cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constitutive activation of LXR in macrophages regulates metabolic and inflammatory gene expression: identification of ARL7 as a direct target

Ligand activation of liver X receptors (LXRs) has been shown to impact both lipid metabolism and inflammation. One complicating factor in studies utilizing synthetic LXR agonists is the potential for pharmacologic and receptor-independent effects. Here, we describe an LXR gain-of-function system that does not depend on the addition of exogenous ligand. We generated transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active VP16-LXRα protein from the aP2 promoter. These mice exhibit increased LXR signaling selectively in adipose and macrophages. Analysis of gene expression in primary macrophages derived from two independent VP16-LXRα transgenic lines confirmed the ability of LXR to drive expression of genes involved in cholesterol efflux and fatty acid synthesis. Moreover, VP16-LXRα expression also suppressed the induction of inflammatory genes by lipopolysaccharide to a comparable degree as synthetic agonist. We further utilized VP16-LXRα-expressing macrophages to identify and validate new targets for LXRs, including the gene encoding ADP-ribosylation factor-like 7 (ARL7). ARL7 has previously been shown to transport cholesterol to the membrane for ABCA1-associated removal and thus may be integral to the LXR-dependent efflux pathway. We show that the ARL7 promoter contains a functional LXRE and can be transactivated by LXRs in a sequence-specific manner, indicating that ARL7 is a direct target of LXR. These findings provide further support for an important role of LXRs in the coordinated regulation of lipid metabolic and inflammatory gene programs in macrophages.
Cycle Detection: A Technique for Estimating the Frequency and Amplitude of Episodic Fluctuations inBlood Hormone and Substrate Concentrations

Investigation of episodic endocrine secretion has been hampered by inadequate analytical techniques for describing patterns of blood concentrations over time. Although standard time series methods, such as autocorrelation and power spectral analysis, are available, their use is limited to special cases in which rhythms are regular. To facilitate the analysis of our own episodic LH data, we have developed a process for determining the frequency and amplitude of both regular and irregular endocrine rhythms (signals) in the presence of high levels of random measurement errors (noise). This process, called cycle detection, engages an iterative, computerized procedure which scans data identifying sequential increases and decreases greater than an initial, preset threshold value. One complete cycle is defined as two increases greater than threshold separated by a decrease which is also greater than threshold. For an initial first pass estimate of frequency and amplitude, the threshold is set at 2.7 times the no...
The Personal Attribute Inventory as a self concept scale: a preliminary report.

Self-concept scores on the 100-item Personal Attribute Inventory of 6 male and 36 female college students were significantly correlated (.80) with their scores on the 75-item “Unfavorable” subscale and (—.73) on the 75-item “Favorable” subscale of the Adjective Check List. In a second study with 16 males and 34 females, 4-wk. test-retest reliability for the inventory was .83.
Genetic analysis of aging in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The natural limits to life span are poorly understood. Yeast is a good model organism for studies of the aging process because single cells can be followed for many cell divisions and their loss of division potential follows kinetics identical to mortality rates in complex organisms. Recent experimental approaches in yeast are beginning to lead to basic models of the factors that facilitate aging.
What is the optimum role and timing of early invasive management of patients with acute coronary syndromes

What is the optimum role and timing of early invasive management of patients with acute coronary syndromes?
Androgenic Effects from Percutaneous Administration in Castrate Rats.

ConclusionsBased upon weight responses evoked in the end organs of castrated male rats, the results obtained with androgens, percutaneously administered, indicate the effectiveness to follow the descending order—methyl-testosterone, free testosterone and t-propionate (lowest), although the differences between the first two substances are not great. It is further suggested that androgens carried in a tegin base are more effective than when carried in a lanol base, since end organ weights were greater in 30 of the 32 compared pairs. With all dosages the histologically indicated secretory normality was apparent for both ventral prostates and seminal vesicles.I wish to acknowledge grateful appreciation to Dr. Carl R. Moore for directing this investigation, to Dr. Dorothy Price for friendly interest and assistance, and to Mrs. Dorothy Plagge for aid with operations.
Hydroxyl Ion Movements across the Human Erythrocyte Membrane Measurement of rapid pH changes in red cell suspensions

A stopped flow rapid reaction apparatus capable of following changes of +/-0.02 pH unit in 0.1 ml of solution in less than 0.005 sec has been developed, utilizing a commercially available pH-sensitive glass electrode. Using this instrument, extracellular pH at 37 degrees C was followed from less than 0.025 sec to 300 sec after mixing equal volumes of the following CO(2)-free solutions: (A) normal human red cells, washed three times and resuspended in 150 mM NaCl at pH 7.2 with a hematocrit of 18%; and, (B) 150 mM NaCl adjusted with HCl or NaOH to pH 2.1 to pH 10.3. A minimum of 2 ml of mixture had to flow through the electrode chamber to ensure complete washout. The mixing process produced a step change in the pH of the extracellular fluid, after which exchanges across the red cell membrane and buffering by intracellular hemoglobin caused it to return toward pH 7.2 with an approximately exponential time course. Under the assumption that pH changes after mixing represent exchanges of hydroxyl for chloride ions across the cell membrane, hydroxyl ion permeabilities (P(OH) (-) in cm/sec) were calculated and found to vary from 2 x 10(-4) at pH 9 to 4 x 10(-1) at pH 4 according to the empirical relationship P(OH) (-) = 170 exp (-1.51 pH). The form of the dependence of P(OH) (-) on extracellular pH does not appear compatible with a simple fixed charge theory of membrane permselectivity.
Experimental methodology for performance characterization of a line detection algorithm

