cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pattern of Venous Collateral Development after Splenic Vein Occlusion in an Extended Whipple Procedure (Whipple at the Splenic Artery) and Long-Term Results

Background Extended Whipple procedures may require division of the splenic vein (SV). Controversy exists regarding the risk of sequelae of sinistral portal hypertension when the SV is ligated without reimplantation. The aim of this study was to identify postoperative venous collateral patterns and sequelae of SV ligation, as well as long-term results in an extended Whipple procedure.
Marionette: Enabling On-Road Wizard-of-Oz Autonomous Driving Studies

There is a growing need to study the interactions between drivers and their increasingly autonomous vehicles. This paper describes a method of using a low-cost, portable, and versatile driver interaction system in commercial passenger vehicles to enable on-road partial and fully autonomous driving interaction studies. By conducting on-road Wizard-of-Oz studies in naturalistic settings, we can explore a range of driving conditions and scenarios far beyond what can be conducted in laboratory simulator environments. The Marionette system uses off-the-shelf components to cre- ate bidirectional communication between the driving controls of a Wizard-of-Oz vehicle operator and a driving study participant. It signals to the study participant what the car is doing and enables researchers to study participant intervention in driving activity. Mar- ionette is designed to be easily replicated for researchers studying partially autonomous driving interaction. This paper describes the design and evaluation of this system.
A Perspective: How Gene Therapeutics Can Help Address Global Health Issues

Current treatment for glaucoma is directed at reducing IOP, primarily via small molecules applied topically by the patient. Management of the disease is problematic for many patients but is a greater burden for those in resource poor areas. Glaucoma management often requires that the patient instill multiple topical drop medications each day, travel significant distances to frequent clinic visits and have access to a pharmacy or other storage/dispensing facility. A better approach is needed that provides a one time for a long time, or a one time for all time, administration of a therapy or medication. While there may be one ophthalmologist per 10,000 people in the United States, there may be only one per million in parts of Africa. Gene therapy has the potential to play an especially important role for underserved patient populations. Gene therapy strategies that target trabecular meshwork (TM)/Schlemm’s canal (SC) cells to enhance conventional outflow, ciliary muscle cells to enhance uveoscleral outflow, ciliary body nonpigmented endothelial cells to reduce aqueous humor formation, or RGCs to impede the apoptotic cascade could all benefit glaucoma patients.
Interpreting ISIS: Four Recent Works on the History and Strategy of the Islamic State

Since Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badri, under his nom de guere Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared the establishment of a worldwide caliphate on 29 June 2014 from the Nur al-Din Zenki Mosque in Mosul, Iraq, dozens of books have been written seeking to explain the rapid rise and breathtaking brutality of the Islamic State group. There is a certain “all hands on deck” feel to the flood of commentary on ISIS—journalists, academics, policy wonks, military figures, analysts, and politicians all have had their say. The visibility of the group, augmented by the rhetorical use to which they have been put by unrelated political debates, have perhaps made this inevitable. The four books reviewed here are part of this trend, and their collective strength is in their breadth and factual detail. There is information aplenty, and all the books included in this review do an admirable job, each in its own way, of detailing the history of the organization. The Islamic State group's deft use of online propaganda, its place in the post-9/11 jihadi landscape, its territorial gains and losses, and its prodigious ability, until recently, to draw large numbers of recruits into Syria or online support roles, have all received detailed treatment.
Too indulgent or not sensitive enough: mothering in the current historical era and its relevance to childhood obesity.

In this issue of the International Journal of Obesity, Anderson and colleagues1 describe results of their analysis testing a popular conceptual model for the prevention of childhood obesity: more structured home routines will lead to better self-regulation, which will prevent childhood obesity. There is a strong theoretical foundation for this model. Obesity-related hormones are entrained by daily routines,2 basic behavior theory suggests that routines increase child compliance3 and poor self-regulation has been repeatedly linked to childhood obesity. Unfortunately, the authors found that while some household routines were associated with some aspects of children’s self-regulation, and some routines were associated with lower obesity risk, the child’s self-regulation was not the mechanism of association. We likewise found that although a behavioral intervention improved children’s self-regulation, these improvements did not reduce childhood obesity.4 A plethora of interventions seeking to improve parenting to prevent childhood obesity have now reported modest effects.5 Why might parenting interventions to prevent childhood obesity not be as effective as expected?
Резервные валюты: факторы становления и роль в мировой экономике (Reserve Currencies: Factors of Evolution and their Role in the World Economy)

Работа посвящена анализу и классификации существующих теоретических и эмпирических моделей, описывающих факторы становления резервных валют, их роли в современной мировой платежной системе. Важной частью работы является изучение понятия региональной резервной валюты и определение специфики факторов, воздействующих на повышение статуса валюты. Проводится оценка роли региональных резервных валют в международных расчетах и на мировых финансовых рынках. В заключительной части исследования анализируются мероприятия, которые могут способствовать повышению статуса российского рубля и его превращению в региональную резервную валюту.This publication deals with the analysis and classification of the existing theoretical and empirical models describing the factors of establishing reserve currencies, and their role in today's global payment system. The important part of the study is devoted to the concept of a regional reserve currency, and the definition of the specific factors affecting the upgrading of the currency status. The authors assess the role of regional reserve currencies in international transactions and global financial markets. In the final part of the study the authors analyze the activities that could enhance the status of the Russian ruble and turn it into a regional reserve currency.
Chest tube thoracostomy.

