cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shear strengths of ten commercial dentin bonding agents

Abstract Numerous chemical agents have recently been introduced for the purpose of bonding composite resins to dentin. This in vitro study examined the shear bond strength of 10 dentin bonding agents which are commercially available. The bonding agents were used to attach a visible-light-curing microfilled composite resin (Silux) to extracted human teeth. Significant differences in bond strength were found using the different dentin bonding agents. The mean shear strengths ranged from 1 to 93 kg/cm2. Many of the products created a dentin bond which is stronger than that reported for glass ionomer restorative materials. There was no difference in the bond strengths of each product when bonded by either of two investigators.
The Effect of Gibberellic Acid on the Second-Year Growth and Alkaloid Formation in Atropa belladonna limé

Atropa belladonna treated in 1957 with gibberellic acid in concentrations of 100 and 1,000 p. p. m. was allowed to overwinter. The second-year crop of the treated plants generally did not demonstrate the “gibberellin effects” noted in the first-year growth following treatment. In some instances reverse effects were noted. The plants previously treated with 100 p. p. m. of gibberellic acid generally closely resembled the controls in their growth and alkaloid patterns. However, belladonna treated the previous year with 1,000 p. p. m. of gibberellic acid was profoundly affected. This treatment induced about a 50 per cent decrease in total dry weight and approximately a 15 per cent decrease in height. The concentration of alkaloids in the leaves and roots was not markedly altered, whereas that in the stems was increased about 44 per cent. The total alkaloid content of this group was about 56 per cent that of the controls.
Neurological gaming environments

It has been said by members of past generations that computer gaming is destroying the minds of young people who have become addicted to playing games on their desktop computers. The number of games available through the average computer is increasing on a regular basis, and computer gaming has become a favored activity by youth and business around the world. For this reason, I have combined today's gaming technology with brain wave research to create an intelligent gaming environment, that functions as a neurological learning tool for all ages.Concepts discussed in this paper are based on fourteen years of research using the IBVA, Interactive Brain Wave Visual Analyzer, a brain wave interface system designed to facilitate the interactive brain wave control of multimedia. The research includes monitoring and analyzing brain waves of hundreds of conference attendees in exhibition settings, as well as participants in controlled environments. Concepts presented in the paper relate to evolutionary change that will move us from our current perception of reality to a broader understanding of multiple realities.Survival in the future may require us to actualize latent capabilities that have not been taught in traditional education programs, that is, the capability for nonverbal communication, remote viewing, and self-healing. In order to effectively deal with issues that arise in the future, we need to draw upon these skills. Doing so requires more complete use of the brain to expand the human potential. This expansion will enable human intelligence to effectively deal with problem solving for the future. [Paras Kaul, "Brain Wave Interactive Learning: Where Multimedia and Neuroscience Converge", 2005]The ability to perceive objects and events, beyond what is understood as our ordinary senses has been explored by physicists and metapbysicians, as well as by the federal government. Institutes as the Institute for Noetic Sciences, Consciousness Research Laboratory, Monroe Institute, Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, and the International Remote Viewing Association, to name a few, have been formed to research these capabilities. Though the research is ongoing, it seems that some ideas are so paradigm shattering that they remain hidden in plain sight for many years. [D. Radin, Noetic Institute, 2001]
Management of Dynamic Vehicle Allocation for Carsharing Systems: Stochastic Programming Approach

Carsharing offers innovative mobility solutions and has been gaining popularity around the world as an environmentally sustainable, socially responsible, and economically feasible form of mobility. Carsharing allows members to benefit from private vehicle use without the costs and responsibilities of ownership and provides individuals with access to a fleet of shared-use vehicles in a network of locations on a short-term, as-needed basis. This paper seeks to develop a stochastic optimization framework to address the dynamic vehicle allocation problem for carsharing systems, in which the service operator needs to manage and determine the optimal vehicle allocation in both time and space to maximize profits. A multistage stochastic linear programming model with recourse, which can account for system uncertainties such as carsharing demand variation, is formulated and solved. Numerical results are discussed and computational insights are presented on the basis of a seven-stage experimental network pilot study.
On-farm milk progesterone tests

Results from milk progesterone assays can provide ovarian information, making it possible to monitor the reproductive status of the cow. Rapid, simple, and accurate on-farm milk progesterone tests are commercially available. Procedures for performing milk progesterone tests are specific for each test; however, principles of testing are similar. On-farm tests are designed to determine the relative progesterone concentration ("high" or "low") rather than obtaining a precise concentration. Evaluation of results is based on either a color or agglutination reaction with comparison to known standards. Potential uses of progesterone testing in a reproductive management program are: 1) identifying errors in detection of estrus, 2) predicting time of estrus, 3) assisting in pregnancy diagnosis, 4) differentiating types of ovarian cysts, and 5) evaluating response to endocrine therapy.
Weekly bortezomib/methylprednisolone is effective and well tolerated in relapsed multiple myeloma.

