cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Black Lives Matter in Criminology? Let’s Prove It:

This essay examines the the academic journey—graduate school to full professor—of an African American professor of criminology and criminal justice. The essay discusses the how criminology and crim...
Adoptive Transfer of Regulatory Immune Cells in Organ Transplantation

Chronic graft rejection remains a significant barrier to solid organ transplantation as a treatment for end-organ failure. Patients receiving organ transplants typically require systemic immunosuppression in the form of pharmacological immunosuppressants for the duration of their lives, leaving these patients vulnerable to opportunistic infections, malignancies, and other use-restricting side-effects. In recent years, a substantial amount of research has focused on the use of cell-based therapies for the induction of graft tolerance. Inducing or adoptively transferring regulatory cell types, including regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and IL-10 secreting B cells, has the potential to produce graft-specific tolerance in transplant recipients. Significant progress has been made in the optimization of these cell-based therapeutic strategies as our understanding of their underlying mechanisms increases and new immunoengineering technologies become more widely available. Still, many questions remain to be answered regarding optimal cell types to use, appropriate dosage and timing, and adjuvant therapies. In this review, we summarize what is known about the cellular mechanisms that underly the current cell-based therapies being developed for the prevention of allograft rejection, the different strategies being explored to optimize these therapies, and all of the completed and ongoing clinical trials involving these therapies.
Magnetic nanoparticles response to low frequency induction heating in rigid matrices

Magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs)are used where localized heat is required, such as in induction cook tops, laser welding, nano-material welding, and hyperthermia therapy for cancer patients. It is known that mNPs can provide heat based on three mechanisms: hysteresis, Neel’s Relaxation, and Brownian (friction) motion. The studies have shown for biomedical applications that the mNPs generate heat based on frictional losses and do not exhibit hysteresis.1 It is not as thoroughly understood how the mNPs behave in rigid environments, particularly when dispersed throughout a material. The main goal of this paper is to understand the dominant mechanism of heating when mNPs are in a rigid structure and use this understanding to optimize mNPs for localized heat applications. We experiment with the mNPs, induction heat, and heat sensitive paint to demonstrate the mNPs ability to create heat when embedded in rigid matrices. A commercially available induction heater operating at 30 - 104 kHz is used to create a high strength alternating magnetic field to test whether the energy at these frequencies leads to heating when mNPs are present. Studies are done for powdered carbon and iron (Fe2O3) particles and for particles when embedded in polyurethane, rubber, and thermochromic paint. The results suggest that the mNPs exhibit hysteresis in rigid systems. We demonstrate this heating using thermochromic paint on mNP-infused solids.
Effect of Irradiation on Ni-Inconel/Incoloy Heterostructures in Multimetallic Layered Composites

Abstract We use molecular dynamics (MD) to study radiation-induced mixing through multi-metallic layered composites' interfaces for nuclear reactor applications. Here, we consider the Incoloy-Ni and the Inconel-Ni system with four different compositions of Inconel. We investigate the irradiated structure of these composites at different temperatures by performing successive 10 keV collision cascades simulations up to the radiation dose of 0.5 displacements per atom (dpa). We reveal a linear relationship between the interface thickness of the heterostructure with the radiation dose and the higher tendency of Cr for penetration in Ni. The lower migration barrier of Cr assists the formation of vacancies and interstitials. Our results indicate that the Incoloy 800H (Ni32Cr21Fe47) has a high radiation resistance among all the considered compositions.
Increasing Access and Reach: Implementing School-Based CBT for Anxiety in Students with ASD or Suspected ASD

Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at high risk for experiencing clinical anxiety, interfering with friendships, family functioning, and school performance. Many children with ASD and an...
Antibiotic prescribing at a periodontal residency practice in Connecticut.

Background Antibiotics are important in the treatment of odontogenic infections and the prevention of infection following dental procedures in high-risk situations. Little is known about antibiotic prescribing in periodontal practice. This study describes prescribing practices by periodontal faculty and residents in an academic setting in order to identify opportunities to optimize prescribing behaviors. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed all antibiotic prescriptions from residents or faculty in an academic periodontal clinic from 2014-2017. Information was manually extracted from the electronic health record. Antibiotic prescriptions were stratified into three indication categories: pre-procedural prophylaxis, post-procedural prophylaxis, and treatment. Results Out of 275 prescriptions analyzed, 266 met inclusion criteria. The most frequent antibiotic indication was post-procedural prophylaxis (n = 130, 48.87%). Amoxicillin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic across all groups (n = 236, 88.72%), followed by clindamycin (n = 22, 8.27%). Most patients presented in a non-emergent setting (n = 200, 75.19%), without pain (n = 210, 78.95%), and had restorative/endodontic-related clinical findings (n = 55, 20.68%). Among the 35 patients receiving antibiotics for infection treatment, 8 (22.86%) underwent a surgical intervention on the date of antibiotic prescription. Of the 130 patients receiving post-procedural prophylaxis, 121 (93.08%) received surgical interventions on the day of antibiotic prescription. Conclusions Antibiotics are prescribed in various situations in periodontal practice, most frequently as post-procedural prophylaxis, an indication for which data is limited. There is an urgent need to study the role of post-procedural prophylactic antibiotics and understand antibiotic prescribing in the management of periodontal disease in order to optimize prescribing practices.
Radial Inertia in Non-cylindrical Specimens in a Kolsky Bar