We present a general methodology for designing experiments to quantitatively characterize lowlevel computer vision algorithms. The methodology can be applied to any vision problem that can be posed as a detection task. It provides a convenient framework to measure the sensitivity of an algorithm to various factors that affect the performance. The methodology is illustrated by applying it to a line detection algorithm consisting of the second directional derivative edge detector followed by a Hough transform. In particular we measure the selectivity of the algorithm in the presence of an interfering oriented grating and additive Gaussian noise. The final result is a measure of the detectors'' performance as a function of the orientation of the interfering grating.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Critical exponents of the 3 dimensional Gross-Neveu model

Abstract We measure the critical exponents of the 3 dimensional Gross-Neveu model with 2 four component continuum fermion flavors. The exponents are inferred from scaling of observables on lattice sizes 83, 123, 163 and 243 with statistics ranging between 15000 and 40000 times the integrated autocorrelation time for the observables used. We find that the model has a second order phase transition with v = 0.98(7). The exponent 2-η = γ/v = 1.26(3) is in agreement with recent second order 1/N-expansion calculation, which gives γ/v = 1.2475.
Purification and characterization of yeast Sco1p, a mitochondrial copper protein.

The present studies were undertaken to further characterize the properties of Sco1p, a constituent of the mitochondrial inner membrane implicated in copper transfer to cytochrome oxidase. We report a procedure capable of yielding Sco1p of >95% purity. Sco1p has been purified from strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae that overexpress the protein. The amino-terminal sequence of purified Sco1p indicates that the first 40 amino acids of the primary translation product constitute a mitochondrial targeting sequence that is proteolytically cleaved during import. We estimate that Sco1p constitutes 0.08% total mitochondrial proteins in wild type yeast and 5% in the transformant used for the purification. Sco1p contains ∼1 mol of copper/mol protein. The copper is not removed by the treatment of Sco1p with EDTA, indicating that it is bound with high affinity. Purified Sco1p sediments identical to Sco1p in crude extracts of mitochondria from wild type yeast or from a strain transformed with SCO1 on a high copy plasmid. Native Sco1p has an estimated mass of 88 kDa, suggesting that it is a homotrimer. Sco1p expressed as a soluble protein lacking the internal 17 amino acids of the membrane-anchoring domain has been localized in the matrix. The protein has also been targeted to the intermembrane space. Neither soluble matrix nor intermembrane-localized Sco1p is able to complement a sco1 mutant, suggesting that only the membrane form with the carboxyl-terminal domain facing the intermembrane space is able to exert its normal function.
A state space approach to the estimation of price expectations

One of the most pervasive forms of the unobservable variable problem in econometrics is the appearance of expectational variables in any carefully motivated theory of economic behavior. Some theory of expectation formation must lie at the base of all but the most tautological theories of individual decision making. This fact has long been recognized by economists and the common approach to dealing with it has been to model expectations as a deterministic function of the past values of the variable being considered. This paper suggests a procedure for estimating expectations as the unobservable states of a dynamic system. The approach used combines output correlation methods with the Kalman filter to obtain estimates of the price expectations. These techniques have been widely used in the control theory literature to address unobservable problems in engineering applications although certain modifications are necessary to make them fully applicable in an econometric environment.
RTP for advanced CMOS process integration

Twelve rapid thermal processes have been developed for over fifteen critical thermal fabrication steps in a sub-0.50 p.m CMOS technology. These processes include dielectric growth (dry and wet rapid thermal oxidations), thermal anneals (source/drain & gate anneals, CMOS well formation, TiN/TiSi2 react, and forming gas anneal), rapid thermal chemical-vapor deposition (amorphous silicon, polysilicon, tungsten, silicon dioxide, and silicon nitride), and in-situ dry cleaning. The pro­ cess temperature range of these rapid thermal processing fabrication steps extends between 400°C and 1100°C. Complete sub-0.50 p.m CMOS process integration has been successfully demonstrated in a single-wafer minifactory consisting of all-RTP/no-furnace thermal processing.
Preoperative Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastases: Impact on Hepatic Histology and Postoperative Outcome

