cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1424: Fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP): Targeting the reactive stroma as a novel prodrug therapy

A novel peptide-conjugated cytotoxic prodrug selectively activated by Fibroblast Activation Protein alpha (FAP) was designed and demonstrated therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer xenografts. FAP is a membrane-bound serine protease of the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) family with both dipeptidase and gelatinase activity. Many cancers, including breast, have been shown to induce a reactive stroma characterized by the recruitment of reactive fibroblasts and various inflammatory cells, increased secretion of growth factors and proteases, induction of angiogenesis, and the formation of an altered extracellular matrix (ECM). FAP has been shown to be up-regulated on the surface of these reactive or carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the stroma of >90% of solid tumors examined in one series of frozen human tissue specimens, but not on cancerous epithelial or adjacent normal tissue. This proteolytic activity was used to define a FAP-selective peptide substrate based on cleavage sites from the digestion of gelatin derived from human collagen I. The hydrolysis kinetics of these substrates by FAP was evaluated in vitro and the leading candidates were coupled to thapsigargin analogs to generate putative FAP-activated prodrugs. Thapsigargin is a natural plant product that inhibits the SERCA pump present in all cell types and non-selectively induces apoptosis with a mean GI50 of [0.3nM]. These prodrugs were evaluated in vitro on a variety of parameters including activation/proteolysis by FAP, ability to induce the efflux of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum, solubility, plasma stability and the inhibition of cell growth with an IC50 of ∼[3nM] against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. These prodrugs were further evaluated in vivo using MCF-7 xenografts as a model of breast cancer. These drugs were shown to be generally well-tolerated and showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth in this model. Additionally, non-FAP cleavable analogs based on the amino acid sequence of the lead prodrug were generated and tumors treated with these compounds did not regress. Tumors from both treated and control animals were harvested and biodistribution studies were performed demonstrating an accumulation of the active compound in the tumors treated with the FAP-selective prodrugs. Immunohistochemical analysis of these tumors confirmed that significant necrosis was present in the FAP-selective prodrug treated tumors, but not in the tumors from the animals treated with a non-FAP cleavable prodrug nor the untreated tumor controls at 72hrs-post treatment. These studies demonstrate that exploiting the enzymatic activity of FAP is a viable target for chemotherapeutic prodrug activation and that this strategy results in an inhibition of tumor growth in this model of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1424.
The Role of Neurotrophins in the Seasonal-Like Growth of the Avian Song Control System

The avian song control system undergoes pronounced seasonal plasticity in response to photoperiod and hormonal cues. The action of testosterone (T) and its metabolites in the song nucleus HVC is both necessary and sufficient to promote breeding season-like growth of its efferent nuclei RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium) and Area X, suggesting that HVC may release a trophic factor such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into RA and X. BDNF is involved in many forms of adult neural plasticity in other systems and is present in the avian song system. We used a combination of in situ hybridization and intracerebral infusions to test whether BDNF plays a role in the seasonal-like growth of the song system in adult male white-crowned sparrows. BDNF mRNA levels increased in HVC in response to breeding conditions, and BDNF infusion into RA was sufficient to promote breeding-like changes in somatic area and neuronal density. Expression of the mRNA for the Trk B receptor of BDNF, however, did not vary with seasonal conditions in either HVC or RA. Local blockade of BDNF activity in RA via infusion of Trk-Fc fusion proteins inhibited the response to breeding conditions. Our results indicate that BDNF is sufficient to promote the seasonal plasticity in somatic area and cell density in RA, although NT-3 may also contribute to this process, and suggest that HVC may be a presynaptic source of increased levels of BDNF in RA of breeding-condition birds.
Chronic, post-injury administration of D-cycloserine, an NMDA partial agonist, enhances cognitive performance following experimental brain injury.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of augmenting NMDA receptor activation on cognitive deficits produced by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Specifically, D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist of the NMDA-associated glycine site, was tested as a potential cognitive enhancer. Rats were injured using lateral fluid percussion TBI (2.8 +/- .10 atm). On days 1-15 post-injury, animals were injected (i.p.) with vehicle (n = 8), 10 mg/kg (n = 9), or 30 mg/kg (n = 8) of DCS. Sham-injured animals treated with either vehicle (n = 8) or 30 mg/kg of DCS (n = 8) were used for comparison. On days 11-15 post-injury, cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM). Results indicate that the 30 mg/kg dose of DCS significantly attenuated memory deficits as compared to injured vehicle-treated animals (P 0.10). In contrast, the 10 mg/kg dose of DCS was ineffective in reducing injury-induced memory deficits. DCS (30 mg/kg) also significantly improved the spatial memory of sham-injured animals when compared with sham-injured animals treated with vehicle (P < 0.05). In conclusion, chronic, post-injury enhancement of the NMDA receptor is an effective strategy for ameliorating TBI-associated cognitive deficits.
The development of metasocialization: A theoretical framework