In the intensive care unit chest tube placement is an important bedside procedure. This article discusses the practical anatomy of the chest wall as it applies to the procedure of inserting a chest tube. A step-by-step guide on how to insert a chest tube is then detailed. The indications, complications, troubleshooting, and finally, new and special applications of tube thoracostomy are rwiewed.
Study of Generation Mechanisms for Laser Ultrasonics

The aerospace industry is beginning to use advanced composite materials for primary load bearing structures and their failure mechanisms must be better understood to predict their behavior in service. The Combined Loads Tests (COLTS) facility is being constructed at the NASA Langley Research Center to characterize these failure mechanisms. Laser based ultrasonic NDE can monitor the samples during dynamic loading without interfering with the structural tests. However, the constraints of implementing laser ultrasound in a structures laboratory reduces the efficiency of the technique. The system has to be “eye-safe” because many people will be present during the structural tests. Consequently, laser light has to be delivered through fiber optics and a significant amount of light is lost. Also, the nature of the composite materials makes laser ultrasonic inspection difficult. The composites of interest are formed from woven layers that are stitched through the laminate thickness and bound in a resin matrix. These materials attenuate ultrasound strongly and exhibit a high degree of scattering. In this paper, we describe a field-deployable laser based ultrasonic NDE system that we developed to investigate structures during testing in the COLTS facility. We illustrate the design constraints that reduced efficiency and present some ultrasonic data from thick stitched composites.
Trashball: A Logistic Regression Classroom Activity.

In the early 1990's, the National Science Foundation funded many research projects for improving statistical education. Many of these stressed the need for classroom activities that illustrate impo...
The formation and stability of buried polar CO2 deposits on Mars

Abstract Shallow Radar soundings of the south polar layered deposits (SPLD) have revealed buried CO2 ice with as many as three distinct layers separated by thinner layers of water ice (Bierson et al., 2016). This layering is suggestive of formation by cyclical processes such as obliquity, eccentricity and advance of perihelion. If obliquity is the main driver, then there were many opportunities for CO2 deposits to have formed within the last 3.5-4 Myr. To persist, however, CO2 deposits must be followed by the deposition of an insulating layer of porous water ice that can seal in the CO2 to survive the obliquity maxima that follow. We suggest that the existing deposits were formed within the last 350 kyr. Each obliquity minimum was quickly followed by a period in which perihelion occurred in the northern summer (southern winter) solstice. Under these conditions, an enhanced deposition of low porosity, fine-grained water ice could occur on the winter pole. A similar series of depositions and burials by water ice could have occurred between 2.75 and 2.2 million years ago, but these deposits were unlikely to have survived the many high obliquity swings that occurred between 2.2 Ma and 400 ka. The formation and burial of CO2 ice could also have occurred in similar fashion earlier during the last ∼ 100 Myr in which the southern polar layered deposits were formed. Although at current times the geothermal flux may be too low to cause basal melting of CO2 deposits, in earlier times, deposits formed in deeper scarps and valleys could have led to basal CO2 melting and sequestration into the regolith. By extension, basal melting and sequestration in the regolith may provide an explanation for the fate of the thick CO2 atmosphere (pCO2 ≳ 0.5 bar) implied by climate models of early Mars.
CAR T cells mimicking an aggressive lymphoma.

![Figure][1] The patient is a 72-year-old man with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) originally diagnosed more than 10 years ago and treated with fludarabine-based chemoimmunotherapy. He had multiple relapses and achieved a complete response to pembrolizumab plus vorinostat but
Mitigation of cocaine-mediated mitochondrial damage, defective mitophagy and microglial activation by superoxide dismutase mimetics

