cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feedstock powder processing research needs for additive manufacturing development

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) promises to redesign traditional manufacturing by enabling the ultimate in agility for rapid component design changes in commercial products and for fabricating complex integrated parts. By significantly increasing quality and yield of metallic alloy powders, the pace for design, development, and deployment of the most promising AM approaches can be greatly accelerated, resulting in rapid commercialization of these advanced manufacturing methods. By successful completion of a critical suite of processing research tasks that are intended to greatly enhance gas atomized powder quality and the precision and efficiency of powder production, researchers can help promote continued rapid growth of AM. Other powder-based or spray-based advanced manufacturing methods could also benefit from these research outcomes, promoting the next wave of sustainable manufacturing technologies for conventional and advanced materials.
Clinical Correlation of the Histoculture Drug Response Assay in Gastrointestinal Cancer

The histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) with tumors histocultured on Gelfoam® was tested for clinical correlation for advanced gastric and colorectal cancer patients. In one study, 29 patients were treated with drugs shown to be ineffective in the HDRA, and all 29 cases showed clinical chemoresistance. In nine patients treated with drugs shown to be effective in the HDRA, six showed clinical chemoresponse and three showed arrest of disease progression. In a study of 32 patients with stage III and IV gastric cancer treated with mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the survival rate of 10 patients whose tumors were sensitive to either mitomycin C and/or 5-fluorouracil in the HDRA was significantly better than that of 22 patients whose tumors were insensitive to both drugs in the HDRA. Twenty-nine patients with stage III and IV colorectal cancer without remaining measurable tumor lesions after surgery were treated with fluoropyrimidines adjuvantly. The recurrence-free survival rate of 7 patients whose tumors were sensitive to 5-fluorouracil in the HDRA was significantly better than that of 22 patients whose tumors were insensitive in the HDRA. In a companion study of 128 gastric cancer patients whose tumors were evaluated in the HDRA, the overall and disease-free survival rates of the HDRA-sensitive group were found to be significantly higher than those of the HDRA-resistant group, treated with the same drugs.
Commentary—Cultivating T-Shaped Professionals in the Era of Digital Transformation

As a result of the rapid growth of urban populations and use of smartphones, the new millennium has ushered in an age of unprecedented levels of collaborative and competitive local and global relations, constantly reshaped by advances in science, public policy, technology platforms, and open practices. The dynamic nature of these open innovation-oriented relationships is not sufficiently incorporated into and addressed by conventional education systems. Today’s digital talents are still primarily siloed in functions and disciplines that were designed to meet the needs of an earlier era. Current rewards and incentives are also focused along these lines. Consequently, traditional academics are encouraged to delve deeper within their areas of specialization rather than reach out to colleagues in other disciplines to develop transdisciplinary research agendas. Across all sectors, the new digital millennium requires new types of professionals and work practices as well as new types of citizens and social pract...
D‐amino acids do not inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation

Objective Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a known biofilm-forming organism, is an opportunistic pathogen that plays an important role in chronic otitis media, tracheitis, cholesteatoma, chronic wounds, and implant infections. Eradication of biofilm infections has been a challenge because the biofilm phenotype provides bacteria with a protective environment from the immune system and antibiotics; thus, there has been great interest in adjunctive molecules that may inhibit biofilm formation or cause biofilm dispersal. There are reports that D-amino acids may inhibit biofilms. In this study, we test the ability of various D-amino acids to inhibit P. aeruginosa biofilm formation in vitro. Study design We evaluated the effect of D-alanine (10 mM), D-leucine (10 mM), D-methionine (10 mM), D-tryptophan (10 mM), and D-tyrosine (10 uM and 1 mM) on biofilm formation in two commonly studied laboratory strains of P. aeruginosa: PAO1 and PA14. Methods Biofilms were grown in 24-well and 96-well tissue culture plates, documented photographically and stained with 0.1% crystal violet and solubilized in 33% glacial acetic acid for quantification. Results In strains PAO1 and PA14, the addition of D-amino acids did not result in an inhibitory effect on biofilm growth in 24-well plates. Repeating the study in 96-well plates confirmed our findings that D-amino acids do not inhibit biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa. Conclusion We conclude that D-amino acids only slow the production of biofilms rather than completely prevent biofilm formation; therefore, D-amino acids represent a poor option for potential clinically therapeutic interventions. Level of evidence N/A.
Price Bubbles and the Long Run Profitability of a Trend Following Technical Trading Rule

The model allows individual traders to endogenously choose between fundamental information and a technical trading rule. Since the technical trading rule works as a crude signal extractor, its profitability relies on price movements reflecting changes in the intrinsic value of the security. Sustainable profits can be earned using the technical trading rule. The trading rule’s popularity grows with its recent trading success, but excessive popularity diminishes the trading rule’s ability to extract a reliable signal. Parameter settings that allow large fluctuations in the technical trading rule’s popularity lead to unsustainable periods of positive profits coupled with long-term losses.
Dimensional and Analytic Renormalization

