cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discovery of novel aminopiperidinyl amide CXCR4 modulators through virtual screening and rational drug design.

Abstract The C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a potential therapeutic target for HIV infection, metastatic cancer, and inflammatory autoimmune diseases. In this study, we screened the ZINC chemical database for novel CXCR4 modulators through a series of in silico guided processes. After evaluating the screened compounds for their binding affinities to CXCR4 and inhibitory activities against the chemoattractant CXCL12, we identified a hit compound (ZINC 72372983) showing 100 nM affinity and 69% chemotaxis inhibition at the same concentration (100 nM). To increase the potency of our hit compound, we explored the protein-ligand interactions at an atomic level using molecular dynamics simulation which enabled us to design and synthesize a novel compound (Z7R) with nanomolar affinity (IC50 = 1.25 nM) and improved chemotaxis inhibition (78.5%). Z7R displays promising anti-inflammatory activity (50%) in a mouse edema model by blocking CXCR4-expressed leukocytes, being supported by our immunohistochemistry study.
Three-Color Phase-Amplitude Holography with a Metasurface Doublet

We report experimental demonstrations of a phase-amplitude metasurface doublet capable of producing 2D artifact-free, full-color holographic images.
The "Empty Merchant Sign" in acute patellar tendon ruptures.

Abstract Introduction We introduce a new sign on a Merchant view present in acute patellar tendon ruptures (APTR). We aim to determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of this new radiographic sign and measure the effect of a tutorial on these measures between trainees and non-trainees. Methods Lateral and Merchant radiographs (22 images) of knees with four conditions (patellar instability, APTR, quadriceps tendon rupture, and controls) were randomly shown to 50 trainees and non-trainees who were asked to make a diagnosis based on radiographs. A brief tutorial was administered describing the “Empty Merchant Sign” and the same 22 images were randomly shown after the tutorial. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were calculated between the two image types and the effect of tutorial on these measures was assessed. Results After the tutorial: 1. the “Empty Merchant Sign” had a higher specificity (100%) and positive predictive value (99%) compared to the lateral radiograph (81% and 64% respectively, P Conclusion The “Empty Merchant Sign” is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic sign in cases of APTR. With very little training, physicians can identify this sign to diagnose APTRs on a Merchant view.
Correlation between Advanced Dental Admission Test performance and dental MATCH success.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES The Advanced Dental Admissions Test was developed in 2016 to aid residency programs evaluate qualified applicants. Since its conception, however, there have been no studies seeking to evaluate the usefulness of the exam regarding an applicants' ability to match with a residency program through the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (MATCH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Advanced Dental Admission Test performance on student MATCH success into a post-doctoral pediatric residency program. METHODS This retrospective study evaluated the academic records of pediatric residency applicants using the ADEA PASS and MATCH program between 2017 and 2019. Five scholastic and 7 demographic variables were extracted from student ADEA PASS applications. Applicant MATCH status and preference was obtained from the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program. Descriptive statistics for each application cycle was calculated and used to evaluate applicant demographic and scholastic data. Correlation coefficients assessed for associations between scholastic/demographic factors and MATCH status/preference. Logistic regression models estimated the probability of MATCH status/preference. Significance was set at 5%. RESULTS An association was found between ADAT scores and MATCH status, but the influence was minimal (odds ratio: 1.004, 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.008). Applicant age (P < 0.0216) and dental schools that ranked students (P < 0.0002) were the most significant factors for MATCH status and preference, respectively. CONCLUSIONS ADAT scores played a minimal role in applicants matching to pediatric residency programs. Applicant age and schools that provide class ranks were found to be significant predictors when considering MATCH status and preference to pediatric residency programs.
Intraoperative Correction of Cochlear Implant Electrode Translocation.

INTRODUCTION Translocation of precurved cochlear implant (CI) electrodes reduces hearing outcomes, but it is not known whether it is possible to correct scalar translocation such that all electrodes reside fully in the scala tympani (ST). METHODS Six cadaveric temporal bones were scanned with CT and segmented to delineate intracochlear anatomy. Mastoidectomy with facial recess was performed. Precurved CI electrodes (CI532; Cochlear Limited) were implanted until scalar translocation was confirmed with postoperative CT. Then, electrodes were removed and replaced. CT scan was repeated to assess for translocation correction. Scalar position of electrode contacts, angular insertion depth (AID) of the electrode array, and M- (average distance between each electrode contact and the modiolus) were measured. An in vivo case is reported in which intraoperative translocation detection led to removal and replacement of the electrode. RESULTS Five of 6 cadaveric translocations (83%) were corrected with 1 attempt, resulting in full ST insertions. AID averaged 285 ± 77° for translocated electrodes compared to 344 ± 28° for nontranslocated electrodes (p = 0.109). M- averaged 0.75 ± 0.18 mm for translocated electrodes and 0.45 ± 0.11 mm for nontranslocated electrodes (p = 0.016). Reduction in M- with translocation correction averaged 38%. In the in vivo case, translocation was successfully corrected in a single attempt. CONCLUSION Scalar translocation of precurved CI electrodes can be corrected by removal and reinsertion. This significantly improves the perimodiolar positioning of these electrodes. There was a high rate of success (83%) in this cadaveric model as well as a successful in vivo attempt.
Responses of two introduced larval parasitoids to the invasive emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) infesting a novel host plant, white fringe tree: Implication for biological control