Abstract This article presents a conceptual framework describing the development of children's understanding of their own and others' socialization (metasocialization). Metasocialization is hypothesized to be a joint function of the child's cognitive development, specific socialization experiences with parents, peers, teachers and other important socialization agents and the cultural patterning of socialization (e.g., the allocation of rights to and responsibilities for the child). Hypotheses designed to generate future research are suggested from the framework.
Parenting and Preschooler Attachment among Low-Income Urban African American Families

This study examined the parental correlates of child attachment in a preschool-aged, economically disadvantaged, urban, African American sample. Sixty-nine 4- to 5-year-olds and their primary caregivers participated in the Strange Situation assessment procedure. Based on Cassidy and Marvin's classification system for preschoolers, 61% of the children were classified as securely attached, with girls being significantly more likely to be securely attached than boys (74% versus 45%). The majority of the insecure attachments were of the avoidant variety. Consistent with attachment theory, parents of securely attached children were rated as significantly more warm and accepting and less controlling with their children than were parents of insecurely attached preschoolers. Relative to parents of securely attached preschoolers, parents of children judged to be insecurely attached reported being more likely to use corporal punishment and less likely to use verbal reminders when their children misbehaved. Parenting was associated with attachment over and above the effects of child sex.
Detection and extraction of quasi-linear features in SAR images using a line segment image transform and inverse transform

A line segment image transform and inverse transform is used to detect and extract quasi- linear features in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The transform is a windowed version of the Radon transform. The transform begins by dividing the original image into overlapped subimages using a simple analysis filter. A Radon transform is applied to each subimage yielding a representation of the subimage in terms of line segments at varying angles and positions. The amplitude of each line segment is used to calculate the detection statistic for that line segment. Line segments whose detection statistics are above a specified threshold are passed, and the filtered subimage is reconstructed using an inverse Radon transform (convolution back projection). Finally, the filtered subimages are recombined to form the filtered version of the original image. The filtering procedure passes quasi-linear features in the original image, and rejected features that are not quasi-linear, such as speckle. The inversion procedure is designed so that the original image is reconstructed if the threshold is set to zero.
Fabricating subcollimating grids for an x-ray solar imaging spectrometer using LIGA techniques

We are fabricating sub-collimating X-ray grids that are to be used in an instrument for the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI), a proposed NASA mission. The HESSI instrument consists of twelve rotating pairs of high aspect ratio, high Z grids, each pair of which is separated by 1.7 meters and backed by a single Ge detector. The pitch for these grid pairs ranges from 34 micrometers to 317 micrometers with the grid slit openings being 60% of the pitch. For maximum grid X-ray absorbing with minimum loss of the solar image, the grid thickness-to-grid-slit ratio must be approximately 50:1, resulting in grid thicknesses of 1 to 10 millimeters. For our proof-of-concept grids we are implementing a design in which a 34 micrometers pitch, free-standing PMMA grid is fabricated with 20 micrometers wide slits and an 800 micrometers thickness. Stiffeners that run perpendicular to the grid are placed every 500 micrometers . After exposure and developing, metal, ideally gold, is electrodeposited into the free-standing PMMA grid slits. The PMMA is not removed and the metal in the slits acts as the X-ray absorber grid while the PMMA holds the individual metal pieces in place, the PMMA being nearly transparent to the X-rays coming from the sun. For optimum imaging performance, the root-mean-square pitch of the two grids of each pair must match to within 1 part in 10000 and simultaneous exposures of stacked sheets of PMMA have insured that this requirement is met.
Comparison of the Regge-pole model and the absorption model for the production of spin-32+ particles in meson-nucleon collisions☆

Abstract This paper deals with the study of high-energy reactions of the type 0 − + 1 2 + →0 − + 3 2 + . The problem is approached theoretically in two different ways: the absorptive peripheral model and the Regge-pole theory. The latter is treated with particular emphasis on the removal of kinematic singularities from the helicity amplitudes. The models are finally compared with one another and with recent experimental data on the production of the N ∗ (1236) and Y ∗ (1385) resonances.
Crystallographic extraction and averaging of data from small image areas

The accuracy of structure factor phases determined from electron microscope images is determined mainly by the level of statistical significance, which is limited by the low level of allowed electron exposure and by the number of identical unit cells that can be averaged. It is shown here that Fourier transforms of small image fields of purple membrane (a two-dimensional crystal consisting of bacteriorhodopsin and endogenous lipids) can be combined to provide the same quality of phases as are obtained from Fourier transforms of large image fields of the same total area. Although Fourier transforms of such small image fields are statistically significant only at lower resolution, the data from many such image fields can be averaged at the calculated positions of high-resolution reciprocal lattice points to give accurate phases. More specifically, when images of a size that can be recorded with CCD cameras are processed individually, key parameters including lattice vectors, defocus, crystal and beam tilts, and common phase origin can be accurately determined.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Need to Revisit

