cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Modified Human Immune Serum Globulin in the Treatment of Experimental Murine Infections with Seven Immunotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Modified immune serum globulin, prepared from human immune serum globulin by a nonenzymatic method, is apparently safe for intravenous administration to humans. The efficacy of the preparation was determined in experimental murine infections with seven immunotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Intravenously administered 0.85% NaCI, 0.3 M glycine, and 10% human albumin did not protect against lethal pseudomonas infection, whereas modified immune serum globulin given by the same route did protect mice. In the mouse protection test, the mean dose of the preparation that saved 50% of mice infected with any of eight strains of P. aeruginosa was 480 mg/kg (range, 12-2,333 mg/kg). For five strains the 50% effective dose was <200 mg/kg. There was no correlation between the efficacy of modified immune serum globulin in the mouse protection test and titers of antibody, as determined by bacterial agglutination. Therapy of pseudomonas infection in mice with modified immune serum globulin was followed by a prompt and persistent decrease in the numbers of intraperitoneal bacteria. This finding is consistent with the interpretation that modified immune serum globulin acts primarily as an opsonin and not as an antitoxin. Modified immune serum globulin may prove to be useful in the treatment of human infections. Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in humans are especially difficult to treat because they often occur in patients with impaired defense mechanisms and because the organisms are resistant to most antibiotics [1-5]. Human immune serum globulin (y-globulin or ISG) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of experimental infections with several strains of P. aeruginosa [6-10], and a report of one patient treated with plasma suggests that ISG may be effective in humans [11]. Schless and Harell recommended that clinical trials be done to deter
Selective area epitaxial growth of III–V semiconductors though 3d templates: pathway to optoelectronically active 3D photonic crystals

Photonic crystals provide unprecedented control over light emission, absorption and propagation, which has led to the proposal of a large variety of optoelectronic devices. Three-dimensional devices with electronic functionality have however remained elusive, as fabrication of three-dimensional, electrically active nanostructured materials remains complex. Numerous techniques have been demonstrated to fabricate 3D photonic and plasmonic crystals, including colloidal crystallization, phase mask and multibeam interference lithography, direct laser writing, photolithography, and wafer bonding, but, most of these techniques result in amorphous or polycrystalline material which does not possess the required electronic properties for application in optoelectronics. In this work we demonstrate a method of forming 3D photonic and plasmonic crystals from single crystal III–V semiconductors by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). We employ a templatebased fabrication method and grow semiconductor material to fill the structure using a form of selective area epitaxy. The epitaxial growth process (originating at the substrate, in contrast to conformal growth) is much the same as the growth of planar III-V devices in that light emitting layers (e.g. quantum wells), cladding layers, electrically doped layers, etc may all be grown in a single process. Thus, the layers of an optoelectronic device may be defined by the MOVPE growth parameters while the photonic crystal structure is simultaneously imparted to the material using the 3D template. To demonstrate the potential of this technique we have fabricated vertically emitting LED's with embedded InGaAs QW's. The fundamental behaviors of this growth technique will be discussed, including prevention of polycrystalline nucleation, doping, and steps for fabrication of light-emitting heterostructures.
Modeling of the performance of a liquid-gallium-cooled silicon monochromator for a high-energy-resolution scattering beamline: comparison with experimental data

A finite element analysis method (FEA) was used to predict the performance of a silicon monochromator for a high-energy-resolution scattering beamline at sector 3 of the Advanced Photon Source (APS). The monochromator is internally cooled through 17 rectangular channels with liquid gallium and is designed to operate at photon energies near 14 keV, under beam from a 2.7 cm period undulator. The atomic planes of the monochromator have a (1 1 1) orientation with an asymmetric cut angle of 4.5{degrees}. The displacement profile calculated from the structural FEA was used to compute the double- crystal rocking curves at 14.41 keV. Both the simulations and the experiment show that this monochromator will operate at about 40 mA with rocking-curve broadening of only about 0.5 arcsec. This corresponds to a surface heat flux of 1.2 W/mm{sup 2} (i.e., 20 W/mm{sup 2} at normal incidence) and a total absorbed power of about 86 watts. The monochromator was used for the commissioning of the beamline and to perform the first series of experiments up to 100 mA. In this paper, we give the results of the FEA calculations and diffraction simulations and compare these to the experimental data.
Abstract 1021: JFD, a novel small molecule for inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-mediated angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the process of generating new capillary of blood vessels from an existing vasculature that plays a vital role in tumor growth and metastasis. Binding of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to tyrosine kinase receptor (VEGFR) is an important step for initiating vasculogenesis via. transphosphorylation of VEGF receptor associated tyrosine kinase. Therefore, blocking VEGFR or associated kinases has become a common strategy for arresting tumor angiogenesis. The newly discovered JFD is a novel anti-angiogenic agent that can limit the angiogenic capacity of endothelial cells and block tumor angiogenesis. The In vitro anti-angiogenesis potential of JFD was examined by ECMatrigel TM assay with Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using different concentrations of JFD in the range of 0 - 10 µM. Among the different concentrations used, 1µM JFD significantly inhibited the angiogenesis when compared to control and a complete inhibition was observed at 10 µM concentration. Competitive binding of JFD against Fluorokine labeled VEGF for the same VEGFR was studied at 0.001 - 1.0 µM concentrations of JFD. A dose dependent inhibition of Fluorokine conjugated VEGF binding to its specific receptor in HUVEC cells was confirmed in our study. In the competition binding assay 1.0 µM concentration of JFD caused 93.5% inhibition of conjugated VEGF binding. The same 1.0 µM concentration of JFD was able to inhibit VEGF (10 ng/ml) induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 in HUVEC cells. Furthermore, the potency of JFD as inhibitor of angiogenesis was experimentally proved by treating athymic nude mice that was implanted with GI-101A (human breast adenocarcinoma) xenograft tumor. Intraperitoneal injection of JFD at 12 mg/kg of body weight was able to significantly inhibit the tumor growth compared to the control group at different time periods. At the end of the treatment period 70% inhibition of tumor growth was observed in JFD treated animals along with prolongation of the survival. The plasma concentrations of JFD was also measured in Balb-C mice at different time periods (0 min - 180 min), using HPLC method. The data from both in vitro and in vivo study provide a strong basis for JFD to be used as a potent anti-angiogenic agent. (The financial support from the Royal Dames of Cancer Research Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida is gratefully acknowledged). Citation Format: Sivanesan Dhandayuthapani, Appu Rathinavelu. JFD, a novel small molecule for inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-mediated angiogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1021. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1021
The speed-accuracy operating characteristic

