cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing an Inducer‐Feeding Schedule To Enhance Production of Recombinant Protein in Escherichia coli by Microbial Reaction Engineering

Metabolic constraints during the production of recombinant protein in Escherichia coli impede the efficient utilization of resources by the cells, thus reducing their production potential. In order to minimize these adverse effects, we have proposed to segregate the cell population into two groups: the first one formed by non-induced cells, growing at a high specific growth rate and rapidly contributing cells to the system, and the second one formed by fully induced cells, growing slowly but using the cell machinery to express the target protein. An adequate balance between these two populations should maximize the protein expression in a given system. This segregation is accomplished experimentally by taking advantage of the “all or none” phenomenon, in which at subsaturated inducer conditions the cells are either fully induced or fully uninduced. Based on this two-population theory, a mathematical model was developed in which a parameter R was defined as the fraction of the fully induced cells in the total population. In this study three different induction strategies were investigated and their effect on the protein production was established. It was found that the linear increase of this fraction, achieving maximum induction ( R) 1) only at the end of the fermentation and with a slope m ) 0.15 gave the best results. Finally these results were validated experimentally with the finding that they closely match the mathematical simulation with a 26% increase in protein production with respect to the conventional induction approach described.
Treatment of design fire uncertainty using Quadrature Method of Moments

The use of a single-design fire in a performance-based fire design code typically fails to account for the inherent uncertainty in knowledge of the future use of the space. Uncertainties in knowledge of intended use and the implications in terms of fuel loading and potential heat release rate can be bounded using probabilistic methods. Use of a cumulative distribution function (CDF) and the related probability density function (PDF) specify the best available estimate of the probability (likelihood) of a fire of given size to take place in a compartment. Monte Carlo simulation is a widely used computational method for treating uncertainty that might be described by a PDF. In this technique, one samples the uncertain variables from their underlying PDFs and runs a fire model for each sample. For complex fire models, this approach may be computationally intractable. In this work we present a computationally efficient technique called the Quadrature Method of Moments (QMOM) for propagating uncertainty bounds in distributions. In QMOM one solves for only the moments of a relevant uncertain parameter. The CDF of the uncertain parameter provides all the statistical information required for risk assessments. We consider a simplified propagation of uncertainty problem. Results using both the ASET and CFAST fire models indicate that computation of the moments of the PDF using QMOM and the reconstruction of the CDF by matching the moments with those of a four-parameter Generalized Lambda Distribution (GLD) give accurate results at a significantly smaller computational cost.
Synthesis of CdSe nanoparticles in the presence of aminodextran as stabilizing and capping agent.

Abstract Water-dispersible Amdex–CdSe nanoparticle complexes with sufficient luminescence intensity were prepared at room temperature by rapidly mixing aqueous solutions of either sodium selenide or selenourea with those of cadmium chloride in the presence of amino-derivatized polysaccharides (Amdex) as stabilizing agent. It was shown that the size of CdSe crystallites decreased with increasing content of the polymer in the precipitation process. When present in a sufficient amount, Amdex was found to be an effective stabilizing and capping agent, producing CdSe nanocrystals of weak-to-medium luminescence intensity (maximum room temperature quantum yields of 15–16%). Furthermore, Amdex has proven to be an effective protective agent against photochemical degradation.
Use of First‐hand and Second‐hand Data in Science: Does data type influence classroom conversations?

In this paper, we examine how students discuss and interpret data and whether these actions vary depending on the type of data they analyse. More specifically, we are interested in whether students perform differently when analysing first‐hand data, which they collect themselves, compared with second‐hand data provided to them. Our data analysis focused on two classrooms using two different curriculum units, chemistry in Grade 7 and biology in Grade 8, collected during the 2002/03 school year from a Mid‐western urban middle school in the USA. We analysed classroom videotape associated with lessons in which students discussed first‐hand and second‐hand data both in small group settings and full class discussions. We found the two types of data offer different benefits and limitations, suggesting that both types of data are important for students to work with as they develop skills in scientific inquiry practices. We discuss the characteristics of classroom discussions around different data sources as well ...
Assessing multicomponent DNAPL biostabilization potential. II: Aroclor 1242

Aroclors are dense nonaqueous-phase liquids (DNAPLs) composed of polychlorinated biphenyls, which are common subsurface contaminants. Because complete remediation of Aroclor is very difficult, biostabilization may offer an alternative where risk reduction can be achieved without destruction of the DNAPL mass. The potential for aerobic in situ biostabilization of Aroclor 1242 was evaluated using laboratory protocols similar to those described in the companion paper. Total microbial concentrations increased and stabilized in both mixed and unmixed systems, while the respiring cells did not stabilize in either system. After 100 days, the DNAPL in mixed biometers was depleted in dichlorobiphenyls; the DNAPL composition in unmixed biometers did not change significantly. The total aqueous polychlorinated biphenyl concentration was lower in the unmixed than mixed biometers; both were below the predicted equilibrium concentration. After 100 days, the chronic toxicity of the aqueous phase to Cerodaphnia was greate...
Evolutionary synthesis of heat-exchanger networks

