cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Olfactory Phenotypes Differentiate Cognitively Unimpaired Seniors from Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Combined Machine Learning and Traditional Statistical Approach.

BACKGROUND Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is an early symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, olfactory testing is not commonly performed to test OD in the setting of AD. OBJECTIVE This work investigates objective OD as a non-invasive biomarker for accurately classifying subjects as cognitively unimpaired (CU), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD. METHODS Patients with MCI (n = 24) and AD (n = 24), and CU (n = 33) controls completed two objective tests of olfaction (Affordable, Rapid, Olfactory Measurement Array -AROMA; Sniffin' Sticks Screening 12 Test -SST12). Demographic and subjective sinonasal and olfaction symptom information was also obtained. Analyses utilized traditional statistics and machine learning to determine olfactory variables, and combinations of variables, of importance for differentiating normal and disease states. RESULTS Inability to correctly identify a scent after detection was a hallmark of MCI/AD. AROMA was superior to SST12 for differentiating MCI from AD. Performance on the clove scent was significantly different between all three groups. AROMA regression modeling yielded six scents with AUC of the ROC of 0.890 (p < 0.001). Random forest model machine learning algorithms considering AROMA olfactory data successfully predicted MCI versus AD disease state. Considering only AROMA data, machine learning algorithms were 87.5%accurate (95%CI 0.4735, 0.9968). Sensitivity and specificity were 100%and 75%, respectively with ROC of 0.875. When considering AROMA and subject demographic and subjective data, the AUC of the ROC increased to 0.9375. CONCLUSION OD differentiates CUs from those with MCI and AD and can accurately predict MCI versus AD. Leveraging OD data may meaningfully guide management and research decisions.
Idiosyncratic risk and the cross-section of stock returns: Merton (1987) meets Miller (1977)

Abstract Merton [1987. A simple model of capital market equilibrium with incomplete information. Journal of Finance 42, 483–510] predicts that idiosyncratic risk should be priced when investors hold sub-optimally diversified portfolios, and cross-sectional stock returns should be positively related to their idiosyncratic risk. However, the literature generally finds a negative relationship between returns and idiosyncratic risk, which is more consistent with Miller's [1977. Risk, uncertainty, and divergence of opinion. Journal of Finance 32, 1151–1168] analysis of asset pricing under short-sale constraints. We examine the cross-sectional effects of idiosyncratic risk while explicitly recognizing the confounding effects that dispersion of beliefs and short-sale constraints produce in the Merton framework. We find strong support for Merton's [1987. A simple model of capital market equilibrium with incomplete information. Journal of Finance 42, 483–510] model among stocks that have low levels of investor recognition and for which short selling is limited. For these stocks, the relation between idiosyncratic risk and expected returns is positive, as predicted by Merton [1987. A simple model of capital market equilibrium with incomplete information. Journal of Finance 42, 483–510].
A Scoping Review of Well-being Assessment and Interventions in Student Pharmacists.

Objective. To review the literature assessing student pharmacist well-being and the impact of well-being associated interventions. Findings. Of the 15 studies included, six assessed student pharmacist well-being while nine evaluated the impact of a well-being intervention. There are various approaches to assessing student pharmacist well-being. The body of literature suggests poor student pharmacist well-being overall. Since well-being is multifaceted and individualized, some pharmacy schools identified various ways to incorporate tailored well-being activities, including mindfulness, into required, elective, and co-curricular experiences within the Doctor of Pharmacy program, with varying outcomes. Summary. This review highlights the limited and variable information available on the assessment of student pharmacist well-being as well as unique strategies to incorporate well-being initiatives into the doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Schools of pharmacy should identify student pharmacist well-being needs through a standardized well-being assessment instrument and provide meaningful well-being resources and interventions within the curriculum. There is a growing need for faculty to invest in student pharmacist mental wellness in addition to academic success. Future accreditation Standards will inform the Academy on how to advance well-being initiatives.
Electrodiagnostic Assessment of Hyperexcitable Nerve Disorders

Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH) typically presents with complaints of muscle twitching, cramps, and muscle stiffness. Symptoms and signs indicating central and/or autonomic nervous system dysfunction also may be reported. An electroclinical spectrum exists, spanning from the milder cramp-fasciculation syndrome to more severe syndromes characterized by continuous muscle fiber activity. It is important to recognize that PNH may be an autoimmune phenomenon associated with antibodies targeting proteins of the voltage-gated potassium channel-complex and, in some patients, a paraneoplastic phenomenon. Symptomatic therapies include medicines that reduce neuronal excitability and in severe disease immunomodulatory treatments may be indicated.
Molecular Features of the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus

The first oncogenic human retrovirus was identified in a T-lymphoblastoid cell line that had been established from a patient diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (Poiesz et al., 1980). In retrospect, it is likely that this patient had adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Shortly thereafter, another cell line derived from a patient with ATL was shown to harbor a type C retrovirus, and to produce antigens reactive with sera obtained from ATL patients (Hinuma et al., 1981; Yoshida et al., 1982). The viruses produced from these two distinct cell lines were determined to be identical and were designated human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) (Popovic et al., 1982). It has subsequently been established by seroepi-demiology and molecular studies that HTLV-I is the etiologic agent of ATL. ATL is endemic to regions of southern Japan, central Africa, northeastern South America, the Caribbean basin, and the southeastern United States (Blattner et al., 1982; Catovsky et al., 1982; Blayney et al., 1983; Bunn et al., 1983; Merino et al., 1984; Saxinger et al., 1984; Su et al., 1985; Biggar et al, 1985). In addition, a significant number of intravenous drug abusers in the United States and Europe have been shown to be infected with HTLV (Tedder et al., 1984; Jason et al., 1985; Sandler, 1986; Robert-Guroff et al., 1986; Lee et al., 1989) (see Sugamura and Hinuma, 1993).
WE-AB-BRA-09: Sensitivity of Plan Re-Optimization to Errors in Deformable Image Registration in Online Adaptive Image-Guided Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Online adaptive therapy (ART) relies on auto-contouring using deformable image registration (DIR). DIR’s inherent uncertainties require user intervention and manual edits while the patient is on the table. We investigated the dosimetric impact of DIR errors on the quality of re-optimized plans, and used the findings to establish regions for focusing manual edits to where DIR errors can Result in clinically relevant dose differences. Methods: Our clinical implementation of online adaptive MR-IGRT involves using DIR to transfer contours from CT to daily MR, followed by a physicians’ edits. The plan is then re-optimized to meet the organs at risk (OARs) constraints. Re-optimized abdomen and pelvis plans generated based on physician edited OARs were selected as the baseline for evaluation. Plans were then re-optimized on auto-deformed contours with manual edits limited to pre-defined uniform rings (0 to 5cm) around the PTV. A 0cm ring indicates that the auto-deformed OARs were used without editing. The magnitude of the variations caused by the non-deterministic optimizer was quantified by repeat re-optimizations on the same geometry to determine the mean and standard deviation (STD). For each re-optimized plan, various volumetric parameters for the PTV, the OARs were extracted along with DVH and isodose evaluation. A plan was deemed acceptable if the variation from the baseline plan was within one STD. Results: Initial results show that for abdomen and pancreas cases, a minimum of 5cm margin around the PTV is required for contour corrections, while for pelvic and liver cases a 2–3 cm margin is sufficient. Conclusion: Focusing manual contour edits to regions of dosimetric relevance can reduce contouring time in the online ART process while maintaining a clinically comparable plan. Future work will further refine the contouring region by evaluating the path along the beams, dose gradients near the target and OAR dose metrics.
Impact of long-term erythrocytapheresis on growth and peak height velocity of children with sickle cell disease.

Background Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) lag in weight and height and have a delayed growth spurt compared to normal children. We studied the effect of long-term erythrocytapheresis (LTE) on the growth of children with SCD and the age at which they attained peak height velocity. Procedure A retrospective chart review was performed recording weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) measurements of 36 patients with SCD who received LTE every 3–5 weeks for an average duration of 5 years. The z-scores for weight, height, and BMI of these patients were compared with that of patients with SCD from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) and a sub-set of 64 controls matched for age, sex, and initial growth parameter z-scores at the start of LTE. Results The z-scores for all parameters improved significantly for our patients on LTE compared to match controls from CSSCD and the entire pediatric CSSCD cohort (P-value: <0.01). Peak height velocity was achieved 2 months earlier for females (P-value: 0.94) and 11 months earlier for males (P-value: 0.02), who started LTE before 14 years of age, compared to matched CSSCD controls. The study subjects who had not been on regular simple transfusions prior to starting LTE had a mean serum ferritin of 681 ng/ml after LTE for an average duration of 63 months. Conclusion LTE improves the growth of children with SCD without the risk of iron overload. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:2024–2030. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Low-temperature magnetic properties of magnetite using first-order reversal curve analysis: Implications for the pseudo-single-domain state

[1] Low-temperature magnetic hysteresis properties of nearly stoichiometric magnetite were studied using the first-order reversal curve (FORC) technique. FORC distributions were measured at 20 K after cooling in zero magnetic field or cooling in the presence of a strong (1.5 T) magnetic field. Five polycrystalline samples ranged in mean grain size and shape, representing mostly single-domain (SD), pseudo-single-domain (PSD), and multidomain (MD) magnetic hysteresis behavior. The FORC distributions measured from PSD magnetite after zero field cooling (ZFC) manifest an unusual behavior, characterized by two distinct maxima located almost symmetrically with respect to the zero interaction field (Hu = 0) axis on a FORC diagram. In contrast, the low-temperature FORC distributions for SD and MD samples have a single maximum located at the Hu = 0 axis. The appearance of two maxima on low-temperature FORC distributions is interpreted as a manifestation of a perminvar-like behavior due to stabilization of the magnetic domain structure by irregularities of crystalline lattice induced by twinning in monoclinic magnetite. The experimental data suggest that the effect of monoclinic twinning on remagnetization is only pronounced within a certain grain size range. The double-maxima ZFC FORC distribution appears to be a distinctive property of PSD hysteresis behavior, which cannot be reproduced by mixing SD and MD magnetites.
The integrin family

