cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of experience on tuning properties of macaque MTL neurons in a passive viewing task

The structures of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) have been shown to be causally involved in episodic and recognition memory. However, recent work in a number of species has demonstrated that impairments in recognition memory seen following lesions of the perirhinal cortex (PRh) can be accounted for by deficits in perceptual discrimination. These findings suggest that object representation, rather than explicit recognition memory signals, may be crucial to the mnemonic process. Given the large amount of visual information encountered by primates, there must be a reconsideration of the mechanisms by which the brain efficiently stores visually presented information. Previous neurophysiological recordings from MTL structures in primates have largely focused on tasks that implicitly define object familiarity (i.e., novel vs. familiar) or contain significant mnemonic demands (e.g., conditional associations between two stimuli), limiting their utility in understanding the mechanisms underlying visual object recognition and information storage. To clarify how different regions in the MTL may contribute to visual recognition, we recorded from three rhesus macaques performing a passive viewing task. The task design systematically varies the relative familiarity of different stimuli enabling an examination of how neural activity changes as a function of experience. The data collected during this passive viewing task revealed that neurons in the MTL are generally not sensitive to the relative familiarity of a stimulus. In addition, when the specificity (i.e., which images a neuron was selective for) of individual neurons was analyzed, there was a significant dissociation between different medial temporal regions, with only neurons in TF, but not CA3 or the PRh, altering their activity as stimuli became familiar. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of how MTL structures process information during a passive viewing paradigm. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrodynamic heating and movement of the thermosphere

The theory of dissipation of ionospheric electric currents is extended to include viscosity. In a steady state (i.e. usually above about 140 km altitude) the joule plus viscous heating may be calculated by μ∇2v. E × B/B2. At lower altitudes where viscosity may, in some circumstances, be relatively unimportant the joule dissipation is calculated by the usual formula j. (E + v × B). In a prevalent model of the auroral electrojets it is found that the joule heating can be much more intense outside auroral forms than within them. Heating due to auroral electrojets cause a semi-annual variation in the thermosphere. Movement caused by auroral electric fields make a contribution to the super-rotation of the midlatitude upper atmosphere. Random electric fields lead to an eddy ‘viscosity’ or ‘exchange coefficientrs in the upper thermosphere of magnitude ρER2/B3tR2|∇E|. where tR is the correlation time of the random component of electric fields ER and ρ is air density. Theoretical conditions for significant heating by field-aligned currents are derived.
SRP-2 is a cross-class inhibitor that participates in postembryonic development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: initial characterization of the clade L serpins.

High molecular weight serpins are members of a large superfamily of structurally conserved proteins that inactivate target proteinases by a suicide substrate-like mechanism. In vertebrates, different clades of serpins distribute predominantly to either the intracellular or extracellular space. Although much is known about the function, structure, and inhibitory mechanism of circulating serpins such as α1-antitrypsin (SERPINA1) and antithrombin III (SERPINC1), relatively little is known about the function of the vertebrate intracellular (clade B) serpins. To gain a better understanding of the biology of the intracellular serpins, we initiated a comparative genomics study using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. A screen of the C. elegans genomic and cDNA databases revealed nine serpin genes, tandemly arrayed on chromosome V. Although the C. elegans serpins represent a unique clade (L), they share significant functional homology with members of the clade B group of intracellular serpins, since they lack typical N-terminal signal peptides and reside intracellularly. To determine whether nematode serpins function as proteinase inhibitors, one family member, srp-2, was chosen for further characterization. Biochemical analysis of recombinant SRP-2 protein revealed SRP-2 to be a dual cross-class inhibitor of the apoptosis-related serine proteinase, granzyme B, and the lysosomal cysteine proteinases, cathepsins K, L, S, and V. Analysis of temporal and spatial expression indicated that SRP-2 was present during early embryonic development and highly expressed in the intestine and hypoderm of larval and adult worms. Transgenic animals engineered to overexpress SRP-2 were slow growing and/or arrested at the first, second, or third larval stages. These data suggest that perturbations of serpin-proteinase balance are critical for correct postembryonic development in C. elegans.
Determination of nitrogen by microdiffusion in mason jars: III. Nitrogen and nitrogen‐15 in Kjeldahl digests

Abstract Diffusion methods for quantitative determination and isotope‐ratio analysis of inorganic N in soil extracts were modified for use with Kjeldahl digests. The digest was diluted to 25 mL with deionized water, and an aliquot (to 6 mL) was transferred in a shell vial (17 mm dia., 60 mm long) to a 473‐mL (1‐pint) wide‐mouth Mason jar containing 15 mL of 8 M NaOH. The NH3 liberated by overturning the vial inside the sealed jar was collected for 48 h at room temperature (24 h with orbital shaking) in 3 mL of boric acid‐indicator solution in a Petri dish, or in an acidified glass‐fiber disk, suspended from the Mason‐jar lid. Determinations of N and 15N by diffusion were in close agreement with analyses using conventional steam‐distillation and concentration techniques.
Learning and change among emergency physicians

