cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A DYNAMIC VALGUS INDEX THAT COMBINES HIP AND KNEE ANGLES: ASSESSMENT OF UTILITY IN FEMALES WITH PATELLOFEMORAL PAIN.

BACKGROUND Two=dimensional motion analysis of lower=extremity movement typically focuses on the knee frontal plane projection angle, which considers the position of the femur and the tibia. A measure that includes the pelvis may provide a more comprehensive and accurate indicator of lower=extremity movement. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe the utility of a two=dimensional dynamic valgus index (DVI) in females with patellofemoral pain. The hypothesis was that the DVI would be more reliable and valid than the knee frontal plane projection angle, be greater in females with patellofemoral pain during a single=limb squat than in females without patellofemoral pain, and decrease in females with patellofemoral pain following instruction. Study Design: Controlled Laboratory Study. METHODS Data were captured while participants performed single limb squats under two conditions: usual and corrected. Two=dimensional hip and knee angles and a DVI that combined the hip and knee angles were calculated. Three=dimensional sagittal, frontal, and transverse plane angles of the hip and knee and a DVI combining the frontal and transverse plane angles were calculated. RESULTS The two=dimensional DVI demonstrated moderate reliability (ICC=0.74). The correlation between the two=dimensional and three=dimensional DVI's was 0.635 (p<0001). Females with patellofemoral pain demonstrated a greater two=dimensional DVI (31.14 °±13.36 °) than females without patellofemoral pain (18.30 °±14.97 °; p=0.010). Females with patellofemoral pain demonstrated a decreased DVI in the corrected (19.04 °±13.70 °) versus usual (31.14 °±13.36 °) condition (p=0.001). CONCLUSION The DVI is a reliable and valid measure that may provide a more comprehensive assessment of lower=extremity movement patterns than the knee frontal plane projection angle in individuals with lower=extremity musculoskeletal pain problems. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2b.
Inhibition of LSD1 in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Progenitors Restores Differentiation of CD141Hi Conventional Dendritic Cells

Background: Immunotherapeutic approaches for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) show promise, but progress is limited by our incomplete understanding of the immunologic milieu. In a recent Phase I trial, we found that MDS patients with higher numbers of CD141Hi conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) were more likely to respond to NY-ESO-1 vaccination. In solid tumor models, the CD141Hi cDC is critical for initiating anti-tumor immune responses but its impact in myeloid malignancies is unknown. In studies of primary human specimens and mouse models, we tested the hypothesis that MDS patients exhibit decreased quantity and quality of CD141Hi cDCs due to impaired myeloid differentiation. Methods: Bone marrow (BM) cells were collected from MDS patients (pre-treatment) and age matched healthy donors (HD; defined as absence of hematologic malignancy). We quantified DC populations, stem, progenitor cells and interferon regulatory factor-8 (IRF-8) expression using flow cytometry and RT-qPCR. Histone modifications were assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. To assess DC differentiation of progenitors, human CD34+ and mouse c-kit+ cells were expanded and differentiated in vitro. Results: We found fewer CD141Hi cDCs (p Disclosures Sait: Celgene: Consultancy. Griffiths: Boston Scientific: Consultancy; Boston Scientific: Consultancy; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Persimmune: Consultancy; Persimmune: Consultancy; Abbvie, Inc.: Consultancy; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis Inc.: Consultancy; Celgene, Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding; New Link Genetics: Consultancy; New Link Genetics: Consultancy; Astex Phramaceuticals/Otsuka Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astex Phramaceuticals/Otsuka Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis Inc.: Consultancy; Partner Therapeutics: Consultancy; Partner Therapeutics: Consultancy; Appelis Pharmaceuticals: Other: PI on a clinical trial; Onconova Therapeutics: Other: PI on a clinical trial; Appelis Pharmaceuticals: Other: PI on a clinical trial; Onconova Therapeutics: Other: PI on a clinical trial; Celgene, Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie, Inc.: Consultancy, PI on a clinical trial.
Heuristics and the naturalistic fallacy

Lieder and Griffith's account of resource-rationality relies heavily on a notion of teleology. In this commentary, I criticize their teleocentric view as being incompatible with evolutionary theory, in which they aim to ground their analysis. As such, to save their view, I argue that they must jettison the notion of teleology, and their teleologically laden conclusions.
An Examination of Effect Sizes and Statistical Power in Speech, Language, and Hearing Research

Purpose The purpose was to examine and determine effect size distributions reported in published audiology and speech-language pathology research in order to provide researchers and clinicians with...
Solid-State Digital Photon Counting PET/CT