Abstract Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis is a buprestid species native to Asia, where it is a pest of ash trees, Fraxinus spp. Since it was accidentally introduced to the United States in the 1990s, this beetle has become one of the most destructive invasive pests of North American ash trees. In 2015 it was found attacking the white fringe tree, Chionanthus virginicus, indicating the potential for host range expansion. This study evaluates the responses of two introduced larval parasitoids, Spathius agrili and S. galinae, to EAB larvae infesting this novel host plant. Third to fourth instar EAB larvae reared with tropical ash in the laboratory were inserted into green ash and white fringe tree bolts. Infested bolts were exposed to gravid females of both Spathius spp. under no-choice and S. galinae under choice testing conditions. No-choice testing indicated no difference in parasitism rate on EAB larvae between white fringe and green ash for either parasitoid species. Two-choice testing with S. galinae also indicated no difference in parasitism rate when green ash was an option. Sex ratio and brood size were unaffected by host substrate for EAB, but both species emerged sooner on EAB in white fringe tree under no-choice conditions. EAB larvae can be successfully parasitized in white fringe tree under laboratory conditions. These results indicate that S. agrili and S. galinae have potential to attack EAB larvae infesting white fringe tree.
Learning Few-Shot Chest X-Ray Diagnosis Using Images From The Published Scientific Literature

A trained radiologist may learn the visual presentation of a new disease by looking at a few relevant image examples in research articles. However, training a machine learning model in such a manner is an arduous task not only due to the small number of labeled training images but also for the low resolution of such images. We design a few-shot learning method that can diagnose new diseases from chest x-rays utilizing only a few relevant labeled x-ray images from the published literature. Our method uses prior knowledge about other diseases for feature extraction from x-rays of new diseases. We formulate a classifier that is initially trained with a few labeled feature vectors corresponding to low-resolution images from the PubMed Central. The classifier is subsequently re-trained using unlabeled feature vectors corresponding to high-resolution x-ray images. Experiments on publicly available datasets show the superiority of the proposed method to several state-of-the-art few-shot learning techniques for chest x-ray diagnosis.
Corticospinal Tract Microstructure Predicts Distal Arm Motor Improvements in Chronic Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The corticospinal tract (CST) is a crucial brain pathway for distal arm and hand motor control. We aimed to determine whether a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived CST metric predicts distal upper extremity (UE) motor improvements in chronic stroke survivors. METHODS We analyzed clinical and neuroimaging data from a randomized controlled rehabilitation trial. Participants completed clinical assessments and neuroimaging at baseline and clinical assessments 4 months later, postintervention. Using univariate linear regression analysis, we determined the linear relationship between the DTI-derived CST fractional anisotropy asymmetry (FAasym) and the percentage of baseline change in log-transformed average Wolf Motor Function Test time for distal items (ΔlnWMFT-distal_%). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) linear regressions with cross-validation and bootstrapping were used to determine the relative weighting of CST FAasym, other brain metrics, clinical outcomes, and demographics on distal motor improvement. Logistic regression analyses were performed to test whether the CST FAasym can predict clinically significant UE motor improvement. RESULTS lnWMFT-distal significantly improved at the group level. Baseline CST FAasym explained 26% of the variance in ΔlnWMFT-distal_%. A multivariate LASSO model including baseline CST FAasym, age, and UE Fugl-Meyer explained 39% of the variance in ΔlnWMFT-distal_%. Further, CST FAasym explained more variance in ΔlnWMFT-distal_% than the other significant predictors in the LASSO model. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS CST microstructure is a significant predictor of improvement in distal UE motor function in the context of an UE rehabilitation trial in chronic stroke survivors with mild-to-moderate motor impairment.Video Abstract available for more insight from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A350).
The Relationship Between Perifoveal L-Cone Isolating Visual Acuity and Cone Photoreceptor Spacing-Understanding the Transition Between Healthy Aging and Early AMD.

