cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quick Plastic Forming of aluminium alloys

Abstract: Quick Plastic Forming or QPF was developed as a high volume, hot blow forming process for making automobile closure panels from aluminum sheet. The chapter reviews the key drivers for developing the technology and identifies key differences between QPF and superplastic forming (SPF) technologies. The process is described in detail with a focus on heated die development, an important enabler for QPF. In addition, the material, lubricant, and modeling of the process are reviewed in detail.
Europe as Home and Host to Multinational Enterprise

Harm Schroter posed the problem: What is a “European enterprise” ? Has European integration increased the number of and/or changed the characteristics of European enterprise?1 To seek answers to these questions, it seemed useful to adopt as a handle for analysis an approach common in the study of multinational enterprise, that is to identify the home (where the firm is headquartered) and the host (where the firm does business outside the home), and to introduce a time dimension, comparing earlier periods of European history with the post-World War II years.
“The hook‐up”: How youth‐serving organizations facilitate network‐based social capital for urban youth of color

Young people of color residing in distressed urban contexts face challenges in accessing social capital that supports positive development and the transition to educational and employment opportunities. Youth-serving organizations play potentially important roles for youth participants to access and leverage networks. This ethnographic study draws on qualitative interviews, conducted with adolescents at a youth-serving organization based in East Oakland, California, to examine how network-based social capital is activated and sustained for and by urban Black and Latinx youth. We found that relationships with supportive adult staff at the organization put youth in contact with caring, trusted adults of color outside of their families who serve as role models for them. These adults provide loving accountability to young people, serving as critical forces in distressed and stigmatized communities. We also found that adult staff activate social leverage to garner various current and future educational and professional opportunities for the youth there. These unique opportunities serve to boost young people's current self-esteem and also to prime them to envision positive futures for themselves. Overall, these findings point to the importance of interpersonal pathways embedded within neighborhood institutions in the activation of network-based social capital.
Comparison of Laboratory Analytical Techniques for the Rapid Identification of Marine Plastics

Here we present a laboratory study that compares a range of approaches for plastics identification: XRF (X-ray fluorescence), ATR-FTIR (attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), NIR (near-infrared) reflectance spectroscopy, and LIBS (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy) as a key step in developing field-going plastics sensors for studying marine debris and microplastics.
Auditing Cloud-based Blockchain Accounting Systems

In this research, we refer to Nakamoto's seminal paper "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" (2008) to consider his proposed abstracted characteristics and how auditors could look at com...
An increasingly complex view of intestinal motility

Key studies published in 2019 shed new light on how complex motor patterns emerge from the functional organization of circuits in the enteric nervous system and, in turn, how extrinsic afferent neurons and common commensal microorganisms interface with these circuits to modulate intestinal motility.
Virus-like Particle-Based L2 Vaccines against HPVs: Where Are We Today?

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Ninety percent of infected individuals clear the infection within two years; however, in the remaining 10% of infected individuals, the infection(s) persists and ultimately leads to cancers (anogenital cancers and head and neck cancers) and genital warts. Fortunately, three prophylactic vaccines have been approved to protect against HPV infections. The most recent HPV vaccine, Gardasil-9 (a nonavalent vaccine), protects against seven HPV types associated with ~90% of cervical cancer and against two HPV types associated with ~90% genital warts with little cross-protection against non-vaccine HPV types. The current vaccines are based on virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from the major capsid protein, L1. The L1 protein is not conserved among HPV types. The minor capsid protein, L2, on the other hand, is highly conserved among HPV types and has been an alternative target antigen, for over two decades, to develop a broadly protective HPV vaccine. The L2 protein, unlike the L1, cannot form VLPs and as such, it is less immunogenic. This review summarizes current studies aimed at developing HPV L2 vaccines by multivalently displaying L2 peptides on VLPs derived from bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses. Recent data show that a monovalent HPV L1 VLP as well as bivalent MS2 VLPs displaying HPV L2 peptides (representing amino acids 17–36 and/or consensus amino acids 69–86) elicit robust broadly protective antibodies against diverse HPV types (6/11/16/18/26/31/33/34/35/39/43/44/45/51/52/53/56/58/59/66/68/73) associated with cancers and genital warts. Thus, VLP-based L2 vaccines look promising and may be favorable, in the near future, over current L1-based HPV vaccines and should be explored further.
A busy veteran with chronic insomnia disorder.

