cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endocardial fibroelastosis. Clinico-pathological study of 38 cases

A clinico-pathological study was carried out based on 38 autopsies of patients with endocardial fibroelastosis ( EFE ): 82% of the cases were below the age of one year. The primary EFE was established in 21 (55%) of the cases, and in the last 17 (44%) it was associated with different congenital heart malformations (secondary EFE ). Different pathological conditions during pregnancy were present in 24% of the cases. Most often the left ventricle and atrium were involved, but in most of the cases the endocardium of the right cardiac chambers appeared by histological examination to be also affected. The varying morphological pictures of the heart suggest that EFE is a reaction of endocardium to different damaging factors.
A review of Cystoisospora felis and C. rivolta-induced coccidiosis in cats.

Abstract Until the discovery of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat feces in 1970, little was known of coccidiosis in cats. Until 1970, three coccidian parasites based on different sized oocysts were recognized, the parasite with large oocysts (∼40 μm long and called Isospora felis), medium sized oocysts (∼25 μm long, called Isospora rivolta), and small sized oocysts (14 μm or less, called Isospora bigemina) were known and they were considered not host-specific. Later, it was demonstrated that these parasites were host-specific and had also extra-intestinal stages. The Isospora bigemina turned out to be more than 25 organisms belonging to T. gondii, Hammondia spp., Sarcocystis spp., Besnoitia spp., and Neospora spp.; these subjects have been reviewed previously in detail. The present paper summarizes biology of Isospora felis, and I. rivolta (now transferred to genus Cystoisospora), including taxonomy, life cycle, diagnosis, and treatment. Re-excretion of T. gondii oocysts from chronically infected cats after superinfection with Cystoisospora felis oocysts is discussed. There are only two species of Cystoisospora species in cats, C. felis and C. rivolta; Isospora novocati and Cystoisospora frenkeli named for I. rivolta-like parasites of cats are considered synonym of C. rivolta. Clinical coccidiosis occurs more commonly in recently weaned kittens and C. felis infections are more prevalent than C. rivolta.
Metabolite biomarkers of chlorothalonil exposure in earthworms, coelomic fluid, and coelomocytes.

Earthworm (Eisenia fetida) metabolomics is a useful indicator of toxicant exposure. Extracts of whole earthworms are most commonly used to measure metabolic perturbations, in addition to coelomic fluid which has been used on a more limited basis. Coelomocytes are free moving cells found within earthworm coelomic fluid, and the potential of this compartment has not been evaluated for its utility in earthworm metabolomics. In this study, earthworms were exposed to 18.5 and 37.0 mg/kg chlorothalonil, a commonly used fungicide that targets glutathione. The metabolic impacts of a 14-day chlorothalonil exposure were assessed using 1H NMR and targeted LC-MS measurements of earthworm, coelomic fluid, and coelomocyte extracts. Coelomic fluid was identified as the most sensitive matrix for measuring the effects of chlorothalonil exposure, where an increase in glutamine levels was the only biomarker observed at both doses. At the high dose, multiblocked-orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (MB-OPLS-DA) supported increased N-acetylserine and ophthalmic acid levels as additional biomarkers of exposure in coelomic fluid. These perturbations may indicate increased oxidative stress, although no changes in glutathione were observed in any matrix.
The combined effects of an extreme heatwave and wildfire on tallgrass prairie vegetation