Although cocaine exposure has been shown to potentiate neuroinflammation by upregulating glial activation in the brain, the role of mitophagy in this process remains an enigma. In the present study, we sought to examine the role of impaired mitophagy in cocaine-mediated activation of microglia and to determine the ameliorative potential of superoxide dismutase mimetics in this context. Our findings demonstrated that exposure of mouse primary microglial cells (mPMs) to cocaine resulted in decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, that was accompanied by increased expression of mitophagy markers, PINK1 and PRKN. Exposure of microglia to cocaine also resulted in increased expression of DNM1L and OPTN with a concomitant decrease in the rate of mitochondrial oxygen consumption as well as impaired mitochondrial functioning. Additionally, in the presence of cocaine, microglia also exhibited upregulated expression of autophagosome markers, BECN1, MAP1LC3B-II, and SQSTM1. Taken together, these findings suggested diminished mitophagy flux and accumulation of mitophagosomes in the presence of cocaine. These findings were further confirmed by imaging techniques such as transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Cocaine-mediated activation of microglia was further monitored by assessing the expression of the microglial marker (ITGAM) and the inflammatory cytokine (Tnf, Il1b, and Il6) mRNAs. Pharmacological, as well as gene-silencing approaches aimed at blocking both the autophagy/mitophagy and SIGMAR1 expression, underscored the role of impaired mitophagy in cocaine-mediated activation of microglia. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase mimetics such as TEMPOL and MitoTEMPO were shown to alleviate cocaine-mediated impaired mitophagy as well as microglial activation.Abbreviations: 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; Δψm: mitochondrial membrane potential; ACTB: actin, beta; AIF1: allograft inflammatory factor 1; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; BAF: bafilomycin A1; BECN1: beclin 1, autophagy related; CNS: central nervous system; DNM1L: dynamin 1 like; DMEM: Dulbecco modified Eagle medium; DAPI: 4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole; DRD2: dopamine receptor D2; ECAR: extracellular acidification rate; FBS: fetal bovine serum; FCCP: Trifluoromethoxy carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; IL1B: interleukin 1, beta; IL6: interleukin 6; ITGAM: integrin subunit alpha M; MAP1LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; mPMs: mouse primary microglial cells; MRC: maximal respiratory capacity; NFKB: nuclear factor kappa B; NLRP3: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3; NTRK2: neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 2; OCR: oxygen consumption rate; OPTN: optineurin; PBS: phosphate buffered saline; PINK1: PTEN induced putative kinase 1; PRKN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; ROS: reactive oxygen species; siRNA: small interfering RNA; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.
Foreign policy begins at home: the local origin of support for US democracy promotion

Citizens hold opinions about what kinds of foreign policy their government should pursue. Because foreign policy often has geographically specific domestic consequences, we expect opinions to vary ...
Cotton response to preplant applications of 2,4-D or dicamba

Sensitive cotton varieties planted into soil treated with 2,4-D or dicamba utilized in burndowns can result in stunting and stand loss if use rate is too high and the plant-back interval is too short. The objective of this study was to evaluate cotton stunting and yield responses resulting from 2,4-D or dicamba residues in soil after preplant burndown applications at three locations in 2016 and 2017. Treatments with 2,4-D included 532 and 1,063 g ae ha−1 applied 3 wk before planting (WBP) and 53, 160, 266, 532, 1,063 g ae ha−1 applied at planting. Dicamba treatments included 560 and 1,120 g ae h−1 applied 3 WBP and 56, 168, 280, 560, 1,120 g ae ha−1 applied at planting. Dicamba or 2,4-D treatments applied 3 WBP resulted in no adverse effects on cotton stand, plant height, or yield. Dicamba 560 g ae h−1 applied at planting reduced cotton stand by 36% at 21 to 24 d after planting (DAP) over all locations in 2016. In 2017, stands were reduced by dicamba at 168, 280, 560, and 1,120 g ae ha−1 by 17% to 25% at 20 to 23 DAP. Moreover, cotton stands were not affected by 2,4-D in 2016, and only 266, 532, and 1,063 g ae ha−1 of 2,4-D caused stand reductions of 26% to 36% at 20 to 23 DAP over all locations in 2017. Dicamba at 560 g ae ha−1 at planting was the only treatment in this study that reduced plant height. Although stand losses were observed in both years, no yield loss occurred. The data suggest that stunting and stand reduction may occur if susceptible varieties are planted soon after burndown applications with 2,4-D or dicamba, but yield may not be affected after a full growing season. Dicamba showed greater potential to cause stunting and stand reduction than 2,4-D.
Studies of controlled reperfusion after ischemia. XVII. Reperfusion conditions: controlled reperfusion through an internal mammary artery graft--a new technique emphasizing fixed pressure versus fixed flow.

This study tests the usefulness of delivering a controlled reperfusate through an internal mammary graft after acute ischemia by applying a percutaneous technique of mammary artery cannulation and compares reperfusion at fixed pressure versus fixed flow. Methods: Twenty-one dogs underwent 2 hours of ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery followed by regional controlled revascularization on total vented bypass. A reperfusion catheter was introduced percutaneously from the brachial artery into the internal mammary artery. Five dogs received normal blood reperfusion at 50 mm Hg pressure, and eight dogs received a regional blood cardioplegic reperfusate at 50 mm Hg before reperfusion with normal blood. Eight additional dogs received regional cardioplegia at 30 ml/min for 20 minutes. Coronary vascular resistance, segmental shortening (ultrasonic crystals), tissue water content, and histochemical damage (triphenyltetrazolium chloride stain) were assessed. Results: Reperfusion with normal blood increased coronary vascular resistance progressively to 62% above initial values (p
Information Transparency, Multihoming, and Platform Competition: A Natural Experiment in the Daily Deals Market

