cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous image formation and motion blur restoration via multiple capture

Advances in CMOS image sensors enable fast image capture, which makes it possible to capture multiple images within a normal exposure time. An algorithm that takes advantage of this capability by simultaneously constructing a high dynamic range image and performing motion blur restoration from multiple image captures is described. The algorithm comprises two main procedures-photocurrent estimation and motion/saturation detection. It operates completely locally-each pixel's final value is computed using only its captured values-and recursively, requiring the storage of only a constant number of values per pixel independent of the number of images captured. These modest computational and storage requirements make it feasible to integrate all needed memory and processing with the image sensor on a single CMOS chip. Simulation results demonstrate the enhanced SNR, dynamic range, and the motion blur restoration obtained using our algorithm.
One Crystal, Two Temperatures: Cryocooling Penalties Alter Ligand Binding to Transient Protein Sites

Interrogating fragment libraries by X-ray crystallography is a powerful strategy for discovering allosteric ligands for protein targets. Cryocooling of crystals should theoretically increase the fraction of occupied binding sites and decrease radiation damage. However, it might also perturb protein conformations that can be accessed at room temperature. Using data from crystals measured consecutively at room temperature and at cryogenic temperature, we found that transient binding sites could be abolished at the cryogenic temperatures employed by standard approaches. Changing the temperature at which the crystallographic data was collected could provide a deliberate perturbation to the equilibrium of protein conformations and help to visualize hidden sites with great potential to allosterically modulate protein function.
Value-Based Insurance Design: Aligning Incentives, Benefits, and Evidence in Oncology

When everyone is required to pay the same out-of-pocket amount for oncology services for which benefits depend on patient char acteristics and clinical indication, there is enormous potential for both under- and overutilization. Unlike most current health plan designs, the value-based insurance design (V-BID) explicitly acknowledges and responds to patient heterogeneity across the entire continuum of cancer care. By adding “clinical nuance” to benefit design, V-BID encourages the use of services when the clinical benefits exceed the cost, and likewise discourages the use of services when the benefits do not justify the expenditure. This manuscript further describes the concept of V-BID, creates a framework for its development in oncology, and outlines how this concept aligns with ongoing research, care delivery, and payment reform initiatives. (JNCCN 2012;10:18–23)
Parameter Identification for Photovoltaic Source Models

Several methods for PV model parameter extraction are addressed in this chapter with reference to static models. The considered identification methods are mainly based on analytical or numerical solutions and use either the rated data given by the manufacturer or the experimental data directly measured at the PV source. A simplified method based on the experimental measurement of the remarkable points is also proposed. The possibility to simplify the parameter identification by using linear regression methods is explored and some hints on the PV characteristic determination by mapping techniques are given. The PV models, suitably identified, are finally implemented in Matlab/Simulink® environment and simulation results are shown.
EFFECTS OF HIGH REARING DENSITIES AND LOADING RATES ON THE GROWTH AND STRESS RESPONSES OF JUVENILE RAINBOW TROUT

Abstract Growth and changes in serum concentrations of cortisol, glucose, and chloride in response to acute stress challenge tests were compared in juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (143–190 mm TL) reared at density indices of 2.8–9.3 g/(L · cm) and loading rates of 0.5 and 0.75 kg/(L · min). In experiment 1, there were no differences in growth or measures of physiological stress in fish reared for 4 weeks at loading rates of 0.5 or 0.75 kg/(L · min). Fish reared at density indices of 5.6 and 8.4 g/(L · cm) gained significantly less weight than fish at a density index of 2.8 g/(L · cm), and fish reared at 2.8 and 5.6 g/(L · cm) had better food conversion rates (weight of food fed/weight gained) than those at 8.4 g/(L · cm). Changes in the serum concentrations of cortisol, glucose, and chloride, however, suggested that the reduced growth at elevated densities was not due to physiological stress. In experiment 2, cortisol levels were higher in fish 3 d after transfer to net-pens than in fish 10 or ...
Religious identity and the perception of linguistic difference: The case of Pennsylvania German

Abstract Pennsylvania German is spoken by Old Order Mennonites and Old Order Amish, as well as by other less conservative Anabaptist groups and by so-called nonsectarians. A certain amount of linguistic variation correlates with these differences in religious affiliation, but the degree of divergence is smaller than has been previously suggested, in particular with respect to claims of different norms for sectarians and nonsectarians. In addition, the diversity of religious practices between different sectarian communities has had little effect on rates of borrowing and phonological incorporation. Even so, sectarian speakers do have folk linguistic perceptions of differences in language use, and these are interpreted through the lens of the shared core value of humility.
The Future of Behavioral Sleep Medicine: A Report on the Presentations Given at the Ponte Vedra Behavioral Sleep Medicine Consensus Conference, March 27–29, 2009