Some investigators have suggested that preoperative chemotherapy for hepatic colorectal metastases may cause hepatic injury and increase perioperative morbidity and mortality. The objective of the current study was to examine whether treatment with preoperative chemotherapy was associated with hepatic injury of the nontumorous liver and whether such injury, if present, was associated with increased morbidity or mortality after hepatic resection. Two-hundred and twelve eligible patients who underwent hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases between January 1999 and December 2005 were identified. Data on demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, and preoperative chemotherapy details were collected and analyzed. The majority of patients received preoperative chemotherapy (n = 153; 72.2%). Chemotherapy consisted of fluoropyrimidine-based regimens: 5-FU monotherapy, 31.6%; irinotecan, 25.9%; and oxaliplatin, 14.6%. Among those patients who received chemotherapy, the type of chemotherapy regimen predicted distinct patterns of liver injury. Oxaliplatin was associated with increased likelihood of grade 3 sinusoidal dilatation (p = 0.017). Steatosis >30% was associated with irinotecan (27.3%) compared with no chemotherapy, 5-FU monotherapy, and oxaliplatin (all p < 0.05). Irinotecan also was associated with steatohepatitis, as two of the three patients with steatohepatitis had received irinotecan preoperatively. Overall, the perioperative complication rate was similar between the no-chemotherapy group (30.5%) and the chemotherapy group (35.3%) (p = 0.79). Preoperative chemotherapy was also not associated with 60-day mortality. In patients with hepatic colorectal metastases, preoperative chemotherapy is associated with hepatic injury in about 20 to 30% of patients. Furthermore, the type of hepatic injury after preoperative chemotherapy was regimen-specific.
Mass-Marking Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout Fingerlings with Oxytetracycline

ABSTRACT We immersed fingerling rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a 500-mg/L solution of oxytetracycline (OTC) for 6 h to determine marking efficacy. The technique marked 100% and 92% of rainbow trout and brown trout otoliths, respectively. In a blind test using known marked and unmarked otoliths, one reader correctly identified 99% of rainbow trout and 95% of brown trout otoliths as either marked or unmarked. Reading errors for rainbow trout (1 out of 78) and brown trout (8 out of 167) were of omission. Mortality of OTC-marked trout was less than 3.5% and statistically similar to control groups. Thirty-five thousand fingerling brown trout stocked into two Tennessee tail waters were treated on the hatchery truck with 500 mg/L OTC and all of the fish in a subsample (n = 95) that was held for 30 d were marked. When fish were recaptured up to 14 months post-stocking, OTC marks were subsequently detected on all brown trout otoliths known be treated (n = 23). We concluded th...
Pyruvate oxidation in testicular tissues during furadroxyl-induced spermatogenic arrest.

NELSON and Steinberger (1952) noted that the testes of rats receiving the nitrofuran Furadroxyl (Fig. 1) orally were similar histologically to those of patients suffering spermatogenic arrest. The stage of spermatogenic arrest is illustrated in Figure 2, sections (1), the normal picture, and (2) after 30 days on a diet to which Furadroxyl had been added. In the latter tubules it can be noted that mature sperm were not present and that there was no development of any cells beyond the primary spermatocyte stage. The testes were about one-third normal size, but body weight was not affected. The Pauls and their associates (1952, 1953, 1954) have compiled considerable data on the metabolic aspects of this nitrofuran poisoning of the testis. The important points from their work which have a bearing on the studies we are reporting are: (1) Succinate oxidation is apparently not impaired by the nitrofurans,
An Understudied Form of Intra-Family Violence: Sibling-to-Sibling Aggression Among Foster Children

Foster children are at high risk for perpetrating and for being victims of sibling aggression and violence. This article proposes an integrative, multidimensional model for studying risk and protective factors of sibling violence. In the model, exposure to sibling violence (perpetration and victimization), child mental disorder, and placement characteristics are risk factors for impaired psychological functioning (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) and for disruptions in school competence (scholastic and social competence with classmates). Sibling positivity, quality of the foster care giving, and foster rejecting care giving are proposed as moderating processes in the linkage between exposure to sibling violence and impaired psychological functioning. Preliminary data are presented in support of the proposed model.
Hodgkin's lymphoma in a pregnant patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The occurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma in pregnancy is unusual; its management poses not only medical but also ethical problems. We report the case history of a pregnant patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Combination chemotherapy was given, with a favourable outcome for the foetus. From a review of some of the available literature, the management considerations are discussed.
Motion of a Bloch domain wall.

We study the velocity versus applied-field relation of a moving Bloch domain wall, using the ``collective-coordinate'' method employed in the theory of soliton motion. For a sufficiently large field, the wall emits spin waves, thereby self-limiting its velocity. That velocity is equal to the common value of the phase and group velocities of a particular spin wave, and may be above or below the Walker limit ${\mathit{V}}_{\mathit{W}}$, depending on the intrinsic damping.
Selection between models through multi-step-ahead forecasting

We develop and show applications of two new test statistics for deciding if one ARIMA model provides significantly better h-step-ahead forecasts than another, as measured by the difference of approximations to their asymptotic mean square forecast errors. The two statistics differ in the variance estimates used for normalization. Both variance estimates are consistent even when the models considered are incorrect. Our main variance estimate is further distinguished by accounting for parameter estimation, while the simpler variance estimate treats parameters as fixed. Their broad consistency properties offer improvements to what are known as tests of Diebold and Mariano (1995) type, which are tests that treat parameters as fixed and use variance estimates that are generally not consistent in our context. We show how these statistics can be calculated for any pair of ARIMA models with the same differencing operator.
Systems Change With School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports Iowa's Work in Progress

This study reports evaluation data from the statewide School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports (SWPBS) initiative in Iowa. The study shows initial positive results over a 3-year period. The School-Wi...
Factors influencing the survival of bacteria after exposure to ionizing radiation.