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the biological function and receptor–ligand interactions of integrin family of adhesion receptors. The integrins are a widely distributed family of noncovalent heterodimeric glycoproteins that connect their extracellular ligands with the cytoskeleton. The β subunits are 40–48% homologous, and the members are most commonly separated into subgroups based on the β subunit. The best-studied integrins are the β1 (originally called the “very late antigens” ), the β2 (or leukocyte integrins), and the β3 families, although eight different β subunits have now been characterized. Several of the β subunits can form heterodimers with different a subunits, and some a subunits can complex with several β subunits. Heterodimer formation is required for ligand binding, and evidence suggests that each subunit participates in determining ligand specificity. The ligands recognized by the integrins broadly mediate either cell–cell interactions or cell–extracellular matrix interactions. The important role of integrins in biological systems is exemplified by the identification of pathological conditions because of their deficiency or dysfunction. One feature that distinguishes integrins from other adhesion receptors is the regulation of the affinity of their interactions with ligands. This dynamic process, often referred to as “affinity modulation,” allows rapid fluctuations between inactive (low affinity) and active (high affinity) states.
New dynamical gauges of the SM of EW interactions

A new Lagrangian of EW interactions without spontaneous symmetry breaking, Higgs, and Fadeev-Popov procedure has been constructed. It consists of three parts: $SU(2)_L\times U(1)$ gauge fields, massive fermion fields, and their interactions. In this theory the gauge coupling constants g, g', and fermion masses are the inputs. A new mechanism of $SU(2)_L\times U(1)$ symmetry breaking caused by fermion masses has been found. In the EW theory top quark mass plays a dominant role. This mechanism leads to nonperturbative generation of the gauge fixings and masses of Z and W fields. $m^2_W={1\over2}g^2 m^2_t, m^2_Z={1\over2}\bar{g}^2 m^2_t, G_F=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{2}m^2_t}$ are revealed from this theory. The propagators of Z- and W-fields without quadratic divergent terms are derived. Very heavy neutral and charged scalars are dynamically generated from this theory too.
Mycobacterium smegmatis HelY Is an RNA-Activated ATPase/dATPase and 3′-to-5′ Helicase That Unwinds 3′-Tailed RNA Duplexes and RNA:DNA Hybrids

ABSTRACT Mycobacteria have a large and distinctive ensemble of DNA helicases that function in DNA replication, repair, and recombination. Little is known about the roster of RNA helicases in mycobacteria or their roles in RNA transactions. The 912-amino-acid Mycobacterium smegmatis HelY (MSMEG_3885) protein is a bacterial homolog of the Mtr4 and Ski2 helicases that regulate RNA 3′ processing and turnover by the eukaryal exosome. Here we characterize HelY as an RNA-stimulated ATPase/dATPase and an ATP/dATP-dependent 3′-to-5′ helicase. HelY requires a 3′ single-strand RNA tail (a loading RNA strand) to displace the complementary strand of a tailed RNA:RNA or RNA:DNA duplex. The findings that HelY ATPase is unresponsive to a DNA polynucleotide cofactor and that HelY is unable to unwind a 3′-tailed duplex in which the loading strand is DNA distinguish HelY from other mycobacterial nucleoside triphosphatases/helicases characterized previously. The biochemical properties of HelY, which resemble those of Mtr4/Ski2, hint at a role for HelY in mycobacterial RNA catabolism. IMPORTANCE RNA helicases play crucial roles in transcription, RNA processing, and translation by virtue of their ability to alter RNA secondary structure or remodel RNA-protein interactions. In eukarya, the RNA helicases Mtr4 and Ski2 regulate RNA 3′ resection by the exosome. Mycobacterium smegmatis HelY, a bacterial homolog of Mtr4/Ski2, is characterized here as a unidirectional helicase, powered by RNA-dependent ATP/dATP hydrolysis, that tracks 3′ to 5′ along a loading RNA strand to displace the complementary strand of a tailed RNA:RNA or RNA:DNA duplex. The biochemical properties of HelY suggest a role in bacterial RNA transactions. HelY homologs are present in pathogenic mycobacteria (e.g., M. tuberculosis and M. leprae) and are widely prevalent in Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria but occur sporadically elsewhere in the bacterial domain.
MicroRNA Expression and Association with Clinicopathologic Features in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: Studies have suggested that microRNAs (miR) may be useful prognostic markers and are associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). This systematic review examined associations between miRs and aggressive clinicopathologic features in PTC. Methods: A literature search was performed within the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for papers published prior to November 24, 2014. The search was performed by combining the concepts “thyroid tumor” with “microRNA” and by using “and” as the Boolean operator. Upon retrieval of candidate studies, full-text publications were reviewed in their entirety and selected if they examined the prognostic significance between miR expression and established aggressive clinicopathologic features of PTC. Results: Fifteen studies from 13 unique groups that included 807 patients were reviewed. Most of the studies were retrospective, and none included patients who had undergone routine central lymph no...
Cost Analysis of Tranexamic Acid in Anemic Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients.

