cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrating non-invasive neuroimaging and computer log data to improve understanding of cognitive processes

As non-invasive neuroimaging techniques become less expensive and more portable, we have the capability to monitor brain activity during various computer activities. This provides an opportunity to integrate brain data with computer log data to develop models of cognitive processes. These models can be used to continually assess an individual's changing cognitive state and develop adaptive human-computer interfaces. As a step in this direction, we have conducted a study using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) paradigm, which has been used in prior work to elicit mind wandering and to explore response inhibition. The goal with this is to determine whether fNIRS data can be used as a predictor of errors on the task. This would have implications for detecting similar cognitive processes in more realistic tasks, such as using a personal learning environment. Additionally, this study aims to test individual differences by correlating objective behavioral data and subjective self reports with activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), associated with the brain's default mode network (DMN). We observed significant differences in the mPFC between periods prior to task error and periods prior to a correct response. These differences were particularly apparent amongst those individuals who performed poorly on the SART task and those who reported drowsiness. In line with previous work, these findings indicate an opportunity to detect and correct attentional shifts in individuals who need it most.
E-053 Radial artery catheterization for neuroendovascular procedures: clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction measures

Background and purpose The majority of neuroendovascular procedures are still performed via transfemoral access. Radial artery catheterization is an alternate route of access that has started to gain more widespread use for neuroendovascular procedures, and there have been few studies that describe its safety and efficacy. We present our institution’s experience in performing neuroendovascular interventions via a transradial approach, with excellent clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction measures. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis and identified 223 patients who underwent 233 consecutive neuroendovascular interventions via radial artery access at our institution. The incidence of perioperative and post-procedural complications was investigated. We identified a subset of 98 patients who have undergone both transradial and transfemoral cerebral angiograms, and compared clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction measures between the two groups. Results The overall incidence of complications was low across all procedures performed via transradial access. Peri-procedurally, only 2 patients had symptomatic radial artery spasm, and there were no instances of iatrogenic complications (vessel dissection, stroke, hemorrhage). In 10 cases (4.3%), the intended procedure could not be completed via a transradial approach, and, thus, femoral artery access had to be pursued instead. Ten patients complained of minor post-procedural complications: superficial hematomas, swelling, and paresthesias, albeit none required therapeutic intervention. The mean procedure time was shorter for diagnostic angiograms performed via transradial vs transfemoral access (18.8±15.8 versus 39.5±31.1 minutes, p Conclusions Radial artery catheterization is a safe and durable alternative to perform a wide range of neuroendovascular procedures, with a low rate of complications. On the whole, patients prefer transradial compared to transfemoral access, with shorter recovery times reported and overall excellent patient satisfaction. Disclosures O. Khanna: None.
Reply: Diversity, Not Divisiveness, Is the Future of Nuclear Medicine.

REPLY: I greatly appreciate Dr. Noto’s comments about my editorial entitled, “The Standard of Care: from Nuclear Radiology to Nuclear Medicine” ([1][1]). The Journal of Nuclear Medicine ( JNM ) is a great forum for debates about our field. I respect Dr. Noto’s point of view, which many
Abstract 3748: Tyrosine kinase inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 in advanced prostate cancer

Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in men in the United States. The FGF/FGFR1 signaling axis has been implicated in the progression of PCa. Different isoforms of FGFR1 have been described in PCa (e.g., alpha and beta), which might account for the typical heterogeneity of PCa. The isoforms may also mediate different clinical responses to treatments targeting this pathway. Pan-FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor JNJ-42756493 (Janssen) has been demonstrated to have antiproliferative effects in FGFR pathway-activated cancer cell lines and in vivo mouse antitumor activity. Our goal was to study the effects of JNJ-42756493 in PCa growth and signaling in vitro and establish whether these effects differ according to the FGFR1 isoform (alpha or beta) expressed. Using transfected bone-derived PCa cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), we measured the effects of FGFR1 expression on cell proliferation and activation of the FGFR1-pMAPK signaling pathway. We then performed drug treatment experiments on FGFR1-expressing sublines and high-FGFR1 PDXs and observed the response in FGFR1-pMAPK signaling pathway activation. Our results showed that FGFR1 isoforms alpha and beta trigger different biological effects (i.e., proliferation), possibly contributing to the heterogeneity of PCa. We found that targeting the tyrosine kinase domain of FGFR1 with JNJ-42756493 results in pMAPK inhibition in PCa sublines. These findings indicate that the presence of specific FGFR1 variants should be considered for treatment selection in advanced PCa. The results also suggest that FGFR1-pMAPK pathway blockade by JNJ-42756493 should be further studied as a strategy to guide the development of therapies to hinder PCa progression. Citation Format: Louise Medina Bengtsson, Estefania Labanca, Nora Navone. Tyrosine kinase inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 in advanced prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3748.
Development of a Mating Disruption Program for a Mealybug, Planococcus ficus, in Vineyards.