Abstract Background The standard schedule of bortezomib requires frequent infusions and is often associated with dose-dependent, adverse effects such as sensory neuropathy and thrombocytopenia. Because of the known additive effect between bortezomib and glucocorticoid, we explored weekly bortezomib/methylprednisolone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Patients and Methods Twenty-nine patients were treated at Indiana University with bortezomib (1.3 mg/m 2 ) and methylprednisolone (500-2000 mg) intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles. Response was evaluated using the Blade criteria. Twenty-one patients (70%) had previous stem cell transplantation, and 13 were in third relapse or higher. Results A response was observed in 18 patients (62%): 1 (3%) complete response, 1 (3%) near complete response, and 16 (55%) partial responses. Six (21%) had stable disease, and 5 (17%) had disease progression. The median time to progression, which was defined from the beginning of therapy until progression, was 6.6 months (95% confidence interval, 6.4-9.2 months). The median number of treatment cycles was 6 (range, 2-12 cycles). The median overall survival was 20.2 months (lower 95% confidence interval, 13.1 months). The most common toxicities were fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances. Grade ≤ 3 adverse effects included neuropathy (2 grade 3), gastrointestinal side effects (1 grade 3), and congestive heart failure (1 grade 3). Conclusion The weekly bortezomib/methylprednisolone regimen was well tolerated and yielded a response rate comparable with the standard schedule of bortezomib alone. Our data support further investigation of this regimen in larger patient cohorts.
Temperature measurement of visible light-emitting diodes using nematic liquid crystal thermography with laser illumination

In this letter, we present a new configuration with laser illumination to measure the temperature of visible light-emitting diode (LED) chips using nematic liquid crystals. This method is applied to measuring the junction temperature of multiquantum well (MQW) LEDs in InGaN-GaN-sapphire structure. A color filter is inserted in the optical path to attenuate the overwhelming LED light. A high-power laser beam is used as the sensing light to enhance the contrast of the thermal image on LED chips. This technique is nondestructive and can be performed in real-time during device operation. One objective is to investigate the effect of the junction temperature on the electrical and optical performance of the LED devices. For the LEDs measured, the conversion efficiency decreases by 67% when the junction temperature rises from 22/spl deg/C to 107/spl deg/C. The new measurement configuration is a valuable tool to study the thermal performance of GaN-based LED devices and subsequently to investigate the degradation on electrical and optical performance due to junction temperature increase.
A numerical approach to model non‐isothermal viscous flow through fibrous media with free surfaces

A numerical simulation is presented to predict the free surface and its interactions with heat transfer and cure for flow of a shear-thinning resin through the fibre preform the flow part of the simulation is based on the finite element/control volume method. Since the traditional control volume approach produces an error associated with a mass balance inconsistency, a new method which overcomes this issue is proposed, the element control volume method. The heat transfer and cure analysis in the simulation are based on the finite difference/control volume method. Since heat conduction is dominant in the through-thickness direction and most of the heat convection is in-plane, heat transfer and cure are solved in fully three-dimensional form. A simple concept of the boundary condition constant is introduced which models a realistic mould configuration with a heating element located at a distance behind the mould wall. The varying viscosity throughout the mould associated with the strain rate, temperature and degree of cure distribution may be accounted for in calculating the mould-filling pattern. This introduces a two-way coupling between momentum and energy transport in fibrous media during mould filling.
Genetic Identity of Populus tremuloides Litter Influences Decomposition and Nutrient Release in a Mixed Forest Stand

Recent research has shown that genetic variation can directly impact community and ecosystem level processes. Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen) is an extremely widespread and genetically diverse tree species important to many North American forest ecosystems. Using leaf litter from five genotypes grown in a common garden under two nutrient treatments, we tracked litter decomposition in a natural aspen stand for 1 year. Here we show that aspen leaf litter decomposes and releases carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in relation to its genetic identity. In a secondary experiment, we show that the genetic diversity of aspen litter mixtures can influence decomposition, however weakly so. Overall, nutrient treatments influenced leaf litter decomposition the most, followed by genetic identity, and then by genetic diversity (if at all in some cases). In this widespread, genetically diverse, and dominant species, genetic variation within a single species is important to ecosystem functioning. The relatively weak effect of genetic diversity on the processes measured here does not preclude its importance to ecosystem functioning, but does suggest that genetic identity and composition are more important than genetic diversity per se.
Atomistic Simulation of Frictional Sliding Between Cellulose Iβ Nanocrystals

