cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ingestible electronics for diagnostics and therapy

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract offers the opportunity to detect physiological and pathophysiological signals from the human body. Ingestible electronics can gain close proximity to major organs through the GI tract and therefore can serve as clinical tools for diagnostics and therapy. In this Review, we summarize the physiological and anatomical characteristics of the GI tract, which present both challenges and opportunities for the development of ingestible devices. We describe recent breakthroughs in materials science, electrical engineering and data science that have permitted the exploration of technologies for sensing and therapy via the GI tract. Novel sensing opportunities include electrochemical, electromagnetic, optical and acoustic protocols, which have the capacity to sense luminal or extra-luminal analytes in the GI tract. We review therapeutic interventions, such as anatomical targeting for drug delivery, delivery of macromolecules and electrical signals. Finally, we investigate major challenges associated with ingestible electronics, including safety, communication, powering, steering and tissue interactions. Ingestible electronics are an exciting area of scientific innovation and they may pave the way for a new era in medicine, enabling patients to receive remote, electronically assisted health care. Ingestible electronics can be used as clinical tools for diagnosis and therapy. In this Review, the authors discuss clinical applications of ingestible electronic devices and highlight materials and sensor technologies, drug delivery applications and major challenges and opportunities for clinical translation, such as safety, powering and communication.
Abstract P422: Accelerometer-Determined Sedentary Time and Physical Activity Across Employment Status Categories in CARDIA

Prolonged sedentary behavior and insufficient physical activity is a common activity profile, especially in modern workplaces. Describing activity profiles by employment status groups could identif...
Effects of exercise preconditioning and HSP72 on diaphragm muscle function during mechanical ventilation.

Background Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life-saving measure for patients in respiratory failure. However, prolonged MV results in significant diaphragm atrophy and contractile dysfunction, a condition referred to as ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction (VIDD). While there are currently no clinically approved countermeasures to prevent VIDD, increased expression of heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) has been demonstrated to attenuate inactivity-induced muscle wasting. HSP72 elicits cytoprotection via inhibition of NF-κB and FoxO transcriptional activity, which contribute to VIDD. In addition, exercise-induced prevention of VIDD is characterized by an increase in the concentration of HSP72 in the diaphragm. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that increased HSP72 expression is required for the exercise-induced prevention of VIDD. We also determined whether increasing the abundance of HSP72 in the diaphragm, independent of exercise, is sufficient to prevent VIDD. Methods Cause and effect was determined by inhibiting the endurance exercise-induced increase in HSP72 in the diaphragm of exercise trained animals exposed to prolonged MV via administration of an antisense oligonucleotide targeting HSP72. Additional experiments were performed to determine if increasing HSP72 in the diaphragm via genetic (rAAV-HSP72) or pharmacological (BGP-15) overexpression is sufficient to prevent VIDD. Results Our results demonstrate that the exercise-induced increase in HSP72 protein abundance is required for the protective effects of exercise against VIDD. Moreover, both rAAV-HSP72 and BGP-15-induced overexpression of HSP72 were sufficient to prevent VIDD. In addition, modification of HSP72 in the diaphragm is inversely related to the expression of NF-κB and FoxO target genes. Conclusions HSP72 overexpression in the diaphragm is an effective intervention to prevent MV-induced oxidative stress and the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and FoxO. Therefore, overexpression of HSP72 in the diaphragm is a potential therapeutic target to protect against VIDD.
Survival outcomes in patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas treated with perioperative chemotherapy with or without preoperative radiotherapy.

Background Perioperative chemotherapy (POC) is one standard approach for the treatment of resectable cancers of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), whereas there has been growing interest in preoperative therapies. The objective of the current study was to compare survival between patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy (PCRT) with those receiving POC using a large database. Methods The National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 with American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical group stage IB to stage IIIC (excluding T2N0 disease) adenocarcinoma of the stomach or GEJ. Patients treated with definitive surgery and POC with or without preoperative radiotherapy of 41 to 54 Gy were included. Overall survival (OS) was defined from the date of definitive surgery and estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 14 patient and treatment variables were used for propensity score matching (PSM). Results A total of 1048 patients were analyzed: 53.2% received POC and 46.8% received PCRT. The primary tumor site was the GEJ in 69.1% of patients and stomach in 30.9% of patients. The median age of the patients was 60 years, and the median follow-up was 25.8 months. The use of PCRT was associated with a greater pathologic complete response rate of 13.1% versus 8.2% (P = .01). POC was associated with a decreased risk of death in unmatched groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.83; P = .043). Using PSM cohorts, POC decreased the risk of death with a median OS of 45.1 months versus 31.4 months (HR, 0.70; P = .016). The 2-year OS rate was 72.9% versus 62.5% and the 5-year OS rate was 40.7% versus 33.1% for POC versus PCRT, respectively. Survival favored POC in PSM gastric (HR, 0.41; P = .07) and GEJ (HR, 0.77; P = .08) patient subgroups. Conclusions The addition of preoperative radiotherapy to POC appears to be associated with an increased risk of death in patients with resectable gastric and GEJ cancers.
"Find Out What They Lack, Try to Provide": A Qualitative Investigation of Palliative Care Services Adapted to Local Need in a Low-Resource Setting.

