cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial hematocrit values after birth and peri/intraventricular hemorrhage in extremely low birth weight infants.

Ischemia followed by reperfusion plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of peri/intraventricular hemorrhage (P/IVH). Delayed cord clamping promotes placental transfusion to newborn and is associated with decreased P/IVH. We hypothesized that extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with higher initial hematocrit (Hct) after birth are less likely to develop P/IVH. Pre- and postnatal data on inborn ELBW infants over 7 years were reviewed. We examined the relationship between P/IVH in the first week and initial Hct using logistic regression modeling. We studied 225 infants with a median gestational age (GA) 25.7 (22.4–31.7). Forty-one percent had grade I–IV P/IVH. In univariate analysis, cesarean section (CS) and higher GA, birth weight, 5-minute Apgar, and initial Hct were associated with decreased likelihood of P/IVH while higher maximum PCO2 in first 3 days and use of inotropes/vasopressors, postnatal steroid for hypotension, hypernatremia, transfusion, and use of insulin for hyperglycemia during the first week of life were associated with increased likelihood of P/IVH. In multiple regression analysis, only GA, CS, and initial Hct remained significantly associated with P/IVH. Adjusting for GA and CS, the odds of P/IVH was higher with Hct < 40% (OR 2.04, 95% CI [1.11, 3.76]) and Hct < 45% (2.38 [1.19, 4.76]). Higher initial Hct is associated with decreased P/IVH. Initial Hct < 45% was associated with a 2-fold increase in P/IVH. We speculate that lower initial Hct represents a lower intravascular volume status and promotes cerebral hypoperfusion preceding P/IVH.
Duplex Ultrasound in Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease is a complex condition that can be evaluated with many imaging techniques, but only duplex ultrasound can provide fast, cost-effective, and real-time results. This chapter will review the imaging techniques and criteria necessary to diagnose and monitor peripheral arterial disease in native arteries, stents, and grafts of the lower extremities.
Physical Activity and Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Among Young Adults.

Introduction Physical activity is known to be inversely associated with cigarette smoking among young people. However, evidence is not clear about the association between physical activity and e-cigarette use. Young people who otherwise lead a healthy lifestyle are attracted to e-cigarettes for nicotine or flavor consumption given the low harm perceptions associated with e-cigarette use. This is of concern given the potentially serious adverse health consequences of some forms of e-cigarette use. This study tested the hypotheses that increased physical activity is associated with lower levels of cigarette and e-cigarette use, both cross-sectionally and prospectively. Methods Self-reported physical activity data and past-30-day cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use data were collected in 2018–2019 from 2,401 young adults (mean age=21.2 years, SD=2.2 years, 55% women) at 2 timepoints, 6 months apart. Data were analyzed between May and August 2019, using ordered logistic regression. Results Higher moderate or vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with cigarette and e-cigarette use cross-sectionally. Only higher moderate physical activity was statistically significantly associated with reduced cigarette smoking 6 months later, after adjusting for baseline cigarette smoking, sensation seeking, BMI, and demographic variables. Higher physical activity at baseline was associated with increased e-cigarette use at follow-up, adjusting for baseline e-cigarette use, sensation seeking, BMI, and demographic variables. Conclusions The prospective association between increased physical activity at baseline and higher e-cigarette use 6 months later is of concern. More research is needed to determine if this finding is replicable. Some plausible reasons for the observed associations are discussed.
CHAPTER 4 – Semiconductor Diodes and Transistors

In the previous chapter we made use of diodes without explaining the underlying physics. This was acceptable as for most applications diode characteristics are well approximated by those of a simple on-off switch. However, in order to understand the extremely fast diode switching speeds (faster than a nanosecond) or the 0.6–0.7 offset voltage (also referred to as contact potential ) we have to understand and view the diode as a pn junction, which in turn requires an elementary understanding of electron and hole motion in semiconducting material. Furthermore, a transistor can be modeled by two diodes back-to-back, provided we treat each diode as a pn -junction. An understanding of the pn -junction which we can simply define as a junction between n -type and p -type semiconducting material 1 is thus necessary to an understanding of diodes and transistors.
Dead Space to Tidal Volume Ratio Is Associated With Higher Postextubation Support in Children

BACKGROUND: Extubation failure is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and mortality. An elevated dead-space-to-tidal-volume ratio (VD/VT) has been proposed as a predictor of successful extubation in children. We hypothesized that a higher VD/VT value would be associated with extubation failure and higher postextubation respiratory support. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, cohort study. All subjects were RESULTS: Of 189 subjects included in the analysis, 166 were successfully extubated and 23 (12%) required re-intubation. There was no significant difference in final VD/VT between those who extubated successfully and those who failed extubation, with a median VD/VT of 0.28 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.20–0.37) vs 0.29 (IQR 0.21–0.33), respectively (P = .87). Those who received a high level of support upon extubation had a higher VD/VT than those who received a low level of support, with a median of 0.32 (IQR 0.23–0.39) vs 0.25 (IQR 0.16–0.30), respectively (P CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant relationship between VD/VT and extubation success, although VD/VT was associated with the level of respiratory support provided following extubation. Further studies should investigate whether the use of VD/VT can help reduce extubation failure rates with varying levels of postextubation respiratory support.
A Class-D FVF LDO With Multi-Level PWM Gate Control, 280-ns Settling Time, and No Overshoot/Undershoot