Abstract An analysis of the relationship between speed and accuracy of performance under a wide variety of task conditions reveals a linear relationship between log odds in favor of a correct response and reaction time. This result is consistent with the conceptual logic of the statistical decision model of choice reaction time and suggests the definition of a speed-accuracy operating characteristic analagous to the receiver operating characteristic in signal detection.
The theory of general economic equilibrium : a differentiable approach

1. Introduction 2. Preferences, utility and demand 3. Production 4. Optimality and price equilibrium 5. Anonymous, efficient allocations in continuum exchange economies 6. Production economies 7. Exchange economics with many traders 8. Genericity analysis.
The effect of metalloid substitution on the electronic spectra of simple chromophores

Abstract Qualitative molecular orbital theory is applied to the prediction of the effect of metalloid substitution on the electronic spectra of simple two- and three-atom chromophores. This theory proceeds from the assumption that dative pi-bonding can take place from unshared pairs or from pi-type orbitals on adjacent atoms into unfilled orbitals on the metal, and that such pi-bonding will predominate over other effects in determining the energies of electronic transitions. The predicted effect of metalloid substitution depends on the nature of the chromophore. For some chromophores (those in Case II above, including ), the only interaction possible for the metal is that with antibonding pi-orbitals to stabilize the excited state, and a bathochromic shift of the principal electronic transition is predicted. For a few chromophores (Case III above) interaction is possible only with lone pairs to stabilize the ground state. and hypsochromic shifts are predicted upon metal substitution. Finally, there are many chromophores for which both types of interaction are possible (Cases I and IV above); either ground-state or excited-state stabilization is possible upon metalloid substitution, but energy considerations suggest that the latter will usually be favored, and that bathochromic shifts will be the general rule.
Becoming a doctor: fostering humane caregivers through creative writing

We qualitatively examined themes covered in a creative writing elective designed to enhance pre-clinical medical students' writing, observation, and reflection skills relative to experiences in their medical education. Qualitative analysis of writings' themes was carried out via iterative consensus building process and validated through member checks and literature review. Fourteen students completed the elective, seven for each year it was given. Students submitted 86 written pieces. Qualitative analysis demonstrated the presence of nine themes: students' role confusion, developing a professional identity, medicine as a calling, physician privilege and power, humanizing the teacher, the limits of medicine, death and dying, anticipating future challenges, and identification with the patient. Students evaluated this creative writing course favorably, indicating value in writing and reflection. Themes covered are of concern to second-year medical students as well as other trainees and practicing physicians. Writing may aid in the professional development of physicians.
The physical basis for anomalous diffusion in bed load transport

[1] Recent studies have observed deviation from normal (Fickian) diffusion in sediment tracer dispersion that violates the assumption of statistical convergence to a Gaussian. Nikora et al. (2002) hypothesized that particle motion at short time scales is superdiffusive because of inertia, while long-time subdiffusion results from heavy-tailed rest durations between particle motions. Here we test this hypothesis with laboratory experiments that trace the motion of individual gravels under near-threshold intermittent bed load transport (0.027 < τ* < 0.087). Particle behavior consists of two independent states: a mobile phase, in which indeed we find superdiffusive behavior, and an immobile phase, in which gravels distrained from the fluid remain stationary for long durations. Correlated grain motion can account for some but not all of the superdiffusive behavior for the mobile phase; invoking heterogeneity of grain size provides a plausible explanation for the rest. Grains that become immobile appear to stay at rest until the bed scours down to an elevation that exposes them to the flow. The return time distribution for bed scour is similar to the distribution of rest durations, and both have power law tails. Results provide a physical basis for scaling regimes of anomalous dispersion and the time scales that separate these regimes.
Molecular Modeling and Nuclear Overhauser Enhancement Spectroscopy (NOESY): Tools for Studying the Regioselective Bromination of 3-Bromoanisole

