cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissolution studies of bovine dental enamel surfaces modified by high-speed scanning ablation with a lambda = 9.3-microm TEA CO(2) laser.

Background and Objectives Previous studies have demonstrated that lasers can be used to modify the chemical composition of dental enamel to render the mineral phase more resistant to acid dissolution with minimal peripheral thermal damage. Transverse excited atmospheric (TEA) CO2 lasers tuned to the strong mineral absorption of hydroxyapatite (HAP) near λ = 9 µm are well-suited for the efficient ablation of dental hard tissues if the laser-pulse is stretched to greater than 5–10 microseconds to avoid plasma shielding phenomena. Moreover, TEA CO2 lasers can be operated at very high repetition rates and are inherently less expensive and more versatile than Er:YAG and Er:YSGG solid-state lasers. In this study a λ = 9.3-µm TEA CO2 with a pulse duration of 8 microseconds and a repetition rate of 300 Hz was used to uniformly treat bovine enamel surfaces at ablative irradiation intensities. We hypothesized that a uniform surface layer of modified enamel of improved crystallinity and CaP phase composition would be formed with an enhanced resistance to acid-dissolution in the ablated areas at higher scanning rates used with the water spray. Such a modified layer of enamel formed at the base and walls of a cavity preparation under the irradiation conditions employed in this study have the potential to inhibit secondary caries under sealants and restorations. Study Design/Materials and Methods The surfaces of bovine enamel blocks (3 × 3 mm2) were rapidly scanned across the laser beam at rates of 2, 3, and 6 mm/second with and without a water-spray at an incident fluence of 30 J/cm2. The resistance to acid dissolution was evaluated using controlled surface dissolution experiments on laser-irradiated and control samples. Results The groups irradiated at a fluence of 30 J/cm2 with a repetition rate of 300 Hz and a high scan rate of 6 mm/second with and without water-cooling significantly reduced the overall surface dissolution rates (P < 0.001). At low scan rates (2–3 mm/second) excessive heat deposition resulted in the formation of an outer layer of asperities containing non-apatitic CaP phases that were more susceptible to acid-dissolution. At a scanning rate of 6 mm/second even without the water spray a layer of purer phase HAP was formed without thermal damage, indicating that a high scanning rate can be used to avoid excessive thermal damage during ablation. The best results (80% inhibition) were attained for the higher scanning speed 6-mm/second combined with a water spray. Conclusion This study demonstrates that an enamel surface with enhanced resistance to acid dissolution is produced after ablation with λ = 9.3-µm TEA CO2 laser pulses delivered at high-repetition rates if sufficiently high scanning rates are used with or without a water-spray. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:837–845, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Funnel: Choking Polluters in BitTorrent File Sharing Communities

BitTorrent-based file sharing communities are very popular nowadays. Anecdotal evidence hints that such communities are exposed to content pollution attacks (i.e., publication of "false" files, viruses, or other malware), requiring a moderation effort from their administrators. The size of such a cumbersome task increases with content publishing rate. To tackle this problem, we propose a generic pollution control strategy and instantiate it as a mechanism for BitTorrent communities. The strategy follows a conservative approach: it regards newly published content as polluted, and allows the dissemination rate to increase according to the proportion of positive feedback issued about the content. In contrast to related approaches, the strategy and mechanism avoid the problem of pollution dissemination at the initial stages of a swarm, when insufficient feedback is available to form a reputation about the content. To evaluate the proposed solution, we conducted a set of experiments using a popular BitTorrent agent and an implementation of our mechanism. Results indicate that the proposed approach mitigates the dissemination of polluted content in BitTorrent, imposing a low overhead in the distribution of non-polluted ones.
The primary structure of rat ribosomal protein L29

The amino acid sequence of the rat 60S ribosomal subunit protein L29 was deduced from the sequence of nucleotides in a recombinant cDNA. Ribosomal protein L29 has 155 amino acids, the NH2-terminal methionine is removed after translation of the mRNA, and has a molecular weight of 17,183. Hybridization of the cDNA to digests of nuclear DNA suggests that there are 20 to 22 copies of the L29 gene. The mRNA for the protein is about 750 nucleotides in length. Rat L29 is related to yeast ribosomal protein YL43.
Use of automated external defibrillators at NCAA Division I universities.

ABSTRACTPurpose:The placement of automated external defibrillators (AED) at public sporting events is a growing national trend. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, past use, and cost of implementing AED at university sporting venues.Methods:Questionnaires were sent to
Bipolar infrapatellar tendon rupture.