CITATIONDholakia S, Balderas C, Fields B. A busy veteran with chronic insomnia disorder. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(1):153–154.
Bricks: Extreme Active Learning for Introductory Programming

Bricks is an extreme active learning environment developed for teaching intro programming using learn-by-doing: students learn by writing code in class and getting instant feedback on their progress. In use for 6 years at UNC, Bricks has increased class attendance, student comprehension and mastery of content, in-class interactions, and student satisfaction. The demo shows "a day in the life" of a Bricks student, with the presenter as instructor. Audience members with laptops will be able to participate in the student coding and learning experience. In the Bricks pedagogy, the instructor writes code in-class to demonstrate basic language use, as well as algorithmic design thinking. Students "type what I type" and write the same code, for small credit. Every class period is almost entirely coding, and discussing the programs. Out of class, these in-class examples guide students in "do it yourself" programming. Bricks has a client/server web-based architecture. The demo runs both the student programming interface and the instructor dashboard. We illustrate tracking class progress as the audience writes student code, and we project some student work for class discussion and comparisons. We also show the on-line help system, where student questions about program problems are handled in real-time. A new feature called "crowd sourcing solutions" supports collaborative coding of larger programs. Starter code is distributed to students through the Bricks database, and student solution components are collected back for integration and testing. More details can be found in this paper: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~stotts/SIGCSE2020/BricksExLearn.pdf
Effective self-stretching of carpal ligament for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A double-blinded randomized controlled study

Abstract Introduction Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve entrapment syndrome worldwide. There are limited studies on the effectiveness of carpal ligament stretching on symptomatic and electrophysiologic outcomes. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of self-myofascial stretching of the carpal ligament on symptom outcomes and nerve conduction findings in persons with CTS. Study Design This is a prospective, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Methods Eighty-three participants diagnosed with median mononeuropathy across the wrist by nerve conduction study were randomized 1:1 to sham treatment or self-carpal ligament stretching. Participants were instructed to perform the self-treatment four times a day for six weeks. Seventeen participants in the sham treatment group and 19 participants in the carpal ligament stretching group completed the study. Pre- and post-treatment outcome measures included subjective complaints, strength, nerve conduction findings, and functional scores. Results Groups were balanced on age, sex, hand dominance, symptom duration, length of treatment, presence of nocturnal symptoms, and compliance with treatment. Even though the ANOVA analyses were inconclusive about group differences, explorative post hoc analyses revealed significant improvements in numbness (P = .011, Cohen's d = .53), tingling (P = .007, Cohen's d = .60), pinch strength (P = .007, Cohen's d = −.58), and symptom severity scale (P = .007, Cohen's d = .69) for the treatment group only. Conclusions The myofascial stretching of the carpal ligament showed statistically significant symptom improvement in persons with CTS. Larger comparative studies that include other modalities such as splinting should be performed to confirm the effectiveness of this treatment option.
The Emergence of Untrained Relations in Individuals with Autism and Other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: a Systematic Review of the Recent Literature

An increasing number of investigations have described various interventions to promote the emergence of derived responding within the relation of sameness for individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Systematic searches identified 53 studies published since 2013 that met inclusion criteria. These studies were analyzed according to their participants, assessment methods, experimental design, content taught, setting, teaching procedures, emergent responses, outcomes, and reliability measures. The quality of the studies was measured using the single-case analysis and research framework (SCARF). While the results of this review indicate that many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can demonstrate the emergence of untrained relations across a wide range of instructional content and teaching methodologies, the quality and rigor of the literature limits the conclusions that can be made, leading to recommendations for future research.
Synthesis of lead-free Cs4(Cd1-xMnx)Bi2Cl12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) layered double perovskite nanocrystals with controlled Mn-Mn coupling interaction.

Lead-free perovskites and their analogues have been extensively studied as a class of next-generation luminescent and optoelectronic materials. Herein, we report the synthesis of new colloidal Cs4M(ii)Bi2Cl12 (M(ii) = Cd, Mn) nanocrystals (NCs) with unique luminescence properties. The obtained Cs4M(ii)Bi2Cl12 NCs show a layered double perovskite (LDP) crystal structure with good particle stability. Density functional theory calculations show that both samples exhibit a wide, direct bandgap feature. Remarkably, the strong Mn-Mn coupling effect of the Cs4M(ii)Bi2Cl12 NCs results in an ultra-short Mn photoluminescence (PL) decay lifetime of around 10 μs, around two orders of magnitude faster than commonly observed Mn2+ dopant emission in NCs. Diluting the Mn2+ ion concentration through forming Cs4(Cd1-xMnx)Bi2Cl12 (0 < x < 1) alloyed LDP NCs leads to prolonged PL lifetimes and enhanced PL quantum yields. Our study provides the first synthetic example of Bi-based LDP colloidal NCs with potential for serving as a new category of stable lead-free perovskite-type materials for various applications.
A Tri-Band Cooled Receiver for Geodetic VLBI.

