cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Measurement of Intra-abdominal Pressures in a Horse by Using a Solid Microsensor

Abstract Current techniques to measure intra-abdominal pressures in horses use metal cannulas. Concerns that the metal cannula could puncture abdominal viscera if left in place prevent continual pressure measurements. The aim of this study was to validate the use of a solid microsensor and digital monitoring system in the measurement of direct intra-abdominal pressure in horses by comparing its values with the ones simultaneously obtained by means of an intraperitoneal cannula. Ten healthy adult horses had intra-abdominal pressures measured simultaneously through an intraperitoneal cannula zeroed midway between the height of the tuber ishii and point of the shoulder and by the use of an intraperitoneal solid microsensor placed within the abdomen at the same level as the metal cannula. Three repeated intra-abdominal pressure measurements were obtained at rest, after placement of a nasogastric tube, and after placement of 5-L increments of water into the stomach, up to a total volume of 20 L of water. The difference between values obtained (after conversion) was 3.6 mm Hg. The correlation coefficient was 0.825. Direct intra-abdominal pressure monitoring with a solid microsensor allows continuous monitoring without concern for gastrointestinal perforation, is simple to use and to calibrate, and is minimally invasive.
The chemical identification of the granary weevil aggregation pheromone

Abstract (R*,S*)-1-Ethylpropyl 2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoate is identified as the major component of the aggregation pheromone of Sitophilus granarius (L.), the granary weevil.
An Efficient Methodology for Fatigue Reliability Analysis of Mechanical Components Based on the Stress-Life Prediction Approach

An efficient methodology for fatigue reliability assessment and its corresponding fatigue life prediction of mechanical components using the First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) is developed in this paper. Using the proposed method, a family of reliability defined S-N curves, called R-S-N curves, can be constructed. In exploring the ability to predict spectral fatigue life and assessing the corresponding reliability under a specified dynamics environment, the theoretical background and the algorithm of a simple approach for reliability analysis will first be introduced based on fatigue failure modes of mechanical components. It will then be explained how this integrated method will carry out the spectral fatigue damage and failure reliability analysis. By using this proposed methodology, mechanical component fatigue reliability can be predicted according to different mission requirements.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Multiplication/division module for massively parallel computers

We present algorithms for n-bit multiplication and division suitable for execution in k < n- bit wide processing elements in massively parallel computers. A combined implementation is proposed and its performance in terms of the number of instructions required is evaluated.
Non-Newtonian Drops Spreading on a Flat Surface

The objective of this study is to develop a computational model that accurately describes the dynamic behavior of a non-Newtonian power-law film formed after a drop impinges on a flat surface. The non-Newtonian drop deposition and spreading process is described by a model based on one developed for Newtonian liquids. The effects of variations in non-Newtonian liquid rheological parameters, such as Ren (the non-Newtonian Reynolds number), n (the flow behavior index), and We (the Weber number), are studied in detail. Results show that a reduction in the viscous forces results in enhanced spreading of the film followed by a more rapid recession. An increase in surface tension results in reduced spreading of the film, followed by a more rapid recession. Model predictions of film diameter as a function of time were larger than corresponding experimental values obtained as part of this study. However, the discrepancy never exceeded 21%, demonstrating that the model accurately predicts the phenomena of interest. This comparison also shows that the results are in best agreement for large non-Newtonian Reynolds numbers and small non-Newtonian Ohnesorge numbers (We/Ren).
Third-Degree Price Discrimination

This lecture deals with third-degree price discrimination in both monopolistic and oligopolistic markets. The classical monopoly paradigm serves as a benchmark. Next, we move to an oligopoly setting, first with best-response symmetry, then with best-response asymmetry. We end with behavior-based price discrimination. This lecture targets advanced undergraduate and graduate students.
Electromigration-induced dislocation climb and multiplication in conducting lines

Abstract Electromigration along dislocation cores is considered as a mass-transport mechanism, in conducting lines of bamboo-like grains, below one half of the melting temperature. Given that the dislocation density in annealed metals may be insufficient to account for the observed mass-transport rate, this paper focused on electromigration-induced dislocation motion and multiplication. A prismatic loop climbs like a rigid ring, as electromigration relocates atoms along the core, from one portion of the loop to the other. Each loop is therefore a mass carrier: a vacancy loop migrates towards the cathode and an interstitial loop towards the anode. Furthermore, a thread of an edge dislocation multiplies prismatic loops under a sufficiently high electric field. A bamboo grain-boundary catches loops on one side and emits on the other. Available empirical facts are discussed according to this picture, including lifetime, linewidth, stress gradient and alloying.
Determination of solubilities of uranium complexes in supercritical CO2 by on-line laser-induced fluorescence

A new approach to the measurement of solubilities in supercritical CO2 is reported, utilizing laser-induced fluorescence. This selective technique was found to be capable of rapid multipoint solubi...
Chemical remodelling of cell surfaces in living animals

