cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corporate medical cultures: MD Anderson as a case study in American corporate medical values.

This paper contributes to the evolving body of literature diagnosing the ‘business-like’ transformation of American medicine by historicising and recuperating the concepts of medical leadership and the corporation. In an analysis of the evolving uses of ‘leadership’ in medical literature, we argue that the term’s appeal derives from its ability to productively articulate the inevitable conflicts that arise between competing values in corporations, and so should be understood as a response to the neoliberal corporation’s false resolutions of conflict according to the single value of profit (or consumer welfare for the business-like non-profit). Drawing on mid-century theories of the corporation to reframe dominant social histories of medical corporatisation, we go on to argue that large medical institutions are productive sites for deliberation over the medical profession’s social contract. Our primary case study for this longer historical and broader theoretical argument is the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the world’s foremost treatment hospital for patients with cancer. We hold that the historical trajectory that led to MD Anderson’s exceptional but exemplary place in the evolution of American corporate medicine is reflective of historical trends in the practice.
Conglomerate crystallization in organic compounds II. The conformation, configuration, and spontaneous resolution of 1-phenyl-2-cyano-cyclopropane

The crystal structure of 1 -phenyi-2-cyano-cyclopropane was investigated to probe the stereochemical effects of placing different groups at the 2-position of the phenylcyclopropane moiety. The substance crystallized in space group P212121 with cell constants a=16.921(3), b=7.699(2), and c=6.251(2) A; V=814.33 A3 and D (calc; z=4) =1.168 g·cm−3. Final R(F)=0.04, using unit weights. The phenyl substituent is almost exactly in the bi-secting conformation with respect to the C-C-C angle at the point of attachment to cyclopropane. The average value of the C-C distances in the three-membered ring is 1.501 A, which is on the low side of the ranges cited in previous studies. When we apply the “additivity principle” to our measured geometrical data and calculate the “asymmetry parameters, ” the value ofδcns [0.012(3)] is a little low, but within experimental error it is in accord with the value (0.017) given by Allen. However, our value of δcns (0.006(3)] is substantially lower than Allen's, which is surprising, since the bisecting phenyl ring can exert its maximum effect on the asymmetry of cyclopropane. The substance undergoes spontaneous resolution into a conglomerate of chiral crystals. Unfortunately, in the absence of anomalous scatterers, the absolute configuration could not be determined; nonetheless, the space group in which the compound crystallizes is P212121, which leaves no ambiguity to the fact that the crystals are a conglomerate.
Mass School Shootings in the United States: A Novel Root Cause Analysis Using Lay Press Reports:

School shootings comprise a small proportion of childhood deaths from firearms; however, these shootings receive a disproportionately large share of media attention. We conducted a root cause analysis of 2 recent school shootings in the United States using lay press reports. We reviewed 1760 and analyzed 282 articles from the 10 most trusted news sources. We identified 356 factors associated with the school shootings. Policy-level factors, including a paucity of adequate legislation controlling firearm purchase and ownership, were the most common contributing factors to school shootings. Mental illness was a commonly cited person-level factor, and access to firearms in the home and availability of large-capacity firearms were commonly cited environmental factors. Novel approaches, including root cause analyses using lay media, can identify factors contributing to mass shootings. The policy, person, and environmental factors associated with these school shootings should be addressed as part of a multipronged effort to prevent future mass shootings.
Anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most dangerous complication of oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT). Up to half of patients with OAT-related ICH experience early clinical deterioration due to active bleeding, leading to hematoma enlargement. Prevention of ICH expansion is therefore one of the primary goals of acute ICH treatment. Blood pressure control and rapid reversal of coagulopathy are the mainstays of acute medical management. Specific reversal agents for vitamin K antagonists, direct thrombin inhibitors, and Factor Xa inhibitors are now available for clinical use, and may improve outcomes when given early enough in the clinical course.
Just Food: Why We Need to Think More About Decoupled Crop Subsidies as an Obligation to Justice

In this article I respond to the obligation to institute the policy of decoupled crop subsidies as is provided in Pilchman’s article “Money for Nothing: Are decoupled Crop Subsidies Just?” With growing problems of poor nutrition in the United States there have been two different but related phenomenon that have appeared. First, the obesity epidemic that has ravaged the nation and left an increasing number of people very unhealthy; and second, the phenomenon of food deserts where individuals are unable to access fresh fruits and vegetables. A possible solution to this problem, as has been proposed by some, is to institute a decoupled crop subsidy that would increase the production of fruits and vegetables in the United States. In this paper I explore the possible unintended consequences of this policy and how it may violate liberal international conceptions of justice. I conclude that there must be further empirical research before anyone can call decoupled crop subsidies an obligation to justice.
MicroRNA sequencing of rat hippocampus and human biofluids identifies acute, chronic, focal and diffuse traumatic brain injuries.

