cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pneumothorax After Air Travel in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Sarcoidosis

Background The prevalence of pneumothorax associated with travel in patients with interstitial lung diseases is unknown. In patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), in whom pneumothorax is common, patients are often concerned about the occurrence of a life-threatening event during air travel. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of pneumothorax associated with air travel in patients with LAM, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and sarcoidosis. Methods Records and imaging studies of 449 patients traveling to the National Institutes of Health were reviewed. Results A total of 449 patients traveled 1,232 times; 299 by airplane (816 trips) and 150 by land (416 trips). Sixteen of 281 LAM patients arrived at their destination with a pneumothorax. In 5 patients, the diagnosis was made by chest roentgenogram, and in 11 patients by CT scans only. Of the 16 patients, 14 traveled by airplane and 2 by land. Seven of the 16 patients, 1 of whom traveled by train, had a new pneumothorax; 9 patients had chronic pneumothoraces. A new pneumothorax was more likely in patients with large cysts and more severe disease. The frequency of a new pneumothorax for LAM patients who traveled by airplane was 2.9% (1.1 per 100 flights) and by ground transportation, 1.3% (0.5 per 100 trips). No IPF (n = 76) or sarcoidosis (n = 92) patients presented with a pneumothorax. Conclusions In interstitial lung diseases with a high prevalence of spontaneous pneumothorax, there is a relatively low risk of pneumothorax following air travel. In LAM, the presence of a pneumothorax associated with air travel may be related to the high incidence of pneumothorax and not to travel itself.
The effect of nitrogen and oxygen on the synthesis of B2 NiAl by cryomilling

Abstract Cryomilling of elemental Ni-50 at.%Al powders in liquid nitrogen resulted in phase transformation through two opposing mechanisms: the formation of B2 NiAl and the elimination of NiAl by displacement reactions between NiAl and the liquid nitrogen and oxygen to form AlN and γ-Al 2 O 3 . During annealing, the NiAl reacts to form AlN and γ-Al 2 O 3 , thereby moving the composition of the balance of the mixture toward the Ni-rich end of the phase diagram. The resultant nanoscale AlN and γ-Al 2 O 3 particles were found to impede grain growth of the nanocrystalline structure at high temperatures.
Numerical solutions of the Dirichlet problem via a density theorem

Under mild conditions a certain subspace M, consisting of functions which are analytic in a simply connected domain Ω and continuous on the boundary Gamma;, is shown to have real parts which are dense, in the sup norm, in the set of all solutions to the Dirichlet problem for continuous boundary data. Similar results hold for Lp boundary data. Numerical solutions of sample Dirichlet problems are computed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Acute appendicitis in pregnancy and the occurrence of major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia

Background Infection and endotoxemia have been associated with neurologic injury in the newborn. In addition, recent reports have noted an increased incidence of fetal neurologic injury in the presence of intrauterine infection. Cases Three pregnancies complicated by acute appendicitis and refractory preterm labor resulting in the delivery of neonates who developed early major intraventricular hemorrhage and/or periventricular leukomalacia are described. Conclusion We hypothesize that extrauterine infections like acute appendicitis may play a role in the occurrence of neonatal neurologic injury.
Heterogeneous post-column immunoreaction detection using magnetized beads and a laboratory-constructed electromagnetic separator

The nature of immune reactors allows development of quantitative analytical methods that are highly selective and can often be used directly with complex biological matrixes such as blood, plasma or urine. A major limitation of immunoassay is that antibodies are sometimes unable to discriminate structurally similar species such as drug metabolites and synthetic analogs. The problem associated with the lack of discrimination can be circumvented by coupling immunoassay with liquid chromatography post-column. The most commonly used separation method in post-column immunoreaction detection is the affinity column. Affinity columns may create undesired effects such as a compromise of the chromatographic separation efficiency, the requirement for an antibody with fast reaction kinetics and the need for flushing the column. This paper reports a post-column immunoreaction detection system coupled with a laboratory-constructed on-line magnetic separation flow chamber that is designed to overcome these problems. The system uses disposable magnetic beads as a solid-phase support for separation that can be easily removed from the system. The model analytes chosen for this study were digoxin and its metabolites due to the commercial availability of monoclonal antibodies for these compounds. Digoxin was separated using a chromatographic method prior to being interfaced through a liquid handler system to the immunoreactor. Compatibility of the HPLC mobile phase was determined to be acceptable with a mixing ratio of 1:3 between the LC fraction and immunoreagent solution. The dynamic range of the calibration curve in digoxin-spiked phosphate buffer was found to be 0.25-12 ng/ml and a quadratic fit was found to provide the best fit to the data with a correlation coefficient of 0.9974. The residual error for all standards was less than 15%. The percentage RSDs for the two controls, 2 and 10 ng/ml, were 6.88 and 4.82% (n = 6) and the percentage errors were 7.07 and -6.89% (n = 6), respectively.
Performance testing of the Eberline RMS-II criticality accident monitor

