cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Hypertension Surveillance: United States, 2001 to 2010

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an uncommon but progressive condition, and much of what we know about it comes from specialized disease registries. With expanding research into the diagnosis and treatment of PH, it is important to provide updated surveillance on the impact of this disease on hospitalizations and mortality. This study, which builds on previous PH surveillance of mortality and hospitalization, analyzed mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System and data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey between 2001 and 2010. PH deaths were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes I27.0, I27.2, I27.8, or I27.9 as any contributing cause of death on the death certificate. Hospital discharges associated with PH were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 416.0, 416.8, or 416.9 as one of up to seven listed medical diagnoses. The decline in death rates associated with PH among men from 1980 to 2005 has reversed and now shows a significant increasing trend. Similarly, the death rates for women with PH have continued to increase significantly during the past decade. PH-associated mortality rates for those aged 85 years and older have accelerated compared with rates for younger age groups. There have been significant declines in PH-associated mortality rates for those with pulmonary embolism and emphysema. Rates of hospitalization for PH have increased significantly for both men and women during the past decade; for those aged 85 years and older, hospitalization rates have nearly doubled. Continued surveillance helps us understand and address the evolving trends in hospitalization and mortality associated with PH and PH-associated conditions, especially regarding sex, age, and race/ethnicity disparities.
Serotonin 2A and 2C receptor biosynthesis in the rodent striatum during postnatal development: mRNA expression and functional linkage to neuropeptide gene regulation.

The present study was designed to determine if there are region-specific differences in serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission and 5-HT receptor expression that may limit the stimulatory effects of the 5-HT releaser p-chloroamphetamine (pCA) on striatal neuropeptide gene expression to the posterior striatum (P-STR) during postnatal maturation. Sprague-Dawley rat brains from postnatal days (PND) 1–35 were processed for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor mRNA expression by in situ hybridization and monoamine analysis by HPLC. Within the P-STR, 5-HT2A receptor mRNA expression reached young adult (PND 35) levels by PND 3, while levels in the A-STR were significantly less (range: 1.43 ± 0.219–6.36 ± 0.478) than P-STR (5.36 ± 0.854–12.11 ± 1.08) at each respective age throughout the time course. 5-HT2C receptor mRNA expression reached young adult levels at PND 7 in the A-STR and by PND 3 in the P-STR. At each PND age 5-HT2C receptor mRNA levels within the P-STR were significantly less (6.23 ± 1.02–12.32 ± 0.427) than the A-STR (7.31 ± 1.65–26.84 ± 2.24). 5-HT content increased across the developmental time course within the P-STR (5.01 ± 0.327–15.7 ± 1.03 ng/mg protein) and A-STR (2.97 ± 0.223–11.2 ± 0.701 ng/mg protein). Four hours following injection (i.p.) of pCA (10 mg/kg), preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA levels increased 89% in the P-STR but not the anterior (A-STR) striatum of the 3-week-old rat, which were prevented by preinjection (30 min, i.p.) of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ritanserin (1 mg/kg). Together, these data suggest that faster maturity of 5-HT2A receptor expression in the P-STR may be sufficient to convey the region-specific acute stimulatory effects of pCA on PPT mRNA transcription in the developing rodent striatum. These results provide further evidence that the influence of 5-HT on neuropeptide gene expression is far stronger in caudal vs. rostral striatal regions during postnatal development. Synapse 38:216–225, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Protein composition of rhesus monkey milk: Comarison to human milk

1. Proteins in human milk and Rhesus monkey milk have been compared by FPLC gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography, SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, nitrogen and protein determination. 2. Mature Rhesus milk is higher in protein concentration (15-20 mg/ml) than human milk (8-9 mg/ml). 3. Non-Protein nitrogen is 6-13% in Rhesus milk but 25-30% in human milk. 4. Secretory IgA, lactoferrin, serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin and lysozyme are present in Rhesus milk, but at a lower concentration than in human milk. 5. The casein subunit pattern is more complex in Rhesus milk compared to human milk. 6. The ratio of whey proteins to casein is similar in both milks (approximately 60/40). 7. A protein with a M(r) of 21,600 is a major component in monkey whey but is not found in human milk.
Gdf16, a novel member of the growth/differentiation factor subgroup of the TGF-β superfamily, is expressed in the hindbrain and epibranchial placodes

We have isolated and characterized the developmental expression of Xenopus gdf16, a novel member of the growth/differentiation factor (gdf) gene family. The gdf16 gene encodes a pre-proprotein of 413 amino acids and a mature peptide of 122 amino acids. Gdf16 is most closely related to the zebrafish genes dynamo and radar, but exhibits a completely different expression pattern. Gene expression is detected at early tailbud (stage 25) in the first two epibranchial placodes and in a hindbrain-specific domain. As development proceeds, the gene is expressed in all the epibranchial placodes, the hindbrain, and the diencephalon.
Broker genes in human disease.