The relationship between change and the learning necessary to achieve a change in medical practice was examined in this study. Thirty emergency department physicians were interviewed to identify changes that they had made in their medical practice behavior during the last 2 years and the learning strategies and resources used to achieve these changes. The research indicated that learning and change among these physicians were similar to those described in the literature for other physicians, for health professionals, and for adults in general. The findings show continuing medical education (CME) providers that medical personnel are at different stages of the learning-to-change process and will use and respond to CME programs differently. From this study, we conclude that CME providers, when identifying needs or interests of emergency department physicians, should focus on dissonance, dissatisfaction, or discrepancies in daily practice rather than on general needs or interest statements. Dissemination of information in itself is not sufficient to result in change; motivation for change must also be present. Learning and change are interactive and include both reflective and active learning, which involve several or more of these resources: the literature, colleagues, CME programs, and practice.
Analytical and Experimental Study of Free Vibration Response of Soft-core Sandwich Beams

The natural frequencies and corresponding vibration modes of a cantilever sandwich beam with a soft polymer foam core are predicted using the higher-order theory for sandwich panels (HSAPT), a two-dimensional finite element analysis, and classical sandwich theory. The predictions of the higher-order theory are shown to be in good agreement with experimental measurements made with a simple experimental setup, as well as with finite element analysis. Experimental observations and analytical predictions show that the classical sandwich theory is not capable of accurately predicting the free vibration response of soft-core sandwich beams. It is shown that the vibration response of the cantilever soft-core sandwich beam consists of a group of five lower frequency shear (antisymmetric) modes that are followed by a group of four thickness-stretch (symmetric) modes. For the higher frequency range, the vibration modes alternate between groups of one-two antisymmetric and symmetric modes. For very high frequencies,...
NO formation in counterflow partially premixed flames

An experimental and computational study of NO formation in low-strain-rate partially premixed methane counterflow flames is reported. For progressive fuel-side partial premixing the peak NO concentration increased and the NO distribution along the stagnation streamline broadened. New temperature-dependent emissivity data for a SiO{sub 2}-coated Pt thermocouple was used to estimate the radiation correction for the thermocouple, thus improving the accuracy of the reported flame temperature. Flame structure computations with GRIMech 3.00 showed good agreement between measured and computed concentration distributions of NO and OH radical. With progressive partial premixing the contribution of the thermal NO pathway to NO formation increases. The emission index of NO (EINO) first increased and then decreased, reaching its peak value for the level of partial premixing that corresponds to location of the nonpremixed reaction zone at the stagnation plane. The observation of a maximum in EINO at a level of partial premixing corresponding to the nonpremixed reaction zone at the stagnation plane seems to be a consistent feature of low (<20 s{sup -1})-strain-rate counterflow flames. (author)
Rehabilitation confronts technology: knowing how to manage innovations and expectations.

k D A R n Since its founding as a specialty, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR a tenet upon which PMR however, usually without in-depth analysis of its role in potentially changing the way patients and clinicians interact with each other, how it may fundamentally change medical care delivery, how it may supplant more worthwhile endeavors to restore health, or how its blind and sometimes overly aggressive use may do more harm than good. Technology may enable us to more effectively treat specific medical conditions, but one must remain cautious lest the “medicine” becomes worse than the “disease.” For instance, prescribing medications or devices for chronic conditions without fully acknowledging risks, benefits, or alternatives may skew patient expectations, waste resources, and lead to physicians’ unwarranted satisfaction in their efficacy and effectiveness, preempting consideration of equal, if not more valid, interventions. The mere promise of clinical improvement should not lead us to assume that technology is safe and/or effective for all uses and in all populations. Recent health care reform efforts, both at the state and federal levels, have heightened our awareness of health care delivery expenditures, not only of provider reimbursement but also of the tremendous costs of applying technology to diagnose and care for patients. Although difficult to quantify, innovation, if judged by research expenditures of more than $100 billion in 2007 alone [1] and by the size of the health care industry ready to exploit its use, epresents both promise and danger. It should come as no great surprise that technology nd its application promise immense benefit to society, although its consequences are not as ell recognized. In perhaps a hundred years from now, our present day technology may ell be viewed as barbaric as bloodletting. Meanwhile, we are left to extract meaning from hat technology proposes to cure. Do we really cure, or do we merely shift forward the point D C
The Scholarly Communication Process within the University Research Corridor (Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University): A Case Study in Cooperation.