Given the complexity of the health care system and the prevalence of acute and chronic mental illnesses, multi-system interventions from an interdisciplinary team of health care providers are necessary to address the needs of individuals in psychiatric and mental health treatment venues. Despite claims that interdisciplinary practice is the norm, in reality it is difficult to accomplish (). Students must be taught the principles and elements of this way of providing care in order to succeed. This paper describes strategies for educating undergraduate nursing students to engage in interdisciplinary collaborative practice. Two case studies are used to illustrate how teaching collaborative skills can be integrated into a psychiatric undergraduate nursing course.
Optimization of Permanent Magnet Assemblies Using Genetic Algorithms

This paper describes the utilization of genetic algorithms to optimize the topology of assemblies of permanent magnets. Conventional genetic algorithms are modified to employ pixel refinement to improve the computational efficiency of the optimization process. An example case is demonstrated for optimizing the figure of merit of a permanent magnet dipole. By using only four magnetization directions, a figure of merit value of 0.11 is achieved using the proposed optimization method.
Temporal variations in rainwater methanol

Abstract. This work reports the first comprehensive analysis of methanol concentrations in rainwater. Methanol concentrations measured in 49 rain events collected between 28 August 2007 and 10 July 2008 in Wilmington, NC, USA, ranged from below the detection limit of 6 nM to 9.3 μM with a volume-weighted average concentration of 1 ± 0.2 μM. Methanol concentrations in rainwater were up to ~200 times greater than concentrations reported previously in marine waters, indicating wet deposition as a potentially significant source of methanol to marine waters. Assuming that these methanol concentrations are an appropriate proxy for global methanol rainwater concentrations, the global methanol wet deposition sink is estimated as 20 Tg yr−1, which implies that previous methanol budgets underestimate removal by precipitation. Methanol concentrations in rainwater did not correlate significantly with H+, NO3−, and NSS, which suggests that the dominant source of the alcohol to rainwater is not anthropogenic. However, methanol concentrations were strongly correlated with acetaldehyde, which has a primarily biogenic input. The methanol volume-weighted concentration during the summer (2.7 ± 0.9 μM) was ~3 times that of the winter (0.9 ± 0.2 μM), further promoting biogenic emissions as the primary cause of temporal variations of methanol concentrations. Methanol concentrations peaked in rainwater collected during the time period 12 p.m.–6 p.m. Peaking during this period of optimal sunlight implies a possible relationship with photochemical methanol production, but there are also increases in biogenic activity during this time period. Rain events with terrestrial origin had greater concentrations than those of marine origin, demonstrating the significance of the continental source of methanol in rainwater.
Design and implementation of heterogeneous distributed multimedia systems using Mosaic GSQL

With more and more computer users having access to the Internet, it is important for them to access the vast amount of information in an efficient and easy manner. This project explores one of the possibilities for providing an integrated system to the user to access the different types of media like text, image, audio and video stored in different databases on remote machines without the user having to know about the underlying mechanism involved in accessing the database. Such a system must hide the location of the remote data, retrieve the information, process the results and present it to the user. We have used the National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA) Mosaic's Gateway Structured Query Language (GSQL), which enables a system developer to build input forms, query to the remote database in a relatively easy manner and present the results to the user. With the help of this prototype, the development time to build such an application is considerably reduced as compared with developing the same application using the existing Graphical User Interface (GUI) tools like the X-Window system.
What is the role of e-learning? Looking past the hype

Editor’s note: This article is part of the Dialogue series which features transcriptions of e-mail discussions focused on a current issue in the field held by two scholars who have approached the issue from different perspectives. For further details, see the editorial published in Med Educ 2012;46:826–7. In this contribution, Dr David Cook, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education and Associate Director, Mayo Clinic Online Learning, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, and Dr Marc Triola, Associate Professor and Director, Institute for Innovations in Medical Education, New York University School of Medicine, discuss the role of e-learning in medical education.
Über die Bildung von CaF2 aus gasförmigem Fluorwasserstoff und festem CaCl2