In this chapter, we describe the solid-state digital photon counting (DPC) clinical PET/CT, Vereos TF 64, a system differing from other SiPM-based PET/CT systems by directly coupling every lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO) scintillator with its own DPC detector sensor. First, we will introduce the system, its architecture, and the features of its reconstruction and quality control. Second, we will discuss the system performance measurements in spatial resolution (3.88 mm at center in axial), timing resolution (310 ps), sensitivity (5.5 cps/kBq), peak NECR (153 kcps at 54.3 kBq/mL), peak true count rate (878 kBq/mL), and scatter fraction (32.2%). Finally, we will demonstrate clinical applications focusing on low-dose PET, fast PET imaging, PET simulation, and lesion detectability. The system has presented improvements in system performance, characteristics, and image quality leading to promising clinical opportunities and diagnostic confidence.
Nanomedicine-based drug delivery towards tumor biological and immunological microenvironment

The complex tumor microenvironment is a most important factor in cancer development. The biological microenvironment is composed of a variety of barriers including the extracellular matrix and associated cells such as endothelia cells, pericytes, and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Different strategies can be utilized to enhance nanoparticle-based drug delivery and distribution into tumor tissues addressing the extracellular matrix or cellular components. In addition to the biological microenvironment, the immunological conditions around the tumor tissue can be very complicated and cancer cells have various ways of evading immune surveillance. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems can enhance cancer immunotherapy by tuning the immunological response and memory of various immune cells such as T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. In this review, the main components in the tumor biological and immunological environment are discussed. The focus is on recent advances in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems towards targets within the tumor microenvironment to improve cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Categorical judgments do not modify sensory information in working memory

Abstract Categorical judgments can systematically bias the perceptual interpretation of stimulus features. However, it remained unclear whether categorical judgments directly modify working memory representations or, alternatively, generate these biases via an inference process down-stream from working memory. To address this question we ran two novel psychophysical experiments in which human subjects had to revert their categorical judgments about a stimulus feature, if incorrect based on feedback, before providing an estimate of the feature. If categorical judgments indeed directly altered sensory representations in working memory, subjects’ estimates should reflect some aspects of their initial (incorrect) categorical judgment in those trials. We found no traces of the initial categorical judgment. Rather, subjects seem to be able to flexibly switch their categorical judgment if needed and use the correct corresponding categorical prior to properly perform feature inference. A cross-validated model comparison also revealed that feedback may lead to selective memory recall such that only memory samples that are consistent with the categorical judgment are accepted for the inference process. Our results suggest that categorical judgments do not modify sensory information in working memory but rather act as top-down expectation in the subsequent sensory recall and inference process down-stream from working memory.
Catching a Break: Accessibility, Empathy, and COVID-19

By driving U.S. residents to shelter-in-place, COVID-19 forces many to experience restrictions similar to those experienced by people with disabilities. This autoethnographic essay uses my experien...
How Can Big Data Science Transform the Psychological Sciences

Big data and related technologies are radically altering our society. In a similar way, these approaches can transform the psychological sciences. The goal of this commentary is to motivate psychologists to embrace big data science for the betterment of the field. Big data sources, algorithmic methods, and a culture that embraces prediction has the potential to advance our science, improve the robustness and replicability of our research, and allow us to focus more centrally on actual behaviors. We highlight these key transformations, acknowledge criticisms of big data approaches, and emphasize specific ways psychologists can contribute to the big data science revolution.
Stochastic models for objects and images in oncology and virology: application to PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling and COVID-19 disease

Purpose: The goal of this research is to develop innovative methods of acquiring simultaneous multidimensional molecular images of several different physiological random processes (PRPs) that might all be active in a particular disease such as COVID-19. Approach: Our study is part of an ongoing effort at the University of Arizona to derive biologically accurate yet mathematically tractable models of the objects of interest in molecular imaging and of the images they produce. In both cases, the models are fully stochastic, in the sense that they provide ways to estimate any estimable property of the object or image. The mathematical tool we use for images is the characteristic function, which can be calculated if the multivariate probability density function for the image data is known. For objects, which are functions of continuous variables rather than discrete pixels or voxels, the characteristic function becomes infinite dimensional, and we refer to it as the characteristic functional. Results: Several innovative mathematical results are derived, in particular for simultaneous imaging of multiple PRPs. Then the application of these methods to cancers that disrupt the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway and to COVID-19 are discussed qualitatively. One reason for choosing these two problems is that they both involve lipid rafts. Conclusions: We found that it was necessary to employ a new algorithm for energy estimation to do simultaneous single-photon emission computerized tomography imaging of a large number of different tracers. With this caveat, however, we expect to be able to acquire and analyze an unprecedented amount of molecular imaging data for an individual COVID patient.
Changes in patient-reported outcomes in light chain amyloidosis in the first year after diagnosis and relationship to NT-proBNP change

