment of fungal endophthalmitis. Methods Retinal toxicity of voriconazole was examined in a rodent animal model.Voriconazole solutions were serially diluted and injected intravitreally intothe eyes of normal adult Sprague-Dawley rats so that the final intravitrealconcentrations were 5 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, 25 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, and500 μg/mL (n = 3 for each concentration group). Saline was injectedinto the fellow eyes of all animals as controls. Three weeks after injections,electroretinograms were measured, and eyes were subsequently enucleated forhistologic examination. Results In electroretinographic studies, maximum scotopic b-wave, intensityneeded for half saturation, and saturated a-wave amplitude were measured.There was no statistically significant difference in these parameters recordedbetween control eyes and voriconazole-injected eyes in any concentration groups.Histologic examination with light microscopy did not reveal any retinal abnormalityin the eyes with 5 to 25 μg/mL of intravitreal voriconazole. In the eyeswith 50 μg/mL and 500 μg/mL of voriconazole, small foci of retinal necrosiswere occasionally observed in the outer retina, especially in the eyes with500 μg/mL of voriconazole. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that intravitreal voriconazole of up to 25 μg/mL causes no electroretinographic change or histologic abnormality in rat retinas.This indicates that voriconazole is a safe antifungal agent for intravitrealinjection in rodents and may be used in the treatment of human fungal endophthalmitisfollowing further study.
Approximate equilibria with bounds independent of preferences

Authors prove the existence of approximate equilibria in exchange economies, giving bounds on the excess demand in terms of the number of traders and norms of the endowments, but independent of the preferences.
UnitPlus: assisting developer testing in Eclipse

In the software development life cycle, unit testing is an important phase that helps in early detection of bugs. A unit test case consists of two parts: a test input, which is often a sequence of method calls, and a test oracle, which is often in the form of assertions. The effectiveness of a unit test case depends on its test input as well as its test oracle because the test oracle helps in exposing bugs during the execution of the test input. The task of writing effective test oracles is not trivial as this task requires domain or application knowledge and also needs knowledge of the intricate details of the class under test. In addition, when developers write new unit test cases, much test code (including code in test inputs or oracles) such as method argument values is the same as some previously written test code. To assist developers in writing test code in unit test cases more efficiently, we have developed an Eclipse plugin for JUnit test cases, called UnitPlus, that runs in the background and recommends test-code pieces for developers to choose (and revise when needed) to put in test oracles or test inputs. The recommendation is based on static analysis of the class under test and already written unit test cases. We have conducted a feasibility study for our UnitPlus plugin with four Java libraries to demonstrate its potential utility.
Protein Digestibility and Amino Acid Availability of Fish Meal Fed to Largemouth Bass Infected with Intestinal Acanthocephalans

Abstract Two groups of young largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), one infected with intestinal acanthocephalans (Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus) and the other free of worms, were compared with respect to the apparent protein digestibility and the apparent amino acid availability of herring meal fed to them; analyses were by the indicator (Cr2O3) method. Digesta samples from three intestinal sections and fecal samples revealed that presence of the worms lowered both protein digestibility and amino acid availability. It also increased the variability of those measurements among replicates, particularly in the anterior intestinal section where infections were more pronounced. The specific mode of acanthocephalan influence (e.g., provision by N. cylindratus of nitrogen products or direct competition with the host for amino acids) was not determined. To avoid this source of error, intestinal parasites of test fish should be eliminated by therapeutic treatment before nutritional studies are conducted.
THE INDUCTION OF LATERAL ROOTS BY INDOLEACETIC ACID AND ROOT DECAPITATION

THE ANATOMY of lateral root formation has been known for a considerable time from the classic histological work of van Tieghem and Duliot (1888) which showed the endogenous origin of laterals within the primary root axis. Yet relatively little is known even now concerning the physiological processes involved. That artificially applied auxin stimulates lateral root formation in many plants was early recognized. Bouillenne and Went (1933) attributed increased root branching in the roots of Acalypha cuttings to the applied hormone not utilized in the initiation of the adventitious roots induced on the stem itself. Zimmerman and Hitchcock (1935) reported that lateral root formation on aerial roots of Cissus was induced byapplied artificial auxin or by root decapitation. They postulated the formation of a factor by the primary root tip which prevented lateral branching but which became inoperative when the tip was interfered with or no longer actively growing. The fact that auxin is definitely one factor controlling root branching was shown by Thimann (1936) in experiments treating the roots of Avena and Pisum seedlings with indoleacetic acid. He also found that removal of 1 mm. root tips from these seedlings resulted in increased lateral root formation in both species. In Avena, which has large amounts of natural auxin, Thimann reported that the principal influence on root branching is exerted by the tip. Thus it was indicated in these experiments that auxin is not the only factor controlling lateral root formation. In his study of auxin production in isolated pea roots grown in nutrient solution, van Overbeek (1939) found that 10 mm. root decapitation after 2 weeks' subculture resulted in a marked increase in lateral root formation on the basal portion of such roots. Delarge (1941) reported that, although indoleacetic acid caused branching in initially excised root tips of Zea and Triticum grown in sterile culture, subsequent retreatment with the auxin caused no further lateral root formation. Delarge suggested that there was a depletion of some factor necessary for lateral root formation. Recently, Nutman (1948) has proposed that root meristems, both those of the root and those of effective root nodules, produce a substance which is inhibitory to the initiation of lateral root primordia. With a view to further elucidating the physiological process of lateral root formation and the
Relational Database Behavior: Utilizing Relational Discrete Event Systems and Models