The use of molecular modeling for predicting chemical reactivity has been highly successful in the industrial and academic research communities. For this reason, increased emphasis has been placed on molecular modeling in the undergraduate curriculum. In the described experiment, the bromination of 3-bromoanisole, students are encouraged to use molecular modeling software as a tool for predicting chemical reactivity. Besides introducing students to molecular modeling, this experiment incorporates the use of nontraditional, less hazardous reagents and solvents for electrophilic aromatic bromination reactions. Lastly, nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) is introduced as a tool for structural elucidation. Although there are a number of aspects to this experiment, two 3-hour laboratory periods are sufficient because the results from semiempirical (AMI) geometry optimizations, which are complete in seconds, were almost identical to the higher order, more time-intensive ab initio (3-21G*) calculations. In addition, the experimental time was greatly shortened by the discovery that catalytic HCl(aq) reduces the reaction time from 5 hours to 18 minutes.
Twice-a-day irradiation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

B etween March 1978 and March 1989, 419 patients with 439 moderately advanced and advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck received t reatment with a continuous course of twice-a-day irradiation (120 cGy twice daily with a 4to 6-hour interfraction interval). Minimum follow-up Tonsillar region was 2 years for all patients. Planned neck dissections T2 T3 were performed 4 to 6 weeks following irradiation in T4 112 patients. The majority of patients had primary Base of tongue tumors of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. T2 Total doses ranged from 7,440 cGy to 8,160 cGy. T3 Seventy-nine percent of the patients had stage III or T4 Soft palate stage IV cancer. Interstitial implants (1,000 to 1,500 T2 cGy) were used as "boosts" to the area of heaviest T3 tumor infestation in 28% of 194 patients with orophaT4 ryngeal primaries. Acute reactions led to severe problems with alimentation in 16% of patients, resulting in the need for (or the recommendation to receive) nasogastric feeding in 41 patients, unplanned treatment interruption in 5 patients (1%), tracheostomy in 3 patients, and hospitalization in 8 patients. There were two fatal complications in the immediate postirradiation period due to problems with dehydration and aspira-
Oral implications of labret use: a case from pre‐Columbian Chile

This paper examines the osteological evidence for a case of long-term labret use in pre-Columbian north Chile and the pathological conditions associated with it. The burials from the site of Solcor 3 (AD 400–900) included a complete skeleton associated with two quartz labrets. Analysis of the skeleton of this adult male revealed wear and polish on the labial surface of both mandibular canines, indicating that the labrets were worn as a pair on either side of the midline of the lower lip. In addition to these abrasion facets, there were also areas of periosteal reaction in the alveolar bone of the canines. These patterns were analysed from the perspective of the clinical dentistry literature and compared to archaeological data. It is concluded that this individual's dental health was affected by wearing labrets, although not as seriously as might be expected based on contemporary medical reports. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decreases in Interleukin-4 Secretion by Invariant CD4−CD8−Vα24JαQ T Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

The cytokine profile of invariant CD4(-)CD8(-)V alpha 24J alpha Q T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was compared with that of healthy controls. CD4(-)CD8(-)V alpha 24(+) T cells from the peripheral blood of 12 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS), 5 patients with progressive MS (CP-MS), and 9 control individuals were directly sorted into single wells and expanded in vitro for analysis of IL-4 and IFN-gamma secretion; 315 V alpha 24J alpha Q T cell clones were generated and their T cell receptor (TCR) sequenced. T cell functionality was determined by examining cytokine secretion upon TCR cross-linking. RR-MS patients exhibited lower frequencies of IL-4 secreting CD4(-)CD8(-)V alpha 24J alpha Q T cell clones than patients with CP-MS and controls. No differences in IFN-gamma secretion were observed between the groups. An IL-4 positive cytokine profile could be correlated to the cloning efficiency of the V alpha 24J alpha Q T cells. We conclude that alterations in cytokine secretion patterns of CD4(-)CD8(-)V alpha 24J alpha Q T cells may influence the immune system and thus contribute to relapsing-remitting MS.
Cellular localization of corticotropin releasing factor receptors in the adult mouse cerebellum.

