cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiation-induced galectin-1 by endothelial cells: a promising molecular target for preferential drug delivery to the tumor vasculature.

The present study reports on a new strategy for selective, radiation therapy-amplified drug delivery using an antiangiogenic 33-a.a., tumor vasculature-targeting ligand, anginex, to improve the therapeutic ratio for strategies developed against solid tumors. Our findings indicate that galectin-1 is (a) one of the major receptors for anginex (b) overexpressed by tumor neovasculature and (c) further specifically upregulated in endothelial cells in response to radiation exposure as low as 0.5 Gy. An investigation of [18]-F-labeled anginex biodistribution in SCK tumors indicates that anginex is an effective targeting molecule for image and radiation-guided therapy of solid tumors. An anginex-conjugated liposome capable of being loaded with drug was shown to selectively target endothelial cells post-radiation. The presence of endothelial cells in a three-dimensional co-culture system with tumor cells developed to study tumor/endothelial cell interactions in vitro led to higher levels of galectin-1 and showed a further increase in expression upon radiation exposure when compared to tumor cell spheroids alone. Similar increase in galectin-1 was observed in tumor tissue originating from the tumor‐endothelial cell spheroids in vivo and radiation exposure further induced galectin-1 in these tumors. The overall results suggest feasibility of using a clinical or subclinical radiation dose to increase expression of the galectin-1 receptor on the tumor microvasculature to promote delivery of therapeutics via the anginex peptide. This approach may reduce systemic toxicity, overcome drug resistance, and improve the therapeutic efficacy of conventional chemo/radiation strategies.
Evidence for two independent chemi-ionization processes in the O+C2H2 reaction

Abstract Gases which are known to react rapidly with CH(X 2 Π) are added to low pressure mixtures of oxygen atoms and acetylene while monitoring chemi-ion formation. Addition of CH 4 and N 2 O, which do not react with oxygen atoms at room temperature, rapidly quench part of the chemi-ion formation, but further additions do not quench it completely. The data can be fit to a simple kinetic model that assumes two independent chemi-ionization reactions. Mass analysis shows that HCO + is the primary ion for both processes. We propose that the non-quenchable chemi-ionization is caused by the reaction of oxygen atoms with the metastable CH(a 4 Σ).
Non-physical barriers to deter fish movements

Anthropogenic modifications to aquatic ecosystems have altered connecting pathways within, and in some cases, between watersheds. Human structures, such as hydroelectric facilities, often impede fi...
The identification and characterization of a new c1903 steroid metabolite in the eat ventral prostate: 5α-androstane-3β, 6α, 17β-triol

This study represents the first report of the formation of 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 6 alpha, 17 beta-triol (6 alpha-triol) by prostatic tissue. The 6 alpha-triol has been identified by rigorous methods and a chemical synthesis of this triol has been accomplished. This 6 alpha-triol is the major metabolite of 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (3 beta-diol) in the rat ventral prostate. A minor metabolite of 3 beta-diol has been identified as 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 7 alpha, 17 beta-triol (7 alpha-triol). Using a variety of C19 androstane substrates, the 6 alpha- and 7 alpha-triols were always found as the major components of the total 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane metabolites produced by the ventral prostate. Following intraperitoneal injection of 3H-3 beta-diol, both 6 alpha- and 7 alpha-triol were formed in vivo by the ventral prostate and found in the blood. The 6 alpha- and 7 alpha-triols were found to possess no androgenic activity when tested by the ventral prostatic growth bioassay in the castrate rat.
Creep and fracture of a Laves phase strengthened ferritic alloy

The microstructural changes which occurred during creep were examined in a carbon-free ferritic alloy containing 1 at. pct Ta and 7 at. pct Cr. The alloy derived its creep resistance from a uniform dispersion of almost spherical particles of the Laves phase Fe2Ta in a bcc matrix. There was a lath-like substructure in this alloy, with dislocation tangles and subgrains within the laths. Partial recovery during creep led to the formation of a regular subgrain structure. The Laves phase particles prevented total recovery by pinning individual dislocations and subgrain boundaries. The apparent activation energy for creep, the estimated stress sensitivity of minimum creep rate, and the substructural features observed in crept specimens suggested that creep deformation of the alloy occurred by two or more independent processes. Fracture under creep conditions was initiated by void formation at precipitate-matrix interfaces. Intergranular void formation played an important role in the fracture of creep specimens tested at 1200°F (649°C), but not at lower temperatures.
Onset of the convection in a supercritical fluid

