cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sympathetic Renal Denervation Using the EnligHTN Multi-electrode Ablation System: The St Jude Experience

A reciprocal relationship between the brain and the kidneys has been long recognized. Efferent sympathetic nerves, originating from the brain, arrive to the kidneys and result in increased renin production, sodium and water reabsorption, and decreased renal blood flow. Afferent sympathetic nerves from the kidneys stimulate sympathetic centers in the central nervous system. Sympathetic overactivity plays a significant role in hypertension and several other disease conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, obstructive sleep apnea, polycystic ovary syndrome, and sympathetically driven tachyarrhythmias. Both efferent and afferent sympathetic fibers course within the renal vascular wall rendering transvascular disruption of sympathetic nerves feasible. Radiofrequency ablation is an established technique, used for several years in the management of atrial fibrillation, and has been found effective for renal nerve ablation. Accumulating data indicates that renal nerve ablation is effective and safe in resistant hypertension, while pilot data point towards beneficial effects of renal nerve ablation in conditions characterized by sympathetic overactivity. Many devices have been developed for renal nerve ablation, mainly using radiofrequency as the energy source, and six of them have been already approved in Europe. This chapter will present the experience with the St Jude device, will critically address the advantages and disadvantages of renal nerve ablation, and will provide future perspectives of this innovative interventional technique for the management of resistant hypertension and other conditions with sympathetic overdrive.
Design of origami fin for heat dissipation enhancement

Abstract Recent years have seen the emerging of application of origami in many areas. The extended surface enabled by origami structures apparently has great potential to be employed as fin for heat dissipation where surface area is a major consideration. However, the application of origami in heat transfer and the influence of its geometrical parameters to heat dissipation enhancement have not yet been sufficiently appreciated. Here we propose a fin design of origami shape for free convection, forced convection and radiation heat dissipations. It is found that origami fin can effective increase heat dissipation for all heat transfer scenarios. Origami fin design strategy has also been discussed. This study will provide valuable rationales in harnessing fin of origami shape for heat dissipation.
Picking Up the PACE: Proficiency Assessment for Curricular Enhancement

This chapter describes a project at the University of Minnesota designed to improve the quality of language learning and teaching in seven different language programs through articulated coordination of three ongoing activities: annual administration of ACTFL proficiency tests of reading, speaking and listening to students at several points in the curriculum; a professional development (PD) program conducted by and for instructors of all languages, engaging them in exploratory practice to help students achieve higher proficiency outcomes; and a systematic program of proficiency-based self-assessment for undergraduate language students.
Comments about the Paper by Norwood et al. and an Idea Relating Somatic Cell Mutations to Cellular Senescence

Cells, nuclei and cytoplasms from young, senescent and permanent line populations of human cells can be usefully combined as pairs in 30 different ways. Dr. Norwood, with his collaborators at Seattle, and others, have been attempting to create these combinations in order to answer three main questions: (i) Is the senescence phenotype dominant?; (ii) Can the senescence phenotype be imposed and maintained by the cytoplasm of a senescent cell or must the nucleus be present, too?; (iii) Is the senescence phenotype determined by primary, stable nuclear changes? Some of the possible combinations of cells and parts of cells have not been studied yet and the interpretation of the observations made so far must be tentative. Therefore, my main comments about Dr. Norwood’s presentation are an expression of admiration for what has been accomplished and a hope that the good work will continue.
Skeletal muscle stem cell self-renewal and differentiation kinetics revealed by EdU lineage tracing during regeneration

Summary Skeletal muscle maintenance and repair is dependent on the resident adult muscle stem cell (MuSC). During injury, and in diseased muscle, stem cells are engaged to replace or repair damaged muscle, which requires the stem cells to exit quiescence and expand, followed by differentiation to regenerate myofibers and self-renewal to replenish the stem cell population. Following an injury, little is known regarding the timing of MuSC (skeletal muscle stem cell) self-renewal, myoblast expansion or myoblast differentiation. To determine the timing and kinetics of these cell fate decisions, we employed DNA-based lineage tracing to label newly replicated cells and followed cell fates during skeletal muscle regeneration. MuSCs activate and expand as myoblasts rapidly following injury, where the majority differentiate into myonuclei, establishing the centrally located myonuclear pool. Re-establishing the majority MuSC pool by self-renewal occurs after 5 days post-muscle injury, accompanied by low levels of myonuclear accretion that generate only peripheral myonuclei. In aged mice, possessing ∼1/2 the number of MuSCs present in young adult mice, the timing of post injury MuSC self-renewal is delayed, and although MuSCs expansion as myoblasts in aged muscle is impaired, the number of MuSC unexpectedly recovers to young adult levels during regeneration. Following an induced muscle injury, we found that myonuclei are generated within the first four days post injury derived from myoblasts expanding from activated MuSCs. Only later during regeneration, from 5 d to 14 d post injury, is the MuSC pool replenished by self-renewal, accompanied by generation of peripheral myonuclei.
Palatability of Beef Strip Loin Steaks Following Variable Length High-Concentrate Diet Exposure Prior to Pasture-Finishing