Sliding friction between cellulose Iβ nanocrystals is studied using molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of sliding velocity, normal load, and relative angle between sliding surface are predicted, and the results analyzed in terms of the number of hydrogen bonds within and between the cellulose chains. We find that although the observed friction trends can be correlated with hydrogen bonding, it may not be the most significant factor in determining frictional behavior on cellulose nanocrystal surfaces.
Glucose and [11C]flumazenil positron emission tomography abnormalities of thalamic nuclei in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objectives: To analyze interictal patterns of thalamic nuclei glucose metabolism and benzodiazepine receptor binding in patients with medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) using high-resolution 2-deoxy-2-[ 18 F]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) and [ 11 C]flumazenil (FMZ) PET. Background: Structural and glucose metabolic abnormalities of the thalamus are considered important in the pathophysiology of TLE. The differential involvement of various thalamic nuclei in humans is not known. Methods: Twelve patients with TLE underwent volumetric MRI, FDG and FMZ PET, and prolonged video-EEG monitoring. Normalized values and asymmetries of glucose metabolism and FMZ binding were obtained in three thalamic regions (dorsomedial nucleus [DMN], pulvinar, and lateral thalamus [LAT]) defined on MRI and copied to coregistered, partial–volume-corrected FDG and FMZ PET images. Hippocampal and amygdaloid FMZ binding asymmetries and thalamic volumes also were measured. Results: The DMN showed significantly lower glucose metabolism and FMZ binding on the side of the epileptic focus. The LAT showed bilateral hypermetabolism and increased FMZ binding. There was a significant correlation between the FMZ binding asymmetries of the DMN and amygdala. The PET abnormalities were associated with a significant volume loss of the thalamus ipsilateral to the seizure focus. Conclusions: Decreased [ 11 C]flumazenil (FMZ) binding and glucose metabolism of the dorsomedial nucleus (DMN) are common and have strong lateralization value for the seizure focus in human temporal lobe epilepsy. Decreased benzodiazepine receptor binding can be due to neuronal loss, as suggested by volume loss, but also may indicate impaired γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission in the DMN, which has strong reciprocal connections with other parts of the limbic system. Increased glucose metabolism and FMZ binding in the lateral thalamus could represent an upregulation of GABA-mediated inhibitory circuits.
The State of the Law on Insurance Coverage for State-of-the-Art Medical Treatments

Over the past 5 years, there have been countless lawsuits throughout the country involving insurance coverage for state-of-the-art medical treatments, such as high-dose chemotherapy supported by bone marrow or peripheral stem cell rescue for breast cancer (“HDC/ABMR” OR “HDC/PSCR” respectively). Until recently, most policies have had some type of general exclusion for “experimental” or “investigational” treatment. A number of policies defined the terms, but many did not. With or without a definition, the ambiguities caused by the insurance industry's attempt to deny coverage for medically necessary treatments which were still being studied and refined caused the unfortunate influx of lawsuit after lawsuit.
Enhancement of antifungal chemotherapy by interferon-gamma in experimental systemic cryptococcosis

The possible enhancement, using immunotherapy with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), combined with conventional antifungal therapy, was studied in a murine model of systemic cryptococcosis. Four weeks after intravenous challenge, infection was quantified in brains and livers of survivors. Groups received IFN-gamma every other day beginning 7 days before (prophylaxis), or after infection (14 doses), or amphotericin B post-infection, or combinations of these regimens. IFN-gamma alone was modestly effective, but impressively and significantly potentiated amphotericin in reducing infection in the most important site of infection, the brain. The efficacy was seen after lethal and non-lethal challenges, and when IFN-gamma was given by the intravenous or subcutaneous routes. In non-lethal infection, only the combination amphotericin-IFN-gamma resulted in sterilization of the central nervous system. Potentiation of fluconazole was less impressive. Adding prophylactic IFN-gamma doses to IFN-gamma therapy did not consistently enhance the therapeutic effect. These results suggest IFN-gamma may have a role in potentiating conventional antifungal therapy of cryptococcosis.
Commercially viable MPP networks

Although an enormous variety of network topologies have been proposed, only a handful have been chosen for commercial machines. Of these, an even smaller number possess the characteristics adequate for the often conflicting set of requirements for robustness, efficiency, scalability, and modularity. In this paper we qualitatively examine network topologies based upon these and other issues, and consider the effect of emerging trends in the high-performance marketplace.
On the Existence of Classical Solutions to an Elliptic Free Boundary Problem