QUESTIONS: Climate extremes are predicted to become more common in many ecosystems. Climate extremes can promote and interact with disturbances, but the combined effects of climate extremes and disturbances have not been quantified in many ecosystems. In this study, we ask whether the dual impact of a climate extreme and concomitant disturbance (wildfire) has a greater affect than a climate extreme alone. LOCATION: Tallgrass prairie in the Konza Prairie Biological Station, northeastern Kansas, USA. METHODS: We quantified the response of a tallgrass prairie plant community to a 2‐year climate extreme of low growing‐season precipitation and high temperatures. In the first year of the climate extreme, a subset of plots was burned by a growing‐season wildfire. This natural experiment allowed us to compare community responses to a climate extreme with and without wildfire. RESULTS: In plots exposed to the climate extreme but not wildfire, community structure, diversity, and composition showed minor to insignificant changes, such as a 20% reduction in grass cover and a slight increase in species diversity. Plots exposed to both the climate extreme and wildfire underwent larger changes, including an 80% reduction in grass cover, 50% increase in forb cover, and increased plant diversity. Two years after the climate extreme, structural shifts in burned plots showed little sign of recovery, indicating a potentially lasting shift in plant community structure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that community responses to climate extremes need to account for climate‐related disturbances — in this case, high temperatures, drought and wildfire. This response diverged from our expectation that heat, drought, and an additional fire would favor grasses. Although growing‐season wildfires in tallgrass prairie have been rare in recent decades, they will likely become more common with climate change, potentially leading to changes in grassland structure.
Using Small-Angle Scattering Data and Parametric Machine Learning to Optimize Force Field Parameters for Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) play important roles in many aspects of normal cell physiology, such as signal transduction and transcription, as well as pathological states, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. Unlike their globular counterparts that are defined by a few structures and free energy minima, IDP/IDR comprise a large ensemble of rapidly interconverting structures and a corresponding free energy landscape characterized by multiple minima. This aspect has precluded the use of structural biological techniques, such as X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for resolving their structures. Instead, low-resolution techniques, such as small-angle X-ray or neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS), have become a mainstay in characterizing coarse features of the ensemble of structures. These are typically complemented with NMR data if possible or computational techniques, such as atomistic molecular dynamics, to further resolve the underlying ensemble of structures. However, over the past 10-15 years, it has become evident that the classical, pairwise-additive force fields that have enjoyed a high degree of success for globular proteins have been somewhat limited in modeling IDP/IDR structures that agree with experiment. There has thus been a significant effort to rehabilitate these models to obtain better agreement with experiment, typically done by optimizing parameters in a piecewise fashion. In this work, we take a different approach by optimizing a set of force field parameters simultaneously, using machine learning to adapt force field parameters to experimental SAXS scattering profiles. We demonstrate our approach in modeling three biologically IDP ensembles based on experimental SAXS profiles and show that our optimization approach significantly improve force field parameters that generate ensembles in better agreement with experiment.
Therapeutic destabilization of ErbB2 transcripts mediated by U-rich mRNA binding proteins and microRNAs.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 5616 A screen for small molecule inhibitors of ErbB2 transcription identified two drug classes, histone deacetylase (HDAC) and proteasome inhibitors that, relative to Actinomycin D, accelerate decay of mature ErbB2 transcripts. Elements regulating ErbB2 transcript stability have been mapped to a conserved U-rich region within its endogenous 3' UTR, thought to bind to either the stabilizing protein, HuR, or the destabilizing protein AUF1. Additionally, this U-rich region contains several putative microRNA (miRNA) binding elements which may modulate mature transcript stability by recruitment of cognate miRNAs. To assess ErbB2 mRNA stabilizing mechanisms dependent on miRNAs, AUF1 or HuR proteins that may be sensitive to HDAC and/or proteasome inhibition, SKBr3 cells were pretreated (72 h) with siRNAs targeting Dicer (required for mature miRNA processing), HuR or AUF1 prior to culture treatment (5 h) with either HDAC (LAQ824) or proteasome (PS341) inhibitors. ErbB2 mRNA levels of untreated SKBr3 were increased by Dicer siRNA, which also partially prevented the ErbB2 mRNA decline induced by HDAC inhibition. In contrast, AUF1 siRNA pretreatment partially prevented the ErbB2 mRNA decline induced by proteasome inhibition. Consistent with Dicer siRNA results indicating that miRNAs negatively regulate ErbB2 transcript levels, a novel microarray platform for profiling ∼200 miRNAs demonstrated that HDAC inhibition of SKBr3 cells results in upregulation of three miRNAs that putatively bind to the 3’ UTR of ErbB2: miR125a, miR125b, and miR320. Altogether, these findings point to the potential therapeutic importance of mRNA stability as regulated by miRNAs and U-rich mRNA binding proteins, and suggest that HDAC and proteasome inhibitors accelerate ErbB2 transcript decay by fundamentally different mechanisms.
Kernel principle component analysis applied to Raman spectra to differentiate drugs administered to rabbit cornea in blind study

Scanning confocal Raman spectroscopy was applied for detecting and identifying topically applied ocular pharmaceuticals on rabbit corneal tissue. Raman spectra for Cyclosporin A, Difluprednate, and Dorzolamide were acquired together with Raman spectra from rabbit corneas with an unknown amount of applied drug. Kernel principle component analysis (KPCA) was then used to explore a transform that can describe the acquired set of Raman spectra. Using this transform, we observe some spectral similarity between cornea spectra and Cyclosporin A, with little similarity to Dorzolamide and Difluprednate. Further investigation is needed to identify why these differences occur.
Lamotrigine Toxicosis Treated with Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Therapy in a Dog

A female spayed dachshund/mixed-breed dog was evaluated following ingestion of lamotrigine tablets with subsequent rapid onset of vomiting, diarrhea, and generalized tremoring. On initial examination, the dog was moderately obtunded and nonambulatory with intermittent myoclonus and hyperesthesia. Electrocardiogram revealed sinus tachycardia with prolongation of the QT interval. Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) infusion was initiated, with reduction in tremoring and improved patient mentation being noted after ∼20 min of therapy. An elevated cardiac troponin I value measured at 1.02 ng/mL the day after presentation. Serum toxicological assay revealed marked reduction in serum lamotrigine levels following ILE and continued reduction during hospitalization. The dog's clinical signs resolved, corrected QT interval returned to normal, and the patient was discharged 38 hr after presentation. Individual cases of lamotrigine toxicosis have not been fully reported in veterinary literature. This case report documents the rapid onset of clinical signs including neurologic dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmias, and transient corrected QT prolongation. Serial serum concentrations of lamotrigine showed a rapid reduction with ILE therapy and corresponded with clinical recovery, suggesting efficacy of ILE treatment in this case.
Women, Jews, and Other Others: The Influence of Hegel on Beauvoir and Levinas

