cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retargeted Clostridial Neurotoxins as Novel Agents for Treating Chronic Diseases

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) A and B are used to treat neuropathic disorders; if retargeted, these agents could be used to treat medical conditions that involve secretion from nonneuronal cells. Here, we report novel strategies for successfully retargeting BoNTs, and also tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT), to primary human blood monocyte-derived macrophages where BoNT/B inhibited the release of tumor necrosis factor-α, a cytokine that plays a key role in inflammation. Furthermore, mice treated with retargeted BoNT/B exhibited a significant reduction in macrophage (MΦ) recruitment, indicating that these toxins can be used to treat chronic inflammation.
The Key to the South: Britain, the United States, and Thailand during the Approach of the Pacific War, 1929-1942

It has been fifty years since Thailand's 1942 declaration of war on Britain and the United States. This study examines the accelerating Western struggle with Japan for control over "independent" Thailand, a country at the strategic crossroads of Southeast Asia and recognized as "The Key to the South." On the eve of Pearl Harbor this culminated in arguments between Roosevelt, Churchill, and Eden as to whether the West should attack or defend this neutral country.
Aberrant interaction of calmodulin with the ryanodine receptor develops hypertrophy in the neonatal cardiomyocyte.

We have recently shown that the inter-domain interaction between the two domains of ryanodine receptor (RyR), calmodulin binding domain (CaMBD) and CaM-like domain (CaMLD), activates the Ca2+ channel, and this process is called ‘formation of activation-link’ [Gangopadhyay, J. P. and Ikemoto, N. (2008) Biochem. J. 411 415–423]. Thus, CaM that is bound to the CaMBD is expected to interfere the activation-link formation, thereby stabilizing the closed state of channel under normal conditions. Here we report that upon stimulation of neonatal cardiomyocytes with pro-hypertrophy agonist endothelin-1 (ET-1), CaM dissociates from the RyR, which induces a series of intracellular events: increased frequency of Ca2+ transients, translocation of the signaling molecules CaM, CaM kinase II (CaMKII) and the transcription factor N-FAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cell) to the nucleus; then these events lead to the development of hypertrophy. Importantly anti-CaMBD antibody that interferes with the activation-link formation prevented all of these intracellular events that would have been triggered by ET-1, and then prevented the development of hypertrophy. These results indicate that the aberrant formation of the activation-link between CaMBD and CaMLD of RyR is a key step in the development of hypertrophy in cultured cardiomyocytes.
Chronic use of triazolam in patients with periodic leg movements, fragmented sleep and daytime sleepiness

Many studies have shown a relationship between fragmented nocturnal sleep and daytime sleepiness. In the current study, 9 patients, aged 55-79, with fragmented nocturnal sleep secondary to periodic leg movements and objective daytime sleepiness, as verified by Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), had 12 weeks of treatment with 0.125 mg of triazolam following 2 screening nights and 2 placebo baseline nights; 2 final placebo nights were placed 5 nights following the last medication night. The medication increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency throughout the administration period, as compared to average placebo values; total leg movements were not changed. Generally, daytime performance, as measured by a vigilance task, and objective alertness, as measured by MSLT, were improved following the use of triazolam. No adverse reactions or significant side effects were noted. It was concluded that 0.125 mg triazolam, when used for up to 3 months, could improve sleep and daytime function in older patients with periodic leg movements, fragmented sleep, and daytime sleepiness. (Aging 3: 321-332, 1991)
Low-dimensional-structure self-learning and thresholding: Regularization beyond compressed sensing for MRI Reconstruction

An improved image reconstruction method from undersampled k-space data, low-dimensional-structure self-learning and thresholding (LOST), which utilizes the structure from the underlying image is presented. A low-resolution image from the fully sampled k-space center is reconstructed to learn image patches of similar anatomical characteristics. These patches are arranged into "similarity clusters," which are subsequently processed for dealiasing and artifact removal, using underlying low-dimensional properties. The efficacy of the proposed method in scan time reduction was assessed in a pilot coronary MRI study. Initially, in a retrospective study on 10 healthy adult subjects, we evaluated retrospective undersampling and reconstruction using LOST, wavelet-based l(1)-norm minimization, and total variation compressed sensing. Quantitative measures of vessel sharpness and mean square error, and qualitative image scores were used to compare reconstruction for rates of 2, 3, and 4. Subsequently, in a prospective study, coronary MRI data were acquired using these rates, and LOST-reconstructed images were compared with an accelerated data acquisition using uniform undersampling and sensitivity encoding reconstruction. Subjective image quality and sharpness data indicate that LOST outperforms the alternative techniques for all rates. The prospective LOST yields images with superior quality compared with sensitivity encoding or l(1)-minimization compressed sensing. The proposed LOST technique greatly improves image reconstruction for accelerated coronary MRI acquisitions.
The Use and Interpretation of Numerical Weather Prediction Model Output in Identifying Synoptic-Scale Environments Associated with Development of Mesoscale Convective Systems