Genes that underlie human disease are important subjects of systems biology research. In the present study, we demonstrate that Mendelian and complex disease genes have distinct and consistent protein–protein interaction (PPI) properties. We show that five different network properties can be reduced to two independent metrics when applied to the human PPI network. These two metrics largely coincide with the degree (number of connections) and the clustering coefficient (the number of connections among the neighbors of a particular protein). We demonstrate that disease genes have simultaneously unusually high degree and unusually low clustering coefficient. Such genes can be described as brokers in that they connect many proteins that would not be connected otherwise. We show that these results are robust to the effect of gene age and inspection bias variation. Notably, genes identified in genome-wide association study (GWAS) have network patterns that are almost indistinguishable from the network patterns of nondisease genes and significantly different from the network patterns of complex disease genes identified through non-GWAS means. This suggests either that GWAS focused on a distinct set of diseases associated with an unusual set of genes or that mapping of GWAS-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms onto the causally affected neighboring genes is error prone.
Absorption of photons and fermions by black holes in four dimensions

The absorption of photons and fermions into four-dimensional black holes is described by equations which in certain cases can be analyzed using dyadic index techniques. The resulting absorption cross sections for near-external black holes have a form at low energies suggestive of the effective string model. A coupling to the effective string is proposed for spin-0 and spin-$$$\frac{1}{2}$ fields of pure $N=4$ supergravity which respects the unbroken supersymmetry of extreme black holes and correctly predicts dilaton, axion, and fermion cross sections up to an overall normalization.
Kentucky Bluegrass Seed and Vegetative Responses to Residue Management and Fall Nitrogen

Open-field burning to remove post-harvest residue from Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L) seed fields was essentially eliminated in Washington in 1998, and may be banned in Idaho and Oregon because of health concerns. Regulations banning burning necessitated exploring non-thermal residue management. Seed and vegetative responses of six Kentucky bluegrass cultivars to three post-harvest residue removal methods, and three timings of fall applied N in second- and third-year seed crops were evaluated. Residue removal methods were burn, vacuum, and rake. Split fall timings of N applications were 70% September, 30% October; 30% September, 70% October; and 100% October. Post-harvest residue management did not significantly influence second-year seed crop yields; however, with mechanical residue removal, third-year seed crop yields of Glade', 'Huntsville', and 'South Dakota' were 42 to 62% of seed yields with open-field burning. Seed yield of Baron', 'Limousine', and 'Georgetown' was not affected by residue management in the third-year seed crop. As larger portions of N were October applied, second-year seed yields of Georgetown and Huntsville were higher. Third-year seed crop yields were not influenced by timing of N application. Overall, seed production was correlated with panicle number (r = 0.77 ** ), but not with above ground biomass, rhizome biomass, or weight per 100 seeds. These data suggest that seed yield of relatively short-statured, small-seeded cultivars producing modest amounts of above ground biomass may be sustained by mechanical residue removal through three seed crop years when 70 or 100% the N is applied in October.
The 8k event: cause and consequences of a major Holocene abrupt climate change

Abstract A prominent, abrupt climate event about 8200 years ago brought generally cold and dry conditions to broad northern-hemisphere regions especially in wintertime, in response to a very large outburst flood that freshened the North Atlantic. Changes were much larger than typical climate variability before and after the event, with anomalies up to many degrees contributing to major displacement of vegetative patterns. This “8k” event provides a clear case of cause and effect in the paleoclimatic realm, and so offers an excellent opportunity for model testing. The response to North Atlantic freshening has the same general anomaly pattern as observed for older events associated with abrupt climate changes following North Atlantic freshening, and so greatly strengthens the case that those older events also reflect North Atlantic changes. The North Atlantic involvement in the 8k event helps in estimating limits on climate anomalies that might result in the future if warming-caused ice-melt and hydrologic-cycle intensification at high latitudes lead to major changes in North Atlantic circulation. Few model experiments have directly addressed the 8k event, and most studies of proxy records across this event lack the time resolution to fully characterize the anomalies, so much work remains to be done.
Liquid-crystal optical properties and applications in the millimeter-wave range

ABSTRACT The refr.tive indices, and birefringence, of some common nematic liquid crystals arenasured in the millimeter waves region mainly at 30 GHz All liquid crystals measured hadreasonably large birefringence in the range of 0.1 to 0.17. A proof of concept millinter wavephase shifter was demonstrated based on magnetic field alignment of liquid crystaL Potentialadvantages of using liquid crystals in the millinter wave range for vice applications arediscussed. 1. INTRODUCTION Millimeter waves (MMW) and near MMW devices, operating in the range of 30 GHz to 1000GHz, are playing increasingly important role in communication, surveillance and navigationtechnologies. There are no suitable devices that can operate satisfactorily over the whole MMWrange due to the lack of suitable modulation medium . In the lower frequency range (below 300Hz), microwave devices based mainly on Ferrite modulation ndia are v&y well developuLAttempts to adapt some of the Ferrite technologies to the MMW range have encountered varngdegree of technical difficulties due to a combination of factors: deteriorating electromagneticproperties at high frequencies 2, high fatrication cost due to the requirennt of more compactMMW device size, high power consumption, bulkiness and projected high insertion loss 4 .
Certifying Enrollment Management Professionals