Abstract Corticotropin releasing factor is a 41 amino acid peptide that is present in afferent systems that project to the cerebellum. In the adult, this peptide modulates the activity of Purkinje cells by enhancing their responsiveness to excitatory amino acids. Two different types of corticotropin releasing factor receptors, designated type 1 and type 2, have been identified. The purpose of this study is to use immunohistochemistry to identify which corticotropin releasing factor receptors are present in the cerebellum of the adult mouse and to determine their cellular distribution. Receptor type 1 immunostaining is present throughout all lobules of the cerebellar cortex. Distinct labeling is present over the somas of most, if not all, Purkinje cells as well as the primary dendrites of Purkinje cells located at the base of vermal folia. In vermal lobules V, VI, VIII and IX numerous glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive processes, oriented radially in the molecular layer, also are immunoreactive for receptor type 1. In the granule cell layer, scattered type 1 immunoreactive puncta are present throughout most cerebellar lobules. Receptor type 2 immunoreactive puncta are present throughout the molecular layer in all lobules. In addition, scattered basket and/or stellate cells, identified with a GABA antibody, are immunopositive for the type 2 receptor. In the Purkinje cell layer, the type 2 receptor immunolabeling is confined to the basal pole of the Purkinje cell including the initial axonal segment. In the granule cell layer, labeling is present over large cell bodies, and their initial axonal segments. These are likely to be Golgi cells, based on their co-staining with GABA. Finally, numerous elongated processes within the white matter, which are likely to be axons, also are type 2 immunoreactive. These data indicate that both types of corticotropin releasing factor receptor are present in the mouse cerebellum. However, the unique distribution of the two types of receptor strongly suggests a differential role for corticotropin releasing factor in modulating the activity of neurons, axons and glial cells via cell-specific ligand–receptor interactions.
The disposition of amodiaquine in man after oral administration.

A method is described for the simultaneous determination of amodiaquine (AQ) and desethylamodiaquine (AQm) in plasma, urine, whole blood and packed red cells. After oral administration of AQ (600 mg) to seven healthy subjects, absorption of AQ was rapid, reaching peak concentrations in plasma, whole blood, and packed cells at 0.5 +/- 0.03, 0.5 +/- 0.1 and 0.5 +/- 0.1 h respectively (mean +/- s.e. mean). The apparent terminal half-life of AQ was 5.2 +/- 1.7 h. AQ was detectable for no longer than 8 h. AQ underwent rapid conversion to AQm, which reached peak concentrations in plasma, whole blood and packed cells at 3.4 +/- 0.8, 2.3 +/- 0.5 and 3.6 +/- 1.1 h respectively. AQm was still detectable at the end of the sampling period (96 h) when the plasma concentration was 29 +/- 8 ng ml-1. The area under the plasma concentration vs time curve (AUC(0, infinity] for AQ was 154 +/- 38 ng ml-1 h; the corresponding value for AQm was 8037 +/- 1383 ng ml-1 h. There were no significant differences in the values for AUC of AQ between plasma, whole blood, or packed cells. The whole blood to plasma concentration ratio for AQm was 3.1 +/- 0.2, and the AUC (0.24) for AQm in whole blood (6811 +/- 752 ng ml-1 h) was significantly greater than that in plasma (2304 +/- 371 ng ml-1 h), P less than 0.001. The recovery of AQm from urine collected 0-24 h was 6.8 +/- 0.8 mg (n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Advanced imager concept for GOES-R

ABSTRACT The results of a conceptual design study of an advanced Imager for GOES.R is presented Tentative perfonnancerequirements are established from NOAA operational and science communities. A performance scaling law is developed which provides a cpiantitative measure ofsensor capability and insight into the key design parameter tradeoffs. The basic design concept isdescribed and estimates for sensitivity and resolution are given 1. INTRODUCTIONThe spacecraft and Imager and Sounder insiniments in the cunent geostationaiy operational environmental Satellite series (GOES 141) provide a significant improvement in measurement capability over the previous GOES series The Imager and Sounderinsiiments are developed by the Aerospace/Communications Division ofITT Corporation under subcontract to Space System&/Loral (SS/L). The program which began in October 1985 had a successful launch ofGOES-I in April 1994. ThCNatiCtIal Oceanic andAIInOSp1-iCAdIniniraIion (NOAA) GOES Pmgram is cousidering additiOnal instniments beyond
The impact of the use of the isolated echogenic intracardiac focus as a screen for Down syndrome in women under the age of 35 years

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the public health impact of the routine offering of amniocentesis to women under the age of 35 years who have an isolated fetal echogenic intracardiac focus on second trimester ultrasound scan. Study Design: A decision analytic model was designed that compared the accepted standard of second trimester triple marker screen for Down syndrome to a policy in which amniocentesis with an isolated echogenic intracardiac focus on ultrasound in addition to the triple marker screen is offered to all women in the United States who are Results: With the baseline sensitivities, rates, and risks, the use of isolated echogenic intracardiac focus as a screen would result in an additional 118,146 amniocenteses performed annually to diagnose 244 fetuses with Down syndrome. These amniocenteses would result in 582 additional miscarriages. It would be necessary to perform 485 amniocenteses that would result in 2.4 procedure-related losses for each additional Down syndrome fetus that was identified. Conclusion: Although the echogenic intracardiac focus appears to be associated with a small increased risk of Down syndrome, its use as a screening tool in low-risk populations would lead to a large number of amniocenteses and miscarriages to identify a small number of Down syndrome fetuses. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:1021-7.)
A study of connectivity in MIMO fading ad-hoc networks