Abstract An algorithmic-evolutionary approach for the synthesis of heat exchanger networks is proposed. This approach is based on searching and breaking all heat load loops in the initial network. The method can effectively minimize the number of heat transfer units in an existing network without increasing its utility consumption above the minimum thermodynamic requirement.
1e and 2e superconductivity in spin liquids and spin crystals

The recent, unexpected discoveries of superconductors with reported transition temperatures as high as 123 K have renewed the search for mechanisms with higher transition temperatures. Among the resulting proposals is one by Anderson in which an odd-electron insulator in a resonating valence-bond or quantum-spin-liquid state becomes superconducting via pair condensation when sufficiently doped. However, Kivelson, Rokhsar, and Sethra have suggested that doping such a state introduces singly charged boson defects which form a superconducting state via Bose-Einstein condensation. We resolve this apparent contradiction by pointing out the possible existence of a remarkable transition between superconductivity with an elementary charge of the supercurrent of e to superconductivity with an elementary charge of 2e with increased doping. Moreover, both kinds of superconductivity occur, even in the spin-crystal or N\'eel state.
Metalation of ferrocene with n-pentylsodium Examination of the reaction in the presence and absence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)☆

Abstract The metalation of ferrocene with n-pentylsodium in the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) for 1 h at room temperature gave approximately 90% 1,1′-disodioferrocene and 10% sodioferrocene in near quantitative yields. In the absence of TMEDA, metalation proceeded in a much lower overall yield (20–25%) giving, in addition to the above products, compounds resulting from polymetallation of ferrocene. Overall yields and product distributions were obtained, in all cases, by gas chromatographic analysis of the trimethylsilylferrocene derivatives obtained by treating the reaction with trimethylchlorosilane.
Molecular basis of ACAID.

(1997). Molecular basis of ACAID. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation: Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 217-218.
Nanoscale morphologies resulting from surface treatments of display glass in vacuum

Abstract We have applied ultra-high vacuum scanning probe microscopy to an alkaline-earth boroaluminosilicate display glass (Corning Code 1737) that has received a variety of surface treatments in vacuum, including heating, fracture, bombardment with ∼1 keV electrons, and sputtering with 375 eV argon ions. Associated with certain of these treatments is sufficient energy deposition (in the case of ion sputtering or electron bombardment) or energy release (in the case of fracture) to disrupt the metastable glass network. Globular features with characteristic spacings between 3 and 6 nm and
Confined quantum gases.

Confined equilibrium quantum gases are mor complicated than standard theory suggests. Blackbody radiation and other quantum gases in free space are uniform everywhere. However when confined by a boundary to some region of space they become nonuniform---a function of position with respect to the boundary. Standard theory based on the heat kernal expansion distorts boundary effects into distributions defined on the boundary. Here an exact, local description of boundary effects is presented for scalar gases confined by a general boundary. Explicit calculations for boundaries with a rectangular geometry illustrate all major points.
Aneurysm of the distal facial artery from a penetrating oral prosthesis

We report a 94-year-old male who died of pneumonia. During the routine dissection of the head and neck for a gross anatomy course at our institution a mass was noted in the region of the right cheek. Macroscopic and microscopic observation of this mass revealed an aneurysm of the facial artery. A traumatic defect was noted at the apex of the aneurysmal wall related to an intraoral prosthetic clasp that had penetrated the buccinator muscle. Traumatic aneurysms of the face have been caused by blunt trauma to the jaw with or without fracture, surgical manipulation around the teeth and jaw, and following missile injury. Some have described compression of neighboring structures such as cranial nerves and other blood vessels with resultant compromise. We believe our case to be the first report of a facial artery aneurysm in a cadaver and we are unaware of other reports from the literature describing the production of a facial artery aneurysm from a puncture of an intraoral prosthesis through the medially placed buccinator muscle. Although seemingly rare, health care professionals should make efforts to ensure that oral prostheses do not develop sharp or irregular edges that could potentially perforate the lateral oral cavity with potential perforation of the overlying vasculature.
Near fields and far fields excited by small- and large-scale fluctuations in the surface height, permittivity, and permeability of the medium

A full wave approach is developed to analyze the scattered electromagnetic fields due to fluctuations in the surface height and/or electromagnetic medium parameters such as the complex electric permittivity, conductivity, and magnetic permeability. Since the scales of the medium fluctuations considered could be significantly smaller or larger than the electromagnetic wavelengths, the familiar perturbation and physical/geometrical optics techniques based on the Kirckhoff approximations of the fields on the boundaries cannot be used nor is it possible to investigate sub- wavelength structures based on far-field measurements.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A modified nitroso-r method for the determination of cobalt in sea water