For high-strain rate testing of non-cylindrical specimens using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar(Kolsky Bar), a correction for radial interia has been developed, based on a first order approximation of stress-variation in the specimen's cross-section. The motivation for such work is the difficulty in machining fragile specimens to an exact cylindrical shape, as is typicallu required in a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar Experminent. The correction term has been shown to be dependant on the geometry of the specimen's cross-section, the Poission's Ratio and the length of the sample chosen, and hasbeen compared to a similar correction factor, previously developed for a Cylindrical specimen. The latter has been found to be a special case of the formula developed here.
Abstract 14452: Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms Represent Areas of Normal Voltage in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Implications For Ablation

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) followed by adjunctive complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) ablation is thought to be associated with increased freedom from persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after a single procedure. Although CFAE are purported to represent critical sites for AF perpetuation, there are conflicting studies suggesting that CFAE may represent sites of passive wavefront collision, which are not important to the maintenance of AF. Hence, the underlying electroanatomic mechanism of CFAE remains poorly defined. This study evaluated the relationship between CFAE and areas of abnormal atrial tissue defined by low voltage electrograms (LVE). Methods: 14 patients, with persistent AF were studied prospectively. CFAE maps were obtained after PVI during persistent AF. Patients were then cardioverted into sinus rhythm and a new voltage map was acquired in sinus. Abnormal LVE were defined as Results: All patients had substantial CFAEs that accounted for 33.11 ± 24% of total left atrium (LA). In sinus rhythm, only 12.26 ± 10 % of LA area had LVE. There was no anatomic correlation between CFAE sites and LVE; the area of overlap between CFAE and LVE was only 1.59 ± 1.5. Conduction was faster in CFAE areas (2.27±1.35m/sec) than in normal voltage areas (1.27±0.29m/sec) LVE areas (1.11±0.69m/sec, p=0.0675). There was no correlation between the % of CFAE areas and parameters of SAPW; whereas there was a positive correlation between LVE areas and SAPW (r= 0.691, p= 0.043). Conlusions: Our study suggest the following: 1) Areas of CFAE detected during AF correspond to areas of normal atrial voltage and normal conduction velocity during NSR; 2) The SAPW duration is a good non-invasive index of scarred atrial substrate as suggested by its good correlation with intra-atrial left atrial LVE. 3) CFAE probably represent the response of normal healthy atrial tissue with short refractory periods and normal conduction velocity to rapid PV firing rather than abnormal scarred atrial myocardium.
Encainide: its electrophysiologic and antiarrhythmic effects, pharmacokinetics, and safety.

Encainide is a class IC antiarrhythmic agent that has been under clinical investigation for the last decade. Laboratory and clinical studies have demonstrated it to be a potent suppressor of ventricular extrasystoles. It is effective in approximately one-half of patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The preliminary experience in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias indicates that the drug is particularly effective in arrhythmias associated with an accessory pathway. Side effects most commonly include blurred vision, nausea, heart block, and proarrhythmic effects. The hemodynamic effects of oral encainide are insignificant in patients with well-preserved left ventricular function. Despite minimal myocardial depression in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, there is the potential for worsening of heart failure. Encainide has a short half-life of 3 hours, but has 2 active metabolites with longer half-lives. No clinically significant drug interaction has been demonstrated with encainide therapy.
Automated Tuberculosis Diagnosis Using Fluorescence Images from a Mobile Microscope

In low-resource areas, the most common method of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is visual identification of rod-shaped TB bacilli in microscopic images of sputum smears. We present an algorithm for automated TB detection using images from digital microscopes such as CellScope, a novel, portable device capable of brightfield and fluorescence microscopy. Automated processing on such platforms could save lives by bringing healthcare to rural areas with limited access to laboratory-based diagnostics. Our algorithm applies morphological operations and template matching with a Gaussian kernel to identify candidate TB-objects. We characterize these objects using Hu moments, geometric and photometric features, and histograms of oriented gradients and then perform support vector machine classification. We test our algorithm on a large set of CellScope images (594 images corresponding to 290 patients) from sputum smears collected at clinics in Uganda. Our object-level classification performance is highly accurate, with average precision of 89.2% +/- 2.1%. For slide-level classification, our algorithm performs at the level of human readers, demonstrating the potential for making a significant impact on global healthcare.
Separation and Isolation of Rat and Human Intestinal β-Galactosidases

