cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hearty finding

A 54-year-old man presented to the emergency room with a 1-week history of influenza-like symptoms. He had undergone renal transplantation 12 years earlier for diabetic nephropathy. Laboratory evaluations were notable for an increase in his serum creatinine level to 6.0 mg per deciliter (530 μmol per liter) and 3+ proteinuria. Because of worsening renal failure, a renal biopsy was performed, which showed moderate chronic allograft nephropathy. In addition, an incidental finding of a heart-shaped, attenuated proximal renal tubule was seen. The influenza-like symptoms resolved within 2 weeks; however, the renal failure progressed, and the patient is once again being treated . . .
Nitrous Oxide and Ammonia Emissions from Urine-Treated Soils: Texture Effect

Urine-treated soils have been implicated as an important source of gaseous N losses to the atmosphere. The goal of our research was to quantify NH3 and N2O emissions from urine under different simplified and controlled soil conditions and to relate these results to urinary-N transformation processes in soil. We studied the influence of soil texture (coarse vs. fine sand), moisture distribution with depth, air-filled pore space, and rate of air movement, which affected both soil drying processes and emission rates. Laboratory experiments were performed with synthetic urine in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Texture was the most important factor controlling NH3 volatilization and N2O emission factors in urine-treated sands. Generally, the finer the sand texture, the higher the input of denitrification to the total N2O emissions; however, the air-filled pore space threshold, below which denitrification became dominant, was greater in coarse sand. In addition, the evaporation rate of the urine water component was found to be an important parameter in total NH3 and N2O emissions. Ammonia volatilization occurred during the first day of the treatments, with volatilization rates closely related to evaporation rates in both sand textures. Finer sand texture caused reductions in the urine evaporation rate and therefore in NH3 volatilization rates. Urine evaporation increased air-filled pore space, thereby improving aeration conditions in the sand that contribute to nitrification dominance of N2O production. Moreover, evaporation of urine, enriched with dissolved N2O, increased total N2O emission. Results from these simplified experiments need confirmation under field soil conditions.
The Effects of Aging of the Cyclic Stress-Strain and Fatigue Behaviors of Lead Free Solders

Solder joints in electronic assemblies are typically subjected to thermal cycling, either in actual application or in accelerated life testing used for qualification. Mismatches in the thermal expansion coefficients of the assembly materials cause the solder joints to be subjected to cyclic (positive and negative) mechanical strains and stresses. This cyclic loading leads to thermomechanical fatigue damage that involves damage accumulation, crack initiation, crack propagation, and failure. In addition, the microstructure, mechanical response, and failure behavior of lead free solder joints in electronic assemblies are constantly evolving when exposed to isothermal aging and/or thermal cycling environments. While the effects of aging on solder constitutive behavior (stress-strain and creep) have been examined in some detail, there have been no prior studies on the effects of aging on solder failure and fatigue behavior. Aging leads to both grain and phase coarsening, and can cause recrystallization at Sn grain boundaries. Such changes are closely tied to the damage that occurs during cyclic mechanical loading.In this investigation, we have examined the effects of aging on the cyclic stress-strain behavior and fatigue life of lead free solders. Uniaxial solder test specimens (SAC105 and SAC305) have been prepared and subjected to cyclic stress/strain loading at different aging conditions. A four-parameter hyperbolic tangent empirical model has been used to fit the entire cyclic stress-strain curve and the hysteresis loop size (area) was calculated using definite integration for a given strain limit. This area represents the energy dissipated per cycle, which is correlated to the damage accumulation in the joint. Using the recorded cyclic stress-strain curves, the evolution of the solder hysteresis loops with aging have been characterized and empirically modeled. Similar to solder stress-strain and creep behavior, there is a strong effect of aging on the hysteresis loop size (and thus the rate of damage accumulation) in the solder specimens.Fatigue experiments were also performed, where the uniaxial specimens were subjected to cyclic loading over a particular strain range until failure. Fatigue failure in the experiments was defined to occur when there was a 50% peak load drop during mechanical cycling. Prior to testing, the specimens were aged (preconditioned) at 125 °C for various aging times, and then the samples were subjected to cyclic loading at room temperature (25 °C). It was found that aging decreased the mechanical fatigue life, and the effects of aging on the peak load drop have been studied. It has also been observed that degradations in the fatigue/failure behavior of the lead free solders with aging are highly accelerated for lower silver content alloys (e.g., SAC105). Various empirical failure criteria such as the Coffin-Manson model and the Morrow model have been used to fit the measured data, and the parameters in the models have been determined as a function of the aging conditions.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Spontaneous Hematologic and Cytogenetic Remission in a Case of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with Inversion 16