Traumatic patella alta in children occurs either distal to the patellar tendon as a tibial tubercle apophyseal fracture or proximally as an osteochondral sleeve fracture of the inferior patellar pole. Acute surgical exploration in a pediatric case of a knee extensor mechanism rupture revealed both proximal and distal (bipolar) patellar tendon pathology
Opportunistic predator prefers habitat complexity that exposes prey while reducing cannibalism and intraguild encounters

Structural features of habitat are known to affect the density of predators and prey, and it is generally accepted that complexity provides some protection from the environment and predators but may also reduce foraging success. A next step in understanding these interactions is to decouple the impacts of both spatial and trophic ingredients of complexity to explicitly explore the trade-offs between the habitat, its effects on foraging success, and the competition that ensues as predator densities increase. We quantified the accumulation of spiders and their prey in habitat islands with different habitat complexities created in the field using natural plants, plant debris and plastic plant mimics. Spiders were observed at higher densities in the complex habitat structure composed of both live plants and thatch. However, the numerically dominant predator in the system, the wolf spider Pardosa milvina, was observed at high densities in habitat islands containing plastic mimics of plants and thatch. In a laboratory experiment, we examined the interactive effects of conspecific density and habitat on the prey capture of P. milvina. Thatch, with or without vertical plant structure, reduced prey capture, but the plastic fiber did not. Pairwise interactions among spiders reduced prey capture, but this effect was moderated by thatch. Taken together, these experiments highlight the flexibility of one important predator in the food web, where multiple environmental cues intersect to explain the role of habitat complexity in determining generalist predator accumulation.
Impact of Accelerators on U.s. Science, Technology, and Productivity

The invention and continued development of particle accelerators and the associated technology have had profound impact upon many subfields of pure and applied science and upon the overall U.S. technological capabilities. Accelerators have also found extensive application in industry to produce either new products, better products, or-products at lower cost. There is great potential for science to contribute to our long term economic growth and improved productivity through aggressive development of high-technology industries. Opportunities for application of accelerators in these high technology industries exist and should be exploited. This exploitation would be aided by improved cooperative efforts between industry, universities, national laboratories, and government.
Beyond “Connecting the Dots”: Toward the Strategic Managing of Organizing

ABSTRACT The 9/11 Commission Report sensitized large institutions to the issue of “connecting the dots” as both a vulnerability and as a solution, with proper leadership and management systems, for all networked processes. But this may be the wrong mantra. Instead of a largely static and linear heuristic, we suggest grounding theory and practice in what we introduce as Multiplex Theory and the Strategic Managing of Organizing to link the emergent “lightning” of complex multi-level nonlinear networks. Our conceptual argument in this article is illustrated with examples from the 2005 Hurricane Katrina response effort.
On the dosimetric effect and reduction of inverse consistency and transitivity errors in deformable image registration for dose accumulation.

Purpose: Deformable image registration (DIR) is necessary for accurate dose accumulation between multiple radiotherapy image sets. DIR algorithms can suffer from inverse and transitivity inconsistencies. When using deformation vector fields (DVFs) that exhibit inverse-inconsistency and are nontransitive, dose accumulation on a given image set via different image pathways will lead to different accumulated doses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dosimetric effect of and propose a postprocessing solution to reduce inverse consistency and transitivity errors. Methods: Four MVCT images and four phases of a lung 4DCT, each with an associated calculated dose, were selected for analysis. DVFs between all four images in each data set were created using the Fast Symmetric Demons algorithm. Dose was accumulated on the fourth image in each set using DIR via two different image pathways. The two accumulated doses on the fourth image were compared. The inverse consistency and transitivity errors in the DVFs were then reduced. The dose accumulation was repeated using the processed DVFs, the results of which were compared with the accumulated dose from the original DVFs. To evaluate the influence of the postprocessing technique on DVF accuracy, the original and processed DVF accuracy was evaluated on the lungmore » 4DCT data on which anatomical landmarks had been identified by an expert. Results: Dose accumulation to the same image via different image pathways resulted in two different accumulated dose results. After the inverse consistency errors were reduced, the difference between the accumulated doses diminished. The difference was further reduced after reducing the transitivity errors. The postprocessing technique had minimal effect on the accuracy of the DVF for the lung 4DCT images. Conclusions: This study shows that inverse consistency and transitivity errors in DIR have a significant dosimetric effect in dose accumulation; Depending on the image pathway taken to accumulate the dose, different results may be obtained. A postprocessing technique that reduces inverse consistency and transitivity error is presented, which allows for consistent dose accumulation regardless of the image pathway followed.« less
Using acoustic structure in a hand-held audio playback device

This paper discusses issues in navigation and presentation of voice documents, and their application to a particular hand-held audio playback device, called NewsComm. It discusses situations amenable to auditory information retrieval, techniques for deriving document structure based on acoustical cues, and techniques for interactive presentation of digital audio. NewsComm provides a portable user interface to digitized radio news and interview programs, and it allows occasional connectivity to a networked audio server with disconnected playback.
The EEG in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Abstract One original case and two previously reported cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) are reviewed, with emphasis on their EEG features. In one the diagnosis could be made and confirmed by brain biopsy prior to death. The EEG findings in these three cases and those in other cases reported in the literature suggest the value of this examination in helping to establish a diagnosis of PML when all other laboratory studies are normal.
WOLVES: achieving correct provenance analysis by detecting and resolving unsound workflow views