Proximate composition, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), consumer sensory traits, fatty acid composition, and volatile flavor compounds were assessed on steaks from USDA Select strip loins (n = 40; 8/treatment) representing grass-fed beef sourced from New Zealand (NZ) with marbling consistent with USDA Select along with strip loins from four feeding treatments designed to evaluate the effects of early exposure to grain-based diets for 0 d (0D), 40 d (40D), 80 d (80D), or 120 d (120D) prior to pasture-finishing on meat quality and composition. Percent fat, moisture, and protein and WBSF did not differ (P > 0.05), but percent ash was decreased in 120D samples compared to those from NZ, 0D, and 40D (P < 0.05). Consumer scores for all traits differed among samples from the treatments (P < 0.05), with steaks from NZ receiving greater scores for flavor liking than those from 0D, 40D, and 80D (P < 0.05). Consumers also rated NZ and 120D samples greatest for overall liking (P < 0.05). Saturated fatty acids were decreased, and monounsaturated fatty acids were increased in NZ samples compared to samples from all other treatments (P < 0.05), and conjugated linoleic acid was least in samples from NZ (P < 0.05). The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids was greater in 80D and 120D samples than those from all other treatments (P < 0.05). Non-enzymatic browning-derived ketones and 2-pentylfuran were increased in samples from NZ compared to those from all other treatments (P < 0.05), and differences among treatments in lipid-derived compounds were primarily of alcohols and aldehydes. Early exposure to grain-based diets for 120 d prior to pasture-finishing produces beef that is comparable to grass-fed beef from New Zealand in palatability but differs in chemical composition.
Reliability of Package on Package (PoP) Assembly Under Thermal Cycles

Stack electronic packaging technologies have now been widely implemented to increase the capabilities of commercial electronics in order to overcome the limitation of die fabrication with extremely finer features. The 3D packaging consists of stacking of packaged devices called package-on-package (PoP) and stacking of die within a package. This paper presents the test matrix for various 3D PoP packaging assembly configurations and reliability characterizations performed under accelerated thermal cycling (ATC) and accelerated extreme harsh thermal shock cycling (ATSC) conditions. The ATC and ATSC were performed in the range of−55°C to 125°C and −100°C to 125°C, respectively. Extreme cold temperature exposure at −100°C is representative of mild deep space environment whereas possibly none for industrial application. A design of experiment (DOE) technique was used to cover four methods of packaging stack assemblies and their effect on the stack packaging assembly reliability. The four methods are: (1) the top package with flux/bottom with tin–lead (SnPb) solder paste, (2) top/bottom both had solder paste, and (3) pre-stack package as a unit with SnPb solder and then assemble the stack package onto PCB with SnPb solder paste. In addition to daisy-chain resistance evaluation monitoring, non-destructive techniques including X-ray, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and optical images, as well as destructive methods by X-sectioning, were performed and presented for the as-assembled and after-thermal-cycles.
An investigation into specimen property to part performance relationships for laser beam powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Abstract The influence of part size and geometry on the melt pool size, microstructural features, and resulting mechanical properties of additive manufactured 17-4 precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steel (SS), fabricated using a laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) process is investigated. Three different types of geometries including a dog-bone part (i.e. representing the specimen or the witness coupon) and two square rods with different cross-sectional sizes (i.e. representing the parts) were designed and fabricated using the same set of process parameters. Mechanical properties were determined under quasi-static tensile and uniaxial strain-controlled fully-reversed fatigue loading conditions. Experimental results confirmed a minimal effect of part geometry on the tensile behavior of the LB-PBF 17-4 PH SS as the yield strength ranged from 1145 to 1198 MPa and ultimate tensile strength varied from 1171 to 1231 MPa. On the other hand, part geometry had a significant impact on the fatigue behavior in the high cycle regime. Specimens fabricated from the large square blocks contained the lowest amount of porosity, and consequently, exhibited the highest fatigue resistance. On the contrary, the highest amount of porosity was observed in the specimens fabricated from the dog-bone parts resulting in an inferior fatigue resistance as compared to other geometries. Microstructural analysis was performed to estimate the effect of part geometry on the thermal history experienced during manufacturing by measuring the melt pool dimensions. Some effects of geometry on the melt pool dimensions were observed as the melt pool depth was found to be shorter for dog-bone specimens and longer for large block specimens. The less elongated melt pools in dog-bone specimens can be attributed to higher cooling rate experienced by the specimens resulting in more entrapped gas pores.
JavaDL: a Java-based Deep Learning Tool to Predict Drug Responses