The growth of open access publishing, the development of institutional repositories, and the availability of millions of digitized monographs and journals are rapidly changing scholarly communication. This case study looks at the current and possible uses of these tools by Michigan's three largest universities: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. The authors explore their usefulness in fostering collaboration within the University Research Corridor (URC), an alliance of the three universities, as a specific example of scholarly research collaborations. The study also examines whether any shared use of these tools would further the related missions of the URC as well as their member universities and libraries toward the ultimate goal of helping the Michigan economy.
Effects of blinding and pinealectomy on the reproductive organs of adult male and female rats.

Abstract The effects of blinding and of pinealectomy on the reproductive organs of adult male and female albino rats were studied. Adult male rats, blinded for 36 days, possessed subnormal accessory organ (seminal vesicle and coagulating gland) weights. Exogenous luteinizing hormone (1 mg/day for 5 days), administered to blinded males, resulted in growth of the accessory organs to supranormal weights. Adult female rats, blinded for 40 days, possessed normal reproductive organ weights. However, when rats were blinded 15 days previous to unilateral ovarian removal, the resultant compensatory ovarian hypertrophy, 13 days after unilateral ovariectomy, was less than in normal or blinded-pinealectomized rats. It is concluded that the presence of the pineal gland is necessary to produce subnormal accessory organ weights in blinded male rats and partial blockage of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in blinded female rats, since these phenomena were not observed in blinded-pinealectomized animals. Blinding adult male rats probably induced a decrease in ICSH production and/or release, with a subsequent decrease in androgen secretion by the testes and consequently subnormal accessory organ weights. Blinding adult female rats probably did not induce an imbalance in gonadotropin secretion, unless an estrogen imbalance was created due to unilateral ovariectomy.
EXTREMAL VEHICLE REORIENTATION MANEUVERS : SYMMETRIES AND GROUP PROPERTIES

The setting for this study is time-optimal reorientation maneuvers for a rigid-body. Analysis of the dynamic model reveals certain symmetries among solutions for a class of rest-to-rest maneuvers. An operator-theo retic approach is used to formalize the analysis and the set of operators is shown to form a commutative group. For extremal trajectories, a second group of transformatio ns is identified: these are mappings between the adjoint variables. The two groups are shown to be homomorphic. A particular subgroup of the adjoints maps is highlighted and used to generate several distinct extremal trajectories from a single known one. A number of extremal trajectories, shown graphically, supplement and illustrate the analytical considerations.
Globalization and Alfred D. Chandler's modern (American) firm: an essay

Purpose – Alfred D. Chandler was the most important business historian of the twentieth century, who described and analyzed how large industrial firms are organized and managed in the USA from the late nineteenth to late twentieth centuries.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is a personal memoir and tribute to Dr Chandler and examines his methods, selected writings, and his legacy.Findings – His concepts and models are widely accepted and applied to North America, Western Europe, and most advanced industrial economies, taking on an air of universality. At the close of the twentieth century, however, a rise of high‐tech industries and rapidly growing, non‐western economies challenged many of the universalistic assumptions embedded in Chandler's work. At the beginning of the twenty‐first century, Chandler's writings suggest nothing more than how much time, place, and people matter.Originality/value – This paper adds a more personal touch to Dr Chandler.
Background studies in the modeling of extrusion cooking processes for soy flour doughs.

Soy flour is processed in single screw extruders to yield textured vegetable protein used as meat extenders and replacements. The fundamental processes which take place in extrusion cooking of soy doughs are poorly understood from an engineering point of view. This paper is concerned with gaining an understanding of extrusion cooking in order to develop a quantitative model of this process in single screw extruders. Rheological and thermodynamic data are obtained over a range of conditions found in the extrusion process and this data is used both in understanding and modeling the extrusion cooking process.In particular, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been used to determine changes in the enthalpy of soy doughs at various moisture levels. It is observed that in general the enthalpy changes are small (e.g. of the order of 1.0 cal/g) and endothermic. However, if the dough is subjected to shear and thermal history, then the enthalpy changes become significant. The viscosity of the dough exhibits a mild increase in the temperature range where the endotherms are observed in the DSC data. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that cooking does not involve cross-linking of the proteins but more likely a conformation change of the molecules. Also, it is found that for the 40% to 60% added moisture soy flour dough systems, the rheological properties can be modeled using a Bingham model modified with a shear rate dependent viscosity.
Characterization of fluorine-doped magnesium oxide: A computer simulation study

Abstract A computer simulation study is performed to characterize F − -doped MgO. The impurity potentials, namely F − -Mg 2+ and F − -O 2− are derived using ICECAP and are then used to study F − diffusion in MgO. The activation energy by vacancy mechanism comes out to be 1.53 eV. The excitonic state associated with the F − ion is also studied. Furthermore, the excess electron associated with the F − ion is predicted to be unbound in the lattice.
International service and public health learning objectives for medical students

Objective:We aimed to improve the education of medical students involved in a longitudinal perinatal health improvement project in Gowa, Malawi.Design:We conducted qualitative interviews with students who participated in the project, reviewed their quantitative reports, and assessed the application of methodologies consonant with the learning objectives of a novel community health improvement course within their experience.Setting:The Gowa Health Promotions Project, designed to improve perinatal care for women and their families within the Gowa Health Clinic, used community participatory research strategies.Method:Medical students partnered with clinic workers and the local residents evaluated and revised an existing perinatal educational programme. Qualitative and quantitative health and programme data were collected, and programme revisions were implemented. The value of the student experiences as a public health educational tool was evaluated by the authors.Results:Project sustainability was enhanced b...
Continuing dental education requirements for relicensure in the United States.