Workflow views abstract groups of tasks in a workflow into composite tasks, and are used for simplifying provenance analysis, workflow sharing and reuse. An unsound view does not preserve the dataflow between tasks in the workflow, and can therefore cause incorrect provenance analysis. In this demo we present WOLVES, a system that efficiently identifies and corrects unsound workflow views with minimal changes (view correction). Since the view correction problem is NP-hard, WOLVES allows the user to choose between two forms of local optimality, strong and weak. Efficient time algorithms achieving these optimalities are implemented in WOLVES.
A comparison of hydrologic models for ecological flows and water availability

Peter V. Caldwell,* Jonathan G. Kennen, Ge Sun, Julie E. Kiang, Jon B. Butcher, Michele C. Eddy, Lauren E. Hay, Jacob H. LaFontaine, Ernie F. Hain, Stacy A. C. Nelson and Steve G. McNulty 1 Center for Forest Watershed Science, USDA Forest Service, Otto, NC, USA 2 US Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA 3 Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, USDA Forest Service, Raleigh, NC, USA 4 US Geological Survey, Office of Surface Water, Reston, VA, USA 5 Tetra Tech, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 6 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 7 US Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO, USA 8 US Geological Survey, Norcross, GA, USA 9 Center for Geospatial Analytics, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
Pre-clinical models of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia: new avenues to addressing unmet needs

Abstract Substantial evidence supports the claim that neurocognitive deficits, rather than positive or negative symptoms, are the core features of schizophrenia that are the most effective predictors of the psychosocial functioning of patients. Unfortunately, these cognitive processes are only minimally affected by even ‘next generation’ antipsychotic treatments, indicating that they represent an important unmet need. Despite the centrality of cognitive impairments to the psychopathology of schizophrenia, the development of animal models of clinically-relevant neurocognitive processes, with the possible exception of working memory, has lagged far behind the development of animal models for negative or positive symptoms. Here, I will outline progress to date towards validating animal models of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. I will also propose how models may be better implemented to facilitate the generation of data that is as meaningful as possible for clinical neuroscience and treatment research. In this way, pre-clinical neuroscience may be able to make even more practical and relevant contributions to schizophrenia research and treatment development.
Biogeographic Characterization of a Glacially Relict Pine Forest in East Central Texas as Measured by Invertebrate Composition

The Lost Pines forest of East Central Texas is a relict ecosystem of the last glacial age that ended 10,000 years ago. A crossroads mixture of flora and fauna classified as Eastern, Western, Central, Southern, Widespread, and Introduced is the result of a Pleistocene expansion from the southeastern United States combined with the ecosystem's marginal position along the east-west biogeographical divide and its location in the central plains corridor and at the northern extremity of Neotropical species ranges. For invertebrates at large the modal biogeographical affinity is eastern, with widespread taxa next in abundance but with much smaller contributions from the remaining four categories. Nine additional analyses at the taxonomic level and one analysis at the level of species dispersal ability are included in addition to comments on invertebrate groups represented by only one or a few species.
The Definition of Neveu-Schwarz Superconformal Fields and Uncharged Superconformal Transformations

The construction of Neveu–Schwarz superconformal field theories for any N is given via a superfield formalism. We also review some results and definitions of superconformal manifolds and generalise contour integration and Taylor expansion to superconformal spaces. For arbitrary N we define (uncharged) primary fields and give their infinitesimal change under superconformal transformations. This leads us to the operator product expansion of the stress-energy tensor with itself and with primary fields. In this way we derive the well-known commutation relations of the Neveu–Schwarz superconformal algebras KN. In this context we observe that the central extension term disappears for N≥4 for the Neveu–Schwarz theories. Finally, we give the global transformation rules of primary fields under theaction of the algebra generators.
Surface Step Induced Gap Heating in the Shuttle Thermal Protection System

An analytical study has been performed to investigate the excessive heating in the tile-to-tile gaps of the Shuttle Orbiter Thermal Protection System due to stepped tiles. The excessive heating was evidenced by visible discoloration and charring of the filler bar and strain isolation pad that is used in the attachment of tiles to the aluminum substrate. Two tile locations on the Shuttle Orbiter were considered: one on the lower surface of the fuselage and one on the lower surface of the wing. The gap heating analysis involved the calculation of external and internal gas pressures and temperatures, internal mass flow rates, and the transient thermal response of the Thermal Protection System. The results of the analysis are presented for the fuselage and wing location for several step heights. Nomenclature Ac = cross-sectional area for flow B = width of flow path h = tile step height k = thermal conductivity Kp = permeability constant m = mass flow rate M = Mach number P = pressure q = conduction heat flux Rec = Reynolds number for base pressure correlation s = straight line length between points T = temperature w = tile-to-tile gap width X, Y = Shuttle Orbiter coordinates AJf = longitudinal coordinate measured in the downstream direction from the point of separation kXff = longitudinal coordinate measured in the upstream direction from a forward-facing step <5 = velocity boundary-layer thickness 6* = boundary-layer displacement thickness 6eff = d for laminar flow, 1.56* for turbulent flow A = sweep angle of a tile with respect to the local flow \L = viscosity coefficient p = density
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus in pediatric oncology patients: An analysis of potential consequences of colonization and infection