An existence theorem is proved for a two-dimensional free boundary problem for a nonlinear Poisson equation. The method is constructive, employing a monotone iterative scheme, and it provides classical solutions.
Abstract 712: Parf-1A (Partner of ARF isoform 1A) promotes oxaliplatin resistance and is a new prognostic marker of survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an incurable malignancy with ineffective treatments and dismal median survival. The INK4a/ARF locus, which encodes the alternative reading frame (ARF) tumor suppressor, is commonly inactivated in PDAC tumors. We recently discovered Parf-1A, a novel “Partner of ARF” whose role in ARF signaling and tumorigenesis is not known. Parf-1A is highly expressed in the normal pancreas and microarray databases suggest Parf expression is altered (both up- and down-regulated) in human PDAC tumors. We generated Parf-1A specific antibodies and examined its protein levels by immunohistochemistry in PDAC tumors from patients who underwent resective surgery. Parf-1A expression was altered in 72% of tumors (33% reduced, 39% elevated) compared to adjacent normal ductal tissue. Tumors with the highest Parf-1A levels were significantly associated with poor patient outcome (median survival 6 months) while patients with undetectable Parf-1A in tumors had a dramatically extended lifespan (median survival 59 months, p=0.0037). Notably, Parf-1A knockdown in cultured PDAC cells increased the p53-independent growth inhibitory activity of ARF. Parf-1A loss also sensitized PDAC cells to oxaliplatin, a chemotherapeutic agent used in combination with gemcitabine to treat PDAC patients. This work identifies Parf-1A as a new inhibitor of ARF p53-independent activity that promotes PDAC chemoresistance in vitro and is a novel prognostic marker of survival in PDAC patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 712. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-712
A study of moniliasis in aureomycin therapy.

Summary(1) In vitro sensitivity studies established a definite inhibitory effect by methyl and propyl paraben (para-hydroxy-benzoic acid) on 5 strains of yeast. (2) Methyl and propyl paraben are es...
Abstract 3559: FKBP5 is an androgen-responsive gene in thyroid cancer cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC There has been a steady increase in the incidence thyroid cancer in the United States, with over 56,000 cases predicted for 2012. The increased aggressiveness of the disease and poorer clinical outcome in men and postmenopausal women may be due to androgen/androgen receptor (AR) related functions. FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP5) is a member of the immunophilin family and plays a role in steroid receptor function. Further, FKBP5 regulates the NFkB and AKT pathways and is thought to be relevant to the neoplastic process. Immunohistochemical analysis of 38 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) specimens indicated that androgen receptor is expressed in both normal and cancerous epithelial cells, in both men and women. Analysis of AR expression in thyroid cell lines indicated that the normal thyroid cell line, Nthy-ori 3-1 and PTC cell lines BCPAP and TPC-1 expressed very low levels of AR, as measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting (>1000 fold less than the prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP). In contrast, PTC/anaplastic 8505C cells expressed higher levels of AR protein (approximately one third the level expressed in LNCaP cells). Upon addition of androgen, AR in 8505C translocated into the nucleus (as determined by immunocytochemistry) and upregulated transcription of both AR (∼1.7 fold) and FKBP5 (∼1.8 fold). To more fully understand the function of androgen/AR in thyroid cells, the AR cDNA from pSG5-AR was subcloned into the pcDNA3.1+ expression vector and stably transfected into thyroid cell lines. Primers for qRT-PCR of the endogenous or the transfected gene were designed. The 84E7 clone of transfected 8505C cells expressed 68 fold higher levels of AR mRNA than 8505C and 16 fold higher AR protein expression (∼5 fold higher AR protein expression than LNCaP). Upon addition of DHT to clone 84E7, AR translocated into the nucleus, and increased AR and FKBP5 mRNA expression (∼3 fold and ∼13 fold, respectively). The association between androgens/AR and upregulation of FKBP5 in thyroid cancer cells suggests that FKBP5 may play a role in thyroid cancer etiology and the different clinical presentation and outcomes between young women and men/postmenopausal women. Citation Format: Melanie E. MacEwan, Ken Wong, Ismatun Swati, Suqing Xie, Mohammad Rasul, Olena Ardacheva, Joseph Buchsbaum, Edward Shin, Augustine Moscatello, Stimson Schantz, Raj K. Tiwari, Jan Geliebter. FKBP5 is an androgen-responsive gene in thyroid cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3559. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3559
Design and Fabrication of Compact Inkjet Printed Antennas for Integration Within Flexible and Wearable Electronics

The demand for flexible and wearable wireless systems is increasing exponentially in today's information-oriented society. These systems are extremely beneficial and applied in a wide spectrum of fields, such as personal communication, medicine, military, firefighting, entertainment, aeronautics, and radio frequency identification. In this paper, the design constraints, fabrication process, flexibility tests, and measurement of flexible and wearable antennas are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the design, fabrication, and testing of a compact flexible ultrawideband antenna are presented. The proposed design has the merits of light weight, ultralow profile (50.8 μm), wideband width, mechanical robustness, compactness, and high efficiency. The antenna is also tested against bending effects to characterize its performance in a realistic setup since it is expected to be conformed on curved surfaces and/or flexed during operation.
Neuropeptide substance P and the immune response

