cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of hepatic failure with ex vivo pig-liver perfusion followed by liver transplantation

In 1990, more than 27,000 patients died of liver failure in the United States1. Perfusion through a liver from another person or a member of another species, such as a monkey, outside the body was used in the past to stabilize the condition of some patients with acute or subacute liver failure2–5. Few patients survived, however, and this approach was superseded by orthotopic liver transplantation6. Liver transplantation is associated with higher mortality for patients with fulminant hepatic failure than for patients with chronic liver disease, however. Patients with fulminant hepatic failure often have multiorgan failure and . . .
Use of Prescription Medications in an Elderly Rural Population: The Movies Project:

ObjectiveTo determine the pharmacoepidemiology of prescription drug use in a rural elderly community sample, specifically the numbers and categories of medications taken and the factors associated with them.DesignCross-sectional community survey.SettingThe mid-Monongahela Valley of southwestern Pennsylvania.ParticipantsAn age-stratified random sample of 1360 community-dwelling individuals, aged 65 years and older.MeasuresSelf-reported use of prescription drugs, demographic characteristics, and use of health services.ResultsNine hundred sixty-seven participants (71%) reported regularly taking at least one prescription medication and 157 (10%) reported taking five or more medications (median 2.0, range 0–13). Women took significantly more medications than men (median 2.0, range 0–13 and median 1.0, range 0–9, respectively; p = 0.01). The use of a greater number of medications was independently and statistically significantly associated with older age, hospitalization within the previous 6 months, home healt...
Expression of carbonic anhydrase IV in carbonic anhydrase II-deficient mice

Chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) in the rabbit upregulates carbonic anhydrase (CA) IV in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). This study was designed to assess CA IV expression in a model of CMA in the mouse, i.e., congenital deficiency in CA II [CA(II)D]. In female CA(II)D mice, CA IV specific activity but not CA IV immunoreactivity was upregulated in the renal cortex, specifically in microdissected PCTs. Western blot analysis showed higher expression of CA IV immunoreactive protein in renal membranes from males than in those from females.
Direct observation of unimolecular decay of CH3CH2CHOO Criegee intermediates to OH radical products.

The unimolecular decay of carbonyl oxide intermediates, known as Criegee intermediates, produced in alkene ozonolysis is a significant source of OH radicals in the troposphere. Here, the rate of appearance of OH radical products is examined directly in the time-domain for a prototypical alkyl-substituted Criegee intermediate, CH3CH2CHOO, following vibrational activation under collision-free conditions. Complementary statistical Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus calculations of the microcanonical unimolecular decay rate for CH3CH2CHOO are also carried out at energies in the vicinity of the barrier for 1,4 hydrogen atom transfer that leads to OH products. Tunneling through the barrier, derived from high level electronic structure calculations, contributes significantly to the decay rate. Infrared transitions of CH3CH2CHOO are identified in the CH stretch overtone region, which are detected by ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence of the resultant OH products. The features observed are attributed to CH vibrational excitations and conformational forms utilizing insights from theory. Both experiment and theory yield unimolecular decay rates for CH3CH2CHOO of ca. 107 s−1, which are slower than those obtained for syn-CH3CHOO or (CH3)2COO reported previously [Fang et al., J. Chem. Phys. 144, 061102 (2016)] at similar energies. Master equation modeling is also utilized to predict the thermal decay rate of CH3CH2CHOO under atmospheric conditions, giving a rate of 279 s−1 at 298 K.
Implementation Analysis and Design for Energy Efficient Intervention on Heritage Buildings

The study focuses on a multi-scale and multi-disciplinary approach, for energy efficient intervention on the historic centre and buildings of a town in southern Italy. The methodology involves the use of numerical simulations and building information modeling for the management optimisation of the analysis and design phases. The energy analyses are carried out with experimental measurements and numerical simulations and are integrated with traditional historical, typological and architectural analyses. The study confirms the optimal behaviour of historic settlement principle against new urbanisation and proposes a series of specific solutions to be implemented on the buildings based on improving energy efficiency and sustainability of interventions, compatibility with the restoration charts and with the historical and microclimate context of reference. The study highlighted a number of limitations still present in the interoperability between software that future research developments will have to overcome in order to improve the practical applicability of the approach.
CAD Opportunities with Hyper-Pipelining

Hyper-pipelining is a design technique that results in significant performance and throughput improvements in latency-insensitive designs. Modern FPGA architectures like Intel's Stratix®10 feature a revolutionary register-rich HyperFlex? core fabric architecture that make it amenable for hyper-pipelining. Design implementation CAD tools can provide insights into performance bottlenecks and how hyper-pipelining can result in improved performance, that can then be implemented using well-known techniques like retiming. Retiming was first introduced as a powerful sequential design optimization technique three decades ago, yet gained limited popularity in the ASIC industry. In recent years, retiming has gained tremendous popularity in the FPGA industry. This talk will discuss why this is the case, and provide insights into some of the interesting opportunities it presents for design implementation, analysis, and verification CAD tools. Impacts of hyper-pipelining on the physical design CAD flow and timing closure will also be discussed.
A Two-Step Approach to Control-Relevant Design of Test Input Signals for Iterative System Identification