We conducted a prospective cohort study in newly diagnosed systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis patients (N = 59) to study patient-reported outcomes (PROs) through the first year. The median age was 68 years with 42% female, 8% Black, and 78% lambda subtype. Organ involvement was cardiac in 66%, renal in 58%, with 25% having 3 or greater organs involved. Between baseline and 3 months, all PROMIS®-29 domain scores worsened by 0.4-4.1 points except anxiety which improved by 2.1 points. By 1 year, scores improved compared to the greatest decline at 3 months, most statistically significant for global physical health, physical function, and fatigue. On stage-adjusted survival analysis, in addition to baseline global physical and mental health, domains measuring physical function, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and social roles were associated with 1-year survival. At 1 year, PROMIS measures were associated with NT-proBNP changes and hematologic response. Among patients with an NT-proBNP response, the improvement was seen in physical function, social roles, global mental health, and anxiety. Among patients with an NT-proBNP progression, worsening was seen with anxiety, depression, sleep, and global mental health. Measuring and tracking PROs in patients with AL amyloidosis is important and these important outcomes can be used as correlative endpoints in clinical care/research.
Understanding the Pace of HUD’s Disaster Housing Recovery Efforts

Disaster-affected communities often describe national recovery aid as delayed. Yet local governments increasingly rely on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Developmen...
Reduced postoperative morbidity in computer-navigated total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective comparison of 225,123 cases

Abstract Background Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most common elective surgical procedures in the United States, with more than 650,000 performed annually. Computer navigation technology has recently been introduced to assist surgeons with planning, performing, and assessing TKA bone cuts. The aim of this study is to assess postoperative complication rates after TKA performed using computer navigation assistance versus conventional methods. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for unilateral TKA cases from 2008 to 2016. The presence of the CPT modifier for use of computer navigation was used to separate cases of computer-navigated TKA from conventional TKA. Multivariate and propensity-matched logistic regression analyses were performed to control for demographics and comorbidities. Results There were 225,123 TKA cases included; 219,880 were conventional TKA (97.7%) and 5,243 were navigated (2.3%). Propensity matching identified 4,811 case pairs. Analysis demonstrated no significant differences in operative time, length of stay, reoperation, or readmission, and no differences in rates of post-op mortality at 30 days postoperatively. Compared to conventional cases, navigated cases were at lower risk of serious medical morbidity (18% lower, p = 0.009) within the first 30 days postoperatively. Conclusion After controlling for multiple known risk factors, navigated TKA patients demonstrated lower risk for medical morbidity, predominantly driven by lower risk for blood transfusion. Given these findings, computer-navigation is a safe surgical technique in TKA.
Molecular Imaging of Fibrosis

Abstract Fibrosis is the accumulation of extracellular matrix components that make up scar tissue and is a common result of chronic tissue injury. Fibrotic diseases are responsible for a large burden of human illness, and the development of new methods to image fibrosis and fibrogenesis is a large unmet clinical need. This chapter provides an overview of molecular probes for fibrosis imaging by magnetic resonance imaging positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography. It starts by introducing the molecular processes involved in the development of fibrosis and identifying corresponding imaging targets. It then describes the application of the targeting molecular probes to image fibrotic processes in different organs or diseases. At the end of the chapter, the role of molecular imaging in answering unmet challenges in fibrosis and the next steps needed to translate molecular imaging into human fibrotic diseases are discussed.
We Need Another Sputnik Moment

The need for a qualified workforce in information technology and the broader science-technology fields, referred to as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has reached crisis proportions. Native born U.S. students are not entering the STEM fields in college in sufficient numbers to avoid an impending technology-talent shortage. University enrollments are dwindling in the STEM fields, which have been propped up by admissions of non-U.S. students from countries like India and China. Companies such as Microsoft and IBM have recognized this for a long time. Professional societies like SIM and AIS, while keenly aware of this problem, are perplexed about how to proceed. This panel of industry, academic, and professional experts will attempt to lay out issues that face these fields and our country. We will seek to engage the audience in issues which stretch from grade school to graduate school, prompting us to exclaim, “We need another Sputnik moment!”
Trajectory design for bounded motion near uncertain binary systems comprised of small irregular bodies exploiting sliding control modes

Abstract To investigate the behavior of a spacecraft near a pair of irregular bodies, consider a three body configuration (one massless). Two massive bodies, P1 and P2, form the primary system; each primary is initially modeled as an ellipsoid. Concepts and tools similar to those applied in the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CRTBP) are exploited to construct bounded trajectories for a third body in such a synchronous system. Then, to accommodate model uncertainties and other non-gravitational perturbations, a strategy to maintain a spacecraft near a reference path is proposed.
Optimize parallel data access in big data processing