Die Reaktion {HF}(g) + {CaCl2}(s) 2{HCl}(g) + {CaF2}(s) wurde unter isothermen Bedingungen in einer konstanten HF-Atmosphare bei 293, 393 und 443 K untersucht. Bis zu einem Umsatzgrad x = ⅔ ist die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit bei Verwendung von CaCl2-Pulver in 1. Naherung konstant. Die Reaktion ist bezuglich des eingesetzten CaCl2 0. Ordnung. Daraus ergibt sich, das die chem. Reaktion im Bereich 0 ≤ x ≤ ⅔ geschwindigkeitsbestimmend ist und an einer nahezu konstanten Oberflache ablauft. Die Aktivierungsenergie wurde zu 4,978 kJ/mol bestimmt. On the Formation of CaF2 from Gaseous HF and Solid CaCl2 The reaction 2{HF}g + {CaCl2}s 2{HCl}g + {CaF2}s was studied under isothermal conditions in a constant HF atmosphere at 293, 393, and 443 K. Up to a degree of conversion x = ⅔ the rate of reaction is constant, when using powdered CaCl2. In view of the used CaCl2 the order of reaction is zero. This means, that the chemical reaction is limiting the velocity of the reaction in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ ⅔ and that the reaction takes place at a nearly constant surface. The activation energy was detected with 4.978 kJ/mol.
Tunable harmonic re-radiator for sensing applications

A tunable harmonic re-radiator using meandered shorted patch antennas is designed for wireless sensing applications. The device operates by receiving an interrogation signal and re-transmitting the (modulated) second harmonic. Tunability is achieved by integrating a varactor diode into the input matching network, providing the means for modulating the retransmitted harmonic. Special emphasis has been placed on developing electrically small antennas to significantly reduce the overall footprint without compromising efficiency. The re-radiator measures 22 mm × 8.8 mm and has a measured conversion efficiency of 1.3% at a doubler input power of only 18 μW.
Boys Will Be Boys and Girls Better Be Prepared: An Analysis of the Rare Sexual Health Messages in Young Adolescents' Media

Despite concerns about high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease in the United States, the mass media adolescents attend to most frequently include little accurate information about sexual health. In this study, a preliminary quantitative analysis of the sexual content in four media (television, magazines, music, and movies) popular among 3,261 Black and White adolescents (12–14 years old) found that less than one half of 1% of the content included information about or depictions of sexually healthy behavior. A qualitative analysis of the relatively rare instances of sexual health content revealed that across all four media the sexual health content was ambiguous and/or inaccurate, reinforced traditional gender stereotypes that males seek sex and females are responsible for protection against pregnancy, and presented puberty as funny and contraception as embarrassing or humiliating. These analyses suggest that significant changes in the media's presentations of sexuality would be requi...
Top-down Enhancement and Suppression of the Magnitude and Speed of Neural Activity

Top-down modulation underlies our ability to selectively attend to relevant stimuli and to ignore irrelevant stimuli. Theories addressing neural mechanisms of top-down modulation are driven by studies that reveal increased magnitude of neural activity in response to directed attention, but are limited by a lack of data reporting modulation of neural processing speed, as well as comparisons with a perceptual (passive view) baseline necessary to evaluate the presence of enhancement and suppression. Utilizing functional MRI (fMRI) and event-related potential recordings (ERPs), we provide converging evidence that both the magnitude of neural activity and the speed of neural processing are modulated by top-down influences. Furthermore, both enhancement and suppression occur relative to a perceptual baseline depending on task instruction. These findings reveal the fine degree of influence that goal-directed attention exerts upon activity within the visual association cortex. We further document capacity limitations in top-down enhancement corresponding with working memory performance deficits.
3D displacement field reconstruction from planar tagged cardiac MR images

A major problem in cardiac imaging is the measurement of cardiac motion for identification of ischemic and infarcted tissues. W.G. O'Dell et al. (J. Magn. Reson. Imag., vol.3(p), p.208, 1993) have recently proposed a method that uses magnetic resonance tag patterns to measure the 3D displacement field of the myocardium. The measurements are sparse, however, and interpolation is required to reconstruct a dense displacement field. Here, the authors propose a method for computing a dense displacement field on a regular 3D lattice from sparse displacement measurements. This method uses a multidimensional stochastic model for the true displacement field and the Fisher estimation framework to estimate a displacement vector at each point the lattice. Simulation results are presented that demonstrate the accuracy of the authors' technique. >
Investigation of substrate birefringence effects on optical-disk performance

Substrates for magneto-optical disks are produced economically and efficiently by injection molding of polycarbonate plastics. Unfortunately, most plastics are birefringent, with different refractive indices in the plane of the disk (lateral birefringence) and perpendicular to the plane of the disk (vertical birefringence). One manifestation of media birefringence is the existence of a focus offset between the two distinct best-focus positions for data detection and tracking. This focus offset degrades overall system performance as the compromise focus position between the two best-focus points reduces the operating margin of the individual data and tracking channels. We present detailed numerical modeling results on the role of substrate birefringence in causing this focus offset.
Design and Performance Evaluation of a Proxy-based Java Rewriting Security System