Behavior of relational databases is studied within the framework of Relational Discrete Event Systems (RDE-Ses) and Models (RDEMs). Production system and recurrence equation RDEMs are introduced, and their expressive powers are compared. Non-deterministic behavior is defined for both RDEMs and the expressive power of deterministic and non-deterministic production rule programs is also compared. This comparison shows that non-determinism increases expressive power of production systems. A formal concept of a production system interpreter is defined, and several specific interpreters are proposed. One interpreter, called parallel deterministic, is shown to be better than others in many respects, including the conflict resolution module of OPS5.
Radioscopic visualization of isothermal solidification of eutectic Ga-ln alloy

The phase diagram for a gallium-indium alloy shows that the eutectic is formed at a temperature of 15.3 C and has a eutectic composition of 14.2 at. pct In (21.4 wt pct In). A eutectic melt is expected to solidify completely when the eutectic temperature is reached. This requires that no gravitational segregation occurs in the melt. A survey of the available literature on eutectic Ga-In revealed no prior experiments on the in situ visualization of solidification. The goal of this experimental work was to observe the isothermal solidification of a vertical layer of molten eutectic Ga-In in real-time using X-ray radioscopy.
Inversion asymmetry and magneto-optical selection rules in n-type zinc-blende semiconductors.

Far-infrared studies of magnetotransmission in n-type InSb, carried out in the parallel Voigt configuration, reveal an unusual dependence of the spin-resonance absorption on the orientation of the applied field B${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}_{0}$ and on the direction of propagation q\ensuremath{\rightarrow} of the incident radiation with respect to the crystallographic axes. It was found that reversal of B${\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}_{0}$ leaving q\ensuremath{\rightarrow} fixed altered the intensity of the electric-dipole spin resonance. This result can be understood as an interference between electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole interactions when the former become allowed by virtue of mixing of Landau and Zeeman levels by a spin-orbit interaction lacking inversion symmetry. A theoretical study of this phenomenon is presented together with selection rules for magnetoabsorption in the parallel and perpendicular Voigt configurations as well as in the Faraday geometry. The results can be used to determine the inversion asymmetry parameter characterizing the spin-orbit interaction in connection with far-infrared experimental data.
Impairment of Protein Trafficking Upon Overexpression and Mutation of Optineurin

© 2010 Park et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The original source for this publication is at the Public Library of Science. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0011547.
ATTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS OF THERAPY WITH INCESTUOUS FAMILIES

This study examines the effects of a self-help program, Parents United, on the members of families in which incest has occurred. Fifty-six male incest offenders, including three grandfathers, and thirty-five spouses were studied to assess the impact of the program on participants' attributions of responsibility for incest, changes in family relationships, and subsequent referral and recidivism. The program was successful in increasing participants' feelings of responsibility, and decreasing recidivism, but less successful in keeping the families together.
Perception of the duration of rapid spectrum changes in speech and nonspeech signals.

For a number of years, investigators have studied the effects one acoustic segment has on the perception of other acoustic segments. In one recent study, Miller and Liberman (Perception & Psychophysics, 1979,25, 457–465) reported that overall syllable duration influences the location of the labeling boundary between the stop [bl and the semivowel [w]. They interpreted this “context effect” as reflecting a form of perceptual normalization whereby the listener readjusts his perceptual apparatus to take account of the differences in rate of articulation of the talker. In the present paper, we report the results of several comparisons between speech and nonspeech control signals. We observed comparable context effects for perception of the duration of rapid spectrum changes as a function of overall duration of the stimulus with both speech and nonspeech signals. The results with nonspeech control signals therefore call into question the earlier claims of Miller and Liberman by demonstrating clearly that context effects are not peculiar to the perception of speech signals or to normalization of speaking rate. Rather, such context effects may simply reflect general psychophysical principles that influence the perceptual categorization and discrimination of all acoustic signals, whether speech or nonspeech.
Deposition, Clearance, and Shortening of Kevlar Para-aramid Fibrils in Acute, Subchronic, and Chronic Inhalation Studies in Rats