A model is proposed that leads to the scaled relation tp/tau D=Ftp(Ra-Rac) for the development of convection in a pure fluid in a Rayleigh-Benard cell after the start of the heat current at t=0. Here tp is the time of the first maximum of the temperature drop DeltaT(t) across the fluid layer, the signature of rapidly growing convection, tau D is the diffusion relaxation time, and Rac is the critical Rayleigh number. Such a relation was first obtained empirically from experimental data. Because of the unknown perturbations in the cell that lead to convection development beyond the point of the fluid instability, the model determines tp/tau D within a multiplicative factor Psi square root Rac(HBL), the only fit parameter product. Here Rac(HBL), of the order 10(3), is the critical Rayleigh number of the hot boundary layer and Psi is a fit parameter. There is then good agreement over more than four decades of Ra-Rac between the model and the experiments on supercritical 3He at various heat currents and temperatures. The value of the parameter Psi, which phenomenologically represents the effectiveness of the perturbations, is discussed in connection with predictions by El Khouri and Carles of the fluid instability onset time.
Surface electronic structure of V2O5(001) : defect states and chemisorption

We have studied the electronic structure and gas adsorption properties of both UHV-cleaved and reduced V2O5(001) surfaces by means of ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies and Auger-electron spectroscopy. The surface band structure of the UHV-cleaved V2O5(001) surface is similar to that of the bulk: the V 3d band is unoccupied, and the upper edge of the 6 eV wide O 2p valence band lies about 2.5 eV below EF. Electron or Ar+-ion bombardment results in an oxygen-deficient surface; charge is transferred to surface V cations, producing defect-induced states in the bulk-bandgap region. At room temperature, exposure of UHV-cleaved V2O5(001) to CO leads to a slight reduction of the surface, while the Ar+ -ion bombarded (reduced) surface is inert to CO. SO2 does not adsorb on the cleaved V2O5 surface at room temperature, but it does adsorb weakly on the reduced surface: both dissociatively and associatively at 300 K, and only dissociatively at 413 and 513 K. The interaction of O2 with reduced V2O5 at room temperature leads to a partial re-oxidation of the surface.
Envelope instability in low-energy proton synchrotrons

Abstract In this paper we investigate the limits on beam intensity in low-energy proton synchrotrons due to the instability of the beam envelope. This instability has been previously examined in the context of space charge dominated ion beams, in particular for inertial confinement fusion applications. We generalize the formalism of beam envelope evolution to include effects found in circular accelerators, i.e. curvature focusing and momentum dispersion. Several example lattices are analyzed to determine intensity limits imposed by onset of envelope instability; it is found that the instability can occur without depressing the phase advance below 90° per cell.
Long-term citalopram maintenance in mice : selective reduction of alcohol-heightened aggression

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) alleviate many affective disturbances in human clinical populations and are used in animal models to study the influence of serotonin (5-HT) on aggressive behavior and impulsivity. We hypothesized that long-term SSRI treatment may reduce aggressive behavior escalated by alcohol consumption in mice. Therefore, aggression was tested in male CFW mice to determine whether repeated citalopram (CIT) administration reduces alcohol-heightened aggression. Resident male mice self-administered alcohol by performing an operant response on a panel placed in their home cage that delivered a 6% alcohol solution. Mice repeatedly confronted an intruder 15 min after self-administration of either 1 g/kg alcohol (EtOH) or water (H2O). Aggressive behaviors were higher in most mice when tests occurred after EtOH intake relative to H2O. Once baseline aggression was established, animals were injected (i.p.) twice daily with 10 mg/kg CIT or saline (SAL) for 32 days. Every 4 days throughout the CIT treatment period, aggressive encounters occurred 6 h after CIT injections, with testing conditions alternating between EtOH and H2O intake. Aggression was only modestly affected by CIT in the first 2 weeks of treatment. However, by day 17 of CIT treatment, alcohol-heightened aggressive behavior was abolished, while baseline aggression remained stable. These data lend support for the role of the 5-HT transporter in the control of alcohol-related aggressive behavior, and the time course of effects suggests that a change in density of 5HT1A autoreceptors is necessary before antidepressant drugs produce beneficial outcomes.
A longitudinal test of the gender turnover model among U.S. House and Senate members

Abstract This study builds on previous research by examining the impact of gender when predicting roll call voting behavior in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate over several recent congresses. In order to unearth gender effects, it employs a longitudinal design based on turnover in the membership of both the House and the Senate. Through a comparison of the voting records of members of Congress representing the same geographic territory it holds constituency constantly while allowing for gender and party to vary. It does so with models including dependent variables that measure roll call ideology and support for women's issues exhibited in the voting records of members in both institutions. The results show that male and female members in each chamber representing the same constituency amass virtually indistinguishable voting records on the liberal-conservative policy dimension. However, on votes dealing with issues of concern to women, female senators tend to be more supportive than the male senators they replace and male senators tend to be less supportive than the female senators they replace.
Synthesis and characterization of bis-triruthenium cluster derivatives of an all equatorial [60]fullerene tetramalonate

The reaction of the tetrakis[di(ethoxycarbonyl)methano]-C60 (1) with Ru3(CO)12 afforded the first bis-parallel C60–metal cluster complex: parallel-[Ru3(CO)9]2{μ3-η2,η2,η2-C60[C(COOC2H5)2]4}. The two triruthenium groups are found in either a parallel or a tilted orientation relative to each other, as determined by NMR. Only the parallel form was characterized by X-ray crystallography.
Use of mitral valve repair: analysis of contemporary United States experience reported to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database.