The vine mealybug (VMB), Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a key insect pest of vineyards, and improvements in sustainable control of this pest are needed to meet increasing consumer demand for organically farmed products. One promising option is mating disruption. In a series of experiments conducted from 2004 to 2007, we tested the effects of mating disruption on trap captures of Pl. ficus males in pheromone-baited traps, on Pl. ficus numbers and age structure on vines, and on damage to grape clusters. From 2004 to 2005, the effects of dispenser load (mg active ingredient per dispenser) were also assessed, and dispensers were compared to a flowable formulation. Across all trials, mating disruption consistently reduced pheromone trap captures and often reduced mealybug numbers on vines and/or crop damage, regardless of the pheromone dose that was applied. Reductions in Pl. ficus densities in mating disruption plots were not accompanied by clear effects on mealybug population age structure; however, production of non-viable ovisacs by unmated females may have obscured differences in proportional representation of ovisacs. Pheromone trap captures were never lowered to zero (often called trap shut down), possibly because trials were conducted in vineyards with unusually high Pl. ficus densities. Trap-capture patterns in both treated and control plots commonly began low in April–May, increased in mid-July or August, and often decreased in September–October when post-harvest insecticides were applied. During the four-year trial, the release rate from plastic sachet dispensers was improved by industry cooperators as pheromone was released too quickly (2004) or not completely released during the season (2005–2006). The flowable formulation performed slightly better than dispensers at the same application dose. Results over all years suggest season-long coverage or late-season coverage may be as or more important than dose per hectare. Development of a dispenser with optimized season-long pheromone emission or targeted seasonal periods should be a future goal.
Harmonization and Standardization: Where Are We Now?

Background The purpose of a medical laboratory test is to provide information on the pathophysiologic condition of an individual patient as an aid in diagnosis, therapy, or assessment of risk for a disease. For optimal laboratory service, results from different measurement procedures (MPs) for the same measurand should be equivalent (harmonized) within stated specifications, enabling the results to be used reliably for medical decisions. The term "harmonization" refers to any process that enables establishing equivalence of reported values among different end-user MPs. The term "standardization" refers to achieving harmonization by metrological traceability of patients' results to higher order reference materials and/or reference measurement procedures. Content New procedures for harmonization and standardization were published in 2020 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and by the IFCC. ISO 17511:2020 provides revised requirements for establishing metrologically traceable calibration hierarchies for end-user MPs used in clinical laboratories. ISO 21151:2020 provides new requirements to implement a harmonization protocol to address the situation when there are no fit-for-purpose certified reference materials or reference MPs available for a measurand. The IFCC Working Group on Commutability published recommendations for applying a correction for noncommutability of a certified reference material to enable using that material in a metrologically traceable calibration hierarchy for an end-user MP. Summary We review metrological traceability and how these new approaches will improve the capability to achieve harmonized results for clinical samples.
Change in Psychological Distress in Response to Changes in Residential Mobility during COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the US

This paper examines whether changes in residential mobility (or more presence at home) in US states during COVID-19 influenced changes in the psychological distress of individuals. Based on the first-difference model, we identify the effects of residential mobility (i.e., a proxy for the efficacy of lockdowns) on individuals’ reported psychological distress. Using a sample of 5,132 individuals who were surveyed in March and April 2020 in Understanding America Study (UAS) COVID-19 survey, we find that a one standard deviation increase in residential mobility, increases reported psychological distress by 3.02%. Based on additional data from the very recent wave 3 our estimates are also consistent. The effects are small and are robust to controlling for reported changes in exercise intensity, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, recreational drug use, and meditation intensity. We also find stronger effects for females, and we do not find support for the effects of timing of stay at home order that varied by states. However, the effects were significant for first and fourth quartiles of COVID-19 incidence rates by state. The findings show that increased residential mobility from lockdowns is associated with a small increase in reported psychological distress.
A Cohort Study Comparing Pediatric Patients with Overweight and Obesity in the Military Health System.