Abstract Background Preoperative anemia is present in 20% of total joint arthroplasty patients. Current preoperative treatment options, including iron supplementation (FE) and erythropoietin (EPO), are expensive. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been adopted as an intraoperative adjunct to decrease blood loss. Our hypothesis is that TXA is a cost-effective treatment compared to FE and EPO in anemic patients. Methods In this study, a cost analysis was performed, comparing the material costs of TXA and packed red blood cells (PRBCs) to the theoretical administration and material costs of FE and EPO per standard preoperative anemia protocol. Results A total of 243 patients were included in the study. Of this group, 18.5% (45/243) had preoperative anemia. The rate of transfusion was 6.7% (3/45), and 5 units of PRBCs was transfused. The combined cost of TXA and PRBCs was $5317.08. Even assuming a best-case scenario with FE or EPO treatment without a postoperative PRBC requirement, the cost of treatment would range from 2 to 17 times more than treatment with TXA. An additional 50 units of PRBC (1.1 units per patient) would need to be transfused for the cost of TXA treatment to be equivalent to FE or EPO treatment. Conclusion Tranexamic acid is significantly less expensive than FE or EPO as a treatment option for total joint arthroplasty patients presenting with preoperative anemia. It is a cost-effective adjunct for limiting transfusion rates in this patient population. We recommend that new preoperative anemia levels that necessitate preoperative intervention be established.
Resiliency and adult adaptation in women with and without self‐reported histories of childhood sexual abuse

This study investigated the relationship of protective factors (PF) to adult adaptation in a nonclinical sample consisting of 264 undergraduate women: two groups without childhood sexual abuse (CSA), high (n = 109) and low (n = 99) on PF; and two groups with CSA, high (n = 17) and low (n = 27) on PF. The first hypothesis that higher levels of PF would be significantly associated with higher levels of functioning for all individuals was supported by the data. The second hypothesis that the women with CSA and higher levels of PF would appear similar in adaptation to those without CSA was also supported. The findings further suggest that though the protective factors were beneficial for most individuals, they were significantly more helpful for those with CSA.
Malignancy risk in patients with giant cell arteritis: a population-based cohort study.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in people over the age of 50 years, with a peak incidence in the 70–80 year age group [1]. Given the age restriction of this disease, immunosenescence may play a role in disease pathogenesis [2]. Immunosenescence has also been proposed as a possible mechanism by which the elderly are predisposed infections and malignancy [3, 4]. At present, there is conflicting information about malignancy risk in GCA patients. Case reports of concurrent GCA and malignancy [5–9] suggest it may be a paraneoplastic phenomenon in some cases. In a retrospective case series of 271 patients with GCA, concurrent malignancy was noted in 7.4% of GCA patients [10]. In a case-control study by Haga, et al. no overall increase in malignancy was found in patients with GCA and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). However, the investigators did find an increased risk of malignancy in the subset of GCA patients with a positive temporal artery biopsy (OR: 2.35; 95% CI 1.03, 5.34) [11]. A subsequent population-based study of malignancy in GCA and PMR patients found no such increased risk of cancer in GCA patients. However, only 80 of the 398 patients in this study had GCA [12]. Finally, in a population-based study from Spain, the authors evaluated mortality in GCA patients with cancer and found no increased mortality [9]. The somewhat contradictory findings of these few studies make it difficult to draw any definitive conclusions regarding risk of malignancy in patients with GCA. Clarifying the risk of cancer in GCA has prognostic implications for GCA patients. Knowledge of an increased risk of cancer could alter cancer screening practices in these patients. To address this issue, we employed a population-based incident cohort of GCA patients, to calculate and compare the incidence of malignancy in GCA patients to that of age- and gender-matched cohort of non-GCA patients from the same geographic region.
Supervision of Student Teachers: An Invitational Approach

(1998). Supervision of Student Teachers: An Invitational Approach. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 69, No. 8, pp. 51-53.
Hello, is anyone there?

The author reflects on the future of the current economic crisis and what can be done to prevent a recurrence. But first he asks some tough questions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PROFILE ANALYSIS FOR ASSESSING IN VITRO BIOEQUIVALENCE

For locally acting drug products such as nasal aerosols and nasal sprays, therapeutic equivalence between two drug products may be established by in vitro bioequivalence studies based on measurements intended to reflect the rate and extent to which the active ingredient becomes available at the site of action. For cascade impaction or multistage liquid impinger for particle size distribution, profile analysis is required. However, we find that the analysis procedure described in the 1999 FDA guidance lacks statistical justification. In this article, we explain why FDA's approach is incorrect and propose a correct statistical method for profile analysis using the basic ideas in the FDA guidance.
Origin and Demise of Socio-cultural Presentations of Self from Birth to Death: Caregiver ‘Scaffolding’ Practices Necessary for Guiding and Sustaining Communal Social Structure Throughout the Life Cycle

