cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changed learning curve for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Implication for the future treatment of coronary artery disease

Abstract As with all skilled techniques, there is a learning curve for percutaneous coronary angioplasty. This curve has been well described in the literature and it is generally quoted that an initial success rate of 70 to 75 percent in reaching and crossing lesions is to be expected during the first 20 cases. However, the introduction of the steerable or guidewire-directed dilatation catheter has altered the learning curve. After an Initial experience of six nonsteerable percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures, 20 consecutive steerable percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures were performed without a single failure to reach or cross a lesion. These 20 consecutive steerable coronary angioplasty procedures included eight single left anterior descending lesions, two double (lesions located in series) left anterior descending lesions, six single right coronary lesions, one double (lesions located in series) right coronary lesion, and three single circumflex lesions. It is concluded that the introduction of the steerable system for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has shifted the learning curve, and that skilled and experienced coronary angiographers beginning a coronary angioplasty program can expect an initial success rate In reaching and crossing obstructive coronary lesions far in excess of the figures quoted in the literature. This may have significant implication for the ultimate availability of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty to patients with coronary artery disease.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Octametallic Ferrocene Containing Molybdenum(V) Cluster Mo 4 (μ 3 -O) 4 (μ 2 -O 2 P(CH 2 ) 2 Fc) 4 O 4 and Crystal Structure of 1,1′- Bis (Chloromethyl)Ferrocene

The reaction of MoO2(acac)2 with 1,1′-[phosphinicobis(methylene)]-ferrocene in ethanol at 120 °C and in the presence of triethylamine results in the octametallic cluster Mo4(μ3-O)4(μ2-O2P(CH2)2Fc)4O4. If the reaction is carried out in the absence of triethylamine a mixture of products are obtained of which the identity of the compound produced was hypothesized but not definitively established. Mo4(μ3-O)4(μ2-O2P(CH2)2Fc)4O4 is characterized by IR and 31P-NMR spectroscopy along with the single crystal X-ray determination of its structure. The crystal structure of 1,1′-bis(chloromethyl)ferrocene is also detailed.
An experimental study on porous plug jet noise suppressor

This paper contains a description of the configuration and operating characteristics of a porous center body plug nozzle jet noise suppressor that provides shock free flow over a wide range of nozzle pressure ratios. The elimination of the 'shock associated noise' and 'screeching' is accomplished by equalization of pressure along the jet axis. Because of the geometrical features of the porous plug nozzle, shear noise reductions are also observed at all subsonic and supersonic flow conditions tested. Additional benefits are the localization of the noise sources in the flow and the reduction of the spatial scale of the structure of the jet flow, which enhance the performance of an acoustic shield or baffle.
Prisoner Participation in Clinical Research Trials: A Fundamental Right Under the Eighth Amendment?

The Estelle Unit is a prison located in a small city in East Texas called Huntsville. The unit houses over 2,750 inmates. 1 When inmates first enter the barbed wire boundaries of prisons like Estel...
Myocardial connective tissue metabolism in response to injury. II. Investigation of the mucopolysaccharides involved in isoproterenol-induced necrosis and repair in rat hearts

Myocardial necrosis was produced in rats by administering isoproterenol, and the increase in hexosamine-containing materials in the injured myocardium was investigated. Total hexosamine, galactosamine, neutral sugars, and uronic acids were determined on various fractions isolated from the hearts. Mucopolysaccharides were precipitated as the cetyl pyridinium chloride complex and fractionated according to their solubility in NaCl solutions. Of the hexosamine in the heart, approximately 50% was retained after proteolytic digestion and dialysis. Approximately one-fourth to one-third of the nondialyzable hexosamine was in mucopolysaccharides. The hyaluronic acid fraction of the mucopolysaccharides increased during the early edematous reaction observed in the hearts. The chondroitin sulfate fraction increased in conjunction with the beginning fibrinogenic processes and remained elevated during repair. There was evidence that the glycoproteins may be involved in the myocardial necrosis and repair.
Fractionation of sporogonial stages of the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi by Percoll gradients.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that are increasingly recognized as a cause of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Encephalitozoon cuniculi has been identified in humans with AIDS and infects a wide range of mammalian hosts. Little is known about the metabolic processes that regulate growth and replication of microsporidia. Examination of the individual stages of development will facilitate such studies and reveal possible targets for drug therapy. The purpose of this study was to fractionate and purify stages of the microsporidian life cycle. Encephalitozoon cuniculi were cultured in RK-13 cells. The tissue supernatants containing multiple parasite stages, empty microsporidial husks and host cell debris were collected, washed, and subjected to differential centrifugation in 80% stock isotonic Percoll (r) . Transmission electron microscopy and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to compare the content and purity of each fraction. Mature spores formed a band at a density of approximately 1.138 g/ml. Sporoblasts were found at densities between 1.102 g/ml and 1.119 g/ml. A mixture of sporonts, sporoblasts, microsporidial husks, and cell debris remained at the top of the gradient and additional centrifugation in 30% and 50% Percoll (r) resulted in separation of these stages. These results represent the first step toward fractionating stages of microsporidia infecting humans.
Driver mutation status in resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma: correlation with chest computed tomography findings

INTRODUCTION: While the influence of anastomotic, pulmonary and cardiac complications in association to length of stay (LOS) have been studied extensively in esophageal resection, predicting the factors most responsible for prolonged LOS has not been reported. Utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) dataset we hypothesized that we would be able to predict those factors responsible for prolonged LOS.
A protein required for RNA processing and splicing in Neurospora mitochondria is related to gene products involved in cell cycle protein phosphatase functions.