ABSTRACT Background Mandatory continuing education (CE) is an almost universal requirement for relicensure of dentists in the United States. In recent years, computer-based methods have become more widely adopted as a vehicle for earning CE credits. To obtain a comprehensive overview of CE requirements in the United States, the authors conducted a survey on how computer-based CE methods are regulated. Methods The authors reviewed the dental statutes of 50 states and the District of Columbia regarding the license renewal period, required number of CE hours, limitations on clinical and nonclinical subjects, on-site versus independent-study courses, and other requirements regarding CE. Results The authors found that 45 states and the District of Columbia mandate CE for relicensure at this time. Most dentists were required to complete approximately 20 hours per year. Ten states specified a minimum number of clinical hours, 17 states limited nonclinical hours, and seven states placed constraints on both clinical and nonclinical CE. Sixty-five percent of states limited the number of CE credits that could be accumulated through independent study. Specific requirements for computer-based methods of earning CE credits were absent in general. Conclusions State licensing boards across the United States have implemented comprehensive requirements for CE. Few, if any, provisions addressed computer-based methods of earning CE credits. Practice Implications Given the increasing adoption of computer-based methods of earning CE credits, state dental boards and accrediting agencies may want to consider steps to improve the quality of computer-based methods of earning CE credits.
Asparagine Repeats in Plasmodium falciparum Proteins: Good for Nothing?

Malaria is a deadly parasitic human disease that poses a significant health risk for about 3.3 billion people in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world [1]. The past decade has seen significant progress in our understanding of the biology of the most deadly parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum. The groundwork for this progress was laid by genome sequencing efforts that revealed a number of surprising features [2], [3]. One striking aspect of this extreme AT-rich genome is the abundance of trinucleotide repeats (predominantly AAT) coding for asparagine [3]. The wealth of low-complexity regions in P. falciparum proteins had been known prior to sequencing of the genome but not the overabundance of simple amino acid repeats [4].
Fine structure of reductive pseudo-Kählerian spaces

We continue the investigation of homogeneous pseudo-Kahlerian manifolds (M, θ) admitting a reductive transitive group G of automorphisms. We give a detailed description of the pseudo-Kahler algebras associated with M, θ and G.
Speed of sound in saturated and compressed fluid ethane

Abstract The speed of sound in saturated and compressed fluid ethane has been measured in the temperature range 91 to 323.15 K and at pressures to 35 MPa. These data were combined with newly available PpT data to obtain the isentropic compressibility and the ratio of the specific heats. The quality of the PpT data has been examined by comparison of sound speeds calculated from these data with the measured sound speeds.
Cancerous and normal human tissues investigated by near-infrared time-resolved and spectroscopic imaging techniques

Spectroscopic and time-sliced two-dimensional (2-D) transillumination imaging methods were used to investigate ex vivo tumor and normal tissues of human breast and parotid gland. The experimental arrangement for time-sliced optical imaging uses 120-fs, 1 kHz repetition-rate, 800-nm light pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser system for sample illumination and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera coupled to a gated image intensifier for recording 2-D images. The spectroscopic imaging arrangement uses 1210-1325 nm tunable output of a Cr: forsterite laser for sample illumination, a Fourier space gate to discriminate against multiple-scattered light, and a near-infrared (NIR) area camera to record 2-D images. Images recorded with earlier temporal slices of transmitted light highlighted tumors, while those recorded with later slices accentuated normal tissues. When light was tuned closer to the 1203 nm absorption resonance of adipose tissues, a marked enhancement in contrast between the images of adipose and fibrous tissues was observed. A similar wavelength-dependent difference between normal and cancerous tissues was observed. These results correlate well with pathology and nuclear magnetic resonance based analyses of the samples. This work demonstrates the advantages of time-resolved spectroscopic approach for imaging tumors in body organs.
How Should We Measure an Ancient Structure

The author examines the questions of precision and accuracy in the measurement of ancient buildings, taking into account the separate requirements of both scholarship and preservation. Modern technology has changed matters significantly and promises to continue to bring change. Whereas the problem was once measuring as precisely as possible or as precisely as a scaled drawing could display, the problem is now to measure and record as precisely as required for the particular project. For each survey project, the answer must be unique, but it must be well and carefully argued with respect to the tools at hand and the subject. It is no longer appropriate to assume that the most precise measurements are necessary. Technology has advanced; now the decisions are ours.
Induction and processing of complex DNA damage in human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and nonmalignant MCF-10A cells