Recent years the Hadoop Distributed File System(HDFS) has been deployed as the bedrock for many parallel big data processing systems, such as graph processing systems, MPI-based parallel programs and scala/java-based Spark frameworks, which can efficiently support iterative and interactive data analysis in memory. The first part of my dissertation mainly focuses on studying parallel data access on distributed file systems, e.g, HDFS. Since the distributed I/O resources and global data distribution are often not taken into consideration, the data requests from parallel processes/executors will unfortunately be served in a remote or imbalanced fashion on the storage servers. In order to address these problems, we develop I/O middleware systems and matching-based algorithms to map parallel data requests to storage servers such that local and balanced data access can be achieved. The last part of my dissertation presents our plans to improve the performance of interactive data access in big data analysis. Specifically, most interactive analysis programs will scan through the entire data set regardless of which data is actually required. We plan to develop a content-aware method to quickly access required data without this laborious scanning process.
Augmenting the power of the various versions of LSI used in document retrieval

This paper clarifies the apparent randomness and confusion in the choice of different query methods using LSI to be found in the current text and image retrieval literature. We also propose and test some modified query approaches using the novel technique of singular value rescaling (SVR). Experiments on standardized TREC data set confirmed the effectiveness of SVR, showing an improvement ratio of 5.6% over the best conventional LSI query approach.
RATE OF RISE OF LEFT VENTRICULAR PRESSURE: INDIRECT MEASUREMENT AND PHYSIOLOGIC SIGNIFICANCE.

Abstract An indirect measurement of the maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt Max.) was derived by dividing aortic diastolic pressure (Pd) by the interval between the first rapid vibration of the first sound and the beginning of ventricular ejection (S 1 X), using appropriate recordings of aortic and ventricular pressures and external phonocardiograms from intact anesthetized dogs. A very close correlation of Pd/S 1 X with the direct measurement of dP/dt Max. was found (R = 0.92) under a variety of experimental conditions designed to alter aortic pressure and ventricular filling pressure, output and contractile capacity. Pd/S 1 X, the interval S 1 X, and the mean systolic ejection rate (MSER) were compared as indices of ventricular contractile capacity under various experimental circumstances. All indices reflected the inotropic effects of epinephrine and hypocalcemia, but S 1 X and MSER were more misleading than Pd/S 1 X when the circulatory alteration included a change of aortic diastolic pressure.
An Empirical Study of Trade Competitiveness in the U.S. Technical Textile Industry

In the last decade, technical textiles have played an increasingly important role in the US textile economy in terms of both size and impact. In addition to a well-established position in domestic market, the industry has realized that the long-term growth of US technical textile sector relies on its continuous expansion in the international markets. However, based on an extensive literature review, the published work on the US technical textile performance and competitiveness in international trade is very little. This paper identified the impacts of major economic and political factors on the US technical textile export to its 15 major trading partners between 1996 and 2006 and analyzed the US trade performance with these nations over the time period. Ordinary-least-square (OLS) regression under a gravity model framework was employed to construct the analysis. The shifting patterns of US trade performances with these major trading partners were further revealed using the calculated relative difference index (RDI). Overall, the determinants identified from this analysis provide a better understanding of the changing patterns of US technical textile export and give researchers insights for further exploration. The empirical evidence derived from this study enable government officers and industrial practitioners to make effective decisions on trade policies, investments, and export marketing.
An apparatus for grading the visual acuity of infants on the basis of opticokinetic nystagmus.

An apparatus for grading visual acuity by means of the opticokinetic response is described. Not only is the apparatus useful for determining visual acuity but it should also be of considerable value in determining the presence or absence of vision. While lack of response is not final proof of blindness, a positive response definitely indicates the presence of vision. Ninety-three of onehundred newborns 1½ hours to 5 days of age were found to perceive a pattern which when viewed at 6 in. (15 cm) corresponds to a Snellen notation of 20/670 This index may be found to be lower when the study is repeated using a full range of line patterns.
How Did Islamic Banks Do During Global Financial Crisis

It is generally argued that Islamic banks are safer than conventional banks. The prime reason is their product structure that is essentially asset-backed financing. Research studies prior to recent global financial crisis have generally concluded that the performance of Islamic banks have been better than conventional banks. There are, however, others who have argued that their history is too young to authentically conclude. The recent global financial crisis has brought this question to the fore once more. It is well known that conventional banks have suffered everywhere on this planet during the recent crisis, only the degree and the bounce back differ. What about Islamic banks? How did they do during crisis? This study shows that Islamic banks have suffered more than conventional banks during recent global financial crisis in terms of capital ratio, leverage and return on average equity, while conventional banks have suffered more than Islamic banks in terms of return on average assets and liquidity. Over the four years period, i.e. 2006-2009, Islamic banks performed better than conventional banks.
32P-Labeled thio-tepa absorption in normal rat bladders Potential guide for intravesical chemotherapy in bladder cancer