Most current professionals who serve in an enrollment management leadership capacity likely were trained “on the job,” or at professional development events, primarily because credit-bearing credentials, degrees, and other formal programs were nonexistent (Phair 2014). However, that landscape has since changed, and now there are multiple ways for enrollment management professionals to receive a formal education to enhance one's enrollment management skill set. This article is designed to introduce and review those current academic offerings that provide credibility to the field of enrollment management. The primary training categories include: college admissions counseling, enrollment management, financial aid/financial planning, and college access and success. This article will highlight a set of 35 noncredit and credit-bearing offerings: 12 certificates, 15 credentials, three online programs, one endorsement, one specialist designation, and three master's degree concentrations. It expands information collected and reported by Young in 2012. For each type of training, information about courses, admission requirements, cost, and unique aspects are reported. Every attempt has been made to capture all of the known offerings available at this time.
The use of dredged material for the development of intertidal marshlands

The study included one and one-half years of botanical work (nursery, laboratory, and field) focused upon the development of baseline information on environmental parameters affecting growth and survival of intertidal flora (Spartina foliosa and Salicornia ssp.) and the formulation and testing of procedures for the efficient artificial propagation of this flora. The planting and monitoring of replicate test plots in an unconfined area has affirmed that dredged material is a suitable substrate for intertidal vegetation. In addition, the study monitored the progress of an intertidal substrate construction project in San Francisco Bay. This construction included hydraulic dredging with disposal in a 110-acre confined area for the combined purposes of dredge material disposal and the creation of a substrate suitable for the propagation of marshland plants. Study observations to date indicate that within practical limits an appropriate marsh topography can be established with available equipment and existing dredging technology. Results of this study will be used in planning for the establishment of marshes on this material.
Differential effects of virulent versus avirulent Legionella pneumophila on chemokine gene expression in murine alveolar macrophages determined by cDNA expression array technique.

The cDNA expression array technique is a powerful tool to determine, at one time from many genes, specific gene messages modulated by infection. In the present study, we identified genes modulated in response to virulent versus avirulent Legionella pneumophila infection of the alveolar macrophage cell line MH-S by the cDNA expression array technique. Many macrophage genes were found to be modulated after 5 h of in vitro infection with L. pneumophila. In particular, it was found that the monocyte chemotactic protein 3 (MCP-3) gene expression was significantly induced by infection with virulent L. pneumophila but not with avirulent L. pneumophila. In contrast, other chemokine genes, such as macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1α, were induced by both virulent and avirulent L. pneumophila. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assay of total RNA isolated from macrophages infected with the bacteria for 5 or 24 h confirmed the differential induction of the chemokine genes by virulent versus avirulent L. pneumophila. Thus, the cDNA expression array technique readily revealed differential induction by L. pneumophila infection of select chemokine genes of macrophages from more than 1,100 genes. These results also indicate that certain chemokine genes may be selectively induced by virulent bacteria.
Unique Molecular Landscapes in Cancer: Implications for Individualized, Curated Drug Combinations

With increasingly sophisticated technologies in molecular biology and “omic” platforms to analyze patients9 tumors, more molecular diversity and complexity in cancer are being observed. Recently, we noted unique genomic profiles in a group of patients with metastatic breast cancer based on an analysis with next-generation sequencing. Among 57 consecutive patients, no two had the same molecular portfolio. Applied genomics therefore appears to represent a disruptive innovation in that it unveils a heterogeneity to metastatic cancer that may be ill-suited to canonical clinical trials and practice paradigms. Upon recognizing that patients have unique tumor landscapes, it is possible that there may be a “mismatch” between our traditional clinical trials system that selects patients based on common characteristics to evaluate a drug (drug-centric approach) and optimal treatment based on curated, individualized drug combinations for each patient (patient-centric approach). Cancer Res; 74(24); 7181–4. ©2014 AACR.
Intra-operative protection from exposed K-wires.