Cell surfaces are endowed with biological functionality designed to mediate extracellular communication. The cell-surface repertoire can be expanded to include abiotic functionality through the biosynthetic introduction of unnatural sugars into cellular glycans, a process termed metabolic oligosaccharide engineering. This technique has been exploited in fundamental studies of glycan-dependent cell-cell and virus-cell interactions and also provides an avenue for the chemical remodelling of living cells. Unique chemical functional groups can be delivered to cell-surface glycans by metabolism of the corresponding unnatural precursor sugars. These functional groups can then undergo covalent reaction with exogenous agents bearing complementary functionality. The exquisite chemical selectivity required of this process is supplied by the Staudinger ligation of azides and phosphines, a reaction that has been performed on cultured cells without detriment to their physiology. Here we demonstrate that the Staudinger ligation can be executed in living animals, enabling the chemical modification of cells within their native environment. The ability to tag cell-surface glycans in vivo may enable therapeutic targeting and non-invasive imaging of changes in glycosylation during disease progression.
Richard M. Weaver's uses of Kenneth Burke

This article first briefly identifies a number of parallel viewpoints on rhetoric that Burke and Weaver probably developed independently. Then, it describes a faculty seminar taught by Burke in 1949 in which Weaver participated. The primary focus of this investigation is to trace and to account for the eight direct citations of Burke by Weaver and the approximately twenty unacknowledged uses of Burke by Weaver. These direct citations and unattributed uses are concentrated in two of Weavers essays, “The Rhetoric of Social Science” and “Concealed Rhetoric in Scientistic Sociology,” and in his book The Ethics of Rhetoric. Weaver drew primarily on Burke's A Rhetoric of Motives and secondarily on his A Grammar of Motives, the two books that were the focus of the seminar taught by Burke and attended by Weaver.
Holdout: Existence, Information, and Contingent Contracting

AbstractThe holdout problem permeates policy discussions of legal issues involving bargaining for land acquisition and more broadly impacts multilateral bargaining between agents. Laboratory experiments investigate the scope of the holdout problem. The research strategy incorporates as treatment variables available information and the exposure problem arising from the unavailability of contingent contracts. An examination reveals that holdout can reliably produce large inefficiencies and lost opportunities for mutually advantageous trade. The introduction of contingent contracts facilitates successful bargaining. However, buyers are not made significantly better off by contingent contracts.
Nonvalvular intravascular device-related infections

Nonvalvular intravascular devices are in widespread use in developed countries and are now more commonly employed than are prosthetic cardiac valves. Although the variety of devices that are included in the category of "nonvalvular" represent a heterogenous collection, there is commonality among several of the devices. This includes their requirement to sustain life and the need for removal for cure if they become infected, which is often due to multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Thus, infection of these devices often presents difficult treatment scenarios. This update will address the pathogenesis and immunobiology of nonvalvular intravascular device-related infections and the epidemiology and treatment of infections of several of these devices that include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, intravascular catheters, vascular grafts and stents, and left ventricular assist devices.
Characterization of Virus-Induced Interferon-γ Responses in Mice Previously Infected with Murine Cytomegalovirus

These studies demonstrate that in vitro stimulation of spleen cells from murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) immune mice with MCMV-infected fibroblasts induces production of interferon (IFN)-gamma. This response is specific to MCMV, is not generalized to heterologous viruses, and also is not H-2 restricted. Both early and late CMV antigens induce IFN-gamma. In in vitro cell depletion and direct cell selection experiments, T lymphocytes were responsible for IFN-gamma production. Although both CD4 and CD8 cells appear to be required to induce the response, the cell subset that releases the IFN-gamma is not yet undefined. In vivo, this IFN-gamma response appears early after acute infection and persists > or =1 year. The response is not seen in T cell-deficient mice. Thus, previous MCMV infection results in a virus-specific IFN-gamma response in spleen cells exposed to MCMV antigens. The pathophysiologic significance of these observations is now under study.
Comparative ability of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography to detect coronary artery disease in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Background Diabetics generally have more frequent and extensive silent myocardial ischemia than nondiabetics, increasing the importance of noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in this cohort. However, little is known regarding the diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with diabetes. This study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic value of rest thallium-201/stress technetium-99m sestamibi dual-isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT in patients with and without diabetes. Methods Of the 203 patients with diabetes and 260 patients without diabetes who underwent dual-isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT with exercise or pharmacologic stress testing, 138 diabetics (12% type 1 diabetics) and 188 nondiabetics had coronary angiography within 6 months of the nuclear test, and 65 diabetics and 72 nondiabetics had a low likelihood ( Results The angiographic data showed that patients with diabetes had less incidence of 1-vessel disease and a higher incidence of 3-vessel/left main artery disease than patients without diabetes ( P P = not significant). With the criterion of ≥70% diameter stenosis the corresponding results were 90% (86 of 96) and 50% (21 of 42) in diabetics, and 91% (108 of 119) and 43% (30 of 69) in nondiabetics, respectively ( P = not significant). The normalcy rate for low likelihood patients was 89% (58 of 65) in diabetics and 90% (65 of 72) in nondiabetics ( P = not significant). The sensitivity and specificity for individual vessel detection were also similar in patients with and without diabetes ( P = not significant) except for a lower sensitivity and a higher specificity for detecting left anterior descending coronary artery disease in the diabetic group ( P Conclusion Dual-isotope myocardial perfusion SPECT has comparable accuracy for the diagnosis of CAD in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. (Am Heart J 1999;137:949-58.)
Adaptive signal conditioning algorithms to enable wideband signal digitization

