cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ketamine as a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory agent in children undergoing surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass: a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: Infants are potentially more susceptible to cell death mediated via glutamate excitotoxicity attributed to cardiopulmonary bypass. We hypothesized that ketamine, via N-methyl D-aspartate receptor blockade and anti-inflammatory effects, would reduce central nervous system injury during cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: We randomized 24 infants, without chromosomal abnormalities, to receive ketamine (2 mg/kg, n = 13) or placebo (saline, n = 11) before cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of ventricular septal defects. Plasma markers of inflammation and central nervous system injury were compared at the end of surgery, and 6, 24, and 48 hrs after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy before cardiopulmonary bypass and at the time of hospital discharge were performed in a subset of cases and controls (n = 5 in each group). Cerebral hemodynamics were monitored postoperatively using near-infrared spectroscopy, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II before and 2–3 wks after surgery. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted in preoperative inspired oxygen levels, intraoperative cooling and postoperative temperature, respiratory rate, platelet count, and bicarbonate levels. The peak concentration of C-reactive protein was lower in cases compared to controls at 24 hrs (p = .048) and 48 hrs (p = .001). No significant differences were noted in the expression of various cytokines, chemokines, S100, and neuron-specific enolase between the cases and controls. Magnetic resonance imaging with spectroscopy studies showed that ketamine administration led to a significant decrease in choline and glutamate plus glutamine/creatine in frontal white matter. No statistically significant differences occurred between pre- and postoperative Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II scores. Conclusions: We did not find any evidence for neuroprotection or neurotoxicity in our pilot study. A large, adequately powered randomized control trial is needed to discern the central nervous system effect of ketamine on the developing brain. brain. Trial Registration: The trial is registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00556361.
Focused rock uplift above the subduction décollement at Montague and Hinchinbrook Islands, Prince William Sound, Alaska

Megathrust splay fault systems in accretionary prisms have been identified as conduits for long-term plate motion and significant coseismic slip during subduction earthquakes. These fault systems are important because of their role in generating tsunamis, but rarely are emergent above sea level where their long-term (million year) history can be studied. We present 32 apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) and 27 apatite fission-track (AFT) ages from rocks along an emergent megathrust splay fault system in the Prince William Sound region of Alaska above the shallowly subducting Yakutat microplate. The data show focused exhumation along the Patton Bay megathrust splay fault system since 3–2 Ma. Most AHe ages are younger than 5 Ma; some are as young as 1.1 Ma. AHe ages are youngest at the southwest end of Montague Island, where maximum fault displacement occurred on the Hanning Bay and Patton Bay faults and the highest shoreline uplift occurred during the 1964 earthquake. AFT ages range from ca. 20 to 5 Ma. Age changes across the Montague Strait fault, north of Montague Island, suggest that this fault may be a major structural boundary that acts as backstop to deformation and may be the westward mechanical continuation of the Bagley fault system backstop in the Saint Elias orogen. The regional pattern of ages and corresponding cooling and exhumation rates indicate that the Montague and Hinchinbrook Island splay faults, though separated by only a few kilometers, accommodate kilometer-scale exhumation above a shallowly subducting plate at million year time scales. This long-term pattern of exhumation also reflects short-term seismogenic uplift patterns formed during the 1964 earthquake. The increase in rock uplift and exhumation rate ca. 3–2 Ma is coincident with increased glacial erosion that, in combination with the fault-bounded, narrow width of the islands, has limited topographic development. Increased exhumation starting ca. 3–2 Ma is interpreted to be due to rock uplift caused by increased underplating of sediments derived from the Saint Elias orogen, which was being rapidly eroded at that time.
Evaluation of New Blade Concept for Turbofan Engines

Two key studies have suggested that lowering a rotor’s blade count is beneficial to a rotor’s performance. However, reducing the number of blades of conventional design can compromise the rotor’s flow-field, and thus lower the pressure ratio. To try to address this challenge, this paper examines the potential performance of an alternate blade style, conceptualized to significantly reduce the number of blades needed in a high flow compression system. The blade design is being evaluated in the first turbomachinery stage of a turbofan engine, or as a turbofan rotor. A steady-state and rigid body analysis has been conducted using ANSYS CFD tools. The flow characteristics and static thrust generated by the new blade model system were greater than for an equivalent existing turbofan system in preliminary simulations. The simulation results indicate that further research on this concept could pave the way for quieter, safer, and more efficient aircraft engines.
Geodesigning landscape linkages: Coupling GIS with wildlife corridor design in conservation planning