Double-ended Kirschner wires have a variety of uses in orthopaedic surgery. The sharp ends are a potential hazard in theatre if left uncovered. Temporarily covering the exposed wire with a needle sheath containing a small amount of bone wax provides secure protection without blunting the wire. We have found this to be a cheap and effective way of protecting against inadvertent drape perforation and needlestick injury. Figure 1 Needle sheath containing bone wax: exposed K-wire and protected K-wire.
Influenza Immunization: Field Trial on a University Campus

The purpose of this field trial on influenza vaccine, which was done with a population of university students, was to compare the aerosol route with the subcutaneous route of vaccine administration and the Hong Kong influenza vaccine with the older A2 influenza vaccine ("bivalent" vaccine). Side-effects of the vaccines were significantly higher in the groups that received the vaccine subcutaneously. There were no more side-effects in those who received vaccine by aerosol. There was a significant reduction in the rate of illness in all groups vaccinated except for the group given bivalent vaccine subcutaneously. Recipents of Hong Kong vaccine had significantly greater protection than did recipients of the bivalent vaccine. Recipients of aerosol vaccine had significantly better protection than did those who received vaccine by the subcutaneous route. The data suggest that protection was closely related to the ability of the vaccine to stimulate nasalsecretion antibody to the A2 Hong Kong influenza virus.
Tumors of the Thymus

Primary thymic epithelial neoplasms represent the most common type of tumors of the anterior mediastinum. These tumors have been a source of major controversy over the years due to their difficulties for histopathologic typing and often unpredictable biologic behavior. Unlike malignant epithelial neoplasms arising at other organs, these tumors were felt for many years to be unsuitable for histologic grading. In fact, the latest WHO schema for the classification of thymic epithelial neoplasms does not mention grading for these tumors at all. More recent observations, however, have demonstrated that thymic epithelial neoplasms form part of a continuous spectrum of lesions that may closely resemble their parent organ at the one end or be very poorly differentiated at the other extreme [1]. Based on these observations, a novel conceptual approach was recently introduced for the classification of thymic epithelial neoplasms that is based on the histologic degree of differentiation of the lesions [2]. The histologic grading of these tumors is based on the premise that these lesions can range from well-differentiated to moderately differentiated to poorly differentiated neoplasms. This is supported by the observation of tumor progression in thymoma whereby recurrences show transformation of a low-grade histologic type to that of a higher-grade histology [3]. The degree of differentiation in any given tumor will depend on the presence or absence of the organotypical features of differentiation of the thymus and on the degree of cytological atypia displayed by the tumor cells (see Table 4.1).
p27 expression in post-treatment rectal cancer: a potential novel approach for predicting residual nodal disease.

Abstract Background Expression profiles of p21, p27, p53, Ki-67, and thymidylate synthase may be associated with response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The relationship between post-treatment protein expression and regional lymph node involvement has not been fully explored. Methods Tumor cores from 126 rectal cancer patients underwent immunohistochemical analysis for the aforementioned proteins. Staining indices (SIs) using percentage of stained cells and staining intensity were calculated for 10 tumor cores per patient. SI for each marker was compared between node negative and node positive patients. Results Twenty-six (20.6%) cancer patients had a pathologic complete response and 37 had inadequate tissue or cancer cells, leaving 63 for analysis. Thirty-seven (58.7%) cancer patients were node negative and 26 (41.3%) were node positive. There was an association between increased p27 SI and nodal positivity ( P = .04). Conclusion Increased p27 expression in post-treatment rectal cancer is associated with nodal positivity and may determine which patients are suitable for local excision.
How do speakers avoid ambiguous linguistic expressions

Three experiments assessed how speakers avoid linguistically and nonlinguistically ambiguous expressions. Speakers described target objects (a flying mammal, bat) in contexts including foil objects that caused linguistic (a baseball bat) and nonlinguistic (a larger flying mammal) ambiguity. Speakers sometimes avoided linguistic-ambiguity, and they did so equally regardless of whether they also were about to describe foils. This suggests that comprehension processes can sometimes detect linguistic-ambiguity before producing it. However, once produced, speakers consistently avoided using the same linguistically ambiguous expression again for a different meaning. This suggests that production processes can successfully detect linguistic-ambiguity after-the-fact. Speakers almost always avoided nonlinguistic-ambiguity. Thus, production processes are especially sensitive to nonlinguistic- but not linguistic-ambiguity, with the latter avoided consistently only once it is already articulated.
Cellular and molecular pathology of gastric carcinoma and precursor lesions: A critical review.

The cellular and molecular pathology of gastric cancer and its precursors are reviewed and discussed. Gastric carcinogenesis is a multistep phenomenon, beginning with precancerous conditions. Among these, adenoma is a direct precursor, because of the dysplastic nature of its cells. However, gastric adenoma is relatively rare. Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is the most common precancerous condition, in which intestinal metaplasia often occurs. Carcinoma develops in CAG through stages of hyperplasia and dysplasia involving both metaplastic and non-metaplastic glands. Molecular alterations, including replication error and p53 and APC gene mutation and aneuploidy have been found in some of these conditions, confirming their role in carcinogenesis. Carcinomas of the stomach are heterogeneous in cellular composition. Both intestinal and gastric types of cells are found in all types of tumors, indicating the unique characteristics of gastric cancer. Many molecular lesions have been found in gastric carcinomas. Basic changes involve replication errors, telomerase activity, and aberrant CD44 transcripts. Many other changes often show differences in the frequency of their occurrence between the two major histological types of gastric carcinoma: well differentiated versus poorly differentiated, or intestinal type versus diffuse type. The timing and frequency of these changes in the stomach differ from the timing and frequency in colonic carcinogeneis. Pathological evaluation remains reliable and meaningful, in basic research as well as clinical management. To obtain correlation with molecular alterations, the need for detailed pathologic classification of gastric carcinoma is recognized, taking into account its biologic behavior and grades of cell differentiation.The cellular and molecular pathology of gastric cancer and its precursors are reviewed and discussed. Gastric carcinomas are unique in their heterogeneity in both cellular composition and molecular changes.
Alternative perspective on density-functional perturbation theory