This chapter examines how Emmanuel Levinas and Simone de Beauvoir try to respond to a Hegelian structure of identity and recognition. Both Levinas and Beauvoir were reading Hegel in the early 1940s and their work during that decade was deeply influenced by that engagement. In both cases, the two philosophers attempt to reconcile Hegel’s structure of the other as a threat with a view that we also have a responsibility for that other. Although scholars argue that neither philosopher completely overcomes Hegel, and some argue that their projects fail in this regard, I would submit that their engagement with and respective responses to Hegel illuminate the complexity of intersubjective relations. In Beauvoir’s case, The Second Sex demonstrates the near impossibility for women to achieve a relationship of mutual recognition with men. In Levinas’s case, Jewish identity requires him to go outside this structure of self-other even as his radical ethics, which is wholly defined by our responsibility for the Other, underscores the fragility of ethical life, which is always situated on a precipice, staring at the possibility of war.
Rapid vertical flow immunoassay on AuNP plasmonic paper for SERS-based point of need diagnostics.

SERS based immunoassays for point-of-care diagnostics are a promising tool to facilitate biomarker detection for early disease diagnosis and disease control. The technique is based on a sandwiched system in which antigen is first captured by a selective plasmonic paper substrate and then labeled by an extrinsic Raman label (ERL), consisting of a 60 nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) functionalized with a mixed monolayer of detection antibody and 4-nitrobenezenethiol (NBT) as a Raman reporter molecule. Here, we report on the use of AuNP modified filter paper as a novel capture membrane in a vertical flow format. This vertical flow configuration affords reproducible flow of sample and label through the capture substrate to overcome diffusion limited kinetics and significantly reduced assay time. The filter paper was selected due to its affordability and availability, while the embedded AuNPs maximized plasmonic coupling with the ERLs and SERS enhancement. Additionally, the embedded AuNP served as a scaffold to immobilize capture antibody to specifically bind antigen. In this work, a SERS-based rapid vertical flow (SERS-RVF) immunoassay for detection of mouse IgG was developed to establish proof-of-principle. Optimization of assay conditions led to a limit of detection of 3 ng/mL, which is comparable to more traditional formats carried out in multi-well plates, and significantly reduced assay time to less than 2 min. Additionally, IgG was accurately quantified in normal mouse serum to validate the SERS-RVF assay for application to the analysis of biological samples. These results highlight the potential advantages of the SERS-RVF platform for point-of-need testing.
On Transformations in the Painlevé Family

Abstract In this paper we show that generic Painleve equations from different families are orthogonal. Namely, if K is any differential field extension of C ( t ) and y , z ∉ K a l g are solutions of two distinct generic Painleve equations from different families, then y, y ′ , z, z ′ are algebraically independent over K. In particular, this means that there are no general Backlund transformations between Painleve equations from the different families P I – P VI .
Using constructed impulse responses to study the influence of sound speed profiles on outdoor acoustic propagation

Time-domain predictions can be accomplished by either explicitly calculating within the time domain, such as with the Finite-Difference, Time-Domain method, or by processing frequency-domain calculations into impulse responses. While the FDTD method has been used extensively in outdoor sound propagation studies, the requirement for extensive computational resources greatly limits the computational domain. The impulse response method, while well-utilized in underwater sound propagation has seen limited use in outdoor sound studies. For a given environmental scenario, the impulse response may be obtained from the inverse Fourier transform of transmission loss simulations in the frequency-domain. When it is convolved with the time variation of the source, the receiver signal may be readily predicted. One may re-use the impulse response for any new source, so long as the sampling criteria are met, and the source and receiver positions and environment match those of the modeled situation. A discussion of the implications of frequency resolution and example comparisons to measurements are presented. [This work was funded by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) [ASA(ALT)] with portions funded under 0602784/T40/24 and 0602146/AR9/01. Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.]
Foundations of empirical memory consistency testing