Abstract Conservation planners continue to face challenges in quantifying and ameliorating the negative ecological effects of landscape fragmentation on species populations. While significant methodological and technological advancements have led to more analytically robust assessments of landscape connectivity, the end result of these efforts is often the demarcation of corridor areas void of any significant detailed physical design of their interiors. To address this shortcoming, this work proposes the creation of a hybrid geodesign and connectivity conservation framework and the development of a new tool, or Automated Design Model (ADM), for use in wildlife corridor design. The ADM's primary purpose is to generate detailed vegetation planting designs that may be applied to the interiors of previously modeled corridors. When coupled with existing methods for delineating the spatial extents of biologically best corridors, ADM derived vegetation designs may prove useful in mitigating negative edge effects and enhancing species movement, thus potentially improving the corridors connectivity function. Using a series of geospatial models and rule-based pattern generators, the ADM derived designs are highly customizable to locally specific landscape conditions, varied focal species requirements, and differences spatial structures known to facilitate wildlife movement. Moreover, the automated nature of the ADM allows for detailed design at the landscape-scale, has broad applicability in connectivity conservation and landscape restoration, and may help in filing data gaps necessary for moving towards planning and design implementation. Towards this end, this work proposes a basis for developing a common understanding of what constitutes geodesign, proposes the development of a hybrid geodesign/conservation planning framework, and discusses the development of the ADM as a mechanism for improving the functional design of wildlife corridors.
The Dearth of Printed Histories of Potosí

Despite the generally recognized fact that the long and turbulent story of Potosi constitutes a significant segment of Spanish-American history, no substantial work based on the copious manuscripts available has ever been printed on the history of Potosi. Pedro de Angelis lamented over a century ago: “Potosi, whose mines have enriched the world, has not found anyone who will be responsible for publishing her history.”13
Abstract 4249: Quantification of murine lung tumor pHin vivoby acidoCEST MRI

Introduction: Our objective was to accurately measure the extracellular pH (pHe) of lung tumors in vivo using an innovative, non-invasive imaging method known as acidoCEST MRI, to potentially improve the early detection of lung tumors via molecular imaging. Methods: A spontaneous murine lung tumor model was initiated through orthotopic injections of urethane in seven A/J mice to induce formation of lung adenocarcinomas. Starting at 8 weeks post injection, we performed coronal anatomical scans to monitor tumor growth with Bruker BioSpin 7T small animal MRI instrument. AcidoCEST MRI was then performed when tumors reached a diameter of 1 mm in one dimension at approximately 17 weeks post injection, followed by additional scans each month. For all MRI scans, mice were anesthetized with 2.0% isofluorane, the respiration rate was monitored, and body temperature was maintained at 37 °C. Respiration-triggering (gating) was used in all imaging sequences to compensate for motion artifacts in the lung. For optimal gating, the mouse9s respiration rate was maintained at Results: AcidoCEST MRI was successfully applied to the in vivo imaging of murine lung tumors. Our innovative, respiration-gated pulse sequence and Bloch-McConnell fitting method were essential to overcome the noise created by motion artifacts inherent in lung imaging. Lung tumors demonstrated successful uptake of the iopamidol contrast agent, with an average concentration of approximately 40 mM. The pH values in the tumor ranged from 6.5 to 7.0 with an average value of 6.64, demonstrating tumor acidosis. Anatomical MRI was used to monitor tumor growth from 1 mm diameter at 17 weeks post injection, to 4 mm diameter at 36 weeks post-injection. Conclusion: Our study has established that acidoCEST MRI can be used to quantify the pH of murine lung tumors in vivo, showing that this method is promising for improved early detection of lung tumors. These pHe measurements can be compared with tumor growth rates to determine how tumor acidosis correlates with aggressive phenotype. Tumor pHe measurements can also be related to concentration of the agent as a biomarker of vascular perfusion. Furthermore, the spatial heterogeneity of lung tumor pHe can be assessed with this noninvasive imaging method. Further pre-clinical studies are also warranted to determine if the acidoCEST MRI method is suitable for early therapy response monitoring. Citation Format: Leila R. Lindeman, Edward A. Randtke, Christine M. Howison, Kyle M. Jones, Mark D. Pagel. Quantification of murine lung tumor pH in vivo by acidoCEST MRI. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4249.
Post-mortem mechanical injection of low quality beef loins with pork back fat improves palatability and sensory attributes

Abstract Palatability attributes of beef striploin steaks mechanically enhanced with pork fat were evaluated. Striploins were collected from USDA Standard steer carcasses, longitudinally cut into halves (lateral or medial) and assigned randomly to pork fat injection (PFI) or non-injected control (CON). Loin halves assigned to PFI were enhanced with pork fat using a multi-needle injector. Steaks were analyzed via Warner-Bratzler shear force, trained and consumer sensory panels, and proximate analysis (cooked and uncooked). Shear force values for PFI steaks were lower ( P P = 0.02) an off-flavor for PFI steaks but were unable to discern other attribute differences. Consumer panelists denoted ( P = 0.05) improved juiciness and overall preference ( P = 0.02) for the PFI treatment. Cooked PFI steaks had less ( P P P = 0.14). This processing method deserves further investigation for new product development.
Strategic Design: Breaking Mental Models Initiates Learning in Video Games