Abstract An experiment is reported in which derived diagnostic parameters computed from Limited-area Fine-Mesh (LFM) model gridpoint data were examined to determine subjectively whether their availability in real time would assist the forecaster in interpreting and understanding the model's forecast of the weather. Specifically, model products thought to relate to the development of mesoscale convective weather systems (MCSs) were combined into a composite forecast and compared with the standard ensemble of LFM products for 25 episodes of significant convective activity. An objective verification of the LFM forecasts themselves was not attempted. Both 12 and 24 h forecasts from the 1200 UTC run were considered. In a majority of cases, it was evident that derived diagnostic gridpoint data added information about parameter patterns and values important to MCS development that was not obvious from viewing the conventional model products alone. Two case studies demonstrate how information about 850 mb moistur...
Surgical management of cutaneous disease

Surgery of the skin is so fundamental to the art of plastic surgery that it is often overlooked as a discreet topic of discussion. Many of our core textbooks in the specialty have an introductory chapter or two delving into the basics of cutaneous surgery. Certainly, chapters can be uncovered within the great tomes, but there is a specific lack of textbooks focused on the subject. I have perused the dermatologic surgical literature. The textbooks in that specialty, which overlaps considerably with plastic surgery, are clearly written for a different audience. Most of these texts are devoted to aspects of skin surgery so basic that knowledge of this material is presumed in our texts. So it is with this issue of Clinics in Plastic Surgery. The authors have made the assumption that the reader has not only a basic knowledge of skin anatomy and physiology but also a practiced and working ability to perform skin operations. The authors are all recognized experts within plastic surgery and allied specialties who are imparting some of their experience-based knowledge and literature-based knowledge in their articles. All of the topics in this issue pertain directly to surgery of the skin. Cosmetic surgery, with the exception of hair transplantation, is left for other sources to cover because it is such a vast and varied subject that is already well represented in the literature. Cutaneous surgery affects all areas of plastic surgery, whether a surgeon is treating Dupytren’s contracture in the hand or redraping facial skin over an altered facial skeleton in a craniofacial case. This issue of the Clinics in Plastic Surgery, however, is directly focused on the skin. The topics cover manipulation of the skin with local flaps, tumors of the skin, reconstructing large skin defects, burns, skin ulcers, laser surgery, and some of the advanced technologies. It is our wish to reassert the role of plastic surgery as a dominant specialty with regard to cutaneous surgery.
Rheumatoid Arthritis in American Indians and Alaska Natives: A Review of the Literature

Background and objectives An increased prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported in several American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. This article reviews the prevalence of RA in these populations, including clinical and serologic features. Methods References were taken from Medline through November 2003, in addition to the Arctic Health Literature Database and the American Indian and Alaska Native Health Bibliography. Results Published articles reveal an increased prevalence of RA in the Tlingit, Yakima, Pima, and Chippewa Indians. Clinically the disease in these groups is often severe, with early age of onset, high frequency of radiographic erosions, rheumatoid nodules, and positive rheumatoid factor. Studies of HLA alleles in cases and controls have found a high frequency of HLA DRB1*1402. Conclusions The increased prevalence of RA and more severe disease in specific AI/AN populations suggest an important genetic influence on the development of RA in AI/AN populations. A high frequency of specific high-risk HLA alleles in these populations may account for some of the increased risk, but other genetic factors are likely to contribute. Environmental factors have not been studied in detail, but may also play an important role. Relevance Understanding the patterns and burden of disease in AI/AN populations may contribute to understanding the etiology of RA and to the development of preventive strategies.
Rorschach card rejection and its relationships to defensiveness, intelligence, and sex.

This study attempted to replicate several earlier findings concerning the relationships of Rorschach card rejection to intelligence, defensiveness, and sex. The subjects were 27 males and 48 females who were inpatients at an acute treatment, psychiatric hospital, and who had been tested with the Rorschach, MMPI, and WAIS. The measures of defensiveness were the Q and K scales of the MMPI and F% from the Rorschach. The subjects were divided into rejecting and non-rejecting groups, and t tests were computed for IQ, K, and F%, and chi-squared tests were computed for Q and sex. Analysis of variance was computed for IQs as a function of amount of card rejection. IQ was inversely related to card rejection. Sex, Q, K, and F% were not related to card rejection.
SOLARS5, a user-friendly computer-aided energy conserving design tool

SOLAR5 is a simple, easy-to-use graphic design tool that gives architects an instantaneous display of their building's energy performance and allows immediate on-line design revisions. It is intended for use at the very beginning of the design process, the time when most of the decisions affecting the building's energy performance must be made, but when the building is the most vaguely defined.
Treatment-induced accelerated human tumor growth