Abstract This paper presents a two step approach to solving a control-relevant test input design problem for iterative system identification. In the first step, the proposed approach solves for an optimal input spectrum that minimizes the expected closed-loop error based on prior information given by data already available. In the second step, the input spectrum is realized as an input sequence by performing a spectral factorization and implementing the spectral factor as a digital FIR filter. The test input signal is obtained by shifting and combining a Pseudo-Random Binary Sequence (PRBS) according to the filter. We demonstrate by using an illustrative example that the proposed approach gives a comparable performance to directly solving for the optimal input sequence but at a significantly less computational cost.
Testing the Vibrational Theory of Olfaction: A Bio-organic Chemistry Laboratory Experiment Using Hooke’s Law and Chirality

Sense of smell is one of the important senses that enables us to interact with our environment. The molecular basis of olfactory signal transduction is a fascinating area for organic chemistry educators to explore in terms of developing undergraduate laboratory activities at the interface of chemistry and biology. In this paper, a guided-inquiry laboratory experiment is described to test the vibrational theory of olfaction according to which a molecule’s vibrations determine its odor. Two key predictions of this theory were tested in this experiment. The first was that deuterated odorants and their nondeuterated counterparts would have different odors. This is because application of Hooke’s law leads one to predict that the frequency of a C–H bond vibration is different compared to a C–D bond vibration. The second key prediction that students tested was that enantiomeric odorants should have the same odor since their individual bond vibrations should be identical. Contrary to these predictions, students o...
Regio- and Diastereoselective Samarium-Mediated Allylic Benzoate Reductions

A regio- and diastereoselective samarium(II)-mediated reduction of allylic benzoates is described. Yields for the reactions are generally high with diastereoselectivities up to 90:10 and in some cases only a single regioisomer was obtained. The stereoselectivity of the reaction is proposed to arise from chelation of a hydroxyl-stereocenter and starting alkene geometry, with protonation occurring intramolecularly by samarium-bound water.
Bring on the bodyNET

Stretchable sensors, circuits and batteries are about to change our relationships with electronics and each other, explain Bryant Chu and colleagues.
A Review of Perioperative Complications of Outpatient Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Background:Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is commonly pursued for patients with painful arthritis. Outpatient TAA are increasingly common and have been shown to decrease costs compared to inpatient...
Defining toxicological tipping points in neuronal network development.

Abstract Measuring electrical activity of neural networks by microelectrode array (MEA) has recently shown promise for screening level assessments of chemical toxicity on network development and function. Important aspects of interneuronal communication can be quantified from a single MEA recording, including individual firing rates, coordinated bursting, and measures of network synchrony, providing rich datasets to evaluate chemical effects. Further, multiple recordings can be made from the same network, including during the formation of these networks in vitro. The ability to perform multiple recording sessions over the in vitro development of network activity may provide further insight into developmental effects of neurotoxicants. In the current study, a recently described MEA-based screen of 86 compounds in primary rat cortical cultures over 12 days in vitro was revisited to establish a framework that integrates all available primary measures of electrical activity from MEA recordings into a composite metric for deviation from normal activity (total scalar perturbation). Examining scalar perturbations over time and increasing concentration of compound allowed for definition of critical concentrations or “tipping points” at which the neural networks switched from recovery to non-recovery trajectories for 42 compounds. These tipping point concentrations occurred at predominantly lower concentrations than those causing overt cell viability loss or disrupting individual network parameters, suggesting tipping points may be a more sensitive measure of network functional loss. Comparing tipping points for six compounds with plasma concentrations known to cause developmental neurotoxicity in vivo demonstrated strong concordance and suggests there is potential for using tipping points for chemical prioritization.
Supporting secondary rural teachers’ development of noticing and pedagogical design capacity through video clubs

Professional support in the form of a year-long video club based on teacher noticing of student thinking was provided to three rural teachers who comprised the entire mathematics department of one secondary school (grades six through twelve). The focus of the study was to understand how participation in a video club structure for rural secondary teachers supports the development of noticing and to understand how the content of what rural teachers notice influences their pedagogical design capacity. Assuming a situative perspective, findings suggest video club participation influenced the teachers’ curricular vision, their pedagogical design capacity, and their view of collaboration, as well as increasing their ability to notice and utilize student thinking for instructional decisions.
Applications of Pathfinder Network scaling for identifying an optimal use of first language for second language science reading comprehension