Abstract 1. The β-galactosidases of rat intestinal mucosa have been isolated and characterized. 2. There is a lysosomal enzyme with a pH optimum of 3.0 which is relatively heat-stable, active against o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside and 6-bromo-2-naphthyl-β-d-galactoside, but relatively inactive against lactose. This activity is latent and isolated in subcellular fractions containing other lysosomal enzymes. 3. The brush borders of intestinal mucosa contain a separate single enzyme with a pH optimum of 6.0 and relative instability to heat, which hydrolyzes lactose readily. This enzyme has been purified 1000-fold, and a single protein zone containing lactose activity was isolated in polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. When o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside is used as a substrate for β-galactosidase activity, careful tissue fractionation must first be performed in order to separate the two β-galactosidases. 4. Studies in human intestinal mucosa confirm the existence of a lysosomal β-galactosidase with an acid pH optimum and relative heat stability, and another lactase, presumably of brush border origin.
Control and sensitivity analysis for the solar array pointing system of the space station Freedom

Classical control algorithm design for the solar array pointing system of the space station Freedom (SSF) is presented. This development is based on a continuous rigid-body model of the solar array beta gimbal assembly containing both linear and nonlinear dynamics due to various friction components. Optimum sets of controller parameters were obtained based on integral performance criteria through EASY5 simulations in the time domain. Classical sensitivity studies conducted in EASY5 indicated that the worst potential problem (possible system instability) is due to the variations in the electric motor dead-zone characteristics. After incorporation of an alternate static friction model, a Taguchi-based tolerance design sensitivity study was conducted. Results indicated that the voltage variance, torque sensitivity constant and motor resistance are the most important tolerances investigated with respect to integral square error. It is expected that the present control algorithms will be implemented in the early stages of the deployed SSF. >
The function and failure of plantation government: interpreting spaces of power and discipline in representations of slave plantations

OF THE THESIS THE FUNCTION AND FAILURE OF PLANTATION GOVERNMENT: INTERPRETING SPACES OF POWER AND DISCIPLINE IN REPRESENTATIONS OF SLAVE PLANTATIONS
Neural Reactivity to Emotional Stimuli Prospectively Predicts the Impact of a Natural Disaster on Psychiatric Symptoms in Children

Abstract Background Natural disasters expose entire communities to stress and trauma, leading to increased risk for psychiatric symptoms. Yet, the majority of exposed individuals are resilient, highlighting the importance of identifying underlying factors that contribute to outcomes. Methods The current study was part of a larger prospective study of children in Long Island, New York ( n = 260). At age 9, children viewed unpleasant and pleasant images while the late positive potential (LPP), an event-related potential component that reflects sustained attention toward salient information, was measured. Following the event-related potential assessment, Hurricane Sandy, the second costliest hurricane in United States history, hit the region. Eight weeks after the hurricane, mothers reported on exposure to hurricane-related stress and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Symptoms were reassessed 8 months after the hurricane. Results The LPP predicted both internalizing and externalizing symptoms after accounting for prehurricane symptomatology and interacted with stress to predict externalizing symptoms. Among children exposed to higher levels of hurricane-related stress, enhanced neural reactivity to unpleasant images predicted greater externalizing symptoms 8 weeks after the disaster, while greater neural reactivity to pleasant images predicted lower externalizing symptoms. Moreover, interactions between the LPP and stress continued to predict externalizing symptoms 8 months after the hurricane. Conclusions Results indicate that heightened neural reactivity and attention toward unpleasant information, as measured by the LPP, predispose children to psychiatric symptoms when exposed to higher levels of stress related to natural disasters, while greater reactivity to and processing of pleasant information may be a protective factor.
Integrating graphics into video image-based camera tracking and filtering

In virtual studios, most of the setting is not constructed in reality but generated synthetically by a graphics computer and mixed into the camera image. A convincing mixing requires very precise coordination of the real camera with the graphics pipeline, especially in the case of camera moves. This process is called camera tracking.
Business Ethics Scenarios: The Right And The Wrong Of It

Organizations such as Shell Corporation and Lockheed Martin have used scenarios for decades as a learning and visionary tool to address domestic and global issues in their corporate/organizational culture. Today scenarios dealing with practical business issues are used to encourage students in the classroom to discuss and consider the possible decisions that can be made when responding to everyday business issues.
Multiple loci contribute to genome-wide recombination levels in male mice

Recent linkage-based studies in humans suggest the presence of loci that affect either genome-wide recombination rates, utilization of recombination hotspots, or both. We have been interested in utilizing cytological methodology to directly assess recombination in mammalian meiocytes and to identify recombination-associated loci. In the present report we summarize studies in which we combined a cytological assay of recombination in mouse pachytene spermatocytes with QTL analyses to identify loci that contribute to genome-wide levels of recombination in male meiosis. Specifically, we analyzed MLH1 foci, a marker of crossovers, in 194 F2 male mice derived from a subspecific cross between CAST/EiJ and C57BL/6J parental strains. We then used these data to uncover loci associated with individual variation in mean MLH1 values. We identified seven recombination-associated loci across the genome (on chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 14, 15, 17, and X), indicating that there are multiple recombination “setting” loci in mammalian male meiosis.
Matrix Isomorphism of Matrix Lie Algebras