Data converters are an essential component in any communication system link. Time-interleaving several data converters is an effective way to enhance the overall bandwidth of the data-converter. However, mismatches between individual channels in time-interleaved data-converters manifest as a lower available dynamic range. A novel adaptive signal-conditioning technique is proposed to correct for the channel-mismatch errors with minimal hardware requirements. Behavioral simulations corroborating the same are presented.
Exciton States in Ionic Crystals

Exciton states in ionic crystals are analyzed according to configurations allowed by cubic point symmetry. The "excitation" and "electron transfer" models of the exciton structure are reintroduced as two slightly different aspects of the same general group-theoretical problem. Predictions of these models concerning multiplicity of absorption peaks are shown to be essentially identical. A theory of the "halogen atom doublet" appearing in the experimental absorption spectra of certain alkali halide crystals is given and is used in a preliminary interpretation of the electronic structure of low-lying exciton states in these solids.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN THE LANTHANUM SELENIDE SYSTEM.

Lanthanum selenide has been found to be a very good system in which to investigate the dependence of superconductivity on various material parameters, since in this system one can vary these parameters in a relatively independent manner. This investigation reports on the behavior of the superconducting transition temperature as a function of electron concentration and on measurements of some relevant electronic and lattice properties of the system. Crystallographic, Hall-effect, Pauli-susceptibility, and specific-heat measurements have been made and were found to be in accord with a model of lanthanum selenide as a free-electron-like metal. Using this model, the electron-concentration dependence of the transition temperature was calculated and found to be in excellent agreement with experiment over the whole experimentally measured range of 1 to 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, corresponding to a variation of electron concentration between 0.8 and 5.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{21}$ electrons/cc.
Portable video-on-demand in wireless communication

Our present ability to work with video has been confined to a wired environment, requiring both the video encoder and decoder to be physically connected to a power supply and a wired communication link. This paper describes an integrated approach to the design of a portable video-on-demand system capable of delivering high-quality image and video data in a wireless communication environment. The discussion will focus on both the algorithm and circuit design techniques developed for implementing a low-power video compression/decompression system at power levels that are two orders of magnitude below existing solutions. This low-power video compression system not only provides a compression efficiency similar to industry standards, but also maintains a high degree of error tolerance to guard against transmission errors often encountered in wireless communication. The required power reduction can best be attained through reformulating compression algorithms for energy conservation. We developed an intra-frame compression algorithm that requires minimal computation energy in its hardware implementations. >
Innovative educational practices in a required family medicine clerkship

This paper traces the 7-year evolution of a required clerkship in Family Practice from the time of initial grant application to the current academic year. Results of experience in areas of student placement, preceptor recruitment, curriculum development, test construction, grading schema and course evaluation are described. Emphasis on streamlining administrative systems to decrease paperwork of course director is a major focus. Changing needs of department, medical school and student are reflected in the adaptations of the clerkship to these needs.
The design and evolution of Jefferson lab's Jasmine mass storage system

We describe the Jasmine mass storage system, in operation since 2001. Jasmine has scaled to meet the challenges of grid applications, petabyte class storage, and hundreds of MB/sec throughput using commodity hardware, Java technologies, and a small but focused development team. The evolution of the integrated disk cache system, which provides a managed online subset of the tape contents, is examined in detail. We describe how the storage system has grown to meet the special needs of the batch farm, grid clients, and new performance demands.
Error propagation and supervised learning in adaptive resonance networks

A class of adaptive resonance networks based on explicit computation of errors between input vectors and learned templates is discussed and related to self-organizing feature maps and minimum distance automata as well as to the ART 1 (binary input) and ART 2 (analog input) architectures. In addition, a simple method of incorporating supervised learning in adaptive resonance networks is discussed and related to Adalines, counterpropagation, radial basis function interpolation networks, and Bayesian networks. Supervised ART networks can operate in a supervised or unsupervised mode, and the networks autonomously switch between the two modes. When supervised (desired) signals are absent, these networks predict the desired signal based on previous training. These supervised adaptive resonance networks can form nonlinearly separable decision boundaries, and they can learn the XOR problem on a single trial. >
Decorative Integration or Relevant Learning? A Literature Review of Studio Arts-Based Management Education with Recommendations for Teaching and Research.