A major goal of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Consensus Conference held in Ponte Vedra, Florida on March 27 through 29, 2009 was to have 15 key opinion leaders provide the latest information on their areas of expertise. Those leaders represented the breadth of the behavioral sleep medicine field (pediatrics, adults, insomnia, PAP adherence, and circadian rhythm disorders) and included clinicians and researchers from a variety of settings (academia, private practice, the military, and primary care). The presentations highlighted the milestones already achieved by the field (critical mass, solid empirical base, 30+ training programs, certification, dedicated journal, and dedicated textbook), as well as important future directions (more clinical research, public relations campaigns, training, and reimbursement).
Compromising democracy: state building in Saakashvili's Georgia

This article argues that the since the Rose Revolution, the Georgian government led by President Mikheil Saakashvili has created a false dichotomy between democracy and state building. They have prioritized the latter. Initially, in areas such as reducing bureaucracy, combating petty corruption, improving tax collection, service delivery and infrastructure, the government succeeded in rebuilding the Georgian state. However, because issues of democracy were ignored, efforts to strengthen the Georgian state were not as successful as they might have been. Moreover, the absence of sufficient democracy has contributed to poor decision making, most notably in the run-up to the August war, which ultimately has undermined the major state building accomplishments in Georgia since 2004. Accordingly, any efforts to repair the damage from that war and rebuild the state will be unsuccessful unless they incorporate meaningful democratic reforms.
Activation of phospholipase C mimics the phase shifting effects of light on melatonin rhythms in retinal photoreceptors.

Many aspects of retinal photoreceptor function and physiology are regulated by the circadian clocks in these cells. It is well established that light is the primary stimulus that entrains these clocks; yet, the biochemical cascade(s) mediating light’s effects on these clocks remains unknown. This deficiency represents a significant gap in our fundamental understanding of photoreceptor signaling cascades and their functions. In this study, we utilized re-aggregated spheroid cultures prepared from embryonic chick retina to determine if activation of phospholipase C in photoreceptors in the absence of light can phase shift the melatonin secretion rhythms of these cells in a manner similar to that induced by light. We show that spheroid cultures rhythmically secrete melatonin and that these melatonin rhythms can be dynamically phase shifted by exposing the cultures to an appropriately timed light pulse. Importantly, we show that activation of phospholipase C using m-3M3FBS in the absence of light induces a phase delay in photoreceptor melatonin rhythms that mirrors that induced by light. The implication of this finding is that the light signaling cascade that entrains photoreceptor melatonin rhythms involves activation of phospholipase C.
IL-6 and the acute phase response in murine atherosclerosis

Numerous studies have implicated C-reactive protein (CRP) and the acute phase response (APR) in the development of atherosclerotic heart disease. Interleukin (IL)-6, which regulates both CRP expression and the APR, has also been identified as a risk factor for heart disease. To more directly evaluate the role of IL-6 in the development of atherosclerosis, IL-6 knockout mice were crossed with atherosclerosis prone LDL receptor (LDL-R) knockout mice. Lesion development was evaluated on Chow, Western type and Paigen diets. As anticipated, the Paigen diet stimulated the expression of APR genes in LDL-R[-/-] mice, but not IL-6[-/-]/LDL-R[-/-] mice. Despite this difference in acute phase response, only modest and statistically not significant differences were noted in the development of atherosclerotic lesions in LDL-R[-/-] and IL-6[-/-]/LDL-R[-/-] mice. These observations suggest that IL-6 and the acute phase response may not play as significant role in atherogenesis as other studies have indicated.
Operative Strategies for Minimizing Hearing Loss and Other Major Complications Associated with Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Objective To retrospectively assess the surgical outcomes and complication rates following microvascular decompression (MVD) for trigeminal neuralgia, using a targeted, restricted retrosigmoid approach. Methods During the period 1994-2009, a total of 119 patients underwent MVD for trigeminal neuralgia. A retrospective review was conducted in order to assess pain outcomes following surgery and at most recent follow-up. The intraoperative findings, Barrow Neurologic Institute (BNI) pain scores, medication usage, brainstem auditory evoked potential records, and complication rates (including postoperative hearing status) were reviewed and subsequently analyzed. Results Of the 119 patients who underwent MVD, 61 (51%) were male and 58 (49%) were female. The mean age was 60 years (range 22-86 years). Operative findings included 94 patients (79%) with arterial compression, 16 patients (13%) with isolated venous compression, 1 patient (1%) with a small arteriovenous malformation, and 8 patients (7%) with no obvious source of compression. No perioperative deaths or major complications, including hearing loss, occurred in any patients. Minor complications occurred in 9 patients (8%), including a transient trochlear nerve palsy in 1 patient, transient nystagmus in 1 patient, cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring revision in 1 patient, wound infections requiring revision in 3 patients, and wound infections requiring antibiotics alone in 3 patients. Follow-up data were available for 109 patients, of whom 88 (81%) had excellent outcomes (BNI Score I–II). Ninety-eight patients (90%) had good outcomes (BNI scores I–IIIb), 7 patients (6%) had persistent pain that was not controlled with medications (BNI Score IV), and 4 patients (4%) experienced no relief following surgery (BNI Score V). Conclusion The use of a small craniectomy (
Depression and risk of hospitalization for pneumonia in a cohort study of older Americans