We investigate the connectivity of fading wireless ad-hoc networks with a pair of novel connectivity metrics. Our first metric looks at the problem of connectivity relying on the outage capacity of MIMO channels. Our second metric relies on a probabilistic treatment of the symbol error rates for such channels. We relate both capacity and symbol error rates to the characteristics of the underlying communication system such as antenna configuration, modulation, coding, and signal strength measured in terms of signal-to-interference-noise-ratio. For each metric of connectivity, we also provide a simplified treatment in the case of ergodic fading channels. In each case, we assume a pair of nodes are connected if their bi-directional measure of connectivity is better than a given threshold. Our analysis relies on the central limit theorem to approximate the distribution of the combined undesired signal affecting each link of an ad-hoc network as Gaussian. Supported by our simulation results, our analysis shows that (1) a measure of connectivity purely based on signal strength is not capable of accurately capturing the connectivity phenomenon, and (2) employing multiple antenna mobile nodes improves the connectivity of fading ad-hoc networks.
Plasma protein variations in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia.

Monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia were analyzed by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis to identify extrahereditary factors important in the development of schizophrenia. Plasma protein patterns in 2-D gels of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia were found to be significantly less alike than those of normal control monozygotic twins. Several polypeptide spots were found to be elevated in the plasma of the schizophrenic twin. One of these polypeptides, spot 782, was also found to be significantly (p < .001) elevated when schizophrenic patients were compared to unrelated normal control individuals. Spot 782 may be an isoform of haptoglobin. Quantitative variations in some plasma haptoglobin levels were seen between discordant twins, but not between unrelated schizophrenic and normal control individuals.
Spontaneous activation and signaling by overexpressed epidermal growth factor receptors in glioblastoma cells.

Overexpressed epidermal growth receptor factor receptors (EGFRs) are thought to contribute to the malignant phenotype of human glioblastomas (GBMs), but the mechanism is not well understood. We found that SKMG-3 cells, a rare GBM cell line that maintains EGFR gene amplification in vitro, produced high levels of EGFR protein. The cells also expressed the related receptors HER2/neu and HER4, but not HER3. Immunoblots and tryptic phosphopeptide maps showed that the SKMG-3 EGFRs were intact and functional and that a subset of these receptors were spontaneously autophosphorylated. EGF treatment stimulated phosphorylation of the EGFRs as well as the downstream effectors Erk, AKT1, stat3 and c-Cbl. Under minimal growth conditions, the unstimulated SKMG-3 cells contained constitutively phosphorylated Erk and AKTI but no detectable stat3 DNA-binding complexes. The EGFR kinase inhibitor PD158780 reduced the constitutive phosphorylation of the receptor and Erk but not that of AKT1. In contrast, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) blocked the constitutive phosphorylation of Erk and AKT-1 but not the EGFR. We conclude that the SKMG-3 cells represent the subset of GBMs with amplified EGFR genes that overexpress intact receptors. The results also suggest that in some GBMs, signals from overexpressed EGFRs contribute to the constitutive phosphorylation of Erk, but these signals may not required for the constitutive activation of PI3K or AKT1.
Vagus Nerves and Baroreceptor Control of Ventricular Performance

In innervated, isovolumetric left ventricle preparations, sudden elevations of pressure in the isolated carotid sinus elicited a 9.5% depression of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP). After blockade of sympathetic neuroeffector junctions by bretylium tosylate, equivalent intrasinusal pressure changes evoked a 6.8% reduction of LVSP. This response could be completely abolished by atropine sulfate or by cooling the cervical vagi. Therefore, under the conditions of the present experiments, the vagus nerves mediated a significant fraction of the reflex depression of ventricular performance induced by carotid sinus baroreceptor stimulation. An appreciable elevation of LVSP was produced by atropine and by vagal cooling after blockade of sympathetic junctions. This enhancement of ventricular performance is an indication of a tonic negative inotropic influence of the vagus nerves upon the ventricular myocardium.
Correcting the effects of background microcirculation in the measurement of arterial input functions using dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI of the brain

