cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Wheel-On-Limb Rover for Lunar Operations

The All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (ATHLETE) is a new mobility platform developed for potential lunar operations. This six limbed rover is designed to traverse quickly over benign terrain by rolling, traverse rough and steep terrain by walking, as well as perform general manipulation of tools and payloads. This flexible robotic platform will provide a mobile base for pressurized lunar habitats allowing for long range surface exploration and crew transport. It will also enable in-situ construction of lunar assets providing astronauts with the ability to assemble, maintain, and service a wide range of cargo. This paper presents the design details and capabilities of this wheel-on-limb platform.
Biotreatment of Hazardous Leachate

Some toxic organic compounds can be biodegraded aerobically whereas some other organic compounds are biodegraded more efficiently when other electron acceptors such as nitrate, sulfate or CO2 are used. The premise of this research was to study the applicability of combined anaerobic-aerobic treatment of hazardous leachate. Anaerobic toxicity assay (ATA) was performed for selected organic compounds such as nitrophenols and pentachlorophenol which are generally present in a hazardous leachate. Upflow anaerobic columns followed by conventional activated sludge processes were used to simulate on-site anaerobic pretreatment at POTWs. The results indicate such anaerobic-aerobic processes are feasible for treatment of hazardous leachates.
Molecular Imaging of Platelet-Endothelial Interactions and Endothelial von Willebrand Factor in Early and Mid-Stage Atherosclerosis.

Background— Nonthrombotic platelet–endothelial interactions may contribute to atherosclerotic plaque development, although in vivo studies examining mechanism without platelet preactivation are lacking. Using in vivo molecular imaging at various stages of atherosclerosis, we quantified platelet–endothelial interactions and evaluated the contribution of major adhesion pathways. Methods and Results— Mice deficient for the low-density lipoprotein receptor and Apobec-1 were studied as an age-dependent model of atherosclerosis at 10, 20, 30, and 40 weeks of age, which provided progressive increase in stage from early fatty streak (10 weeks) to large complex plaques without rupture (40 weeks). Platelet-targeted contrast ultrasound molecular imaging of the thoracic aorta performed with microbubbles targeted to GPIbα demonstrated selective signal enhancement as early as 10 weeks of age. This signal increased progressively with age (almost 8-fold increase from 10 to 40 weeks, analysis of variance P <0.001). Specificity for platelet targeting was confirmed by the reduction in platelet-targeted signal commensurate with the decrease in platelet count after immunodepletion with anti-GPIb or anti-CD41 antibody. Inhibition of P-selectin in 20 and 40 weeks atherosclerotic mice resulted in a small (15% to 30%) reduction in platelet signal. Molecular imaging with microbubbles targeted to the A1 domain of von Willebrand factor demonstrated selective signal enhancement at all time points, which did not significantly increase with age. Treatment of 20 and 40 week mice with recombinant ADAMTS13 eliminated platelet and von Willebrand factor molecular imaging signal. Conclusions— Platelet–endothelial interactions occur in early atherosclerosis. These interactions are in part caused by endothelial von Willebrand factor large multimers, which can be reversed with exogenous ADAMTS13.
Genetic and cellular mechanisms of the formation of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula

Foregut separation involves dynamic changes in the activities of signaling pathways and transcription factors. Recent mouse genetic studies demonstrate that some of these pathways interact with each other to form a complex network, leading to a unique dorsal-ventral patterning in the early foregut. In this review, it is discussed how this unique dorsal-ventral patterning is set prior to the foregut separation and how disruption of this patterning affects the separation process. Roles of downstream targets of these pathways in regulating separation at cellular and molecular levels would be discussed further. Understanding the mechanism of normal separation process will provide insights into the pathobiology of a relatively common birth defect, esophageal atresia with/without tracheoesophageal fistula.
Circadian rhythm of in vitro bone-resorbing activity in human serum

Calciotropic hormones as well as biochemical parameters of bone formation and resorption show circadian rhythms. In a previous study in the rat, we observed a circadian rhythm in serum bone-resorbing activity (SBRA). In the present study, we investigated whether there was a circadian rhythm of SBRA in human serum. For this purpose, we studied 10 healthy premenopausal women and 5 healthy men. Blood was collected every 2 h, and urine samples were collected during 4-h periods for 24 h. For the determination of SBRA, media were prepared by reconstituting serum samples with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium at a ratio of 20% serum and 80% Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium. Limb bones were dissected from 19-day old fetal rats prelabelled with 45Ca and were cultured for 72 h in the presence of the sera. Bone resorption was assessed from the 45Ca released into the culture medium and from that retained in the bone and was expressed as percentage 45Ca release. Serum calcium, phosphorus, PTH, cortisol, and urinary pyridinium cross-links were also determined. SBRA in human serum followed a circadian rhythm with a peak at about 0300 h and a nadir at 0700 h. There was no significant difference between the rhythm of SBRA of women and men. At concurrent time points, SBRA and serum PTH were positively correlated (r = 0.629; P < 0.01), and SBRA and serum cortisol were negatively correlated (r = 0.797; P < 0.01). To further investigate the possible contribution of these hormones to SBRA, either neutralizing anti-PTH antibody or RU-486 (mifepristone), a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, was added to the serum samples of 6 subjects. Neutralizing the effect of PTH did not change the pattern of SBRA rhythm. The addition of RU-486 had a significant effect on the rhythm of SBRA, reducing the peak and nadir amplitudes. Thus we conclude that cortisol plays a major role in the rhythm of SBRA present in human serum; however, the influence of other factors cannot be excluded. Cortisol may be an important determinant of the circadian rhythm of bone resorption in vivo.
Comment on a note on duality gaps in linear programming over convex sets