Substance P is a peptide mainly secreted by neurons and is involved in many biological processes, including nociception and inflammation. Animal models have provided insights into the biology of this peptide and offered compelling evidence for the importance of substance P in cell-to-cell communication by either paracrine or endocrine signaling. Substance P mediates interactions between neurons and immune cells, with nerve-derived substance P modulating immune cell proliferation rates and cytokine production. Intriguingly, some immune cells have also been found to secrete substance P, which hints at an integral role of substance P in the immune response. These communications play important functional roles in immunity including mobilization, proliferation and modulation of the activity of immune cells. This review summarizes current knowledge of substance P and its receptors, as well as its physiological and pathological roles. We focus on recent developments in the immunobiology of substance P and discuss the clinical implications of its ability to modulate the immune response.
Adaptive Sensing of Dynamic Target State in Heavy Sea Clutter

We propose an adaptive estimation method for the spatio- temporal covariance matrix of sea clutter. The motivation is to enable adaptive detection approaches that rely on accurate estimation of this matrix. The method involves vectorization of the equations for the dynamical system model governing the temporal evolution of the clutter matrix followed by a multiple particle filtering approach to deal with the high dimensionality of the formulation. The estimated sea clutter covariance matrix is applied to the problem of detection of a small target in heavy clutter; effectiveness is demonstrated via simulations.
DeepCham: Collaborative Edge-Mediated Adaptive Deep Learning for Mobile Object Recognition

Deep learning techniques achieve state-of-the-art performance on many computer vision related tasks, e.g. large-scale object recognition. In this paper we show that recognition accuracy degrades when used in daily mobile scenarios due to context variations caused by different locations, time of a day, etc. To solve this problem, we present DeepCham - the first adaptive mobile object recognition framework that allows deep learning techniques to be used successfully in mobile environments. Specifically, DeepCham is mediated by an edge master server which coordinates with participating mobile users to collaboratively train a domain-aware adaptation model which can yield much better object recognition accuracy when used together with a domain-constrained deep model. DeepCham generates high-quality domain-aware training instances for adaptation from in-situ mobile photos using two major steps: (i) a distributed algorithm which identifies qualifying images stored in each mobile device for training, (ii) a user labeling process for recognizable objects identified from qualifying images using suggestions automatically generated by a generic deep model. Using a newly collected dataset with smartphone images collected from different locations, time of a day, and device types, we show that DeepCham improves the object recognition accuracy by 150% when compared to that achieved merely using a generic deep model. In addition, we investigated how major design factors affect the performance of DeepCham. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of DeepCham using an implemented prototype.
Cognitive-Behavioral Self-Regulation of the Frequency, Duration, and Intensity of Anger

Within a self-regulation format, cognitive, behavioral, and (combined) cognitive-behavioral techniques were evaluated for effects on the frequency, duration, and intensity of anger. Twenty-seven subjects randomly assigned to three groups each received one of the three treatments after a baseline of self-monitoring and then completed another phase of self-monitoring. Results revealed a significant reduction in the frequency and duration of anger (but not anger intensity) under self-intervention, regardless of treatment type. These effects were preserved for a week following treatment. Thus, self-regulation may prevent incidents of anger and even cut short the persistence of anger, but once anger occurs, it tends to register about the same maximum intensity; this peak intensity is typically reached at the onset of the anger which then wanes at a decreasing rate over time. Further research is called for to determine the long-term durability of the treatment gains obtained and the generalizability of these findings in clinical populations.
"I don't believe it." Acceptance and skepticism of genetic health information among African-American and White smokers.

Abstract Rationale Effective translation of genomics research into practice depends on public acceptance of genomics-related health information. Objective To explore how smokers come to accept or reject information about the relationship between genetics and nicotine addiction. Methods Thirteen focus groups (N = 84) were stratified by education (seven Results Pre-video knowledge about why people smoke cigarettes and what genetic risk means informed beliefs about the relationship between genes and addiction. These beliefs were not always consistent with biomedical explanations, but formed the context through which participants processed the video's information. This, in turn, led to information acceptance or skepticism. Participants explained their reactions in terms of the scientific merits of the research and used their existing knowledge and beliefs to explain their acceptance of or skepticism about the information. Conclusion Laypeople hold complex understandings of genetics and addiction. However, when lay and biomedical explanations diverge, genetics-related health information may be rejected.
Demand Theory Under Review

