cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Microenvironment on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapeutic Potency: From Planar Culture to Microcarriers

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a promising candidate in cell therapy as they exhibit multilineage differentiation, homing to the site of injury, and secretion of trophic factors that facilitate tissue healing and/or modulate immune response. As a result, hMSC-derived products have attracted growing interests in preclinical and clinical studies. The development of hMSC culture platforms for large-scale biomanufacturing is necessary to meet the requirements for late-phase clinical trials and future commercialization. Microcarriers in stirred-tank bioreactors have been widely utilized in large-scale expansion of hMSCs for translational applications because of a high surface-to-volume ratio compared to conventional 2D planar culture. However, recent studies have demonstrated that microcarrier-expanded hMSCs differ from dish- or flask-expanded cells in size, morphology, proliferation, viability, surface markers, gene expression, differentiation potential, and secretome profile which may lead to altered therapeutic potency. Therefore, understanding the bioprocessing parameters that influence hMSC therapeutic efficacy is essential for the optimization of microcarrier-based bioreactor system to maximize hMSC quantity without sacrificing quality. In this review, biomanufacturing parameters encountered in planar culture and microcarrier-based bioreactor culture of hMSCs are compared and discussed with specific focus on cell-adhesion surface (e.g., discontinuous surface, underlying curvature, microcarrier stiffness, porosity, surface roughness, coating, and charge) and the dynamic microenvironment in bioreactor culture (e.g., oxygen and nutrients, shear stress, particle collision, and aggregation). The influence of dynamic culture in bioreactors on hMSC properties is also reviewed in order to establish connection between bioprocessing and stem cell function. This review addresses fundamental principles and concepts for future design of biomanufacturing systems for hMSC-based therapy.
The central nervous system of whip spiders (Amblypygi): Large mushroom bodies receive olfactory and visual input

Whip spiders (Amblypygi) are known for their nocturnal navigational abilities, which rely on chemosensory and tactile cues and, to a lesser degree, on vision. Unlike true spiders, the first pair of legs in whip spiders is modified into extraordinarily long sensory organs (antenniform legs) covered with thousands of mechanosensory, olfactory, and gustatory sensilla. Olfactory neurons send their axons through the leg nerve into the corresponding neuromere of the central nervous system, where they terminate on a particularly large number (about 460) of primary olfactory glomeruli, suggesting an advanced sense of smell. From the primary glomeruli, olfactory projection neurons ascend to the brain and terminate in the mushroom body calyx on a set of secondary olfactory glomeruli, a feature that is not known from olfactory pathways of other animals. Another part of the calyx receives visual input from the secondary visual neuropil (the medulla). This calyx region is composed of much smaller glomeruli ("microglomeruli"). The bimodal input and the exceptional size of their mushroom bodies may support the navigational capabilities of whip spiders. In addition to input to the mushroom body, we describe other general anatomical features of the whip spiders' central nervous system.
A practical approach to wave energy modeling and control

Abstract The potential for control design to dramatically improve the economic viability of wave energy has generated a great deal of interest and excitement. However, for a number of reasons, the promised benefits from better control designs have yet to be widely realized by wave energy devices and wave energy remains a relatively nascent technology. This brief paper summarizes a simple, yet powerful approach to wave energy dynamics modeling, and subsequent control design based on impedance matching. Our approach leverages the same concepts that are exploited by a simple FM radio to achieve a feedback controller for wave energy devices that approaches optimal power absorption. If fully utilized, this approach can deliver immediate and consequential reductions to the cost of wave energy. Additionally, this approach provides the necessary framework for control co-design of a wave energy converter, in which an understanding of the control logic allows for synchronous design of the device control system and hardware.
Evaluating the potential of flowering plants for enhancing predatory hoverflies (Syrphidae) for biological control of Diaphorina citri (Liviidae) in California

Abstract Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a notorious citrus pest that vectors a bacterium that causes huanglongbing, a lethal citrus disease. Studies evaluating the potential of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), alyssum (Lobularia maritima), phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) as insectary plants for conservation biological control of D. citri were conducted in California citrus orchards. Field studies assessed flowering phenology and attractiveness to hoverflies and other natural enemies, hoverfly oviposition on D. citri colonies, and the effect of potted alyssum and predation from hoverflies on the mortality of D. citri nymphs. Laboratory studies quantified lifetime consumption of D. citri nymphs by individual Allograpta obliqua (Diptera: Syrphidae) larvae, the only hoverfly species attacking D. citri in the field. Results indicated that alyssum and buckwheat possessed a short sowing to flowering time (30–33 days when sown in March) and attracted 10–20 times more syrphids than California poppy. No hoverflies were observed feeding from phacelia. California poppy was marginally attractive to hoverflies, and failed to attract ladybugs, parasitoids, or predatory wasps. When alyssum was present in an unsprayed citrus orchard, the number of hoverfly eggs laid on D. citri colonies and abundance of predators was 3.5 times and 2.5 times higher, respectively, when compared to control plots lacking alyssum. Consequently, 10% more D. citri nymphs survived to adulthood in the control plots compared to alyssum plots. In the laboratory, individual A. obliqua larvae consumed, on average, 421 D. citri nymphs before pupation. Results demonstrate that A. obliqua is an important and voracious predator of D. citri nymphs, and that alyssum and buckwheat show potential as insectary plants for conservation biological control of D. citri.
Complex Texts or Leveled Readers for the Primary Grades? Yes and Yes!