The emergence, social differentiation, and reproduction of human communities require socialization of the young. Socialization practices require caregivers and socially distributed, intuitive, normative knowledge systems to enable progeny to acquire and sustain habitual, socially organized skills and belief systems.Neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and socio-cultural evolution enabled and paralleled the acquisition of communicative and socio-cultural skills indispensable for the emergence and reproduction of a sense of others. Stable adult capacities differentially weaken over the life cycle. This ‘reverse socialization’ means gradual loss of self, sense of others, and decline of routine practices necessary for reproduction of communal life.A modest corpus of data (10 minutes of discourse between six couples, two deemed ‘normal’, and four where one spouse diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or Frontotemporal Dementia) is used to illustrate caregiver scaffolding simulation of appropriate socio-cultural...
Carcinogenicity of a nephrotoxic metabolite of the "nongenotoxic" carcinogen hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone (HQ) is a potential human carcinogen to which many people are exposed. HQ generally tests negative in standard mutagenicity assays, making it a "nongenotoxic" carcinogen whose mechanism of action remains unknown. HQ is metabolized to 2,3,5-tris(glutathion-S-yl)HQ (TGHQ), a potent toxic and redox active compound. To determine if TGHQ is a carcinogen in the kidney, TGHQ was administered to Eker rats (2 months of age) for 4 or 10 months. Eker rats carry a germline mutation in the tuberous sclerosis 2 (Tsc-2) tumor suppressor gene, which makes them highly susceptible to the development of renal tumors. As early as 4 months after the initiation of treatment (2.5 micromol/kg, i.p.), TGHQ-treated rats developed numerous toxic tubular dysplasias of a form rarely present in vehicle-treated rats. These preneoplastic lesions are believed to represent early transformation within tubules undergoing regeneration after injury by TGHQ, and adenomas subsequently arose within these lesions. After treatment for 10 months (2.5 micromol/kg for 4 months followed by 3.5 micromol/kg for 6 months), there were 6-, 7-, and 10-fold more basophilic dysplasias, adenomas, and renal cell carcinomas, respectively, in TGHQ-treated animals than in controls. Most of these lesions were in the region of TGHQ-induced acute renal injury, the outer stripe of the outer medulla. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the Tsc-2 locus was demonstrated in both the toxic tubular dysplasias and tumors from rats treated with TGHQ for 10 months, consistent with TGHQ-induced loss of tumor suppressor function of the Tsc-2 gene. Thus, although HQ is generally considered a nongenotoxic carcinogen, our data suggest that HQ nephrocarcinogenesis is probably mediated by the formation of the quantitatively minor yet potent nephrotoxic metabolite TGHQ, which induces sustained regenerative hyperplasia, loss of tumor suppressor gene function, and the subsequent formation of renal adenomas and carcinomas. In addition, our data demonstrate that assumptions regarding mechanisms of action of nongenotoxic carcinogens should be considered carefully in the absence of data on the profiles of metabolites generated by these compounds in specific target organs for tumor induction.
Evaluating the performance of new approaches to spot quantification and differential expression in 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis studies.

Spot detection and quantification for 2-DE are challenging and important tasks to fully extract the proteomic information from these data. Traditional analytical methods have significant weaknesses, including spot mismatching and missing data, which require time-consuming manual editing to correct, dramatically decreasing throughput and compromising the objectivity and reproducibility of the analysis. To address this issue, we developed Pinnacle, a novel, quick, automatic, noncommercial method that borrows strength across gels in spot detection and has been shown to yield more precise spot quantifications than traditional methods. New commercial software, notably SameSpots, has also recently been developed as an improvement over traditional workflows. In this paper, we briefly describe Pinnacle and compare its performance to SameSpots in spot detection, spot quantification precision, and differential expression. Our analysis is performed in a rigorous fashion that, unlike other comparisons in the literatu...
Measuring the fracture toughness of ultra-thin films with application to AlTa coatings

An experimental technique is presented for measuring the fracture toughness of brittle thin films. In this technique, long rectangular membranes are fabricated from the film of interest using standard silicon micromachining techniques. A focused ion beam is then used to introduce pre-cracks of different lengths along the centerline of the membranes and the membranes are pressurized until rupture. The fracture stress of the membrane is measured as a function of pre-crack length and the fracture toughness of the film is determined from a simple fracture mechanics analysis. The technique is applicable to a wide range of materials and is especially suited for ultra-thin films. We have demonstrated the experimental procedure for a 150 nm AlTa intermetallic film and obtained a room-temperature fracture toughness of K 1c = 4.44 ± 0.21 MPam1/2.
Standards for measuring visual acuity.