Oxidatively induced stress and DNA damage have been associated with various human pathophysiological conditions, including cancer and aging. Complex DNA damage such as double-strand breaks (DSBs) and non-DSB bistranded oxidatively induced clustered DNA lesions (OCDL) (two or more DNA lesions within a short DNA fragment of 1-10 bp on opposing DNA strands) are hypothesized to be repair-resistant lesions challenging the repair mechanisms of the cell. To evaluate the induction and processing of complex DNA damage in breast cancer cells exposed to radiotherapy-relevant gamma-ray doses, we measured single-strand breaks (SSBs), DSBs, and OCDL in MCF-7 and HCC1937 malignant cells as well as MCF-10A nonmalignant human breast cells. For the detection and measurement of SSBs, DSBs, and OCDL, we used the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis, gamma-H2AX assay, and an adaptation of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with E. coli repair enzymes as DNA damage probes. Increased levels for most types of DNA damage were detected in MCF-7 cells while the processing of DSBs and OCDL was deficient in these cells compared to MCF-10A cells. Furthermore, the total antioxidant capacity of MCF-7 cells was lower compared to their nonmalignant counterparts. These findings point to the important role of complex DNA damage in breast cancer and its potential association with breast cancer development especially in the case of deficient BRCA1 expression.
Retroviral-mediated gene transfer of CSF-1 into op/op stromal cells to correct defective in vitro osteoclastogenesis.

Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) released by stromal cells in the bone microenvironment is essential for the proliferation of osteoclast progenitors. In op/op mutant mice, a thymidine insertion in the coding sequence of the CSF-1 gene results in CSF-1 deficiency that in turn leads to decreased osteoclast production and osteopetrosis. Because the osteopetrotic defect is due to the failure of stromal cells to produce CSF-1, we determined if retroviral-mediated gene transfer of the wild-type CSF-1 cDNA into op/op stromal cells would restore their ability to support osteoclast formation in vitro. A retroviral vector, L-CSF-1-SN, was constructed by inserting 1,867 bp of the wild-type CSF-1 cDNA into pLXSN. After transduction with L-CSF-1-SN or LXSN constructs, a stable PA317 packaging cell line that produced a high viral titre was isolated. Viral supernatant from this line was used to infect op/op bone marrow stromal cells. Stable L-CSF-1-SN op/op stromal clones overexpressed CSF-1 mRNA and released CSF-1 into conditioned medium, compared with no CSF-1 released by LXSN op/op stroma. The amount of CSF-1 produced by two clones was similar to the physiologic level released by normal littermate stroma. Southern blot analysis confirmed the presence of intact proviral sequences in transduced cells. In coculture assays, L-CSF-1-SN, but not LXSN, op/op stromal cells supported the formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells in the absence of exogenous CSF-1. These findings indicate that genetically engineered stromal cells may be used to improve defective osteoclastogenesis and suggest that targeting stromal cells to bone is a potentially useful therapeutic modality for treating bone disorders. J. Cell. Physiol. 176:323–331, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mechanical Design of Carbon Ion Optics

Carbon Ion Optics are expected to provide much longer thruster life due to their resistance to sputter erosion. There are a number of different forms of carbon that have been used for fabricating ion thruster optics. The mechanical behavior of carbon is much different than that of most metals, and poses unique design challenges. In order to minimize mission risk, the behavior of carbon must be well understood, and components designed within material limitations. Thermal expansion of the thruster structure must be compatible with thermal expansion of the carbon ion optics. Specially designed interfaces may be needed so that grid gap and aperture alignment are not adversely affected by dissimilar material properties within the thruster. The assembled thruster must be robust and tolerant of launch vibration. The following paper lists some of the characteristics of various carbon materials. Several past ion optics designs are discussed, identifying strengths and weaknesses. Electrostatics and material science are not emphasized so much as the mechanical behavior and integration of grid electrodes into an ion thruster.
The RCI Revisited after 15 Years: Used, Reinvented, Modified, Debated, and Natural Logged