Abstract The Neurospora crassa cyt-4 mutants have pleiotropic defects in mitochondrial RNA splicing, 5' and 3' end processing, and RNA turnover. Here, we show that the cyt-4+ gene encodes a 120-kDa protein with significant similarity to the SSD1/SRK1 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the DIS3 protein of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which have been implicated in protein phosphatase functions that regulate cell cycle and mitotic chromosome segregation. The CYT-4 protein is present in mitochondria and is truncated or deficient in two cyt-4 mutants. Assuming that the CYT-4 protein functions in a manner similar to the SSD1/SRK1 and DIS3 proteins, we infer that the mitochondrial RNA splicing and processing reactions defective in the cyt-4 mutants are regulated by protein phosphorylation and that the defects in the cyt-4 mutants result from failure to normally regulate this process. Our results provide evidence that RNA splicing and processing reactions may be regulated by protein phosphorylation.
Integrating multiple aspects of mitochondrial dynamics in neurons: Age-related differences and dynamic changes in a chronic rotenone model

Changes in dynamic properties of mitochondria are increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD). Static changes in mitochondrial morphology, often under acutely toxic conditions, are commonly utilized as indicators of changes in mitochondrial fission and fusion. However, in neurons, mitochondrial fission and fusion occur in a dynamic system of axonal/dendritic transport, biogenesis and degradation, and thus, likely interact and change over time. We sought to explore this using a chronic neuronal model (nonlethal low-concentration rotenone over several weeks), examining distal neurites, which may give insight into the earliest changes occurring in PD. Using this model, in live primary neurons, we directly quantified mitochondrial fission, fusion, and transport over time and integrated multiple aspects of mitochondrial dynamics, including morphology and growth/mitophagy. We found that rates of mitochondrial fission and fusion change as neurons age. In addition, we found that chronic rotenone exposure initially increased the ratio of fusion to fission, but later, this was reversed. Surprisingly, despite changes in rates of fission and fusion, mitochondrial morphology was minimally affected, demonstrating that morphology can be an inaccurate indicator of fission/fusion changes. In addition, we found evidence of subcellular compartmentalization of compensatory changes, as mitochondrial density increased in distal neurites first, which may be important in PD, where pathology may begin distally. We propose that rotenone-induced early changes such as in mitochondrial fusion are compensatory, accompanied later by detrimental fission. As evidence, in a dopaminergic neuronal model, in which chronic rotenone caused loss of neurites before cell death (like PD pathology), inhibiting fission protected against the neurite loss. This suggests that aberrant mitochondrial dynamics may contribute to the earliest neuropathologic mechanisms in PD. These data also emphasize that mitochondrial fission and fusion do not occur in isolation, and highlight the importance of analysis and integration of multiple mitochondrial dynamic functions in neurons.
Flash photolysis resonance fluorescence investigation of the reactions of OH radicals with OCS and CS2

Abstract Rate constants for the reaction of OH radicals with OCS and CS2 have been determined at 296 K using the flash photolysis resonance fluorescence technique. The values derived from this study are kOH + OCS = (5.66 ± 1.21) × 10−14 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 and kOH + CS2 = (1.85 ± 0.34) × 10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, where the uncertainties are 95% confidence limits making allowance for possible systematic errors.
Evidence for carbon-sulfur bond cleavage in spontaneously adsorbed organosulfide-based monolayers at gold

We have recently described several aspects of the electrode reactions of monolayers formed from alkanethiols and dialkyl disulfides at gold. This paper now discusses the findings and implications of two sets of electrochemical and surface characterization studies viz., X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and infrared reflection (IRS) spectroscopies. The first set of studies characterized monolayers formed at mica-supported Au(111) from dilute (0.1-1 mM) ethanolic solutions of butanethiol (BT) and butyl sulfide (BS/Au). The second set of experiments compared the monolayers formed from an asymmetric aryl sulfide, ethyl phenyl sulfide (PES), and a symmetric aryl sulfide, phenyl sulfide (PS), with those from thiophenol (TP) and ethanethiol (ET). The similarities in the E[sub p] and Q[sub d] values at TP/Au and PS/Au are consistent with the observations and subsequent interpretation of the electrochemical data at BT/Au and BS/Au. That is, the sulfur-gold interactions at TP/Au and PS/Au are effectively indistinguishable. Together, the above findings provide clear evidence for S-C cleavage in monolayers prepared at gold from organosulfides. 19 refs., 2 figs.
Cross-layer design of energy efficient coded ARQ systems

