cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 256: mRNA-based Nanoparticles Are Highly Effective Agents For Cardiac Gene Therapy

Gene therapy holds promise for repair and regeneration of damaged myocardium after infarction. Viral vectors used in most studies, while highly effective, carry concerns of safety and immunogenicity. Nanoparticle (NP)-enabled transfection using polymeric and lipidoid reagents mitigates some of the concerns related to the use of viral vectors. However, these agents have been less effective in transfecting cardiac myocytes, which are primarily post-mitotic and only weakly facilitate DNA entry to the nucleus. Because translation occurs in the cytosol, transfection with RNA obviates the need for nuclear entry. Recent work has shown that synthetic alterations to messenger RNA (mRNA) can prolong its half-life in the cytosol and diminish the host’s immune response. We hypothesized that transfection of cardiac myocytes with lipidoid NPs formed using modified mRNA would lead to high levels of protein expression. Neonatal rat (NRCM), adult rat (ARCM) and human embryonic stem cell-derived (hES-CM) cardiac myocytes were transfected with modified GFP-mRNA NPs using a lipidoid vehicle (StemfectTM, Stemgent, Cambridge, MA) or Lipofectamine2000 (LF, Invitrogen) and GFP expression was assessed after 24 hours. Average transfection efficiency in NRCM was significantly higher using Stemfect versus LF as measured by flow cytometry (48.5% vs. 6.6% at 20ng mRNA; 47.4% vs. 11.8% at 40ng mRNA, 48.1% vs. 18.6% at 80ng mRNA; 48.1% vs. 28% at 160ng mRNA; n=3, p<0.01 for each pair). In hES-CM transfection was also more robust with Stemfect NPs versus LF (91.6% vs. 62.2%, p<0.05 at 40ng mRNA; 96.1 vs. 87.8%, p<0.01 at 160ng mRNA; n=3). GFP expression was noted by fluorescence microscopy to be higher in ARCMs transfected with Stemfect NPs versus LF. In conclusion, we have shown that difficult-to-transfect cardiac myocytes are readily transfected with mRNA-based NPs in vitro and with significantly higher efficiency when using Stemfect rather than Lipofectamine. Gene therapy with mRNA represents a novel approach to cardiac repair and may be preferable to DNA because of the transient window of protein expression and lower side effect profile.
Stakeholders' Perceptions of Native Plants and Local Ecotypes in Ecological Restoration

Many scientists and land managers recommend using local ecotypes for restoration projects. However, there is not a scientific consensus on what constitutes "local." To gain information about production and use of locally sourced plant material, we surveyed two stakeholder groups, conservation professionals and nursery professionals, to learn if there were differences between these stakeholder groups in terms of use, sale, or perception of native and local ecotype plant material. Our survey results indicated that both conservation and nursery professionals are aware of the ecological and functional value of native plant communities, and are also familiar with associated plant sourcing issues. However, nursery professionals provide less local ecotype and source-certified plant material in their businesses than would meet the need expressed by conservation professionals for these materials. Conservation professionals also indicated that their organizations did not necessarily have specific guidelines for sourcing local ecotype native plant material. Although nursery professionals are aware of restoration techniques and the usefulness of local ecotypes, this does not appear to translate into provision of larger quantities of native, local ecotype, or source-certified plant material. We found that members of both stakeholder groups rely on trusted authorities and professional training for information, presenting an opportunity to reach both groups through combined workshops to encourage communication and facilitate availability of native plants for restoration.
Impact of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles on an aquatic microbial community: effect at environmentally relevant concentrations

To investigate effects of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) at environmentally relevant concentrations to aquatic microbial communities, TiO2 at 700 µg/L and ZnO at 70 µg/L were spiked to river water samples either separately or combined. Compared to controls where no ENPs were added, the addition of TiO2 ENPs alone at the tested concentration had no statistically significant effect on both the bacterial and eukaryotic communities. The presence of added ENPs: ZnO or ZnO + TiO2 led to significant shift of the microbial community structure and genus distribution. This shift was more obvious for the bacteria than the eukaryotes. Based on results from single particle - inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS), all ENPs aggregated rapidly in water and resulted in much larger particles sizes than the original counterparts. "Dissolved" (including particles smaller than the size detection limits and dissolved ions) concentrations of Ti and Zn increased, too in treatment groups vs. the controls.
Urban Ethnography: Nothing About Us Without Us Is for Us

Gonzalez argues that the dynamics of urban life require a reconceptualization of the ‘the field’ as a knowledge-filled space, which now includes people’s knowledge about themselves. Spatial distribution and social interaction in urban areas are significant aspects of urban ethnography that account for social inequity among people at the margins. Gonzalez discusses current ethnographies that challenge dominant discursive formations of marginalized communities living in urban areas to challenge injustice and argue for advocacy. While anthropology remains embedded in participant observation and the study of the intersections of the political, social and cultural, she notes, it welcomes knowledge from the people in the communities under study through ethnographic accounts and participatory research, including ethnographic accounts written by scholars studying the urban settings where they come from.
Detection of extraprostatic disease and seminal vesicle invasion in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging-targeted prostate biopsies.

