cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
If I Were General Counsel for the NCAA: A Report on How to Properly Exploit Student Athlete’s Right of Publicity

In light of the legal, business, and policy interests surrounding Keller, the NCAA should obtain an express license for the use of SA rights of publicity, enumerating the specific subject matter and scope for which use is contemplated. Part I will introduce Keller. Part II will provide a history and discussion of the right of publicity, focusing on the right's application in the sports industry and with respect to video games. Part III will outline the NCAA's current treatment of the right of publicity. Finally, part IV will seek to form a more profitable, efficient, risk averse, and savory plan for the NCAA's development and commercial exploitation of college athletics.
New Estimation of the Renminbi Regime

The chapter addresses the question: what precisely is the exchange rate regime that China has put into place since it announced a move away from the dollar peg in 2005? Is it a basket anchor with the possibility of cumulatable daily appreciations, as was announced at the time? We apply to this question a new approach to estimating countries’ de facto exchange rate regimes, a synthesis of two techniques. One technique estimates implicit de facto currency weights when the hypothesis is a basket peg with little flexibility. The second technique is used to estimate the de facto degree of exchange rate flexibility when the hypothesis is an anchor to the dollar or some other single major currency. It is important to have available a technique that can cover both dimensions, inferring weights and inferring flexibility. The synthesis adds a variable representing “exchange market pressure” to the currency basket equation, whereby the degree of flexibility is estimated at the same time as the currency weights. This approach reveals that by mid-2007, the RMB basket had switched a substantial part of the dollar’s weight onto the euro. The implication is that the appreciation of the RMB against the dollar during this period was due to the appreciation of the euro against the dollar, not to any upward trend in the RMB relative to its basket.
Rate of glycogenesis in liver of depancreatized rat after parenteral administration of glucose and fructose.

Summary1. Following intraperitoneal injection, fructose formed liver glycogen more rapidly, and to a greater extent, than glucose in depancreatized rats. 2. When injected intraperitoneally, glucose formed liver glycogen as rapidly in depancreatized rats as in normal rats. 3. Absence of the pancreas from the otherwise intact rat showed no apparent effect upon activity of any of the enzymes involved in formation of glycogen from fructose or glucose in the liver. 4. The data obtained suggest that the metabolic processes in the liver involved in formation of glycogen from fructose or glucose are not directly influenced by insulin.
Prediction of Low-velocity Impact Damage in Sandwich Composite Beams

A characteristic failure mechanisms that is observed in the damage evolution of laminated composite beams subjected to low velocity impact is delamination interacting with matrix cracking. This failure mode can be studied in isolation by investigating the low velocity impact response of sandwich panels where thin face sheets are bonded to a core. In these panels, failure is seen to initiate in the core by cracking, leading to delamination between the core and the face sheet. Results for the flexural response and failure mechanisms of sandwich composite beams under three point bend loading, both for quasi-static and dynamic loading are presented. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique is used to obtain the surface strain field during the response event as well as capturing the onset of failure. A 2D, plane strain finite element (FE) model using the Smeared Crack Approach (SCA) has been developed to predict the response and interactive failure seen in the experiments. The FE model accurately captures the response seen in the experiments as well as the mode of failure and the progression.
Rural Development Based on Grassroots Participation

The experience of rural development in the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement (SSM) in Sri Lanka is analyzed from the viewpoint of grassroots participation.It was not until the late 1960s that rural development became a paramount issue in the discussion of development problems. Most of the past efforts however have shown rather poor results except the production effects of the Green Revolution technology; Sri Lanka is not an exception to this. Though the country is famous for the growth-with-justice strategy employed by successive governments, the rural poor have not yet fully benefited from the recent central decision to accelerate economic growth. The clue to successful rural development is to be found in grassroots participation.SSM has established an international reputation as a non-governmental organization involved in helping the poor help themselves. A brief description of its history, which reveals that more than one third of the total village communities in the country have already received the Sarvodaya message in one degree or another, is followed by a closer look at the development activities of the Sarvodaya village. They include various fields such as education, training, health, agriculture, local small-scale industries, all of which are oriented toward satisfying the Ten Basic Needs defined by SSM. The remarkable rural mobilization in SSM can be attributed to the fact that the movement has, since its inception in 1958, evolved the Buddhist notion of development as well as the practical strategy to realize it in the Sri Lankan rural context. Both are thus derived from the cultural tradition of the people there and familiar to them, resulting in having become instrumental in promoting mass participation. SSM's approach to rural development may therefore appear to evoke the potential energy of collective creativity with which the village community is endowed.
Ultrathin TiO2 Gate Dielectric Formation by Annealing of Sputtered Ti on Nitrogen Passivated Si Substrates in Nitric Oxide Ambient