Abstract The existing colorimetric nitroso-R method for the determination of biologically important cobalt in sea water described by Thompson and Laevastu has been studied in detail, modified and improved. A procedure is recommended in which an approximately five-fold increase in sensitivity is achieved in the measurement of the nitroso-R chelate through close control of : pH, development time of complex, conditions for decomposition of excess reagent, and employment of a wavelength of 425 mμ. The size of the water sample required for an analysis is reduced from 10 to 21. For optimum results it was found necessary for a minimum period of 7 days to elapse following precipitation with sodium carbonate prior to filtration and analysis. A previously unreported salt effect in the procedure is described which requires either construction of a calibration curve from sea water spiked with cobalt or a correction in use of standards in distilled water. A precision was obtained with a 1–2% relative standard deviation throughout range of concentrations used, with an accuracy of 3.0% at 0.5 p.p.b.
Choreographic buttons: promoting social interaction through human movement and clear affordances

We used human movement as the basis for designing a collaborative aesthetic design environment. Our intention was to promote social interaction and creative expression. We employed off-the-shelf computer vision technology. Movement became the basis for the choreography of gestures, the development of gesture recognition, and the development of imagery and visualization. We discovered that the design of clear affordances is no less important in movement-based than in mouse-based systems. Through an integrated and iterative design process, we developed a new type of affordance, the choreographic button, which integrates choreography, gesture recognition, and visual feedback. Jumping, a quick movement, and crouching, a sustained gesture, were choreographed to form a vocabulary that is personally expressive, and which also facilitates automatic recognition.How can we evaluate socially motivated interactive systems? To create a context for evaluation, we held an integrated exhibition, party, and user study event. This mixing of events produced an engaging environment in which participants could choose to interact with each other, as well as with the design environment. We prepared a mouse-based version of the design environment, and compared how people experienced it with the movementbased system. Our study demonstrates that movement-based affordances promote social interaction.
Crossing cultures: Student travel and personal development

Abstract This paper is concerned with what students do and learn when they travel abroad. First, the behavior and daily routines of American college students travelling in Europe, while on a term abroad, are examined through their journals and travel logs and the researcher's observations. What the students learn about other cultures is often superficial, yet the experience is found to be educational in ways that were unexpected. Much of the personal benefit of travel comes not from what students learn about the places or cultures they visit, but from the need to continuously make decisions and deal with the demands of daily life in new and unfamiliar settings. It is suggested that these experiences foster personal development in several ways.
Effect of vertical motion on friction‐driven isolation systems

The effect of the vertical component of ground motion on the horizontal response of a sliding system is studied. Soil–foundation interaction is included. The results indicate that the effect of vertical motion is significant in the cascs of harmonically excited foundations.
Assessing urban hydrologic prediction accuracy through event reconstruction

Abstract Quantifying hydrologic prediction error is of fundamental importance to feasible operation of a real-time flood forecasting system customized for specific locations. Reconstruction of a series of storm events using gauge-adjusted radar provides information on prediction accuracies that may be achievable in real-time operations. The subject of this paper is the examination of hydrologic prediction uncertainty for a system providing site-specific flood forecasts in a heavily urbanized area. Reconstruction of Tropical Storm Allison that occurred in June 2001 and other events are used to calibrate and validate a fully distributed hydrologic model that is used for real-time continuous forecasting operations. Hydrologic prediction accuracy expected during real-time forecasting of urban flooding is shown to be sensitive to radar rainfall bias. Controlling for bias in the radar input for five storms, achievable model accuracy is approximately 11.8% in peak discharge, 12 min in timing, and 11.1% in runoff volume for a 260 km 2 urban catchment. High-accuracy rising limb agreement is achieved through differential adjustment of overland and channel hydraulic roughness. Verification during a recent real-time event illustrates the need for bias adjustment of radar in real-time to achieve acceptable accuracies. Once the radar is gauge-corrected, remaining random error does not correlate strongly with the error in streamflow predictions. This lack of correlation indicates that the random error measured by radar-gauge comparison is diminished, not amplified, when simulated runoff is compared with observed streamflow. Performance evaluation during operations will be accomplished in the future as sufficient events become available for reliable statistical evaluation.
Maximal T cell IL-13 production requires monocyte or monokine participation.