A retrospective analysis of 57 pediatric oncology patients with a baseline positive vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) culture who subsequently received chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy was performed. The incidence of subsequent VRE infection was calculated using a competing risk analysis accounting for death from non-VRE causes as a competing risk. Ten patients had subsequent VRE infection. The cumulative incidence of subsequent infection was 14% (7–27%, 95% confidence interval) at 1 year and 16% (9–29%, 95% confidence interval) at 2 years. None of the hypothesized risk factors appeared to differ between patients who developed a subsequent infection and those who did not. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:300–302. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: focus on care in patients receiving assisted ventilation

ABSTRACT: This article discusses ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit, and nowadays it represents a major concern due to the increasing resistance rate of the pathogen to different classes of antibiotics. Here, the choice between a combination therapy and a monotherapy in the empirical setting is analyzed and discussed, by focusing on the recommendations of different published guidelines. Pros and cons of the different possible associations are analyzed and suggestions are given in light of the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. Route of administration is also discussed, with an emphasis on the use of nebulized antibiotics. Optimal duration of treatment is an additional point of discussion, and explanations are provided for the suggested longer course compared with that of other etiologies.
Coat-Tether Interaction in Golgi Organization

Biogenesis of the Golgi apparatus is likely mediated by the COPI vesicle coat complex, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Modeling of the COPI subunit betaCOP based on the clathrin adaptor AP2 suggested that the betaCOP C terminus forms an appendage domain with a conserved FW binding pocket motif. On gene replacement after knockdown, versions of betaCOP with a mutated FW motif or flanking basic residues yielded a defect in Golgi organization reminiscent of that occurring in the absence of the vesicle tether p115. Indeed, betaCOP bound p115, and this depended on the betaCOP FW motif. Furthermore, the interaction depended on E(19)E(21) in the p115 head domain and inverse charge substitution blocked Golgi biogenesis in intact cells. Finally, Golgi assembly in permeabilized cells was significantly reduced by inhibitors containing intact, but not mutated, betaCOP FW or p115 EE motifs. Thus, Golgi organization depends on mutually interacting domains in betaCOP and p115, suggesting that vesicle tethering at the Golgi involves p115 binding to the COPI coat.
Constrained subpixel target detection for remotely sensed imagery

Target detection in remotely sensed images can be conducted spatially, spectrally or both. The difficulty of detecting targets in remotely sensed images with spatial image analysis arises from the fact that the ground sampling distance is generally larger than the size of targets of interest in which case targets are embedded in a single pixel and cannot be detected spatially. Under this circumstance target detection must be carried out at subpixel level and spectral analysis offers a valuable alternative. In this paper, the problem of subpixel spectral detection of targets in remote sensing images is considered, where two constrained target detection approaches are studied and compared. One is a target abundance-constrained approach, referred to as nonnegatively constrained least squares (NCLS) method. It is a constrained least squares spectral mixture analysis method which implements a nonnegativity constraint on the abundance fractions of targets of interest. Another is a target signature-constrained approach, called constrained energy minimization (CEM) method. It constrains the desired target signature with a specific gain while minimizing effects caused by other unknown signatures. A quantitative study is conducted to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Some suggestions are further proposed to mitigate their disadvantages.
Preoptic area lesions disrupt prolactin-induced parental feeding behavior in ring doves.

The role of the preoptic area (POA) in mediating PRL-induced parental responsiveness toward young was investigated in nonbreeding-doves with previous breeding experience. Birds received microinjections of the axon-sparing excitotoxin ibotenic acid to destroy neuornal cell bodies in the POA. Sham-lesioned controls received POA injections of vehicle. Upon recovery, birds received subcutaneous injections of ovine PRL for 7 days, followed by a 2.5-hr test with a foster squab to assess parental responsiveness. Lesioned doves displayed significantly fewer parental feeding invitations, parental regurgitation feeding bouts, and total regurgitation movements than did sham-lesioned animals. As a result, nestlings given to sham-lesioned birds gained significantly more weight than those given to lesioned birds. A significant negative correlation was obtained between the extent of POA damage induced by ibotenic acid infusion and the amount of parental behavior displayed by lesioned animals. These deficits in parental behavior were apparently a selective effect of POA damage because another PRL-mediated behavior, hyperphagia, was unaffected. The results suggest that the POA is an important component of the neural circuitry underlying the expression of PRL-induced parental feeding behavior in non-breeding ring doves. Because elevated PRL levels are temporally associated with parental activity during the breeding cycle, these results also implicate the POA in the spontaneous display of parental feeding activity that occurs naturally at the time of hatching.
Investigation of Mach number effects on the Richtmyer- Meshkov instability using simultaneous PIV and PLIF imaging diagnostics