Previous research has shown that the knowledge structure (KS) complexity of a first language (L1) under certain conditions can strongly influence the KS complexity established in a second language (L2), and then this more complex L2 KS reciprocally influences L2 text comprehension. This present experimental investigation seeks to identify the unique contributions of mapping and writing in L1 (Korean) tasks to support L2 (English) science text comprehension using Pathfinder Network scaling, a graph-theoretic cognitive science approach. Native Korean low proficiency English language learners (n = 245) read a 708-word English (L2) science lesson text, completed one of seven treatment conditions, and then completed a comprehension posttest. The seven conditions consisted of three experimental conditions that required different L1 tasks including: L1 mapping alone, L1 writing alone, or both L1 mapping and writing; and four control conditions that did not receive any L1 treatment: L2 mapping alone, L2 writing alone, both L2 mapping and writing, or reading only. All of the maps and writing artifacts were converted into Pathfinder Networks that were compared to an expert’s referent network. Results show that requiring L1 lesson tasks relatively increases L2 KS complexity and concomitant comprehension posttest performance. In order of effectiveness, combined L1 mapping and writing was most effective for posttest comprehension, then L1 writing, and least effective is L1 mapping alone. These findings confirm and extend the earlier findings that the inherent L1 KS complexity can strongly influence L2 KS complexity. Educationally, requiring L1 tasks, especially in text translation, likely engenders richer L2 structure that supports higher-order understanding of the text. Also, these findings further validate this technology-based approach for measuring KS contained in bilingual learners’ productions.
Erläuterungen zu den Vorschaurechnungen

Die Aufstellung des Finanzplanes nach der berichtigten Ergebnismethode erfordert die Erstellung einer Vorschaubilanz und einer Vorschau-Ergebnisrechnung. Der Abschlus am Ende des vorhergehenden Rechnungszeitraumes ist der Ausgangspunkt, und alle auftretenden Anderungen in den Forderungen, Verbindlichkeiten und dem Reingewinn, die sich als Folge der vielen von den verschiedenen Abteilungen eingereichten Plane ergeben, sind in den beiden Vorschaurechnungen zusammengefast.
Online Robust PCA for Malicious Attack-Resilience in Wide-Area Mode Metering Application

This paper presents a method for detecting and correcting malicious data corruptions in phasor measurement unit (PMU) measurements. Detection of malicious injections is formulated as a compressed sensing problem and the actual signals are recovered using an online robust principal component analysis-based algorithm. Different patterns of malicious injection attacks on PMU data are considered and the effect of corruption and reconstruction using the algorithm is analyzed on a wide-area mode metering application. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated with different subspace selection. A suitable threshold for the algorithm is selected by a graphical analysis of the receiver operating characteristics curve. Data from a 16-machine, 5-area New England–New York system is used along with a recursive modal estimation algorithm to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach under ambient and transient conditions.
Survey of Income Comparison: General Practice and Sports Certified Doctors of Chiropractic.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in reported gross billings and collections between doctors of chiropractic who have obtained a certificate of additional qualification (CAQ) in sports medicine compared with those without a CAQ in sports medicine. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. An e-mail invitation to participate in an anonymous survey was sent to doctors of chiropractic who hold active certifications with the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. The respondents were provided a link to a web-based survey that was constructed with similar questions to a national chiropractic survey issued by Chiropractic Economics (CE) for the same year (2015). Results Three hundred forty-nine sports medicine CAQ doctors of chiropractic responded (23.8% response rate) in comparison to 719 CE respondents. The CAQ respondents averaged $722 983 in gross billings (9.8% response rate) compared with $539 046 by CE respondents. Sports medicine CAQ doctors of chiropractic averaged $452 376 in gross collections (10.4% response rate) compared with $348 773 by CE respondents. Conclusion An analysis of these 2 surveys illustrates that CAQ respondents report higher total annual gross billings and collections than the CE respondents. Improving study methodology may improve response rates and garner a more accurate representation of any differences between doctors of chiropractic with and without CAQs.
Dynamical mean field theory simulations with the adaptive sampling configuration interaction method

In the pursuit of accurate descriptions of strongly correlated quantum many-body systems, dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) has been an invaluable tool for elucidating the spectral properties and quantum phases of both phenomenological models and ab initio descriptions of real materials. Key to the DMFT process is the self-consistent map of the original system into an Anderson impurity model, the ground state of which is computed using an impurity solver. The power of the method is thus limited by the complexity of the impurity model the solver can handle. Simulating realistic systems generally requires many correlated sites. By adapting the recently proposed adaptive sampling configuration interaction (ASCI) method as an impurity solver, we enable much more efficient zero-temperature DMFT simulations. The key feature of the ASCI method is that it selects only the most relevant Hilbert space degrees of freedom to describe the ground state. This reduces the numerical complexity of the calculation, which will allow us to pursue future DMFT simulations with more correlated impurity sites than in previous works. Here, we present the ASCI-DMFT method and example calculations on the one- and two-dimensional Hubbard models that exemplify its efficient convergence and timing properties. We show that the ASCI approach is several orders of magnitude faster than the current best published ground-state DMFT simulations, which allows us to study the bath discretization error in simulations with small clusters, as well as to address cluster sizes beyond the current state of the art. Our approach can also be adapted for other embedding methods such as density matrix embedding theory and self-energy embedding theory.
Collective Distribution of Mobile Loads for Optimal and Secure Operation of Power Systems