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to determine if depression is independently associated with risk of hospitalization for pneumonia after adjusting for demographics, medical comorbidity, health-risk behaviors, baseline cognition and functional impairments. Methods This secondary analysis of prospectively collected data examined a population-based sample of 6704 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (1998–2008) participants > 50 years old who consented to have their interviews linked to their Medicare claims and were without a dementia diagnosis. The eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and/or International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) depression diagnoses were used to identify baseline depression. ICD-9-CM diagnoses were used to identify hospitalizations for which the principal discharge diagnosis was for bacterial or viral pneumonia. The odds of hospitalization for pneumonia for participants with depression relative to those without depression were estimated using logistic regression models. Population attributable fractions were calculated to determine the extent that hospitalizations for pneumonia could be attributable to depression. Results After adjusting for demographic characteristics, clinical factors, and health-risk behaviors, depression was independently associated with increased odds of hospitalization for pneumonia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.28, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.08, 1.53). This association persisted after adjusting for baseline cognition and functional impairments (OR: 1.24, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.50). In this cohort, 6% (95%CI: 2%, 10%) of hospitalizations for pneumonia were potentially attributable to depression. Conclusion Depression is independently associated with increased odds of hospitalization for pneumonia. This study provides additional rationale for integrating mental health care into medical settings in order to improve outcomes for older adults.
Disappearing Colorectal Liver Metastases after Chemotherapy: Should we be Concerned?

With increasing efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, more patients will present with one or more disappearing liver metastases (DLM) on preoperative cross-sectional imaging. A retrospective review was conducted evaluating the radiological response to preoperative chemotherapy for 168 patients undergoing surgical therapy for colorectal liver metastases at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2000 and 2008. Forty patients (23.8%) had one or more DLM, accounting for a total of 127 lesions. In 22 patients (55%), all DLM sites were treated during surgery. Of the 17 patients with unidentified, untreated DLM, ten patients (59%) developed a local recurrence at the initial site, half of which also developed recurrences in other sites. While the intrahepatic recurrence rate was higher for patients with DLM left in situ (p = 0.04), the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rate was not significantly different for patients with DLM left in situ (93.8%, 63.5%, and 63.5%, respectively) when compared to patients with a radiological chemotherapy response in whom all original disease sites were surgically treated (92.3%, 70.8%, and 46.2%, respectively; p = 0.66). DLM were frequently observed in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy for liver metastases. Survival was comparable in patients with untreated DLM, in spite of high intrahepatic recurrence rates seen in these patients. Therefore, aggressive surgical therapy should be considered in patients with marked response to chemotherapy, even when all DLM sites cannot be identified.
Evaluation of levamisole as an adjuvant to chemotherapy for treatment of ANLL.

Levamisole is a synthetic, orally administered, relatively nontoxic compound with immunorestorative ability. Levamisole was tested in this study of 60 adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) to determine if augmentation of response rate or duration, or survival over that obtained with a standard chemotherapy regimen alone would result. The chemotherapy regimens for all patients consisted of daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside for induction and consolidation, methotrexate with citrovorum factor reversal in a cytoreductive phase, and late intensification with thioguanine and cytosine arabinoside. The first 30 patients received chemotherapy alone; a second group of 30 patients were scheduled to receive levamisole in addition to chemotherapy. Levamisole, 45 mg/m2, was administered orally twice daily for three consecutive days each week beginning one week after the initiation of induction chemotherapy and continuing until relapse. No significant difference emerged between the two groups with respect to remission rate, time to achieve remission, postrelapse survival, or total survival. However, a trend towards improved postcomplete remission survival (P = 0.072) was noted in the levamisole group, and patients who received levamisole had a significantly greater reinduction rate after relapse (P = 0.019). Cancer 51:1576-1580, 1983. NDUCTION of complete remission is now achieved in I 60-70% of adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) with regimens that include at least an anthracycline and cytosine arabinoside. Unfortunately, the median duration of remission in complete responders is usually less than one year despite aggressive maintenance ~hemotherapy.',~ Based on the concept that a natural defense mechanism exists against neoplasia involving primarily cell-mediated immunity, various nonspecific immunotherapeutic agents have been tested in patients with ANLL in an effort to enhance response rate, remission duration, and survival. Among the agents available, levamisole is one of the more appealing for a variety of reasons. The drug is of synthetic origin and, therefore, easier to obtain and standardize. It is relatively nontoxic with only mild nausea and fatigue reported with reg~larity.~.~ Hematologic toxicity, manifested as either leukopenia or agranulocytosis, occurs in about 2% of cancer patients who receive the drug and is readily reversible.' Other infrequent side effects include dysosmia and metallic taste, nervousness
Electromagnetic flow measurement using a magnetic resonance imaging static field