Motivation: Accurate prediction of drug response in each patient is the holy grail in personalized medicine. Recently, deep learning techniques have been witnessed with revival in a variety of areas such as image processing and genomic data analysis, and they will be useful for the coming age of big data analysis in pharmaceutical research and chemogenomic applications. This provides us an impetus to develop a novel deep learning platform to accurately and reliably predict the response of cancer to different drug treatments. Results: In this study, we describe a Java-based implementation of deep neural network (DNN) method, termed JavaDL, to predict cancer responses to drugs solely based on their chemical features. To this end, we devised a novel cost function by adding a regularization term which suppresses overfitting. We also adopted an 揺arly stopping?strategy to further reduce overfit and improve the accuracy and robustness of our models. Currently the software has been integrated with a genetic algorithm-based variable selection approach and implemented as part of our JavaDL package. To evaluate our program, we compared it with several machine learning programs including SVM and kNN. We observed that JavaDL either significantly outperforms other methods in model building and prediction or obtains better results in handling big data analysis. Finally, JavaDL was employed to predict drug responses of several highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cell lines, and the results showed robust and accurate predictions with r2 as high as 0.80.
Single cell in vivo brain optogenetic stimulation by two-photon excitation fluorescence transfer

Abstract Optogenetics at single-cell resolution can be achieved by two-photon stimulation; however, this requires intense or holographic illumination. We markedly improve stimulation efficiency by positioning fluorophores with high two-photon cross-sections adjacent to opsins. The two-photon-excited fluorescence matches the opsin absorbance and can stimulate opsins in a highly localized manner through efficient single-photon absorption. This indirect fluorescence transfer illumination allows experiments difficult to implement in the live brain such as all-optical neural interrogation and control of regional cerebral blood flow.
A challenge in teaching scientific communication: academic experience does not improve undergraduates’ ability to assess their or their peers’ writing

Introducing undergraduates to the peer-review process helps them understand how scientific evidence is evaluated and communicated. In a large biology course, technical writing was taught through mo...
Die wissenschaftliche Grundhaltung muss keine Lösung des Abgrenzungsproblems liefern

Wenn die wissenschaftliche Grundhaltung unser wichtigstes Mittel ist, um den Sonderstatus der Wissenschaft zu beschreiben, kommen wir an einer Frage nicht vorbei: Haben wir damit vielleicht die lang ersehnte Losung des Abgrenzungsproblems gefunden? Wenn ja, wurde sie ein Gerust aus notwendigen und hinreichenden Bedingungen zur Unterscheidung zwischen Wissenschaft und Nicht-Wissenschaft bieten mussen? Ich behaupte, dass die Wissenschaftsphilosophie sich von diesem Problem nicht ablenken lassen muss, wenn wir doch im Grunde nur eine einfache Bedingung fur gute Wissenschaft brauchen: das Bemuhen um Belege und die Bereitschaft, diese zur Uberprufung und Uberarbeitung der eigenen Theorien einzusetzen.
Intra-Abdominal Hemorrhage Control: The Need for Routine Four-Quadrant Packing Explored.

Routine four-quadrant packing (4QP) for hemorrhage control immediately upon opening is a standard practice for acute trauma laparotomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of 4QP for bleeding control in acutely injured patients undergoing trauma laparotomy. Retrospective single-center study (01/2015–07/2019), including adult patients who underwent trauma laparotomy within 4 h of admission. Only patients with active intra-abdominal hemorrhage, defined as bleeding within the peritoneal cavity or expanding retroperitoneal hematoma, were considered for analysis. Bleeding sources were categorized anatomically: liver/retrohepatic inferior vena cava (RIVC), spleen, retroperitoneal zones 1, 2 and 3, mesentery and others. Hemorrhage was further categorized as originating from a single bleeding site (SBS) or from multiple bleeding sites (MBS). The effectiveness of directed versus 4QP was evaluated for bleeding from the liver/RIVC, spleen and retroperitoneal zone 3, areas that are potentially compressible. Directed packing was defined as indicated if the bleeding was restricted to one of the anatomic sites suitable for packing, 4QP was defined as indicated if ≥ 2 of the anatomic sites suitable for packing were bleeding. During the study time frame, 924 patients underwent trauma laparotomy, of which 148 (16%) had active intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Of these, 47% had a SBS and 53% had MBS. The liver/RIVC was the most common bleeding source in both patients with SBS (42%) and in patients with MBS (54%). According to our predefined indications, 22 of 148 patients (15%) would have benefitted from initial 4QP, 90 of 148 patients (61%) from directed packing and 36 of 148 patients (24%) packing would not have been of any value. Routine four-quadrant packing is frequently practiced. However, this is only required in a small proportion of patients undergoing trauma laparotomy. Directed packing can be equally effective, saves time and decreases the risk of iatrogenic injury from unnecessary packing.
Preventing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Where Should We Begin?