Background: Finding incidental extraprostatic extension (EPE) or seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) by prostate cancer (PCa) is rare on standard prostate biopsy. We evaluated the clinical-pathologic features associated with EPE and SVI on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/ultrasound (US) fusion-guided targeted biopsy (TB). Methods: A retrospective review was performed from 2014–2017, selecting patients who had undergone TB. Clinical, pathologic, and radiologic features were evaluated. Results: Five out of 333 (1.5%) patients who had PCa detected on TB had EPE and/or SVI. The average age and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 71 years and 17 ng/mL, respectively. The average number of cores taken on TB was 4.2. Two patients had a prior negative SB and two patients had a prior positive SB, one of which underwent radiation therapy. All patients had a PIRADSv2 suspicion score of 4 or 5. Four out of five (80%) patients underwent both SB and concurrent TB, of which 3/4 (75%) had EPE identified only on TB. One out of four (25%) patients also had both EPE and SVI, identified only on TB. One patient underwent only TB for MRI suspicion of SVI, which was pathologically confirmed on TB. On TB, one patient had Grade Group 3, two patients had Grade Group 4, and two patients had Grade Group 5 PCa. Perineural invasion (PNI) was present in 4/5 (80%) patients on TB. Conclusions: Based on our small series, we hypothesize that MRI/US fusion TB outperforms SB in the identification of EPE and SVI. However, given the small sample size and the overall rarity of these pathologic findings on prostate biopsy, further validation is needed.
The Small Contracted Gallbladder: a Word of Caution

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the commonest operations performed worldwide. Chronic cholecystitis can present with a small contracted gall bladder and in the setting of typical biliary type symptoms is an indication for surgery. Rarely, congenital agenesis of the gall bladder on imaging can mimic a small contracted gall bladder. Not uncommonly surgery is performed with the intent of removing the gall bladder only to find agenesis of the organ. Common bile duct injury is a real concern in these situations given the lack of familiar gall bladder anatomy. Extreme caution has to be advised to prevent injury to the duct as demonstrated in the manuscript.
The Agreement Density for Continuous Rules

Given a continuous distribution, the probability of each outcome is zero. Nonetheless, we can measure the relative degree of probability by defining the probability density for each outcome. In a parallel fashion, we can measure the relative degree of certainty for a continuous distribution. The certainty C α of a continuous distribution is always zero.So instead we define the certainty density C α ′for a continuous distribution.
Phenomenology and Conceptual Psychology

The tenets of conceptual psychology already elucidated in the work of Kant, Herbart, and Hermann Paul diverge from strict empiricism (such as Fechner’s and Wundt’s), and from a human science like Dilthey’s. Phenomenology, the science of the phenomena within the mind, also had to differentiate itself from this psychology, despite similarities in their procedures.
Carcinogenicity and Teratogenicity

Tumors are abnormal masses of tissue that grow and persist independently of surrounding structures. They have no physiologic function. Tumors that spread to other tissues (metastasize), or are transplantable to other tissues, are called malignant tumors, or cancers. Tumors that are usually encapsulated and do not metastasize are benign. Since benign tumors may develop into malignant tumors, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Gibney, 1975) classified as oncogenic those substances capable of inducing either type of tumor. The relationships of tumors that are involved with mineral toxicities are presented in Table 5–1.
Variable Speed Simulation for Accelerated Industrial Control System Cyber Training

Industrial control systems employ a variety of hardware, software and network protocols to control physical processes that are critical to societal functions. It is vital that industrial control system operators receive quality training to defend against cyber attacks. Hands-on training exercises with real-world control systems enable operators to learn defensive techniques and understand the real-world impacts of their control decisions. However, cyber attacks and operator actions have unforeseen effects that can take a significant amount of time to manifest and potentially cause physical harm to systems, making high-fidelity training exercises costly and time-consuming.
Brain structure in juvenile-onset Huntington disease.