This manuscript describes the current debate about the use of leveled readers during literacy instruction. Some experts claim that leveled readers are overused in classrooms, at the expense of more complex texts. As a result, students may lack exposure to sophisticated vocabulary and varied text structures. In contrast, other experts assert that leveled readers are needed to ensure that students are taught in developmentally appropriate ways, and that optimal learning occurs when these texts are used during reading instruction. The purpose of this manuscript is to shed light on both sides of the debate, and to ultimately help teachers integrate diverse instructional materials into their teaching repertoire.
Wilding the domestic: Camp servants and glamping in British India:

How can a jungle be domestic, and a camp servant be a domestic servant? This article argues for a reconceptualisation of historical forests and jungles of India: spaces usually conceived of as wild...
Bounded Rationality in Byzantine Sensors under Attacks

In this paper, we investigate the behavior of agents with bounded rationality, attacking a set of stochastic sensors measuring the state of a binary event. The coordination problem between the attackers is formulated as a multi-player non-zero-sum one-shot game. Each attacker aims to maximize the probability that a certain detector will produce an erroneous estimate of the true event, while they remain stealthy. To better predict the outcome of this game, we categorize the players based on the number of strategic thinking steps they will take. Each level-k attacker behaves based on subjective beliefs of the others' behaviors, which are quantified via a Poisson distribution over the lower levels. The expected best responses for the type of each attacker are derived. The limiting conditions as the cognitive levels increase, as well as when the attackers fully coordinate, are shown to converge to the Nash equilibrium.
Paper Cadavers: The Archives of Dictatorship in Guatemala

In Paper Cadavers, an inside account of the astonishing discovery and rescue of Guatemala's secret police archives, Kirsten Weld probes the politics of memory, the wages of the Cold War, and the stakes of historical knowledge production. After Guatemala's bloody thirty-six years of civil war (1960-1996), silence and impunity reigned. That is, until 2005, when human rights investigators stumbled on the archives of the country's National Police, which, at 75 million pages, proved to be the largest trove of secret state records ever found in Latin America. The unearthing of the archives renewed fierce debates about history, memory, and justice. In Paper Cadavers, Weld explores Guatemala's struggles to manage this avalanche of evidence of past war crimes, providing a firsthand look at how postwar justice activists worked to reconfigure terror archives into implements of social change. Tracing the history of the police files as they were transformed from weapons of counterinsurgency into tools for post-conflict reckoning, Weld sheds light on the country's fraught transition from war to an uneasy peace, reflecting on how societies forget and remember political violence.
Long Noncoding RNA Functions as a Regulator for Steroid Hormone Receptor-Related Breast and Prostate Cancers

Steroid hormone receptors have essential roles in various biological processes, including pathogenesis, invasion, and metastatic behavior of breast and prostate cancer. The precise and dynamic regulation of steroid hormone receptors, members of the nuclear receptor (NR) gene family, remains an essential, evolving question. Here we summarize several recent studies that have uncovered the roles of a new layer of NR regulators, long noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). We present representative examples to demonstrate the diverse roles of ncRNAs, including long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), in the context of the NR functional network, focusing on the molecular mechanism, biological significance, and clinical relevance of these lncRNA regulators. Several breast/prostate cancer-associated lncRNA regulators not yet directly linked to NRs are also included in this chapter.
Real time software for the control and monitoring of DIII-D system interlocks

This paper describes the real time, multi-tasking, multi-user software and communications of the E-Power Supply System Integrated Controller (EPSSIC) for the DIII-D tokamak. EPSSIC performs the DIII-D system wide go/no-go determination for the plasma sequencing. This paper discusses the data module handling, task work load balancing, and communications requirements. Operational experience with the new EPSSIC and recent improvements to this system are also described.
Selective Biliary Obstruction: A Model for the Study of Lipid Metabolism in Cholestasis