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to review the status of the Root Caries Index (RCI) 15 years after it was first introduced in the dental literature as a method for the reporting of supragingival root lesions. This review focuses on the extent to which the RCI has been used by epidemiologic researchers, as well as on the issues concerning the RCI as a useful index that have been raised and debated in the literature by those epidemiologic researchers. Methods: The debated points are categorized into six issues, including whether: (1) the RCI underestimates the prevalence of root caries by omitting subgingival root caries lesions; (2) the RCI overestimates the prevalence of root caries by using too rigid a definition of when recession can be visualized; (3) the RCI makes the assumption that there is a linear relationship between root caries lesions and the occurrence of at-risk surfaces, i.e., surfaces with recession; (4) the RCI, by ignoring missing teeth, distorts the descriptive epidemiologic picture of root caries; (5) recession is a predictor of root caries versus merely being an antecedent state; and (6) the imprecision of diagnosing gingival recession renders the RCI useless. Results: Given both the evidence from recent studies and the professional interest in subgingival root caries, as addressed in the first debated point, it seems reasonable to modify the RCI to include a separate reporting of subgingival root caries. Of the remaining debated points over the past 15 years, three of these (points #2, #4, and #5 above) seemingly serve to clarify specific aspects of the RCI that were intended as inherent elements of the RCI as originally presented. The question as to whether there is an assumption of a linear relationship between root caries lesions and the occurrence of at-risk surfaces (point #3) is answered in the negative. The final debated point (#6), while addressing a fundamental periodontal tissue measurement issue—namely the reliability of identifying gingival recession—and while theoretically interesting, should not undermine the current use, or utility, of the RCI, but rather suggests the need for improved periodontal diagnostic techniques for the condition of recession. Conclusion: After 15 years, the RCI appears to be one of the two most common methods of reporting root caries in the epidemiologic literature (along with DFS counts). In fact, the best overall descriptive picture of root caries is achieved when these two reporting methods are presented in the same study accompanied by descriptive presentations of missing teeth and at-risk surfaces. Of all the debated points in the literature, the suggested modification of including subgingival lesions in the RCI leads now to the recommendation to collect subgingival data, but to do so in a manner that allows for separate presentation of supra- and subgingival root caries findings.
Superacidic Trifluoromethanesulfonic Acid-Induced Cycli-Acyalkylation of Aromatics

Superacidic trifluoromethanesulfonic acid-induced synthesis of 1-indanone and 1-tetralone derivatives through Friedel-Crafts cycli-acyalkylation of aromatics with unsaturated carboxylic acids was achieved. Depending on the reactant used, different substituted indanones and tetralones were obtained in moderate to good yields.
Prophets of a High-Tech Age: Futures Studies Through the Eyes of a Futurist

A summary is provided of one futurist's career, noting the significance of various issues in the study of the future. A major theme running through the analysis is that futurists can be effectively understood as high-tech equivalents of the ancient prophets. Like prophets, they are usually motivated by a compelling vision of how the world is changing and how these changes can be best achieved. They frequently suffer from indifference and criticism when presenting results of their work and expressing their personal views. Because the study of the future is a somewhat marginal role, they often try to assimilate into ordinary professions and the power structure. Finally, they occasionally find great satisfaction in seeing their forecasts realized.
Calorimetric measurement of the enthalpy of magnesium binding to yeast enolase

Abstract Bakers yeast enolase A binds 2 moles of magnesium with a total enthalpy of +11,000 ± 1,100 cal/mol of protein at 25 °C in 0.05 ionic strength Tris buffer, pH 7.8. Measurements of the pH of unbuffered solutions of enolase indicate that at 0.05 ionic strength, 2 moles of protons are released per 2 moles of metal bound. The binding of magnesium to yeast enolase is consequently produced by a favorable entropy change. The enthalpies of binding observed in Tris buffer appear to be different at 0–1 and 1–2 moles of metal per mole of protein, suggesting a difference in binding sites.
Prostate Tumor Growth and Recurrence Can Be Modulated by the ω-6:ω-3 Ratio in Diet: Athymic Mouse Xenograft Model Simulating Radical Prostatectomy