Abstract Deposition, Clearance, and Shortening of Kevlar Para-aramid Fibrils in Acute, Subchronic, and Chronic Inhalation Studies in Rats. Kelly, D. P., Merriman, E. A., Kennedy, G. L., Jr., and Lee, K. P. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 21, 345-354. The deposition and clearance of lung-deposited Kevlar para-aramid fibrils (subfibers) have been investigated as part of a subchronic and chronic inhalation toxicity testing program. Fibrils recovered from lung tissue in para-aramid-exposed Sprague-Dawley rats were microscopically counted and measured after exposures to airborne fibrils which were about 12 μm median length (ML) and
Acute HIV detection by viral lysate impedance spectroscopy on a microchip

Detecting acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) at the point-of-care (POC) is an unmet clinical need. Current POC detection methods such as dipsticks and OraQuick detect antibodies and not the intact virus. These methods are not effective due the low concentration of antibodies [1, 2]. Infected persons with acute HIV-1 can potentially transmit the infection because they are not aware of their disease [3, 4]. Rapid and inexpensive POC detection diagnostic tool to detect acute HIV-1 can potentially have a substantial effect on preventing HIV-1 transmission through people at high risk of HIV-1.
The microvasculature of the meniscus and its response to injury An experimental study in the dog

The normal vascular anatomy of the menisci was inves tigated in five dogs by histology and tissue-clearing (Spalteholz) techniques. The vessels were found to originate in the perimeniscal capsular and synovial tis sues and penetrate the peripheral 25% of the meniscal tissues. The vascular response to complete midportion transection of the medial meniscus was evaluated in 15 dogs. This response originated from the peripheral synovial tissues and completely healed the lesion with fibrovascular scar tissue by 10 weeks. Longitudinal incisions in the avascular portion of the meniscus failed to heal. However, when these lesions were connected to the peripheral synovial tissues at their midportion by a vascular access channel, the entire lesion was healed with fibrovascular scar by 10 weeks.
Turnover Rate and Cell Copy Number of Over-Expressed and Endogenous hCTR1, the Human High Affinity Cu Transporter

Copper is an essential trace element required as a co-factor in many enzymatic reactions including: cytochrome oxidase, lysl oxidase, Cu/Zn superoxidase dismutase and ferroxidases. The human copper transporter, hCTR1, is comprised of 190 aa with 3 transmembrane domains and forms a homotrimeric complex with a central pore which transports monovalent Cu. Cu levels and fluxes are low in human cells and we were interested in determining the basis of this phenomenon. Using 64Cu isotopic uptake measurements, cell surface biotinylation and quantification of hCTR1 using purified recombinant hCTR1 protein as a standard we have determined the number of copper ions transported per minute by each hCTR1 trimer. The turnover rate for over-expressed hCTR1 in HEK293 cells or endogenous hCTR1 in Caco-2 cells , is about 100-700 Cu ions/min and represents a much lower transport rate compared to other known transporters, such as Na/K ATPase (5x102 Na+ s−1), glucose transporter which transports glucose at 0.1-1.3x104 s−1, and Cl/Cl exchanger which transports Cl− at 5x104 s−1. The number of copies of hCTR1 in Caco-2 cells is about 1000 and is 10 fold higher when over-expressed in HEK cells. A mutant of hCTR1, H139R, shown previously in insect cells to transport Cu at a higher rate than wild-type protein has a 10-15 higher turnover rate compared to WT-hCTR1 in HEK-293 cells. Apparently low Cu fluxes in human cells are due to both relatively low expression levels and a very low rate of transport mediated by hCTR1. Supported by NIH Grant P01 GM067166.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Regulation of Carbohydrate Intake Is Differentially Affected by Obesogenic Diets

The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been implicated in the regulation of appetite by acting as an anorexigenic gut-brain signal. The postprandial release of GLP-1 can be blunted in obese humans and animals. However, it remains unknown whether obesogenic diets with varying fat and carbohydrate content may differentially influence the effectiveness of GLP-1 feedback. To investigate this, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a standard (low fat) chow diet, or one of two high-energy diets varying in fat content (45 or 60 kcal%) for 28 weeks. Intake of sucrose and fructose solutions, two commonly added sugars in the Western diet, was then tested in non-deprived rats following administration of the GLP-1 receptor agonist, Exendin-4 (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 µg/kg; s.c.). Exendin-4 dose-dependently reduced short (2-hr) sucrose and fructose intake. This effect was significantly attenuated in rats fed more dietary fat despite both diets resulting in obesity. These findings demonstrate that intake of carbohydrates when offered as treats can be regulated by GLP-1 and suggests that dietary fat consumption, rather than extra calories or obesity, may lead to impaired GLP-1 feedback to curb carbohydrate intake. Future studies are warranted to investigate relevance of these observations to human and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Cloth-Particle Retinal Emboli from Artificial Cardiac Valves

