cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of a vacuum helmet to contain pathogen-bearing droplets in dental and otolaryngologic outpatient interventions

Clinic encounters of dentists and otolaryngologists inherently expose these specialists to an enhanced risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, thus threatening them, their patients, and their practices. In this study, we propose and simulate a helmet design that could be used by patients to minimize the transmission risk by retaining droplets created through coughing. The helmet has a port for accessing the mouth and nose and another port connected to a vacuum source to prevent droplets from exiting through the access port and contaminating the environment or clinical practitioners. We used computational fluid dynamics in conjunction with Lagrangian point-particle tracking to simulate droplet trajectories when a patient coughs while using this device. A range of droplet diameters and different operating conditions were simulated. The results show that 100% of the airborne droplets and 99.6% of all cough droplets are retained by the helmet.
Anti-Tumor Effects of a Penetratin Peptide Targeting Transcription of E2F-1, 2 and 3a Is Enhanced When Used in Combination with Pemetrexed or Cisplatin.

Background: We tested the antitumor effects of a modified E2F peptide substituting D-Arg for L-Arg, conjugated to penetratin (PEP) against solid tumor cell lines and the CCRF-leukemia cell line, alone and in combination with pemetrexed or with cisplatin. For in-vivo studies, the peptide was encapsulated in PEGylated liposomes (PL-PEP) to increase half-life and stability. Methods: Prostate cancer (DU145 and PC3), breast cancer (MCF7, MDA-MB-468, and 4T1), lymphoma (CCRF-CEM), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (H2009, H441, H1975, and H2228) were treated with D-Arg PEP in combination with cisplatin or pemetrexed. Western blot analysis was performed on the NSCLC for E2F-1, pRb, thymidylate synthase, and thymidine kinase. The H2009 cell line was selected for an in-vivo study. Results: When the PEP was combined with cisplatin and tested against solid tumor cell lines and the CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line, there was a modest synergistic effect. A marked synergistic effect was seen when the combination of pemetrexed and the PEP was tested against the adenocarcinoma lung cancer cell lines. The addition of the PEP to pemetrexed enhanced the antitumor effects of pemetrexed in a xenograft of the H2009 in mice. Conclusions: The D-Arg PEP in combination with cisplatin caused synergistic cell kill against prostate, breast, lung cancers, and the CCRF-CEM cell line. Marked synergy resulted when the D-Arg PEP was used in combination with pemetrexed against the lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. A xenograft study using the PL-PEP in combination with pemetrexed showed enhanced anti-tumor effects compared to each drug alone.
Role of Home Location in Fire Disaster Prevention Management

Location of home plays an important role in a fire disaster prevention management program. The objective of this management program is to determine the reduction in the number of fires by changing the home location from high to low fire potential. 21 volunteers are asked to participate in the survey. They visited 42 homes. From their experience and subjective opinion, the following results are obtained. The fatalities are reduced from 100 to 17 when the location of the home is changed from high history of low historical areas. Thus, it is concluded that statistically there is a significant reduction in the fatalities as shown below. The above conclusion is supported by the following statistical indicators. The p-score, one tailed t value, and standard deviation are 0.0%, 199.01 and 2.89 respectively.
A time of changes in Eastern Europe: what is its interest for the mathematics educator?

This paper is a survey paper for the special issue on changes in Eastern European mathematics education in recent decades. In it I attempt to describe briefly the development of Eastern European mathematics education during the years that preceded the changes of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and to indicate certain questions for research pertaining to the subsequent period. Existing scientific literature about these topics is also discussed. One of the key problems that must inevitably be addressed is the problem of influence in mathematics education, which may be linked to quite varied political and organizational circumstances. The questions raised in the paper may be posed with respect to other countries as well, but in the countries of Eastern Europe, with their tumultuous and complex political history, the social aspect may be observed in greater relief than anywhere else. It is assumed that the analysis of general tendencies and patterns of development will be of interest even to a readership whose pursuits are otherwise far from Eastern Europe.
Multidrug Aerosol Delivery During Mechanical Ventilation