We have fabricated very thin TiO2 film (Teq∼20A) by RTP oxidation of sputtered Ti in NO ambient on nitrogen passivated Si substrates. The leakage current is about two orders magnitude lower than SiO2 of identical Teq. Results show that NO passivation layer prior to sputtering is critical in reducing the leakage current. XPS results show that the temperature RTP NO oxidation of sputtered Ti is very important for achieving high quality TiO2 films. high oxidation temperature an SiO2 layer is formed at the interface between TiO2 and Si and the leakage current is approaching to that of SiO2.
Exploring the free energy surface using ab initio molecular dynamics

Efficient exploration of configuration space and identification of metastable structures in condensed phase systems are challenging from both computational and algorithmic perspectives. In this regard, schemes that utilize a set of pre-defined order parameters to sample the relevant parts of the configuration space [L. Maragliano and E. Vanden-Eijnden, Chem. Phys. Lett. 426, 168 (2006); J. B. Abrams and M. E. Tuckerman, J. Phys. Chem. B 112, 15742 (2008)] have proved useful. Here, we demonstrate how these order-parameter aided temperature accelerated sampling schemes can be used within the Born-Oppenheimer and the Car-Parrinello frameworks of ab initio molecular dynamics to efficiently and systematically explore free energy surfaces, and search for metastable states and reaction pathways. We have used these methods to identify the metastable structures and reaction pathways in SiO2 and Ti. In addition, we have used the string method [W. E, W. Ren, and E. Vanden-Eijnden, Phys. Rev. B 66, 052301 (2002); L. Maragliano et al., J. Chem. Phys. 125, 024106 (2006)] within the density functional theory to study the melting pathways in the high pressure cotunnite phase of SiO2 and the hexagonal closed packed to face centered cubic phase transition in Ti.
Epidemiology of Mumps in Xiqu District of Panzhihua Municipality

Objective To find out the epidemiological features of mumps and the incidence cause in Xiqu District,provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of mumps.Methods Incidence data of mumps collected from notifiable communicable disease reporting system and case survey in Xiqu were analyzed.Results A total of 672 cases were reported in Xiqu from 2005 to 2008 with the average annual incidence rate of 99.74% /100 000.Most cases were at the age of 5-14 years,accounting for 74.40% of the total cases(500/672).The majority of cases occurred in students(64.14%,431/672),67.71% of cases occurred during March-July(455/672).All areas in Xiqu was involved.Four mumps outbreaks occurred from 2005 to 2008 with 181 cases.The incidence rate for the people who didn't receive MMR vaccination or with unknown MMR vaccination history was higher than those who received MMR vaccination(P0.01).The incidence rate for the people who didn't receive MMR vaccination was higher than those with unknown vaccination history(P0.01);the incidence rate for the people with more than 5 years vaccination history was higher than those with less than 5 years vaccination history(P0.01).Conclusion The incidence rate of mumps in Xiqu District was high,and mumps outbreak frequently occurred.Low MMR vaccination rate and large number of susceptible population were main causes for the mumps outbreaks in Xiqu.
Ecology and the Architectural Imagination; and Design Education for a Sustainable Future

Brook MullerRoutledge, 2014178 pages$49.95 (softcover) Rob FlemingRoutledge, 2013264 pages$51.95 (softcover)These two books advance the concept that architects should be ecologically literate in th...
Regulation of PI hydrolysis and cAMP formation by muscarinic M3 receptor in guinea pig gallbladder.

Carbachol (10(-8)-10(-3) M) produced two distinct biochemical responses in the guinea pig gallbladder smooth muscle: simulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and inhibition of forskolin-mediated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) formation in a dose-dependent manner. The mean effective dose (ED50) concentration (1.6 x 10(-5) M) of carbachol-mediated stimulation of PI hydrolysis was 145 times greater than the ED50 concentration (1.1 x 10(-7) M) of carbachol mediated inhibition of cAMP formation. The inhibitory effect of carbachol on cAMP formation was antagonized by the pretreatment of pertussis toxin. To determine whether these two biochemical responses were mediated by the same or different subtypes of muscarinic receptors, the relative potencies of muscarinic receptor antagonists were calculated by Schild analysis. The M3 muscarinic antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) exhibited inhibitory constant (Ki) values at 0.3 and 1.2 nM in antagonizing the stimulatio...
Depletion of Tip60 from In Vivo Cardiomyocytes Increases Myocyte Density, Followed by Cardiac Dysfunction, Myocyte Fallout and Lethality