Platform competition is shaped by the likelihood of multihoming (i.e., complementors or consumers adopt more than one platform). To take advantage of multihoming, platform firms often attempt to mo...
Woody and herbaceous competition effects on the growth of naturally regenerated loblolly and shortleaf pines through 11 years

Four levels of vegetative competition were used to quantify the growth of loblolly and shortleaf pines (Pinus taeda L. and P. echinata Mill.) in naturally regenerated, even-aged stands on the Upper Coastal Plain of southeastern Arkansas, USA. Treatments included: (1) no competition control, (2) woody competition control, (3) herbaceous competition control, and (4) total control of nonpine vegetation. After pines became established from natural seeding, herbicides were used to control herbaceous plants for 4 consecutive years and woody plants for 5 consecutive years. Even though 89% of crop pines on untreated check plots were free-to-grow 11 years after establishment, crop pines on vegetation control plots were larger (P<0.001) in mean dbh, total height, and volume per tree. From age 5 through 11 years, crop pine diameter growth increased on woody control plots and decreased on herbaceous control plots because of hardwood competition in the latter treatment. At age 11, crop pine volume production averaged 207 m3/ha on total control plots, 158 m3/ha on herbaceous control plots, 130 m3/ha on woody control plots, and 102 m3/ha on untreated check plots.
Early pubertal maturation and externalizing behaviors: Examination of peer delinquency as mediator and cognitive flexibility as a moderator

Abstract Introduction While peer delinquency is a known mediator between early pubertal timing and externalizing behaviors, little is known about factors that could protect against the adverse influence of peer delinquency. This study assesses the possible moderating role of cognitive flexibility, which is one index of executive functioning that facilitates flexible and adaptive responses to challenging situations. We assessed the interactive influence of peer delinquency and cognitive flexibility in the association between pubertal maturation and externalizing behaviors in boys and girls. Method Participants were 220 adolescents (111 boys) from the United States, between the ages of 11 and 16 years (M = 13.2, SD = 1.53) who participated in the Adolescent Emotion Study (AES). Results Findings from the cross-sectional path modeling analyses provided evidence for the mediating role of peer delinquency for boys and girls, indicating that early maturing adolescents tend to affiliate with delinquent peers, which in turn exacerbates externalizing problems. Additionally, the moderating role of cognitive flexibility was also demonstrated for both boys and girls. Region of significance tests revealed that relatively well-developed cognitive flexibility skills could protect against the adverse influences of peer delinquency, whereas lower levels could exacerbate those negative influences. Conclusion These findings suggest that involvement with deviant peers increases vulnerability for both early maturing boys and girls. Additionally, cognitive flexibility was an important moderating factor for adolescents, such that youths with less developed skills would be at a higher risk for psychopathology, whereas those with better development could be protected.
The small effects of political advertising are small regardless of context, message, sender, or receiver: Evidence from 59 real-time randomized experiments

Evidence across social science indicates that average effects of persuasive messages are small. One commonly offered explanation for these small effects is heterogeneity: Persuasion may only work well in specific circumstances. To evaluate heterogeneity, we repeated an experiment weekly in real time using 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign advertisements. We tested 49 political advertisements in 59 unique experiments on 34,000 people. We investigate heterogeneous effects by sender (candidates or groups), receiver (subject partisanship), content (attack or promotional), and context (battleground versus non-battleground, primary versus general election, and early versus late). We find small average effects on candidate favorability and vote. These small effects, however, do not mask substantial heterogeneity even where theory from political science suggests that we should find it. During the primary and general election, in battleground states, for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, effects are similarly small. Heterogeneity with large offsetting effects is not the source of small average effects.
Webinar during COVID-19 Improves Knowledge of Changes to the Plastic Surgery Residency Application Process

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted residency application process for all specialties, including plastic surgery residency Almost all plastic surgery residency programs have suspended visiting sub-internship rotations This study quantifies the impact of a webinar through an analysis of poll questions and a post-webinar survey sent to all registered participants METHODS: A dedicated webinar was organized and held by the Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program All attendees were asked several poll questions during the webinar The 192 participants were also sent a post-webinar survey RESULTS: The response rate was 68 2% (n = 131) Respondents were more confident about matching into a plastic surgery residency program at the end of the webinar compared with before the webinar (P < 0 001) Respondents who did not have a plastic surgery residency program at their home institution were less confident at the start of the webinar (P = 0 009) In addition, respondents who had not taken time off for research or for other endeavors during or after medical school were less confident about their chances to match at the start of the webinar (P = 0 034) CONCLUSIONS: An online webinar program increased confidence levels of medical students interested in applying for residency positions in plastic surgery Residency programs should consider webinars as a method to inform and assist medical students during the upcoming application season
Approach to Perioperative Anaphylaxis in 2020: Updates in Diagnosis and Management