The metabolic changes associated with cholestasis are diverse and may be related either directly or indirectly to failure of bile secretion. Thus, abnormalities in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism could result from the effects of: (1) failure of lipids to be secreted into bile; (2) qualitative or quantitative changes in the lipoproteins of plasma or intestinal lymph; or (3) altered liver cell function not directly attributable to the first two factors. In this paper, a method is presented which allows these factors to be analyzed separately by permitting obstructed and unobstructed liver tissue from the same animal to be compared in regard to structure and function. In this model, selective biliary obstruction, light microscopic changes consistent with cholestasis are found in the obstructed median lobe but not in the unobstructed right lobe. By electron microscopy, osmiophilic material is present in the canaliculi on the obstructed side, while on the unobstructed side the prominent Golgi apparatus, moderately dilated canaliculi, and intact microvilli suggest increased bile secretory activity. Tissue concentrations of total and free cholesterol and of phospholipids are similar in unobstructed and obstructed hepatic lobes. In serum, levels of cholesterol, phospholipid, and alkaline phosphatase are significantly elevated; an abnormal lipoprotein, characteristic of biliary obstruction, also appears. It is anticipated that selective biliary obstruction will be useful in the experimental approach to further elucidate the abnormalities in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in cholestasis, and the process of bile secretion in general.
State-of-the-art cross-sectional liver imaging: beyond lesion detection and characterization

Cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is routinely used to detect and diagnose liver lesions; however, these examinations can provide additional important information. The improvement of equipment and techniques has allowed outstanding evaluation of the vascular and biliary anatomy, which is practicable in most routine examinations. Anatomical variants may exclude patients from certain therapeutic options and may be the cause of morbidity or mortality after surgery or interventional procedures. Diffuse liver disease, such as steatosis, hemochromatosis, or fibrosis, must be diagnosed and quantified. Usually these conditions are silent until the late stages, and imaging plays an important role in detecting them early. Additionally, a background of diffuse disease may interfere in a focal lesion systematic reasoning. The diagnostic probability of a particular nodule varies according to the background liver disease. Nowadays, most diffuse liver diseases can be easily and accurately quantified by imaging, which has allowed better understanding of these diseases and improved patient management. Finally, cross-sectional imaging can calculate total and partial liver volumes and estimate the future liver remnant after hepatectomy. This information helps to select patients for portal vein embolization and reduces postoperative complications. Use of a specific hepatic contrast agent on magnetic resonance imaging, in addition to improving detection and characterization of focal lesions, provides functional global and segmental information about the liver parenchyma.
Boundedly rational and emotional agents cooperation, trust and rumor

Our work focuses on understanding the relationship among humans, agents, tasks, and the social situations in which they are engaged. From this, we seek to establish the elemental basis of social behavior and group phenomena, and make predictions about them. Our guide for this effort is the Model Social Agent matrix.
Imagining the northwest: a digital library partnership in Oregon

This paper documents the development of a digital library of still images created by photographer Lee Moorhouse on the Umatilla Indian Reservation at the turn of the 20th century. The University of Oregon Libraries, working with the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, developed a Dublin Core compliant metadata structure. The metadata structure accommodates descriptive metadata from different cultural perspectives as well as technical and administrative metadata about multiple manifestations of images. The paper also details the development of scanning and color management methodologies, the design and application of controlled vocabularies, and the implementation of the metadata structure in the CONTENTdm Software Suite. The authors discuss the challenges of creating a flexible and interoperable metadata structure and explore the use of XSLT as a mechanism for transforming metadata exported from CONTENTdm into more granular formats. The paper concludes with a discussion of recommended best practices and future directions. The project is currently in progress and will be completed in Fall 2003.
Delayed Cord Clamping: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program In evaluating adverse outcomes in our hospital, we recognized an opportunity to affect the rate of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in infants born before 32 weeks gestation. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses and neonatologists felt that preterm infants could benefit from delayed cord clamping (DCC) to reduce IVH rates by nearly 50%. Staff from labor and delivery (L&D) and the NICU partnered to develop and implement a process for DCC with the end goal of improving patient outcomes. Proposed Change To ensure success, an interdisciplinary team consisting of NICU and L&D nurses, neonatologists, obstetricians, and respiratory therapists was formed to develop a standardized process for cesarean and vaginal births. Implementation steps included establishing a policy for discussing essential steps needed to maintain normothermia of the infant, creating simulation videos for training on the process, and educating all physicians and staff within L&D and NICU. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation A standardized approach to DCC was established by the multidisciplinary team. Using the Iowa model, benchmarking, and a current literature review, a policy was developed that included a clear set of exclusion criteria for all very‐low‐birth‐weight (VLBW) infants. We set a specific time frame for the delay in clamping the cord and most importantly established clear communication guidelines for prompting the delivery team to next steps. The team worked together to discuss obstacles faced during vaginal and cesarean births in ensuring normothermia of these infants. The team walked through the proposed process in a simulated environment to ensure that all barriers had been considered and developed a simulation video to disseminate consistent training for the L&D and NICU staff. Because of the work of this multidisciplinary team, the hospital has experienced great success with implementing a consistent DCC process. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurse involvement began at inception of this project and has continued through current implementation. The NICU staff actively communicated time frames to the delivery team, and labor and delivery nurses regulated the delivery room temperature and ensured consistent communication throughout each preterm birth. Although delayed cord clamping did not increase staff workload, it was a process change for the nurses and physicians. The team provided input to perfect the process and balance safety with practicality and efficiency.
Genomic DNA Released by Dying Cells Induces the Maturation of APCs