With the high penetration of Electric Vehicles (EVs), the number of public EV Charging Stations (EVCS) is also increasing significantly. Managing EVs, which are also known as mobile loads, is a critical issue from the power system point of view. This paper introduces a real-time power system optimization model for redistributing EVs onto the nearby EVCSs with two formulated objective functions. Those are reducing the active power losses in normal operation and mitigating transmission line congestions in contingency conditions. For this purpose, a service called the Collective Distribution of Mobile Loads (CDML) is introduced. This method comprises a power system optimization model that determines the optimal distribution of EVs, while considering the system condition, and a multiagent system for performing the CDML concept. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in terms of reductions in active power losses and in load shedding in both normal and contingency conditions, numerical results are obtained from a modified IEEE 14-bus system and from an actual smart grid testbed, reported, and analyzed.
Tying Ethics to Teamwork Training in a Minimodule

Most CS and engineering curricula require that students take ethics training and acquire competence in teamwork skills before graduation. Both ethics and teamwork are course objectives mandated by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET). However, ethics and teamwork are difficult to teach by regular STEM faculty. Lingard (2010) suggests that faculty may not have had much teamwork training themselves. Students can take ethics courses in other departments which may/not help the students to engage in moral reasoning or help them in considering societal implications of technologies they learn in CS or Engineering courses. Thus, there is a growing recognition of the need for a more integrative approach, such as to teach ethics across the curriculum (Pease and Baker, 2009) or embed ethics within the CS curriculum (Grosz et al, 2019). At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), we are pilot testing a short, integrative approach, i.e., a 4-class period minimodule, covering both ethics and teamwork, embedded in CS or ECE courses. It includes a short refresher on moral reasoning, examples of cooperative behavior in animals and student-led teamwork demonstrations. Using an andragogical approach we provide questions to guide discussions by student teams after viewing video lectures by renowned experts. Outside of class, student teams prepare teamwork demonstrations for the class. We report results and observations. We also report on an event in progress: the intercollegiate Ethics in Action Challenge --https://www.ub.edu/engineering/ece/news/127-ethics-in-action
A Szemerédi---Trotter Type Theorem in $$\mathbb {R}^4$$R4

We show that m points and n two-dimensional algebraic surfaces in $${\mathbb {R}}^4$$R4 can have at most $$O(m^{{k}/({2k-1})}n^{({2k-2})/({2k-1})}+m+n)$$O(mk/(2k-1)n(2k-2)/(2k-1)+m+n) incidences, provided that the algebraic surfaces behave like pseudoflats with k degrees of freedom, and that $$m\le n^{(2k+2)/3k}$$m≤n(2k+2)/3k. As a special case, we obtain a Szemeredi---Trotter type theorem for 2-planes in $${\mathbb {R}}^4$$R4, provided $$m\le n$$m≤n and the planes intersect transversely. As a further special case, we obtain a Szemeredi---Trotter type theorem for complex lines in $${\mathbb {C}}^2$$C2 with no restrictions on m and n (this theorem was originally proved by Toth using a different method). As a third special case, we obtain a Szemeredi---Trotter type theorem for complex unit circles in $${\mathbb {C}}^2$$C2. We obtain our results by combining several tools, including a two-level analogue of the discrete polynomial partitioning theorem and the crossing lemma.
EXTENDING CTF MODELING CAPABILITIES TO SFRs AND VALIDATION AGAINST SHRT TESTS

The utilization of liquid metals as coolants for fast reactors brings several economical and practical advantages that lead to a sustainable future for nuclear energy. Molten sodium is used as a coolant in Sodium Fast Reactors (SFRs). Sodium is relatively cheaper than other metal coolants. It requires lower pumping power, causes less neutron moderation and it is non-corrosive to the fuel cladding. The SFR hexagonal subassemblies are relatively smaller than Light Water Reactors (LWRs) subassemblies. The differences in the geometrical design of SFRs compared to LWRs lead to different physical behavior of the coolant. Several models and correlations particular to sodium were implemented in thermal-hydraulics (TH) computer codes in order to model the coolant behavior accurately. CTF is a subchannel TH code that was designed and validated for LWRs. In this work, the capabilities of the code were extended to SFRs by incorporating sodium coolant properties and correlations for friction factor, flow mixing coefficient and conduction heat transfer. The code was then validated against selected steady state data from the Experimental Breeder Reactor II Shutdown Heat Removal Tests SHRT-17 and SHRT-45R. CTF was used to simulate the instrumented subassemblies XX09 and XX10. The results demonstrate the capability of CTF to model SFRs. Code validation is currently being extended to the transient phases of the SHRT experiments.
"If this is what it's really like, maybe I better major in English": integrating realism into a sophomore software engineering course