The goal of the paper is to review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and manifestations of perioperative anaphylaxis (POA). We seek to review the most common culprits of POA and different diagnostic modalities for evaluation. Specific IgE testing has a limited role in POA evaluation due to lack of widespread availability and low sensitivity. Basophil activation testing is complementary to skin tests and can assist NMBA sensitivity diagnosis in complex cases. In the past years, there has been an exponential increase in suspected teicoplanin allergic reactions in the European Union. Chlorhexidine is also being increasingly implicated as a culprit in POA. Multiple classes of perioperative medications cause POA. Diagnostic modalities available include skin testing with nonirritating concentrations, basophil activation tests, specific IgE, and drug provocation testing. An accurate record and critical analysis of perioperative events is more important than isolated test results. Future studies evaluating the pathophysiology of these reactions and other therapeutic strategies, such as targeting the MRGPRX2 receptor, are needed.
High prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus in people living with HIV in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is still a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-positive individuals in many resource-limited countries. As prevalence rates of co-infection u...
Measurements and Simulation of Self-Heating in 40 nm SOI MOSFETs

To understand self-heating in SOI CMOS, conventional and trap-rich substrates are used to fabricate 40nm gate length NFET pairs that share the same active region. One NFET serves as a heater, while the other is used as a calibrated thermometer. Measurements of the local heating confirm the simulated temperature distribution. Heat flow out of the metal contacts reduces the self-heating in NFETs on trap-rich substrates which have reduced thermal conductivity compared to conventional SOI wafers.
Perioperative Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Management with Endodontic Microsurgical Techniques.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to review evidence-based recommendations for the safe perioperative management of patients undergoing endodontic microsurgery who are currently taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications. Using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) format, the following scientific question was asked: In patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents, what is the available evidence in the management of endodontic microsurgery? Methods MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched to identify current recommendations regarding the management of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications in the context of outpatient dental surgical procedures. Additionally, the authors hand searched the bibliographies of all relevant articles, the gray literature, and textbooks. Because of the lack of clinical studies and evidence on this subject, articles and guidelines from other organizations and association position statements were included. Results Because any minor surgery can become a major surgery, the treating doctor needs to best assess the risk of bleeding, especially if the surgery is anticipated to take longer than 45 minutes. Every patient should be stratified on a case-by-case basis. Consultation with the patient’s physician is highly recommended. Conclusions In order to maximize the effects of these medications (to prevent thrombosis) while minimizing the potential risks (procedural hemorrhage), clinicians should be aware of the best available evidence when considering continuation or discontinuation of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents perioperatively for endodontic microsurgery. Ideally, a joint effort from an expert panel for microsurgery would be warranted.
Colonial North Carolina’s Paper Money Regime, 1712-1774: A Comment on Cutsail and Grubb

In a recent NBER paper, Cutsail and Grubb argue that North Carolina’s colonial bills of credit were valued like discount bonds, with a current market value largely determined by the discounted value of the bills when paid into the treasury in taxes or other public payments. Grubb has previously published several papers making similar claims about other colonies. This comment argues Cutsail and Grubb’s methodology, history, data series, and econometrics, as applied to North Carolina, are all seriously flawed.
A Roadmap for Understanding African Politics: Leadership and Political Integration in Nigeria

1. Introduction 2. Post-Colonial Political Leadership in Nigeria 3. Leadership and Political Integration in Africa: A Literature Review 4. State Creation: A Tool for Political Integration in Nigeria 5. An Afrocentric/Africa-centered Theory of Leadership and Political Integration 6. A Comparative Summary & Recommendations 7. Babangida's Scuttling of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election: A Postscript 8. Implications for African Political Leadership
Natural History, Role of Biopsy, and Active Surveillance of Renal Masses

With the increased utilization of abdominal imaging, we have witnessed a significant increase in incidentally detected clinically localized, small renal masses (SRMs) over the past few decades. While extirpation has remained the gold standard in managing SRMs, mortality rates from kidney cancer remain relatively unchanged. This suggests that a proportion of small renal masses may be indolent tumors that do not require surgical intervention. From these observations, active surveillance (AS) has emerged as an alternative management strategy in select patients with significant competing risks. The use of AS has provided the basis for describing the natural history of renal masses managed expectantly. Although the data are limited, we have observed that many incidental renal masses demonstrate slow growth kinetics with a low rate of progression to metastatic disease over an intermediate time period. While judicious use of AS in carefully selected patients appears to be a viable management strategy, prospective trials are necessary to define entry and intervention criteria for existing AS protocols.
Temperature responsive hydrogels enable transient three-dimensional tumor cultures via rapid cell recovery.