Results are reported from a series of studies on the effects of preirradiation growth in the presence of glucose or under anaerobic conditions on the radiation resistance of cells of E. coli B/r. The effect of pH of the growth media, desoxyribonucleic acid content, ribonucleic acid content, postirradiation plating effects, basic media, hydrogen peroxide anaerobic growth conditions, catalase or cytochrome activity, and other variables are discussed. It is concluded that growth in glucose favors the synthesis of a protective system or a recovery system. The system may be a single compound acting as a chemical protectfve agent or a more complex enzyme system that allows the cell to repair or bypass radiation-caused damage. In any case, the synthesis of the system involves only anaerobic steps in the dissimilation of glucose since ft can develop in anaerobically grown cells. (C.H.)
Treatment of the neglected and relapsed clubfoot.

Treatment of the neglected and the relapsed clubfoot is one of the most controversial topics in pediatric foot care. This article reviews the breadth of treatment options for practicing podiatrists or orthopedists with a specialty in complex clubfoot treatment. Discussion includes the appropriate circumstances for the use of the different procedures presented and the author's preferred treatment algorithm, based on 15 years of treating neglected, relapsed, and nonidiopathic clubfeet.
Differences in the susceptibility of MHC and non-MHC mixed lymphocyte reactions to suppression by murine amnionic fluid and its components.

Summary The ability of mouse amniotic fluid (MAF), alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and MAF depleted of AFP (MAF - AFP) to suppress primary one-way MLR's was investigated. It was found that MAF, AFP and MAF - AFP were all suppressive of MLR's specific for MHC, K, D or I + S determinants. Suppression was observed when either lymph node or spleen cells were used as the responder cells. Nylon wool column passage of these cells did not significantly affect the immunosuppressive action of these substances. In contrast, MLR's specific for non-MHC/M-locus determinants demonstrated either diminished suppression or augmentation of the response, compared with the MHC stimulated MLR's. Our results show a differential effect of whole MAF and its fractions on the proliferative responses induced by various allogeneic stimuli and suggest that suppression is not due to a non-specific effect on proliferation regardless of the stimulus or cell type involved.
Simulation-Based Bronchoscopy Training: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background Simulation-based bronchoscopy training is increasingly used, but effectiveness remains uncertain. We sought to perform a comprehensive synthesis of published work on simulation-based bronchoscopy training. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, and Scopus for eligible articles through May 11, 2011. We included all original studies involving health professionals that evaluated, in comparison with no intervention or an alternative instructional approach, simulation-based training for flexible or rigid bronchoscopy. Study selection and data abstraction were performed independently and in duplicate. We pooled results using random effects meta-analysis. Results From an initial pool of 10,903 articles, we identified 17 studies evaluating simulation-based bronchoscopy training. In comparison with no intervention, simulation training was associated with large benefits on skills and behaviors (pooled effect size, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.82-1.60]; n=8 studies) and moderate benefits on time (0.62 [95% CI, 0.12-1.13]; n=7). In comparison with clinical instruction, behaviors with real patients showed nonsignificant effects favoring simulation for time (0.61 [95% CI, −1.47 to 2.69]) and process (0.33 [95% CI, −1.46 to 2.11]) outcomes (n = 2 studies each), although variation in training time might account for these differences. Four studies compared alternate simulation-based training approaches. Inductive analysis to inform instructional design suggested that longer or more structured training is more effective, authentic clinical context adds value, and animal models and plastic part-task models may be superior to more costly virtual-reality simulators. Conclusions Simulation-based bronchoscopy training is effective in comparison with no intervention. Comparative effectiveness studies are few.
Nontherapeutic laparotomy in American combat casualties: a 10-year review.