Abstract The T cell-secreted lymphokine interleukin 13 (IL-13) exerts pleiotropic effects on monocytes (Mφ) and B cells. Since accessory cells, like Mφ and B cells, also act in antigen-presenting and lymphokine augmentation of T cells, Mφ and B cells may be able to effect T cell IL-13 production. Purified T cells produced slightly less IL-13 than the lower T cell numbers contained in peripheral blood mononuclear cell population, further suggesting accessory cell augmentation. Addition of 10% B cells [either unstimulated or pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated] to autologous T cells only moderately augmented T cell IL-13 levels. PWM-stimulated B cell culture supernates had even less augmenting effect on T cell IL-13 levels and unstimulated B cell culture supernates did not augment T cell IL-13 production. In contrast to the moderately augmenting effect of B cells or their stimulated culture supernates, addition of 10% Mφ, either unstimulated or muramyl dipeptide (MDP)+IFN-γ stimulated, to autologous T cells produced a highly significant increase in T cell IL-13 production. Mφ culture supernates were equally effective in augmenting T cell IL-13 levels, suggesting both that cell-to-cell contact is not critical for Mφ augmentation of T cell IL-13 levels, and that Mφ secreted factors are pivotal. CD64+Mφ (or their culture supernates), which are known as poor antigen-presenting cells, also effectively augmented T cell IL-13 production, further supporting the involvement of Mφ secreted factors. Finally, experiments with exogenous addition of recombinant monokines, as well as neutralization experiments with different cytokine antibodies, suggested IL-1β as a primary cytokine involved in the augmentation of T cell IL-13 levels by accessory cells. However, these experiments also indicated other unidentified Mφ factors as playing a significant role in producing maximal T cell IL-13 production.
Labeling of dendritic spines with the carbocyanine dye DiI for confocal microscopic imaging in lightly fixed cortical slices

Visualization of dendritic spines is an important tool for researches on structural synaptic plasticity. Fluorescent labeling of the dendrites and spines followed by confocal microscopy permits imaging a large population of dendritic spines with a higher resolution. We sought to establish an optimal protocol to label neurons in cortical slices with the carbocyanine dye DiI for confocal microscopic imaging of dendritic spines. DiI finely labeled dendrites and spines in slices prefixed (by cardiac perfusion) with 1.5% paraformaldehyde to the similar extent that could be achieved in live preparation. In contrast, fixation with 4% paraformaldehyde severely compromised dye diffusion. Confocal microscopy showed that structural integrity of dendrites and spines was preserved much better in lightly (1.5%) fixed slices than those prepared without fixation. Quantitative measurement revealed that spine density was lower in live slices than that counted in lightly fixed slices, suggesting that fixation is necessary for an adequate evaluation of spine density. The quality of confocal microscopic images obtained from lightly fixed slices allowed us to observe distinctive morphologies such as branched spines and dendritic filopodium, which may be indicative of structural changes at synapses. This method will thus be useful for studying structural synaptic plasticity.
Boronic acid porphyrin receptor for ginsenoside sensing.

Ginsenoside detection was pursued through the design of a porphyrin receptor containing two boronic acid units. This receptor was found to undergo different degrees of fluorescence quenching with five ginsenoside guests and an acylated derivative. The trends in the 1:1 binding constants, as well as ESI−HRMS analysis, support a binding mode in which the ginsenoside sugar units are bound to the boronic acid groups, while the steroid core and porphyrin ring participate in hydrophobic interactions.
Legitimation of Oppression: Response and Reflexivity

The basic question addressed in this article is why people in inferior and devalued strata submit to oppression. It is my thesis that the legitimation of oppression is one of the key issues for subordinate people and that the study of the creation and processes of legitimation among such groups will shed light on the phenomenon of human obedience or of resistance to oppressive rule. The core of the study consists of (1) the development of a model of the legitimation process and (2) the use of examples from the experiences of oppressed groups to illustrate dimensions of this process. Servility and submission are hardly new: these responses thread through history, deeply incised, though shadowed by the claims and power of domination. Changes in the status of subject peoples historically have been slow, and the treatment of the powerless often has been harsh and oppressive. Yet we find revolution against oppression exceedingly rare. Meakness, the inability to resist, and even willing subservience more frequently have been the cornerstones of human response.
Compliments and Perceptions of Product Quality: An Individual Difference Perspective

High and low self-monitoring women sampled and evaluated either a relatively pleasant-smelling perfume or a relatively less pleasant-smelling one. Some women were complimented as they sampled the perfume. Others were not given any feedback. The evaluations of high self-monitoring women were influenced only by the presence or absence of the compliment. Regardless of its actual smell, high self-monitoring women evaluated the aroma and quality of the perfume higher when they had been complimented than when they had not. The evaluations of low self-monitors were similarly influenced by the presence or absence of the compliment. In addition, however, their evaluations were significantly influenced by the actual smell of the perfume.
Scale Removal Cellular Automaton Oxidation Models of Metals in Lead Bismuth Eutectic

Scale removal cellular automaton oxidation models of metals in lead bismuth eutectic have been proposed. The hydraulic effect of the high temperature and high-density LBE has been considered in one new mesoscopic scale removal model. A scheme is proposed to fitting the mesoscopic data with the experimental data. The results have been fitted with the experimental data and benchmarked with previous numerical solutions and experimental data and significant agreements have been obtained. The proposed scale removal model has been used to estimate long-term behaviors of the oxide layer growth considering scale removal effect.
Intraocular Pressure Alters Following Altitude Changes in Patients With Gas-Filled Eyes: Theoretical Analysis