The Plutonium Facility at Los Alamos uses Eberline RMS-II monitors as part of its criticality accident alarm system. The monitors are designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of criticality accident scenarios from both liquid and metal supercriticalities. A series of experiments were performed at the Los Alamos Critical Experiments Facility to evaluate the response of the monitor to a wide range of radiation transients. The primary objectives of the evaluation were to verify reliable and prompt latching of the criticality alarms in accordance with the performance criteria of ANSI/ANS-8.3-1986. The RMS-II monitor performed reliably during all of the experiments and was found to meet specific ANSI/ANS performance criteria for latching. 3 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.
ONCOSTATIN M ACTIVATES STAT DNA BINDING AND TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVITY IN PRIMARY HUMAN FETAL ASTROCYTES: LOW- AND HIGH-PASSAGE CELLS HAVE DISTINCT PATTERNS OF STAT ACTIVATION

Abstract In this study we explored the activation of the JAK/Stat pathway by gp 130 family cytokines in primary human astrocytes. We report that of four gp 130 cytokines tested, only oncostatin M (OnM) resulted in the activation of Stat molecules. To test that the induced molecules were transcriptionally active, transcription from a Stat-responsive reporter plasmid (from the acute-phase gene α-2 macroglobulin) transiently transfected into astrocytes was assessed after activation by OnM and was blocked by cotransfection with dominant-negative Stat3 encoding plasmids strongly suggesting that the activation was Stat-mediated. While DNA binding complexes comprised of both Stat1 and Stat3 were induced in low-passage cells, only those containing Stat3 were formed by extracts from high-passage cells. Stat1 protein was detected in the cytoplasm of high-passage cells indicating that the inability to form SIF-B and -C complexes was due to a lack of activation of Stat1 rather than a lack of expression. These results indicate a fundamental difference between low- and high-passage astrocytes in response to cytokine treatment that might result in distinct patterns of gene expression through altered ratios of activated Stat3 and Stat1.
Experimental procedures for the analysis of intraparticle diffusion during temperature-programmed desorption from porous catalysts in a flow system

Abstract An analog to the Weisz-Prater method is used to analyze the effect of intraparticle diffusion under the nonisothermal conditions of a temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiment. By taking into account the temperature-dependent transport properties and the readsorption of the adsorbate, the importance of intraparticle mass transfer during TPD is assessed by the magnitude of the effectiveness factor η. Experimental TPD spectra of CO and H 2 from Ni SiO 2 catalysts serve as prototype examples for desorption of these adsorbates from Group VIII supported metal catalysts. It is found that the observed desorption rate, particle size, surface concentration of the adsorbate, effective diffusivity of the adsorbate in the carrier gas/catalyst particle, catalyst bed volume, heating rate, and initial surface coverage of the adsorbate collectively determine the magnitude of the effectiveness factor. Characteristic plots for first- and second-order desorption, respectively, are presented to guide the experimentalist in selecting the appropriate experimental parameters to minimize the effect of intraparticle gradients during the TPD process.
Technique for construction of the trial denture base

Abstract Shellace materials and cold-curing acrylic resins are most commonly used as trial denture bases. Shellac sheets are malleable under a combination of heat and pressure, and bases made of them must not be retained too long in the mouth nor placed near excess heat. Acrylic resin bases have unstable physical properties if they are not properly prepared, and they are subject to shrinkage and warpage if they are not properly stored. The maxillary base (Fig. 17) and the mandibular base (Fig. 18) were processed more than eight months previously, and both bases still have good adaptation to the casts. Fig. 19 illustrates a section through a maxillary cast and a trial denture base in the region of the first molar. Care must be used to apply the acrylic with uniform thickness to accomplish close contact of base to cast. This base was processed at about the same time as were the bases in Figs. 17 and 18. The construction of the acrylic trial base explained herein will eliminate the disadvantages that have confronted us as the result of the use of the trial denture bases in clinical and laboratory procedures.
Hydrogen effects on the interaction between dislocations

Abstract The effect of hydrogen on the interaction between dislocations and other elastic centers (impurity atoms and dislocations) in 310 S stainless steel and high-purity aluminum has been directly observed during deformation experiments in situ in an environmental cell transmission electron microscope. In 310 S stainless steel, the presence of hydrogen was observed to reduce the elastic interactions between obstacles and perfect and partial dislocations; thus, enhancing the mobility of the dislocations. In high-purity aluminum, the introduction and removal of hydrogen from the system was observed to cause a reversal in the direction of motion of the dislocations piled up against a barrier; consistent with a reduction of the elastic interactions by solute hydrogen. These observations provide direct support for the hydrogen shielding mechanism that has been proposed to account for the observed hydrogen-enhanced mobility of dislocations.
A macrophage marker, Siglec-1, is increased on circulating monocytes in patients with systemic sclerosis and induced by type I interferons and toll-like receptor agonists.