Recovery of live cells from three-dimensional (3D) culture would improve analysis of cell behaviors in tissue engineered microenvironments. In this work, we developed a temperature responsive hydrogel to enable transient 3D culture of human glioblastoma (GBM) cells. N-isopropylacrylamide was copolymerized with hydrophilic grafts and functionalized with the cell adhesion peptide RGD to yield the novel copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-Jeffamine® M-1000 acrylamide-co-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-RGD), or PNJ-RGD. This copolymer reversibly gels in aqueous solutions when heated under normal cell culture conditions (37°C). Moreover, these gels redissolve within 70 s when cooled to room temperature without the addition of any agents to degrade the synthetic scaffold, thereby enabling rapid recollection of viable cells after 3D culture. We tested the efficiency of cell recovery following extended 3D culture and were able to recover more than 50% of viable GBM cells after up to 7 days in culture. These data demonstrate the utility of physically crosslinked PNJ-RGD hydrogels as a platform for culture and recollection of cells in 3D. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2015.
Tabletability Modulation Through Surface Engineering.

Poor powder tabletability is a common problem that challenges the successful development of high-quality tablet products. Using noncompressible microcrystalline cellulose beads, we demonstrate that surface coating is an effective strategy for modulating tabletability, almost at will, through judicious selection of coating material. This strategy has broad applicability as tabletability of such particles is dictated by the properties of the outermost layer coat regardless the nature of the core. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:2645–2648, 2015
Metabolites of tamoxifen in animals and man: identification, pharmacology, and significance.

Over the past decade, the non-steroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen has gained general acceptance for the palliative treatment of breast cancer. Although there has been much interest in the pharmacology of tamoxifen, our knowledge of its metabolism in laboratory animals and patients is incomplete and the precise mechanism of action within target tissue and breast tumor cells is unknown. This review briefly describes the pharmacology of tamoxifen in various laboratory species and patients. Several metabolites of tamoxifen are known and their relative potencies as estrogens and antiestrogens are compared with the parent compound. Apart from monohydroxytamoxifen, none of tamoxifen's metabolites are more potent antiestrogens, but a metabolite in the dog, Metabolite E, is fully estrogenic. Routine assays (tlc, HPLC, glc/ms) are available to detect tamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen, monohydroxytamoxifen, and a newly identified metabolite, designated Metabolite Y, in biological fluids. Continuous therapy with tamoxifen (10 mg bid) produces steady-state levels (100–200 ng/ml serum) within 4 weeks. Levels of N-desmethyltamoxifen are often up to twice the levels achieved with tamoxifen, while levels of monohydroxytamoxifen and Metabolite Y are below 10 ng/ml. Although monohydroxytamoxifen has a high binding affinity for the estrogen receptor, the metabolic activation of tamoxifen is an advantage rather than a requirement for antiestrogenic activity. The action of tamoxifen in vivo is the net result of the individual actions of the parent compound and its metabolites competing for the occupation of receptors within target tissues and tumors.
Human-driven spatial and temporal shift in trophodynamics in the Gulf of Maine, USA

Utilizing marine protected areas (MPAs) to isolate the ecological effects of human influence can help us understand our effect on systems and foster ecosystem-based approaches to management. Specifically, examining invertebrate prey community dynamics inside and outside an MPA may provide a measure of how altering human influence (i.e., certain fishing pressures) affects ecosystem interactions. We measured trophic interactions inside and outside a deep-water temperate MPA over 2 years. Predation rates on tethered, preferred groundfish prey (crabs) were initially identical inside and outside the MPA, but decreased outside the MPA after the commercial groundfish fishing season commenced. Predation trials using a ubiquitous prey species (brittle stars) and a less preferred prey species (urchins) served as controls, showing no MPA effect. Our experiments quantify differential predatory activity resulting from differences in human activity driven by an MPA, demonstrating important effects of fishing and regulations on the strength of trophic interactions.
Surface areas and c values for chemically etched and thermally oxidized silicon single-crystal surfaces by Krypton absorption

Abstract The chemical and physical nature of the surfaces of chemically polished single-crystal silicon, steam oxidized and dry oxygen oxidized (5000 A) single crystal silicon, and an etched-back oxide were evaluated by measuring the roughness factors and c values using krypton adsorption isotherms reduced by application of the BET equation. Replicate electron micrographs were also made. Steam and dry oxygen oxidized surfaces, though similar in chemical constitution, appeared dissimilar from electron micrographs. Roughness factors differed by a factor of two inversely to structure observed in micrographs. This is explained by a difference in c values thus suggesting that the physical nature of a surface influences the sorbate-sorbent interaction energy. Chemically polished and oxide etch-back silicon surfaces exhibited the same inverse relationship between normalized c values and rf. Unexpectedly high roughness factors are explained on the basis of low monolayer volumes observed for the steam-oxidized surfaces and the chemically polished surfaces.
Internet voting: will it spur or corrupt democracy?