The energy efficient design of coded automatic-repeat-request (ARQ) systems is studied in this paper. The optimization aims to minimize the energy required for the successfully delivery of one information bit from a transmitter to a receiver. The design is performed by incorporating a wide range of practical system parameters and metrics, such as hardware power consumption, modulation, channel coding, and frame error rate (FER) in the physical layer, and frame length and protocol overhead in the media access control layer. A new log-domain threshold approximation method is proposed to analytically quantify the impacts of the various system parameters on the FER, and the results are used to facilitate the system design. The optimum transmission energy and frame length that minimize the energy per information bit are identified in closed-form expressions as functions of the various practical system parameters. The analytical and simulation results demonstrate that the total energy consumption in a coded ARQ system can be reduced by increasing the transmission energy during one transmission attempt, and significant energy saving as high as 9.5 dB is achieved with the optimum system.
Africa today: Culture, economics, religion, security

Africa today: Culture, economics, religion, security by Heather Deegan, New York, Routledge, 2009, xvi + 235 pp. including figures, maps, tables, boxes, notes, bibliography and index, ISBN 0-4154-1...
Speaking Faith to Modern Law

Acknowledging the faith that is part of modern law (but that modern law disavows) allows us to provide a more just account of modern law – an account that pays heed to the ways that modern law cannot be reduced to a technical enterprise, is more than a mere exercise of power, and retains a vital connection to justice. The technical cast of modern thinking makes it difficult to speak faith to modern law, but also makes such an endeavor essential.
Stress-function variational approach to the interfacial stresses and progressive cracking in surface coatings

Abstract Surface coatings are broadly used in cutting tools, protective surface, and recently developed flexible electronics. This paper provides a simple semi-analytic strain energy approach to analysis of the interfacial stresses and progressive cracking in hard coatings subjected to mechanical and thermomechanical loads. The problem is formulated within the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). The free-edge stresses in cracked coating layers are determined by means of an efficient semi-analytic stress-function variational method formulated by the authors recently. Criterion for progressive cracking in the coating layers is established in the sense of energy conservation. The crack spacing is determined as a function with respect to the geometries, material properties, and external loads. Dependencies of the free-edge stresses and crack spacing upon the geometries and material parameters of the coating system as well as external loads are demonstrated. Numerical results show that given a coating system, the threshold load increases rapidly with the decrease of crack spacing; the thicker and stiffer the coating layer is, the easier the progressive cracking is. A universal scaling number on progressive cracking is obtained. The model is also validated by the results in the literature. The present phenomenological model is applicable for scaling analysis of cracking tolerance of surface coatings, data reduction of coating experiments, design of property-tailorable surface coating systems, etc.
Clonal analyses define the relationships between chromosomal abnormalities and JAK2V617F in patients with Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Objective JAK2V617F occurs in ∼93% of patients with polycythemia vera and ∼50% of patients with either primary myelofibrosis or essential thrombocythemia. Chromosomal abnormalities are detected in 50% of patients with primary myelofibrosis, 29% with polycythemia vera, and 8% to 10% with essential thrombocythemia. The relationship between the presence of such chromosomal abnormalities and the JAK2V617 allele burden, and the role that each of these genetic events play in the origins and progression of the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), remain unclear. Materials and Methods Individual hematopoietic colonies were assayed in vitro from the CD34 + cells of six JAK2V617F -positive MPN patients with marker chromosomal abnormalities. Colonies were simultaneously analyzed for JAK2 genotype and chromosomal abnormalities. Results Among the 248 colonies assayed from cultures containing 500 CD34 + cells, chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 5% of colonies with wild-type JAK2, 32% of JAK2V617F h eterozygous colonies and 56% of JAK2V617F homozygous colonies. Overall, 92% of chromosomally abnormal colonies were also JAK2V617F homozygous. Although 54 colonies contained wild-type JAK2 exclusively, 4 of these colonies were characterized by chromosomal abnormalities. Conclusion This study indicates that MPN hematopoietic progenitor cells do not necessarily always acquire genetic events in the same sequence. (Chromosomally abnormal progenitor cells are closely associated with JAK2V617F homozygosity; p =0.0001.). Chromosomal abnormalities such as +8, +9 can occasionally precede acquisition of JAK2V617F . These findings support the existence of earlier genetic events that precede JAK2V617F or cytogenetic abnormalities in MPN hematopoietic progenitor cells.
Some bonding characteristics of nitrile-phenolic liquid adhesives