Bladders of normal rats were used to evaluate the absorption of thio-tepa after intravesical instillation. Thio-tepa labeled with 32P (radioactive phosphorus) was utilized to measure drug concentrations in bladder wall, liver, and bone marrow. Thio-tepa was rapidly absorbed into the general circulation, and significant amounts of isotope were found. Thio-tepa absorption patterns in the normal rat may serve as a guide in adjusting drug dosages when thio-tepa is used intravesically in human beings for the treatment of superficial, papillary bladder tumors.
Effects of a cognitive stress challenge on myocardial perfusion and plasma cortisol in coronary heart disease patients with depression

Although it is well established that coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with depression exhibit increased mortality compared with equally ill cardiac patients without depression, the mechanisms mediating this effect remain obscure. Depression is characterized by vulnerability to stress and heightened stress responsiveness, and stress can theoretically act through several biological pathways to contribute to excess mortality from CHD. Mechanisms connecting stress, depression and cardiovascular mortality have not been previously explored in detail. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of stress and depression on myocardial perfusion and plasma cortisol concentrations in CHD patients. Patients with CHD with and without depression (n = 28) underwent single photon emission computed tomography imaging of myocardial perfusion at rest and during a stressful cognitive challenge. Severity of ischaemia was measured by summing perfusion defect scores across myocardial segments and subtracting out rest from stress scores. Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured at baseline and in response to the stressful challenge. There were no differences in stress-induced myocardial ischaemia or plasma cortisol response to stress between CHD patients with and without depression. Depressed CHD patients with a history of psychological trauma (n = 5) had an increase in stress-induced ischaemia scores [7; standard deviation (SD) = 5] compared with CHD patients with depression without a history of psychological trauma (2 SD = 2) and CHD patients without depression or psychological trauma (1; SD = 2) (F = 8.51; degree of freedom = 2,23; p = 0.007). Eighty per cent of CHD/depression trauma-exposed subjects had stress-induced ischaemia as opposed to 38 per cent of CHD/depression subjects without trauma exposure and 23 per cent of subjects with CHD without depression or trauma. Self-reported nervousness during the cognitive stressor was correlated with stress-induced ischaemia. These preliminary findings suggest that depression with a history of prior exposure to traumatic stress is associated with increased risk for stress-induced cardiovascular ischaemia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
XLIII. The induction coil

(1902). XLIII. The induction coil. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 3, No. 16, pp. 393-396.
Double-folding model potential for anomalous large-angle /sup 4/He + /sup 4/0Ca scattering

It is shown that a double-folding model potential based on a realistic nucleon-nucleon G matrix yields a real /sup 4/He + /sup 4/0Ca optical potential extremely similar to that found empirically by Michel and Vanderpoorten. With only a 7% renormalization this folded potential, combined with the imaginary potential of Michel and Vanderpoorten, provides a good description of /sup 4/0 + /sup 4/0Ca scattering over the full angular range.
Epiphrenic Diverticulum of the Esophagus: A Review of its Surgical Treatment and Report of a Case

1) A review of the surgical management of epiphrenic diverticulum of the esophagus has been presented. An evaluation of the various surgical procedures would indicate that transthoracic excision is relatively safe, accompanied with good results and probably the method of choice in most instances. 2) A case of epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum complicated by foreign body and ulcer formation is reported. Surgical excision of the lesion was successfully accomplished.
Effects of Flecainide and Ranolazine on Intracellular Calcium Handling and Sarcolemmal Sodium Current

Flecainide has received considerable interest due to its antiarrhythmic efficacy. However, more detailed analyses of calcium (Ca2+)-dependent processes are required to demonstrate a conclusive mechanism of action. We characterise flecainide's ability to suppress arrhythmogenic Ca2+-waves and examine the involvement of ryanodine receptors in flecainide's antiarrhythmic efficacy, Further, we evaluate the native cardiac sodium channel contribution to flecainide¯s pharmacological profile and compare its actions with a late sodium current inhibitor, ranolazine.Extracellular drug effects on Ca2+-sparks and Ca2+-waves were measured in field-stimulated Fluo-4AM loaded human and rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Whole-cell sodium currents (INa) were measured before and after a series of high-frequency depolarizing pulses, establishing acute- and use-dependent inhibition, respectively.A therapeutic dose of flecainide (5μM) significantly decreased spark-mediated Ca2+ leak, primarily as a result of reduced Ca2+-spark amplitude (P < 0.001). Following flecainide perfusion spontaneous wave frequency was significantly reduced (P < 0.001), whilst wave-free survival and inter-wave interval were significantly increased (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively).The late INa blocker ranolazine (10-50μM) was evaluated against flecainide for its potential to inhibit sarcolemmal INa and Ca2+-waves. Under acute application, 5μM flecainide reduced peak INa to 49 ± 7% of control compared to 75 ± 9% and 66 ± 10% with 10μM and 50μM ranolazine respectively. Flecainide showed increased use-dependency, causing 35 ± 5% peak INa inhibition compared to control, while 10μM and 50μM ranolazine resulted in 73 ± 7% and 60 ± 7% reduction, respectively. Furthermore, flecainide's effect on Ca2+-wave frequency show correspondingly higher efficacy (P < 0.001) versus increasing concentrations of ranolazine (P < 0.01).Our results suggest that flecainide normalizes arrythmogenic Ca2+-waves by selectively reducing spark mass and a corresponding wave initiation. Additionally, we draw parallel between the ability of flecainide and ranolazine to suppress arrhythmogenic Ca2+-waves, and establish correlation with membrane sodium influx.
Kainate receptors at corticothalamic synapses do not contribute to synaptic responses