Mature APCs play a key role in the induction of Ag-specific immunity. This work examines whether genomic DNA released by dying cells provides a stimulus for APC maturation. Double-stranded but not single-stranded genomic DNA triggered APC to up-regulate expression of MHC class I/II and various costimulatory molecules. Functionally, dsDNA enhanced APC function in vitro and improved primary cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo. These effects were dependent on the length and concentration of the dsDNA but were independent of nucleotide sequence. The maturation of APC induced by dsDNA may promote host survival by improving immune surveillance at sites of tissue injury/infection.
Thermophysical property measurements using an encapsulated bead thermistor; Applications to liquids and insulation materials

A technique for simultaneously measuring thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity was evaluated for applications with insulation materials and liquids. The thermophysical properties are determined from a single, transient measurement. The measurement apparatus employs an encapsulated bead thermistor as the sensing probe. In this paper, the results from using a glass-encapsulated and a teflon-encapsulated bead thermistor are described.
Computer Gaming and Interactive Simulations for Learning: A Meta-Analysis.

Substantial disagreement exists in the literature regarding which educational technology results in the highest cognitive gain for learners. In an attempt to resolve this dispute, we conducted a me...
Deterministic versus nondeterministic time and lower bound problems

Because many problems of general interest have natural nondeterministic algorithms and because computers act deterministically, it is important to understand the relationship between deterministic and nondeterministic time. Specifically, it is important to understand how quickly a deterministic computing device can determine the outcome of a nondeterministic calculation. So far, we have no general techniques that work any better than trying all step-by-step simulations, an exponential method.The most famous question concerning determinism versus nondeterminism is the P = NP question. However, this is a different question than "what is the relationship?" and it is possible that significant progress about the relationship can be achieved without answering the Pv = NP question. Thanks to efficient reductions from Turing machine simulation to SAT, the relationship question can be posed as a question about SAT. The problem of proving a nontrivial lower bound on the time required to solve SAT is just an instance of the larger problem of proving lower bounds for any natural problem. It is suggested that a study of generic problems might be a fruitful approach toward insights on such problems.
Public information and conspecific nest parasitism in wood ducks: does nest density influence quality of information?

When nest fates are correlated among years, individuals may use information on the success of conspecifics (public information) to evaluate the relative quality of nest sites. In wood ducks, Aix sponsa , conspecific nest parasitism can reduce success at a nest site, especially at high nesting densities. Therefore, parasitism may influence the correlation of nest fates among years, as well as the quality and use of information. We examined the use of public information by wood ducks in four populations nesting in nestboxes placed at high (18–40 boxes/km) and low densities (5–9 boxes/km) along streams. Nest success was negatively related to density, but previous success did not consistently predict future success. Nests failed most frequently as a result of desertion, which was associated with nest parasitism. Nestbox use was higher for previously used boxes and at high-density sites. Clutch size, which we used as an index of parasitism, was higher in previously unsuccessful nests and was positively related to nestbox density. Thus, at high nestbox densities, nests that were abandoned, perhaps in response to parasitism, were also parasitized the following year and met with mixed success. Likewise, successful nest sites were not necessarily successful the following year. These findings might explain why wood ducks do not select nestboxes based on conspecific success. Contrary to results published for other cavity-nesting species, current success did not provide information about future success at sites with high densities of nestboxes.
Reconstructing ultrafast acoustic pulses using time-resolved x-ray diffraction

Time-resolved x-ray diffraction is utilized to visualize laser generated transient strain formation from nanometer-scaled laser-excited gold films into crystalline substrates. We directly invert the time-domain signals to reconstruct the spatio-temporal shape of the transient strain.
Unexpected Necessities — Inside Charity Hospital

The skyscraper housing the oldest continuously operating hospital in the country, New Orleans' Charity Hospital, was erected in 1936, to replace a centuries-old complex that had grown rapidly to keep pace with the health needs of impoverished southern Louisiana. In August 2005, shattered windows notwithstanding, this 20th-century Charity endured Hurricane Katrina's winds and survived. On Sunday, August 28, I was assigned as teaching physician for the infectious diseases unit on the ninth floor of the hospital. There were 18 patients in the unit, of whom 4 had active tuberculosis and 13 had opportunistic infections related to HIV infection and AIDS. . . .
Effects of prostaglandins E2 and F2α on lecithin biosynthesis by cultured lung cells