In Ref. 1, Soyster has given a rather complicated proof of the absence of a duality gap, under a certain interiority condition, for a variant of a pair of optimization problems introduced by Ben-Israel, Charnes, and Kortanek (Ref. 2). A proof can be given directly (and under weaker conditions) by a simple application of a Lagrange multiplier theorem on convex programming in abstract spaces (Ref. 3).
Control of breathing during acute change in cardiac preload in a patient with partial cardiopulmonary bypass

We recently had the opportunity to investigate the ventilatory effects of changing the rate of venous return to the heart (and thus pulmonary gas exchange) in a patient equipped with a venous-arterial oxygenated shunt (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support). The presence of the ECMO support provided a condition wherein venous return to the right heart could be increased or decreased while maintaining total aortic blood flow and arterial blood pressure (ABP) constant. The patient, who had received a heart transplant 12 years ago, was admitted for acute cardiac failure related to graft rejection. The clinical symptomatology was that of right heart failure. We studied the patient on the 4th day of ECMO support, while she was breathing spontaneously. The blood flow diverted through the ECMO system represented 2/3 of the total aortic flow (4 l min(-1)). With these ECMO settings, the baseline level of ventilation was low (3.89+/-0.99 l min(-1)), but PET(CO2) was not elevated (37+/-2 mmHg). When Pa(CO2) in the blood coming from the ECMO was increased, no stimulatory effect on ventilation was observed. However, when the diversion of the venous return to the ECMO was stopped then restored, minute ventilation respectively increased then decreased by more than twofold with opposite changes in PET(CO2). These maneuvers were associated with large changes in the size of the right atrium and ventricle and of the left atrium. This observation suggests that the change in venous return affects breathing by encoding some of the consequences of the changes in cardiac preload. The possible sites of mediation are discussed.
Tubeless gastric analysis by use of insoluble salts with exogenous ions.

Summary1. The rationale of the use of insoluble salts with special exogenous indicator ions to determine gastric acidity without intubation has been described. 2. Theoretical consideration and in vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that by determining the amount of quinine in the first 2-hour urine excretion after the oral administration of 320 mg of quinine carbonate, the presence of free hydrochloric acid from a low to a normal or higher range or its absence can be estimated without subjecting the individual to intubation. 3. Further experimentation with larger doses of quinine carbonate, if tolerated, or with comparable insoluble salts with various exogenous indicator ions, may make it possible to differentiate approximately between normal and high gastric hydrochloric acid secretion without intubation.
Training Needs of Coastal Resources Decision Makers in Ohio's Lake Erie Basin

This article describes results from a study focused on informational and knowledge needs of local coastal resources decision makers in the Ohio Lake Erie basin. New information was obtained through a series of focus groups of local decision makers and key training providers in the basin. The results suggest that training providers and local coastal resources decision makers have differing perceptions of knowledge and information needs and training venues. The results suggest a role for state and federal agency training providers as coordinators and facilitators of an enhanced learning network among decision makers, including support of an information clearinghouse, adoption of appropriate e-based learning modalities, and regionally based learning and practice networks to improve the function of the training market to meet local decision maker needs.
ELECTROSPUN PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

Electrospinning is a simple technique to form high surface area membranes using large static electric potentials. An application, taking advantage of such a high surface area, is a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell, wherein a chromophore molecule absorbs light before being oxidized to generate a photocurrent. We report functioning photovoltaic cells made from polyacrylonitrile fibers infused with the azo-dye, Congo Red in a liquid-junction cell assembly. Cell performance of the electrospun cells compared favorably to cells made by spin-coating thin films of polyacrylonitrile and Congo Red. Also reported are the effects of adding nanoparticles of titanium dioxide to the cells. Finally, the maximum amount of dye that can be incorporated into a fiber is presented.
The Role of Psychological Tests for Differential Diagnosis in Child Psychiatry

Abstract The literature on projective psychological testing in children is surveyed. Several measures appear unreliable, notably the Draw-a-Person test and the TAT. The evidence for other projective techniques indicates that they often differentiate normal from disturbed youngsters, but not to a clinically meaningful degree, and they are not valid for diagnostic purposes. The use of projective testing for generating psychiatric diagnoses in children is not justified by objective findings.
Uplink Performance Characterization and Analysis of Two-Tier Femtocell Networks