Experiments are carried out at the Los Alamos Gas Shock Tube facility where a varicose-perturbed, thin, heavy-gas curtain is impulsively accelerated by planar shock waves of varying strength within the weak shock regime (M ≤ 1.5). The resulting RichtmyerMeshkov instability and subsequent fluid mixing is interrogated using both PIV (particle image velocimetry) and PLIF (planar laser induced fluorescence) simultaneously. Presented are the time evolution of density maps and vorticity maps for each Mach number. These 2-D maps help to elucidate the differences in mixing at both large and small scales in the flow when Mach number is varied. Several parameters derived from these maps are plotted with time. It is found that if the time axis is scaled with the convection velocity, the rate of change of these parameters with distance traveled can be effectively collapsed.
Effect of Preparation Methods on Total Fat Content, Moisture Content, and Sensory Characteristics of Breaded Chicken Nuggets and Beef Steak Fingers

In recent years, public concern has focused on the need to reduce the fat content of school lunches. This study was designed to determine the effects of three preparation methods (baking, deep-fat frying, and hot-air frying) on moisture, fat content, and sensory characteristics of chicken nuggets and beef steak fingers. Chicken nuggets and beef steak fingers that were hot-air fried had a higher moisture content (p < .01) than those that were deep-fat fried. Both hot-air frying and baking caused a lower fat content (p < .01) in chicken nuggets than deep-fat frying. However, fat content of beef steak fingers was not significantly affected by preparation methods. Paired preference sensory testing was conducted using 40 volunteer panelists for each test. These tests indicated that most panelists preferred (p < .05) the deep-fat fried products over baked or hot-air fried products for flavor, crispness, mouth feel, and overall likability.
Sexually transmitted diseases: global importance

The worldwide incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) continues to increase and represents a major public health problem especially in the developing world causing infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Prevention of the spread of STDs, along with early detection and appropriate therapy has the potential to minimize the reproductive tract damage of these infections and simultaneously improve the health of women in all areas of the world.
Simulation education: A primer for professionalism

Abstract Professionalism embraces a set of attitudes, skills and behaviors, attributes, and values expected from those to whom society considers an expert. Research has shown that simulation-based training can improve student learning and, therefore, patient care (Cant & Cooper,2010; Harder,2010). With the outcomes of improved student learning and better patient care, can simulation foster professionalism as well? The purpose of this article is to highlight the benefits of a simulation scenario in fostering the development of professionalism in nursing students.
Thioglycol polymers. III. Copolymerization of thiodiglycol and similar thioglycols with aliphatic hydroxy compounds

As thiodiglycol (TG) condenses with itself in the presence of phosphorus pentoxide, sulfuric acid, or potassium hydrogen sulfate at 50–200°, its reaction with di- and trihydroxy compounds and with 2-hydroxyethane-1-thiol (MTG) under similar conditions would be expected to give straight-chain and crosslinked polymers. With certain polyfunctional compounds this has been found to be the case. Some indication of copolymerization was observed with diethylene, trimethylene, and the butylene glycols and with ricinoleic acid, and solid polymers resulted from the interaction of thiodiglycol with tricarballylic acid, 2,2′-dihydroxydiethyl disulfide (DTG), MTG, and glycerol, respectively. The reactions with the last three hydroxy compounds were studied in detail and the properties of the copolymers produced assessed visually. MTG was found to undergo rapid autocondensation to form brittle solids. Similar polymers were obtained in about 70% yield with small amounts of TG in the reaction mixture; on an increase in the initial TG content, waxy solids, similar to those obtained from TG alone, resulted. As the glycerol content in TG/glycerol mixtures increased up to 40%, the copolymers formed changed from friable gels to brittle solids; any further increase resulted in viscous liquid products only. These results may be attributable to the fact that the reaction is a two-stage one. TG-MTG mixtures were reacted with glycerol with a view to improving the tensile strength of the product. This was successful, and the TG-MTG-glycerol (50:45:4) mixture, when heated at 154° for 6.5 hr. gave a white, elastic solid, very difficult to cut or break, which could be milled and pressed although tending to swell in benzene and dichlorodiethyl ether. The properties and structures of these new thioplasts made, where possible, from equimolecular quantities of the monomers, are recorded and compared with those of the commercially available Thiokols. Attempts to copolymerize TG with compounds (I), (II), and (III), which contain the reactive 2-hydroxyethylthio group were unsuccessful.
Trastornos cardiovasculares y enfermedad reumática