Transformed cells from human lung carcinoma (Line A549), resembling type II pneumocytes, were cultured in monolayer at 37 degrees C and incubated for five hours with 3H-choline and 14C-palmitate in the presence of various concentrations of prostaglandins (PGS) E2 and F2alpha. In the control (no PG) the level of % palmitate incorporation was 13.5 x as high as that of choline, after taking isotope dilution into account. Between the concentrations studied, 0.1 and 10 muM, both prostaglandins stimulated markedly the incorporation of both precursors, though choline up to 3 x better than palmitate. This was indicated by a change in the palmitate/choline incorporation ratio from 13.5 to as low as 4.2. At the lowest PG concentration, 0.1 muM, PGE2 was much more effective than PGF2alpha in stimulating the incorporation of both precursors.
Effectiveness of a Serpentine Inlet Duct Flow Control Technique at Design and Off-Design Simulated Flight Conditions

An experimental investigation was conducted in a static ground test facility to determine the effectiveness of a serpentine inlet duct active flow control technique for two simulated flight conditions. The experiments used a scaled model of a compact, diffusing, serpentine, engine inlet duct developed by Lockheed Martin with a flow control technique using air injection through microjets at 1% of the inlet mass flow rate. The experimental results, in the form of total pressure measurements at the exit of the inlet, were used to predict the stability of a compression system through a parallel compressor model. The inlet duct was tested at cruise condition and angle of attack flight cases to determine the change in inlet performance due to flow control at different flight conditions. The experiments were run at an inlet throat Mach number of 0.55 and a resulting Reynolds number, based on the hydraulic diameter at the inlet throat, of 1.76* 10 5 . For both of the flight conditions tested, the flow control technique was found to reduce inlet distortion at the exit of the inlet by as much as 70% while increasing total pressure recovery by as much as 2%. The inlet total pressure profile was input in a parallel compressor model to predict the changes in stability margin of a compression system due to flow control for design and off-design flight conditions. Without flow control, both cases show a reduction in stability margin of 70%. With the addition of flow control, each case was able to recover a significant portion (up to 55%) of the undistorted stability margin. This flow control technique has improved the operating range of a compression system as compared to the same inlet duct without flow control.
Correlation between photoresponse and current-voltage characteristics of BiSrCaCuO thin films

Abstract The correlation between current-voltage characteristics and photoresponse of granular BiSrCaCuO thin films has been studied. The bolometric response was dominant in the wide bias current above the critical temperature, where the response was linear. Meanwhile, photoresponse was nonlinear in a bias current below the critical temperature. The minimum current at which photoresponse was observed had the same dependence on temperature as did the critical current. This correlation agrees with the grain-boundary Josephson junction model.
Partial least squares-preconditioned importance sampling for fast circuit yield estimation

We propose a partial least squares (PLS)-preconditioned importance sampling method for yield estimation. The method makes use of the rotating vector obtained through PLS regression, and finds the boundary point along the vector by line search. A biased distribution is constructed around that point for subsequent importance sampling simulation. This method is shown to be much more stable and efficient than existing approaches and is validated via an SRAM example.
The effect of sensori-neural hearing loss on threshold-duration functions.

Previous findings on the threshold for tones as a function of their duration have suggested that such functions may be systematically affected by sensori-neural hearing losses of cochlear origin. T...
Spectral observation in a forced mixing layer

The dynamics of an incompressible forced mixing layer formed downstream of a splitter plate were investigated. In the regions of zero growth of the mixing layer, spectral analysis of the velocity time fluctuations revealed the existence of locations in which the time variations of the velocity are quasimonochromatic. In these locations the power spectral density distribution presents sideband frequencies associated with the most amplified frequency component, i.e. the forcing frequency and its harmonics. the sideband frequencies are symmetrically placed with respect to the carrier. The phenomenon also persists with forcing the layer at a frequency equal to either the lower or higher sideband frequency.
Response ofNp mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.) to pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) oviposition and extracts.