Modern memory consistency models are complex, and it is difficult to reason about the relaxed behaviors that current systems allow. Programming languages, such as C and OpenCL, offer a memory model interface that developers can use to safely write concurrent applications. This abstraction provides functional portability across any platform that implements the interface, regardless of differences in the underlying systems. This powerful abstraction hinges on the ability of the system to correctly implement the interface. Many techniques for memory consistency model validation use empirical testing, which has been effective at uncovering undocumented behaviors and even finding bugs in trusted compilation schemes. Memory model testing consists of small concurrent unit tests called “litmus tests”. In these tests, certain observations, including potential bugs, are exceedingly rare, as they may only be triggered by precise interleaving of system steps in a complex processor, which is probabilistic in nature. Thus, each test must be run many times in order to provide a high level of confidence in its coverage. In this work, we rigorously investigate empirical memory model testing. In particular, we propose methodologies for navigating complex stressing routines and analyzing large numbers of testing observations. Using these insights, we can more efficiently tune stressing parameters, which can lead to higher confidence results at a faster rate. We emphasize the need for such approaches by performing a meta-study of prior work, which reveals results with low reproducibility and inefficient use of testing time. Our investigation is presented alongside empirical data. We believe that OpenCL targeting GPUs is a pragmatic choice in this domain as there exists a variety of different platforms to test, from large HPC servers to power-efficient edge devices. The tests presented in the work span 3 GPUs from 3 different vendors. We show that our methodologies are applicable across the GPUs, despite significant variances in the results. Concretely, our results show: lossless speedups of more than 5× in tuning using data peeking; a definition of portable stressing parameters which loses only 12% efficiency when generalized across our domain; a priority order of litmus tests for tuning. We stress test a conformance test suite for the OpenCL 2.0 memory model and discover a bug in Intel’s compiler. Our methods are evaluated on the other two GPUs using mutation testing. We end with recommendations for official memory model conformance tests.
Is pulmonary vascular resistance index better than pulmonary vascular resistance in predicting outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND In contrast to pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), PVR index (PVRI) accounts for variations in body habitus. We tested the association of PVRI compared to PVR with clinical outcomes in lean and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS This retrospective study included adult patients with PAH who underwent right heart catheterization at Cleveland Clinic between February 1992 and November 2019. RESULTS We included 644 patients (mean age, 53 ± 16 years, and 74 % females). PAH was idiopathic or heritable in 44% of patients. Cardiac output increased (p <0.0001), while PVR decreased (p <0.0001) with increasing body weight. Both PVR and PVRI were associated with markers of disease severity, with more pronounced association for PVRI. Both PVR and PVRI were risk factors for first PAH hospitalization, mortality and mortality or lung transplant in the whole cohort and the group of patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2. However, PVRI (HR (95% CI): 1.06 (1.02 -1.11)), but not PVR (HR (95% CI): 1.03 (0.99-1.07)), was a risk factor for first PAH hospitalization in obese patients. In the obese group, neither PVR nor PVRI were risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS PVRI appears to have a stronger association than PVR with disease severity markers in PAH; however, both PVR and PVRI were similarly associated with hospitalizations and survival in the overall cohort. We found no strong evidence to recommend a change from PVR to PVRI in the definition of PAH.
Adult Spinal Deformity

Adult spinal deformity may occur as a result of worsening adolescent spinal conditions, in the setting of advanced spondylosis and as a consequence of compression fractures. Clinically symptomatic spinal deformity, where pain or neurological symptoms affect daily activities and function, warrants treatment. In some cases, more extensive deformities may impact respiratory function as well as eating. Depending on the degree of curvature, initial treatment can consist of physical therapy, muscle relaxers and nonsteroidal medications, as well as injections. If non-operative treatment is not successful, surgery may be considered in select circumstances. Surgery may represent more of a first-line treatment in the event that respiratory or gastric function is compromised, or when progressive neurologic deficits occur in conjunction with spinal deformities. In adult patients with fixed deformities, surgery often includes a spinal osteotomy with instrumented fusion.
Making A Durable and Balanced Articulating Spacer for The Knee

Articulating spacers appear to provide advantages including better range of motion, improved function, better patient satisfaction, reduced length of hospital stay, as well as facilitating reimplantation to the patients undergoing staged revision total knee arthroplasty for periprosthetic joint infections. Also articulating spacers have an important role in the staged treatment of native active septic arthritis or periarticular chronic osteomyelitis. These types of spacers also allow tailored high-dose antibiotics and should be used whenever possible, understanding there are circumstances when an articulating spacer is not likely to function well, including patients with ligament instability, deficient extensor mechanism and massive bone loss around the knee. A more durable and balanced articulating spacer offer clear advantages by allowing unrestricted weight-bearing, improved function, and durability for cases were reimplantation need to be delayed. We describe a cost-effective, reliable and reproducible technique to obtain a durable and balanced articulating knee spacer using cement augmentation.
The Expression and Function of Wilms' Tumor 1 in Malignant Glioma