An important part of all digital design is effective communication with users. Video game designers, compared to other types of digital designers, have much that they need to communicate within games. As a game progresses, there are often more incrementally challenging mechanics for the player to encounter and experience. By briefly explaining the more traditional methods of educating game players, I will explain how game designers can draw from user experience frameworks to improve gameplay by teaching players in both subtle and dramatic ways with the use of mental models. Perhaps most commonly, mental models have been used to describe and analyze user satisfaction, particularly among digital technologies such as websites. Although there are some key similarities between these types of technologies and video games, significant differences do emerge, although many parallels can still be drawn. I will first explain how video game designers can strategically utilize the lessons learned from previous design researchers. Then, I will explain how and when these models should be broken. By drawing on expectancy violation theory and game design strategies, I argue that purposely violating a player’s mental models can prime the player for learning in order to expand his understanding of the game world. After several case studies, I will then provide guidance to game designers who want to implement a disruptive mental model approach to educating players.
Serum MicroRNA Signature Predicts Response to High-Dose Radiation Therapy in Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose To assess the utility of circulating serum microRNAs (c-miRNAs) to predict response to high-dose radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods and Materials Data from 80 patients treated from 2004 to 2013 with definitive standard- or high-dose radiation therapy for stages II-III NSCLC as part of 4 prospective institutional clinical trials were evaluated. Pretreatment serum levels of 62 miRNAs were measured by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction array. We combined miRNA data and clinical factors to generate a dose–response score (DRS) for predicting overall survival (OS) after high-dose versus standard-dose radiation therapy. Elastic net Cox regression was used for variable selection and parameter estimation. Model assessment and tuning parameter selection were performed through full cross-validation. The DRS was also correlated with local progression, distant metastasis, and grade 3 or higher cardiac toxicity using Cox regression, and grade 2 or higher esophageal and pulmonary toxicity using logistic regression. Results Eleven predictive miRNAs were combined with clinical factors to generate a DRS for each patient. In patients with low DRS, high-dose radiation therapy was associated with significantly improved OS compared to treatment with standard-dose radiation therapy (hazard ratio 0.22). In these patients, high-dose radiation also conferred lower risk of distant metastasis and local progression, although the latter association was not statistically significant. Patients with high DRS exhibited similar rates of OS regardless of dose (hazard ratio 0.78). The DRS did not correlate with treatment-related toxicity. Conclusions Using c-miRNA signature and clinical factors, we developed a DRS that identified a subset of patients with locally advanced NSCLC who derive an OS benefit from high-dose radiation therapy. This DRS may guide dose escalation in a patient-specific manner.
Management of pregnancy and emergency caesarean delivery in a patient with type IIB von Willebrand disease and severe preeclampsia: A case report and literature review.

Main purposes of the studyTo report an example of how concurrent von Willebrand disease type IIB disease and severe preeclampsia can be safely managed to and to review the current literature to evaluate management approaches that have proven safe and effective.The basic procedures usedReport of case with a review of literature.ConclusionsThrough regular von Willebrand factor and platelet replacement during the prenatal period, immediately pre-delivery, and as needed intraoperatively and postoperatively, women with von Willebrand disease type IIB can safely undergo both normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries and caesarean deliveries, even with concurrent disorders like preeclampsia. Further studies with larger sample size are required to solidify management concepts in this disease concurrent with pregnancy.
Decolonizing female consciousness in Bessie Head's A Question of Power

In A Question of Power, Bessie Head explores how South Africa's apartheid history has been transcribed upon female bodies. Head interrogates female madness as a vehicle to transverse and recollect ...
Can an automated sleep detection algorithm for waist-worn accelerometry replace sleep logs?

The purpose of this study was to test whether estimates of bedtime, wake time, and sleep period time (SPT) were comparable between an automated algorithm (ALG) applied to waist-worn accelerometry d...
Seasonal Variations in the Isotopic Composition of Methane Associated with Aquatic Macrophytes

Samples of methane bubbles were collected from sediments populated by emergent aquatic macrophytes during the early rising water period on the Amazon River floodplain. Methane δ13C was distinctly lighter (-61.3 ± 0.3‰, n = 3) in bubbles stirred from sediments populated by the rooted C-3 plant Oryza perinnis than it was in bubbles from sediments containing the rooted C-4 plants Paspalum repens S (-52.0± 1.1‰, n = 6) or Echinochloa polystachya (-48.3± 0.2‰, n = 4). Leaf carbon δ 13C was -28.2‰ in Oryza and -11.4‰ in Paspalum. In August, just after the peak flood stage of the river, the Paspalum, now a detached floating mat, was sampled again. Methane bubbles trapped within the floating meadow had an isotopic composition of -43.5 ± 0.1‰(n = 3), suggesting an increase in the importance of microbial methane oxidation as the emergent aquatic macrophytes progressed through their annual life cycle from a rooted plant to a floating meadow. The life cycle of these macrophytes may be partly responsible for the observed 10‰ seasonal variation in the isotopic composition of methane emitted from the Central Amazon floodplain.
Developing Cultural Fluency: Arab and Jewish Students Engaging in One Another's Company.

