cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-Platform Application Development Using AXIOM as an Agile Model-Driven Approach

The development and maintenance of cross-platform mobile applications is expensive. Two approaches for reducing this cost are model-driven engineering (MDE) and Agile development. In this paper, we present AXIOM, a model-driven approach for developing cross-platform mobile applications in ways that also support Agile principles. Our approach uses a domain specific language (DSL) for defining platform-independent models (PIM) of mobile applications. AXIOM defines a multi-phase, customizable transformation process to convert platform-independent models into native applications for target mobile platforms. Our approach could significantly reduce development time and cost while increasing the quality of mobile applications. A prototype tool has been developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach. The preliminary findings are promising and show significant gains in development productivity.
The Richness of Inner Experience: Relating Styles of Daydreaming to Creative Processes

Psychologists have long hypothesized that daydreaming (i.e., engaging in stimulus-independent, task-unrelated thoughts and images) may facilitate creativity, but evidence for this hypothesis has been mixed. We propose that, to fully understand the relationship between daydreaming and creativity, it is essential to distinguish between different creative processes as well as between alternative styles of daydreaming. A prominent distinction in creativity research is that between analytic problem solving, which involves incremental and largely conscious processes, and insight, which is characterized by the spontaneity with which an idea springs to mind. In this aspect, insight resembles daydreaming. Indeed, recent evidence has linked daydreaming to creative performance. But like creativity, daydreaming is a multifaceted concept. Daydreams vary in style and content, a fact that is receiving little attention in contemporary research. Not all kinds of daydreaming are likely to have the same effects on creativity. We discuss different factors prevalent in people's daydreaming, such as mood, attentional focus, and intentionality, and consider how these factors may be related to creative processes. We further discuss implications for ways to enhance creativity through deliberate daydreaming practice.
Curcumin and pancreatic cancer: Phase II clinical trial experience

4599 Background: Pancreatic cancer is virtually always lethal, and the only FDA-approved therapies–gemcitabine and erlotinib–produce objective responses in less than 10% of patients. Curcumin (dife...
Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 promotes survival of human breast cancer cells and the growth of xenograft tumors

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are highly aggressive and grow in response to sex steroid hormones despite lacking expression of the classical estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) receptors. Since P4 receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) is expressed in breast cancer tumors and is known to mediate P4-induced cell survival, this study was designed to determine the expression of PGRMC1 in TNBC tumors and the involvement of PGRMC1 in regulating proliferation and survival of TNBC cells in vitro and the growth of TNBC tumors in vivo. For the latter studies, the MDA-MB-231 (MDA) cell line derived from TNBC was used. These cells express PGRMC1 but lack expression of the classical P4 receptor. A lentiviral-based shRNA approach was used to generate a stably transfected PGRMC1-deplete MDA line for comparison to the PGRMC1-intact MDA line. The present studies demonstrate that PGRMC1: 1) is expressed in TNBC cells; 2) mediates the ability of P4 to suppress TNBC cell mitosis in vitro; 3) is required for P4 to reduce the apoptotic effects of doxorubicin in vitro; and 4) facilitates TNBC tumor formation and growth in vivo. Taken together, these findings indicate that PGRMC1 plays an important role in regulating the growth and survival of TNBC cells in vitro and ultimately in the formation and development of these tumors in vivo. Thus, PGRMC1 may be a therapeutic target for TNBCs.
Dynamic Frailty Count Process in Insurance: Estimation, Pricing and Forecasting

This paper studies count processes in Insurance, in which we allow the underlying risk factor to be partially unobservable and potentially time-varying. We propose a Poisson model with a stochastic intensity, or dynamic frailty process. It is based on an autoregressive gamma process, which generalizes the standard Poisson model with static Gamma frailty. The resulting model allows for closed form expression for the posterior Bayes (linear or non-linear) premium, without using approximation methods. Moreover the estimation and forecasting can be conducted within the same framework in a rather efficient way. A numerical example for car insurance illustrates the ability of the model to capture the duration-dependent, non-linear impact of past claims on future ones and the improvement of the Bayes pricing method compared to the linear credibility approach.
Clinical analysis of computer tomography scan using for preterm hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy

Objective To discuss the value of computer tomography (CT) scan for diagnosis and prognosis of preterm hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).Methods Two hundred fifty-one preterm infants with hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy were given CT scan checking at two weeks postnatal, 40 week gestation age (GA), and 2 months postnatal, respectively.Results CT scan of the preterm infants within 2 week postnatal demonstrated that about 81%(35/43) of babies whose GA32 week appeared severe hypodensity of which the incident with and without asphyxia were 83% and 80%, respectively. For those 32-34 weeks in GA, the incidence of CT scan severe hypo density was only 12%(7/58), with 10% and 13% in with and without asphyxia respectively. There was no significant difference between asphyxia and non-asphyxia groups. But, for those preterm whose GA older than 34 weeks, the incidence of severe hypodensity was 20%(31/150), with and without asphyxia was 38% and 15%, respectively ,which was significantly different(χ 2=8.27,P0.05). One hundend and seventy-seven of 251 case of 40week in GA(70%) appeared hypodensity(18Hu) of brain white matter. Of 25 case whose CT scan didn′t show wide periventricalar leukemia (PVL) or apparent distention of ventricles, 22 case(88%) the score of Development Quito(DQ) ≥85 at six to eight month old.Conclusion It is difficult how to diagnose preterm HIE, which should be done by combining clinical manifestations and abnormal delivery history. CT scan at 40 week in GA is useful for deciding prognosis. It is necessary to enhancing treating and following up after neonatal phase.
Analysis on Rice Quality Traits of Regional Trial

21 rice strain of the first accumulated temperature zone of Heilongjiang province which participated in regional test in 2010 were selected,each rice character qualified rate of whether reached the first good quality rice standard of ministry,relativities between quality properties and relativities between quality properties and comprehensive evaluation were analyzed.The result showed that qualified rate of the first good quality rice standard of state ministry was low including rice chalkiness degree,rice length and amylose of test varieties.Thus,breeding rice variety with no chalkiness,low amount of amylose and long rice type was the target in future.
Low-Cost Microfluidic Arrays for Protein-Based Cancer Diagnostics Using ECL Detection

Recent research has shown that high sensitivity and good accuracy is possible to achieve using ECL and other detection approaches.
Bloom’s dichotomous key: a new tool for evaluating the cognitive difficulty of assessments

one of the more widely used tools to both inform course design and measure expert-like skills is Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives for the cognitive domain ([2][1], [13][2], [22][3]). This tool divides assessment of cognitive skills into six different levels: knowledge/remember,
Naturalistic Problems with Substance

This chapter argues that a neo-Aristotelian account of substance faces challenges from the natural sciences. I consider Lowe’s account of substances as being categorized as either material bodies or living organisms. To assess these two categories of substances, I consider developments from physics (esp., quantum field theory), and biology (esp., the evolutionary extended synthesis).
A Guide for Using Mechanical Stimulation to Enhance Tissue-Engineered Articular Cartilage Properties

The use of tissue-engineered articular cartilage (TEAC) constructs has the potential to become a powerful treatment option for cartilage lesions resulting from trauma or early stages of pathology. Although fundamental tissue-engineering strategies based on the use of scaffolds, cells, and signals have been developed, techniques that lead to biomimetic AC constructs that can be translated to in vivo use are yet to be fully confirmed. Mechanical stimulation during tissue culture can be an effective strategy to enhance the mechanical, structural, and cellular properties of tissue-engineered constructs toward mimicking those of native AC. This review focuses on the use of mechanical stimulation to attain and enhance the properties of AC constructs needed to translate these implants to the clinic. In vivo, mechanical loading at maximal and supramaximal physiological levels has been shown to be detrimental to AC through the development of degenerative changes. In contrast, multiple studies have revealed that during culture, mechanical stimulation within narrow ranges of magnitude and duration can produce anisotropic, mechanically robust AC constructs with high cellular viability. Significant progress has been made in evaluating a variety of mechanical stimulation techniques on TEAC, either alone or in combination with other stimuli. These advancements include determining and optimizing efficacious loading parameters (e.g., duration and frequency) to yield improvements in construct design criteria, such as collagen II content, compressive stiffness, cell viability, and fiber organization. With the advancement of mechanical stimulation as a potent strategy in AC tissue engineering, a compendium detailing the results achievable by various stimulus regimens would be of great use for researchers in academia and industry. The objective is to list the qualitative and quantitative effects that can be attained when direct compression, hydrostatic pressure, shear, and tensile loading are used to tissue-engineer AC. Our goal is to provide a practical guide to their use and optimization of loading parameters. For each loading condition, we will also present and discuss benefits and limitations of bioreactor configurations that have been used. The intent is for this review to serve as a reference for including mechanical stimulation strategies as part of AC construct culture regimens.
The Effect of Dietary Choline on Brain Phospholipid Content

Considerable interest in dietary choline was generated following the demonstration that it could increase brain acetylcholine (Cohen and Wurtman, 1975). However, the variability of this effect and its small magnitude have led to questions about the mechanism of choline action. In addition to its effects upon acetylcholine synthesis, choline is a phospholipid precursor, and may also act as a weak cholinergic agonist (Krnjevic and Reinhardt, 1979). Despite the controversy regarding the effect of choline on acetylcholine synthesis, choline may be clinically beneficial in treating those conditions which are hypochol inergic.
Power, Work, and Energy