Objective Microarray analyses of peripheral blood leukocytes have shown that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus express increased levels of type I interferon (IFN)–regulated genes. In this study we examined gene expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) to better understand the dysregulation of the immune system in this disease. Methods PBMC gene expression was analyzed by microarray and confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Surface protein expression of Siglec-1 was analyzed by flow cytometry in PBMCs from healthy control subjects and patients with SSc, and in control PBMCs that were cultured in vitro with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. Results SSc patients showed increased expression of a cluster of IFN-regulated genes, including Siglec-1 (CD169, sialoadhesin). This result was verified and extended by real-time PCR, showing that a subset of the SSc patients expressed strikingly increased levels of Siglec-1 messenger RNA (mRNA). Flow cytometry of PBMCs from SSc patients and healthy controls showed increased Siglec-1 surface protein expression, which was restricted to CD14+ monocytes. In vitro studies showed that type I IFN and certain TLR agonists, including TLR-7 and TLR-9, induced Siglec-1 mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, TLR induction of surface Siglec-1 was shown to be type I IFN–dependent. Increased numbers of Siglec-1+ cells were observed by immunohistochemistry in the skin of SSc patients compared with healthy controls. Conclusion Increased expression of Siglec-1 in circulating SSc monocytes and tissue macrophages suggests that type I IFN–mediated activation of monocytes occurs in SSc, possibly through TLR activation of IFN secretion. These observations indicate a potential role for type I IFN–activated monocyte/macrophages in the pathogenesis of SSc.
Multiple trellis coded modulation using BFSK/MPSK modulation

Multiple trellis-coded modulation (MTCM) is used in conjunction with a frequency/phase modulation scheme. While conventional 2D trellis coders output one channel symbol per trellis branch, multiple trellis coders output more than one channel symbol per trellis branch. It is shown that the combination of multiple trellis coding and 4D BFSK/MPSK modulation can yield substantial coding gains over the 2D multiple trellis coded modulation technique, while incurring a slight increase in transmitter bandwidth. Furthermore, 4D MTCM schemes which possess noninteger throughput have been designed. It is shown that these combined modulation/coding schemes offer a favorable tradeoff between coding gain and spectral efficiency. >
Leptin upregulates tissue factor expression in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Abstract Introduction Obesity is a risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and cancer development. Leptin, a cytokine produced by adipose tissue, controls different processes in peripheral tissues, including cancer development and thrombotic disorders in patients with a variety of clinical disorders. Tissue factor (TF), the trigger of blood clotting, is abundant in the adipose tissue. Since TF, often expressed by cancer cells, is considered a hallmark of cancer progression, we investigated whether leptin could modulate TF in the human metastatic breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7. Materials and Methods MCF-7 cells were incubated with or without the different reagents at 37 °C. At the end of incubation, cells were tested for procoagulant activity by a one-stage clotting assay, TF and TNF-α antigen levels and mRNA by ELISA and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Leptin receptor was studied by FACS. Results Both TF activity and antigen constitutively expressed by MCF-7 were significantly increased by leptin in a dose-dependent fashion. TF mRNA levels were also enhanced indicating that leptin exerts its effect at the transcription level. The effect of leptin was specific and required binding to its receptor (Ob-R), which was found on the surface of the cells, since antibodies against leptin and Ob-R completely prevented TF expression upregulation. In addition, leptin enhanced both TNF-α mRNA synthesis and secretion from MCF7. An anti-TNF-α MoAb completely abolished the leptin-induced TF expression. Conclusions These data support the hypothesis that leptin, by its upregulation of TF, possibly mediated by TNF-α synthesis, may contribute to processes underlying both cancer and vascular cell disorders.
Growth and development of the ovine conceptus.

This study was designed to character- ize development of the ovine conceptus throughout ges- tation to establish the temporal relationships in metab- olites, electrolytes, fluid volumes within the placenta, and hormonal changes with fetal growth. Length and weight of placentae, weight of cotyledons, and uterine weight increased between d 25 and 80 of gestation in advance of increases in fetal growth between d 80 and 140 of gestation. Allantoic fluid volumes changed (P < 0.01) between d 25 (21 mL) and 40 (91 mL), decreased to d 70 (32 mL), and then increased to d 140 (438 mL). Concentrations and total amounts of proteins in allan- toic fluid were reduced between d 25 and 50, but total protein increased (P < 0.01) from d 40 (63 mg) to d 140 (2,991 mg). Concentrations of fructose in allantoic fluid varied between 2 and 6 mg/mL throughout gestation, but total fructose increased (P < 0.01) between d 25 (46 mg) and d 120 (679 mg). Concentrations of glucose ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 mg/mL, and total glucose in- creased (P < 0.05) from d 25 (3 mg) to d 140 (63 mg) of gestation. Amniotic fluid volume increased (P < 0.01) between d 30 and 140. Concentrations of estrogens in allantoic fluid, maternal uterine artery, and uterine vein increased (P < 0.01) with advancing pregnancy, and concentrations of progesterone in allantoic fluid (P < 0.07) and plasma (P < 0.05) were affected by day of gestation. Concentrations of glucose were greater (P < 0.05) in uterine artery than uterine vein, but concen- trations of electrolytes and osmolarity of plasma were not affected by day of gestation. Increases in weights of fetal organs were proportional to increases in fetal weight during gestation. Results of the present study of conceptus growth and development highlight areas of needed research and provide benchmarks for com- parisons when evaluating effects of various treatments, environmental conditions, and epigenetics on successful outcomes of pregnancy in sheep.
Towards a Programmable TPM