Retinal detachment is an eye disorder that, if not treated, can lead to blindness. One of the treatment options is removing all or part of vitreous humor from the vitreous cavity and filling it with a gas bubble. The gas bubble eventually reabsorbs over a few weeks into the systemic circulation.© 2010 ASME
A Re-Awakening: Anne Tyler's Postfeminist Edna Pontellier in Ladder of Years

Abstract Following the 1995 publication of Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years, familiar comments about the author's much-debated stance on feminist issues once again appeared in book reviews. For example, in the Yale Review, Lome Moore described the Baltimore of Tyler's novel as “a land and time unto itself, untouched by such things as feminism […] or politics of any kind” (141). Brooke Allen, in the New Criterion, lamented that Tyler's characters “seem eerily untouched by any of the revolutions, be they sexual or feminist, of the last forty years.” Additionally, Allen complained, “Not only do none of Tyler's wives see themselves as feminists, they apparently do not even acknowledge that such a creature exists” (33). Similar observations have greeted the debuts of many of Tyler's novels since the 1970s, when her negative reviews of a number of feminist works and her published remarks about novels by “liberated” women—“I hate 'em all”—unsurprisingly earned her the reputation of being unsupportive of feminist con...
Comparison of four types of sampling gears for estimating age-0 yellow perch density

To aid biologists in obtaining reliable and efficient estimates of age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) abundance, we compared operational effort and catch characteristics (i.e., density, length frequencies, and precision) of four gear types (beach seines, benthic sleds, drop nets, and push trawls) in littoral habitats in two South Dakota glacial lakes. Gear types were selected on the basis that the volume of water sampled could be determined and, thus, density (number/m 3 ) of age-0 yellow perch could be computed for each. Age-0 yellow perch were collected on three occasions with each gear in both lakes in August 2011. Differences in gear operational effort (i.e., the time required for set-up, deployment, and fish sorting) and age-0 yellow perch density and length frequencies were compared among sampling gears. Mean operational effort ranged from 9 to 65 min, mean density from 0.07 to 4.1 age-0 yellow perch/m 3 , coefficients of variation of mean age-0 perch density from 33 to 134, and number of samples required to estimate a 25% change in mean age-0 perch abundance from 22 to 305. Beach seines and drop nets may selectively sample larger age-0 yellow perch than benthic sleds and push trawls. We recommend use of beach seines or benthic sleds for sampling age-0 yellow perch in littoral habitats of glacial lakes. However, all sampling gears tested in this study have associated costs and benefits and one may be more suitable than another under different circumstances.
Oligosaccharide analyses of glycopeptides of horseradish peroxidase by thermal-assisted partial acid hydrolysis and mass spectrometry.

Abstract Thermal-assisted partial acid hydrolysis of the carbohydrate moieties of N-glycosylated peptides of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is used to generate oligosaccharide cleavage ladders. These ladders allow direct reading of components of the oligosaccharides by mass spectrometry. Acid hydrolysis performed with 1.4, 3.1, 4.5, or 6.7 M trifluoroacetic acid at 37, 65, or 95 °C for 30 min to 24 h hydrolyzed mainly the oligosaccharide units of glycopeptides with least peptide bond or amino acid side chain hydrolysis. Tryptic N-glycosylated peptides from HRP with molecular weights of 2533, 2612, 3355, 3673, and 5647 Da were used as test systems in these experiments. Data showed that the most labile group of oligosaccharides is the fucose (Fuc) and the majority of the end cleavage products are peptides with one or no N -acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residue linked to Asparagine (Asn). Additionally, the data agree with previous reports that glycopeptides 3355 and 3673 Da carry an oligosaccharide (Xyl)Man 3 (Fuc)GlcNAc 2 , glycopeptide 5647 Da carries two oligosaccharides (Xyl)Man 3 (Fuc)GlcNAc 2 , and glycopeptides 2612 and 2533 Da carry (Xyl)Man 3 GlcNAc 2 and (Fuc)GlcNAc, respectively. However, the glycosylation site of the 2612 Da peptide at Asn 286 is partially occupied. This method is particularly useful in identifying glycopeptides and obtaining monosaccharide compositions of glycopeptides.
Chiropractic Care of a Patient With Neurogenic Heterotopic Ossification of the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report

Objective The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of chiropractic care for a patient with neurogenic heterotopic ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine and soft tissues of the right hip after a traumatic brain injury and right femur fracture.
Aminopropylation of vitamin D hormone (1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), its biological precursors, and other steroidal alcohols: An anchoring moiety for affinity studies of sterols