We begin here by discussing the notions of power and work. Subsequently,we make these ideas more precise by defining the mechanical power of a force and, from this, the work done by the force during the motion of a particle. Next, the work-energy theorem \( \dot T = {\bf F} \cdot {\bf v} \) is derived from the balance of linear momentum. It is then appropriate to discuss conservative forces, and we spend some added time discussing the potential energies of gravitational and spring forces.With these preliminaries aside, energy conservation is discussed. Finally, some examples are presented that show how all of these ideas are used.
Religion and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Objectives: To determine whether cardiovascular-disease risk-factor profiles of majority-church members differ from those of non-church members we examined a large population-based random sample. Methods: Data from the two cross-sectional surveys of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program conducted in 1981–82 (n = 2442) and 1983–84 (n = 2799) were evaluated. Trained interviewers collected physiological measures including height, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a small blood sample (for total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein). Smoking, exercise, sociodemographics, and church membership were determined by self-report. Results: Church members were older, more likely to be female, Portuguese, married, have more people living in their households, and were also more likely to be greater than 20% overweight. Forty-eight percent of church members reported never having smoked cigarettes compared to 35.4% of non-church members. Differences in systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol were attributable to age, sex, and ethnicity. Conclusions: Aside from cigarette-smoking status and body-mass index, the risk profile of the two groups was not different, indicating that health-promotion interventions geared to the general population may not need to be tailored too extensively for members of religious organizations based on health status. On the other hand, the demographic differences and easy access to entire families may require more attention.
Generalizability of Footwear Traction Performance across Flooring and Contaminant Conditions.

This study investigates the correlations between available coefficients-of-friction (ACOF) of 17 work shoes across different flooring and contaminant conditions. Five floorings (two vinyl tiles and...
Two new records of Katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalinae) from the Dominican Republic, Hispaniola

The conocephaline katydids Erechthis gundlachi Bolivar, 1888 and Pyrgocorypha uncinata (Harris, 1841) are recorded for the first time from the Dominican Republic and the island of Hispaniola. Both species were previously known from Cuba, although P. uncinata is also distributed in the southeastern United States.
Health care innovations across practice and academia: A theoretical framework.

Abstract Background An innovation scholarly interest group used the Jobs to Be Done Theory from the business literature to provide insight into the solution-focused progress that nurses are trying to make in challenging situations. Purpose This article presents a theoretical framework for understanding the progress nurses are trying to make through health care innovations across both practice and academic environments. Method This was a qualitative descriptive study using directed content analysis. We used the Jobs to Be Done Theory to guide the development of the semistructured questionnaire and the interpretation of findings. Findings A theoretical framework of nursing innovations was derived to summarize and visually display the pathways and linkages of challenges, innovations, and impact domains of nursing innovations. Situations and opportunities arise within the context of interconnectedness and can lead to health care innovations in care delivery, patient care interventions, role transitions, research and translational methods, communication and collaboration, technology and data, teaching methods, and processes to improve care. Discussion This theoretical framework offers insight into the dynamic interactions of academic-practice partnerships for innovation. Workplace situations are interconnected and can result in needed innovations designed to impact care delivery.
Beyond Jewish Identity: edited by Jon A. Levisohn and Ari Y. Kelman (2019). Academic Studies Press.

Beyond Jewish Identity, edited by Jon A. Levisohn and Ari Y. Kelman (2019). Academic Studies Press. We still talk about “Jewish identity” in American Jewish life, but in the social sciences in rece...
A Survey of Optical Information Processing in Some Advanced Data Processing Applications

The state-of-the-art within the information processing industry is reviewed and a comparison made with that of optical approaches to define those areas where the latter may play a role. As a case in point, the various elements of the automated office are examined from the point-of-view of pinpointing those areas where optical approaches might displace existing technologies. Since these technologies present a moving target, new candidates cannot enter the marketplace, unless they offer significant price and/or performance advantages. It is concluded that optical technologies have at best a negligible chance of entering the storage marketplace in the next decade and then only at the very high end. However, they have a more significant opportunity for success in communications, and they have all but arrived in input and output devices.
Cyber-Attack Detection in Socio-Technical Transportation Systems Exploiting Redundancies Between Physical and Social Data.

Cyber-physical-social connectivity is a key element in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) due to the ever-increasing interaction between human users and technological systems. Such connectivity translates the ITSs into dynamical systems of socio-technical nature. Exploiting this socio-technical feature to our advantage, we propose a cyber-attack detection scheme for ITSs that focuses on cyber-attacks on freeway traffic infrastructure. The proposed scheme combines two parallel macroscopic traffic model-based Partial Differential Equation (PDE) filters whose output residuals are compared to make decision on attack occurrences. One of the filters utilizes physical (vehicle/infrastructure) sensor data as feedback whereas the other utilizes social data from human users' mobile devices as feedback. The Social Data-based Filter is aided by a fake data isolator and a social signal processor that translates the social information into usable feedback signals. Mathematical convergence properties are analyzed for the filters using Lyapunov's stability theory. Lastly, we validate our proposed scheme by presenting simulation results.
Case Report: Novel Dietary Supplementation Associated With Kidney Recovery and Reduction in Proteinuria in a Dialysis Dependent Patient Secondary to Steroid Resistant Minimal Change Disease.