This paper provides a cross-layer analysis of uplink (UL) performance in femtocell (FC) networks. It characterizes the UL physical interference in FC networks and studies its impact on the delay and the data loss rate of constant-bit-rate (CBR) traffic and on the maximum achievable femto user (FU) throughput. This paper derives data-link layer quality-of-service (QoS) performances as a function of physical layer parameters, thereby establishing key cross-layer relationships that can be useful for designing efficient resource-allocation techniques for FC networks.
Using in silico models to simulate dual perturbation experiments: procedure development and interpretation of outcomes

A growing number of realistic in silico models of metabolic functions are being formulated and can serve as 'dry lab' platforms to prototype and simulate experiments before they are performed. For example, dual perturbation experiments that vary both genetic and environmental parameters can readily be simulated in silico. Genetic and environmental perturbations were applied to a cell-scale model of the human erythrocyte and subsequently investigated. The resulting steady state fluxes and concentrations, as well as dynamic responses to the perturbations were analyzed, yielding two important conclusions: 1) that transporters are informative about the internal states (fluxes and concentrations) of a cell and, 2) that genetic variations can disrupt the natural sequence of dynamic interactions between network components. The former arises from adjustments in energy and redox states, while the latter is a result of shifting time scales in aggregate pool formation of metabolites. These two concepts are illustrated for glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and pyruvate kinase (PK) in the human red blood cell. Dual perturbation experiments in silico are much more informative for the characterization of functional states than single perturbations. Predictions from an experimentally validated cellular model of metabolism indicate that the measurement of cofactor precursor transport rates can inform the internal state of the cell when the external demands are altered or a causal genetic variation is introduced. Finally, genetic mutations that alter the clinical phenotype may also disrupt the 'natural' time scale hierarchy of interactions in the network.
Probes for Two-Photon-Activation FPALM

Biplane fluorescence photoactivation localization microscopy (FPALM) [1], a localization based super-resolution technique, uses photo-activatable fluorescent proteins (PAFPs) to image samples at resolutions beyond the diffraction limit. These PAFPs undergo a controlled change in their emission spectrum upon absorption of a photon typically of the UV range. By repeatedly activating and localizing PAFPs in the sample a three-dimensional map of molecule positions is generated that has a far better resolution than typical light microscopy techniques can achieve.For improved performance, especially when imaging thicker samples, the 405 nm activation light can be replaced by a focused mode-locked laser beam of 700-1000 nm wavelength. This type of setup then uses two-photon-activation to confine the activation axially to the focal plane [2-5], increasing the fraction of usable labels in the sample because molecules out of focus will not be activated and bleached. For the same reason background will be reduced which opens up the way to imaging thicker samples that exhibit too high background levels in conventional FPALM.In order to choose the best probe, it is important to know how each one performs using two-photon-activation. Here we present a method that allows determining the two-photon-activation cross section of any photo-activatable fluorescent probe. We show results for a number of commonly used established and new PAFPs as well as images recorded using two photon activation.[1] M.F. Juette, et al., Nat. Methods 5(6):527-9 (2008)[2] M Schneider, et al., Biophys J. 89(2):1346-52 (2005)[3] S. Ivanchenko, et al., Biophys J. 92(12):4451-7 (2007)[4] J Folling, et al., Chemphyschem 9(2):321-6 (2008)[5] A.G. York, et al., Nat. Methods 8(4):327-33 (2011)
Temperature dependence of carrier transport in polycrystalline silicon

The carrier transport in polycrystalline silicon was studied over a wide temperature range, from 20K to 300K, and for a number of dopant concentrations ranging from 1.3×10 18 /cm 3 to 2.6×10 18 /cm 3 . A grain boundary carrier trapping model was used to explain the experimental results in this work. Carrier transport by thermionic emision over the grain boundary potential barrier and thermionic field emission through the potential barrier were both included. Special attention was paid to carrier freezeout at low temperatures. The potential barrier height, V B , was shown to be an increasing function of temperature and a decreasing function of dopant concentration. The relative importance of thermionic emission and thermionic field emission was discussed.
Forebrain overexpression of α-synuclein leads to early postnatal hippocampal neuron loss and synaptic disruption

Transgenic (Tg) mouse models of Parkinson's disease (PD) generated to date have primarily been designed to overexpress human alpha-synuclein (α-syn) to recapitulate PD-like motor impairments as well as PD-like nigrostriatal degeneration and α-syn pathology. However, cognitive impairments and cortical α-syn pathology are also common in PD patients. To model these features of PD, we created forebrain-specific conditional Tg mice that overexpress human wild type (WT) or A53T mutant α-syn. Here we show that both WT and A53T mutant α-syn lead to massive degeneration of postmitotic neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) during postnatal development, with hippocampal synapse loss as evidenced by reduced levels of pre- and postsynaptic markers. However, when mutant and WT α-syn expression was repressed until the Tg mice were mature postnatally and then induced for several months, no hippocampal neuron loss was observed. These data imply that developing neurons are more vulnerable to degenerate than mature neurons as a consequence of forebrain WT and mutant α-syn overexpression.
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-γ Coactivator-1α Activation of CYP7A1 during Food Restriction and Diabetes Is Still Inhibited by Small Heterodimer Partner

Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the classic pathway of hepatic bile acid biosynthesis from cholesterol. During fasting and in type I diabetes, elevated levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ-coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) induce expression of the Cyp7A1 gene and overexpression of PGC-1α in hepatoma cells stimulates bile acid synthesis. Using Ad-PGC-1α-RNA interference to induce acute disruption of PGC-1α in mice, here we show that PGC-1α is necessary for fasting-mediated induction of CYP7A1. Co-immunoprecipitation and promoter activation studies reveal that the induction of CYP7A1 is mediated by direct interaction between PGC-1α and the AF2 domain of liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1). In contrast, the very similar PGC-1β could not substitute for PGC-1α. We also show that transactivation of PGC-1α and LRH-1 is repressed by the small heterodimer partner (SHP). Treatment of mice with GW4064, a synthetic agonist for farnesoid X receptor, induced SHP expression and decreased both the recruitment of PGC-1α to the Cyp7A1 promoter and the fasting-induced expression of CYP7A1 mRNA. These data suggest that PGC-1α is an important co-activator for LRH-1 and that SHP targets the interaction between LRH-1 and PGC-1α to inhibit CYP7A1 expression. Overall, these studies provide further evidence for the important role of PGC-1α in bile acid homeostasis and suggest that pharmacological targeting of farnesoid X receptor in vivo can be used to reverse the increase in CYP7A1 associated with adverse metabolic conditions.
Measurement of the invisible W width

The results of the W pair production cross section measurements at the LEP II experiments are used to obtain a measurement of the invisible decay width of the W boson. Such an invisible decay width, resulting from W decay channels that have event signatures that are not consistent with any Standard Model decay, would lower the observed cross section compared to that of the Standard Model. From the LEP combined result from the 183 GeV data gathered in 1997, we obtain an upper limit of 45 MeV at 95% CL.
Protection by D609 Through Cell-Cycle Regulation After Stroke

Expressions of cell-cycle regulating proteins are altered after stroke. Cell-cycle inhibition has shown dramatic reduction in infarction after stroke. Ceramide can induce cell-cycle arrest by up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors p21 and p27 through activation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609)-increased ceramide levels after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) probably by inhibiting sphingomyelin synthase (SMS). D609 significantly reduced cerebral infarction and up-regulated Cdk inhibitor p21 and down-regulated phospho-retinoblastoma (pRb) expression after tMCAO in rat. Others have suggested bFGF-induced astrocyte proliferation is attenuated by D609 due to an increase in ceramide by SMS inhibition. D609 also reduced the formation of oxidized phosphatidylcholine (OxPC) protein adducts. D609 may attenuate generation of reactive oxygen species and formation of OxPC by inhibiting microglia/macrophage proliferation after tMCAO (please also see note added in proof: D609 may prevent mature neurons from entering the cell cycle at the early reperfusion, however may not interfere with later proliferation of microglia/ macrophages that are the source of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in offering protection). It has been proposed that D609 provides benefit after tMCAO by attenuating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and Bcl2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3 expressions. Our data suggest that D609 provides benefit after stoke through inhibition of SMS, increased ceramide levels, and induction of cell-cycle arrest by up-regulating p21 and causing hypophosphorylation of Rb (through increased protein phosphatase activity and/or Cdk inhibition).
On the nature and reduction of the displacement artifact in flow images

In flow-imaging experiments with 2-D Fourier transform sequences, the time difference between phase encoding and readout leads to a potentially misleading displacement artifact. This artifact arises in regions of rapid flow and high shear, and manifests as an intensity distortion in addition to a bulk shift. We have studied methods of mitigating the artifact, including offset-echo acquisition, backward-evolving phase encoding, moment-compensated phase encoding, and projection-reconstruction imaging. Experiments on flow phantoms verified the nature and reduction of this displacement artifact. Of the four methods studied, the projection-reconstruction sequence proved to be the most effective, completely eliminating the artifact.
Sestamibi Scintimammography in the evaluation of breast pathology