Summary Tumors manifest a response to cytoreductive injury. It is characterized by a lag period followed by a regenerative phase, when the clonogen doubling rate is 15 to 20 times faster than in large unperturbed tumors. What controls such changes in growth is unknown, but the qualitative similarity of normal tissue and tumor regeneration suggests it is a response to depopulation and may be mediated by growth factors, perhaps augmented in the case of the tumor by improvement in vascular perfusion with tumor shrinkage. Whatever its mechanism, repopulation in the tumor is generally less rapid than in tissues such as mucosae, skin, and bone marrow. 10,13,15,62 Because of the greater regenerative efficiency of acutely responding normal tissues, the therapeutic ratio has been improved historically by prolongation of treatment duration in association with escalation of total dose. 84 However, the relative lack of repopulation in slowly proliferative late responding tissues limits the escalation of dose and, therefore, the advantage of protraction of treatment duration. Thus, the differential between late responding normal tissues and tumors will be maximized by delivering the total dose to the tumor as quickly as possible consistent with maintaining a high total dose, but without a need to reduce the overall time to less than the lag time for accelerated tumor regrowth. The outcome of radiation therapy is usually worsened by extension of treatment beyond the standard duration and conversely, appears to be improved by accelerating treatment. There are several methods of intensifying the biological dose rate to the tumor. These include accelerated dose fractionation regimens for external beam therapy, augmentation of dose intensity by concomitant or early post-treatment brachytherapy, and administration of concomitant or rapidly sequential chemotherapy. Infusional chemotherapy may also facilitate the intensification of drug delivery. These departures improve results above those of standard treatment, at least in cancers of head and neck, and probably to varying degrees in other tumor sites. For a large number of patients, the avoidance of unnecessary prolongation of therapy is more relevant than trials of accelerated treatment. Despite the apparently considerable potential for gains from accelerated treatment, there remain other potential causes of treatment failure that should also be addressed. Prospective identification of likely causes of failure of treatment in an individual patient, and application of appropriate strategies directed against them, is a major requirement for success in future trials.
SU‐E‐T‐94: Proton Characteristics of the NanoDot Dosimeter

Purpose: Optically stimulated luminescent detectors (OSLDs) have a number of advantages in radiationdosimetry making them excellent dosimeters for quality assurance and patient dose verification. Although the dosimeters have been investigated in several modalities, relatively little work has been done in examining the dosimeters for use in clinical proton beams. This study examined a number of characteristics needed before the dosimeters should be used clinically in proton beams. Methods: OSLdosimeters from Landauer, Inc. specifically the nanoDot, were investigated. These dosimeters were placed in a special phantom with recesses to fit the dosimeters with minimal air gap. Beams with nominal energies of 160, 200, and 250 MeV were used in the passively‐scattered proton beam at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Proton Therapy Center. SOBP measurements were always done at the center of the SOPB. Results: The dosimeters showed supralinearity with doses above 200 cGy, with 5% supralinearity at 1000 cGy. Field size dependence was measured from sizes 2×2cm2 to 18×18cm2, with no noticeable dependence. Residual signal was measured as a function of cumulative protondose, showing only a small increase up to 800 cGy. Readout signal depletion of the dosimeters after consecutive readings was done for various protondose levels and compared to photons. While the depletion differed slightly for protons, no dose dependence was found. Energy dependence of the dosimeters was examined in the center of various SOBP widths and energies, showing general agreement with ion chamber data with one exception. This exception is being investigated. Conclusion: The nanoDotOSLdosimetercharacteristics were studied in clinical proton beams and found to have dose supralinearity above 200 cGy, and no dependence on field size, or significantly different readout signal depletion with dose. Residual readout signal with cumulative dose did not increase largely with dose.
Reading an ethnology museum as pedagogical space: a multitext study

Ethnology museums have a troubled lineage as they are inheritors of a violent colonial legacy while being steeped in a positivist epistemology that seeks to order and categorize an otherwise disordered world. Educational research, similarly, is often predicated on realist knowledge principles as people are made objects to demonstrate their interactions to predict likely outcomes of various interventions. This article considers how an ethnology museum, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City, can be used as a learning site by student teachers as they experience reading a museum. Student teachers, having considered examples of postcolonial theory, use this scholarship to think through and critically read AMNH. The inquiry into how student teachers read AMNH as a pedagogical space is reframed, however, by multitext interjections offered by participants themselves. The study, then, is oriented around two principal areas: how student teachers can read an ethnology museum critically and h...
Roles of thyroid and parathyroid hormones in renal calcification induced by magnesium deficiency in the rat.