Abstract In dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI, the shape of the arterial input function (AIF) is commonly obtained in the near vicinity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). However, the tissue regions where the AIF is sampled also have significant perfusion, which contributes to T 2 * changes. We investigate whether correction of this effect will introduce significant changes in the measurement of the AIF and, subsequently, the assessment of the mean transit time (MTT). Clinical dynamic susceptibility data from 13 patients with brain tumors were analyzed. Patients received either single or double doses of Magnevist followed by a saline flush through a power injector. In the correction procedure, Δ R 2 * was sampled in a region of gray matter approximately 1–2 cm away from the MCA and then subtracted from the Δ R 2 * sampled in the immediate vicinity of the MCA. We demonstrate that in the brain, this correction of Δ R 2 * due to tissue perfusion leads to a narrower width of the AIF curve obtained with Δ R 2 * (mean±S.D.=7.3±2.0 and 6.4±1.7 s, before and after correction, respectively, P t -test). Furthermore, the peak of the AIF also moved to a slightly earlier time relative to the time of arrival (mean±S.D.=4.7±0.9 and 4.3±0.8 s, before and after correction, with P
Undernutrition among Kenyan children: contribution of child, maternal and household factors.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of selected child-, maternal- and household-related factors to child undernutrition across two different age groups of Kenyan under-5s. DESIGN: Demographic and Health Survey data, multistage stratified cluster sampling methodology. SETTING: Rural and urban areas of Kenya. SUBJECTS: A total of 1851 children between the ages of 0 and 24 months and 1942 children between the ages of 25 and 59 months in Kenya. RESULTS: Thirty per cent of the younger children were stunted, 13 % were underweight and 8 % were wasted. Forty per cent of the older children were stunted, 17 % were underweight and 4 % were wasted. Longer breast-feeding duration, small birth size, childhood diarrhoea and/or cough, poor maternal nutritional status and urban residence were associated with higher odds of at least one form of undernutrition, while female gender, large birth size, up-to-date immunization, higher maternal age at first birth, BMI and education level at the time of the survey and higher household wealth were each associated with lower odds of at least one form of undernutrition among Kenyan children. The more proximal child factors had the strongest impact on the younger group of children while the intermediate and more distal maternal and household factors had the strongest impact on child undernutrition among the older group of children. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis identifies determinants of undernutrition among two age groups of Kenyan pre-school children and demonstrates that the contribution of child, maternal and household factors on children's nutritional status varies with children's age.
What Caused the Global Financial Crisis? Evidence on the Drivers of Financial Imbalances 1999-2007

This paper investigates empirically the drivers of financial imbalances ahead of the global financial crisis. Three factors may have contributed to the build-up of financial imbalances: (i) rising global imbalances (capital flows), (ii) monetary policy that might have been too loose, (iii) inadequate supervision and regulation. Panel data regressions are performed for OECD countries from 1999 to 2007, so as to shed light on the relative importance of these factors, as well as the extent to which these factors might have interacted in fuelling the build-up. We find that the build-up of financial imbalances was driven by capital inflows and an associated compression of the spread between long and short rates. The effect of capital inflows on the build-up is amplified where the supervisory and regulatory environment was relatively weak. We find that, by contrast, differences in monetary policy cannot account for differences across countries in the build-up of financial imbalances ahead of the crisis.
"The Author Affiliation Index (AAI) as an Assessment of 25 Entrepreneurship Journals, 2007-2011"

Although the top tier journals consistently score well on various bibliometric methods, lesser known and newly emergent journals often show greater variance. A key issues resides in the assumptions...
Nasalance statistics for two Mexican populations.

Abstract Objectives: This study was undertaken (1) to obtain nasalance statistics for 152 Spanish-speaking normal males and females in three age groups (young children, older children, and adults) from two cities in central Mexico, (2) to determine the reliability of nasalance statistics, and (3) to test whether cities, age group, and/or gender significantly affected nasalance scores. Design/Participants: Randomly selected volunteers, screened for normal speech and hearing, in two middle-class neighborhoods in each city participated. Settings: Measures were made in private homes. Measures: Eight nasalance measures were obtained: means, “deviations,” maxima, and minima for two sets of sentences; one set that contained no nasals (NN); and another set that included sentences containing several words with nasal sounds (N). Results: Reliability (Cronbach's alpha) of the measures was demonstrated to be very high (0.87 to 0.95). Eight multivariate analyses of variance, one for each type of measure, were performe...
Conceptual graphs as a visual programming language for teaching programming

We believe that Conceptual Graphs fills a category of visual programming languages for those novice programmers who desire to learn programming and who do not want or need a game-based system because Conceptual Graphs map to programming language concepts.
Star Performances and Cosmic Clutter

Are there long-term processes invisible over short spans? And if so, how might they relate to the loci of long-term social change, those performative or practical moments wherein agents enact, embody, or otherwise engage traditions, landscapes, or structures? Here, we are particularly concerned with the experience of starry skies as these were historically reckoned through cluttered object fields and cosmic events. These are key to understanding the emergent properties of ethnoastronomies and cultural landscapes that, in certain moments, may be described as leading to historical conjunctures.
A mixture model for automobile warranty data

Abstract This paper proposes a general mixture model framework for automobile warranty data that includes parameters for product field performance, the manufacturing and assembly process, and dealer preparation process. The model fits warranty claims as a mixture of manufacturing or assembly defects (quality problems) and usage related failures (reliability problems). The model also estimates the fraction of vehicles containing a manufacturing or assembly defect when leaving the assembly plant. This parameter measures the quality of the entire vehicle production process, i.e. component manufacturing and final assembly. The model also measures the proportion of manufacturing or assembly defects repaired by the automobile dealer prior to customer delivery. This conditional probability quantifies the ability of the vehicle preparation process to identify and repair defects prior to customer delivery. To apply the model to field failure or warranty data, the practitioner must identify parametric distributions for each of the two failure processes. To demonstrate the model, this paper develops a Weibull-Uniform mixture for manufacturer supplied warranty claim data.
Better Management of Development Risks: Early Feasibility Evidence