Our goal in these lectures is to define time ordered vacuum expectation values of products of field polynomials: $$ , $$ (1.1) where Yi(xi) is a polynomial in certain (interacting) field operators evaluated at the space time point xi e R4. The GellMann Low formula expresses (1.1) as a formal power series whose terms are also time-ordered vacuum expectation values, similar to (1.1), but involving free rather than interacting fields; since we are not interested in the actual convergence of this series, it sufficies to define (1.1) when only free fields occur. To do this, we expand the time ordered product as a finite sum of normal products (Wick’s theorem).
Assessment and Management of Pain in the Critically III Pediatric Patient

Recent research indicates that pain relief is a priority for children and adolescents. Unrelieved pain results in many emotional and physiologic effects which are counterproductive to the other treatment goals of critical care. Therefore, the use of accurate assessment tools to routinely measure the intensity of pain and appropriate doses of analgesics is recommended. Age-appropriate nonpharmacologic interventions can also be helpful in increasing the effectiveness of the medications. All clinicians need to work together to dispel the multiple misconceptions which have surrounded this very important aspect of critical care.
Leading-logarithmic and alpha s corrections to the decay B--> psi X.

Leading-logarithmic corrections to all first-order radiative processes are used to calculate the branching ratio for B..-->..psiX to a higher precision than has been previously achieved. The calculated ratio is sensitive to ..cap alpha../sub s/ and is in reasonable agreement with the experimental value.
Teaching the Introductory MIS Course: An MIs Approach

The introductory Management Information Systems (MIS) course plays a very important role in attracting and retaining students in the MIS program. Accordingly, MIS educators have been paying an increasing attention to the question how to teach this course effectively, especially faced with declining enrollments in the MIS discipline. However, an easy-to-use guideline is still lacking. Although some conceptual frameworks for teaching the introductory MIS course are designed, they lack actual implementation and/or empirical examinations. Based on a review of previous literature and various learning theories, this study develops an MIs approach to teaching MIS courses. Then, this study explains how to implement it using a specific case, and further examines the effectiveness of this new teaching approach based on students’ responses. Overall, this study describes a useful starting point for MIS programs to curb the declining enrollments. Both administrators and MIS instructors may benefit from this approach.
Reproducibility and Efficiency of Scientific Data Analysis: Scientific Workflows and Case-Based Reasoning

Scientists carry out complex scientific data analyses by managing and executing many related computational steps. Typically, scientists find a type of analysis relevant to their data, implement it step by step to try it out, and run many variants as they explore different datasets or method configurations. These processes are often done manually and are prone to error, slowing the pace of discoveries. Scientific workflows have emerged as a formalism to represent how the individual steps work and how they relate to the overall process. Workflows can be published, discovered, and reused to make data analysis processes more efficient through automation and assistance. In this talk, I will argue that integrating case-based reasoning techniques with workflows research would result in improved approaches to workflow sharing, retrieval, and adaptation. I will describe our initial work on semantic workflow matching using labeled graphs and knowledge intensive similarity measures. Furthermore, I will argue that if scientists followed a case-based approach more closely, scientific results would be more easily inspectable and reproducible. Through scientific workflows and case-based reasoning, scientific data analysis could be made more efficient and more rigorous.
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PLASTICITY

The fundamental continuum aspects of the rate-independent elastic-plastic behavior of materials are discussed. First the general structure of the corresponding rate constitutive relations at finite strains and rotations is examined, bringing into focus the effect of plastically-induced material spin. The choice of stress and strain measures is then reviewed, and it is emphasized that all objective stress-rates equal the Jaumann rate plus terms linear in stress and deformation rate, when the current state is used as the reference state. The induced anisotropy due to stressing is shown to preclude an isotropic relation between the Jaumann rate of Cauchy (or Kirchhoff) stress and the deformation rate. The equations of the classical plasticity theory at finite strains and rotations are presented next, and questions of associative and non-associative flow rules, dilatancy and pressure-sensitivity, plastic anisotropy, Drucker’s postulate and its relation to normality and convexity, and finally the non-coaxiality of the plastic strain rate tensor and the stress tensor are discussed. Then some thermodynamic bases of both rate-dependent and rate-independent inelasticity are considered, emphasizing conditions under which flow potentials for inelastic strain-rates exist. Finally, the problem of strain-softening is briefly discussed, and it is pointed out that both for metals and geo-materials, such softening may often be the result of highly localized damage within the test specimen which no longer remains macroscopically homogeneous, and, hence, should not be regarded as a “representative sample.”
Distinguishing Between Quantitative and Qualitative Research: A Response to Morgan:

This is a response to Morgan’s article (Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 12(3), 268-279) on the qualitative/quantitative distinction. I argue that Morgan has mischaracterized my views on this dis...
Comparing American college and noncollege young adults on e-cigarette use patterns including polysubstance use and reasons for using e-cigarettes.

