cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
[Soft tissue sarcoma: prognostic factors and multimodal treatment].

Unter dem Begriff Weichgewebssarkome wird eine relativ seltene Gruppe von Tumoren zusammengefasst, die etwa 1 % aller malignen Erkrankungen des Erwachsenenalters ausmachen. Trotz der Vielzahl verschiedener histologischer Subtypen sind deren biologische Charakteristika und ihr Ansprechen auf unterschiedliche Formen der Therapie sehr ahnlich. Weichgewebssarkome entstehen in etwa 50 % aller Falle in den Extremitaten, gefolgt von visceralen/retroperitonealen Tumoren und Sarkomen des Korperstamms. Als primare Therapie wird die chirurgische Resektion des Tumors mit einem angemessenen Resektionsrand von tumorfreiem Gewebe angesehen. Die extremitatenerhaltende Chirurgie fur Tumoren der oberen und unteren Extremitaten ist in mehr als 90 % der Falle moglich. Fur Hochrisikopatienten, identifiziert durch Grading, Grose und Lokalisation des Tumors, lasst sich die lokale Tumorkontrolle durch den Einsatz der postoperativen adjuvanten Strahlentherapie verbessern. Die Lokalrezidivrate variiert abhangig von der anatomischen Lokalisation. Fur die haufigeren Sarkome der Extremitaten liegt diese bei etwa 30 % mit einem medianen rezidivfreien Intervall von 18 Monaten. Bei visceralen Sarkomen betragt die Rezidivrate 40–50 %. Die Behandlungsergebnisse fur Lokalrezidive von Extremitatentumoren konnen annahernd denen fur Primartumoren entsprechen. Sarkommetastasen der Extremitaten sind vorwiegend in der Lunge zu finden, resezierte isolierte Metastasen haben eine 3-Jahres-Uberlebensrate von 20–30 %. Patienten mit nichtresektablen Lungenmetastasen oder extrapulmonaler Metastasierung haben eine einheitlich schlechte Prognose und werden bevorzugt mit systemischer Chemotherapie behandelt. Die optimale Behandlung von Weichgewebssarkomen ist eine individuelle, auf den einzelnen Patienten zugeschnittene Therapie.
Locomotor adaptations to prolonged step-by-step frontal plane trunk perturbations in young adults

The purpose of this study was to quantify the magnitude and time course of dynamic balance control adaptations to prolonged step-by-step frontal plane forces applied to the trunk during walking. Healthy young participants (n = 10, 5 female) walked on an instrumented split-belt treadmill while an external cable-driven device applied frontal plane forces to the trunk. Two types of forces were applied: 1) forces which accentuated COM movement in the frontal plane (destabilizing) and 2) forces which resisted COM movement in the frontal plane (stabilizing). We quantified dynamic balance control using frontal plane measures of (1) the extent of center of mass (COM) movement over a gait cycle (COM sway), (2) the magnitude of base of support (step width), and (3) cadence. During destabilizing force conditions, COM sway, step width, and cadence increased. In response to stabilizing force conditions, COM sway decreased. In addition, during destabilizing balance conditions participants made quicker adaptations to their step width compared to the time to adapt to stabilizing forces. Taken together, these results provide important insight into differences in dynamic balance control strategies in response to stabilizing and destabilizing force fields.
Simplified performance-based optimal seismic design of reinforced concrete frame buildings

Abstract This paper presents a simplified performance-based optimal seismic design approach for multi-story reinforced concrete moment frames. The proposed approach minimizes construction cost and takes member plastic rotation and optionally inter-story drift as optimization constraints. Other seismic design requirements reflecting successful design practice are also incorporated. Simplification is made by reducing design variables into two, one for overall system stiffness and the other for overall system strength. The optimization contains two stages, the determination of feasible region boundary in strength and stiffness domain and optimization in material consumption domain. Capacity spectrum method, which jointly considers nonlinear static analysis and inelastic design spectrum, is used to estimate the global and local deformation demands at peak dynamic response. The proposed optimization approach is applied to the design of a six-story reinforced concrete frame. The design results indicate that 30% of needed flexural strength and 26% of cross-sectional area can be reduced from the initial strength-based design. Nonlinear time-history analyses are conducted on the optimized structure using ten historical ground motions scaled to represent three levels of seismic hazard.
Ethical concerns expressed by forensic psychiatrists.

A survey was made of American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) forensic psychiatrists to evaluate whether there is concern among them about potential ethical problems in criminal justice work. Of the respondents, 93.8% had encountered such problems. The main concerns indicated were about those psychiatrists who become a “hired gun,” become an advocate, do not give an honest opinion, or have problems with confidentiality. The need for ethical guidelines and further debate about ethical issues is presented.
Protease-Mediated Growth of Staphylococcus aureus on Host Proteins Is opp3 Dependent.