Tat-interactive protein 60 (Tip60), encoded by the Kat5 gene, is a member of the MYST family of acetyltransferases. Cancer biology studies have shown that Tip60 induces the DNA damage response, apoptosis, and cell-cycle inhibition. Although Tip60 is expressed in the myocardium, its role in cardiomyocytes (CMs) is unclear. Earlier studies here showed that application of cardiac stress to globally targeted Kat5+/-haploinsufficient mice resulted in inhibition of apoptosis and activation of the CM cell-cycle, despite only modest reduction of Tip60 protein levels. It was therefore of interest to ascertain the effects of specifically and substantially depleting Tip60 from CMs using Kat5LoxP/-;Myh6-Cre mice in the absence of stress. We report initial findings using this model, in which the effects of specifically depleting Tip60 protein from ventricular CMs, beginning at early neonatal stages, were assessed in 2-12 week-old mice. Although 5'-bromodeoxyuridine immunostaining indicated that CM proliferation was not altered at any of these stages, CM density was increased in 2 week-old ventricles, which persisted in 4 week-old hearts when TUNEL staining revealed inhibition of apoptosis. By week 4, levels of connexin-43 were depleted, and its patterning was dysmorphic, concomitant with an increase in cardiac hypertrophy marker expression and interstitial fibrosis. This was followed by systolic dysfunction at 8 weeks, after which extensive apoptosis and CM fallout occurred, followed by lethality as mice approached 12 weeks of age. In summary, chronic depletion of Tip60 from the ventricular myocardium beginning at early stages of neonatal heart development causes CM death after 8 weeks; hence, Tip60 protein has a crucial function in the heart.
South Africa: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Sullivan Principles:

By the 1980s, the continued presence of foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) in South Africa (SA) had become a hotly debated subject and one not without controversy. On one side of the debate were those who favored total disengagement from SA. Proponents of this view believed that the presence of overseas MNCs in SA gave moral legitimacy to the White minority government and created a vested overseas interest in the status quo, which, in turn, increased the desire to see the maintenance and stability of the existing political system. They proposed that economic sanctions, comprehensively applied against SA, would accelerate the dismantling of the racist system of government. On the other side were those who asserted that by liberalizing employment practices in SA, overseas MNCs set a positive example for other employers in the country. This would have the net impact of making everyone, regardless of color, economically well off in the long run. Thus, whereas the pro-investment group seemed to favor a "constructive engagement" approach to solving the apartheid problem, the prodivestment group believed that application of economic pressure would hasten the elimination of apartheid. Many believe that it was the pressure brought to bear on SA in the late 1980s, rather than a voluntary change of heart by the White
Bypass of an anesthesiologist-directed preoperative evaluation clinic results in greater first-case tardiness and turnover times.

Abstract Study objective We evaluated 4 hypotheses related to bypass of an anesthesiologist-directed preoperative evaluation clinics (APEC): 1) first-case tardiness and turnover times increased; 2) turnover times increased more than first-case tardiness; and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA PS) resulted in both an ordered increase among ASA PS and within ASA PS in 3) first-case tardiness; and 4) turnover times. Design Retrospective observational study using electronic health records. Setting One large, teaching hospital. Patients An average of 14,310 patients per year undergoing elective surgery in the hospital's main opera rating rooms who were not inpatients preoperatively between 2006 and 2016. Interventions None. Measurements Average increases in first-case tardiness and turnover times between patients seen or not seen preoperatively in the APEC. Main results APEC bypass increased first-case tardiness 2.58 min per case (CI 1.55–3.61; P P P P P P -values P -values Conclusions Overall and with control for ASA PS, APEC bypass increases first-case tardiness and turnover times. A strategy of selective bypass of ASA PS 1–2 patients would not be effective economically because of substantial delays from ASA PS 2 patients.
Validation of Test Methods for Air Leak Rate Verification of Spaceflight Hardware

As deep space exploration continues to be the goal of NASAs human spaceflight program, verification of the performance of spaceflight hardware becomes increasingly critical. Suitable test methods for verifying the leak rate of sealing systems are identified in program qualification testing requirements. One acceptable method for verifying the air leak rate of gas pressure seals is the tracer gas leak detector method. In this method, a tracer gas (commonly helium) leaks past the test seal and is transported to the leak detector where the leak rate is quantified. To predict the air leak rate, a conversion factor of helium-to-air is applied depending on the magnitude of the helium flow rate. The conversion factor is based on either the molecular mass ratio or the ratio of the dynamic viscosities. The current work was aimed at validating this approach for permeation-level leak rates using a series of tests with a silicone elastomer O-ring. An established pressure decay method with constant differential pressure was used to evaluate both the air and helium leak rates of the O-ring under similar temperature and pressure conditions. The results from the pressure decay tests showed, for the elastomer O-ring, that neither the molecular flow nor the viscous flow helium-to-air conversion factors were applicable. Leak rate tests were also performed using nitrogen and argon as the test gas. Molecular mass and viscosity based helium-to-test gas conversion factors were applied, but did not correctly predict the measured leak rates of either gas. To further this study, the effect of pressure boundary conditions was investigated. Often, pressure decay leak rate tests are performed at a differential pressure of 101.3 kPa with atmospheric pressure on the downstream side of the test seal. In space applications, the differential pressure is similar, but with vacuum as the downstream pressure. The same O-ring was tested at four unique differential pressures ranging from 34.5 to 137.9 kPa. Up to six combinations of upstream and downstream pressures for each differential pressure were compared. For a given differential pressure, the various combinations of upstream and downstream dry air pressures did not significantly affect the leak rate. As expected, the leak rate of the O-ring increased with increasing differential pressure. The results suggested that the current leak test pressure conditions, used to verify spacecraft sealing systems with elastomer seals, produce accurate values even though the boundary conditions do not model the space application.
Nonlinear mechanics of non-rigid origami: an efficient computational approach.