Objective: Existing literature on young adults’ e-cigarette and polysubstance use focused on college students. This study examined the differences between college and noncollege groups on prevalenc...
Educating Patients Regarding Pain Management and Safe Opioid Use After Surgery: A Narrative Review

In recent years, there have been escalating concerns related to the opioid epidemic. With a steadily increasing opioid supply, it is critical to provide proper education to patients who are prescribed these medications. Education should be emphasized as a means of ensuring safe use and potentially as a strategy for curbing the opioid supply. Patients who undergo surgery are frequently prescribed opioids for postoperative pain; however, the content and delivery of information related to usage is inconsistent and often inadequate. Lack of education on postoperative pain management and opioid use places patients at risk for poor compliance and worse pain control. Furthermore, patients are often not properly educated on opioid-related side effects and risks or about safe behaviors when taking medications. The majority of patients are also not informed about how to store and dispose of leftover medications. Patients who are prescribed opioids require education preoperatively to cover the topics of pain management, opioid-related side effects, and risks, storage, and disposal. Evidence from various studies demonstrates that educational interventions improve knowledge and potentially lead to safer behaviors and reduced opioid use. Education can be provided in various formats with each having unique advantages and limitations.
Modernizing the FDA's 510(k) Pathway.

Modernizing the FDA’s 510(k) Pathway More than 90% of FDA-reviewed devices enter the market by means of the 510(k) pathway. In September 2019, the FDA finalized reforms to the pathway. But further ...
The TechSAge Minimum Battery: A multidimensional and holistic assessment of individuals aging with long-term disabilities

Abstract Background People with disabilities acquired in early to mid-life are living longer, contributing to growing numbers of older adults who are aging with disability, an understudied population likely to be underserved. Objectives This paper demonstrates the usefulness of the TechSAge Minimum Battery as a holistic assessment of health for people aging with disabilities. Methods Survey data of socio-demographic and health characteristics were collected from 176 older adults with long-term vision, hearing, and/or mobility disabilities. A series of descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to illustrate the heterogeneity of the sample. An in-depth analysis of the subsample with vision difficulty was conducted to highlight the tool’s value in assessing detailed contextual information for a specific disability. Results Prevalence of health conditions (M = 4.1; SD = 2.5), prescription medications (M = 4.1; SD = 3.9), and serious functional difficulties (M = 1.6; SD = 0.85) indicated a fair degree of comorbidity, but with considerable variation in number and type among individuals. Subjective health ratings were high overall, but lower scores were correlated with additional comorbidities (r = −0.31-0.40, p = Conclusions Findings highlighted the heterogeneity among people aging with disability and demonstrated the importance of capturing multi-dimensional factors inclusive of an individual’s capacity, context, and personal factors, which the Minimum Battery provides in an integrated assessment. Potential healthcare applications of the tool are discussed with implications for bridging aging and disability services.
Abstract TP345: Humanin, a Mitochondria-Derived Peptide Improves Outcome After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Implication of Mitochondria Transfer and Microglia Phenotype Change

Background and Purpose: Astrocytes are the integral components of neurovascular unit where they act as homeostatic regulator, including after brain injury such as stroke. One mechanism by which ast...
Civics at the Cineplex: How Americans Learn Democracy at the Movies – A Theoretical Construct

American attitudes and preferences about their democratic institutions often arise from cultural socialization, including and especially American feature films. I outline my theories that explain how the stories, images and characters of these films create and validate central elements of political ideology in the minds of voters. I rely on my original film taxonomy and my years of teaching film and politics. My taxonomy categorizes familiar titles such as A Face in the Crowd, but it also includes Watchmen (2009) and early Westerns and the animated Despicable Me. Reading the Constitution may be a dull, labored chore for most Americans, especially undergraduates. However, James Cameron’s extravagant three-dimensional version of Avatar is a sensual feast that exhibits vital political lessons. Understanding the value of American films in political socialization is an occasion to measure independent judgment and the level of sophistication of the American viewer-voter.
Outcomes in lower GI bleeding comparing weekend with weekday admission

Background and Aims Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common indication for hospitalization potentially requiring urgent intervention, which may not be readily available at weekends and off-hours. The aim of this study was to examine the association between weekend admission for LGIB and mortality, time to colonoscopy, length of stay, and hospital charges. Methods The 2016 U.S. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset was queried for admissions with a primary diagnosis of LGIB. Outcomes for weekend versus weekday admissions were compared using survey-adjusted chi-squared or bivariate correlation. Multivariable regression was then used to compare primary outcomes adjusting for the Elixhauser mortality score (a validated measure of comorbidities), colonoscopy, transfusion, shock, and hospital type. Results An estimated 124,620 patients were admitted for LGIB in 2016. Comparing weekend with weekday admissions, there was no difference in unadjusted mortality (0.9% vs 1.0%, P = .636). Colonoscopy within the first day (28.6% vs 23.0%, P Conclusions Early colonoscopy (within the first day) is more common for weekday admissions, but overall outcomes are not affected by weekend admission for LGIB compared with weekday admissions.
A scoping review of the nursing workforce's changing demography: Supporting Baby-Boomer nurses.