Perturbation theory is examined in analytic density-functional theory (ADFT), for which V representability means slightly more than in conventional density-functional theory because the potential is fitted. There is synergism between variationality and V representability. Together they redirect the object of perturbation theory from the set of occupied virtual orbital rotations to the change in the fit to the Kohn-Sham potential, which is called the Sambe-Felton potential. This reduces the dimensionality of perturbation theory from order N{sup 2} to order N, where N is the number of basis functions. With variational fitting, no fractional or negative powers of the density appear when using the Slater exchange kernel, which is proportional to the cube root of the spin density. Requiring the Fock matrix and density matrix to commute through each order of perturbation theory determines the role of fractional occupation numbers in density-functional perturbation theory, which are treated via the corresponding nonintegral differences between the occupation numbers of orbitals. This theory is tested by removing a tenth or twentieth of an electron from the highest occupied molecular orbital for a standard set of small molecules, in which case the first- and second-order perturbed energies are accurate to 70%, when compared to themore » energy difference of the two corresponding self-consistent-field (SCF) calculations. For an all-electron ADFT calculation on a C{sub 4v}-symmetric Zr{sub 6}O{sub 12} cluster, the timing for all SCF coupled perturbed iterations is not significant compared to the single required N{sup 4} sum over occupied and virtual orbitals.« less
Photoinitiated multistep charge separation in ferrocene–zinc porphyrin–diiron hydrogenase model complex triads

Two covalently linked linear electron donor–acceptor triads Fc-ZnTPP-[NMI-FeI-FeI-S2(CO)6] (1) and Fc-Ph-ZnTPP-[NMI-FeI-FeI-S2(CO)6] (2) consisting of a zinc meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) chromophore, a naphthalene monoimide diiron hydrogenase active site model [NMI-FeI-FeI-S2(CO)6], and a ferrocene (Fc) secondary electron donor have been synthesized along with their corresponding dyad reference molecules ZnTPP-[NMI-FeI-FeI-S2(CO)6] (3), Fc-ZnTPP (4), and Fc-Ph-ZnTPP (5). Time-resolved transient absorption and emission studies in CH2Cl2 show that selective photoexcitation of ZnTPP in triads 1 and 2 results in two competing quenching pathways for 1*ZnTPP: electron transfer from 1*ZnTPP to [NMI-FeI-FeI-S2(CO)6] and energy transfer from 1*ZnTPP to low-lying Fc excited states. Our studies on reference dyads 4 and 5 show that the majority of 1*ZnTPP produced by the laser pulse decays rapidly by energy transfer to Fc in triad 1 (τ 450. Studies of photochemical hydrogen evolution using 1 and 2 reveal that the hydrogen generation efficiency depends on the lifetime of the final charge separated state. The ability to execute a multi-electron proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism in a stepwise manner will allow us to investigate the structural and electronic requirements for each step aiding in overall system optimization. Thus, it is possible to use the same multi-step electron transfer strategy that has been employed to extend the lifetime of charge-separated states in photodriven donor–acceptor systems to extend the lifetime of the reduced states of metal complexes of potential use in catalytic proton reduction.
A study of singularity formation in vortex-sheet motion by a spectrally accurate vortex method

Moore's asymptotic analysis of vortex-sheet motion predicts that the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability leads to the formation of a weak singularity in the sheet profile at a finite time. The numerical studies of Meiron. Baker & Orszag, and of Krasny, provide only a partial validation of his analysis. In this work, the motion of periodic vortex sheets is computed using a new, spectrally accurate approximation to the Birkhoff–Rott integral. As advocated by Krasny, the catastrophic effect of round-off error is suppressed by application of a Fourier filter, which itself operates near the level of the round-off. It is found that to capture the correct asymptotic behaviour of the spectrum, the calculations must be performed in very high precision, and second-order terms must be included in the Ansatz to the spectrum. The numerical calculations proceed from the initial conditions first considered by Meiron, Baker & Orszag. For the range of amplitudes considered here, the results indicate that Moore's analysis is valid only at times well before the singularity time. Near the singularity time the form of the singularity departs away from that predicted by Moore, with the real and imaginary parts of the solutions becoming differentiated in their behaviour; the real part behaves in accordance with Moore's prediction, while the singularity in the imaginary part weakens. In addition, the form of the singularity apparently depends upon the initial amplitude of the disturbance, with the results suggesting that either Moore's analysis gives the complete form of the singularity only in the zero amplitude limit, or that the initial data considered here is not yet sufficiently small for the behaviour to be properly described by the asymptotic analysis. Convergence of the numerical solution beyond the singularity time is not observed.
Balanced expression of mitochondrial apoptosis regulatory proteins correlates with long-term survival of cardiac allografts