Abstract Background The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database data indicate that the performance of mitral repair has increased significantly (1990 to 23.2%, 1999 to 32.0%, p Methods We analyzed National Cardiac Database data to determine the operative approach for a diagnosis of mitral regurgitation. Results A total of 21,741 isolated and combined mitral valve procedures were identified. The overall frequency of repair was 37.7% (8206). For procedures isolated to the mitral valve, the frequency of repair was 35.7% (3027/8486) whereas repair was more common with concomitant CABG (42.9% [3088/7193], p 70 years, p = 0.0016). Repair was more common in males (43.5% [4720/10860]) than females (32.0% [3472/10842], p p p Conclusions Mitral repair was performed in over one-third of the patients reported in 1999 to 2000 and has increased since the National Cardiac Database inception. Repair usage differed based on sex, age, gravity of illness, and associated procedures. This provides a base line from which to expand the application of repair.
Evaluation of Culturable Particle Load on HVAC Filters Before and After Remediation: A Pilot Study

This pilot research was performed to evaluate a quantitative method for culturing particles on HVAC filters. The reasons were to compare relative concentrations of culturable fungi found in two separate rooms of a six-floor building and to re-evaluate culturable fungi in the same building after remediation efforts. The evaluated quantification method involved shaking samples of filter materials in sterile saline followed by plating out. The pilot study consisted of two phases. Firstly, a case study comparison of two HVAC filters from a building with a history of indoor air quality concerns in the space served by one of the filters. The second, following remediation efforts in the same building. This involved the quantification of culturable fungal particles on each of ten filters serving ten separate areas of the building. Statistical analysis of the phase I results indicated a significantly greater number of
Local Gradient Gabor Pattern (LGGP) with Applications in Face Recognition, Cross-spectral Matching and Soft Biometrics

Researchers in face recognition have been using Gabor filters for image representation due to their robustness to complex variations in expression and illumination. Numerous methods have been proposed to model the output of filter responses by employing either local or global descriptors. In this work, we propose a novel but simple approach for encoding Gradient information on Gabor-transformed images to represent the face, which can be used for identity, gender and ethnicity assessment. Extensive experiments on the standard face benchmark FERET (Visible versus Visible), as well as the heterogeneous face dataset HFB (Near-infrared versus Visible), suggest that the matching performance due to the proposed descriptor is comparable against state-of-the-art descriptor-based approaches in face recognition applications. Furthermore, the same feature set is used in the framework of a Collaborative Representation Classification (CRC) scheme for deducing soft biometric traits such as gender and ethnicity from face images in the AR, Morph and CAS-PEAL databases.
Nonionic surfactant amides as soil wetting agents

Isomeric hydroxyethyl tertiary amides, RCONR′CH2CH2OH, where R and R′ are 7- 8 carbon linear or branched aliphatic groups, were oxyethylated to form polydisperse adducts containing 5- 20 moles of ethylene oxide. The adducts RCONR′(E.O.)xH were free of unreacted amide and contained minimum ester contaminant where R and R′ were branched. Ester content of the adducts does not change with time, but the monomer does revert to amide on standing. All series of adducts showed good wetting at intermediate chain lengths but instantaneous wetting only at short chain lengths where both R and R′ were branched. Good water solubility occurred at the intermediate chain length while maximum surface activity was found for short chain lengths corresponding to a hydrophile- lipophile balance of ~9. All adduct series were excellent wetting agents for cotton skeins and a burned over sandy loam. For this soil the adducts effectively promote wetting at 0.01% level.
The Ricci continuity method for the complex Monge–Ampère equation, with applications to Kähler–Einstein edge metrics

Abstract In this Note we present a new continuity method and a priori C 2 , α estimate for the degenerate complex Monge–Ampere equation. We then describe some applications of this method to the existence of Kahler–Einstein edge metrics, as conjectured by Tian and Donaldson.
Current Trends in High-Speed Machining

The focus of the majority of high-speed machining research has been directed toward improving metal removal rates. Tool materials capable of withstanding high cutting speeds have become available (silicon nitride for cast iron, solid carbide for aluminum, and superabrasives for hardened steels), and the focus of research has shifted to maximizing the cutting performance of the machine tool. Measurement of cutting performance, chatter avoidance, structural design, tool retention, and axis control have become important research topics. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the state of the art in high-speed machining and to provide our view of the emerging research areas.
ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF MILK CHOCOLATE