We explore a new model for trusted computing in which an existing fixed-function Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is coupled with user application code running on a programmable smart card. We will show that with appropriate coupling the resulting system approximates a "field-programmable TPM." A true field-programmable TPM would provide higher levels of security for user-functions that would otherwise need to execute in host software. Our coupling architecture supports many (but not all) of the security requirements and applications scenarios that you would expect of a programmable TPM, but has the advantage that it can be deployed using existing technology. This paper describes our TPM-smart card coupling architecture and the services that we have prototyped. The services include: (1) An implementation of count-limited objects in which keys can only be used a preset number of times. (2) More flexible versions of the TPM Unseal and Unbind primitives that allow sealing to groups of equivalent configurations. And (3) a version of Quote that uses alternative signature formats and cryptography available within smart cards but not in the TPM itself. We also describe the limitations of the coupling architecture and how some of the limitations could be overcome with a true programmable TPM.
Collagen lattice effects on fibroblast arachidonic acid metabolism.

Fibroblasts are routinely maintained in vitro on tissue culture plastic, in an environment which i s devoid of collagen, the most abundant extracellular protein in dermis. Recent work has shown that by seeding fibroblasts into a collagen matrix, many aspects of their metabolism change dramatically: they stop proliferation, organize and contract the collagen matrix, and secrete much larger quantities of the usual extracellular matrix components. Because so many fibroblast functions are dramatically altered by the presence of the collagen matrix, matrix effects on fibroblast metabolism of arachidonic acid were examined. The studies presented here show that during the period of matrix contraction, metabolism of arachidonate to prostaglandins by fibroblasts is increased sixfold compared to cells plated on plastic, and that this increase i s correlated with contraction but does not regulate it. The increase in prostaglandin synthesis is due in part to an increased new synthesis of the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis, cyclooxygenase. No change in the profile of products the fibroblasts synthesize from arachidonate is induced by the presence of the matrix. After the lattice contraction is complete, the basal arachidonate metabolism of matrix-embedded fibroblasts is the same as controls grown on plastic. In addition, the matrix-embedded cells have the same capacity to synthesize PCE2 in response to IL-1 as do cells grown on plastic. However, the response to the hormone agonist bradykinin by the matrix-embedded cells is present on day 1 but not on day 3, the time when cells grown on plastic are most responsive. These data indicate that while basal prostaglandin metabolism is unaffected in quiescent fibroblasts which have been embedded in a collagen matrix, response to hormone agonists may be greatly attenuated. The changes in the metabolism of arachidonate which occur during the process of matrix contraction and organization may play a part in the regulation of wound repair.
Priming Effects of Language On Emotion Judgments in Spanish—English Bilinguals

This study examined the possibility that bilinguals judge the emotions of others differently when making those judgments in different languages and the degree to which individual differences in emotion regulation could account for such language differences. Spanish- and English-speaking Mexican bilinguals were asked to judge emotions in facial expressions in Spanish and English. Participants were more accurate in judging emotion in English but inferred greater intensity of subjective experience in the expresser in Spanish. They also had higher emotion regulation scores in Spanish. Their Spanish (but not English) emotion regulation scores completely mediated the judgment differences on emotion recognition and partially mediated the differences in the ratings of subjective experiences of others. Thus, the participants did indeed judge emotions differently as a function of language, and those differences were accounted for by their own emotion regulation processes.
Epidemiology and pathogenesis of sleep-disordered breathing.

Sleep-disordered breathing is common in the general population, but the observed prevalence depends on the criteria used to establish the diagnosis. Obesity is a strong risk factor, but other conditions such as allergic upper and lower airways disease may also be important. Differences in risk betwe
The ubiquitous protein domain EAL is a cyclic diguanylate-specific phosphodiesterase: enzymatically active and inactive EAL domains.