In Alaska in January 2000, 35 people voted via the Internet in the Alaskan Republican Party’s presidential straw poll using a password mailed to them in advance . Kathleen Dalton, a member of the Alaska Republican Straw Poll Committee said that “Internet voting opens up a completely new domain to an Alaskan population that is handicapped by vast distances, lack of land transportation routes, and slow or interrupted postal service in winter months”.
Abundance Ratios in Metal-Poor Globular Clusters: Deep Mixing and its Effect on Stellar Populations of the Galactic Halo

Only a bit more than 25 years ago, it seemed possible to assume that all Galactic globular clusters were chemically homogeneous. There were indications that star-to-star Fe abundance variations existed in ω Cen, but this massive cluster appeared to be unique. Following Osborn’s (1971) initial discovery, Zinn’s (1973) observation that M92 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars had weaker G-bands than subgiants with equivalent temperatures provided the first extensive evidence that there might be variations in the abundances of the light elements in an otherwise “normal” cluster. Since then star-to-star variations in the abundances of C, N, O, Na, Mg and Al have been observed in all cases in which sample sizes have exceeded 5-10 stars, e.g., in clusters such as M92, M15, M13, M3, ω Cen, MIO and M5. Among giants in these clusters one finds large surface O abundance differences, and these are intimately related to differences of other light element abundances, not only of C and N, but also of Na, Mg and Al (cf. reviews by Suntzeff 1993, Briley et al 1994, and Kraft 1994). The abundances of Na and O, as well as Al and Mg, are anticorrelated. Prime examples are found among giants in M15 (Sneden et al 1997), M13 (Pilachowski et al 1996; Shetrone 1996a,b; and Kraft et al 1997) and ω Cen (Norris & Da Costa 1995a,b). These observed anticorrelations almost certainly result from proton- capture chains that convert C to N, 0 to N, Ne to Na and Mg to Al in or near the hydrogen fusion layers of evolved cluster stars. But which stars? An appealing idea is that during the giant branch lifetimes of the low-mass stars that we now observe, substantial portions of the stellar envelopes have been cycled through regions near the H-burning shell where proton-capture nucleosynthesis can occur. This so-called “evolutionary” scenario involving deep envelope mixing in first ascent red giant branch (RGB) stars has been studied by Denissenkov & Denissenkova (1990), Langer & Hoffman (1995), Cavallo et al (1996, 1997) and Langer et al (1997). The mixing mechanism that brings proton-capture products to the surface is poorly understood (Denissenkov & Weiss 1996, Denissenkov et al 1997, Langer et al 1997), but deep mixing driven by angular momentum has been suggested (Sweigart & Mengel 1979, Kraft 1994, Langer & Hoffman 1995, Sweigart 1997).
Antigenic Conversion of Established Leukæmias by an Unrelated Leukæmogenic Virus

THE cytotoxic test has been applied to the definition in vitro of new cellular antigens in several classes of mouse leukaemia. Three distinct antigenic systems have been identified in this manner with cytotoxic anti-sera prepared in the mouse—G (leukaemias induced by Gross virus1)2; FMR (leukaemias induced by Friend3, Moloney4 or Rauscher5 viruses)6–9; and TL (spontaneous leukaemias, leukaemias induced by a variety of agents, normal thymus of certain mouse strains)10. The use of letters to designate these antigens was suggested in a recent review11. Particularly in relation to the G and FMR systems, it might be assumed that the presence of the specific antigen in a leukaemia is invariably related to the virus responsible for its induction. However, there is also the possibility that an established leukaemia may become infected with a leukaemogenic virus that played no part in its origin. In this event the leukaemia cells might acquire the antigenic specificity characteristic of leukaemias induced by the unrelated virus, and thus become sensitive to cytotoxic anti-sera directed against that class of leukaemias.
Nash equilibria of Cauchy-random zero-sum and coordination matrix games

We consider zero-sum games (A, − A) and coordination games (A,A), where A is an m-by-n matrix with entries chosen independently with respect to the Cauchy distribution. In each case, we give an exact formula for the expected number of Nash equilibria with a given support size and payoffs in a given range, and also asymptotic simplications for matrices of a fixed shape and increasing size. We carefully compare our results with recent results of McLennan and Berg on Gaussian random bimatrix games (A,B), and describe how the three situations together shed light on random bimatrix games in general.
Fact‐Totems and the Statistical Imagination: The Public Life of a Statistic in Argentina 2001*

Statistics are key elements of contemporary life. They figure prominently in the media, in political discourse, and in daily conversations. They also weigh heavily within the economic and political...
FT-IR Study of Water Adsorption on Aluminum Oxide Surfaces

In this study, transmission FT-IR spectroscopy is used to investigate the adsorption of water on aluminum oxide surfaces, including both single-crystal and particle surfaces. The FT-IR spectra of the (0001) surface of α-Al2O3 single crystals at 296 K in the presence of 0.2 to 20 Torr H2O vapor pressure corresponding to 1 to 95% relative humidity (RH) have been measured. The FT-IR spectra are shown to change as a function of RH. At low relative humidity, below approximately 10%, water adsorbs on the surface in an ordered fashion with the formation of a stable hydroxide layer. At intermediate RH, between 10 and 70% RH, water adsorbs molecularly in a structured overlayer. At high RH, greater than 70%, water adsorption is more disordered and consistent with the formation of a liquid-like water layer. The adsorption of nitric acid on α-Al2O3(0001) prior to water adsorption is shown to only slightly modify the water infrared spectra. A discussion of the quantification of the number of water layers on the α-Al2O...
Vibrational frequencies and structural determination of fluorine nitrate