BACKGROUND: The civilian literature has expanded the indications for selective nonoperative management (SNOM) for abdominal trauma to minimize morbidity from nontherapeutic laparotomies (NTLs); however, this treatment modality remains controversial and rare in austere settings. This study aimed to quantify the percentage of NTL and incidence of failed SNOM performed in theater and to define each of their respective intra-abdominal-related morbidities. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of all patients who underwent a laparotomy from 2002 to 2011 during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was performed for patients who survived a minimum of 24 hours. With the use of DRG International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev. procedure codes, a therapeutic laparotomy was defined by the presence of a defined intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal procedure; an NTL was defined by the absence of a defined intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal procedure. Second, patients transferred from North American Treaty Organization Role II to Role III medical treatment facilities to be operated on were deemed failed SNOM. Finally, intra-abdominal complications and mortality were identified for patients undergoing therapeutic laparotomy, NTL, and failed SNOM. RESULTS: Blunt, burn, and penetrating injuries accounted for 38.5% (n = 490), 1.1% (n = 14), and 60.4% (n = 769) of all laparotomies in the OEF and OIF, respectively. Thirty-two percent of all laparotomies performed during the OEF and OIF campaigns were NTL; specifically, the NTL rates in OEF and OIF were 38.2% and 28.6%, respectively. In addition, 31.6% and 32.2% of all penetrating and blunt injury mechanisms resulted in an NTL, respectively. The percentage of all patients identified as failing SNOM was 7.5% (n = 95). The early intra-abdominal complication rate for failed SNOM and for all patients undergoing NTL was 2.1% and 1.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The OIF and OEF combined NTL rate was 32.1%, with an associated 1.7% intra-abdominal early complication rate. The infrequent application of SNOM in a deployed military environment is likely secondary to unpredictable fragmentation trajectories and related blast injury patterns, limited medical resources including computed tomography, and a complex aeromedical evacuation system preventing serial observation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level IV. Language: en
Existence of Random Variables with Values in the Dual of a Nuclear Space.

The aim of this article is to apply some results of L. Schwartz's theory of radonifying maps to prove existence theorems for infinite dimensional valued random variables. As a consequence, we deduce some known results in this direction due to K. Ito, K. Ito and M Nawata, V. Perez-Abreu C., T. Bojdecki and L.G. Gorostiza
High PAE 1mm AlGaN/GaN HEMTs for 20 W and 43% PAE X-band MMIC Amplifiers

Recently, AlGaN/GaN-based HEMTs demonstrated RF power performance as high as 30 W/mm at 8 GHz with field-plating (FP) or overlapping gates.[1] The dramatic improvement is due to increased breakdown voltage and minimized DC-RF dispersion, however, obtained at the expense of increased gate capacitance and reduced device unity-gain cut-off frequency (fT) and gain. Deep_submicron gatelength (0.15 ?m) FP GaN HEMT devices were developed with a lower gate capacitance for millimeter wave applications, which yielded that at P_1dB, DE and PAE were measured as high as 58 % and 45 % at a power density of 5.7 W/mm at 30 GHz. [2] For power amplifier application at X-band [3] and above, the most of performances have been obtained under Class AB bias.
Controls of EGF-induced morphological transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells.

Human bronchial epithelial cells, both normal primary (NHBE) and the BEAS-2B line, respond to epidermal growth factor (EGF) by extruding lengthy filaments, or filapodia. The morphological transformation of BEAS-2B cells maximized at 48 h using 1–10 nM EGF. EGF-induced filapodia extension was inhibited by co-exposure to transforming growth factor beta, which did not affect tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor (EGFR). Inhibition was also effected by phorbol myristoyl acetate (PMA), which reduced the rate of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. Dibutyryl-cAMP had no effect, whereas the protein kinase inhibitor H-89 stimulated the EGF response. The ability to regulate cellular responses to EGF by hormonal and chemical approaches has implications for current investigations into the roles of EGF in lung growth, differentiation, and wound repair. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Christian Patients' Views of Spiritual Care:

The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover the essential structure of spiritual care by obtaining detailed descriptions ofthephenomenonfrom those who have received such care. Data were generated through open-ended interviews with 10 Christian volunteers and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological approach. Findings revealed that spiritual care was given and received in a context in which the recipient was vulnerable and receptive to spiritual care. Three theme clusters included enabling transcendence of the present situationfor higher meaning and purpose, enabling hope, and establishing connectedness. Implications for nurse clinicians, educators, and researchers are discussed.
Predicting the thermal performance characteristics of staggered vertical pin fin array heat sinks under combined mode radiation and mixed convection with impinging flow

Abstract A theoretical and experimental study was carried out investigating the influence of thermal radiation on the thermal performance of a pin fin array heat sink with the purpose of developing accurate predictive capability for such situations, and to determine the particular design parameters and environmental conditions under which thermal radiation might be advantageous to the thermal performance. Several different types of experimental tests were run with the corresponding physical parameter variations including the emissivity of the heat sink, elevated ambient air temperature, the temperature of a visible hot surface, and its radiation configuration factor. A theoretical model, validated by experimental data, which includes the capability of predicting the influence of thermal radiation on the thermal performance of a pin fin array heat sink, was developed by introducing an effective radiation heat transfer coefficient that was added to the convective heat transfer coefficient.
John R. Filson Receives 2010 Edward A. Flinn III Award

[1] John R. Filson received the Edward A. Flinn III Award at the 2010 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 15 December 2010 in San Francisco, Calif. The award honors an “individual who personifies the Union's motto ‘unselfish cooperation in research’ through their facilitating, coordinating, and implementing activities.”
Perspectives on competency-based medical education from the learning sciences