A novel class-D flipped voltage follower (FVF) low-dropout (LDO) regulator is proposed and implemented in this paper to supply high load current with fast transient response for sharp load changes. The proposed class-D control generates a multi-level pulse width modulated (MLPWM) signal to the gate of the control transistor that corresponds to the load level. The MLPWM control signal enables wide loop bandwidth and reduces output ripple. The FVF architecture reduces the output impedance and improves the controller efficiency. A novel feed-forward transition-detection path (FFTDP) controls the gate of the power transistor and allows enhanced switching at high loads. The proposed LDO operates with a wide range of input voltages from 1.2V to 1.8V and dropout of 200mV down to 50mV. The implementation responds to load changes from 0-300mA in 7ns with no observed overshoot/undershoot. The output ripple for the LDO is $_{\mathbf {V}}=1$ mV with a current efficiency of 99.93% at maximum load current. The prototype chip is fabricated on 28-nm CMOS technology and the controller occupies 0.004mm2.
Audre Lorde’s Anti-Imperial Consciousness:

Providing the first extended analysis of Audre Lorde’s critique of the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada, this essay argues that Lorde’s critique models a form of anti-imperial consciousness that is st...
Short rate nonlinearities and regime switches

Abstract Using non-parametric estimation methods, various authors have shown distinct non-linearities in the drift and volatility function of the US short rate, which are inconsistent with standard affine term structure models. We document how a regime-switching model with state-dependent transition probabilities between regimes can replicate the patterns found by the non-parametric studies. To do so, we use data from the UK and Germany in addition to US data and include term spreads in some of our models. We also examine the drift and volatility function of the term spread.
Cast iron drinking water pipe biofilms support diverse microbial communities containing antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and class 1 integrons

Antimicrobial resistance is a well-documented public health concern. The role that drinking water distribution pipes have as sources of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is not well known. Metals are a known stressor for antibiotic resistance development, implying that aging metal-pipe infrastructure could be a source of ARGs. The objective of this study was to determine if ARGs, metal resistance genes (MRGs), and intI1 were pervasive across various pipe biofilm sample types (biomass surfaces, pipe surfaces, corrosion tubercles, and under corrosion tubercles) and if the resistance genes associated with particular microbial taxa. Eight sample types in triplicate (n = 24) were taken from inside a >100 year-old, six ft. section of a full-scale chloraminated cast iron drinking water main. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was employed as a novel approach to quantify ARGs in pipes from full-scale drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) because it yielded higher detection frequencies than quantitative PCR (qPCR). Illumina sequencing was employed to characterize the microbial community based on 16S rRNA genes. ARGs and MRGs were detected in all 24 pipe samples. Every sample contained targeted genes. Interestingly, the mean absolute abundances of ARGs and MRGs only varied by approximately one log value across sample types, but the mean relative abundances (copy numbers normalized to 16S rRNA genes) varied by over two log values. The ARG and MRGs concentrations were not significantly different between sample types, despite significant changes in dominant microbial taxa. The most abundant genera observed in the biofilm communities were Mycobacterium (0.2–70%), and β-lactam resistance genes blaTEM, blaSHV, and the integrase gene of class 1 integrons (intI1) were positively correlated with Mycobacterium. The detection of ARGs, MRGs, and class 1 integrons across all sample types within the pipe indicates that pipes themselves can serve as sources for ARGs in DWDS. Consequently, future work should investigate the role of pipe materials as well as corrosion inhibitors to determine how engineering decisions can mitigate ARGs in drinking water that stem from pipe materials.
Prior Art in Inter Partes Review

This Essay is an empirical study of the evidence the Patent Trial and Appeal Board relies upon when cancelling patents in inter partes review. To construct our dataset, we collected every final written decision invalidating a patent claim over a twelve-month period. We coded individual invalidation events on a reference-by-reference, claim-by-claim basis. Drawing on this dataset, we report a number of details about the prior art supporting patent cancellation, including the frequency with which U.S. patents, foreign patents, and printed publications were cited, the frequency with which the invalidating prior art would have been amenable to a pre-filing prior art search, and whether the invalidating prior art was known at the time of examination.
The Persistent Challenge of Pneumocystis Growth Outside the Mammalian Lung: Past and Future Approaches