Abstract We report a novel case of spontaneous hematologic and cytogenetic remission in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia with inv(16)(p13q22) after a systemic infection as well as transfusion of blood. Although spontaneous complete remission is a rare occurrence, we present a review of the current literature, emphasizing a diagnostic approach and associated factors.
A computerized system for the organized retrieval of life history information

This paper describes a computerized system for storage and retrieval of information on life history and environmental limits of organisms, which we have applied to the estuarine and nearshore organisms of the Texas coast. The system uses standard biological nomenclature instead of codes, and provides great flexibility both in search criteria and output format. Each entry for an organism is derived from a separate literature reference. Forty descriptors are used, covering taxonomic identification, environment classification, distribution in time, environmental limits, trophic relationships, and reference identification. The same format is also used to record laboratory experiment derived environmental limits such as LD50 values. An interactive terminal can be used for rapid access to the data base. The system is being used by both coastal zone management planners and estuarine ecologists.
New Dimensions to Psychosocial Development in Traditionally Aged College Students

Why do so many traditionally aged college students engage in inappropriate behaviors, even when they are smart enough to know better? To answer this question, Gregory S. Blimling looks at some of the latest neuroscience research and, in doing so, introduces a new dimension to understanding psychosocial development in college students—developing the capacity for self-regulatory cognitive control.
Overexpression of BMP3 in the Developing Skeleton Alters Endochondral Bone Formation Resulting in Spontaneous Rib Fractures

Bone morphogenetic protein-3 (BMP) has been identified as a negative regulator in the skeleton as mice lacking BMP3 have increased bone mass. To further understand how BMP3 mediates bone formation, we created transgenic mice overexpressing BMP3 using the type I collagen promoter. BMP3 transgenic mice displayed spontaneous rib fractures that were first detected at E17.0. The fractures were due to defects in differentiation of the periosteum and late hypertrophic chondrocytes resulting in thinner cortical bone with decreased mineralization. As BMP3 modulates BMP and activin signaling through ActRIIB, we examined the ribs of ActRIIB receptor knockout mice and found they had defects in late chondrogenesis and mineralization similar to BMP3 transgenic mice. These data suggest that BMP3 exerts its effects in the skeleton by altering signaling through ActRIIB in chondrocytes and the periosteum, and this results in defects in bone collar formation and late hypertrophic chondrocyte maturation leading to decreased mineralization and less bone.
Terrorists right and left: Empirical issues in profiling American terrorists

Although recent efforts have been made to profile American terrorists, these efforts have been hampered by severe methodological difficulties, from the way in which terrorism was defined, to the identification of potential cases, to the methods used in sample selection. The current study utilizes a data base created from a list of persons indicted under the FBI's Counterterrorism Program from 1980 through 1989. This information was supplemented by case files from federal district courts and the U.S. Department of Justice and verified through demographic and sentencing data on each subject from the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts. The sample includes over 200 terrorists from 21 terrorist organizations, who had been indicted for over 1300 violations of federal criminal law. Analysis of the data reveals substantial differences from traditionally accepted descriptions of terrorists. Of singular interest is the finding that American terrorists tend to be significantly older, on average, then previous stud...
Review: behavioral interventions show the most promise for the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Source Citation Whiting P, Bagnall AM, Sowden AJ, et al. Interventions for the treatment and management of chronic fatigue syndrome. A systematic review. JAMA. 2001 Sep 19;286:1360-8. 11560542 (All...
Unmet need for therapy services, assistive devices, and related services: data from the national survey of children with special health care needs.

Objective.—To estimate the prevalence of unmet needs for therapy services, vision and hearing care or aids, mobility aids, and communication aids and to investigate the association between predisposing, enabling, need, and environmental factors and unmet needs. Methods.—Using the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, we generated national prevalence estimates and performed bivariate and logistic analyses, accounting for the complex survey design. Results.—Nationally, the prevalence of unmet needs ranged from 5.8% among children with special health care needs (CSHCN) with a reported need for vision care or glasses to 24.7% among CSHCN with a reported need for communication aids. In logit analyses, CSHCN without insurance coverage were significantly more likely to have a reported unmet need for therapy services (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.08, confidence interval [CI]: 1.39–3.12), vision care or glasses (OR: 3.94, CI: 2.64–5.86), and mobility aids (OR: 5.17, CI: 1.86–14.37). Children in families at or below 100% of the federal poverty level were significantly more likely to have a reported unmet need for vision care or glasses (OR: 4.51, CI: 2.86–7.12) and hearing aids or hearing care (OR: 3.61, CI: 1.70–7.65). For each of the services studied, more-severely limited children were significantly more likely to have an unmet need reported. Conclusion.—Our findings demonstrate that a minority of CSHCN have unmet needs for therapy services, assistive devices, and related services. Parents of children with more-severe ability limitations were more likely to report having unmet needs. Our findings highlight the importance of insurance coverage in ensuring access to therapy services, assistive devices, and related services.
Designing and implementing special-purpose databases: lessons from the pharmacogenetic network