High-throughput sequencing technologies could improve diagnosis and classification of TBI subgroups. Because recent studies showed that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as noninvasive markers of TBI, we performed miRNA-seq to study TBI-induced changes in rat hippocampal miRNAs up to one year post-injury. We used miRNA PCR arrays to interrogate differences in serum miRNAs using two rat models of TBI (controlled cortical impact [CCI] and fluid percussion injury [FPI]). The translational potential of our results was evaluated by miRNA-seq analysis of human control and TBI (acute and chronic) serum samples. Bioinformatic analyses were performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, miRDB, and Qlucore Omics Explorer. Rat miRNA profiles identified TBI across all acute and chronic intervals. Rat CCI and FPI displayed distinct serum miRNA profiles. Human miRNA profiles identified TBI across all acute and chronic time points and, at 24 hours, discriminated between focal and diffuse injuries. In both species, predicted gene targets of differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in neuroplasticity, immune function and neurorestoration. Chronically dysregulated miRNAs (miR-451a, miR-30d-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-204-5p) are linked to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. These data suggest that circulating miRNAs in biofluids can be used as “molecular fingerprints” to identify acute, chronic, focal or diffuse TBI and potentially, presence of neurodegenerative sequelae.
Daily fluctuating temperatures decrease growth and reproduction rate of a lethal amphibian fungal pathogen in culture

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are contributing to species die-offs worldwide. We can better understand EIDs by using ecological approaches to study pathogen biology. For example, pathogens are exposed to variable temperatures across daily, seasonal, and annual scales. Exposure to temperature fluctuations may reduce pathogen growth and reproduction, which could affect pathogen virulence, transmission, and environmental persistence with implications for disease. We examined the effect of a variable thermal environment on reproductive life history traits of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd causes chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease of amphibians. As a pathogen of ectothermic hosts, Bd can be exposed to large temperature fluctuations in nature. To determine the effect of fluctuating temperatures on Bd growth and reproduction, we collected temperature data from breeding pools of the Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus), a federally threatened species that is susceptible to chytridiomycosis. We cultured Bd under a daily fluctuating temperature regime that simulated Yosemite toad breeding pool temperatures and measured Bd growth, reproduction, fecundity, and viability. We observed decreased Bd growth and reproduction in a diurnally fluctuating thermal environment as compared to cultures grown at constant temperatures within the optimal Bd thermal range. We also found that Bd exhibits temperature-induced trade-offs under constant low and constant high temperature conditions. Our results provide novel insights on variable responses of Bd to dynamic thermal conditions and highlight the importance of incorporating realistic temperature fluctuations into investigations of pathogen ecology and EIDs.
Achieving the Quadruple Aim to deliver value-based allergy care in an ever-evolving health care system

Abstract Objective To define the concept of value-based care in allergy, and to review challenges and opportunities in value-based health care delivery for allergists and immunologists. Data Sources Articles describing practice variation, health care financing and reimbursement, shared decision-making, cost-effective health care delivery, patient-reported outcome measures, social determinants of health, and screening. Study Selections A narrative review detailing concepts and approaches to improve value-based health care in the context of the Quadruple Aim to address the patient and physician experience, cost, and population health. Results Efforts to improve cost-effective care can be informed by understanding unwarranted geographic practice variation and benchmarking best practices. Although evidence suggests that shared decision-making and addressing social determinants of health have critical roles in high-quality care, some practices such as routine laboratory screening for urticaria, premedication to prevent recurrent low- or iso-osmolar contrast reactions, extended observation of resolved anaphylaxis, food allergy screening, and penicillin allergy overdiagnosis have high costs in relation to overall societal benefit. Food allergy prevention, newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency, and penicillin delabeling are examples of population-based opportunities in which allergists and immunologists can assist in creating health care value. Although efforts to incentivize value-based care have emerged in recent years, the degree to which process measures improve patient-important outcomes remain uncertain. Clinician wellness must be made a priority for continued effective practice. Conclusion As health care systems continue to evolve, allergists and immunologists will play a key role in optimizing value by translating emerging evidence into practice and communicating novel approaches to prevent and treat allergic diseases.
Imaging white adipose tissue with confocal microscopy

Adipose tissue is composed of a variety of cell types that include mature adipocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, adipocyte progenitors, and a range of inflammatory leukocytes. These cells work in concert to promote nutrient storage in adipose tissue depots and vary widely based on location. In addition, overnutrition and obesity impart significant changes in the architecture of adipose tissue that are strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction. Recent studies have called attention to the importance of adipose tissue microenvironments in regulating adipocyte function and therefore require techniques that preserve cellular interactions and permit detailed analysis of three-dimensional structures in fat. This chapter summarizes our experience with the use of laser scanning confocal microscopy for imaging adipose tissue in rodents.
Assessment of Prescription Analgesic Use in Older Adults With and Without Chronic Kidney Disease and Outcomes.