The pathogenic fungi in the genus, Pneumocystis, have eluded attempts to continuously grow them in an ex vivo cultivation system. New data from transcriptomic and genomic sequencing studies have identified a myriad of absent metabolic pathways, helping to define their host obligate nature. These nutrients, factors, and co-factors are acquired from their mammalian host and provide clues to further supplementation of existing media formulations. Likewise, a new appreciation of the pivotal role for the sexual cycle in the survival and dissemination of the infection suggests that Pneumocystis species are obligated to undergo mating and sexual reproduction in their life cycle with a questionable role for an asexual cycle. The lack of ascus formation in any previous cultivation attempts may explain the failure to identify a sustainable system. Many characteristics of these ascomycetes suggest a biotrophic existence within the lungs of the mammalian hosts. In the present review, previous attempts at growing these fungi ex vivo are summarized. The significance of their life cycle is considered, and a list of potential supplements based on the genomic and transcriptomic studies is presented. State of the art technologies such as metabolomics, organoids, lung-on-a chip, and air lift cultures are discussed as potential growth systems.
Correction of Gain Mismatch for Time Interleaved Analog to Digital Converter System

For digital signal processing, an analog signal should be sampled at least at the Nyquist rate. In many applications such as radar systems and software defined radios that deal with super high frequency, required sampling rates may exceed currently available analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). To increase the sampling rate time interleaved ADC (TI-ADC) systems are often used. In TI-ADC system several ADCs are interleaved to increase the sampling rate. Ideally all ADCs in the system will have the same gain. Due to imperfection of ADCs there is a gain mismatch. The gain mismatch results in spurious peaks in the spectrum and reduces the dynamic range of the TI-ADC system. In this paper we will first explain how the gain mismatch affect to the signal spectrum. We will also devise a method to estimate the gain mismatch and correct it.
Guide to the Vascular Flora of Buxton Woods, Dare County, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Amanda L. Faucette, Alexander Krings, and David L. Lindbo. 2020. Guide to the Vascular Flora of Buxton Woods, Dare County, North Carolina, U.S.A. Sida, Botanical Miscellany 54. (ISSN: 0883-1475; ISBN-13: 978-1-889878-60-7, pbk). Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press, 1700 University Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76107, U.S.A. (Orders: shop.brit.org, orders@brit.org, 1-817-332-4441). $35.00 US, 236 pp , 30 color plates, 400 line illustrations, 7" × 10".
Perspective: Scientific rigor or ritual? Statistical significance in pest management science.

P-values, binary hypothesis tests, and statistical significance are too often overused or used incorrectly in pest management reports. These statistical results are not the point of an analysis, they are just a by-product that can sometimes be informative. The point of the analysis is always a biological interpretation of the data focusing on whether something new has been learned and then quantifying what was learned in terms of biological effects or supported hypotheses. The term "statistical significance" should be retired if only because of the common misunderstanding that it implies biological relevance; these terms are not equivalent. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Answering the charge?: Metaphors about and by Sami in Norwegian textbooks and in Sami witness testimonies

Abstract From 1850 to 1980 the Norwegian state pursued a policy of Norwegianization of the Sami, where schools played an important part in the attempt to turn Sami children into Norwegian citizens. Pupils lived in boarding schools where all teaching was in Norwegian and it was forbidden to speak Sami, both in and out of the classroom. This article examines metaphors in three types of material: Norwegian textbooks; Sami literature in these textbooks; and Sami testimony literature. The aim is to find out how the Norwegian state used its power to stigmatize Sami identity through metaphors in textbooks, and how Sami writers show their resistance to Norwegianization through metaphors in Sami literary texts and Sami testimony literature. The analysis also examines whether metaphors are signalled or not, in order to see if they are open to negotiation or taken as self-evident, and if signalling can be related to genre. One central finding is that the Norwegian texts contain more condescending and less signalled metaphors than the Sami ones. Another is that signalling might be related to genre: there are more signalled metaphors in the reflective narratives of witness testimonies than in the other genres that are examined. The theoretical foundations of the analyses are discourse-based metaphor analysis in a post-colonial perspective.
Late-onset of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency: A rare medical examiner case.

Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) is an enzyme of the urea cycle, which converts ammonia into urea in the liver cells. OTC plays a crucial role in the breakdown and removal of nitrogen in the body. OTC deficiency is a rare X-linked recessive disorder that classically presents in early life with signs of hyperammonemia and progressive central nervous system involvement resulting in seizures, coma, and death. Sentinel presentation in adulthood is quite rare. A 29-year-old man developed altered mental status after receiving an epidural steroid injection 3 days earlier for back pain. He presented to the emergency department severely agitated, and his workup revealed an elevated ammonia level of 125 µmol/L. He refused admission and was discharged against medical advice. The following day, his mentation deteriorated, he developed status epilepticus, and was transported to another emergency department. He was admitted with worsening hyperammonemia (levels rising to over 700 µmol/L). His clinical condition progressive deteriorated, and he developed encephalopathy and diffuse cerebral edema. Liver function testing indicated progressive liver damage, and amino acids were detected in his blood and urine. Clinical and laboratory findings suggested undiagnosed OTC enzyme deficiency. He died 2 days after admission. An autopsy showed an 1890 g liver with diffuse yellow discoloration and softening. Histology and electron microscopy revealed findings suggestive of urea cycle disorder, such as microvesicular steatosis, apoptosis, and scattered mitosis, clusters of clear hepatocytes at the PAS stain, and mitochondria abnormalities. Genetic analysis revealed a hemizygous pathogenic variant of the OTC gene (c.622G>A). OTC deficiency should be suspected in subjects with hyperammonemic encephalopathy. If a genetic mutation is identified in the deceased, surviving family members should be screened to prevent potential life-threatening complications.
Global Knowledge Management Systems: Challenges for Libraries in the Digital Era

One of the characteristics of our contemporary society is the increasing importance of information. A society has always developed through the exchange of information and ideas, but the real benefits came when information was converted into digital format, that is, data in machine-readable format suitable for computer processing, network transmission and magneto-optical storage.
Asymmetrical Exchanges and Chromosomal Rearrangements in Drosophila

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the examination of transposons in the generation of chromosomal rearrangements in Drosophila melanogaster . Studies shows that transposons inserted at different sites in homologous chromsomes can regularly pair and undergo exchange, producing reciprocal duplication/deficiency products. Ongoing experiments address this phenomenon in more genetic and molecular detail. Of particular interest is the influence of the interchromsomal effect on the asymmetrical exchange process. Parallel experiments have been conducted, beginning with two X chromosomes marked to facilitate the recovery of asymmetrical exchange products in the region of white locus. One series had standard-configuration autosomes, whereas the other was heterozygous for autosomal inversions, a condition known to increase meiotic exchange in X chromosomes.
Management of the Patient with a Genetic Predisposition for Breast Cancer

Women who have close relatives with breast cancer have an increased risk of developing breast cancer themselves. Familial clustering of breast cancer may occur for several reasons. Breast cancer is a common disease, and clustering may be coincidental. Shared environmental or lifestyle factors may result in multiple cases of breast cancer within a family, particularly among siblings. Genes that regulate estrogen metabolism or that otherwise indirectly influence the incidence of breast cancer may be important in some familial cases. Finally, a small percent of familial clusters are caused by mutations in major breast cancer predisposition genes that are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Of all women with breast cancer, about 25–30% have a close family member with cancer [1], but only about 5–10% of breast cancer is due to highly penetrant inherited predisposition gene mutations [2, 3]. This chapter will review the basics of cancer genetics, outline selected breast cancer family syndromes, and discuss the importance of the family and personal history in identifying those who may have an inherited predisposition to breast cancer.
Information modeling for pharmaceutical product development

Abstract Development of a pharmaceutical product involves several inter-related steps with multiple decisions requiring iterative improvements. Large amounts of information, including the properties of a drug substance, interactions of materials, unit operations, equipment etc, have to be gathered and used for decision making. A systematic model of the associated information is thus needed to streamline the product development process and provide a common foundation to support the information. Following the information-centric infrastructure proposed in our earlier work, ontology has been used to model the information. The information modeled as ontology provides information in a way that can be easily used by humans and processed by machines. The information modeling process and developed ontology are discussed in detail. The benefits are demonstrated by using a case study for managing information generated from the preformulation stage of pharmaceutical product development.
Compact Fusion Advanced Rankine (CFAR II) Power Cycle

The Compact Fusion Advanced Rankine (CFARII) power cycle is a direct plasma energy conversion scheme for inertial fusion (ICF) and magnetically-insulated, inertially confined fusion (MICF) reactors...
Democratization at the Margins

Is foreign aid effective for democracy promotion? Since democratization is costly for the recipients, they can be expected to exploit aid fungibility and seek alternative donors where they can. Primary recipients, or states with the strategic or economic attributes that matches the donors’ priorities, should be able to switch between alternative donors for the needed aid. Consequently, donor pressure for democratization on these primary recipients should be less effective. This account dovetails with the selectorate perspective which treats aid as a means by which donors purchase policy concessions from recipients. While the selectorate perspective explains the lack of democratization amongst recipients with valuable policy concessions to offer in lieu of democratization, it leaves open the prospect of democratization in the subset of recipients with little else to offer in exchange for aid. The argument here is that for such secondary recipients, the donors will prioritize secondary objectives such as democratization. These secondary recipients are susceptible to donor pressure because they lack the attributes to attract competing aid offers. Assuming that the benefits of aid exceed the costs of democratization, these are the most likely candidates to democratize as a result of donor pressure. To test the implication, I use project level aid from AidData 2.1 and regime-type information from Polity IV. The results suggest the same aid dynamic that decreases democratization in primary recipients also increases it in secondary recipients.
A Neutrino Induced Dilepton Event in the ANL 12 Foot Bubble Chamber