Abstract In this communication we describe a simple two-step procedure for the conversion of several steroidal alcohols to their aminopropyl ether derivatives. To demonstrate the usefulness of this procedure we synthesized a second-generation photoaffinity labeling analog of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and a 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 derivative containing a long and chemically stable tether. Utilities of these aminopropyl ether derivatives of steroids in various affinity studies of receptor proteins are discussed.
EFFECT OF TWO YEARS OF STRICT METABOLIC CONTROL ON PROGRESSION OF INCIPIENT NEPHROPATHY IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

36 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who had 'Albustix'-negative urine but raised urinary albumin excretion (30 to 300 mg/24 h) were randomly assigned to either remaining on conventional insulin treatment or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and followed up for 2 years. The insulin-infusion group showed a significant, sustained improvement in metabolic control, with a median glycosylated haemoglobin of 7.2% (range 5.9-8.8), but there was no change in the conventional-treatment group (median 8.6%, range 7.2-13.4) (p less than 0.001). Clinical diabetic nephropathy (a urinary albumin excretion rate above 300 mg/24 h in at least two of three 24 h urine collections) developed in 5 patients in the conventional-treatment group, but not in the insulin-infusion group (p less than 0.05, two-tailed). Fractional albumin clearance (mean and range X 10(7] increased in the conventional-treatment group from 160 (35-468) to 360 (29-1580) and was unchanged in the insulin-infusion group (170 [31-608] before to 160 [26-460] after) (p less than 0.05). Insulin infusion had an overall beneficial effect on the annual increase in urinary albumin excretion (p less than 0.05), and the mean glycosylated haemoglobin values correlated positively with annual change in albumin excretion (r = 0.57, p less than 0.0001). The diastolic blood pressure rose significantly in the conventional-treatment group (p less than 0.001), and annual change in mean blood pressure correlated with change in urinary albumin excretion (r = 0.49, p less than 0.001).
In vivo imaging of deep cortical layers using a microprism.

We present a protocol for in vivo imaging of cortical tissue using a deep-brain imaging probe in the shape of a microprism. Microprisms are 1-mm in size and have a reflective coating on the hypotenuse to allow internal reflection of excitation and emission light. The microprism probe simultaneously images multiple cortical layers with a perspective typically seen only in slice preparations. Images are collected with a large field-of-view (~900 μm). In addition, we provide details on the non-survival surgical procedure and microscope setup. Representative results include images of layer V pyramidal neurons from Thy-1 YFP-H mice showing their apical dendrites extending through the superficial cortical layer and extending into tufts. Resolution was sufficient to image dendritic spines near the soma of layer V neurons. A tail-vein injection of fluorescent dye reveals the intricate network of blood vessels in the cortex. Line-scanning of red blood cells (RBCs) flowing through the capillaries reveals RBC velocity and flux rates can be obtained. This novel microprism probe is an elegant, yet powerful new method of visualizing deep cellular structures and cortical function in vivo.
Science, Scientists, and Drug Policy: A Conversation With Harry

An imaginary conversation between an advocate of drug policy reform and a defender of thestatus quo.
Expert prediction, symbolic learning, and neural networks. An experiment on greyhound racing

Uncertainty is inevitable in problem solving and decision making. One way to reduce it is by seeking the advice of an expert. When we use computers to reduce uncertainty, the computer itself can become an expert in a specific field through a variety of methods. One such method is machine learning, which involves using a computer algorithm to capture hidden knowledge from data. We compared the prediction performances of three human track experts with those of two machine learning techniques: a decision tree building algorithm (ID3), and a neural network learning algorithm (backpropagation). For our research, we investigated a problem solving scenario called game playing, which is unstructured, complex, and seldom studied. We considered several real life game playing scenarios and decided on greyhound racing, a complex domain that involves about 50 performance variables for eight competing dogs in a race. For every race, each dog's past history is complete and freely available to bettors. This is a large amount of historical information-some accurate and relevant, some noisy and irrelevant-that must be filtered, selected, and analyzed to assist in making a prediction. This large search space poses a challenge for both human experts and machine learning algorithms. The questions then become: can machine learning techniques reduce the uncertainty in a complex game playing scenario? Can these methods outperform human experts in prediction? Our research sought to answer these questions. >
Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Meta-Analysis of Prevalence and Risk Factors

Reports suggest that carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among persons without health care-associated risks has increased. A meta-analysis of studies reporting the prevalence of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) among MRSA isolates from hospitalized patients or the prevalence of MRSA colonization among community members was conducted. The CA-MRSA prevalence among hospital MRSA was 30.2% in 27 retrospective studies and 37.3% in 5 prospective studies; 85% of all patients with CA-MRSA had > or =1 health care-associated risk. The pooled MRSA colonization rate among community members was 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04%-1.53%), but there was significant heterogeneity among study populations. Community members from whom samples were obtained in health care facilities were more likely to be carrying MRSA than were community members from whom samples were obtained outside of the health care setting (relative risk, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.56-3.53). Among studies that excluded persons with health care contacts, the MRSA prevalence was 0.2%. Moreover, most persons with CA-MRSA had > or =1 health care-associated risk, which suggests that the prevalence of MRSA among persons without risks remains low (< or =0.24%). Effective control of dissemination of MRSA throughout the community likely will require effective control of nosocomial MRSA transmission.
Integrated detection and mitigation of pollution attack in wireless network coding: Physical layer approach