Rationale and Objectives. Electromagnetic flowmeters have been used for many years as a standard method to determine blood flow in animal models. The use of a modified probe to measure electromagnetic induction in response to an external, large direct current (DC) field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system was investigated. Methods. Extracted sheep iliac vessels were inserted into a pumped saline circuit with a modified probe and placed into a 2.0-T MR research imaging system. Voltage readings were collected at various flow rates ranging from 100 to 400 ml/min. Actual flows were measured with a graduated cylinder. Results. A correlation of .937 (p Conclusion. The results indicate that electromagnetic induction in a conductive fluid can be accurately measured using electrodes and an MR imaging system and that this technique provides possible opportunities for in situ flow measurements in humans.
Update on melanocytic nevi in children

A new or changing melanocytic nevus in a child or adolescent often leads to concern in parents and physicians. To avoid undue alarm and unnecessary procedures, dermatologists should be aware of the natural history and clinical spectrum of nevi in pediatric patients, as well as findings that are potentially worrisome in this age group. This review provides an update on melanocytic nevi in children, focusing on their dynamic evolution over time, molecular insights into nevogenesis, and phenotypic markers for increased risk of melanoma in adolescence and adulthood. Special considerations for Spitz nevi and nevi located in particular sites (eg, scalp, acral, genital) are highlighted. Current understanding of the risks associated with congenital melanocytic nevi of different sizes and strategies for the management of children with numerous acquired nevi, Spitz nevi, and congenital nevi are also discussed.
Doxycycline Inhibits Polarization of Macrophages to the Proangiogenic M2-type and Subsequent Neovascularization

Macrophages occur along a continuum of functional states between M1-type polarized macrophages with antiangiogenic and antitumor activity and M2-type polarized macrophages, which have been implicated to promote angiogenesis and tumor growth. Proangiogenic M2-type macrophages promote various pathologic conditions, including choroidal neovascularization in models of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, or certain cancers, such as glioblastoma multiforme. Thus, a potential novel therapeutic approach to target pathological angiogenesis in these conditions would be to inhibit the polarization of macrophages toward the proangiogenic M2-type. However, no pharmacological inhibitors of M2-type macrophage polarization have been identified yet. Here we performed an unbiased pharmacological and small chemical screen to identify drugs that inhibit proangiogenic M2-type macrophage polarization and block pathologic macrophage-driven neovascularization. We identified the well tolerated and commonly used antibiotic doxycycline as a potent inhibitor of M2-type polarization of macrophages. Doxycycline inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, M2-type polarization of human and bone marrow-derived mouse macrophages without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, doxycycline inhibited M2-type macrophage polarization and subsequent neovascularization in vivo in a laser injury model of choroidal neovascularization. Thus, doxycycline could be used to enhance current antiangiogenic treatment approaches in various conditions that are promoted by proangiogenic M2-type macrophages, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration and certain cancers.
Web-based Multimedia Vignettes in Advanced Community Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Objectives. To evaluate the effectiveness of Web-based multimedia vignettes on complex drug administration techniques to augment the training of pharmacy students in advanced community pharmacy practice experiences. Design. During the orientation for a community APPE, students were randomly assigned to either a study group or control group After they began their APPE, students in the study group were given an Internet address to access multimedia vignettes which they were required to watch to augment their training and standardize their counseling of patients in the use of inhalers and ear and eye drops. Assessment. A 12-item questionnaire was administered to students in both groups at the orientation and again on the last day of the APPE to evaluate their knowledge of counseling patients in the use of inhalers and ear and eye drops. The control group did not experience any improvement in their counseling knowledge of the research topics during their month-long experience. Students in the intervention gro...
The Baldrige Award Framework for Teaching Total Quality Management.

Abstract The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award established in 1987 has undergone many revisions and has evolved into what may safely be called the American model of total quality management. Today, there is a common language, a set of core concepts, and an accepted model of one of the most important management innovations of this century. The Baldrige Award guidelines can effectively be used for teaching TQM concepts in both undergraduate and graduate level courses as well as in company-wide management training programs. This article examines the Baldrige model and how it can be used to teach TQM effectively.
Resource Use In Household Activity Patterns-A Systems Approach*

Primary objective of this study was to identify from observed activities of the homemaker and family members patterns of resource conservation and augmentation that might explain improvement in the family's economic situation. Observations were performed in 30 rural nonfarm households, all reporting incomes below the poverty level five years previous to the study. An ecological systems model of the household was developed from categories of observed activities. Data indicated that patterns in which storage of materials was a frequently performed activity were most promising for further investigation. A high degree of interdependency was exhibited among household activities
Using Portfolios to Help Elementary Education Majors Gain Insight into Disabilities and the Family System