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial degenerative disorder that can lead to irreversible loss of visual function, with aging being the prime risk factor. However, knowledge about the transition between healthy aging and early AMD is limited. We aimed to examine the relationship between psychophysical measures of perifoveal L-cone acuity and cone photoreceptor structure in healthy aging and early AMD. Methods and Results: Thirty-nine healthy participants, 10 with early AMD and 29 healthy controls were included in the study. Multimodal high-resolution retinal images were obtained with adaptive-optics scanning-light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO), optical-coherence tomography (OCT), and color fundus photographs. At 5 degrees retinal eccentricity, perifoveal L-cone isolating letter acuity was measured with psychophysics, cone inner segment and outer segment lengths were measured using OCT, while cone density, spacing, and mosaic regularity were measured using AOSLO. The Nyquist sampling limit of cone mosaic (N c ) was calculated for each participant. Both L-cone acuity and photoreceptor inner segment length declined with age, but there was no association between cone density nor outer segment length and age. A multiple regression showed that 56% of the variation in log L-cone acuity was accounted for by N c when age was taken into account. Six AMD participants with low risk of progression were well within confidence limits, while two with medium-to-severe risk of progression were outliers. The observable difference in cone structure between healthy aging and early AMD was a significant shortening of cone outer segments. Conclusion: The results underscore the resilience of cone structure with age, with perifoveal functional changes preceding detectable changes in the cone photoreceptor mosaic. L-cone acuity is a sensitive measure for assessing age-related decline in this region. The transition between healthy aging of cone structures and changes in cone structures secondary to early AMD relates to outer segment shortening.
Decentering Power: Students as Partners in Dance Education

This article aims to examine the integration of Students as Partners (SaP) in dance education. An SaP teaching framework has been embraced by academic educators from various disciplines to improve ...
Bioactive Properties of Sphingosine and Structurally Related Compounds

Although sphingosine was discovered over 100 years ago (Thudichum, 1884), there was relatively little interest in the long-chain base backbones of sphingolipids until they were found to be potent inhibitors of protein kinase C (Hannun et al., 1986; Merrill et al.,1986; Wilson et al., 1986). This raised the possibility that cells utilize hydrolysis products of sphingolipids to regulate cell behavior, in analogy to the lipid second messengers (diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, etc.) that are derived from phosphoglycerolipids (Hannun and Bell, 1989). Subsequent studies have uncovered other systems that are affected by sphingosine, and have found that N-acyl-sphingosines (ceramides) (Okazaki et al.,1989; Hannun, 1994; Kolesnick and Golde, 1994), sphingosine 1-phosphate (Spiegel, 1993), and probably other metabolites are involved in cell signaling. Furthermore, a number of potent mycotoxins have recently been shown to act via disruption of long-chain base metabolism (Merrill et al., 1993b), and long-chain bases have been directly linked to the etiology of diseases that range in symptoms from neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and immunotoxicity to cancer.
Using parallelism to compensate for extended precision in path tracking for polynomial system solving

Solving polynomial systems by homotopy continuation consists of two stages: we first define a family of systems, the homotopy, and then we track the solution paths defined by the homotopy. Tracking all paths is a pleasingly parallel computation. The problem we consider in this thesis is tracking one solution path when use of extended precision is required. While tracking only one solution path could occur for systems of larger dimensions and degrees, as it is no longer feasible to compute all solutions, the need to track one difficult path with multiprecision arithmetic often arises for bigger systems. The main subject of this thesis is compensating for the extra cost of double double (DD) and of quad double (QD) precision in path tracking for sparse polynomial systems of moderate sizes by employing multiple cores. First we obtained a scalable multithreaded DD/QD version of Newton's method and subsequently of a path tracker. We achieved on eight cores for moderate systems close to maximal speedups in quad double path tracking. It appeared that in dimensions in which our DD/QD multithreaded path tracker achieves good speedups, with the use of some widely accepted algorithms for sparse polynomial systems, which we originally integrated into our multithreaded path tracker and its input processing procedure, both the path tracking and input processing take an unacceptably long time. Subsequently we have greatly increased the efficiency of our multithreaded implementation in working dimensions by improvements in three different directions. First we suggested a new input processing procedure based on functionality of a Standard Template Library (STL) sorted associative container. Secondly we came up with a choice of much more suitable predictor. Thirdly we integrated into our multithreaded implementation a prudent algorithm for polynomial evaluation and differentiation, which is based on the ideas of reverse mode Automatic Differentiation (AD). Recently we efficiently accelerated with general purpose graphics unit the same AD-like algorithm for polynomial evaluation and differentiation. We obtained two digit speedups for moderate systems as hardware double arithmetic is used.
Pain, Pain Everywhere…Almost