Background: Continuous nebulization of pulmonary vasodilators is an off-label therapy for hypoxemia. Patients may require additional aerosol therapies such as bronchodilators and antibiotics. This study evaluates delivery of concurrent therapy of multiple medications during continuous nebulization without interruption or circuit disconnection. Methods: One i-AIRE dual-port breath-enhanced jet nebulizer (BEJN) or two Aerogen Solo vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMN) were installed on the dry side of the humidifier. VMN were stacked; one for infusion, the second for bolus drug delivery. The BEJN was powered by air at 3.5 L/min, 50 psig. Radiolabeled saline was infused at 5 & 10 mL/h with radiolabeled 3 mL and 6 mL bolus injections at 30 and 120 min respectively. Two adult breathing patterns (duty cycle 0.13 and 0.34) were tested with an infusion time of 4 h. Inhaled Mass expressed as % of initial syringe activity (IM %/min) was monitored in real time with a ratemeter. All delivered radioaerosol was collected on a filter at the airway opening. Transients in aerosol delivery were documented. Results: IM %/h during continuous infusion was linear and predictable, mean ± SD: 3.63 ± 2.02%, 3.54 ± 2.78% for BEJN and VMN, respectively. BEJN functioned without incident. VMN continuous aerosol delivery stopped spontaneously in 4 of 8 runs (50%); bolus delivery stopped spontaneously in 9 of 16 runs (56%). Tapping restarted VMN function during 3 of 4 continuous runs and 7 of 9 bolus delivery runs. Bolus delivery IM% (mean ± SD): 22.17 ± 7.65%, 14.37 ± 10.62% for BEJN and VMN, respectively. Conclusions: Simultaneous continuous and bolus nebulization without circuit disconnection is possible for both jet and mesh technology. Monitoring of VMN devices may be necessary in case of spontaneous interruption of nebulization.
The ZVS Transition Analysis and Optimization for CLLC-Type Resonant DC Transformer

The isolated bidirectional dc transformer (DCX) has been widely used in the energy storage systems, data center power supplies and transportation electrification. Due to zero voltage switching (ZVS) and small rms current, CLLC resonant converter is considered a good candidate for DCX when it works at resonant frequency with an open-loop constant voltage gain. To address the problem of unsmooth bidirectional power flow and current distortion in the CLLC-DCX with traditional synchronization rectification (SR) modulation, dual-active synchronization (DAS) modulation is adopted, with which the gate signals on primary and secondary side are the same. First of all, after considering the large output capacitance of the device, the switching transition of DAS modulation is fully studied. With the comparison between seven different switching transition types, a so-called “Sync-ZVS” transition is preferred due to ZVS, no deadtime conduction loss, and load-independent voltage transfer ratio. To realize “Sync-ZVS” transition, this paper proposes an “Axis and Center Symmetric” (ACS) method. Finally, an 18 kW 500kHz open-loop CLLC-DCX was built to verify both the “Sync-ZVS” transition and the proposed “ACS” method.
De Saint-Venant Equations Experimentally Verified

The unsteady spatially varied flow equations (De Saint-Venant equations) are being solved by implicit finite differences with explicit description at the boundaries. Imposition of improper boundary conditions which violate the physics of the problem resulted into either violation of continuity or numerical instability problems or meaningless results. The magnitude of the spatial increment used in this implicit solution scheme was critical on steep slopes (2.0%). The temporal distribution of flow and time to equilibrium was altered considerably depending on the specified value of Δ x . Hydrographs on milder slopes (0.5% and 1.0%) were affected to a progressively lesser extent as the channel slope was decreased. The time to equilibrium flow starting from a dry bed was nonlinear with respect to change of channel length, channel slope, and rate of lateral inflow. For a given channel length and slope, time to equilibrium approached a constant for high rates of later inflow.
Dynamic Environmentalism & Adaptive Management: Legal Obstacles and Opportunities

Most of today’s environmental laws and programs are based upon outmoded assumptions about the relative stability of natural systems when free of human interference. Scientists have understood for decades that ecosystems are anything but stable. To the contrary, ecosystems are incredibly dynamic and change over time due to both internal and external forces. Accounting for dynamic nature may require revisiting conventional notions of environmental protection and the underpinnings of environmental law and management. This presents an enormous challenge. Conventional approaches to environmental management may be unable to heed dynamic environmentalism’s call so long as they are confined by contemporary notions of fair administrative process, whether such constraints are the product of norms, statutes or even the Constitution. The challenge of recognizing dynamic nature as such implicates the very foundations of contemporary environmental law and policy. This paper was prepared for an LEC-PERC Research Roundtable on Dynamic Environmentalism: Ecology, Economics, and Law.
Encoding of Symbolic Outputs

The output encoding problem entails finding binary codes for symbolic outputs in a switching function so as to minimize the area or an estimate of the area of the encoded and optimized logic function. In this chapter, we will focus on describing output encoding algorithms that target two-level or Programmable Logic Array (PLA) implementations of logic. As in input encoding targeting two-level logic, the optimization step that follows encoding is one of two-level Boolean minimization.
Knights of the Road: Safety, Ethics, and the Professional Truck Driver