Background: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from the 1960s to 2010s confirm that pediatric obesity rates are increasing. To assess obesity in the Military Health System (MHS),...
The Changing Face of Judicial Elections

Judges are elected in thirty-nine states under rules that govern their campaign conduct. In New York, as in other states, judicial candidates may not make campaign pledges or promises to the electorate as to how they would decide matters if elected. Nor may they make commitments (or appear to do so) on issues likely to come before the court or “knowingly make any false statement or misrepresent the identity, qualifications, current position or other fact concerning [either] the candidate or an opponent.” Judicial candidates are also instructed to “maintain the dignity appropriate to judicial office and act in a manner consistent with the integrity and independence of the judiciary.” And since judges must “act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,” that
Specific Configuration Systems

This chapter describes the development of twenty (20) automated configuration solvers, including both academic systems and patented systems from industry, using the models and reasoning techniques of previous chapters. Advances in the state of the art are discussed, as well as various advantages and disadvantages of the different systems.
The Sierra Nevada Example: Elicitation and Analysis of Preferences

The survey of the workshop participants described in Chapter 8 offered a broad overview of the multiple stakeholder perspectives regarding the management of the national forests in the Sierra Nevada region. Even among groups that seem superficially homogeneous, such as individuals who work for the Forest Service, we found a diversity of opinions about how best to manage the forests.
Crime and terrorism risk: Studies in criminology and criminal justice

1. Overview of Risk Assessment and Management 2. Examining the Social Construction of Risk 3. Risk Assessment in Prevention and Response 4. Risk Management 5. Developing Risk Metrics 6. Risk Tolerance and Acceptability 7. Case Studies
Health concerns over time: the apparent stability.

Reprinted by permission of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, www.AAHERD.org.
Hispanic Leaders for the Larger Community: The Surge in the Hispanc Population Creates Opportunities for Increased Diversity and Inclusiveness

As the first Hispanic dean of Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law and the first female Cuban American dean of any ABA accredited law school in the country, I face the non-unique challenge of attracting minority students and maintaining diversity in the law school community. Since that time, during my tenure as dean, the percentage of minority students in our entering class increased by eleven percent. In many ways, Barry Law School mirrors the community that surrounds it, and the school has made efforts to serve its diverse region and leverage its location. Across the nation, the demographic shift is not just in states that have traditionally had a large concentration of Hispanics, like California, Texas, and Florida. Small, rural towns in the Midwest, like West Liberty, Iowa, have seen an influx of Hispanics. These rapidly growing communities are facing challenges that come with increasing minority populations, including the blending of cultural differences and overcoming language barriers. As dean, I place a high priority in ensuring that Barry Law School produces leaders equipped with the skills to meet these challenges.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND MANAGERIAL RISK-TAKING

This paper provides empirical evidence of a strong relation between the structure of managerial compensation and both investment policy and debt policy. Higher sensitivity of CEO wealth to stock volatility (vega) is associated with riskier policy choices, including relatively more investment in R&D, more focus on fewer lines of business, and higher leverage. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that higher vega in the managerial compensation scheme gives executives the incentive to implement policy choices that increase risk. Our results also indicate that these investment and financial policy choices are among the primary mechanisms through which vega affects stock price volatility.
Ultrasensitive nanogap biosensor to detect changes in structure of water and ice

Understanding how water behaves within nanoscale structures is critical in deciphering biological information. For example, water plays a key role in protein structure and function, cell architecture, and cell function. We present a unique nanogap biosensor that is capable of detecting changes in the structure of water and ice. Using dielectric spectroscopy inside a nanoscale cavity between two electrodes, we observe the structural changes in a network of small molecules such as water. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of a nanogap biosensor on detecting the changes in structure of water as it freezes under different ionic conditions.
Improving the Firm from Within: Motivating and Maximizing Entry-Level Workers

Companies are continuously looking for new ways to cut costs, expand revenues, and improve efficiency. Unfortunately, this process habitually carries an outward focus while overlooking some of the most robust in-house resources. Entry-level workers, while typically on the lowest tier of the pay scale, have grown up in the technology generation and offer a wider array of skills and a greater concentration of knowledge than past generations of employees. Conversely, archaic, rigid organizational structures in the business environment have struggled to adapt and use these resources. There are polarizing arguments whether Generation Y workers are the most or least motivated within a company, but little research exists how close we are to realizing their maximum potential. This paper contends there are still strides to take in the ways companies incentivize entry-level workers. It also suggests practical ways to reform and improve human resource motivational practices while adding value to the firm. I draw upon my experience as a portfolio analyst at SEI Investments.
Finding Signatures of the Youngest Starbursts

Embedded massive starclusters have recently been identified in several nearby galaxies by means of the radio-wave thermal bremsstrahlung emission from their surrounding HII regions. Energy requirements imply that these optically-obscured starclusters contain 500–1000 O-type stars, making them similar to the “super starclusters” observed in many dwarf starbursts and mergers. Based on their high free-free optical depth and visual extinctions of AV ≫ 10 mag, these massive “ultra-dense” HII regions (UDHIIs) are distinct signatures of the youngest, most compact super starclusters. UDHII regions may represent the earliest stages of globular cluster formation. We review the properties of presently-known UDHIIs, and we outline a pictoral evolutionary taxonomy for massive cluster formation which is analogous to the more familiar evolutionary sequence for individual stars.
Isolation of Mouse Lymphocytes from Small Intestine Tissues