Minimal change disease (MCD) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome worldwide. For decades, the foundation of the treatment has been corticosteroids. However, relapse rate is high and up to 40% of patients develop frequent relapsing/steroid dependent course (1) and one third become steroid resistant. This requires treatment with repeated courses of corticosteroids, and second and third line immunomodulators increasing the incidence of drug related adverse effects. More recently, there have been reports of a very small subset of Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) patients who are initially steroid sensitive and later become secondarily steroid resistant (2). The disease course in this small subset is often protracted leading ultimately to end stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Unfortunately, patients with this disease course do not do well post transplantation because 80% of them will develop disease recurrence that will ultimately lead to graft failure (3,4). Few approaches have been tried over many years to reduce the frequency of relapses, and steroid dependence and there is absolutely no therapeutic intervention for patients who develop secondary steroid resistance. Nonetheless, their therapeutic index is low, evidencing the need of a safer complementary treatment. Several hypotheses, including an oxidative stress-mediated mechanism, and immune dysregulation have been proposed to date to explain the underlying mechanism of Minimal Change Disease (MCD) but its specific etiology remains elusive. Here, we report a case of a 54-year-old man with steroid and cyclosporine resistant MCD. The patient rapidly progressed to end stage kidney disease requiring initiation of chronic dialysis. Intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN), albumin infusion along with a proprietary dietary supplement, as part of the supportive therapy, led to kidney function recovery and complete remission of MCD without relapses.
SMARCB1(INI1)-deficient undifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features of anorectal origin

Abstract Background SMARCB1 (INI1) mutations are often associated with primary soft tissue tumors, though are starting to be recognized as driving mutations in carcinomas of the gastrointestinal tract, often associated with undifferentiated and/or rhabdoid features and extremely poor prognosis. We detail the first case of a SMARCB1-deficient undifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features arising in the anorectal canal and document response to palliative chemoradiation therapy. Case report A 34-yr old pregnant female presented with a large anorectal canal mass and concurrent pelvic and inguinal lymph node involvement. Biopsy revealed tumor cells with high-grade rhabdoid morphology, immunophenotype supporting a carcinoma of gastrointestinal origin, and loss of SMARCB1 (INI-1) protein expression. 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatin chemotherapy with concurrent radiation therapy was initiated with evident radiologic primary tumor regression and palliation of pain. Despite initial therapeutic response, disease rapidly progressed resulting in death 127 days after diagnosis. Conclusion We report the first case of a SMARCB1 (INI-1)-deficient undifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features of anorectal area. Given the currently limited therapeutic guidance on these types of tumors this case highlights the potential benefit of 5-FU and platinum based chemoradiation therapy, similar to the treatment of anal squamous carcinomas, which appeared to provide effective loco-regional control and palliative benefits.
“After you, my dear Alphonse;” Or, when politeness and good intentions are not enough

For a variety of reasons, emerging research areas can excite and often motivate people to explore and even contribute. But too often even for experienced scholars, academic prowess, good intentions...
Risk Factors for Failure of Primary Total Ankle Replacement

Total ankle arthroplasty is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to arthrodesis for the treatment of end-stage tibiotalar arthritis. As our indications evolve due to new advancements in our current generation of total ankle implants and improvements in surgical technique, we must continually seek to understand what factors place a patient at risk for a suboptimal outcome. In this chapter, we examine the evidence-based risk factors for failures and poor outcomes following total ankle arthroplasty. We reviewed the literature which ranges from smaller single-institution reports to large-scale registry data. Currently, evidence exists that smoking, depression, diabetes, and ipsilateral hindfoot arthrodesis may be risk factors for poorer outcomes and increased complications while preoperative deformity and a history of previous ankle infection do not seem to increase complications. The long-term effect of obesity is unknown, and while young age does not appear to affect clinical outcomes, the long-term revision risk may be increased. Overall, more studies are needed to further evaluate these and other potential risk factors for failure of total ankle arthroplasty as prospective level 1 studies with large numbers of patients are lacking in the literature. As we move forward toward greater acceptance of the procedure, we must continually re-evaluate our indications and risk factors in order to risk stratify patients and optimize outcomes.
Educating Latinx and African American Students in Charter Schools: A Comparative Study from Chicago:

The public school system in U.S. has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Institutionally, neo-liberal reform has created a new educational apparatus known as charter schools. As they ad...
A Critical Analysis of Foster Youth Advisory Boards in the United States

Background The enactment of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act brought welcome attention to young people aging out of foster care, and sought to include them in both case planning and policy dialog. Foster Youth Advisory Boards help to promote such inclusion, though the implementation of those boards has not been formally analyzed.
Vaccines and Antibody Therapies from Cryptococcus neoformans to Melanoma

This chapter talks about recent developments in the vaccine field and the publication of two recent comprehensive reviews that include additional information on the problem of vaccination against Cryptococcus neoformans. C. neoformans is an encapsulated pathogen, and polysaccharide-based vaccines have an excellent track record in eliciting protective immunity against bacteria with polysaccharide capsules. Human MAbs produced from immortalized B cells from glucuronoxylomannan (GXM)-TT-vaccinated individuals were protective in mice, and serum antibodies from vaccinated individuals enhanced the antifungal activity of phagocytes against C. neoformans. Peptide mimotopes of GXM selected by mouse and human MAbs have been reported. An advantage of peptide mimotopes is that they can be made easily and reproducibly and thus provide an attractive option for generating vaccines. Site-directed mutagenesis of the binding contacts of a protective MAb revealed that different amino acids were involved in binding to polysaccharide and mimotope epitopes, raising the possibility that different types of antibodies are elicited by carbohydrate and peptide antigens. Cryptococcal infection elicits strong and rapid antibody responses to fungal proteins, such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), but currently there is no evidence that these antibody responses contribute to host protection. In the late 1990s murine MAbs were made to C. neoformans melanin with the goal of using these reagents for the study of melanization in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, it was hypothesized that if these MAbs bound to human melanin, they could be used to deliver tumoricidal radiation to melanoma cells.
Theme and Variations in Statutory Preclusions Against Successive Environmental Enforcement Actions by EPA and Citizens, Part Two: Statutory Preclusions on EPA Enforcement

This is the second half of a two-part Article focusing on preclusions against successive enforcement of the environmental statutes. Part One of the Article, printed in Volume 28 of this Journal, examined preclusions against citizen suits and argued that because of the theme-and-variations nature of the preclusion language, that language should be read in accordance with its plain meaning. Part Two, published in this issue, studies the restrictions on enforcement actions by the EPA and reaches the same conclusion.
Fertilization and Pregnancy

Fertilization normally occurs shortly after ovulation (12–24 hours) and while the ovum is located in the upper part of the uterine tube (ampulla). Before fertilization can be effected, however, the sperm must traverse the layer of adherent granulosa cells (corona radiata) and zona pellucida surrounding the ovum (actually 2° oocyte). Penetration is facilitated by enzymes (hyaluronidase and acrosin) present in the acrosomal vesicle of the sperm (acrosome reaction). After the gametes are in contact, plasma membrane fusion appears to incorporate the entire sperm (nucleus and organelles) into the cytoplasmic mass of the ovum; the second polar body is formed at this time.
Logistic Networks With DNA-Like Encoding and Interactions

We consider a logistic network consisting of a coupled population of externally driven logistic processing elements (LPEs) or “neurons” with quantized interactions between them. The interactions are modeled after the encoding of genetic information in molecular biology, i.e. as in DNA molecules in terms of four nucleotide bases. A unique and versatile scheme for generating complex spatio-temporal input patterns to drive the network, that could contain chaotic components, is employed to study the network's behavior. Both coherent (phase-locked) and incoherent input patterns can be generated. We find that DNA-like encoding of interactions causes quantization and clustering to appear in the activity of the network which we represent by limit-set-diagrams (LSDs). Clustering means grouping of processing elements into subpopulations with period-m orbits where m is constant for each cluster, but the values of m are different for different clusters. The clustering is found to characterize the particular input pattern being applied to the network, it changes gradually with gradual change in the input, and appears to persist even when the input pattern contains chaotic components. A striking similarity of bifurcation diagrams of isolated driven LPEs and of the LSDs generated to the bar patterns observed in gel-electropheresis of oligonucleotides and DNA fragments is observed. This could portend a useful link to molecular biology and serve as basis for introducing a molecular computing paradigm in neural networks.
Resilient and Corrosion-Proof Rolling Element Bearings Made from Superelastic Ni-Ti Alloys for Aerospace Mechanism Applications