Two patients with prosthetic mitral valves had ocular complications. A 28-year-old woman suffered recurrent episodes of bilateral retinal embolization and consequent loss of useful vision over a period of two years despite therapeutic anticoagulation. Replacement of the valve was followed by cessation of the embolization. A 52-year-old man noted the abrupt onset of blurred vision in his right eye. Visual acuity was 6/6 (20/20) bilaterally, but the right eye had many retinal emboli of varying shapes. Both patients had long-standing mitral valve disease, but ocular symptoms developed only after the implantation of a cloth-covered mitral valve prosthesis. To the best of our knowledge, retinal emboli from cloth-covered cardiac valve prostheses have not been previously reported. Patients with such prostheses and ocular complaints who have adequate anticoagulation therapy should be carefully examined for retinal emboli. If emboli are present, valve dysfunction is possible and valve replacement may be necessary.
EXAMINING THE VALIDITY OF A COMPUTER‐BASED GENERATING‐EXPLANATIONS TEST IN AN OPERATIONAL SETTING

Generating Explanations (GE) is a computer-delivered item type that presents a situation and asks the examinee to pose as many plausible reasons for it as possible. Previous research suggests that GE measures a divergent thinking ability largely independent of the convergent skills tapped by the GRE General Test. This study was conducted to determine if prior GE validity results generalized to the GRE candidate population, how population groups performed, what effects partial-credit modeling might have for validity, and what problems were associated with operational administration. Validity results showed that earlier findings were generally supported: GE was found to be reliable but only marginally related to the General Test and to make significant (but small) independent contributions to the explanation of relevant criteria. With respect to population groups, GE produced smaller gender and ethnic group differences than did the General Test and showed the same relations to outside criteria across groups, suggesting it was measuring similar skills in each population. Attempts to model GE responses on a partial-credit IRT scale succeeded but produced no improvement in relations with external criteria over those obtained by summing raw item scores. Finally, interviews conducted with examinees to detect potential delivery problems suggested that the directions needed to be shortened.
An Autoradiographic Effect

WHILE using X-ray films in another investigation, autoradiographic effects were obtained from many ordinary substances or mixtures of them. Materials such as zinc metal powder alone or mixtures of metal powders in a medium such as dried ‘Glyptal’ varnish were used. Such mixtures were put in holes in wooden or plastic blocks and the films attached to the blocks with drawing-pins or tape. A cardboard separator was used around the edges of the blocks to keep the films out of contact with the materials, leaving an air-gap of about 1 mm. Exposures of 48 hr. were generally used.
Tangible menus and interaction trays: core tangibles for common physical/digital activities

We introduce core tangibles: physical interaction elements which serve common roles across a variety of tangible and embedded interfaces. We describe two such tangibles: tangible menus and interaction trays. These may be composed together to dynamically bind discrete and continuous interactors to various digital behaviors. We discuss our approach, implementation, and early usage experiences.
Symptoms and signs of neuro-otologic disorders.

Purpose of Review: Symptoms and signs of neuro-otologic disorders are critical components in the diagnostic assessment of patients with vestibular symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness, and oscillopsia. Most diagnoses can be accomplished at the bedside. An understanding of key diagnostic
The effect of ferrosilicon additions on the phase composition and properties of graphite-fireclay products

Adding 75%-ferrosilicon in amounts of 10–15 % to compositions of graphite-fireclay bodies contributes to the production of specimens whose properties are not inferior to articles made from bodies containing elemental silicon. In terms of phase composition, specimens with 75 %-ferrosilicon are close to articles with elemental silicon in them. During the firing of specimens containing 75 %-ferrosilicon, as with specimens containing elemental silicon, we get the formation ofΒ-silicon carbide which leads to the production of high-grade articles. Adding 45 %-ferrosilicon instead of elemental silicon or instead of 75 %-ferrosilicon to the graphite-fireclay bodies imparts the properties of the fired specimens. With respect to the phase compositions, the specimens containing 45 %-ferrosilicon are very different from specimens containing elemental silicon and 75 %-ferrosilicon. In specimens containing 45 %-ferrosilicon, there is no Β-SiC; the new phase is a new formation of ferroalloy.
Radio Astronomy Antennas by the Thousands

Large number of microwave antennas of size and surface accuracy appropriate for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) have not been manufactured previously. To minimize total cost, the design needs to be much more carefully considered and optimized than would be affordable for a small number of antennas. The required surface area requires new methods of manufacture and production-line type assembly to be considered. A blend of past antenna construction technology, creativity, and new technology is needed to provide the best possible telescope for the proposed SKA science goals. The following key concepts will be discussed with respect to reflector antennas and many supporting photographs, figures and drawings will be included.
A deoxyinosine specific endonuclease from hyperthermophile, Archaeoglobus fulgidus: a homolog of Escherichia coli endonuclease V.