The conventional (i.e., neoclassical) theory of consumer choice is one of the great prides of economics, for, among other things, it provides a rigorous and elegant mathematical underpinning to the common-sense notion of the law of demand, that there is an inverse relationship between the price of a good and the amount of the good that a consumer is willing to buy. Macroeconomic theories over the years come and go, and to a lesser extent, the same is true of theories of production, but not the theory of consumer choice. For, although there periodically have been questions concerning the assumptions that underlie it, the theory has essentially retained its present form since the 1930s. It is, in short, one of the great invariants (along with the theory of least-squares estimation) in the core education of an economist. In the circumstances, accordingly, it might pretty much seem a waste of readers’ time to begin a demand study with a review of conventional theory, for one could easily begin, as is so often the case in demand studies: “Economic theory teaches us that quantity demanded is a function of price and income, that (in normal circumstances) demand functions slope downward with price and shift outward with income, and so on and so forth.” However, while the neoclassical theory (whether directly or in its equivalent alternative form in terms of revealed preference) will be a guiding framework within which the analyses of this book proceed, there will be a number of points at which results (and other considerations) emerge that tempt explanation or interpretation that go beyond that offered by this theory. For this reason, a brief review of conventional theory is in order.
Guide for Studies on Structure and Function Employing Synthetic Polypeptides

The systematic design of protein tertiary structure poses a formidable challenge in protein engineering. Several years ago we undertook the design of models for those peptides and proteins for which to a first approximation tertiary structure can be neglected (Kroon et al., 1978; Kaiser and Kezdy, 1983, 1984). Although the prediction of tertiary structure from primary sequence cannot as yet be made with confidence, it was our thesis that secondary structures could be built in a rational fashion. Furthermore, the reasonable hypothesis was proposed that in amphiphilic environments like that of a biological interface, complementary amphiphilic secondary structures (secondary structures having distinct hydrophobic and hydro- philic faces) may be induced in peptides and proteins binding on such interfaces. Therefore, as our initial objective we engaged in the modeling of peptides and proteins that have affinity for membranes.
Differences in the Immune Microenvironment of Anal Cancer Precursors by HIV Status and Association With Ablation Outcomes.

Background Anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) are the precursors to anal cancer and frequently persist or recur following electrocautery ablation (EA). Impaired mucosal immunity may facilitate anal carcinogenesis. We characterized the immune microenvironment of anal HSILs in correlation with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus and ablation outcomes. Methods Using immunohistochemistry, mucosa-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes were quantified in HSILs and benign mucosa from 70 HIV+ and 45 HIV- patients. Clinicopathological parameters were compared. Results Anal HSILs harbored more T lymphocytes than benign mucosa regardless of HIV status (P ≤ .03). Total T lymphocyte count and CD8+ subset were significantly higher in HIV+ HSILs versus HIV- HSILs (median cell count, 71 vs 47; 47 vs 22/high power field [HPF]; P < .001), whereas the CD4+ subset was comparable between groups (median, 24 vs. 25; P = .40). Post EA, HSILs persisted in 41% of HIV+ and 19% of HIV- patients (P = .04). Unadjusted analysis showed trends toward EA failures associated with HIV seropositivity (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 2.0; 95% CI, .8-4.9) and increased CD8+ cells (IRR, 2.3; 95% CI, .9-5.3). Conclusions Human immunodeficiency virus is associated with alterations of the immune microenvironment of anal HSILs manifested by increased local lymphocytic infiltrates, predominately CD8+. Human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity and excess mucosa-infiltrating CD8+ cells may be associated with ablation resistance.
Effects of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet on glucose variability in youth with Type 1 diabetes

Objective: Glucose variability (GV) independently increases risk for vascular events in patients with diabetes. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low fat dairy and has the potential to reduce postprandial blood glucose (BG) excursions, however, its effect on GV is not known. The purpose of this work was to assess feasibility and collect preliminary data on the efficacy of the DASH diet on GV in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: Twenty one adolescents recruited from the Diabetes Center of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center with T1D (11-17y) participated in one of two phases of a controlled feeding study. The first phase tested the acceptability and blood glucose response to a traditional DASH diet (DASH) and the second phase tested a DASH diet specifically modified for diabetes (DASH-D) to improve glucose response to meals. For each phase, participants consumed first their usual diet, and then a controlled DASH diet while wearing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for 3 days of each diet. All foods were provided to the patients during the DASH dietary periods and 24 h dietary recalls were conducted during the usual diet periods to assess daily intake. Results: Sixteen participants (14.1 +/- 2.2y) were included in final analyses (DASH n=7, DASH-D n=9). Both DASH diets were significantly higher in fruits, vegetables, fiber, vitamin A, and % energy from protein than usual intakes. DASH was higher in carbohydrate (CHO) (60 vs. 50%) and lower in fat (21 vs. 36%) than usual intake, resulting in higher GV (Standard Deviation and Lability Index) and more low BG excursions (3 ± 2.8 vs. 7.1 ± 3.3, p=0.024). DASH-D was modified to better match CHO and fat content of patients’ usual intakes in phase 1 (50/30/20 for CHO/fat/pro respectively, which resulted in no difference in GV between DASH-D and usual intake. There were also trends for lower average BG (144.1 vs. 168.9, p=0.072) and less percentage of time spent in the hyperglycemic range (39.3 ± 25.5 vs. 54.1 ± 19.4, p=0.07) on DASH-D compared to usual intake. Conclusion: The DASH dietary pattern tended to result in less hyperglycemia and an overall lower BG compared to usual care. Modifying a traditional DASH diet by increasing heart healthy fats improves glycemic response to DASH and may bebeneficial for long term cardiovascular benefits in youth with T1D.
Adaptive digital filtering using the bio-inspired firefly algorithm