The isolation of lymphocytes and other hematopoietic-derived cells from small intestinal tissues has become increasingly relevant to immunology over the last decade. It is also becoming increasingly clear that the impact of local immunity at the mucosal barrier of the intestine has a profound impact on immune responses at distant sites, bringing a new cadre of immunologists to the mucosal frontier. Furthermore, the ability to experimentally manipulate smaller and smaller populations of immune cells has become technologically feasible and in some cases routine. The expanding importance of mucosal immunology coupled with increased technical capabilities requires a standard for experimentally obtaining uniform and consistent cells from the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, it is important to isolate immune cells that are highly viable and minimally manipulated to maximize cellular yields while maintaining acceptable time constraints.
Parameter Study of Steam Methanol Reforming With Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst in a Microchannel Reactor

Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to investigate the effect of methanol conversion and hydrogen product of a microchannel methanol steam reformer under various parameter conditions. In this simulation, the wall temperature of reactor (Tw ), inlet flow rate of reactant, the different S/C ratios (steam to carbon ratio) and the thickness of the catalyst layer were taken into account to analyze product concentration and conversion rates along the channel length. The methanol conversion for methanol steam reforming on Cu/ZnO/Al2 O3 catalyst was carried out at reaction temperature ranging from 200 to 260° under an atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the reaction schemes considered the methanol steam reforming reaction and the reverse water gas-shift reaction. Regarding the distribution analysis of methanol reforming, the methanol conversion (η) and the product of hydrogen increase with the increase in wall temperature from 200 to 260°C and lower reactant flow rates. However, the result shows the methanol conversion increases and the hydrogen product decreases with less feed-in amount of methanol as the higher S/C. Additionally, the methanol conversion increase with higher thickness of catalyst layer from 10 to 70μm. The product of hydrogen, therefore, reaches a consistent distribution above 40μm along the channel length. Nevertheless, all of the operation parameter of exhaust stream at the reformer exit has the following composition: 75% H2 , 24% CO2 and less than 1% CO. This research attempts to reveal a simplified methanol reforming model, which analyze the significant behavior and product distribution in qualitative/quantitative along the channel.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Three-dimensional cardiac dynamics of the closed chest canine

A noninvasive, three-dimensional imaging system was used to map the left and right epicardial shapes and surface displacements over the cardiac cycle for 11 canine subjects. Average displacements were calculated for each time period and for different areas of the heart surfaces. Volume changes and the movements of the center of mass were calculated. For the ventricular areas, significant expansive movement was found in isovolumic contraction, and a consistent inward collapse was found beginning in isovolumic relaxation and continuing into mid-diastole. Ejection began in the posterior, basal corner of the ventricles and spread anteriorly and apically. A typical wall motion possibly due to vessel movement was found along the basal areas of the heart. Points of maximum and minimum volume did not correspond to end-diastole and end-systole. The center of mass of the heart showed a shift towards the apex and sternum during filling and a shift towards the base and spine during contraction and collapse, with no significant movement from side to side. >
Oral torah in theory and practice: Aspects of mishnah-exegesis in the palestinian talmud

EXEGESIS AND AUTHORITY In a recent essay,' Jonathan Z . Smith coins the term `exegetical totalization' to describe the complex of strategies by which religious cultures, literate and nonliterate, come to terms with canonical authority. The precondition of exegetical totalization, Smith observes, is a collection of texts . These may be conceived narrowly as linguistic constructions (written scriptures or oral traditions) or broadly as any collection of objects construed as meaningful signs (icons or even found objects) . Exegetical totalization emerges when such texts constitute for a given culture a closed system of uniquely authoritative utterances or symbols to which nothing else may be added, and from which nothing may be subtracted . `Where there is a canon', Smith argues, `it is possible to predict the necessary occurrence of a hermeneute, of an interpreter whose task it is continually to extend the domain of the closed canon over everything that exists without altering the canon in the process . It is with the canon and its hermeneute that we encounter the necessary obsession with exegetical totalization .' 2 Central to Smith's model of canon and exegesis is the observation that canonical exegesis proceeds within an unavoidable dialectic of constraint and ingenuity . The constraint imposed by the canon is the simple fact of its existence-that just this set of texts is conventionally conceded to constitute an organizing medium for commerce with whatever is regarded as sacred . This very constraint is what generates the exegetical ingenuity distinctive to exegetical totalization . The restrictive character of the canon gives birth to the hermeneutical labor by which the resistance of the canon to novelty is overcome and the new wine of interpretation, so to speak, is poured into the old bottles of unchanging texts. The value of Smith's focus on this dialectic is that it permits historians of religions to enrich those theological and historicistic conceptions of exegesis which focus almost exclusively on the explicative function of exegetical activity .
Temperature and Heart-Rate in Fundulus Embryos