In an exposure of the Argonne National Laboratory 12 foot hydrogen and deuterium filled bubble chamber to a neutrino beam, a search was made for dilepton events. One such event was found and the mass of the hadronic system is estimated to be about 2 GeV.
Call Me Maybe? The Eects of Exercising Contingent Capital

This paper studies market reaction and economic performance following the rst episode of banks triggering contingent capital options. During the nancial crisis, European banks massively used embedded options in their hybrid bonds to reduce their debt burden. These triggers are positively received by debtors, while stockholders discriminate according to the type of resulting debt relief and the nancial institution leverage. Moreover, banks that trigger permanent debt reliefs exhibit higher economic performance than the ones that do not. These ndings point towards innovative debt instruments oering an eective solution to the dilemma of bank capital regulation.
Milky Disease Bacteria

Abstract A comparative study was made of all available milky-disease species and strains that have been isolated around the world from beetle larvae (family Scarabaeidae). Included in the study were Bacillus popilliae Dutky, B. lentimorbus Dutky, and B. lentimorbus var. maryland from the United States; B. euloomarahae Beard and B. lentimorbus var. australis Beard from Australia; B. fribourgensis Wille from Switzerland; and New Zealand milky disease (Dumbleton). The organisms were classified into three groups: (i) those containing parasporal bodies, including B. popilliae Dutky, B. fribourgensis Wille, and New Zealand milky disease (Dumbleton); (ii) those without a visible parasporal body and with spore morphology similar to B. lentimorbus Dutky, including B. lentimorbus var. australis Beard; and (iii) those with very tiny spores and no parasporal body, including B. euloomarahae Beard and B. lentimorbus var. maryland. All available milky-disease species and strains were cultivated in vitro on Brain Heart Infusion Agar plates. However, the most fastidious organisms—B. euloomarahae and B. lentimorbus var. maryland—could not be grown until they were passed through a life cycle in larvae of a large scarabaeid beetle infesting rotting wood. Then they remained stable for only one or two subcultures. All the milky-disease organisms produced larger cells in vitro than they did in vivo. The pattern of sugar fermentations was similar for all milky-disease species. It appears that there is a very low percentage of strains of B. popilliae, B. lentimorbus, and the other milky-disease organisms that have the inherent genetic makeup to permit them to sporulate on artificial media, if conditions are favorable. Among these conditions are a sufficiently high cell population and a reduced oxygen tension. Spores produced in vitro may have a low virulence via the normal ingestion pathway, even though they show apparent virulence when injected directly into the hemocoel.
Social Workers and Family Planning Knowledge: Are We Still Gatekeepers?

Social workers are in a position to provide contraceptive information to clients at high risk for unintended pregnancy. This paper reports on the results of an exploratory survey of licensed social workers in Pennsylvania (N=197) working with clients of childbearing age about their knowledge of contraceptive methods and policies regarding access to contraception. The majority of respondents reported that they did not feel they were knowledgeable about birth control issues. Particular gaps in their knowledge included information about emergency contraception and laws regarding access to contraception by minors. Respondents reported that social work courses do not adequately prepare students to discuss the provision of contraceptive information to clients. Implications for social work are discussed.
Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 differentially activate human dendritic cells

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate cell activation by various microbial products. Here, we demonstrate that activation of dendritic cells by TLR2 or TLR4 agonists, although it led to comparable activation of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members, resulted in striking differences in cytokine and chemokine gene transcription, suggesting that TLR2 and TLR4 signaling is not equivalent. A TLR4 agonist specifically promoted the production of the Th1-inducing cytokine interleukin (IL) 12 p70 and the chemokine interferon-γ inducible protein (IP)-10, which is also associated to Th1 responses. In contrast, TLR2 stimulation failed to induce IL-12 p70 and interferon-γ inducible protein (IP)-10 but resulted in the release of the IL-12 inhibitory p40 homodimer, producing conditions that are predicted to favor Th2 development. TLR2 stimulation also resulted in preferential induction of IL-8 and p19/IL-23. Involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and p38 MAPK in the TLR-mediated induction of several cytokine and chemokine messages was demonstrated using specific inhibitors. Thus, TLRs can translate the information regarding the nature of pathogens into differences in the cytokines and chemokines produced by dendritic cells and therefore may contribute to the polarization of the acquired immune response.
Distribution of Indoleacetic Acid Oxidase and Inhibitors in Light-Grown Cotton.