Importance Pain is a common symptom among patients with kidney disease. However, little is known about use of analgesics among patients aged 65 years or older with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who do not receive dialysis treatment. Objective To assess national trends and geographic variations in use of opioids and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in older adults with and without CKD in the US (2006-2015) and examine associations between use of opioids and patient outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used the 5% Medicare claims data (2005-2015) to select 10 retrospective annual cohorts of Medicare Part D beneficiaries aged 65 years and older from 2006 to 2015 and a retrospective longitudinal cohort. Data were analyzed in August 2019. Exposures CKD status and other comorbidities identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Main Outcomes and Measures Analgesic use was measured by overall use (proportion of ever used opioids/NSAIDs), long-term use (prescribed >90 days), and cumulative use (total annual days' supply). Patient outcomes included progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and all-cause mortality. Results A total of 6 260 454 beneficiaries (9.6% identified with CKD by claims) were selected in the annual cohorts and 649 339 beneficiaries (8.3% identified with CKD) were selected in the longitudinal cohort. There was significant growth in opioid use (31.2%-42.4%) and NSAID use (10.7%-16.6%) among patients aged 65 years and older with CKD from 2006 to 2015. Long-term use of opioids increased during 2006 to 2014 (25.8%-36.7%) but decreased through 2015 at 35.6%, while long-term use of NSAIDs remained stable. Opioid use was higher in patients with CKD, particularly CKD stages 4 to 5 (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% CI, 1.33-1.37; P < .001) compared with non-CKD. NSAID use was lower in patients with CKD stages 4 to 5 (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.54-0.56; P < .001). Substantial geographic variations in analgesic use were observed across states (opioid use in CKD: 24.7%-54.3%; NSAID use in CKD: 11.2%-20.8%, 2012-2015). Opioid use was associated with progression to ESKD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16; P = .001) and death (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.18-1.20; P < .001) independent of CKD status and other covariates. There was an inverse association between NSAID use and death (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.83-0.85; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance Among Medicare patients with CKD, use of prescription analgesics, both opioid and NSAID, increased from 2006 to 2015. Optimizing pain management in a complex condition such as kidney disease should remain a priority for clinicians and researchers alike.
Efficacy of a Low Vision Patient Consultation

A variety of obstacles can prevent persons or individuals with low vision from deriving the greatest possible benefit from the rehabilitation process, including inadequate understanding of their vi...
Reconstruction and uncertainty quantification of lattice Hamiltonian model parameters from observations of microscopic degrees of freedom

The emergence of scanning probe and electron beam imaging techniques has allowed quantitative studies of atomic structure and minute details of electronic and vibrational structure on the level of individual atomic units. These microscopic descriptors, in turn, can be associated with local symmetry breaking phenomena, representing the stochastic manifestation of the underpinning generative physical model. Here, we explore the reconstruction of exchange integrals in the Hamiltonian for a lattice model with two competing interactions from observations of microscopic degrees of freedom and establish the uncertainties and reliability of such analysis in a broad parameter-temperature space. In contrast to other approaches, we specifically specify a loss function inherent to thermodynamic systems and utilize it to estimate uncertainty in simulated realizations of different models. As an ancillary task, we develop a machine learning approach based on histogram clustering to predict phase diagrams efficiently using a reduced descriptor space. We further demonstrate that reconstruction is possible well above the phase transition and in the regions of parameter space when the macroscopic ground state of the system is poorly defined due to frustrated interactions. This suggests that this approach can be applied to the traditionally complex problems of condensed matter physics such as ferroelectric relaxors and morphotropic phase boundary systems, spin and cluster glasses, and quantum systems once the local descriptors linked to the relevant physical behaviors are known.
Quality improvement approach to increasing respiratory therapist driven teach back style asthma education

Asthma is a common chronic medical condition that can require treatment with multiple inhaled medications. Our quality improvement group established a standard asthma teaching protocol with respira...
Concurrent E-cigarette and marijuana use and health-risk behaviors among U.S. high school students

The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and marijuana remain prevalent problems among adolescents nationwide. We assessed current (past 30-day) exclusive e-cigarette use, exclusive marijuana use, and concurrent use with unintentional injury and violent behaviors, alcohol and other drug use behaviors, and sexual behaviors among U.S. high school students. We analyzed 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data including 12,578 high school students nationwide. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to compare these health-risk behaviors among exclusive e-cigarette users, exclusive marijuana users, and concurrent users with non-users among the overall sample, and then to compare exclusive e-cigarette users and exclusive marijuana users with concurrent users among current users only. All models adjusted for adolescent sex, grade, and race/ethnicity, and other tobacco product use. Approximately 77% of students were non-users, 5.2% were exclusive e-cigarette users, 9.9% were exclusive marijuana users, and 7.8% were concurrent users. Compared to non-users, exclusive e-cigarette users and exclusive marijuana users were more likely to engage in most negative health-risk behaviors associated with unintentional injuries and violence, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual behaviors. Among current users only, exclusive e-cigarette users and exclusive marijuana users were at reduced odds of engaging in most of these health-risk behaviors when compared to concurrent users of both substances. The relationship between exclusive and concurrent e-cigarette and marijuana use and health-risk behaviors highlights the importance of comprehensive educational efforts during high school. Findings suggest need for more studies on influence of e-cigarette and marijuana use on injury and violence risk among youth.
State and Family in China