Reports on the prevalence of pain in our society are staggering. This is particularly true for seniors [1]. Data indicate that half of the people over the age of 65 are not functioning at their optimal level because of interference from pain [2–4]. In 1997, a telephone survey was reported as indicating that >50% of older adults had taken prescriptions of pain medication beyond a 6-month period and that 45% had seen at least three physicians for pain, in the prior 5 years [5]. For certain populations, the numbers are even more disconcerting. For example, in a nursing-home environment, estimates are that anywhere from half to 80% of residents have pain, with analgesics being used in 40–50% of residents [6–9]. Further analysis indicates that almost a quarter of patients with daily pain did not receive any analgesics [10]. Additionally, long-term care data indicate that over 40% of patients, who were known to have pain at an initial assessment, had worsening or severe pain at the time of the second assessment 2–6 months later [11]. Many of these seniors, including those with diseases recognized to have a strong association with pain, such as ­cancer, are inadequately or not treated at all with analgesics [12, 13]. Even dying patients can be expected to suffer persistent severe pain in the long-term care ­setting, at rates exceeding 40% [11].
Finding an Appropriate Ethic in a World of Moral Acquaintances

This paper discusses the possibility of finding an ethic of at least partial and perhaps ever-growing content in a world not that of moral strangers (where we have nothing except our desire to live freely to unite us) and one of moral friends (in which values, goals and ways of doing things are held in common). I argue that both the world of moral strangers which Engelhardt's world view would support, as the world of moral friends which is the one Pellegrino seeks both are untenable and that furthermore both can lead to a similar state of affairs. I suggest a dynamic world of moral acquaintances in which different belief systems and ways of doing things can come to some broad agreements about some essential thing. This is made possible because although we do not share the intimate framework Pellegrino might suggest, yet we are united by a much broader framework than the one moral strangers share.
On the Value of Phenomenology Across Disciplines and Traditions

Philosophical phenomenology has often been regarded as having more to do with subjective psychology and exegesis than with contemporary problems facing analytical cognitive science. Dan Zahavi, in his book Subjectivity and Selfhood, strongly challenges this understanding of phenomenology by focusing upon the relations among experience, self-awareness, and selfhood and, thereby, providing an account of the self that has significance for cognitive scientists and analytical philosophers of mind, as well as for phenomenologists. Although the subjective element of consciousness or, rather, the phenomenal first-person perspective has enjoyed greater attention in recent years, Zahavi claims that the utility of philosophical phenomenology stretches beyond its usual limits of analyzing the nature of consciousness. Phenomenology, Zahavi writes, "can also offer a conceptual framework for understanding subjectivity that might be of considerably more value than some of the models currently in vogue in cognitive science" (p. 5). Specifically, Zahavi targets higher-order representational theories. He also critiques the view that the experience of oneself or others as minded beings requires a theory of mind. This is commonly referred to as the theory-theory of mind view. According to this view, an understanding of the mind from both the first-person and third-person perspective is founded upon theoretical knowledge. One important implication of this view is that human beings must first acquire a basis of theoretical knowledge before a first-person perspective of the self as a minded being and the understanding of other humans as minded beings can take place. Zahavi critiques the theory-theory of mind view as uninformed insofar as it denies the fundamental importance of an understanding of the mind as acquired through phenomenal experience. In this clearly written and carefully articulated book, Zahavi succeeds in moving philosophical phenomenology forward and into its deserved role in discussions concerning the nature of the self and consciousness through thoughtful
Intelligent Simulation in Designing Complex Dynamic Control Systems

We develop Phase Space Navigator, an autonomous system for control synthesis of nonlinear dynamical systems. The Phase Space Navigator automatically designs a controller for a nonlinear system in phase space. It generates global control laws by synthesizing the desired phase-space flow “shapes” for the system and intelligently planning and navigating the system along desired control trajectories in phase space. It is particularly suitable for synthesizing high-performance control systems that do not lend themselves to traditional design and analysis techniques. It can also assist control engineers in exploring much larger design spaces than otherwise possible.
Incorporation of active RF circuit elements into additively manufactured substrates

Additive Manufacturing processes have matured in recent years and are now being applied to the rapid fabrication of functional electromagnetic structures and devices such as waveguides, antennae, and metamaterials. Key to a successful breakthrough into commercial viability for the industry is the incorporation of active RF elements. In this paper, we note some of the difficulties associated with including active elements within additively manufactured substrate designs, and report measurements from a microstrip transmission line with its transmission tuned by a voltage controlled analog phase shifter embedded within a 3D printed substrate. The results indicate that while active elements can be incorporated, performance could be improved by certain design and fabrication changes.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of Heisenberg Spin Exchange in a Nematic Liquid Crystal

Abstract The effects of Heisenberg spin exchange on the linewidths of the nitroxide free radical di-tert-butyl nitroxide (DTBN) in the nematic liquid crystal N-(p-Methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline (MBBA) have been measured as a function of the temperature and concentration of the free radical. At higher temperatures (>20°C) the spectra are analyzed in terms of spin exchange interactions using Freed's formalism, modified to take into account the anisotropic nature of the viscosity of the liquid crystal. At lower temperatures (< 20°C) it is observed that magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between partially oriented DTBN molecules becomes important.
Humanin preserves endothelial function and prevents atherosclerotic plaque progression in hypercholesterolemic ApoE deficient mice.