Origami-inspired designs possess attractive applications to science and engineering (e.g. deployable, self-assembling, adaptable systems). The special geometric arrangement of panels and creases gives rise to unique mechanical properties of origami, such as reconfigurability, making origami designs well suited for tunable structures. Although often being ignored, origami structures exhibit additional soft modes beyond rigid folding due to the flexibility of thin sheets that further influence their behaviour. Actual behaviour of origami structures usually involves significant geometric nonlinearity, which amplifies the influence of additional soft modes. To investigate the nonlinear mechanics of origami structures with deformable panels, we present a structural engineering approach for simulating the nonlinear response of non-rigid origami structures. In this paper, we propose a fully nonlinear, displacement-based implicit formulation for performing static/quasi-static analyses of non-rigid origami structures based on ‘bar-and-hinge’ models. The formulation itself leads to an efficient and robust numerical implementation. Agreement between real models and numerical simulations demonstrates the ability of the proposed approach to capture key features of origami behaviour.
Abstract 3958: Inhibiting the inhibitor: Exploring the p53-Rbm38 loop as a potential cancer therapeutic target

Modulating Rbm38 negative regulation of p53 translation may be an effective therapeutic target in human cancers. As a focal regulatory component of RNA metabolism, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) modulate all facets of RNA biogenesis. Given the fact that RBPs control RNA metabolism, defects in the function of RBPs can have far reaching implications including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Our group discovered that Rbm38 suppresses p53 mRNA translation by interacting with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) on p53 mRNA. Conceptually, blocking the Rbm38 interaction with eIF4E employing synthetic peptides corresponding to their respective binding interface should relieve the translational repression caused by Rbm38. Indeed, treating cancer cells with synthetic peptides corresponding to the binding interface between Rbm38 and eIF4E resulted in robust p53 protein expression. Moreover, addition of peptide and low dose doxorubicin caused further accumulation of p53. Consequently, treatment of cancer cells with peptide alone or in combination with low dose doxorubicin leads to a decrease in colony formation as well as tumor sphere formation. Of significance, RKO xenografts with wild-type p53 were highly sensitive to treatment with a synthetic peptide comprising just 8 amino acids (Pep8) compared to the control group. Together, these data support that p53 expression can be modulated by using small peptides to inhibit Rbm38 from interacting with eIF4E, which may be used as a therapeutic approach in cancers carrying wild-type p53. Citation Format: Chris A. Lucchesi. Inhibiting the inhibitor: Exploring the p53-Rbm38 loop as a potential cancer therapeutic target [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3958.
Transferrin: Iron Metabolism

By their very nature all plasma proteins will tend to bind anions and cations and various types of organic compounds. Almost every type of bond, including primary and secondary valences and Van der Waals forces are employed for this purpose. Thus there are polar bonds, such as in salt formation with anions or cations, since proteins are amphoteric in nature. With semipolar bonds chelate formation occurs, especially when binding metal ions. Hydrogen bonding is common since the oxygen on the carbonyl group and the nitrogen of the amide both will bind protons. Insertion of hydrocarbon portions of a molecule into a hydrophobic pocket formed in a protein fold is common. This is used in treating proteins with dodecyl sulfate so as to provide a uniform electrical charge for all proteins, in acrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Electromagnetic Modeling Techniques Using Finite Element Methods

In designing and in evaluating finite element packages for industrial electromagnetics applications. the: following questions are typical: How easy is the package to use? How accurate is the solution? Can I get smooth flux plots? What about the electric and magnetic fields?
Static Routing in Stochastic Scheduling: Performance Guarantees and Asymptotic Optimality

Scheduling problems have a deep and well-developed literature in both operations research and computer science. Stochastic scheduling problems with many jobs are notoriously difficult, and optimal ...
The Rhetoric of Fascism: Or, This Is the Way the World Ends

The next decade will be one of the most decisive periods in human history. We currently face the reality of a coming climate catastrophe brought about by centuries of industrial resource extraction...
Feasibility Trial of a 10-Week Adaptive

Abstract Background This study assessed the feasibility of implementing a yoga intervention adapted for participants diagnosed with chronic pain in a large Midwest neuroscience pain clinic. Although conducted using a small convenience sample, this was a novel program in that it was led by an advanced practice nurse certified in pain management and to teach yoga. She was therefore uniquely qualified to tailor the yoga practice to suit individual needs of study participants. Design The intervention consisted of a weekly 1-hour class for 10 weeks. Feasibility measures included patient recruitment, program adherence, patient satisfaction, global impression of change, and likelihood of continuing yoga practice. In addition, it was hypothesized that the program would positively affect participants’ pain interference, physical function, pain intensity, pain behavior, mood, sleep, and pain medication usage. Methods Survey measurements were conducted 10 weeks before class start, immediately before the first class, and immediately after the last class. Conclusions Although there is a strong body of research supporting the benefits of yoga for chronic pain conditions, our experience highlights some of the challenges of implementing an adaptive yoga program. Our study found that recruitment of patient through physician referral was highly feasible; however, retention rates for participants were very low. Program adherence is a barrier for research on yoga in chronic pain, as well as for clinical practice. A slight reduction in pain interference and physical function over time and trend toward improvement in all exploratory outcomes was identified. None of these trends were statistically significant, likely because of small sample size.
P‐N Compounds. Part 29. Phosphaminimides. Part 4. Synthesis Comparisons with Carbonyl and Sulfonyl Compounds.