This paper shows a simultaneous tri-band (S: 2.2-2.7 GHz, X: 7.5-9 GHz and Ka: 28-33 GHz) low-noise cryogenic receiver for geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (geo-VLBI) which has been developed at Yebes Observatory laboratories in Spain. A special feature is that the whole receiver front-end is fully coolable down to cryogenic temperatures to minimize receiver noise. It was installed in the first radio telescope of the Red Atlantica de Estaciones Geodinamicas y Espaciales (RAEGE) project, which is located in Yebes Observatory, in the frame of the VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS). After this, the receiver was borrowed by the Norwegian Mapping Autorithy (NMA) for the commissioning of two VGOS radiotelescopes in Svalbard (Norway). A second identical receiver was built for the Ishioka VGOS station of the Geospatial Information Authority (GSI) of Japan, and a third one for the second RAEGE VGOS station, located in Santa Maria (Acores Archipelago, Portugal). The average receiver noise temperatures are 21, 23, and 25 Kelvin and the measured antenna efficiencies are 70%, 75%, and 60% in S-band, X-band, and Ka-band, respectively.
Conscious prone positioning in a pregnant patient with COVID-19 respiratory distress: A case report and review

Prone positioning has been used for decades to improve oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. With the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a growing emphasis on the utilization of prone positioning for non-intubated patients as a means of preventing invasive ventilation and improving outcomes. In this case report, a patient is presented with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in late pregnancy who experienced significant improvements in oxygenation with prone positioning. Additionally, the physiology of prone positioning is reviewed, as well as its mechanism and safety in pregnancy.
Protect thyself! How venture CEOs fight off dismissal by their boards

We examine how venture CEOs might protect themselves from dismissal by their boards. Using a qualitative single-case study approach and rare longitudinal data capturing a CEO’s perspectives and beh...
Techno-economic modeling of biomass gasification plants for small industries in Pakistan

This study presents a techno-economic assessment of biomass gasification plants for small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. The developed models are capable of assessing change in investment returns against variations in fuel type, sourcing radius, plant efficiency, and the plant capacity utilization. The case for a 100-kW plant with corn stover as the fuel, sourcing radius of 20 km, plant efficiency of 35%, and the capacity utilization factor for the first year of operation at 66% is presented. Total investment required for the plant is estimated to be US$56,882 with an IRR of 35.2%. Sensitivity analysis shows flexibility up to a sourcing radius of 27 km, plant efficiency of 27.5%, and capacity utilization of 55.6%. The study assesses investment outlays for 25 kW, 50 kW, 200 kW, 300 kW, and 500 kW as well. The plants achieve a breakeven at a maximum sourcing radius of 27 km at 36% plant efficiency or at a minimum plant efficiency of 27% at 18-km sourcing radius. Biomass fuel with the highest savings per kWh is estimated to be the corn stover whereas wheat straw offers the lowest savings. Unit electricity cost averages at US$0.12/kWh for externally sourced biomass and US$0.07/kWh for onsite biomass. The average required capital investment is estimated to be US$569/kW.
Introduction to Molar Behaviorism and Multiscale Behavior Analysis

The importance to behavior analysis of making contact with evolutionary theory cannot be overstated. Organisms and behavior go hand in hand, because they both enhance the fitness of the genes that promote them. The connection to evolution and natural selection allows a rethinking of the concept of reinforcement. Events impacting fitness, phylogenetically important events (PIEs), induce activities that enhance good (fitness-increasing) PIEs and mitigate bad (fitness-reducing) PIEs, and operant activities that produce or avoid the PIEs are induced along with the unconditionally induced activities. Events correlated with PIEs become proxies for them and induce some activities the PIEs themselves induce. A natural science of behavior may be based on three laws: allocation, induction, and covariance. A molar view of behavior, consistent with these laws, may apply at any time scale, from milliseconds to years. Activities are processes and may be defined at any time scale, according to their function.
On Fault-Tolerant Partition Dimension of Homogeneous Caterpillar Graphs

Metric-related parameters in graph theory have several applications in robotics, navigation, and chemical strata. An important such parameter is the partition dimension of graphs that plays an important role in engineering, computer science, and chemistry. In the context of chemical and pharmaceutical engineering, these parameters are used for unique representation of chemical compounds and their structural analysis. The structure of benzenoid hydrocarbon molecules is represented in the form of caterpillar trees and studied for various attributes including UV absorption spectrum, molecular susceptibility, anisotropy, and heat of atomization. Several classes of trees have been studied for partition dimension; however, in this regard, the advanced variant, the fault-tolerant partition dimension, remains to be explored. In this paper, we computed fault-tolerant partition dimension for homogeneous caterpillars , , and for , , and , respectively, and it is found to be constant. Further numerical examples and an application are furnished to elaborate the accuracy and significance of the work.
Adventures in Compressive Sensing Based MIMO Radar