SummaryExperiments were conducted to study the effects of endogenous and supplemental thyroxine on the renal deposition of calcium resulting from magnesium deficiency in rats and the role of the parathyroid glands in contributing to such calcification. Elimination of endogenous thyroxine with propylthiouracil (PTU) effectively increased the calcium concentration in renal tissue of both normal and magnesium deficient animals. Exogenous thyroxine completely reversed the effects of PTU ablation of the thyroid. In addition, endogenous thyroxine apparently plays a role in the maintenance of serum magnesium as does the parathyroid hormone which functions to promote mobilization of bone magnesium to maintain blood levels. The presence of the parathyroid glands was required for calcification of renal tissue to occur. Surgical removal of these glands resulted in the reduction to normal of renal tissue concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in magnesium deficient animals. It is possible that the dietary mineral i...
An efficient approach to imaging underground hydraulic networks

To better locate natural resources, treat pollution, and monitor underground networks associated with geothermal plants, nuclear waste repositories, and carbon dioxide sequestration sites, scientists need to be able to accurately characterize and image fluid seepage pathways below ground. With these images, scientists can gain knowledge of soil moisture content, the porosity of geologic formations, concentrations and locations of dissolved pollutants, and the locations of oil fields or buried liquid contaminants. Creating images of the unknown hydraulic environments underfoot is a difficult task that has typically relied on broad extrapolations from characteristics and tests of rock units penetrated by sparsely positioned boreholes. Such methods, however, cannot identify small-scale features and are very expensive to reproduce over a broad area. Further, the techniques through which information is extrapolated rely on clunky and mathematically complex statistical approaches requiring large amounts of computational power.
The expert witness in medical liability cases.

This article presents an overview of the role of the medical expert witness in litigation involving issues of medical liability or malpractice in order to introduce the potential physician expert witness to some of the major problems and situations that may arise. The expert medical witness is needed among other reasons, to define the standard of medical care required in the Physician/patient relationship which is frequently the crucial element in a professional liability case. The plaintiff. in order to prevail in his law suit, must show, among other components, (1) what the required standard of care was in his case, (2) that the defendant failed to meet that standard, and (3)th at this failure was the cause of the injury alleged. The standard of care required of a physician is commonly defined as adherance to “the skill and learning commonly possessed by a member of the profession in good standing.”
Effects of sigma ligands on the ability of rimcazole to inhibit PCP hsp70 induction

Abstract Phencyclidine (PCP) can result in schizophrenia-like behavior. It binds at the PCP site on the NMDA-receptor calcium channel and at the sigma receptor. PCP also induces the heat shock gene hsp70 in retrosplenial cortex neurons. An antipsychotic drug, rimcazole, inhibits PCP hsp70 induction. Rimcazole binds predominately to sigma-2 sites. It is hypothesized that sigma ligands without antipsychotic properties and with some sigma-2 affinity should partially reverse the effects of rimcazole. (+)-3-PPP, (+)-cyclazocine, and (+)-pentazocine bind predominately to sigma-1 sites. (+)-3-PPP is also a modest sigma-2 ligand. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200–260 g) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with (+)-3-PPP (50 mg/kg), rimcazole (60 mg/kg) and, after 5 min, with PCP (40 mg/kg). Brains were sectioned (100 μm) and presence of the hsp70 gene protein product, HSP70, was determined immunocytochemically. (+)-3-PPP significantly ( p hsp70 induction in the retrosplenial cortex. (+)-Cyclazocine (15mg/kg, IP) and (+)-pentazocine (80mg/kg, IP) given in an analogous manner did not diminished the ability of rimcazole to inhibit PCP hsp70 induction.
Copyright and the Library Media Center

In 1978, the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, a consortium of public school districts in upstate New York, was sued by the Encyclopedia Britannica Educational Corporation because the consortium taped educational programs broadcast on local public television stations and provided copies to local schools. This case, known as Encyclopedia Britannica v. Crooks, illustrated the struggle for a balance between the fair use of materials for educational purposes and the rights of copyright holders to protect the market for their product. In this particular case, the public school consortium lost when it was shown that it had set out to “systematically” record the educational programming and distribute copies to member schools, thus having a detrimental effect on the market for those programs. Today, penalties for copyright infringement vary greatly; but, can be as high as $250,000 for repeated offenses of software piracy (Simpson 28). Although most media specialists will not find themselves in a courtroo...
Characterization of a mutation in the IDH-II subunit of the NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract The mitochondrial NAD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.41) is a key enzyme in the Krebs cycle of most organisms. The role of the IDH-II subunit of this protein in Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated using an idh-II knockout mutant where the IDH-II gene was disrupted by the Dissociation, (Ds), insertion element. These mutant plants showed no detectable differences in growth and development compared to wildtype Landsberg plants. Mitochondria from the idh-II mutant had substantially less NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase activity when measured in vitro but this did not appear to alter rates of tissue respiration or photosynthesis. These results suggest that the other NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase subunits can substitute for the missing IDH-II protein and that NAD+-IDH activity does not limit whole plant respiration as suggested by the low in vitro activity of this enzyme.
Molecular photofragmentation during non-resonant multiphoton ionization of sputtered species