Aims This scoping review discusses two telecommuting options to advance scholarship regarding Baby-Boomer nurses' delayed retirement and to extend their contribution to bedside nursing. Background Peer-reviewed studies published in the 15 years before COVID-19 indicate that Baby-Boomer nurses' retirement will increase the global nursing shortage. However, three international trends have affected Baby-Boomer nurses' decision to delay their retirement. Evaluation This review observed the scoping review framework. Key issues COVID-19 further disrupts the current understanding of Baby-Boomer nurses' retirement as they recognize COVID-19's impact on health care systems and younger nurses. Technological advancements and the changing needs of health care delivery have made telecommuting a practical possibility. Conclusion Baby-Boomer nurses can leverage alternative work arrangements to meet their needs and to contribute to clinical practice through telecommuting. This approach extends Baby-Boomer nurses' careers and creates a resource for bedside nurses. Implications for nursing management Clinical experience matters at the bedside. Telecommuting maximizes the retention of Baby-Boomer nurses' clinical expertise to benefit patients and to socialize bedside nurses. Baby-Boomer nurses can contribute to patient monitoring as well as patient education and counselling through telehealth. They can also provide asynchronous and synchronous telementoring to bedside nurses.
A preliminary study of cerebral blood flow, aging and dementia in people with Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND People with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) at an earlier age of onset than those with sporadic AD. AD neuropathology is typically present in DS by 40 years of age with an onset of dementia approximately 10 years later. This early onset is due to the overexpression of amyloid precursor protein from the third copy of chromosome 21. Cerebrovascular neuropathology is thought to contribute in 40-60% of cases sporadic AD. However, the vascular contribution to dementia in people with DS has been relatively unexplored. We hypothesised that vascular perfusion is compromised in older adults with DS relative to younger individuals and is further exacerbated in those with dementia. METHOD Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using pulsed arterial spin labelling in 35 cognitively characterised adults with DS (26-65 years). DS participants were also compared with 15 control subjects without DS or dementia (26-65 years). Linear regression evaluated the difference in CBF across groups and diagnosis along with assessing the association between CBF and cognitive measures within the DS cohort. RESULTS Cerebral blood flow was significantly lower among DS participants with probable AD compared with controls (P = 0.02) and DS participants with no dementia (P = 0.01). Within the DS cohort, CBF was significantly associated with the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) measure and the Dementia Questionnaire for People with Learning Disabilities (DLD) rating (F3,25 = 5.13; P = 0.007). Both the SIB (β = 0.74; t = 2.71; P = 0.01) and DLD (β = -0.96; t = -3.87; P < 0.001) indicated greater impairment as global CBF decreased. Age was significantly associated with CBF among participants with DS. There was a non-linear effect of age, whereby CBF declined more rapidly after 45 years of age. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary study of CBF in DS indicates that cerebrovascular pathology may be a significant contributor to dementia in DS. CBF was associated with diagnosis, cognition and age. Notably, CBF decreases at a greater rate after age 45 and may represent a significant prodromal event in AD progression.
Role of inflammation in virus pathogenesis during pregnancy.

Viral infections during pregnancy lead to a spectrum of maternal and fetal outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic disease to more critical conditions presenting with severe maternal morbidity, stillbirth, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and fetal congenital anomalies, either apparent at birth or later in life. In this manuscript, we review the pathogenesis of several viral infections, particularly relevant in the context of pregnancy and intrauterine inflammation. Understanding the diverse mechanisms employed by viral pathogens as well as the repertoire of immune responses induced in the mother may help to establish novel therapeutic options to attenuate changes in the maternal-fetal interface and prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation is the Procedure to Beat for Advanced Parkinson Disease: A Meta-Analytic, Cost-Effective Threshold Analysis for Focused Ultrasound.

Background Parkinson disease (PD) impairs daily functioning for an increasing number of patients and has a growing national economic burden. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be the most broadly accepted procedural intervention for PD, but cost-effectiveness has not been established. Moreover, magnetic resonance image-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging incisionless, ablative treatment that could potentially be safer and even more cost-effective. Objective To (1) quantify the utility (functional disability metric) imparted by DBS and radiofrequency ablation (RF), (2) compare cost-effectiveness of DBS and RF, and (3) establish a preliminary success threshold at which FUS would be cost-effective compared to these procedures. Methods We performed a meta-analysis of articles (1998-2018) of DBS and RF targeting the globus pallidus or subthalamic nucleus in PD patients and calculated utility using pooled Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor (UPDRS-3) scores and adverse events incidences. We calculated Medicare reimbursements for each treatment as a proxy for societal cost. Results Over a 22-mo mean follow-up period, bilateral DBS imparted the most utility (0.423 quality-adjusted life-years added) compared to (in order of best to worst) bilateral RF, unilateral DBS, and unilateral RF, and was the most cost-effective (expected cost: $32 095 ± $594) over a 22-mo mean follow-up. Based on this benchmark, FUS would need to impart UPDRS-3 reductions of ∼16% and ∼33% to be the most cost-effective treatment over 2- and 5-yr periods, respectively. Conclusion Bilateral DBS imparts the most utility and cost-effectiveness for PD. If our established success threshold is met, FUS ablation could dominate bilateral DBS's cost-effectiveness from a societal cost perspective.
GPCR-mediated Activation of PLCg2 Initiates Dysregulated Recruitment of Neutrophils in Cold-induced Urticaria in PLAID Patients