Binary rewriting techniques have been developed to allow users to enforce security policies directly on mobile code. However, the performance overheads incurred for improved security, particularly in large organizations with many end-hosts, accentuate the inherent challenges of code rewriting and limit the rate of improvement in these systems. We integrate a binary code rewriter with a web caching proxy and build the security system called PBJARS, a Proxy-based JAva Rewriting System. PBJARS compliments existing JVM security mechanisms by placing another line of security defense in the code path code associated with code downloads. It gives system administrators centralized security control at the level of administrative domains at proxy servers. We evaluated PB-JARS using real Java binary traffic models derived from analyzing real web trace records. Our experimental results show that the overhead added by binary rewriting can be significantly amortized by web caching and PB-JARS adds negligible performance impact on proxy servers.
Broadening of the scrape-off-layer by a plasma convection induced by toroidal asymmetries of the divertor plates and the gas-puff

In the open field line region of the scrape-off layer (SOL), plasma potential is to a considerable degree determined by the boundary conditions on the divertor plates. By introducing toroidal asymmetries of the surface relief of the divertor plates or of their chemical composition, one can create toroidally asymmetric potential variations over the whole SOL and thereby induce convective plasma motion. This motion should lead to a broadening of the SOL and to reduction of heat load on the divertor plates. Convective motion can be induced also by a toroidally asymmetric gas-puff. In the present paper we consider all these techniques and evaluate the possible increase in the cross-field transport.
Plastic Deformation and Solid‐Solution Hardening of Y2O3‐Stabilized ZrO2

Fully stabilized cubic ZrO2 single crystals containing various Y2O3 concentrations were deformed at 1400°C in air. The orientation chosen favored (001)(110) slip, which was confirmed by slip-trace analysis and transmission electron microscopy; (111)(110) slip could also be activated. The yield and flow stresses increased with increasing Y2O3 concentration, and stress-strain curves were dominated by a region of zero work hardening from very small strains for all compositions.
State Governance, Politics, and Mandatory Student Fees: Navigating a New Reality in the University System of Georgia

Rapidly increasing enrollments, combined with declining state revenues, cuts to state appropriations, and the increasing cost of educating students have coalesced during a global economic recession, leaving American institutions of public higher education in financial crisis. Institutions are looking for new sources of revenue and are increasingly turning to mandatory student fees to help fill the gap. In Georgia, public higher education is governed by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents (USG BOR), a highly politicized body that has the power to set mandatory student fee rates with significant input from institutional committees. This study aimed to discover the perspective of senior level officials in both the institution and the state governing body on the role of mandatory student fees in the USG. This paper reviews the literature informing the use and governance of mandatory student fees, examines USG mandatory student fee rates, policies, and procedures, and provides qualitative data from senior officials at the University System of Georgia and one sample USG institution.The economic and political conditions of the USG significantly affect student fee policy and rates. Examples in this study include changes in the merit-based HOPE Scholarship, a state performance audit of mandatory student fees, and leadership changes in the legislature and USG BOR. This study found that mandatory student fees are being utilized to offset the decline in state appropriations to the University System of Georgia, both at the system and institutional level. Fee rates are increasing dramatically in the USG, most significantly from a BOR-mandated special institutional fee and the proliferation of mandatory student fees to fund public private construction ventures. The BOR-mandated special institutional fee is the most significant finding of the study as it circumvented the fee approval process and has become an indispensable financial tool in funding the general operation and academic mission of USG institutions. State governance plays an important role in mandatory student fee decisions through the involvement of a complex web of stakeholders, which adds layers of politics that complicate the mandatory student fee process for the institutions as well as for the system.
Category VI: Positive or Malignant

A positive or malignant interpretation implies an unequivocal diagnosis of a high-grade and/or aggressive neoplasm including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or a variant, cholangiocarcinoma, acinar cell carcinoma, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (small cell or large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma), pancreatoblastoma, lymphomas, sarcomas, and metastases to the pancreas. Low-grade neoplasms such as well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor and solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm are included in the “Neoplastic: Other” category.
Parents’ understanding of gratitude in children: A thematic analysis

Abstract Current definitions of gratitude are based primarily on research with adults about their own experiences of gratitude, yet what children are grateful for, and how they understand, experience, and express gratitude may be very different. To better understand the forms that gratitude may take in children, we asked 20 parents in six focus groups to talk about their views of gratitude in young children. Parents had at least one child who was 6–9 years old. Sessions were conducted in the children’s schools and lasted for one hour. Transcripts were examined using inductive analysis and three types of saturation were achieved. Parents described children as grateful for both tangible and intangible gifts, and identified multiple cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of gratitude in their children. Gratitude was understood to be a momentary experience, a more enduring feeling, and a way of being, suggesting a more continuous perspective regarding the duration of gratitude. Parents identified four cognitive and emotional barriers that are effectively opposites of gratitude. Parents also recognized that gratitude develops in children over time. Implications for understanding gratitude from a developmental perspective, as well as suggestions for future research in the development of children’s gratitude are discussed.
Accuracy of water displacement hand volumetry using an ethanol and water mixture.