Accidents involving large trucks result in significant economic and social costs. As technological solutions have improved, behavioral factors contributing to accidents have risen in importance. The purpose of this research is to investigate how norms, consequences, and personal attitudes influence safety-related ethical judgments and behavioral intentions. The Hunt–Vitell’s theory of ethical decision-making is adapted to test how these factors influence truck drivers’ decisions containing ethical content. Professional truck drivers evaluated decisions presented in two scenarios that included the situation, the decision, and the results. The research found that drivers rely heavily on evaluations of safety norms (and not reward/punishment outcomes) when forming ethical judgments and behavioral intentions. Further, drivers’ attitudes toward compliance and the effectiveness of safety regulations also influenced decision-making to an extent. Overall, evidence of a refutation of the assumption that a tradeoff exists between operational productivity and safety was discovered. Drivers in this study intended to behave in a certain manner irrespective of time or money pressures. The perceived ethical component of the decision outweighed regulatory and economic consequences under a range of parameters.
Cerebral inflammation in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 1 in 25 000 males. It is characterized by elevated levels of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), i.e., >C22:0, particularly in ganglioside and cholesterol ester fractions of brain white matter and adrenal cortex. Failure of peroxisomal very long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (VLCS) to activate these VLCFA prevents their degradation by peroxisomal beta-oxidation. X-ALD maps to Xq28 and the gene encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein and not the gene for VLCS. The two most common forms of X-ALD are the cerebral (CER) form, with an inflammatory demyelinating reaction that resembles multiple sclerosis (MS), and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), which involves the spinal cord and in which the inflammatory reaction is mild or absent. Investigations into the nature of the cerebral inflammatory demyelinating reaction in X-ALD will be the subject of this review.
Making Game Theory Useful: Predicting Debt Negotiations

In Debt Games, Vinod Aggarwal has taken a giant step toward making game theory useful for understanding and even predicting important outcomes in international relations. Aware that game theory often falls short empirically both because it is static (that is, actors cannot change the game from within) and because it infers payoffs retrospectively from outcomes, Aggarwal develops a model that is both predictive and dynamic. His model derives payoffs from a prior set of situational constraints and enables actors to use norms, capabilities, and alliances to alter sequentially the type of game being played. Aggarwal tests this more predictive and dynamic model by studying sixty-one cases of debt rescheduling involving groups of lenders and four principal debtor countries: Mexico and Peru (from the 1820s to the 1950s), and Argentina and Brazil (from the 1970s to the 1990s). He conceives each case of debt negotiations as a bilateral bargaining relationship involving strategic interaction between a single debtor and the group of lenders. Although Aggarwal reviews systemic influences on bilateral bargaining in each historical period (including such neorealist variables as the number of major actors, and such neoliberal variables as the strength of international regimes), he finds that these factors leave much variation to be explained. He seeks answers to more specific questions. For example, how much adjustment will a debtor undertake, and what concessions will the lenders offer? Will creditor governments or international organizations intervene in the negotiations? Depending on initial outcomes, will debtors or lenders try to alter the terms of subsequent negotiations (games)? To answer these questions, Aggarwal constructs his game theoretic model in three parts. First, in the study's most innovative contribution, he derives preferences for both debtors and lenders by examining their goals and the weights they assign to these goals in terms of key aspects of their situations. Debtors seek to (1) secure additional funds, (2) minimize the political and economic costs of adjustment, and (3) minimize penalties by maintaining good relations with lenders. Lenders seek to (1) minimize further resource commitments, (2) encourage debt servicing, and (3) avoid possible penalties imposed by debtors. Debtors and lenders weight these goals differently depending on three situational factors: (1) their overall capabilities, (2) their capabilities within the specific debt-related issue area, and (3) the strength or weakness of their supporting domestic coalitions. Thus debtors with strong domestic coalitions give less weight to adjustment costs than those with weak coalitions; lenders who are financially secure give lower priority to debt servicing; and so on.
Client/Server Model of Distributed Processing

The client/server model of distributed computing is a structuring concept which can be identified in many different distributed systems. Clients and servers are active modules communicating through messages. Systems composed of server machines and personal workstations as their clients exemplify this concept. The paper focuses mainly on two issues: server design and communication protocols. File servers are used as an example in the server design overview. The communication issues are discussed in the framework of the OSI Reference Model and protocols.
Two overlapping genes encoding membrane proteins required for bacteriophage N4 adsorption.

Abstract We present the nucleotide sequences of two genes whose products are required for bacteriophage N4 adsorption. The nfrA gene encodes a 122-kDa outer membrane protein which presumably serves as the phage receptor. The nfrB gene encodes an 85-kDa inner membrane protein and may be a component of the receptor.
Mouse models of cell death

Cell death is critical for the development and orderly maintenance of cellular homeostasis in metazoans. Developmental genetics in model systems, including Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster, have helped to identify and order the components of cell-death pathways. An even more complex network of apoptotic pathways has evolved in higher organisms that possess homologs within each set of cell-death regulators. Whereas biochemical studies provide details of molecular mechanisms, genetic models reveal the essential physiologic roles. Transgenic and gene-ablated mice have helped to elucidate mammalian apoptotic pathways and identify the principal effect of each cell death regulator. Here, we review the details of the apoptotic machinery as revealed by mice deficient in critical components of cell-death pathways; we concentrate on cell-death regulators classified as members of the caspase and Bcl2 families or, broadly, as adaptors and mitochondrial released factors.
Gastric Acid and the Gastropancreatic Distension Reflex

Summary Distension of the stomach with 300 cc. of an alkaline solution increased the secretion of both water and protein by the pancreas. In only one instance did the pH of solutions used fall below 6 during the 10 or 20 minutes each solution remained in the stomach.
'Do not touch' lesions of the skull base.