It is demonstrated that the bonding characteristics of commercial liquid adhesive primers made from nitrile rubbers and phenol-formaldehyde polymers, cured by means of hexamethylenetetramine can be quite sensitive to the presence of small amounts of excess water and ammonia. The added water partially decomposes the hexamethylenetetramine to formaldehyde and ammonia, the concentration of the latter thus increasing to such a point as to promote a lower temperature curing of the phenolic resin. Restoration of the original adhesive properties can be attained by the addition of reagents which remove either the water or the ammonia, or both, from the adhesive. Examples of such reagents are certain organic acids, anhydrides and peroxides. The addition of these reagents has been found to reactivate and increase greatly the useful lives of nitrile-phenolic liquid adhesive primers containing hexamethylenetetramine.
Computer‐Aided Design in Interior Design Programs: Status and Challenges

Use of computer-aided design (CAD) in higher education is increasingly prevalent because of innovations in hardware and software, lower prices for educational institutions, and improved technical support. Little research has been done on a national level to ascertain the amount of CAD instruction offered at institutions that teach interior design. This article reports a 1990 survey of the IDEC membership to determine the number of interior design programs that have incorporated CAD into their curricula, where and when the instruction occurred, who offered it, and how much time was devoted to teaching it during the term or semester. Frequency and percentage distributions were calculated using statistical analysis software. Of the 153 programs responding nationwide, 89 percent (136 schools) have incorporated CAD instruction. This percentage is higher than found in the few previous studies, indicating that the process of adapting CAD as a tool in the design education field is escalating. The survey helps identify challenges associated with ensuring optimal integration of CAD systems in the face of ongoing hardware and software innovations.
Energy minimised v. cost minimised alternatives for the US beef production system

Abstract A model of the US beef production system has been utilised to project tradeoffs between minimised cost of feeding and minimised fossil energy use to produce amounts of beef similar to 1976 consumption. Cost minimisation approaches the present actual beef production system, but suggests increases in bull feeding and the use of silage and grass finishing of cattle. Energy minimisation indicated energy savings could exceed the equivalent of 240 million barrels of crude oil/year. If energy costs increased three times the 1979 levels, energy and cost minimised solutions appear equivalent. USDA ‘Choice’ grade has been a cost effective strategy, even without consideration of price differentials for the higher quality beef. However, maintenance of current levels of ‘Choice’ beef production does not appear optimal from an energy efficiency standpoint. The model results for energy minimisation suggest an increase in grass finishing and feeding of large bulls, rather than steers, practices which could further reduce fossil fuel inputs, but would result in less ‘Choice’ quality meat. Each increase in energy efficiency in the beef system (other than simple elimination of waste) may be anticipated to have a cost penalty over current practice, given constant or moderately increasing energy costs. However, if energy prices were to reach three times their present level, the model suggests that national cost minimisation would require more energy efficient production systems, and the production of the higher quality beef grades would increase in relative expense. The beef industry does not, at present, minimise energy input because energy's apparent real cost has been low compared with other inputs.
The Effect of Glucocorticoid on the Subcellular Localization, Oligomerization, and Processing of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Envelope Protein Precursor Pr74

Mouse lymphoma cell line W7MG1 is stably infected with mouse mammary tumor virus and produces the viral envelope glycoprotein precursor Pr74, but the mature envelope proteins gp52 and gp33, which are derived from Pr74 by posttranslational processing, are produced only when the cells are cultured with a glucocorticoid agonist. The current study demonstrated that even when W7MG1 cells are grown with hormone, the conversion of Pr74 to gp52 and gp33 is an inefficient process in this cell line. At least 2 h of exposure to glucocorticoid were required to induce the appearance of gp52 and gp33; furthermore, Pr74 labeled in the absence of hormone was not converted to gp52 and gp33 upon subsequent addition of hormone. RNA synthesis inhibitors blocked the hormonal induction of gp52 and gp33, indicating that the hormone acts by promoting the expression of a new gene(s) required for the production of gp52 and gp33, rather than by inhibiting the expression of a gene(s) that prevents processing of Pr74. Subcellular fra...
Rhipilia sinuosa sp. nov. (Chlorophyta, Siphonales) from Micronesia

Abstract Rhipilia sinuosa sp. nov., from Micronesia, is described. The stipitate blades are soft, fan shaped to peltate to funnel-form, faintly to strongly zonate, with (usually) entire margins, 1–5 cm wide and 0·5–3·0 cm high. The sinuose blade filaments and the relatively narrow diameter (16–25 μm) of the blade filaments are distinguishing characteristics.
Using Curriculum-Based Measurement to Evaluate Intervention Efficacy

SUMMARY The use of Curriculum-Based Measurement for evaluating treatment efficacy is described and discussed. The basic methods and applications of Curriculum-Based Measurement are described, followed by examples of its application in two intervention program evaluation projects. The first project involved one individual student experiencing academic difficulties. The second project focused on evaluating a reading instruction program for a group of students. In both examples, the use of Curriculum-Based Measurement contributed significantly to monitoring student progress in response to educational program variables and making treatment evaluation decisions.
The aging characteristics of an AI-2 Pct Li-3 Pct Cu-0.12 Pct Zr alloy at 190 °C