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to cause infections in multiple organ systems, suggesting an ability to rapidly adapt to changing carbon and nitrogen sources. Although there is little information about the nutrients available at specific sites of infection, a mature skin abscess has been characterized as glucose depleted, indicating that peptides and free amino acids are an important source of nutrients for the bacteria. Our studies have found that mutations in enzymes necessary for growth on amino acids, including pyruvate carboxykinase (ΔpckA) and glutamate dehydrogenase (ΔgudB), reduced the ability of the bacteria to proliferate within a skin abscess, suggesting that peptides and free amino acids are important for S. aureus growth. Furthermore, we found that collagen, an abundant host protein that is present throughout a skin abscess, serves as a reservoir of peptides. To liberate peptides from the collagen, we identified that the host protease, MMP-9, as well as the staphylococcal proteases aureolysin and staphopain B function to cleave collagen into peptide fragments that can support S. aureus growth under nutrient-limited conditions. Moreover, the oligopeptide transporter Opp3 is the primary staphylococcal transporter responsible for peptide acquisition. Lastly, we observed that the presence of peptides (3-mer to 7-mer) induces the expression of aureolysin, suggesting that S. aureus has the ability to detect peptides in the environment. IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus has the ability to cause infections in a variety of niches, suggesting a robust metabolic capacity facilitating proliferation under various nutrient conditions. The mature skin abscess is glucose depleted, indicating that peptides and free amino acids are important sources of nutrients for S. aureus. Our studies have found that mutations in both pyruvate carboxykinase and glutamate dehydrogenase, enzymes that function in essential gluconeogenesis reactions when amino acids serve as the major carbon source, reduce bacterial burden in a murine skin abscess model. Moreover, peptides liberated from collagen by host protease MMP-9 as well as the staphylococcal protease aureolysin support S. aureus growth in an Opp3-dependent manner under nutrient-limited conditions. Additionally, the presence of peptides induces aureolysin expression. Overall, these studies define one pathway by which S. aureus senses a nutrient-limiting environment and induces factors that function to acquire and utilize carbon from host-derived sources.
Association Analysis: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Hypertension Status in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND This study examined the relationship between prenatal exposure to alcohol, manifested through fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and pFAS, and hypertension in children and adolescents. METHODS This study was designed to analyze the association between fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) Status and hypertension status. FAS/pFAS-diagnosed respondents (n = 125) were collected from a FASD Clinical database in Atlanta, Georgia. Non-FAS/pFAS respondents (n = 500) were taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Chi-square analyses were used to examine the extent to which FASD status, sex, race/ethnicity, medication use, and obesity status each related to hypertension status. A logistic regression was performed analyzing the relationship between FASD status (y/n: independent) and hypertension status (y/n: dependent) while controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, medication use, and obesity status. RESULTS Univariate relationships between hypertension status and FASD status (OR = 8.46, p < 0.001), medication use (OR = 3.25, p < 0.001), and obesity status (OR = 3.03, p = 0.02) proved to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). FASD status significantly predicted hypertension status (β = 2.31, OR = 10.06, p < 0.001) after accounting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, medication use, and obesity status. CONCLUSIONS The major findings of this study suggest a significant relationship between FASD and hypertension in youth. Race/ethnicity and obesity also proved important in predicting hypertensive blood pressure readings independent of FASD diagnosis. Further research is needed to isolate prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) as a factor promoting increased hypertension and to assess the risk for hypertension in alcohol-affected adults.
More than an English language learner: testimonios of immigrant high school students

This article examines immigrant students’ stories through the documentation of their testimonios. Given the high number of immigrant students in public schools, it is imperative for teachers and te...
Dopamine metabolite levels in the vitreous of diabetic and non-diabetic humans.

Abstract Animal studies suggest that the retinal dysfunction in diabetic subjects that precedes overt clinical vasculopathy may be due to a retinal dopamine deficit. We analyzed levels of dopamine (DA) and its primary metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), in the vitreous of diabetic and non-diabetic human subjects. Adult patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for non-hemorrhagic indications were prospectively recruited from the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, GA. Vitreous samples were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure levels of DOPAC and DA in the vitreous specimens. Vitreous samples from 9 diabetic patients and 20 from non-diabetic patients were analyzed. No eyes had apparent diabetic retinopathy. Mean normalized DA concentration in vitreous of diabetic subjects was 0.76 ± 0.12 pg/μL vs. 0.73 ± 0.08 pg/μL in non-diabetic vitreous (p = 0.849). DOPAC concentration was 8.84 ± 0.74 pg/μL in vitreous of diabetic subjects vs. 9.22 ± 0.56 pg/μL in vitreous of non-diabetic subjects (p = 0.691). No difference was observed in the concentrations of DA and DOPAC in the vitreous of people without diabetes compared to those with diabetes without retinopathy.
An Update on Multiple Bonding between Heavier Main Group Elements: The Importance of Pauli Repulsion, Charge-Shift Character, and London Dispersion Force Effects