Background: People in low- and middle-income countries with serious health problems rarely have access to palliative care. Promising models of palliative care delivery have emerged in India despite...
High-Pressure Pool-Boiling Heat Transfer Enhancement Mechanism on Sintered-Particle Wick Surface

We experimentally study high-pressure pool-boiling heat transfer enhancement using a copper sintered-particle wick structure in water. The wicks are fabricated using the multi-step sintering process using 200 μm sintered copper powder. Thermophysical properties of water change at elevated pressure, therefore changing the bubble dynamics. For the monolayer wick, the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) 179.63 W/cm2, 182.42 W/cm2, and 198.16 W/cm2 are found at 0, 103.4, and 206.8 kPa, respectively. The maximum CHF is found at 206.8 kPa with the wick superheat of 9.89 K. A 110% enhancement is found in the CHF for 206.8 kPa, compared to 0 kPa. While we observe the CHF is 1.8 times higher as compared to the plain copper surface at 0 kPa. The maximum heat transfer coefficient, 252.46 W/cm2 K is found at heat flux 100 W/cm2 for 206.8 kPa. The high-pressure boiling result for the monolayer wick shows that the heat transfer coefficient is enhanced by 100% compared to 0 kPa. We suggest the reasons of enhancements in the pool-boiling performance are primarily due to high rate of bubble generation, high bubble release frequency and reduced thermal-hydraulic length modulation, and enhanced thermal conductivity due to the sintered wick layer. Our analysis suggests that the Rayleigh-critical wavelength decreases by 4.67 % with varying pressure, which may cause the bubble pinning between the gaps of sintered particles preventing bubble coalescence. Similarly, the dominant role of pressure over the wicking layer is also analyzed and found that the critical flow length, λu reduces by three orders of magnitude with 200 μm particles. We suggest that the porous wick layer provides a capillary-assist to liquid flow effect, and delays the surface dry out. The surface modification and the pressure amplify the boiling heat transfer performance. All these reasons may contribute to the CHF, and HTC enhancement in the wicking layer at high pressure.
Louisiana, the American South, and the Birth of Second-Wave Feminism

This essay, delivered orally as a presidential address, locates one strand of second-wave feminism in the American South, in particular New Orleans. Bible Belt religious institutions, including the YWCA, provided an important nexus of social justice activism, and out of them came many feminists of the 1960s and 1970s. Pre-existing women's organizations, the civil rights movement, European existentialism, and the writings of Simone de Beauvoir and Doris Lessing inspired the feminist movement in the South. Women activists came together in integrated settings on the Gulf Coast in the mid-1960s and wrote some of the first political and ideological grassroots statements of women's grievances as well as the first consciousness-raising sessions in the nation.
The role of preoperative instructions in parents’ understanding of preoperative fasting for outpatient pediatric urology procedures

To assess the impact of modifications in preoperative instructions on parental understanding of preoperative fasting guidelines. A prospective postoperative parental survey was conducted to assess parental understanding of preoperative fasting requirements in patients undergoing surgery before and after institution of instructions that included visual aids. Data regarding demographics, procedure type, and time to surgery from preoperative visit were also captured. Survey data were compared between pre- and post-intervention groups using Chi-squared tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables. 173 parents in the pre-intervention group and 162 parents in the post-intervention group were included in the analysis. Parent identification of aspiration risk as the reason for fasting almost doubled after intervention (72.2% vs. 38.2%). There was some evidence of demographic differences between groups; however, in an adjusted model, there was strong evidence (p < 0.001) that parents in the post-intervention group were more likely to identify aspiration as the reason for preoperative fasting (OR 4.73; 95% CI 2.93–7.63). Addition of visual aids in preoperative instructions was associated with improvement in parents’ understanding of the rationale behind preoperative fasting instructions. Further studies are needed to determine whether improved understanding is associated with improved adherence.
First drone releases of the biological control agent Neomusotima conspurcatalis on Old World climbing fern

Biological control is a sustainable method of weed management because agents can establish persistent and self-dispersing populations on a landscape scale. Strategic releases are often conducted to...
Leveraging Edge Computing for Mobile Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) applications are becoming increasingly popular for personal and commercial use, thanks to dropping costs of AR-enabled hardware and commercially viable libraries and APIs. AR applications’ ability to insert virtual content into the real world is a product of always-on environmental sensors such as cameras and microphones, coupled with powerful machine learning logic to recognize and respond to a user’s surroundings and behavior. The virtual content generated by the system is then displayed on a hand-held screen such as a smartphone or tablet, a head-mounted display such as the Microsoft Hololens, or a statically mounted display, such as an augmented windshield in a smart vehicle. While the input, transformation, and output phases of the AR processing pipeline are susceptible to certain adversarial attacks, incorporating edge computing into these applications can help to alleviate some of the security concerns. In this chapter, we provide a brief introduction into augmented reality systems and their security concerns, as well as how edge computing can be utilized to help address those concerns.
Designing an interprofessional Facebook discussion group to teach about LGBTQ healthcare disparities and inclusive practices