Abnormal regulation of apoptosis is observed in ischemic injury and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, its role in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), the fundamental lesion of chronic rejection (CR) in heart transplantation, remains uncertain. To clarify this issue, apoptosis was quantitated in myocardium and coronary arteries from 5 cardiac allograft donors (NL) and explanted hearts of 24 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IsCM) and 15 patients with CR. Tissue samples were analyzed via end-labeling fragmented DNA [via deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)] and immunoblotting for activated caspase-3 and -9. Myocyte apoptosis assessed by TUNEL was similarly increased over NL (0.21%) in both the CR (0.88%; P < 0.01) and IsCM (0.88%; P < 0.01) groups. Activated caspase-9 levels were significantly higher in CR (14.7%) compared with IsCM (6.9%; P < 0.01) and NL (0%) groups, whereas activated caspase-3 levels were similarly elevated in both CR and IsCM (7.8 and 6.5% vs. 0% in NL; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) groups. Expression of myocardial Bcl-2 and Bax was increased in CR compared with both NL (Bax, 4.3-fold; P < 0.01; Bcl-2, 5.9-fold; P < 0.01) and IsCM (IsCM: Bax, 2.2-fold; P < 0.05; Bcl-2, 3.2-fold; P < 0.01) groups. The rate of apoptosis and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio independently correlated to graft survival in CR (activation of caspase-9: r = 0.87; P < 0.01; Bcl-2/Bax: r = 0.57; P = 0.05). Compared with native atherosclerosis, coronary arteries with CAV showed more medial apoptosis (7.8-fold; P < 0.01) and higher Bcl-2 levels (5.1-fold; P < 0.01) with lower Bax levels (threefold; P < 0.05) in the intima. These results indicate that abnormal Bcl-2 and Bax expression in myocardium and coronary arteries of cardiac allografts with CR is distinct from that in IsCM and suggest that balancing Bcl-2 to Bax in transplanted hearts promotes long-term graft survival.
The Relationship Between Coping, Neurocognitive Performance, and Concussion Symptoms in High School and Collegiate Athletes

The present study explored the relationship of neurocognitive performance and symptoms to coping responses at 3 and 8 days postconcussion. A total of 104 concussed athletes (M = 16.41, SD = 2.19 years) completed the Immediate Post Concussion Assessment Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) at baseline and the ImPACT and Brief Cope inventory at 3 and 8 days postconcussion. Concussed athletes reported more frequent use of selfdistraction, behavioral disengagement, religion, and self-blame 3 days postconcussion compared with 8 days. Concussed athletes reported more use of avoidance coping at 3 days than 8 days (Wilks’s Lambda =.95, F [1, 100] =4.71, p = .032, η 2 =.046) post-injury. Total symptoms were also a significant (p = .001) predictor of avoidance coping 3 days postconcussion and decreased visual memory was associated with increased avoidance coping (p = .03) 8 days post-injury. Time since injury likely impacts neurocognitive performance, symptomology, and coping. Clinicians should be aware of higher reported symptoms early and lingering visual memory deficits 1-week post-injury.
How field-level knowledge diversity affects the performance of technology innovation

Prior literature suggests that there are both benefits and hazards of working in a diverse knowledge space. On the one hand, knowledge-based diversity is argued to facilitate innovation; on the oth...
Genome‐wide linkage of cotinine pharmacokinetics suggests candidate regions on chromosomes 9 and 11

Characterizing cotinine pharmacokinetics is a useful way to study nicotine metabolism because the same liver enzyme is primarily responsible for the metabolism of both, and the clearances of nicotine and cotinine are highly correlated. We conducted a whole-genome linkage analysis to search for candidate regions influencing quantitative variation in cotinine pharmacokinetics in a large-scale pharmacokinetic study with 61 families containing 224 healthy adult participants. The strongest linkage signal was identified at 135 cM of chromosome 9 with LOD = 2.81 and P = 0.0002; two other suggestive linkage peaks appear at 31.4 and 73.5 cM of chromosome 11 with LOD = 1.96 (P = 0.0013) and 1.94 (P = 0.0014). The confidence level of the linkage between the three genome regions and cotinine pharmacokinetics is statistically significant with a genome-wide empirical probability of P = 0.029.
Global survey of hospital pharmacy practice.