THE EXPRESSION AND FUNCTION OF WILMS' TUMOR 1 IN MALIGNANT GLIOMA By Aaron J. Clark, B.S. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 Major Director: William C. Broaddus, M.D., Ph.D Hord Professor Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology The Wilms' tumor 1 gene is overexpressed in many types of cancer and is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to anti-cancer therapies. In vitro studies in non-glioma cells types have demonstrated that WTl plays a role in increased proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, and increased cellular invasion. We aimed to thoroughly characterize the expression pattern of Wilms' tumor 1 in human malignant glioma and discern its function in this complex disease process. We screened a large sample of established human malignant glioma cell lines and glioma tissue specimens of all grades ... V l l l ix for WT1 expression. The majority of cell lines and 80% of all glioma tissue expressed WTI mRNA, all of which expressed WTl(+KTS) isoforms. Further screening of the glioblastoma specimens for p53 mutation followed by logistic regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between WTl expression and wild-type p53 ( p = 0.04). To determine if WTl and p53 functionally interacted, we generated LN-229 glioblastoma cells that stably expressed WTl. As LN-229 cells harbor a p53 mutation, transient transfection with wild-type p53 induced apoptosis. However, stable WTI expression did not protect cells from p53-mediated cell death. We then generated U87MG cells (p53 wild-type) that stably expressed WT1 to model an endogenous p53 response. It is well known that after treatment with ionizing radiation, U87MG cells readily undergo p53mediated apoptosis. Again, WTI expression did not protect against ionizing radiationinduced p53-mediated cell death. We next examined the effect of transient WTI silencing on ionizing radiation induced cell death in T98G and LN-18 cells which express endogenous WTl. Combination treatment with ionizing radiation and silencing of WTI using short interfering RNA caused a decrease in viability and clonogenic survival relative to radiation alone in both cell lines. Lastly, we studied the effect of stable WTl silencing using short hairpin RNA on glioblastoma cell tumorigenicity. Stable transduction of U25 1MG and LN-18 cells with WTI short hairpin RNA resulted in a marked decrease in proliferation. WTI silencing in U251MG cells also caused a decrease in in vitro invasion. WTl silencing in U25 1 MG cells caused an increase in tumor latency and a decrease in tumor growth rate when cells were used to subcutaneously inoculate nude mice. Not only do these studies support an oncogenic role for WTI in glioma biology, they provide X encouraging evidence that WTl may be a therapeutic target for molecular treatment of glioblastoma.
The Education, Training, and Development of Dance Educators in Higher Education

(1980). The Education, Training, and Development of Dance Educators in Higher Education. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 51, Including Leisure Today, pp. 59-62.
Cyclic 3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase: A continuous titrimetric assay

Abstract A direct and continuous assay for cyclic 3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase has been developed. This method is based on the fact that the phosphate group of adenosine 3′,5′-phosphate has one titratable species whereas that of 5′-adenosine monophosphate has two. Hydrolysis of cyclic AMP to 5′-AMP by phosphodiesterase is accompanied by a stoichiometric generation of protons. The rate of addition of an alkaline solution to the reaction mixture to maintain a constant pH with a pH stat is thus stoichiometrically related to the rate of cyclic AMP hydrolysis. A reaction producing 10 mμmoles of H + or more per minute in 1.5 ml of reaction mixture is accurately measured by this technique. Duplicates are usually within 5% of each other. Results obtained by the titrimetric method correlate well with those obtained by conventional methods. This technique has been successfully used to assay phosphodiesterase of bovine brain in the purified as well as the crude stage.
Biomimetic and synthetic interfaces to tune immune responses (Review)

Organisms depend upon complex intercellular communication to initiate, maintain, or suppress immune responses during infection or disease. Communication occurs not only between different types of immune cells, but also between immune cells and nonimmune cells or pathogenic entities. It can occur directly at the cell–cell contact interface, or indirectly through secreted signals that bind cell surface molecules. Though secreted signals can be soluble, they can also be particulate in nature and direct communication at the cell–particle interface. Secreted extracellular vesicles are an example of native particulate communication, while viruses are examples of foreign particulates. Inspired by communication at natural immunological interfaces, biomimetic materials and designer molecules have been developed to mimic and direct the type of immune response. This review describes the ways in which native, biomimetic, and designer materials can mediate immune responses. Examples include extracellular vesicles, particles that mimic immune cells or pathogens, and hybrid designer molecules with multiple signaling functions, engineered to target and bind immune cell surface molecules. Interactions between these materials and immune cells are leading to increased understanding of natural immune communication and function, as well as development of immune therapeutics for the treatment of infection, cancer, and autoimmune disease.
Auger suppression in type-II mid-IR laser diodes

Auger recombination is the limiting process for carrier lifetimes at 300 K lasing densities in interband mid-infrared (mid-IR) active regions. The dominant Auger process is intrinsic, and thus is present even in the cleanest materials. It is possible, however, to reduce the Auger recombination rate of artificial mid-IR semiconductors through a careful design of the electronic structure of the material. We present here a design for a 3.4 /spl mu/m emitting active region, in which the calculated Auger recombination rate is smaller than the typical Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) rate at room temperature. The structure is based on the InAs/GaInSb type-II material system, which has been explored for the past few years as an active region in the mid-IR.
Matrix isolation study of the complexes of small-ring heterocycles: Part 2. Complexes of SiF4 and GeF4 with ethylene oxide and related species