Objective:Training on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) healthcare and inclusive practice is lacking in curricula across health professions, contributing to healt...
Real-World Use of Partially Automated Driving Systems and Driver Impressions

Background: Automated driving systems (ADSs) have the potential to fundamentally transform transportation by reducing crashes, congestion, and cost while improving traffic efficiency and access to ...
Mitochondrial calcium uniporter is essential for hearing and hair cell preservation in congenic FVB/NJ mice.

Mitochondrial Ca2+ regulates a wide range of cell processes, including morphogenesis, metabolism, excitotoxicity, and survival. In cochlear hair cells, the activation of mechano-electrical transduction and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels result in a large influx of Ca2+. The intracellular rise in Ca2+ is partly balanced by the mitochondria which rapidly uptakes Ca2+ via a highly selective channel comprised of the main pore-forming subunit, the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), and associated regulatory proteins. MCU thus contributes to Ca2+ buffering, ensuring cytosolic homeostasis, and is posited to have a critical role in hair cell function and hearing. To test this hypothesis, Ca2+ homeostasis in hair cells and cochlear function were investigated in FVB/NJ mice carrying the knockout allele of Mcu (Mcu+/− or Mcu−/−). The Mcu knockout allele, which originated in C57BL/6 strain cosegregated along with Cdh23ahl allele to the FVB/NJ strain, due to the close proximity of these genes. Neither Mcu+/− nor Mcu−/− genotypes affected cochlear development, morphology, or Ca2+ homeostasis of auditory hair cells in the first two postnatal weeks. However, Mcu−/− mice displayed high-frequency hearing impairment as early as 3 weeks postnatal, which then progressed to profound hearing loss at all frequencies in about 6 months. In Mcu+/− mice, significantly elevated ABR thresholds were observed at 6 months and 9 months of age only at 32 kHz frequency. In three-month-old Mcu−/− mice, up to 18% of the outer hair cells and occasionally some inner hair cells were missing in the mid-cochlear region. In conclusion, mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter is not required for the development of cochlea in mice, but is essential for hearing and hair cell preservation in congenic FVB/NJ mice.
Comparison and analysis of tariff reduction of infrastructural sectors and its economic impact: ACGE approach

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The reduction of tariffs in Public infrastructure sectors is believed to be one of the key factors in addressing the socio-economic challenges of high unemployment, income inequality, and poverty. The primary objective of this paper is to design a general equilibrium model for infrastructural sectors among Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, China, USA, Australia, Japan and Korea, and evaluate potential economic impact of tariff reduction. METHODS: The research method of this paper was to construct a Computational General Equilibrium model to assess the economic effects. The global trade analysis project model was calibrated and discussed in this paper. The global trade analysis project database was used to validate the model. FINDINGS: Simulation result showed that tariff removal in infrastructure has the most significant effects in China, Japan, and Korea’s economic growth and employment than other countries. Gross Domestic Product, output price, and social welfare increase significantly in China compared to other countries. Gross Domestic Product increases in China by 616%, decreases in Japan and Korea 77% and 7% after mutual tariff reduction on infrastructure sectors. Meanwhile, China’s export on infrastructural sector increases by 1.71%, Japan and Korea’s export increases by 0.75% and 0.05%. On the other hand, export decreases in Germany, France, Italy, UK, USA and Australia. Finally, social welfare increases in China by $2.26 billion and Japan by $239 million. CONCLUSION: The presence of tariff reduction in infrastructure sectors will likely strengthen the market share of most of the simulated regions. These findings may provide policy-makers with crucial information for better understanding about new tariff policy. Computable General Equilibrium analysis in infrastructure sectors had paid little attention in past and this paper tries to fill the gaps and attempts to find the benefit of mutual tariff policy among countries based on global trade analysis project model.
Prenatal Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder and Other Prescription Opioids in Cases of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome: North Carolina Medicaid, 2016-2018.