A central component of competency-based medical education is a framework of higher-order and more fundamental competencies whose purpose is to focus instruction and learning. In the language of the learning sciences, many of these competencies are complex cognitive-perceptual or cognitive-motor skills. Competency-based medical education has been criticized for being reductionistic, that is, for focusing on atomistic skills and failing to capture the essence of professional activities as manifested by complex, integrated capabilities. The value of identifying fundamental skill components is supported by theory and evidence from the learning sciences, however. Complex skills are constructed from fundamental, component skills. Proficient performance of the former is achieved as components are refined and integrated during repeated performance of the skill in a realistic context and as feedback on performance is provided. Competency-based medical education does not propose specific methods for teaching competencies. The learning and instructional sciences, however, posit a number of conditions for learning that support the acquisition of simple skills and their flexible integration into complex capabilities. Learners' motivation and self-regulation skills will also have an impact on the extent to which they engage in learning processes that result in the integration of knowledge and skills into complex competencies.
TextRev: A Window into How General and Organic Chemistry Students Use Textbook Resources.

A paper-based survey of first-year general chemistry and second-year organic chemistry students included responses from approximately 3200 students at nine colleges and universities. The students a...
GRB14, GPD1, and GDF8 as potential network collaborators in weight loss-induced improvements in insulin action in human skeletal muscle

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance in skeletal muscle; accordingly, weight loss dramatically improves insulin action. We sought to identify molecular remodeling of muscle commensurate wi...
Toward Understanding the Biology of a Complex Phenotype: Rat Strain and Substrain Differences in the Sensorimotor Gating-Disruptive Effects of Dopamine Agonists

Sensorimotor gating, measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex, is reduced in schizophrenia patients and in rats treated with dopamine agonists. Strain differences in the sensitivity to the PPI-disruptive effects of dopamine agonists may provide insight into the genetic basis for human population differences in sensorimotor gating. We reported strain differences in the sensitivity to the PPI-disruptive effects of the D1/D2 agonist apomorphine in adult rats, with greater sensitivity in Harlan Sprague Dawley (SDH) versus Wistar (WH) rats. However, Kinney et al. (1999) recently reported opposite findings, using Bantin-Kingman Sprague Dawley (SDBK) and Wistar (WBK) rats; in fact, SDBK rats did not exhibit clear apomorphine-induced reductions in sensorimotor gating. These new findings of Kinney et al. (1999) directly conflict with over 15 years of results from our laboratories and challenge interpretations from a large body of literature. The present studies carefully assessed drug effects on sensorimotor gating in SD versus W strains, across rat suppliers (H vs BK). Significantly greater SDH than WH apomorphine sensitivity in PPI measures was observed in both adult and 18 d pups, confirming that these strain differences are both robust and innate. These strain differences in apomorphine sensitivity were not found in adult BK rats. Supplier differences in sensitivity (SDH > SDBK) were also evident in the PPI-disruptive effects of D1 but not D2-family agonists; PPI was clearly disrupted by quinpirole in both SDH and SDBK rats. These findings demonstrate robust, innate, neurochemically specific, and apparently heritable phenotypic differences in an animal model of sensorimotor gating deficits in human neuropsychiatric disorders.
The in vitro transcription units of bacteriophage φX174: III. Initiation with specific 5′ end oligonucleotides of in vitro φX174 RNA

Four major 5′ end oligonucleotide sequences are detected in 5′ proximally labeled in vitro bacteriophage φX174 transcripts. These are correlated to the three major initiation sites previously identified by preparative hybridization and nucleotide fingerprint analysis. In addition, the 5′ end oligonucleotides of the several discrete components isolated by preparative slab gel electrophoresis, also 5′ proximally labeled, are identified. The results confirm the genetic locations of the three major transcriptive initiation sites previously postulated.
Outpatient chemotherapy plus radiotherapy in sarcomas: improving cancer control with radiosensitizing agents.

Background: Cancer control by radiotherapy (RT) can be improved with concurrent chemotherapy. Outpatient strategies for sarcomas that combine chemotherapy and RT are possible since supportive care and RT techniques have improved. Methods: The current status of non-anthracycline chemotherapy in combination with radiation for high-risk sarcoma is reviewed. Results: Ifosfamide with mesna and newer activated ifosfamide agents (ZIO-201 and glufosfamide) have high potential to improve sarcoma cancer control. In Ewing’s sarcoma and osteosarcoma, high-dose ifosfamide with mesna (2.8 g/m 2 /day of each × 5 days; mesna day 6) can be safely given to outpatients using continuous infusion. Reducing ifosfamide nephrotoxicity and central nervous system side effects are discussed. Other outpatient radiosensitization regimens include gemcitabine (600‐1000 mg/m 2 /dose IV over 1 hour weekly × 2‐3 doses), temozolomide (75 mg/m 2 /daily × 3‐6 weeks), or temozolomide (100 mg/m 2 /dose daily × 5) + irinotecan (10 mg/m 2 /dose daily × 5 × 2 weeks). In osteosarcoma with osteoblastic metastases on bone scan, samarium (1 mCi/kg; day 3 of RT) and gemcitabine (600 mg/m 2 IV over 1 hour day 9 of RT) is a radiosensitization strategy. Future drugs for radiosensitization include beta-D-glucose targeted activated ifosfamide (glufosfamide) and sapacitabine, an oral nucleoside with in vitro activity against solid tumors including sarcomas. Conclusions: The potential to treat major causes of sarcoma treatment failure (local recurrence and distant metastases) with concurrent chemotherapy during radiation should be considered in high-grade sarcomas. The potential benefits of chemotherapy and radiotherapy combinations warrant consideration in treating high-grade sarcomas.
Interacting electrons on a two-dimensional surface: planar vs. spherical geometries