While radar has been around for many decades, novel developments in recent years have led to significant breakthroughs as well as to exciting new mathematical challenges. In this chapter, we consider a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radar system. Using sparsity as a key ingredient of our approach and tools from compressive sensing, we derive a mathematical framework for the imaging of targets in the azimuth-range-Doppler domain. Our analysis comprises uniformly spaced linear arrays with random waveforms, as well as random sensor arrays with deterministic waveforms. We also derive results that do not require the “on-the-grid” assumption often used in compressive sensing radar. Algorithmic aspects and numerical simulations are presented as well.
The Absurdity of Atheism

There is perhaps no great philosopher who presents us, with as much confidence and assurance as Spinoza does, with what have appeared to many commentators, and must appear at first sight to most students, as stark contradictions. Yet they are all deduced with rigorous logic from first principles that Spinoza lays down as indubitable and which a critic would be hard put to controvert with any degree of plausibility. One’s first reaction on confronting these apparent conflicts is the conviction that something has gone wrong at some obscure point in the course of the reasoning, but closer examination and more careful consideration of Spinoza’s system and his explicit statements will, I believe, show that he remains consistent throughout, at least in most important respects, and that the conflicts in his doctrine are apparent only.
Continuous incisional infusion of local anesthetic in pediatric patients following open heart surgery.

Summary Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of a continuous subcutaneous local anesthetic (LA) infusion in pediatric patients following open heart surgery. Background: The use of a continuous LA infusion has been shown to be beneficial following adult cardiac surgery. To date there are no studies in the pediatric population. Methods/Materials: Using a prospective, randomized, and double blind design, we compared LA, either 0.25% levobupivacaine or bupivacaine (Treatment Group) to saline (Placebo Group) delivered subcutaneously via a continuous infusion for 72 h after open heart surgery in 72 patients. Requirements for postoperative analgesics and pain scores were recorded for 72 h and plasma levels of local anesthetic were measured. Secondary outcomes measures included time to first oral intake, time to first bowel movement, time to urinary catheter removal, length of stay, requirements for antiemetics and additional sedation. Results: Total morphine requirements over the first 24 h were less in the Treatment Group than the Placebo Group (0.05 mg·kg−1 vs 0.2 mg·kg−1, P = 0.007); this was true for all patient groups except those patients weighing less than 6.3 kg. The number of patients requiring no morphine was greater in the Treatment Group (7/35 vs 1/37, P = 0.02). The Treatment Group also received less midazolam, lorazepam, and ketorolac than the Placebo Group over 72 h due to the reduced clinical need for these agents in patients weighing less than 31 kg. There were no differences in secondary outcomes. Conclusions: A continuous incisional infusion of LA reduced postoperative analgesic requirement and sedative use in pediatric patients undergoing a median sternotomy incision. Dosed at a maximum rate of 0.4 mg·kg−1·h−1, a continuous incisional infusion of LA is effective and safe for up to 72 h, with plasma levels of local anesthetic well below the toxic threshold.
Versatile common instrumentation for optical detection of pH and dissolved oxygen

The recent trend toward use of disposable and miniature bioreactors requires the use of appropriate sensors. pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) are often measured using optical chemical sensors due to their small form factor and convenience in use. These sensors are often interrogated using a specialized opto-electronic transducer that is designed around the optical sensor. In this contribution, we are presenting a new class of opto-electronic transducers that are usable with several different chemical sensors without the need to switch the optics or hardware when changing the type of the chemical sensor. This allows flexibility closer to the lab-grade devices while the size is closer to a dedicated sensor. This versatile instrumentation is capable of seamlessly switching between the pH and DO measurement modes and is capable of auto recognition of the sensor type. The principle of ratiometric fluorescence is used for pH measurements, and that of fluorescence lifetime for DO measurements. An approach to obtain identical calibrations between several devices is also presented. The described hardware constitutes common instrumentation for measuring either pH or DO and has been tested in actual bioprocesses. It has been found adequate for continuous bioprocess monitoring.
Beyond Moral Stories

“Tell me a story, Grandma.” That little face with those wondrous sparkling eyes, expectantly looks up at me, waiting for the story to begin. Though I hardly pause before relating the words and images of my story, in that fleeting moment, the many stories and “talk-stories,” to use Kingston’s expression, that contributed to my moral life and the moral lives and character of others pass through my mind. It is these moral stories and talk-stories that I want to consider. But this is only a portion of my agenda, the primary part is to go beyond stories to question the relationships among stories, moral principles, and moral life.
Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Acutely Regulate Neuronal Sodium Channels through the Src Signaling Pathway

Growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-activated signaling pathways are well established regulators of neuronal growth and development, but whether these signals provide mechanisms for acute modulation of neuronal activity is just beginning to be addressed. We show in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells that acute application of ligands for both endogenous RTKs [trkA, basic FGF (bFGF) receptor, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor] and ectopically expressed platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors rapidly inhibits whole-cell sodium channel currents, coincident with a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of inactivation. Sodium channel inhibition by trkA and PDGF receptors is mutually occlusive, suggestive of a common signal transduction mechanism. Furthermore, specific inhibitors for trkA and PDGF RTK activities abrogate sodium channel inhibition in response to NGF and PDGF, respectively, showing that the intrinsic RTK activity of these receptors is necessary for sodium channel inhibition. Use of PDGF receptor mutants deficient for specific signaling activities demonstrated that this inhibition is dependent on RTK interaction with Src but not with other RTK-associated signaling molecules. Inhibition was also compromised in cells expressing dominant-negative Ras. These results suggest a possible mechanism for acute physiological actions of RTKs, and they indicate regulatory functions for Ras and Src that may complement the roles of these signaling proteins in long-term neuronal regulation.
The effect of the cannabinoid‐receptor antagonist, SR141716, on the early stage of kainate‐induced epileptogenesis in the adult rat

Pretreatment with the endocannabinoid-receptor antagonist, SR141716, has been reported to suppress the long-lasting hyperexcitability and increased seizure susceptibility present after 30 min of hyperthermia-induced convulsions in immature rats, an animal model of complex febrile seizures in children, which may be a cause of temporal lobe epilepsy. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that SR141716 6 suppresses epileptogenesis in the adult kainate model, an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Adult male rats (n = 35), implanted for electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, were treated with kainate. Immediately after the first acute electrographic seizure during kainate-induced status epilepticus, either vehicle or SR141716 (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. Chronic video-EEG data were collected for the first 2-week period after kainate-induced status epilepticus. More than one-half of both the vehicle- and drug-treated animals showed spontaneous recurrent seizures. Similarly, mean seizure frequency did not differ significantly for the drug- and vehicle-treated animals during the first 2 weeks (n = 9 and 8, respectively). Therefore, no significant differences were found between SR141716-treated and control animals during the first 2 weeks of epileptogenesis. These results suggest that the endocannabinoid-receptor antagonist, SR 141716, had no detectable effect on the early stages of epileptogenesis in the adult kainate model. We discuss several potential explanations for the differences in the effects of SR141716 in the adult-rat, kainate versus immature-rat, hyperthermia models.
The early entry of Al into cells of intact soybean roots : A comparison of three developmental root regions using secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging

Al localization was compared in three developmental regions of primary root of an Al-sensitive soybean (Glycine max) genotype using secondary ion mass spectrometry. In cryosections obtained after a 4-h exposure to 38 [mu]M [Al3+], Al had penetrated across the root and into the stele in all three regions. Although the greatest localized Al concentration was consistently at the root periphery, the majority of the Al in each region had accumulated in cortical cells. It was apparent that the secondary ion mass spectrometry 27Al+ mass signal was spread throughout the intracellular area and was not particularly intense in the cell wall. Inclusion of some cell wall in determinations of the Al levels across the root radius necessitated that these serve as minimal estimates for intracellular Al. Total accumulation of intracellular Al for each region was 60, 73, and 210 nmol g-1 fresh weight after 4 h, increasing with root development. Early metabolic responses to external Al, including those that have been reported deep inside the root and in mature regions, might result directly from intracellular Al. These responses might include ion transport events at the endodermis of mature roots or events associated with lateral root emergence, as well as events within the root tip.
Impact of Menopausal age on Size of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms and Their Outcomes With Endovascular Therapy (I2-4B)

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to determine unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) size, treatment complications and outcomes with endovascular therapy (ET) among pre-menopausal (PRM) and post-menopausal (POM) women. BACKGROUND: UIAs occur about twice more commonly in women compared to men. Prevalence increases more rapidly in women with age: 2.7[percnt] below 40 years, increases to 5.4[percnt] above age 50. The impact of menopausal age, if any, on UIAs and treatment outcomes with ET has not been well studied. We hypothesized that higher estrogen in pre-menopausal women may have a protective effect on presentation size and treatment outcomes. DESIGN/METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive female patients with UIAs treated with ET at our academic tertiary care center from 2008 through 2013. We recorded UIA characteristics, complications and outcomes and compared them among the group below the mean menopausal age of 51 years (in USA) and those at or above this age. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients were included. 30 patients were in the PRM group and 115 in the POM group. Mean age was 43 and 65 years in the PRM and POM groups. There was no difference in the prevalence of hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption between the two groups. Mean size of aneurysms in the PRM group was 10.2mm whereas that in the POM group was 8.8mm. There were fewer complications in the PRM group than in the POM group (1.5[percnt] and 4.0[percnt] respectively). At follow-up, recanalization was observed in 3/30 (10[percnt]) patients in the PRM group and 10/115(8.6[percnt]) patients in the POM group. 1 patient in the PRM group and 2 in the POM group required re-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Women under the mean menopausal age of 51 years with UIAs present with larger aneurysms but have fewer treatment complications and lesser recanalization with ET. Study Supported by: None Disclosure: Dr. Dharmadhikari has nothing to disclose. Dr. Atchaneeyasakul has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ajiboye has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ambekar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yavagal has received personal compensation for activities with Stryker, Covidien/evV3, and Aldagen/Cytomedix.
Molecular and developmental characterization of the heat shock cognate 4 gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract The Drosophila heat shock cognate gene 4 (hsc4), a member of the hsp70 gene family, encodes an abundant protein, hsc70, that is more similar to the constitutively expressed human protein than the Drosophila heat-inducible hsp70. Developmental expression revealed that hsc4 transcripts are enriched in cells active in endocytosis and those undergoing rapid growth and changes in shape.
Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor during corneal epithelial migration.