Objectives. To estimate use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and prescription opioids in pregnancy among mothers of infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Methods. We ...
Smart Landscaping Services

Landscaping services industry is estimated to be about $100 billion in the US. These services tend to be labor-intensive and are varied in scales ranging from single-family homes to large hospitality and leisure enterprises such as resorts and golf courses. From a management perspective the three main objectives of landscaping services are maintaining aesthetics, pest control, and lowering cost. Some of the major activities in landscaping include mowing lawns, pruning shrubs, clearing leaves, trimming hedges, and mulching. Operating cost depends on staffing level, frequency of activities, and associated fuel consumption, which have been investigated in several studies. The focus of this paper is to make landscaping services smarter by using decision-support models for managing them. Specifically, this paper proposes a two-stage optimization model for lawn mowing. The first-stage model assigns appropriate pieces of equipment and staff to various areas to minimize both operating costs and labor costs. The second-stage model optimizes the schedule of activities based on the desired due times for various areas. A numerical study is used for demonstrating the application of the decision-support model. Future direction for smart landscaping through better decision-making based on data from IoT sensors for monitoring growth, soil conditions, and weather data is also proposed.
Germinal center responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in healthy and immunocompromised individuals

Vaccine-mediated immunity often relies on the generation of protective antibodies and memory B cells, which commonly stem from germinal center (GC) reactions. An in-depth comparison of the GC responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in healthy and immunocompromised individuals has not yet been performed due to the challenge of directly probing human lymph nodes. In this study, through a fine-needle-aspiration-based approach, we profiled the immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in lymph nodes of healthy individuals and kidney transplant (KTX) recipients. We found that, unlike healthy subjects, KTX recipients presented deeply blunted SARS-CoV-2-specific GC B cell responses coupled with severely hindered T follicular helper cells, SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding-domain-specific memory B cells and neutralizing antibodies. KTX recipients also displayed reduced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell frequencies. Broadly, these data indicate impaired GC-derived immunity in immunocompromised individuals, and suggest a GC-origin for certain humoral and memory B cell responses following mRNA vaccination.
Growth Factors, Proto-Oncogenes and the Control of Cell Proliferation: Lessons from the Fibroblast

Shortly after fertilization, the rapidly dividing cells of the zygote initiate a multifaceted program of differentiation. Among the earliest changes is a strict regulation of cellular proliferation. Cell proliferation in higher eukaryotes generally depends upon the state of differentiation and the appropriate extracellular factors. For many of the cells that comprise multicellular organisms, extracellular signals control both differentiation and proliferation.
Distributed and Recursive Parameter Estimation

Parametric estimation is a canonical problem in sensor networks. The intrinsic nature of sensor networks requires regression algorithms based on sensor data to be distributed and recursive. Such algorithms are studied in this chapter for the problem of (conditional) least squares regression when the data collected across sensors is homogeneous, i.e., each sensor observes samples of the dependent and independent variable in the regression problem. The chapter is divided into three parts. In the first part, distributed and recursive estimation algorithms are developed for the nonlinear regression problem. In the second part, a distributed and recur- sive algorithm is designed to estimate the unknown parameter in a parametrized state-space random process. In the third part, the problem of identifying the source of a diffusion field is discussed as a representative application for the algorithms developed in the first two parts.
Perforant path damage results in progressive neuronal death and somal atrophy in layer II of entorhinal cortex and functional impairment with increasing postdamage age

In vivo model systems that can evaluate neuronal death, survival, and regeneration are critical to revealing basic mechanisms of neuronal response and developing strategies for CNS repair. We propose a distinct experimental model of CNS degeneration following lesions to the perforant path connecting the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex. Within 2 weeks of a unilateral aspirative perforant path lesion, 30% of the ipsilateral entorhinal cortex layer II (ECL II) projection neurons had died with no change in the contralateral ECL II population. Although there was no loss of ECL II neurons with normal aging, animals that survived for 15 months postlesion experienced an almost 50% loss of ipsilateral neurons compared to unlesioned controls. This progressive neuronal death was bilateral, with the contralateral ECL II experiencing a 30% decline in neuronal number relative to unlesioned controls. The use of unbiased stereology ensured that estimates of total number were not distorted by changes in the reference volume. The documented progressive neuronal death resulted in delayed behavioral impairment in spatial learning and performance (latency nearly 200% of controls). We propose, therefore, that the perforant path model is suitable for experimental investigation of neuronal survival and regeneration following CNS trauma.
Cytosolic free magnesium levels in ischemic rat heart.

Abstract Changes in cytosolic free magnesium ion concentration (Mgi) during myocardial ischemia were measured by 19F NMR in perfused rat hearts loaded with fluorine-labeled derivatives of the magnesium chelator o-aminophenol-N,N,O-triacetate. The perfused rat hearts were loaded intracellularly with the appropriate magnesium indicator by perfusion with 200-400 ml of Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 5 microM acetoxymethyl ester of the indicator. Basal Mgi concentrations measured by three different indicators averaged 0.85 +/- 0.10 mM (n = 9) and showed no correlation with the KD of the indicator used. 31P NMR measurements of the magnesium-dependent shift between alpha- and beta-phosphates of ATP demonstrate that there is no measurable lowering of Mgi during loading with fluorinated o-aminophenol-N,N,O-triacetate. Between 10 and 15 min of ischemia, Mgi rose nearly 3-fold to 2.1 +/- 0.4 mM. This increase in Mgi occurred over the same time course as the decrease in ATP. After 20 min of reperfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer, Mgi declined to 1.5 +/- 0.5 mM. This sustained elevation of Mgi above basal levels may inhibit calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum, thereby contributing to the well documented impairment of mechanical function that occurs after a reversible period of ischemia.
Sorted HiLog: Sorts in Higher-Order Logic Data Languages