Objective Humanin (HN) is a cytoprotective peptide derived from endogenous mitochondria, expressed in the endothelial layer of human vessels, but its role in atherogenesis in vivo is not known. In vitro study, however, HN reduced oxidized low-density lipoprotein induced formation of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. The present study tested the hypothesis that long term treatment with HN will have a protective role against endothelial dysfunction and progression of atherosclerosis in vivo.
Bayesian Belief Networks to Integrate Monitoring Evidence of Water Distribution System Contamination

A Bayesian belief network (BBN) methodology is proposed for combining evidence to better characterize contamination events and reduce false positive sensor detections in drinking water distribution systems. A BBN is developed that integrates sensor data with other validating evidence of contamination scenarios. This network is used to graphically express the causal relationships between events such as operational changes or a true contaminant release and consequent observable evidence in an example distribution system. In the BBN methodology proposed here, multiple computer simulations of contaminant transport are used to estimate the prior probabilities of a positive sensor detection. These simulations are run over multiple combinations of possible source locations and initial mass injections for a conservative solute. This approach provides insight into the effect of uncertainties in source mass and location on the detection probability of the sensors. In addition, the simulations identify the upstream ...
Host recognition of Clostridium difficile and the innate immune response.

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, spore forming bacillus and the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in the United States. Clinical outcomes of C. difficile infection (CDI) range from asymptomatic colonization to pseudomembranous colitis, sepsis and death. Disease is primarily mediated by the action of the Rho-glucosylating toxins A and B, which induce potent pro-inflammatory signaling within the host. The role of this inflammatory response during infection is just beginning to be appreciated, with recent data suggesting inflammatory markers correlate closely with disease severity. In addition to the toxins, multiple innate immune signaling pathways have been implicated in establishing an inflammatory response during infection. In intoxication-based models of disease, inflammation typically enhances pathogenesis, while protection from infection seems to require some level of inflammatory response. Thus, the host immune response plays a key role in shaping the course of infection and a balanced inflammatory response which eradicates infection without damaging host tissues is likely required for successful resolution of disease.
Molecular components of the archaeal nucleosome.

Abstract Here we describe the organization of the archaeal nucleosome, in which four archaeal histones are circumscribed by ∼80 bp of DNA. Through a combination of sequence comparisons, 3D structural studies, site-directed mutagenesis and assays for DNA binding, we have assigned functions to most of the individual residues in the histone fold of the representative archaeal histone rHMfB. By SELEX selection, the sequences of DNA molecules that are most readily bound and wrapped by rHMfB into archaeal nucleosomes in vitro have been identified, and these define DNA structures that position archaeal nucleosome assembly.
A dark and constitutively active mutant of the tiger salamander UV pigment.

A triple mutant (F86L/T93P/S118T; bovine rhodopsin numbering) of the tiger salamander UV cone pigment appears to be trapped in an open conformation that is metarhodopsin-II-like. The pigment is able to activate transducin in the dark, and the ligand-free apoprotein is also able to activate transducin constitutively. The pigment permits protons and chloride ions from solution access to the active site as it displays a pH- and NaCl-dependent absorption spectrum not observed with the wild-type pigment. However, the wild-type properties of light-dependent activity and a pH-independent absorption spectrum are recovered upon reconstitution of the triple mutant with 11-cis-9-demethyl retinal. These results suggest that binding the native chromophore cannot deactivate the protein because of steric interactions between the protein, possibly residue 118, and the 9-methyl group of the chromophore. Furthermore, the absorption spectrum of the 9-demethyl retinal regenerated pigment exhibits a band broader and with lowe...
Isolation and characterization of an intracellular serine protease from Rhodococcus erythropolis