We study the problem of matrix isomorphism of matrix Lie algebras (MatIsoLie). Lie algebras arise centrally in areas as diverse as differential equations, particle physics, group theory, and the Mulmuley -- Sohoni Geometric Complexity Theory program. A matrix Lie algebra is a set L of matrices that is closed under linear combinations and the operation [A, B] = AB - BA. Two matrix Lie algebras L, L' are matrix isomorphic if there is an invertible matrix M such that conjugating every matrix in L by M yields the set L'. We show that certain cases of MatIsoLie -- for the wide and widely studied classes of semi simple and abelian Lie algebras -- are equivalent to graph isomorphism and linear code equivalence, respectively. On the other hand, we give polynomial-time algorithms for other cases of MatIsoLie, which allow us to mostly derandomize a recent result of Kayal on affine equivalence of polynomials.
Erythrosin B is a specific inhibitor of high affinity 3H-ouabain binding and ion transport in rat brain

Recent experiments have suggested that the artificial food dye erythrosin B (Red No. 3) is neuroactive in a variety of preparations. Because of the ionic dependence of some of these effects, its actions on Na,K-ATPase activity were studied using rat brain membranes. Erythrosin B is a potent inhibitor of 3H-ouabain binding and ion flux in synaptosomes. These effects appear to be limited to one site of ligand binding and, possibly, to one form of the ATPase.
The Impact of Changes in Employment Status on Psychosocial Well-Being: A Study of Breast Cancer Survivors

Recent developments in the treatment of cancer have resulted in an increase in the number of cancer survivors. With this increase in the survival rate comes an increase in questions as to how a diagnosis of cancer and its treatment affects survivors and their well-being. Research has emphasized the impact that medical factors related to cancer have on the well-being of cancer survivors. However, the literature also suggests that socioeconomic factors may affect cancer survivors; well-being. This study focuses on the role that employment status plays in relationship to the levels of psychosocial well-being of women diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. This study was a cross-sectional design utilizing secondary data analysis. The sample consisted of 369 breast cancer survivors from four cancer treatment facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region. The independent variable was employment status during and after treatment and the dependent variables were psychological distress, physical and mental functioning and quality of life. Utilizing analysis of covariance, controlling for age at diagnosis and stage of cancer it was found that there was a statistically significant difference in the dependent variables by employment status. These findings are discussed in terms of clinical and policy implications.
Pelvic peritoneal reconstruction to prevent radiation enteritis in rectal carcinoma

Some patients with rectal cancer who undergo exenterative surgery may require radiation therapy as an adjuvant treatment for recurrent or residual disease. A common devastating side effect of this treatment modality is radiation enteritis, a radiation-induced small bowel injury. Hence, the prevention of such a complication is essential for both the surgeon and the radiation oncologist. A new surgical method using the posterior rectus sheath and peritoneum to partition the abdominal cavity at the level of the umbilicus to the sacral promontory seems to accomplish this purpose, keeping the small bowel away from the pelvic cavity. After removal of the rectal lesion [eight abdominoperineal resections (APRs), nine Hartmann's procedures, and one low anterior resection (LAR)] in 18 patients with rectal cancer, this new surgical procedure was performed. One of the patients had an early postoperative intestinal obstruction, and all but one of the patients received postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy. In addition, a small bowel series was performed before the radiation therapy and six months and one year after surgery. Upon examination, most of these patients still had their small bowel kept intact in the abdominal cavity. During the follow-up period of 10 months to 2 years with an average of 18 months, two late complications of intestinal obstruction were noted. Exploratory laparotomy of these two patients revealed radiation enteritis of the small bowel. Therefore, the failure rate of the following procedure is 12 percent, since 2 of the 17 patients received small bowel injury. Although the follow-up period for this surgical method is short, the results have encouraged us to continue the use of this procedure on advanced rectal cancer patients who require postoperative radiation therapy.
Nation-Building, Party-Strength, and Regime Consolidation: Kemalism in Comparative Perspective

AbstractDespite its waning influence, Kemalism remains a compelling topic within scholarship on Turkey. In recent years, for instance, a growing literature has critically examined the policies, arrangements, and institutions that underpinned the Kemalist single-party rule (1923–46). Although they have expanded our stock of knowledge on this period and pushed scholarly exchanges beyond polemical debates, most of these studies neglect to account systematically for the origins of the regime and assess it in light of other similar cases from the global south. To address such questions, this paper classifies Kemalism within a category of national-developmentalist regimes. The Turkish case differed from these cases, however, with its low level of institutionalization, particularly its ruling party's limited organizational and mobilizational capacity. While scholars tend to focus on the coercive aspects of Kemalist rule, in reality the regime was built upon a weak party apparatus, a factor that precluded the con...
Management and Legal Issues Regarding Electronic Surveillance of Employees in the Workplace