Electrorheology is an area of study that evaluates changes in flow properties upon the application of an electric field. Electrorheological fluids generally exhibit an increase in apparent viscosity and a greater yield stress over an unelectrified sample. The phenomenon requires an electric field, polar particles in suspension, and an insulating oil. Milk chocolate meets these criteria and displays unique behavior when exposed to an electric field. A concentric cylinder viscometer, fitted with special electrical attachments, was used for data collection. This system allowed for control of the applied dc voltage, fluid temperature, and shear rate while observing the resulting effects on the shear stress. Data analyses show that, at constant temperature, the shear stress increases as the voltage increases. Continued analyses depict that shear stress increases as temperature increases when subjected to a constant shear rate and voltage. These results establish milk chocolate as a bona fide electrorheological fluid. The chocolate industry may benefit from this research by gaining knowledge of a new technique to externally control the flow properties of milk chocolate, allowing the development of unique processes and products.
The gas‐phase reaction of O3 with H2CO

Explosions occur when O3 and H2CO are mixed in a fresh vessel, even in the presence of several hundred torr of N2 or O2. However, in an aged vessel the reaction is well behaved. The reaction between O3 and H2CO was studied at room temperature in an aged vessel in the presence of about 400 torr of either N2 or O2. The initial rate of O3 decay in the presence of N2 is about 103 times faster than in the presence of O2, and very small amounts of O2 quickly reduce the initial rate of O3 decay in the N2 case. A chain mechanism is postulated to account for the results in which chain initiation can occur both by thermal decomposition of O3, followed by reaction of O(3P) with H2CO to produce HO and HCO, as well as by which may occur both homogeneously and heterogeneously. The rate coefficient k1 ≃ 2.1 × 10−24 cm3/molec · sec represents an upper limit (to within a factor of 2 uncertainty) to the direct gas-phase reaction between O3 and H2CO.
Histopathologic effects of cidofovir on cartilage.

Objective To evaluate the effects of subcutaneously injected cidofovir on cartilage in a rabbit model. Study design Prospective study. The ears of 6 New Zealand White rabbits received perichondrial injection at 2 sites each of 0.1 mL of cidofovir in concentrations of 75 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, and 0 mg/mL. Animals were monitored for 6 weeks, and then injection sites excised and evaluated for histopathologic changes in epithelium, perichondrium, and cartilage. Results A positive dose–response relationship existed for gross skin changes; however, there was no dose–response relationship for severity of change in the epithelium. There was a temporal component to gross changes, demonstrating peak incidence and severity between 2 and 3 weeks after injection, with resolution of most changes within the 6-week study period. There was an increased likelihood of cartilage change when injecting cidofovir, but no clear relationship with injected dose. Conclusion We report the first evaluation of the local effects of cidofovir injection on cartilage. The results of this study using a rabbit model suggest that delayed skin changes or histopathologic change in the cartilage may be expected in approximately one third of sites injected. Although there was a statistical likelihood for increased local change after cidofovir injection, there was no correlation of severity with injected dose. Significance Higher doses of cidofovir than commonly are used in the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis may be safe to use, although the effects of repeat application and long-term complications are not yet evident. EBM Rating B-2
PROBABILITY, WAITING-TIME RESULTS FOR PATTERN AND FREQUENCY QUOTAS IN THE SAME INVERSE SAMPLING PROBLEM VIA THE DIRICHLET*

Several papers have been written recently on the study of probabilities and waiting-time questions associated with inverse sampling schemes in a multinomial setting. The stopping rule used has been either reaching some frequency (or quota) in a particular cell and/or reaching some run of length r in some other cell disjoint from the former cell. In some cases we considered frequency quotas for some cells and run quotas for other cells in the same problem and stopped (for example) with the soonest of these events. In the present paper we replace the run quota by its natural (but by no means trivial) generalization: the attainment of some preassigned pattern. The pattern problem has been studied by different authors, most notably by Feller [2], but none of these authors have combined different patterns and frequency quotas in the same problem or have given explicit formulas for either case. Hence our general results can be checked against published results for special cases that are already in the literature. In this paper, we allow several different pattern quotas and/or several frequency quotas in the same problem, provided they each involve disjoint cells; one (so-called) slack cell without any quota is also included. Explicit, simple, exact formulas are given in most cases. The stopping rule of principal interest is to wait for the soonest of all quotas; the Dirichlet integral is the principal tool used in the solution. Our formulation also allows several quota-free cells to be present and our results include the derivation of the probability generating function (pgf) and joint moments for the frequencies of quota-free cells at stopping time. It is interesting to note that in the Case 3 (described below) the correlation of frequencies is positive for all pairs of cell frequencies at stopping time, unlike the usual multinomial structure (with fixed sample size) where the answer is always negative.
Antilisterial Effects of Gravinol-S Grape Seed Extract at Low Levels in Aqueous Media and Its Potential Application as a Produce Wash