In Imperial China, the idea of filial piety not only shaped family relations but was also the official ideology by which Qing China was governed. In State and Family in China, Yue Du examines the relationship between politics and intergenerational family relations in China from the Qing period to 1949, focusing on changes in family law, parent-child relationships, and the changing nature of the Chinese state during this period. This book highlights how the Qing dynasty treated the state-sponsored parent-child hierarchy as the axis around which Chinese family and political power relations were constructed and maintained. It shows how following the fall of the Qing in 1911, reform of filial piety law in the Republic of China became the basis of state-directed family reform, playing a central role in China's transition from empire to nation-state.
The Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Pediatric Obesity: A Nationwide Analysis.

Objective:Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have both acute and chronic consequences when untreated. We hypothesize that a link exists between childhood obesity and OSA at nationwide leve...
Data Efficient Estimation for Quality of Transmission Through Active Learning in Fiber-Wireless Integrated Network

Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimation, where the received signal quality is predicted before deployment, plays a significant role in efficient resource utilization, such as determining the optimal transmission configuration. Traditionally, it is implemented with analytical models, and often accompanied by large link margins to account for the low estimation accuracy. Machine learning (ML) based methods have been recently demonstrated as an alternative solution with high accuracy. However, they require a large number of training data, which is often expensive to obtain in the context of QoT estimation. In this paper, we use active learning (AL) to achieve data efficient QoT estimation. A learner actively selects the training data to be labeled by applying the strategy of uncertainty sampling which favors data with high model uncertainty. A data selection algorithm compatible with the widely studied artificial neural network (ANN)-based QoT estimator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in a fiber-wireless integrated testbed. Monte Carlo dropout (MC dropout) is utilized to calculate model uncertainty. To achieve a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.055, the number of training data can be reduced by more than 25% compared with the conventional passive ML. The algorithm is also investigated under different sampling settings and the impact of hyperparameters is discussed.
Sequencing of Renal Mass Biopsy and Ablation: Results from the National Cancer Database

AbstractIntroduction:We assessed current utilization and sequencing of renal mass biopsy (RMB) and thermal ablation for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients in the United States.Methods:The 2004–201...
The association between psychological functioning and social support and social constraint after cancer diagnosis: a 30-day daily diary study

This study evaluated one positive and one negative aspect of social functioning (social support and social constraint, respectively) to increase understanding of its relation to psychological functioning (distress and wellbeing) after cancer diagnosis. Participants in this longitudinal study were recently diagnosed, predominately late stage, first primary cancer survivors (n = 48). Data collection involved a 30-day period of daily assessment. Data were analyzed using multilevel linear models. As in prior studies, none of the variables changed significantly over time (ps = .07 to .99). Based on the intraclass correlation coefficient, 51 to 75% of the variance in the daily assessment data are attributable to between-person differences. There was a positive relationship between social constraint and both general and cancer-specific distress (ps < .05) and between social support and cancer-specific wellbeing (ps < .001). In prospective models, higher than average general distress predicted higher social support the next day (p = .004) and higher than average cancer-specific wellbeing predicted more social constraint the next day (p = .01). The findings lend some support to the interdependence of social functioning and psychological functioning after cancer diagnosis.
Effect of channel aspect ratio and fin geometry on fluid flow and heat transfer performance of sectional oblique fin microchannels

Single-pass micro-channel heat sinks (MCHS) with water as the working fluid have been shown to deliver large heat removal rates with marginal pressure drop penalty. MCHS, because of their high surface area to volume ratio, provide large heat transfer coefficients (HTC) not found in other macro-scale channels and have found applications in power electronic devices and aerospace heat exchangers. Micro-channels with sectional oblique fins in the same direction augment heat transfer by reinitializing the boundary layer at the leading edge of each fin, causing the flow to be in a developing state, resulting in improved thermal performance. A detailed numerical study has been carried out on oblique fin microchannel heat sinks (OMC) to investigate the impact of channel aspect ratio (AR) and fin-pitch to oblique channel width ratio (BETA) on heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics. OMC with an aspect ratio ranging from 0.25 to 1, followed by four BETA values between 4 and 8, have been tested. Results reveal that OMC with AR of 0.6 outperforms the other configurations. A trade-off has been established where taller fins, although providing higher heat transfer area, suffer from poor fin efficiency, significantly impacting Nusselt number. OMC with BETA up to 6 has been shown to have similar hydro-thermal performance. The existing interplay between increasing mean channel velocity and decreasing heat transfer area has been identified at large hydraulic diameters.
Ritual, Place, and Experience in Hindu Home-Temple Visitation