Objective To assess brain morphometry in a sample of patients with juvenile-onset Huntington disease (JOHD) and several mouse models of Huntington disease (HD) that likely represent the human JOHD phenotype. Methods Despite sharing the mutation in the Huntingtin gene, adult-onset HD characteristically presents as a hyperkinetic motor disorder, while JOHD typically presents as a hypokinetic motor disease. The University of Iowa Kids-JHD program enrolls individuals 5 to 25 years of age who have already received the clinical diagnosis. A total of 19 children with juvenile HD (JHD) (mean CAG = 72) were studied. Patients with JHD were compared to healthy controls (n = 234) using a cross-sectional study design. Volumetric data from structural MRI was compared between groups. In addition, we used the same procedure to evaluate brain morphology of R6/2, zQ175, HdhQ250 HD mice models. Results Participants with JHD had substantially reduced intracranial volumes. After controlling for the small intracranial volume size, the volumes of subcortical regions (caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and thalamus) and of cortical white matter were significantly decreased in patients with JHD. However, the cerebellum was proportionately enlarged in the JHD sample. The cerebral cortex was largely unaffected. Likewise, HD mice had a lower volume of striatum and a higher volume of cerebellum, mirroring the human MRI results. Conclusions The primary pathology of JOHD extends beyond changes in the striatal volume. Brain morphology in both mice and human patients with JHD shows proportional cerebellar enlargement. This pattern of brain changes may explain the unique picture of hypokinetic motor symptoms in JHD, which is not seen in the hyperkinetic chorea-like phenotype of adult-onset HD.
Sutureless Amniotic Membranes (ProKera) for Filamentary Keratitis: A Case Series

Purpose To report a case series of refractory filamentary keratitis successfully managed with sutureless amniotic membranes resistant to other management strategies. Methods Three cases are discussed with anterior segment photography who were diagnosed with filamentary keratitis and successfully managed with sutureless amniotic membranes, after experiencing limited relief with standard treatments. Conclusions This case series demonstrates the complex management of patients with filamentary keratitis who had failed with traditional therapies and were successfully managed with sutureless amniotic membranes. All three patients demonstrated improvement in both ocular signs and symptoms following amniotic membrane application to the ocular surface.
Present status of lasers in neurosurgery.

The application of laser technology to medicine and surgery has lagged behind industrial, recreational and military development. Acceptance has been slow in neurological surgery until refined technology was developed and skilled investigative surgeons recognized the potential for this new technology when applied with microscopic principles. Creative approaches, applications and remarkably improved results have been achieved. Yet we are probably only in an infantile stage of development of the potential of the myriad of applications of laser energy in Neurosurgery. In this chapter, we will review the currently accepted technology, applications and practical results which have been achieved.
Toward a Psychological Theory of Meaning in Life

The concept of meaning in life remains an elusive yet fundamental aspect of human well-being. The lack of a sufficiently analytical definition or explanatory theory of meaning poses a challenge for empirical efforts to study and measure well-being, especially those that seek to conceptualize it based predominantly on mood and pleasure. This paper seeks to take a first step toward defining and explaining meaning while distinguishing it from hedonic pleasure. Various aspects of meaning are considered, including the difference between meaning as a form of positive emotion and as a form of motivation. A preliminary effort is made to construct an organizational framework for meaning, focusing on (i) connection to a long-term concept of self, (ii) emotional richness, and (iii) realization of deep personal values. This framework points to an account of meaningful experiences as emotionally intense states in which people reflect on and tap into values central to their personal identity. The paper explores possibilities for future directions in measuring well-being, as well as their limitations. Treating meaning as a distinct component of well-being that is irreducible to hedonic pleasure could help explain certain observed findings in behavioral economics and potentially inform future initiatives in public policy.
Successful use of a therapeutic trial of graduated volume and dose escalation for postoperative head and neck radiotherapy in a Fanconi anemia patient.

Background Patients with the heritable disease, Fanconi anemia (FA), have a 500-fold risk of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). However, the use of conventional cytotoxic agents including radiation therapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy is contraindicated in patients with FA due to underlying DNA repair defects. Methods/results We present a young FA patient with recurrent HNSCC and high-risk pathologic features treated with a therapeutic trial of chemoradiation. This novel strategy employs a gentle radiation dose and volume escalation with concurrent pembrolizumab. The patient completed the entire course of therapy with no treatment delays or interruptions. Conclusions The FA patient population has a clear need for adjuvant treatment regimens given their predilection for HNSCC. A therapeutic trial may allow FA and other radiosensitive patients to trial radiation with the option to terminate treatment before any severe side effects occur and for some to complete a full course of treatment.
Considerations and experience driving expansion of combined heart-liver transplantation.

Purpose of review Heart transplantation concomitant with a liver transplant may be warranted when end-stage heart failure results in irreversible liver failure. Previously reported outcomes have been excellent yet the specific immunoprotective role of the liver allograft is not known. We review the current literature about the immunologic benefit for combined heart and liver transplantation (CHLT). Recent findings The total number of combined heart and liver transplants continues to increase and accounts for approximately 25 cases per year. Familial amyloid polyneuropathy with cardiac cirrhosis is the most common indication for CHLT while adult congenital heart disease (CHD) with associated cirrhosis is increasing in frequency. The majority of recent registry data suggest a statistically equivalent to modestly improved survival advantage for CHLT compared with isolated heart transplantation. Direct mechanisms accounting for this survival advantage are not proven, but combined heart and liver transplants experience lower rates of acute cardiac rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Summary Combined heart and liver transplants remain a small percentage of the total heart transplants worldwide, but the majority of recent literature confirms the safety and viability of this option for patients with end-stage heart and liver disease. Equivalent to modestly improved survival outcomes, lower rates of acute cardiac rejection and CAV warrant further investigation into the liver allograft's immunoprotective effect on the transplanted heart. The key mechanisms of tolerogenicity have important implications for surgical technique and immunosuppression requirements. Future directions include development of criteria for heart-liver transplant candidacy and identification of equitable allocation protocols.
Telerobotic surgery is clinical reality: Current experience with telementoring in adults and children