The Incremental Commitment Model (ICM) organizes more rapid and thorough concurrent systems engineering and acquisition processes in ways that provide points at which they can synchronize and stabilize, and at which their risks of going forward can be better assessed and fitted into a risk-driven stakeholder resource commitment process. In particular, its concurrent activities of Understanding Needs, Envisioning Opportunities, System Scoping and Architecting, Feasibility Evidence Development, and Risk/Opportunity Assessment enable projects to focus specifically on their system constraints and environments and on opportunities to deal with them. This paper describes in detail the content, preparation, and role of feasibility evidence at key decision points in the system development cycle and how this can be used to effectively identify and manage risks throughout the development cycle. The feasibility evidence is not intended to assess just a single sequentially developed system definition element, but rather to assess the consistency, compatibility, and feasibility of several concurrently-engineered elements. To make this concurrency work, a set of anchor point milestone reviews are performed to ensure that the many concurrent activities are synchronized, stabilized, and risk-assessed at the end of each phase using developer-produced, expert-validated feasibility evidence.
Nano-crystalline silicon solar cell architecture with absorption at the classical 4n 2 limit

We develop a periodically patterned conformal photonic-plasmonic crystal based solar architecture for a nano-crystalline silicon solar cell, through rigorous scattering matrix simulations. The solar cell architecture has a periodic array of tapered silver nano-pillars as the back-reflector coupled with a conformal periodic structure at the top of the cell. The absorption and maximal current, averaged over the entire range of wavelengths, for this solar cell architecture is at the semi-classical 4n2 limit over a range of common thicknesses (500-1500 nm) and slightly above the 4n2 limit for a 500 nm nc-Si cell. The absorption exceeds the 4n2 limit, corrected for reflection loss at the top surface. The photonic crystal cell current is enhanced over the flat Ag back-reflector by 60%, for a thick 1000 nm nc-Si layer, where predicted currents exceed 31 mA/cm2. The conformal structure at the top surface focuses light within the absorber layer. There is plasmonic concentration of light, with intensity enhancements exceeding 7, near the back reflector that substantially enhances absorption.
Getting Students Interested in Material Science and Engineering Through A Realistic Nanotechnology Modeling Problem

Attracting students to engineering is a challenge. In addition, ABET requires that engineering graduates be able to work on multi-disciplinary teams and apply mathematics and science when solving engineering problems. One manner of integrating teamwork and engineering contexts in a first-year foundation engineering course is through the use of Model-Eliciting Activities (MEAs) - realistic, client-driven problems based on the models and modeling theoretical framework. A Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA) is a real-world client-driven problem. The solution of an MEA requires the use of one or more mathematical or engineering concepts that are unspecified by the problem - students must make new sense of their existing knowledge and understandings to formulate a generalizable mathematical model that can be used by the client to solve the given and similar problems. An MEA creates an environment in which skills beyond mathematical abilities are valued because the focus is not on the use of prescribed equations and algorithms but on the use of a broader spectrum of skills required for effective engineering problem-solving. Carefully constructed MEAs can begin to prepare students to communicate and work effectively in teams; to adopt and adapt conceptual tools; to construct, describe, and explain complex systems; and to cope with complex systems. MEAs provide a learning environment that is tailored to a more diverse population than typical engineering course experiences as they allow students with different backgrounds and values to emerge as talented, and that adapting these types of activities to engineering courses has the potential to go beyond “filling the gaps” to “opening doors” to women and underrepresented populations in engineering. Further, MEAs provide evidence of student development in regards to ABET standards. Through NSF-funded grants, multiple MEAs have been developed and implemented with a MSE-flavored nanotechnology theme. This paper and presentation will focus on the content, implementation, and student results of one of these MEAs.
Locally-Constrained Region-Based Methods for DW-MRI Segmentation

In this paper, we describe a method for segmenting fiber bundles from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images using a locally-constrained region based approach. From a pre-computed optimal path, the algorithm propagates outward capturing only those voxels which are locally connected to the fiber bundle. Rather than attempting to find large numbers of open curves or single fibers, which individually have questionable meaning, this method segments the full fiber bundle region. The strengths of this approach include its ease-of-use, computational speed, and applicability to a wide range of fiber bundles. In this work, we show results for segmenting the cingulum bundle. Finally, we explain how this approach and extensions thereto overcome a major problem that typical region-based flows experience when attempting to segment neural fiber bundles.
Chiral synthesis via organoboranes. 37. Enantioselective synthesis of conjugated acyclic α-chiral (E)-alkenones