Abstract Deoxyadenosine undergoes spontaneous deamination to deoxyinosine in DNA. Based on amino acids sequence homology, putative homologs of endonuclease V were identified in several organisms including archaebacteria, eubacteria as well as eukaryotes. The translated amino acid sequence of the Archaeoglobus fulgidus nfi gene shows 39% identity and 55% similarity to the E. coli nfi gene. A. fulgidus endonuclease V was cloned and expressed in E. coli as a C-terminal hexa–histidine fusion protein. The C-terminal fusion protein was purified to apparent homogeneity by a combination of Ni++ affinity and MonoS cation exchange liquid chromatography. The purified C-terminal fusion protein has a molecular weight of about 25 kDa and showed endonuclease activity towards DNA containing deoxyinosine. A. fulgidus endonuclease V has an absolute requirement for Mg2+ and an optimum reaction temperature at 85°C. However, in contrast to E. coli endonuclease V, which has a wide substrate spectrum, endonuclease V from A. fulgidus recognized only deoxyinosine. These data suggest that the deoxyinosine cleavage activity is a primordial activity of endonuclease V and that multiple enzymatic activities of E. coli endonuclease V were acquired later during evolution.
Photoinactivation of monuron, 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, by riboflavin 5-phosphate

FMN has been found to cause a photochemical inactivation of monuron, 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, and other substituted phenylureas. A high-molecular-weight compound, which was no longer antiphotosynthetic, was isolated from the monuron-FMN reaction mixtures. A close relationship was found between the ability of phenylurea compounds to react photochemically with FMN and their ability to inhibit photosynthesis. Molecular models of FMN and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-1-dimethylurea, diuron, show surprising similarity in structure. These findings suggest that the monuron inhibition of photosynthesis may result from an interaction of monuron with FMN or a flavoprotein in the photosynthesis pathway.
6.6: Presentation session: Neuroanatomy, neurogeneration, and modeling: “Combining electrical and optical techniques to develop a novel modality for neural activation”

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) provides an artifact-free, contact-free and spatially selective alternative to electrical methods of neural activation. However, INS is limited by an approximately 2:1 ratio of radiant exposures (J/cm2) inducing damage to those required for stimulation. Current laser power requirements for stimulation also provide challenges to implanting INS-based technology. While characteristics of INS are desirable in both the clinical and research arenas, these challenges must be overcome for INS to see widespread application. This study describes a novel nerve stimulation modality combining optical and electrical techniques of neural stimulation. Radiant exposures required for stimulation are reduced by as much as 3-fold when delivered concomitantly with a sub-threshold electrical stimulus, effectively increasing the aforementioned ratio from 2:1 to 6:1. Spatial selectivity attributed to INS is maintained with hybrid stimulation. These results will directly facilitate the applications and technology associated with INS.
Exploitation of folate and antifolate polyglutamylation to achieve selective anticancer chemotherapy

Synthesis of poly(gamma-glutamate) metabolites of natural folates and antifolates is a critical process. Folypolyglutamates are essential for cell proliferation. Polyglutamates of glutamate (Glu)-containing antifolates are often critical for their cytotoxic action and are relevant to antifolate resistance. However, the role of polyglutamate synthesis in selectivity is less clear. We have undertaken a research program to further define the significance of polyglutamate metabolism and to devise ways to exploit this metabolism to achieve greater therapeutic selectivity in cancer chemotherapy. This article briefly reviews several approaches tested thus far. Inhibition of folypolyglutamate synthesis should lead to cell death. Current ornithine (Orn)-containing folate-based inhibitors of the enzyme responsible for their synthesis, folypolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), are poorly transported, apparently because of interference by the protonated delta-amine. Replacement of Orn with 4, 4-difluoroOrn, the delta-amine of which has a much lower pKa and is thus less protonated at physiological pH, was explored. Since it is unclear how polyglutamylation contributes to selectivity, we explored generic means either to eliminate or to enhance polyglutamylation. The data indicate that substitution for Glu in an antifolate by some Glu analogs in which the gamma-COOH is either altered or replaced (e.g., gamma-tetrazole-Glu) leads to loss of both FPGS substrate activity and binding; antifolate target specificity is unchanged, while uptake is actually enhanced. Substitution of 3,3-difluoroGlu for Glu leads to enhanced polyglutamylation (although probably only to the diglutamate), retention of target specificity, and at least equal uptake. Comparative studies of the same antifolate containing different replacements for Glu, such as gamma-tetrazole-Glu (no polyglutamylation) or 3,3-difluoroGlu (enhanced polyglutamylation), will be useful in exploring the role and significance of polyglutamylation.
Tethered-TGF-β increases extracellular matrix production of vascular smooth muscle cells