CONTEXT: Chronic immunosuppression is associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections. Although kidney transplant recipients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have higher mortality than the general population, data on their risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are unknown. Subject of Review: A recent single-center screening study from the UK (Transplantation. 2021 Jan 1;105(1):151-7) showed that 89 (10.4%) of 855 consecutive kidney transplant recipients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Risk factors for infection included a nonwhite background, diabetes, and a history of allograft rejection. Risk factors for mortality in individuals who developed COVID-19 were older age and receiving steroids. Second Opinion: This study shows that the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplant recipients is similar to the one observed in the general population in the same area (13%), indicating that transplant recipients are not at increased risk of COVID-19. However, the investigators raise the interesting point that since transplant individuals were advised to shelter earlier than the general population, they may be in fact more susceptible. This statement is hard to substantiate, but the identification of specific risk factors for infection and poor outcomes is crucial to tailor strategies to prevent spread of the infection. This is particularly important, considering that kidney transplant recipients may be at increased risk of prolonged viral spread and in-host viral mutations, making them not just a particularly fragile population for COVID-19 but also a potentially major source of further contagions.
Keeping California cool: Recent cool community developments

Abstract In 2006, California introduced the Global Warming Solutions Act (Assembly Bill 32), which requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. “Cool community” strategies, including cool roofs, cool pavements, cool walls and urban vegetation, have been identified as voluntary measures with potential to reduce statewide emissions. In addition, cool community strategies provide co-benefits for residents of California, such as reduced utility bills, improved air quality and enhanced urban livability. To achieve these savings, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has worked with state and local officials, non-profit organizations, school districts, utilities, and manufacturers for 4 years to advance the science and implementation of cool community strategies. This paper summarizes the accomplishments of this program, as well as recent developments in cool community policy in California and other national and international efforts. We also outline lessons learned from these efforts to characterize successful programs and policies to be replicated in the future.
Evaluation of Medical Images

From a practical point of view, image quality in medicine must be defined in terms of the decisons that physicians can make by reading the images. Image-based decisions concerning the actual state of an object or patient are evaluated most meaningfully by ROC analysis, which has been used to quantify detection performance in sensory psychophysics since the early 1960s and more recently has been applied to evaluate diagnostic systems. After surveying briefly some considerations that motivate the use of ROC analysis in medical image evauation, this manuscript addresses various practical issues of experimental design and data analysis, including the selection of cases and observers, the need for standards of truth, reading-order effects, data collection, curve fitting, statistical testing, and possible generalizations of conventional ROC methodology.
Software Analytics for Digital Games

Software and its development generates an inordinate amount of data. Development activities such as check-ins, work items, bug reports, code reviews, and test executions are recorded in software repositories. User interactions that reflect how customers experience software are recorded in telemetry data, run-time traces, and log files and helps to track application and feature usage and expose performance and reliability. Software analytics takes this data and turns it into actionable insight to better inform decisions related to software. In this talk, I will summarize our efforts in the area of software analytics with a special focus on digital games. I will present several examples of games studies, which we have worked on at Microsoft Research such as how players are engaged in Project Gotham Racing, how skill develops over time in Halo Reach and Forza Motor sports, and the initial experience of game play. I will also point out important differences between games development and traditional software development. The work presented in this talk has been done by Nachi Nagappan, myself, and many others who have visited our group over the past years.
Cybermedicine: How Computing Empowers Doctors and Patients for Better Health Care

This text presents a case for how computers can be used in health care by both clinicians and patients, and argues that competing interests as well as managerial, political and technical barriers have resulted in the misapplication and under-utilization of computer technology in health care settings. The book demonstrates how computers are particularly useful when applied to the areas of diagnosis and assessment, decision-making and specialized techniques in treatment, preventative models and management, crucial research, administration, organization, practice management, and "patient power".
Office microscopic examination for sexually transmitted diseases. A tool to lower costs.