1. On the 4th day after fertilisation, cardiac rhythm in Fundulus embryos, in all probability, is myogenic. Between 5° and 25° C, one of two temperature characteristics prevail and fluctuate either about µ = 16,300 or 14,300. 2. On the 12th day, embryos, presumably neurogenic, expose prevailing increments of 20,900 or occasionally of 18,200. A definite critical region is localised about 200 where the prevailing increments break to the orders 16,000, 14,000 or 12,000. 3. Over the corresponding range embryos about to escape from the egg-case, exhibit, in the only two instances recorded, µ = 23,000, 20,900 and 16,300. 4. On presumable restoration of myogenic conditions in embryos of the 12th day, µ may be 14,300 over the entire range. The frequency of µ = 14,300 is greater than in normal larvae of the same age, whereas µ = 20,900 is restricted to the lower temperatures. 5. In their bearing on the differences between myogenic and neurogenic rhythms, these results become explicable if we imagine an underlying mechanism identical for both cases. The same increments either occur or suggest themselves at all stages of development, or, if at times some appear to be distinctive of neurogenic Fundulus , these can be promptly duplicated from the list of increments shown by myogenic Limulus, e.g. 20,900. Clearly, however, the most frequent characteristics found belong to categories exposed by a great variety of biological acts, and their association in cardiac rhythms is common. These two facts harmonise well with the recent work on the metabolism of muscle and nerve.
Extinction of Comparator Stimuli during and after Acquisition: Differential Facilitative Effects on Pavlovian Responding

Abstract Water-deprived rats served in a conditioned lick suppression task designed to assess the effects on Pavlovian responding of extinguishing the context in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) was trained. In each of three experiments, all CS-training trials occurred in the presence of a background light which served as the nominal training context. Effects on conditioned responding of extent of context exposure (extinction), temporal proximity of this context exposure to CS training, and similarity of the context exposure treatment to the CS-training session were then assessed. Context exposure between CS and unconditioned stimulus training trials enhanced responding to the CS, whereas equivalent context exposure immediately or 5 days after CS training failed to produce this facilitative effect. However, if the context exposure was similar to that during CS training (i.e., intermittently presented), shorter exposure was effective. Extensive post-training exposure to the training context even without intermittency did enhance conditioned responding. Apparently, prolonging post-training exposure to the CS-training context compensates for the generalization decrement between the training context and the extinction treatment context. These results are discussed in the framework of the comparator hypothesis.
Galileon radiation from binary systems

We calculate the power emitted in scalar modes for a binary system, including binary pulsars, with a conformal coupling to the most general Galileon effective field theory by considering perturbations around a static, spherical background. While this method is effective for calculating the power in the cubic Galileon case, here we find that if the quartic or quintic Galileon dominate, for realistic pulsar systems the classical perturbative expansion about spherically symmetric backgrounds breaks down (although the quantum effective theory is well defined). The basic reason is that the equations of motion for the fluctuations are then effectively one dimensional. This leads to many multipoles radiating with equal strength, as opposed to the normal Minkowski spacetime and cubic Galileon cases, where increasing multipoles are suppressed by increasing powers of the orbital velocity. We consider the following two cases where perturbation theory gives trustworthy results: (1) when there is a large hierarchy between the masses of two orbiting objects and (2) when we choose scales such that the quartic Galileon only begins to dominate at distances smaller than the inverse pulsar frequency. Implications for future calculations with the full Galileon that account for the Vainshtein mechanism are considered.
Interference-Aware Scheduling for Connectivity in MIMO Ad Hoc Multicast Networks

We consider a multicast scenario that involves an ad hoc network of cochannel multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) nodes in which a source node attempts to share a streaming message with all nodes in the network through some predefined multihop routing tree. The message is assumed to be broken down into packets, and the transmission is conducted over multiple frames. Each frame is divided into time slots, and each link in the routing tree is assigned one time slot in which to transmit its current packet. We present an algorithm for determining the number of time slots and the scheduling of the links in these time slots to optimize the connectivity of the network, which we define to be the probability that all links can achieve the required throughput. In addition to time multiplexing, the MIMO nodes also employ beamforming to manage interference when links are simultaneously active, and the beamformers are designed with the maximum connectivity metric in mind. The effects of outdated channel-state information are taken into account in both the scheduling and the beamforming designs. We also derive bounds on the network connectivity and sum transmit power to illustrate the impact of interference on network performance. Our simulation results demonstrate that the choice of the number of time slots is critical in optimizing network performance and illustrates the significant advantage provided by multiple antennas in improving network connectivity.
the domain of emotion words on Ifaluk