We take a physical-layer approach in detecting the falsely injected packet (pollution attack) and removing it from the polluted packet to restore the true coded packet in wireless network coding system. The proposed scheme builds on the maximum likelihood detection principle which is optimal in the sense of minimizing the probability of detection error. It “recycles” the polluted packet by discarding only the faulty information and using the remaining part in recovering the message. This makes it unnecessary to retransmit new coded packets and allows uninterrupted communication even under the heavy attack. The proposed scheme can provide a significant improvement in the throughput and reliability over the cryptographic solutions without requiring any transmission overhead.
Targeted insult to subsurface cortical blood vessels using ultrashort laser pulses: three models of stroke

We present a method to produce vascular disruptions within rat brain parenchyma that targets single microvessels. We used two-photon microscopy to image vascular architecture, to select a vessel for injury and to measure blood-flow dynamics. We irradiated the vessel with high-fluence, ultrashort laser pulses and achieved three forms of vascular insult. (i) Vessel rupture was induced at the highest optical energies; this provides a model for hemorrhage. (ii) Extravasation of blood components was induced near the lowest energies and was accompanied by maintained flow in the target vessel. (iii) An intravascular clot evolved when an extravasated vessel was further irradiated. Such clots dramatically impaired blood flow in downstream vessels, in which speeds dropped to as low as approximately 10% of baseline values. This demonstrates that a single blockage to a microvessel can lead to local cortical ischemia. Lastly, we show that hemodilution leads to a restoration of flow in secondary downstream vessels.
Interdisciplinary Connections and Academic Performance in Psychology–English Learning Communities

We investigated whether students in psychology-based learning communities (LCs; i.e., cohorts who took introductory psychology and English together) performed better on psychology tests than those ...
Solidarity and Discord of Pluralism How the Social Context Affects Interest Group Learning and Belonging

Despite the theoretical centrality of associational life in interest group formation, there is little research to assess it. We seek such a contribution by analyzing how the social environment affects the individual group joining process. We promote a two-pronged explanation, drawing upon the nature of both associations and individual associational ties. Specifically, we examine the twin forces of solidarity and discord that constrain and expand, respectively, information acquisition within two associational types, using survey data clustered by congregations and neighborhoods. In congregations, we find meaningful variance across social contexts in the available group information, which affects group knowledge and membership. As unstructured social environments, neighborhoods lack the organizational structure to spread group learning and participation. While these results generally confirm the pluralist framework, they highlight the multilevel forces that fuel the chaotic connection of citizens with organ...
Characterization of the Retrocyclin Analogue RC-101 as a Preventative of Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization

Nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for pathogenic autoinfection, particularly in postoperative patients and the immunocompromised. As such, standardized preoperative nasal decolonization of S. aureus has become a major consideration for the prevention of nosocomial infection. However, only a few treatment options for nasal decolonization are currently available, with resistance to these approaches already a concern. Here we have identified the macrocyclic -defensin analogue RC-101 as a promising anti-S. aureus agent for nasal decolonization. RC-101 exhibits bactericidal effects against S. aureus with the use of in vitro epithelium-free systems, while also preventing the pathogen's proliferation and attachment in an ex vivo human nasal epithelial cell adhesion model and an organotypic model of human airway epithelia. Peptide concentrations as low as 2.5 μM elicited significant reductions in S. aureus growth in epithelium-free systems, with 10 μM concentrations being completely bactericidal for all strains tested, including USA300. In ex vivo nasal colonization models, RC-101 significantly reduced adherence, survival, and proliferation of S. aureus on human nasal epithelia. Reductions in S. aureus viability were evident in these assays, with as little as 1 μg of peptide per tissue, while 10 μg of RC-101 completely prevented adhesion of all strains tested. Furthermore, RC-101 did not exhibit cellular toxicity to human nasal epithelia at concentrations up to 200 μM, nor did it induce a proinflammatory response in these cells. Collectively, the findings of this study identify RC-101 as a potential preventative of S. aureus nasal colonization.
Divergent themes in maternal experience in women older than 35 years of age.