This review presents a synthesis of the state of arts-based management education scholarship, with teaching and research recommendations. To begin, the lack of creativity and empathy development in management students is presented. Next, literature-based descriptions of arts-based management exercises focus on how to use improvisational theatre, visual arts (film, collage, drawing, sculpture, and photo-captioning), poetry, narrative writing and storytelling, and music in the management classroom. Then, each art form is analyzed in terms of its capacity to develop creativity (the ability to produce new, useful, and high-quality ideas and products) and empathy (the ability to understand another person’s feelings and want justice for him or her), as conceptualized in recent psychological research. Based on these descriptions and analysis, three arts-based teaching challenges are proposed for advancing practice in this area: confronting the shifting role of instructor and learner; forging collaborations with ...
Simplified routing for mobile computers using TCP/IP

The author presents a solution to the problem of providing continuous network access for mobile computers using the Internet protocol (IP). He proposes a framework within which mobile computers can roam freely from location to location without regard to the Internet addressability of the existing wired networks in a building. This is done by addressing the mobile computers via a new logical network which has no direct relationship with any other existing network. The operation of this logical network follows as closely as possible the operation of existing wired networks and is viewed by existing hosts as just another network accessible using standard techniques via the router which serves that network. This logical network is maintained by the cooperation of the base stations and the mobile router, which is the network entity responsible for storing the actual location information necessary to deliver packets to each mobile computer addressed via that network. The new logical network is administered just as existing networks are, from the perspective of existing hosts. The mobile router may be located arbitrarily as long as it is reachable by the other existing routers on the interconnected networks. The general problem of routing to mobile hosts is divided into several nearly independent areas, which are discussed. >
Coordinated regulation of gastric chloride secretion with both acid and alkali secretion

Gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid requires protons and chloride, yet the mechanisms and regulation of gastric chloride secretion remain unclear. We developed an in vivo technique to simultaneously measure acid/base and chloride secretion into the gastric lumen of anesthetized rats. The cannulated stomach lumen was perfused with weakly pH-buffered chloride-free solution containing a chloride-sensitive fluorophore [5 microM N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-6-methoxyquinolinium bromide (MQAE)]. Gastric acid and chloride secretion was detected in gastric effluents by 1) flow-through pH electrode and 2) MQAE fluorescence. Gastric effluent was also collected at 1-min intervals for independent determination of chloride amount by chloridometer. In all conditions, both optical and chemical determinations of chloride report similar amounts of secreted chloride. During luminal perfusion with pH 5 solution, net acid and chloride secretion into the lumen was observed. Pentagastrin stimulated both secretions. In contrast, proton pump inhibition (omeprazole) caused alkalinization of the gastric effluent, but chloride secretion was not diminished. During luminal pH 3 perfusion, net alkali secretion was observed, and chloride secretion at luminal pH 3 was greater than pH 5. When tissue is pretreated with omeprazole at luminal pH 3, the addition of prostaglandin E2 synchronously stimulates both alkali and chloride secretion. Results suggest that both acid and alkali secretions are separately coupled with chloride secretion.
Active Learning for Anomaly and Rare-Category Detection

We introduce a novel active-learning scenario in which a user wants to work with a learning algorithm to identify useful anomalies. These are distinguished from the traditional statistical definition of anomalies as outliers or merely ill-modeled points. Our distinction is that the usefulness of anomalies is categorized subjectively by the user. We make two additional assumptions. First, there exist extremely few useful anomalies to be hunted down within a massive dataset. Second, both useful and useless anomalies may sometimes exist within tiny classes of similar anomalies. The challenge is thus to identify "rare category" records in an unlabeled noisy set with help (in the form of class labels) from a human expert who has a small budget of datapoints that they are prepared to categorize. We propose a technique to meet this challenge, which assumes a mixture model fit to the data, but otherwise makes no assumptions on the particular form of the mixture components. This property promises wide applicability in real-life scenarios and for various statistical models. We give an overview of several alternative methods, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, and conclude with a detailed empirical analysis. We show that our method can quickly zoom in on an anomaly set containing a few tens of points in a dataset of hundreds of thousands.
The Distribution of Spodosol Soils in Southern Michigan: A Climatic Interpretation

Abstract This study describes and explains the geographic distribution of Spodosol soils (Podzols) on a regional scale. We employ a spatially-based, functional-factorial model of soil formation and, by holding four factors constant, are able to examine the effects of climate on soil genesis and distribution. Analysis of soils data for the southern peninsula of Michigan reveals that well and moderately well-drained, sandy Spodosols are found primarily in the northern half of the region in association with mixed coniferous-deciduous forest. Within this “Spodosol province,” degree of soil development varies markedly. Differences in degree of soil development among sandy sites appear to be independent of present-day (or presettlement), regional vegetation patterns and may be related to variations in climate. Infiltration and “soil freezing potential,” calculated using a hydrologic model, as well as air temperature records, are analyzed to ascertain which climate factors best correspond to observed trends in S...
Developmental regulation of peach ACC oxidase promoter–GUS fusions in transgenic tomato fruits