BACKGROUND The traditional water displacement method for measuring limb volume is improved by adding ethanol to water. METHODS Four solutions were tested (pure water, 0.5% ethanol, 3% ethanol, and 6% ethanol) to determine the most accurate method when measuring the volume of a known object. RESULTS The 3% and 6% ethanol solutions significantly reduced (P < 0.001) the mean standard deviation of 10 measurements of a known sphere (390.1 +/- 0.25 mi) from 2.27 ml with pure water to 0.9 ml using the 3% alcohol solution and to 0.6 using 6% ethanol solution (the mean coefficients of variation were reduced from 0.59% for water to 0.22% for 3% ethanol and 0.16% for 6% ethanol). The spheres' volume measured with pure water, 0.5% ethanol solution, 3% ethanol solution, and 6% ethanol solution was 383.2 +/- 2.27 ml, 384.4 +/- 1.9 ml, 389.4 +/- 0.9 ml, and 390.2 +/- 0.6 ml, respectively. Using the 3% and 6% ethanol solutions to measure hand volume blindly in 10 volunteers significantly reduced the mean coefficient of variation for hand volumetry from 0.91% for water to 0.52% for the 3% ethanol solution (P < 0.05) and to 0.46% for the 6% ethanol solution (P < 0.05). The mean standard deviation from all 10 subjects decreased from 4.2 ml for water to 2.3 ml for 3% ethanol solution and 2.1 ml for the 6% solution. DISCUSSION These findings document that the accuracy and reproducibility of hand volume measurements are improved by small additions of ethanol, most likely by reducing surface tension of water.
K2O · 6TiO2 whisker-aluminium composite

Excellentes proprietes mecaniques, specialement a haute temperature, des alliages d'Al renforces par des trichites ceramiques. Avantages du faible cout des trichites de K 2 O•6TiO 2 qui moins durs que les trichites de SiC, sont plus faciles a usiner. Fabrication de la preforme en whisker par la methode d'aspiration (description), puis obtention du composite par infiltration de l'Al liquide a travers la preforme fibreuse placee dans un moule metallique, sous une pression de 100 MPa appliquee tout de suite apres la coulee de l'Al. Le temps de solidification etant tres rapide (15 s) la duree du contact entre whiskers et Al a l'etat liquide est tres courte
Ecological and Nutritional Studies on Coleomegilla maculate (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) IV. Amino Acid Requirements of the Adults Determined by the Use of C14-Labeled Acetate

Fifty adult Coleomegilla maculata (De Geer) were fed on 250 ml of an aqueous solution of sodium acetate-1-C14 which contained 600 micrograms of the salt; total C14 was 10 microcuries. After 4 hr, the beetles were homogenized, the amino acids were extracted and separated by thin-layer chromatography, and the activity was measured, using a scintillation counter. Glycine, serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, and lysine showed high activity, and are considered to have been synthesized in vivo. They are apparently nonessential, in contrast to threonine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, and valine, which are essential or derived exclusively from essential dietary constituents. The low activity shown by alanine, leucine, arginine, and histidine indicated a low level of C14 incorporation. Three unknown ninhydrin-positive compounds were isolated, in addition to the 19 amino acids that were identified.
Concerning isothermal self-similar blast waves

We investigate the one-dimensional self-similar flow behind a blast wave from a plane explosion in a medium whose density varies with distance asx−ω with the assumption that the flow is isothermal. If ω ω>0 one critical point exists. To be physically acceptable the flow must by-pass this critical point. It is shown that a continuous solution passing through both the origin and through the shock and by-passing the critical point does exist. If 1>ω>1/3 the first critical point does not exist but a second one appears. To be physically acceptable the flow must again by-pass this new critical point. We show that a continuous solution passing through both the origin and the shock and by-passing the new critical point exists in this case. If ω>1 no physically acceptable solution exists since the mass behind the shock is infinite.
Analysis on Splicing Performance of Cross-Section Combined Angle Steel of Power Transmission Lines

The stress inside and outside the traditional cross-section combined angle steel of power transmission lines are uneven, which results in the deviation between the actual carrying capacity and theoretical design value. The double-angle steel splicing is proposed to improve the mechanical behavior of cross-section combined angle steel. Stress analysis on two splicing forms of cross-section combined angle steel was carried out with finite element simulation, so as to compare two different forms the coordination of component displacement, stress evenness, and stress status of the maximum stress control section. The results show that the displacement compatibility and the bearing capacity in double-angle steel splicing form are better than those in the single-angle steel splicing form, especially for towers with different height legs, in which the maximum stress of the main material of two splicing forms on the control section is 4.7% and 13.7%, respectively.
Application of healthy education in gluteus contracture children by clinical nursing pathway