Outlines how to use structured portfolios as a tool in teacher education courses to help students understand the impact a disability has on a child and the family
Studies on the effect of 5α-androstane-3α, 17α-diol in the canine prostate in vivo

Adult beagle dogs, castrated one month previously, were treated with 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17alpha-diol (total dose 300 mg) over a period of one month. Examination of the prostate after treatment showed no significant change in size, weight or histological appearance from the castrate dog prostate. Subsequent administration of 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (300 mg) over the same period of time resulted in restoration of the prostate size, weight and histological appearance to that of the normal intact dog prostate. It is concluded that exogenously administered 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17alpha-diol does not promote prostatic growth in the castrate beagle dog.
Interaction between temperature and ammonia in mesophilic digesters for animal waste treatment

Abstract Four anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs) were operated during a period of 988 days to evaluate the effect of temperature, ammonia, and their interconnectivity on the methane yield of anaerobic processes for animal waste treatment. During period 1 (day 0–378), the methane yield was 0.31 L CH 4 /g volatile solids (VS) for all digesters (with no statistical differences among them) at a temperature and total ammonium-N levels of 25 °C and ∼1200 mg NH 4 + -N/L, respectively. During period 2 (day 379–745), the methane yield at 25 °C decreased by 45% when total ammonium-N and ammonia-N were increased in two of the four ASBRs to levels >4000 mg NH 4 + -N/L and >80 mg NH 3 -N/L, respectively. During period 3 (day 746–988), this relative inhibition was reduced from 45% to 13% compared to the low-ammonia control reactors when the operating temperature was increased from 25 °C to 35 °C (while the free ammonia levels increased from ∼100 to ∼250 mg NH 3 -N/L). The 10 °C increase in temperature doubled the rate constant for methanogenesis, which overwhelmed the elevated toxicity effects caused by the increasing concentration of free ammonia. Thus, the farmer/operator may alleviate ammonia toxicity by increasing the operating temperature within the mesophilic range. We extrapolated our data to correlate temperature, ammonia, and methane yield and to hypothesize that the difference between high- and low-ammonia reactors is negligible at the optimum mesophilic temperature of 38 °C.
Visualizing the lower critical solution temperature phase transition of individual poly(nipam)-based hydrogel particles using near-infrared multispectral imaging microscopy.

This manuscript reports the use of near-infrared multispectral imaging (NIR-MSI) microscopy to provide the first direct observation and spectral measurement of individual poly(n-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (NIPAM-co-AAc) hydrogel particles. The high sensitivity and high spatial resolution (∼0.9 μm/pixel) of the NIR-MSI microscope, coupled with its ability to measure images and spectra directly and simultaneously, allows the unprecedented in situ monitoring of the size, morphology, and spectroscopic properties of individual hydrogel particles, which respond strongly to external stimuli (e.g., changes in temperature and/or pH). Importantly, this novel technique allows, for the first time, the direct measurement of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition of individual hydrogel particles rather than that of a collection of hydrogel particles. Furthermore, NIR-MSI measurements reveal that the LCST value is unique for each individual hydrogel particle, depending strongly on part...
Ultrafast Rabi flopping and coherent pulse propagation in a quantum cascade laser

Coherent Rabi flopping and coherent pulse reshaping are directly observed in an operating quantum cascade laser. The findings indicate the potential for coherent effects to be exploited in mode locking, and may stimulate new approaches for generating short pulses in quantum cascade lasers.
Newly revealed cricothyropharyngeus muscle in the human laryngopharynx.

Humans have a uniquely curved pharynx and tongue that is believed to have evolved for speech. The most inferior part of the pharynx consists of the laryngopharynx, the critical crossroad where swallowing, breathing, and phonation overlap. We hypothesized that the human laryngopharynx has unique neuromuscular specializations that may be speech related. Laryngopharynx specimens from 15 humans and 20 nonhuman mammals (dog, pig, rabbit, and rat) were studied. Microdissection revealed that only human specimens had a muscle originating from the anterior arch of the cricoid cartilage, and coursing between the inferior pharyngeal constrictor and cricopharyngeus muscles to insert into the median raphe at the posterior midline of the pharynx. On the basis of these anatomic features, we termed it the “cricothyropharyngeus” (CTP). The structure, innervation, and muscle fiber types of the human CTP were further investigated by histological methods, Sihler's stain, and myosin heavy chain (MHC) immunocytochemistry. The innervation and muscle fiber types of the CTP were found to differ from those of neighboring muscles. The laryngeal portion of the CTP was innervated by the external superior laryngeal nerve, whereas the pharyngeal portion of the muscle was supplied by the pharyngeal plexus. Most notable was that the CTP contained specialized muscle fibers expressing some unusual MHC isoforms (i.e., slow-tonic, α-cardiac, neonatal, and embryonic). In conclusion, the CTP appears to be a newly described and uniquely human muscle with characteristics suggesting a specialized function that may be speech related. Anat Rec, 291:927–938, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
pH dependency of cell attachment and growth at both clonal and subculture densities of cultured lepidopteran cells