A clinical telepresence surgical system was developed at The Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital. Using both fiberoptic and coaxial cable, a control room located within the hospital was connected to the telepresence operating room. Systems allowing remote surgical teaching included continuous two-way audio communication, real-time laparoscopic and external video imaging, remote telestration, and remote control of a robotic arm designed to manipulate the laparoscope. Using this system, 27 operations were performed in adults and children under the direction of a remote surgical mentor. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications in this series of cases. All operations were successful. Telementoring was successful in 26 of the 27 cases. In one case, poor positioning of the robotic arm was responsible for a breakdown in the remote surgical teaching process. Operative times for telepresence operations and traditionally mentored cases are compared. In summary, telementoring has proven to be a safe and potentially useful application of telerobotic surgery.
Do Women in Conservative Societies (Not) Follow Smartphone Security Advice? A Case Study of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Women in conservative cultures, are an understudied population when it comes to investigating how users keep their devices and data safe. Owing to the recent trend in smartphone adoption and the simultaneous increase in attacks targeting women in conservative societies, this study uses the rational decision model to investigate the motivations of this user group for (not) following common smartphone security advice. We focus on four pieces of smartphone security advice, i.e., using screen lock, updating device software, deleting suspicious text messages, and using secure WIFI networks. Through interviews with 156 women from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, we re-validate the rational decision model, identify key gaps in perception between those who follow common smartphone security advice and those who do not, help explain participants’ reasons behind their decisions and suggest recommendations for improving risk communication. Additionally, we describe similarities and differences between the studied population and the West in terms of sources for receiving smartphone security advice.
Lessons from Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile) for Governance in Conditions of Environmental Uncertainty

The effectiveness of governance depends on the knowledge upon which decisions are based. Knowledge veracity is particularly significant when future conditions are uncertain. In the context of global climate change, communities around the world, including the residents of Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile), face tremendous uncertainty in resource availability. In the context of these looming challenges, prehistoric Rapa Nui is often treated as a warning about human-induced ecological catastrophe. With contemporary populations of the island wrestling about issues of governance, it is vital that researchers carefully validate their knowledge about the island’s past. Despite the claims of traditional narratives, new empirical research on Rapa Nui indicates that the traditional “collapse” narrative has no basis. Instead, the island is now known to have been sustainable from its prehistory until European contact. These findings point to the potential of alternative action models and new governance structures.
Discriminative Bayesian Filtering Lends Momentum to the Stochastic Newton Method for Minimizing Log-Convex Functions.

To minimize the average of a set of log-convex functions, the stochastic Newton method iteratively updates its estimate using subsampled versions of the full objective's gradient and Hessian. We contextualize this optimization problem as sequential Bayesian inference on a latent state-space model with a discriminatively-specified observation process. Applying Bayesian filtering then yields a novel optimization algorithm that considers the entire history of gradients and Hessians when forming an update. We establish matrix-based conditions under which the effect of older observations diminishes over time, in a manner analogous to Polyak's heavy ball momentum. We illustrate various aspects of our approach with an example and review other relevant innovations for the stochastic Newton method.
Specific Inflammations of Joints by Microorganisms

Suppurative arthritis, the most feared complication in a joint, has become less frequent in recent decades. It may be caused by any type of microorganism of virulence or toxicity, but it is most often due primarily or secondarily to staphylococci.
Modeling Solar Cavity Receivers: A Review and Comparison of Natural Convection Heat Loss Correlations

Abstract As the main difficulty of modeling cavity receivers is determining natural convection heat losses, this paper presents a survey of the different natural convection correlations developed by several authors to model natural convective heat losses from cavity receivers of solar thermal power tower plants. The different correlations studied for modeling convective heat losses are later compared by performing simulations on an implemented cavity receiver. For this work a model of a PS10-like cavity receiver, using Solar Salt as the heat transfer fluid, is implemented in Modelica. The simulations have shown how the results of four out of the five studied correlations do agree, while one of the analyzed correlations clearly overestimates convective heat losses for the simulations performed.
Periodic Points and Stable Sets