In the Fall 1998, our sophomore computer science students took a new course called "Software Practice. " At this early stage in their academic career, the course gave them practical, realistic exposure to the process of creating large software systems in teams. Their previous CS1/CS2 experience focused on the development of C++ language proficiency skills on the Unix platform, with short, programming-in-the-small assignments reinforcing the "skill of the week." Much to the students' periodic frustration and anguish, the Software Practice class differed in most every way-having one, programming-in-the-large, full semester project on the Windows NT/Visual C++ platform that often forced them to independently research new programming techniques. Course evaluations indicate that the students found the course, with its stark view into the realism of software development, enlightening, highly valuable and fun.
Histamine antagonists: XI. Aerosolized antihistamine drugs in prevention of histamine bronchospasm in guinea pigs☆☆☆

Abstract 1. 1. Aerosols of antihistamine drugs are effective in the prevention of bronchospasm from histamine aerosols in guinea pigs. 2. 2. The evidence indicates that this preventive effect requires much less of the drug by aerosol than by injection. 3. 3. The duration of action of aerosols is considerably shorter than that by injection, averaging about sixty minutes, as compared to several hours. 4. 4. A comparative study of the findings on fourteen antihistamine drugs is presented. These results indicate that this method is a practical means of assaying the antihistaminic potency of a drug. This does not, of course, mean that the value is comparable necessarily to its antiallergic effectiveness. 5. 5. These findings constitute laboratory evidence for our clinical impression that antihistamine aerosols may be effective in asthma and give us encouragement to proceed with our clinical experimentation.
Potassium Ion-dependent Hydrolysis of Adenosine Triphosphate Induced by Nigericin in Mitochondria

K+ is required for the stimulation by the antibiotic nigericin of adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis in rat liver mitochondria. This action does not occur when K+ is replaced by other monovalent cations. It requires slightly hypotonic conditions and is not related to the swelling phenomena linked to the accumulation of K+ in mitochondria. ATPase is inhibited by small anion molecules to which the mitochondrial membrane is impermeable, less so if the anion is translocated inside the mitochondria. High concentrations of Rb+ or Na+ and low concentrations of Ca++ inhibit the ATPase stimulated by nigericin. The ATPase activity of submitochondrial sonic fragments, and of Racker's coupling factor F1, are not stimulated by nigericin. β-Hydroxybutyrate and succinate partially inhibit the hydrolysis of ATP stimulated by nigericin in K+ media. Neither glutamate, malate, pyruvate, nor α-ketoglutarate inhibits this enzymatic activity. The inhibition of ATPase by oxidizable substrates is ascribed to the reincorporation of the liberated inorganic orthophosphate into ADP by way of the phosphorylation linked to the oxidation of succinate and β-hydroxybutyrate. Low concentrations of nigericin partially inhibit the ATPase stimulated by uncoupling agents requiring the presence of alkali metal cations for their mechanism of action; the inhibition depends on the ionic environment of the mitochondria. Nigericin does not affect ATPase activities induced by agents with no alkali metal cation requirement. Dianemycin, an antibiotic with properties similar to nigericin regarding induced ion movement and spectra of respiratory inhibition, does not stimulate the hydrolysis of ATP in any of several media tried. The K+-dependent ATPase stimulated by nigericin appears not to be related to a translocation of alkali metal cations induced by the antibiotic. The possibility that the induction of this activity is related to the participation of a potassium-dependent step in the sequence of reactions leading to the synthesis of ATP in mitochondria is discussed.
Pedagogic Voicing: The Struggle for Participation in an Inclusive Classroom

Within inclusive education research, the call to foster participation stems from a generalized vision for promoting democratic practices within classrooms, prompting the concern for eliciting student “voices.” In this ethnographic study, I explore the utility of “voice” as a workable construct in securing participation within inclusive classrooms. Drawing on the concept of “pedagogic voice” (Madeline Arnot and Diane Reay 2007) that is premised on the ways pedagogic practices create particular kinds of identities, I examined the work of school staff and families in a first grade classroom, as they attempted to create the conditions for the emergence of student voices. Participants' differential positions within the school context clearly mediated the outcomes of their efforts. The importance of generative relationships in supporting voicing was also reinforced within the study, though its significance for students appeared to rest on its potential to secure their connectedness within the classroom community. [inclusive education, disability studies, participation, access, significant disability, families]
On Being a Hardliner on Issues of Race and Culture in Mathematics Education Research

DAVID W. STINSON is an associate professor of mathematics education in the Department of Middle and Secondary Education in the College of Education, at Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3978, Atlanta, GA, 30303; e-mail: dstinson@gsu.edu. His research interests include exploring socio-cultural, -historical, and -political aspects of mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning from a critical postmodern theoretical (and methodological) perspective. He is a cofounder and current editor-in-chief of the Journal of Urban Mathematics Education. EDITORIAL
Trends in hospital admissions and death rates for peptic ulcer in the United States from 1970 to 1978