A genomic DNA sequence (PpACO1) encoding 1aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) from peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Loring) was isolated. It has four exons interrupted by three introns and 2.9 kb of flanking region 59 of the translational start codon. Previous work with the cDNA demonstrated that accumulation of the peach ACO message correlated with increasing amounts of ethylene synthesized by the fruit as they ripened. To identify regulatory elements in the peach ACC oxidase gene, chimeric fusions between 403, 610, 901, 1319, 2141, and 2919 bp of the 59 flanking region of the PpACO1 sequence and the b-glucuronidase (GUS) coding sequence were constructed and used to transform tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum [Mill] cv. Pixie). Fruits from the various promoter lines were analysed for GUS expression by histochemical GUS staining, GUS quantitative enzyme activity determination, and measuring the relative amounts of GUS mRNA. Constructs with the smallest promoter of 403 bp had significant GUS expression in fruit, but not in other tissues, indicating the presence of a region that affects tissue-specific expression. An increase in GUS expression was observed with promoters longer than 901 bp, indicating an enhancer region between 21319 and 2901. The full-length promoter of 2919 bp directed GUS expression in the green stage of fruit development, and increased GUS expression as fruit matured, indicating a regulatory region between 22919 and 22141 that controls the temporal expression of the gene in fruit. Only the full-length promoter sequence demonstrated responsiveness to ethylene.
Efficient blue‐green‐emitting poly[(5‐diphenylamino‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] derivatives: Synthesis and optical properties

New poly(phenylene vinylene) derivatives with a 5-diphenylamino-1,3-phenylene linkage (including polymers 2, 3, and 5) have been synthesized to improve the charge-injection properties. These polymers are highly photoluminescent with fluorescent quantum yields as high as 76% in tetrahydrofuran solutions. With effective π-conjugation interruption at adjacent m-phenylene units, chromophores of different conjugation lengths can be incorporated into the polymer chain in a controllable manner. In polymer 2, the structural regularity leads to an isolated, well-defined emitting chromophore. Isomeric polymer 3 of a random chain sequence, however, allows the effective emitting chromophores to be joined in sequence by sharing a common m-phenylene linkage (as shown in a molecular fragment). Double-layer light-emitting-diode devices using 2, 3, and 5 as emitting layers have turn-on voltages of about 3.5 V and produce blue-green emissions with peaks at 493, 492, and 482 nm and external quantum efficiencies up to 1.42, 0.98, and 1.53%, respectively. In comparison with a light-emitting diode using 2, a device using 3 shows improved charge injection and displays increased brightness by a factor of ∼3 to 1400 cd/m 2 at an 8-V bias.
Quantum chemical studies of aflatoxins: Metabolism and carcinogenic activity

Specific electronic properties related to the metabolic transformation and adduct formation with DNA were calculated for a series of five aflatoxins, AFB1, AFG1, AFP1, AFM1, and aflatoxicol (AFL), as well as for two precursors of AFB1, versicolorin A and sterigmatocystin. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent such electronic parameters determine relative apparent mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of these compounds. Using two semiempirical all-valence electron methods, IEHT and INDO, the results obtained indicated that for all these compounds the 2,3-vinyl ether double bond is highly susceptible to epoxidation, and this susceptibility is independent of the remaining ring structure and substituents. Further, the epoxides in turn readily form highly electrophilic carbocations whose stability and reactivity are not significantly influenced by chemical structure changes among the seven analogs studied. The results also suggest that major detoxification pathways mitigated by cytochrome P450 metabolism are not likely. Thus differences in potencies do not appear to be caused by differences in electronic properties related to the metabolic transformation and adduct formation, and could be the result of other properties such as lipophilicity and steric effects on enzyme activity.
Stochastic similarity for validating human control strategy models

Modeling dynamic human control strategy (HCS), or human skill through learning is becoming an increasingly popular paradigm in many different research areas, such as intelligent vehicle systems, virtual reality, and space robotics. Validating the fidelity of such models requires that we compare the dynamic trajectories generated by the HCS model in the control feedback loop to the original human control data. To this end we have developed a stochastic similarity measure-based on hidden Markov model (HMM) analysis-capable of comparing dynamic, multi-dimensional trajectories. In this paper, we first derive and demonstrate properties of the proposed similarity measure for stochastic systems. We then apply the similarity measure to real-time human driving data by comparing different control strategies for different individuals. Finally, we show that the similarity measure outperforms the more traditional Bayes classifier in correctly grouping driving data from the same individual.
Loss of basement membrane type IV collagen is associated with increased expression of metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) during human colorectal tumorigenesis.

