cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone inhibits early regenerative response of rat liver after cold preservation and transplantation

Abstract Regeneration is crucial for the recovery of hepatic mass following liver transplantation. Glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory agents commonly used in transplantation, are known to inhibit the expression of specific cytokines and growth factors. Some of these proteins, namely tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), play a critical role in the initiation of liver regeneration. Following cold preservation and reperfusion of the transplanted liver, the normal recovery process is marked by increased expression of TNF-α and IL-6, followed by activation of cytokine-responsive transcription factors and progression of the cell cycle resulting in hepatocyte proliferation. We hypothesized that glucocorticoids may influence the repair mechanisms initiated after extended cold preservation and transplantation. Using a rat orthotopic liver transplant model, recipient animals were treated with dexamethasone at the time of transplantation of liver grafts with prolonged cold storage (16 hours). Treatment with dexamethasone suppressed and delayed the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 compared with animals receiving no treatment and attenuated downstream nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and activation protein 1 (AP-1) activation. This suppression was accompanied by poor cell-cycle progression, delayed cyclin D1 nuclear transposition, and impaired hepatocyte proliferation by BrdU uptake. Histologically, the liver grafts in treated animals demonstrated more injury than controls, which appeared to be necrosis, rather than apoptosis. In conclusion, these data provide evidence that the administration of glucocorticoids at the time of transplantation inhibits the initiation of the regenerative process and may have a deleterious effect on the recovery of liver grafts requiring significant regeneration. This may be particularly relevant for transplantation of partial liver grafts in the living donor setting. (H epatology 2003;38:1563-1572.)
Effect of Cu content on the interfacial reliability of SnAgCu solder joints

NEMI recommended Sn3.9Ag0.6Cu to replace the eutectic SnPb solder, but solder joints of this alloy have poor performance in reliability tests of electronic packages, especially the board level drop test. In this paper, the effect of Cu content in solder is studied on the interfacial reliability of SnAgCu solder joints on the Ni/Au plated pads. After preconditioning (three reflows post package assembly), some solder balls fell off during routine handling of the packages. Cracking occurred between the IMC layers of (Cu,Ni) 6 Sn 5 and Ni 3 Sn 4 . Formation of the dual IMC structure is explained from the perspective of interfacial equilibrium. It is suggested that to improve the drop performance of the packages that have Ni/Au plated pads the key is to avoid the formation of the layer-type of (Cu,Ni) 6 Sn 5 at the interface. Approaches to do that are discussed. A rule for selecting solder alloy and surface materials on both sides of the joints is proposed for BGA packages.
Guidelines of care for primary cutaneous melanoma

*Guidelines/Outcomes Committee: Evan R. Farmer, MD, Chair, AbbyS.VanVoorhees, MD, Chair-elect,Tsu-Yi Chuang, MD, MPH, Boni E.Elewski, MD, Arnold W. Gurevitch, MD, Robert S. Kirsner, MD,Lawrence M. Lieblich, MD, Marianne N. O’Donoghue, MD,Yves P.Poulin, MD, Barbara R. Reed, MD, Randall K. Roenigk, MD, andBarbara J. Lowery, MPH.Accepted by the Board of Directors March 2, 2001.Reprint requests:American Academy of Dermatology,PO Box 4014,Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014.J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:579-86.Copyright © 2001 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.0190-9622/2001/$35.00 + 0
Research in Nondomestic Species: Experiences in Reproductive Physiology Research for Conservation of Endangered Felids

Tremendous strides have been made in recent years to broaden our understanding of reproductive processes in nondomestic felid species and further our capacity to use this basic knowledge to control and manipulate reproduction of endangered cats. Much of that progress has culminated from detailed scientific studies conducted in nontraditional laboratory settings, frequently at collaborating zoological parks but also under more primitive conditions, including in the field. A mobile laboratory approach is described, which incorporates a diverse array of disciplines and research techniques. This approach has been extremely useful, especially for conducting gamete characterization and function studies as well as reproductive surveys, and for facilitating the development of assisted reproductive technology. With continuing advances in assisted reproduction in rare felids, more procedures are being conducted primarily as service-related activities, targeted to increase effectiveness of species propagation and population management. It can be a challenge for both investigators and institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs) to differentiate these service-based procedures from traditional research studies (that require IACUC oversight). For research with rare cat species, multi-institutional collaboration frequently is necessary to gain access to scientifically meaningful numbers of study subjects. Similarly, for service-based efforts, the ability to perform reproductive procedures across institutions under nonstandard laboratory conditions is critical to applying reproductive sciences for managing and preserving threatened cat populations. Reproductive sciences can most effectively assist population management programs (e.g., Species Survival Plans) in addressing conservation priorities if these research and service-related procedures can be conducted "on the road" at distant national and international locales. This mobile laboratory approach has applications beyond endangered species research, notably for other scientific fields (e.g., studies of hereditary disease in domestic cat models) in which bringing the laboratory to the subject is of value.
Convergence Rates in Distributed Consensus and Averaging

