cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cholinergic antagonist identifies a subclass of muscarinic receptors in isolated rat pancreatic acini

Atropine, pirenzepine (PZ) and the novel antimuscarinic drug [11- [[2-(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H- pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepine-6-one (AF-DX 116) were used to subclassify the pancreatic muscarinic receptor by correlating their effects on carbachol-mediated amylase release with their actions on the binding of [3H]N-methylscopolamine in rat pancreatic acini. Maximal stimulation of amylase release occurred at 3 microM carbachol. Atropine, PZ and AF-DX 116 inhibited carbachol-mediated amylase release with the following pA2 values: atropine = 9.1, PZ = 6.5 and AF-DX 116 = 5.7. There was parallel inhibition of [3H]N-methylscopolamine binding, with the following inhibition constants: atropine = 2.38 nM, PZ = 426 nM and AF-DX 116 = 3660 nM. Using the same animals, these compounds inhibited [3H]N-methylscopolamine binding in homogenates from both cerebral cortex and heart. The order of potency was the same in the cerebral cortex as in the pancreas: atropine = 0.67 nM, PZ = 85 nM and AF-DX 116 = 440 nM. However, in the cortex, the binding data with PZ also exhibited a high-affinity site with a KH value of 11 nM. In the heart, the order of potency was shifted to atropine greater than AF-DX 116 greater than PZ, with inhibition constants of 1.55, 12 and 110 nM, respectively. Thus, the muscarinic receptors in the pancreas and the heart exhibited the characteristics of the putative M2 receptor subtype, having lower affinities for PZ than the muscarinic receptors in the cerebral cortex. However, the heart had a significantly higher affinity for AF-DX 116.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Computer Processing of Zooplankton—Application in Fisheries Studies

Abstract The role zooplankton play in aquatic ecosystems often depends on their abundance and their size. However, enumeration and sizing of zooplankton are tedious tasks. Here, we describe an inexpensive, semiautomated system which allows projection, counting, and sizing with a caliper, data storage and retrieval, and compilation of species-size distributions. Direct application of our computerized system for processing zooplankton to studies of fish and zooplankton is described.
Radiation Hardening by Process of CBRAM Resistance Switching Cells

Non-volatile memory (NVM) technology highly resistant to ionizing dose and radiation effects in general continues to be a challenge for space missions. Novel NVM nano-ionic technologies known as conductive bridging random access memory (CBRAM), a resistive circuit technology, exhibits great promise for both high density memory and high total ionizing dose resilience. In this work, it is discovered that CBRAM can be sensitive to high TID levels. However, this novel technology can be radiation-hardened by process, which is demonstrated in this paper.
Understanding Zika virus pathogenesis: an interview with Catherine Spong

A recent outbreak of Zika virus has been linked to fetal abnormalities in pregnant women who have been infected. The scientific community is working toward understanding Zika virus pathogenesis to better manage affected women and children. In an interview with Dr. Catherine Spong, we discuss the aims and challenges of a forthcoming longitudinal study of a cohort of pregnant women in areas of current active Zika virus transmission.
Penile denudation injuries after circumcision.

AbstractWe present 3 cases of iatrogenic phallic denudation that were managed successfully nonoperatively. The concept of conservative, nonoperative management should be considered in denudation injuries.
Training in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Training in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy involves a learning continuum from routine diagnostic procedures to complex therapeutic endoscopy. With the technological boom that has occurred in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to master all endoscopic procedures in a 2-year clinical fellowship. For some more difficult procedures, tertiary level training is probably necessary. Hospital credentialing and quality assurance issues have become increasingly important as we attempt to deliver superior medical care to patients with gastrointestinal disorders.
Session Limits and the Probability of the Next Visit

ABSTRACTAmong the approaches that have been used to balance the demand for services with the agency’s service resources is to limit the number of visits available to clients. Such limits have been introduced, however, without any empirical basis for estimating the impact of a limit on the overall demand for services or the proportion of clients. The probability of a next visit is a statistic that addresses these shortcomings. Analyses indicate that there is a fairly stable pattern to students use of counseling services, that this pattern is affected by the imposition of a limit, and that reducing the probabilities of a next visit for the first, second, and third visits has a greater impact on reducing total service demand than imposing a limit at the 12th visit, the most commonly reported point
Struggles for Educational Equity in Prince Edward County, VA: Resistance, Southern Manifesto Ideologies, and School Choice

ABSTRACTIn light of contemporary school choice proposals and the 60th anniversary of the Southern Manifesto, the Prince Edward County, Virginia public schools crisis provides interesting historical discussion. Prince Edward County (PEC), a rural community in central Virginia, was one of five school districts represented in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that ruled segregated public schools unconstitutional. In response to this decision, PEC closed public schools from 1959–1964 rather than desegregate them. Three other Virginia locales closed public schools to resist the desegregation mandate of Brown—Warren County, Charlottesville, and Norfolk—but none for as long as PEC. Like the 19 Senators and 82 Representatives from each of the former Confederate states who signed the Declaration of Constitutional Principles or “Southern Manifesto” and understood the Brown ruling as a violation of state’s rights, Virginia lawmakers also vowed “…to use all lawful means to bring about a reve...
Improved outcomes and value in staged hybrid extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract Objective Complex Crawford extent II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) can be treated in a hybrid manner with proximal thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair, followed by staged distal open thoracoabdominal repair. This study evaluated the outcomes and health care-associated value of this new method compared with traditional open repair over 10 years. Methods A prospectively collected database was used to identify all patients with an extent II TAAA undergoing repair at a single institution between 2005 and 2015. Patient characteristics, postoperative outcomes, and incidence of major adverse events (MAEs; renal failure, spinal cord ischemia, death) were compared. After adjusting for time since surgery, value was analyzed looking at quality (1/MAE) divided by cost (total health system cost). This was multiplied by a constant to set the value of open TAAA repair to 100. Results A total of 113 consecutive patients underwent extent II TAAA repairs, of whom 25 (22.1%) had a staged hybrid approach with a median of 129 days between procedures. No baseline differences in demographic or comorbidity variables existed between groups ( P > .05). The hybrid group had shorter operative time (255 vs 306 minutes; P = .01), shorter postoperative length of stay (10.1 vs 13.3 days; P = .02), and reduced blood loss (1300 vs 2600 mL; P = .01) at the time of open operation. Despite higher rates of acute kidney injury in the hybrid group (76.0% vs 51.1%; P = .03), there was no difference in renal failure (8.0% vs 4.5%; P = .84). The incidence of MAEs was lower in the staged hybrid group (20.0% vs 48.9%; P = .01), without a difference in hospital mortality (4.0% vs 3.4%; P = .89). Median total cost was higher in the hybrid group ($112,920 vs $72,037; P = .003). Value was improved in the hybrid group by 56% using mean cost and 178% by median cost. Conclusions The 20% MAE rate associated with staged hybrid repair of extent II TAAA was significantly decreased compared with open repair, with a relative reduction of >50%. Despite higher total hospital costs, staged hybrid repair had 56% to 178% higher health care-related value compared with standard open repair. In an era of increasing focus on costs and quality, staged hybrid repair of extensive TAAAs is associated with fewer complications than open TAAA repair, resulting in a good value investment from a resource utilization perspective.
Role of 4-1BB as a Regulator for NKG2D Costimulation in Human CD8+ T Cells.

NKG2D is a potent costimulatory receptor which is involved in activating various CD8 + T cell responses. Cells undergoing various stresses including tumor formation and virus infection express MHC class I related chain (MIC), a ligand for NKG2D. Thus, MIC acts as a signature molecule of the target cells for CD8 + T cells to recognize in killing. In contrast, MIC also plays a role in impairing effector CD8 + T cell responses because it rapidly internalizes NKG2D from the cell surface. It is unclear how these opposing effects of NKG2D ligation on CD8 + T cell fate are regulated. In this study, we demonstrated that 4-1BB, another costimulatory receptor, might be an important regulator for induction and maintenance of NKG2D expression after its internalization, thereby enhancing effector CD8 + T cell responses. Whereas NKG2D is constitutively expressed on naive human CD8 + T cells, 4-1BB is induced only by activation. Costimulation of NKG2D with anti-NKG2D and suboptimal anti-CD3 eliminated NKG2D but efficiently induced 4-1BB on naive CD8 + T cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood, even in the presence of TGF-s1 which inhibited 4-1BB expression in the absence of NKG2D costimulation. In vitro chromium release assays indicated that the CD8 + T cells costimulated with NKG2D remained low in their cytotoxic activity against C1R B lymphoma cell line expressing MIC which was used as target cells. We found these results despite the fact that the CD8 + T cells were fully activated and expressed 4-1BB and granzyme B at high levels. This is correlated with a lack of NKG2D on the cell surface. Subsequent 4-1BB costimulation restored NKG2D to the cell surface, even in the presence of TGF-s1. The resulting CD8 + T cells expressing both NKG2D and 4-1BB showed extremely potent cytotoxic activity. Importantly, the NKG2D co-expressed with 4-1BB was unique for being highly refractory to the downregulation by TGF-s1 and internalization from the cell surface. IL-4 markedly promoted downregulation of NKG2D and 4-1BB expression induced by TGF-s1, generating a CD8 + T cell type lacking both NKG2D and 4-1BB on the cell surface. These cells were inert and unable to gain cytotoxic as well as proliferative activity, suggesting that CD8 + T cells lacking both NKG2D and 4-1BB may represent terminally incapacitated cells. In summary, NKG2D may be involved in inducing 4-1BB expression and in turn 4-1BB may play a critical role for stabilizing surface NKG2D expression to overcome tumor immune evasion especially in tumor microenvironments enriched with soluble MIC and TGF-s1. Due to such coupled supports, co-expression of NKG2D and 4-1BB may be a key biomarker for defining effective tumor infiltrating CD8 + T cells that can be used in a clinical setting of immune therapeutic strategies.
Biliary Cancer: Background and Clinical Evidence

The management of biliary cancer – specifically, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer – is challenging. Surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy, but the complex anatomy of the biliary tree and surrounding structures renders surgery a suboptimal approach as monotherapy. Adjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, have been studied retrospectively with mixed results. Emerging prospective data, however, suggests some promise for adjuvant therapy. And for patients with unresectable or metastatic disease, prospective studies have identified systemic therapy combinations with some success. Here we will review the clinical background for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and gallbladder cancers, leading to a summary of the general treatment paradigms while highlighting the rationale for each approach.
Severity of Preoperative Proteinuria is a Risk Factor for Overall Mortality in Patients Undergoing Nephrectomy

Purpose: Chronic kidney disease may adversely affect survival following nephrectomy. Proteinuria is increasingly used as a marker of kidney disease. However, the relationship between preoperative proteinuria and survival after nephrectomy remains incompletely characterized. We evaluated the association of preoperative proteinuria with overall and cancer specific survival using our institutional nephrectomy registry.Materials and Methods: We identified 1,846 patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with curative intent (radical or partial nephrectomy) between 1995 and 2010. Patients were categorized for analysis based on preoperative proteinuria severity (mild, moderate or severe). Overall and cancer specific survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess for variables associated with overall and cancer specific mortality.Results: Preoperative urine protein testing was available in 1,347 patients (73%). A total of 804...
Emotion Reactivity, Comfort Expressing Emotions, and Future Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adults

Objective Emotion reactivity and difficulties in expressing emotions have been implicated in risk for suicidal behavior. This study examined comfort in expressing emotions (positive vs. negative) and depressive symptoms as mediators of the prospective relation between emotion reactivity and suicidal ideation. Design Emerging adults (N = 143; 72% female; 28% White) completed measures of emotion reactivity, comfort expressing emotions, and suicidal ideation at baseline and of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation 12 months later. Results Emotion reactivity predicted suicidal ideation at follow-up through depressive symptoms. Difficulty expressing love–but not happiness, sadness, and anger–partially mediated the relationship between emotion reactivity and suicidal ideation at follow-up before but not after adjusting for baseline ideation. Conclusion The relation between high emotion reactivity and suicidal ideation may be explained by discomfort in the expression of positive emotions and by depressive symptoms. Promotion of comfort in positive emotion expression may reduce vulnerability to suicidal ideation.
Mass separator for radioactive isotopes

A new isotope separator has been designed, constructed, and put into routine operation for separation of 133Xe providing a major advancement and significant cost reduction in preparation of this radioactive isotope. The design features and advantages are discussed that expedite high purity separation of relatively small quantities of this isotope. These advantages could be easily used to expedite separation of other shorter-lived radioactive isotopes.
Hypothermia and severe first-degree heart block.

A 96-year-old woman with hypertension, diabetes, and dementia was found unresponsive in her nursing home and was transferred to the hospital. At presentation to the hospital, her blood pressure was 76/43 mm Hg, heart rate 42 beats per minute, rectal temperature 31.6°C (88.8°F), and blood glucose
Abortion and the Civil Rights of Machines

Abortion poses a crucial and vexing social issue, squarely because it poses an even more crucial and vexing moral issue. In this paper I shall approach abortion as a moral question, letting social, political and legal thinkers draw their own conclusions as they may.
Microstructure-Based Finite Element Analysis of Heterogeneous Media

A microstructure-based finite element analysis is presented in this paper for the mechanical response of two dimensional heterogeneous materials with randomly dispersed inclusions. A special n-sided polygonal element containing an elastic inclusion is developed on the basis of the Hellinger-Reissner principle and the hybrid finite element method. The element formulations are derived by decomposing the original problem into inclusion and matrix problems and relating each other through consistency conditions at their interface. For circular inclusions, the proposed method is verified against simple analytical solutions and shown to be suitable even for extreme cases such as porous materials and materials with rigid inclusions. It is also demonstrated that the number of degrees of freedom necessary to obtain accurate results can be significantly reduced by using the proposed method. The effect of random distributions of inclusions on local stress concentration factors can also be easily evaluated using the proposed method.
The Effects of Age on Parallel Processing in the Human Optic Nerve

Parallel processing involves transmission for central processing of relatively independent packets of information along spatially separate pathways. As an analogy, one can consider a postman who carries separate packets of information in the form of different letters, each with its own address, each delivered separately. And yet, just as the mailman carries all his packets of letters in one pouch, the optic nerve must serve as a common conduit for all visual information transduced at the level of the eye and integrated in the brain.
Molecular dissection of porcine reproductive and respiratory virus putative nonstructural protein 2.

Arteriviridae in the order Nidovirales. The virus is now known to consist of two different genotypes based on the finding that the prototypes viruses, Lelystad virus (European-like, Type 1) and VR-2332 (North American-like, Type 2), display only approximately 60% nucleotide identity. PRRSV has since been shown to consist of multiple virus isolates that vary within each genotype as much as 20% in nucleotide composition (Faaberg, unpublished data). Within this genetic backdrop, seemingly novel field isolates of PRRSV suddenly appeared in the southwestern region of the State of Minnesota, U.S.A., in 2002. Phylogenic analysis, based on the ORF5 gene (encoding the viral attachment protein) of 916 unique PRRSV isolates, revealed that these isolates were most similar to those found in Canada in the early 1990s (Faaberg, unpublished data). The PRRSV isolates were determined to have the restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern designated 1-8-4 and thus were named MN184 isolates. In order to examine the MN184 isolates more closely, we determined the full-length nucleotide sequences of two field isolates differing in apparent virulence. MN184 isolate comparison revealed that differences existed throughout the genome, most notably in nonstructural protein (Nsp) 2, for which no function has been assigned, except by comparison with the genome of equine arteritis virus. The comparison of the MN184 field isolates to the prototypic strain VR-2332, and to the first Type 1 strain seen in the United States, EuroPRRSV, was then completed.
A Crosscorrelation Method for Measuring the Impulse Response of Reactor Systems

A crosscorrelation method for the study of the small signal response of nuclear reactor systems is presented. The technique and equipment necessary for the implementation of the method are discusse...
Absorbent Properties of Carboxymethylated Fiber, Hydroentangled Nonwoven and Regenerated Cellulose: A Comparative Study:

Commercially-available, bleached cotton fibers, rayon, and their hydroentangled counterparts were carboxymethylated to produce cellulosic products with increased absorbency. These cellulose materia...
The Bleaching Syndrome Per Colorism Pathology: LGBTQ Perpetuation of Discrimination:

Domination is the preferred and pathological model of assimilation into Western culture. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queers (LGBTQs) in America, the resulting stress can reach deva...
Regularity of solutions of quasi-linear elliptic equations with LlogmL coefficients

Abstract Let D be an bounded region in R n . The regularity of solutions of a family of quasilinear elliptic partial differential equations is studied, one example being Δ n u = V u n − 1 . The coefficients are assumed to be in the space L log m ⁡ L ( D ) for m > n − 1 . Using a Moser iteration argument coupled with the Moser-Trudinger inequality, a local L ∞ bound on the solution u is proven. A Harnack-type inequality is then proven. These results are shown to be sharp with respect to m. Then essential continuity of u is proven, and away from the boundary a bound on the modulus of continuity.
A commentary on gender bias in dermatology and its perceived impact on career development among women dermatologists

Gender bias and gender-based discrimination and harassment are known to affect women across all fields of medicine. Despite acknowledgement of a persistent "gender gap" in dermatology, there has been little formal research to date exploring how gender bias may be impacting the careers of women in the field. In this commentary, we discuss the results of an anonymous, online survey that assessed perceived effects of gender bias and sexual harassment on professional development among women dermatologists. The large majority of respondents reported experiencing significant gender-based obstacles to career advancement in either their current or past practice settings. Lack of equal professional support between men and women and discrimination based on parental status were commonly noted themes. A majority of respondents also reported having experienced some form of sexual harassment in the workplace. These trends, while not unique to the field of dermatology, are unacceptable and need to be confronted and rectified. Promoting gender equity in dermatology is important for clinicians, patients, and the future of dermatology.
Trochanteric osteotomy for acetabular fracture fixation: a case series and literature review

This study examined osteotomy union and heterotopic ossification (HO) after performing digastric trochanteric osteotomies during open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of acetabular and combined femoral head fractures. Femoral head osteonecrosis and trochanteric screw removal were secondarily assessed. Twenty-six patients treated at a Level I trauma center, from years 2003 to 2019, who received a digastric trochanteric osteotomy during acetabular and combined femoral head fracture ORIF through a posterior surgical approach were retrospectively identified. Osteotomies were fixed with two 3.5 mm cortical lag screws. Rates of osteotomy union, HO, femoral head osteonecrosis, and trochanteric screw removal were determined. All osteotomies went onto union without displacement or failure of fixation. Only three (12%) patients developed severe HO (modified-Brooker class III–IV). There were no instances of femoral head osteonecrosis and only one (7%) patient required trochanteric screw removal. The digastric trochanteric osteotomy heals reliably with low rates of severe HO, femoral head osteonecrosis, and screw removal for soft-tissue irritation. A review of the literature is presented and found comparable findings.
The invention of public space: designing for inclusion in Lindsay's New York: by Mariana Mogilevich, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2020, 240 pp., $30.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-5179-0576-7

The Invention of Public Space: Designing For Inclusion in Lindsay’s New York takes the reader on a tour of New York during the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay (1966–1973), and its experimen...
Proximally based Abductor hallucis muscle flap in the treatment of osteomyelitis complicated Lisfranc fracture dislocation: A Case Report

Abstract Anatomic constraints of the foot make it vulnerable to infection when the primary defense, the soft-tissue envelope is compromised due to vicinity of tendons, joints and bone to the skin. Reconstructive efforts in the presence of osteomyelitis compounds the clinical picture. Treatment of midfoot osteomyelitis can have devastating outcomes with loss of biomechanic integrity of the foot, and often loss of part of the foot which at that level results in significant functional deficits. When primary closure is not an option due to potential loss of structural and ultimately biomechanic integrity; soft tissue defects in the presence of exposed tendon, joint or bone with intact vasculotome require expeditious and predictable coverage options. Local muscle flaps belong to the same armamentarium as local random flaps and free flaps considering their unique intricacies. The abductor hallucis muscle flap has been employed for covering soft tissue defects of different etiologies encompassing from the medial hindfoot and ankle to the medial plantar forefoot often with concomitant osteomyelitis of the underlying bone. In this case report, we describe a technique of a proximally based abductor hallucis flap for a patient with traumatic Lisfranc dislocation that developed surgical site infection complicated by osteomyelitis of the tarsometatarsal joint.
Creating High School Dance Programming: Comprehensive Dance Education Program or Dance/Drill Team? Or Both?

Selecting high school dance education programming can be challenging, and the conversations around such programming have the capacity to dichotomize or value dance forms in varying ways. This artic...
15. Development of Intrathecal scAAV9 Gene Therapy for Giant Axonal Neuropathy

Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive sensory and motor neuropathy that presents as early as 3 years of age and with ultimate mortality during the second or third decade of life. GAN is caused by autosomal recessive loss-of-function mutations in the GAN gene that encodes the gigaxonin protein. Gigaxonin plays a role in the organization/degradation of intermediate filaments (IFs) and a pathological hallmark of GAN is large axonal swellings filled with disorganized aggregates of IFs. While GAN is primarily described as a peripheral neuropathy, diffuse pathology from disorganized IFs is found throughout the nervous system and other organ systems. An NIH-sponsored Phase I study is underway to test the safety of intrathecal (IT) administration of scAAV9/JeT-GAN to treat the mostsevere aspects of GAN, namely the motor and sensory neuropathy. Gigaxonin gene transfer is the first proposed therapy for GAN. Our group developed the vector to be used in the Phase I clinical trial, which is a self-complementary AAV serotype 9 vector carrying a codon-optimized human GAN transgene controlled by the minimal synthetic JeT promoter (scAAV9/JeT-GAN). Preclinical studies show that scAAV/JeT-GAN can restore the normal arrangement of IFs in patient fibroblasts within days in cell culture and by 3 weeks in GAN KO mice. The safety and biodistribution of scAAV9/JeT-GAN was investigated in mice and non-human primates that received a single IT overdose of scAAV9/JeT-GAN. No safety concerns were apparent from these animal studies, with the longest endpoint at 1 year post-injection. To further support the translation of this approach to human subjects, IT delivery of the scAAV9/JeT-GAN vector in GAN KO mice showed sustained levels of human gigaxonin expression in therapeutically-relevant areas for at least 48 weeks without evidence of toxicity. Furthermore, treated GAN KO mice have improved motor function and preservation of peripheral nerve ultrastructure. In all, the results of our preclinical studies attest to the safety of IT scAAV9/JeT-GAN delivery and the potential benefit to treated patients.During the review and public discussion of the clinical trial protocol, the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) raised the concern of re-dosing patients with AAV vectors should the dose used prove to be safe but ineffective. Specifically, the RAC made the recommendation for researchers to evaluate the effect of re-administration in preclinical models in advance of this trial or preceding a subsequent trial. Pilot studies in wild-type mice show that repeat injection of scAAV9 vectors of the same dose and via the same IT route results in 70% less vector delivery of the second transgene to the brain, 70-95% less delivery to regions of the spinal cord and 55% less delivery to the sciatic nerve. This data suggests that alternative AAV capsids and/or routes of AAV delivery will need to be explored to enable effective re-dosing following an initial dose of scAAV9/JeT-GAN.
LOCOMOTIVE CRASH ENERGY MANAGEMENT TEST PLANS

The Office of Research, Development, and Technology of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Volpe Center are continuing to evaluate new technologies for increasing the safety of passengers and operators in rail equipment. The results of vehicle-to-vehicle override, where the strong underframe of one vehicle, typically a locomotive, impacts the weaker superstructure of the other vehicle, can be devastating. Crashworthy components which can be integrated into the end structure of a locomotive have been developed to inhibit override in the event of collision. Recent research has resulted in the development of a design concept, including evaluation with finite-element analysis (FEA), fabrication, and component tests. The design concept developed incorporates two key components: a push-back coupler and a deformable anti-climber. Detailed designs for these components were developed and the performance of the designs was evaluated through large deformation dynamic FEA. This paper describes the tests that are planned to demonstrate the behavior of these components when they are integrated into the end structure of a locomotive. The tests will demonstrate the in-service and crashworthiness performance of the modified locomotives. This research program endeavors to advance locomotive crashworthiness technology and develop the technical basis for generating specifications for push-back couplers and deformable anti-climbers.
Plasma Membrane Lipid Alterations Following Cold Acclimation: Possible Relevance to Freeze Tolerance

The plasma membrane plays a central role in cellular behavior during a freeze/thaw cycle and lysis or alterations in its semipermeable characteristics is a primary cause of freezing injury1. In protoplasts isolated from nonacclimated (NA) rye leaves, injury over the range of 0° to –5°C is a consequence of freeze-induced osmotic contraction resulting in endocytotic vesiculation of the plasma membrane - with sufficiently large area contractions being irreversible. As a result, lysis of the protoplasts occurs during osmotic expansion following thawing of the suspending medium. Alternatively, cooling to temperatures below -5°C results in destabilization of the plasma membrane so that the protoplasts are osmotically unresponsive during thawing of the suspending medium. This form of injury is associated with several changes in the ultrastructure of the plasma membrane, including the formation of lateral phase separations, aparticulate lamellae, and hexagonalII configurations2. Cold acclimation dramatically alters the behavior of the plasma membrane during freeze-induced osmotic contraction and dehydration. In protoplasts from acclimated (ACC) rye leaves, osmotic contraction results in the formation of exocytotic extrusions of the plasma membrane; and at severe levels of dehydration, lateral phase separations, aparticulate lamellae, or HII configurations are not observed.
A highly-efficient technique for reducing soft errors in static CMOS circuits

Soft errors are the functional failures resulting from the latching of single-event transients (transient voltage fluctuations at a logic node or SETs) caused by high-energy particle strikes or electrical noise. Traditionally, they have been deemed to be a problem in memory structures, for which effective techniques (such as error correcting codes) are well known. However, due to technology scaling and reduced supply voltages, they are expected to increase by several orders of magnitude in logic circuits. Existing circuit and architectural approaches to addressing soft errors in logic circuits have appreciable area/cost, performance, and/or energy overheads or are limited to particular types of circuits (combinational or sequential). We present a very efficient and systematic error masking technique that uses the same circuitry to cope with soft errors in combinational and sequential circuits. It prevents an SET pulse of width less than approximately half of the slack available in the propagation path from latching and turning into a soft error. The SET is masked without additional delay and within the clock cycle time in an area- and energy-efficient manner, which makes this technique attractive for commodity as well as reliability-critical applications. Our technique also tolerates soft errors in the overhead circuitry, which we minimize through clustering. Application of our technique to ISCAS85 benchmark circuits yields an average SER reduction of 70.93% with an average area overhead of only 11.98%.
Classroom Discussion and the Community of Music Majors

Modern theories of teaching and learning recommend that students actively participate in their own education. For the music history teacher this usually means some form of in-class discussion. Yet generating meaningful discussions can be problematic, and many instructors lament the difﬁculties they experience when attempting to instigate and sustain discussions in their classes for music majors. Viewing the community in which these young musicians live and learn through the lens of ethnomusi­cology helps to explain how music majors perceive their role in the classroom, which in turn sheds light on why they may or may not engage in classroom discourse. An awareness of the social and professional dynamics surrounding music majors can help instructors handle student responses in a way that promotes engaging discussion in the music history classroom.
Hierarchical task-driven feature learning for tumor histology

Through learning small and large-scale image features, we can capture the local and architectural structure of tumor tissue from histology images. This is done by learning a hierarchy of dictionaries using sparse coding, where each level captures progressively larger scale and more abstract properties. By optimizing the dictionaries further using class labels, discriminating properties of classes that are not easily visually distinguishable to pathologists are captured. We explore this hierarchical and task-driven model in classifying malignant melanoma and the genetic subtype of breast tumors from histology images. We also show how interpreting our model through visualizations can provide insight to pathologists.
Interactions of selected "Vitis" cultivars with endoparasitic nematodes

The effects of five Meloidogyne spp. and one Pratylenchus and one Tylenchulus on growth of 18 Vitis cultivars were studied in microplots. Nematode population growth was assessed on each cultivar. Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson Seedless was used as a standard to compare host status of other grape cultivars. Resistant and susceptible responses were based on nematode reproduction and vine response. Grape cultivars 1613C, Dog Ridge, Freedom, Harmony, Teleki 5C, K51-32, and Ramsey were graded as susceptible to M. arenaria pt. Harmony and resistant to all other Meloidogyne spp. K51-32 and Ramsey were rated as resistant and Dog Ridge as moderately resistant against P. vulnus and T. semipenetrans. Meloidogyne arenaria pt. Harmony has the potential to be a major pest of grape rootstocks.
Electronic cigarettes: The nicotyrine hypothesis

There are conflicting reports about the efficacy of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) as nicotine delivery devices and smoking cessation products. In addition, smokers' responses to some nicotine dependence questions often change as they transition to exclusive e-cig use. Nicotyrine may explain these observations. Nicotyrine forms by the gradual oxidation of nicotine in e-liquids exposed to air. E-cigs aerosolize nicotyrine along with nicotine. Nicotyrine inhibits the cytochrome P450 2A family of enzymes (CYP2A) in airways and liver. These enzymes metabolize nicotine to cotinine, and then cotinine to trans 3-hydroxycotinine. In humans, nicotine is metabolized primarily by hepatic CYP2A6. We propose that e-cig users (vapers) achieve measurable serum nicotine levels when they inhale nicotine and nicotyrine together, because nicotyrine reversibly inhibits nicotine metabolism by CYP2A13 in airways. Consuming nicotyrine by any route should irreversibly inhibit hepatic CYP2A6. When CYP2A6 is substantially inhibited, nicotine clearance is delayed and nicotine withdrawal symptoms are attenuated. Small, relatively infrequent nicotine doses can then sustain satisfying nicotine levels. This theory has numerous implications for e-cig research and tobacco control. Behavioral and pharmacokinetic e-cig studies should be interpreted with attention to likely levels of nicotyrine delivery: e-cig studies may need to routinely measure nicotyrine exposure, assess CYP2A6 activity, confirm nicotine delivery, or deliberately compare unoxidized and oxidized e-liquids. The risks of nicotyrine exposure include impaired clearance of all CYP2A substrates and any effects of the metabolic products of nicotyrine. CYP2A inhibitors like nicotyrine may be useful for future smoking cessation therapy.
Vapor-phase-deposited organosilane coatings as hardening agents for high-peak-power laser optics

ABSTRACT Multilayer-dielectric (MLD) diffraction gratings are used in high-power laser systems to compress laser-energy pulses. The peak power deliverable on target for these short-pulse petawatt class systems is limited by the laser-damage resistance of the optical components in the system, especially the MLD gratings. Recent experiments in our laboratory have shown that vapor treatment of MLD gratings at room temperature with organosilanes such as hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) produces an increase in their damage threshold at 1054 nm (10-ps, 370- Pm spot size) as compared to uncoated MLD grating control samples. The 1-on-1 laser-damage threshold of an HMDS-treated grating increased by 4.5% as compared to the uncoated control sample, while the N -on-1 damage threshold of an MLD grating treated with tetramethyldisilazane increased by 16.5%. For an MLD grating treated with bis-(trifluoropropyl)tetramethyldisilazane, the N -on-1 and 1-on-1 damage thresholds increased by 4.8% and 5.3%, respectively. Such increases in laser-damage threshold are unprecedented and counterintuitive because it is widely believed that the pres ence of organic materials or coatings on the surfaces of optical substrates will inevitably lead to reduced laser-damage resistance. Keywords: Organosilanes, vapor deposited, MLD grating, laser-damage resistance, petawatt laser silylation, HMDS
The heparin-induced thrombocytopenia task force model: implementing quality improvement and economic outcome initiatives.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a costly but potentially preventable complication associated with the use of heparin. Based on a 1% to 3% incidence of HIT, the total cost and potential financial loss due to HIT complicating open-heart surgery is estimated to range from over $100 to $300 million and from over $33 to $100 million annually, respectively, in the United States. To minimize the personal and economic cost of HIT, the Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) HIT Task Force developed institutional guidelines for diagnosis and treatment, educated medical staff and patients, and took measures institution-wide to reduce patient exposures to heparin.
α-Subunit Conformation in Glycoprotein Hormones and Recombinants as Assessed by Specific Antisera*

RIAs specific for the alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormones were used to monitor the subunit conformation in ovine FSH and TSH and in recombinants of ovine LH alpha with (ovine and porcine) LH beta and hCG beta. Differences in log-logit slopes of the RIA dilution curves were interpreted to indicate changes, presumably conformational, in the local environment of the antigenic determinants of the alpha-subunit. In all but one case, free ovine LH alpha yielded a slope that was distinct from those of the hormones and recombinants. FSH, TSH, and the homologous LH recombinant all exhibited different slopes, and the recombinant ovine LH alpha-hCG beta was characterized by a slope that was distinct from the identical slopes of the recombinants ovine LH alpha-ovine LH beta and ovine LH alpha-porcine LH beta. These results suggest that a conformational change occurs in the alpha-subunit upon association with a beta-subunit and that different beta-subunits may induce distinct conformations in a common alpha-subunit.
Clinical applications in molecular imaging

Molecular imaging is aimed at the noninvasive in vivo characterization and measurement of processes at a cellular and molecular level with clinical imaging methods. Contrast agents are constructed to target markers that are specific either for certain diseases or for functional states of specialized tissues. Efforts are currently focused mainly on processes involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, and apoptosis. Cell tracking is performed for diagnostic purposes as well as for monitoring of novel cell therapies. Visualization of these processes would provide more precise information about disease expansion as well as treatment response, and could lead to a more individualized therapy for patients. Many attempts have shown promising results in preclinical studies; however, translation into the clinic remains a challenge. This applies especially to paediatrics because of more stringent safety concerns and the low prevalence of individual diseases. The most promising modalities for clinical translation are nuclear medicine methods (positron emission tomography [PET] and single photon emission CT [SPECT]) due to their high sensitivity, which allows concentrations below biological activity. However, special dose consideration is required for any application of ionizing radiation especially in children. While very little has been published on molecular imaging in a paediatric patient population beyond fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) tracers, this review will attempt to discuss approaches that we believe have promise for paediatric imaging. These will include agents that already reached clinical trials as well as preclinical developments with high potential for clinical application.
Structural elements for protein-phospholipid interactions may be shared in protein kinase C and phospholipases A2

Abstract A pattern of cystein residues that occurs in the phospholipases A 2 is also found in a repeated pattern of cysteine residues in the regulatory domain of protein kinase C. Within this cysteine pattern there is also homology for the active site of phospholipases A 2 . The similarities may represent structural elements involved in the interaction of both enzymes with phospholipid.
Sub-micron machining of semiconductors: femtosecond surface ripples on GaAs by 2 μm laser light

In recent years, a major interest in surface as well as bulk property modification of semiconductors using laser irradiation has developed. A.Kar et al. [1][2] and E.Mazur et al. [3] have shown introduction and control of dopants by long-pulse laser irradiation and increased absorption due to femtosecond irradiation respectively. With the development of mid-IR sources, a new avenue of irradiation can be established in a spectral region where the semiconductor material is highly transparent to the laser radiation. The characterization of the light-matter-interaction in this regime is of major interest. We will present a study on GaAs and its property changes due to pulsed laser irradiation ranging from the visible to the mid-IR region of the spectrum. Long-pulse as well as ultra-short pulse radiation is used to modify the material. Parameters such as ablation threshold, radiation penetration depth and thermal diffusion will be discussed.
Refined theories may be needed for vibration analysis of structures with overhang

Abstract The effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia terms on the free vibration of a beam with overhang was investigated. A recently proposed modified Timoshenko-type equations of motion were used to analyze the vibration of the structure. Two different sets of boundary conditions, with either a fixed or hinged end support, were studied. The results were compared with those obtained for the classical Bernoulli–Euler beam theory. The comparison shows that for a hinged end beam with very long overhang, where the span between the supports is less than one tenth of the overall beam length, the classical theory significantly overestimates the values of the fundamental natural frequencies, even for isotropic shear rigidity. On the other hand, the span effect is reversed for the clamped end beam, for which a relatively significant difference between the classical theory and shear theory results may occur only for a long span. For transversely isotropic beams, the refined theory predictions of the fundamental natural frequencies may be much smaller than those obtained through the rigid shear theory, especially for short span hinged end beams and long span clamped end beams.
Pores, Spores, Pollen and Pellets: Small, but Significant Constituents of Resource Shales

Summary Pores, spores, pollen and pellets are all important constituents of resource shales. Pores provide the storage place and, when connected, the transport route for hydrocarbon molecules. Conventional Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM and FESEM) of pores from untreated surfaces from several resource shales reveal a common variety of pore types. An inexpensive method of analysis has been developed to measure porosity, and dimensions of pores. The shales exhibit a variety of porosities, but usually 1 µm in length) and nanopores (defined here as <1 µm in length) are about equal in the different shales. Fecal pellets, the excrement of marine organisms, are storehouses of organic matter and pores, and may provide a significant source of gas during burial. Experiments with modern pellets indicate the undigested organic matter can generate not only has, but also liquid hydrocarbons which are apparently related to the remains of their food source. Sometimes the pellets are enriched in lamina that are not bioturbated, suggesting that they are produced in the water column above the euxinic zone, perhaps during periodic algal blooms. Pollen and spores present in Paleozoic shales provide a robust means of regionally correlating strata and for defining major, eustatically controlled stratal surfaces. Examples are provided of each of these shale features and their significance. Though small in scale, these common constituents of shales are often overlooked in the quest for preferred target strata for horizontal wells. However, as suggested by these examples, they may play an important role in exploration and development of resource shales.
An Apparatus for Preparing Benthic Samples aboard Ship

Abstract We describe a safe and effective apparatus for washing and reducing the volume of benthic samples collected by grab samplers aboard ship. The sample is transferred directly from the dredge to the apparatus and then washed with water pumped through pipes in the apparatus and from onboard hoses. Wastewater and materials smaller than 0.541 mm in diameter are washed overboard. Larger materials, including benthic organisms, collect on an upper 0.64-cm screen and on a lower 30-mm-mesh stainless steel bolt cloth. A collection jar is screwed into the bottom of the apparatus. Therefore, transfer of sample material from the apparatus to the jar is quick and easy. This apparatus has several advantages for use aboard ship over others described in the literature, especially in rough seas, in cold weather, and at night. The apparatus provides a safe and convenient platform for washing and reducing samples, and samples can be prepared while the vessel is traveling at full speed.