Abstract Breakdown of basement membrane (BM) is believed to be an essential step for tumor invasion and metastases. We have previously demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), the 92 kDa collagenase expression correlates with metastases in human colorectal cancer (CRC). This study explores the relationship between the 72 and 92 kDa type IV collagenase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) activities and pattern of type IV collagen expression during human colorectal tumorigenesis. Thirty-four CRC patients, including four synchronous adenomas and one synchronous liver metastases, were involved in this study. By immunohistochemical staining, type IV collagen expression was noted to be continuous in the BM of normal mucosa, adenoma and in two cases of carcinoma in situ. Limited or absent type IV collagen staining pattern was seen in 100 (19/19) and 23% (3/13) of CRC with and without metastases, respectively. By double immunostaining, MMP-9 protein expression was noted to localize within areas of limited type IV collagen staining. Similarly, type IV collagen staining was noted to be greatest in areas devoid of MMP-9 expression. Gelatin zymography detected both 92 and 72 kDa proenzyme forms in all CRC and normal mucosa extracts examined. The mean tumor/normal fold increases of the proMMP-2 and proMMP-9 enzyme forms were 1.6+/-0.1 (mean +/- SE) and 2.4+/-0.5 in adenomas, and 2.1+/-0.2 and 4.1+/-0.7 in CRC, respectively. The 62 and 82 kDa bands were present in 63 (12/19) and 74% (14/19) of CRC with metastases, compared with only 20 (3/15) and 33% (5/15) of CRC without metastases, respectively. These differences were significant (P = 0.045 and P = 0.030, respectively). Our results demonstrate that loss of BM type IV collagen along with elevations in MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, especially the activated forms, occur during colorectal tumorigenesis. Our data suggest that control of type IV collagenase activation may be beneficial in preventing human colorectal tumor progression.
A framework for orthology assignment from gene rearrangement data

Gene rearrangements have been used successfully in phylogenetic reconstruction and comparative genomics, but usually under the assumption that all genomes have the same gene content and that no gene is duplicated. While these assumptions allow one to work with organellar genomes, they are too restrictive for nuclear genomes. The main challenge in handling more realistic data is how to deal with gene families, specifically, how to identify orthologs. While searching for orthologies is a common task in computational biology, it is usually done using sequence data. Sankoff first addressed the problem in 1999, introducing the notion of exemplar, but his approach uses an NP-hard optimization step to discard all but one member (the exemplar) of each gene family, losing much valuable information in the process. We approach the problem using all available data in the gene orders and gene families, provide an optimization framework in which to phrase the problem, and present some preliminary theoretical results.
Amination of carboxyl-terminal homoserine peptides as an aid in peptide separation

Abstract Lactonization and amination of peptide mixtures containing C-terminal homoserine peptides facilitated separation of these peptide mixtures. The use of radio-actively labeled diamine allowed easy identification of the carboxyl terminal peptide in a cyanogen bromide generated digest. Ambiguities arising from mixtures of homoserine and homoserine lactone forms of peptides were resolved following amination of these mixtures. A C-terminal homoserine peptide was selectively removed from a mixture of nonhomoserine peptides.
No blind schizophrenics: Are NMDA-receptor dynamics involved?

Numerous searches have failed to identify a single co-occurrence of total blindness and schizophrenia. Evidence that blindness causes loss of certain NMDA-receptor functions is balanced by reports of compensatory gains. Connections between visual and anterior cingulate NMDA-receptor systems may help to explain how blindness could protect against schizophrenia.
Neuroprotection with delayed initiation of prolonged hypothermia after in vitro transient global brain ischemia.

Abstract Prolonged therapeutic hypothermia (32–34 °C for 12–24 h) improves the functional outcome of comatose cardiac arrest survivors. It is generally believed that rapidly achieving target temperature optimizes neuroprotection. However, this hypothesis has not been tested systematically. In this study, we compared the neuroprotective effect of prolonged hypothermia initiated between 0 and 8 h after reoxygenation using an in vitro model of simulated global brain ischemia. Organotypic hippocampal slices were prepared from 5-day-old Wistar rat pups and cultured for 1 week prior to analysis. Ischemia was simulated by normothermic oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD). Hypothermia (33 °C) was initiated 0–8 h after reoxygenation and maintained until 24 h post-injury. CA1 regional cell death was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence. Release of 14-3-3 β protein was evaluated as a potential surrogate maker for neuroprotection. Hypothermia initiated 0, 1, 2, or 4 h after 30 min OGD reduced 24 h CA1 regional PI fluorescence by 47 ± 34%, 85 ±4%, 88 ± 3%, and 88 ± 5% (P
Thematic Series on the Pathobiology of Vascular Calcification An Introduction