Biomaterials developed for tissue engineering and wound healing applications need to support robust cell adhesion, yet also need to be replaced by new tissue synthesized by those cells. In order to maintain mechanical integrity of the tissue, the cells must generate sufficient extracellular matrix before the scaffold is degraded. We have previously shown that materials containing cell adhesive ligands to promote or improve cell adhesion can decrease extracellular matrix production (Mann et al., Modification of surfaces with cell adhesion peptides alters extracellular matrix deposition. Biomaterials 1999;20:2281-6). Such decreased matrix production by cells in tissue engineering scaffolds may result in tissue failure. However, we have found that TGF-beta1 can be used in scaffolds to dramatically increase matrix production. Matrix production by vascular smooth muscle cells grown on adhesive ligand-modified glass surfaces and in PEG hydrogels containing covalently bound adhesive ligands was increased in the presence of 0.04 pmol/ml (1 ng/ml) TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 can counteract the effect of these adhesive ligands on matrix production; matrix production could be increased even above that observed in the absence of adhesive peptides. Further, TGF-beta1 covalently immobilized to PEG retained its ability to increase matrix production. Tethering TGF-beta1 to the polymer scaffold resulted in a significant increase in matrix production over the same amount of soluble TGF-beta1.
Motion-based object segmentation using frame alignment and consensus filtering

Segmentation of moving objects in video sequences has many applications such as video surveillance, traffic monitoring, and object-based video coding. In this work, we propose a novel algorithm that separates locally moving objects (foreground) in a video from a globally moving background using both temporal and spatial contexts. The algorithm consists of four stages: frame alignment, pixel alignment, consensus filtering, and spatio-temporal refinement. The primary contributions of our work are the use of a neighborhood-based similarity metric for pixel alignment and a simple yet efficient spatio-temporal refinement method. Results are shown to be better than those of state-of-art median filtering-based segmentation algorithms.
Spectral Slope from the Endoscopically-Normal Mucosa Predicts Concurrent Colonic Neoplasia: A Pilot Ex-Vivo Clinical Study

Purpose We previously reported that analysis of histologically normal intestinal epithelium for spectral slope, a marker for aberrations in nanoscale tissue architecture, had outstanding accuracy in identifying field carcinogenesis in preclinical colorectal cancer models. In this study, we assessed the translatability of spectral slope analysis to human colorectal cancer screening.
High-speed path-length scanning with a multiple-pass cavity delay line

Techniques for high-speed delay scanning are important for low-coherence interferometry, optical coherence tomography, pump probe measurements, and other applications. We demonstrate a novel scanning delay line using a multiple-pass cavity. Differential delays are accumulated with each pass so that millimeter delays can be generated with tens of micrometer mirror displacements. With special design criteria, misalignment sensitivity can be dramatically reduced. The system is demonstrated to scan 6 m/s at 2-kHz repetition rates. Real-time optical coherence tomography imaging with 500 pixel images at four frames/s is performed. Using a Cr:forsterite laser source, we obtained axial image resolutions of 6 μm with 92-dB sensitivity.
Compact Differences of Composition Operators in Several Variables

When φ and ψ are linear–fractional self-maps of the unit ball BN in \({{\mathbb C}^N,N\geq 1}\), we show that the difference \({C_{\varphi}-C_{\psi}}\) cannot be non-trivially compact on either the Hardy space H2(BN) or any weighted Bergman space \({A^2_{\alpha}(B_N)}\). Our arguments emphasize geometrical properties of the inducing maps φ and ψ.
Pulmonary Artery Rupture From Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring

A72-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH SYSTOLIC HEART failure (left ventricular ejection fraction, 20%) and hypertension was admitted to the hospital with 2 weeks of dyspnea at rest and a 20-lb weight gain. He reported good compliance with his outpatient regimen of lisinopril, carvedilol, spironolactone, and furosemide. Findingsfromphysicalexaminationwerenotableforablood pressure of 95/40 mm Hg and heart rate of 105 beats/ min, elevated jugular venous pressure, diffuse crackles in the lung fields, an S3 gallop, and warm extremities. The patient was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unitandadministeredintravenousfurosemide,withanet diuresis of 2 L overnight. Thenexthospitalday,thepatient’screatininelevelhad increasedfrom0.8to1.4mg/dL,buthisdyspneahadimproved. He had persistent crackles bilaterally and an S3 galloponauscultation.Concernforworseningrenalfunction prompted right heart catheterization for continuoushemodynamicmonitoring.Apulmonaryarterycatheterwasplacedintheintensivecareunitusingultrasound guidancethroughtherightinternaljugularvein.Theprocedure was uncomplicated and confirmed elevated left and right heart filling pressures. Diuresis was continued; isosorbide and hydralazine therapies were added to decrease his systemic vascular resistance.
Critical Team-Level Success Factors of Offshore Outsourced Projects: A Knowledge Integration Perspective

Knowledge Integration is considered an important antecedent for the successful development of an ISD project. ISD projects include development of applications within or outside the boundaries of an organization, such as an outsourced project. The focus of this paper is on team-level factors that influence knowledge integration in offshore outsourced projects. Previous research studies in the field of outsourcing have looked at Transaction cost theory and Resource-based theory to identify the decision drivers of IT outsourcing. Even though a number of studies have focused on the decision to outsource and subsequent success of the same, little work has been done in the area of post-contract phase, where-in the real problem of making the outsourced project a successful one lies. Taking a Knowledge Integration perspective, this paper intends to highlight the team-level factors that form the antecedents of a successful offshore outsourced project.
Epigenetic targets in human neoplasms.

Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes is a salient feature of tumor cells. Re-expression of epigenetically silenced genes is a feasible and achievable strategy for cancer treatment. DNA methylation is the most characterized epigenetic silencing mechanism and the reversal of DNA methylation, genetically or pharmacologically, induces gene re-expression and proliferation arrest in tumor cells. Other epigenetic targets, such as histone acetylation and methylation, are also rational drug targets, and several small-molecule modulators of histone acetylation and methylation are currently under development or already in clinical trials. Epigenetic deregulation of miRNAs induces aberrant expression of miRNAs, which have been associated with the development and progression of cancer. The reversal of DNA methylation can induce the re-expression of miRNAs, and oligonucleotides can silence aberrantly expressed miRNAs. Evaluating the combination of different epigenetic modifiers and ensuring their optimization...
Pregnant Women's Ratings of Different Factors Influencing Psychological Stress during Pregnancy

Srmnary.-A group of predominantly white and low-income women answered questionnaires including (a) rating adjustment required by various life events, (b) listing events occurring during pregnancy or the preceding year, (c) personal and social resources for coping with life events, (d) the Manifest Anxiety Scale, and -(e) the Lie Scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results indicate that making life-event scales more sensitive as measures of stress will require specifying the emotional significance that life events have for a perzon, either by obtaining the person's own ratings, or by using mean life adjusunent ratings from appropriate samples. Mean adjustment ratings given 69 different life events are listed for the present sample. Women who were more candid (as judged by the Lie Scale scores) reported significantly more stressful life events and had higher Manifest Anxiety Scale scores, indicating the need to control for subject denial in stress research. However, the amount of stressful life change and the resources for coping with such change also made significant independent contributions to the variance in anxiety scale scores, suggesting the feasibility of measuring different factors influencing psychological stress in pregnant women.
Amplification of Shoreline Response To Sea-Level Change By Back-Tilted Subsidence

Abstract Shorelines move in response to the balance of geodynamic processes acting on sedimentary basins; thus the stratigraphic record of shoreline migration is an important tool for reconstructing climate, tectonic, and eustatic histories from ancient deposits. Here we test whether subsidence geometry influences shoreline migration in response to sea-level change by comparing two physical experiments conducted in the Experimental EarthScape (XES) basin. The experiments had similar sediment supply, subsidence rate, and sinusoidal sea-level cycles, but one experiment had a fore-tilted subsidence profile, where subsidence rates increased with distance from the sediment source (similar to a passive-margin setting) and the other had a back-tilted subsidence profile, where maximum subsidence was close to the sediment source with subsidence rates decreasing downstream. In the recent back-tilted experiment, decreasing subsidence rates downstream resulted in a tendency for shoreline regressions to self-amplify during base-level fall, whereas increasing subsidence rates upstream caused a rapid shoreline retreat during base-level rise, causing amplified shoreline fluctuations during sea-level cycles compared to the previous fore-tilted experiment. These results indicate that the spatial pattern of subsidence in a basin has a significant effect on shoreline migration in response to eustatic cycles. Shorelines in back-tilted basins are substantially more sensitive to changes in relative sea level than comparable coastlines in passive-margin settings, all else being equal.
Mechanistic Insights into Phenol Oxidation by a Copper(II) Complex of a Pyridine‐ and Amide‐Containing Copolymer in an Aqueous Medium

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Li-June Ming at the University of South Florida, USA. The cover image shows the pathways for phenol oxidation by copper(II) centers of a copolymer scaffold in an aqueous environment, representing a green method for chemical processes and environmental remediation.
Military Administrative Behavior and Democratization: Civilian Cabinet Appointments in Military Regimes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Military administrators in sub-Saharan Africa often appoint civilian political elites to cabinet positions for the following reasons: to advance effective governance, as a response to demands for transition to civilian rule, and as a political technique to civilianize the military regime. Empirical patterns of civilian cabinet appointments by the types of post-military political regimes show that the nature of civilian involvement in military administration is a valid predictor of the types of regime likely to follow military rule. Further findings confer some historical insights to the programmed and the national conference models of democratization in the region. In addition, military administrative analysis is a way to gain new insights into military transition in the region.
A simulation of cardiac action currents having curl