Abstract An intracellular serine protease from the bacterium Rhodococcus erythropolis was partially purified and characterized. The enzyme, which is present in the 100,000g supernatant fraction of disrupted cells, was purified 160-fold by ammonium sulfate fractionation, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-150, hydroxyapatite, and benzamidine-glycylglycine-Sepharose. The molecular weight of the protease estimated by gel filtration was 82,000. The subunit molecular weight of the protein was estimated to be 90,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Thus, the enzyme appears to be a monomer. The purified enzyme preparation hydrolyzed several arginine-containing synthetic substrates; benzoyl-arginine-4-methyl-7-coumarylamide was routinely used as substrate. Hemoglobin, casein, and azocasein were also hydrolyzed. No carboxypeptidase activity was detected. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 7.0–7.2. The protease was not affected by inhibitors of cysteine proteases (iodoacetate), aspartic proteases (pepstatin), or metallo-proteases (EDTA). Inhibition was observed with the serine protease inhibitor diisopropylfluorophosphate. Several trypsin inhibitors (tosyl-lysine chloromethyl ketone, antipain, leupeptin, 4-aminobenzamidine, ovomucoid, and gramicidin S) inhibited the Rhodococcus protease, but others did not (phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, lima bean trypsin inhibitor, aprotinin, α-1-antitrypsin). Salts with monovalent cations (e.g., NaCl, KCl) activated the protease two-to threefold at ionic strengths of 0.2 to 0.5. MgCl2 stimulated activity fourfold at ionic strengths of 0.05 to 0.15; CaCl2 stimulated activity (1.5-fold) maximally at an ionic strength of 0.05 and inhibited above 0.15.
Maturation of pulmonary input impedance spectrum in infants and children with ventricular septal defect

Abstract To determine whether pulmonary vascular disease can be detected in infants with ventricular septal defect (VSD) by the presence of an increase in the frequency of the impedance modulus minimum of the pulmonary input impedance spectrum, as has been implied for older children, spectra of 25 infants (2 years or younger) (group 1) were compared with spectra of 20 children (ages 2 to 7 years) (group 2). Groups were subdivided according to mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressure: those with moderate pressure levels (35 mm Hg or less, groups 1A and 2A) and those with high pressure levels (at least 40 mm Hg, groups 1B and 2B). Pulmonary vascular resistance, characteristic impedance and frequency of the modulus minimum were significantly lower in group 2A than in group 1A. The decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and characteristic impedance with increasing age was consistent with body surface area increases; however, the shift in frequency of the modulus minimum could be more easily related to a decrease in the pulse wave velocity than to a shift in the primary reflection site. Pulmonary vascular resistance, characteristic impedance and the frequency of the first modulus minimum were comparable in groups 1B and 2B; however, none of the patients in group 1B had evidence of pulmonary damage, whereas 3 of 4 group 2B patients had microscopically apparent pulmonary vascular disease. This evidence suggests that the importance of a shift in the frequency of the modulus minimum is dependent on patient age and characteristic impedance and that elevated characteristic impedance may indicate a slowing of the normal developmental process of proximal pulmonary vessels, which serves as a temporary protective mechanism for the peripheral pulmonary vascular bed.
Intense Infrared Luminescence in Transparent Glass-Ceramics Containing β-Ga2O3:Ni2+ Nanocrystals

Transparent glass-ceramics containing beta-Ga2O3:Ni2+ nanocrystals were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Intense broad-band luminescence centering at 1200 nm was observed when the sample was excited by a diode laser at 980 nm. The room-temperature fluorescent lifetime was 665 mu s, which is longer than the Ni2+-doped ZnAl2O4 and LiGa5O8 glass-ceramics and is also comparable to the Ni2+-doped LiGa5O8 single crystal. The intense infrared luminescence with long fluorescent lifetime may be ascribed to the high crystal field hold by Ni2+ and the moderate lattice phonon energy of beta-Ga2O3. The excellent optical properties of this novel material indicate that it might be a promising candidate for broad-band amplifiers and room-temperature tunable lasers.
Pitting of titanium alloys in saline waters

Abstract Electrochemical aspects of the corrosion of titanium and a number of its alloys were studied in flowing, high-temperature salt solutions at temperatures up to 220° in a titanium loop facility. Measured polarization curves show that a pitting potential exists at sufficiently high potentials for all the alloys. Increase of temperature greatly affects the pitting potentials of titanium alloys. Plots of pitting potential as a function of temperature are reproducible and quite characteristic of each grade of titanium alloy and show clearly which alloys are superior in tendency towards pitting attack. The results suggest an upper temperature limit of usefulness for many titanium alloys without risk of severe localized attack. Alloys of titanium which contain molybdenum show promise for application in high-temperature saline waters.
ATTENTION, MEMORY AND LEARNING ARE INVERSELY RELATED TO DEGREE OF IRON DEFICIENCY IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES. † 801