The EAL domain (also known as domain of unknown function 2 or DUF2) is a ubiquitous signal transduction protein domain in the Bacteria. Its involvement in hydrolysis of the novel second messenger cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) was demonstrated in vivo but not in vitro. The EAL domain-containing protein Dos from Escherichia coli was reported to hydrolyze cyclic AMP (cAMP), implying that EAL domains have different substrate specificities. To investigate the biochemical activity of EAL, the E. coli EAL domain-containing protein YahA and its individual EAL domain were overexpressed, purified, and characterized in vitro. Both full-length YahA and the EAL domain hydrolyzed c-di-GMP into linear dimeric GMP, providing the first biochemical evidence that the EAL domain is sufficient for phosphodiesterase activity. This activity was c-di-GMP specific, optimal at alkaline pH, dependent on Mg2+ or Mn2+, strongly inhibited by Ca2+, and independent of protein oligomerization. Linear dimeric GMP was shown to be 5′pGpG. The EAL domain from Dos was overexpressed, purified, and found to function as a c-di-GMP-specific phosphodiesterase, not as a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, in contrast to previous reports. The EAL domains can hydrolyze 5′pGpG into GMP, however, very slowly, thus implying that this activity is irrelevant in vivo. Therefore, c-di-GMP is the exclusive substrate of EAL. Multiple-sequence alignment revealed two groups of EAL domains hypothesized to correspond to enzymatically active and inactive domains. The domains in the latter group have mutations in residues conserved in the active domains. The enzymatic inactivity of EAL domains may explain their coexistence with GGDEF domains in proteins possessing c-di-GMP synthase (diguanulate cyclase) activity.
Piezoelectric biosensors: recent advances and applications

Modern biosensors developed with advanced microfabrication and signal processing techniques are becoming inexpensive, accurate, and reliable. Increasing miniaturization of biosensors leads to the realization of complex analytical systems such as BioChemLab-on-a-Chip. This rapid progress in miniature devices and instrumentation development will significantly impact the practice of medical care as well as future advances in the chemical, pharmaceutical and environmental industries. In this paper piezoelectric biosensor technology and applications are presented and the challenges facing acoustic biosensor developers in the coming decade are discussed.
Collagenases in human breast carcinoma cell lines

The intense stromal response to some human tumors is termed the desmoplastic reaction. It is found with most human breast carcinomas. Dissolution of this response, containing predominantly fibrous proteins such as collagen and elastin, can occur with treatment. We have undertaken a study of the collagenases of the breast tumor desmoplastic reaction using a tissue culture model composed of human breast tumor cell lines and various human fibroblasts. The breast tumor cells had the higher collagenase activity, particularly the ZR75-31A cell line. Activity was 10-fold higher than that of the stromal cells. The enzyme was secreted into the media and required trypsin pretreatment for activity to be manifest. Partial purification was achieved of the major collagenase species. The protein was a metalloprotease and, like other mammalian collagenases, had a relative molecular weight of 60,000. Classical 3/4 and 1/4 cleavage products of the triple helical collagen substrate were demonstrated, typical of most mammalian collagenases. Only types I and III collagens were suitable substrates for this enzyme, with no apparent preference between the two. The breast tumor collagenases were not responsive to hormones; however, stimulation of activity was apparent in the absence of proteolytic pretreatment. This may represent conversion of the procollagenases of the breast tumor cells to the active form by an estrogen-sensitive plasminogen activator secreted by the same tumor cells.
Modelling milk purchasing behaviour with a panel data double-hurdle model

In this study, the double-hurdle model typically used in cross-sectional data is extended to panel data structures. The new double-hurdle model can account not only for the censored nature of commodity purchases, but also for the dynamics of the purchase process. In this model, a flexible error structure is assumed to account for state dependence and household-specific heterogeneity. In the empirical application for milk purchases, it is found that generic advertising increases the probability of market participation as well as the purchase quantity and incidence. Temporal dependence is also found in both purchase and participation equations.
Influence of Methyl Substitution on mass Spectra of Diphenylmethanes: Analytical Applications

Abstract In connection with other studies we synthesized and obtained low resolution electron impact spectra of the 2,2′-, 2,3′-, 2,4′-, 3,3′-, 3,4′-, and 4,4′-dimethyl substituted diphenylmethanes. The results suggest that caution should be exercised in using the characteristic even mass rearrangement fragment (m/e = 104) produced by the “ortho-effect” as the only method to distinguish between ortho and non-ortho methyl substituted diphenyl-methanes. The relationship between the stability of the diphenylmethane isomers and the substitution patterns at the meta and para positions does not parallel that observed for the dimethyl substituted biphenyls.
Using high-powered long-range zigbee devices for communication during amateur car racing events

In the world of amateur motorsports the racers are always looking to improve their skills. This has led to the development of various monitoring and data logging systems, often coupled with “action sports” cameras which capture the car performance in enough detail to allow the driver to study the race after completion. In this paper we investigate the possibility of the using data logging systems together with IEEE 802.15.4 high power devices for race car - pit crew communication during the race. This will allow the pit crew to monitor the car and get the driver to stop before a catastrophic failure occurs. We used OPNET IT Guru ver. 17.0 network software package to conduct our simulation study. Specifically, we focus on such aspects of 802.15.4 protocol as communication range, reliable data delivery, achievable throughput, and end-to-end delay experiences by the application during the car race.
Compatibility of Ceramics with Liquid Na and Li