This is a journey into the sacred interior of a Hindu “home-temple” with a devi (goddess) as its primary deity, located in California, United States. The ritual process of darshan (i.e. visitation and engagement with the divine) will be highlighted. This descriptive analysis draws attention to the role of physical and spatial elements, experiential and emotional components in ritual and the multisensoriality of sacred engagement. Following this will be a discussion of the primary learnings focusing on the three aspects, provision of a few methodological recommendations, ending with propaedeutic considerations for the study of Hinduism and Hindu ritual.
Environment, food residue, and dry cleaning tool all influence the removal of food powders and allergenic residues from stainless steel surfaces

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate how the properties of powered food (particle size and chemical composition), food contact surface (surface roughness), and the environment (ambient relative humidity) impact the efficacy of brushing and scraping in removing wheat flour and non-fat dry milk (NFDM) from stainless steel coupon surfaces. Scraping was significantly less effective than brushing in the removal of powder under all conditions. The number of brush passes (7 ± 2) required to remove NFDM at 0.81 aw was significantly greater than for samples at lower aw levels. Moreover, surface protein residues were still detected following brush removal of NFDM at 0.69 and 0.81 aw. Adhesion and cohesion in samples equilibrated at different relative humidity levels (i.e. different resulting aw) were measured using custom test cells to quantify shear force. Greater adhesion and cohesion were detected for NFDM at higher aw levels. Adhesion and cohesion of NFDM at 0.81 aw were determined to be 129 ± 60 N/m2 and 5418 ± 633 N/m2, respectively. In addition, the particle size of NFDM (75, 180 and 355 μm) and the interaction between particle size and surface roughness (Ra = 0.17 ± 0.09, 0.77 ± 0.12, 1.08 ± 0.37 and 2.05 ± 0.40 μm) had significant effects on residual ATP following brushing. However, surface roughness did not significantly affect cleaning outcomes under the tested conditions. Overall, these findings highlight the potential for allergenic residue retention after conventional dry cleaning using hand tools. By better understanding the baseline efficacy of conventional hand tools used in dry cleaning under different scenarios, more effective cleaning technologies can be developed.
Asymptotic Transformations of Differential Equations

A decisive part of the method of the first chapter was the transformation of a formal differential equation $${ \in ^h}y\prime = \left( {\sum\limits_{r = 0}^\infty {{A_r}(x){ \in ^r}} } \right)y$$ (4.1-1) into another one of the same type, $${ \in ^h}z\prime = \left( {\sum\limits_{r = 0}^\infty {{B_r}(x){ \in ^r}} } \right)z,$$ (4.1-2) by a formal transformation $$\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {y = \left( {\sum\limits_{r = 0}^\infty {{P_r}(x){ \in ^r}} } \right)z,}&{{P_0}(x) invertible.} \end{array}$$ (4.1-3) P0(x) invertible.
4 – Modulation and Demodulation Technologies

This chapter deals with the explanation of modulation and demodulation processes that are applicable to Global System of Mobile communications (GSM) and Digital European Cordless Telephone (DECT). Three modulation methods are discussed: minimum shift keying (MSK), Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK), and Π/4-differential quadrature phase shift keying (Π/4-DQPSK). GMSK is the modulation used by GSM, GSM-1800, and GSM-1900, and Digital European Cordless Telephone (DECT). MSK is introduced as a first step toward GMSK. MSK is derived from offset quadrature phase shift keying (OQPSK) by replacing the rectangular pulse in amplitude with a half-cycle sinusoidal pulse. A Gaussian-shaped impulse response filter generates a signal with low side lobes and a narrower main lobe than the rectangular pulse. Since the filter theoretically has output before input, it can only be approximated by a delayed and shaped impulse response that has a Gaussian-like shape. This modulation is called GMSK. The demodulation of a signal requires that the receiver be synchronized with the transmitted signal, as received at the input of the receiver. The synchronization must be for: carrier synchronization, bit synchronization, and word synchronization.
Simplified three-dimensional culture system for long-term expansion of embryonic stem cells.