An update on some recent developments in the bonding of compounds with multiple bonds between heavier main group elements is the major theme of this review. A brief historical summary of the field ...
Validation of Landsat-7 ETM+ MEM Thermal Improvement in Thermal Vacuum Tests and in Flight Due to Lower Louver Set Points

The Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) Main Electronics Module (MEM) power supply heat sink temperature is critical to the Landsat-7 mission. It is strongly dependent on the thermal louver design. A lower power supply heat sink temperature increases the reliability of the MEM, and reduces the risk of over heating and thermal shut-down. After the power supply failures in ETM+ instrument thermal vacuum tests #1 and #2, the author performed detailed thermal analyses of the MEM, and proposed to reduce the louver set-points by 7C. At the 1998 Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (IECEC), the author presented a paper that included results of thermal analysis of the MEM. It showed that a 70C reduction of the louver set points could reduce the maximum power supply heat sink temperature in thermal vacuum test and in flight to below 20"C in the cooler outgas mode and in the nominal imaging mode, and has no significant impact on the standby heater duty cycle. It also showed that the effect of Earth infrared and albedo on the power supply heat sink temperature is small. The louver set point reduction was implemented in June 1998, just prior to ETM+ thermal vacuum test #3. Results of the thermal vacuum tests, and temperature data in flight validate the MEM thermal performance improvement due to the 70C reduction of the louver set points.
Design of synthetic human gut microbiome assembly and function

ABSTRACT The assembly of microbial communities and functions emerge from a complex and dynamic web of interactions. A major challenge in microbiome engineering is identifying organism configurations with community-level behaviors that achieve a desired function. The number of possible subcommunities scales exponentially with the number of species in a system, creating a vast experimental design space that is challenging to even sparsely traverse. We develop a model-guided experimental design framework for microbial communities and apply this method to explore the functional landscape of the health-relevant metabolite butyrate using a 25-member synthetic human gut microbiome community. Based on limited experimental measurements, our model accurately forecasts community assembly and butyrate production at every possible level of complexity. Our results elucidate key ecological and molecular mechanisms driving butyrate production including inter-species interactions, pH and hydrogen sulfide. Our model-guided iterative approach provides a flexible framework for understanding and predicting community functions for a broad range of applications.
Leveraging local resources and contexts for inclusive computer science classrooms: Reflections from experienced high school teachers implementing electronic textiles

Promoting open-ended projects presents new opportunities and challenges for inclusive teaching in CS classrooms. While efforts have been made to develop inclusive curricula, little research has foc...
Collaborative knowledge distillation for incomplete multi-view action prediction

Abstract Predicting future actions is a key in visual understanding, surveillance, and human behavior analysis. Current methods for video-based prediction are primarily using single-view data, while in the real world multiple cameras and produced videos are readily available, which may potentially benefit the action prediction tasks. However, it may bring up a new challenge: subjects in the videos are more likely to be occluded by objects when captured from different angles, or suffer from signal jittering in transmission. To that end, in this paper we propose a novel student network called Collaborative Knowledge Distillation (CKD) to predict human actions with missing information under a multi-view setting, i.e., incomplete multi-view action prediction. First, we create a graph attention based teacher model capable of fusing multi-view video features for prediction task. Second, we construct a corruption pattern bank (CPB) to simulate various missing segments in multi-view video, and each student model will manage one pattern through privileged information and knowledge distillation. Third, to account for arbitrary missing video segments in real-world, the ensemble of student models will be developed to make a joint prediction. The proposed framework has been extensively evaluated on popular multi-view visual action datasets, including PKU-MMD and NTU-RGB to validate the effectiveness of our approach and to the best of our knowledge action prediction has not yet been explored in the multi-view setting.
Impact of the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics’ Clinical Practice Guideline on the Identification and Risk Stratification of Youth at Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk

The updated clinical practice guideline (CPG) published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2017 introduced significant changes to the diagnostic and evaluative approach towards children with elevated blood pressure. The goals of this review were to summarize the current evidence regarding the impact of the new CPG on the identification and risk stratification of children at increased cardiovascular disease risk. Universally, the new CPG definitions of abnormal blood pressure led to more children classified as having a hypertensive blood pressure when compared with alternative definitions. Youth who moved to a higher blood pressure stage with the CPG typically had worse cardiometabolic profiles and more comorbidites. The association of CPG-defined hypertension and concurrent intermediate cardiovascular disease outcomes such as left ventricular hypertrophy and increased pulse wave velocity remains unclear; however, longitudinal data suggests an improved identification of those at greatest risk for adult cardiovascular disease with the CPG definitions. The majority of studies reviewed used blood pressure from one encounter, not replicate blood pressures from multiple visits, to define an abnormal or hypertensive blood pressure. Therefore, future studies investigating the prevalence of confirmed hypertension and the association between confirmed hypertension and outcomes are needed to optimally characterize the performance of the new CPG on identifying children at cardiovascular disease risk.
A Case Series of Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State During the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) is rare in pediatrics, particularly in patients with antibody positive diabetes mellitus (DM). Recent literature has implicated COVID-19 in the reported increase in new-onset DM cases, as well as mixed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and HHS cases, however a rise in HHS cases alone has not been well reported [1,2]. We noted an anecdotal increase in the frequency of HHS cases in our pediatric tertiary care center following the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. To investigate further, a retrospective chart review evaluating all patients with DM admitted in the first 6 months of 2019 and the first 6 months of 2020 was conducted. A diagnosis of HHS was defined as a blood glucose over 600 mg/dL with a serum osmolality (calculated or measured) greater than 320 mOsm/kg on initial laboratory evaluation. Patients with DKA, defined as a serum bicarbonate level less than 16 mmol/L with evidence of significant ketosis (serum ketones greater than 3 mmol/L), were excluded from the study. During the first 6 months of 2019, 1 patient met inclusion criteria. However, the diagnosis of HHS was complicated by a concurrent diagnosis of diabetes insipidus, which may have contributed to the hyperosmolar state, and a nonketotic lactic acidosis. Five HHS cases were noted in the first 6 months of 2020, 4 of which occurred in May and June. For the 2020 HHS cohort, the average patient age ± SD was 12 ± 3.34 years. The mean ± SD laboratory values included bicarbonate 18.2 ± 1.64 mmol/L, serum blood glucose 776.8 ± 30.75 mg/dL, calculated serum osmolality 328 ± 4.18 mOsm/kg, and HgA1C 12.72 ± 1.16%. All 5 patients in the 2020 cohort had new-onset DM, with 4 of the 5 patients having at least 1 positive DM antibody (GAD antibodies were positive in 3, ICA/IA-2 antibodies in 2, and Zinc Transporter 8 antibodies in 1). No patients displayed COVID-19 symptoms, and only 1 patient was tested for COVID-19 by PCR, which returned negative. However, SARS-CoV2 antibody testing was not available, and it is unknown if these patients had prior COVID-19 illness. In conclusion, we noted an increased incidence of HHS at our hospital, particularly among new-onset, antibody positive DM patients during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further study and investigation are needed to determine the cause of this increased local incidence, and if infectious, social, or economic influences related to the COVID-19 pandemic contributed. References: [1] Chan, K.H., et al., Clinical characteristics and outcome in patients with combined diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state associated with COVID-19: A retrospective, hospital-based observational case series. Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2020. 166: p. 108279. [2] Unsworth, R., et al., New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes in Children During COVID-19: Multicenter Regional Findings in the U.K. Diabetes Care, 2020.
Die Annals of Scientific Education

An einer groseren Universitat (gibt es eigentlich andere?) sollten Studenten als Hausaufgabe einen Aufsatz schreiben, der als Ubung in „kritischem Denken“ gedacht war. Leider reichten mehrere Studenten Texte ein, in denen sich Unredlichkeit in der Frage des geistigen Eigentums in unterschiedlichen Auspragungen niederschlug. Das reichte von indentischen Aufsatzen (bis auf die Namen der Verfasser) bis zu solchen, in denen dieselben Satze, bur umgestellt, verwendet worden waren. Zwei Studentinnen, die bemerkenswert ahnliche Arbeiten abgaben, reichten Beschwerde gegen die Professoren ein, die ihnen Betrug vorwarfen. Bei einer Anhorung vor dem Schlichtungsausschus schalte sich heraus, das eine der Studentinnen den Aufsatz verfast und ihn an die andere weitergereicht hatte. Die Studentin, die zugab, vom Aufsatz ihrer Freundin abgeschrieben zu hanben, auserte die Uberzeugung, nichts Verwerfliches getan zu haben. Sie erklarte dem Ausschus, sie habe sich trotz der identischen Satze in beiden Aufsatzen das Original lediglich „angeschaut“.
The origin of citrus flavor components—II.: Identification of volatile components from citrus blossoms

Abstract Oils were extracted from the petals, stamens, and pistils of blossoms from two citrus species and from the petals and pistils of blossoms from a third by steam distillation. Analyses were performed using the techniques of gas-liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, i.r. spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. Thirty-eight compounds were isolated and identified.
The Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning: Multimedia Learning with Animated Pedagogical Agents