A thermodynamic criterion was developed for predicting the compatibility of insulating ceramics with liquid Na and Li. Nonmetallic impurities in liquid metals were shown to have a profound effect on the compatibility behavior of ceramics. Attempts were made to identify the structural parameters which affect the corrosion behavior of ceramics in liquid Na and Li.
Four-point magnetoresistivity measurements

The standard four-point resistivity probe for unpatterned thin films is not suitable for saturation magnetoresistivity measurements. Modifying the geometry of the four points, however, gives a simple and reliable measurement.
Targeting RNA decay with 2′,5′ oligoadenylate-antisense in respiratory syncytial virus-infected cells

Treatment of human cells with 2′,5′ oligoadenylate covalently linked to antisense (2–5A-antisense) results in the selective cleavage of targeted RNA species by 2–5A-dependent RNase L. Here we show that 2–5A-antisense containing stabilizing modifications at both termini are effective in suppressing the replication of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in human tracheal epithelial cells. The affinity of 2–5A-antisense for different regions in the RSV M2 and L mRNAs was predicted from a computer-generated model of the RNA secondary structure. The most potent 2–5A-antisense molecule caused a highly effective, dose-dependent suppression of RSV yields when added to previously infected cells. In contrast, control oligonucleotides, including an inactive dimeric form of 2–5A linked to antisense, 2–5A linked to a randomized sequence of nucleotides, and antisense molecules lacking 2–5A, had minimal effects on virus replication. The specificity of this approach was shown by reverse transcriptase-coupled PCR analysis of RSV M2, P, and N mRNA and of cellular glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA. The RSV M2 mRNA amounts were depleted after treating RSV-infected cells with 2–5A-antisense targeted to this mRNA, whereas the amounts of the other RNA species were unchanged. These studies demonstrate that 2′,5′ oligoadenylate covalently linked to antisense (2–5A-antisense) can effectively suppress RSV replication by directing the cellular RNase L to selectively degrade an essential viral mRNA.
The incidence of scaphoid fracture in a military population.

Abstract Background The rate of occurrence of scaphoid injury is not well known. The incidence of scaphoid fracture has been described mostly in small, injured cohort populations, which may underestimate its frequency. We studied the epidemiology of the scaphoid fracture using a large database in a military population. Patients and methods The Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (DMED), a comprehensive database which tracks medical care for all four military services of the United States, was queried for the first occurrence of scaphoid fractures using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code 814.01. Data were evaluated using multivariate Poisson analysis, controlling for co-variate factors. Results We noted 14,704 scaphoid fractures in a population at a risk of 12,117,749 person-years. The unadjusted incidence of scaphoid fracture was 1.21/1000 person-years. Males were significantly more likely to sustain scaphoid fractures, with an adjusted rate ratio (RR) of 1.55 (95% confidence interval (C.I.), 1.47, 1.64), compared to females. The 20–24-year-old age group had the highest incidence of scaphoid fracture at 1.64/1000 person-years, and showed a significantly higher RR compared to the population aged greater than 40 years (adjusted RR 1.55, 95% C.I., 1.38, 1.66). Whites sustained scaphoid fractures at a significantly higher rate than African Americans (adjusted RR 1.32, C.I., 1.26, 1.38). Discussion/conclusions When compared to the previous data on scaphoid fractures, our study showed a greater incidence of scaphoid fracture at 1.21/1000 person-years in the US military population. These data are derived from a large database which effectively captures the population at risk. Males, the younger age group and the white race were associated with higher rates of scaphoid injury in this specialised military population.
The legacy of Sir Henry Souttar: pioneer of the first mitral valvulotomy.

S t p o ir Henry Souttar (Fig. 1) was a versatile and daring British urgeon who made numerous surgical contributions. His disinguished career would have been legendary even if he had not erformed one of the most inventive operations of his time: pen mitral valvulotomy on a 15-year-old girl with tight mitral tenosis (MS) in 1925. It was the first transauricular approach o the valve, the first intracardiac manipulation of the living eart by the human hand, and the first successful intracardiac peration on record. It challenged the prevailing taboos and oreshadowed a new era of open-heart surgery. Yet for many ears, the success remained shrouded with uncertainty. Quesions surfaced. Did the patient actually improve clinically? Did he patient survive? Why did Souttar not repeat the surgery? hy did 3 decades elapse before the mitral valve surgery beame routine? Most of these questions can be answered by reviewing reorts, biographies, and interviews of witnesses of the operation. hat emerges is an account of a case that highlights the occaional acrimony between clinician and surgeon and illustrates ow dogmatic ideology can be a greater obstacle to progress han are perceived technical limitations. It is a story of initiative nd vision combined with clinical acumen and chance circumtance to set the stage for dramatic progress in surgery.
Goodbye, Listwise Deletion: Presenting Hot Deck Imputation as an Easy and Effective Tool for Handling Missing Data