The Pharmacogenetics Research Network, which has the long-term goal of genotype-phenotype correlation related to pharmacotherapy, mandates timely electronic publication of results by participating research groups through submission to PharmGKB, the consortium's repository database. Because informatics expertise across groups varies, many groups need help in managing their own data and in generating electronic submissions. To assist these operations, we perform a needs assessment to determine an optimum database implementation strategy, which varies from standalone microcomputer database application to Web-based solutions, depending on the group and problem scope. Solution implementation is coupled with transfer of expertise through hands-on training, so as to reduce the groups' long-term dependence on us. Where multiple groups face common problems, such as managing genotyping data or clinical study support, we have devised generic software that can be reused in its entirety by individual groups, or custom...
The Homosexual Role: Rejoinder to Omark & Whitam

Omark's comments are fairly speciElc, and I f1nd myself substantially in agreement with them. Whitam, however, raises a number of crucial and ramifying issues which would require a book-length discussion to untangle, and perhaps a lifetime of research to settle. In this reply I can only touch on a few of these issues, and then only supeffilcially. First, as to political implications: Arhitam is correct in pointing out that ideology and social science are often intertwined. One usually wants ones political views borne out by one's empirical Elndings and, further that one's studies produce results favorable to those views. And, as Whitam says, the real world doesn't always cooperate. As a dyed-in-the-wool liberal (or worse) and civil libertarian, I have sometimes found my ideology affronted by the findings of my own studies. In the 1960s, I wanted to find that marijuana use was unrelated to the use of more dangerous drugs; instead, I found exactly the opposite (Goode, 1969). In the study by Troiden and myself, we wanted to find that sexual contact with a large number of partners ("promiscuity") was unrelated to a range of undesirable, "deviant" accompaniments; instead, we found a strong connection between them (Goode & Troiden, 1980). In both cases, I was forced to face the facts gracefully. However, I do believe that Whitam is mistaken in his view that accepting lability in sexual orientation will strengthen the anti-gay argument that homosexuals are a threat because they can influence young boys (and girls) to "turn queer" which would meanor so this reasoning goes that homosexuals should not be allowed to be school teachers. Whitam's argument is too rationalistic; ideology does not work in so straightforward a fashion. Instead, it comes in "packages"; certain beliefs are held together not by logic, but by cultural packaging and (excuse the expression) labeling. Today, the congenital argument is labeled reactionary and anti-gay, regardless of whether this is actually true in each
ROST and BEAST: Devices for in-situ measurement of particle settling velocity

Abstract The principles and design of two devices are described that measure the particle settling velocity in situ. The Remote Optical Settling Tube (ROST) designed by a group at OSU has been successfully deployed at the HEBBLE site. The Benthic Autonomous Settling Tube (BEAST) has recently been operated at the same site.
Improving interstage survival after Norwood operation: outcomes from 10 years of home monitoring.

Objective Infants who undergo Norwood stage 1 palliation (S1P) continue with high-risk circulation until stage 2 palliation (S2P). Routine care during the interstage period is associated with 10% to 20% mortality. This report illustrates the sustained reduction of interstage mortality over 10 years associated with use of home monitoring. Methods Daily monitoring of oxygen saturation and weight was done for all patients discharged to home after S1P. Notification of the care team occurred for oxygen saturation 90%, weight gain 30 g, or intake Results Over 10 years, 157 patients were discharged after S1P with home monitoring. Interstage survival was 98%. Breach of home criteria occurred in 59% (93 out of 157), with violation of oxygen saturation Conclusions Home monitoring after S1P is associated with excellent interstage survival. Although a breach of monitoring criteria occurred in more than half of patients, our analysis failed to identify independent predictors of interstage events. Analysis of variables predicting mortality could not be assessed due to the low frequency of death in this cohort. Failure to identify specific variables for interstage events suggests that home monitoring, as part of an interstage surveillance program, should be applied to all S1P hospital survivors.
Factors influencing discrimination between insecticide-treated and untreated foods by northern bobwhite