Abstract In this chapter, I review the theoretical and empirical work on the use of animated pedagogical agents (APAs) in multimedia learning. After defining APAs and reviewing some of the existing applications, I present a cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML) from which predictions for APA design are derived. More specifically, I contrast the potential beneficial and detrimental effects for using APAs in interactive multimedia environments. Then, I provide a critical analysis of the literature summarizing what we know about APAs and discuss the implications of this research for instructional design. Finally, I explore future directions for advancing our understanding about the role of APAs in multimedia learning. Introduction The goal of this chapter is to review the theoretical and empirical work on the use of animated software pedagogical agents (APAs) in multimedia environments and to propose directions for future research based on a cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML). Multimedia instructional environments are widely recognized to hold great potential for improving the way that people learn (Mayer, 2001). Examples of multimedia environments for science and math learning are abundant and usually combine a description of a complex system or procedure in written or spoken words along with corresponding illustrations or animations depicting the system. This format of instruction, when made concise and coherent, has been shown to be effective in fostering student understanding as indicated by performance on solving problem-solving transfer questions (Mayer & Moreno, 2003).
Phonon transport in molecular dynamics simulations: Formulation and thermal conductivity prediction.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the phonon transport in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The chapter presents a formulation for studying the thermal transport in dielectric materials using MD simulations. The simulations allow for analysis in both the real and phonon spaces. The natural inclusion of anharmonic effects through the form of the interatomic potential presents a significant advantage over harmonic theories. The chapter describes, examines, and compares two major approaches for predicting thermal conductivity from MD simulations (the Green–Kubo method [GK] and direct methods). Each has advantages and disadvantages, and the method chosen strongly depends on the problem of interest. Generally, the GK method is superior for bulk phase simulations, while the direct method is best for finite structures. In terms of applying MD simulations to real systems, current computational resources cannot accurately model anything close to a micron in size on an atom-by-atom level. The upscaling of MD results to larger length scale models is a promising and exciting avenue. Upscaling has been applied in a different context to phonon transport across material interfaces by Schelling and Phillpot.
Do TFSA Anions Slither? Pressure Exposes the Role of TFSA Conformational Exchange in Self-Diffusion

Multinuclear ((1)H, (2)H, and (19)F) magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques as functions of temperature and pressure were applied to the study of selectively deuterated 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (EMIM TFSA) ionic liquid isotopologues and related ionic liquids. For EMIM TFSA, temperature-dependent (2)H T1 data indicate stronger electric field gradients in the alkyl chain region compared to the imidazolium ring. Most significantly, the pressure dependences of the EMIM and TFSA self-diffusion coefficients revealed that the displacements of the cations and anions are independent, with diffusion of the TFSA anions being slowed much more by increasing pressure than for the EMIM cations, as shown by their respective activation volumes (28.8 ± 2.5 cm(3)/mol for TFSA vs 14.6 ± 1.3 cm(3)/mol for EMIM). Increasing pressure may lower the mobility of the TFSA anion by hindering its interconversion between trans and cis conformers, a process that is coupled to diffusion according to published molecular dynamics simulations. Measured activation volumes (ΔV(‡)) for ion self-diffusion in EMIM bis(fluoromethylsulfonyl)amide and EMIM tetrafluoroborate support this hypothesis. In addition, (2)H T1 data suggest increased ordering with increasing pressure, with two T1 regimes observed for the MD3 and D2 isotopologues between 0.1-100 and 100-250 MPa, respectively. The activation volumes for T1 were 21 and 25 cm(3)/mol (0-100 MPa) and 11 and 12 cm(3)/mol (100-250 MPa) for the MD3 and D2 isotopologues, respectively.
Interactions of Human hMSH2 with hMSH3 and hMSH2 with hMSH6: Examination of Mutations Found in Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer

Mutations in the human mismatch repair protein hMSH2 have been found to cosegregate with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Previous biochemical and physical studies have shown that hMSH2 forms specific mispair binding complexes with hMSH3 and hMSH6. We have further characterized these protein interactions by mapping the contact regions within the hMSH2-hMSH3 and the hMSH2-hMSH6 heterodimers. We demonstrate that there are at least two distinct interaction regions of hMSH2 with hMSH3 and hMSH2 with hMSH6. Interestingly, the interaction regions of hMSH2 with either hMSH3 or hMSH6 are identical and there is a coordinated linear orientation of these regions. We examined several missense alterations of hMSH2 found in HNPCC kindreds that are contained within the consensus interaction regions. None of these missense mutations displayed a defect in protein-protein interaction. These data support the notion that these HNPCC-associated mutations may affect some other function of the heterodimeric complexes than simply the static interaction of hMSH2 with hMSH3 or hMSH2 with hMSH6.
Hardware-determined feature edges

Algorithms that detect silhouettes, creases, and other edge based features often perform per-edge and per-face mesh computations using global adjacency information. These are unsuitable for hardware-pipeline implementation, where programmability is at the vertex and pixel level and only local information is available. Card and Mitchell and Gooch have suggested that adjacency information could be packed into a vertex data structure; we describe the details of converting global/per-edge computations into local/per-vertex computations on a related 'edge mesh.' Using this trick, we describe a feature-edge detection algorithm that runs entirely in hardware, and show how to use it to create thick screen-space contours with end-caps that join adjacent thick line segments. The end-cap technique favors speed over quality and produces artifacts for some meshes.We present two parameterizations for mapping stroke textures onto these thick lines---a tessellation-independent screen space method that is better suited to still images, and an object space method better suited to animation. As additional applications, we show how to create fins for fur rendering and how to extrude contours in world-space to create the sides of a shadow volume directly on the GPU.The edge mesh is about nine times larger than the original mesh when stored at 16-bit precision and is constructed through a linear time pre-processing step. As long as topology remains fixed, the edge mesh can be animated as if it were a vertex mesh.
High-voltage-activated calcium current in developing neurons is insensitive to nifedipine