Abstract The matrix isolation technique has been coupled with twin-jet deposition for the formation and isolation of intermediate 1:1 complexes of (CH 2 ) 2 O, (CH 2 ) 3 O, (CH 2 ) 4 O and (CH) 4 O with the Lewis acids SiF 4 and GeF 4 . While these complexes formed readily under matrix isolation conditions, no evidence for the formation of 1:2 complexes was noted. Each product species was characterized by infrared absorptions corresponding to the perturbed acid subunit, either SiF or GeF stretching modes shifted to lower energies of the parent vibrations. In addition, several of the ring deformation modes of the complexed heterocycle were detectably perturbed upon coordination to the Lewis acid. The degree of perturbation of furan in its complex with GeF 4 appeared substantially larger than those of the saturated heterocycles (CH 2 ) n O, even though the furan complex appeared less strongly bound. The spectral features correlated well with those obtained previously for complexes of SiF 4 and GeF 4 with amines, alcohols and ethers.
Design and optimization of SCR devices for on-chip ESD protection in advanced SOI CMOS technologies

We present design and optimization results of ESD SCR devices in advanced SOI CMOS technologies. Anode to cathode spacing, body resistance and Diode string or RC trigger circuits affect SCR turn-on characteristics. 100ns TLP failure current up to 10.1mA/um and record transient turn-on time down to ∼75ps with a leakage current of ∼10nA are demonstrated.
Fish oil reduces postprandial triglyceride concentrations without accelerating lipid-emulsion removal rates

Chronic intake of fish oil (FO) reduces postprandial lipemia. Our aim was to determine whether increased clearance of chylomicrons was the mechanism. Eight normal volunteers were randomly assigned to take 64 mg n-3 fatty acids/kg body wt or an olive oil placebo daily for 4 wk in a double-blind, crossover design. At the end of each phase, an intravenous fat-tolerance test and a four-meal, 24-h oral fat-load test were administered. The latter was designed to mimic normal eating patterns (fat provided 42% of energy). FO lowered chylomicron triglyceride and retinyl palmitate concentrations by 40% (P < 0.01) and very-low-density lipoprotein retinyl palmitate concentrations by 27% (P < 0.01). However, clearance rates of the fat emulsion were not significantly different between treatments. The results suggest that the hypochylomicronemic effect of chronic FO supplementation is not due to increased chylomicron clearance, leaving reduced chylomicron production or secretion as a more likely cause of the reduced postprandial lipemia.
Adolescent development of context-dependent stimulus-reward association memory and its neural correlates

Expression of learned stimulus-reward associations based on context is essential for regulation of behavior to meet situational demands. Contextual regulation improves during development, although the developmental progression of relevant neural and cognitive processes is not fully specified. We therefore measured neural correlates of flexible, contextual expression of stimulus-reward associations in pre/early-adolescent children (ages 9-13 years) and young adults (ages 19-22 years). After reinforcement learning using standard parameters, a contextual reversal manipulation was used whereby contextual cues indicated that stimulus-reward associations were the same as previously reinforced for some trials (consistent trials) or were reversed on other trials (inconsistent trials). Subjects were thus required to respond according to original stimulus-reward associations vs. reversed associations based on trial-specific contextual cues. Children and young adults did not differ in reinforcement learning or in relevant functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) correlates. In contrast, adults outperformed children during contextual reversal, with better performance specifically for inconsistent trials. fMRI signals corresponding to this selective advantage included greater activity in lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), hippocampus, and dorsal striatum for young adults relative to children. Flexible expression of stimulus-reward associations based on context thus improves via adolescent development, as does recruitment of brain regions involved in reward learning and contextual expression of memory. HighlightsEarly-adolescent children and young adults were equivalent in reinforcement learning.Adults outperformed children in contextual expression of stimulus-reward associations.Adult advantages correlated with increased activity of relevant brain regions.Specific neurocognitive developmental changes support better contextual regulation.
Model performance in spatiotemporal patterns of precipitation: New methods for identifying value added by a regional climate model

Regional climate models (RCMs) are a standard tool for downscaling climate forecasts to finer spatial scales. The evaluation of RCMs against observational data is an important step in building confidence in the use of RCMs for future projection. In addition to model performance in climatological means and marginal distributions, a model's ability to capture spatiotemporal relationships is important. This study develops two approaches: (1) spatial correlation/variogram for a range of spatial lags, with total monthly precipitation and nonseasonal precipitation components used to assess the spatial variations of precipitation, and (2) spatiotemporal correlation for a wide range of distances, directions, and time lags, with daily precipitation occurrence used to detect the dynamic features of precipitation. These measures of spatial and spatiotemporal dependence are applied to a high-resolution RCM run and to the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)-U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project II reanalysis data (NCEP-R2), which provide initial and lateral boundary conditions for the RCM. The RCM performs significantly better than NCEP-R2 in capturing both the spatial variations of total and nonseasonal precipitation components and the spatiotemporal correlations of daily precipitation occurrences, which are related to dynamic behavior of precipitating systems. The improvements are apparent not only at resolutions finer than that of NCEP-R2 but also when the RCM and observational data are aggregated to the resolution of NCEP-R2.
Ethno‐Territoriality and Ethnic Conflict

Ethno‐territoriality is an increasingly invoked term by those doing research on nationalism and ethnic conflict. Despite this, it has not been subject to detailed definitional and conceptual examin...
Learning to Teach: developing expertise or rite of passage?