Since the attack on the World Trade Center in New York, and on the Pentagon in the United States, concerns over security issues have been at an all-time high in this country. Both state and federal governments continue to discuss legislation on these issues amid much controversy. One key concern of both employers and employees is the extent that employers, espousing a “need to know” mentality, continue to expand their capability and implementation of surveillance of employees in the workplace. With the technology typically growing faster than the speed of legislation, protective or permissive, the management and legal issues involved in electronic monitoring of employee communications in the workplace, are and well should be on the agenda for discussion of every management and legal team in American business today. Companies have a legitimate right to protect their trade secrets from disclosure by disgruntled employees. Similarly, companies also have a duty to protect their good names and reputations from unauthorized employee communications with outside parties, and even other employees, that may damage them. It is also a prime duty of management to ensure, in their direction of their workforces, that the employees execute their responsibilities by working full time on their stated objectives. In this regard, any management that fails to oversee its workforce to ensure that employees are not expending valuable company time, for which they are being compensated, on personal business, including unauthorized communications, is remiss in its responsibilities to its shareholders. The company may see a reduction of the price of its shares in the marketplace if it does not protect the economic interests of its shareholders.
Gas scattering in a strong focusing synchrotron

Abstract Strong focusing synchrotron dynamics as they apply to gas scattering are discussed. The gas scattering transport equation which includes the effects of adiabatic damping is formulated. A practical method of obtaining the solution is developed.
A power rule for social choice

Recognizing that all social choice takes place in the context of some status quo, the social choice process is modeled as a sequence of challenges to the status quo. In order to mount a successful challenge, the proponents of change must generate sufficient power to overcome the status quo. Power is viewed as an amalgam of economic, political and more general social power — such as the ability to communicate and shape public opinion. Individual power expresses both the ability and the desire to influence outcomes and, as such, varies from individual to individual as well as from social state to social state for each individual.
Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels in Undialyzed Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Lipid and lipoprotein levels were measured in undialyzed uremic men and compared with levels of healthy control subjects. The patients had lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (mean +/- SD, 46.3 +/- 14.8 vs 54.1 +/- 18.2 mg/dl) and increased serum triglycerides (197 +/- 151 vs 142 +/- 87.7 mg/dl). When compared with patients maintained on dialysis, the undialyzed patients had higher HDL cholesterol (46.3 +/- 14.8 vs 30.3 +/- 13.3 mg/dl), serum cholesterol (226 +/- 81 vs 151 +/- 42 mg/dl), and triglycerides (197 +/- 151 vs 146 +/- 105 mg/dl). The low-density lipoprotein (LDL): high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were 3.78, 3.24, and 2.84 in the dialyzed, undialyzed, and control groups, respectively. Lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase activity of undialyzed patients was similar to controls when measured by an endogenous substrate assay (148 +/- 112 vs 112 +/- 28 nmol/ml/hr), but were significantly lower when assayed using exogenous substrate (73.3 +/- 25.6 vs 112.8 +/- 7 nmol/ml/hr). The rate of cholesterol transfer (RCT) from HDL to very low density lipoprotein and LDL was in the following order: dialyzed patients (1.85 +/- 1.29 mg/dl/hr) less than undialyzed patients (2.41 +/- 1.57 mg/dl/hr) less than control subjects (4.83 +/- 3.13 mg/dl/hr). Within the undialyzed patient group, black patients had lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides and higher HDL and HDL3 cholesterol than white patients. Apoprotein A-I levels were higher and apoprotein B levels were lower in the black patients. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.9501) between apoprotein A-I and HDL levels in the black patients, but not in the white patients (r = -0.148).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Comparison of cirrus optical depths derived from GOES 8 and surface measurements

[1] Ground-based passive radiometer measurements are used to validate satellite-derived cirrus optical depths over the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Southern Great Plains site during March 2000. Optical depths derived from direct beam measurements by a multifilter rotating shadow band radiometer were well correlated with those determined from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, especially in relatively homogenous cloud fields. Compared to the multifilter rotating shadow band radiometer (MFRSR) results, on average, the satellite retrieval overestimated optical depth by ∼0.67 (29%), even though 75% of the GOES values were within ±1.0 of the MFRSR results. Some of the bias is attributable to cloud inhomogeneities, mismatches in observed clouds, errors in the surface albedo, and possible errors in the ice crystal scattering phase function. The results demonstrate the potential for using MFRSR data, available over many parts of the globe, for validating satellite cloud retrievals in many different surface and atmospheric conditions.
Prostanoids contribute to endothelium-dependent coronary vasodilation in guinea pigs