The Levy Flights variation of the bio-inspired Firefly Algorithm (LFFA) combines the Firefly Algorithm based on how fireflies interact through flashes and a random-step function based on the Levy distribution. The LFFA, the Genetic Algorithm (GA), and the Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm (PSOA) are compared when used for adaptive IIR system identification. Comparisons of the LFFA in direct, cascade, and parallel form structures suggest that 1) the LFFA is more effective than the GA and PSOA, 2) the LFFA adaptive algorithm works well for all structures that were experimentally tested, including a nonlinear Volterra structure, and 3) the LFFA appears to perform most effectively.
Pre and post treatment with curcumin and resveratrol protects astrocytes after oxidative stress

Abstract The two most studied polyphenolic compounds, curcumin (Cur) and resveratrol (Res), have been reported to protect oxidative damage of astrocytes. The present study is designed to examine the comparative anti-oxidative effect of Cur and Res on astrocytes by studying their potential to protect H2O2 induced oxidative stress at 4 h and 24 h time exposure. The effect of Cur and Res on cell viability, ROS production, inflammation and astrogliosis was compared. The effect of these two on Nrf2 expression and its translocation to nuclear compartment was investigated. The results showed that both Cur and Res significantly increase astrocytes survival after oxidative stress at both time points, however, Res demonstrated better effect on cell viability than the Cur. Res, showing significant inhibition of ROS production at both time points. Cur displayed significant inhibition of ROS production at 4 h, suggesting that Cur is more active on ROS inhibition in the earlier phase of insult. Comparing the expression of NF-κB, Cur showed better anti-inflammatory action on NF-κB while Res did not have any effect of NF-κB expression at 4 h. Interestingly, Cur showed an upregulation of nuclear Nrf2 expression at 24 h whereas Res displayed no effect after 24 h incubation. Both Cur and Res inhibited the H2O2 induced translocation of Nrf2 into nucleus. In conclusion, based on our observation, we found that Cur and Res both protected astrocytes from oxidative stress. In addition, we observed that Cur is most effective in early hours of insult while Res is effective in late hours suggesting that Res may or may not have immediate effect on astrocytes.
Comparing appropriateness of antibiotics for nursing home residents by setting of prescription initiation: a cross-sectional analysis.

The pervasive, often inappropriate, use of antibiotics in healthcare settings has been identified as a major public health threat due to the resultant widespread emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In nursing homes (NH), as many as two-thirds of residents receive antibiotics each year and up to 75% of these are estimated to be inappropriate. The objective of this study was to characterize antibiotic therapy for NH residents and compare appropriateness based on setting of prescription initiation. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional multi-center study that occurred in five NHs in southern Wisconsin between January 2013 and September 2014. All NH residents with an antibiotic prescribing events for suspected lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), and urinary tract infections (UTI), initiated in-facility, from an emergency department (ED), or an outpatient clinic were included in this sample. We assessed appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing using the Loeb criteria based on documentation available in the NH medical record or transfer documents. We compared appropriateness by setting and infection type using the Chi-square test and estimated associations of demographic and clinical variables with inappropriate antibiotic prescribing using logistic regression. Among 735 antibiotic starts, 640 (87.1%) were initiated in the NH as opposed to 61 (8.3%) in the outpatient clinic and 34 (4.6%) in the ED. Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections differed significantly by setting: NHs (55.9%), ED (73.3%), and outpatient clinic (80.8%), P = .023. Regardless of infection type, patients who had an antibiotic initiated in an outpatient clinic had 2.98 (95% CI: 1.64–5.44, P < .001) times increased odds of inappropriate use. Antibiotics initiated out-of-facility for NH residents constitute a small but not trivial percent of all prescriptions and inappropriate use was high in these settings. Further research is needed to characterize antibiotic prescribing patterns for patients managed in these settings as this likely represents an important, yet under recognized, area of consideration in attempts to improve antibiotic stewardship in NHs.
Treatment of Neck Fat with Injectable Adipolytic Therapy