Summary Imaging of the skull base presents many challenges due to its anatomical complexity, numerous normal variants and lack of familiarity to many radiologists. As the skull base is a region which is not amenable to physical examination and as lesions of the skull base are generally difficult to biopsy and even more difficult to operate on, the radiologist plays a major role in directing patient management via accurate image interpretation. Knowledge of the skull base should not be limited to neuroradiologists and head and neck radiologists, however, as the central skull base is routinely included in the field of view when imaging the brain, cervical spine, or head and neck with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and hence, its nuances should be familiar to general radiologists as well. We herein review the imaging findings of a subcategory of lesions of the central skull base, the ‘do not touch’ lesions.
Multivariable submarine control system analysis and design using an interactive visualization tool

This paper describes an Interactive Modeling, Simulation, Animation, and Real-Time Control (MoSART) Environment which may be used for analyzing, designing, visualizing and evaluating the performance of robust multivariable submarine control systems. The described MoSART environment is based on Microsoft Windows NT/95/98, Visual C++, Microsoft Direct-3D, and MATLAB/SIMULINK. The environment consists of several key modules: (i) a program user-interface (PUI) module, (ii) a real-time simulation (RTS) module, (iii) a graphical visualization and animation (GVA) module, and (iv) a help/instruct module. The environment also accommodates data exchange with MATLAB. This is useful for control system analysis and redesign. This makes the developed environment very extensible with respect to mathematical modeling and control. The developed Interactive MoSART Submarine Environment is shown to be a valuable tool for enhancing the analysis and design process. Examples are presented to illustrate its utility.
Metamaterial design via the density method

We use the density/SIMP (solid isotropic material with penalization) method to design metamaterials for frequency selective surfaces/volumes. It is shown that significant improvement is attained by optimization of the material permittivity. The generality, low number of iterations and the simplicity of the demonstrated approach motivate application of the method for other microwave structures.
Return to High-Level Sport After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation

Purpose Our purpose was to determine the results of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) in high school and higher-level athletes, specifically with respect to return to their preinjury level of play. Methods This is a retrospective case series of prospectively collected data from a single surgeon, evaluating athletes who underwent MAT. Each patient participated in either high school, collegiate, or professional athletics before injury, with a mean preinjury Tegner score of 8. In addition, patients were only included if one of their stated preoperative goals was to return to their previous level of activity. Patients completed preoperative and postoperative validated knee surveys (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score) and underwent physical examinations. Results The mean age of the 13 included patients was 19.8 years, with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (range, 1.9 to 5.7 years). After MAT, 10 of 13 patients (77%) returned to sporting activity. The mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for the sport subset was 76 (SD, 18), the mean International Knee Documentation Committee score was 77 (SD, 14), and the mean Lysholm score was 81 (SD, 13). Of the 13 patients, 3 (23%) required further surgery, comprising one revision MAT, one partial meniscectomy, and one meniscal repair. Conclusions In this small retrospective series, 77% of high school and higher-level athletes with meniscal deficiency and symptomatic "post-meniscectomy syndrome" returned to their desired level of play after MAT. These athletes also had significant improvements in most outcome measures. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Nanogels in the race for drug delivery

�We are currently witnessing a rapid growth of interest in nanotech applications for medicine, most of them focused on radical improvements of current therapies and diagnostic modalities. After a real boom in the development of novel micro- and nano-sized particulate drug delivery systems (DDS) in academic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies all over the world; however, we have now reached the point when the first ‘reality check’ can be made and the many limits and shortcomings of existing DDS can be evaluated. The major effect of drug administration in loaded DDS can be determined as a principal change in drug pharmacokinetics and bioavailability. Many current DDS have been developed with the aim of reducing biodegradation or in vivo toxicity of drugs. Others have focused on increasing bioavailability, cell-selective accumulation, or activity of encapsulated drugs after administration. Initial generations of DDS were optimized in cell cultures by modifications of the chemical structure or physicochemical properties in order to effectively modulate cellular drug accumulation, release kinetics and overall therapeutic effect.
Nonlinear evolution of the sheet pinch

An incompressible, dissipative numerical code of the spectral type is used to follow the nonlinear evolution of a magnetohydrodynamic sheet pinch in two spatial dimensions. The evolution involves considerable turbulent activity in the electric current field, with the excited spatial scales ranging from the size of the containing volume down to the dissipation lengths of the magnetic and velocity fields. Strong current filamentation near magnetic X-points is observed, as is 'jetting', or expulsion of magnetofluid from the vicinity of the X-point parallel to the current sheet.
Infusions of recombinant human interleukins 1 alpha and 1 beta cause hypercalcemia in normal mice.