Purpose. The current state of hospital pharmacy practice around the globe and key issues facing international hospital pharmacy practice were studied. Methods. This survey assessed multiple aspects of hospital pharmacy practice within each of the Member States recognized by the United Nations. An official respondent from each nation was identified by a structured nomination process. The survey instrument was developed; pilot tested; translated into English, French, and Spanish; and distributed in July 2007. The nature, scope, and breadth of hospital pharmacy practices in medication procurement, prescribing, preparation and distribution, administration, outcomes monitoring, and human resources and training were evaluated. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the responses. Results. Eighty-five countries (44% of the 192 Member States) responded to the survey. The respondent sample of countries was representative of all nations in terms of population, geographic region, World Health Organization region, and level of economic development. In addition to qualifying the nature of hospital pharmacy practice, the survey highlighted numerous challenges facing the profession of pharmacy in the hospital setting around the globe, including access to medicines and adequately trained pharmacists. Conclusion. While the practice of hospital pharmacy differs from country to country, many nations face similar challenges, regardless of their population, location, or wealth. These survey results provide a basis for identifying opportunities for growth and development, as well as for international collaboration, to advance the profession of pharmacy and ensure that patients worldwide receive the care that they deserve.
Thermoset coatings from epoxidized sucrose soyate and blocked, bio-based dicarboxylic acids.

A new 100 % bio-based thermosetting coating system was developed from epoxidized sucrose soyate crosslinked with blocked bio-based dicarboxylic acids. A solvent-free, green method was used to block the carboxylic acid groups and render the acids miscible with the epoxy resin. The thermal reversibility of this blocking allowed for the formulation of epoxy-acid thermoset coatings that are 100 % bio-based. This was possible due to the volatility of the vinyl ethers under curing conditions. These systems have good adhesion to metal substrates and perform well under chemical and physical stress. Additionally, the hardness of the coating system is dependent on the chain length of the diacid used, making it tunable.
An Evaluation of the Existing College Norms for the MLA-Cooperative Russian Test and Its Efficacy as a Placement Examination.

THREE years ago, the Russian staff at the University of California at Davis (UCD) adopted the Modern Language Association (MLA) cooperative listening and reading comprehension tests as a placement examination for matriculating undergraduates. The use of a multiple-choice proficiency examination that could be scored quickly by non-Russian clerical help was especially desirable because the Russian placement examination was to be administered repeatedly throughout the summer Orientation Program for incoming freshmen. In order to establish norms for placement, listening and reading comprehension tests (Form LA) were administered at the end of each quarter of the firstyear, elementary Russian sequence in 1967-1968 (courses 1, 2, and 3). The results were processed in a manner similar to that described by Aleamoni and Spencer at the University of Illinois, that is, the listening and reading scores were weighted equally and the mid-point of the average listening and reading score distribution for each of the one-quarter courses was designated as the cutoff point for determining placement.? However, in comparing the scores of tests administered to students who had completed the three-quarter sequence to the established First-Year College General Norms,2 it was rather surprising that on the listening test 52 per cent of the Davis students had scored in the upper quartile and only 8 per cent in the lower quartile, while on the reading test 71 per cent had scored in the upper quartile, 25 per cent in the second quartile, and only 4 per cent below the established median. A threeyear project (September 1967-June 1970) was set up to examine and evaluate the established MLA Russian norms with respect to the first year courses at Davis.
Solvent Diffusion Model for Aging of Lithium-Ion Battery Cells

This work presents a rigorous continuum mechanics model of solvent diffusion describing the growth of solid-electrolyte interfaces ~SEIs! in Li-ion cells incorporating carbon anodes. The model assumes that a reactive solvent component diffuses through the SEI and undergoes two-electron reduction at the carbon-SEI interface. Solvent reduction produces an insoluble product, resulting in increasing SEI thickness. The model predicts that the SEI thickness increases linearly with the square root of time. Experimental data from the literature for capacity loss in two types of prototype Li-ion cells validates the solvent diffusion model. We use the model to estimate SEI thickness and extract solvent diffusivity values from the capacity loss data. Solvent diffusivity values have an Arrhenius temperature dependence consistent with solvent diffusion through a solid SEI. The magnitudes of the diffusivities and activation energies are comparable to literature values for hydrocarbon diffusion in carbon molecular sieves and zeolites. These findings, viewed in the context of recent SEI morphology studies, suggest that the SEI may be viewed as a single layer with both micro- and macroporosity that controls the ingress of electrolyte, anode passivation by the SEI, and cell perfor
A Graphic Interface to Online Reference Sources

Librarians at the Arnold Bernhard Library of Quinnipiac University were at a crossroads with electronic reference books. At first they had added the titles to the library's web page, generated records to individual titles in the online catalog, and even established links to their content using the link resolver in the online catalog. It was still felt that the collection was not living up to its potential. In 2007, the automation librarian began a project to add one more level of access to these titles – a graphic interface that simulated the process of walking into a reference room and picking out a title – all of this done with no programming beyond basic HTML. Early usage reports beginning in the Fall of 2007 prove that the concept has found an audience.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Evidence-Based Review for Qualified Health Claims: Tomatoes, Lycopene, and Cancer