The current dogma is that chemoattractants G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate beta phospholipase C (PLCb) while receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) activate gamma phospholipase C (PLCg). Here, we show that chemoattractant/GPCR-mediated membrane recruitment of PLCg2 constitutes GPCR-mediated phospholipase C (PLC) signaling and is essential for neutrophil polarization and migration during GPCR-mediated chemotaxis. In response to a chemoattractant stimulation, cells lacking PLCg2 (plcg2kd) displayed altered dynamics of diacylglycerol (DAG) production and calcium response; increased Ras/PI3K/Akt activation; elevated GSK3 phosphorylation and cofilin activation; impaired dynamics of actin polymerization; and consequently defects in cell polarization and migration during chemotaxis. At low temperature, neutrophils expressing the gain-of-function mutant of PLCg2 (D686) displayed better chemotaxis than the cells expressing wild-type PLCg2. The study provides a molecular mechanism for the dysregulated recruitment and activation of neutrophils in cold-induced urticaria in PLCg2-associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation (PLAID) patients bearing gain-of-function mutations of PLCg2.
Perioperative β-Blocker Therapy and Survival

The increased prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) disease together with the awareness of the mortality benefit of β-blockers (BB) in various cardiac pathologies promoted a dramatic increase in the perioperative utilization of BB. A decrease in the myocardial oxygen consumption to avoid supply/demand mismatch in addition to their anti-arrhythmic properties and known coronary plaque stabilizing effect are the main benefits.
Colonic Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Rodent Species

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death shown to play a central role in normal colonic development.1,2 During apoptosis, the nucleus and cytoplasm condense and the dying cell fragments form membrane bound apoptotic bodies which are subsequently digested by phagocytic cells.3 In contrast to necrosis, this process avoids the release of noxious cellular contents, preventing the induction of an inflammatory response.
Content-based image retrieval methods and professional image users

This article reports the findings of a qualitative research study that examined professional image users' knowledge of, and interest in using, content-based image retrieval CBIR systems in an attempt to clarify when and where CBIR methods might be applied. The research sought to determine the differences in the perceived usefulness of CBIR technologies among image user groups from several domains and explicate the reasons given regarding the utility of CBIR systems for their professional tasks. Twenty participants archaeologists, architects, art historians, and artists, individuals who rely on images of cultural materials in the performance of their work, took part in the study. The findings of the study reveal that interest in CBIR methods varied among the different professional user communities. Individuals who showed an interest in these systems were primarily those concerned with the formal characteristics i.e., color, shape, composition, and texture of the images being sought. In contrast, those participants who expressed a strong interest in images of known items, images illustrating themes, and/or items from specific locations believe concept-based searches to be the most direct route. These image users did not see a practical application for CBIR systems in their current work routines.
Maturation of the human bronchial epithelial cell (HBEC) layer causes a jamming transition, but compression of the layer, as in bronchospasm, causes unjamming

In asthma, bronchospasm is one of major characteristics. In HBE cells in air-liquid interface (ALI) culture, compressive stress, as in bronchospasm, induces airway remodeling. Here, we investigated...
Urinary tract infections and renal papillary necrosis in alcoholism.

An enhanced frequency and morbidity of urinary tract infections (UTI) have been observed in association with alcoholism and liver disease. The causes of these phenomena may relate, in part, to the defects in humoral and cellular immune mechanisms that occur in alcoholism. Urinary catheterization is the most common cause of UTI in hospitalized alcoholics. The severity of the sequelae of UTI in alcoholism is demonstrated by the unusually frequent occurrence of renal papillary necrosis (RPN) in conjunction with pyelonephritis in these patients. Indeed, in over 90% of the reported cases of RPN occuring with alcoholism or liver disease, pyelonephritis has been a contributing factor. The proclivity to medullary ischemia and RPN in this patient group may be, at least in part, a result of interstitial renal edema secondary both to infection and the effect of ethanol per se and to renal arterial vasoconstriction that occurs in cirrhosis. The frequency with which death due to sepsis or renal failure occurs in association with UTI in alcoholics obliges the physician to exercise caution in the prevention and treatment of UTI in these patients.
Differences in the Kinematics of Restrained and Unrestrained Conditions of Opening for Two Sizes of Glass Jar