Practical information is provided in the use of four office-oriented microscopic examinations—the Gram stain, the wet mount examination, the Tzanck test, and skin scraping techniques—to screen for the maximal number of sexually transmitted organisms at the least cost. Emphasis is placed on helping the primary care provider improve her or his technique.
Outlier Detection with Globally Optimal Exemplar-Based GMM

Outlier detection has recently become an important problem in many data mining applications. In this paper, a novel unsupervised algorithm for outlier detection is proposed. First we apply a provably globally optimal Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm to flt a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to a given data set. In our approach, a Gaussian is centered at each data point, and hence, the estimated mixture proportions can be interpreted as probabilities of being a cluster center for all data points. The outlier factor at each data point is then deflned as a weighted sum of the mixture proportions with weights representing the similarities to other data points. The proposed outlier factor is thus based on global properties of the data set. This is in contrast to most existing approaches to outlier detection, which are strictly local. Our experiments performed on several simulated and real life data sets demonstrate superior performance of the proposed approach. Moreover, we also demonstrate the ability to detect unusual shapes.
Prediction of wood pulp K with radial basis function neural network

This paper presents a radial basis function (RBF) network for prediction of continuous wood pulp delignification factor. In pulp making process, the quality of pulp is measured by the K# which is related to the lignin content remaining in the pulp. Availability of an accurate K# during any time of digester operation is very critical in quality control and saving of million of dollars by reducing energy and raw material consumption. To assure quality control in the digester operation, K# is currently measured by human experts who analyze pulp samples in the plant's laboratory and then decide how to control process variables. Unfortunately, the long measurement time of K# coupled with process time delays has proven to be too costly economically and qualitatively. In our study, a radial basis function (RBF) neural network was implemented for prediction of K#. This network was trained with 350 and tested with 325 hours of real digester operation. Excellent results were achieved.
Androgens and isolation from adult tutors differentially affect the development of songbird neurons critical to vocal plasticity.

Song learning in oscine birds occurs during a juvenile sensitive period. One idea is that this sensitive period is regulated by changes in the electrophysiological properties of neurons in the tele...
Population structure and phylogeography of Solanum pimpinellifolium inferred from a nuclear gene

Phylogeographical studies are emerging as a powerful tool for understanding the population structure and evolution of wild relatives of crop species. Because of their value as genetic resources, there is great interest in exploring the distribution of variation in wild relatives of cultivated plants. In this study, we use sequence variation from the nuclear gene, fruit vacuolar invertase (Vac), to investigate the population history of Solanum pimpinellifolium. Solanum pimpinellifolium is a close relative of the cultivated tomato and has repeatedly served as a source of valuable traits for crop improvement. We sequenced the second intron of the Vac gene in 129 individuals, representing 16 populations from the northern half of Peru. Patterns of haplotype sharing among populations indicate that there is isolation by distance. However, there is no congruence between the geographical distribution of haplotypes and their genealogical relationships. Levels of outcrossing decrease towards the southernmost populations, as previously observed in an allozyme study. The geographical pattern of Vac variation supports a centre of origin in northern Peru for S. pimpinellifolium and a gradual colonization along the Pacific coast. This implies that inbreeding populations are derived from outcrossing ones and that variation present at the Vac locus predates the spread of S. pimpinellifolium. The expansion of cities and human agricultural activity in the habitat of S. pimpinellifolium currently pose a threat to the species.
Do You Have an Institutional Data Policy? A Review of the Current Landscape of Library Data Services and Institutional Data Policies

INTRODUCTION Many research institutions have developed research data services in their libraries, often in anticipation of or in response to funder policy. However, policies at the institution level are either not well known or nonexistent. METHODS This study reviewed library data services efforts and institutional data policies of 206 American universities, drawn from the July 2014 Carnegie list of universities with “Very High” or “High” research activity designation. Twenty-four different characteristics relating to university type, library data services, policy type, and policy contents were examined. RESULTS The study has uncovered findings surrounding library data services, institutional data policies, and content within the policies. DISCUSSION Overall, there is a general trend toward the development and implementation of data services within the university libraries. Interestingly, just under half of the universities examined had a policy of some sort that either specified or mentioned research data. Many of these were standalone data policies, while others were intellectual property policies that included research data. When data policies were discoverable, not behind a log in, they focused on the definition of research data, data ownership, data retention, and terms surrounding the separation of a researcher from the institution. CONCLUSION By becoming well versed on research data policies, librarians can provide support for researchers by navigating the policies at their institutions, facilitating the activities needed to comply with the requirements of research funders and publishers. This puts academic libraries in a unique position to provide insight and guidance in the development and revisions of institutional data policies. External Data or Supplements: Briney, Kristin; Goben, Abigail; Zilinski, Lisa, 2015, “Data from: Do You Have an Institutional Data Policy? A Review of the Current Landscape of Library Data Services and Institutional Data Policies”, http://dx.doi.org/10.7910/DVN/GAZPAJ , Harvard Dataverse
Racial and economic segregation and educational outcomes: one tale—Two cities