Adipolytic therapy is a novel technique that uses subcutaneous injections of pharmacologically active, natural detergents to chemically ablate adipose tissue. The technique has been notoriously described as mesotherapy or Lipodissolve ®, and its popularity can be attributed due in large part to direct consumer adver­tising and controversy rather than rigorous scientific investigation. However, the following chapter describes what is perhaps best described as adipolytic therapy or lipodissolution, which is increasingly recognized in the literature as a novel method to treat fat, using injections rather than surgery or energy devices. Phosphatidyl-choline (PC), a phospholipid derived from lecithin, has been historically incorporated with its solvent, the ionic detergent sodium deoxycholate (DC), as the two primary injected medications. Recently, numerous reports attribute the fat ablation effects of this treatment to DC, which is a bile salt possessing potent cell lytic activity, and so this chapter will describe primarily the author’s experience with this compound. It is imperative to note that as of this writing, DC is not approved by any regulatory authority and therefore must be obtained from compounding pharmacies. Physicians are advised to inquire about the status of this procedure with their malpractice carrier, and become informed (and likewise appropriately consent patients) of the literature, risks, benefits, and alternatives of this technique.
Is Tongue-Lip Adhesion or Mandibular Distraction More Effective in Relieving Obstructive Apnea in Infants With Robin Sequence?

Purpose Tongue-lip adhesion (TLA) and mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) are the most common operations for obstructive apnea (OA) in infants with Robin sequence (RS). The purpose of this study was to compare early outcomes of TLA and MDO on resolution of OA. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of infants with RS treated with TLA or MDO from 2005 through 2018. To be included, patients had to have polysomnograms pre- and postoperatively unless intubated or tracheostomy dependent. Patients were excluded if the operation occurred after 1 year of age. The primary predictor variable was type of operation (TLA or MDO). The primary outcome variable was “successful resolution of OA,” defined as 1) postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) score lower than 5, 2) postoperative OA severity score of 0 to 1 (no to mild OA), and 3) no need for additional airway intervention during the first year of life. Descriptive, bivariate, and regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at a P value less than .05. Results Forty-three patients were included (TLA, n = 19 [44%]; MDO, n = 24 [56%]). Eighteen patients (41%) were syndromic. Patients in the TLA group were significantly younger at operation (28.2 ± 23.1 days) compared with those in the MDO group (87.1 ± 81.7 days; P = .002). The MDO group had more severe preoperative OA (AHI score, 20.5 ± 14.9; OA severity score, 4.7 ± 0.8) than the TLA group (AHI score, 17.6 ± 31.0; OA severity score, 3.6 ± 1.4; P Conclusion MDO is more effective than TLA in relieving OA in infants with RS.
Comparative Analysis of Various Hyperelastic Models for Neoprene Gasket at Ranging Strains

Leakages not only add to the cost, they are also a great threat to the safety of men, machines and the environment as well. Seals and gaskets have evolved as a perfect solution to the problem of leakages. Amongst the various types of gaskets, hyperelastic gaskets have long maintained their dominance in the industrial as well as domestic appliances because of their characteristic advantages. Hyperelasticity is defined for ideally elastic materials by constitutive models where the relations of stress and strain are derived from the strain energy density function denoted by ‘W’ - a scalar-valued quantity that gives the relationship of a material’s strain energy density to its rate of deformation. The constitutive models that explain hyperelasticity, include older Neo-Hookean, Generalized Rivlin and Mooney-Rivlin models as well as Blatz-Ko, Ogden and Arruda-Boyce models. All these models are expressed through different interpretations of W . The selection of the model to be used amongst the mentioned constitutive models depends upon the types of materials and geometric and loading profiles for effective prediction of behavior and results. An effort has been made to present a comparative analysis of 16 hyperelastic models, which are different variants of Mooney Rivlin, Ogden, Blatz-Ko, Yeoh, Gent, Polynomial and Arruda Boyce models. In this study, the above-mentioned hyperelastic models are applied to examine the behavior of a neoprene gasket under uniaxial tensile loading. The study is concluded with determining a hyperelastic constitutive model that predicts with reasonable exactness and safety margin when less or no experimental data is available for the neoprene gasket.
Functional dropwise condensation patterning and region-selective colloidal assembly

Abstract Micropatterning typically involves a multistep lithographic process. Despite its high throughput and versatility, lithography involves multiple steps and hazardous etching chemicals. Moreover, lithographic techniques fall short in creating nonidentical, noncrystalline microarrays on solid surfaces. In this work, we demonstrated a bottom-up patterning of microlens arrays using dropwise condensation (DWC) of functional monomers. Inspired by the DWC of water on surfaces such as leaves, substrates were exposed to vapor of the desired composition at certain conditions. Droplets comprising silane monomers were produced with moderate temperature (
Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting the Response of Unbonded Concrete Overlays in a Faulting Prediction Model

Transverse joint faulting is a common distress in unbonded concrete overlays (UBOLs). However, the current faulting model in Pavement mechanistic-empirical (ME) is not suitable for accurately predi...