Abstract Purpose: Breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of mortality in women. Current detection strategies include a physical exam and a mammography, which have a sensitivity of 85% to 90% and a positive predictive value of only 15% to 30%. Technitium-99m Sestamibi is a nuclear medicine agent that is concentrated in human carcinoma cell lines, including breast carcinoma. We studied the role of Sestamibi Scintimammography (MIBI) in the evaluation of breast pathology by evaluating its utility in the differentiation of benign from malignant breast pathology and the prediction of axillary lymph node involvement. Methods A prospective study of 106 women was performed, in which all patients underwent standard mammography, MIBI, and pathological evaluation after biopsy. Results Table 1 Table 1 . Results of breast pathology Pathology Sestamibi Positive Negative Positive 43 10 Negative 20 33 outlines the results of the breast pathology. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 81%, 62%, 68%, and 76%, respectively. In predicting axillary lymph node involvement, the results were 71%, 93%, 83%, and 87%, respectively. Conclusions We conclude that MIBI has a role in the detection and evaluation of breast pathology, especially in the patient with dense breasts, in which the sensitivity and positive predictive value of standard evaluation is significantly lower. Its role in evaluating axillary lymph node status is promising and deserves further study. Additionally, it should be employed in the evaluation of patients with occult breast cancer.
Adherence to malaria prophylaxis among Peace Corps Volunteers in the Africa region, 2013

Summary Background Although malaria can be prevented with prophylaxis, it is diagnosed in over 100 Africa-region Peace Corps Volunteers annually. This suggests that prophylaxis non-adherence is a problem in these non-immune travelers. Methods We investigated Volunteers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding prophylaxis using an internet-based survey during August 19–September 30, 2013. Adherence was defined as taking doxycycline or atovaquone–proguanil daily, or taking mefloquine doses no more than 8 days apart. Results The survey was sent to 3248 Volunteers. Of 781 whose responses were analyzed, 514 (73%) reported adherence to prophylaxis. The most common reasons for non-adherence were forgetting (n = 530, 90%); fear of long-term adverse effects (LTAEs; n = 316, 54%); and experiencing adverse events that Volunteers attributed to prophylaxis (n = 297, 51%). Two hundred fourteen (27%) Volunteers reported not worrying about malaria. On multivariate analysis controlling for sex and experiencing adverse events Volunteers attributed to prophylaxis, the factor most strongly associated with non-adherence was being prescribed mefloquine (OR 5.4, 95% confidence interval 3.2–9.0). Conclusions We found moderate adherence and a prevailing fear of LTAEs among Volunteers. Strategies to improve prophylaxis adherence may include medication reminders, increasing education about prophylaxis safety and malaria risk, and promoting prompt management of prophylaxis side effects.
Immunotherapy of Cancer in 2012

The immunotherapy of cancer has made significant strides in the past few years due to improved understanding of the underlying principles of tumor biology and immunology. These principles have been critical in the development of immunotherapy in the laboratory and in the implementation of immunotherapy in the clinic. This improved understanding of immunotherapy, enhanced by increased insights into the mechanism of tumor immune response and its evasion by tumors, now permits manipulation of this interaction and elucidates the therapeutic role of immunity in cancer. Also important, this improved understanding of immunotherapy and the mechanisms underlying immunity in cancer has fueled an expanding array of new therapeutic agents for a variety of cancers. Pegylated interferon-α2b as an adjuvant therapy and ipilimumab as therapy for advanced disease, both of which were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for melanoma in March 2011, are 2 prime examples of how an increased understanding of the principles of tumor biology and immunology have been translated successfully from the laboratory to the clinical setting. Principles that guide the development and application of immunotherapy include antibodies, cytokines, vaccines, and cellular therapies. The identification and further elucidation of the role of immunotherapy in different tumor types, and the development of strategies for combining immunotherapy with cytotoxic and molecularly targeted agents for future multimodal therapy for cancer will enable even greater progress and ultimately lead to improved outcomes for patients receiving cancer immunotherapy.
Preliminary evaluation of safety and activity of recombinant human interleukin 11 in patients with active Crohn's disease.

Abstract Background & Aims: Recombinant human interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) is a cytokine with thrombocytopoietic activity and anti-inflammatory and mucosal protective effects. The objectives of this study were to investigate the safety and tolerability of rhIL-11 in patients with Crohn's disease and to explore the effects of dose and schedule on platelet count and Crohn's disease activity. Methods: A multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of 76 patients with active Crohn's disease was performed. Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous placebo or rhIL-11 at doses of 5, 16, or 40 μg · kg −1 · wk −1 given 2 or 5 times weekly for 3 weeks. Clinical and laboratory safety data were recorded, and disease activity was measured at each visit. Results: Subcutaneous injection of rhIL-11 generally was well tolerated. Significantly greater increases in platelet counts were found among patients receiving rhIL-11 40 μg · kg −1 · wk −1 as 2 or 5 weekly doses and 16 μg · kg −1 · week −1 as 5 weekly doses compared with patients receiving placebo ( P −1 · wk −1 had the highest clinical response rates, with a response seen in 42% of patients (5/12) receiving 5 weekly doses and 33% of patients (4/12) receiving 2 weekly doses, compared with 7% of patients (1/15) receiving placebo. Conclusions: Short-term treatment with rhIL-11 is well tolerated in patients with active Crohn's disease. The thrombocytopoietic effect of rhIL-11 seems to be both dose and schedule dependent and may be minimized with retained clinical benefit in Crohn's disease at 16 μg · kg −1 · wk −1 given in 2 equal doses. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;117:58-64
Development of a Disposable Organophosphate Biosensor