We have analyzed the effect of nifedipine on the macroscopic high-threshold, voltage-activated (HVA) calcium current in four cell types: postnatal rat Purkinje and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, embryonic chick DRG neurons, and adult cat ventricular myocytes. As is consistent with previous reports, nifedipine reduced HVA current in myocytes in a voltage-sensitive manner. Analysis of nifedipine actions on neurons, however, was compromised by slow inactivation of the current at holding potentials between −80mV and −40 mV. The slow inactivation was voltage-dependent, irreversible after 5 min, and contributed to “rundown” of the current. At −40 mV, slow inactivation displayed two time constants: 12±8 s and 7±4 min. When slow inactivation was taken into account, we found no evidence for a nifedipine-sensitive component of the HVA current in these neurons. Consistent with previous studies, DRG neurons were reduced irreversibly by ω-conotoxin, whereas cardiac and Purkinje cells were unaffected. Our biophysical and pharmacological results are consistent with two types of neuronal HVA currents (N type and P type) in developing neurons that are distinct from cardiac HVA currents (L type).
Trends in Teaching Religion in Independent and Church-Related Colleges and Universities

(1959). Trends in Teaching Religion in Independent and Church-Related Colleges and Universities. Religious Education: Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 164-170.
Control of a high fidelity ungrounded torque feedback device: The iTorqU 2.1

This paper outlines how a control moment gyroscope can be used to generate haptic torque feedback while minimizing the effects of a constrained gimbal workspace. We present the design of the iTorqU 2.1 and discuss how it compares to previously developed systems. We then detail the control algorithms we have developed for both transparency and torque output modes. The prescribed transparency controller is typical in design, but the torque output algorithm is novel to this type of haptic device. It makes use of a series of position-p-at-time-t commands, which we call packets. Five packet designs were considered in this research, but we have included only the most important three in this paper. While this research deals with torque feedback, it ultimately presents a method for working with devices that are limited by the need for continuous reset to a home position before subsequent outputs.
IL-21 Enhances Antitumor Responses without Stimulating Proliferation of Malignant T Cells of Patients with Sézary Syndrome

IL-21, a common γ -chain cytokine secreted by activated CD4+ T cells, influences both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses through the regulation of T, B, dendritic, and natural killer (NK) cells. Sezary syndrome is an advanced form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a clonally derived malignancy of CD4+ T cells that is characterized by profound defects in host cellular immune function. As a modulator of both innate and adaptive immune responses, IL-21 could play an important role in augmenting cell-mediated immunity in these patients. Normal donor and Sezary syndrome patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured with IL-21 and tested for CD8+ T- and NK-cell activation, NK-cell cytotoxicity, and tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. IL-21 resulted in a modest increase in CD8+ T- and NK-cell activation, associated with a marked increase in cytolytic activity against both K562 and malignant CD4+ T-cell targets. Although IL-21 failed to demonstrate pro-apoptotic effects on the malignant CD4+ T cells, it is noteworthy that it had no demonstrable proliferative effects on these cells. Thus, IL-21 may play an important role in enhancing the host immune response of Sezary syndrome patients through the increased cytolytic activity of T and NK cells.
Calculation of temperature dependence of interbase breathing motion of a guanine-cytosine DNA double helix with adenine-thymine insert

The modified self-consistent phonon approximation is generalized to calculate the critical temperature of a DNA double helix with block inserts of different base pair sequences. An iterative method based entirely on the Green's function is developed to compute efficiently the self-consistent anharmonic force constants and thermal mean-squared vibrational amplitudes in hydrogen bonds. The calculation is carried out for a long guanine-cytosine (G-C) type helix with an insert of d(A${)}_{4}$-d(T${)}_{4}$. The melting-associated behavior is predicted to initiate in major groove bonds in the inserted adenine-thymine (A-T) base pairs at 349 K. This temperature is above the mean-field melting temperature of poly(dA)-poly(dT) due to stabilization of the A-T bonds by the G-C helix and below the mean-field melting temperature of poly(dG)-poly(dC), where dA refers to repeating ade- nine bases on one strand and dT the repeating thymine bases on the other strand.
Automated visual evoked-response system.