Evidence indicates that a diet rich in omega (ω)-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [e.g., linoleic acid (LA)] increases prostate cancer (PCa) risk, whereas a diet rich in ω-3 decreases risk. Precisely how these PUFAs affect disease development remains unclear. So we examined the roles that PUFAs play in PCa, and we determined if increased ω-3 consumption can impede tumor growth. We previously demonstrated an increased expression of an ω-6 LA-metabolizing enzyme, 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1, ALOX15), in prostate tumor tissue compared with normal adjacent prostate tissue, and that elevated 15-LO-1 activity in PCa cells has a protumorigenic effect. A PCa cell line, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer-4 (LAPC-4), expresses prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as well an active 15-LO-1 enzyme. Therefore, to study whether or not the protumorigenic role of 15-LO-1 and dietary ω-6 LA can be modulated by altering ω-3 levels through diet, we surgically removed tumors caused by LAPC-4 cells (mouse model to simulate radical prostatectomy). Mice were then randomly divided into three different diet groups—namely, high ω-6 LA, high ω-3 stearidonic acid (SDA), and no fat—and examined the effects of ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids in diet on LAPC-4 tumor recurrence by monitoring for PSA. Mice in these diet groups were monitored for food consumption, body weight, and serum PSA indicative of the presence of LAPC-4 cells. Fatty acid methyl esters from erythrocyte membranes were examined for ω-6 and ω-3 levels to reflect long-term dietary intake. Our results provide evidence that prostate tumors can be modulated by the manipulation of ω-6:ω-3 ratios through diet and that the ω-3 fatty acid SDA [precursor of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)] promotes apoptosis and decreases proliferation in cancer cells, causing decreased PSA doubling time, compared to ω-6 LA fatty acid, likely by competing with the enzymes of LA and AA pathways, namely, 15-LO-1 and cyclooxygenases (COXs). Thus, EPA and DHA (major components of fish oil) could potentially be promising dietary intervention agents in PCa prevention aimed at 15-LO-1 and COX-2 as molecular targets. These observations also provide clues as to its mechanisms of action.
Stochastic Optimization of Construction Projects Planning with Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents a stochastic approach for optimization of significant parameters of project control such as duration and budget in construction projects with Genetic Algorithm (GA). Increasing of uncertainty in project executions encourages the project planners to model construction projects by stochastic optimization methods. In this study, GA is considered as a controlled Markovian process in selection, mutation, and crossover stages which are incorporated into an explicitly given transition matrix. The non-stationary Markovian chain representation of GA is applied to construction project as an example to optimize total project cost and duration with stochastic critical path method. We also consider the asymptotic of the steady state distributions as population size increases. The proposed approach improves the project planner estimation during the project feasibility study stage to avoid project delays and over budget.
Sundown Syndrome: Is It Reflected in the Use of PRN Medications for Nursing Home Residents?

Sundown syndrome describes the increase in agitation and delirium in elderly patients with dementia that occurs in the evening after sunset. In a nursing home, data were gathered over a year-long period to test the hypothesis that the administration of PRN (pro re nata, given as needed) medications for agitation in Alzheimer's patients would reflect sundown syndrome. More PRNs were administered in the early morning and mid-afternoon hours than at other times of the day. These outcomes suggest there is a relationship of PRN use for agitation, in institutionalized Alzheimer's patients, to environmental variables other than sunset.
Regulation of Matrix Assembly through Rigidity-dependent Fibronectin Conformational Changes

Cells sense and respond to the mechanical properties of their microenvironment. We investigated whether these properties affect the ability of cells to assemble a fibrillar fibronectin (FN) matrix. Analysis of matrix assembled by cells grown on FN-coated polyacrylamide gels of varying stiffnesses showed that rigid substrates stimulate FN matrix assembly and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) compared with the level of assembly and FAK signaling on softer substrates. Stimulating integrins with Mn2+ treatment increased FN assembly on softer gels, suggesting that integrin binding is deficient on soft substrates. Guanidine hydrochloride-induced extension of the substrate-bound FN rescued assembly on soft substrates to a degree similar to that of Mn2+ treatment and increased activation of FAK along with the initiation of assembly at FN matrix assembly sites. In contrast, increasing actin-mediated cell contractility did not rescue FN matrix assembly on soft substrates. Thus, rigidity-dependent FN matrix assembly is determined by extracellular events, namely the engagement of FN by cells and the induction of FN conformational changes. Extensibility of FN in response to substrate stiffness may serve as a mechanosensing mechanism whereby cells use pericellular FN to probe the stiffness of their environment. Background: Cell behavior is affected by changes in extracellular matrix stiffness during disease progression. Results: Fibronectin matrix assembly is inhibited on soft substrates but can be restored by manipulating cell-fibronectin binding or by partially unfolding substrate fibronectin. Conclusion: On soft substrates, cells are deficient in integrin-fibronectin bond strength and therefore cannot induce fibronectin conformational changes required for assembly. Significance: Rigidity-dependent changes in fibronectin conformation provide a novel mechanism for mechanotransduction.
Using Spreadsheets To Calculate Prob(X+Y=w).

Summary Using the spreadsheet function SUMPRODUCT which calculates dot products, it is possible to compute the probabilities associated with the sums of independent discrete random variables. This allows the student to confirm properties of the sum of binomial and Poisson random variables. It also provides a method for computing the distribution of the sum of two (or more) arbitrary random variables. In addition, it also allows the student to compute the probabilities associated with the difference of random variables, and thus find the probability that one random variable exceeds another (or exceeds by a given amount).
Effect of Thermal Desorption Kinetics on Vapor Injection Peak Irregularities by a Microscale Gas Chromatography Preconcentrator