Abstract Grape seed extract (GSE) is a rich source of proanthocyanidins, a class of natural antioxidants reported to have wide-ranging bioactivity as anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antimicrobial agents. The ability of GSE to rapidly inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in vitro and the generally recognized as safe status of GSE make this extract an attractive candidate for control of Listeria in or on foods. Previously, GSE has been used at relatively high concentrations (1%) in complex food matrices and in combination with other antimicrobials. We sought to characterize the antilisterial effects of a commercial GSE preparation (Gravinol-S) alone at much lower concentrations (0.00015 to 0.125%) in aqueous solution and to test its possible use as an antimicrobial wash for fresh produce surfaces. Based on broth microdilution tests, the MICs of GSE against L. monocytogenes Scott A and Listeria innocua ATCC 33090 were as low as 50 and 78 mug ml(-1), respectively. GSE was evaluated in 0.85% saline against live cells of L. innocua via flow cytometry, using propidium iodide as a probe for membrane integrity. At sub-MICs and after only 2 min of exposure, treatment with GSE caused rapid permeabilization and clumping of L. innocua, results that we confirmed for L. monocytogenes using fluorescence microscopy and Live/Dead staining. At higher concentrations (0.125%), GSE reduced viable cell counts for L. monocytogenes by approximately 2 log units within 2 min on tomato surfaces. These results suggest the potential for GSE as a natural control of Listeria spp. on low-complexity foods such as tomatoes.
Is Your Layout-Density Verification Exact?—A Fast Exact Deep Submicrometer Density Calculation Algorithm

As the device shapes keep shrinking, the designs are more sensitive to manufacturing processes. In order to improve performance predictability and yield, mask-layout uniformity/evenness is highly desired, and it is usually measured by the feature densities within defined feasible ranges determined by the manufacturing-process design rules. To address the density-control problem, one fundamental problem is how to calculate density accurately and efficiently. In this paper, we propose a fast exact algorithm to identify the maximum/minimum density for a given layout. Compared with the existing exact algorithms, our algorithm reduces the running time from days/long hours to a few minutes/seconds. Moreover, it is even faster than the existing approximate algorithms in the literature.
Desarrollo desigual y combinado y crisis ecológica

Las formas de desarrollo desigual y combinado impactan directamente en los procesos de contaminacion y agotamiento de los recursos naturales en la sociedad globalizada. Los paises del Sur no poseen instituciones capaces de ofrecer resistencia a los procesos socioeconomicos de acumulacion del capital, tanto a escala regional como global, y padecen los grandes efectos de la crisis ecologica contemporanea
Prophylactic therapy with Fibrogammin® P is associated with a decreased incidence of bleeding episodes: a retrospective study

Summary. Congenital factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency is an extremely rare, yet potentially life-threatening, bleeding disorder, with a 30% rate of spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage. Routine prophylactic management is recommended for all individuals with clinically relevant (FXIII) deficiency and for all symptomatic individuals with congenital factor deficiency. Fibrogammin P is a purified, pasteurized concentrate of FXIII that appears to carry negligible risk of viral transmission, unlike other unprocessed products containing FXIII. An ongoing Phase II/III study of Fibrogammin P in patients with congenital FXIII deficiency is being conducted to evaluate the prophylactic efficacy and long-term safety of this product. Using retrospective chart review data from subjects enrolled in the Phase II/III study, the current analysis was designed to compare spontaneous bleedevent rates prior to and after the initiation of Fibrogammin P prophylaxis. Seven subjects were evaluable for comparison, having received no other prophylactic FXIII-containing product during the 24 months prior to study entry. The mean annual number of spontaneous bleeds was 2.5 events per year prior to Fibrogammin P prophylaxis and 0.2 events per year during Fibrogammin P prophylaxis (P = 0.01). Patients reported no severe bleeds during Fibrogammin P therapy. This small sample supports a consistent and clinically meaningful reduction in spontaneous bleeding with prophylactic use of Fibrogammin P.
SUPERCAVITATION AND AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH -SPEED UNDERWATER VEHICLES

In this paper, the phenomenon of supercavitation is presented. Supercavitatio n is the enclosure of a submerged body by a large bubble or cavity of water vapor. At high enough speeds, as water flows over a submerged body, the dynamic pressure drops to the vapor pressure of water. Vaporization occurs and the body travels inside a ga seous cavity. Since the viscosity of the vapor is so much lower than that of water, the drag is greatly reduced, and much higher speeds are attainable.
Multi-stage G-band (140-220 GHz) InP HBT amplifiers

We report three-stage monolithic amplifiers for the 140-220 GHz frequency band. Two designs have been fabricated in an InAlAs/InGaAs transferred-substrate HBT technology. The first design exhibited a small-signal gain of 12.0 dB at 170 GHz, and the second design exhibited a gain of 8.5 dB at 195 GHz.
Building a "New Latino" in the Post-Network Era: mun2 and the Reconfiguration of the U.S. Latino Audience

Significant developments in communications technologies and industry practice have led to a proliferation of regional and global television networks targeting U.S. Latinos. Focusing on the bilingual network mun2, I examine the degree to which traditional iterations of the audience are challenged. I focus on mun2 because of its relationship with Comcast and NBC Universal, from which it draws a variety of material resources. Using a case study approach, I found that mun2 defines its audience along three dimensions: biculturality, youth, and proficiency in emerging technologies. I argue that the construction of the audience has been reconfigured to better align with NBC Universal’s expanding product portfolio and its strategic vision of distributing television programming across multiple platforms.
Local pressure oscillation and boundary treatment for the 8-node quadrilateral