The cognitive organization of the domain of emotion words on the island of Ifaluk is examined. Native speakers define and sort emotion words based on the situation in which the relevant emotion typically occurs. English emotion words, by contrast, are usually organized on physiological principles. Universal dimensions of meaning found in other studies of psychological language and culture are also found here, however, and these dimensions, being themselves multidimensional, are interpreted in light of the Ifalukian ethos, [cognitive anthropology, emotion, ethnopsychology, psychological anthropology, Ifaluk]
Factors Affecting Human Percutaneous Penetration Of Methotrexate And Its Analogues In Vitro

Factors affecting the percutaneous penetration of methotrexate (MTX) and its analogues through excised human skin were studied. With application of 0.05%MTX solution to the epidermis. 0.07% of the applied dose was recovered in the epidermis and less than 0.005% penetrated completely through the skin. The percent of drug which penetrated remained constant from 0.05% to 2.0% MTX and was also unchanged by increasing incubation temperature from 28°C to 37°C. Cellophane tape stripping of stratum corneum following drug incubation removed essentially all the MTX that had been measured in whole epidermis. Binding of MTX was localized to the outermost layers of the stratum corneum. With removal of the stratum corneum prior to drug incubation. 25% of the applied MTX penetrated through the skin. Various vehicles were tested to determine their effect on MTX percutaneous absorption. Dimethylsulfoxide (80%), dimethylacetamide (25%). or retinoic acid (0.1%) had no effect on penetration. Maximum enhancement of penetration by 25-fold and 143-fold was obtained with retinoic acid (saturated solution in aqueous ethanol) and C-10-methylsulfoxide (2.5%), respectively. The penetration of lipid-soluble derivatives of MTX was also tested. The compound that penetrated best was the dimethyl ester of dichloro-MTX with a 3-fold increase in penetration over MTX.
An influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) epitope inserted in and expressed from several loci of the infectious bursal disease virus genome induces HA-specific antibodies

The N-terminus of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP5 has been shown to be capable of tolerating the insertion of small epitopes. The objective of the present study was to determine if IBDV genomic sites, including the 5’ end of vp5, could carry an influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) epitope. HA-expressing IBDVs were generated when the HA epitope was fused to the N-terminus of VP5 (HA5-IBDV) or VP4 (HA4-IBDV) or the C-terminus of VP1 (1HA-IBDV). Viral titers obtained after co-transfection with cDNA from the ha-containing segment and the complementary genomic segment were 1.3 × 104, 3.7 × 103 and 3.8 × 104 pfu/ml for HA5-IBDV, HA4-IBDV and 1HA-IBDV, respectively. The HA tag expression remained stable after 10 passages when the tag gene was inserted into the vp4 and vp1 genes. HA-IBDVs did not cause pathogenicity in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. However, only HA4-IBDV and 1HA-IBDV induced HA-specific antibodies, which were measured by ELISA with a maximum optical density (OD) value of 0.701 and 0.769, respectively, at 24 days after infection. Thus, IBDV can potentially be employed as a bivalent viral vector when the epitope is fused with VP4 or VP1.
An Experimental Study of the Wind-Driven Water Droplet/Rivulet Flows Over an Airfoil Pertinent to Wind Turbine Icing Phenomena

Wind turbine icing represents the most significant threat to the integrity of wind turbines in cold weather. Advancing the technology for safe and efficient wind turbine operation in atmospheric icing conditions requires the development of innovative, effective anti-/de-icing strategies tailored for wind turbine icing mitigation and protection. Doing so requires a keen understanding of the underlying physics of complicated thermal flow phenomena pertinent to wind turbine icing phenomena, both for the icing itself as well as for the water runback along contaminated surfaces of wind turbine blades. In the present study, an experimental investigation was conducted to characterize the surface wind-driven water film/rivulet flows over a NACA 0012 airfoil in order to elucidate the underlying physics of the transient surface water transport behavior pertinent to wind turbine icing phenomena. The experimental study was conducted in an icing research wind tunnel available at Aerospace Engineering Department of Iowa State University. A novel digital image projection (DIP) measurement system was developed and applied to achieve quantitative measurements of the thickness distributions of the surface water film/rivulet flow at different test conditions. The measurement results reveal clearly that, after impinged on the leading edge of the NACA0012 airfoil, the micro-sized water droplets would coalesce to form a thin water film in the region near the leading edge of the airfoil. The formation of rivulets was found to be time-dependent process and relies on the initial water runback flow structure. The width and the spacing of the water rivulets were found to decrease monotonically with the increasing wind speed. The film thickness icing scaling law is evaluated by the time-average measurement film thickness. The measurement results show good consistent with the analytical scaling predictions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Residual signal analysis