Abstract Presumably teacher education programs should be guided by theories of learning to teach. This paper reports the results of analyzing documents and interviews about one program (probably fairly typical) from the perspective of two theories of learning. We find some evidence consistent with each theory, more that is inconsistent. Overall, the program does not correspond closely to either theory. It produces confused messages and disappointing results for prospective teachers. Implications for the design of teacher education are discussed. A comment by the program director is appended that explores further the dilemmas discussed in the main paper.
How Dry is Dry? A Review of Definitions of Continence in the Contemporary Exstrophy/Epispadias Literature

Purpose: Definitions of continence following surgery in children with exstrophy-epispadias complex vary widely. We assessed the most common definitions of continence and evaluated the clinical significance of usage patterns for those definitions.Materials and Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (2000 to 2011) for English language reports describing postoperative continence outcomes in children with exstrophy-epispadias complex. Articles were evaluated and data were abstracted by 2 reviewers. We assessed patient level factors such as age, preoperative diagnoses and use of additional therapies, as well as study level factors such as continence definition(s), country of origin and method of data collection.Results: We identified 884 articles, of which 87 met inclusion criteria. In total these studies included continence outcomes data on 2,681 patients (57% male). Only 59 studies (68%) clearly defined the term “continence.” The most common definition of continence was dry with voiding/catheterization ever...
Factors related to low contrast resolution in CT scanners

The concept of "low contrast resolution" in CT scanners is examined. Several questions are raised, not only about limitations to interpretation of figures of merit of low contrast resolution, such as contrast-detail diagrams; but also, interpretation of related CT physical performance parameters, such as: noise, dose, spatial resolution and slice width (or sensitivity profile). Caveats are raised concerning interpretation of contrast-detail studies and the degree to which first-order observer studies are reflective of the actual clinical situation. Particular care is suggested in interpretating contrast-detail diagrams in which sensitivity, specificity and the number of target signals may be varying.
The study of groundwater system in shendong coal mining area

The research of groundwater system has a great significance on analysis of groundwater's formation condition, revealing the evolution of groundwater, evaluation and planning of groundwater. The essay taking shendong coal mining area for example; dividing aquifer of research region into 2 subsystem and 6 water-content rock formation; dividing system of groundwater flow in research region into 3 types; analysis boundary of groundwater system in research region from vertical and lateral. Combining with characteristics of groundwater system in research region, research region is consider to be a complete and relatively independent system of groundwater, furthermore, it was divided into 14 subsystem.
Electron propagator calculations on the electron affinity of C5

Abstract The vertical electron detachment energy of C − 5 and the adiabatic electron affinity of C 5 are calculated with ab initio electron propagator methods. The former energy difference is 2.86 eV and the latter is 2.82 eV. These values are in close agreement with recent experimental determinations. Structural changes associated with the addition of an electron to C 5 are explained in terms of electron repulsions. New techniques for the calculation and interpretation of vertical and adiabatic electron binding energies are employed.
Malignancy metastatic to the pleura

Malignancy is one of the most common causes of exudative effusions and increases in incidence in the elderly. Lung cancer is the most common cause of malignant effusion caused by contiguous spread and its propensity to invade the pulmonary vasculature and embolize to the visceral pleura. Lung, breast, ovary, and gastric cancer and lymphomas account for about 80% of all malignant effusions. Dyspnea and cough are the most common symptoms at presentation. Thirty percent of patients have a low pleural fluid pH (> or = 7.30) and glucose (> 60 mg/dL) at presentation, which predicts a decreased survival, an increase yield on diagnostic studies, and a poor response to chemical pleurodesis. Talc by poudrage or slurry is the most successful pleurodesis agent. Pleural peritoneal shunt is an option for patients with an intractable, symptomatic malignant effusion who cannot undergo or who have failed pleurodesis.
A stack-based prospective spatio-temporal data analysis approach

Spatio-temporal data analysis has recently gained considerable attention from both the research and practitioner communities because of the increasing availability of datasets with prominent spatial and temporal data elements. In this paper, we develop a new spatio-temporal data analysis approach aimed at discovering abnormal spatio-temporal clustering patterns. We also propose a quantitative evaluation framework and compare our approach against a widely used space-time scan statistic-based method under this framework. Our approach is based on a robust clustering engine using support vector machines and incorporates ideas from existing online surveillance methods to track incremental changes over time. Initial experimental results using both simulated and real-world datasets indicate that our approach is able to detect abnormal areas with irregular shapes more accurately than the space-time scan statistic-based method.
Effects of Electrical Stimulation on the Post-Mortem Biochemical Changes and Texture of Broiler Pectoralis Muscle