In this article, Jocelyn Glazier introduces readers to the Arab and Jewish students and teachers of Gal Bilingual/Bicultural School in Israel. Glazier challenges traditional intergroup contact theories and the objectives of peace education centered on prejudice reduction, arguing that education should promote cultural fluency, which can be achieved by creating an environment that requires students to engage in one another's company. Glazier explicates the idea of "company" through a yearlong ethnographic study at the Gal School and details an educational model that fosters cross-cultural awareness in first graders.
Somatostatin inhibits fluid secretion in the rat jejunum.

We determined the effect of somatostatin on water, glucose, sodium, and urea transport by utilizing an in vivo perfusion technique in the rat jejunum. Somatostatin (2.5-37.5 µ/kg ∙ min) infused intravenously had no effect on basal absorption of water, sodium, or urea. However, infusion of somatostatin at the rate of 10 µ/kg ∙ min completely blocked prostaglandin E1-induced inhibition of water absorption (P
Recovering the fetal signal in transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry

Abstract Non-invasive transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry (TFO) can provide physicians with a better metric of fetal well-being than currently-used fetal monitoring methods. There are two major challenges in this light-based measurement modality. One is in detecting the weak fetal signal at the surface of the maternal abdomen, and the other is in recovering the fetal signal from the diffuse reflectance measured, which contains a mixture of information about both maternal and fetal tissue. In this paper, we describe the TFO system we developed and evaluate its ability to recover the fetal signal in a preclinical setting. In particular, we assess its capability to measure the fetal signal over several thicknesses of maternal tissue and gauge the effectiveness of different approaches in removing the maternal influence from the mixed signal. Our results show that our TFO system, built using commodity low-cost components, can measure the highly-attenuated fetal signal through maternal tissue as thick as 5 cm. Furthermore, we determine that adaptive noise cancellation techniques are the most effective for separating the fetal signal from the maternally-influenced noise. These findings strongly support our TFO system's ability to perform well on a variety of different pregnant body types.
A Combinatorial Library of Macrocyclic Polyamines Produced by a Ladybird Beetle

The pupal defensive secretion of the coccinellid beetle Epilachna borealis is composed principally of a combinatorial library of several hundred macrocyclic polyamines. This new family of natural products is characterized by extremely large-ring monocyclic polylactones, which are derived from the oligomerization of three homologous (ω-1)-(2-hydroxyethylamino)alkanoic acids. The characterization and quantification of these novel macrocyclic alkaloids as well as of related open-chain oligomers are described. Via HPLC-MS analyses of suitable derivatives, macrocycles with ring sizes from 24 to over 150 members were characterized. Whereas the three building blocks appear to be randomly incorporated into these oligomers, comparison with other ladybird beetle species suggests that the spectrum of ring sizes produced is carefully regulated.
Abstract 055: Sex Differences in the Development of Age-Dependent Hypertension and the Salt Sensitivity of Blood Pressure

Aim: Age-dependent hypertension (HTN) develops at different rates in men versus women. These studies tested the hypothesis that in a model of normal aging, the Sprague Dawley rat, alterations in fl...
Vernacular Taste and Urban Transformation: Towards an Analytics of Fun and a New Kind of Critique

The pleasure of street food provides an opening into the politics and poetics of vernacular taste. Mazaa in cheap viands such as chaat, kebabs and vada pao has the potential to decolonise the palat...
An M. tuberculosis Metabolic Enzyme Moonlights as an Anti-Inflammatory Effector Protein.

The mechanisms by which Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades host immunity remain enigmatic. In a recent study in the journal Nature, Wang et al. report that an enzyme acting in the bacterial cytoplasm to degrade lipids also acts as an effector protein in the host cell cytoplasm to suppress inflammation.
A simplified method for experimentally quantifying crude oil swelling during immiscible carbon dioxide injection

Immiscible carbon dioxide (CO2) injection is one of the highly applied enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods due to its high oil recovery potential and its ability to store CO2 in the reservoir. The main mechanism of immiscible CO2 injection is oil swelling. Generally, oil swelling is measured experimentally or measured using modeling methods. This research conducts oil swelling experiments using a simplified method in order to easily and accurately measure oil swelling and determines some of the most significant factors that may impact oil swelling during CO2 injection. The impact of varying CO2 injection pressure, temperature, oil viscosity and oil volume on oil swelling capacity was investigated. The simplified method managed to accurately determine the value of oil swelling for all the experiments. One of the factors that was found to impact the method significantly was the oil volume used. The oil volume in the experimental vessel was found to be extremely important since a large oil volume may result in a false oil swelling value. The oil swelling results were compared to other researches and showed that the method applied had an accuracy of over 90% for all the results obtained. This research introduces a simple method that can be used to measure oil swelling and applies this method to investigate some of the factors that may impact the oil swelling capacity during immiscible CO2 injection.
Meaning and melancholia: Life in the age of bewilderment