TN-368 cells were seeded at 106 per flask in TNM-FH medium adjusted to a variety of pH levels which ranged from approximately 5.9 to 6.8. In general, growth was similar from pH 6.2 to nearly 6.7. The medium pH increased with time in culture to a maximum near 7.0 for all pH levels. Similar results for growth and pH increase were also obtained when the cells were plated at densities of 104 and 105 per flask. Both the fraction of attached cells and the relative intensity of attachment increased with seeding pH. Cells seeded near pH 6.7 or above frequently required vigrrous procedures such as trypsinization to detach them. DNA synthesis was measured and found to be similar for cells seeded in medium between pH 6.2 and 6.7. Colony forming efficiency increased from approximately 27% at pH 5.9 to 39% at 6.2, remained in the region of 40% between 6.2 and 6.7 with a peak of 48% at 6.6, and plunged abruptly to a few percent just above 6.7 and was near zero above 6.8. Colony morphology was optimal near pH 6.6.
An XPS study of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide adsorption on platinum (410): Unusual dissociation activity

Abstract The adsorption of NO and CO on platinum (410) is studied by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that the (410) surface shows unusual activity for NO and CO bond breaking. CO is found to adsorb molecularly on Pt (410) at 300 K, but it partially dissociates upon heating to 500 K. NO is found to adsorb dissociatively under all conditions studied. By comparison, the low index faces of platinum and stepped surfaces considered previously give negligible dissociation of CO and negligible dissociation of NO up to 450 K. The (410) surface is also unusual from an orbital symmetry standpoint; in fact, it was predicted to be unusually active for NO and CO bond breaking based on Woodward-Hoffman ideas. The present results show, then, that Woodward-Hoffman (i.e., orbital symmetry conservation) methods could yield valuable insights into the nature of active sites on single crystal catalysts.
Axel rover paddle wheel design, efficiency, and sinkage on deformable terrain

This paper presents the Axel robotic rover which has been designed to provide robust and flexible access to extreme extra-planetary terrains. Axel is a lightweight 2-wheeled vehicle that can access steep slopes and negotiate relatively large obstacles due to its actively managed tether and novel wheel design. This paper reviews the Axel system and focuses on its novel paddle wheel characteristics. We show that the paddle design has superior rock climbing ability. We also adapt basic terramechanics principles to estimate the sinkage of paddle wheels on loose sand. Experimental comparisons between the transport efficiency of mountain bike wheels and paddle wheels are summarized. Finally, we present an unfolding wheel prototype which allows Axel to be compacted for efficient transport.
From Persepolis to Jerusalem: A Reevaluation of Old Persian-Hebrew Contact in the Achaemenid Period

This paper examines the effects and mechanisms of Old Persian contact on Biblical Hebrew. I first reevaluate the number and distribution of Old Persian loanwords in the Hebrew Bible. Then I demonstrate that there was direct contact between speakers of Old Persian and speakers of Hebrew in the Achaemenid period beginning under Artaxerxes i, before proposing the existence of two Old Persian calques in Biblical Hebrew. The distribution of these Old Persian loanwords and calques strengthens the case for distinguishing between Late Biblical Hebrew and Classical Biblical Hebrew on linguistic grounds. With one exception, these features cluster in well-known Late Biblical Hebrew texts.
Cocaine-induced cerebral vasoconstriction differs as a function of sex and menstrual cycle phase.

Abstract Background: Chronic cocaine abusing women experience fewer cerebral perfusion defects and less neuronal injury than men with comparable drug use histories. This study assessed whether a basis for this discrepancy is a sex difference in cocaine's acute cerebrovascular effects. Methods: The subjects in this study were 13 healthy and neurologically normal women, reporting occasional cocaine (mean 13, range 1–40 lifetime cocaine exposures). All subjects were administered cocaine (0.4 mg/kg) intravenously, during both the follicular (days 3–8) and luteal (days 18–24) menstrual cycle phases. Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging assessments of relative global cerebral blood volume (CBV) changes were conducted on both study days, 10 min after cocaine administration. Results: Cocaine did not alter CBV in follicular phase women, but reduced luteal phase CBV by 10%, indicative of vasoconstriction (analysis of variance [ANOVA], F = 5.1, p F = 5.4, p Conclusions: These findings suggest both menstrual cycle phase and sex differences in cocaine's acute cerebrovascular effects, which may contribute to sex differences in the severity of brain dysfunction found in chronic cocaine abusers. These findings imply that gonadal steroids or the factors they modulate merit study as possible therapeutic agents for reducing cocaine-induced cerebrovascular disorders.
Turn Performance of an Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle

Turning flight of an X-43-like air-breathing hypersonic vehicle is discussed. Equations of motion for turning flight of an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle are derived, and several constant-altitude turning flight configurations are analyzed. In addition to calculating an operating map for a combination of altitudes and Mach numbers, a linearization is performed for the case of a 2g turn, and stability properties are discussed. The stability properties are compared to those of a non-turning flight condition at the same altitude and Mach number. A low-order vehicle model, which includes effects due to wave interactions, fuel mixing, and other factors, is used for the calculation.
Modeling of psec-laser-driven Ne-like and Ni-like x-ray lasers

This paper models recent experiments in which a solid titanium target was illuminated by several joules of combined energy from a nsec laser pulse to create a preplasma followed by a psec laser pulse to drive the gain. Gains greater than 200 cm{sup -1} are predicted for the Ne-like Ti 3p {sup 1}S{sub 0} {yields} 3s {sup 1}P{sub 1} transition at 32.6 nm which is driven by the monopole collisional excitation. High gain is also predicted for the 3d {sup 1}P{sub 1} {yields} 3p {sup 1}P{sub 1} transition at 30.1 nm which is driven by a combination of collisional excitation and self photopumping. We also discuss the possibilities for driving a Ne-like Ge laser using this approach. For the Ni-like ions we model a solid molybdenum target under similar conditions used for Ti and predict gains greater than 300 cm{sup -1} for the Ni-like Mo 4d {sup 1}S{sub 0} {yields} 4p {sup 1}P{sub 1} transition at 18.9 nm which is driven by the monopole collisional excitation. High gain is also predicted for a self photopumped 4f {sup 1}P{sub 1} {yields} 4d {sup 1}P{sub 1} transition at 22.0 nm and several other transitions driven by inner shell collisional ionization.
A phase II trial of irinotecan in patients with previously untreated advanced esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma.

Chemotherapy options for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma remain limited. Irinotecan has demonstrated broad activity in a variety of epithelial malignancies. Forty-six patients with previously untreated, measurable, unresectable, or metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Patients received irinotecan (125 mg/m2intravenously over 90 min weekly) for 4 consecutive weeks followed by a 2-week rest. Forty-three patients received at least one treatment and were evaluable for response and toxicity. One complete and five partial responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 14% (95% CI, 4–24%). Median survival for all 43 patients was 6.4 months (95% CI, 4.6–8.2 months). Grade 3 to 4 toxicity included 10 patients (23%) with neutropenia, 13 patients (30%) with late diarrhea, 6 patients (14%) with vomiting, and 6 patients (14%) with fatigue. We conclude that although single-agent irinotecan is an active agent for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma, the schedule utilized in this trial is associated with moderate toxicity. When used as a single-agent, a triweekly schedule may be preferable for this patient population.
Phospholipid Complexation of General Anesthetics: A Wake-Up Call

General anesthesia represents one of the most important advances in the history of medicine. Despite numerous attempts to determine how general anesthetics function at the molecular level, it remains to be established whether signaling proteins or the surrounding lipids serve as their primary targets. In this talk, I will discuss recent studies that we have carried out in which the effects of chloroform on phospholipid-sterol interactions in the liquid-ordered (lo) and the liquid-disordered (ld) phases have been quantified via the nearest-neighbor recognition (NNR) method. Using host membranes made from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and cholesterol, evidence has been obtained for 1/1 complexes being formed from chloroform and DPPC in both phases. At clinically-relevant concentrations (ca. 2 mM), chloroform was found to weaken cholesterol_DPPC interactions in the lo phase by 24.5 ± 5.5 cal/mol of lipid, while no effect could not be detected in the ld phase. Increasing the concentration of chloroform resulted in a convergence of nearest-neighbor interaction energies and the apparent formation of a common “liquid-anesthetic” (la) phase. The implications of these findings with regard to modern lipid theory of anesthesia will be discussed.
Athletics and Students With Disabilities: What Principals Should Know

Public concern over the general health of children in the United States has risen during recent years due to dramatic decreases in physical activity levels and increases in obesity and other health...
Phase angle, frailty and mortality in older adults.

BACKGROUND Frailty is a multidimensional phenotype that describes declining physical function and a vulnerability to adverse outcomes in the setting of physical stress such as illness or hospitalization. Phase angle is a composite measure of tissue resistance and reactance measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Whether phase angle is associated with frailty and mortality in the general population is unknown.
Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm after Transaortic Septal Myotomy for Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

Clinical and morphological features are described in a man in whom a pseudoaneurysm arising from the ventricular septum developed after transaortic septotomy for hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricle or ventricular septum has not been described previously in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in whom only the transaortic approach was utilized for septotomy or septectomy or both. In addition, no previous studies have reported pseudoaneurysm arising from the ventricular septum.
Selected News Items