Resumen La enfermedad cardiovascular es un problema frecuente e insuficientemente reconocido en pacientes con trastornos reumaticos sistemicos. Los pacientes pueden presentar una enfermedad asociada a afeccion cardiaca en el momento del diagnostico o en una fase posterior del curso de la enfermedad. Las manifestaciones varian segun la enfermedad de que se trate, y todas las estructuras del corazon pueden verse afectadas y pueden causar morbilidad y mortalidad importantes. Las manifestaciones de la enfermedad cardiaca en estos pacientes van de subclinicas a graves y pueden requerir un tratamiento inmunosupresor agresivo. La deteccion temprana es importante para instaurar con rapidez un tratamiento apropiado. El tratamiento de la afeccion cardiaca asociada a la enfermedad se basa en la gravedad; las manifestaciones mas graves requieren a menudo un tratamiento combinado con corticoides y farmacos citotoxicos. Se ha identificado de manera creciente aterosclerosis prematura en los pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistemico y artritis reumatoide, lo que puede conducir a una muerte coronaria prematura respecto a la poblacion general. Un control agresivo de la inflamacion sistemica en estas enfermedades puede conducir a reducir el riesgo de cardiopatia isquemica. Aunque el tratamiento agresivo de la enfermedad reumatica primaria se ha asociado a una reduccion de las tasas de mortalidad, no se han formulado directrices especificas para la prevencion de la cardiopatia isquemica en este grupo de pacientes y las recomendaciones actuales incluyen el control agresivo y el seguimiento de los factores de riesgo tradicionales.
Influence of calcium on vegetative and reproductive development of Pelargonium

Abstract Cloned stem cuttings of geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) were maintained in control and mineral deficient solutions for five weeks. Hydroponic solutions were formulated to be deficient in a single mineral; e.g., ‐Ca, ‐Fe, ‐Mg, ‐N, and ‐P. Positive control solutions contained all macro and micronutrients, while negative controls consisted of double distilled water. Weights and numbers of all organs of the shoot were determined, as was an analysis of adventitious roots. Plants grown in ‐Ca solutions characteristically manifested reduced organ weights and numbers as compared to plants grown in other mineral deficiencies and both controls. Examples of reduced values recorded in ‐Ca plants, as compared to the negative control plants, were: (i) a 60% decrease in overall plant weight, (ii) a 40% reduction in the total weight of leaves per plant, (iii) a 50% reduction in stem weight, (iv) a 60% drop in the weight of the stem base and associated adventitious roots, (v) a 30% decline in inflorescence weight...
Design of a quaternary latch circuit using a binary CMOS RS latch

A new voltage-mode quaternary CMOS static latch circuit is presented that is built around a binary standard CMOS logic clocked RS latch circuit. Only devices available in a standard digital CMOS fabrication technology-enhancement-mode NMOS and PMOS transistors with single threshold voltage values-are used. No depletion-mode devices or special transistor threshold voltages are required. Its operation is experimentally verified. Typical and worst-case on-chip setup and hold times are simulated to be approximately 2.8 ns and 6.8 ns, respectively.
Ribozyme cleavage leads to decreased expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 in human multiple myeloma cells, which is associated with apoptosis and downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor.

The aim of this study was to investigate the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mRNA cleavage by ribozymes targeting FGFR3, effect of growth inhibition and associated with mechanism on mul...
A Simple Presciption for Texas's Ailing Court System: Stronger Stare Decisis

A fairly recent study of Texas's court system concluded that Texas did not really have a court system, but rather the courts tended to function independently from one another with no real central focus. This Article examines this excess of independence and the problems faced by Texas's litigants. It shows how similarly-situated (and sometimes even identically-situated) Texas litigants receive unequal treatment in Texas courts. It further shows how Texas's weak adherence to stare decisis, coupled with its unique appellate court structure, has led to the non-uniform, inconsistent, unequal, unfair, and confusing justice system. Such non-uniform and inconsistent decision-making is inherently unfair and the antithesis of a justice system. Although several Texas Supreme Court Justices, including the recently departed Chief Justice Phillips, have warned about these problems, the Supreme Court and Texas Legislature have failed to produce meaningful court reform. Interestingly, every reform proposal has focused on making structural, as opposed to substantive, changes to Texas's appellate courts. Although these structural reform proposals have significant merit, they ignore the main substantive problem: Texas's weak adherence to stare decisis. In contrast to these structural reform proposals, this Article explores an entirely different solution. After first explaining how different models of stare decisis operate in other jurisdictions and in Texas, the Article proposes a relatively simple solution to fixing Texas's ailing court system: stronger stare decisis. By implementing the proposed stronger stare decisis rules, Texas's courts will lose some independence. Instead, these courts will function dependently with a central focus, providing equal justice for similarly-situated Texans.
Approximate Modal Analysis of Multistory One-Bay Frames

Presented herein is a comparison between several structural modeling techniques for estimating the lateral natural frequencies of vibration for multistory one-bay frames. The study is subdivided in two phases: the analytical models including lateral floor translation, rigid joint rotation, and axial deformation.
Vacuole induction by nicotine in teliospores of Uromyces vignae, Puccinia punctiformis, and Puccinia helianthi