Tests were conducted to determine at what dietary concentrations northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) chicks (14 days old) could discriminate between pesticide-treated and untreated food using an organophosphate (OP) insecticide, parathion, and two carbamates, carbofuran and methiocarb. Results from subacute dietary LC50 tests (one feeder of treated food per cage) were compared to tests where birds were presented with two feeders (one treated and one untreated, 1∶1) or 10 feeders (five treated and five untreated, 5∶5; or nine treated and one untreated, 9∶1). The dietary concentration above which birds discriminate between feeders by consuming a greater proportion of untreated food is defined as the discrimination threshold (DT). The DT occurred at sublethal concentrations in all 1∶1 tests, with little mortality or reduction in food consumption. Little or no discrimination was observed in 9∶1 tests, with mortality similar to the LC50 tests. The discrimination response in 5∶5 tests was similar to the 1∶1 tests for parathion and methiocarb, but with carbofuran the DT was higher than in the 1∶1 test and higher mortality was observed. In all tests, mortality was inversely related to total food consumption. No relationship was found between mortality and the amount of active ingredient ingested/bird-day. Consequently, mortality was more a function of ability to locate untreated feeders than amount of chemical ingested. When alternative food choices exist, vulnerability to poisoning can be influenced by the number and relative abundance of those choices, as well as the bird's ability to detect the chemical.
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic purification of 125-I-labeled rat growth hormone-releasing hormone for radioimmunoassay

Using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, an effective purification was developed for radioiodinated rat growth hormone-releasing hormone (rGHRH) with isolation of monoiodo-rGHRH. The use of this purified radio-label resulted in improvement in binding, half-maximum displacement and sensitivity in radioimmunoassay for rGHRH. The improved radioimmunoassay performance allowed the measurement of in vitro basal and stimulated the release of rGHRH from incubated hypothalamic preparations.
Integral equation theories for predicting water structure around molecules.

Abstract Water plays a crucial role in the structure and function of proteins and other biological macromolecules; thus, theories of aqueous solvation for these molecules are of great importance. However, water is a complex solvent whose properties are still not completely understood. Statistical mechanical integral equation theories predict the density distribution of water molecules around a solute so that all particles are fully represented and thus potentially both molecular and macroscopic properties are included. Here we discuss how several theoretical tools we have developed have been integrated into an integral equation theory designed for globular macromolecular solutes such as proteins. Our approach predicts the three-dimensional spatial and orientational distribution of water molecules around a solute. Beginning with a three-dimensional Ornstein–Zernike equation, a separation is made between a reference part dependent only on the spatial distribution of solvent and a perturbation part dependent also on the orientational distribution of solvent. The spatial part is treated at a molecular level by a modified hypernetted chain closure whereas the orientational part is treated as a Boltzmann prefactor using a quasi-continuum theory we developed for solvation of simple ions. A potential energy function for water molecules is also needed and the sticky dipole models of water, such as our recently developed soft-sticky dipole (SSD) model, are ideal for the proposed separation. Moreover, SSD water is as good as or better than three point models typically used for simulations of biological macromolecules in structural, dielectric and dynamics properties and yet is seven times faster in Monte Carlo and four times faster in molecular dynamics simulations. Since our integral equation theory accurately predicts results from Monte Carlo simulations for solvation of a variety of test cases from a single water or ion to ice-like clusters and ion pairs, the application of this theory to biological macromolecules is promising.
Roles of the institute of medicine in providing health science policy advice

Studies conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) are one way that government agencies can get presumably neutral advice on health science policy issues. The traditional IOM study is undertaken using a committee of experts supported by professional staff on issues of particular importance related to health policy. The report is usually a consensus document from the group of experts who have various points of view on the topic. After a report is prepared, it undergoes an independent review process to assure that the conclusions are based on the best available science and vigorous analysis of the data. IOM reports make recommendations for further actions that could be undertaken by a diverse audience, and do not just provide a series of options as is done in reports from the Office of Technology Assessment.
Female children of alcoholics and chronic back pain.

Objective and Design A case-controlled retrospective design was used in the present investigation with adult women to explore the relationship between chronic and persistent back pain and a history of being raised by an alcoholic caretaker. Participants A sample of 112 females was obtained from a large university primary care health center. Fifty-nine back pain patients served as cases, while 53 females without histories of chronic pain served as controls. Outcome Measures Outcome measures consisted of a seven-question physician back pain checklist. The independent variable, being raised by an alcoholic caretaker, was measured by the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST). Results Chronic back pain patients scored significantly higher than the nonpain group on the CAST. Conclusions The results suggest that additional research should explore and further define the relationship between a childhood history of being raised by an alcoholic parent and the development of chronic back pain as an adult.
Symmetry-breaking dynamical pattern and localization observed in the equilibrium vibrational spectrum of NaI

Intrinsic localized modes (ILMs) – also known as discrete breathers – are localized excitations that form without structural defects in discrete nonlinear lattices. For crystals in thermal equilibrium ILMs were proposed to form randomly, an idea used to interpret temperature activated signatures of ILMs in α-U and NaI. Here, however, we report neutron scattering measurements of lattice vibrations in NaI that provide evidence of an underlying organization: (i) with small temperature changes ILMs move as a unit back-and-forth between [111] and [011] orientations, and (ii) when [011] ILMs lock in at 636 K the transverse optic (TO) mode splits into three modes with symmetry-breaking dynamical structure resembling that of a superlattice, but there are no superlattice Bragg reflections and the pattern itself has crystal momentum. We conclude that this dynamical pattern is not derived from the rearrangement of atoms but from a coherent arrangement of ILMs decorating the crystal lattice in equilibrium.
Effect of point source removal on mercury bioaccumulation in an industrial pond