Abstract The immune cell products interleukins 1 alpha and -beta, which stimulate osteoclast activity in vitro, are among the most potent bone resorbing factors so far described. Although it appears likely that these cytokines are involved in regulation of trabecular bone turnover, nothing is known of their effects on extracellular fluid calcium concentration. In this report, we show the effects of 72-hr subcutaneous infusions of interleukins 1 alpha and -beta on plasma calcium and bone morphology in mice. Both interleukins 1 caused a marked dose-dependent increase in the plasma calcium. In higher doses, which cause the animals to die, the plasma calcium fell preterminally. Quantitative histomorphometry of bone sections showed evidence of increased numbers of osteoclasts and bone resorption surfaces. The effects were similar to those obtained with infusions of parathyroid hormone. These data suggest that in addition to its potential influence on trabecular bone volume, interleukin 1 may also modulate extracellular fluid calcium homeostasis under conditions in which it is produced excessively.
Gaussian limit for critical oriented percolation in high dimensions

In this paper, we consider the spread-out oriented bond percolation models inZ d ×Z withd>4 and the nearest-neighbor oriented bond percolation model in sufficiently high dimensions. Let η n ,n=1, 2, ..., be the random measures defined onR d by $$\eta _n (A) = \sum\limits_{x \in Z^d } {1_A (x/\sqrt n )1_{\{ (0,0) \to (x,n)\} } } $$ The mean of η n , denoted by\(\bar \eta _n \), is the measure defined by $$\bar \eta _n (A) = E_p [\eta _n (A)]$$ We use the lace expansion method to show that the sequence of probability measures\([\bar \eta _n (R^d )]^{ - 1} \bar \eta _n \) converges weakly to a Gaussian limit asn→∞ for everyp in the subcritical regime as well as the critical regime of these percolation models. Also we show that for these models the parallel correlation length\(\xi (p)~|p_c - p|^{ - 1} \) asp⇆pc
The general distance problem in H ∞ synthesis

The general distance problem which arises in the general H∞ optimal control problem is considered. The existence of an optimal solution is proved and the expression of the optimal norm γo is obtained from a somewhat abstract operator point of view. An iterative scheme, called γ-iteration, is introduced which reduces the general distance problem to a standard best approximation problem. Bounds for γo are also derived. The γ-iteration is viewed as a problem of finding the zero crossing of a function. This function is shown to be continuous, monotonically decreasing, convex and be bounded by some very simple functions. These properties make it possible to obtain very rapid convergence of the iterative process. The issue of model-reduction in H∞- synthesis will also be addressed.
Lamellar Diblock Copolymer Grain Boundary Morphology. 3. Helicoid Section Twist Boundary Energy

The helicoid section morphology allows a diblock copolymer lamellar phase to maintain microphase separation across a twist grain boundary. The interface between the two microphases in the grain boundary region approximates a stack of sections of the helicoid minimal surface. Grain boundary energies were calculated for the helicoid section morphology both as a function of diblock chain characteristics and as a function of grain boundary twist angle. The basic approach to grain boundary energy calculation is to formulate a general expression for local free energy density as a function both of chain characteristics and of the local curvature of the interface. The local energy density is then integrated over the mathematical model for the Scherk grain boundary. Two general methods of calculation were used, and the results where then compared. First, a self-consistent field model was formulated in which average energies per chain were calculated for all the possible interfacial curvature environments encounter...
A novel cyanide ion sensing approach based on Raman scattering for the detection of environmental cyanides

This paper describes a direct optical approach based on Raman scattering for selective and sensitive detection of cyanide ions in aqueous environment without requiring time-consuming sample pretreatment and the formation of hydrogen cyanide. Due to the strong affinity between copper (I) and cyanide ion, evaporated copper (I) iodide (CuI) thin films are shown to be excellent substrates for selective recognition of free cyanide ions in aqueous matrices. The amount of cyanide ion retained by the copper (I) in the CuI thin films reflects its actual concentration in tested samples, and the subsequent Raman measurements of the substrate are shown to be capable of detecting toxic cyanide content at levels under international drinking water standard and environmental regulatory concentrations. Measurements obtained from the same batch of evaporated CuI thin films (approximately 100-nm thickness) show excellent linearity over a variety of cyanide concentrations ranging from 1.5 microM to 0.15 mM. This detection method offers the advantage of selectively detecting cyanides causing a health hazard while avoiding detection of other common interfering anions such as Cl-, Br-, PO4(3-), SO4(2-), NO2-, S2- and SCN-. Coupled with portable Raman systems that are commercially available, our detection approach will provide on-site monitoring capability with little sample preparation or instrument supervision, which will greatly expedite the assessment of potential environmental cyanide risks.
Comparative study of gingival retraction methods