The phosphorochloridate (I) reacts with the hydrazine (II), yielding the hydrazinophosphine oxide (III) which is coupled with the benzyl bromide (IV) to form the salt (V).
Closed-loop Control of a Dynamic Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer System

This paper introduces a closed-loop control strategy to dynamically compensate for coupling variations in capacitive wireless power transfer (WPT) systems utilizing an active variable reactance (AVR) rectifier. The AVR rectifier provides this continuously variable compensation, and maintains full power transfer at high efficiency, by appropriately splitting power between its two branches while operating at a fixed frequency. The proposed control approach utilizes a decoupled-dual-loop strategy to regulate the power in the two branches of the AVR rectifier. This approach enables dynamic reactive compensation and output power recovery under misalignment conditions without needing to sense any high-frequency voltage or current. A 6.78-MHz scaled capacitive WPT prototype, incorporating an AVR rectifier controlled using the proposed approach, is designed, built and tested. The proposed closed-loop control strategy enables the prototype system to maintain constant output power for large misalignments between the coupling pads.
Multilayer Graphene Terahertz Plasmonic Structures for Enhanced Frequency Tuning Range

Graphene plasmonics has recently found a variety of applications in terahertz photonic devices. High spatial confinement and large frequency tunability are two key advantages of graphene plasmonics...
Erosion by Wave Action of Consolidated Cohesive Bottom Containing Cohesionless Sediment

AbstractThe erosion processes of consolidated cohesive sediment under irregular breaking waves were formulated to predict the profile evolution of a cohesive sediment beach with a layer of sand. Th...
Impaired tumor necrosis factor-α secretion by CD4 T cells during respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis associated with recurrent wheeze.

Background Infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis have an increased risk of recurrent wheezing and asthma. We aimed to evaluate the relationships between regulatory T cell (Treg) percentage and cytokine production of in vitro-stimulated CD4+ T cells during acute bronchiolitis and the development of recurrent wheezing in the first 3 years of life. Methods We obtained peripheral blood from 166 infants hospitalized with their first episode of RSV-confirmed bronchiolitis. Granzyme B (GZB) expression, and interleukin-10, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-4, and IL-5 production by in vitro anti-CD3/CD28- and anti-CD3/CD46-activated CD4+ T cells, and percentage of peripheral Treg (CD4+CD25hi Foxp3hi ) cells were measured by flow cytometry. Wheezing was assessed every 6 months. Recurrent wheezing was defined as three or more episodes following the initial RSV bronchiolitis. Results Sixty-seven percent (n = 111) of children had wheezing after their initial RSV infection, with 30% having recurrent wheezing. The percentage of peripheral Treg (CD4+CD25hi Foxp3hi ) cells was not significantly different between the wheezing groups. Decreased TNF-α production from anti-CD3/CD28- and anti-CD3/CD46- activated CD4+ T cells was observed in the recurrent wheezers, compared with nonwheezers (p = .048 and .03, respectively). There were no significant differences in the GZB+ CD4+ T cells and production of other inflammatory cytokines between these groups. Conclusions We demonstrated lower TNF-α production by in vitro stimulated CD4+ T cells during severe RSV bronchiolitis in children that subsequently developed recurrent wheezing, compared with children with no subsequent wheeze. These findings support the role of CD4+ T cell immunity in the development of subsequent wheezing in these children.
Analysis of engineered nanomaterials (Ag, CeO2 and Fe2O3) in spiked surface waters at environmentally relevant particle concentrations.

Abstract Quantification of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) concentrations in surface waters remains one of the key challenges in environmental nanoscience and nanotechnology. A promising approach to estimate metal and metal oxide ENM concentrations in complex environmental samples is based on the increase in the elemental ratios of ENM-contaminated samples relative to the corresponding natural background elemental ratios. This contribution evaluated the detection and quantification of Ag, CeO2, and Fe2O3 ENMs spiked in synthetic soft, or in natural river waters using the elemental ratio approach, and evaluated the effect of extractants including sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) and sodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7) on the recovery of ENMs from the spiked waters. The extracted ENM concentrations were higher in Na4P2O7-extracted suspensions than in NaOH- and Na2C2O4-extracted suspensions due to the higher efficiency of Na4P2O7 to break up natural and engineered nanomaterial heteroaggregates. The size distributions of the extracted suspensions were determined by asymmetrical flow-field flow fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (AF4-ICP-MS). These size distribution analysis demonstrated that Ag ENMs were extracted from the spiked river water as both primary particles and small (
Cardiac blood cyst with concomitant papillary fibroelastoma.