Vascular calcification increasingly afflicts our aging, dysmetabolic population. Once considered only a passive process of dead and dying cells, data from multiple laboratories worldwide have converged to demonstrate that vascular calcification is a highly regulated form of biomineralization. The goal of this thematic review series is to highlight what is known concerning the biological "players" and "game rules" with respect to vascular mineral metabolism. Armed with this understanding, it is hoped that novel therapeutic strategies can be crafted to prevent and treat vascular calcium accrual, to the benefit of our patients afflicted with arteriosclerotic valvular and vascular diseases.
Use Of Outcome Measures To Modernize Curricula

In the current environment in higher education of trying to substantiate and justify that you are doing a great job as a department educating your students to be prepared for the “real world”, outcomes assessment is a major player. But as many departments have found, “once you have received the feedback, now what do you do with it?” Our paper will discuss how some of the outcome measurements that we use at Northwest Missouri State University in the Finance discipline become our decision drivers in course content and curricular reformation.
Abstract 213: Engaging Cardiology Patients Via Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Usability Assessment

Background: The use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) in clinical practice is a powerful method of engaging the patient voice to help design, assess, and improve the healthcare we provide. Understanding how well patients interact with technology underlies our ability to engage patients to share their experiences regarding health, illness, and treatment using computers. To date, little is known regarding patients’ perceptions of ePROs in clinical practice; the literature is even thinner regarding patients’ experiences with ePROs in the cardiology setting. Methods: In 2012, we implemented an ePRO collection system throughout the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Heart and Vascular Institute; sites included both community and academic cardiology practices. Patients use tablet computers to complete various symptom and quality-of-life assessments, which are seamlessly integrated into the electronic medical record. In this study, patients completed a short usability assessment at the conclusion of their ePRO survey. We assessed five types of trouble using the system: visibility, item comprehension, physical limitations, tapping, and other. Patients’ clinical and demographic data were abstracted from the electronic medical record, and matched to their ePRO assessments .We conducted univariate and bivariate statistics to describe the sample, as well as to identify associations between patient characteristics and patient-reported difficulty using the ePRO system. Results: From 01-August-2012 to 15-August-2013, 2,728 cardiology outpatients completed ePRO questionnaires. The average patient was a 63-year-old White male with a Charlson comorbidity score of 1. Eighty-two percent (n=2,247) of patients reported no difficulty using the ePRO system; of the 481 patients reporting any difficulty, 47% (n=221) found the tablet unresponsive to tapping, and 14% (n=66) of patients reported issues with item comprehension. Patients ≥65 years old and patients with rheumatoid disease were more likely to report difficulty (p<0.0001 and p=0.056, respectively) using the ePRO system. Patients who reported difficulty with the tablets were likelier to have reported worse health at the time of interview than a year prior (p=0.002), and were likelier to report both poorer physical and mental health than those patients without difficulty (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: We have implemented a usable system to collect ePROs in cardiology patients across a variety of clinical settings. Although only a minority of patients reported difficulty with the system, future research is needed to facilitate maximal patient engagement with this method of data collection.
Nucleic Acid Memory

Nucleic acid memory has a retention time far exceeding electronic memory. As an alternative storage media, DNA surpasses the information density and energy of operation offered by flash memory.
Results on Double-polarization Asymmetries in Quasielastic Scattering from Polarized 3He

The 3He nucleus has become extremely important in the investigation of the neutron’s spin structure. When polarized, 3He acts as an effective polarized neutron target and hence facilitates our understanding of the neutron’s internal structure. However, to be used in this manner, our understanding of the internal structure of 3He is of extreme importance. As the precision of experiments has improved, the extraction of polarized neutron information from 3He leads to an ever larger share of the systematic uncertainty for these experiments. In these proceedings, I present a precise measurement of beam-target asymmetries in the and reactions. The former process is a uniquely sensitive probe of hadron dynamics in 3He and the structure of the underlying electromagnetic currents. The measurements have been performed around the quasi-elastic peak at Q2 = 0.25 (GeV/c)2 and 0.35 (GeV/c)2 for recoil momenta up to 270 MeV/c. The experimental apparatus, analysis and results were presented together with a comparison to state-of-the art Faddeev calculations.
Catalysis of alkene epoxidation by a series of gallium(III) complexes with neutral N-donor ligands.

Six gallium(III) complexes with N-donor ligands were synthesized to study the mechanism of GaIII-catalyzed olefin epoxidation. These include 2:1 ligand/metal complexes with the bidentate ligands ethylenediamine, 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, and 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline, as well as 1:1 ligand/metal complexes with the tetradentate N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine, the potentially pentadentate N,N,N′-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine, and the potentially hexadentate N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine. In solution, each of the three pyridylamine ligands appears to coordinate to the GaIII through four donor atoms. The six complexes were tested for their ability to catalyze the epoxidation of alkenes by peracetic acid. Although the complexes with relatively electron-poor phenanthroline derivatives display faster initial reactivity, the gallium(III) complexes with the polydentate pyridylamine ligands appear to be more robust, with less noticeable decreases in their catalyti...
Metal-to-Metal Charge Transfer in AWO4 (A = Mg, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn) Compounds with the Wolframite Structure