A one hectare pond on the headwaters of a mercury-contaminated creek in Oak Ridge, Tennessee acted as a biochemical reactor for the production of methylmercury, increasing waterborne methylmercury concentrations in the stream below the pond discharge. The flow of the creek was diverted around the pond in order to eliminate this input. Waterborne total mercury, methylmercury, and mercury in fish, were monitored in the pond and stream before and after bypass. Waterborne methylmercury concentration in the creek downstream from the pond decreased over 800% following diversion of streamflow around the pond, but mercury in redbreast sunfish in the pond tailwater did not decline similarly. Within the pond, now isolated from fresh waterborne mercury inputs from the stream, methylmercury concentrations in the water column remained similar to levels present before bypass. However, mercury concentrations in sunfish in the pond decreased approximately 75% following bypass, despite the continued presence of highly contaminated sediments (approximately 50 mg Hg/kg dry weight). We concluded that a decrease in the fraction of 'dissolved methylmercury' in the isolated pond relative to pre-bypass conditions explained the decrease in mercury in fish within the pond. That observation also indicates that mercury associated with pond sediments was relatively unavailable for eventual bioaccumulation when compared to 'fresh' mercury contributed by upstream sources. The lack of a post-bypass decrease in mercury concentrations in tailwater fish was also likely to be associated with the particle-associated nature of waterborne methylmercury exported from the pond.
Transient behaviour of facilitated transport through liquid membranes

Abstract During the transient period of facilitated transport of a permeant across a thin liquid film, the ratio of the concentrations of the carrier at the two ends of the film as a function of time has a shape which is sensitive to the values of the physicochemical parameters. In certain systems involving ionic carriers, the above concentration ratio can be related to a conveniently measurable electrical potential difference, ΔV, across a pair of electrodes attached to the two faces of the liquid film. Bdzil et al. measured ΔV vs. time for NO FeCl 2 FeCl 3 —formamide system and observed that it goes through a maximum (ΔV max ), before reaching the asymptotic value corresponding to the steady state, ΔV s . In the present paper, we solve numerically the species conservation equations, which describe the transients of the facilitated transport in the film, when the reversible reaction occurring in the film is of the form: A↑ + B = P (where A is the permeant and B and P are the carrier and permeant—carrier complex, respectively). The analysis takes into account: (i) the electrical effects which arise when B and P are ions of different diffusion coefficients and (ii) the effect of a second electrolyte added to the film to provide the cations which participate in an electrode reaction with the carrier ions. On this basis, an explanation is provided for the overshoot observed experimentally by Bdzil et al. in the ΔV vs. time curve. Such a maximum is exhibited by systems for which the time scales of diffusion and backward reaction in the film are of comparable magnitude. (Of course, for viable facilitation, the characteristic times of the forward and backward reactions should also be comparable.) The profile of ΔVvs. time is very sensitive to the values of the kinetic constants as well as the diffusion coefficients of the species A, B, and P. Therefore, measurements of ΔV vs. time (or equivalently the ratio of concentrations of the carrier on the two sides of the film as a function of time) can provide a more accurate method of determining the above parameters than those based on flux measurements.
Stroke: the currency of collateral circulation in acute ischemic stroke.

Collateral circulation is a potent predictor of revascularization and clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke, and various features of collateral flow may be seen with a variety of neuroimaging techniques. Maas et al. investigated assessment of collaterals on CT angiography source images as a predictive tool in ischemic stroke.
Student‐Perceived Communication Needs: Infrastructure of the Functional/Notional Syllabus—Spanish Point of View

Interest in a more pragmatic approach to foreign language instruction through curricula structured upon a functional notional syllabus led to a survey in beginning French classes at Purdue University. The purpose was to ascertain student-perceived communication needs in order to identity priorities in languuge functions that could serve as the infrastructure of a more relevant foreign language instruction syllabus. The results of that survey appeared in the February 1980 issue of Foreign Language Annals. With the purpose of taking steps toward verifying the general applicability of these results, a survey was conducted at Iowa State University among students of Spanish. A questionnaire with the identical functional notional categories and descriptive statements was used. The article presented here shows the ranking of notional functions of language usage by Spanish students at Iowa State, and compares them with those of the French students at Purdue. The similarity of results of these two surveys not only gives further strength to those of the French study, but is another step toward establishing an infrastructure for a functional/notional approach to syllabi composition.
Brain Endogenous Insulin Phosphorylated MAPK and Affected Axonal Growth in Fetal Rat Neuron Cell Cultures † 480