To assess the quantitative analytical capabilities of laser post-ionization of sputtered neutrals, the photoionization of sputtered Cu, Al and Ru atoms and clusters was investigated. By measuring velocity distributions using both resonant and non-resonant photoionization of the atoms and one-photon and two-photon ionization of the clusters, photogragmentation of clusters was found to be significant. Atomic velocity distributions measured using non-resonant ionization peaked at the same velocity as the respective dimer distribution, indicating that the majority of the non-resonant atomic ion signal is from photogragmented dimers. The contribution to the dimer ion signal from photogragmentation of the trimer varied with the two-photon laser power density. Domination of the atomic photoion channel by molecule fragmentation appears to be a general phenomenon that must be accounted for in all gas-phase multiphoton non-resonant ionization experiments at easily achievable laser power densities (≤ 108 W cm−2). To minize photogragmentation effects, atoms should be ionized resonantly and clusters should be onephoton ionized.
The Reproductive Capacity of Bobwhite Quail Under Light Stimulation

Abstract By the use of continuous light (Baldini et al., 1952) quail have been stimulated to egg production as soon as 139 days of age at other than the normal breeding season. This is a further report on the length of time that such quail will remain in production and the number of eggs they are capable of producing. Three hens and one cock from a group of chicks hatched June 5, 1950, were confined in an indoor cage measuring 2×3×3 feet and subjected to continuous light from a 200W incandescent bulb 4 feet above the cage starting on October 7, 1950. A standard poultry laying mash was fed ad libitum. On November 24 at the age of 172 days, one hen came into production, and within 30 days all three hens appeared to be laying. From November 24, 1950, to July 5, 1951, inclusive the three hens laid 511 eggs …
Feeding and drinking behavior responses of adult Zucker obese rats to cholecystokinin

Abstract Increased meal size in obese animals may occur because of decreased sensitivity to satiety factors. Feeding and drinking behavior responses of Zucker obese and lean rats to two forms of cholecystokinin (CCK), a putative satiety factor, were compared in these experiments. Octapeptide of CCK (CCK-8) in both obese and lean rats decreased meal size (47 and 65%) and rate of eating but not meal duration, and increased satiety ratio but not postmeal interval. Impure CCK decreased first meal size after a 6-hr fast similarly in obese and lean rats (33 and 40%, respectively); however, meal duration was decreased only in lean rats, and rate of eating was decreased only in obese rats. Postmeal interval was decreased in lean rats, while satiety ratio was increased only in obese rats. In spite of decreased first meal size daily food intakes were increased by both impure CCK and CCK-8 in lean rats. In 6-hr water-deprived rats injected with CCK-8, decreased water intake was associated with decreased food intake. However, while impure CCK in lean rats elicited similar responses as CCK-8, impure CCK in obese rats decreased food but not water intake. Feeding behavior response to the putative satiety agent, cholecystokinin, depended on form of the peptide administered and phenotype.
Size-resolved fluorescent biological aerosol particle concentrations and occupant emissions in a university classroom.

Author(s): Bhangar, S; Huffman, JA; Nazaroff, WW | Abstract: UnlabelledThis study is among the first to apply laser-induced fluorescence to characterize bioaerosols at high time and size resolution in an occupied, common-use indoor environment. Using an ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer, we characterized total and fluorescent biological aerosol particle (FBAP) levels (1-15 μm diameter) in a classroom, sampling with 5-min resolution continuously during eighteen occupied and eight unoccupied days distributed throughout a one-year period. A material-balance model was applied to quantify per-person FBAP emission rates as a function of particle size. Day-to-day and seasonal changes in FBAP number concentration (NF ) values in the classroom were small compared to the variability within a day that was attributable to variable levels of occupancy, occupant activities, and the operational state of the ventilation system. Occupancy conditions characteristic of lecture classes were associated with mean NF source strengths of 2 × 10(6) particles/h/person, and 9 × 10(4) particles per metabolic g CO2 . During transitions between lectures, occupant activity was more vigorous, and estimated mean, per-person NF emissions were 0.8 × 10(6) particles per transition. The observed classroom peak in FBAP size at 3-4 μm is similar to the peak in fluorescent and biological aerosols reported from several studies outdoors.Practical implicationsCoarse particles that exhibit fluorescence at characteristic wavelengths are considered to be proxies for biological particles. Recently developed instruments permit their detection and sizing in real time. In a mechanically ventilated classroom, emissions from human occupants were a strong determinant of coarse-mode fluorescent biological aerosol particle (FBAP) levels. Human FBAP emission rates were significant under quiet occupancy conditions and increased with activity level. Fluorescent particle emissions peaked at a diameter of 3–4 μm, which is the expected modal size of airborne particles with associated microbes. Human activity patterns, and associated coarse FBAP and total particle levels varied strongly on short timescales. Thus, the dynamic temporal behavior of aerosol concentrations must be considered when determining collection protocols for samples meant to be representative of average concentrations using time-integrated or ‘snapshot’ bioaerosol measurement techniques.
A novel concept of QUADRISO particles Part III: applications to the plutonium-thorium fuel cycle