Using a combination of UV-visible spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations, we have characterized the electronic structures and optical properties of AWO4 (A = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, or Mg) tungstates with the wolframite structure. In MgWO4 and ZnWO4, the lowest energy optical excitation is a ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) excitation from oxygen 2p nonbonding orbitals to antibonding W 5d orbitals. The energy of the LMCT transition in these two compounds is 3.95 eV for ZnWO4 and 4.06 eV for MgWO4. The charge transfer energies observed for the other compounds are significantly smaller, falling in the visible region of the spectrum and ranging from 2.3 to 3.0 eV. In these compounds, the partially occupied 3d orbitals of the A(2+) ion act as the HOMO, rather than the O 2p orbitals. The lowest energy charge transfer excitation now becomes a metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT) excitation, where an electron is transferred from the occupied 3d orbitals of the A(2+) ion to unoccupied antibonding W 5d states. The MMCT value for CuWO4 of 2.31 eV is the lowest in this series due to distortions of the crystal structure driven by the d(9) configuration of the Cu(2+) ion that lower the crystal symmetry to triclinic. The results of this study have important implications for the application of these and related materials as photocatalysts, photoanodes, pigments, and phosphors.
Safety and efficacy of EMR for sporadic, nonampullary duodenal adenomas: a single U.S. center experience (with video)

Background and Aims EMR is increasingly used for resection of sporadic, nonampullary duodenal adenomas (SNDAs), but there are no guidelines for the management of these lesions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EMR exclusively for SNDAs and to determine the factors predictive of outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients with SNDAs referred for endoscopic therapy from 2006 to 2013. The outcomes studied were successful endoscopic resection, major adverse events, early and late recurrences, and clinical remission. Results Sixty-eight patients with SNDAs were included and 51 (75%) underwent EMR. The mean adenoma size was 22.0 ± 8.9 mm. Successful resection was achieved in 49 of 51 patients (96.1%), and major adverse events were noted in 8 of 51 patients (15.7%). Early and late recurrences were noted in 25.6% and 5.2% of patients, respectively, and were treated endoscopically. Clinical remission was achieved in 89.7% of patients after a median follow-up of 15 months. Presence of villous histology was associated with increased recurrence ( P = .019), but no association of recurrence was noted with other endoscopic features or resection technique. Large adenoma size ( P = .0057) and need for intraprocedural hemostasis ( P = .006) were associated with increased adverse events, but no association of adverse events was noted with location or resection technique. Conclusions Large duodenal adenomas can be effectively managed with EMR at a referral center with experienced endoscopists. However, EMR has a significant recurrence rate, especially early recurrence, and the risk of adverse events is not negligible. Endoscopic therapy is successful in managing recurrent adenomas.
Synergistic Effect of Somatotropin with α-Corticotropin on the Adrenal of Hypophysectomized Rats.∗:

SummaryThe adrenal gland of hypophy-sectomized Sprague-Dawley rat showed substantial atrophy 9 days after operation. Histologically-detectable changes in lipid distribution were observed in the zonae glomerulosa, fasciculata and reticularis following hypophysectomy, and a redistribution of lipid in all 3 zones was effected with α-ACTH. In addition, a synergism between α-ACTH and pituitary growth hormone (somatotropin) was demonstrated, the magnitude of the effect being conditioned by level of exogenous α-ACTH. These results indicate that somatotropin operates synergistically with ACTH when the 2 hormones are administered in combination to the hypophysectomized rat.
Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Vesicles with Counterion- and pH-Controlled Fluorescent Properties

Two inorganic–organic hybrid clusters with one or two covalently linked pyrene fluorescent probes, [(n-C4H9)4N]2[V6O13{(OCH2)3C(NH(CO)CH2CH2CH2C16H9)}{(OCH2)3C–(NH2)}] ((TBA+)21) and [(n-C4H9)4N]2[V6O13{(OCH2)3C(NH(CO)CH2CH2CH2C16H9)}2] ((TBA+)22), respectively, are synthesized from Lindqvist type polyoxometalates (POMs). The incorporation of pyrene into POMs results in amphiphilic hybrid molecules and simultaneously offers a great opportunity to study the interaction between hybrid clusters and their counterions. 2D-NOESY NMR and fluorescence techniques have been used to study the role of counterions such as tetrabutyl ammonium (TBA) in the vesicle formation of the hybrid clusters. The TBA+ ions not only screen the electrostatic repulsions between the POM head groups but also are involved in the hydrophobic region of the vesicular structure where they interrupt the formation of pyrene excimers that greatly perturbs the luminescence signal from the vesicle solution. By replacing the TBA+ counterions with ...
MMOG/LE : improving supply chain delivery performance through buyer-supplier collaboration

Material Management Operating Guidelines/Logistics Evaluation, developed by Europe's Automotive Industry Action Group and Odette International.