1.Morita H, Rehm HL, Menesses A, McDonough B, Roberts AE, Kucherlapati R, Towbin JA, Seidman JG, Seidman CE. Shared genetic causes of cardiac hypertrophy in children and adults. N Engl J Med . 2008;358:1899–1908. PMID: 18403758. ### Study Hypothesis Mutations in sarcomere proteins that are implicated in adult forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may play a role in idiopathic cardiac hypertrophy with onset in childhood, a disorder associated with poor prognosis. ### How Was the Hypothesis Tested? Morita and colleagues1 screened for mutations in 8 genes encoding sarcomeric proteins (MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2, TNNI3, TPM1, MYL3, MYL2, and ACTC) using direct sequencing techniques in 84 children with idiopathic cardiac hypertrophy. Mutations in these genes cause adult-onset cardiomyopathy. ### Principal Findings The authors identified mutations in almost half of children without a positive family history of cardiomyopathy (25 of 51 affected children) and in two thirds (21 of 33) of affected children with familial cardiomyopathy. Mutations in MYH7 (encoding β-myosin heavy chain) and MYBPC3 (encoding myosin-binding protein C) were the most frequent variants identified in the children. In the subgroup with sporadic (nonfamilial) cardiac hypertrophy, boys were more likely than girls to harbor mutations. ### Implications The authors conclude that childhood onset of cardiac hypertrophy should provoke genetic investigation and family assessment because about 50% of cases in this series were attributable to mutations routinely screened for in adults with unexplained cardiac hypertrophy. Identification of such mutations in children with cardiac hypertrophy would raise the possibility that management strategies used for adults with genetic cardiac hypertrophy may improve clinical outcomes in these children. 2.Lynch AI, Boerwinkle E, Davis BR, Ford CE, Eckfeldt JH, Leiendecker-Foster C, Arnett DK. Pharmacogenetic association of the NPPA T2238C genetic variant with cardiovascular disease outcomes in patients with hypertension. JAMA . 2008;299:296–307. PMID: 18212314. ### Study Hypothesis Variation in NPPA gene, which encodes the precursor of atrial natriuretic peptide, may influence the efficacy of different …
Hybrid Unified Theory

If we assume nothing, no theory can be developed. Therefore, we accept the Vedic declaration “That which exists is ONE, scientists call it by various names.” Ancient scientists, known as Rishis, described it using thousands of names. We shall be content in utilizing the following: namely, the Impersonal Being, the Absolute Reality, That ONE, and the Selftron, and show that our assumption is not vacuous. That part of Veda Samhitas known as Vedanta is the gist of the Vedas and contained in Upanishads which are the final parts of the Vedas.
Professionals' decision-making about out-of-home placements following instances of child abuse.

Abstract Objective: The goal of this research was to study how different groups of child welfare professionals prioritize and use information to make placement decisions following instances of child abuse. Method: A total of 90 juvenile court judges and guardians ad litem, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), social workers, and mental health professionals responded to a detailed questionnaire describing four case studies of child physical abuse in which a parent was the perpetrator, the child was either 2 years or 6 years of age, and the abuse was either first time or chronic. Participants rated the impact of specific pieces of information regarding child, family, and system-level characteristics on their decision-making process. Results: Analyses of reactions to these vignettes demonstrate that professional groups use different kinds of information when making decisions about foster care placements. Social workers and mental health providers rely on information about the severity and pattern of abuse and on information about services offered in the past and parental responses to those services. Judges and guardians ad litem rely more heavily on information about the likelihood of a reoccurrence of abuse and the child’s ability to recount the abuse, whereas CASA volunteers rely on information about the stability of the family. Conclusions: Professional group membership, rather than factors such as age or ethnicity of the child or chronicity of abuse, accounts for different patterns of prioritizing and using information when making decisions about whether a child should remain in the home or be placed in foster care. The implications for community-based training and intervention efforts are discussed.
Dynamically Induced Displacements of a Persistent Cold-Air Pool

We examine the influence of a passing weather system on a persistent cold-air pool (CAP) during the Persistent Cold-Air Pool Study in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA. The CAP experiences a sequence of along-valley displacements that temporarily and partially remove the cold air in response to increasing along-valley winds aloft. The displacements are due to the formation of a mountain wave over the upstream topography as well as adjustments to the regional horizontal pressure gradient and wind-stress divergence acting on the CAP. These processes appear to help establish a balance wherein the depth of the CAP increases to the north. When that balance is disrupted, the CAP tilt collapses, which sends a gravity current of cold air travelling upstream and thereby restores CAP conditions throughout the valley. Intra-valley mixing of momentum, heat, and pollution within the CAP by Kelvin–Helmholtz waves and seiching is also examined.
Revised rituals in central Sulawesi: The maintenance of traditional cosmological concepts in the face of allegiance to world religion

(1991). Revised rituals in central Sulawesi: The maintenance of traditional cosmological concepts in the face of allegiance to world religion. Anthropological Forum: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 371-384.