The effects of electrosurgery, retraction cord, and the rotary gingival curettage technique were tested clinically and histologically in dogs. Postoperative periods analyzed ranged from 6 hours to 14 days. All methods induced some kind of minor damage. Recession of clinical magnitude was induced only by rotary gingival curettage. Apical migration of the junctional epithelium was not seen.
The Impact of Power-Distance Belief on Consumers’ Preference for Status Brands

ABSTRACT We tested the impact of power-distance belief (accepting and expecting power disparity) on consumers’ preference for status brands (brands such as Rolex or Louis Vuitton, which are associated with social status). Our correlational and causal results show that consumers with high power-distance belief tend to have a stronger preference for status brands than those with low power-distance belief. Notably, buying status belief (a belief that buying status brands can enhance one's social status) moderates this effect. Further, this two-way interaction is stronger for people with a relatively lower, rather than higher, self-worth state.
Leukolysin/MMP25/MT6-MMP: a novel matrix metalloproteinase specifically expressed in the leukocyte lineage.

Leukolysin/MMP25/MT6-MMP: a novel matrix metalloproteinase specifically expressed in the leukocyte lineage
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSCLE NET SURROUNDING THE DIGESTIVE EPITHELIUM IN THE MIDGUT GLAND OF THE LOBSTER HOMARUS AMERICANUS

The organization of the muscle cell layer surrounding the tubules of the midgut gland in Homarus americanus was examined with transmission and scanning electron microscopy. This layer contains a uniform network of broad circular myofilaments interconnected by smaller longitudinal connectives. The primary means of constriction of the lumen of the tubule appears to be by contraction of the circular muscle fibers. The longitudinal myofilaments may provide both structural support and a means for conducting the contractile impulse along the tubule. The decapod hepatopancreas, or midgut gland, is a multilobed organ comprised of numerous blindly ending tubules, connected by a graduated series of collecting ducts. The collecting ducts coalesce into two main ducts which articulate at the pyloric-intestinal junction. As the primary organ for digestion and absorption of nutrients, both digestive enzymes and the products of digestion are moved through the tubules; the food brei moves from the stomach to the tubules and the enzymes and digestive waste products return from the tubules to the stomach. In a general sense, the midgut gland may be equated to the vertebrate small intestine with associated digestive organs, while the true decapod intestine may be equated with the large bowel. Although Gibson and Barker (1979) have published a thorough review on the hepatopancreas, including the basic cell types, sequence of digestive epithelial cell development, and enzymatic activity of the cells involved in both extracellular and intracellular digestion, the mechanism for moving the enzymatic secretions out and the food solution into the tubules of the hepatopancreas is poorly known and often casually dismissed. For example, Stanier et al. (1968) described only a discontinuous stellate network of contractile fibrils around each tubule of Carcinus maenas, and Young (1959) did not mention muscular activity associated with the hepatopancreas of Penaeus setiferus. The musculature associated with the tubules of the midgut gland in Astacus fluviatilis were reported as a series of parallel circular fibers of striated muscle with smaller longitudinal connectives (Pump, 1914). The striated muscle found in the hepatopancreas of crayfish was described as tonic muscle (Loizzi, 1971). The contractile function of tonic invertebrate striated muscle can be equated to that observed in vertebrate intestinal smooth muscle (Prosser, 1973). Van Weel (1974) speculated that the action of the muscle fibers surrounding each tubule of the midgut gland was similar to the squeezing and releasing of a rubber syringe during filling and emptying. This study examines the musculature around the tubule of the midgut gland in the American lobster Homarus americanus, confirming Pump's (1914) work at the level of scanning electron microscopy and provides indirect evidence for a peristaltic transport mechanism to move materials within the tubules of the hepatopancreas.
TH-E-M100E-03: Optimizing the Methodology for Incorporating SPECT-Guidance to Reduce Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Dose to Functioning Lung

Purpose:Single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) provides a spatial distribution map of lung perfusion. Previously, an algorithmic methodology was developed using IMRT and SPECT guidance to deliberately divert dose away from higher functioning (perfused) lung, thereby potentially reducing lung toxicity. This work aims to refine this methodology by determining the optimal number and segmentation method for incorporating different levels of functionality. Method and Materials: The lowest 15% of SPECT numbers were discarded as background noise. The remaining values were then divided equally so that each segment had the same range. IMRT treatment plans incorporating functional information were generated with the lung subdivided into varying numbers of SPECT segments. The segments ranged from 2 to the number beyond which there was no improvement in the Dose Functional Histogram (DFH) or function‐weighted lung volume above 20/30 Gy (F20 / F30). The thresholds of 20/30 Gy were chosen for their significance in predicting radiation‐induced pneumonitis. The plans generated using SPECT guidance were compared against “conventional” plans, generated with the assumption that lung function was spatially homogeneous. Results: Of all the SPECT plans generated, those created with four segments produced the most favorable results overall. The results were variable, with the four segment SPECT‐guided plans showing marginal to large improvement over conventional plans. One patient had a 42.9% and 61.7% reduction in F20 and F30 values, respectively, when compared to the conventional plan. For all patients, on average, the F20 and F30 values were reduced by 16.5% ± 18.3% and 21.1% ± 26.0%, respectively. Conclusion: A standardized intensity‐based segmentation procedure is crucial for routine use of SPECT‐guidance in IMRTlungtreatment planning. The simple procedure outlined here is valid for a range of patients. Segmenting lungSPECT into four intensity regions appears to provide the greatest benefit in reducing radiotherapy‐induced functional lung damage.
Separating the confident from the correct: : Leveraging member knowledge in groups to improve decision making and performance