TheNp mutant of pea (Pisum sativum L.) is characterized by two physiological responses: growth of callus under pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L., Coleoptera: Bruchidae) oviposition on pods, and formation of neoplastic callus on pods of indoor-grown plants. Although these two responses are conditioned byNp, they are anatomically and physiologically distinguishable, based on sites of origin, distribution pattern, and sensitivity to plant hormones. Further characterization of the response to extracts of pea weevil showed that response of excised pods, measured by callus formation, was log-linear, and treatment with as little as 10−4 weevil equivalents produced a detectable response. Mated and unmated females contained similar amounts of callus-inducing compound(s), and immature females contained significantly less of the compound(s). Female vetch bruchids (Bruchus brachialis F., Coleoptera: Bruchidae), a related species, contained callus-inducing compound(s), but usually less than pea weevils on a per weevil basis. Males of both species contained less than 10% of the activity of the mature females. Extracts of female black vine weevils, a nonbruchid species, did not stimulate callus formation. Based on partitioning and TLC analysis, the biologically active constitutent(s) was stable and nonpolar. Thus, theNp allele probably conditions sensitivity to a nonpolar component of pea weevil oviposition as a mechanism of resistance to the weevil.
The Effects of co-solvents on the reaction of amino-terminated polystyrene with fullerene

Polymer tethered C60 fullerenes (PTFs) were synthesized by reacting amine terminated polystyrenes with fullerene under ambient conditions. While toluene was employed as the primary solvent in the synthesis, polar co-solvents were incorporated in various ratios to determine their effect on the reaction yield and nature of the product. The resultant PTFs were analyzed by GPC and UV–Vis spectroscopy to determine the number of adducts. The addition of a polar co-solvent was found to significantly affect the reaction rate, yield, and total number of substitutions on the fullerene. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2796–2800, 2013
Characterization of iridium oxide thin films deposited by pulsed-direct-current reactive sputtering

Thin films of iridium oxide were deposited on silicon and borosilicate glass substrates by pulsed-direct-current (pulsed-DC) reactive sputtering of iridium metal in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Optimum deposition conditions were identified in terms of plasma pulsing conditions, oxygen partial pressures, and substrate temperature. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. According to the results, it was possible to obtain films that are near-stoichiometric, smooth and uniform in texture. The films deposited without substrate heating were amorphous, and those deposited at substrate temperatures above 300 °C were found to have a homogeneous polycrystalline structure. The results also showed that pulsed-DC sputtered iridium oxide films were smoother and had lower micro-inclusions density than DC-sputtered films obtained under otherwise similar deposition conditions. This improvement in the film quality is at the expense of a tolerable decrease in the deposition rate.
Inflammatory cutaneous metastases from cloacogenic carcinoma of the anus.

BACKGROUND. There are a few tumors that exhibit inflammatory cutaneous metastases. This pattern is particularly difficult to diagnose since it can mimic erysipelas or lymphangitis. OBJECTIVE. This is a presentation of a 69-year-old woman diagnosed with poorly differentiated cloacogenic carcinoma who simultaneously was noted to have an abdominal rash. A biopsy confirmed cutaneous metastasis of her carcinoma. METHODS. Previously published literature on cutaneous metastases were reviewed and summarized. RESULTS. This is the first reported case of an inflammatory cutaneous metastasis arising from cloacogenic carcinoma. CONCLUSION. Cutaneous metastases can present in various forms, including the inflammatory pattern. Because this form mimics other conditions, it is prudent to biopsy any suspicious skin lesion in cancer patients, as it may considerably affect prognosis. Dermatol Surg 1995 ;21 :725-727.
Genetic downregulation of AMPK-α isoforms uncovers the mechanism by which metformin decreases FA uptake and oxidation in skeletal muscle cells

Metformin is known to improve insulin sensitivity in part via a rise in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and alterations in muscle metabolism. However, a full understanding of how metfo...
Hydrolysis of glycerides of C-16 and C-18 fatty acids by post-heparin plasma.

SEVERAL investigators have demonstrated that intravenous injection of heparin releases into the plasma of man and several other species a lipase (clearing factor lipase, lipoprotein lipase) which hydrolyses the glyceride moieties of some lipoproteins1. It has also been reported that various triglyceride emulsions, for example, coconut and olive oils, are substrates for the enzyme and that activation of the emulsion with serum high-density lipoproteins increases the rate of hydrolysis of the triglycerides.
Generalized output nulling subspaces: Riccati equation computation and applications

Four generalized output-nulling subspaces (ONS) are defined and it is shown that many subspaces important in the analysis of linear systems can be expressed as special cases of the ONS. On the other hand, it is shown that the ONS can be computed from the solutions to square-root Riccati equations. Applications to computation of subspaces contained in the state space and applications to system inversion are demonstrated. The properties of the ONS considered as time-dependent subspace sequences are investigated.
Job Demands, Resources, Burnout, and Coping Mechanism Relationships

This study seeks to determine which job demands (role ambiguity, role conflict, and role overload) and work or job resources (training, rewards, supervisory support, and service technology) are most closely associated with the three major components of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment). A related objective of the study is to ascertain which coping mechanisms seem to be relied on by frontline employees in dealing with the dysfunctional effects of burnout. Frontline bank employees in New Zealand serve as the study setting. Results and their implications are discussed and suggestions for future research are offered.
Efficient Sampling of Protein Structures by Model Hopping