In recent years Christopher Bollas, one of our most creative and influential theorists, has turned his attention to the most severe cases. In Catch Them Before They Fall: The Psychoanalysis of Brea...
Workup for Chest Pain in the Clinic

Chest pain is a common complaint in the ambulatory setting. This teaching script leads the reader through the process of generating an anatomically based differential diagnosis of chest pain, helps the reader distinguish between cardiac and noncardiac causes of chest pain, and suggests an evidence-based physical exam and diagnostic workup.
Comparisons of adverse event reporting for colistin versus polymyxin B using the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Background: The polymyxins (colistin and polymyxin B) have recently reemerged in clinical practice. With the same antimicrobial activities, colistin has been more frequently prescribed in most coun...
Polarization, Antipathy, and Political Activism

We apply an evolutionary game theory model to explain polarization, antipathy, and political activism as a consequence of the co-evolution of individuals' ideologies and attitudes toward other ideologies. We show that the evolutionary process results in a vicious cycle with individuals becoming increasingly polarized on the ideological spectrum and the society ending up with two politically engaged groups sharing no common grounds and strong hatred against each other.
Nearshore Species Biodiversity of a Marine Protected Area Off Santa Catalina Island, California

Santa Catalina Island, located ∼35 km off the Southern California coast, is home to the Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA). Although the conservation area is recognized as both an area of special biological significance and a marine life refuge, species richness of the nearshore taxa from this location is not known. In this study, we provide a comprehensive inventory of the intertidal and subtidal marine macroalgae, plants, invertebrates, and fishes documented from 5 different reef sites inside Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA. Species richness data were compiled using scuba-based visual surveys conducted in the field, references from the primary and gray literature, research collections maintained by scholarly institutions, and field monitoring programs. The total number of marine taxa documented in this study (765 species from 17 major phylogenetic groups) represents 63% of the estimated species richness in Blue Cavern Onshore SMCA and is indicative of the high biodiversity known from this region. Specifically, the intertidal and subtidal biota reported here represent 34% and 18% of the marine taxa known from Catalina Island and the Southern California Bight, respectively. Incidences of the introduction of exotic and invasive organisms (n = 18), changes in the geographic distributions of species (n = 14), as well as marine taxa listed as species of concern, endangered, or critically endangered (n = 4), were also identified in the current inventory. Research findings presented here offer an important baseline of species richness in the California Channel Islands and will help to improve efforts by resource managers and policy makers to conserve and manage similar habitats in the coastal waters off Southern California.
Public Perception of COVID-19 Vaccines through Analysis of Twitter Content and Users

Twitter is a robust medium to understand wide-scale, organic public perception about the COVID-19 vaccine. In this cross-sectional observational study, we evaluated 2.4 million English tweets from nearly 1 million user accounts matching keywords (( covid* OR coronavirus) AND vaccine) during vaccine development from Feb 1st through Dec 11th, 2020. We applied topic modeling, sentiment and emotion analysis, and demographic inference of users on the COVID-19 vaccine related tweets to provide insight into the evolution of public attitudes. Individuals generated 87.9% (n=834,224) of tweets. Of individuals, men (n=560,824) outnumbered women (n=273,400) by 2:1 and 39.5% (n=329,776) of individuals were [≥] 40 years old. Daily mean sentiment fluctuated congruent with news events, but overall trended positively. Trust, anticipation, and fear were the three most predominant emotions; while fear was the most predominant emotion early in the study period, trust outpaced fear from April 2020 onward. Fear was more prevalent in tweets by individuals (26.3% vs. organizations 19.4%; p<0.001), specifically among women (28.4% vs. males 25.4%; p <0.001). Multiple topics had a monthly trend towards more positive sentiment. Tweets comparing COVID-19 to the influenza vaccine had strongly negative early sentiment but improved over time. Our findings are concerning for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, but also identify targets for educational interventions.
A Theoretical Model of How Digital Platforms for Public Consultation Can Leverage Deliberation to Boost Democratic Legitimacy

The declining legitimacy of public institutions imperils modern democratic systems, yet deliberative remedies to this problem have not undergone systematic testing. The emergence of robust civic tech provides an opportunity to trace deliberation’s effects on legitimacy. Online civic platforms connecting large publics with democratic governments enable researchers to test the strength of each link that leads from public engagement to institutional legitimacy by way of deliberation. I present such a theoretical model of these linkages and specify sets of working hypotheses regarding public participation, deliberative quality, decision quality, government responsiveness, institutional legitimacy, and opportunities for empowered public engagement.
The role of dementia diagnostic delay in the inverse cancer-dementia association.