Abstract In the present study, a plutonium–thorium fuel cycle is investigated including the 233U production and utilization. A prismatic thermal High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) and the novel concept of quadruple isotropic (QUADRISO) coated particles, designed at the Argonne National Laboratory, have been used for the study. In absorbing QUADRISO particles, a burnable poison layer surrounds the central fuel kernel to flatten the reactivity curve as a function of time. At the beginning of life, the fuel in the QUADRISO particles is hidden from neutrons, since they get absorbed in the burnable poison before they reach the fuel kernel. Only when the burnable poison depletes, neutrons start streaming into the fuel kernel inducing fission reactions and compensating the fuel depletion of ordinary TRISO particles. In fertile QUADRISO particles, the absorber layer is replaced by natural thorium with the purpose of flattening the excess of reactivity by the thorium resonances and producing 233U. The above configuration has been compared with a configuration where fissile (neptunium–plutonium oxide from Light Water Reactors irradiated fuel) and fertile (natural thorium oxide) fuels are homogeneously mixed in the kernel of ordinary TRISO particles. For the 233U utilization, the core has been equipped with europium oxide absorbing QUADRISO particles.
Does Race/Ethnicity Really Matter in Adult Neurogenics?

Purpose Recent evidence suggests that race/ethnicity is a variable that is critical to outcomes in neurological disorders. The purpose of this article was to examine the proportion of studies publi...
Noise limitation in nano-scale imaging

When imaging schemes such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging are applied to nano-scale samples, the practical resolution is often limited by noise due to the difficulty of detecting a signal from a small number of nuclear or electronic spins. In this paper we discuss the potential for improving resolution by using optically detected magnetic resonance imaging such as optical Raman excited ESR transitions. Comparisons will be made between magnetic field gradients vs ac Stark gradients and optical Raman vs. direct microwave spin excitations. To make the analysis more concrete we will use nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers in diamond as a test system.
Practice-based dental research.

Summary Practice-based research networks have existed in medicine for many years, but they are relatively new in dentistry. Practice-based dental research is carried out in the ‘real world’ setting of dental practice. It encounters many problems, especially related to the clinicians’ treatment decisions and their variations in assessments of clinical quality. Practice-based dental research networks have been active in Europe for the last 10–15 years and new practice-based dental research networks have recently been funded in the USA. They have been charged with the establishment of networks to carry out short-term clinical studies that have been proposed by clinicians to solve the problems they encounter in daily clinical practice. Data sharing and communication within and among the networks and with the dental community at large are a primary goal to become successful and optimally serve dental practice. A secondary goal is to conduct chart reviews on disease and treatment patterns and obtain estimates of the prevalence of less common conditions. An outline of a possible establishment of a research network is presented and the potential to institute a programme for practice-based testing of dental materials and procedures is suggested.
Living in the Readmission Era

Is it too early to call this the Readmission Decade? Readmissions are on everybody’s mind—identifying readmissions, preventing readmissions, considering the financial repercussions of having too many readmissions, lamenting the injustice of being held accountable for readmissions. Only time will tell whether this is a passing storm or here to stay, but for the moment the issue of readmissions is having its moment in the sun. Article see p 97 Prior research has shown that a substantial proportion of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, ranging from 8% to 16%.1–7 Early readmissions are often unplanned and potentially preventable events that are associated with increased 30-day and 1-year mortality.2,6,8,9 To date, however, the interventional community at large has not had to fully engage in efforts to prevent unplanned readmission. Although many of the heart failure and acute myocardial infarction patients included in the publicly reported hospital readmission measures10,11 undergo PCIs, we have for the most part avoided being held accountable for readmissions after PCI. That privileged position may be in jeopardy, as recent events make it unlikely we will be able to remain above the fray much longer. In December 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began publicly reporting what …
Maximizing visibility of objects