Abstract A highly enantioselective synthesis of conjugated acyclic α-chiral ( E )-alkenones has been achieved from representative prochiral alkenes. Enantiomerically pure ( E )-1-alkenylalkylborinic esters, R*B(HCCHR)OR′, required for the synthesis of the ( E )-alkenones, are obtained either by the reaction of enantiomerically pure boronic esters, R*B(OR) 2 , with ( E )-1-lithio-1-alkenes, followed by treatment with ethereal hydrogen chloride, or by the hydroboration of a terminal alkyne with an enantiomerically pure isopinocampheylalkylborane, IpcR*BH, followed by elimination of the Ipc group as α-pinene by treatment with an aldehyde. These ( E )-1-alkenylalkylborinic esters react smoothly with α,α-dichloromethyl methyl ether (DCME) in the presence of a hindered base (the DCME reaction) to yield, after oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in pH 8 phosphate buffer, conjugated acyclic α-chiral ( E )-alkenones. The alkenones retain the same stereo- and enantiomeric purity of the chiral borinic esters. To our knowledge, this is the first general synthesis of conjugated acyclic α-chiral ( E )-alkenones in high enantiomeric purity (≥99% ee).
Immunophenotypic Correlation Between Skin Biopsy and Peripheral Blood Findings in Mycosis Fungoides

In mycosis fungoides (MF) with blood involvement, T-cell immunophenotypes in skin and blood have not been compared. Our aim was to evaluate T-cell immunophenotypes in skin by immunohistochemical analysis and compare results with flow cytometric (FC) findings in blood. Of 20 patients with MF with blood involvement, the immunophenotype was discrepant in 11 (55%). Compared with FC findings in blood, immunohistochemical analysis of skin samples failed to detect partial deletion of CD2 (5/11 [45%]), CD3 (3/11 [27%]), and CD5 (3/11 [27%]) and overrepresented deletion of CD7 in 2 (18%) of 11 patients. In addition, CD8+ MF was missed by immunohistochemical analysis in 2 (18%) of 11 patients. Identical T-cell populations were demonstrated by T-cell gene polymerase chain reaction in skin and blood in 8 of the 11 patients who had a discrepant immunophenotype. Awareness of the limitations of immunohistochemical analysis of skin samples is of practical value for pathologists interpreting skin biopsies in MF patients. In addition, our findings suggest CD8+ MF to be more common than previously reported.
Temperature-dependent leakage mechanisms of BiFeO3 films

Epitaxial c-axis oriented BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films were deposited on conductive SrRuO3 (SRO) on (001) SrTiO3 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. A Pt/BFO/SRO capacitor was constructed by depositing a top Pt electrode. The leakage current density vs. electric field characteristics were investigated from 80 to 350 K. It was found that the leakage mechanisms were a strong function of temperature and voltage polarity. At temperatures between 80 and 150 K, space-charge-limited current was the dominant leakage mechanism for both negative and positive bias. On the other hand, at temperatures between 200 and 350 K the dominant leakage mechanisms were Poole-Frenkle emission and Fowler-Nordheim tunneling for negative and positive bias, respectively.
Factors influencing red expression in autumn foliage of sugar maple trees

We evaluated factors influencing the development of autumn red coloration in leaves of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) by measuring mineral nutrient and carbohydrate concentrations, water content, and phenology of color development of leaves from 16 mature open-grown trees on 12 dates from June through October 1999. Mean foliar nutrient and carbohydrate concentrations and water content were generally within the range published for healthy sugar maple trees. However, foliar nitrogen (N) concentrations were near deficiency values for some trees. The timing and extent of red leaf coloration was consistently correlated with both foliar N concentrations and starch or sugar concentrations, which also varied with N status. Leaves of trees with low foliar N concentrations turned red earlier and more completely than those of trees with high foliar N concentrations. Low-N trees also had higher foliar starch concentrations than high-N trees. During the autumn development of red leaf coloration, foliar starch, glucose and fructose concentrations were positively correlated with red leaf color expression. At peak red expression, the concentrations of glucose, fructose, sucrose and stachyose were all positively correlated with red color expressed as a percent of total leaf area.
Novel Polymeric Prodrug with Multivalent Components for Cancer Therapy

We designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro and in vivo a novel targeted anticancer polymeric prodrug containing multiple copies of tumor targeting moiety [synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) peptide, analog of LHRH] and anticancer drug (camptothecin). One, two, or three molecules of the targeting peptide and anticancer drug were covalently conjugated with bis(2-carboxyethyl) polyethylene glycol polymer using citric acid as a multivalent spacer. We showed that LHRH peptide was bound to extracellular receptors and localized in plasma membrane of cancer cells. The designed tumor-targeted prodrug increased the solubility of anticancer drug and offered cytoplasmic and/or nuclear delivery of drug to cancer cells expressing LHRH receptors. The multicomponent prodrug containing three copies of the targeting peptide and drug was almost 100 times more cytotoxic and substantially had enhanced antitumor activity compared with the analogous nontargeted prodrug and prodrugs containing one or two copies of active components.