The center-of-mass excitations are identied in the spectrum of electrons on a two-dimensional surface in the lowest Landau level. The correspondence between the quantum numbers labeling electron states on a sphere and on a plane is drawn. The excitation spectrum on a sphere with increasing radius is shown to converge to that on a plane. In particular, in the presence of a lateral connement (i.e. for the case of quantum dots), identical series of magic states appear in both cases. Also, a class of interaction potentials which lead to the fractional quantum Hall eect in an extended system are identied. ? 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Antioxidants and free radical scavengers do not consistently delay seizure onset in animal models of acute seizures.

Abstract A number of herbal compounds with direct antioxidant activity slow the onset, or completely block, the occurrence of seizures. This increase in latency has been proposed to be due to the antioxidant activity. This hypothesis was directly tested by determining the effects of Trolox, a vitamin E analog, vitamin C, melatonin, and α-lipoic acid on the latency to acute seizures induced with pilocarpine, kainic acid, or subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in adult rats. Trolox, vitamin C, and α-lipoic acid had significant anticonvulsant activity against pilocarpine, but there were no acute changes in reduced glutathione levels at 15 or 120 minutes. Other than reduced mortality with vitamin C in the PTZ model, none of the antioxidants had a significant effect against PTZ- or kainic acid-induced seizures. The lack of consistent anticonvulsant effect suggests that the antioxidant activity of the herbal preparations cannot account for the delay in seizure onset.
MONTMORILLONITE COMPLEXES WITH DIOXANE, MORPHOLINE, AND PIPERIDINE: MECHANISMS OF FORMATION*

The absorption of dioxane, morpholine and piperidine from dilute aqueous solutions by Li-, Ca-, and Cu-montmorillonite is measured by means of a differential refractometer. This instru- ment measures small differences in the refractive indices of two liquids and provides a useful method for determining the amount of organic material removed from solution by the clay. Corrections are required for the effect of desorbed cations on the differential refraction measurements. Neutral molecules are absorbed in amounts related to the exchange capacity of the clay probably by cation- dipole interactions. The results are consistent with the formation of complexes Li+-R and R-Ca2+-R R 2+ 2+ for the three organic materials used; Cu ions behave like Ca ions for dioxane, but form > Cu2+-R R complexes with morpholine and piperidine. Under acid conditions, morpholine and piperidine form organic cations RH + which take part in cation exchange reactions and which are dominant at pH below about 5. Neutral molecule absorption also occurs by virtue of the presence of RH + ions on the clay which form RH+-R complexes (hemi-salt formation). When this last mechanism of absorption occurs, the total absorption is approximately twice that when a cation-dipole reaction or cation exchange alone operates. One-dimensional Fourier 001 syntheses of complexes in equilibrium with aqueous organic solutions indicate that water molecules are associated with the clay-organic com- plexes to the extent of about 5H20/unit cell.
The role of cetuximab in the management of head and neck cancers

Introduction : The standard of care for patients with locally-advanced head and neck cancer is chemoradiation or surgical resection followed by radiation treatment with or without chemotherapy and despite aggressive, multimodality therapies with their associated toxicities, attempts are being made to improve efficacy while reducing toxicity. Cetuximab is a chimeric mAb directed against the EGFR that showed clinical activity in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). Areas covered : Cetuximab is beneficial in recurrent and metastatic setting, as well as in the definitive setting. In a landmark study by Bonner et al., cetuximab was found to be effective in prolonging survival in conjunction with radiation treatment in locally-advanced tumors versus radiation therapy alone. The Erbitux in First-Line Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer (EXTREME) trial also showed an improvement in conjunction with chemotherapy in recurrent and metastatic tumors. Expert opinion : Cetuximab is an...
Predicting cardiovascular disease from real-time electrocardiographic monitoring: An adaptive machine learning approach on a cell phone

To date, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global death. The Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most widely adopted clinical tool that measures the electrical activities of the heart from the body surface. However, heart rhythm irregularities cannot always be detected on a standard resting ECG machine, since they may not occur during an individual’s recording session. Common Holter-based portable solutions that record ECG for up to 24 to 48 hours lack the capability to provide real-time feedback. In this research, we seek to establish a cell phone-based real-time monitoring technology for CVD, capable of performing continuous on-line ECG processing, generating a personalized cardiac health summary report in layman’s language, automatically detecting and classifying abnormal CVD conditions, all in real time. Specifically, we developed an adaptive artificial neural network (ANN)-based machine learning technique, combining both an individual’s cardiac characteristics and information from clinical ECG databases, to train the cell phone to learn to adapt to its user’s physiological conditions to achieve better ECG feature extraction and more accurate CVD classification on cell phones.
Numerical modeling and analysis of optical response of electro-optic modulators