Intense burns are placed on the feeding arterioles and draining venules of the neovascular frond. If complete segmentation of the blood column is not obtained, I wait 2 weeks for pigmentation and thinning of the retina. It is then easy to obtain segmentation of the blood column during a second session of photocoagulation. Burns are placed directly on the now pigmented laser spots from the earlier session. Although feeder vessel photocoagulation is currently not used as frequently and has been largely supplanted by a scatter-type of photocoagulation, this technique is still occasionally useful for treatment of peripheral retinal neovascularization and more posteriorly located neovascularization elsewhere.
Assay of fluconazole by high-performance liquid chromatography with a mixed-phase column

A mixed-phase liquid chromatographic column was used to assay fluconazole in plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid. The assay was linear from 0.2 to 20 micrograms/ml, with an average coefficient of variation of less than 5%. The partitioning of the drug between serum and cerebrospinal fluid was determined for 34 patients. The method was demonstrated to be suitable for both pharmacokinetic studies and monitoring of patients receiving treatment with this antifungal agent.
Novel Model Describing Trace Metal Concentrations in the Earthworm, Eisenia andrei

We developed a novel model describing Eisenia andrei body concentrations for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn as a function of pH, metals, and soluble organic carbon (SOC) in soil extracts for potential use in predicting values in contaminated field sites. Data from 17 moderately contaminated Dutch field soils in which earthworms were cultured were used in model development. Model parameters quantify biological phenomena important for metal bioavailability, and soil variables quantify relevant soil chemistry characteristics. Earthworm body concentration (EBC) was modeled so that soil metal soluble at bulk soil pH was considered available for dermal exposure, and gut exposure was due to soil metal in solution near neutral regulated gut pH. The efficiency parameter values indicated that metals are biologically regulated in the following order (most to least): Zn - Cu > Pb > Cd. The values determined for the exposure-route constant indicate that Cd, Cu, and Pb EBCs are almost exclusively (>96%) due to dermal exposure and that only 18% of Zn EBC was due to gut exposure. The minimum healthful EBCs determined were Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd, and the values for Pb and Cd were near zero. The Cu model was normalized by soluble organic carbon to be meaningful. The model was most accurate in describing Zn behavior.
The Bring Your Own Technology Initiative: An Examination of Teachers’ Adoption

This case study explored teachers’ concerns, use, and actual practices in their adoption of the Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) initiative. Participants were 12 secondary teachers in a private school setting. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model tools provided data: Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ), Levels of Use interview, and the Innovation Configuration Map. Twelve participants completed the SoCQ, and 6 of the 12 teachers participated in interviews and observations. After triangulating the data, we found that the majority of teachers indicated highest concerns related to self, placed at the mechanical Level of Use, and had non-ideal adoption practices on the Innovation Configuration Map.
Pathways in Microbe-Induced Obesity

Diet, host gene composition, and alterations in the intestinal microbiota can contribute to obesity. In microbe-induced obesity, metabolic changes stem from primary perturbation of the microbiota, consequent to modern changes in human biology. Microbiota disruption during early development can result in syndromes of metabolic dysfunction. We focus on the pathways involved in these interactions, particularly related to energy extraction and the role of inflammation in the metabolic phenotypes. Model physiologic systems and perturbations including gastric bypass surgery, pregnancy, and hibernation provide insight into the respective roles of the critical participants.
Logarithmic singularities in the susceptibility of the antiferromagnetic SU( N ) Heisenberg model

We consider the integrable SU(N)-invariant Heisenberg model in one dimension with degrees of freedom in the symmetric rank-m tensor representation. It is shown that for antiferromagnetic coupling the zero-temperature susceptibility to an arbitrary field breaking the SU(N) invariance of the internal degrees of freedom has logarithmic singularities as the field tends to zero. The logarithms arise from the interference of the two ``Fermi points'' of the spin-wave spectrum and do not depend on the level splitting scheme. These properties hold for a variety of models, e.g., the SU(N)-invariant Heisenberg chain of spin S=(N-1)/2, the Babujian-Takhtajan model, the N-component fermion gas interacting in one dimension by a repulsive \ensuremath{\delta}-function potential, the N-component supersymmetric t-J model in one dimension, the Gross-Neveu model, and the SU(N) generalization of the Hubbard chain.
Comment on "Improved experimental limit on the electric dipole moment of the neutron".

We point out that the rotation of the Earth leads to a non-negligible apparent electric-dipole moment effect for this experiment.
Second-Contact Water Displacement Oil Recovery Process

The Double Displacement oil recovery process (DDP) consists of injecting gas into waterflooded oil zones. Upon contact with the injected gas, residual oil globules spread out and form a thin film. Subsequent drainage of the oil film creates a bank which migrates downdip and can be produced. The technical feasibility of DDP has been tested in three fields and is currently being investigated by a joint DOE/Amoco project. 1 During laboratory investigation of the DDP at LSU, we observed that a significant amount of oil was displaced when gas-flooded zones were subjected anew to water displacement 2 . This process was termed Second-Contact Water Displacement (SCWD). Consolidated cores and unconsolidated sandpacks were flooded at high-pressure and high temperature to simulate different aspects of the process. In addition, experiments using low-pressure transparent cells were performed to gain conceptual insight into the process. Core and sandpack experiments proved that second-contact waterflooding following gas injection could recover up to 20% of oil remaining after the initial water contact. This process can be used in conjunction with the Double Displacement Process to shorten its duration hence improving its economic potential. The process can also be applied in single-well strong water-drive reservoirs in conjunction with attic-oil recovery.
Hemoglobin Raleigh results in factitiously low hemoglobin A1c when evaluated via immunoassay analyzer.