Brain Endogenous Insulin Phosphorylated MAPK and Affected Axonal Growth in Fetal Rat Neuron Cell Cultures † 480
Synthesis and Characterization of a Matrix-Metalloproteinase Responsive Silk–Elastinlike Protein Polymer

Silk-elastinlike protein polymers (SELPs) are recombinant polymers consisting of tandem repeats of silk (GAGAGS) and elastin (GVGVP) units. By modification of the length and composition of these repeats, the properties of SELP hydrogels can be controlled for specific applications including nucleic acid and virus delivery and tissue engineering. Here, the structure of SELPs is further modified to include a sequence that is sensitive to matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs are a ubiquitous family of extracellular matrix-modifying enzymes that are commonly associated with numerous vital processes. Increased levels of MMPs are found at high levels locally in many types of solid tumors. By modifying the SELP backbone with MMP-sensitive peptide sequences, a hydrogel that is degradable by MMPs was produced. The MMP-sensitivity of the polymer was examined by incubation with MMP-2 and MMP-9, which yielded complete cleavage of all full-length polymers by 36 hours and 48 hours, respectively, with no observable effect on unmodified SELP. Hydrogel sensitivity was tested by exposure to MMP-2 or MMP-9 for 2 weeks, during which samples were taken to analyze protein loss from the hydrogel and release of 100 nm fluorescent beads. Following the incubation period, hydrogels were tested in mechanical compression to examine the loss of hydrogel stiffness due to degradation. It was found that MMP-2 and MMP-9 caused 63% and 44% increased protein loss and 65% and 95% increased release from MMP-sensitive hydrogels, while the compressive modulus decreased by 41% and 29%. These results suggest the potential of MMP-responsive SELPs for localized delivery of bioactive agents where MMPs are overexpressed.
An overlooked feature of tropical climate: Inter‐Pacific‐Atlantic variability

[1] Both the tropical Pacific and Atlantic host an equatorial mode of interannual variability called the Pacific El Nino and the Atlantic Nino, respectively. Although the Pacific El Nino does not correlate with the Atlantic Nino, anomalous warming or cooling of the two equatorial oceans can form an inter-Pacific-Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) gradient variability that induces surface zonal wind anomalies over equatorial South America and over some regions of both ocean basins. The zonal wind anomalies act to bridge the interaction of the two ocean basins, reinforcing the inter-Pacific-Atlantic SST gradient through atmospheric Walker circulations and oceanic dynamics. Thus, a positive feedback seems to exist for climate variability of the tropical Pacific-Atlantic Oceans and atmosphere system, in which the inter-basin SST gradient is coupled to the overlying atmospheric wind. Rainfall responds to the inter-Pacific-Atlantic SST gradient by showing an anti-symmetric configuration between the two equatorial oceans, suggesting that rainfall is sensitive to the equatorial inter-basin SST gradient, regardless of which ocean is anomalously warm or cold.
Simulation of Effects of Redox and Precipitation on Diffusion of Uranium Solution Species in Backfill

This investigation addresses the problem of prediction of the rate of migration of redox-sensitive solution species within packing and backfill materials under conditions of variable oxidation potential. Effects of changes of oxidation potential and precipitation of stable uranium compounds during diffusion of uranium from a region of high oxidation potential into a region of low oxidation potential were simulated numerically. Questions of particular interest addressed in the investigation were the existence of a moving ''redox front'' and the influence of precipitation-dissolution processes on uranium migration. The simulations showed that no expanding redox fronts existed at any simulated time up to 3.2 x 10/sup 5/ years (10/sup 13/ s). In simulations where precipitation of stable solids was not allowed, variations of oxidation potential did not affect total uranium concentrations in solution. Concentration profiles could be predicted simply by diffusion of the (constant) source concentrations. In simulations where precipitation of stable solids was allowed, uraninite and calcium uranate accumulated at the source-transport domain interface, while coffinite penetrated further into the transport domain. Total uranium concentrations in regions of precipitation were determined by solubilities of the precipitated solids, and were six to seven orders of magnitude lower than those in the simulations withoutmore » precipitation, throughout the domain of transport. 14 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.« less
DROUGHT REDUCES ROOT RESPIRATION IN SUGAR MAPLE FORESTS

Soil moisture deficits can reduce root respiration, but the effects have yet to be quantified at the stand level or included in models of forest carbon budgets. We studied fine-root (≤1.0 mm diameter) respiration in four sugar maple forests for three growing seasons in order to assess the combined effects of temperature, N concentration, and soil moisture on respiration rates. Fine-root respiration at the four sites was exponentially related to soil temperature and linearly related to root N concentration and soil moisture availability. Most of the variability in respiration rates was explained by temperature. Differences in soil moisture availability explained temporal variation within sites in respiration rate at a given temperature, whereas differences among sites in respiration rates resulted from site-specific differences in fine-root N concentration. Periodic moisture deficits during 1995 and 1996 were sufficient to cause declines of up to 17% in total growing-season root respiration at affected sit...
Health care satisfaction among osteoarthritis sufferers