The aging characteristics of an Al-2 pct Li-3 pct Cu-0.12 pct Zr alloy at 190 °C have been examined using transmission electron microscopy. Specifically, the development of intragranular microstructures, and the interactions among the various precipitate species have been documented. Theδ′ phase (Al3Li) is shown to be present, not only as small spherical particles, but also as a shell aroundβ′ (Al3Zr) and as a film on the broad coherent faces of the θ′ (Al2Cu). At peakage (18 hours), theδ′ is associated predominantly with theθ′. However, overaging leads to dissolution of theθ′ and a concomitant increase in the volume fraction of theT 1. This latter phase can cut/grow through the δ’ and plays an increasing role in determining theδ′ distribution after prolonged aging. Finally, T2 is found to precipitate within the matrix in the overaged condition. TheT 2 precipitates display icosahedral symmetry. No evidence for the presence of theδ phase has been obtained.
Does Supplemental Instruction for Principles of Economics improve outcomes for traditionally underrepresented minorities

Abstract Principles of Economics typically have a high non-success rate and traditionally underrepresented minorities (URMs) generally have a higher non-success rate than non-URMs. This paper describes our Supplemental Instruction (SI) course and tests the effectiveness of SI on grade improvement, while accounting for self-selection bias. We find that SI improves grades by a bit less than half a letter grade in the full sample and by a larger amount for URMs and a smaller amount for non-URMs. We also find evidence that weaker URM students and stronger non-URM students are more likely to enroll in our SI course.
Anatomical and functional correlation of the endomorphins with mu opioid receptor splice variants

The present study characterizes the relationship between the endogenous mu opioid peptides endomorphin-1 (EM-1) and endomorphin-2 (EM-2) and several splice variants of the cloned mu opioid receptor (MOR-1) encoded by the mu opioid receptor gene (Oprm). Confocal laser microscopy revealed that fibers containing EM-2-like immunoreactivity (-LI) were distributed in close apposition to fibers showing MOR-1-LI (exon 4-LI) and to MOR-1C-LI (exons 7/8/9-LI) in the superficial laminae of the lumbar spinal cord. We also observed colocalization of EM-2-LI and MOR-1-LI in a few fibers of lamina II, and colocalization of EM-2-LI and MOR-1C-LI in laminae I-II, and V-VI. To assess the functional relevance of the MOR-1 variants in endomorphin analgesia, we examined the effects of antisense treatments that targeted individual exons within the Oprm1 gene on EM-1 and EM-2 analgesia in the tail flick test. This antisense mapping study implied mu opioid receptor mechanisms for the endomorphins are distinct from those of morphine or morphine-6beta-glucuronide (M6G).
Stasis Ulcers Refractory to Therapy—Accelerated Healing by Treatment With Clopidogrel ± Dalteparin: A Preliminary Report

Stasis ulcers are commonly the result of chronic venous insufficiency. We have recently assessed 15 patients with stasis ulcers that failed to heal after one year of routine wound care. All patients demonstrated a defect in hemostasis, and a biopsy revealed livido vasculitis. Eleven of fifteen patients were treated with clopidogrel and dalteparin, and 4 of 15 patients were treated with clopidogrel alone. Thirteen of fifteen patients (86.6%) completely healed within three months of starting antithrombotic therapy. Patients with stasis ulcers and chronic venous insufficiency who fail to heal with routine wound care should be subjected to biopsy, a procoagulant defect evaluation, and initiation of clopidogrel and dalteparin therapy if a defect is found.
The dynamics of small instanton phase transitions

The small instanton transition of a five-brane colliding with one end of the S1/2 interval in heterotic M-theory is discussed, with emphasis on the transition moduli, their potential function and the associated non-perturbative superpotential. Using numerical methods, the equations of motion of these moduli coupled to an expanding Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetime are solved including non-perturbative interactions. It is shown that the five-brane collides with the end of the interval at a small instanton. However, the moduli then continue to evolve to an isolated minimum of the potential, where they are trapped by gravitational damping. The torsion free sheaf at the small instanton is ``smoothed out'' into a vector bundle at the isolated minimum, thus dynamically completing the small instanton phase transition. Radiative damping at the origin of moduli space is discussed and shown to be insufficient to trap the moduli at the small instanton point.
Decidability in elementary analysis, II

We continue the study of the first order properties of real functions. More precisely, we consider sentences of the form (∀f∈#7B-F)φ, where #7B-F is a family of functions (continuous, C 1 , analytic, monotone, etc.) from R to R or from I=[0, 1] to I and φ is a first order formula. φ involves the ordering of R, quantification over R, and the unary function symbol F
Dissociation of Structural and Functional Phenotypes in Cardiac Myosin-Binding Protein C Conditional Knockout Mice