Microscale gas chromatography (μGC) is an emerging analytical technique for in situ analysis and on-site monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in moderately complex mixtures. One of the critical subcomponents in a μGC system is a microfabricated preconcentrator (μ-preconcentrator), which enables detection of compounds existing in indoor/ambient air at low (∼sub ppb) concentrations by enhancing their signals. The prevailing notion is that elution peak broadening and tailing phenomena resulting from undesirable conditions of a microfabricated separation column (μ-column) are the primary sources of poor chromatographic resolution. However, previous experimental results indicate that the resolution degradation still remains observed for a μ-column integrated with other μGC subcomponents even after setting optimal separation conditions. In this work, we obtain the evidence that the unoptimized μ-preconcentrator vapor release/injection performance significantly contributes to decrease the fidelity of μGC analysis using our state-of-the-art passive preconcentrator microdevice. The vapor release/injection performance is highly affected by the kinetics of the thermal desorption of compounds trapped in the microdevice. Decreasing the heating rate by 20% from the optimal rate of 90 °Cs −1 causes a 340% increase in peak tailing as well as 70% peak broadening (30% peak height reduction) to the microscale vapor injection process.
Teaching Cockpit Automation in the Classroom

This study explores the idea of teaching fundamental cockpit automation concepts and skills to aspiring professional pilots in a classroom setting, without the use of sophisticated aircraft or equipment simulators. Pilot participants from a local professional pilot academy completed eighteen hours of classroom instruction that placed a strong emphasis on understanding the underlying principles of cockpit automation systems and their use in a multi-crew cockpit. The instructional materials consisted solely of a single textbook. Pilots received no hands-on instruction or practice during their training. At the conclusion of the classroom instruction, pilots completed a written examination testing their mastery of what had been taught during the classroom meetings. Following the written exam, each pilot was given a check flight in a full-mission Level D simulator of a Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Pilots were given the opportunity to fly one practice leg, and were then tested on all concepts and skills covered in the class during a second leg. The results of the written exam and simulator checks strongly suggest that instruction delivered in a traditional classroom setting can lead to high levels of preparation without the need for expensive airplane or equipment simulators.
Proton conductivity of columnar ceria thin-films grown by chemical vapor deposition

Columnar thin films of undoped ceria were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The films, deposited on Pt-coated MgO(100) substrates, display a columnar microstructure with nanometer scale grain size and ~30% overall porosity. Through-plane (thickness mode) electrical conductivity was measured by AC impedance spectroscopy. Proton conduction is observed below 350-400 °C, with a magnitude that depends on gas-phase water vapor pressure. The overall behavior suggests proton transport that occurs along exposed grain surfaces and parallel grain boundaries. No impedance due to grain boundaries normal to the direction of transport is observed. The proton conductivity in the temperature range of 200-400 °C is approximately four times greater than that of nanograined bulk ceria, consistent with enhanced transport along aligned grain surfaces in the CVD films.
The Genetic Mating System of a Tropical Tanager

Abstract We describe the genetic mating system of Cherrie's Tanager (Ramphocelus costaricensis) in southwestern Costa Rica. Our data represent the first analysis of the genetic mating system of any member of the tanager family, Thraupidae. For 59 nestlings sampled from 32 broods over two years, the social mother was the genetic mother for all but two nestlings. These two unmatched nestlings were in the only brood we observed of four young, which is double the modal brood size. We identified social fathers for 55 nestlings from 31 broods. Of these young, 49% of the nestlings in 55% of the broods resulted from extra-pair matings. Our data on Cherrie's Tanager do not support the prediction that asynchronously breeding, tropical species will have low levels of extra-pair fertilizations and highlight the need for more genetic studies of tropical species.
The implications of the diagnosis of Robin sequence.

"Pierre Robin" is one of the most readily recognized diagnostic eponyms in medicine, yet it is a poorly understood nonspecific grouping of malformations that has no prognostic significance. Although the science of dysmorphology and in particular those who study children with clefts would be reluctant to forego the use of this diagnosis, the reality is that fewer than 20 percent of children with micrognathia and cleft palate should have this term applied. The syndromic diagnoses of 100 children with Robin sequence are presented and discussed in relation to morphologic characteristics. Upper airway obstruction and its relationship to feeding problems is also discussed.
Creating and sustaining a culture of accountability for patient experience

Improving the quality of the patient experience has become an imperative for healthcare organizations. Val payment models include patient perception data, and a negative experience can impact an organization’s finances. Sustainable improvement requires more than quick or bonuses for front-line staff. Organizations must actually improve the patient experience. Doing so requires a culture of accountability and a systematic framework for collecting and acting on patient perception data. This article revisits Mayo Clinic Arizona's (MC sources to drive improvement; (2) accountability; (3) service consultation and improvement tools; (4) service values and behaviors; (5) education and training; (6) ongoing monitoring and c this article is Prong 2, creating and sustaining a culture of accountability for acting on service quality data to improve th patient experience. The model has demonstrated efficacy in specialty and publication six years ago, we still contend that a comprehensive approach to improvement produces the best results. We have fine-tuned our approaches to leadership engagement, data transparen ensure action on the data, and leveraging the committee structure and front their patient experience journey, we share the methodologies, tools and resources used to of accountability for patient experience at MCA