Abstract Health care satisfaction ratings were studied in 365 (131 male and 234 female) members of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) (ages 60-89) with osteoarthritis (OA). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis to account for variance in health care ratings showed that subjects with higher satisfaction ratings were older, tended to be male, and made fewer contacts with health care providers over the previous year. They also scored higher on arthritis self-efficacy, showing less perceived disability related to arthritis. Those with higher satisfaction ratings also believed that health care services were more accessible to them, despite their equal access. Of four factor-analytically derived subscales of health care attitudes (inconvenience, reluctance, dependence, and knowledge), only inconvenience and reluctance were significatly correlated with health care satisfaction ratings. The results suggest that perceived symptom control and inconvenience to services are important predictors of health c...
Individualized Survival and Treatment Response Predictions in Breast Cancer Patients: Involvements of Phospho-EGFR and Phospho-Her2/neu Proteins.

Our robust prediction system for individual breast cancer patients combines three well-known machine- learning classifiers to provide stable and accurate clinical outcome prediction (N=269). The average performance of the selected classifiers is used as the evaluation criterion in breast cancer outcome predictions. A profile (incorporating histol- ogy, lymph node status, tumor grade, tumor stage, ER, PR, Her2/neu, patient's age and smoking status) generated over 95% accuracy in individualized disease-free survival and treatment response predictions. Furthermore, our analysis dem- onstrated that the measurement of phospho-EGFR and phospho-Her2/neu is more powerful in breast cancer survival pre- diction than that of total EGFR and total Her2/neu (p < 0.05). The incorporation of hormone receptor status, Her2/neu, pa- tient's age and smoking status into the traditional pathologic markers creates a powerful standard to perform individual- ized survival and treatment outcome predictions for breast cancer patients.
A step toward real-time interactive FIR filter design

This paper outlines the development of a new tool for the digital signal processing engineer. The coupling of a frequency sampling technique for the design of linear-phase FIR filters with recent advances in digital signal processors has led to the development of a real-time interactive FIR filter design technique. The system accepts samples of the desired frequency response as inputs, determines the corresponding linear-phase FIR filter, and implements the filter. This allows the DSP engineer to adjust the filter while simultaneously examining its response to an input signal. The input signal might be a test signal derived from a spectrum analyzer, an audio signal, or any general signal source of interest. This flexibility provides the user with what will hopefully be a valuable tool in a broad variety of digital signal processing applications. The simplicity and utility of the system is further emphasized by the implementation of the system on a single Texas Instruments TMS32010 digital signal processor.
A Portable Sisal Decorticator for Kenyan Farmers

This project analyzed and redesigned the various components of a previously designed sisal decorticator prototype. The sisal plant is easily grown in the arid regions of Kenya and its fiber has widespread industrial and consumer applications. Competition from Brazilian and Chinese sisal growers has made it difficult for small-scale Kenyan sisal farmers to yield a profit. Decorticator machines strip the usable fiber from the sisal leaves. A strong market exists in Kenya and beyond for an affordable and capable decortication device. Based on interaction with University of Nairobi students and faculty, design parameters were assessed and adapted to create a working prototype to meet these needs. Throughout the design process, affordability, energy consumption, transportability, reliability, on-site material and assembly constraints were taken into account. The designs chosen accomplished the project requirements by minimizing cost through material selection and ease of manufacture, and provided adjustable parameters in order to facilitate decortication quality testing. A vertical feed, small diameter decorticator with steel blades transportable via a steel frame with two wheels was determined to be the optimal solution. Testing with actual sisal and variable components enabled quality to be assessed as well as ensured that the designed prototype operated correctly and safely.
Real-world design as a one-semester undergraduate project: example of a robust and low-cost solar lantern

The purpose of this project was to develop a rugged and efficient solar lantern. The lantern was designed to meet the requirements of persons who reside in areas in which access to the electrical grid is limited and whose resources do not permit import of electrical generation capabilities. A representative of a missionary organization operating in Africa developed the original set of specifications for the solar lantern. It will be used by the local school children for doing homework in the evening. These specifications prioritized reliability, ease of operation, rugged construction, portability, and low cost. The resulting design was realized in a single prototype. The design and construction of the prototype was completed as a student/faculty project in the Junior Engineering Clinic course at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. It was funded and directed by ETM Solar Works, a New York-based corporation.
Locating Micro-Events in Long Beach, CA Urban Environment With a Dense Array