Nicotine, at concentrations of 1000-3000 Il/L in distilled water, induced vacuole formation in teliospores of Uromyces vignae, the causal agent of cowpea rust, Puccinia punctiformis, the causal agent of Canada thistle rust, and Puccinia helianthi, the causal agent of sunflower rust. Induced vacuoles accumulated the vital stain, neutral red, when buffered at high pH values. Vacuole induction by nicotine indicates that the cell walls of these teliospores are permeable and that the inability to germinate is not caused by complete cell wall impermeability.
Assessing Expressive Movement Measuring Student Learning Outcomes in the General Music Classroom

Expressive movement, created by students to demonstrate musical elements and artistry, provides a valid assessment opportunity for general music teachers. This purposeful movement, plastique animee...
A q-gram birthmarking approach to predicting reusable hardware

Designer productivity is a growing concern as over-all hardware complexity rises. Design reuse, a key component in productivity, is underutilized. Not only can existing designs be reused, but also the patterns and information contained within them as well. With the increase in the number of circuits available, there requires a need to analyze and retrieve designs with ease in order to accelerate design entry. In this paper, a birthmarking approach using q-grams is presented. Using this technique, design patterns regarding existing circuits can be captured and used to not only suggest similar and reusable designs, but functional blocks throughout the design phase, with little to no effort from the user. Preliminary experiments and case studies of the q-gram birthmarking technique were performed on over 250 circuits from various sources in order to show the feasibility of the proposed methods.
Results of Pathogenic Surveillance of Hand-foot-mouth disease in Baise During 2011-2014

Objective To explore the characteristics of disease etiology and epidemiological characteristics of HFMD in Baise City during 2011-2014 and provide the basis for its clinical prevention and treatment.Methods The data of 1843 HFMD pathogen monitoring samples,severe cases and aggregation immune patients were comprehensively and retrospectively analyzed.The specific nucleic acid of enterovirus universal,enterovirus 71(EV71) and Coxsackie virus group A type 16(Cox A16) form the specimens were inspected by Realtime RT-PCR and the test results were analyzed.Results The positive rates in 2011,2012,2013,2014 were 89.0%;95.7%,95.7%and 91.3%respectively,and there were 127 patients,699 patients,538 patients diagnosed in 2012,2013,2014 respectively.Conclusion During 2011-2012,EV71 was the main pathogens of HFMD in Baise,and during 2013-2014 other enteroviruses instead.But EV71 is still the pathogens that can cause severe HFMD and the death of patients.
Contemporary issues in the treatment of alcohol dependence.

This article chronicles the evolution of modem chemical dependency treatment and examines the state of the art and current controversies. A multidisciplinary, multifaceted treatment model is explained, and outcome statistics are provided. The efficacy of inpatient versus outpatient treatment, aftercare, and self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous are explored. Patient demographic factors are seen to influence outcome strongly, and multilevel treatment systems to meet a wide variety of needs and acuities are recommended.
Reflecting on the Politics of Piety

This essay reflects on Saba Mahmood's book, The Politics of Piety, The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject, which analyzes conceptions of self, agency, and politics among the female practitioners of Da'wa in Egypt. Mahmood draws upon Judith Butler and Michel Foucault to demonstrate that the manner by which practitioners inhabit the norms governing their lives, is the source of their agency and influence in Islamic society. I provide a feminist analysis of the Da'wa conceptions of agency by drawing parallels with two distinct North American phenomena: the emergence of Women‘s Clubs in the 19th Century as purveyors of social and moral reform, and the Christian Patriarchy movement promoting the doctrines of complementarianism and pronatalism.
Chemical Alterations Produced in Brain by Environment and Training

Section II of this chapter treats neurochemical responses to environmental variables. By environment we mean relatively long-term conditions that cannot easily be reduced to specific sensory stimulation. Most of the environmental studies have dealt either with effects of isolation on biogenic amines or with effects of environmental enrichment or impoverishment on cholinergic enzymes. Rose has very recently discussed neurochemical correlates of learning and environmental change.(1a) Effects of sensory stimulation are discussed in the chapter by Talwar and Singh(1b) in this volume. Sensory stimulation has also been recently reviewed by Glass-man.(2)
Angiotensin II-receptor stimulation of cytosolic calcium concentration in cultured renal resistance arterioles