Objective To discuss the effect of healthy education in gluteus contracture children by clinical nursing pathway.Methods Sixty gluteus contracture children were randomly assigned to thecontrolled group(30 cases) and the experimental group(30 cases).The routine instruction was used in the controlled group,the experiment was executed by formulated healthy education pathway.Then their healthy education achieved rate and the degree of satisfaction to nursing action were compared.Results Two group's difference existed statistically in the healthy education achieved rate and the degree of satisfaction to nursing action(P0.01).Conclusion To the gluteus contracture children,using the healthy education by nursing operation may enhance the achieved rate and raise the degree of satisfaction to the nursing action.The results outstrip routine educational method.
Arthur Christopher Benson, [‘Charlotte Brontë as a Governess’] (1839), in The Life of Edward White Benson, Sometime Archbishop of Canterbury (London: Macmillan, 2 volumes, 1899), vol. i , p. 12

Charlotte Bronte acted as governess to my cousins at Stonegappe for a few months is 1839. Few traditions of her connection with the Sidgwicks survive. She was, according to her own account, very unkindly treated, but it is clear that she had no gifts for the management of children and was also in a very morbid condition the whole time. My cousin Benson Sidgwick, now Vicar of Ashby Parva, certainly on one occasion threw a Bible at Miss Bronte: and all that another cousin can recollect of her is that if she was invited to walk to Church with them she thought she was being ordered about like a slave; if she was not invited, she imagined she was excluded from the family circle. Both Mr and Mrs John Sidgwick were extraordinarily benevolent people, much beloved, and would not wittingly have given pain to any one connected with them.
Remapping US Theater: Q and A with Todd London

Jan Cohen-Cruz: So Todd — do you encounter theater companies and individual artists drawn to collaborating with people who don’t work in theater?
The Road to Certainty and Back

The author relates his intellectual journey from eye-testing clinician to experimental vision scientist. Starting with the quest for underpinning in physics and physiology of vague clinical propositions and of psychology's acceptance of thresholds as "fuzzy-edged," and a long career pursuing a reductionist agenda in empirical vision science, his journey led to the realization that the full understanding of human vision cannot proceed without factoring in an observer's awareness, with its attendant uncertainty and open-endedness. He finds support in the loss of completeness, finality, and certainty revealed in fundamental twentieth-century formulations of mathematics and physics. Just as biology prospered with the introduction of the emergent, nonreductionist concepts of evolution, vision science has to become comfortable accepting data and receiving guidance from human observers' conscious visual experience.
Bare and thin-film-coated substrates with null reflection for p- and s-polarized light at the same angle of incidence: reflectance and ellipsometric parameters as functions of substrate refractive index and film thickness.

Intensity reflectances and ellipsometric parameters of a partially clad transparent substrate that suppresses the reflection of incident p- and s-polarized light at the same angle of incidence from uncoated and single-layer-coated areas are determined as functions of normalized film thickness ς and substrate refractive index n2. The common polarizing angle is the Brewster angle of the ambient–substrate interface, and the light beam incident from the ambient (air or vacuum) is refracted in the film at a 45° angle from the normal to the parallel-plane film boundaries. For n2≤2, the differential reflection phase shift Δ=δp−δs≈±90° for all values of ς so that the Brewster angle is also approximately the principal angle of the film–substrate system independent of film thickness. Accurate techniques for monitoring the deposition of such films are also proposed.
Electrical characteristics of high energy-density exploded wire plasmas

Previously reported and new experimental data are compared with results of an MHD computer code developed to simulate exploded-wire plasma discharges driven by dielectric-transmission-line pulse generators. The electric characteristics of exploded wire plasmas and spectral measurements supporting the MHD model are reported. (MOW)
On the validity of representation of the inter-particle forces of a polymer-colloid cluster by linear springs