A screen-printed enzyme electrode has been developed for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides based on the detection of cholinesterase inhibition by analytes. A cholinesterase enzyme is co-immobilized with choline oxidase peroxidase on the surface of a screen printed carbon electrode. The determination of cholinesterase activity is based on a sequence of enzymatic reactions: butyryl-choline hydrolysis catalyzed by cholinesterase; choline oxidation catalyzed by choline oxidase and the formation of hydrogen peroxide; detection of hydrogen peroxide via peroxidase catalyzed electron transfer. Electroreduction of hydrogen peroxide causes an electrode potential shift due to a decrease of the reaction overvoltage. The rate of electrode potential increase is proportional to the activity of cholinesterase. The electrodes allow rapid quantitative assay of cholinesterase inhibitors, such as organophosphate pesticides, with a low detection limit in sub-micromolar concentration ranges with an overall assay time of 20 minutes. The technique employs low cost disposable sensing elements. Reproducibility of the enzyme sensor technology and the shelf lifetime of the disposable biosensors are evaluated. Applicability of the assay is illustrated by detection of common of organophosphorus pesticides.
An investigation of perfluoroalkylamine contamination control

Perfluoroalkylamine (PFAA) contamination has been observed to be a growing contamination issue in semiconductor fabs due to the increased tolerances demanded by next generation lithography processes. These contaminants are found within the cleanroom, process environments and within various tools and enclosures. As a result, effective control of PFAAs in lithographic processing and other critical environments are becoming an important filtration problem. This work was undertaken to evaluate filter performance for the removal of PFAAs and to provide an optimal filtration solution. The filter breakthrough performance of perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA), a common heat transfer fluid, is investigated over a range of environmental conditions for several commercially available adsorbent materials. The results from these accelerated tests indicate that PFAAs can be effectively removed with activated carbon-based chemical filters.
Building an infrastructure for clinical trials in cardiac surgery.

By any standard, cardiac surgery has been a spectacularly dynamic field of medicine. The introduction of major surgical innovations, and ongoing incremental change, in such areas as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), cardiac valve replacement and repair, myocardial protection, mechanical circulatory support, aortic reconstruction and the treatment of arrhythmias, have extended survival and improved quality of life for many patients suffering from cardiac disease. A rapid pace of innovation requires a rigorous infrastructure for clinical evaluation that provides timely assessments of the value of new treatments. This need is underscored by the significant prevalence and cost associated with cardiovascular diseases. In fact, medical care for cardiovascular diseases accounted for 6 of the 20 most expensive conditions billed to Medicare in 2006, totaling $103 billion. Cardiac surgery is an important part of the therapeutic armamentarium and its application to targeted populations has evolved considerably over the past several years. Surgical investigators have championed less invasive methods of caring for increasingly older and sicker patients with a variety of diseases and high expectations for robust outcomes. Evaluating the benefits of surgery in the modern era requires careful consideration of risk and cost-benefit trade-offs. Many surgical procedures have undergone extensive clinical trials. CABG surgery is arguably one of the most widely studied surgical procedures ever, with several large-scale randomized trials starting in the 1970s, and, continuing, most recently, with the STICH trial, which randomized approximately 2000 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Yet, a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) working group in 2004 concluded that there were substantial impediments to clinical trials of cardiac surgical procedures and that the field lacked the necessary organizational infrastructure to accomplish the task (1). The NHLBI, in collaboration with the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), created the Cardiothoracic Surgery Trials Network (CTSN) in the fall of 2007 to fill this lacuna. The mission of the Network is to design, conduct, and analyze multiple, collaborative clinical trials that evaluate surgical interventions, and related management approaches, for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in adult patients. The Network has developed a portfolio of trials that evaluate clinically meaningful questions and address important public health issues.
Treatment of venous malformations by direct injection with ethanol

Abstract Purpose: Venous malformations (VMs) may be discrete or extensive, and larger lesions may be difficult to remove with surgery. Incompletely removed lesions have a tendency to recur. We report our experience with ethanol ablation of VMs. Methods: All 12 patients (seven women; mean age, 37 years) were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging before treatment. A total of 19 prior surgical excisions had been performed for seven of the patients. Symptoms were present in all 12 patients and included bleeding, pain, swelling, and limitation of exercise. The VMs were present in the lower extremities of seven patients, in the upper extremities of three patients, and in the flank and buttocks in two patients. Results: The 12 patients have undergone 30 injection procedures, with six patients requiring one, three patients requiring two, two patients requiring three, and one patient having undergone 12 treatments. General anesthesia was used in 11 patients. Blood loss was minimal for all procedures, and 28 of the 30 procedures were technically successful. Skin ulceration was seen in approximately half of the treated VMs, all of which healed with local wound care. Focal VMs were injected in six patients and resolved with a single treatment in five patients. Patients were free of symptoms at a mean follow-up of 10 months. Extensive VMs were injected for discrete, symptomatic areas in five patients. These lesions all regressed and were asymptomatic at a mean follow-up of 23 months in all but one patient. However, these lesions required multiple treatments as additional areas became problematic. Conclusions: Ethanol sclerosis is a well-tolerated, safe, and effective adjunct to the management of VMs. Advantages of ethanol injection include the ability to treat a very localized area without an incision. Conversely, extensive lesions may be palliated as symptoms occur. (J Vasc Surg 1997;26:838-44.)
The self-organization of Si atoms adsorbed on a Si(100) surface: an atomic level kinetic model