Missing data are a ubiquitous problem in quantitative communication research, yet the missing data handling practices found in most published work in communication leave much room for improvement. In this article, problems with current practices are discussed and suggestions for improvement are offered. Finally, hot deck imputation is suggested as a practical solution to many missing data problems. A computational tool for SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is presented that will enable communication researchers to easily implement hot deck imputation in their own analyses.
Harm, Liberty, and Disability

This paper offers a libertarian approach to disability discourse. Using John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, I argue that current discourse involves a "tyranny of the majority" that silences those in minority positions, including disabled people. Disability discourses are disregarded or dismissed because they often do not fit seamlessly into the opinions of the majority. Like Mill, I will argue that a society cannot flourish if it silences those who may disagree with the majority, or simply offer a different perspective. In a libertarian society, the only time a person's liberty to think and to act can be restricted is when he or she poses a harm to others. Disability discourse, while different, does not pose any harm to the populace and it ought to be encouraged in a healthy, pluralistic civilization.
An Experimental Health Education Program Effects on Urban Primary Students

Low SES first and third graders respond positively to an experimental health education program.
Phosphorylation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr regulates cell cycle arrest.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr regulates nuclear transport of the viral preintegration complex, G2 cell cycle arrest, and transcriptional transactivation. We asked whether phosphorylation could affect Vpr activity. Vpr was found to be phosphorylated on serine residues in transiently transfected and infected cells. Residues 79, 94, and 96 were all found to be phosphorylated, as assessed by alanine mutations. Mutation of Ser-79 to Ala abrogated effects of Vpr on cell cycle progression, whereas mutation of Ser-94 and Ser-96 had no effect. Simultaneous mutation of all three Vpr serine residues attenuated HIV-1 replication in macrophages, whereas single and double Ser mutations had no effect.
Stiffness, strength and adhesion characterization of electrochemically deposited conjugated polymer films

Abstract Conjugated polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiphene) (PEDOT) are of interest for a variety of applications including interfaces between electronic biomedical devices and living tissue. The mechanical properties, strength, and adhesion of these materials to solid substrates are all vital for long-term applications. We have been developing methods to quantify the mechanical properties of conjugated polymer thin films. In this paper, the stiffness, strength and the interfacial shear strength (adhesion) of electrochemically deposited PEDOT and PEDOT-co-1,3,5-tri[2-(3,4-ethylene dioxythienyl)]-benzene (EPh) were studied. The estimated Young’s modulus of the PEDOT films was 2.6 ± 1.4 GPa, and the strain to failure was around 2%. The tensile strength was measured to be 56 ± 27 MPa. The effective interfacial shear strength was estimated with a shear-lag model by measuring the crack spacing as a function of film thickness. For PEDOT on gold/palladium-coated hydrocarbon film substrates an interfacial shear strength of 0.7 ± 0.3 MPa was determined. The addition of 5 mole% of a tri-functional EDOT crosslinker (EPh) increased the tensile strength of the films to 283 ± 67 MPa, while the strain to failure remained about the same (2%). The effective interfacial shear strength was increased to 2.4 ± 0.6 MPa. Statement of significance This paper describes methods for estimating the ultimate mechanical properties of electrochemically deposited conjugated polymer (here PEDOT and PEDOT copolymers) films. Of particular interest and novelty is our implementation of a cracking test to quantify the shear strength of the PEDOT thin films on these solid substrates. There is considerable interest in these materials as interfaces between biomedical devices and living tissue, however potential mechanisms and modes of failure are areas of continuing concern, and establishing methods to quantify the strengths of these interfaces are therefore of particular current interest. We are confident that these results will be useful to the broader biological materials community and are worthy of broader dissemination.
A Family of Geographically Weighted Regression Models

A Bayesian approach to locally linear regression methods introduced in McMillen (1996) and labeled geographically weighted regressions (GWR) in Brunsdon et al. (1996) is set forth in this chapter. The main contribution of the GWR methodology is use of distance weighted sub-samples of the data to produce locally linear regression estimates for every point in space. Each set of parameter estimates is based on a distance-weighted sub-sample of “neighboring observations,” which has a great deal of intuitive appeal in spatial econometrics. While this approach has a definite appeal, it also presents some problems. The Bayesian method introduced here can resolve some difficulties that arise in GWR models when the sample observations contain outliers or non-constant variance.
Developing Our Students and Strengthening Our Program at UCSB

In this presentation, we cover key features of our graduate program at UCSB such as faculty advising, peer mentoring, student reviews, fellowship/other financial support, and professional skills development (professional skills forums, TA training, and public presentations). We refrain from discussing major degree requirements due to time constraints. Nevertheless, we wish to provide information on certain features of our program such as the field paper option, PhD emphases, and the language skills requirement, which underscore the importance of interdisciplinarity and flexibility in our training and advising of graduate students. One purpose of this presentation and discussion is to identify new challenges and best practices that may help our program better prepare for the increasing diversity among our undergraduate students. Furthermore, we aim to leverage the strength of increased campus diversity in a leading public institution of higher education to help maintain and further the goal of excellence in graduate training and mentoring.
Surgical revision of the post-Caldwell-Luc maxillary sinus.