This paper reports the research examining racial and economic segregation of public schools in Philadelphia and Houston. Three factors effect the racial and economic composition of public schools: (1) the economic and racial/ethnic segregation of urban neighborhoods; (2) private school attendance among higher status and white students; and (3) varying rates of participation in magnet school programs. The evidence suggests that magnet school programs may attenuate racial segregation while exacerbating economic segregation. An examination of the relative importance of racial and economic composition of schools upon student achievement indicates that the economic composition of schools is the more important determinant of achievement levels. Given the propensity of magnet school programs to exacerbate socioeconomic concentrations, these programs should be reformulated.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry quantitation via in cell combination

Herein we describe a novel method for quantitation using a Fourier transform mass spectrometer (FTMS) equipped with a MALDI ion source. The unique instrumental configuration of FTMS and its ion trapping and storing capabilities enable ion packets originating from two physically distinct samples to be combined in the ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) cell prior to detection. These features are exploited to combine analyte ions from two differentially labeled samples spotted separately and then combined in the ICR cell to generate a single mass spectrum containing isotopically paired peaks for quantitative comparison of relative ion abundances. The utility of this new quantitation via in cell combination (QUICC) approach is explored using peptide standards, a bovine serum albumin tryptic digest, and a crude neuronal tissue extract. We show that spectra acquired using the QUICC scheme are comparable to those obtained from premixing the isotopically labeled samples in solution. In addition, we show direct tissue in situ isotopic formaldehyde labeling of a crustacean neuroendocrine organ, thus demonstrating the potential application of the QUICC methodology for direct tissue quantitative analysis.
A numerical investigation of creep-fatigue life prediction utilizing hysteresis energy as a damage parameter

Abstract This paper explores the hypothesis that there exists an intrinsic material property, hysteresis damage energy at failure, which could be used as a creep-fatigue life prediction parameter. The connection between hysteresis energy and fatigue damage was introduced in the 1920’s by Inglis, but the use of hysteresis energy as a measure of damage was first presented by Morrow and Halford. Hysteresis energy shows promise in bridging the gaps associated with life prediction when the combination of both creep and fatigue scenarios are present. Numerical simulations which replicate experimental test configurations with 9Cr–1Mo steel were performed from which the hysteresis energy failure density (HEFD) could be calculated for each experiment. Taking the average of the HEFD values calculated for all of the experimental data as the parameter for failure (EIntrinsic), creep-fatigue life predictions were made using a simplistic hysteresis energy based method as well as the time fraction/cycle fraction method endorsed by ASME Code and compared to experimental results. A good correlation with experimental results was obtained for life predictions using hysteresis energy density as a damage parameter. An investigation of the interaction between creep damage and fatigue damage based on the hysteresis energy method was also performed and compared with the damage interaction diagram utilized by the ASME and RCC-MR design codes. The hysteresis energy based method proved easy to implement and gave improved accuracy over the time fraction/cycle fraction method for low cycle creep-fatigue loading.
Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging of the abdomen : Demonstration of feasibility and utility

The feasibility of utilizing acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging to assess the mechanical properties of abdominal tissues was investigated. The thermal safety of the technique was also evaluated through the use of finite element method models. ARFI imaging was shown to be capable of imaging abdominal tissues at clinically realistic depths. Correspondence between anatomical structures in B-mode and ARFI images was observed. ARFI images showed similar tumor contrast when compared with B-mode images of ex vivo abdominal cancers. Finite element method models and in vitro measurements confirmed the thermal safety of ARFI imaging at depth. ARFI imaging is inexpensive, safe and convenient and is a promising modality for use in abdominal imaging.
Masseteric venous malformations: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes

Abstract Objective To describe a typical presentation of venous malformation within the masseter muscle, including physical findings and imaging, and to present the University of California, San Francisco's (UCSF) Vascular Anomalies and Birthmark Center's (VABC) experience with sclerotherapy for these lesions. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care medical center. Subjects and Methods Retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to the UCSF VABC over a 10-year period. Results Twelve patients with isolated venous malformations of the masseter muscle were identified. All of these patients presented with pain and facial asymmetry that was more pronounced with jaw-clenching. All underwent magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating a T2 hyperintense homogenous mass contained within the masseter muscle. Eleven of 12 had evidence on imaging of phleboliths within the mass; 10 patients underwent sclerotherapy. All treated patients had initial improvement in symptoms and/or appearance. Seven of 10 have had sustained improvement at a mean follow-up of 28 months. Conclusion Masseteric venous malformations have a typical clinical presentation and imaging characteristics that should allow clinicians to distinguish them from other abnormalities presenting in this area. Percutaneous sclerotherapy should be considered as a treatment option for these patients and can result in excellent outcomes.
A computerized chart management system for medical records.