Several studies have reported an inverse association between tomato and/or lycopene intake and the risk of some types of cancer. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received two petitions for qualified health claims regarding tomatoes, lycopene, and the risk reduction for some forms of cancer. Health claims that characterize the relationship between a food or food component and a disease or health-related condition require premarket approval by FDA to be included on the labels of conventional foods and dietary supplements. Here we describe FDA's review of the scientific data for tomato and/or lycopene intake with respect to risk reduction for certain forms of cancer. The FDA found no credible evidence to support an association between lycopene intake and a reduced risk of prostate, lung, colorectal, gastric, breast, ovarian, endometrial, or pancreatic cancer. The FDA also found no credible evidence for an assocaition between tomato consumption and a reduced risk of lung, colorectal, breast, cervical, or endometrial cancer. The FDA found very limited evidence to support an association between tomato consumption and reduced risks of prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic cancers.
Grip Control Using Biomimetic Tactile Sensing Systems

We present a proof-of-concept for controlling the grasp of an anthropomorphic mechatronic prosthetic hand by using a biomimetic tactile sensor, Bayesian inference, and simple algorithms for estimation and control. The sensor takes advantage of its compliant mechanics to provide a triaxial force sensing end-effector for grasp control. By calculating normal and shear forces at the fingertip, the prosthetic hand is able to maintain perturbed objects within the force cone to prevent slip. A Kalman filter is used as a noise-robust method to calculate tangential forces. Biologically inspired algorithms and heuristics are presented that can be implemented online to support rapid, reflexive adjustments of grip.
Appendix E: Legendre Functions

Time-Harmonic Electromagnetic Fields A Classic Reissue in the IEEE Press Series on Electromagnetic Wave Theory Donald G. Dudley, Series Editor "When I begin a new research project, I clear my desk and put away all texts and reference books. Invariably, Harrington's book is the first book to find its way back to my desk. My copy is so worn that it is falling apart."--Dr. Kendall F. Casey, SRI "In the opinion of our faculty, there is no other book available that serves as well as Professor Harrington's does as an introduction to advanced electromagnetic theory and to classic solution methods in electromagnetics."--Professor Chalmers M. Butler, Clemson University First published in 1961, Roger Harrington's Time-Harmonic Electromagnetic Fields is one of the most significant works in electromagnetic theory and applications. Over the past forty years, it proved to be a key resource for students, professors, researchers, and engineers who require a comprehensive, in-depth treatment of the subject. Now, IEEE is reissuing the classic in response to requests from our many members, who found it an invaluable textbook and an enduring reference for practicing engineers. About the IEEE Press Series on Electromagnetic Wave Theory The IEEE Press Series on Electromagnetic Wave Theory offers outstanding coverage of the field. It consists of new titles of contemporary interest as well as reissues and revisions of recognized classics by established authors and researchers. The series emphasizes works of long-term archival significance in electromagnetic waves and applications. Designed specifically for graduate students, researchers, and practicing engineers, the series provides affordable volumes that explore and explain electromagnetic waves beyond the undergraduate level.
Experimental and numerical study of the EOR potential in liquid-rich shales by cyclic gas injection

Abstract One of the limitations of gas or water injection in tight shale oil reservoirs is that the fluid injectivity is low due to the nature of very low permeability of shale. Another challenge of gas flooding is that the injected gas is subject to early breakthrough in densely fractured shale gas or oil reservoirs, resulting in poor performance. Cyclic gas injection (CGI) in a single horizontal well is not affected by early gas breakthrough. Compared to gas flooding, cyclic gas injection is an effective recovery process in tight shale oil reservoirs. This paper presented our experimental work on using nitrogen cyclic injection in shale rocks. We analyzed the experimental data using numerical simulation approaches. Coreflooding and simulation outputs showed that it is favorable to implement cyclic gas injection enhanced oil recovery process in shale oil reservoirs. Our experimental data and simulation results have demonstrated the potential of gas huff-n-puff injection to improve oil recovery in shale oil reservoirs. We also examined the effect of diffusion on improved oil recovery performance by cyclic injection process. The objective of this paper is to investigate significance of possible factors on gas huff-n-puff recovery process in shale oil reservoirs via experimental work and simulation approaches. Our simulation results benchmarked with experimental observations showed that molecular diffusion played a significant role in the mobilization of oil in lab scale.
WOMEN LEADERSHIP AND GLOBAL POWER: EVIDENCE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICA

This paper examines leadership theories along with the advancement of women within the United States as well as in Latin America. Data from an exploratory survey of 19 women executives in Latin America and 19 women executives in the United States suggest that globalization has transformed the way in which organizations perceive and carry out leadership today. Globalization has paved the way for a new type of leadership style that is more collaborative and less hierarchal, in which relationship building and teamwork are critical. Data also suggest that women have emerged as effective leaders carrying out this new leadership style and their success has led to higher company profitability. This paper concludes by exploring ways in which corporations can maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace and how we, as humans, can begin to transform societies to cope with the Flat World while creating a flexible labor force and successful leaders.