An automated system capable of simultaneously monitoring, processing, and displaying 16 channels of human-scalp electrode-electroencephalographic (e.e.g.) data evoked by visual stimulation is described. 3-dimensional displays of the scalp spatio-temporal potential field are automatically generated. Other data-processing features include spectrum analysis various time-domain displays and phase measurements. The results of a study to distinguish' dyslexic from normal children are presented.
Stochastic mixing of protons from chaotic orbits in the nightside geomagnetosphere

The stochastic mixing of protons in the energy range from 1 to 30 keV in the nightside magnetosphere is studied by calculating the local divergence rate of neighboring orbits and the two-time velocity correlation function. The rate of divergence of neighboring bundles of trajectories is shown to have large bursts with average separation times of order 1 minute per e-folding during the crossing of the central plasma sheet in the region beyond -50 Re. For the Tsyganenko magnetosphere the net amount of orbit divergence is 15 to 20 e-foldings in one hour. The velocity correlations are shown to decay as power laws r-m with a distribution of m values. These results indicate that for short time (less than 1 hour) there is reversibility and memory for the protons but for longer times there is no memory for protons in the nightside magnetosphere.
Growth factor-induced neurite growth in primary neuronal cultures of dogs with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Abstract Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a type of lysosomal storage disease resulting in the progressive deterioration of neuronal function. Little is known about the genetics, pathophysiology and biochemical basis of this disease. This is, in part, due to the complexity of the central nervous system and the lack of an in vitro model. In this report, we describe the conditions to establish neuronal cells in primary culture from the brains of newborn English setters with NCL, a canine model for this disease. Over 80% of the neuronal cells from normal dog brain establish well-developed interconnecting networks of long neurites. On the contrary, approximately 50% of the neurons cultured from NCL dog brains do not assemble neurites. Of those NCL neurons with processes, the neurites are routinely shorter and fewer in number than those seen in normal cultures. In addition, the characteristic inclusion bodies, pathological markers for this disease in vivo, are prevalent in the soma of cultured neuronal cells isolated from NCL dog brain. A time-dependent maturation of the inclusion bodies suggests a progression of the disease state in culture. The reduced ability of the NCL neurons to establish neurites prompted us to examine the effects of growth factors on neurite assembly. Our data show that insulin-like growth factor I, epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor are capable of stimulating neurite outgrowth of NCL neurons. We report the establishment and morphological characterization of neuronal cultures from normal and NCL dog brains. The abnormal morphology of cultured NCL neurons can, in part, be alleviated by supplementing the medium with growth factors. The results suggest that this cellular model of NCL will be useful to study the molecular and physiological mechanisms of NCL disease, as well as to test potential therapeutic agents and candidate genes.
Reduction of Hamilton's variational principle

This paper builds on the initial work of Marsden and Scheurle on nonabelian Routh reduction. The main objective is to carry out the reduction of variational principles in further detail. In particular, we obtain reduced variational principles which are the symplectic analogue of the well-known reduced variational principles for the Euler-Poincare equations and the Lagrange-Poincare equations. On the Lagrangian side, the symplectic analogue is obtained by suitably imposing the constraints of preservation of the momentum map.
Mechanisms of exercise intolerance in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Approximately half of patients with heart failure (HF) have a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and with the changing age and comorbidity characteristics in the adult population, this number is growing rapidly. The defining symptom of HFpEF is exercise intolerance, but the specific mechanisms causing this common symptom remain debated and inadequately understood. Although diastolic dysfunction was previously considered to be the sole contributor to exercise limitation, recent studies have identified the importance of ventricular systolic, chronotropic, vascular, endothelial and peripheral factors that all contribute in a complex and highly integrated fashion to produce the signs and symptoms of HF. This review will explore the mechanisms underlying objective and subjective exercise intolerance in patients with HFpEF.
Glacier meltwater stream chemistry in Wright and Taylor Valleys, Antarctica: Significant roles of drift, dust and biological processes in chemical weathering in a polar climate

article This study examines stream chemistry within glacial drainages in Wright and Taylor Valley Antarctica in con- junction with geochemical modeling and sediment leach experiments in order to assess the source of chem- ical weathering fluxes within polar drainages. The targeted catchments are underlain by granitoid basement, with streams flowing through glacial drifts of variable composition. Analyses of meltwater from Clark Glacier in Wright Valley, and Howard Glacier (Delta Stream) in Taylor Valley show increases in solute concentrations as a function of distance from the glaciers. Surface area normalized weathering rate estimates based on Si and K fluxes within the streams confirm that significant chemical weathering is occurring in these systems at rates comparable to field and laboratory rates of silicate weathering under much warmer conditions. Down- stream increases in several cations (Ca, Na, K, and Mg) occur within both drainages; however solute concen- trations between the two streams differ significantly. Clark Glacier stream contains Na>Ca whereas Howard Glacier stream contains Ca>Na distally. Geochemical reaction path modeling for Clark Glacier predicts in- creasing concentrations of Ca, Na, and Mg over the reaction progress, paralleling the results of field data from Clark Stream. Modeling of Howard Glacier stream also shows an increase in several cations; however Na concentrations exceed those for Ca, which differs from the observed field data, and suggests that the dif- ferences in stream chemistry are not due to differing bedrock mineralogy. Instead, ion-leaching experiments conducted on drift sediments demonstrate that (1) glacial deposits within Wright Valley and Taylor Valley may significantly affect stream chemistry through direct water-rock interactions within the stream channel, and/or (2) the water chemistries are influenced by eolian additions of locally sourced dust to glacier surfaces. Differences in Fe concentrations between the two stream systems indicate that biological activity may also significantly influence iron concentrations within Howard Glacier stream.
Job selection criteria: a study of subcultural differences in perception