Background Endoscopic sinus surgeons are commonly faced with the management of patients with persistent maxillary sinusitis despite previous Caldwell-Luc surgery. Given the potential for altered mucociliary clearance in the post-Caldwell-Luc maxillary sinus, the optimal approach for surgical revision has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to review our experience in endoscopic versus repeat Caldwell-Luc approaches in patients who have failed Caldwell-Luc surgery for chronic maxillary sinusitis. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on patients who had a history of a Caldwell-Luc procedure and who then underwent a surgical revision for persistent maxillary sinusitis at the Oregon Health and Science University and Medical College of Wisconsin between 1983 and 2002. Results Sixty-eight patients were identified, with a total of 156 revision procedures performed on 103 maxillary sinuses. Fifty-three percent of the sinuses underwent endoscopic maxillary antrostomy as the first surgical revision, while 47% underwent a revision Caldwell-Luc procedure. Sixty-seven percent of the sinuses in the revision endoscopic group had clinical resolution with a single surgical revision, and 60% of the sinuses in the revision Caldwell-Luc group had clinical improvement with one surgical revision (p = 0.46). The endoscopic group averaged 1.3+/-0.5 revision procedures per sinus to achieve clinical resolution, and the revision Caldwell-Luc group averaged 1.7+/-1.0 revision procedures per sinus (p = 0.3). Mean follow-up was 25 months. Conclusion Endoscopic revision of the maxillary sinus yields comparable outcomes to repeat Caldwell-Luc procedure in patients with a history of previous failed Caldwell-Luc surgery. Endoscopic revision surgery is a viable alternative for surgical rehabilitation of the post-Caldwell-Luc maxillary sinus.
Intracerebroventricular administration of chondroitinase ABC reduces acute edema after traumatic brain injury in mice

Background Brain edema is a significant challenge facing clinicians managing severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the acute period. If edema reaches a critical point, it leads to runaway intracranial hypertension that, in turn, leads to severe morbidity or death if left untreated. Clinical data on the efficacy of standard interventions is mixed. The goal of this study was to validate a novel therapeutic strategy for reducing post-traumatic brain edema in a mouse model. Prior in vitro work reported that the brain swells due to coupled electrostatic and osmotic forces generated by large, negatively charged, immobile molecules in the matrix that comprises brain tissue. Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) digests chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, a molecule that contributes to this negative charge. Therefore, we administered ChABC by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection after controlled cortical impact TBI in the mouse and measured associated changes in edema.
Abstract 2812: Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) regulates monocytic MDSC abundance to contribute to tumor growth and metastasis.

The inflammatory cytokine, Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a critical mediator of numerous inflammatory disease processes. In addition, MIF is overexpressed in many cancers and the degree of expression correlates with tumor aggressiveness. We identified MIF as a target for inhibition by sulforaphane (SFN), a cancer chemopreventive agent prevalent in broccoli. Based on this observation and the correlation between MIF expression and poor prognosis in human patients, we set out to determine how MIF might contribute to tumor growth and progression. We hypothesized that, as an inflammatory cytokine, MIF may regulate the interaction between the tumor and the host immune response, rather than impacting an intrinsic property of the tumor cells. We are exploring these questions using the syngeneic 4T1 model of breast carcinoma. This model recapitulates many aspects of human breast tumor progression, including spontaneous metastasis from the mammary fat pad to similar target organs. We found that MIF expression in the tumor cells increases tumor growth and metastasis in an orthotopic tumor model. Importantly, the MIF dependent growth differences are only manifested in vivo, as the MIF depleted cell line is not compromised in growth or colony formation in vitro, suggesting that MIF may be contributing to the interaction between the tumor and the host immune response. This was confirmed by demonstrating that MIF depleted and MIF containing tumors exhibit similar growth and metastasis properties in immunodeficient animals. Evaluation of the immune cell infiltrates in the MIF containing and MIF deficient tumors reveal that the abundance of monocytic MDSC within the tumor is dependent on MIF expression. Finally, we demonstrate that depletion of MDSCs abolishes the impact of MIF on tumor growth, suggesting that these cells are critical for MIF to mediate its effects. We are currently exploring the mechanisms by which MIF controls the abundance of monocytic MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment and how this relates to promotion of tumor metastasis. Our work establishes MIF as a potentially valuable therapeutic target in tumor metastasis and supports a potential alternative mechanism for chemoprevention in which SFN may target the inflammatory tumor microenvironment through inhibition of this cytokine. Citation Format: Kendra D. Simpson, Dennis J. Templeton, Janet V. Cross. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) regulates monocytic MDSC abundance to contribute to tumor growth and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2812. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2812