This study provides an initial characterization of basic morphological properties of cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from rat preglomerular resistance vessels and of the functional coupling of angiotensin II (ANG II) receptors to cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i (fura 2 fluorescence photometry). Renal VSMC were isolated from interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles (<50 μm) using an iron oxide sieving method and compared with rat aortic VSMC cultured under similar conditions. Quiescent monolayers maintained uniform morphology and [Ca 2+ ] i ; signaling profile between passages 3 and 10. Arteriolar and aortic VSMC were spindle shaped and expressed smooth muscle-specific α-actin and myosin heavy chains SM-1 and SM-2. ANG II caused a rapid increase in [ca 2+ ] i , followed by a sustained plateau phase at 50-60% of the peak value. The initial maximum [Ca 2+ ] i ; responses were dose dependent and of similar magnitude in renal arteriolar and aortic VSMC. ANG II (10 -7 M) increased [Ca 2+ ] i from 50 to 240 nM in arteriolar and from 57 to 201 nM in aortic VSMC (P < 0.001 for both). Inhibition of ANG II effects on [Ca 2+ ] i revealed significant signaling through distinct AT-receptor subtypes (losartan and PD-123319 sensitive) in renal arteriolar VSMC. In contrast, only losartan was effective in aortic VSMC. The AT2-receptor ligand CGP-42112 had no effect in either vessel type. Our results demonstrate that cultured arteriolar VSMC have anatomical similarities to aortic VSMC and functional differences in AT-receptor signaling in response to ANG II. This novel preparation should provide a useful approach with which to investigate cellular mechanisms concerning receptor coupling to signaling pathways involved in vascular reactivity of arteriolar VSMC in the microcirculation in general and the kidney in particular.
Netrin-1 Augments Chemokinesis in CD4+ T Cells In Vitro and Elicits a Proinflammatory Response In Vivo

Netrin-1 is a neuronal guidance cue that regulates cellular activation, migration, and cytoskeleton rearrangement in multiple cell types. It is a chemotropic protein that is expressed within tissues and elicits both attractive and repulsive migratory responses. Netrin-1 has recently been found to modulate the immune response via the inhibition of neutrophil and macrophage migration. However, the ability of Netrin-1 to interact with lymphocytes and its in-depth effects on leukocyte migration are poorly understood. In this study, we profiled the mRNA and protein expression of known Netrin-1 receptors on human CD4(+) T cells. Neogenin, uncoordinated-5 (UNC5)A, and UNC5B were expressed at low levels in unstimulated cells, but they increased following mitogen-dependent activation. By immunofluorescence, we observed a cytoplasmic staining pattern of neogenin and UNC5A/B that also increased following activation. Using a novel microfluidic assay, we found that Netrin-1 stimulated bidirectional migration and enhanced the size of migratory subpopulations of mitogen-activated CD4(+) T cells, but it had no demonstrable effects on the migration of purified CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(dim) T regulatory cells. Furthermore, using a short hairpin RNA knockdown approach, we observed that the promigratory effects of Netrin-1 on T effectors is dependent on its interactions with neogenin. In the humanized SCID mouse, local injection of Netrin-1 into skin enhanced inflammation and the number of neogenin-expressing CD3(+) T cell infiltrates. Neogenin was also observed on CD3(+) T cell infiltrates within human cardiac allograft biopsies with evidence of rejection. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Netrin-1/neogenin interactions augment CD4(+) T cell chemokinesis and promote cellular infiltration in association with acute inflammation in vivo.
Abstract 3521: The effect of MazF, Escherichia coli ribonuclease, on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS cells)

Apoptosis is a gene-directed program that could be inhibited by several factors such as the disruption of the balance between pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins, the impaired death receptor signalling or the reduced caspase functions. Several studies have shown that ribonucleases or antibiotics can induce apoptosis in mammalian cells through the shutoff of the protein synthesises. MazF produced by E. coli is a ribonuclease protein that cleaves mRNAs at ACA sequence sites and inhibits their translation. Thus, we hypothesized that the overexpression of MazF proteins in cancer cells could lead to the induction of apoptosis. In the present study, the ACA-less mazF gene was inserted into pSF-T7-EMCV T7 IRES expression plasmid. The mRNAs of mazF gene were synthesized in in vitro conditions, and one μg/ml of the mRNA was transferred into AGS (Gastric adenocarcinoma) cell line. The incidence of apoptosis was detected by conducting caspase 3/7 and Annexin-V assays. The results showed that 99.83% of cells were detached after 18 hours, 0.0086% of cells remained attached without apparent apoptosis, but 0.101% of attached cells were under apoptotic conditions. The results suggest that MazF protein has an ability to induce apoptosis in AGS cells. Since this protein can cleave mRNAs at ACA sites, it could inhibit protein synthesis, reduce the growth rate, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. This finding is the first report of the application of MazF as an anti-cancer agent for the induction of apoptosis in AGS cell line. Citation Format: Maryam Saffarian, Jeremy Tzeng. The effect of MazF, Escherichia coli ribonuclease, on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS cells). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3521.
PIV measurements in a real time controlled model wind turbine wake simulator

A wind tunnel based "Hyper Accelerated Wind Farm Kinematic-Control Simulator" (HAWKS) is being built at Texas Tech University (TTU) to emulate controlled wind turbine flow physics. The HAWKS model turbine has pitch, yaw and speed controls that could be operated in real time with different power coefficient (Cp) conditions. The purpose of HAWKS is to simulate control strategies, operating at much faster turnaround times. Currently, the fundamental building blocks of the simulator are being tested. A few salient tests results are presented here.