Abstract During the period 1970–1978, admissions to short-term nonfederal hospitals in the U.S. for duodenal ulcer decreased by 43%, whereas admissions for gastric ulcer did not change significantly. The decline in admissions for duodenal ulcer was greatest for uncomplicated cases, less for those with hemorrhage, and least (and not significant) in those with perforation. During the period 1970–1977, U.S. Vital Statistics reports of deaths from peptic ulcer decreased 31%, with about equal declines in total deaths, those associated with hemorrhage, and those associated with perforation. The fall in death rate involved both gastric and duodenal ulcer in both men and women. The male/female ratio has been falling steadily, and now stands at about 1.2 for hospitalizations and about 1.5 for deaths. From 1970 to 1978 the percentage of persons over 60 yr of age rose from 14 to 15% in the U.S. population as a whole, from 23 to 29% in persons hospitalized for all causes, from 27 to 36% in those hospitalized for duodenal ulcer, and from 40 to 48% in those hospitalized for gastric ulcer.
Thrombin signalling and protease-activated receptors

How does the coagulation protease thrombin regulate cellular behaviour? The protease-activated receptors (PARs) provide one answer. In concert with the coagulation cascade, these receptors provide an elegant mechanism linking mechanical information in the form of tissue injury or vascular leakage to cellular responses. Roles for PARs are beginning to emerge in haemostasis and thrombosis, inflammation, and perhaps even blood vessel development.
The Utility of Tumor-specifically Internalizing Peptides for Targeted siRNA Delivery into Human Solid Tumors

Background Ribonucleotide reductase composed of the hRRM1 and hRRM2 subunits catalyzes the conversion of ribonucleotides to their corresponding deoxy forms for DNA replication. Anti-hRRM2 siRNA degrades hRRM2's mRNA and suppresses tumorigenesis. A Phase I clinical trial demonstrated its therapy potential. HN-1 represents a tumor-specifically internalizing peptide for targeted-drug delivery into human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and methods Internalization of peptide was monitored by fluorescence microscopy. The peptide-siRNA conjugate was chemically synthesized. The hRRM2 expression was monitored by western blot analysis. Results HN-1(TYR) (HN-1 with two N-terminally added tyrosines) was internalized by human head and neck or breast cancer cells. Anti-hRRM2 siRNA(R) (resistant to RNase degradation) was conjugated to HN-1(TYR) without compromising their properties. The treatment with HN-1(TYR)-anti-hRRM2 siRNA(R) partly suppressed the endogenously expressed hRRM2 in human breast cancer cells. Conclusion Our results establish the utility of tumor-specifically internalizing peptides for targeted siRNA delivery into human cancer cells.
Impact of Mass and Weight Distribution on Manual Wheelchair Propulsion Torque

Propulsion effort of manual wheelchairs, a major determinant of user mobility, is a function of human biomechanics and mechanical design. Human studies that investigate both variables simultaneously have resulted in largely inconsistent outcomes, motivating the implementation of a robotic propulsion system that characterizes the inherent mechanical performance of wheelchairs. This study investigates the impacts of mass and mass distribution on manual wheelchair propulsion by configuring an ultra-lightweight chair to two weights (12-kg and 17.6-kg) and two load distributions (70% and 55% on drive wheels). The propulsion torques of these four configurations were measured for a straight maneuver and a fixed-wheel turn, on both tile and carpet. Results indicated that increasing mass to 17.6-kg had the largest effect on straight acceleration, requiring 7.4% and 5.8% more torque on tile and carpet, respectively. Reducing the drive wheel load to 55% had the largest effect on steady-state straight motion and on both turning acceleration and steady-state turning; for tile and carpet, propulsion torque increased by 13.5% and 11.8%, 16.5% and 4.1%, 73% and 5.1%, respectively. These results demonstrate the robot's high sensitivity, and support the clinical importance of evaluating effects of wheelchair mass and axle position on propulsion effort across maneuvers and surfaces.
Interpreting ABF—a language for document construction

This paper describes an interpreter for ABF, a language for constructing legal documents. The ABF language defines both commands to develop documents and commands to manipulate those documents. The language has typical programming constructs for sequence, selection, and repetition but also allows the user other capabilities to aid in document construction; the user can modify the program while it is running (change the document while it is being processed), type the variables during the initial processing of a document, and then change the type during later processing, enter commands that require a change of context during the processing of a document, output a document with variables still undefined. A document is constructed using conditional and repeat statements and incorporation of other documents by reference. Data types include documents, strings, numbers, dollar amounts and logical values. Arrays can be formed for all types except documents. There are three forms of subprograms: documents can be incorporated by reference in other documents at any point at which a variable name is permitted; rules (subprocedures) for computing values can be attached to any variable; and alternate questions can be attached to variables in a similar manner. The ABF system queries the user for any values needed to complete a document; questions are generated from variable names.
Can the Binuclear Dinitrogen Complex [P2N2]Zr(μ-η2-N2)Zr[P2N2] Activate More Than One Hydrogen Molecule? A Theoretical Study