Abstract A study was conducted to determine the influence of electrical stimulation (50, 200, or 350 V ac) on biochemical and textural changes in broiler breast muscle. Sixty-four broilers were stunned (50 V ac) prior to kill, and all but a control group were pulse stimulated during bleeding. After processing, carcasses were held in 10-C water for 1 h, then in 2-C ice/water slush for 1 h prior to muscle removal at 2 h post-mortem (PM). Bagged samples were held at 2 C for 24 h, then cooked. The pH, R value (ratio of adenine nucleotides to inosine nucleotides), cook yield, fluids and solids lost (F&S), and objective texture were measured. In addition, 16 broilers processed in the same manner were used in producing a profile of sarcoplasmic protein/enzyme changes in the breast muscle by cation exchange fast protein-liquid chromatography at 10 min, 2, and 24 h PM. The R values and soluble protein were also determined. Stimulation at 200 and 350 V accelerated the onset of rigor noted by lower pH values at 10 min and 1 h PM, and higher R values at 2 h PM. Muscle stimulated at 350 V exhibited the lowest cook yield and highest percentage of F&S lost, suggesting both the loss of functional properties and muscle integrity due to this treatment. All control and stimulated samples exhibited shear values in excess of what would be considered tender. Hardness and chewiness values increased as stimulation voltage levels increased. Only one of the seven principal chromatographic peaks decreased in response to increased electrical stimulation. Additional separation of the peak suggested that the component was a one active sulfhydryl site monomer of a four subunit lactate dehydrogenase enzyme.
The Anasazi Abandonment of the San Juan Drainage and the Numic Expansion

The nature of the Numic expansion into the southwestern United States, the fortified nature of Pueblo III Anasazi sites, and the close temporal correspondence between the expansion of Numic speakers and the Anasazi abandonment of the San Juan River drainage by 1300 AD lead to the interpretation that population relocations in late prehistoric times were precipitated by Southern Paiute and Ute activities.
Learning How to Make Inquiry into Electricity and Magnetism Discernible to Middle Level Teachers

As university professors we sought to disrupt the practice of giving our students the actions we felt they should imitate in their teaching practice. Instead, we sought to actively engage teachers in the creation of workable solutions to real-life problems. We accomplished this by conducting a participatory action research project. This paper illustrates our action research project focused on preparing middle level science teachers to foster inquiry-based learning in their classrooms. The findings of this study not only lead to a revised professional development opportunity for science teachers, but also provided an example of university faculty engaging in pragmatic research focused on addressing contemporary issues in K-12 science education.
Maternal cell microchimerism in newborn tissues

Abstract Objectives On the basis of reports of maternal cells being detected in the umbilical cord blood of newborn infants, we tested the hypothesis that maternal cells can migrate out of the circulation into newborn tissues. Study design We studied autopsy material from 4 newborn infants who never received a blood transfusion and died during the first week of life. The study subjects' diagnoses were trisomy 21 with nonimmune hydrops, 46,XY, 4q+ with multiple congenital anomalies, Potter syndrome, and congenital ichthyosis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with X and Y chromosome–specific probes was performed on sections of paraffin-embedded tissue, including liver, spleen, thymus, thyroid, and skin. Results Female cells, as defined by the presence of intact nuclei with two X chromosome signals, were detected in multiple tissue types from all 4 male neonates. The number of female cells varied from 3 to 45 per slide. Conclusions Maternal cells enter the fetal circulation and are capable of migration to fetal and neonatal organs. This is of importance with regard to potential consequences of umbilical cord blood transplantation and postnatal development of autoimmune disease. (J Pediatr 2003;142:31-5)
Fluorescence characteristics of Cu-ZSM-5 zeolites in reactive gas mixtures: mechanisms for a fiber-optic-based gas sensor

In situ measurements of the fluorescence spectra,intensity, and response time were made at elevated temperatures(∼500 °C) for samples of Cu-ZSM-5 exposed to dilute mixturesof O2 in N2 and to variousO2-reductant combinations in N2. Theresults of these experiments are interpreted with a physical model ofthe oxidation/reduction kinetics of the copper ions. Thefluorescence signal depends strongly on the gas composition, providinga mechanism for a gas composition sensor. A prototype sensorconfiguration is described that uses a visible (488-nm) excitationsource and a fiber-optic geometry to generate and detect thefluorescence. The results indicate that for a weakly reducing gasthe fluorescence signal correlates well with the oxygen concentration,whereas for strongly reducing gases the signal correlates more closelywith the reductant-to-oxidant ratio.