Groups often struggle to distinguish expert members from others who stand out for various reasons but may not be particularly knowledgeable (Littlepage & Mueller, 1997). We examined an intervention designed to improve group decision making and performance through instructing group members to search for information they already possessed that was relevant to a problem. Participants estimated values and expressed their confidence in their estimates individually and then a second time either individually or in a group. This was done with or without the intervention. Results indicated that: (1) groups were more confident than, and out-performed, individuals, (2) group decision making was best captured by models predicting more influence for more accurate members when the intervention was used and more influence for more confident members in its absence, and (3) groups that received the intervention out-performed groups that did not.
Schools, Sex Education, and Support for Sexual Minorities: Exploring Historic Marginalization and Future Potential.

School-based adolescent sexual health education in the United States has long served as a means of combating emotional and physical threats to the well-being of youth. However, this sex education has since its inception marginalized the experiences and health concerns of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) students and contributed to school environments frequently hostile toward sexual minority groups. Growing concern for the welfare and educational experiences of sexual minorities suggests the need to improve school-based support for LGB students. This article explores this challenge by examining the relationship between sex education and sexual minorities. Through a review of the history of adolescent sexuality and sex education, and continuing barriers to support for LGB students, this article reveals how marginalization of LGB groups has manifested within schools and argues improving education with regards to LGB groups is necessary to develop equitable and safe educational environments. Suggestions for ...
A new synthesis of secondary allylic aliphatic and aromatic amines

Abstract Treatment of a variety of aliphatic or aromatic primary amines with an N-chlorosuccinimideactivated allylic setenide affords in modest to good yield the corresponding allylically rearranged secondary amines. Examples are reported which define the scope and limitations of this process.
Evaluation of controller performance—use of models derived by subspace identification

A new approach is presented for the estimation of the controller, process, and disturbance models necessary for the calculation of the relative variance index, which was introduced in an earlier paper (Control Eng. Practice 2000; 8:791–797), for the performance of SISO controllers. It involves the use of dynamically, sufficiently rich segments from the normal operating data and the use of the subspace identification technique to estimate the systems mentioned above. This approach improves the estimation accuracy of the performance index in relation to the method presented previously. The estimated models enable the comparison of the present controller performance with that of optimally tuned PI or IMC controllers. This helps identify the potential benefits of either retuning or redesigning the assessed controller. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxicity of prolonged high dose inhaled PGE1 in ventilated neonatal pigs.

Abstract Objective To study the toxicity of inhaled PGE 1 (IPGE 1 ) in healthy ventilated piglets. Methods Mechanically ventilated anesthetized piglets received either high dose IPGE 1 (IPGE 1 group) or nebulized saline (control group) continuously for 24 h. Cardio-respiratory parameters, complete blood counts and serum electrolytes were monitored. Lung histology was evaluated by a masked pathologist for the severity (minimal, moderate, and severe) and extent (focal, multifocal, and diffuse) of histologic injury. Results Ten neonatal pigs were instrumented. Four received nebulized saline and six received high dose IPGE 1 . There was no evidence of adverse cardio-respiratory effects, bronchial irritation or hypernatremia related to IPGE 1 . Diffuse/multifocal alveolar edema and focal polymorphonuclear infiltration was observed in both the control and IPGE 1 groups suggesting that alveolar alterations may be secondary to effects of mechanical ventilation. The most distinct histomorphological abnormalities observed in the IPGE 1 animals were focal ulceration, flattening of the bronchial epithelium and loss of cilia of moderate to severe degree in the trachea and bronchi. Conclusion In healthy piglets, inhalation of high dose IPGE 1 was not associated with adverse cardiorespiratory effects, bronchial irritation, or hypernatremia and produced minimal signs of pulmonary toxicity even after 24 h. Prolonged inhalation of high dose PGE 1 therefore appears safe in newborn piglets.
Patterns of gene expression in the ductus arteriosus are related to environmental and genetic risk factors for persistent ductus patency