Abstract Kainate receptors (KAR) remain the most poorly defined components of the glutamate receptor system in the CNS, mainly because of the difficulty of distinguishing currents gated by KAR from those mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor activation, and because KAR are expressed at significantly lower levels than AMPA receptors in most parts of the CNS. The corticothalamic projection exerts its effects on thalamic neurons via NMDA, non-NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptors. AMPA receptor mediated effects tend to predominate in the mature thalamus, but the involvement of kainate receptors at corticothalamic synapses on relay neurons and reticular nucleus neurons had not been studied. The present work compared KAR influences on neurons in the ventral posterior nucleus (VP) and reticular nucleus (RTN), using whole-cell recording in P14–P20 mouse thalamocortical slices. The results were correlated with quantitative immuno-electron microscopic localization of kainate receptor sub-units at corticothalamic synapses in these nuclei. Small kainate-induced inward currents could be recorded in thalamic neurons in response to bath application of kainate, but no KAR-mediated pre-synaptic effects could be detected and no synaptic responses could be evoked in these cells by corticothalamic stimulation. Morphologically, GluR5/6/7 sub-units were expressed at low levels in both VP and RTN and were confined to post-synaptic membranes at corticothalamic synapses in both VP and RTN. Many synapses, however, lacked GluR5/6/7 immunoreactivity. These results suggest that kainate receptor-mediated events are not major components of the responses of thalamic neurons to corticothalamic activation, either because of small numbers or their location in sites inaccessible to glutamate released from corticothalamic terminals.
Counterfunctional things: exploring possibilities in designing digital limitations

This paper presents a set of design studies and discussions investigating new possibilities in designing digital limitations. Focusing on digital photography as a medium, we present design prototypes and experiments including Ultra-Low Resolution Displays, Inaccessible Cameras, and a set of point-and-shoot digital camera variants. Our design work is based on the concept of a counterfunctional thing-a thing that figuratively counters some of its own functionality. We present the concept of counterfunctionality as a way of approaching the design of interactive technology. In conclusion we connect our work with critical discourses surrounding technology and the value of designing limitations.
Magnetic fields and cancer

The massive body of epidemiological data searching for a relationship between magnetic field exposure and the incidence and development of cancer tells one that the presumably exposed population has essentially the same health characteristics as the population as a whole. Some comfort may be found in the fact that epidemiology has not revealed any large or unusual associations. But, the cost to society for this work has been substantial, and it would be difficult to justify further use of epidemiology in the study of magnetic field bioeffects. These predominantly negative results are not particularly reassuring, however. It simply underscores the obvious fact that epidemiology does not have the power to detect subtle effects, particularly when study groups with clearly different exposure levels cannot be identified, as is the case for magnetic fields. In fact, if there really were effects, the risk ratios would be understated because of the overlaps in true "exposures" in the arbitrarily chosen populations used in the studies. Laboratory studies should provide the sensitivity that is lacking in epidemiology. In addition, laboratory animals can be (and have been) exposed to huge fields for long periods of time. Certainly, some of the suggested positive effects should be followed up, but overall, results from studies of laboratory animals give little encouragement for the hypothesis that magnetic fields affect the development of cancer. It appears one must admit that, at the present time, one has no direct evidence for an association between magnetic fields and cancer. A very substantial, frontal assault on the question has not been fruitful. In the author's opinion, the mast promising approach to the subject is to step back and ask a more fundamental question. Are there any biological effects at all of modest levels of power frequency magnetic fields? There are many reports of biological effects of magnetic fields in vitro. Furthermore, it is possible to devise objective criteria for choosing the most promising of these reports for replication and further evaluation. A clear positive conclusion that magnetic fields of modest magnitudes do have biological effects would not have a direct bearing on the cancer question, but it would provide a starting point for fundamental investigations of the mechanisms of interaction between the fields and cells. Eventually, such studies could provide an intelligent basis for a renewed study of health issues, including the question of cancer. >
Desktop haptic virtual assembly using physically based modelling