Purpose Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and related growth factors: transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, heprin-ding (HB)-EGF, and amphiregulin (AR), have been shown to stimulate events associated with epithelial wound repair. These growth factors function by binding to a common EGF receptor (EGFR), tyrosine kinase. We have used in vivo and organ culture wound-healing models to examine the kinetics and extent of EGFR activation during corneal epithelial wound repair and whether the epithelium itself produces EGFR ligands capable of stimulating the healing process. Methods In the in vivo model, 3-mm debridement wounds were made in rat corneas and allowed to heal in situ. Activation of EGFR was analyzed by 1) indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, 2) immunoprecipitation using anti-EGFR and anti-phosphotyrosine (anti-PT), and 3) binding-site localization using EGF-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). Relative levels of mRNA for EGF, TGF-alpha, HB-EGF, and AR were determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. To determine whether inhibiting EGFR activation slows epithelial migration, wounded corneas were allowed to heal in organ culture in the presence of tyrphostin AG1478 (0-50 microM), a specific inhibitor of EGFR kinase activity. Results In unwounded corneas, EGFR was localized in basal cells and appeared to be membranous. Within 1 hour after wounding, EGFR was no longer immunolocalized in the membranes of cells migrating into the wound area. EGF-FITC-binding assays indicated that EGFR ligands could penetrate all the way to the limbus. Immunoprecipitation showed that EGFR was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues within 30 minutes after wounding and that phosphorylation levels increased after wounding. Levels of mRNA for TGF-alpha, HBEGF, and AR all appeared to increase after wounding. In organ culture experiments, tyrphostin AG1478 inhibited migration rates in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions These data indicate that EGFR was activated during corneal epithelial wound healing in vivo. Furthermore, this activation appears to be a necessary component of the process, because inhibition of the EGFR signaling cascade significantly slowed migration rates.
Chronic depolarization prevents programmed death of sympathetic neurons in vitro but does not support growth: requirement for Ca2+ influx but not Trk activation

Continuous exposure of many types of neurons in cell culture to elevated concentrations of K+ greatly enhances their survival. This effect has been reported to be mediated by a sustained rise of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration caused by influx of Ca2+ through voltage-gated channels activated by K(+)-induced chronic depolarization. In this report we investigate the effects of elevated K+ on the programmed death that embryonic rat sympathetic neurons undergo in culture when deprived of NGF. Elevated K+ in the culture medium did not significantly prevent death of NGF-deprived cells until after the third day following plating of embryonic day 21 neurons. On the fifth day after plating, incrementally increasing K+ concentrations in the culture medium from 5 to 100 mM caused chronic depolarization of neurons and had a biphasic effect on survival of NGF-deprived cells. Enhanced survival was steeply related to membrane potential, increasing from no enhanced survival in cells held at potentials between -51 and -34 mV to 90-100% of control survival at about -21 mV. At potentials positive to -21 mV, survival decreased. Associated with the chronic depolarization was a sustained rise of steady-state free Ca2+ concentration that showed a biphasic relationship to membrane potential roughly similar to that exhibited by survival. Steady-state Ca2+ concentration increased with increasingly lower membrane potentials to a peak at about -23 mV (to approximately 240 nM from approximately 40 nM at about -51 mV) and then decreased at more positive potentials. The elevation of intracellular Ca2+ was largely blocked by dihydropyridine and phenylalkylamine Ca2+ channel antagonists and was potentiated by a dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel agonist. Neither the rise of Ca2+, or survival was affected by the Ca2+ channel antagonist, omega-conotoxin. Therefore, the Ca2+ elevation was probably caused by Ca2+ influx through L-type, but not N-type, channels. Antagonists of L channels blocked both survival and the sustained increase of steady-state free Ca2+ at similar concentrations, suggesting that the relevant factor determining survival of depolarized cells was Ca2+ influx rather than some other effect of depolarization. Surprisingly, however, there was no clear correlation between the sustained rise of Ca2+ and survival. Some membrane potentials that induced similar increases of Ca2+ concentration produced widely different levels of survival. While chronic depolarization promoted survival of neurons in the absence of NGF, cells supported in this manner showed little growth as measured by neurite extension, total cellular protein, and mean somal diameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effects of Evidence Withholding and a Defendant'S Prior Record on Juridic Decisions