Background—Cardiac myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C) is a sarcomeric protein that dynamically regulates thick-filament structure and function. In constitutive cMyBP-C knockout (cMyBP-C−/−) mice, loss of cMyBP-C has been linked to left ventricular dilation, cardiac hypertrophy, and systolic and diastolic dysfunction, although the pathogenesis of these phenotypes remains unclear. Methods and Results—We generated cMyBP-C conditional knockout (cMyBP-C-cKO) mice expressing floxed cMyBP-C alleles and a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-recombinase fused to 2 mutated estrogen receptors to study the onset and progression of structural and functional phenotypes caused by the loss of cMyBP-C. In adult cMyBP-C-cKO mice, knockdown of cMyBP-C over a 2-month period resulted in a corresponding impairment of diastolic function and a concomitant abbreviation of systolic ejection, although contractile function was largely preserved. No significant changes in cardiac structure or morphology were immediately evident; however, mild hy...
HER2 Dendritic Cell Vaccines

HER2/neu, a tumor antigen overexpressed by a third of breast cancers, is a potential target for vaccine therapies. A particularly potent immunization strategy to induce T-cell responses against tumor antigens is to use dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with the tumor antigen. We performed two small studies to test the safety, feasibility, and immunologic and clinical responses to immunizations with in vitro-generated DCs loaded with either a human leukocyte antigen A2-restricted peptide fragment of the extracellular domain of the tumor antigen HER2 (E75) or a HER2 intracellular domain (ICD) protein in patients with high-risk resected breast cancer or metastatic cancers expressing HER2. There were no toxicities due to the immunizations in any of the patients. In the study of DCs loaded with the E75 peptide, 1 of 6 patients with metastatic HER2-expressing malignancies who completed all immunizations had stable disease for 6 months; the remainder of the patients had progressive disease. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactivity (2-3 mm of induration) at E75-loaded DC injection sites was observed in 2 of 5 patients evaluated but was similar at the unloaded DC injection sites. In 2 patients, the DTH sites underwent biopsy and a perivascular infiltrate of CD4 and CD8 cells was demonstrated, which was greater in the E75-loaded DC injection sites than in the unloaded DC sites. In the pilot study of ICD-loaded DC in patients with high-risk resected breast cancer, all 3 patients enrolled had no evidence of recurrence at a follow-up of up to 2.5 years. Intracellular domain-specific T-cell responses were detected directly from the peripheral blood by enzyme-linked immunospot and proliferation assay in 2 patients. We conclude that it is feasible and safe to generate and administer HER2-loaded DCs to patients with advanced HER2/neu-expressing malignancies and high-risk breast cancer. The magnitude of the immune responses generated is fairly modest, and more potent DC loading and maturation strategies will be necessary to optimize these vaccines.
Resonance of coefficient of variation induced by rebound currents for stochastic inhibitory inputs

We study a Hodgkin-Huxley type neuron model describing the firing properties of an endogenously oscillating subthalamic neuron [1] incorporating a low-voltage activated (T-type) calcium current when the cell is affected by random alpha function inhibitory inputs (frequency, λ). The postinhibitory rebound current (parameterized by its maximal conductance, GT) caused by the brief inputs can induce output spikes in response to two or more coincident arrivals or even a single strong enough inhibitory arrival [2]. Thus the output firing sequence becomes random, while the firing rate increases with λ. For small GT, the coefficient of variation (CV) of the output spike sequence also increases with λ, but when the rebound is strong, the CV exhibits an unexpected and prominent local maximum at a preferred input frequency. At the preferred frequency, the firing rate has a maximum slope. Weaker input amplitudes can increase the preferred frequency, but the cell's firing rate, at the preferred λ, is independent of the input strength. This phenomenon may be useful in characterizing and identifying cells [3] that receive complex pattern of inhibitory inputs like those in subthalamic nucleus with T-type calcium currents [4].
Extraction of Normal Modes and Full Modal Damping from Complex Modal Parameters

A procedure for extracting the structural normal modes and nondiagonal damping matrix from damped system realization parameters is presented. The procedure utilizes the state-space realization of experimental data obtained using identification algorithms such as the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm and Polyreference. This realization is first decomposed into the complex damped modes of the system and each mode is then transformed into an equivalent real-valued approximation of a second-order system. The transformation yields an approximation of the normal mode frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios. The procedure then develops a corrective transformation that accounts for the modal coupling implicit in nonproportional damping, thus yielding the correct structural normal modes and a nondiagonal modal damping matrix for the realization. Solutions for the corrective transformation are shown to be subject to a displacement consistency criterion. The damping identification procedure is demonstrated for both overdetermined (more sensors than modes) and underdetermined (more modes than sensors) problems using simulated data.
Global CNS gene delivery and evasion of anti-AAV-neutralizing antibodies by intrathecal AAV administration in non-human primates

Injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) offers a means to achieve widespread transgene delivery to the central nervous system, where the doses can be readily translated from small to large animals. In contrast to studies with other serotypes (AAV2, AAV4 and AAV5) in rodents, we report that a naturally occurring capsid (AAV9) and rationally engineered capsid (AAV2.5) are able to achieve broad transduction throughout the brain and spinal cord parenchyma following a single injection into the CSF (via cisterna magna or lumbar cistern) in non-human primates (NHP). Using either vector at a dose of ∼2 × 10(12) vector genome (vg) per 3-6 kg animal, approximately 2% of the entire brain and spinal cord was transduced, covering all regions of the central nervous system (CNS). AAV9 in particular displayed efficient transduction of spinal cord motor neurons. The peripheral organ biodistribution was highly reduced compared with intravascular delivery, and the presence of circulating anti-AAV-neutralizing antibodies up to a 1:128 titer had no inhibitory effect on CNS gene transfer. Intra-CSF delivery effectively translates from rodents to NHPs, which provides encouragement for the use of this approach in humans to treat motor neuron and lysosomal storage diseases.
Age and the decoding of coarticulatory cues.

Thirty-two subjects between the ages of 60 and 80 years listened to tape-recorded voiceless stop + vowel syllables and subsyllabic segments systematically isolated from the syllables by electronic ...
Optional Uses for Excess Resources in U.S. Agriculture

Excess capacity in American agriculture, the potential to produce in excess of domestic needs and viable export markets, provides an abundance of food and kindred products for consumers. However, this bounty has also contributed to economic and social stress in the farm and closely allied sectors. The persistence of the problem is verified by reference to the surplus problem as early as 1619 (Holmes), only twelve years after the first permanent English settlement, through one of the more severe financial crunches occurring in the 1980s. A major challenge to the agricultural economics profession is that of providing guidelines for the management of the excess capacity in agriculture to avoid or alleviate the economic, social, psychological, and political stresses. The converse malthusian doctrine of population growth exceeding food supplies has also persisted over the centuries. The Global 2000 Report to the President of the USA, issued in 1981, is a recent example of the malthusian doctrine. This report projected the world population to reach ten billion by 2030, with severe pressures on food supplies, energy, and other resources. Similar positions are reported almost daily, especially by those seeking support for biotechnology research. A reserve food-producing capacity is definitely in the best interest of the greater society. However, there is a critical need for research directed to
A Comparative Study of Consulting Processes and Group Development The 1968 Douglas McGregor Memorial Award-Winning Article

The impact of three organizational development consulting processes is analyzed and compared in terms of prelaboratory interaction between consultant and client, interaction during laboratory sessi...
How can academic libraries go beyond e-Science: The emergence of the new contribution-recognition system

This poster aims at exploring how academic libraries can help shape the development of e-Science and facilitate scholarship. It first discusses the problems that the e-Science community is facing. This poster then argues that the issues emerged in the e-Science practice will drive the need for a new contribution-recognition system that reflects the accumulative, social and collaborative characteristics of science, and recognizes the values of various types of expertise to e-Science and human knowledge. Finally, it proposes directions of how academic libraries can actively ground themselves in everyday research practice and shape the e-Science revolution by providing new research data and information services based on the new contribution-recognition system that encourages, documents, traces, and recognizes the contribution of different types of participation.
Baum-Welch Style EM Approach on Simple Bayesian Models forWeb Data Annotation

In this paper, our focus will be on weakly annotated data (WAD) which is typically generated by a (semi) automated information extraction system from the Web documents. The extracted information has a certain level of accuracy which can be surpassed by using statistical models that are capable of contextual reasoning such as Bayesian models. Our contribution is an EM algorithm that operates on simple Bayesian models to re-annotate WAD. EM estimates the parameters, i.e., the prior and conditional probabilities by iterating Bayesian model on the given Web data. In the expectation step, Bayesian classifier is trained from current annotations, and in the maximization step, the roles of all the labels are re-annotated to find the best fitting annotation with the current model then the probabilities are re-adjusted from the new annotations. Our experiments show that EM increases the Web data annotation accuracies up to 8%. We use Baum-Welch methodology in our EM approach.
Miniaturization innovation evolution of electronics packaging - what's coming next…?