The reaction mechanisms of model complexes[p2n2]Zr(μ-η2-NNH)(μ-H)Zr[p2n2], B1 (A7), [p2n2](H)Zr(μ-η2-NNH)Zr[p2n2], B11 (A3), [p2n2]Zr(μ-η2-cis-HNNH)(μ-H)Zr(H)[p2n2], C1 (B3), [p2n2](H)Zr(μ-η2-cis-HNNH)Zr(H)[p2n2], C4 (B13), [p2n2](H)Zr(μ-η2-trans-HNNH)Zr (H)[p2n2], C7 (B21), where [p2n2] = [(PH3)(NH2)], with molecular hydrogen have been studied using density functional theory and compared with those for [p2n2]Zr(μ-η2-N2)Zr[p2n2], A1. The addition of a H2 molecule to B1 (A7) (i.e., the addition of the second H2 to A1) takes place with a 19.5 kcal/mol barrier, which is about 2 kcal/mol smaller than that for the first H2 addition A1 + H2 → A7 reaction. From B3, product of B1 + H2, the process proceeds via either channel I.a, the reverse reaction B3 → B1 + H2, or/and channel I.b, the dihydrogen elimination B3 → [p2n2]Zr(μ-η2-cis-HNNH)Zr[p2n2] (A15) + H2, with barriers of 11.7 and 21.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Since addition of the first H2 to A1 is known to occur at laboratory conditions, one predicts that the...
Reversible Metachromasy of Crystal Violet on Titanium Dioxide: A New Surface Photophysical Phenomenon

Crystal violet adsorbed on Degussa P-25 titanium dioxide, under certain conditions of dye loading and after evaporation of liquid solvent, exhibits a reversible color change from pink-violet to blue-violet when exposed to water vapor. The spectral changes, measured by reflectance spectroscopy, correspond to metachromasy of crystal violet that occurs in solution at different dye concentrations, due to aggregation of dye molecules. We propose a mechanism, reversible metachromasy, in which the extent of aggregation of the dye molecules in the surface water monolayers changes as water molecules adsorb or desorb. Specifically, as water adsorbs, the aggregates separate into monomers, and then as water desorbs, the molecules reaggregate.
Brain stem afferents to the festigial nucleus in the cat demonstrated by transport of horseradish peroxidase

Although retrograde and anterograde degeneration studies have provided important information concerning brain stem afferents to the fastigial nuclues (FN), these data may be incomplete and should be confirmed by axonal transport methods. Attempts were made to inject horseradish peroxidase (HRP) unilaterally into the FN in a series of adult cats. Animals were perfused with dextran and a fixative solution of paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M phospate buffer. Representataive sections were treated by the Graham and Karnovsky (1966) method. Selective HRp injections in one FN resulted in retrograde transport of the marker of Purkinje cells of the ipsilateral vermis and distinctive appendages of the contralateral medial accessory olivary (MAO) nucleus (nucleus β and the dorso-medial cell column). Retrograde transport of the label was found bilaterally in cells of the medial (MVN) and inferior (IVN) vestibular nuclei, in cell group x and in the nucleus prepositus (PP). Labeled vestibular neurons, most numerous in MVN, were identified in dorsal, caudal and lateral regions, with a slight ipsilateral preponderance. Only a few neurons in caudal, dorsal and lateral regions of th IVN were labeled and none of these included cells of group f. Labeled cells in the caudal third of PP were greatest ipsilaterally. Rostral and caudal injections of FN labeled smaller numbers of cells in MVN, IVN, cell group x and PP. HRP injections of FN and portions of lobules VIII and IX resulted in bilateral retrograde lableing of larger numbers of cells in MVN, IVN and cell group x, and ipsilateral labeling of cells in group y and the interstitial nucleus of the vestibular nerve. Injections of HRP into basal folia of lobules V and VI resulted in retrograde transport of the marker to cells of the medial and dorsal accessory olivary nuclei contralaterally, and to cells of the ipsilateral accessory cuneate nucleus. Transport of label injected into portions of the pyramis was detected in parts of the contralateral MAO and bilaterally in parts of the pontine and reticulotegmental nuclei This study suggests that the principal afferents of the fastigial nucleus arise from: (1) Purkinje cells of the ipsilateral vermis, (2) restricted portions of the contralateral MAO (nucleus s and dorsomedial cell column), (3) portions of the MVN and IVN (bilaterally) and (4) caudala parts of the PP. Secondary vestibular inputs to the fastigial nucleus probably are relayed mainly by cells in the cerebellar cortex.
Probing the Frequency and Wavevector Dependent Response of 3He Using Patterned Piezoelectric Transducers

Techniques for studying the combined temporal and spatial response of 3He are few in number. Here we describe, qualitatively, some strategies to probe single particle and collective responses in normal and superfluid 3He in a frequency and wave-vector specific manner with the goal of stimulating such experiments in the future.
In situ and laboratory studies of radiofrequency propagation through ice and implications for siting a large-scale Antarctic neutrino detector