Abstract Cardiac blood cyst in adults is a rare benign tumor. Cardiac blood cyst concomitant with another type of cardiac tumor has never been reported. We report a case of a 77-year-old woman with cardiac blood cyst and papillary fibroelastoma. We performed resection of both tumors. An encapsulated mass (15 mm in diameter) with short stalks was identified in the right atrium, and a soft 1-cm mass was found adhering to a large part of the aortic valve noncoronary cusp without stalks. Postoperative course was uneventful.
Palabras de Waldo Frank en la Facultad

“LETRAS” publica, como una primicia, la version taquigrafica tomada por el estudiante de 2o. ano den Elias Tovar Velarde, de las palabras pronunciadas por Waldo Frank en el Salon de Actos de la Facultad en la recepcion que se ofrecio al eminente escritor y de la que damos cuenta mas detallada en la Cronica de la Facultad.
Structured illumination microscopy for see-and-treat decision making in localized prostate cancer therapy

Accurate detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer remains challenging even with MRI fusion ultrasound biopsy procedures. These challenges contribute to diagnostic errors that can lead to repeat procedures. This study explores the application of ex vivo structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to generate pathology images of fresh biopsies to inform diagnostic decisions. Samples from the lesion of interest and a benign area of each patient were obtained, stained with fluorescent H&E analog dyes, imaged on a custom SIM system and diagnosed by a pathologist. This procedure could be extrapolated to a “see-and-treat” paradigm for localized prostate cancer ablation in the future.
Purification and properties of a lymphoid acid ribonuclease.

Abstract An acid ribonuclease from lymphosarcoma P1798 has been purified about 1000-fold. The purified protein can be resolved into two bands by analytical acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme is an endonuclease, splitting polyuridylic acid into oligonucleotides of chain length 7 or less with a cyclic 2',3'-end group. The physical and chemical properties of this enzyme are similar to but not identical with hog spleen acid ribonuclease.
Residual diagnostics for cross-section time series regression models

These routines support the diagnosis of groupwise heteroskedasticity and cross-sectional correlation in the context of a regression model fit to pooled cross-section time series (xt) data.
Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia: pain in fibromyalgia syndrome

Fibromyalgia (FM) pain is frequent in the general population but its pathogenesis is only poorly understood. Many recent studies have emphasized the role of central nervous system pain processing abnormalities in FM, including central sensitization and inadequate pain inhibition. However, increasing evidence points towards peripheral tissues as relevant contributors of painful impulse input that might either initiate or maintain central sensitization, or both. It is well known that persistent or intense nociception can lead to neuroplastic changes in the spinal cord and brain, resulting in central sensitization and pain. This mechanism represents a hallmark of FM and many other chronic pain syndromes, including irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular disorder, migraine, and low back pain. Importantly, after central sensitization has been established only minimal nociceptive input is required for the maintenance of the chronic pain state. Additional factors, including pain related negative affect and poor sleep have been shown to significantly contribute to clinical FM pain. Better understanding of these mechanisms and their relationship to central sensitization and clinical pain will provide new approaches for the prevention and treatment of FM and other chronic pain syndromes.
Variations in inflammation and nerve fiber loss reflect different subsets of achalasia patients.

Background Achalasia is a debilitating motility disorder with an unknown etiology. Past research has demonstrated a spectrum of histological findings. The objective of this study was to further characterize the histopathology of achalasia, with attention to subsets of findings that may exist, possibly reflecting different pathogeneses. Materials and methods Lower esophageal muscle was obtained during surgery for achalasia ( n = 12) or cancer ( n = 9). Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify various inflammatory cells and nerve fibers, and grading was done by an expert pathologist. Clinical data were taken from medical records. Results There were two subsets of achalasia specimens with different histological findings. Group A (7/12; 58%) had an inflammatory infiltrate in the myenteric plexus consisting primarily of T-lymphocytes. Group B (5/12; 42%) had no such infiltrate and had less myenteric plexus macrophages versus Group A ( P = 0.03). The loss of nerve fibers was most evident in the muscularis propria in achalasia as compared to controls ( P = 0.01), and this loss was more striking in Group B versus A ( P = 0.04). The mean duration of symptoms was 16.6 (A) versus 6.4 years (B) ( P = NS). Conclusions Two subsets of achalasia patients exist with different histological findings. Group A had T-cell-rich inflammation present with associated macrophages. Group B, with no inflammation, had greater loss of nerve fibers in the muscularis propria versus Group A, and therefore, may represent more aggressive disease with shorter duration of symptoms. These results suggest that various pathogeneses of achalasia may exist that share a common pathway of aganglionosis.
Flutter of High-Speed Civil Transport Flexible Semispan Model: Time Frequency Analysis