Intel's Moore's Law focuses on shrinking the transistors in the silicon to be able to pack more and more transistors for a given area. In general, Intel has been able to double the transistor count every 18–24 months and has been doing so while keeping the silicon size at about the same size or even smaller. The key implication to that trend has been the I/O density that needs to be routed through the packaging is also increasing (ie. More I/O count per area).
The profession of IT Computing: the fourth great domain of science

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/1562164.1562176
Determination of the Bingham parameters of an electrorheological fluid in an axial flow concentric‐cylinder rheometer

Electrorheological (ER) fluids are fluids that undergo changes in their rheological properties in the presence of an applied electrical field. The change in the flow properties with an applied electrical field has led to their being investigated for use as ‘smart’ lubricants. The Bingham model is currently used to describe the behaviour of these fluids. In this work, the Bingham model parameters of a commercially available ER fluid are obtained using an axial flow concentric-cylinder rheometer. Two methods are used to determine these parameters. One is the Weissenberg (—Rabinowitsch) method applied to thin annular slits, to obtain corrected stress—strain rate information. The other method involves directly fitting the velocity—pressure curve data to the axial flow rate equation of a Bingham fluid through concentric cylinders. The results obtained by these two methods differ by as much as 49.4 and 63.5% for the yield stress and viscosity, respectively. It is observed for this ER fluid that the yield stress increases according to a power law relationship with the applied electrical field. The viscosity appears to decrease linearly with an increase in the applied electrical field.
Researching within and against Islamophobia: a collaboration project with Muslim communities

This paper draws on an ongoing study, The Muslim Milwaukee Project, and examines the collaboration between three faculty members and Muslim leaders in Milwaukee to design and implement a demographic survey of the Muslim community in the city. By providing a case study from a mid-sized city in the USA, as well as examining the ethical and methodological questions that arise when studying Muslims, we intend to address an apparent breach in the literature on Muslim geographies. By examining the positionalities of the participants and the particular knowledge production that came about through the collaboration, we shed light on power relations and exclusionary practices, as well as the political nature of working within and against Islamophobia. The collaboration laid bare the immediate effects of anti-Muslim discourse on Muslims' everyday lives, and that alternative geographies of Islam challenging anti-Muslim discourses will need to produce fruitful strategies of inclusion not only with the majority of non...
High-efficiency backward Stokes Raman conversion in deuterium

A backward Stokes Raman generator based on deuterium is demonstrated that converts 400 mJ of energy per pulse at 532 nm to more than 200 mJ at 633 nm. The average output power is more than 1 W, the quantum efficiency is 65%, and the beam quality is excellent.
An evaluation of the impact of gate oxide tunneling on dual-Vt-based leakage reduction techniques

We evaluate the effectiveness of dual-Vt design in the presence of both subthreshold leakage and leakage due to gate oxide tunneling. At the device level, we use detailed HSPICE simulation to investigate the total leakage impact of three methods of dual-Vt implementation: multiple channel doping, channel length, and oxide thickness. At the system level, we generate and characterize a standard cell library and apply three representative delay-constrained leakage minimization dual-Vt assignment algorithms to the ISCAS'85 combinational benchmark circuits. Results show that oxide thickness modulation effectively reduces total leakage power consumption, but channel doping and channel length modulation are less effective.
Rotation of dissecting groups among different cadavers provides students of anatomy with increased opportunity to observe human variations.

One way to increase medical students' awareness of anatomical variability is the dissection of different cadavers throughout laboratory coursework. This report covers such a procedure successfully instituted in a human gross anatomy course. © 1995 WiIey-Liss, Inc.
Selected Contribution: Synergism between TNF-α and IL-1β in airway smooth muscle cells: implications for β-adrenergic responsiveness

In human cultured airway smooth muscle cells, interleukin (IL)-1β increases cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and PGE2 release, ultimately resulting in decreased β-adrenergic responsiveness. In thi...
Clinical Review of a Long-Acting, Injectable Formulation of Risperidone

Abstract Background: A long-acting, injectable risperidone formulation is the first depot atypical antipsychotic drug to become available in the United States. Objective: The intent of this article is to review the efficacy and safety data available for long-acting, injectable risperidone. Methods: Information was identified via MEDLINE (years, 1990–May 2004) using the terms risperidone, long-acting injectable, depot , and delayed-action preparations . The manufacturer also provided information about risperidone in the form of abstracts and summaries of professional meetings. Results: Several 12-week studies and one 12-month study suggest that long-acting risperidone is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the maintenance therapy of schizophrenia. Thus far, no unexpected adverse events have been reported with the long-acting formulation. Extrapyramidal symptoms with long-acting risperidone were uncommon, dose-related, and similar to those observed with oral risperidone in short-term trials. A small, dose related weight gain occurred with long acting risperidone, again similar to that seen with oral risperidone. Pain at the injection site was uncommon and decreased with continued administration. The long-acting, injectable formulation comes in an aqueous suspension of microspheres. There is no initial drug release after injection; the main release of risperidone begins at week 2 to 3 postinjection, increases during weeks 3 and 4, is maintained during weeks 4 through 6, and declines between weeks 6 and 7. With repeated injections every 2 weeks, steady-state levels are usually reached by weeks 6 to 8. For most patients, the initial dosage should be 25 mg every 2 weeks, and oral administration should continue for the first 3 weeks after initial injection. Doses can be increased every 8 weeks to a maximum of 50 mg every 2 weeks. Conclusion: Long-acting risperidone offers clinicians a combination of the benefits of a depot antipsychotic drug with the therapeutic advantages of an atypical antipsychotic drug.