Extracts of green plant tissues exhibiting IAAoxidase activity characteristically contain inhibitors of the enzyme (4, 11). The high concentration of such inhibitors prompted the discoverers of IAAoxidase to suggest that the system does not function in green tissue (16). Later, Galston and Dalberg (6) found that in etiolated tissue the in vitro IAAoxidase activity increases with age or IAA treatment. Similar studies of this enzyme in green tissue have been handicapped by the presence of the inhibitory substances. As will be pointed out in the discussion, the limiting effect of this handicap on other work has clearly left the adaptation and distribution of IAA-oxidase in green plants an open question. The recent finding that riboflavin and light will reduce or eliminate the effect of native inhibitors (11) has provided a method to survey the potential IAA destroying capacity of various green tissues and facilitated the present study. Cotton contains an IAA-oxidase-inhibitor system (11). This paper presents evidence for an increase, with age, of IAA-oxidase activity in light-grown cotton tissues. The evidence is compatible with the in vivo function of the enzyme proposed by Galston and Dalberg (6).
NEGATIVE-ELECTRON-AFFINITY EFFECTS ON THE DIAMOND (100) SURFACE

A negative electron affinity (NEA) was found both experimentally by photoemission spectroscopy and theoretically by ab initio calculations for the 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 reconstructed diamond (100) surface. This surface is the dominant growth surface for thin diamond films and can be obtained by chemical-vapor deposition. Various surface-preparation methods which result in a NEA are described. Theoretical results indicate that the observed NEA is associated with a monohydride-terminated surface, while the hydrogen-free surface exhibits a positive electron affinity.
Deoxycholate bile acid directed synthesis of branched Au nanostructures for near infrared photothermal ablation

We report an approach for simple, reproducible and high-yield synthesis of branched GNPs directed by deoxycholate bile acid supramolecular aggregates in Au solution. A growth process involving stepwise trapping of the GNP seeds and Au ions in the deoxycholate bile acid solution yields multiple-branched GNPs. Upon NIR laser irradiation strong NIR absorption for branched GNPs induced photothermal-heating to destroy tumor cells. Subsequently, these branched GNPs were biofunctionalized with cRGD cell penetrating-targeting peptides for photothermal cancer treatment applications. Branched GNPs conjugated with cRGD peptides enhanced internalization of the branched GNPs in BxPC3 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and effectively ablated BxPC3 cells when irradiated with a NIR laser (808 nm). Their potential use as photothermal transducing agents was demonstrated in in vivo settings using a pancreatic cancer xenograft model. The tumors were effectively ablated with cRGD-branched GNPs injection and laser exposure without any observation of tumor recurrence. This firstly reported method for deoxycholate bile acid directed synthesis of branched GNPs opens new possibilities for the production of strong NIR absorbing nanostructures for selective nano-photothermolysis of cancer cells and the further design of novel materials with customized spectral and structural properties for broader applications.
Adhesion of polymers to shale rock surfaces

In the course of a project on the application of polymers for rock bonding and reinforcement of coal mine structures, the adhesion of epoxy resins to shale mine rock was studied by infrared and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Two types of bonding were identified: primary bonds between silicates and polymer, and hydrogen bonds from organic compounds on the surface of the shale to oxygen in the polymer. These bonds contribute to the adhesive strength when epoxy resins are used to bind shale. The bonding model, when applied to furfuryl alcohol and polyester resins, predicts inferior binding in the shale system.
Pulsed laser deposition of silicon carbide on heat resistant materials

Abstract Silicon carbide was successfully deposited onto a heated HK40 substrate. An array of characterization techniques (scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scratch tests) demonstrated that the processing conditions were suitable for good coverage and promising adhesion behavior.
A time- and matrix-dependent TGFBR3–JUND–KRT5 regulatory circuit in single breast epithelial cells and basal-like premalignancies

Janes and colleagues use organotypic 3D models, transcriptomic analyses, mathematical modelling and in vivo tumour data to show that single cells oscillate between two anticorrelated expression states defined by TGFBR3 and JUND. They show that this signalling circuit is controlled by the engagement of the extracellular matrix, and propose that dynamic changes in gene expression states might underlie breast tumour heterogeneity.
Evolving role of laminin receptors in microbial pathogenesis and therapeutics of CNS infection

Evaluation of: Orihuela CJ, Mahdavi J, Thornton J et al.: Laminin receptor initiates bacterial contact with the blood brain barrier in experimental meningitis models. J. Clin. Invest. 119(6), 1638–1646 (2009). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae are the common pathogens causing bacterial meningitis in childhood. Using in vitro and in vivo models of the blood–brain barrier, affinity chromatography, coimmunoprecipitation, retagging and in vivo imaging approaches, Orihuela et al. have demonstrated that the 37/67-kDa laminin receptor (LR) is a common receptor for all three bacteria on the surface of rodent and human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Pneumococcal choline-binding protein A, meningococcal pilus biogenesis protein Q and class 1 porin, and outer membrane protein P2 of H. influenzae have been identified by mutagenesis as the corresponding bacterial LR-binding adhesins. Their studies further suggest that the bacterial adhesins bind to a common adhesion-re...
Are autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts safe and effective for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women