This paper presents an analysis of a LiNbO/sub 3/ electro-optic modulator using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique, and also a new and efficient multiresolution time-domain technique for fast and accurate modeling of photonic devices. The electromagnetic fields computed by FDTD are coupled to standard electro-optic relations that characterize electo-optic interactions. This novel approach to LiNbO/sub 3/ electro-optic modulators using a coupled FDTD technique allows for previously unattainable investigations into device operating bandwidth and data transmission speed. On the other hand, the proposed multiresolution approach presented in this paper solves Maxwell's equations on nonuniform self-adaptive grids, obtained by applying wavelet transforms followed by hard thresholding. The developed technique is employed to simulate a coplanar waveguide CPW, which represents an electro-optic modulator. Different numerical examples are presented showing more than 75% CPU-time reduction, while maintaining the same degree of accuracy of standard FDTD techniques.
Riding the (mono)rails: the structure of catenated DNA-tracking proteins

Abstract New evidence suggests that the ‘sliding clamp' processivity factors of DNA polymerases can carry a variety of protein factors along the DNA ‘track'. Recent information on the structure of these factors sheds light on how they slide on DNA and why they confer processivity.
Genetically altered cancer epigenome

Cancer cells exhibit altered epigenome. It is well established that aberrant histone modifications, DNA methylation, and chromatin organization may deregulate oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and contribute significantly to cancer phenotypes. Recent large-scale exome and genome sequencing analyses of thousands of human cancer samples have identified driver mutations in genes encoding chromatin regulatory proteins that directly control chromatin modifications, nucleosome remodeling, and long-range chromatin interactions. These studies reveal a mechanistic link between genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations in cancer, and highlight the genetic basis for perturbed cancer epigenome. This review summarizes the current knowledge on chromatin regulators that are significantly mutated in human cancer, which include MLL1-4, SETD2, NSD1, UTX, SMCX, ARID5B, BAP1, ASXL1, CBP and p300, DNMT3A, TET2, IDH1 and IDH2, the SWI/SNF complex, CHD4, CHD8, CTCF, and the cohesin complex.
A pilot study of symptom profiles from a polyp vs an eosinophilic‐based classification of chronic rhinosinusitis

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is likely a biologically heterogeneous disease process. Current guidelines propose subclassification using polyp status while others propose using mucosal eosinophilia. We hypothesized that appropriate CRS subclassification would increase homogeneity of baseline symptoms, and identify characteristic symptoms of each subtype. Methods A total of 57 CRS patients undergoing surgery prospectively completed a preoperative battery of 73 questions relating to symptoms including the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and 29-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29) general quality of life (QOL) measures. Eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) levels were determined from ethmoid, uncinate, and polyp tissue homogenates using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and normalized to total protein. Patients were classified as eosinophilic (eCRS) or non-eosinophilic (neCRS) using a 95th percentile threshold established from control tissue from 82 patients without CRS. Separate pairwise comparisons were performed on patient-reported symptoms using polyp and eosinophilic status. Results Of the 57 patients, 28 had CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP); 27 of 57 patients had eCRS (CRSwNP, n = 21; CRS without nasal polyps [CRSsNP], n = 6). CRSwNP patients had increased need to blow nose, frequency of nasal congestion, more severe difficulty breathing through nose, more severe nasal discharge, but less cough (p < 0.05). eCRS patients had more bothersome loss of taste/smell, ear pain, sneezing, severe difficulty breathing through nose, and severe nasal congestion compared to neCRS patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion Subclassifying CRS with symptoms alone is difficult with neither polyp status nor eosinophilia giving a distinctive clinical symptom profile. However, certain symptoms may help otolaryngologists identify CRS subtypes, which may help guide future treatments. Further validation and evaluation of prognosis following treatment is required to evaluate appropriate means of subclassifying CRS.
Endovascular Interventions for Acute Ischemic Stroke A Review of Recent Trials

Objective: To review recent endovascular intervention trials for acute ischemic stroke. Data Sources: Recent, randomized controlled trials of endovascular interventions for acute ischemic stroke were identified. The search terms “endovascular” AND “stroke” were used and filter for “randomized controlled trial” was applied; the period searched was January 1, 2013, to October 31, 2015. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Randomized controlled trials of endovascular interventions in acute ischemic stroke published within the past 3 years (2013-2015). Data Synthesis: A total of 8 trials are reviewed: 3 trials published in 2013 demonstrated neutral results for endovascular interventions, and 5 trials published in 2015 demonstrated positive results for endovascular interventions. Potential reasons for the change in outcomes include better patient selection and improvement indevice technology. Patient selection improvements included selecting patients with salvageable brain tissue with an identifiable thrombus ...