We are now ready to examine the dynamics of discrete systems. We begin by defining and categorizing the simplest types of behavior. In most of what follows we assume that the range of the function in question is a subset of the domain. Exceptions to this practice will be noted.
Information integration and management through the design and construction phases of a project life cycle

Information management and communication between project actors is key to successful management of construction projects. Inaccurate measurements and conflicting data can lead to costly mistakes, and ambiguities in material take-offs can ruin estimates and schedules. The objective of this paper is to present a framework that models the interactions between project information and the project actors who produce, use and/or share project information. The framework recognizes the coupling between project participants and project information, and implies that the effectiveness of a technology platform lies most importantly in its ability to allow for effective communication of project information and value addition among project actors, during the design and construction phases. It is expected that the proposed framework can be used to proactively identify interactions that can impede or reinforce the effectiveness of a technology/platform within an organizational network. Within this context, the use of building information models (BIM) and integrative platforms such as Autodesk Navisworks is discussed to understand how they can allow for seamless exchange of project information between project participants. The paper concludes with discussion of two case reports. The first case illustrates a failure in the flow of information that could have been prevented by using an integrative platform like Navisworks. The second case profiles a project from a leading design/construction firm that has used BIM/Navisworks effectively to reduce project costs and delays.
Memory, emotion, and pupil diameter: Repetition of natural scenes

Recent studies have suggested that pupil diameter, like the "old-new" ERP, may be a measure of memory. Because the amplitude of the old-new ERP is enhanced for items encoded in the context of repetitions that are distributed (spaced), compared to massed (contiguous), we investigated whether pupil diameter is similarly sensitive to repetition. Emotional and neutral pictures of natural scenes were viewed once or repeated with massed (contiguous) or distributed (spaced) repetition during incidental free viewing and then tested on an explicit recognition test. Although an old-new difference in pupil diameter was found during successful recognition, pupil diameter was not enhanced for distributed, compared to massed, repetitions during either recognition or initial free viewing. Moreover, whereas a significant old-new difference was found for erotic scenes that had been seen only once during encoding, this difference was absent when erotic scenes were repeated. Taken together, the data suggest that pupil diameter is not a straightforward index of prior occurrence for natural scenes.
Knowledge Management Frontier in the Global Food System: Network Embeddedness and Social Capital

though these events are disparate and independent in character, they all have a similar result of shifting the demand for vertical information flow in the global food supply chain. Agricultural biotechnology has raised issues in commodity marketing subsectors relative to identity preservation and trace-back as well as labeling. The need for enhanced information on numerous aspects of the production protocol, such as geographic origin or seed variety, at downstream portions of the supply chain is common (Sporleder and Goldsmith, 2001; Caswell; Hobbs and Young; Hobbs, Kerr, and Phillips). The application of the technology to crop and livestock production has contributed to the need for enhanced vertical information.
Resonant drive: sense and high voltage electrostatic drive using single MEMS capacitor and low voltage electronics

This paper describes the resonant drive technique that eliminates the need for high voltage integrated circuits (IC) in MEMS drive electronics. Resonant drive also offers a versatile solution for position sense and generates the sense signal using a single drive capacitor. Resonant drive uses the fact that the voltage across the capacitor of a series LC tank can be much higher than the input signal driving the tank. The amplification is maximum at resonance and equal to the quality factor (Q). The tank circuit consists of an external inductor and the MEMS drive capacitor. Since the input signal is amplified through the tank, low voltage electronics can fully implement the drive function. As the actuator gap closes, resonance frequency of the tank decreases. This frequency shift is used for measuring the position. Resonant drive has been successfully demonstrated using torsional MEMS mirrors that require 100V for 20 deg-optical rotation. The LC tank (Q of 15) was formed by using a 390/spl mu/H inductor. All drive and sense circuits were built using only 10V CMOS parts.
Use of dominant negative constructs to modulate gene expression.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the many different ways to generate dominant negative mutations in a protein, and discusses their mechanisms of action. It also highlights the potential interpretations of the biologic effects observed and the most stringent controls. Molecular techniques have revolutionized the study of developmental problems in the latest years, allowing the dissection of signaling and genetic pathways in several developmental systems. Among these new tools are mutant proteins that inhibit in a dominant fashion the function of their normal counterpart in vivo . Diverse techniques allow modern embryologists to isolate novel genes from a variety of organisms at an amazing pace. With the various genome sequencing projects promising to characterize virtually all the genes of a selected number of organisms, the challenge for the present and future has become the assignment of specific functions to each gene product. The chapter provides specific examples of dominant negative proteins that have been engineered or occur naturally, and refers to them to illustrate specific advantages and caveats of their use.
Independent Grocery Retailers and Their Primary Wholesalers