This study characterizes the contribution of prostanoids to endothelium-dependent responses in two vascular regions of the guinea pig. We compared the mechanisms of relaxation responses to acetylcholine and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the coronary vasculature and in the abdominal aorta of the guinea pig. Endothelium-dependent responses were examined in an isolated, potassium-arrested guinea pig heart utilizing a modified Langendorff preparation. Coronary vessels were constricted with prostaglandin F2 alpha and dilated with acetylcholine (10(-9)-10(-6) mol) or ATP (10(-10)-10(-7) mol) before and after exposure to indomethacin (14 microM, n = 6) or ibuprofen (150 microM, n = 5). Helically cut strips of abdominal aorta (n = 6) were suspended in isolated tissue baths for measurement of isometric force. Relaxation to acetylcholine (5.5 x 10(-7) M) and ATP (10(-5) M) was quantified in strips contracted with norepinephrine before and after exposure to indomethacin (14 microM). In addition, the endothelium was damaged by exposing vessels to free radicals generated by electrolysis of the buffer (4 Hz, 9 V, 1 ms, 5 min). Following electrolysis of the buffer, relaxation responses to acetylcholine and ATP were significantly attenuated in both preparations. In the perfused heart, endothelium-dependent dilatation to acetylcholine, but not ATP were significantly inhibited in the presence of indomethacin or ibuprofen. In contrast, acetylcholine- and ATP-induced relaxation responses in the aorta were not altered by indomethacin. We conclude that prostaglandins contribute to acetylcholine-induced dilatation in the coronary bed but not in the abdominal aorta of the guinea pig. Furthermore, in the coronary bed, different endothelial factors mediate relaxation to acetylcholine and ATP.
Accelerating reconstruction of reference digital tomosynthesis using graphics hardware.

The successful implementation of digital tomosynthesis (DTS) for on-board image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) requires fast DTS image reconstruction. Both target and reference DTS image sets are required to support an image registration application for IGRT. Target images are usually DTS image sets reconstructed from on-board projections, which can be accomplished quickly using the conventional filtered backprojection algorithm. Reference images are DTS image sets reconstructed from digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) previously generated from conventional planning CT data. Generating a set of DRRs from planning CT is relatively slow using the conventional ray-casting algorithm. In order to facilitate DTS reconstruction within a clinically acceptable period of time, we implemented a high performance DRR reconstruction algorithm on a graphics processing unit of commercial PC graphics hardware. The performance of this new algorithm was evaluated and compared with that which is achieved using the conventional software-based ray-casting algorithm. DTS images were reconstructed from DRRs previously generated by both hardware and software algorithms. On average, the DRR reconstruction efficiency using the hardware method is improved by a factor of 67 over the software method. The image quality of the DRRs was comparable to those generated using the software-based ray-casting algorithm. Accelerated DRR reconstruction significantlymore » reduces the overall time required to produce a set of reference DTS images from planning CT and makes this technique clinically practical for target localization for radiation therapy.« less
Mikanokryptin, a new guianolide from Mikania

Abstract The isolation and structure determination of mikanokryptin, a stereoisomer of 11,13-dehydrogeigerin, from what appears to be a previously undescribed Mikania species is reported. Mikania micrantha HBK. yielded mikanolide and dihydromikanolide.
A cDNA data set for expression studies of hematopoietic stem cells: characterization and database mining

Bone marrow cells that express the CD34+ antigen (CD34+ cells) represent a continuum of early and committed progenitor cells, including the most primitive stem cells. We used gene filter arrays to develop a complementary DNA database that is representative of the CD34+ transcriptosome, by comparing expression between human and baboon CD34+ cells to identify the most conserved and highly abundant genes in both species. RNA-based probes were sequentially hybridized to GeneFilters (Research Genetics) containing 25,920 human UniGene cDNAs. The human cells displayed 15,970 (62%) of the cDNAs on the filters, of which 97% varied less than threefold in expression level between species and 60% were expressed sequence tags. Polymerase chain reaction analysis with reverse transcription confirmed that selected genes were expressed at the predicted levels. To demonstrate the utility of this stem cell database for gene discovery, we mined it for transcriptional regulators by searching UniGene cluster descriptors for text strings corresponding to relevant protein motifs, including transcription factor, zinc-finger, POU, homeobox, helix-loop-helix and leucine zipper. By this method we selected 230 cDNAs, of which 186 were known genes, including 71 transcription factors, and the remaining 44 were expressed sequence tags. This preliminary description of transcriptional regulators expressed in CD34+ cells provides a potential wealth of new information about the molecular basis of normal hematopoietic cell proliferation and demonstrates the utility of the stem cell database for gene discovery. This database should prove useful for the preparation of a rationally designed cDNA array for expression analysis of normal hematopoiesis, stem cells and leukemias.
Classical behavior of systems of quantum oscillators

Abstract We show that if the equations of motion of a system of coupled oscillators assume a certain general form, states of the system which are initially coherent remain coherent at all times. It follows that the motion of the system is nearly classical in nature.
Working inside the Box: Exploring the Relationship between Student Engagement and Cognitive Rigor.