We introduce a novel simulation method, model hopping, that enhances sampling of low-energy configurations in complex systems. The approach is illustrated for a protein-folding problem. Thermodynamic quantities of proteins with up to 46 residues are evaluated from all-atom simulations with this method.
Analysis of the effects of adenosine in skinned bovine coronary artery

We have investigated the mechanism of adenosine-induced relaxation in relation to its effects on intracellular organelles in Triton X-100- and saponin-skinned bovine coronary arteries. In intact coronary arteries, high K+ and prostaglandin F2 alpha caused sustained contractions, whereas caffeine produced transient contractions. Triton X-100 treatment abolished these contractions. However, Triton X-100-skinned coronary arteries were responsive to added free calcium. There was no significant difference between calcium concentration-response curves obtained in the absence and presence of adenosine (50 microM). Unlike Triton X-100, in saponin-skinned arteries, caffeine produced transient contractions but high K+ and prostaglandin F2 alpha did not. Adenosine had no effect on caffeine-induced contractions in saponin-skinned coronary arteries. These data suggest that adenosine had no direct inhibitory effect on either the contractile apparatus or calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum in coronary arteries.
Effect of stress on oral fentanyl consumption in rats in an operant self-administration paradigm.

Abstract The effect of intermittent footshock stress (0.8 mA; 0.2 s on; 40 s off on the average; for 10 min/day) on oral fentanyl (50 or 75 μg/ml) self-administration (SA) in operant chambers was examined in male rats. In Experiment 1, after 1 month of initiation of the fentanyl SA by partial water deprivation, animals were tested for lever-pressing for fentanyl (75 μg/ml) under fixed-ratio-4 (FR-4) and progressive-ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement for 30 min/day in operant chambers. Exposure to footshock stress increased fentanyl SA under the FR-4 and PR schedules compared with a nonstress condition. When water was substituted for the drug, the operant behavior persisted before extinction. In Experiment 2, different rats were tested for lever-pressing for fentanyl (50 μg/ml) under FR-6 and PR schedules. This experiment further assessed the role of taste in the stress-induced fentanyl SA and examined the effect of increasing the schedule requirements (i.e., FR-3, 6, and 12) on lever-pressing for fentanyl. Exposure to footshock stress increased lever-pressing for oral fentanyl SA under the FR schedules of reinforcement. When a quinine solution (30 μg/ml), matched for bitter taste with the fentanyl solution, was substituted for the drug solution, an extinction of the drug-reinforced behavior occureed, indicating that the stress-induced oral fentanyl SA is not related to stress-induced changes in taste sensitivity. In both experiments, no significant stress effects were observed for water consumption in home cage and lever-pressing on the nonoperative lever.
School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in a Residential School for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: First Years of Implementation and Maintenance Follow-Up Focus Groups

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) often receive educational services delivered in more restrictive settings. Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a framework that may address the complex needs of these students in these restrictive settings. This article describes the training and technical support provided to a residential school serving students with E/BD as they implemented school-wide PBIS (SWPBIS) over several years and when the external support was removed, follow-up focus groups of school staff were conducted. Results across three 6-month periods indicate a reduction in the number of discipline referrals and high levels of fidelity of implementation of SWPBIS when external support was provided. When the external supports were removed, the number of discipline referrals increased and the level of fidelity decreased. Several themes related to SWPBIS from the focus groups were identified. A brief discussion follows with how external support was reintroduced.
Using air dispersion modeling and proximity analysis to assess chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and environmental justice in New York City

Abstract Increased exposure to air pollution has been connected with environmentally-linked diseases (increased morbidity), decreased lifespan (increased mortality), environmental injustices (inequitable distribution of pollution based on population characteristics), reduction of quality-of-life, and increased health care costs. The main goals of this study are to explore the possibility that specific populations (e.g. racial and ethnic minorities, less-educated populations, lower income populations) suffer from increased chronic exposure to PM2.5 from local stationary sources when compared to other populations in the context of environmental justice as well as to compare methods of exposure estimation. Fine particulate matter exposure from stationary sources in New York City was estimated using proximity analysis and air dispersion modeling. The characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of these techniques were compared and contrasted. The results of both analyses suggested the presence of environmental injustices, although the relationships appeared complex and non-linear.
Long-term follow-up data may help manage patient and parent expectations for pediatric patients undergoing thyroidectomy