The 8-node (serendipity) velocity basis with C° bilinear pressure is a popular element but has been observed to yield poor pressures. We present some details of numerical experiments that indicate the local nature of the error and the effects of mesh refinement, increasing Reynolds number and regularity of the data. This leads to a strategy for appropriately modifying the data near the corners that is effective in improving the computed pressure approximation.
Interval likelihood ratios: Another advantage for the evidence-based diagnostician

Emergency physicians are often confronted with making diagnostic decisions on the basis of a test result represented on a continuous scale. When the results of continuous data are expressed as binary outcomes using a single cutoff, loss of information and distortion may occur. In this setting, interval likelihood ratios provide a distinct advantage in interpretation over those based on a dichotomized sensitivity and specificity. Dividing the data into intervals uses more of the information contained in the data and allows the clinician to more appropriately interpret the test results and to make valid clinical decisions. This article illustrates the advantages of interval likelihood ratios with examples and demonstrates how to calculate them on the basis of different data formats. Authors and journals need to be encouraged to report the results of studies of performance of diagnostic tests using interval ranges rather than simple dichotomization when the tests involve continuous variables.
Mechanisms of tumor-induced hypoglycemia with intraabdominal hemangiopericytoma

The association of hypoglycemia with nonislet cell tumors is well recognized and in nearly all instances has been related to the production of hormones with insulin-like activity. To determine the mechanism of such tumor-induced hypoglycemia and the response to pharmacological intervention, we studied a 54-yr-old man with refractory hypoglycemia and a large intraabdominal hemangiopericytoma. During a supervised fast, plasma glucose decreased to 2.2 mmol/L. Circulating insulin (< 7 pmol/L), C peptide (< 0.04 nmol/L), and GH levels (< 0.6 microgram/L) were all undetectable, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; 5 nmol/L) was low, IGF-II was in the normal range (87 nmol/L), and free IGF-II and big IGF-II (E1-21 fragment) were elevated at 18 and 142 nmol/L, respectively. On another day, after maintaining euglycemia overnight with a 20% dextrose infusion, a euglycemic (5.0-5.5 mmol/L) glucose clamp study using [3-3H]glucose tracer infusion combined with arteriovenous leg catheterization was performed in the postabsorptive basal state and during 3 h of crystalline somatostatin infusion (0.08-0.24 pmol/kg min). In the postabsorptive state at euglycemia, free IGF-II and big IGF-II remained elevated at 16 and 162 nmol/L, respectively. Whole body glucose disposal was elevated at 21.1 mumol/kg.min, whereas the rate of glucose infusion was 12.1 mumol/kg.min, and depatic glucose output was 7.8 mumol/kg.min. The leg arterio-venous plasma glucose difference was increased at 0.6 mmol/L, as was leg glucose uptake at 203.9 mumol/min. After 3 h of somatostatin infusion, both free and big IGF-II decreased by 35-40% to 10 and 102 nmol/L, respectively. Whole body glucose disposal also decreased to near normal (12.8 mumol/kg.min), whereas leg arterio-venous plasma glucose difference and leg glucose uptake became negligible. The plasma glucose level remained at 5.0-5.5 mmol/L despite a marked fall in hepatic glucose output to 2.9 mumol/kg.min and a decrease in glucose infusion rate to 8.7 mumol/kg.min. During somatostatin treatment, GH remained suppressed at less than 0.6 microgram/L, and glucagon decreased from 99 to 78 ng/L. In this patient with a hemangiopericytoma, hypoglycemia was associated with increased circulating insulin-like activity from elevated free and big IGF-II, which stimulated glucose uptake primarily into muscle tissue. A continuous infusion of crystalline somatostatin effectively reduced the elevated levels of IGF-II and glucose uptake, but was unable to adequately control hypoglycemia without the simultaneous infusion of exogenous glucose or glucagon.
Evaluation of magnetic insulation in SF 6 filled regions