Objective: To examine the association in adolescents between iron deficiency and specific neurocognitive functions, including attention, memory and learning. Methods: 28 girls, age 15 +/- 1.5 years, all> Tanner III, participated. New patients to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Adolescent Medicine are routinely screened with a Complete Blood Count (CBC). Indications of possible iron deficiency are mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 12.5%. Girls with suspected iron deficiency and with normal values underwent several hematological tests: hemoglobin (hb), MCV, iron, total iron binding capacity(% Saturation), and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP). All also underwent a 2-hour neurocognitive battery: measures of intelligence (Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-III, WISC-III, Information and Picture Completion subtests), attention (Digit Vigilance Test), memory and learning(Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, WRAML, and Child Selective Reminding Test) and behavior (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL, internalizing and externalizing scores). Results: 10 girls were found to have normal iron status; 10 were iron depleted but not anemic; 8 were iron deficient and anemic. Below are the correlation coefficients of the neurocognitive and behavioral battery versus hematological parameters. Values in bold are in the expected direction and significant at p<.05. Values with * are p<.10. Table Discussion: These data suggest that reductions in circulating levels of iron during adolescence are associated with adverse effects on aspects of neurocognitive and behavioral function. These associations can be identified in some non-anemic but iron-depleted individuals.
Anatomy of an educational network database system

The construction of the systems software necessary to support arbitrary network databases is described. The software consists of two packages. First, there is a data description language compiler, which accepts a conceptual description of an arbitrary network and reduces it to a set of specialized data structures. The second component is a set of data manipulation language access routines, which are callable from an application program to store and retrieve data from the structures. The software is essentially an implementation of the CODASYL proposal, although the treatment of sets has been simplified. The main thrust of the discussion is the representation of nodes and sets of an arbitrary network by certain data structures. The software was written to provide a system on which students could practice database design problems and to illustrate systems programming techniques common in database software.
Woodland period ceramic provenance and the exchange of Swift Creek Complicated Stamped vessels in the southeastern United States

Results of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of Middle and Late Woodland pottery (n = 313) and clay (n = 22) samples from northeastern Florida and southeastern Georgia are presented. Assemblages in this region include Swift Creek Complicated Stamped pottery that preserves unique evidence of social interactions through the inimitable qualities of designs stamped into vessel surfaces. Archaeologists have proffered various hypotheses to explain movement of ceramic vessels or the carved wooden paddles used in the manufacture of these vessels. This study tests these hypotheses and indicates that nonlocal vessels, particularly complicated stamped ones, were deposited almost exclusively in mortuary contexts, a pattern that requires new explanations for the role of pottery in social interactions. These data are being integrated with a larger project that aims to reveal the social processes that were tied to the manufacture, use, and distribution of pottery.
Palonosetron in the management of chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving multiple-day chemotherapy

Prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a key component of treatment for patients with cancer. Guidelines are available to assist prescribers in the management of CINV associated with single-day chemotherapy regimens. However, currently there are no clear guidelines for management of CINV in patients receiving multiple-day chemotherapy regimens. Serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonists are a mainstay in preventing CINV, and palonosetron, given its longer half-life and duration of action relative to other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, may be a useful option for managing CINV in multiple-day chemotherapy. Here we provide an overview of CINV and CINV treatment options, with a focus on palonosetron. We describe existing challenges in managing CINV, and discuss two patients receiving multiple-day chemotherapy, in whom CINV was managed successfully with palonosetron.
Weighted perceptual difference model (case-PDM) for MR image quality evaluation

The perceptual difference model (Case-PDM) is being used to quantify image quality of fast, parallel MR acquisitions and reconstruction algorithms by comparing to slower, full k-space, high quality reference images. To date, most perceptual difference models average a single scalar image quality metric over a large region of interest. In this paper, we create an alternative metric weighted to image processing features. Spatial filters were applied to the reference image to create edge and flat region images, then weighted and aggregated to create "structural" images which in turn spatially weighted the perceptual difference maps. We optimized the scale of the spatial filters and weighting scheme with an exhaustive search so as to improve the linear correlation coefficient between human ratings and weighted Case-PDM, across a large set of MR reconstruction test images of varying quality. Human ratings were obtained from a modified Double Stimulus Continuous Quality Scale experiment. For 5 different images (3 different brain, 1 cardiac, and 1 phantom images), r values [weighted PDM, average PDM] were improved ([0.96, 0.94], [0.93, 0.91], [0.97, 0.95], [0.97, 0.91], [0.96, 0.95]) in all cases. The method is robust across subjects and anatomy; that is, scores maintain a high correlation with human ratings even if the test dataset is different from the training dataset.
Cancer gene therapy

Developments in molecular genetics, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, and tumor biology have given rise to the field of cancer gene therapy. Several gene delivery vehicles have been developed and are being examined in clinical trials. Most cancer gene therapy strategies involve introduction of genes to augment existing therapies. An overview is provided on gene delivery vehicles, gene therapy strategies, and cancer gene therapy clinical trials.
Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells Induce Endothelial Adherens Junction Integrity by Sphingosine-1-Phosphate–Mediated Rac1 and Cdc42 Signaling