Background Opening glass jars has been noted to be particularly problematic for consumers, leading to many studies related to the opening process. However, most studies place restrictions on jar opening by forcing the jar to remain on the counter or by requiring a specific hand on the closure. Objective The objectives of this research were (i) to evaluate the effect of restrained and unrestrained conditions on kinematics of jar opening, (ii) to evaluate the effects of jar diameter on kinematics and (iii) to evaluate how user characteristics (e.g. hand size) are associated with kinematics. Methods Kinematic data were collected from 21 participants during two opening conditions using jars with two diameters. Condition 1 restrained the participant by requiring that the jar maintain contact with the counter during the opening procedure. Condition 2 was termed unrestrained and allowed the user to open the jar with no requirements on jar or hand location. Results When restrained to a counter, the closure hand produced significantly more rotation compared with the closure hand in the unrestrained condition. Differences were not found in the opening motions when comparing jar diameters. However, hand breadth and length were related to the magnitude of rotation of the closure hand. Conclusions Placing restrictions on the participant, the orientation or location of the jar aids data analysis but may yield results that are not indicative of the user's actual jar opening process. Impositions on user positioning should be carefully considered in studies investigating the opening process of glass jars. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving scientific communication and publication output in a multidisciplinary laboratory: Changing culture through staff development workshops

Communication plays a fundamental role in science and engineering disciplines. However, many higher education programs provide little, if any, technical communication coursework. Without strong communication skills scientists and engineers have less opportunity to publish, obtain competitive research funds, or grow their careers. This article describes the role of scientific communication training as an innovative staff development program in a learning-intensive workplace — a national scientific research and development laboratory. The findings show that involvement in the workshop has increased overall participating staff annual publications by an average of 61 percent compared to their pre-workshop publishing performance as well as confidence level in their ability to write and publish peer-reviewed literature. Secondary benefits include improved information literacy skills and the development of informal communities of practice. This work provides insight into adult education in the workplace.
Environmental Soil-Landscape Modeling : Geographic Information Technologies and Pedometrics

History and Trends in Soil-Landscape Modeling What Do We Really Know About the Space-Time Continuum of Soil Landscapes? Sabine Grunwald Soil Survey and Soil Classification, Richard W. Arnold A Historical Perspective on Soil-Landscape Modeling, David J. Brown Geomorphological Soil-Landscape Models, Carolyn G. Olson Collection of Soil-Landscape Datasets The Impact of Emerging Geographic Information Technology on Soil-Landscape Modeling, Sabine Grunwald and Sanjay Lamsal Topographic Mapping, Scot Smith Pedometrics Digital Soil-Terrain Modeling: The Predictive Potential and Uncertainty, Thomas F.A. Bishop and Budiman Minasny Fuzzy Logic Models, A.-Xing Zhu Modeling Spatial Variation of Soil as Random Functions, Richard Webster and Margaret A. Oliver Stochastic Simulation of Soil Variations, Jean-Paul Chiles and Denis Allard Pedometrical Techniques for Soil Texture Mapping at Different Scales, Marc van Meirvenne and Ingrid van Cleemput Analysis of Complex Soil Variation Using Wavelets, R.Murray Lark Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Scientific Visualization of Soil Landscapes, Sabine Grunwald On Spatial Lattice Modeling of Soil Properties, Jun Zhu, Richard P. Wolkowski, Wei Yue, and Ruifeng Xu Multiscale Soil-Landscape Process Modeling, Jeroen M. Schoorl and Antonie Veldkamp Space-Time Geostatistics, Gerard B.M. Heuvelink and Judith J.J.C. Snepvangers
Dynamic evolution of bz orthologous regions in the Andropogoneae and other grasses

Summary Genome structure exhibits remarkable plasticity within Zea mays. To examine how haplotype structure has evolved within the Andropogoneae tribe, we have analyzed the bz gene-rich region of maize (Zea mays), the Zea teosintes mays ssp. mexicana, luxurians and diploperennis, Tripsacum dactyloides, Coix lacryma-jobi and Sorghum propinquum. We sequenced and annotated BAC clones from these species and re-annotated the orthologous Sorghum bicolor region. Gene colinearity in the region is well conserved within the genus Zea. However, the orthologous regions of Coix and Sorghum exhibited several micro-rearrangements relative to Zea, including addition, truncation and deletion of genes. The stc1 gene, involved in the production of a terpenoid insect defense signal, is evolving particularly fast, and its progressive disappearance from some species is occurring by microhomology-mediated recombination. LTR retrotransposons are the main contributors to the dynamic evolution of the bz region. Common transposon insertion sites occur among haplotypes from different Zea mays sub-species, but not outside the species. As in Zea, different patterns of interspersion between genes and retrotransposons are observed in Sorghum. We estimate that the mean divergence times between maize and Tripsacum, Coix and Sorghum are 8.5, 12.1 and 12.4 million years ago, respectively, and that between Coix and Sorghum is 9.3 million years ago. A comparison of the bz orthologous regions of Zea, Sorghum and Coix with those of Brachypodium, Setaria and Oryza allows us to infer how the region has evolved by addition and deletion of genes in the approximately 50 million years since these genera diverged from a common progenitor.
Inbreeding alters volatile signalling phenotypes and influences tri-trophic interactions in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense L.)