Time/frequency analysis of fluctuations measured by pressure taps and strain gauges in the experimental studies of the flexible semispan model of a high-speed civil transport wing configuration is performed. The interest is in determining the coupling between the aerodynamic loads and structural motions that led to the hard flutter conditions and loss of the model. The results show that, away from the hard flutter point, the aerodynamic loads at all pressure taps near the wing tip and the structural motions contained the same frequency components. On the other hand, in the flow conditions leading to the hard flutter, the frequency content of the pressure fluctuations near the leading and trailing edges varied significantly. This led to contribution to the structural motions over two frequency ranges. The ratio of these ranges was near 2:1, which suggests the possibility of nonlinear structural coupling.
Effects of nicotine and recurrent inhibition on monosynaptic reflexes in acute and chronic spinal cats

The present experiments were undertaken to examine some of the changes which take place after spinal section in the cat. Recurrent inhibition was greater in cats 7–14 days after spinal section than in acute spinal preparations (P < 0.05). The increased potency of the inhibitory pathway subsided by 25–30 days following spinal section. The general trend of the size of the inhibitory response to intravenous nicotine in spinal and hemisected animals, paralleled the change in recurrent inhibition observed in spinal cats, although the data did not reach statistical significance (P ⩽ 0.05). In hemisected cats, there appeared to be an overall increase in recurrent inhibition similar to that seen in spinal preparations (not significant, P ⩽ 0.05). In addition, there appeared to be increased recurrent inhibition on the hemisected side as compared to the acute side in cats 14–32 days following hemisection. There was clearly no increase in the response to nicotine on the hemisected as compared to the acute sides. When the control animals were ranked using the strength of recurrent inhibition and the degree of depression of the monosynaptic reflex by nicotine as criteria, the rank orders for each measure were identical. No such relationship was obtained for any group of chronic animals, suggesting a differential change in sensitivity to nicotine and synaptic activation of the recurrent inhibitory system. The results are discussed from the standpoint of disuse of spinal pathways following cord injury.
Sidelobe suppression in ultrasound imaging using dual apodization with cross-correlation

This paper introduces a novel sidelobe and clutter suppression method in ultrasound imaging called dual apodization with cross-correlation or DAX. DAX dramatically improves the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) allowing for easier visualization of anechoic cysts and blood vessels. This technique uses dual apodization or weighting strategies that are effective in removing or minimizing clutter and efficient in terms of computational load and hardware/software needs. This dual apodization allows us to determine the amount of mainlobe versus clutter contribution in a signal by cross-correlating RF data acquired from 2 apodization functions. Simulation results using a 128 element 5 MHz linear array show an improvement in CNR of 139% compared with standard beamformed data with uniform apodization in a 3 mm diameter anechoic cylindrical cyst. Experimental CNR using a tissue-mimicking phantom with the same sized cyst shows an improvement of 123% in a DAX processed image.
Patient choice in first trimester screening for fetal down syndrome

DEVEREUX SALLER, LISA PASTORE, KAREN VENTURA, LOGAN KARNS, ERIKA WERNER, University of Virginia, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Charlottesville, Virginia OBJECTIVE: Options for Down syndrome (DS) screening in the first trimester include combined first trimester screening (FTS) (nuchal translucency (NT) & first trimester serum markers) & integrated screening (Integrated) (NT, first & second trimester serum markers). We investigated patient choice & motivation regarding these screening options, theorizing that the test chosen might be predictable based on demographic characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: Patients had genetic counseling & were offered FTS or Integrated. An attempt was made to objectively describe the advantages of each test. All patients were offered a survey prior to undergoing NT. Whether completed or not, the survey was sealed in an envelope & forwarded to the study epidemiologist. Medical providers were blinded as to participation. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 78 non-selected patients and 41 partners completed the form. 47 (60%) & chose FTS & 31 (40%) chose Integrated. There were no differences between FTS and Integrated patients in Maternal Age, genetic counselor, indication (O35yo vs. screening), educational level, working outside the home, or proximity to our medical center (p range=0.090.98). The median age in both groups was 35, however there was a significant difference in a priori age-related DS risk (Median risk: FTS 1:190 vs. Integrated 1:300, p=0.02). FTS was chosen by some of the youngest & oldest patients, yielding the same median age, but a higher median age-related risk. Reasons for choosing the screening test differ by test chosen (p!0.001). Reasons stated most frequently were: ‘‘earliest reassurance’’ (79% FTS) vs. ‘‘most information’’ (80% Integrated) and ‘‘lowest chance of needing additional diagnostic testing’’ (55% Integrated). CONCLUSION: Given the choice and objective counseling, significant percentages of patients chose each screening test. Patient choice of FTS or Integrated screening is not predictable based on demographic characteristics. Following genetic counseling, the stated reasons for choosing a particular screening test were consistent with the characteristics of that test.
Application of a Combined Rough Surface And Volume Scattering Theory to Sea Ice And Snow Backscatter