A computerized system is described which improves turnaround time for completion of in-patient medical records and copes with the problem of delinquent records. Many patients seen at University Hospital are referred from throughout the State, thus the specialist must stay in contact with the referring physician for optimal patient care. The Medical Records Department assists in this effort through use of the system, which includes pertinent dates and other information concerning each patient. Several reports are generated from this information, e.g., outstanding records sorted by department/physician and outstanding records with charges pending. The total software system is comprised of 22 program, 2 sub-routines, and 4 data files; the total disk storage space required is 1413 kilobytes.
Single-center phase II trial of transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: initial experience in the United States.

Purpose: This prospective phase II pilot study evaluated safety and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEBs) loaded with doxorubicin in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Twenty patients with unresectable HCC (75% Child's A, 95% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1, 60% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer C, tumor size 6.9 cm) underwent 34 DEB-TACE sessions. Primary endpoints were tumor response, assessed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging at 1 month after treatment, using size (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors [RECIST]), contrast-enhancement (European Association for the Study of the Liver) and apparent diffusion coefficient values, and safety assessed by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE). Secondary endpoints included feasibility, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Results: DEB-TACE was successfully performed in 34 sessions and demonstrated a favorable safety profile. On initial (1 month) postprocedural magnetic resonance imaging, treated lesions had a mean decrease in size of 4% (P = 0.1 129). Using RECIST, partial response was achieved in 2 patients (10%), and 18 patients (90%) had stable disease. Treated tumors demonstrated a mean decrease in contrast enhancement of 64% (P < 0.0001). By European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria, 12 patients (60%) had objective tumor response, and 8 (40%) had stable disease. No patients had progression of a treated lesion while undergoing treatment. At 6 months, the disease control rate was 95% using RECIST. Overall survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 65% and 55%, respectively; median overall survival was 26 months. Discussion: DEB-TACE is safe and effective in achieving local tumor control in patients with unresectable HCC.
Experimental murine colitis is regulated by two genetic loci, including one on chromosome 11 that regulates IL-12 responses

‡Background & Aims: Immunogenetic analysis of experimental colitis may contribute to the further unraveling of the complex genetic basis of the inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Methods: Genetic regions associated with susceptibility to trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis were identified in a genome-wide linkage analysis in F2 progeny of colitis-susceptible SJL/J and -resistant C57BL/6 mice. An immunogenetic approach was then used to further study the pathophysiologic role of one of the identified loci. Results: We identified susceptibility loci on chromosomes 9 (Tnbs1) and 11 (Tnbs2). Tnbs2 harbors the interleukin (IL)-12 p40 gene, a likely candidate gene because IL-12 is a known central mediator for both experimental colitis and human Crohn’s disease. We therefore tested the ability of colitis-susceptible and -resistant strains to mount IL-12 responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a strong inducer of IL-12 that is abundantly present in the intestine. We observed a remarkably higher serum IL-12 response to LPS in susceptible SJL/J mice. Subsequently, we showed that the genetic region regulating the IL-12 response to LPS colocalizes with Tnbs2. Conclusions: These data strongly suggest that the tendency to mount a high LPS-induced IL-12 response and susceptibility to TNBS-induced colitis are related and that in fact a genetically determined high IL-12 response is involved in the immunologic basis of susceptibility to colitis.
Influence of ionomer content on the structure and performance of PEFC membrane electrode assemblies

Nafion® ionomer content of the cathode catalyst-layer of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), made by the “decal” hot pressing method, has been investigated for its effect on performance and structure of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Varying Nafion® content was shown to have an effect on performance within the entire range of polarization curves (i.e. kinetic, ohmic, and mass-transport regions) as well as on the structure. AFM analysis shows the effect of Nafion on the dispersion of carbon aggregates. Further analysis using TEM demonstrates the effect of Nafion on both the dispersion of carbon aggregates and the distribution and thickness of the Nafion ionomer films surrounding the catalyst/carbon aggregates. The MEA structure change correlates well with the MEA performance on both kinetics and mass-transport region. The determining factors on the performance of MEA are the interfacial zone (between the ionomer and catalyst particle), the dispersion of catalyst/carbon aggregates and the distribution/thickness of Nafion films. An optimized Nafion ® content in the range of 27 ± 6 wt.% for the cathode was determined for an E-TEK 20% Pt3Cr/C catalyst at a loading of 0.20 mg Pt/cm2.
Vibrational absorption of tunneling molecular defects in crystals. II. Tunneling molecules under applied stress (KCl:CN - )