AIM: To devise a simplified and efficient method for long-term culture and maintenance of embryonic stem cells requiring less frequent passaging. METHODS: Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) labeled with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein were cultured in three-dimensional (3-D) self-assembling scaffolds and compared with traditional two-dimentional (2-D) culture techniques requiring mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layers or leukemia inhibitory factor. 3-D scaffolds encapsulating ESCs were prepared by mixing ESCs with polyethylene glycol tetra-acrylate (PEG-4-Acr) and thiol-functionalized dextran (Dex-SH). Distribution of ESCs in 3-D was monitored by confocal microscopy. Viability and proliferation of encapsulated cells during long-term culture were determined by propidium iodide as well as direct cell counts and PrestoBlue (PB) assays. Genetic expression of pluripotency markers (Oct4, Nanog, Klf4, and Sox2) in ESCs grown under 2-D and 3-D culture conditions was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression of selected stemness markers was determined by two different methods, immunofluorescence staining (Oct4 and Nanog) and western blot analysis (Oct4, Nanog, and Klf4). Pluripotency of 3-D scaffold grown ESCs was analyzed by in vivo teratoma assay and in vitro differentiation via embryoid bodies into cells of all three germ layers. RESULTS: Self-assembling scaffolds encapsulating ESCs for 3-D culture without the loss of cell viability were prepared by mixing PEG-4-Acr and Dex-SH (1:1 v/v) to a final concentration of 5% (w/v). Scaffold integrity was dependent on the degree of thiol substitution of Dex-SH and cell concentration. Scaffolds prepared using Dex-SH with 7.5% and 33% thiol substitution and incubated in culture medium maintained their integrity for 11 and 13 d without cells and 22 ± 5 d and 37 ± 5 d with cells, respectively. ESCs formed compact colonies, which progressively increased in size over time due to cell proliferation as determined by confocal microscopy and PB staining. 3-D scaffold cultured ESCs expressed significantly higher levels (P < 0.01) of Oct4, Nanog, and Kl4, showing a 2.8, 3.0 and 1.8 fold increase, respectively, in comparison to 2-D grown cells. A similar increase in the protein expression levels of Oct4, Nanog, and Klf4 was observed in 3-D grown ESCs. However, when 3-D cultured ESCs were subsequently passaged in 2-D culture conditions, the level of these pluripotent markers was reduced to normal levels. 3-D grown ESCs produced teratomas and yielded cells of all three germ layers, expressing brachyury (mesoderm), NCAM (ectoderm), and GATA4 (endoderm) markers. Furthermore, these cells differentiated into osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic, and neural lineages expressing Col1, Col2, Myog, and Nestin, respectively. CONCLUSION: This novel 3-D culture system demonstrated long-term maintenance of mouse ESCs without the routine passaging and manipulation necessary for traditional 2-D cell propagation.
JKK1, an upstream activator of JNK/SAPK, is activated in Alzheimer's disease

JNK/SAPK has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, but the upstream cascade leading to JNK/SAPK activation has not been elucidated in the disease. In this study, we focused on one of the physiological activators of JNK/SAPK, JNK kinase 1 (JKK1). Although there was no significant difference in the level and distribution of total JKK1 between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-matched control cases, increased levels of activated phospho-JKK1 were specifically localized to neurofibrillary pathology including neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaque neurites, granulovaualar degenerations and neuropil threads in severe AD (Braak stage V-VI), considerably overlapping with its downstream effector, phospho-JNK/SAPK, suggesting both a functional and mechanistic link. Nuclear localization of phospho-JKK1 was also found in mild (Braak stage III-IV) but not in severe AD cases (Braak stage V-VI), suggesting a possible re-distribution correlating with the progress of the disease. By immunoblot analyses, phospho-JKK1 was significantly increased in AD over control cases. Together, these findings lend further credence to the notion that the JNK/SAPK pathway is dysregulated in AD and also indicate an active role for this pathway in disease pathogenesis.
Habitability and personal space in seakeeping behaviour

The comfort and the well being on board from small sailing boats to huge passengers ships is the focus of this article that describes the factors directly relationated with the assessment of seakeeping performance of a ship in a specified sea environment. In a recent reference is estimated that nearly 10 million people travel each year on more than 230 cruise ships worldwide. So, the increase of comfort level is one of the naval architecture main tasks. In recent years the development of high-speed craft HSC has been significant. Not only are the dimensions of the vessels increasing, but also service speeds and expectations of performances tend always to increase. Furthermore, it becomes also more common that HSC operate along routes with harsh weather conditions. Therefore, the issues of operability, hydrodynamic loads and comfort are very important in the research being carried out in the HSC area. The construction of a new modern HSC is a huge investment for the ship owner; he needs to be sure about the passengers comfort level. The assessment procedure requires the prediction of transfer functions for different speed and headings for each ship response. These transfer functions are combined with the appropriate spectral formulation based on the sea characteristics. Also the paper emphasizes in the main psychological problems of the passengers on board due to the fatigue and sickness. This study is based on the ship experience and model tests carried out at Ship Dynamics Laboratory in Canal de Experiencias Hidrodinamicas de El Pardo, CEHIPAR (Riola, 2004).
TH-E-BRF-03: A Multivariate Interaction Model for Assessment of Hippocampal Vascular Dose-Response and Early Prediction of Radiation-Induced Neurocognitive Dysfunction