Three independent risk factors (immature gestation, absence of antenatal glucocorticoid exposure, and presence of the rs2817399(A) allele of the gene TFAP2B) are associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDAs) that fail to close during prostaglandin inhibition. We hypothesized that these three factors may affect a common set of genes that increase the risk of persistent PDA after birth. We studied baboon ductus from term, preterm, and glucocorticoid-treated preterm fetuses and found that both immature gestation and absence of antenatal glucocorticoid exposure decreased RNA expression of calcium- and potassium-channel genes involved in oxygen-induced constriction, and phosphodiesterase genes (that modulate cAMP/cGMP signaling). Ductus obtained from second trimester human pregnancies were genotyped for TFAP2B polymorphisms. When present, the rs2817399(A) allele also was associated with decreased expression of calcium- and potassium-channel genes. In contrast, alleles of two other TFAP2B polymorphisms, rs2817419(G) and rs2635727(T), which are not related to the incidence of PDA after birth, had no effect on RNA expression. In conclusion, three calcium- and potassium-channel genes (CACNA1G/ alpha1G, CACNB 2/CaL-beta2, and KCNA2/ Kv1.2) were similarly affected by each of the PDA risk factors. We speculate that these channels may play a significant role in closing the preterm ductus during prostaglandin inhibition and may be potential targets for future pharmacologic manipulations.
On orbits of prompt and low computably enumerable sets

This paper concerns automorphisms of the computably enumerable sets. We prove two results relating semilow sets and prompt degrees via automorphisms, one of which is complementary to a recent result of Downey and Harrington. We also show that the property of effective simplicity is not invariant under automorphism, and that in fact every promptly simple set is automorphic to an effectively simple set. A major technique used in these proofs is a modification of the Harrington-Soare version of the method of Harrington-Soare and Cholak for constructing Δ30 automorphisms; this modification takes advantage of a recent result of Soare on the extension of “restricted” automorphisms to full automorphisms.
Evidence for a glycosaminoglycan chain on a portion of articular cartilage fibronectins.

Abstract Fibronectin heterogeneity is, in part, the result of post-translational modifications. In these experiments, cartilage fibronectins were purified by anion exchange chromatography, followed by gelatin affinity chromatography or immunoprecipitation, and, finally, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (NaDodSO 4 PAGE). A substantial, although variable, portion of the fibronectins from canine and equine cartilages of all ages required salt concentrations from 0.2 to 1.0 M for elution from DEAE-cellulose. This was in contrast to plasma fibronectin which eluted with 0.1 M NaCl, but these results were consistent with observations made on human cartilage by Brown and Jones (1990 J. Rheumatol. 17, 65-72). When cartilage explants were incubated with Na 2 35 SO = 4 , the cartilage fibronectins were sulfated and the fibronectins which eluted with high salt contained from 5- to 50-fold more radiosulfate than the fibronectins which eluted with 0.1 M NaCi. A fraction of the 35 SO = 4 which copurified with the cartilage fibronectin and comigrated with it in NaDodSO 4 -PAGE could be removed by digestion with chondroitinase ABC. This suggested that a percentage of cartilage fibronectins are covalently linked to a chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate chain and thus might also appropriately be called proteoglycans. Alternatively, there is a proteoglycan which binds so tightly to fibronectin that separation is not achieved even in the presence of urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and mercaptoethanol.
Leaching behavior of SiYAlON glasses

Abstract Oxynitride glasses in the yttrium sialon family were leach tested under static conditions in deionized water at 40, 90 and 200°C for 28 days. Results indicate a lower silicon release in the compositions tested than that of fused silica glass or crystalline quartz when tested under identical conditions.
Surrender and Religion

In this late historical phase, when there is even a sense in which we might be past history, religion may well appear as the mood embraced in an effort to come to terms with two unanswerable questions — it is the phase in our history in which we know that these questions are unanswerable. The first is: ‘What am I doing, any way?’ And its trouble leads to the second: ‘Who am I, anyway?’ In one question: what can I truly believe about my fate?
Attempted suppression of the interferon response in the mouse.

SummaryThe interferon response after pretreatment of the adult mouse with heparin, dimethylbenzanthracene, actinomycin, antilymphocyte serum antimacrophage serum, phytohemagglutinin, or after splenectomy, was investigated. After the mice were pretreated, interferon response was induced by intravenous injection of Newcastle disease virus; serum interferon was then quantitated. None of the treatments completely suppressed interferon production. These findings support the hypothesis that interferon is synthesized in vivo at several sites and by many cell types.
Subvalvular left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after mitral valve replacement: Two-dimensional echocardiographic findings

Disruption of the posterior mitral anulus is a rare complication of mitral valve replacement that may result in subvalvular left ventricular pseudoaneurysm formation. Such pseudoaneurysm formation was easily recognized by two-dimensional echocardiography in a 54 year old man 3 years after his second mitral valve replacement. The finding was confirmed by cineangiography and direct surgical inspection. Recognition of this rare complication of mitral valve replacement has therapeutic importance because surgical correction is necessary.