The general considerations about the vibrational absorption of tunneling molecules, developed in Paper I of this work, are applied and tested, using ${\mathrm{CN}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ defects in KCl. In previous work on this system the vibrational absorption of ${\mathrm{CN}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ was reported to be strongly broadened by an unresolved tunneling splitting, and to show pure zero-moment changes under applied stress. The tunneling model, however, predicts additionally characteristic anisotropic changes of the spectral shape under applied field or stress for any absorption, broadened by orientational tunneling. A thorough experimental reinvestigation of this system at low temperatures yields results which agree with the predictions from the tunneling model. For low ${\mathrm{CN}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ concentration, the first- and second-harmonic vibrational absorption (at 5 and 2.5 \ensuremath{\mu}m) consists of a resolved double structure, caused by the reorientational tunneling of the molecule in the crystal (tunneling splitting $\ensuremath{\Delta}=1.2$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$). The application of uniaxial stress of different symmetry is found to produce two basic effects: Second-moment absorption changes (due to quantum-mechanical mixing of the tunneling states by the stress), and zero-moment changes (due to classical elastic dipole alignment). The observed pronounced anisotropy of these effects yield both independently a (cigar-shaped) 111g elastic dipole model. These results disagree with the (pancake-shaped) 100g elastic dipole, derived from the earlier elastooptical work, which has been the basis of the so far generally accepted 100g defect model. Consequences of this symmetry change for the interpretation of several previous investigations on KCl:C${\mathrm{N}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ will be discussed.
Anatomical correction of complex forms of transposition of the great arteries in neonates.

Objective—The arterial switch operation has become the procedure of choice for the simple transposition of the great arteries (TGA) while in the complex forms of the defect the staged approach is frequently implemented. The aim of this study is to compare groups of patients with simple transposition and children with the complex form of the defect and identify factors affecting early and late outcome. Design—From 1997 to 2003, 135 consecutive neonates with TGA underwent arterial switch operation and simultaneous reparation of all associated defects. Univariate and multivariate analysis of perioperative variables and follow‐up data was performed. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n=84, 62.2%) included neonates with simple transposition (TGA/IVS), Group II (n=51, 37.8%) included children with complex transposition (TGA/VSD). Results—Overall early mortality was 8.1% and there was one late death (0.7%). One‐month, 1‐year and 5‐year actuarial survival rates were 91.8, 91.1 and 91.1%, respectively...
Another "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"? Intelligence Testing and Coeducation

The title of this essay, as fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will recognize, comes from the Sherlock Holmes mystery entitled "Silver Blaze." In that story, a prize race horse disappears shortly before an important race and its trainer is subsequently found bludgeoned to death out on the moor. The most important clue, for Holmes, is the "curious incident of the dog in the night-time." When Dr. Watson, in his inimitable way, tells Holmes that the dog guarding the stables did nothing, Holmes proudly asserts, "That was the curious incident." That the dog did not bark proves that the theft was an inside job by the trainer himself, who, having placed a large bet on an opposing horse, took Silver Blaze out on the moor in order to hobble him partially. Holmes concludes that the trainer was kicked to death by the stallion and finds the "murderer" safe at a neighboring farm with his blaze painted over.1 The "curious incident" thus refers to the absence of an expected reaction, in this case the dog barking at an intruder. The following essay will examine such an absent reaction, or at least a muted one: the limited impact of early intelligence testing on European debates about and practice of secondary coeducation. When such testing began in the early twentieth century, many leading educators, physicians, and psychologists believed that there were significant differences in mental abilities between the sexes
REM sleep deprivation and drinking in rats: A test of Vogel’s theory

As a further test of the hypothesis that REM sleep plays a specific role in energizing primary-drive-linked behaviors, the effects of REM sleep deprivation on the drinking behavior of rats was measured on three occasions subsequent to treatment, that is, after 1 h, 4 days, and 8 days of recovery. Contrary to the prediction, there were no significant differences between the REM-deprived and control groups on any of the posttreatment drinking tests. Thus, these data question the validity of the REM-sleep/primary-drive hypothesis.
Occupational Safety and Health in the USA: Now and the Future

In the USA, national worker protection legislation was enacted in 1970. The legislation required that research, recommendations and guidance be developed to aid employers and workers, that workplace health and safety standards be adopted, that employer comply with those rules and that the government police employer compliance, and that assistance be offered to employers and workers to help them maintain a safe and healthful workplace. In the 40 yr since passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, worker injury, illness and fatalities have declined but not been eliminated. Efforts to accelerate the standards adoption process are much discussed in the USA along with how to protect workers from emerging hazards like nanotechnology. New strategies which seek to eliminate not only the causes of work-related injury and illness, but also more broadly, worker injury and illness, are on the horizon.
ESTIMATION OF UPPER BOUNDS FOR THE RATES OF ENZYMATIC REACTIONS

A general methodology that allows the estimation of maximum rates of enzymatic reactions is described. For a typical mechanism of an enzymatic reaction, the rate is a function of kinetic parameters...