Abstract We present a kinetic model which explains how the Si atoms adsorbed on a Si(100) surface form nearly flawless, thin, long dimer rows oriented perpendicular to the direction of fast diffusion. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations based on this model lead to islands similar to those observed experimentally.
Earmarking in the US Department of Transportation Research Programs

US Department of Transportation research funds historically have been awarded on the basis of competition and merit review. Over the last 15 years, however, transportation research programs have seen dramatic growth in earmarking, a practice in which Congress designates research funds for specific institutions named in legislation. This paper discusses driving forces for and potential risks associated with this practice and presents data on earmarking trends from five USDOT agencies.
On the Fundamental Group of Manifolds of Non-positive Curvature.

Abstract We prove theorems on the structure of the fundamental group of a compact riemannian manifold of non-positive curvature. In particular, a conjecture of J. Wolf [J. Differential Geometry, 2, 421-446 (1968)] is proved.
Isoflurane preconditioning increases B-cell lymphoma-2 expression and reduces cytochrome c release from the mitochondria in the ischemic penumbra of rat brain

We and others have shown that prior exposure to the volatile anesthetic isoflurane induces ischemic tolerance in the brain. Our results also suggest that isoflurane preconditioning reduces cell apoptosis in the penumbral region of rat brain. We designed this study to determine whether isoflurane preconditioning decreased mitochondria-dependent cell apoptosis. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to or not exposed to 2% isoflurane for 30 min at 24 h before the permanent middle cerebral arterial occlusion. Western blotting was used to quantify protein expression in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions of non-ischemic brain cortex and brain cortex in the ischemic core and penumbra. Isoflurane preconditioning significantly decreased the infarct volume of cerebral cortex and improved neurological outcome. Isoflurane increased the expression of the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) proteins in the cerebral cortex of rats without brain ischemia. Rats preconditioned with isoflurane before brain ischemia had increased Bcl-2 expression in the penumbra. Isoflurane preconditioning reduced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and the activation of caspase 3 in the penumbra. However, isoflurane preconditioning did not alter the translocation of Bid and Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria, identified mechanisms for Bcl-2 to block the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Our results suggest that isoflurane preconditioning increases Bcl-2 expression to block the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to decrease the cell apoptosis in the penumbra.
Vitamin K content of fast foods and snack foods in the US diet

The predominant dietary form of vitamin K, phylloquinone (K1), is present in certain plant oils. During hydrogenation of these plant oils, K1 is converted to another form of vitamin K, dihydrophylloquinone (dK). The purpose of this study was to determine the K1 and dK content of fast foods and snack foods in the US food supply. Representative samples of key foods (109 fast foods and 23 snack foods) obtained from the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program were analyzed for K1 and dK in duplicate by HPLC. Of the fast foods analyzed, including chicken products, hamburgers, burritos and nachos obtained from fastfood restaurants, the K1 and dK contents ranged from 0.4 to 23.7 and non-detectable (ND)—69.1mg/100 g, respectively. Crackers and potato chips had wide ranges in K1 (1.4–24.3mg/100 g) and dK content (ND— 102mg/100 g). When consumed frequently and in large amounts, fast foods and snack foods may be important contributors to vitamin K intake in the US diet. However, those fast foods and snack foods that contain high amounts of dK may not have equivalent contribution to vitamin K status compared to foods containing high amounts of K1 due to differences in biological activity. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Minimum Cost Broadcast in Multi-radio Multi-channel Wireless Mesh Networks

A vast number of broadcasting protocols have been developed for wireless networks. However, most of these protocols assume a single-radio single-channel network model. Employing multiple channels can effectively improve the network capacity in wireless mesh networks. This paper considers minimum cost broadcast (MCB) problem in multi-radio multi-channel wireless mesh networks. We first present the multi-radio multi-channel network model, and then formulate the MCB problem using an integer linear programming model. Our model considers two cases of MCB. In the first case, there already exists a channel assignment in the network, and the formulation minimizes the broadcast cost and reduces interference amongst the adjacent neighbors. In the second case, each node has a set of available channels to be selected. We jointly consider channel assignment and the MCB problem. The joint channel assignment and MCB formulation fully exploits the channel diversity, and also further reduces interference in the network. We propose corresponding centralized and distributed heuristic algorithms to minimize the number of broadcast transmissions with full reliability. In our heuristic algorithms, each node participates in the broadcasting if chosen to maintain the network connectivity or to achieve maximum coverage. Extensive numerical results are presented to demonstrate the performance.
Reduced Gröbner Bases, Free Difference-Differential Modules and Difference-Differential Dimension Polynomials

We define a special type of reduction in a free left module over a ring of difference?differential operators and use the idea of the Grobner basis method to develop a technique that allows us to determine the Hilbert function of a finitely generated difference?differential module equipped with the natural double filtration. The results obtained are applied to the study of difference?differential field extensions and systems of difference?differential equations. We prove a theorem on difference?differential dimension polynomial that generalizes both the classical Kolchin?s theorem on dimension polynomial of a differential field extension and the corresponding author?s result for difference fields. We also determine invariants of a difference?differential dimension polynomial and consider a method of computation of the dimension polynomial associated with a system of linear difference?differential equations.
Preretinal absorbance in sciurid eyes.

Spectrophotometric measurements of preretinal absorbance were made on eyes from prairie dogs, western gray squirrels, four species of ground squirrels, and a southern flying squirrel. Results indicate that lenses from all species except the flying squirrel absorb significantly in the spectral region from 520 to 440 nanometers. At 440 nanometers, relative preretinal absorbance was greatest for the prairie dogs (1.31) followed in order by the ground squirrels (1.12 to 1.04), the gray squirrels (0.54), and the flying squirrel, which had an essentially transparent lens and cornea (0.08).
Global sensitivity analysis used to interpret biological experimental results

Modeling host/pathogen interactions provides insight into immune defects that allow bacteria to overwhelm the host, mechanisms that allow vaccine strategies to be successful, and illusive interactions between immune components that govern the immune response to a challenge. However, even simplified models require a fairly high dimensional parameter space to be explored. Here we use global sensitivity analysis for parameters in a simple model for biofilm infections in mice. The results indicate which parameters are insignificant and are 'frozen' to yield a reduced model. The reduced model replicates the full model with high accuracy, using approximately half of the parameter space. We used the sensitivity to investigate the results of the combined biological and mathematical experiments for osteomyelitis. We are able to identify parts of the compartmentalized immune system that were responsible for each of the experimental outcomes. This model is one example for a technique that can be used generally.
A statistically significant future for Bayes' rule--response.

Van Hulst brings up an important point: Bayesian methods are easier to explain and understand than their frequentist counterparts. An attractive simplicity is exactly what led to Bayesian statistics' overuse, and then disuse, in past epochs. Frequentism is essentially a more cautious and self-critical philosophy, better able to withstand skeptical scrutiny from the scientific world. It will always have a major role to play in real-life scientific inference. There are two potent arrows in the statistician's quiver, and there is no need to go hunting armed with only one.
The Effects of Genetics, the Environment, and Low Self-Control on Perceived Maternal and Paternal Socialization: Results from a Longitudinal Sample of Twins

The association between parental socialization and antisocial behavior is central to much criminological theory and research. For the most part, criminologists view parental socialization as reflecting a purely social process, one that is not influenced by genetic factors. A growing body of behavioral genetic research, however, has cast doubt on this claim by revealing that environments are partially shaped by genetic factors. The current study used these findings as a springboard to examine the genetic and environmental underpinnings to various measures of perceived paternal and maternal parenting. Analysis of twin pairs drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health revealed that between 16 and 31% of the variance in perceptions of maternal attachment, maternal involvement, maternal disengagement, and maternal negativity was the result of genetic factors. Additionally, between 46 and 63% of the variance in perceptions of paternal attachment, paternal involvement, and paternal negativity was accounted for by genetic factors. The implications that these results have for criminologists are explored.
Prostaglandin E2 inhibits alpha 1(I)procollagen gene transcription and promoter activity in the immortalized rat osteoblastic clonal cell line Py1a.

High concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibit collagen synthesis and reduce alpha 1(I)procollagen messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in cultured fetal rat calvariae. To examine the mechanism of this effect, we used the immortalized rat osteoblastic clonal cell line, Py1a. PGE2 at 1 microM inhibited the incorporation of [3H]proline into collagenase-digestible protein (CDP) and increased incorporation into noncollagen protein, whereas 0.1 microM PGE2 increased both CDP and noncollagen protein labeling. Because insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an anabolic hormone in bone and PGE2 can increase its production, we added exogenous IGF-I (10 nM) to Py1a cultures. In the presence of IGF-I, PGE2 from 10 nM to 1 microM had only an inhibitory effect on CDP labeling and alpha 1(I)procollagen mRNA levels. PGE2 at 1 microM decreased the rate of alpha 1(I)procollagen gene transcription in the presence or absence of IGF-I, determined by a nuclear run-on assay. Py1a cells were stably transfected with chimeric gene...