Abstract The vibrational frequencies and corresponding normal mode assignments of fluorine nitrate are examined theoretically using the gaussian 98 set of quantum chemistry codes. All normal modes were successfully assigned to one of six types of motion (N O stretch, N–O stretch, F–O stretch, O–F–O bend, F–O–N bend, and F–O–N–O torsion) utilizing the C s symmetry of the molecule. Uniform scaling factors were derived for each type of motion. Predicted infrared and Raman intensities are reported. Molecular orbitals and bonding are examined.
On current finestructure and moored current meter measurements of internal waves

Four closely-spaced vector-averaging current meters near 2000-m depth in the Sargasso Sea have been used to provide estimates of the intensity and vertical coherence scale of non-internal wave motions in the inertial-to-buoyancy frequency range. Based on a model that describes the measured current coherence as a degraded temperature coherence, where the degradation depends upon the signal-to-noise ratio (signal = internal waves; noise = other processes) and the coherence of the noise field, the noise spectrum is calculated (f−1 slope; 0.07 cm2s−2 variance) and a vertical half-coherence scale is estimated [0(1 m) near the buoyancy frequency, indeterminant near the inertial frequency, zero elsewhere]. It is concluded that the ‘noise’ field is caused mainly by current finestructure rather than coming from the instruments; the conclusion is supported by previous horizontal and vertical current-coherence results from the tri-moored Internal Wave Experiment (IWEX).
Desktop imaging to achieve standardization and application delivery

From 2006 to 2007 The George Washington University designed and developed an in house desktop imaging process. The process replaced the previous method of having one image for each department on campus and relies on Novell ZENworks. The new method utilizes one "Base OS Image" and a series of add on images. This allows a computer to be imaged in the field and applications to be installed a la carte. The technician can re-base a machine and select from a list of applications to be installed with virtually no user interaction. All images are stored centrally on a network server, but can also be stored on a portable drive. This ensures only the latest and approved versions of software are being installed. Because this process only involves one OS image for all users, there is only one OS image for the imaging team to keep patched and up to date. Future developments include the ability to re-image machines remotely without losing user data and settings.
Variable correlation of grid coordinates to core location in template prostate biopsy.

Purpose: Transperineal template prostate biopsy has been proposed to facilitate systematic biopsy in patients undergoing repeat biopsy who are at high risk for cancer. Advocates tout the reliability of the grid to define biopsy location compared to hand-held transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy. However, accuracy of the biopsy needle depends on bevel position, tissue deformity, and technique. Due to this potential for error, we sought to determine whether the use of transperineal template biopsy would assure reproducibly accurate needle placement. Materials and Methods: A standard 0.5 cm brachytherapy grid was utilized for transperineal biopsy. A single grid hole was used to obtain biopsies. The bevel of the needle was rotated to a different position with each biopsy, and the angle of the needle was varied to test the ability of the grid to “map” the prostate. Results: We observed wide variation of needle location through a single brachytherapy grid hole. We are able to show that at 5 cm depth, an area of 2.47 mm2 is possible to biopsy and at a depth of 25 cm; approximately 7.56 mm2 is possible to biopsy. This gives a precision of biopsy of at the most shallow depth 22% and at the deepest 7%. Conclusion: There is potential for technical and equipment associated error with transperineal template guided prostate biopsy. The grid alone can account for substantial sources of error, so technique remains critical if the grid coordinates are to be used to predict presence or extent of cancer.
In‐package Pasteurization Combined with Biocide‐impregnated Films to Inhibit Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium in Turkey Bologna

The inhibitory effects of in-package pasteurization (3-5D, decimal reduction times) combined with a nisin (7%, w/w) containing wheat gluten film were tested over an 8-wk storage period against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium populations inoculated on refrigerated bologna. Bologna slices subjected to the in-package pasteurization process reduced L. monocytogenes populations 3.8- to 7.0-log colony-forming units (CFU)/g, and the remaining population fluctuated between 1.2- and 3.8-log CFU/g over the 2-mo storage period. S. Typhimurium was reduced 5.7- to 7.3-log CFU/g, and the remaining population progressively declined from 100 to <10 CFU/g over 2 mo of storage. The wheat gluten film containing nisin was effective in reducing the population of L. monocytogenes (2.75-log reduction with pasteurization; 1-log reduction without pasteurization), but was not effective against S. Typhimurium (<1-log reduction). Combining both treatments significantly reduced the L. monocytogenes populations and prevented outgrowth over the 2-mo storage period but provided no added inhibitory effect against S. Typhimurium compared with only pasteurization.