Background We investigated the incidence and impact of postoperative complications in children who underwent total thyroidectomy (TTx). Methods The records of all pediatric patients undergoing TTx (2001–2011) at our institution were retrospectively reviewed for the occurrence of biochemical hypothyroidism (thyroid-stimulating hormone >10 mIU/mL), laboratory assessments, and medication nonadherence. Results The 74 patients (median age, 12.5 years) had thyroid cancer (differentiated, n = 39; medullary, n = 16) or benign pathology (n = 19; 16 with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A). The median postoperative follow-up was 3.2 years; 46 patients (62%) had ≥1 year follow-up. Forty-one percent had ≥1 period of medication nonadherence; this was not associated with age at TTx (P = .30). Non–treatment-related hypothyroidism occurred in 33% of patients during postoperative year (POY) 1. The number of POY1 laboratory assessments among the 30% of patients with parathyroid dysfunction was more than twice that among patients with normal parathyroid function (median assessments per year 8 vs 3; P Conclusion More than 40% of pediatric patients were unable to fully adhere to postoperative medication regimens, and non–treatment-related hypothyroidism was common. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism doubled the number of laboratory assessments obtained. These data may help families better prepare for TTx sequelae.
4 Simulation Based (Systems) Engineering or Collaborative Based Acquisition

Simulation tools have been applied to an increasing range of ongoing product development programs and have significantly reduced development time, life cycle costs and improved system quality. Some improvements have reportedly reduced the overall development time by half and some individual activities by 30 fold as described below. The computer revolution and age of information technology is creating more realistic, more capable and more diversified simulation tools. Because of the opportunities to benefit business processes, the natural market forces are driving all industries to find better ways to couple information technology, and simulation tools are a large part of this evolution. Beyond simply networking more and more computers and software together in ever-increasing capability, an entirely new approach is emerging where product development and management tools are accessible as needed via internet-like convenience. This new approach is staggering in its potential to further advance operations and design capabilities; and it's capturing more elements of industry everyday. It has the potential to revolutionize product design all over again.
Recombination in a Helium Plasma

It is experimentally confirmed that the rapid recombination observed in He plasncas is due almost entirely to 3body collisions between He/sup 2+/ ions and electrons. The 3body recombination theory is found to predict the time dependence of the electron temperature T/sub e/, but not the absolute value of T. (T.F.H.)
Single Microtubule Orientation on Patterned Non-fouling Surfaces

Microtubule (MT) configuration and assembly are essential to cytoskeletal reorganization and vesicle transport. Through physical manipulation of microtubules we seek to investigate these sub-cellular processes and to fabricate lab-on-a-chip diagnostic tools. We have developed a straightforward method for on-demand orientation of single microtubules on lithographically patterned electrodes. A poly(ethylene glycol) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) passivates the electrodes to MT adsorption prior to inducing MT migration through application of an electrostatic potential. The nonfouling layer allows MTs to adsorb and orient on the patterned electrodes while preventing adsorption in the surrounding regions. In this way single microtubules can be coaligned to arbitrarily shaped submicron electrodes. This method has advantages over those which make use of kinesin, antibodies or biotin/streptavidin to bind microtubules as it is capable of on-demand adsorption and produces patterns of MTs without requiring subpatterns of these other biomolecules. In addition we present a facile method for producing the nonfouling SAM which prevents microtubule adsorption on silicon and gold surfaces, eliminating the need for casein, bovine serum albumin or other passivating treatments.
Long-term hemodialysis and nerve conduction in children.

Summary: Initial observations in adults revealed that peripheral neuropathy, as documented by reduced conduction velocity is common L chronic renal failure. Critical analysis of this problem in children on long-term dialysis is scarce, consisting of a single report which demonstrated that the motor nerve conduction velocities were decreased early and frequently with more severe depression in peroneal nerve velocities. This is in distinct contrast to data from adults, in whom uniform rates of deterioration are encountered. In addition, a direct correlation of the degree of nerve conduction defect with the severity of the renal failure is found in adult patients.
Structure of a De Novo Designed Protein Model of Radical Enzymes

The use of side chains as catalytic cofactors for protein mediated redox chemistry raises significant mechanistic issues as to how these amino acids are activated toward radical chemistry in a controlled manner. De novo protein design has been used to examine the structural basis for the creation and maintenance of a tryptophanyl radical in a three-helix bundle protein maquette. Here we report the detailed structural analysis of the protein by multidimensional NMR methods. An interesting feature of the structure is an apparent π-cation interaction involving the sole tryptophan and a lysine side chain. Hybrid density functional calculations support the notion that this interaction raises the reduction potential of the W°/WH redox pair and helps explain the redox characteristics of the protein. This model protein system therefore provides a powerful model for exploring the structural basis for controlled radical chemistry in protein.
The Role of Touch in Healing and Hypnotherapy

Abstract Touch and hypnosis are both powerful methods of communication. When the two modalities are combined they will often augment each other. There is a general taboo against touching which has kept therapists from utilizing touch to its fullest capacity. A review of the literature suggests that touch may be useful in combating anxiety, modifying undesirable physiologic responses and in achieving a positive therapeutic outcome. Techniques for employing touch to augment the effectiveness of hypnosis are described.