Abstract We have investigated the validity of the popular assumption of identical linear spring (ILS) in polymer-colloids aggregated clusters. The ILS assumption suggests that all inter-particle bonds in an aggregated cluster of polymer chains and colloid particles can be represented by identical linear springs. The assumption has been challenged by several experiments that showed the bond stiffness varies across the cluster based on the connectivity of their associated particles. Yet, the predictions of the computational models that used ILS assumption are surprisingly well-aligned with the experiments in some materials. By coupling the coarse-grain Brownian dynamics simulation to a Multi-body dynamics model, a systematic pathway for analyzing the effect of connectivity of particles on elasticity of polymer-colloids aggregated clusters is presented. ILS assumption is found to be valid for systems with a stress path formation mechanism such as close-packed polymer-colloid clusters. We found the assumption irrelevant in systems with wave-like stress distribution mechanism, such as with granular materials, sand piles and jammed systems. Keywords Mechanics; polymer-colloid clusters; Identical springs assumption.
Guggulsterone and chemoprevention of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PR-02 The invasiveness and high incidence of second primary tumors (SPTs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) account for much of the morbidity and mortality associated with this carcinogen-induced neoplasm. Chemoprevention, aimed at counteracting the effects of carcinogens and/or preventing HNSCC SPTs and recurrence represents an important clinical goal. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize a naturally-occurring, plant-derived compound that has the potential for clinical use as a preventive therapy for HNSCC. Guggulsterone is a compound present in the extract of the Commiphora mukul plant, a component of traditional Indian medicine used to treat various illnesses. It has been shown to have in vitro anticancer activity in acute myeloid leukemia, prostate and lung cancers and, additionally, to suppress the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), a transcription factor that promotes tumorigenesis in various cancers including HNSCC. We found that guggulsterone inhibits proliferation of 1483 and UM-22b HNSCC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner with IC50s of 2.5-5 µM, as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Furthermore, guggulsterone treatment (20 µM for 48 hours) resulted in an approximate two fold increase in cytoplasmic histone associated DNA fragmentation (apoptosis) in UM-22b cells. Treatment of 1483 and 22b cell lines for 24 hours increased the cell population in the G1 phase of the cell cycle at 10 µM by 13.2 and 6.6 % of the total population and at 20 µM by 30.4 and 15.6 % of the total population, respectively, as shown through propidium iodide staining and flow cytometric analysis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 is an oncogenic transcription factor known to be constitutively active in HNSCC and to promote cell survival and inhibit apoptosis in HNSCC cell lines and tumor xenografts. Guggulsterone-treated 1483 and UM-22b cells exhibited dose-dependent decreases in levels of both phosphotyrosine STAT3 (thought to be the active form) and total STAT3. Future in vivo studies evaluating guggulsterone9s ability to prevent HNSCC will hopefully complement these in vitro studies in providing a basis for clinical trial of guggulsterone as a chemopreventive therapy for HNSCC.
Prenatal genetic diagnosis of Neu-Laxova syndrome

A 21-year-old woman, gravida 3 para 0, presented for first trimester screening. Pregnancy was notable for consanguinity (Figure 1) and a history of a prior foetus with Neu-Laxova syndrome (NLS). He...
Treatment of Eaton stage I trapeziometacarpal disease. Ligament reconstruction or thumb metacarpal extension osteotomy

SUMMARY Although the cause of TM joint hypermobility may be multifactorial, translational laxity and instability appear to be related to degeneration of the beak ligament. 8, 10, 20–22 Indeed, the forces experienced at the normal TM joint with grip and pinch are magnified several fold5 and are concentrated in the palmar aspect of the joint.12 The TM stress test used in preoperative assessment of thumbs with hypermobile TM joints reflects nonphysiologic dorsal translation and correlates with histologic evidence of detachment of the metacarpal origin of the beak ligament. Ligament reconstruction of the painful TM joint reflects the importance of the beak ligament in providing stability and in limiting dorsal translation of the metacarpal that normally occurs during dynamic pinch activity. Metacarpal extension osteotomy by contrast, shifts mechanical loading at the TM joint more dorsally and redirects force vectors. Its precise role in the treatment of TM disease has long remained ill-defined because of a lack of correlation between preoperative disease status and postoperative functional result. It appears now, however, that for stage I disease, metacarpal extension osteotomy may result in satisfactory pain relief and improved grip and pinch strength-at least in the short term. Indeed, extension osteotomy may be an efficacious alternative to ligament reconstruction, but long-term follow-up and additional clinical studies will be helpful in shedding additional light on this topic.
In silico functional analyses and discovery of survival-associated microRNA signatures in pediatric osteosarcoma.

Purpose: Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor in children, adolescents, and young adults. In contrast to other childhood malignancies, no biomarkers have been consistently identified as predictors of outcome. This study was conducted to assess the microRNAs(miRs) expression signatures in pre-treatment osteosarcoma specimens and correlate with outcome to identify biomarkers for disease relapse. Results: A 42-miRs signature whose expression levels were associated with overall and relapse-free survival was identified. There were 8 common miRs between the two sets of survival-associated miRs. Bioinformatic analyses of these survivalassociated miRs suggested that they might regulate genes involved in ubiquitin proteasome system, TGFb, IGF, PTEN/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, PDGFR/RAF/MEK/ERK, and ErbB/HER pathways. Methods: The cohort consisted of 27 patients of 70% Mexican-American ethnicity. High-throughput RT-qPCR approach was used to generate quantitative expression of 754 miRs in the human genome. We examined tumor recurrence status, survival time and their association with miR expression levels by Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. TargetScan was used to predict miR/genes interactions, and functional analyses using KEGG, BioCarta, Gene Ontology were applied to these potential targets to predict deregulated pathways. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that these miRs might be potentially useful as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in pediatric osteosarcoma.