Abstract Independent retailers and their primary wholesalers remain a vital part of the U.S. grocery industry, though their future is threatened by the growth of self-distributing chains. These channel partners will have to leverage their collective supply chain to insure survival. This paper presents results from a nationwide survey of independent retailers about this supply chain, exploring two related topics. First, the marketing channel climate between independent retailers and wholesalers is investigated, focusing on the critical relational variables of trust, satisfaction and commitment. Second, the effectiveness of retailer support services provided by wholesalers is examined. The linkage between these two areas is developed and the implications are discussed.
HGF Guides T Cells into the Heart

Expression of distinct homing receptors guides adaptive immune cells to antigen-rich tissue. In this issue of Immunity, Komarowska et al. (2015) describe an autocrine loop that is initiated by cardiac-expressed hepatocyte growth factor to direct T cells into the heart during inflammation and cardiac transplant rejection.
Monotonicity and Focus Sensitivity

Focus sensitive expressions like "always" and "only" can be argued to express quan• tifier relations with universal force. Thus, like "every", they have a restrictor, and a scope. We take the quantificational domain to be a set of events. Focus sensitivity manifests itself in the fact that ( 1 ) and (2) each have multiple readings, two of which may be approximated as (3) and (4) . The gloss in (3) is presumably what George Jean Nathan intended in uttering ( 1 ), and the focus would thus be "to make others seem more interesting".
Preparation of the precursors of new tannin‐like polymers with potential biological effects

New acrylate based polymers, with the potential to be converted to polyphenolic polymers — poly[2-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)ethyl acrylate] (4) and poly[3-(4-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propyl acrylate] (9) — were prepared from the corresponding monomers 3 and 8 by free-radical polymeri- zation, initiated by 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The acrylate monomers, 2-(4-benzyloxy- pheny1)ethyl acrylate (3) and 3-(4-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propy1 acrylate (8), were synthes- ized from acryloyl chloride and the corresponding alcohols — 2-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)ethanol(2) and 3-(4-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)- 1 -propano1 (7), respectively. The monomer 7 was prepared from 3-(4-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-propene (6) by hydroboration/oxidation and 6 was obtained from eugenol(4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) as the starting material. The compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, and elemental analyses. The molecular weight of the synthesized polymers was determined by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC).
Dehydration, hydration behavior, and structural analysis of Fenoprofen calcium

Fenoprofen calcium (FC) is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic agent. The dehydration behavior of FC dihydrate and the rehydration of the dried FC were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD). The stoichiometry, the crystal packing arrangement, and water environments in FC dihydrate were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The Arrhenius plot (natural logarithm of the dehydration rate constant versus the reciprocal of absolute temperature) for FC dihydrate from isothermal TGA is not linear. The activation energy of dehydration was 309 kJ/mol in the 50–60°C range and 123 kJ/mol in the 60–80°C range. The difference in activation energy can be explained from the crystal structure data where one water molecule is sandwiched between repeating polar carboxylate groups and the other water is in a slightly less polar region of the crystal. Single-crystal XRD analysis also indicated each calcium ion is coordinated to six oxygens. Two coordinating oxygens are provided by two water molecules and the other four oxygens are provided by the carboxylate group of four separate fenoprofen anions. Each fenoprofen anion, which can provide two oxygens for coordination, is associated with two different calcium ions. Hot-stage PXRD suggested that only a loss of 1 mole of water per mole of FC dihydrate (forming a monohydrate) was required to convert the material to a partially crystalline state. The monohydrate is not completely disordered as evidenced by a strong diffraction peak as well as some weaker peaks in the PXRD pattern. The rehydration of the anhydrous form of FC follows a solution-mediated transformation, prior to crystallizing as the dihydrate. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:845–859, 2001
Developing Energy Literacy in US Middle-Level Students Using the Geospatial Curriculum Approach

This quantitative study examined the effectiveness of a geospatial curriculum approach to promote energy literacy in an urban school district and examined factors that may account for energy content knowledge achievement. An energy literacy measure was administered to 1,044 eighth-grade students (ages 13–15) in an urban school district in Pennsylvania, USA. One group of students received instruction with a geospatial curriculum approach (geospatial technologies (GT)) and another group of students received ‘business as usual’ (BAU) curriculum instruction. For the GT students, findings revealed statistically significant gains from pretest to posttest (p < 0.001) on knowledge of energy resource acquisition, energy generation, storage and transport, and energy consumption and conservation. The GT students had year-end energy content knowledge scores significantly higher than those who learned with the BAU curriculum (p < 0.001; effect size being large). A multiple regression found that prior energy content kn...
Fatty acid synthesis in vivo and hepatic contribution to whole-body lipogenic rates in obese zucker rats