Summary Micro-earthquake activity is reported for the first 6 months of 2011 in Long Beach, CA using a density urban exploration seismic network. Detected events include at least four times as many man-made events as possible real earthquakes indicated by repeated locations, and distinct patterns in the hour-of-day and day-of-week origin times. Some discrimination appears possible utilized the earthquake spectral behavior in the wavelet transform domain. The back-projection of the seismic data onto a prescribed fault plane of the Newport-Inglewood fault produces interesting slip patterns over a time window spanning a small earthquake.
Obtaining Parental Perceptions of the Quality of Services for Children with Special Health Needs

Analyzed responses from 295 parents across two service delivery sites to identify specific factors of satisfaction. Although General Satisfaction accounted for most variance, Clarity of Communication, Preappointment Wait and Information, and Clinic Efficiency were also identified as factors. Results are discussed in the context of a collaborative relationship between parents and providers. A shortened questionnaire that efficiently taps these areas of satisfaction is appended.
Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Posterior Tibial Tendon Pathology

We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool for investigating pathology in the posterior tibial tendon by comparing the preoperative ultrasonograms for 17 patients with their recorded surgical findings. In all cases, the surgical findings confirmed the ultrasonographic diagnoses: 3 inflammations, 4 partial tears, and 10 ruptures. Interestingly, two ruptures had been undiagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasonography, which seems to be a reliable means of visualizing the extent of pathology of the symptomatic posterior tibial tendon, may be a valuable tool in surgical planning.
Distributed software testing with specification

A specification-based testing method aimed primarily at detecting errors of distributed systems is presented. This specification technique emphasizes the communication behaviors and the synchronization properties of distributed processes. The functions of behavior specification for the testing method serve two purposes. First, it provides the communication-oriented high-level view of the system, which dictates the method of test case generation. Five test criteria peculiar to distributed software are considered. Test data can be derived from the source code based on the symbolic execution technique applied to each test case. Second, the specification serves as a correct reference model, which helps analyze the communication events of the system execution. Currently, this testing method, as an important support to the INTEGRAL verification and validation system, has been largely realized in a SUN workstation environment. >
Engaging allied-health students with virtual learning environment using course management system tutorial site.

Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II are major gateway courses into nursing and other health related sciences careers. Being a New York City community college, the students at Queensborough Community College are highly diverse not only in their ethnic and cultural background, but also in the levels of preparedness. When they take Human Anatomy-Physiology I as the first pre-requisite class, many are either freshman or returning students after a hiatus. Many students lack formal training in Science or Biology and are overwhelmed by the depth and immensity of the material presented in above courses. Though the enrollment for these classes is heavy; above factors lead to high attrition rates. However one common feature of this new generation of students is their access and familiarity to the internet, digital technology and other techno gadgets such as smart phones, tablets, etc. Though it is hard for us to accept, it is a fact that today’s generation of students (generation Y) is more techno savvy and these gadgets engage (or distract) them more than books. This indicated a clear need for developing alternatives to traditional teaching methods to engage students of an urban community college setting. We decided to investigate if a web-based supplemental tutorial would help engage these students and thus help them build their course knowledge base to improve their academic performance.
Dazoxiben in human sepsis and adult respiratory distress syndrome

Levels of thromboxane B2 (TxB2), the stable metabolite of thromboxane A2, are elevated in human and experimental septic shock. The thromboxane synthetase inhibitor dazoxiben has improved survival and decreased pulmonary hypertension in experimental endotoxemia. A randomized prospective study of 10 patients with the clinical diagnosis of sepsis and early adult respiratory distress syndrome (hypoxemia, radiologic evidence of the syndrome, and intrapulmonary shunt greater than 20%) was performed to test the efficacy of dazoxiben in ameliorating the effects of human sepsis. Five subjects received dazoxiben and five received placebo. Dazoxiben, 100 mg, or placebo was injected intravenously every 4 hours for a maximum of 72 hours. Plasma immunoreactive TxB2 (iTxB2) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Before dazoxiben, the plasma iTxB2 level was 752 +/- 261 pg/ml (n = 5) and was reduced within 1 hour to 333 +/- 137 pg/ml. The plasma levels of iTxB2 remained significantly decreased with subsequent doses of dazoxiben and it was 201 +/- 67 pg/ml (n = 4) 60 hours after dosing. In contrast, placebo had no significant effect on plasma iTxB2 levels (n = 5) throughout the entire period of observation. Dazoxiben did not induce any significant changes in pulmonary or systemic vascular resistance, intrapulmonary shunting, clotting studies, or extravascular lung water. One of the five subjects in the placebo group died and two of the five subjects in the dazoxiben group died. We conclude that dazoxiben was safe and effectively lowered plasma iTxB2 levels in patients with sepsis and incipient adult respiratory distress symptom, but did not significantly alter the hemodynamic and pulmonary sequelae of established sepsis.