Abstract We report on two studies of radiowave ice response, relevant to the construction of a large-scale, future ultra-high energy neutrino detector in Antarctica. We are specifically interested in the relative merits of South Pole as a detection site. First, using a bistatic radar system on the ice surface, we have studied radiofrequency reflections off internal layers in Antarctic ice at the South Pole. In contrast to nearly all previous measurements, our measurements are conducted exclusively in the time-domain. The total propagation time of ∼ns-duration, vertically broadcast radio signals, as a function of polarization axis in the horizontal plane, provides a direct probe of the geometry-dependence of the ice permittivity to depths of 1–2 km. Previous work has inferred birefringent asymmetries based on the elliptical polarization of signal returns at a fixed frequency as a function of depth. However, such polarization is not an unambiguous signature of birefringence, and could be due to anisotropic reflecting layers and/or Faraday rotation. We do not observe direct evidence for birefringent-induced effects at fractional levels less than 10 - 4 . Second, we have performed a laboratory study of microwave Faraday rotation through ice. Although expected to be small, (to our knowledge) there are no previous measurements of this parameter, which, if substantial, would tend to reduce the neutrino detection estimates for existing and planned experiments. Our results indicate that the signal rotation through 3 km of ice in the South Polar geomagnetic field corresponds to a de-polarization of less than 10% in transmitted power.
Enhancement of micro-grid dynamics in presence of wind units using Energy Capacitor Systems

This paper proposes an Energy Capacitor System (ECS) designed to enhance the dynamics of micro-grids in presence of wind generation units. The output power of wind units fluctuates due to continuous variations in wind speed. In a power system with high penetration of wind units - like a microgrid - this can considerably deteriorate the dynamics of the entire system. To study the negative impacts of high penetration of wind power on power system dynamics and compensation of this negative impact through ECS, the following tasks are undertaken in this paper. First, a micro grid test system is modeled using MATLAB Simulink software. Then, an ECS unit is designed to mitigate the negative effects caused by the wind unit due to wind speed fluctuations. Finally, the dynamics of the test system for a short-circuit fault is studied. The simulation results show that ECS units can effectively improve the dynamics of the system, thus compensating for negative effects of wind speed fluctuations (in normal steady state operation) and during/after a major short circuit fault.
Calculation of the circular dichroism of double-helical nucleic acids. III. Dependence of the results on the choice of wave functions for purines and pyrimidines

The circular dichroism of double-helical nucleic acids was calculated using three different sets of wave functions for the purine and pyrimidine chromophores. Different wave functions give qualitatively the same types of spectra. Quantitatively, the differences are very substantial. However, the dependence of calculated circular dichroism spectra on nucleic acid geometry and base composition is very similar for the three different sets of wave functions. Each set of wave functions could be used to reproduce some, but not all experimentally observed spectra. The geometries required to reproduce experimentally observed spectra consistently require double-helical geometries similar to the B or C forms of DNA.
Stroke in sickle cell disease

Abstract Stroke is a major cause of morbidity in sickle cell disease (SCD), especially in children. Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes may be encountered, and subclinical stroke is a common finding in children with SCD. In the majority of cases, infarctions are associated with occlusive thrombi involving the large arteries supplying the anterior cerebral circulation. A distinct form of intimal hyperplasia involving the large intracranial arteries is characteristically associated with SCD. The Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP) demonstrated the success of chronic transfusion therapy for primary stroke prevention in children identified to be at risk on screening. As a result of this landmark study, it is now recommended that transcranial Doppler be used to screen for stroke risk in all children with SCD between the ages of 2 and 16. Questions still remain about the mechanism of benefit of transfusion therapy and the optimal duration of therapy. Hydroxyurea and bone marrow transplantation continue to be evaluated as alternative therapies for stroke prevention. Recent paradigms suggest that activation of the coagulation and inflammatory systems in SCD may contribute to the pathophysiology of certain vaso-occlusive complications, although it is not known what role (if any) they may play in stroke.
Purification of the Type II and Type III isozymes of rat hexokinase, expressed in yeast.

C-terminally His-tagged versions of the Type II and Type III isozymes of rat hexokinase were expressed in Pichia pastoris and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, respectively. Milligram amounts of the homogeneous isozymes were readily obtained in good yield by chromatography on Ni-NTA columns. The specific activities were 133 +/- 4 and 76 +/- 3 u/mg for the purified Type II and Type III isozymes, respectively. The K(m)'s for glucose and ATP were in good agreement with values in the literature for the isozymes isolated from mammalian tissues. The Type III isozyme exhibited substrate inhibition at elevated levels of glucose, as previously observed for this isozyme isolated from mammalian tissue sources.
Action!: Student-Generated Videos in Social Work Education

Experiential learning is a vital aspect of social work education, particularly for teaching community practice. The literature, however, provides few examples of technology-based experiential assignments that educators can implement in their classrooms. This exploratory study examined an innovative student-generated video assignment developed for a social work community practice course. Thirty-seven former students spanning three distinct semesters completed an online survey of closed- and open-ended questions. Findings indicate the video assignment enhanced understanding of community practice and provided a unique diffusion factor. Participants appreciated how the video assignment differed from traditional assignments by offering opportunity for praxis, creativity, and acquisition of technological skills. Educators should note the challenges of student-generated videos to maximize their educational benefit and sustain student receptivity to such assignments. Teaching video-making skills has implications ...