Reports on graduate business students’ perceived importance ratings of 26 job selection criteria. Attempts to determine if statistical differences exist between the importance rating of African‐American and White‐American respondents. Reports significant differences in the areas of appearance, assertiveness, punctuality and sex. Suggests further research should be done from the point of the employer’s perspective in order to better understand the differences.
The oxidation of U-14 at. % Zr between 700 and 900°C

The oxidation properties of the binary alloy U-14 at. % Zr were investigated in 700–900° C in oxygen at a pressure of 0.05 Torr. Typical oxidation rate curves are presented, and the morphology of the oxide scale is discussed. The creep rate of the alloy during oxidation and a possible mechanism of stress generation are presented. The oxide morphology and the spatial redistribution of the Zr during oxidation are discussed in terms of the relative stabilities of the oxidation products.
Schwann cell response to micropatterned laminin surfaces.

In the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells are closely associated with, and play key roles in, the development, maintenance, and regeneration of peripheral neurons. Following injury, Schwann cell orientation may also play a role in guiding regenerating axons. To aid in the investigation of these interactions between Schwann cells and growing neurites, we have developed a method of controlling Schwann cell placement and orientation in vitro by using microlithographically patterned laminin substrates, alternating 20-µm regions of laminin with bovine serum albumin (BSA) stripes. The Schwann cells predominantly attached and elongated on the laminin stripes and organized into multicellular aggregates that were oriented with the micropattern. A detailed analysis of Schwann cell aggregate orientation and shape demonstrated a strong dependence on time. At 1 h after seeding the cells, 70% of the aggregates were oriented with respect to the micropattern; 94% were oriented at 24 h. Variations in laminin concent...
Preferential Adherence to Immunosuppressive Over Nonimmunosuppressive Medications in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Successful kidney transplantation continues to be associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Treatment for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia adds to the pre-existing medication burden of immunosuppression. We postulated that patients are selectively adherent, preferentially taking some medications and choosing not to take others. To test this hypothesis, a random cross-sectional sample of outpatient kidney transplant recipients was interviewed by a person previously unknown to them using a structured closed-ended interview. Nonadherence was defined as missing any dose of medication over the preceding 1 month. By this criteria, 18.4% of patients were nonadherent to immunosuppressive medications, whereas 44.9% of patients were nonadherent to nonimmunosuppressive medication (antihypertensives, antidiabetic agents, and lipid-lowering agents). More patients were selectively nonadherent to their nonimmunosuppressive medications than to their immunosuppressive medications (P = .028). Patients who were nonadherent to nonimmunosuppressant medications were on a higher number of total medications and were more likely to be diabetic. We conclude that patients are more likely to miss or change doses of nonimmunosuppressive medications than immunosuppressive medications. The importance of nonimmunosuppressive medications must also be stressed at clinic visits to facilitate adherence to all classes of medication. Whether nonadherence to medications that treat cardiovascular risk factors contributes to the persistently high cardiovascular death rate in kidney transplant recipients remains to be determined.
Experimental considerations for temperature controlled measurements of fast charge recombination times in dye sensitized solar cells using open circuit voltage decay and impedance spectroscopy

Abstract Charge recombination at the electrolyte–photoanode interface of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a major efficiency-limiting factor of the cell. To mitigate this recombination effect it is necessary to ensure that the effective electron lifetime in the DSSC is longer than the electron’s transit time across the photoanode of mesoporous TiO2. While the efforts aimed at accomplishing this goal are often based on new materials/designs of photoanodes, a quantitative evaluation of these designs relies on the precision of the benchmarking measurements of electron lifetimes. The open circuit voltage decay (OCVD) technique offers an effective yet straightforward method for such measurements. The present work focuses on certain experimental criteria for ensuring the accuracy of these experiments, and probes the associated effects of temperature variations in the solar cell. The results demonstrate that, a high rate of data sampling is essential for adequately resolving the fast initial stages of charge recombination. The results also show the effects of nonlinear recombination where second order OCV variations are operative. The findings of the OCVD experiments are compared with a parallel set of tests carried out using impedance spectroscopy. The relative roles of the two sets of analytical measurements are examined.