A signal bus contains a multiplicity of signals to be recovered. A cooperative arrangement between estimation processors is shown in which each processor acts as an adaptive interference nulling device for all the other processors while performing an efficient estimation of its own signal. Signals being estimated are removed from the common bus driving all of the estimators except that a unique feedback arrangement gives to each estimator full access to its own assigned signal.
Empathic communication and gender in the physician–patient encounter

Although empathy in the physician–patient relationship is often advocated, a theoretically based and empirically derived measure of a physician’s empathic communication to a patient has been missing. This paper describes the development and initial validation of such a measure, the Empathic Communication Coding System (ECCS), which includes a method for identifying patient-created empathic opportunities. To determine the extent to which empathic communication varies with physician and patient gender, we used the ECCS to code 100 videotaped office visits between patients and general internists. While male and female patients created a comparable number of empathic opportunities, those created by females tended to exhibit more emotional intensity than those created by males. However, female patients were no more likely than male patients to name an emotion in their empathic opportunities. Physician communication behavior was consistent with the literature on gender differences: female physicians tended to communicate higher degrees of empathy in response to the empathic opportunities created by patients. The ECCS appears to be a viable and sensitive tool for better understanding empathy in medical encounters, and for detecting modest gender differences in patients’ creation of empathic opportunities and in physicians’ empathic communication.
Performance Optimization of Antenna-Coupled ${\rm Al}/{\rm AlO}_{x}/{\rm Pt}$ Tunnel Diode Infrared Detectors

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a valuable figure of merit in determining the operating scope of infrared detectors. Antenna-couple metal-oxide-metal diodes have been shown to detect infrared radiation without cooling or applied bias, but so far have been hampered by their SNR. This paper details a comprehensive study of the fabrication parameters that control the formation of the tunneling oxide barrier to optimize the performance of these detectors. Since the tunneling barrier affects both current-voltage and infrared detection characteristics, fabrication parameters can be optimized to improve device performance. The current-voltage characteristics of the devices are detailed in this paper; resistance, nonlinearity, and curvature coefficient are parameterized on fabrication procedures. Infrared detection characteristics are detailed and SNR is studied as a function of device nonlinearity and biasing conditions.
The independence of response structure and element production in timing sequences.

Abstract In three experiments, participants were asked to produce a prescribed temporal sequence of key presses. The number of elements in a key press sequence, the movement time of the elements, and uniformity of the timing elements comprising the sequence were manipulated. If the processing of the sequence structure was independent of the processing of elements comprising the sequence, increasing the number of the elements in the sequence should affect the production of the sequence but not the proficiency with which the individual elements are produced. Increasing the movement time of the elements, however, should affect the production of the elements but have little, if any, effect on the integrity of the sequence. The findings indicated that increasing the number of elements negatively affected sequence production when the elements were nonuniform but had little or no effect when elements were uniform. Alternatively, element production was affected by movement time but not number of elements. The res...
Undocumented in a Documentary Society: Textual Borders and Transnational Religious Literacies

While transnationalism has emerged as a growing area of interest in Writing Studies, the field has not fully examined how migrants’ movement across national borders shapes their literacy practices....
A multi-variable theta product

Abstract A multi-variable theta product is examined. It is shown that, under very general choices of the parameters, the quotient of two such general theta products is a root of unity. Special cases are explicitly determined. The second main theorem yields an explicit evaluation of a sum of series of cosines; which greatly generalizes one of Ramanujan's theorems on certain sums of hyperbolic cosines.
Specificity of the histone lysine methyltransferases from rat brain chromatin.

Abstract The histone lysine methyltransferases catalyze the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine to specific ϵ-N-lysine residues in the N-terminal regions of histones H3 and H4. These enzymes are located exclusively within the nucleus and are firmly bound to chromatin. The chromosomal bound enzymes do not methylate free or nonspecifically associated histones, while histones H3 and H4 within newly synthesized chromatin are methylated. These enzymes can be solubilized by limited digestion (10–16%) of chromosomal DNA from rapidly proliferating rat brain chromatin with microccal nuclease. Histone H3 lysine methyltransferase remained associated with a short DNA fragment throughout purification. Dissociation of the enzyme from the DNA fragment with DNAase digestion resulted in complete loss of enzyme activity; however, when this enzyme remained associated with DNA it was quite stable. Activity of the dissociated enzyme could not be restored upon the addition of sheared calf thymus or Escherichia coli DNA. Histone H3 lysine methyltransferase was found to methylate lysine residues in chromosomal bound or soluble histone H3, while H3 associated with mature nucleosomes was not methylated. The histone H4 lysine methyltransferase which was detectable in the crude nuclease digest was extremely labile, losing all activity upon further purification. We isolated a methyltransferase by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, which would transfer methyl groups to arginine residues in soluble histone H4. However, this enzyme would not methylate nucleosomal or chromosomal bound histone H4, nor were methylated arginine residues detectable upon incubating intact nuclei or chromatin with S-adenosylmethionine.
The Video Viewing Task: A source of information for assessing and addressing teacher understanding of text-based discussion