A digital simulation of a two-dimensional cardiac slice has been performed. It is stimulated at the center and an action potential propagates outward. An anisotropic bidomain model is used in which fast sodium physiology connects the intracellular and extracellular domains. For cases in which the inner asymmetry (expressed as longitudinal versus transverse electrical conductivity) is greater than the outer asymmetry, a current flow pattern is observed for which there is nonzero curl. Such a result explains recent observations of nonzero B/sub z/ magnetic field detected above a slab of tissue in the x-y plane. The current loop producing this field consists of outer domain current in the longitudinal direction flowing around in space and returning at the AP location in the transverse direction in the outer domain and then completing the loop in the longitudinal direction by passing distally through the AP in the inner domain where resistance is extremely low. >
Investing in Administrator Efficacy: An Examination of Professional Development as a Tool for Enhancing Principal Effectiveness.

A primary goal of school districts’ investments in professional development for principals is to enhance their effectiveness. This study examines the connection between administrator professional development and performance in a national sample of schools. We show that not all types of administrator professional development participation correlate positively with teachers’ ratings of principal performance. In particular, we find evidence that principals who invest in university course work as professional development are rated lower. In contrast, participation in formal mentoring programs is associated with higher ratings. Employing instrumental variables to account for selection on unobserved factors into different professional development types, we uncover further evidence of a negative impact of university course taking on principal performance.
Genome Sequence of Bacillus anthracis STI, a Sterne-Like Georgian/Soviet Vaccine Strain.

The Bacillus anthracis strain STI is a Soviet vaccine strain that lacks the pXO2 plasmid. Previous data indicate that this isolate forms a new branch within the B. anthracis sub-group originally identified as A. Br.008/009.
Interfacial gating triad is crucial for electromechanical transduction in voltage-activated potassium channels

Voltage-dependent potassium channels play a crucial role in electrical excitability and cellular signaling by regulating potassium ion flux across membranes. Movement of charged residues in the voltage-sensing domain leads to a series of conformational changes that culminate in channel opening in response to changes in membrane potential. However, the molecular machinery that relays these conformational changes from voltage sensor to the pore is not well understood. Here we use generalized interaction-energy analysis (GIA) to estimate the strength of site-specific interactions between amino acid residues putatively involved in the electromechanical coupling of the voltage sensor and pore in the outwardly rectifying KV channel. We identified candidate interactors at the interface between the S4–S5 linker and the pore domain using a structure-guided graph theoretical approach that revealed clusters of conserved and closely packed residues. One such cluster, located at the intracellular intersubunit interface, comprises three residues (arginine 394, glutamate 395, and tyrosine 485) that interact with each other. The calculated interaction energies were 3–5 kcal, which is especially notable given that the net free-energy change during activation of the Shaker KV channel is ∼14 kcal. We find that this triad is delicately maintained by balance of interactions that are responsible for structural integrity of the intersubunit interface while maintaining sufficient flexibility at a critical gating hinge for optimal transmission of force to the pore gate.
The characteristic form of the equations of one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow with oblique magnetic field

A derivation is presented for the characteristic form of the equations governing the one-dimensional unsteady flow of an ideal inviscid, conducting, compressible fluid in an oblique magnetic field.
When I'm gone: mourning the dearly departed ... slightly before departure.

We are all going to die one day. There are some practical steps we can take now to increase the likelihood that our loved ones with SMI will have food, shelter, clothing, and hopefully some form of emotional care after we are gone. We can also work on accepting the legitimacy of this task for ourselves, other relatives, professionals, and our child with SMI. Sprinkled with a dollop of mercy, we can muddle through.
A patient safety course for preclinical medical students.

Background We developed a course to introduce incoming third-year medical students to the subject of patient safety, to focus their attention on teamwork and communication, and to create an awareness of patient-safe practices that will positively impact their performance as clinicians. Methods The course, held prior to the start of clinical rotations, consisted of lectures, web-based didactic materials, small group activities and simulation exercises, with an emphasis on experiential learning. First, students inspected a 'room of horrors', which is a simulated clinical environment riddled with errors. Second, we used lenticular puzzles in small groups to elicit teamwork behaviours that parallel real-life interactions in health care. Each team was given 8 minutes to complete a 48-piece puzzle, with five pieces removed at random and given to other teams. The salient teaching point of this exercise is that for a team to complete the task, team members must communicate with members of their own team as well as with other teams. Last, simulation scenarios provided a clinical context to reinforce the skills introduced through the puzzle exercise and lectures. The students were split into groups of six or seven members and challenged with two scenarios. Both scenarios focused on a 56-year-old man in respiratory distress. The teams were debriefed on both clinical management and teamwork. Results The vast majority of the students (93%) agreed that the course improved their patient safety knowledge and skills. Discussion The positive response from students to the introductory course is an important step in fostering a culture of patient safety.