Background Cancer is inversely associated with dementia. Using simulations, we examined whether this inverse association may be explained by dementia diagnosis timing, including death before dementia diagnosis and differential diagnosis patterns by cancer history. Methods We used multistate Markov simulation models to generate cohorts 65 years of age and free of cancer and dementia at baseline; follow-up for incident cancer (all cancers, breast, prostate, and lung cancer), dementia, dementia diagnosis among those with dementia, and death occurred monthly over 30 years. Models specified no true effect of cancer on dementia, and used age-specific transition rates calibrated to US population and cohort data. We varied the average lapse between dementia onset and diagnosis, including non-differential and differential delays by cancer history, and examined observed incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the effect of cancer on dementia diagnosis. Results Non-differential dementia diagnosis delay introduced minimal bias (IRRs=0.98-1.02) for all cancer, breast, and prostate models and substantial bias (IRR=0.78) in lung cancer models. For the differential dementia diagnosis delay model of all cancer types combined, simulation scenarios with ≥20% lower dementia diagnosis rate (additional 4.5-month delay) in those with cancer history versus without yielded results consistent with literature estimates. Longer dementia diagnosis delays in those with cancer and higher mortality in those with cancer and dementia yielded more bias. Conclusions Delays in dementia diagnosis may play a role in the inverse cancer-dementia relationship, especially for more fatal cancers, but moderate differential delays in those with cancer were needed to fully explain the literature-reported IRRs.
Gas Kinetic Theory. The Molecular Theory of Dilute Gases at Equilibrium

This chapter discusses the gas kinetic theory, which explicitly averages over molecular states of a system of particles obeying classical mechanics in order to gain information about the macroscopic behavior of the gas. Gas kinetic theory is similar in spirit to statistical mechanics. The first model system that represents a dilute gas is a system of noninteracting molecules without internal structure. The first part of the kinetic theory of gases is the mathematical analysis of the behavior of this model system, and includes averages over microscopic states of the molecules of the system, using probability distributions including the Maxwell-Boltzmann probability distribution for the probability distribution for molecular velocities and the probability distribution for molecular speeds. Gas kinetic theory of noninteracting molecules predicts the ideal gas equation of state. It also predicts the rate of wall collisions and the rate of effusion of a dilute gas. The molecules of real gases and liquids are fairly accurately described by a pair potential function that corresponds to intermolecular attractions at moderate distances and repulsions at short distances. The second model of a dilute gas is the hard-sphere gas, which allows analysis of molecular collisions.
Dual organization and social inequality in a Venezuelan chiefdom, AD 550–1000

Abstract We use archaeological data from the El Gavan site (B12), the paramount center of a pre-Hispanic regional chiefdom during the Late Gavan phase (AD 550–1000) in Barinas, Venezuela, to test two hypotheses about dual organization derived from the ethnographic literature of lowland South America: (1) the hypothesis of gender-linked polarity-complementarity (GLPC); and (2) the hypothesis of exogamous moieties with virilocal residence (EMVR). Spatial analyses of artifact distributions on the floors of two excavated houses reveal that both houses were divided into two complementary activity areas that can be associated with the adult females and adult males of the households, consistent with the GLPC hypothesis. Shifting our perspective to the community level, we conduct statistical analyses of artifacts from test pits in each of the site’s two sectors of house mounds; the results are consistent with the EMVR hypothesis. We then consider how dual organization might have intersected with conditions of social inequality in the El Gavan chiefdom.
Continuing disease process of calcific aortic stenosis: Role of microthrombi and turbulent flow

Microthrombi with evidence of organization were observed in 10 of 19 calcified and stenotic aortic valves (53 percent). The organization that results from such thrombi may contribute to the deformity of the valve. Repetitive deposits of microthrombi, followed by organization and calcification, would explain the continuous process of stenosis in previously deformed aortic valves. The formation of such thrombi may be initiated by turbulent flow and other fluid dynamic factors.
Role of Translation Initiation Factor elF-2B in the Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Mammalian Cells

Publisher Summary The importance of eIF-2B in the regulation of protein synthesis is highlighted by a number of studies reporting a change in its activity in response to various cellular perturbations. In many cases, the change in eIF-2B activity is a result of an increase in phosphorylation of the a-subunit of eIF-2. The activity of eIF-2B is regulated through a variety of mechanisms. This regulation is currently being studied in a number of species, including yeast, rat, rabbit, and human. This chapter derives a system based on a single species that can be used for the genetic analysis of the regulation of eIF-2B activity. The components of this system include not only the individual subunits of eIF-2 and eIF-2B, but also the kinase(s) and phosphatase(s) that are involved in regulating the phosphorylation state of the α-subunit of eIF-2 and the є-subunit of eIF-2B. Two eIF-2a kinases have been identified and characterized in mammalian cells—PKR and heme-controlled repressor (HCR). PKR has a clearly defined role in the cellular response to viral infection and a newly identified role in the response to the inhibition of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, the regulation of HCR by heme in the cells of erythroid origin is well characterized.
Electron microscopical and biochemical characterization of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus.

An electron microscopical and biochemical examination of the properties of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPN) and of its ribonucleic acid (RNA) was made. The buoyant density of IPN in CsCl was found to be 1.33 g/cm3. Electron microscopical examination of the banded virus revealed structures similar in size (74 nm) and shape to reoviruses but lacking a characteristic inner capsid structure. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of IPN-RNA revealed a single non-segmented component of molecular weight 3.2 × 106. Its susceptibility to ribonuclease, base composition, and resistance to thermal denaturation indicated a single-stranded RNA structure. However, its sedimentation behavior (16S) independent of ionic strength in sucrose gradients, partial solubility in 2 m LiCl, and ribonuclease resistance in the presence of Mg2+ suggest an unusual secondary structure of unknown nature. The accumulated data indicate that IPN virus does not belong to either the picornavirus or reovirus groups and may represent a new group of viruses.
Wave-particle duality and polarization properties of light in single-photon interference experiments

We consider superposition of two states of light polarized along mutually orthogonal directions. We show that partial polarization of the superposed light may be interpreted as a manifestation of the wave-particle duality.
Shared pathogeneses of posttrauma pathologies: attachment, emotion regulation, and cognitions

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate how intrapersonal functioning variables related to attachment, cognition, and emotion are implicated in mental health outcomes for two samples of interpersonal trauma survivors, including undergraduates and women from the community. METHOD: Two samples of survivors of interpersonal trauma were included: undergraduates (n = 290, 60% female) and intimate partner violence survivors from the community (n = 114). Participants completed self-report measures that assessed psychopathology, emotion dysregulation, attachment processes, and cognitions about the world, self, and others. RESULTS: Emotion dysregulation was strongly linked to symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and somatization in both samples. Cognitions also accounted for unique variance in predicting symptoms of depression and somatization in both samples. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that disruption in the ability to regulate emotions is the most consistent predictor of mental health in survivors of interpersonal trauma, followed by cognitions regarding the world, self, and others. Treatment implications are discussed. Language: en
The Duration of Syllables in American Sign Language

Data are presented for the duration of syllables in American Sign Language and for movement and hold components of those syllables. Measurements from 3072 syllables taken from four different sample...
Automatic Correction of Intensity Nonuniformity from Sparseness of Gradient Distribution in Medical Images

We propose to use the sparseness property of the gradient probability distribution to estimate the intensity nonuniformity in medical images, resulting in two novel automatic methods: a non-parametric method and a parametric method. Our methods are easy to implement because they both solve an iteratively re-weighted least squares problem. They are remarkably accurate as shown by our experiments on images of different imaged objects and from different imaging modalities.
An Alpha Autoradiographic Technique for Spatial Quantification of 10B Concentrations in Tissue

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an experimental radiation therapy that is being developed for the treatment of malignant tumors. One requirement for successful BNCT is that a sufficient amo...
Effects of Trichodorus obtusus on zoysiagrass and bermudagrass root weight and turfgrass quality

Trichodorus obtususis a damaging stubby-root nematode encountered on turf. Few reports exist about the effects of T. obtususfeeding on turfgrass in field settings. A 2-year field trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of T. obtususon turf quality and root weight of Tifway bermudagrass and Empire zoysiagrass. Core samples and turf quality ratings were taken on multiple sampling dates, from plots at multiple locations in South Carolina, USA. Nematode population densities, root weights and turf quality were used to describe the linear and non-linear relationships between them. Zoysiagrass root weights increased, but turf quality decreased with nematode population density. Bermudagrass root weights and quality decreased in response to increased nematode population densities. Our results show that T. obtususcan cause significant reductions in turfgrass quality, and zoysiagrass and bermudagrass were able to tolerate low nematode population densities before turf quality reductions were detectable.
Feeding rates of the nemertean Prosorhochmus americanus (Hoplonemertea) on two species of gammaridean amphipods

. The intertidal hoplonemertean Prosorhochmus americanus is a common inhabitant of the fouling community of rock jetties of the southeast coast of the United States. We undertook a laboratory investigation of the feeding rate of this nemertean, which is a suctorial predator of amphipod crustaceans that co-occur in abundance in the fouling community. While submerged in water (simulating high tide), worms fed on the tube-building amphipods Jassa falcata and Corophium cf. insidiosum at rates of 0.19 amphipods nemertean−1 d−1 (n=10) and 0.26 amphipods nemertean−1 d−1 (n=14), respectively. These predation rates were not significantly different (two-tailed t-test, p>0.05), and are similar to those estimated in laboratory studies of other suctorial nemerteans. Many nemerteans are typically more active at night, and indeed, adults of P. americanus consumed more individuals of J. falcata during dark periods than during light periods (χ2 analysis, p<0.05). However, no difference in consumption of individuals of C. cf. insidiosum was observed in dark versus light. We attribute these contrasting results to differences in tube-building behavior exhibited by these two species of amphipod under laboratory conditions. Our results and those of other laboratory investigations suggest that nemerteans that prey on amphipods feed at a rate of ∼0.2 prey items nemertean−1 d−1, but under natural conditions this rate may not be obtained because of limited feeding time, longer foraging distances, and emigration of prey from regions of high nemertean activity.
Determination of the Source of the N-Methyl Impurity in the Synthesis of Pemetrexed Disodium Heptahydrate

The synthesis of Pemetrexed Disodium Heptahydrate has consistently resulted in a very low level (ca. 0.02%) unknown impurity. To ensure long-term control, the identity and source of the impurity were desired. Isolation and characterization identified the impurity as the N-methyl derivative. The source was identified as the methyl groups on the peptide coupling agent, 2,6-Dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine (CDMT). Further work assured the current conditions provide adequate control.
Mode 3: A Proposed Classification Scheme for the Knowledge Economy and Society

The purpose of this paper is to develop a classification scheme for the knowledge economy and society. By using Mode 3 and the quadruple helix theories, this paper models enterprise instances of networking among academia, government, industry, and civil society, all of whom are actors in the quadruple helix. The networking factors are found in the dynamics among the actors, ranging from regional to global levels. In particular, the emphasis of this paper is to understand the attributes of Mode 3 and its frontiers in order to later develop a predictive model of innovation success. We researched three regions, Maryland and the European Union countries of Portugal and Greece along with two support models, incubators, and a science park, as these areas exhibit Mode 3 regional innovation factors and allowed us to develop and test the proposed classification scheme. Our findings are that most companies operating within a regional innovation network are functioning at the Mode 2 level. This is significant as it assisted us with soundly classifying firms who were operating in the realm of Mode 2 and helped us understand the frontiers of Mode 3. Additionally, we discovered three instances of Mode 3 that engaged the traditional triple helix actors with the addition of a virtual civil society, which is the foundation for the quadruple helix.
Evaluation of Thin Agar Layer Method for Recovery of Heat-Injured Foodborne Pathogens

The thin agar layer (TAL) method of Kang and Fung was used to enumerate acid-injured foodborne pathogens. This method involves overlaying 14 ml of nonselective medium (tryptic soy agar [TSA]) onto a prepoured and solidified pathogen-specific, selective medium in a petri dish. After surface plating, injured cells resuscitated and grew on TSA during the first few hours of incubation; then, the selective agents from the selective medium diffused to the top layer, interacted with the recovered microorganisms, and started to produce typical reactions. Foodborne pathogens were exposed to 2% acetic acid for 1, 2, or 4 min, and the recovery rate with the TAL method was compared with the rate of TSA and pathogen-specific, selective media. No significant difference occurred between TSA and TAL (P > 0.05) for enumeration of acid-injured Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Yersinia enterocolitica, and both recovered significantly higher numbers than the selective medium for ea...
Pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine in laboratory animals

1. The pharmacokinetics of venlafaxine have been evaluated in mouse, rat, dog and rhesus monkey after i.v. and/or i.g. doses of venlafaxine from 2 to 120 mg/kg either as single or repeated doses. 2. In rat, dog and monkey, venlafaxine is a high clearance compound with a large volume of distribution after i.v. administration. 3. Absolute bioavailability was low in rat and rhesus monkey (12.6 and 6.5%, respectively) and moderate in dog (59.8%). Other species differences were seen, including an elimination half-life of venlafaxine that was longer in dog and rhesus monkey (2-4 h) than in rodent (around 1 h). 4. In mouse, rat and dog, exposure to venlafaxine increased more than proportionally with dose, suggesting saturation of elimination. Exposure of venlafaxine decreased with repeated dosing in mouse and rat, but was unchanged in dog. 5. Exposure of animals to the bioactive metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV), was less than that of venlafaxine itself. ODV was not detected in dog and not measurable in rhesus monkey receiving venlafaxine.
Calcium Distribution in the Abscission Zone of Bean Leaves Electron Microprobe X-Ray Analysis

The calcium content and distribution across the abscission zones of (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid-treated bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Contender) leaves were lower and not uniformly distributed as compared to the control. Calcium chloride-treated bean leaves had a higher calcium content, with more calcium localized in the potential abscission layer. Ethephon treatment promoted abscission in both debladed and nondebladed plants; there was a corresponding decrease in calcium in the abscission zone just prior to separation. Deblading of bean leaves under a calcium solution increased the calcium level in the abscission zone and delayed abscission.