Mechanical components (bearings, gears, mechanisms) typically utilize hard materials to minimize wear and attain long life. In such components, heavily loaded contact points (e.g., meshing gear teeth, bearing ball-raceway contacts) experience high contact stresses. The combination of high hardness, heavy loads and high elastic modulus often leads to damaging contact stress. In addition, mechanical component materials, such as tool steel or silicon nitride exhibit limited recoverable strain (typically less than 1 percent). These material attributes can lead to Brinell damage (e.g., denting) particularly during transient overload events such as shock impacts that occur during the launching of space vehicles or the landing of aircraft. In this paper, a superelastic alloy, 60NiTi, is considered for rolling element bearing applications. A series of Rockwell and Brinell hardness, compressive strength, fatigue and tribology tests are conducted and reported. The combination of high hardness, moderate elastic modulus, large recoverable strain, low density, and intrinsic corrosion immunity provide a path to bearings largely impervious to shock load damage. It is anticipated that bearings and components made from alloys with such attributes can alleviate many problems encountered in advanced aerospace applications.
3,5-Substituted phenyl galactosides as leads in designing effective cholera toxin antagonists; synthesis and crystallographic studies.

Abstract With the aim of developing high-affinity mono and multivalent antagonists of cholera toxin (CT) and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) we are using the galactose portion of the natural receptor ganglioside GM1 as an anchoring fragment in structure-based inhibitor design efforts. In order to establish a better structure–activity relationship for guiding these studies, we designed and prepared a small focused library of twenty 3,5-substituted phenylgalactosides based on two previous leads. The compounds were tested for their ability to block CTB 5 binding to immobilized ganglioside receptor and compared to the two previous leads. The crystal structures of the most promising compounds bound to either CTB 5 or LTB 5 were then determined in order to understand the basis for affinity differences. The most potent new compound yielded a six-fold improvement over our benchmark lead m -nitrophenyl-α- d -galactopyranoside (MNPG), and a two-fold improvement in IC 50 over a newer MNPG derivative. These results support the notion that the m -nitrophenyl moiety of MNPG and its derivatives is an important element to retain in future optimization efforts. Additionally, a consensus binding-pocket for the alkylmorpholine or piperazine moiety present in all of the designed antagonists was established as an important area of the GM1 binding site to target in future work.
Age-related increase in liver retinyl palmitate. Relationship to lipofuscin

Lipofuscin is a general term assigned to fluorescent material that accumulates in cells as they age. It is apparent from this study that the fluorescent intensity of detergent-solubilized liver from Fisher-344 rats increased as a function of age. The fluorophore responsible for this increase was extracted with methanol and could be resolved from other cellular components when the methanol extracts were chromatographed over a reverse phase column. This compound was identified as retinyl palmitate and was found to increase throughout the entire life of the Fisher-344 rat (2-24 months), from a value of 0.26-1.77 mg/g of liver. In addition, the results presented here demonstrate that concentration, time between extraction and analysis, exposure to light, and degree of purity affect the observed fluorescent properties of retinyl palmitate. These factors affect many fluorophores and are likely to be, at least in part, responsible for the multiplicity of reported properties of lipofuscin. As has been reported for lipofuscin, retinyl palmitate accumulates in intracellular granules and exhibits fluorescence between 450 and 600 nm. Due to these similarities, the relationship between retinyl palmitate and lipofuscin warrants further investigation.
OXYGEN CONSUMPTION AND GLYCOLYSIS IN FETAL, NEONATAL, AND INFANT MUSCLE OF THE RHESUS MONKEY

Muscle fiber groups from fetal, neonatal, infant, and adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were incubated in glycylglycine and bicarbonate buffered media plus glucose-C14. Results obtained with these two media were similar. The metabolic data were calculated with noncollagenous nitrogen as a reference base. Under aerobic conditions the QO2 and CO2 productions were higher at 89 to 90 days fetal age, similar at 120 to 129 days, and lower at 150 to 160 days than those of adult muscle. Glucose uptake was higher at 89 to 90 days and 120 to 129 days fetal age than that of the adult series. Variations in the above parameters demonstrate that results on fetal metabolism must be reported for specific gestational periods. Lactate and lactate-C14 productions were higher in all three fetal series, and pyruvate and pyruvate-C14 productions were higher in the earlier fetal series than in those of the adult. The sum of C14 activities appearing in lactate, pyruvate, and CO2 was higher in rapidly growing muscle than in adult muscle. These data suggest that aerobic glycolysis is more active in fetal and neonatal than in adult muscle. Birth did not cause a significant change in any metabolic parameter. The relative increases, under hypoxic conditions, in glucose uptake and lactate and lactate-C14 productions in fetal compared with the increases in adult muscle suggest that the glycolytic pathway of fetal muscle does not respond more effectively to hypoxia.
Comparison of dual rotating Scheimpflug–Placido, swept-source optical coherence tomography, and Placido–scanning-slit systems