Summary One hundred thirty-two male and female undergraduates served as jurors in a simulated trial in which defendants with varied legal histories (i.e., a previous conviction, a previous acquittal, or no record) either gave the appearance of withholding evidence while testifying or answered all questions in a straightforward manner. As expected, defendants who appeared to withhold evidence were judged more guilty, more deserving of conviction, and of poorer character than their counterparts who did not give the appearance of withholding evidence. However, the defendant's prior legal history did not affect jurors' decisions about the defendant's innocence or guilt. These findings suggest that the act of the withholding evidence in the courtroom is such a powerful piece of “extralegal” information that it may overwhelm any influence the defendant's prior legal history might otherwise have had.
Effect of static uniaxial stress on the Raman spectrum of silicon

Abstract We have performed the first experimental investigation of the effects of static uniaxial stress on the frequency of the q ≈ 0 optical phonons in a diamond-type crystal. Application of uniaxial stress along [001] or [111] is found to cause splittings and shifts of the Raman peaks of the q ≈ 0 triply degenerate optical phonons. From the observed splittings we have obtained experimental values for the phenomenological coefficients which describe the changes in the ‘spring constant’ of these phonons with strain. Our results are in reasonable agreement with lattice dynamical theory.
The characterization of soybean varieties by fluorescence spectroscopy

Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to differentiate between β-conglycinin (βC) and glycinin (G) fractions that were isolated from four food grade soybean varieties (Glycine max var. K1430, Hutcheson, K93-90-29, and KS4997) grown in the same location. The protein fractions were discriminated by using spectroscopic tryptophan fluorescence emission and synchronous scanning techniques that took advantage of the sensitivity of the chromophore to changes in the protein environment. The relative intensities of the βC and glycinin fluorescence ranged from 1.00 to 1.30 and 1.00 to 1.31 respectively. The intensities of the βC and glycinin synchronous fluorescence ranged from 1.00 to 1.45 and 1.00 to 1.30 respectively. The spectroscopic method proved to be an effective technique to differentiate between different soybean varieties.
Verbal Explanations Given by Science Teachers: Their Nature and Implications.

The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of explanations used by science teachers in junior high school classrooms. Studies on explanation in education, philosophy of science, and everyday discourse were consulted. Twenty public school teachers participated in the study. The analysis was based on observations of 40 class periods during which the classroom discourse was audiotaped and later transcribed. Using the constant comparative method in analyzing the transcripts, 10 types of explanations were generated. These explanations were labeled analogical, anthropomorphic, functional, genetic, mechanical, metaphysical, practical, rational, tautological, and teleological. These 10 types were conceptually related to one another by subsuming them under more encompassing literature-based categories.
The role of the renin-angiotensin system in cholesterol and puromycin mediated renal injury.

ABSTRACT Background Puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephropathy is a widely studied model of glomerular sclerosis (GS) in the rat, and cholesterol feeding exacerbates the injury induced by PAN. The importance of the interaction of angiotensin II (Ang II) with the AT 2 receptor is unclear. We investigated the role of the renin-angiotensin system, particularly with regard to AT 1 and AT 2 receptor dynamics, in PAN and cholesterol-mediated GS. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were given a 4% cholesterol diet (group II), subcutaneous PAN (group III), or a 4% cholesterol diet and PAN (group IV) and compared with a control group given PAN vehicle (group I). After 16 weeks, kidneys were harvested and tissue Ang II concentration, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and ACE, AT 1 , and AT 2 mRNA levels were determined. Results Compared with control rats, proteinuria was significantly higher in groups II to IV. Kidney ACE activity and ACE mRNA levels in groups III and IV were 2- and 3-fold higher than in groups I and II, respectively. Kidney Ang II concentration also was increased in the experimental groups. Whereas kidney AT 1 mRNA was significantly lower in groups III and IV, kidney AT 2 mRNA was significantly increased in groups II to IV. Conclusion In these experimental models of GS, there is significant activation of the tissue-based renin-angiotensin system. Puromycin with and without cholesterol decreased the AT 1 receptor mRNA and increased the AT 2 receptor mRNA. Up-regulation of AT 2 receptors may be important in ameliorating the proliferative effects of Ang II, which presumably occur through the AT 1 receptor.
Range-wide Wetland Associations of the King Rail: A Multi-scale Approach