The use of magnetic fields perpendicular to quasi-static electric fields to deter electrical breakdown in vacuum, referred to as magnetic insulation, is well understood and used in numerous applications. Here we define quasi-static as applied high-voltage pulse widths much longer than the transit time of light across the electrode gap. For this report we extend the concept of magnetic insulation to include the inhibition of electrical breakdown in gases. Ionization and electrical breakdown of gases in crossed electric and magnetic fields is only a moderately explored research area. For sufficiently large magnetic fields an electron does not gain sufficient energy over a single cycloidal path to ionize the gas molecules. However, it may be possible for the electron to gain sufficient energy for ionization over a number of collisions. To study breakdown in a gas, the collective behavior of an avalanche of electrons in the formation of a streamer in the gas is required. Effective reduced electric field (EREF) theory, which considers the bulk properties of an electron avalanche, has been successful at describing the influence of a crossed magnetic field on the electric field required for breakdown in gases; however, available data to verify the theory has been limited to low gas pressures and weak electronegative gases. High power devices, for example explosively driven magnetic flux compressors, operate at electrical field stresses, magnetic fields, and insulating gas pressures nearly two orders of magnitude greater than published research for crossed fields in gases. The primary limitation of conducting experiments at higher pressures, e.g. atmospheric, is generating the large magnetic fields, 10's Tesla, and electric fields, ≫100 kV/cm, required to see a significant effect. In this paper we describe measurements made with a coaxial geometry diode, form factor of 1.2, operating at peak electrical field stress of 220 kV/cm, maximum magnetic field of 20 Tesla, and SF 6 pressure of 760 torr.
Cannabis Withdrawal Among Non-Treatment-Seeking Adult Cannabis Users

This study investigates the clinical significance of a cannabis withdrawal syndrome in 104 adult, non-treatment-seeking, primarily cannabis users who reported at least one serious attempt to stop using cannabis. Retrospective self-report data were obtained on eighteen potential cannabis withdrawal symptoms derived from the literature, including co-occurrence, time course, and any actions taken to relieve the symptom. Study findings provide evidence for the clinical significance of a cannabis withdrawal syndrome, based on the high prevalence and co-occurrence of multiple symptoms that follow a consistent time course and that prompt action by the subjects to obtain relief, including serving as negative reinforcement for cannabis use.
Image-based 3D mapping of rebar location for automated assessment of safe drilling areas prior to placing embedments in concrete bridge decks

This paper presents a new image-based approach for 3D mapping the locations of the rebar and embedded components in a railway bridge deck prior to placement of concrete. Our approach enables practitioners to quickly and automatically identify where the rebar and other underlying components are within the bridge decks, locate safe and unsafe drilling area, and create a valuable documentation for future retrofit or rehabilitation of the concrete bridge decks. In the proposed method, digital images collected along the rebar cage prior to placement of concrete are processed to automatically generate a 3D point cloud. Using a set of control points, the reconstructed point cloud is transformed into the site coordinate system. Next, a pattern recognition algorithm identifies the rebar locations. A cellbased map of the underlying structure is generated and the occupancies of the cells are automatically detected and visualized using color. Impact of the number of images and control points on the accuracy and density of the image-based 3D reconstruction, registration, and automated recognition of the rebar locations and safe/unsafe cells are studied in detail. Results of our experiments show the promise of applying this low-cost approach in practice.
Controlling pandemic influenza through vaccination programs

Despite its high impact on global mortality, morbidity and cost, seasonal influenza has been regarded as a self-limiting and controllable disease process. With the recent outbreaks of human infection owing to the virulent H5N1 avian influenza virus, the occurrence of the next flu pandemic appears to be closer than ever. With the lessons learnt from the three pandemics of the last century, we are preparing for this. Although not totally preventable, it appears to be possible to decrease the morbidity and mortality from influenza during a pandemic by taking appropriate and timely public health measures. This article aims to summarize the problem at hand and the possible tools available to at least offset the potentially massive impact of such a pandemic.
Mechanochemical remodeling of synthetic polymers

In the past five years, the field of covalent polymer mechanochemistry has experienced a renaissance. Once limited to the simple scission of polymer chains, mechanical force can now be used to produce a wide array of productive chemistry. These outcomes have both challenged and supported classically held views of chemical reactivity. The impact of these findings has relevance in both synthetic chemistry and material science. Here, we review our efforts to exploit mechanochemical coupling to produce constructive and stress-responsive covalent chemistry in polymer materials.
Ageing, autoimmunity and arthritis: T-cell senescence and contraction of T-cell repertoire diversity – catalysts of autoimmunity and chronic inflammation

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), like many other autoimmune syndromes, is a disease of adults, with the highest incidence rates reported in the elderly. The immune system undergoes profound changes with advancing age that are beginning to be understood and that need to be incorporated into the pathogenetic models of RA. The age-related decline in thymic function causes extensive remodeling of the T-cell system. Age-dependent changes in T-cell homeostasis are accelerated in patients with RA. The repertoire of naive and memory T cells is less diverse, possibly as a result of thymic insufficiency, and it is biased towards autoreactive cells. Presenescent T cells emerge that are resistant to apoptosis and that often expand to large clonal populations. These cells are under the regulatory control of nonconventional costimulatory molecules, display potent effector functions, and appear to be critical in the synovial and extra-articular manifestations of RA.
The Perinate Skull of Byronosaurus (Troodontidae) with Observations on the Cranial Ontogeny of Paravian Theropods