Rationale: Little is known about the contribution of bone marrow–derived progenitor cells (BMPCs) in the regulation endothelial barrier function as defined by microvascular permeability alterations at the level of adherens junctions (AJs). Objective: We investigated the role of BMPCs in annealing AJs and thereby in preventing lung edema formation induced by endotoxin (LPS). Methods and Results: We observed that BMPCs enhanced basal endothelial barrier function and prevented the increase in pulmonary microvascular permeability and edema formation in mice after LPS challenge. Coculture of BMPCs with endothelial cells induced Rac1 and Cdc42 activation and AJ assembly in endothelial cells. However, transplantation of BMPCs isolated from sphingosine kinase-1–null mice ( SPHK1 −/− ), having impaired S1P production, failed to activate Rac1 and Cdc42 or protect the endothelial barrier. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that BMPCs have the ability to reanneal endothelial AJs by paracrine S1P release in the inflammatory milieu and the consequent activation of Rac-1 and Cdc42 in endothelial cells.
A Comparison of B12, Fish Solubles and Whey in the Growth of Chicks

Abstract SINCE the discovery of vitamin B12 there have been numerous reports concerning the presence of additional factors required by chicks for maximum growth. Menge, Combs and Shorb (1949) showed that liver products and dried whey contained an unidentified growth factor required by chicks fed a purified diet. Subsquently, Combs et al. (1950) using a practical type of ration presented evidence of two unidentified factors in liver. Chicks responded significantly to levels of liver paste dialysate, containing either of these factors, which supplied unappreciable amounts of vitamin B12. Menge, Combs and Hsu (1951) described the response of chicks and poults to two separate unidentified factors, one of which was contained in certain liver preparations and dried brewers’ yeast, and the other in dried whey. A description of some physical and chemical properties of the liver factor indicated its nonidentity with vitamin B12. Reed et al. (1951) reported that dried whey improved . . .
Competitiveness, Cohesion, and Governance: Their Implications for Social Justice

The formulation of this program assumed, in the words of the Economicand Social Research Council framing document (ESRC, n.d.), that ‘social cohesionfacilitates urban economic development and, conversely, [that] social exclusion erodeslong-run competitive capacity’; that is, the competitive advantage of cities is enhanced bysocial cohesion.
An historical context of modern principles in the management of intracranial injury from projectiles

The contemporary management of projectile head injuries owes much to the lessons neurosurgeons have distilled from their experiences in war. Through early investigation and an increasingly detailed account of wartime clinical experience, neurosurgeons—including the field's early giants—began to gain a greater understanding not only of intracranial missile pathophysiology but also of appropriate management. In this paper, the authors trace the development of the principles of managing intracranial projectile injury from the Crimean War in the 19th century through the Vietnam War to provide a context that frames a summary of today's core management principles.
Geometric metrology I. Separation functionals in tolerance assessment

Abstract Geometric metrology represents a fundamental shift in viewpoint in regard to the analysis and interpretation of measurement data sets associated with metrological analysis. Geometric metrology is based on the notion of a separation functional and provides a unifying and conceptual framework to describe the shape variability of manufactured artefacts. The methodology is simple and intuitive, provides a complementary perspective to normal metrological analysis, enlarges the class of shapes that can be accommodated in terms of minimum zone separation, and provides a means to classify, categorize and quantify manufactured objects. Geometric metrology allows dimensional tolerances to be generalized and evaluated in a geometric framework, and includes the normal “one-number” compliance test as a first-order approximation in shape differences. The separation functional is the basic object of interest in geometric metrology, and is useful to visualize, interpret, and analyze the measurement data, as well as to extract (additional) information from the measurement process not available using normal techniques. The minimum zone separation functional for a metrological artefact is computed for a simple planar region representing the measurement data and an arbitrary convex polygon as the perfect form. The zone separation functional for a perfect form is then introduced and computed in closed-form for several special cases. The perfect form functional allows several new measures associated with the manufactured artefact to be computed and compared with its nominal form. An equivalence class of artefacts is defined using the separation functional, and a description of form based on a compliance vector generalizes the usual tolerance inspection test. A global measure of shape difference between the actual and nominal artefact is described using the separation functional.
Anti-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis

A case of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis with an atypical finding of transient increased intracranial pressure is reported. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis is an underrecognized, novel and treatable form of encephalitis being increasingly identified as an explanation of encephalitis in young adults. Management of these patients requires a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, internists, nursing and rehabilitation staff. It is important for internists to recognize this condition and consider it in the differential diagnosis of encephalopathy. Internists also need to be familiar with the clinical manifestations and the treatment of the disease as they have an important role in the care of these patients during their prolonged stay in the hospital. Increased intracranial pressure is an atypical and underrecognized finding that has been only noted in a previous review on this disorder. It may present a diagnostic or management challenge in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis.