cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immediate biopsy versus observation for abnormal findings on mammograms: An analysis of potential outcomes and costs

Abstract Background : The increased usage of screening mammography has led to an increase in the number of needle localized breast biopsies. The perceived low yield of the biopsies has caused concern about the costs and effectiveness of this procedure. Arguments have centered on what is the appropriate true-positive rate for screening mammography, and which abnormal findings may be observed rather than tested immediately. Methods : A decision analysis was done to help answer these questions. Factors evaluated included age of patient at discovery of abnormal finding, the rate of follow-up mammograms eventually requiring biopsy, the potential effects of tumor-doubling time on increasing the stage of disease, quality-of-life issues, and costs. Results : For an average 50-year-old woman, the quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) was longer for immediate biopsy by 0 to 3 years, depending on the assumptions on tumor-doubling time; however, immediate biopsy increased the cost per patient from $700 to $900. The QALE was also superior for immediate biopsy if more than 30% of follow-up mammograms required biopsy, and immediate biopsy was more cost effective if more than 36% of follow-up mammograms required biopsy. Patient age did not affect the superiority of immediate biopsy over observation, although quality-of-life issues did. Conclusions : Those lesions with a greater than 20% to 30% probability of being malignant, or lesions with potentially short doubling times, should undergo immediate biopsy. Lesions judged to be at lower risk may be observed for 6 months. Either of these recommendations should be adjusted depending on an individual patient's quality-of-life concerns.
Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage to Prevent Diarrheal Disease in Developing Countries

Household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS), such as boiling, filtering, or chlorinating water at home, have been shown to be effective in improving the microbiological quality of drinking water. However, estimates of their protective effect against diarrhea, a major killer, have varied widely. While results may be exaggerated because of reporting bias, this heterogeneity is consistent with other environmental interventions that are implemented with varying levels of coverage and uptake in settings where the source of exposure represents one of many transmission pathways. Evidence suggests that the effectiveness of HWTS can be optimized by ensuring that the method is microbiologically effective; (2) making it accessible to an exposed population; and (3) securing their consistent and long-term use.
The effect of chloroquine, quinacrine, and metronidazole on both soybean plants and soil microbiota.

Abstract Chloroquine, quinacrine, and metronidazole are used extensively for therapeutic purposes. Substantial quantities of these compounds end up in the environment. The potential effect of these compounds on soybean and on the protozoa in soil was assessed. The growth of soybean plants was affected by increasing concentrations of the chloroquine, metronidazole, and quinacrine dihydrochloride. The plants were particularly sensitive to low concentrations of metronidazole. The number of bacteria and protozoa in soil was either unchanged or increased in the presence of chloroquine and quinacrine. However, in the presence of only 0.5 mg metronidazole g−1 soil, the density of protozoa in the rhizosphere was reduced by a 10-fold.
Conformity and cooperation in chicanos: The case of the missing susceptibility to influence

Two hypotheses with regard to Chicano versus Anglo susceptibility to influence were examined: that Chicanas are more cooperative (less competitive), and that they are more conforming than female Anglos. The subjects were 281 female university students. “Cooperation group” and “Conformity group” subjects completed modified versions of the Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT), with instructions designed to elicit cooperation or conformity. Control group subjects were given standard instructions. An unequal-N design was submitted to an analysis of variance with four factors: Subject Ethnicity (Chicano or Anglo), Experimenter Ethnicity (Chicano or Anglo), Experimental Condition (Control, Cooperation, Conformity) and Order (Hostile Content first and Living Things Content second or vice versa). Conrary to previous findings, Chicanas were not more conforming or more cooperative than female Anglos. The results were discussed in light of methodological problems in previous studies.
The modular design of photovoltaic reverse osmosis systems: making technology accessible to nonexperts

Abstract Photovoltaic reverse osmosis systems can provide water to many underserved communities. These systems need to be custom-tailored for the water demand, solar insolation, and water characteristics of a specific location. Systems can be constructed from modular components to be cost effective. Designing a custom system composed of modular components is not a simple task. For a given modular inventory, a large number of possible system configurations exist. Determining the best system configuration is a daunting task for a small community without expertise. This paper presents a computer-based modular design method that can enable nonexperts to configure such a system for their community from an inventory of modular components. The method employs fundamental engineering principles to reduce the number of possible configurations and optimization methods to configure a system. Examples cases for a range of communities demonstrate the power of this approach.
A second-order homogenization method in finite elasticity and applications to black-filled elastomers

Abstract This work is concerned with the development of an analytical method for estimating the macroscopic behavior of heterogeneous elastic systems subjected to finite deformations. The objective is to generate variational estimates for the effective or homogenized stored-energy function of hyperelastic composites, which will be accomplished by means of a suitable generalization of the “second-order procedure” of Ponte Castaneda (Ponte Castaneda, P., 1996. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 44, 827–862). The key idea in this method is the introduction of an optimally chosen “linear thermoelastic comparison composite,” which can then be used to convert available homogenization estimates for linear systems directly into new estimates for nonlinear composites. To illustrate the use of the method, an application is given for carbon-black filled elastomers and estimates analogous to the well-known Hashin–Shtrikman and self-consistent estimates for linear-elastic composites are generated.
Thermal diffusion, interfacial thermal barrier, and ultrasonic propagation in YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films: Surface-selective transient-grating experiments.

The application of interface-selective transient grating experiments to the measurement of anisotropic thermal diffusion constants in thin films of ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$ (Y-Ba-Cu-O) is reported. The 50--350-nm-thick Y-Ba-Cu-O films, grown on MgO(100) substrates, are studied using four experimental grating geometries. These provide a measurement of the time-dependent heat flow in the regions adjacent to the Y-Ba-Cu-O/MgO interface, the free film surface, and the bulk of the film. Measurements yield a detailed understanding of the flow of heat from the film into the substrate as well as the direction-dependent diffusion constants. A temperature-dependent thermal barrier that significantly restricts heat transfer from the film into the substrate is observed and quantified. The rate of flow through Y-Ba-Cu-O/MgO interface is \ensuremath{\sim}100 times less than the rate of flow in the Y-Ba-Cu-O film. The anisotropic diffusion constants inside the film have been measured in the 17--300-K temperature range, and the values are found to be similar to those obtained using conventional techniques on bulk samples. The frequency, wave vector, and acoustic damping rate of high-frequency (g1-GHz) acoustic waves are measured in the same films.
The English coastal coal trade, 1691-1910: how rapid was productivity growth?

As to coal, the normal price of its shipment is unfortunately lost among the general expenses of coal trading …2
Mechanisms that prevent and produce double ovulations in dairy cattle.

This review integrates information on follicular and hormonal physiology and epidemiology into a novel physiological model for regulation of the ovulation rate in lactating dairy cows. First, the basic mechanisms that produce a single ovulation are examined. Follicular deviation is a critical new concept in our understanding of selection of a single dominant follicle. Follicular deviation is characterized by an abrupt deviation in the growth rates between the two largest follicles when the future dominant follicle reaches a diameter of 8.5 ± 1.2 mm (mean and SD). The mechanisms involved in this selection process are not completely defined but appear to involve acquisition of LH receptors on granulosa cells of the dominant follicle, increased estradiol production by the dominant follicle, and inhibition of circulating FSH concentrations. Second, lactation number and milk production were found to be critical epidemiological factors associated with increased ovulation rate and twinning in dairy cattle. Finally, high steroid metabolism is proposed as the critical link between high milk production and double ovulation. It is proposed that high milk production increases steroid metabolism due to increased blood flow to the digestive tract and subsequently to the liver. The liver represents the primary site of steroid metabolism, and blood entering the liver is cleared of steroids. At the time of selection of the dominant follicle, the normal increase in circulating estradiol concentrations and subsequent depression in circulating FSH is blunted due to estradiol metabolism. Thus, FSH remains elevated for a time sufficient to allow follicles to undergo the physiological changes necessary to proceed to ovulation.
Guiding cell migration by tugging

The ability of cells to move directionally toward areas of stiffer extracellular matrix (ECM) via a process known as 'durotaxis' is thought to be critical for development and wound healing, but durotaxis can also drive cancer metastasis. Migration is driven by integrin-mediated focal adhesions (FAs), protein assemblies that couple contractile actomyosin bundles to the plasma membrane, transmit force generated by the cytoskeleton to the ECM, and convert the mechanical properties of the microenvironment into biochemical signals. To probe the stiffness of the ECM, motile fibroblasts modulate FA mechanics on the nanoscale and exert forces that are reminiscent of repeated tugging on the ECM. Within a single cell, all FAs tug autonomously and thus act as local rigidity sensors, allowing discernment of differences in the extracellular matrix rigidity at high spatial resolution. In this article, we review current advances that may shed light on the mechanism of traction force fluctuations within FAs. We also examine plausible downstream effectors of tugging forces which may regulate cytoskeletal and FA dynamics to guide cell migration in response to ECM stiffness gradients.
Eliminating Spurious Response In A Scanning Optical System

Spurious response in a scanning optical system was traced to various pathways for stray radiation. The term "spurious response" refers to any false pulses appearing in the signal-train of an electro-optical system. Such responses can result from a variety of stray light paths. A description is given of a particular scanning optical system which exhibited several modes of spurious response.
Protective Functions of Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide in the Respiratory System

The respiratory system, including the lung and upper airways, succumbs to injury and disease through acute or chronic exposures to adverse environmental agents, in particular, those that promote increased oxidative or inflammatory processes. Cigarette smoke and other forms of particulate or gaseous air pollution, allergens, microorganisms infections, and changes in inspired oxygen may contribute to lung injury. Among the intrinsic defenses of the lung, the stress protein heme oxygenase-1 constitutes an inducible defense mechanism that can protect the lung and its constituent cells against such insults. Heme oxygenases degrade heme to biliverdin-IXα, carbon monoxide, and iron, each with candidate roles in cytoprotection. At low concentrations, carbon monoxide can confer similar cytoand tissue-protective effects as endogenous heme oxygenase-1 expression, involving antioxidative, antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, and antiapoptotic effects. Lung protection by heme oxygenase-1 or its enzymatic reaction prod...
Hydrolysis in the Aluminum sec‐Butoxide—Water—Isopropyl Alcohol System: I, Rheology and Gel Structures

Solutions representing a wide range of compositions in the aluminum sec-butoxide-water-isopropyl alcohol system were prepared. Viscosity measurements were made on solutions hydrolyzed at 20°C, Large differences were observed between low-water solutions and high-water solutions, both in the time evolution of the viscosity and in the effect of isopropyl alcohol content on the viscosity. Higher values of viscosity were attributed to polycondensation of partially hydrolyzed species, while lower values of viscosity were attributed to hydrolyzed clusters. The reduced viscosity was independent of oxide content for low-water solutions, but decreased with increasing oxide content for high-water solutions.
Improvement of transthoracic pulmonary venous flow Doppler signal with intravenous injection of sonicated albumin.

Objectives. This study was performed to determine whether intravenous injection of a sonicated albumin echocardiographic contrast agent (Albunex) improved the quality of the transthoracic pulmonary venous flow Doppler signal. Background. Previous studies have shown that transesophageal echocardiography provides pulmonary venous flow Doppler signals superior in quality to those seen with transthoracic echocardiography, which are of limited quality in up to 25% of patients. Methods. Twenty-one patients underwent transthoracic pulsed wave Doppler examination of pulmonary venous flow before, during and after two doses of Albunex ranging from 0.08 ml/kg (low dose) to 0.22 ml/kg (high dose). In addition, five patients underwent transesophageal examination of pulmonary venous flow before and after a 0.08-ml/kg dose of Albunex. The efficacy of the contrast injection was determined using a score that graded the quality of the three components of the pulmonary venous Doppler signal from 0 to 3 (0 = no visible signal; 3 = optimal signal). Results. Albunex enhanced the quality of the pulmonary venous Doppler signal from baseline (score 3.9 ± 1.8 [mean ±SD]) and at both low (score 5.1 ± 2.2, p Conclusions. Albunex improves the quality of the transthoracic pulmonary venous Doppler signal, thus allowing improved accuracy of measurement. This approach appears to be effective for increasing the quality of data obtained from the transthoracic examination.
Withdrawal following cocaine self-administration decreases regional cerebral metabolic rate in critical brain reward regions.

The quantitative [14C]-2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic method was utilized to assess regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMRglc) in rat brain during withdrawal from cocaine self-administration. RCMRglc was determined in 62 regions from brains of naive rats which were placed into an empty operant chamber for 12 hr continuously, and rats trained to self-administer cocaine during 3 hr training sessions and subsequently placed into the operant chamber for 12 hr continuously with or without access to cocaine. Animals placed into the chamber without access to cocaine were examined 6 hr later, while animals allowed access to the 12 hr cocaine binge were examined either 6 or 72 hr post-cocaine. Metabolic activity was reduced during withdrawal in the nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, islands of Calleja region, basolateral and central amygdaloid nuclei, medial septum, piriform and cingulate cortices, rostral caudatoputamen, entopeduncular nucleus and the adjacent lateral hypothalamus, somatosensory, auditory, and motor cortices compared to the naive state. These effects were usually more severe at 72 than at 6 hr after binge exposure, with intermediate values observed in cocaine trained animals without binge exposure. The response was negatively correlated with the amount of cocaine consumed during binge exposure in the striatum, olfactory tubercle, piriform, cingulate, somatosensory, and motor cortices. Thus, the amount of cocaine consumed can affect the extent of metabolic depression after sustained drug exposure. The pattern of regional effects suggests that mesolimbic and rostral extrapyramidal dopamine terminal regions and certain of their efferent pathways are preferentially affected during cocaine withdrawal. The reduction of basal metabolic rate observed in these brain regions during cocaine withdrawal may become more severe with time despite the apparent recovery of certain behavioral-motivational responses. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Innovative Health Care Disparities Curriculum for Incoming Medical Students

Purpose 1) To pilot a health disparities curriculum for incoming first year medical students and evaluate changes in knowledge. 2) To help students become aware of personal biases regarding racial and ethnic minorities. 3) To inspire students to commit to serving indigent populations.
Conflict Resolution and Distress Alleviation in Monkeys and Apes

Research on nonhuman primates has produced compelling evidence for reconciliation and consolation, that is, postconflict contacts that serve to respectively repair social relationships and reassure distressed individuals, such as victims of attack. This has led to a view of conflict and conflict resolution as an integrated part of social relationships, hence determined by social factors and modifiable by the social environment. Implications of this new model of social conflict are discussed along with evidence for behavioral flexibility, the value of cooperation, and the possibility that distress alleviation rests on empathy, a capacity that may be present in chimpanzees and humans but not in most other animals.
Genome structure of mycobacteriophage D29: implications for phage evolution

Mycobacteriophage D29 is a lytic phage that infects both fast and slow-growing mycobacterial species. The complete genome sequence of D29 reveals that it is a close relative of the temperate mycobacteriophage L5, whose sequence has been described previously. The overall organization of the D29 genome is similar to that of L5, although a 3.6 kb deletion removing the repressor gene accounts for the inability of D29 to form lysogens. Comparison of the two genomes shows that they are punctuated by a large number of insertions, deletions, and substitutions of genes, consistent with the genetic mosaicism of lambdoid phages.
ORTHOGONAL BASES FOR POLYNOMIAL REGRESSION WITH DERIVATIVE INFORMATION IN UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION

We discuss the choice of polynomial basis for approximation of uncertainty propagation through complex simulation models with capabilityto outputderivative information.Ourwork ispart of a larger research effortinuncertaintyquantification using sampling methods augmented with derivative information. The approach has new challenges compared with standard polynomial regression. In particular, we show that a tensor product multivariate orthogonal polynomial basis of an arbitrary degree may no longer be constructed. We provide sufficient conditions for an orthonormal set of this type to exist, a basis for the space it spans. We demonstrate the benefits of the basis in the propagation of material uncertainties through a simplified model of heat transport in a nuclear reactor core. Compared with the tensor product Hermite polynomial basis, the orthogonal basis results in a better numerical conditioning of the regression procedure, a modest improvement in approximation error when basis polynomials are chosen a priori, and a significant improvement when basis polynomials are chosen adaptively, using a stepwise fitting procedure.
Transcriptome profiling of chemosensory appendages in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae reveals tissue- and sex-specific signatures of odor coding

Chemosensory signal transduction guides the behavior of many insects, including Anopheles gambiae, the major vector for human malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand the molecular basis of mosquito chemosensation we have used whole transcriptome RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to compare transcript expression profiles between the two major chemosensory tissues, the antennae and maxillary palps, of adult female and male An. gambiae.
A deep tow magnetic survey of Middle Valley, Juan de Fuca Ridge

[1] We report here results from a deep tow magnetic survey over Middle Valley, Juan de Fuca Ridge. A series of track lines are combined to generate a high-resolution map of the magnetic field anomaly within a 10 × 12 km region surrounding the Bent Hill massive sulfide (BHMS) deposit. A uniformly magnetized body (5 A/m) with a cross section approximating the body inferred from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) drilling can account for the observed near-bottom magnetic anomaly amplitude. Assuming this magnetization is entirely induced, the average susceptibility (0.11 SI) corresponds to ∼3.5% magnetite + pyrrhotite by volume, consistent with the abundance of these phases observed in drill core samples. However, this uniform magnetization model significantly underestimates the magnetic anomaly measured a few meters above the seafloor by submersible, indicating that the upper portion of the sulfide mound must have a significantly higher magnetization (∼10% magnetite + pyrrhotite) than at deeper levels. On a larger scale, the near-bottom magnetic anomaly data show that basement magnetizations are not uniformly near zero, as had been inferred from analysis of the sea surface anomaly pattern. We interpret this heterogeneity as reflecting primarily differences in the degree of hydrothermal alteration. Our results highlight the potential of magnetic anomaly data for characterizing hydrothermal deposits where extensive drill core sampling is not available.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: treatment options in pursuit of evidence-based approaches

The long-standing need to determine an effective medical treatment regimen with clinically significant and relevant end-points to improve outcome for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is being pursued by investigators in several phase I, II and III clinical trials. Patients confronted with IPF are understandably frustrated and vulnerable to hearsay and are desperate to try any medication in the hope of easing their suffering and increasing the likelihood of enhanced survival. This is particularly so when such medicines are available for clinical use either by prescription and/or over the counter. Caring physicians, also frustrated with the lack of evidence for an effective IPF treatment regimen, may find themselves reaching out for anecdotal reports and reacting to signals generated by post hoc exploratory and subgroup analyses derived from clinical studies, wanting to try some treatment regimen for their patients. In this regard, the joint American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society international consensus statement on IPF provided a guideline pending documentation of an effective treatment regimen 1. Acknowledging the limitations of the then-existing skeletal data, low-dose prednisone plus azathioprine or cyclophosphamide was suggested as a treatment regimen for patients with IPF, and an apparent “standard of care” for treatment of IPF with prednisone and azathioprine has evolved worldwide. The statement contained the disclaimer that its recommendation was based on the consensus of opinion of the expert panel, and the approach needs to be revisited as there was no grade-A evidence to support the treatment guidelines. The widely acknowledged notion that the currently available treatment regimen is ineffective is largely based on individual physicians’ experience. While this may be appropriate for treatment with lone corticosteroid therapy 2, colchicine 3, 4, cyclophosphamide 5, 6 and d-penicillamine 7, care should be taken in generalising the notion to treatment with …
Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium is an integral component in numerous physiological processes and functions. As such, drugs that interfere with the movement of calcium into or out of cells, or the activity of intracellular calcium are useful in treating a variety of disease states. This article will review the calcium channel blockers currently available, along with their approved indications, as well as select dihydropyridine investigational agents and nonapproved indications for their use.
Long-term outcome of small cell lung cancer

Abstract Long-term survival (⩾ 3 years) is possible in a small proportion of patients with SCLC, particularly if the disease is limited in extent. The influence of thoracic irradiation on the long-term outcome of limited stage patients is controversial, although there is a suggestion of benefit. Despite the use of irradiation, thoracic recurrence is the single most important site of treatment failure. Further experience will be necessary to determine if radiotherapeutic strategies to enhance thoracic control can improve long-term survival. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) may influence long-term survival of limited stage patients who achieve a complete response to therapy and remain controlled in the chest. However, this is not clearly established and must be considered in the light of the contribution of PCI to neurotoxicity occurring in survivors. Reduction in the radiation fraction size and the omission of chemotherapeutic agents which cause neurotoxicity, either alone or by synergism with PCI, are reasonable approaches to pursue in an attempt to prevent this complication. A small proportion of NSCLC occurring after treatment of SCLC may be preventable by attempts to eradicate NSCLC components present in the original SCLC. Leukemogenic chemotherapy agents may contribute to the development of secondary ANL, and should probably not be used in view of the availability of alternative equally effective agents.
Subspace and Lanczos sparse eigen-solvers for finite element structural and electromagnetic applications

Abstract Recent developments in vectorized sparse technologies are incorporated into the Subspace and Lanczos iteration algorithms for computational enhancements. Numerical evaluations of the proposed sparse strategies for Subspace and Lanczos iteration algorithms are conducted by solving the generalized eigen-value problem associated with the Exxon-off-shore structure, HSCT aircraft and a two-dimensional reverberation chamber for electromagnetic applications. Both real and complex numbers eigen-problems can be treated.
The quantitative determination of proteins in allergenic extracts by the biuret reaction: Preliminary report

Abstract This preliminary report is presented to illustrate a possible colorimetric method for the quantitative estimation of protein nitrogen of extracts of allergens which would have several advantages over the Kjeldahl method and which could be applied as a possible short-cut in the Cooke and Stull method of standardization.
Development of a regional-scale pollen emission and transport modeling framework for investigating the impact of climate change on allergic airway disease

Exposure to bioaerosol allergens such as pollen can cause exacerbations of allergenic airway disease (AAD) in sensitive populations, and thus cause serious public health problems. Assessing these health impacts by linking the airborne pollen levels, concentrations of respirable allergenic material, and human allergenic response under current and future climate conditions is a key step toward developing preventive and adaptive actions. To that end, a regional-scale pollen emission and transport modeling framework was developed that treats allergenic pollens as non-reactive tracers within the coupled Weather Research and Forecasting Community Multiscale Air Quality (WRF/CMAQ) modeling system. The Simulator of the Timing and Magnitude of Pollen Season (STaMPS) model was used to generate a daily pollen pool that can then be emitted into the atmosphere by wind. The STaMPS is driven by species-specific meteorological (temperature and/or precipitation) threshold conditions and is designed to be flexible with respect to its representation of vegetation species and plant functional types (PFTs). The hourly pollen emission flux was parameterized by considering the pollen pool, friction velocity, and wind threshold values. The dry deposition velocity of each species of pollen was estimated based on pollen grain size and density. An evaluation of the pollen modeling framework was conducted for southern California (USA) for the period from March to June 2010. This period coincided with observations by the University of Southern California's Children's Health Study (CHS), which included O3, PM2.5, and pollen count, as well as measurements of exhaled nitric oxide in study participants. Two nesting domains with horizontal resolutions of 12 and 4 km were constructed, and six representative allergenic pollen genera were included: birch tree, walnut tree, mulberry tree, olive tree, oak tree, and brome grasses. Under the current parameterization scheme, the modeling framework tends to underestimate walnut and peak oak pollen concentrations, and tends to overestimate grass pollen concentrations. The model shows reasonable agreement with observed birch, olive, and mulberry tree pollen concentrations. Sensitivity studies suggest that the estimation of the pollen pool is a major source of uncertainty for simulated pollen concentrations. Achieving agreement between emission modeling and observed pattern of pollen releases is the key for successful pollen concentration simulations.
Application of Composite Technology for SOFCs

Composite technology is a new approach to solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fabrication. It is based on the net shape processing, which uses a combination of colloidal suspension and polymer precursor techniques. Different elements of SOFC can be prepared and optimized using this approach and the flexibility of the net shape processing. The goal of this research was to develop net shape procedures for different elements of SOFC, to show the real possibility preparing all these elements of SOFC and to investigate the advantages of composite technology. A nickel-YSZ composite was prepared and investigated as the prospective anode material. High electronic conductivity and stability in REDOX cycles were shown for this material. Different cathode compositions were prepared using composite technology and tested. It was shown, that these materials ensure low overpotentials and are time stable at operation temperature up to 800°C. All three SOFC designs were tested: anode, cathode and electrolyte supported SOFCs. It was possible to achieve low resistance of SOFC structure for all designs, but electrode supported SOFCs had limitation in the current connected with the gas diffusion through thick electrode substrates. The best performance was achieved on an electrolyte supported system with 100 [.proportional]m YSZ electrolyte and composite anode and cathode: 0.75W/cm2 power density at 0.6 V at 800°C.
Time scale of magma differentiation in arcs from protactinium-radium isotopic data

Absolute chronology of magma differentiation processes has been a long-desired goal, given its importance in understanding magma chamber dynamics and its connection to a fundamental understanding of the style and frequency of volcanic eruptions. Broad esti- mates of the duration of magma differentiation and overall crustal residence times have been made based on a variety of indirect approaches, such as physical models of magma chamber cooling, rates of crystal growth and settling, and long-lived radiogenic isotopes. In contrast, combined 231 Pa- 235 U data may provide a robust measure of the time scale of magma differentiation. Based on 231 Pa- 235 U, 230 Th- 238 U and 226 Ra- 230 Th data from Taal volcano, Luzon Arc, Philippine Archipelago, we show that 231 Pa- 235 U data may provide a robust direct measure of the time scale of magma differentiation. A closed-system magma fractionation model gives a 231 Pa- 235 U differentiation time scale in the range of 30 k.y., while the 226 Ra- 230 Th time scale is considerably younger. The time scales are reconciled if we consider either fluid-mixing or magma-mixing models. The fluid-mixing model gives a time scale of differentiation similar to the 231 Pa- 235 U closed-system time scale and is supported by the 230 Th- 238 U data. The magma-mixing model gives a considerably longer time, in the range of 55 k.y. The combined observations support the robustness of the 231 Pa- 235 U chronology, indicating a differentiation time scale in the range of 30 k.y., al- though this time scale for other volcanoes may vary depending on size and thermal state of the magma chamber. The 226 Ra- 230 Th closed-system model ages, which yield much younger estimates for magma differentiation, are not likely to reflect time scales of magma differentiation.
Constitutive Response of Electronics Materials

Electronics in mission- or safety-critical systems are expected to survive a wide range of harsh environments including thermal cycling, thermal ageing, vibration, shock, and combinations of the aforementioned stresses. The materials used in these electronic systems are diverse and frequently change as the electronics industry rapidly innovates. These materials are dual use, fulfilling both electrical and mechanical functions. Of particular interest are electronic materials classes such as polymers (e.g., encapsulants/potting and packaging), composites (e.g., hard potting and printed circuit boards), and interconnect materials (e.g., solder). Thus, predicting the operational response of electronics systems in harsh environments requires understanding of the materials constitutive response to the environmental characteristics for all the relevant materials. The paper estimates the rate-, temperature-, and pressure-dependent constitutive response of representative electronic materials. Experimental response of circuit boards, potting materials, and solder interconnects are measured in low and intermediate strain rate dynamic tests. Traditional mechanical sensors (e.g. strain gages and accelerometers) are complemented by non-contact techniques (e.g., laser velocimetery, high speed digital image correlation) to obtain high fidelity experimental data on material response. Estimates of the corresponding constitutive parameters are calculated, and observed features of the dynamic response are discussed.
Purinergic Receptor Antagonists Inhibit Odorant-Induced Heat Shock Protein 25 Induction in Mouse Olfactory Epithelium

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) accumulate in cells exposed to a variety of physiological and environmental factors, such as heat shock, oxidative stress, toxicants, and odorants. Ischemic, stressed, and injured cells release ATP in large amounts. Our hypothesis is that noxious stimulation (in this case, strong odorant) evokes the release of ATP in the olfactory epithelium (OE). Extracellular ATP, a signal of cellular stress, induces the expression of HSPs via purinergic receptors. In the present study, in vivo odorant exposure (heptanal or R-carvone) led to a selective induction of HSP25 in glia-like sustentacular cells in the Swiss Webster mouse OE, as previously shown in rats (Carr et al., 2001). Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo administration of purinergic receptor antagonists suramin and pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS) blocked the expression of HSP25 immunoreactivity in sustentacular cells. ATP released by acutely injured cells could act as an early signal of cell and tissue damage, causing HSP expression and initiating a stress signaling cascade to protect against further damage. Sustentacular cells have a high capacity to detoxify xenobiotics and thereby protect the olfactory epithelium from airborne pollutants. Thus, the robust, rapid induction of HSPs in sustentacular cells may help maintain the integrity of the OE during exposure to toxicants.
A regulated NH2-terminal Sgk1 variant with enhanced function is expressed in the collecting duct

Sgk1 is a relatively unstable kinase that regulates epithelial Na+ transport in the distal nephron of the kidney. We identified a 5′ variant alternate transcript of human Sgk1 (Sgk1_v3) that is exp...
Hispanic Mental Health Research: A Case for Cultural Psychiatry:

Contemporary research involving Hispanic mental health is critically e-xamined. Selected problem areas that span a spectrum covering folk/traditional conceptualizations of mental illness, standardized concepts and methods employed in epidemiology, approaches to psychiatric diagnosis in biomedical settings, and more basic epistemological assumptions involving psychiatric nosology and theory receive systematic attention. The idea is developed that a dominating and exclusive "establishment psychiatry " stipulates concepts and methods of mental health research, thereby setting priorities and legitimating distinctive modes ofpractice and reimbursement for treatment. The need to challenge and broaden establishment psychiatry's paradigms and biases with insights and knowledge drawn from culturally sensitive Hispanic facts in contemporary mental health paradigms pertaining to psychiatric theory and practice is seen to contribute to a truly representative cultural psychiatry. These and related issues are analyzed ...
The Spin Stops Here: Inhibition of Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2— A Promising Target but a Negative Initial Trial?

Current treatment strategies have resulted in significant reductions in morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease; however, significant residual risk remains. As an example, in the PROVE IT–TIMI 22 trial (Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 22), 22.4% of patients experienced an adverse event despite achieving a median LDL cholesterol concentration of 62 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) (1). These and similar findings have led to the search for novel therapeutic modalities. A logical place to start is control of inflammation. Darapladib (GlaxoSmithKline) is a novel oral therapeutic agent with potential antiinflammatory properties that inhibits lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2).1 Lp-PLA2 is produced by macrophages and circulates bound to LDL. In experimental models, it appears to be central in the atherosclerotic process. Lp-PLA2 acts on oxidized phospholipids to produce free oxidized fatty acids and lysophosphatidylcholine, a proatherogenic inflammatory mediator that increases expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines, is a chemoattractant for macrophages, and induces vascular smooth muscle migration (2)(3). Immunohistochemical studies have shown that Lp-PLA2 is present in atherosclerotic lesions, and is particularly intense in “rupture-prone lipid laden” lesions with thin-cap fibroatheromas, (4). Unlike many other inflammatory mediators, Lp-PLA2 is not an acute-phase reactant (5); thus issues associated with acute-phase reactants are averted. For these reasons, Lp-PLA2 has emerged recently as an independent marker of cardiovascular risk and events. Although not all prospective studies have demonstrated an association between high plasma Lp-PLA2 concentrations and poor cardiovascular outcomes, the majority of studies reported are strongly positive. In a recent metaanalysis (6) including more than 20 000 patients from 14 epidemiologic studies, high Lp-PLA2 concentration was an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. This is especially true in regard to the associations with stroke, which seem particularly strong (7)(8). These findings have persisted despite multiple iterations …
Design, radiosynthesis, and evaluation of radiotracers for positron emission tomography imaging of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1

Design, radiosynthesis, and biological evaluation of two radiotracers (N-(3-[(18)F]fluoropropyl)-6-(4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl)-piperazin-1-yl)pyridazine-3-carboxamide ((18)F-FPPPT) and (N-(4-[(18)F]fluoroaniline)-6-(4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl)-piperazin-1-yl)pyridazine-3-carboxamide ((18)F-FAPPT)) are described for noninvasive assessment of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1). The overexpression of SCD-1 in multiple solid tumors associates with poor survival in cancer patients. The two radiotracers, (18)F-FPPPT and (18)F-FAPPT, were each prepared in three steps in radiochemical yields of 21% and 3%, respectively. The practicality of imaging SCD-1 with (18)F-FPPPT was tested in two mouse models bearing xenograft tumors with different levels of SCD-1 expression, which afforded a 1.8-fold uptake difference correspondingly. Our work indicates that it is possible to develop SCD-1 specific imaging probes from previously reported SCD-1 inhibitors.
Novel goblet cell gene related to IgGFcγBP is regulated in adapting gut after small bowel resection

The loss of functional small bowel surface area leads to a well-described adaptive response in the remnant intestine. To elucidate its molecular regulation, a cohort of cDNAs were cloned using a ra...
Directed Liquid Phase Assembly of Highly Ordered Metallic Nanoparticle Arrays

Directed assembly of nanomaterials is a promising route for the synthesis of nanoscale materials. In this paper, we demonstrate the directed-assembly of highly ordered two-dimensional arrays of hierarchical nanostructures with tunable size, spacing and composition. The directed assembly is achieved on lithographically patterned metal films that are subsequently pulse-laser melted; during the brief liquid lifetime, the pattened nanostructures assemble into highly ordered primary and secondary nanoparticles, with sizes below that which was originally patterned. Complementary fluid-dynamics simulations emulate the resultant patterns and show how the competition of capillary forces and liquid metal–solid substrate interaction potential drives the directed assembly. As an example of the enhanced functionality, a full-wave electromagnetic analysis has been performed to identify the nature of the supported plasmonic resonances.
Angled physical vapor deposition techniques for non-conformal thin films and three-dimensional structures

The field of nanophotonics has experienced a dramatic development in recent years, which requires ample candidate structures to achieve desirable functionalities. For many novel device designs in emerging field of transformation optics, optical metamaterials, and others, non-uniform and non-conformal thin films as well as three-dimensional (3D) structures are necessary to achieve advanced functionalities. Here, we report several techniques utilizing angled physical vapor deposition to obtain unique and complex 3D structures such as films with tapered thickness on planar substrates, tapered or uniform films on curved surfaces, and 3D nanorod arrays. These structures could enrich the existing practical design space for applications in nanophotonics and nanoelectronics.
Age and the thyroid.

Thyroid diseases are common in elderly patients, but their clinical manifestations are more subtle and often are hidden by a background of intercurrent disease. Therapy for thyroid disease in the elderly can also be more problematic because of increased risks of complications.
Minimally Invasive Surgery in Pediatric Oncology

In the 1990s, improvements in miniaturized endoscopes and surgical instruments allowed minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to extend its applications to the treatment of children and even the smallest infants. Over the last decade, there has been an immense interest in the use of MIS in the pediatric population. As experience has increased, so has the complexity of cases from diagnostic and biopsy procedures in older children to difficult reconstruction of newborn anomalies. Recently, the design and availability of devoted MIS operating suites has also facilitated the optimal positioning of patients and video monitors to allow more complex procedures to be accomplished in smaller spaces. These advances along with the widespread use of the Internet and advanced telemedicine technology have allowed the sharing of information on new procedures and technical successes and failures as never before. This has enabled all pediatric surgeons to benefit from the vast experience of MIS experts and to develop protocols and studies using these techniques in the treatment of cancer in children.
Type II NKT cells: a distinct CD1d-restricted immune regulatory NKT cell subset

Type II natural killer T cells (NKT) are a subset of the innate-like CD1d-restricted lymphocytes that are reactive to lipid antigens. Unlike the type I NKT cells, which express a semi-invariant TCR, type II NKT cells express a broader TCR repertoire. Additionally, other features, such as their predominance over type I cells in humans versus mice, the nature of their ligands, CD1d/lipid/TCR binding, and modulation of immune responses, distinguish type II NKT cells from type I NKT cells. Interestingly, it is the self-lipid-reactivity of type II NKT cells that has helped define their physiological role in health and in disease. The discovery of sulfatide as one of the major antigens for CD1d-restricted type II NKT cells in mice has been instrumental in the characterization of these cells, including the TCR repertoire, the crystal structure of the CD1d/lipid/TCR complex, and their function. Subsequently, several other glycolipids and phospholipids from both endogenous and microbial sources have been shown to activate type II NKT cells. The activation of a specific subset of type II NKT cells following administration with sulfatide or lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) leads to engagement of a dominant immunoregulatory pathway associated with the inactivation of type I NKT cells, conventional dendritic cells, and inhibition of the proinflammatory Th1/Th17 cells. Thus, type II NKT cells have been shown to be immunosuppressive in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory liver diseases, and in cancer. Knowing their relatively higher prevalence in human than type I NKT cells, understanding their biology is imperative for health and disease.
Digestive Responses of Temperate Birds Switched to Fruit or Insect Diets

Diet switching between fruits and insects is common among many species of temperate birds. We took advantage of this behavior to examine phenotypic adaptations of birds to different diets. American Robins and European Starlings were presented with crickets or three species of wild fruits for 3- to 10-day feeding trials. During the course of these trials, we measured utilization efficiencies, nitrogen balance, consumption rates, changes in body mass, and feeding behavior
Economic Evidence Regarding Alcohol Price Elasticities and Price Responses by Heavy Drinkers, Binge Drinkers, and Alcohol-Related Harms: Summary of Results for Meta-Analyses, Systematic Reviews, and Natural Experiments in Alcohol Policy

Abstract. Numerous economic studies examine effects of alcohol price and tax changes on drinking, drinking patterns and alcohol-related harms. The consensus view is that prices are an effective instrument for addressing issues of heavy drinking, binge drinking, and adverse outcomes associated with alcohol. In a series of published studies, I present evidence that this view is overly optimistic, and results for alcohol prices are more varied, complex, or nuanced. This paper provides a brief overview of main results in eight studies. Alcohol tax and price interventions have selective, rather than broad, impacts on sub-populations, drinking patterns, and alcohol-related harms.