Purpose To compare measurements of corneal indices using dual rotating Scheimpflug–Placido, swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT), and Placido–scanning-slit systems. Setting Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. Design Prospective evaluation of diagnostic tests. Methods Corneal topography measurements were performed using dual rotating Scheimpflug–Placido (Galilei G2), swept-source OCT (Casia SS-1000), and Placido–scanning-slit (Orbscan IIz) systems. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between measurements. Results Fifty post-refractive surgery eyes and 50 normal eyes were evaluated. The agreement in anterior keratometry and pachymetry between the 3 devices was high in both groups (ICC > 0.9). In both groups, the ICC values for posterior keratometry and eccentricity were high between the dual rotating Scheimpflug–Placido and swept-source OCT systems (ICC > 0.9) but not between the Placido–scanning-slit system and the other 2 systems. The Placido–scanning-slit system yielded much steeper values for posterior keratometry in both groups ( P Conclusions Anterior keratometry obtained using 3 devices showed high degrees of agreement. Posterior keratometry and eccentricity showed greater agreement between the dual rotating Scheimpflug–Placido and swept-source OCT systems than with the Placido–scanning-slit system. The dual rotating Scheimpflug–Placido and swept-source OCT systems were equivalent in detecting the shape of the cornea and could be considered interchangeable. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Magnetophoresis: Fundamentals and Applications

The term “magnetophoresis” has been proposed to describe the behavior of a magnetic particle moving through a viscous medium under the influence of an external magnetic field. Its origin can be traced to a similar term used to describe particle motion in a viscous medium under the influence of an electric field, “electrophoresis.” The number of publications on magnetophoresis has rapidly increased during the last 10 years primarily due to a burgeoning interest in its applications to biomedical research and clinical diagnostics and therapy. The appealing feature of magnetophoresis is that under well-controlled conditions it provides a means for gentle cell separation in its natural milieu that could be both highly specific and highly sensitive at a relatively low cost with respect to the separation equipment. The increasing interest in single-cell biology in health and disease and the rapidly improving sensitivity of molecular biology methods in applications to single-cell genomic analysis put a special emphasis on high quality, high volume, and relatively inexpensive cell separation methods, such as those provided by cell magnetophoresis in microfluidic channels. The growth in magnetophoresis research and applications is aided by a synergy between materials science, nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, micro- and nanofluidic engineering, experimental and computational fluid dynamics research, and physics of high magnetic fields. This leads to emerging applications, such as detection of paramagnetic impurities in diamagnetic samples and biomagnetic cell separations. These are areas of magnetophoresis applications that will likely continue to rapidly grow. Keywords: Magnetophoresis; magnetic separation; magnetic nanoparticles; biomagnetism; cell tracking velocimetry
Enhancing Inter-Network Cooperation Among Organizations Providing Mental Health Services to Older Persons

The authors examine how organizations in several networks voluntarily cooperate to provide mental health services to older persons and recommend how organizational coordination and the delivery system can be improved. Information from mail surveys and in-depth interviews was analyzed. Little evidence of formal coordination across networks was found. Established organizations and agencies providing a larger number of services were more integrated. Providers recommended that organizational coordination be increased. Providers suggested that a more centralized delivery system and proactive education for clients and providers would be effective strategies to enhance service delivery.
Aircraft Dynamics for Symmetric and Asymmetric V-Shape Morphing Wings

This paper will present the effect of the aircraft turning dynamics for symmetric and asymmetric V-shape changing wings. The aerodynamic forces will be calculated using a 3D aerodynamic model developed that utilizes a modern adaptation of Prandtl’s lifting-line method which can be used for wings of arbitrary camber, sweep and dihedral. The method will be applied to analyze symmetric and asymmetric V-shaped wing configuration of interest for morphing aircraft application. The V-shaped wing has two sections, an out-of-plane dihedral section and a horizontal section. A study of the lift characteristics for symmetric and asymmetric with and without flap deflection will be presented. An investigation as to how the partial dihedral will affect the dynamics of the vehicle, in turning, for wings with asymmetric flap deflection is performed. An comparison of the different turning performance measurements, turning radius, bank angle, load factor, turning rate and roll moment coefficient will be presented.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Quenching Studies of a Gold-Silver Alloy

The electrical resistance of gold---1.2 atomic percent silver samples was measured after quenching in the range 500\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 950\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The resulting increase in resistivity immediately after the quench, $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{Q}$, is described by the relation $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{Q}=A\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}\frac{{{E}_{f}}^{a}}{k{T}_{Q}})$, where $A$ is (7.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ ohm-cm; ${{E}_{f}}^{a}$, the apparent formation energy equals (1.01\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03) ev. From the experimental limits of error for the formation energy in pure gold, an upper limit of 0.1 ev was established for the binding energy between lattice vacancies and the solute atoms. The recovery of quenched-in resistivity was determined in the course of annealing between 50\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 84\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C following a quench from 700\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The slope intersection method gave an activation energy of 0.85\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 ev for the recovery of the quenched-in resistivity. The extra resistivity increased upon annealing by 8% and then annealed at a rate 30% to 40% less than that which has been observed for pure gold. The recovery behavior was interpreted in terms of vacancy-impurity complexes. A corresponding binding energy of 0.05 ev was obtained.
20. Immunologic neuromuscular disorders.