Abstract Background Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is commonly used to assess long-term blood glucose control in patients with diabetes mellitus. Numerous conditions including hemoglobinopathies can alter HbA1c measurements and cause misleading results. Objective To report a 13-year-old male with Type 1 diabetes mellitus who had low HbA1c measurements, despite persistent hyperglycemia. Design/Methods HbA1c was initially measured by immunoassay. Hb electrophoresis was then employed to assess potential Hb variants. Electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry of isolated Hb and gene sequencing of the Hbβ gene were used to specifically identify the Hb variant. Results HbA1c measurement by immunoassay revealed an unusually low HbA1c of 3.9%. Hb electrophoresis revealed an aberrant Hb. The ESI mass spectrum of the intact Hb sample revealed a variant β-chain of 15,881 Da, 14 Da heavier than the mass of the normal Hb β-chain (15,867 Da). Sequence analysis of the 965.45 Da peptide suggested a substitution of valine (Val) to acetylated alanine (Ala). The DNA sequence of the patient's Hbβ gene revealed a single-base heterozygous mutation (GTG to GCG) at Base 2 of the codon of the first amino acid, producing a Val→Ala substitution, previously termed Hb-Raleigh. Because the acetylated N-terminal amino acid of the Hb-Raleigh β chain cannot be glycated, the HbA1c immunoassay will result in falsely low HbA1c levels. Conclusion In managing diabetic patients, knowledge of hemoglobinopathies influencing HbA1c determination methods is essential because hemoglobin variants may cause mismanagement of diabetes. Unusual results should prompt further analysis for a hemoglobinopathy as the potential cause of aberrant results.
A modified isopiestic method for adsorption of water at high relative vapor pressure

Abstract A new, rocking-vessel isopiestic method was developed by which thin wood or cellulose samples could be equilibrated at relative vapor pressures from 0.95 to 0.9997. Equilibration required no more than 8 days.
Transitional cell cytokeratins as a second parameter in flow cytometry of bladder cancer

Since the detection of abnormal DNA content in the cells of transitional cell carcinoma can be obscured by the presence in the population of diploid stromal and inflammatory cells, it would be desirable to have a second flow cytometric parameter to complement DNA analysis. The specific identification of carcinoma cells using monoclonal antibodies directed against epithelial intermediate filament proteins (cytokeratins) would provide a method with which to identify the transitional cells in solid tumors, voided urines or bladder washings. As a preliminary study we have tested cell-free urine samples using a double antibody radiometric assay (IRMAK) for cytokeratins released from transitional cells. The additional information from cytokeratin analyses increased the specificity of disease detection.
Multifluid Block-Adaptive-Tree Solar Wind Roe-Type Upwind Scheme: Magnetospheric Composition and Dynamics During Geomagnetic Storms-Initial Results

The magnetosphere contains a significant amount of ionospheric O{+}, particularly during geomagnetically active times. The presence of ionospheric plasma in the magnetosphere has a notable impact on magnetospheric composition and processes. We present a new multifluid MHD version of the BATS-R-US model of the magnetosphere to track the fate and consequences of ionospheric outflow. The multi-fluid MHD equations are presented as are the novel techniques for overcoming the formidable challenges associated with solving them. Our new model is then applied to the May 4, 1998 and March 31, 2001 geomagnetic storms. The results are juxtaposed with traditional single- fluid MHD and multispecies MHD simulations from a previous study, thereby allowing us to assess the benefits of using a more complex model with additional physics. We find that our multi-fluid MHD model (with outflow) gives comparable results to the multi-species MHD model (with outflow), including a more strongly negative Dst, reduced CPCP, and a drastically improved magnetic field at geosynchronous orbit, as compared to single-fluid MHD with no outflow. Significant differences in composition and magnetic field are found between the multi-species and multi-fluid approach further away from the Earth. We further demonstrate the ability to explore pressure and bulk velocity differences between H{+} and O(+}, which is not possible when utilizing the other techniques considered.
Length-Circumference Relations of the Left Ventricle

Changes in length and circumference of the left ventricle were recorded simultaneously by variable resistance gages on its external surface in intact dogs. The absolute changes in circumference were considerably greater than the changes in length, but the relative changes in these dimensions were similar (averaging around 2 to 3 per cent). Under most circumstances, the length and circumference vary in the same direction but occasionally inexplicable differences in response were observed.
The interaction of platelets, Salmonella, and mouse peritoneal macrophages.