In recent years, there has been significant interest in the development of ranking functions and efficient top-k retrieval algorithms to help users in ad-hoc search and retrieval in databases (e.g., buyers searching for products in a catalog). We introduce a complementary problem: how to guide a seller in selecting the best attributes of a new tuple (e.g., a new product) to highlight so that it stands out in the crowd of existing competitive products and is widely visible to the pool of potential buyers. We refer this problem as “attributes selection” problem. Package design based on user input is a problem that has also attracted recent interest. Given a set of elements, and a set of user preferences (where each preference is a conjunction of positive or negative preferences for individual elements), we investigate the problem of designing the most “popular package”, i.e., a subset of the elements that maximizes the number of satisfied users. Numerous instances of this problem occur in practice. We refer this later problem as “package design” problem. We develop several formulations of both the problems. Even for the NP-complete problems, we give several exact (optimal) and approximation algorithms that work well in practice. Our experimental evaluation on real and synthetic datasets shows that the optimal and approximate algorithms are efficient for moderate and large datasets respectively, and also that the approximate algorithms have small approximation error.
Case Scenarios and Simulations as Techniques to Facilitate Asthma Education and Team Building Among Health Care Students

Health professionals face increasing demands to work across discipline lines to improve patient outcomes. Learning interdisciplinary communication skills at the preprofessional level is crucial to nursing and allied health student preparation. Today’s students are technologically savvy, tired of traditional education, and often have diverse learning needs. The purpose of the pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary case study and simulation model to educate students enrolled in various health professions about asthma care and patient education. The interdisciplinary case study simulation model showed a significant advantage for both student enjoyment of the learning process and students’ confidence to coordinate care across disciplines.
Cell-by-cell construction of living tissue by ambient laser transfer

In order to fabricate and interface biological systems for next generation applications such as biosensors, protein recognition microarrays, and engineered tissues, it is imperative to have a method of accurately and rapidly depositing different active biomaterials in patterns or layered structures. Ideally, the biomaterial structures would also be compatible with many different substrates including technologically relevant platforms such as electronic circuits, microfluidic devices, or even living tissue. We have developed a technique termed matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation direct write (MAPLE DW), that is able to form patterns and three-dimensional structures of numerous biologically active species ranging from protein solutions to living cells. Specifically, we have shown that MAPLE DW is capable of forming mesoscopic patterns of many components needed to construct complex 3D tissue such as living mammalian cells (mouse pluripotent, human osteoblast, rat cardiac), numerous active proteins, extracellular matrix materials, and semi-rigid scaffold materials. This manuscript presents experimental results on our stepwise efforts to fabricate living tissue constructs. We first demonstrate the ability to form 2D microarrays from active proteins and living cells. We then discuss our efforts to begin 3D printing of both living cells and scaffold materials.
Neuromyelitis optica, psychiatric symptoms and primary polydipsia: a case report

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an aggressive demyelinating disease that typically affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. While it is increasingly recognized that cerebral lesions are common in NMO, there have been no reported cases of NMO presenting with psychiatric symptoms and polydipsia. We describe a patient with classic signs and symptoms of NMO who also demonstrated prominent psychiatric symptoms and polydipsia that were tied to his flares and resolved with treatment of his NMO. This case expands our understanding of possible presentations of NMO.
Supercoiled pseudocircular domains in single-twisted DNAs under tension: Elastic constants and unwinding dynamics in complexes with Topo I.

Extension versus twist data of Koster et al. (Nature 2005, 434, 671-674) are analyzed to obtain C for the main-chain segments and the twist energy parameter (ET ) for the supercoiled pseudocircular (sp) domain(s) from which C is estimated via simulations. The torsional rigidity in the tension-free sp domain(s) (C = 163 fJ fm) is typical of the unstrained DNA and is less than half the value in the main-chain segments under tension (C = 350-410 fJ fm). Tension is suggested to induce a structural transition to a torsionally stiffer state. Data of Koster et al. for the rate of extension owing to unwinding of a covalent complex of DNA with human Topoisomerase Ib (H Topo I) are analyzed to determine the torque and rate of rotation from which an effective friction coefficient is obtained. A Langevin equation for the unwinding motion in a supercoiled DNA:H Topo I complex is solved to obtain the temporal trajectory of the average winding angle and the time-dependent distribution of winding angles. The mean rate constant for the religation reaction is estimated from the measured probability of reaction per turn. We predict that unwinding proceeds rather far during a single-cleavage and religation cycle, and is effectively completely equilibrated during the 3.2 cleavage and religation cycles that occur during each noncovalent binding and dissociation event. H Topo I is predicted to be completely processive as in accord with observations on calf-thymus Topo I (Brewood et al., Biochemistry 2010, 49, 3367-3380).
Evaluation of force applied during deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia using simulation.