HiLog enhances the modeling capabilities of deductive data bases and logic programming with higher-order and meta-data constructs, complex objects, and schema browsing. Its distinctive feature, a higher-order syntax with a first-order semantics, allows for efficient implementation with speeds comparable to Prolog. In fact, HiLog implementation in XSB [29, 25] together with tabulated query evaluation offers impressive performance with negligible penalty for higher-order syntax, thereby bringing the modeling capabilities of HiLog to practical realization. The lack of sorts in HiLog, however, is somewhat of a problem in database applications, which led to a number of HiLog dialects such as DataHiLog [24]. This paper develops a comprehensive theory of sorts for HiLog. It supports HiLog's flexible higher-order syntax via a polymorphic and recursive sort structure, and it offers an easy and convenient mechanism to control the rules of well-formedness. By varying the sort structure we obtain a full spectrum of languages, ranging from classical predicate logic to the original (non-sorted) HiLog. In between, there is a number of interesting higher-order extensions of Datalog with various degrees of control over the syntax, including second-order predicate calculus with Henkin-style semantics, as described in [10]. We also discuss the benefits of using Sorted HiLog for modeling complex objects and for meta programming. Finally, Sorted HiLog can be easily incorporated into XSB, which makes its practical realization feasible.
Left ventricular bypass pump for cardiac assistance. Clinical experience.

A gas-energized, synchronized, hemispherical pump, of Dacron®-reinforced Silastic®, has been used effectively to relieve the strain on the failing left ventricle during the early recuperative period after open heart surgery. Since 1963, when an early version was implanted in a patient, numerous improvements have been made, among the most important of which has been use of Dacron velour lining to minimize trauma to the blood. Two illustrative cases demonstrate the effectiveness of the pump during relatively sustained use: until the fourth postoperative day in a young girl with long-standing rheumatic heart disease, severe mitral insufficiency and cardiac failure; and until the tenth postoperative day in a woman with severe aortic insufficiency and mitral stenosis who required replacement of both valves. Both patients, critically ill before operation, recovered completely. Experimental and clinical experience indicates that the pump, by immediately reducing left atrial pressure and therefore left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, interrupts the vicious cycle of complex metabolic changes consequent to the hemodynamic disturbances associated with cardiac failure. The need for thoracotomy and the prohibitive cost, however, obviate broad clinical application of the pump. Development of a mechanical device for long-term support or for total cardiac replacement awaits the resolution of several critical problems, including a non-traumatic blood interface, improved control mechanism and portable power source.
Display of Three-Dimensional Data in Radio Astronomy

The basic objective of image display is to provide the user with a tool that enables him to get as complete a grasp of the contents of the data as possible with a relatively small effort. With the advent of aperture synthesis techniques maps in (radio) astronomy have grown to sizes where digestion of their contents has become impossible by just staring at large collections of numbers. The problem is especially acute in the case of aperture synthesis spectral line observations where the astronomer has to deal with intensities in three dimensions: two spatial coordinates and velocity; we shall refer to this as “the cube”. Historically, spectral line observers used to spread out large numbers of profiles (plots of intensity as a function of velocity at various positions in the sky) on any available surface. Aside from the fact that this becomes highly impractical for large spatial grids, it also does not enable the astronomer to build up a mental three-dimensional picture very easily. This is also true for the alternative approach of leafing through stacks of two-dimensional maps (spatial maps at different velocities and so-called “Position-Velocity maps”).
Movement of multiple DNA units between Myxococcus xanthus cells.

Myxococcus xanthus YS produces particles (Mx alpha particles) that transmit genetic information between cells. Mx alpha particles might be viruses, although no host able to sustain lytic growth of Mx alpha has been discovered. The particles could be detected by their ability to transduce a Tn5 transposon tag to recipient bacteria. DNA from purified particles hybridized to a limited number of DNA restriction fragments of strain YS, suggesting that Mx alpha particles contain only specific DNA sequences. A set of Tn5 insertions residing in the transducible region provided genetic markers for cloning cellular DNA packaged by Mx alpha. A map of this region showed that transducible DNA comprised multiple units of approximately 80 kilobases each. Individual units share DNA homology but are divergent in the location of restriction sites. Other wild-type isolates of Myxococcus species contained DNA sequences with homology to Mx alpha DNA, indicating that Mx alpha DNA is widespread in nature. Experiments on the transfer of Mx alpha DNA in strain YS suggested that DNA transfer is enhanced during the developmental cycle. Images
The Thai Financial Crisis And The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy

This article revisits the financial crisis in 1997 using the sufficiency economy philosophy bestowed by His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, shading some light on what went wrong, the lessons learnt, and possibly what can be done to prevent such crisis from happening again. The origin of the crisis was the fact that Thai economy grew too fast with the help of the financial liberalization in early 1990s. This rapid growth, however, violated the three elements of the sufficiency economy, which are moderation, reasonableness and self-immunity, in turns, exposed the country to trouble. On July 2, 1997, Thai land had to let the baht float freely, and that when the crisis started. More than ten years have passed, and we believe that we will not make the same mistakes again if we follow the sufficiency economy philosophy. The application of the philosophy is not limited only to the national level, but it is applicable to people from all walks of life at all levels. The philosophy can be boiled down to five axioms; (1) know what you are doing; (2) be honest and persevere; (3) take middle path; (4) be sensible and insightful in taking decisions; (5) build protection against shocks despite different applications, they all share the same goal of balanced and sustainable development.
Tracheostomal Stenosis after Laryngectomy: Incidence and Predisposing Factors:

Laryngectomy for carcinoma of the larynx has been performed since it was first described in 1880. Since that time the complication of tracheostomal stenosis has plagued both surgeons and patients. The reported incidence of tracheostomal stenosis ranges from 4% to 42%. At West Virginia University Hospitals from 1976 to 1994, 106 patients undergoing laryngectomies on the head and neck oncology service were analyzed. The charts of patients treated before 1991 were reviewed retrospectively; a prospective analysis was initiated in 1991. Only patients with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up were included in this study. The male-to-female ratio was 3:1, with an age range of 28 to 86 years (mean, 58 years). The overall rate of stenosis was 28.4%. The incidence of tracheostomal stenosis was higher in women (46.4%) than in men (21.6%) (p < 0.05). Since 1991 a plastic type of closure was used in 25 patients. The stenosis rate was 0% in these patients. Before 1991 a bevel or circle technique was used, with stenosis rates of 33% and 75%, respectively (p < 0.05). Infection at the site of the stoma, fistula, steroid use, neck dissection, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap usage, primary tracheoesophageal puncture, and radiotherapy did not correlate with an increased incidence of stenosis. The most important factor in prevention of stomal stenosis after laryngectomy is attention to detail while forming the stoma. With good technique and a plastic-type closure to break up the suture line, a minimal rate of stenosis should be encountered.
Synthesis of polyaniline-gold nanocomposites using "grafting from" approach.

Polyaniline–gold nanocomposites containing polyaniline nanostructures attached to well-dispersed uniform-size gold nanoparticles were obtained using a surface initiation approach.
Inducing catastrophe in malignant growth

Mathematical catastrophe theory is used to describe cancer growth during any time-dependent program a(t) of therapeutic activity. The program may be actively imposed, e.g. as chemotherapy, or occur passively as an immune response. With constant therapy a(t), the theory predicts that cancer mass p(t) grows in time t as a cosine-modulated power law, with power = 1.618..., the Fibonacci constant. The cosine modulation predicts the familiar relapses and remissions of cancer growth. These fairly well agree with clinical data on breast cancer recurrences following mastectomy. Two such studies of 3183 Italian women consistently show an immune system's average activity level of about a = 2.8596 for the women. Fortunately, an optimum time-varying therapy program a(t) is found that effects a gradual approach to full remission over time, i.e. to a chronic disease. Both activity a(t) and cancer mass p(t) monotonically decrease with time, the activity a(t) as 1/(ln t) and mass remission as t--94{-0.382}. These predicted growth effects have a biological basis in the known presence of multiple alleles during cancer growth.
Relation between the severity of early malnutrition and the effects of later frontal cortical lesions in rats

Rats with an early history of severe malnutrition received frontal cortical (FC) lesions or control operations at 90 days of age. These severely malnourished groups were compared with each other and with moderately malnourished and well-fed groups (FC and control) for acquisition and three reversals of a tactile discrimination (rough-smooth). Main effects of lesion and nutrition were found for acquisition and reversals. The groups with malnutrition plus frontal lesions displayed the poorest performance. Although the severely and moderately malnourished groups did not differ in acquisition of the discrimination, the severely malnourished group made more reversal errors. The severely malnourished rats also showed greater brain growth retardation (size and weight) than the moderately malnourished rats. These results indicate that the effects of early dietary history and the reaction to a later, acute brain injury may be additive under certain circumstances.
Characterization of an angiotensin type-1 receptor partial cDNA from rat kidney: evidence for a novel AT1B receptor subtype.