SummaryMouse peritoneal macrophages phagocytize platelets along with opsonized Salmonella typhimurium, but do not phagocytize platelets in the absence of bacteria. The presence of intact platelets results in an increase in the number of bacteria ingested by macrophages in vitro.
Vertical pattern decay and lateral in-phase capillary breakup of nanoimprinted bilayer polymer films

We report the morphological evolutions of nanoimprinted polystyrene (PS)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bilayers during thermal annealing. At an annealing temperature above the glass transition temperatures of both polymers, the PS/PMMA bilayer patterns undergo a sequential event of morphological evolutions. At the early stage, the bilayer patterns decay vertically, which leads to a continuous PS layer over the PMMA patterns. Further annealing leads to an intriguing “in-phase” capillary breakup of the PS stripes. As a result, strings of PS droplets develop at the direction orthogonal to the original pattern line directions. At the final stage, these PS droplets anisotropically coalesce into thicker stripes, which eventually break up into larger discrete droplets due to the Rayleigh instability. Our study demonstrates that the mobile and corrugated PS/PMMA interfaces dictate both the kinetics of the vertical pattern decay and the correlated lateral instability. Both polymers directly participate in the pattern evolutions, different from the well-documented dewetting of polymers confined on elastic topographic substrates.
The structure of nickel-palladium solid solutions

Ni-Pd alloys atomic arrangements and displacements by single crystal X ray diffuse scattering, using computer simulated model
On the Numerical Solution of a Certain Nonlinear Integro-Differential Equation

Abstract The writers give an existence and uniqueness theorem for a nonlinear integrodifferential equation which occurs in the statistical theory of turbulent diffusion. A numerical algorithm is given and computational examples considered.
A Blueprint for Problem Posing

The purpose of this paper is to outline a plan of action designed to enhance growth in problem-posing skills. The “blueprint” provides a model for teachers and teacher educators who wish to integrate more problem posing into their curriculum. Specific activities and instructional strategies are cited to illustrate the development of problem posing as a process in the classroom.
Some properties of the denervated anterior gracilis muscle of the rat

1. Microdrops of acetylcholine (ACh) were topically applied to denervated, mammalian skeletal muscle in vivo, and ACh-evoked depolarization and contracture were recorded simultaneously.2. Contracture tension was directly proportional to the degree of ACh-elicited depolarization.3. Atropine and (+)-tubocurarine increased the amount of ACh required to produce a given amount of depolarization, but these anticholinergic agents did not alter the relationship between the degree of ACh-evoked depolarization and contracture tension.4. Topically applied catecholamines did not produce either depolarization or contracture, despite the fact that parenterally administered catecholamines elicited both responses.
A Comprehensive Methodology For Thermal Signature Simulation Of Targets And Backgrounds

For the past several years the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) has sponsored the development of computer models to simulate the thermal signature of concept vehicles. The entire simulation process involves the prediction of target and background temperatures, creation of the 3-D graphics database, and the addition of atmospheric and sensor effects to produce a simulated infrared or thermal image. This paper also describes the model integration necessary to create thermal signature animations for concept vehicles. Each model is described in some detail along with the appropriate interface to the other thermal models.
Quantifying distortion from ideal closest-packing in a crystal structure with analysis and application

A parameter, Ucp, that quantifies the distortion of the anion skeleton in a crystal from ideal closest-packing has been developed. It is a measure of the average isotropic displacement of the observed anions from their ideal equivalents. An ideal closest-packed structure can be fit to an observed structure by varying the radius of the ideal spheres, orientation and translation, such that Ucp is minimized. Ideal structures were fit to the M1M2TO4 polymorphs, pyroxenes and kyanite. The distortions of these crystals were analyzed in terms of the two parameters, Ucp and the ideal radius. Changes in structures due to temperature, pressure and compositional effects were characterized in terms of these parameters.
Evidenced-based health management involving three hospitals in central and eastern Europe.

Abstract Major health care reforms have been instituted in Georgia (Caucasus Region). Evidenced-based management focuses on developing the necessary and sufficient competencies for senior and middle managers in an applied hospital setting. Application and integration of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) is demonstrated through achievement of pre-established outcomes. An innovative health management education (HME) model utilizes a combination of in-service education, workshops, short-courses, residencies, and on-the-job training. A trilateral hospital management team is used involving the Slovak Republic, USA and Georgia. Development and implementation of the model at Gudushauri National Medical Center in Tbilisi, Georgia is presented along with examining curriculum content, teaching methods, processes, and outcome indicators.
One Mouse, One Pharmacokinetic Profile: Quantitative Whole Blood Serial Sampling for Biotherapeutics

Purpose The purpose of this study was to validate the approach of serial sampling from one mouse through ligand binding assay (LBA) quantification of dosed biotherapeutic in diluted whole blood to derive a pharmacokinetic (PK) profile.
Solution of the quantum liouville equation as a stochastic process

Abstract The equation of motion of the density operator in the Wigner representation is related to a generalized stochastic process which can be simulated by computer. This leads to a practical method for computing the time evolution of large quantum mechanical systems for which no other comparable method is currently available.
Advocating for Change in Your State or Local School District: A Successful Game Plan

Abstract All of us remember a time when we convinced our spouse to let our son try out for the football team, helped our daughter prepare and practice her speech for the student council election, p...