Abstract The skulls of two perinate paravians from Ukhaa Tolgod, Djadoktha Formation, Mongolia, are described here. The skulls are nearly unique in their combination of ontogenetic age and preservational quality and provide us with the first look at the morphology of such important anatomical regions as the rostrum, palate, and braincase at or near the onset of postnatal development in a nonavian paravian coelurosaur. Based on a number of derived characters, the skulls are allocated to a derived position within Troodontidae that is outside the clade consisting of Saurornithoides mongoliensis, Saurornithoides junior, Troodon formosus, and probably Sinornithoides youngi. A single synapomorphy, presence of a lateral maxillary groove, supports the Ukhaa perinates as Byronosaurus. The comparative morphology of the Ukhaa perinates with adult troodontids indicates a number of significant postnatal transformations (e.g., elongation and flattening of the rostrum, increase in the number of maxillary and dentary tee...
Dyspnea During Daily Activities in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Grandas NF, Jain NB, Denckla JB, Brown R, Tun CG, Gallagher ME, Garshick E. Dyspnea during daily activities in chronic spinal cord injury. Objective To assess factors associated with breathlessness in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) during daily activities. Design Cross-sectional survey. Settings Veterans Affairs SCI service and the community. Participants Four hundred forty-one participants 1 or more years post-SCI, and without acute illness, were recruited between 1994 and 2003 and were categorized according to their ability to walk unassisted, walk with an aid, or to move about by either hand-propelled wheelchair or motorized wheelchair (MWC). Interventions Assessment of injury extent, respiratory symptoms, cigarette smoking, comorbid medical conditions, and spirometry. Main Outcome Measures Breathlessness during talking, eating, or dressing. Results Breathlessness was more common in MWC users (20/85 users, 24%) than in nonusers (20/356, 6%). The main activity associated with breathlessness in 15 MWC users was talking (18%). In MWC users, the risk of breathlessness was related to lifetime cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR]=1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.03 per pack year), and reports of chronic cough (OR=7.8; 95% CI, 2.0–32.7), and wheeze (OR=3.5; 95% CI, 1.04–13.6). SCI level, percentage of predicted forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and maximal inspiratory pressures were not related to breathlessness. Conclusions Breathlessness during selected daily activities (most commonly talking) was greatest in SCI participants who were most impaired with regard to mobility and was associated with reports of coughing, wheezing, and cigarette smoking.
Evaluation of an Inpatient Computerized Medication Reconciliation System

We designed the Pre-Admission Medication List (PAML) Builder medication reconciliation application and implemented it at two academic hospitals. We asked 1,714 users to complete a survey of their satisfaction with the application and analyzed factors associated with user efficiency. The survey was completed by 626 (36.5%) users. Most (64%) responders agreed that medication reconciliation improves patient care. Improvement requests included better medication information sources and propagation of medication information to order entry. Sixty-nine percent of admitting clinicians reported a typical time to build a PAML of <10 min. Decreased reported time to build a PAML was associated with reported experience with the application and ease of use but not the average number of medications on the PAML. Most users agreed that medication reconciliation improves patient care but requested tighter integration of the different stages of the medication reconciliation process. Further training may be helpful in improving user efficiency.
Growth strategies for large and high quality single crystal diamond substrates

Abstract The high pressure (130–240 Torr) and high power density microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPACVD) of single crystal diamond (SCD) substrates is investigated. Locally controlled growth strategies that enable the synthesis of large (~ 5 mm) and thick (200 μm–1.3 mm) CVD free standing SCD substrates are presented. Two process control methods, i.e. control of the input power level versus time, and the precise control of the substrate holder geometry when combined play an important role in obtaining high quality free standing single crystal diamond (SCD) substrates. The performance of one distinct substrate holder design, the “pocket holder”, is presented in detail and is compared to the performance of the more commonly used open holder. A comparison of these two holder designs operating in the high pressure SCD synthesis process environment reveals the advantages of the pocket holder. The pocket holder design not only aids in the growth of thick SCD substrates when operating within the reactor's safe and efficient operating regime, but also enhances their in situ lateral growth. Processes are described which enhance the growth of the SCD surface area while simultaneously reducing the growth of the polycrystalline diamond rim that typically surrounds the synthesized SCD. Using such methods at 240 Torr MPACVD SCD plates and SCD cubes are synthesized at high growth rates.
Further investigations into the efficacy of Neomolgus capillatus (Kramer) (Acarina: Bdellidae) as a predator of Sminthurus viridis (L.) (Collembola: Sminthuridae) in Tasmania

Efficacy data collected from dairy pastures in northern and north-eastern Tasmania showed that the addition of the spiny snout mite, Neomolgus capillatus, into the established predator complex resulted in effective control of autumn populations of the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis, at all study sites. Mean reductions in S. viridis density of about 93% were recorded. However, the control of spring populations of S. viridis was variable and less effective. Although mean density reductions of approximately 86% were recorded, N. capillatus and other mite predators became active too late in the season to prevent S. viridis reaching damaging levels. These results support those of a previous study conducted in far north-western Tasmania, indicating that the variation in seasonal efficacy of N. capillatus is the same throughout Tasmanian dairy pastures.