Summary We sought to determine if multiple forms of mRNA for the angiotensin type-1 (AT1) receptor could be detected in rat kidney using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure. Amplification of rat kidney cDNA with oligonucleotide primers derived from the second and sixth transmembrane domains of the rat AT1 receptor yielded a single cDNA fragment 528bp in size. Sequence analysis indicated, however, that the cDNA fragment was a mixture of two highly similar gene products: the first cDNA was identical to the previously cloned AT1 receptor (termed here AT1A) whereas the second cDNA (termed here AT1B) was 92% identical at the nucleotide level and 96% identical at the amino acid level. Nucleotide substitutions were dispersed throughout the cDNA and 80% (33 of 41) were conservative. Significant levels of AT1A and AT1B mRNA were detected by PCR amplification of kidney poly(A)+ RNA and restriction enzyme analysis. These results indicate that at least two distinct AT1 receptor genes are expressed in rat kidney.
Comparative gain measurements for twelve organic laser dye solutions

Gain versus frequency is measured for twelve organic laser dye solutions in identical transversely pumped configurations. Results show lasing performance and give relative values of dye parameters.
Truncation method of reduction: a viable alternative

Recently published methods for generating stable reduced order models are compared with an old and very simple method of reduction based on the truncation of the high order system transfer function. Numerical examples show the truncation method, which requires no computation, to be as good as the other methods.
Stereoscopic representation of four-component chemical systems

A method has been derived for computer plotting of four-component chemical systems (tetrahedra), using the program ORTEP (Johnson, 1965). Stereo pairs can be produced and the tetrahedron viewed from any desired position. The only input information needed is phase composition and tie-line arrangement within the tetrahedron.
Mechanical properties of wetlaid lyocell and hybrid fiber-reinforced composites with polypropylene

Abstract The random wetlay process was used to fabricate thermoplastic composite sheets reinforced with chopped lyocell (regenerated cellulose from the N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide process) fibers, and with blends of lyocell and steam-exploded hardwood (SEW) fibers. Polypropylene (PP) served as matrix material in compression-molded composites reinforced with 25–65 wt.% fiber. Tensile and flexural properties of the resulting composites were compared with those reported for melt-processed (injection-molded) rayon fiber-reinforced PP composites. Association between fiber and matrix was also observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties of wetlaid composites were found to be generally comparable with those of melt-processed composites over similar ranges of fiber loading. The fiber length-preserving advantage of the wetlay process was found to produce superior composite flexural properties. Tensile properties on the other hand, were found to require the presence of an interfacial binding agent. Results of hybrid composite studies revealed surprisingly high strength and modulus retention when as much as 60% of lyocell fibers were replaced with SEW fibers. The addition of wood fibers may potentially result in substantial savings in fiber cost.
Emotional Support and Perceived Stress Among College Students Using Facebook.com: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Source Perceptions and Emotional Support

This study examined perceptions of support providers, emotional support, and perceived stress among college students using Facebook.com®. Specifically, the study focused on the relationship between perceptions of emotional support from fellow Facebook users and perceived stress. In addition, it examined the relationship between 2 key source perceptions (homophily and attraction) and perceptions of emotional support. The findings indicated that perceived emotional support from Facebook users was predictive of lower perceived stress. Moreover, perceptions of homophily and attraction concerning potential support providers were predictive of increased emotional support. The implications of these findings for computer-mediated communication and social support research are discussed, along with key limitations of the study.
The Role of Lipids in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Plasma lipids and lipoproteins usually undergo several phasic changes following myocardial infarction. Within a few hours the free fatty acid (FFA) concentration rises precipitously and may not become normal for 2 days or more. During the first 1 to 3 days, there begins a significant decline in cholesterol and beta lipoproteins. After a possible early decline, the concentrations of very low density lipoproteins and triglycerides begin to climb within the first week and characteristically are considerably above the measured initial levels for weeks thereafter. Beta lipoprotein concentrations return slowly to initial values. The late return of lipids to supranormal levels is probably often an expression of abnormality present before infarction. Some of these oscillations in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations occur after other forms of trauma. Arguments are presented that the early alterations are not attributable to caloric deprivation or anticoagulants and the mechanisms involved are speculated upon.
Improved 750 °C epitaxial crystal silicon solar cells through impurity reduction

We characterize and improve epitaxial silicon films for solar cells grown by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD). The hot-wire filament temperature is found to affect the incorporation of impurities and the surface roughness of the films. Lowering the filament temperature leads to improved epitaxial films with lower impurities and smoother surfaces. Solar cells made with the improved material grown on low-cost silicon templates have open-circuit voltages (VOC) ~600 mV and efficiency exceeding 10%.
Decreased adrenoceptor stimulation in heart failure rats reduces NGF expression by cardiac parasympathetic neurons