One perspective of cognitive rigor is the extent to which classroom instruction demands students to use critical thinking skills. As schools attempt to increase academic outcomes, one area of interest is the potential for engaging students in learning by increasing the use of critical thinking. The present study analyses the effect of critical thinking on student engagement in ninth-grade students.
Fast screening of turkish olive oil by NMR spectroscopy for geographical determination and discrimination purposes

The main goal of this study is to rapidly screen olive oil contents by acquiring one dimensional (1D) 1 H NMR spectra of 38 samples from Turkey, The Middle East, and Libya. The quantitative analysis of the 1 H NMR helped in distinguishing the geographical origin of the olive oil samples. The intensity of 1 H NMR variables was submitted to the statistical method, analysis of variance (ANOVA). As a result of combining the NMR data and ANOVA, olive oils were discriminated based on regional origin rather than province. This less time consuming discriminative screening by 1 H NMR does not require any further analysis of the olive oil, including oxidative stability measurements or gas chromatography. The possibility of determining authenticity, even in an olive growing area of a small village was also shown. The two-dimensional (2D) non-invasive 1 H DOSY NMR experiment, known as “NMR chromatography”, was used to determine the olive oil sub-fraction.
Vertically Coupled Polymer Microdisk Resonators Fabricated by Photolithography Technique

In this paper, a vertically coupled polymer microdisk resonator has been demonstrated and characterized. This vertically coupled resonator is fabricated using polymers instead of semiconductors, as well as standard photolithography instead of electron beam lithography (EBL), in contrast to laterally coupled polymer devices. This vertically coupled structure and fabrication process enables simpler mass manufacture of the microresonators in arrays at the chip scale for applications including integrated sensing and chip scale WDM filters.
Language Learning Disabilities Integrating Research Approaches

Developmental language learning impairments affect 10 to 20% of children and increase their risk of later literacy problems (dyslexia) and psychiatric disorders. Both oral- and written-language impairments have been linked to slow neural processing, which is hypothesized to interfere with the perception of speech sounds that are characterized by rapid acoustic changes. Research into the etiology of language learning impairments not only has led to improved diagnostic and intervention strategies, but also has raised fundamental questions about the neurobiological basis of speech, language, and reading, as well as hemispheric lateralization.
Taurine supplementation, fat absorption, and growth in cystic fibrosis.

The effect of taurine supplementation (30 to 40 mg/kg/24 hr) on fat absorption and related measurements was examined in 21 preadolescent children with cystic fibrosis (CF) using a 12-month double-blind crossover technique. The mean coefficient of fat absorption was unchanged by taurine both in the unselected study group (without taurine, mean ±SD 84.0%±11.9%; with taurine, 84.4%±11.8%, n=20) and in a subgroup of seven children with moderately severe fat malabsorption (without taurine, 75.6%±15.6%; with taurine, 74.8%±14.6%). The mean fecal split fat/total fat ratio, which generally refiects bile acid-related fat malabsorption, was also unchanged. Linoleic and arachidonic acid deficlencies noted in plasma before supplementation showed no significant improvement with taurine supplementation. Likewise, plasma/serum vitamin A, E, and D levels were unchanged. Standard scores for height and weight were not affected significantly. This study does not support the use of taurine supplementation in the nutritional management of CF.
The effect of self-observation on children's problem solving.

Abstract The effects of self-observation on children's problem solving were investigated. Children (N = 124) aged 6-8 years attempted to solve the 3-disc Tower of Hanoi problem. After pretesting, children were grouped into those who (a) practiced solving the problem independently, (b) received instruction on the most efficient solution, (c) observed a videotape recording of their previous attempt, and (d) served as a control. Subsequently, children were immediately tested on the 3-disc problem and a more difficult 4-disc problem. They were tested again 1 week later. Performance was most improved for children in the practice and video conditions on the 4-disc problem. Improvements were maintained over the 1-week interval. Unique characteristics of video self-observation are discussed.
The effects of supraphysiological doses of testosterone on angry behavior in healthy eugonadal men--a clinical research center study.

Anecdotal reports of "roid rage" and violent crimes by androgenic steroid users have brought attention to the relationship between anabolic steroid use and angry outbursts. However, testosterone effects on human aggression remain controversial. Previous studies have been criticized because of the low androgen doses, lack of placebo control or blinding, and inclusion of competitive athletes and those with preexisting psychopathology. To overcome these pitfalls, we used a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, excluded competitive athletes and those with psychiatric disorders, and used 600 mg testosterone enanthate (TE)/week. Forty-three eugonadal men, 19-40 yr, were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: Group I, placebo, no exercise; Group II, TE, no exercise; Group III, placebo, exercise; Group IV, TE plus exercise. Exercise consisted of thrice weekly strength training sessions. The Multi-Dimensional Anger Inventory (MAI), which includes 5 different dimensions of anger (inward anger, outward anger, anger arousal...
Uncertainty relation for mutual information

We postulate the existence of a universal uncertainty relation between the quantum and classical mutual informations between pairs of quantum systems. Specifically, we propose that the sum of the classical mutual information, determined by two mutually unbiased pairs of observables, never exceeds the quantum mutual information. We call this the complementary-quantum correlation (CQC) relation and prove its validity for pure states, for states with one maximally mixed subsystem, and for all states when one measurement is minimally disturbing. We provide results of a Monte Carlo simulation suggesting that the CQC relation is generally valid. Importantly, we also show that the CQC relation represents an improvement to an entropic uncertainty principle in the presence of a quantum memory, and that it can be used to verify an achievable secret key rate in the quantum one-time pad cryptographic protocol.
Effects of selected chelating agents and metals on the stability of liver lysosomes.