Abstract This paper reports on the Video Viewing Task (VVT), an assessment designed to measure teachers' developing understanding of two reading comprehension instruction approaches: Reciprocal Teaching (Palincsar, A. S. & Brown, A. L. (1984). Reciprocal teaching of comprehension-fostering and comprehension-monitoring activities. Cognition and Instruction, 1(2), 117–175) and Questioning the Author (Beck, I. L., McKeown, M. G., Hamilton, R. L., & Kucan, L. (1997). Questioning the author: An approach for enhancing student engagement with text. Newark, DE: International Reading Association). The VVT consists of video excerpts that teachers view and comment on during their viewing. The VVT also includes a series of questions to guide teachers' reflections after viewing. Analyses of teachers' comments and reflections in response to the VVT provide evidence that the VVT captures teachers' entering conceptions and is sensitive to changes in teachers' developing understanding following professional development specific to the two instructional approaches.
SEM, EDS, and FTIR Examination of Archaeological Mineralized Plant Fibers

The chemical and p ysical structures of archaeological mineralized plant fibers are studied using energy x-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR microspect...
Mobile technology: the foundation for an engaged and secure campus community

Montclair State University, a public New Jersey institution with more than 17,000 students enrolled, has harnessed the cell phone and cellular broadband technology to foster a stronger sense of community and provide students with a safe, secure, and rich learning environment. This paper discusses the potential for new technologies to foster development of a virtual campus. With this goal in mind, it also provides a case study of the application deployment at Montclair State University, and a glimpse into the future of mobile technology at higher education institutions across the globe.
Age-related increases in basal ganglia glutamate are associated with TNF, reduced motivation and decreased psychomotor speed during IFN-alpha treatment: Preliminary findings

Inflammation-induced alterations in central nervous system (CNS) metabolism have focused on glutamate. At excessive concentrations, glutamate is toxic to glia and neurons, and inflammatory cytokines have been shown to influence glutamate turnover by blocking glutamate reuptake and increasing glutamate release. Increased glutamate has also been found in depression, a disorder associated with increased inflammation. Data by our group have shown increased glutamate as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in basal ganglia and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex of patients administered the inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN)-alpha. Given data that increasing age is associated with an exaggerated CNS inflammatory response, we examined whether older age (>55years) would be associated with a greater IFN-alpha-induced increase in CNS glutamate. Using a longitudinal design, 31 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) underwent MRS, blood sampling for inflammatory markers, and behavioral assessments before (Visit 1) and after 4weeks (Visit 2) of either IFN-alpha (n=17) or no treatment (n=14). Older patients treated with IFN-alpha exhibited a significantly greater increase in glutamate from Visit 1 to Visit 2 as reflected by the glutamate/creatine ratio (Glu/Cr) in left basal ganglia compared to older controls and younger IFN-alpha-treated and untreated subjects. In addition, increased Glu/Cr in older but not younger IFN-alpha-treated and untreated patients was associated with increased tumor necrosis factor, reduced motivation as measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and increased choice movement time on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Taken together, these preliminary data support the notion that older age may interact with inflammation to exaggerate the effects of inflammatory stimuli on CNS glutamate and behavior.
Terminological knowledge structure for intermediary expert systems

Abstract An intermediary expert system (IES) helps both end users and professional searchers to conduct their online database searching. To provide advice about term selection and query expansion, an IES should include a terminological knowledge structure. Terminological attributes as well as other properties could provide the starting point for building a knowledge base, and knowledge acquisition could rely on knowledge-base techniques coupled with statistical techniques. The searching behavior of expert online searchers would provide one source of knowledge. The knowledge structure would include three constructs for each term: frequency data, a hedge, and a position in a classification scheme. Switching vocabularies or languages could provide a meta-schema and facilitate the interoperability of databases in similar subject domains. To develop such knowledge structure, future research should focus on terminological attributes, word and phrase disambiguation, automated text processing, and the role of thesauri and classification schemes in indexing and retrieval. In particular, such research should develop techniques that combine knowledge-base and statistical methods and that consider user preferences.