Are autologous myoblasts and fibroblasts safe and effective for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women?
Alteration in osteoblast activity and nutritional vitamin-D deficiency in non-hypercalcemic malignancy

The biochemical parameters of bone mineral metabolism in patients with nonhypercalcemic malignancy have not been extensively investigated. Therefore, a group of 29 such patients with different types of malignancy was studied. Ten patients received corticosteroids. In the entire group, serum ionized calcium (Ca2+), bone gla protein (BGP), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) were all lower than in age-matched controls, and carboxy-terminal parathyroid hormone (CPTH) was higher. Although both corticosteroid- and noncorticosteroid-treated patients had decreased BGP values, the corticosteroid-treated patients had lower BGP levels than those not on steroids (4.24±0.70 SE vs. 11.50±2.20 ng/ml;P<0.005). Patients on corticosteroids had lower 1,25(OH)2D values than controls (18.81 ±2.71 vs. 27.83±1.17 pg/ml;P<0.01), whereas those not on corticosteroids had normal 1,25(OH)2D values. These results suggest that patients with nonhydpercalcemic malignancy have nutritional vitamin-D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism with perhaps corticosteroid-induced suppression of serum 1,25(OH)2D and BGP. The decreased levels of serum BGP in the nonsteroid-treated patients suggest, in addition, a defect in osteoblast function.
Structure, Redundancy and Measures of Association Statistics for a Canonical Correlation Analysis:

A computer program, written in BASIC, is described which computes structure correlations, redundancy indices, and some measures of associations for canonical correlation analyses. Input consists of a correlation matrix, the coefficients of the canonical variates, and the canonical correlation.
A calibration and data assimilation method using the Bayesian MARS emulator

We present a method for calibrating the uncertain inputs to a computer model using available experimental data. The goal of the procedure is to estimate the posterior distribution of the uncertain inputs such that when samples from the posterior are used as inputs to future model runs, the model is more likely to replicate (or predict) the experimental response. The calibration is performed by sampling the space of the uncertain inputs, using the computer model (or, more likely, an emulator for the computer model) to assign weights to the samples, and applying the weights to produce the posterior distributions and generate predictions of new experiments with confidence bounds. The method is similar to Metropolis–Hastings calibration methods with independently sampled updates, except that we generate samples beforehand and replace the candidate acceptance routine with a weighting scheme. We apply our method to the calibration of a Hyades 2D model of laser energy deposition in beryllium. We employ a Bayesian Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (BMARS) emulator as a surrogate for Hyades 2D. We treat a range of uncertainties in our application, including uncertainties in the experimental inputs, experimental measurement error, and systematic experimental timing errors. The resulting posterior distributions agree with our existing intuition, and we validate the results by performing a series of leave-one-out predictions. We find that the calibrated predictions are considerably more accurate and less uncertain than blind sampling of the forward model alone.
Dependence of the kinetics of the decomposition of cyclohexene on the structure of the catalyst

1. With the transformation of cyclohexene over aluminosilicate catalysts varying in structure taken as example, it has been shown that the kinetic method of assessing catalyst activity from rate constants that take retardation by diffusion into account (ks) is applicable to such transformations. 2. It was shown that the value of the dimensionless parameter h is a characteristic of the extent of diffusional retardation, being proportional to the ratio of kinetic and diffusio rates, 3. It was shown that the value of the reaction rate constant ko does not depend on the surface area. 4. Wheeler's equation was transformed into a simple form of relationship between the constants kv ko, and ks and the value of the effective (accessible) surface, i.e. the physical properties of the catalyst.
Unified expression for the calculation of thermal conductivity in the canonical ensemble

A proof of the theoretical equivalence between the E. Helfand, 1960, Phys. Rev., 119, 1 and the D. McQuarrie, 1976, Statistical Mechanics (Harper & Row), Chap. 21 equations for the calculation of thermal conductivity via the Einsteintype relations is presented here. Some theoretical implications of that equivalence are also discussed, such as the unification of the thermal conductivity expressions into one similar to that given for linear transport coefficients by F. C. Andrews, 1967, J. Chem. Phys., 47, 3161.
A multi-point scanner for high frame rate confocal microendoscopy

Slit-scanning geometries for confocal microendoscopy represent a compromise between acquisition rate and optical performance. Such systems provide high frame rates that freeze motion but recent Monte Carlo simulations show that scattered light severely limits the practical imaging depth for in vivo applications. A new multi-point scanning architecture for confocal microendoscopy has been developed. The new scanner is based on a relatively simple modification to the slit-scanning geometry that results in a parallelized point-scanning confocal microendoscope that maintains the high frame rate of a slit-scanning system while providing optical performance close to that of a single point scanning system. The multi-point scanner has been incorporated into an existing multi-spectral slit-scanning confocal microendoscope. The new confocal aperture consists of a slit and a rotating low duty cycle binary transmission grating, which effectively produces a set of continuously moving widely spaced illumination points along the slit. The design maintains the ability to rapidly switch between grayscale and multi-spectral imaging modes. The improved axial resolution of the multi-point scanning confocal microendoscope leads to significantly better confocal sectioning and deeper imaging, which greatly improves the diagnostic potential of the instrument.
Group communication and problem‐solving effectiveness I: A critical review of inconsistent findings