The ecological consequences of inter-individual variation in plant volatile emissions remain largely unexplored. We examined the effects of inbreeding on constitutive and herbivore-induced volatile emissions in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense L.) and on the composition of the insect community attracted to herbivore-damaged and undamaged plants in the field. Inbred plants exhibited higher constitutive emissions, but weaker induction of volatiles following herbivory. Moreover, many individual compounds previously implicated in the recruitment of predators and parasitoids (e.g. terpenes) were induced relatively weakly (or not at all) in inbred plants. In trapping experiments, undamaged inbred plants attracted greater numbers of generalist insect herbivores than undamaged outcrossed plants. But inbred plants recruited fewer herbivore natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) when damaged. Taken together, these findings suggest that inbreeding depression negatively impacts the overall pattern of volatile emissions - increasing the apparency of undamaged plants to herbivores, while reducing the recruitment of predatory insects to herbivore-damaged plants.
Antagonism of temporal fascia to masseteric contraction

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the temporal fascia lends significant aid to the zygomatic arch in resisting the tensions of the m. masseter. It consisted of the unilateral removal of the fascia in two adult Cebus monkeys from its attachment on the superior and lateral surfaces of the arch, which were then covered with a plate of 24K 50 gauge gold to prevent re-attachment. Frontal and lateral cephalometric x-rays were taken and the animals were given three i.v. injections of lead acetate (4 mg/kg body weight) at two-week intervals beginning at time of operation and sacrificed two weeks after the last. The arches were removed close to their attachments and prepared for histological study according to modified technique of Scheiman-Tagger and Brodie ('64). Frontal sections through the right and left arches revealed striking differences between them. The operated side measured approximately 25% less mediolaterally and 16% greater superoinferiorly than the unoperated side. Oriented frontal and basal head x-rays at 5 ft target distance revealed the operated side to be 4 mm lower and 2 mm closer to the midline. The lead lines showed the extensive internal as well as external remodeling that had taken place. Deposition and resorption areas indicated the drifting of marrow spaces and of the zygomaticotemporal suture in the direction of the unopposed pull of the m. masseter.
Enhanced chemoresistance of squamous carcinoma cells grown in 3D cryogenic electrospun scaffolds

It is critically important to study head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenic mechanisms in order to gain a better understanding of tumor development, progression, and treatment. Unfortunately, a representative three-dimensional (3D) model for these evaluations has yet to be developed. The purpose of this study was to replicate tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) morphology utilizing electrospinning technology. First, the tumor ECM was evaluated by decellularizing tumor samples and analyzing the fibrous structure of the ECM by scanning electron microscopy. Cryogenic electrospun silk scaffolds were then fabricated to mimic the tumor ECM, and were found to be similar in fiber orientation and fiber dimensions to the native tumor ECM. Tumor cells were cultured on these ECM mimicking scaffolds and compared to an in vivo model of the same derivative human tumor in terms of proliferation and differentiation. The tumor cells in the 3D model show similar phenotypes to those found in vivo, contrasting to the same cells grown in two-dimensional (2D) culture. The sensitivity of the tumor cells to paclitaxel was compared between 2D culture and 3D culture. The results indicate that increased drug concentrations, orders of magnitude higher than the IC90 for 2D culture, had minimal effects on HN12 cell viability in the 3D model. In conclusion, an in vitro tumor model has been developed that will allow for a better understanding of tumor biology and aid chemotherapeutic drug development and accurate evaluation of drug efficacy.
454 INCREASING SERUM PARATHORMONE (PTH) AND MIGRATORY SUBCUTANEOUS CALCIFICATION IN THE PROGRESSION OF PSEUDOPSEUDOHYPOPARATHYROIDISM TO PSEUDOHYPOHYPOPARATHYROIDISM

Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism progressing to pseudohypoparathyroidism has not been previously studied. A male sibling of a child with pseudohypoparathyroidism was studied for 2 yrs. At 1 yr he had generalized subcutaneous calcifications which were “migratory”, was round faced, slightly obese, with stubby fingers and dimples on the dorsa of his hands. Serum Ca was 9-9.5 mg/dl for the 1st 18 mos and then fell to 8.9, 8.6, 8.3 mgm/dl over 6 mos. Serum P was 5.7-6.2 mgm/dl for 18 mos and rose to 6.4, 6.8 and 7.6 mgm/dl over 6 mos. Serum PTH rose from 54μlEq/ml (N <57) to 89, 117, 312, 735 and 750μlEq/ml over 6 mos. 1,25 Dihydroxy Vit. D increased from 40 to 69 pg/ml (N=17-44 pg/ml). At 3 yrs there was no calcemic, phosphaturic or urinary cAMP response to PTH. Serum PTH was suppressed by Ca infusion and doubled with EDTA infusion indicating that the parathyroids were sensitive to Ca changes. On x-ray, enlarged cranium, thickened diploe, broad and short 1st and 4th metacarpals were seen. Auto immune antibodies were absent. Serum T4 was 7.2mg/dl (low N) and TSH was elevated 17.6μU/ml. Prolactin and cortisol were N. Thus, increasing PTH levels presage overt pseudohypoparathyroidism and may indicate preclinical disease. We speculate that increasing serum PTH reflects increasing compensatory parathyroid production to overcome the PTH receptor defect and serves in the early stage of the disease to maintain normocalcemia.
Hapten-mediated immunopurification of membrane proteins labeled with fluorescein derivatives

Abstract The behavior of cell surface components labeled with fluorochromes can be studied by fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy; further structural analyses would be facilitated by purification of the labeled components. We have developed a protocol for identifying the targets for labeling with fluorescein derivatives, by using 125I-diiodofluorescein isothiocyanate (125IFC) and for isolating the labeled components with anti-IFC immunoadsorbents. Anti-IFC antibodies obtained from rabbits immunized with IFC-hemocyanin were purified by affinity chromatography and coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The anti-IFC immunoadsorbents could then be used to isolate the entire set of 125IFC-proteins from crude detergent extracts of labeled sea urchin sperm. with a 70% yield and a purification of more than 250 fold. Nonspecific binding of unlabeled proteins to the immunoadsorbent was insignificant. When the immunoadsorbent iFC-protein complex was used directly as an immunogen, antibodies were obtained that reacted with the underivatized proteins that were targets for IFC labeling, as indicated by immunoblotting after gel electrophoresis. The antibodies also reacted with the surface of unlabeled sperm as shown by immunofluorescence. Thus, by treating the IFC-sperm proteins as a class, we obtained antibodies that recognized the unlabeled proteins in situ or in cell extracts. This approach should be generally useful in obtaining reagents directed against specific cell surface components.
Involvement of β3-adrenergic receptors in in vivo cardiovascular regulation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract Currently, we have little information concerning the involvement of β3-adrenergic receptors (AR) in cardiovascular regulation in fishes. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of β3-AR ligands on in vivo cardiovascular function in larval and adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In adult fish, injection of BRL37344 (β3-AR agonist) resulted in an increase in heart rate (fH) (~ 31%) while stroke volume (Sv) was reduced (− 25.9%). Injection of SR59230A (β3-AR antagonist) and propranolol (β1/β2-AR antagonist) resulted in increases in dorsal aorta blood pressure (PDA) with differing effect on cardiac variables (fH and Sv). To confirm specificity of the results, BRL37344 was injected following sequential injections of phentolamine (α1-AR antagonist), atropine (muscarinic antagonist), propranolol and SR59230A. While phentolamine had no effect on BRL37344, atropine completely abolished the influence of BRL37344 on fH, Sv and cardiac output (Q). In larval trout, BRL37344 (10 and 100 μM) induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in fH while SR59230A (1 and 10 μM) and propranolol (1 and 10 μM) separately caused a significant concentration-dependent decrease. These data suggest that β3-ARs have an important role in regulation of cardiovascular function, and provide evidence for a potential interaction between muscarinic and adrenergic receptors in rainbow trout.
Postoperative Radiotherapy for Maxillary Sinus Cancer: Long-Term Outcomes and Toxicities of Treatment

Purpose: To determine the effects of three changes in radiotherapy technique on the outcomes for patients irradiated postoperatively for maxillary sinus cancer. Methods and Materials: The data of 146 patients treated between 1969 and 2002 were reviewed. The patients were separated into two groups according to the date of treatment. Group 1 included 90 patients treated before 1991 and Group 2 included 56 patients treated after 1991, when the three changes were implemented. The outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: No differences were found in the 5-year overall survival, recurrence-free survival, local control, nodal control, or distant metastasis rates between the two groups (51% vs. 62%, 51% vs. 57%, 76% vs. 70%, 82% vs. 83%, and 28% vs. 17% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively). The three changes were to increase the portals to cover the base of the skull in patients with perineural invasion, reducing their risk of local recurrence; the addition of elective neck irradiation in patients with squamous or undifferentiated histologic features, improving the nodal control, distant metastasis, and recurrence-free survival rates (64% vs. 93%, 20% vs. 3%, and 45% vs. 67%, respectively; p p = 0.014). Multivariate analysis revealed advancing age, the need for enucleation, and positive margins as independent predictors of worse overall survival. The need for enucleation also predicted for worse local control. Conclusion: The three changes in radiotherapy technique improved the outcomes for select patients as predicted. Despite these changes, little demonstrable overall improvement occurred in local control or survival for these patients and additional work must be done.