Immune-mediated disorders of each of the structural subdivisions of the nervous and neuromuscular system have been described. Despite the immune privilege of the central nervous system, and to a lesser extent the peripheral nervous system, immune dysregulation is not uncommon. Environmental, genetic, and immunologic factors have been postulated to be involved in the development of these disorders. Major immune-mediated neurologic diseases of the central nervous system include multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Immune-mediated diseases of the peripheral nervous system include myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, idiopathic polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myositis. Some of these disorders, such as myasthenia gravis and certain forms of acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, are clearly autoimmune in nature, whereas the immune system plays an important role in pathogenesis in others. Understanding the immune mechanisms of disease and uncovering potential therapeutic targets are essential for the design of new treatments. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, and current therapeutic approaches to the major neuroimmunologic diseases are reviewed.
Defining the role of laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy for diverticulitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy for the treatment of diverticulitis. METHODS: The Norfolk Surgical Group Laparoscopic Surgery Registry identified all patients undergoing laparoscopic colon and rectal surgery. Retrospective chart review was performed for all patients undergoing elective sigmoid resection for a final diagnosis of diverticulitis and minimum follow-up of 12 months. Demographic data, indications for surgery, operative data, conversion rate, reason for conversion, complications, postoperative course (days to flatus and regular diet), and length of stay were identified. A telephone survey determined the incidence of recurrent diverticulitis. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the frequency of conversion over time, to determine risk factors for conversion, and to compare the laparoscopic-assisted and conversion groups with regard to postoperative days to flatus, regular diet, and discharge. RESULTS: From June 1992 to September 1997, elective laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy was attempted in 69 patients. Uncomplicated recurrent diverticulitis was the most common indication for surgery, occurring in 51 of 69 patients (75 percent). No deaths occurred. Complications were identified in seven patients (10.1 percent) including one wound infection and one incarcerated port-site hernia with small bowel obstruction. There were no anastomotic leaks or major septic complications. Conversion to laparotomy occurred in 18 of 69 patients (26 percent). Uncomplicated, recurrent diverticulitis was associated with conversion in 7 of 51 patients (14 percent), whereas complicated diverticulitis required conversion in 11 of 18 patients (61 percent). Logistic regression identified fistula and abscess as predictors of conversion (P=0.0009). Comparison of the laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy group with the conversion group revealed that postoperative days to regular diet were 3.5 and 5.2 (P=0.0004), respectively, and lengths of stay were 4.2 and 6.4 days (P<0.0001), respectively. No difference was noted with regard to operative time or postoperative complications. Median follow-up was 48 (range, 13–76) months, and a single recurrence of diverticulitis has been identified. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy for diverticulitis can be safely performed. Conversion appears to be associated with complicated diverticulitis (fistula or abscess), which may be better approached by laparotomy. Short-term follow-up indicates that recurrence is rare and suggests that laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy achieves adequate resection. Laparoscopic-assisted sigmoid colectomy offers benefits of decreased ileus and length of stay and may represent the procedure of choice for elective resection for uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis.
An interrogation of the zinc oxide–gallium oxide phase space by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Polycrystalline metal oxide thin films were deposited by mixing combinations of diethylzinc and trimethylgallium into an oxygen plasma. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition was shown to be a flexible tool for materials exploration, as the entire zinc–gallium-oxide phase space was explored by simply altering precursor flow rates. Film identification was performed using measurements of intrinsic optical properties as well as X-ray diffraction. The compounds synthesized included zinc oxide, gallium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ga), the spinel ZnGa 2 O 4 , and amorphous gallium oxide. A phase diagram was established for PECVD synthesis as a function of the organometallic precursor composition. It was found that gallium addition had a profound impact on both the deposition rate and resistivity of the films. Small levels the gallium addition produced an order of magnitude improvement in both deposition rate and electrical properties. When the gallium fraction was >50% the deposition rate saturated and the films were insulating. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to probe the plasma chemistry of the system. It was shown to be quite complex, typified by the example that decreasing the diethylzinc fraction in the feedstream dramatically increased the density of atomic zinc in the plasma.
A coefficient plane technique for the evaluation of the transient response of two-zero, three-pole systems†

A graphical method is presented for the determination of the step input transient response of two-zero, three-pole transfer functions. The method is an extension of a coefficient plane technique previously developed for systems containing one-zero, three-pole transfer functions. There are no restrictions upon the locations of the s-plane zeros or poles if all the coefficients of the transfer function are real.