This research investigates the feasibility of using a desktop haptic virtual environment as a design tool for evaluating assembly operations. Bringing virtual reality characteristics to the desktop, such as stereo vision, further promotes the use of this technology into the every day engineering design process. In creating such a system, the affordability and availability of hardware/software tools is taken into consideration. The resulting application combines several software packages including VR Juggler, open dynamics engine (ODE)/open physics abstraction layer (OPAL), OpenHaptics, and OpenGL/GLM/GLUT libraries to explore the benefits and limitations of combining haptics with physically based modelling. The equipment used to display stereo graphics includes a Stereographics emitter, Crystal Eyes shutter glasses, and a high refresh rate CRT Monitor. One or two-handed force feedback is obtained from various PHANTOM haptic devices from SensAble Technologies Inc. The application’s ability to handle complex part interactions is tested using two different computer systems, which approximate the higher and lower end of a typical engineer’s workstation. Different test scenarios are analyzed and results presented.
Spin-orbit scattering as an experimental tool to measure spin currents

Impurities with large spin-orbit scattering can be used to detect a finite spin polarization in a conductor. If one considers a Fermi sphere with only spin-up conduction electrons in the presence of an electric field in the x direction, then impurities with finite spin-orbit scattering scatter the conduction electrons asymmetrically. The current in the y direction is nonzero, even in the absence of a magnetic field. The magnitude of this ``anomalous'' Hall effect is calculated in terms of Friedel phase shifts.
Digital neighborhood watch: investigating the sharing of camera data amongst neighbors

In a neighborhood watch group, neighbors cooperate to prevent crime by sharing information and alerting police of suspicious activities. We propose a digital neighborhood watch (DNW) in which security cameras of individual homes work together to monitor the neighborhood. DNW could augment neighborhood watch by providing digital evidence of crime, increasing visibility of neighborhood activity, and automatically sending alerts when suspicious events occur. We investigate the appeal of sharing camera data with neighbors through semi-structured interviews with 11 households. Our participants validated the potential of sharing data with neighbors, particularly to provide evidence after an incident. But they also had security and privacy concerns about divulging their cameras' field of view and giving ongoing access to neighbors. For some participants, these concerns can be alleviated by enabling sharing of processed cameras views that include only the fore-ground activity or only public property (e.g., sidewalks).
Effect of ethnic identity on attitudes, feelings, and behaviors toward food

Abstract A nationwide study examined differences in attitudes, feelings, and behaviors of African-American and White female college students toward food. The study also explored the relationship between eating disorder symptoms and ethnic identity among the two groups. All subjects completed the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), a demographic questionnaire, and the Multi-Group Ethnic Identity Scale (MGEI). Analyses of variance and unpaired t-test revealed that White women exhibited significantly greater disordered eating behaviors and attitudes than African-American women. After controlling for degree of overweight, differences in disordered eating symptomology between the two groups became even greater. In contrast to White women, African-American women's dissatisfaction with body weight and shape was related to actual weight problems. Furthermore, degree of ethnic identity was greater among African-American women. Nonetheless, regression analysis revealed that ethnic identity was a predictor of drive...
Differential utilization of the SV40 enhancer and early promoter in various human lung carcinoma cell lines

Cell lines derived from the major morphological types of human lung cancer were tested for their ability to utilize the SV40 enhancer/early promoter. These cell lines were transfected with a recombinant plasmid containing a reporter gene, coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), under the control of the SV40 enhancer/early promoter. The transfected cells were then assayed for CAT activity. Non-small-cell carcinomas, especially squamous carcinomas, were found to be 2-3 orders of magnitude more efficient in utilizing the SV40 enhancer/early promoter than small-cell carcinomas. The presence of different SV40 enhancer/early promoter specific DNA-binding nuclear factors in squamous and small-cell carcinomas was demonstrated in gel mobility shift experiments. These observations seem to suggest that the set of transcriptional regulatory factors associated with squamous carcinomas may be distinct from that associated with small-cell carcinomas.
ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) and ARF-like 1 (ARL1) have both specific and shared effectors: characterizing ARL1-binding proteins.

Abstract Despite the 40–60% identity between ADP-ribosylation factors (ARFs) and ARF-like (ARL) proteins, distinct functional roles have been inferred from findings that ARLs lack the biochemical or genetic activities characteristic of ARFs. The potential for functional overlap between ARFs and ARLs was examined by comparing effects of expression on intact cells and the ability to bind effectors. Expression of [Q71L]ARL1 in mammalian cells led to altered Golgi structure similar to, but less dramatic than, that reported previously for [Q71L]ARF1 (1). Two previously identified partners of ARFs, MKLP1 and Arfaptin2/POR1, also bind ARL1 but not ARL2 or ARL3. Two-hybrid screens of human cDNA libraries with dominant active mutants of human ARL1, ARL2, and ARL3 identified eight different but overlapping sets of binding partners. Specific interactions between ARL1 and two binding proteins, SCOCO and Golgin-245, are defined and characterized in more detail. Like ARFs and ARL1, the binding of SCOCO to Golgi membranes is rapidly reversed by brefeldin A, suggesting the presence of a brefeldin A-sensitive ARL1 exchange factor. These data reveal a complex network of interactions between GTPases in the ARF family and their effectors and reveal a potential for cross-talk not demonstrated previously.
Diagnosis and management of colonic polyps in children