A review of the existing research literature indicates that, for the most part, researchers have generally failed to identify consistent and meaningful relationships between group interaction and group performance. This has led to a growing concern among small group scholars that unless a suitable explanation can be advanced to account for such failure, it may be necessary to re‐examine the widely held assumption that group interaction plays an important role in effective group performance. This paper attempts to explain why previous research has failed to identify consistent and meaningful relationships between group interaction behaviors and group performance outcomes. In addition, it offers an alternative approach to investigating the possible relationships between group interaction and group performance.
Penetrating trauma and emergency surgery in patients with AIDS

Abstract Background : Several recent publications have suggested that emergency surgery in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality. Patients and methods : We reviewed the records of 21 patients with AIDS at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Florida, who underwent 24 emergency operations after sustaining penetrating trauma. Results : Nineteen patients (90%) presented with gunshot wounds and 2 (10%) presented with stab wounds. Two patients underwent multiple surgical procedures to control hemorrhage from a complex liver injury and to drain a retained hemothorax, respectively. After surgery, patients were managed according to standard protocols, the same as those for non-AIDS patients. Wound infection was present in 4 patients (19%), and occurred only in patients with Conclusions : As the AIDS epidemic grows, general surgeons will be treating an increasing number of these patients. A low morbidity and mortality can be obtained with standard surgical care and techniques. Complications are not uncommon and should be treated as in any other surgical patient, unless it is a terminal condition or that posture runs against the patient's stated views or advance directives.
Gas Flowin Nano-Channels: Thermal Transpirationmodelswith Application to a Si-Micromachinedknudsen Pump

This paper presents a comparative study of performance of various analytical and semi-analytical models used for the analysis of rarefied gas flow, which is responsible for the phenomenon of thermal transpiration. In particular, these are evaluated in the context of the scaling analysis of a Si-micromachined monolithic Knudsen pump. Results from these models are verified using available experimental data and are benchmarked against the simulation results from direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) technique. Characterization of Sharipov's model against the DSMC technique with the help of specially designed test cases predicts that Sharipov's model is potentially the most representative model for DSMC in this context. Finally, Sharipov's model is used to evaluate the sensitivity analysis of structural and performance parameters relevant for thermal transpiration. The analysis shows that for a 200 mum long channel on a well-insulated glass substrate, with a channel height of 100 nm and 10 mum width, provides a mass flow rate of 1.5times10-6 sccm with a DeltaT of 300degC.
A focal adhesion protein‐based mechanochemical checkpoint regulates cleft progression during branching morphogenesis

Cleft formation is the initial step of branching morphogenesis in many organs. We previously demonstrated that ROCK 1 regulates a nonmuscle myosin II-dependent mechanochemical checkpoint to transition initiated clefts to progressing clefts in developing submandibular salivary glands. Here, we report that ROCK-mediated integrin activation and subsequent formation of focal adhesion complexes comprise this mechanochemical checkpoint. Inhibition of ROCK1 and nonmuscle myosin II activity decreased integrin β1 activation in the cleft region and interfered with localization and activation of focal adhesion complex proteins, such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Inhibition of FAK activity also prevented cleft progression, by disrupting recruitment of the focal adhesion proteins talin and vinculin and subsequent fibronectin assembly in the cleft region while decreasing ERK1/2 activation. These results demonstrate that inside-out integrin signaling leading to a localized recruitment of active FAK-containing focal adhesion protein complexes generates a mechanochemical checkpoint that facilitates progression of branching morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 240:2069–2083, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Efferent optic nerve fibers mediate circadian rhythms in the Limulus eye

When the horseshoe crab is kept in constant darkness, the lateral eye produces larger electroretinographic and optic nerve responses at night than during the day. These circadian rhythms are mediated by synchronous bursts of efferent impulses in the optic nerve trunk. The endogenous efferent activity appears to increase both the gain and the quantum catch of the photoreceptors.
Practical modifications of the continual reassessment method for phase i cancer clinical trials

The continual reassessment method (1) (CRM) for phase I cancer trials provides improved estimation of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and fewer patients receive ineffective dose levels compared to the traditionally used design. However, the CRM has not gained acceptance in practice owing to concerns with administering dose levels that are too toxic. In this article, several conservative modifications of the CRM are introduced. The result is a procedure that improves estimation of the MTD and decreases the use of ineffective doses, without significantly increasing the use of toxic dose levels. The CRM with modification outperforms the traditional method in a simulation study.