We have re-examined the claim by Godbole and York, based on the effect of surgical hepatectomy (Diabetologia14∶191, 1978), that liver contributed more than 90% of the newly synthesized FA found in adipose tissue of obese rats at the end of a 1-hr pulse of3H2O. The amount of newly synthesized FA transported via plasma VLDL from liver to adipose tissue was estimated in lean and obese Zucker rats by determining the effects of Triton WR-1339, which blocks the uptake of VLDL-TGFA into tissues. Triton treatment was found not to cause any significant change in the amount of radioactive FA found in subcutaneous/perimetrial fat tissues, carcass or liver in either chow-fed or high-glucose, fed-refed lean or obese rats, although in the fed-refed dietary state the proportion found in the liver was increased over that in the chow-fed groups. Furthermore, the amounts of newly made FA which accumulated in the plasma of Triton-treated, chow-fed and glucose-fed refed animals during this period constituted only a few percentages of those found in the adipose tissue of these animals. Thus, in contrast to the claims of Godbole and York, no significant transfer of newly made FA from liver to adipose tissue occurs during a 1-hr experiment; it follows that the amounts of these FA found in different tissues at the end of that period are valid measurements of their actual lipogenic activities in situ. It is suggested that the Godbole and York results are artifacts of their surgical hepatectomy procedure.
Measurement of Small Cohesion of JSC-1A Lunar Simulant

AbstractBecause of the difficulty of applying low, effective confining pressure in a triaxial test, the reported small cohesion of JSC-1A lunar simulant from past research is neither accurate nor reliable. To develop an effective way to measure the cohesion parameter, a new method was adopted and demonstrated. As the value of the critical height of a vertical cut is proportional to the cohesion of a soil, the cohesion of JSC-1A simulant was obtained through simple calculations based on the critical height measured. Footprint demonstrations were also used to illustrate the existence of cohesion in JSC-1A simulant, in a comparison with the photograph of footprints of astronauts on the Moon. A group of critical height tests was conducted to obtain the cohesion of lunar simulant JSC-1A for a range of densities from 1.61 to 1.96 g/cm3. It was found that the cohesion of JSC-1A simulant varies in the range from 0.0 to 1.1 kPa, in an approximately linear relationship with the soil density.
The Net Energy of Blackstrap Molasses for Lactating Dairy Cows

Summary The net energy of cane or blackstrap molasses for lactation has been determined when added to a basal ration of pineapple bran, soybean meal, dicalcium phosphate, and tracemineralized salt. When fed at a level of 10 and 30% of the total ration, the net energy of the molasses was 68.1 and 23.1 mcal, per 100lb., respectively, compared to 54.2 mcal, for the basal ration. A comparison of the net energy values with total digestible nutrients and digestible energy indicated that the high loss of energy when molasses was increased from 10 to 30% in the ration was not due to increased fecal loss. The addition of 30% molasses caused a significant decrease in percentage of butterfat and solids-not-fat in the milk, resulting in a lowering of the energy value per unit of milk produced. Milk from the cows fed 30% molasses also tended to score lower than the other milks in flavor tests. The lowered flavor score appeared to be associated with an increased rancidity. Ten per cent molasses produced none of the undesirable effects exhibited by the 30% molasses. The caloric value of the milk solids was found to be very closely related to the fat content of the milk (r = 0.98). The relationship was described by the equation Y=4.516 + 0.321 X , where Y is the kilocalories of energy per gram of milk solids and X is the per cent butterfat in the fluid milk. The error of the regression coefficient was 0.043.
A fast algorithm for Steiner trees

Given an undirected distance graph G=(V, E, d) and a set S, where V is the set of vertices in G, E is the set of edges in G, d is a distance function which maps E into the set of nonnegative numbers and S?V is a subset of the vertices of V, the Steiner tree problem is to find a tree of G that spans S with minimal total distance on its edges. In this paper, we analyze a heuristic algorithm for the Steiner tree problem. The heuristic algorithm has a worst case time complexity of O(¦S¦¦V¦ 2) on a random access computer and it guarantees to output a tree that spans S with total distance on its edges no more than 2(1?1/l) times that of the optimal tree, where l is the number of leaves in the optimal tree.
Entangled-Photon Optical Coherence Tomography

Quantum-optical coherence tomography (QOCT) makes use of entangled twin-photon light to perform axial optical sectioning of objects with improved resolution by virtue of dispersion cancellation.
Clinical decision making in the identification of patients likely to benefit from spinal manipulation: a traditional versus an evidence-based approach.