A radiative transfer theory which combines rough surface and volume scattering effects is applied to interpret backscatter measurements from snow and sea ice. The surface scattering effect is accounted for by the Kirchhoff model evaluated either with or without the deep phase modulation assumption. Hence, the major restriction on the surface model is that the horizontal roughness scale must be large enough to satisfy the large radius of curvature requirement. The inhomogeneous layer for simulating snow or sea ice is modeled by either the Rayleigh phase matrix or a continuous random medium with a cylindrically symmetric correlation function for its permittivity function. It is assumed that for the continuous random medium the Born approximation is applicable for computing the scattering phase functions of this inhomogeneous medium. For simplicity only the top boundary of the inhomogeneous layer is assumed rough. Its bottom interface is a plane separating the layer from a homogeneous semiinfinite medium. Comparisons with snow measurements using Polder and Van Santen's mixing formula for the permittivity model show satisfactory agreements at 7.6, 13, and 17 GHz and for sea ice at 9 and 13 GHz. For the cases considered for sea ice, it appears that the Rayleigh phase matrix is an adequate description for volume scattering.
Cyclophilin A-Dependent Restriction to Capsid N121K Mutant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in a Broad Range of Cell Lines

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of most human cells is dependent on cyclophilin A (CypA); however, the opposite phenomenon, known as CypA-dependent inhibition, is also observed in the combination of some capsid (CA) mutations and cell lines. Here, we identified a CA N121K mutant whose infection of 293T, Jurkat, and HeLa cells was impaired by CypA. The N121K mutant could be a useful tool for analyzing the mechanisms underlying CypA-dependent restriction.
Controlling the brain with light.

The article discusses neuroscience research using optogenetics and its applicability to future treatment of psychiatric disorders. Optogentics describes a research procedure that inserts opsin genes into brain cells and uses flashing light to stimulate responses in specific neurons. The technology avoids the immobilizing aspects of electrode techniques and is better at elucidating the neural circuitry of the brain. The history of development of optogenetics is discussed. The coordinated use of optogenetics and functional magnetic resonance imaging is noted for improvements it yields in researching neural circuits. INSETS: An Expanding Tool Kit of Useful Genes;Does Optogenetics Challenge Ethics?.
Leader-member exchange and resource accessibility of subordinates : Perception towards MNC global integration strategy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for leader-member exchange (LMX) in the context of global integration strategy of multinational corporations (MNCs). Further, an interaction effect of leader's network centrality and leader's alignment with MNC policies on LMX and resource accessibility is proposed. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with the notion that different departments in a subsidiary of an MNC are likely to have different requirements for integration within the MNC network. This paper extends the literature by suggesting that employees working in the same department of a subsidiary of an MNC are likely to have different perception of the degree of integration of their subsidiary with other nodes in the MNC network. Findings – The paper posits that employees forming the “in-group” of a subsidiary leader are more likely to perceive their subsidiary as more integrated than the “out-group” employees; contribute more by way of knowledge transfer than the “out-gro...
The Effect of Smoking on Theophylline Kinetics in Healthy and Asthmatic Elderly Males

The effect of smoking on theophylline kinetics was investigated in four groups of males over the age of 65 yr. The first group consisted of 14 healthy non-smoking males, the second group consisted of 8 healthy smoking males. The first and the second groups were administered a single oral dose of 300 mg tablet of sustained-release anhydrous theophylline product and serial blood samples were collected over 24 hr. The third group consisted of 22 clinically stable asthmatic non-smoking males, the fourth group consisted of 9 clinically stable asthmatic smoking males. The third and the fourth groups, were administered multiple oral doses equivalent to 300 mg of anhydrous theophylline from sustained-release Oxtriphylline every 12 hr for 72 hr; and blood samples were collected every two hours between 72-82 hrs. Serum theophylline concentrations were determined by HPLC. There were no significant differences between the smokers and non-smokers in observed maximum concentration (Cmax), its time (tmax), the area under the time-concentration curve (AUCo-t), and total body clearance rate (Cl). Aging appears to offset the known smoking inducing effect on the hepatic microsomal enzymes.
Processing, shedding, and endocytosis of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP).

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are multidomain zinc-dependent proteolytic enzymes that play pivotal roles in many normal and pathological processes. Some members of the MMP family are anchored to the plasma membrane via specialized domains and thus are perfectly suited for pericellular proteolysis. Membrane-anchoring also confers the membrane type-MMPs (MT-MMPs) a unique and complex array of regulatory processes that endow cells with the ability to control MT-MMP-dependent proteolytic activity independently of the levels of endogenous protease inhibitors. Emerging evidence indicates that mechanisms as diverse as autocatalytic processing, ectodomain shedding, homodimerization and internalization can all contribute to the modulation of MT-MMP activity on the cell surface. How these distinct processes interact to attain the optimal level of enzyme activity in a particular setting and the molecular signals that trigger them constitute a new paradigm in MMP regulation. This review will discuss the recent findings concerning these diverse regulatory mechanisms in the context of MT1-MMP (MMP-14). © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.