King Rail populations have declined and identifying wetland features that influence King Rail occupancy can help prevent further population declines. We integrated continent-wide marsh bird survey data with spatial wetland data from the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) to examine wetland features that influenced King Rail occupancy throughout the species’ range. We analyzed wetland data at 7 spatial scales to examine the scale(s) at which 68 wetland features were most strongly related to King Rail occupancy. Occupancy was most strongly associated with estuarine features and brackish and tidal saltwater regimes. King Rail occupancy was positively associated with emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands and negatively associated with forested wetlands. The best spatial scale for assessing King Rail occupancy differed among wetland features; we could not identify one spatial scale (among all wetland features) that best explained variation in occupancy. Future research on King Rail habitat that includes multiple spatial scales is more likely to identify the suite of features that influence occupancy. Our results indicate that NWI data may be useful for predicting occupancy based on broad habitat features across the King Rail’s range, which may help inform management decisions for this and other wetland-dependent birds.
Teardrop sign: echocardiographic features in cardiac herniation.

Abstract Cardiac herniation through an acquired pericardial defect is potentially fatal. Typically, symptoms manifest within days of a surgical procedure. 1 We describe a patient with late ventricular herniation after surgical formation of an apical pericardial window. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1998;11:74–6.)
A PTAS for the chance-constrained knapsack problem with random item sizes

We consider a stochastic knapsack problem where each item has a known profit but a random size that is normally distributed independent of other items. The goal is to select a profit maximizing set of items such that the probability of the total size exceeding the knapsack bound is at most a given threshold. We present a Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS) for the problem via a parametric LP reformulation that efficiently computes a solution satisfying the chance constraint strictly and achieving near-optimal profit.
Morphological variation of hypaxial musculature in salamanders (Lissamphibia: caudata).

Despite the acknowledged importance of the locomotory and respiratory functions associated with hypaxial musculature in salamanders, variation in gross morphology of this musculature has not been documented or evaluated within a phylogenetic or ecological context. In this study, we characterize and quantify the morphological variation of lateral hypaxial muscles using phylogenetically and ecologically diverse salamander species from eight families: Ambystomatidae (Ambystoma tigrinum), Amphiumidae (Amphiuma tridactylum), Cryptobranchidae (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), Dicamptodontidae (Dicamptodon sp.), Plethodontidae (Gyrinophilus porphy- riticus), Proteidae (Necturus maculosus), Salamandridae (Pachytriton sp.), and Sirenidae (Siren lacertina). For the lateral hypaxial musculature, we document 1) the presence or absence of muscle layers, 2) the muscle fiber angles of layers at mid-trunk, and 3) the relative dorsoventral positions and cross-sectional areas of muscle layers. Combinations of two, three, or four layers are observed. However, all species retain at least two layers with opposing fiber angles. The number of layers and the presence or absence of layers vary within species (Necturus maculosus and Siren lacertina), within genera (e.g., Triturus), and within families. No phylogenetic pattern in the number of layers can be detected with a family-level phylogeny. Fiber angle variation of hypaxial muscles is considerable: fiber angles of the M. obliquus externus range from 20-80°; M. obliquus internus, 14-34°; M. transversus abdominis, 58-80° (acute angles measured relative to the horizontal septum). Hypaxial musculature comprises 17-37% of total trunk cross-sectional area. Aquatic salamanders show relatively larger total cross-sectional hypaxial area than salamanders that are primarily terrestrial. J. Morphol. 241:153- 164, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The effects of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy on testicular function in men undergoing treatment for soft tissue sarcoma

Testicular function was studied in 26 men with sarcoma who received adjuvant treatment with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high-dose methotrexate (with or without radiotherapy). Testicular size, sperm output, and serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were assessed after treatment. Five of 17 men who received chemotherapy or chemotherapy with radiotherapy to the neck, arm, chest, or leg, had normal testicular function. Eight of the remaining 12 men who provided ejaculates were oligospermic or azoospermic and serum FSH was increased threefold and LH twofold; testosterone levels were normal. In the five men with normal testicular function, FSH was increased fourfold during therapy but returned to normal six to 21 months after treatment. In men less than 40 years old, the mean FSH was less than that of men over 40 years of age (P . to 0.05), suggesting that recovery from the injury was age-related. By contrast, all nine men who received chemotherapy plus radiotherapy to the abdomen or thigh had decreased testicular size, azoospermia, fourfold increase in FSH, and twofold increase in LH levels; but testosterone concentration was normal. These data increase in FSH, and reversible testicular injury occurs after treatment with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high-dose methotrexate; recovery is age-related. However,more » these agents in combination with use of adjuvant radiotherapy to the thigh or abdomen may produce permanent testicular injury even in young patients.« less