Purpose: Vascular injury could be a cause of hippocampal dysfunction leading to late neurocognitive decline in patients receiving brain radiotherapy (RT). Hence, our aim was to develop a multivariate interaction model for characterization of hippocampal vascular dose-response and early prediction of radiation-induced late neurocognitive impairments. Methods: 27 patients (17 males and 10 females, age 31–80 years) were enrolled in an IRB-approved prospective longitudinal study. All patients were diagnosed with a low-grade glioma or benign tumor and treated by 3-D conformal or intensity-modulated RT with a median dose of 54 Gy (50.4–59.4 Gy in 1.8− Gy fractions). Six DCE-MRI scans were performed from pre-RT to 18 months post-RT. DCE data were fitted to the modified Toft model to obtain the transfer constant of gadolinium influx from the intravascular space into the extravascular extracellular space, Ktrans, and the fraction of blood plasma volume, Vp. The hippocampus vascular property alterations after starting RT were characterized by changes in the hippocampal mean values of, μh(Ktrans)τ and μh(Vp)τ. The dose-response, Δμh(Ktrans/Vp)pre->τ, was modeled using a multivariate linear regression considering integrations of doses with age, sex, hippocampal laterality and presence of tumor/edema near a hippocampus. Finally, the early vascular dose-response in hippocampus was correlated with neurocognitive decline 6 and 18 months post-RT. Results: The μh(Ktrans) increased significantly from pre-RT to 1 month post-RT (p 1M post-RT was interacted with sex (p<0.0007) and age (p<0.00004), with the dose-response more pronounced in older females. Also, the vascular dose-response in the left hippocampus of females was significantly correlated with memory function decline at 6 (r = − 0.95, p<0.0006) and 18 (r = −0.88, p<0.02) months post-RT. Conclusion: The hippocampal vascular response to radiation could be sex and age dependent. The early hippocampal vascular dose-response could predict late neurocognitive dysfunction. (Support: NIH-RO1NS064973)
Inhibition by acyclovir of cell growth and DNA synthesis of cells biochemically transformed with Herpesvirus genetic information

Abstract Thymidine kinase-deficient LM cells (LMTK−-) biochemically transformed to the TK+ phenotype with herpes simplex virus genetic information showed an increased uptake of and ability to phosphorylate the acyclic nucleoside analog 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir, acycloguanosine, acyclo-Guo). In growth inhibition studies the TK+ transformants were much more sensitive to inhibition with acyclovir than the untransformed cells (13- to 90-fold more sensitive). The synthesis of DNA in the transformed cells was significantly reduced by acyclovir treatment, whereas acyclovir had little effect on the DNA synthesis of the untransformed cells. Alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis of cellular DNA synthesized in the presence of acyclovir showed that, in contrast to untreated untransformed cells, the DNA newly synthesized by transformed cells was considerably smaller in size. In pulse-chase experiments the small fragments of DNA synthesized in the presence of acyclo-Guo were not chased to high molecular weight DNA. Finally, acyclo-Guo was shown to be incorporated terminally at 3′-ends of growing DNA chains in replicating cells.
Ribonucleoside reactivities with singlet (1Δg) molecular oxygen

An apparatus was developed for the external generation of singlet ( 1 Δg) molecular oxygen (singlet oxygen) for introduction into aqueous solutions of ribonucleosides and sodium ribonucleate (yeast). In contrast to previous conclusions on the specificity of singlet oxygen toward guanine residues, all ribonucleosides were reactive. The relative reactivities for guanine, uridine, cytidine, and adenosine were 26:13:8:1. Singlet oxygen was also found to react with sodium ribonucleate (yeast).
Multilevel logic synthesis for arithmetic functions

The arithmetic functions, as a subclass of Boolean functions, have very compact descriptions in the AND and XOR operators. Any n-bit adder is a prime example. This paper presents a multilevel logic synthesis method which is particularly suited for arithmetic functions and utilizes their natural representations in the field GF(2). Algebraic factorization is performed to reduce the literal count. A direct translation of the AND/XOR representations of arithmetic functions into multilevel networks often results in excessive area, mainly due to the large area cost of XOR gates. We present a process of redundancy removal which reduces many XOR gates to single AND or OR gates without altering the functional behavior of the network. The redundancy removal process requires only to simulate a small and decidable set of primary input patterns. Preliminary results show that our method produces circuits, before and after technology mapping, with area improvement averaging 17% when compared to Berkeley SIS 1.2. The run time is reduced by at least 50%. The resulting circuits also have good testability and power consumption properties.
Temporal fluctuations in proton relaxation times

Abstract We studied mouse liver, heart and kidney for possible diurnal fluctuations of T 1 and T 2 . In a subgroup of animals, we attempted to relate T 1 and T 2 of the organ samples to their water and lipid content (and in the liver, also to glycogen content). Diurnal periodic fluctuation was found only in liver T 2 and was of a very minor degree. Regression analysis of organ T 2 estabilished relationships with chemical composition which explained 25%–40% of the observed variation in T 2 . No relationship with T 1 could be established.
Climate Change and Ground Water