Objective We sought to objectively evaluate the amount of force applied during deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia among different providers. Study Design Providers who do deliveries at our institution were approached for participation. The simulation exercise used a childbirth mannequin that measures the amount of force the provider applies to the fetal head during delivery. The amount of force applied and information regarding the provider's level of experience, height, weight, and gender was recorded. This study was approved by the hospital institutional review board. Results A total of 47 providers participated. The mean force applied during each situation was not associated with the provider's experience, height, weight, or gender. Conclusion Provider experience, gender, and body habitus were not associated with the amount of force applied during delivery. We found differences between family medicine and obstetrics/gynecology providers. In addition, a significant number of all providers (19/47, 40%) pulled >100 N.
Effect of a Topical Interferon Inducer on Rhinovirus Infections in Volunteers

Six controlled trials of a topical interferon inducer, N',N'-diotadecyl-N',N'-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) propanediamine (CP 20961), against rhinovirus infection in volunteers were reviewed. Controls were the drug vehicle (which consisted of a mixture of polysorbate-80 in gylcerol and saline), saline only, and oral lactose. Multiple doses of the inducer given before challenge in any of three regimens reduced the symptomatic response to viral infection. Treatment with three doses of drug the day before challenge enhanced the interferon response to virus; four days of treatment with either the drug or its vehicle before challenge produced a refractoriness to further interferon induction. Both the drug and its vehicle were capable of inducing nasal interferon. When interferon was present at the time of viral inoculation, symptoms were reduced with or without an increase in the interferon response to infection. The rates of infection and illness were increased after a single dose of drug and decreased after a single dose of the vehicle alone.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Oxidizer/Monopropellant Formulations

The objective of this work is to try to create new behaviors of energetic materials by using sol-gel processing and freeze drying to incorporate the energetic material into the fuel matrix at the nano particle size scale. Hydrazinium diperchlorate ([N2H6][ClO4]2) and resorcinol-formaldehyde were chosen in one example, and CL-20 and nitrocellulose were chosen in another. High solids loadings were achieved by the cryogel method. Characterization was carried out by elemental analysis, SEM, TEM, AFM, T-jump/FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, and drop-weight impact testing. The nanoscale formulations do indeed exhibit several different behaviors, such as enhanced burning characteristics and unusual morphologies, and appear to be a promising direction to pursue.
Serum Levels of Surfactant Protein D Are Increased in Mice With Lung Tumors

Most murine lung tumors are composed of differentiated epithelial cells. We have reported previously that surfactant protein (SP)-D is expressed in urethane-induced tumors. Serum levels of SP-D are increased in patients with interstitial lung disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome and in rats with acute lung injury but have not been measured in mice. In this study, we sought to determine whether SP-D could be detected in murine serum and discovered that it was increased in mice bearing lung tumors. Serum SP-D concentration was 5.0 0.2 ng/ml in normal C57BL/6 mice, essentially absent in SP-D nulls, and 63.6 9.0 ng/ml in SP-D-overexpressing mice. SP-D in serum was verified by immunoblotting. Serum SP-D was increased in mice bearing tumors induced by three different protocols, and the SP-D level correlated with tumor volume. However, in mice with a single adenoma or a few adenomas, SP-D levels were usually within the normal range. SP-D was expressed by the tumor cells, and there was also a field effect whereby type II cells near the tumor expressed more SP-D than type II cells in the remainder of the lung. Serum SP-D was also increased by lung inflammation. In airway inflammation induced by aerosolized ovalbumin in sensitized BALB/c mice, the serum levels were elevated after challenge. In conclusion, serum SP-D concentration is increased in mice bearing lung tumors and generally reflects the tumor burden but is also elevated during lung inflammation.
Less invasive mini-open adult spinal deformity surgery

Adult spinal deformities (ASD) pose a challenge for the spinal surgeon. Because the spine is often rigid, mobilization of the segments is critical for effective correction, particularly in the sagittal plane. While minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has many favorable attributes that would be of great benefit for the ASD population, improvements in lordosis and sagittal balance have remained problematic using MIS approaches, including MIS lateral methods. This video illustrates one method for achieving improvement of coronal and sagittal correction without the extensive exposure and soft tissue envelope disruption needed in open surgery, particularly for less severe deformities. By using multi-level TLIFs through a mini-open surgery, curves of less than 60° can be managed with minimal blood loss and within a reasonable surgical timeframe. While feasibility will have to be proven with larger series and improved surgical methods, this technique holds promise as a means of reducing the significant morbidity associated with surgery in the ASD population. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/I0rkDSAVas0.
Computation of pressures on Texas Tech University building using large eddy simulation

An implicit solution procedure to solve the Navier-Stokes equations using large eddy simulation (LES) for flow around building is presented. Using this model the pressures around the Texas Tech University (TTU) building are computed using different inflow turbulence conditions and compared with available field mean and peak pressure coefficients. The turbulence is generated by keeping periodic boundary conditions, by using Gaussian distribution and random number generator and actual TTU field wind data. The computed mean pressures are in good agreement with field measurement. The peak pressures computed using Gaussian distribution are much higher than the field measurement. The peak pressures using the TTU wind data are much closer to the field measurements than with the three methods.