O VER THE PAST 20 years, the early maternal experience has been studied quantitatively by numerous investigators using a variety of instruments. In general, this quantitative research has contributed important knowledge about early parenting. Awareness of the meaning or special significance of what early parenting is like for first-time parents may facilitate positive coping and enhance parental competence and effectiveness (Pridham, 1987). However, for quantitative instruments to best contribute to the understanding of a human situation, their examination, refinement, and extension must be ongoing. One way to accomplish this is by testing them on a variety of samples. Another is to re-examine the concept being studied by gathering qualitative data about that particular life experience. From the literature, it has been generally accepted that the parenting experience varies depending upon maternal attributes, such as parity, age, and education (Mercer, 1986). However, most of the instruments that aim to assess this experience have been developed and validated on relatively young women and thus have not considered agerelated concerns. Two examples of this are the Revised What Being the Parent of a Baby is Like instrument (WPL-R), which was developed on a sample with a mean maternal age of 27.4 years (Pridham & Chang, 1989), and the Postpartum Self Evaluation Questionnaire, which was developed on a sample with a mean maternal age of 27 years (Lederman, Weingarten, & Lederman, 1981). The purpose of this research was to analyze maternal experience as described by first-time mothers more than 35 years of age and to see if it is similar to or divergent from the thematic categories of the WPL-R. BACKGROUND
Reduction of Hot Carrier Degradation of FinFETs Due to Short-Pulse Stress

Hot carrier degradation of field effect transistors is shown to be reduced when the transistors are subjected to very short pulses. A technique for applying short gate pulses to devices and measuring the change in drain current is described. Applied to FinFETs fabricated on SOI substrates, measurements show that the degradation can be almost three times less than that of DC conditions when the pulses are of nanosecond duration. This reduction is explained to be the result of reducing the self-heating of the devices during hot carrier stress.
Determining a maximum-tolerated schedule of a cytotoxic agent

Most phase I clinical trials are designed to determine a maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) for one initial administration or treatment course of a cytotoxic experimental agent. Toxicity usually is defined as the indicator of whether one or more particular adverse events occur within a short time period from the start of therapy. However, physicians often administer an agent to the patient repeatedly and monitor long-term toxicity due to cumulative effects. We propose a new method for such settings. It is based on the time to toxicity rather than a binary outcome, and the goal is to determine a maximum-tolerated schedule (MTS) rather than a conventional MTD. The model and method account for a patient's entire sequence of administrations, with the overall hazard of toxicity modeled as the sum of a sequence of hazards, each associated with one administration. Data monitoring and decision making are done continuously throughout the trial. We illustrate the method with an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) trial to determine how long a recombinant human growth factor can be administered as prophylaxis for acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), and we present a simulation study in the context of this trial.
An extended hardness limit in bulk nanoceramics

Abstract Mechanical strengthening by grain refinement is a method whereby a material’s strength and hardness can be increased by decreasing the average crystallite grain size. The empirical Hall–Petch relationship mathematically describes grain boundary strengthening and provides guidance for a straightforward way to produce stronger materials. While the phenomenon has been widely explored in nanocrystalline metals, the difficulty associated with fabricating high-quality dense nanocrystalline ceramics has left unanswered the question of the validity and extent of the relationship in ceramics. Prior studies suggest the occurrence of an inverse Hall–Petch response in ceramics with grain sizes
Nasal lavage levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and chronic nasal hypereosinophilia

Background The aim of the present study was to measure levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in nasal lavage of patients affected by chronic eosinophilic sinonasal inflammation to clarify the relationship with eosinophilic tissue infiltration and clinical features. Methods Between November 2012 and June 2013, we selected 70 patients with chronic eosinophilic inflammation (average age 41.8 years) who were classified into the following groups: persistent allergic rhinitis (group 1), noninfectious non-allergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (group 2) and chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps (group 3). Finally, we enrolled 20 healthy subjects as controls (group 4). All patients underwent symptoms score questionnaire based on a visual analogue scale, nasal endoscopy and/or computed tomography (CT) scan, and allergy testing. Nasal cytology by scraping of the mucosa and GM-CSF assays in nasal lavage were performed in all subjects. Results Detectable levels of GM-CSF were found in 34 of 70 (48.57%) patients, with an average concentration of 2.67 ± 0.8 pg/mL, whereas in controls only 1 of 20 individuals showed detectable GM-CSF levels. Eosinophil infiltration was significantly higher in patients with detectable GM-CSF compared to those with undetectable levels (49.4% vs 39.2%, respectively; p < 0.05). Furthermore, significant weakly-moderate correlation was found between GM-CSF levels and percentage of eosinophil infiltration in tissue (p < 0.05). Correlation between symptom scores and GM-CSF levels was significant only in group 2, which showed higher average concentrations of GM-CSF compared to groups 1 and 3 (2.9 pg/mL vs 1.6 pg/mL and 1.8 pg/mL, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusion Our data confirm that GM-CSF is more frequently detectable in nasal lavages of patients affected by chronic sinonasal eosinophilic inflammation than in controls. Statistical analyses revealed a significant weakly-moderate correlation between GM-CSF levels in nasal lavage of all patients and percentage of eosinophil infiltration of nasal mucosa.