Postganglionic cardiac parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves are physically proximate in atrial cardiac tissue allowing reciprocal inhibition of neurotransmitter release, depending on demands from central cardiovascular centers or reflex pathways. Parasympathetic cardiac ganglion (CG) neurons synthesize and release the sympathetic neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF), which may serve to maintain these close connections. In this study we investigated whether NGF synthesis by CG neurons is altered in heart failure, and whether norepinephrine from sympathetic neurons promotes NGF synthesis. NGF and proNGF immunoreactivity in CG neurons in heart failure rats following chronic coronary artery ligation was investigated. NGF immunoreactivity was decreased significantly in heart failure rats compared to sham-operated animals, whereas proNGF expression was unchanged. Changes in neurochemistry of CG neurons included attenuated expression of the cholinergic marker vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and increased expression of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. To further investigate norepinephrine's role in promoting NGF synthesis, we cultured CG neurons treated with adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists. An 82% increase in NGF mRNA levels was detected after 1h of isoproterenol (β-AR agonist) treatment, which increased an additional 22% at 24h. Antagonist treatment blocked isoproterenol-induced increases in NGF transcripts. In contrast, the α-AR agonist phenylephrine did not alter NGF mRNA expression. These results are consistent with β-AR mediated maintenance of NGF synthesis in CG neurons. In heart failure, a decrease in NGF synthesis by CG neurons may potentially contribute to reduced connections with adjacent sympathetic nerves.
SU-E-T-193: A Custom Web Application for a GPU-Based Monte Carlo IMRT/VMAT QA Tool

Purpose: To develop a user friendly web application for a GPU‐based Monte Carlo (MC) 3D dosimetry quality assurance (QA) tool which runs in modern web browsers and interacts remotely with specialized hardware/software resources. Methods: We developed a new QA web application based on existing technologies (HTML5, Python, and Django) to interface with a command line‐based MC QA tool. It eliminates the need for users of this cutting‐edge GPU software to purchase expensive/specialized hardware and use a command‐line based environment. The Results is a web app with a user‐friendly interface enabling control of GPU accelerated software for MC‐based QA. Users upload zipped DICOM RP, CT, and RD data and set the expected statistic uncertainty for the MC dose calculation. After the files are uploaded, the remote software is automatically launched to generate intermediate data necessary for the GPU‐based MC dose calculation. The MC dose calculation is then executed on the remote GPU server and the resultant dose and original plan dose (from uploaded RD file) are displayed in the web GUI for the user to review. A 3D gamma index map and DVH curves are also displayed to the user. Finally, a PDF QA report that summarizes the results can be downloaded. Results: We successfully developed a web app for a GPU‐based QA tool that consists of fluence map generation, CT image processing, GPU based MC dose calculation, gamma index calculation, and DVH calculation. The Results is an IMRT and VMAT QA tool that conducts an independent dose calculation for a given treatment plan. The computation time from data uploading to viewing results and downloading report is less than 2 min. Conclusion: We developed a GPU‐based MC QA tool with a user‐friendly web‐based interface. The high efficiency and accessibility greatly facilitate IMRT and VMAT QA.
The maxillary complete denture opposing the mandibular bilateral distal-extension partial denture: Treatment considerations

The dentist should approach the treatment of the complete maxillary denture opposing the mandibular bilateral distal extension partial denture cautiously, and the institution of correct treatment initiatives is essential. Every patient must be aware from the outset that the longest possible life of any prosthesis with the least possible harm to the remaining tissues can only be ensured by regular recall and maintenance care.
Hydrolysis of cholinergic anabaseine and N-methylanabaseine : influence of cosolvents on the position of the ring-chain equilibrium―Compensatory changes

Abstract The position of the ring-chain equilibrium established by the addition of water to the iminium ring (Im) in the title compounds and subsequent ring cleavage to give the acyclic conjugate acid amino ketones (AK) were investigated by proton NMR using D2O, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-d6, and CD3OD solvents. A linear free energy relationship expressing the change in the logarithmic value of the equilibrium constant [AK] ([Im][D 2 O]) for the mixed solvent with the mole fraction of water added to methanol is found for the substrates, giving the equilibrium constants for the pure solvents. Equilibrium constants for the pure solvents increase in the order water, methanol, DMSO. Although there is less water in the largely nonaqueous solvents, the increase in the magnitude of the equilibrium constants partially compensates for this decrease, thereby resulting in a moderated reduction of the value of the ratio [AK] [Im] . Replacement of the deuteron bonded to the imine nitrogen atom by a methyl group causes much more acyclic keto-ammonium ion to form in D2O due to steric compression between this methyl group and the adjacent pyridine ring causing an increase in energy of about 1.7 kcal/mol.
Effect of treatment with different doses of bromocriptine on plasma profiles of prolactin, gonadotrophins and testosterone in mature male rats and mice

The influence of different doses of bromocriptine (CB-154) on plasma levels of prolactin (Prl), FSH, LH and testosterone (T) in mature male rats and mice was studied. Daily subcutaneous administration of 360 micrograms of CB-154 in sesame oil was sufficient to induce maximal suppression of plasma Prl levels in mature male rats whilst subcutaneous implantation of two pellets of CB-154 and cholesterol, each containing approximately 6 mg CB-154, was effective in suppressing serum Prl levels in mature rats for at least four weeks. This was accompanied by a significant elevation of plasma levels of LH and FSH. A similar dose-response study in mature male mice suggested that relatively higher doses of CB-154 are required to suppress plasma levels of Prl in this species, although large doses of CB-154 can still increase plasma levels of gonadotrophins and T in male mice.