Abstract Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), penicillamine and sodium ethyldiaminetetraacetate (Na-EDTA) in 1 mM concentrations significantly stabilized the membrane of isolated liver lysosomes, as shown by a decreased release of β-glucuronidase upon incubation at 37° and pH 5·0. Thiol compounds which are readily auto-oxidized (cysteine, glutathione and dithiothreitol) did not affect lysosomal fragility when subjected to 1 mM concentration; at a higher concentration (5 mM), these substances increased the release of β-glucuronidase. Stabilization by DDC and penicillamine, both of which contain sulphydryl-like groups, may be related to their nonauto-oxidizability, although their chelation effect cannot be excluded. Various chelating agents relatively specific for Fe 2+ or Fe 3+ , such as l,10-phenanthroline, 5,6-dimethyl-l,10-phenanthroline, 2-2′-dipyridyl, Desferal, and pyrocatechol-3,5-disulfonic acid (Tiron), had no effect on lysosomal stability. Zinc ions (0·05–2·5 mM) significantly stabilized lysosomal membranes; this stabilization was concentration dependent, was not affected by thiol compounds, and was potentiated by equimolar complex with 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) ; 8-HQ alone (1 mM) labilized lysosomes. Calcium ions had no effect, whereas Cu 2+ and Hg 2+ labilized the lysosomes. Labilization by Cu 2+ was reversed by chelating agents and decreased by thiol compounds. Incubation of lysosomes in nitrogen and dark prevented labilization by copper, and did not affect stabilization by zinc. The effects of certain chelating agents (8-HQ, DDC, penicillamine, EDTA) or metals (Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ , Hg 2+ ) on the stability of the lysosomal membranes are discussed in terms of the reactivity of these agents with components of the membrane, or interference with metal-catalyzed lipid peroxidation.
A four-year clinical study of teeth restored after preparation with an air turbine handpiece with an air coolant.

Abstract The use of the air rotor handpiece, carbide burs, and air as a coolant for cavity preparation is a safe, practical clinical procedure as demonstrated by the response of 2,500 teeth prepared with this technique over a period of 4 years. Careful re-evaluation of patients coupled with an efficient record system enabled the investigators to examine the condition of teeth when the patients returned for additional treatment in addition to the examination made at the 4 year recall. No problems were encountered following the placement of routine amalgam, inlay, and crown restorations. Pulpitis and tooth sensitivity did not result from the use of this procedure. The use of air as a coolant is sufficient to prevent irreparable damage to tooth structure and permits the dentist to make an isolated preparation with a rubber dam.
Electronic spectroscopy of the A1A'' <-- X1A' system of CDF.

To further investigate the Renner–Teller (RT) effect and barriers to linearity and dissociation in the simplest singlet carbene, we recorded fluorescence excitation spectra of bands involving the pure bending levels 2n0 with n = 0–9 and the combination states 1102n0 with n = 1–8 and 2n0310 with n = 0–5 in the A 1A″ ← 1A′ system of CDF, in addition to some weak hot bands. The spectra were measured under jet-cooled conditions using a pulsed discharge source, and rotationally analyzed to yield precise values for the band origins and rotational constants; fluorescence lifetimes were also measured to probe for lifetime lengthening effects due to the RT interaction. The derived A state parameters are compared with previous results for CHF and with predictions of ab initio electronic structure theory. The approach to linearity in the A state is evidenced in a sharp increase in the A rotational constant with bending excitation, and a minimum in the vibrational intervals near 29. A fit of the vibrational intervals for the pure bending levels yields an A state barrier to linearity in good agreement both with that previously derived for CHF and ab initio predictions. From the spectra and lifetime measurements, the onset of extensive RT perturbations is found to occur at a higher energy than in CHF, consistent with the smaller A constant.
Evaluating multigrade school reform in Latin America

This paper describes three multigrade school reforms in Latin America: (1) Colombia’s Escuela Nueva, (2) Guatemala’s Nueva Escuela Unitaria, and (3) Chile’s MECE‐Rural. Each reform endowed primary teachers and students with special training and instructional materials, and encouraged new kinds of instruction in rural classrooms, with the goal of improving student learning. The paper discusses the challenges to evaluating school reforms in a rural context. It then reviews the international literature on each reform, assessing whether reforms were effectively implemented and whether they caused improvement in student outcomes. Even in the best cases, multigrade schools were not fully implemented. There is consistent evidence of positive effects on student achievement. Yet, the causal interpretation of evaluation findings is severely limited, especially in Guatemala and Chile. It concludes with suggestions for improving multigrade evaluations.