mon in toddlers and preschoolers, but nearly half of the homes had no syrup of ipecac. Stairways are a common site for falls, and yet over half of homes had ungated accessible stairways. The DCHs operated by younger, less well educated women had a higher level of hazards. These operators would be an appropriate target group for education. The DCHs in apartments or in mobile homes, and those in homes that were rented rather than owned, also had a higher level of hazards. These variables probably reflect family income and, taken with the findings about operator education, suggest that lower socioeconomic status of the DCH operator may place the children cared for at greater environmental risk of injury. The DCHs with younger children and increased numbers of children under care were no safer than other homes, despite the increased risk presented by these factors, How generalizable are these results? Because all these operators had chosen to register with the state and had allowed outsiders to visit their homes, we suspect that our population of DCH operators was a relatively motivated group. This study may therefore underestimate the true level of injury hazards in family DCHs that are not regularly visited by outsiders. Conversely, the study may overestimate the level of family DCH injury hazards in states where regular inspections are mandatory. Do family DCHs have more injury hazards than children's own homes or than other child care settings? Are children in family DCHs actually injured at higher rates? These important questions need to be addressed in future studies. In light of the present findings, however, we suggest that family DCH operators will require more eduation or increased regulation to decrease injury hazards in home day care. In addition, we suggest that pediatricians advise parents whose children are in DCHs to discuss injury prevention with their DCH operators.
Characterization of the binding of sulfonylurea drugs to HSA by high-performance affinity chromatography

Sulfonylurea drugs are often prescribed as a treatment for type II diabetes to help lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion. These drugs are believed to primarily bind in blood to human serum albumin (HSA). This study used high-performance affinity chromatography (HPAC) to examine the binding of sulfonylureas to HSA. Frontal analysis with an immobilized HSA column was used to determine the association equilibrium constants (Ka) and number of binding sites on HSA for the sulfonylurea drugs acetohexamide and tolbutamide. The results from frontal analysis indicated HSA had a group of relatively high-affinity binding regions and weaker binding sites for each drug, with average Ka values of 1.3 (+/-0.2) x 10(5) and 3.5 (+/-3.0) x 10(2) M(-1) for acetohexamide and values of 8.7 (+/-0.6) x 10(4) and 8.1 (+/-1.7) x 10(3) M(-1) for tolbutamide. Zonal elution and competition studies with site-specific probes were used to further examine the relatively high-affinity interactions of these drugs by looking directly at the interactions that were occurring at Sudlow sites I and II of HSA (i.e., the major drug-binding sites on this protein). It was found that acetohexamide was able to bind at both Sudlow sites I and II, with Ka values of 1.3 (+/-0.1) x 10(5) and 4.3 (+/-0.3) x 10(4) M(-1), respectively, at 37 degrees C. Tolbutamide also appeared to interact with both Sudlow sites I and II, with Ka values of 5.5 (+/-0.2) x 10(4) and 5.3 (+/-0.2) x 10(4) M(-1), respectively. The results provide a more quantitative picture of how these drugs bind with HSA and illustrate how HPAC and related tools can be used to examine relatively complex drug-protein interactions.
Optical tracking of acoustic radiation force impulse-induced dynamics in a tissue-mimicking phantom.

Optical tracking was utilized to investigate the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI)-induced response, generated by a 5-MHz piston transducer, in a translucent tissue-mimicking phantom. Suspended 10-μm microspheres were tracked axially and laterally at multiple locations throughout the field of view of an optical microscope with 0.5-μm displacement resolution, in both dimensions, and at frame rates of up to 36 kHz. Induced dynamics were successfully captured before, during, and after the ARFI excitation at depths of up to 4.8 mm from the phantom’s proximal boundary. Results are presented for tracked axial and lateral displacements resulting from on-axis and off-axis (i.e., shear wave) acquisitions; these results are compared to matched finite element method modeling and independent ultrasonically based empirical results and yielded reasonable agreement in most cases. A shear wave reflection, generated by the proximal boundary, consistently produced an artifact in tracked displacement data later in time (i.e., after the initial ARFI-induced displacement peak). This tracking method provides high-frame-rate, two-dimensional tracking data and thus could prove useful in the investigation of complex ARFI-induced dynamics in controlled experimental settings.