Abstract This article summarizes the theory of climate change and the relationship of climate-change forcing to hydrologic and aquifer processes. It focuses on regional aquifer systems and on the methods to link large-scale climate-change processes to ground-water recharge and to simulate ground-water flow and solute transport in a warmer, 2xCO2 climate. The article reviews methods currently available to generate climate-change forcing and to simulate regional aquifer systems under ensuing hydrologic conditions. In addition, it outlines the development of a methodology to quantify the effects of climate change and of changes in ground-water use by population growth on hydrologic response. An example illustrates a specific procedure and our current capabilities and limitations to assess the potential impacts of a warming climate and population growth on regional-scale aquifer systems. The results indicate that aquifer exploitation strategies must take into account climatic variability and climate-change pa...
Event horizon scale emission models for Sagittarius A

Very long baseline interferometry observations at millimeter wavelengths have detected source structure in Sgr A* on event horizon scales. Near-infrared interferometry will achieve similar resolution in the next few years. These experiments provide an unprecedented opportunity to explore strong gravity around black holes, but interpreting the data requires physical modeling. I discuss the calculation of images, spectra, and light curves from relativistic MHD simulations of black hole accretion. The models provide an excellent description of current observations, and predict that we may be on the verge of detecting a black hole shadow, which would constitute the first direct evidence for the existence of black holes.
The vortex liquid piston engine and some other vortex technologies

By exploiting three unique characteristics of confined swirling incompressible flows — centrifugal acceleration, internal separation or recirculation zones near the axis, andbistability (i.e. rarefied and condensed stable states) of multi-phase flows — we developed several innovativevortex machines which will revolutionize mechanical technologies in a variety of industries. The machines utilizing these features include:Vortex Engine, Vortex Thruster, Vortex Suction Device, Vortex Chemical Reactor, Bubbling Centrifuge andVortex Mill. As a specific example, we describe here in some detail the development of a liquid piston engine, including analysis of its hydrodynamic and thermodynamic features. We have designed a laboratory ‘cold’ model and performed detailed experimental, theoretical and numerical analyses to study the role of the controlling parameters and are now ready to test a ‘hot’ model. In addition, we mention a few other vortex technologies of interest to us.
Public Attitudes Toward Science and Technology and Concern for the Environment: Testing a Model of Indirect Feedback Effects

This article was inspired by an absence of systematic research on the interaction between public attitudes toward science and technology (PATSAT) and environmental concern, two crucial sets of beli...
Gauge symmetry breaking, collective modes, and boson superconductivity in the t-J model.

A theory of the t-J model in the presence of an external electromagnetic field is presented. The 1/N expansion for this model in the slave-fermion representation is developed, and it is shown that all the general properties of the theory are satisfied in every order of the 1/N expansion separately. A convenient procedure of the gauge fixing is suggested. It is shown that superconductivity may exist in this model even in the absence of the electron pairing. It is argued that experimental predictions of the theory might agree with the observed properties of the copper oxides.
Improved Layered Space Time Architecture Through Unequal Power Allocation and Multistage Decoding

In this paper, we investigate a new approach for improved performance of layered space-time (LST) codes based on unequal power allocation among layers combined with multi-stage decoding (MSD). LST architecture achieves high transmission rate for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems with moderate complexity through separate multi-user detection and decoding at the receiver. An improved scheme presented in this paper is to employ MSD at the receiver. Such an LST scheme with MSD effectively applies the idea of multi-level coding (MLC), which, based on information chain rule, is capacity achieving. With an MSD receiver, we propose to apply different transmit power among layers, so that they will have the same error performance. As such, the overall error performance is optimized. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme significantly outperforms conventional LST schemes, without increasing computational complexity.
Hotel general manager career paths in the United States

Abstract The career paths of 114 general managers (GM) of U.S. mid-range, up-scale and luxury hotels were studied. Nearly 80% held the Assistant GM position before becoming GMs. GMs followed narrow career paths prior to becoming Assistant GMs, spending 87.5% of their time in only one department. A hotel's two major operational departments, F&B and Rooms, accounted for three-quarters of the GM career paths, with F&B representing 45%. Career paths remained stable for the three types of hotels. Career paths of younger GMs have shifted decidedly towards these two operational departments: 85.4% of the younger half followed career paths in either F&B or Rooms compared to 65% of the older GMs.
Transition Radiation and Optical Bremsstrahlung from Electron-Bombarded Thin Gold Foils

Unbacked gold foils 340- and 530-\AA{} thick were bombarded by a 1.5-\ensuremath{\mu}A electron beam of energy 25 to 100 keV. The light emitted at 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} from the foil normal on the beam exit side was analyzed between 2500 and 5500 \AA{} with a vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer and a glan prism polarizer. The spectral distribution and absolute photon yield in the plane containing the electron beam and photon direction agree well with the transition radiation theory if the bremsstrahlung contribution is assumed to be unpolarized. The photon intensity perpendicular to the plane (of incidence) has the dependence on primary energy indicated by the bremsstrahlung theory of Gluckstern, Hull, and Breit, but only 40% of the expected absolute value. The discrepancy is thought to be due to neglect of optical absorption and refraction in the calculation.