Growing evidence suggests that spinal manipulation is effective in the management of low back pain (LBP). However, in the absence of evidence of an alternative approach, clinicians have primarily relied on diagnostic tests with questionable reliability and validity in the clinical decision-making process to identify potential candidates for spinal manipulation. These 2 cases highlight the use of a clinical prediction rule (CPR) developed by Flynn et al, which demonstrates that there are a few simple criteria from the history and physical examination that can be used to help clinicians decide if spinal manipulation and a range of motion (ROM) exercise may be helpful in the management of a patient with LBP. Importantly, these results provide clinicians with an easy-to-use procedure to accurately identify patients with LBP who are likely to achieve a dramatic improvement prior to treatment. We believe this CPR offers clinicians an efficient and practical evidence-based tool that can be applied by even the no...
Estimation of Equilibrium Exchange Rates in the Waemu: A Robustness Approach

Using the FEER approach we investigate the long-run equilibrium paths of the real effective exchange rates (REERs) of countries in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). In an attempt to address econometric estimation uncertainty, we employ both single-country (Johansen and ARDL) and panel-data (FMOLS and PMG) cointegration techniques. We find that (i) much of the long-run behavior of REERs in WAEMU countries can be explained by fluctuations in terms of trade, government consumption, investment, and productivity; (ii) the use of different econometric techniques suggests that there is significant uncertainty about the path of the underlying equilibrium REERs and the degree of exchange rate misalignment, which underscores the need for robustness analyses in exchange rate modeling; and (iii) results from panel-data cointegration may sometimes be useful, but should always be complemented with single-country estimations to ensure that the results take into account country-specific characteristics.
Evaluation of cadaveric lumbar spine temperature distributions during nucleoplasty

This study investigated the contribution of applied thermal energy during the nucleoplasty procedure by obtaining temperature maps throughout human cadaveric disc specimens (n=5) during a simulated treatment protocol. The procedure was performed using the ArthroCare SpineWand RF-Coblation device inserted through a 17 g needle into the cadaveric disc. The device uses a dual mode heating technique which employs a high voltage RF plasma field to vaporize tissue, followed by RF current heating for thermal coagulation. The device is manipulated to create a series of 6 channels at a 60 degree angular spacing within a period of 3 minutes. A computer-controlled, motorized translational system was used to mimic the insertion (coblation) and retraction (rf-coagulation) performed during clinical implementation. Rotation was performed manually between each coblation/rf-coagulation cycle. Transient temperature data were obtained using five multi-junction thermocouple probes (5 to 6- 0.05 mm diameter junctions spaced at either 2 or 5 mm) spaced throughout the desired heating volume. Temperature distributions and accumulated thermal doses calculated from the temperature-time history were used to define probable regions of thermal coagulation. Intra-discal temperatures of 60-65C were measured within 2 to 3 mm radial distance from the introducer with therapeutic thermal doses of >250 EM 43C achieved at radial distances of up to 5 mm from the introducer. Although appreciable regions of thermal coagulation within the nucleus are localized around the applicator, improper placement of the applicator during treatment may also generate undesirable hot spots in the bone endplate.
Airway compression secondary to left atrial enlargement and increased pulmonary artery pressure

Although congenital cardiac defects are infrequently considered a cause of major airway compression in neonates and infants, patients with left-sided cardiac enlargement can develop compression of the left mainstem bronchus. This is a consequence of the intimate relationship of the trachea and left mainstem bronchus to the left atrium, left pulmonary veins and left pulmonary artery. If the mean pulmonary arterial pressure, mean left atrial pressure and carinal angle are increased, the likelihood of major airway compression is high.
C+(2P)+H2(D2,HD)→CH+(CD+)+H(D). II. Statistical phase space theory

Statistical phase space theory is applied to the reactions of carbon(1+)ions with isotopic molecular hydrogen (H2, D2, and HD) to form methyliumylidene (CH+ and CD+). Reaction cross sections and isotope effects as a function of kinetic energy are compared to recent experimental results. The important features of the potential energy surfaces for the C+(2P)+H system are reviewed. The treatment of multiple electronic potential energy surfaces and excited state product channels in phase space theory is discussed. Phase space theory accurately reproduces the relative behavior of the experimental cross sections in the threshold region. Also, the cross section magnitude is reproduced if only those potential energy surfaces without energy barriers in the entrance channel are included in the phase space model. Phase space theory fails, however, to predict quantitatively the kinetic isotope effects or the shape of the cross section at higher energies where excited state CH+ production may be important.
Detection of Spirorchiid Trematodes in Gastropod Tissues by Polymerase Chain Reaction: Preliminary Identification of an Intermediate Host of Learedius learedi

Abstract Marine spirorchiid trematodes are associated with morbidity and mortality in sea turtles worldwide. The intermediate hosts remain unknown, and discovery efforts are hindered by the large number and great diversity of potential hosts within sea turtle habitats, as well the potential for low prevalence and overdispersion. A high-throughput DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction–based method was developed to detect the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of the ribosomal gene of 2 spirorchiid genera, Learedius and Hapalotrema, within pooled samples of gastropod tissues. A model system consisting of freshwater snail (Pomacea bridgesii) tissues and DNA extracts spiked with adult Learedius learedi and known quantities of spirorchiid DNA was used to develop and test the technique. Threshold of detection was found to be equivalent to an early prepatent infection within 1.5 g of gastropod tissue. This technique was used to screen approximately 25 species of marine gastropods at a captive fac...