We propose three new algorithms for the distributed averaging and consensus problems: two for the fixed-graph case, and one for the dynamic-topology case. The convergence rates of our fixed-graph algorithms compare favorably with other known methods, while our algorithm for the dynamic-topology case is the first to be accompanied by a polynomial-time bound on the convergence time.
Controlling n -Type Carrier Density from Er Doping of InGaAs with MBE Growth Temperature

Under certain growth conditions in molecular beam epitaxy, erbium, indium, gallium, and arsenic form a two-phase composite, consisting of ErAs nanoparticles embedded in dilute Er-doped In0.53Ga0.47As. This paper further explores the effect of growth conditions, specifically growth temperature, on the nanostructure of this material and the resulting thermal and electrical transport properties. For a set of samples grown with substrate temperatures varying from 430°C to 525°C, we find that the thermal conductivity decreases slightly with increasing growth temperature (from 4.8 W/m K to 4.1 W/m K) while the electrical conductivity decreases dramatically with increasing growth temperature (from 2100 S/cm to 110 S/cm), which is largely due to decreasing carrier concentration. At higher growth temperatures, more erbium precipitates out of solution and the size and density of the ErAs nanoparticles increase, as characterized by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), while the total erbium concentration does not change with growth temperature, as characterized by Rutherford backscatter spectrometry (RBS). Measurement of the erbium concentration by secondary-ion mass spectrometry suggests that the Er bonding configuration changes with growth temperature. These results indicate that increasing the ratio of solute Er atoms in the In0.53Ga0.47As host to precipitated Er atoms in ErAs particles increases the carrier density and electrical conductivity of the total composite material.
Integrating mental health services into primary HIV care for women: the Whole Life project.

SYNOPSIS The high rate of mental health problems in HIV-infected women jeopardizes the health of this vulnerable population, and constitutes a mandate for integrating mental health services into HIV primary care. The Whole Life project-a collaboration of the departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynecology at the University of Miami School of Medicine-successfully integrated mental health services into primary HIV care for women. This article describes the conceptual framework of the integration, implementation strategies, effects of the service integration, and lessons learned. Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a Special Program of National Significance (SPNS), Whole Life efforts have been sustained beyond the demonstration funding period as a result of the changes brought about in organizational structures, service delivery, and the providers' conceptualization of health for HIV-infected women.
On the Applicability of Global Index Grammars

We investigate Global Index Grammars (GIGs), a grammar formalism that uses a stack of indices associated with productions and has restricted context-sensitive power. We discuss some of the structural descriptions that GIGs can generate compared with those generated by LIGs. We show also how GIGs can represent structural descriptions corresponding to HPSGs (Pollard and Sag, 1994) schemas.
EVALUATION OF TARGETING FRAMES FOR DEEP-BRAIN STIMULATION USING VIRTUAL TARGETS

Surgery for deep-brain simulation (DBS) requires implanting of stimulators at target positions with submillimetric accuracy, typically via stereotactic frames. A recent innovation replaces the large, universal frame with a miniature frame customized per patient. We present a method for evaluating the accuracy of these new frames using "virtual targets" to avoid collision of implant with target. We implement virtual targets by mounting fiducial markers on an artificial skull and defining the targets relative to that fiducial system. The fiducial system is designed such that it surrounds the targets, thereby reducing the overall effect of fiducial localization inaccuracies. It also provides the transformation from image to physical space. Target selection is based on an atlas of stimulation targets from a set of 31 DBS patients. The measured error is the displacement between phantom implant and virtual target. The new frame was found to have submillimetric accuracy with 0.45 mm RMS error
Reentrant and nonreentrant focal left atrial tachycardias occur after pulmonary vein isolation.

Background Both focal and macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (ATs) can occur after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We report the response to pacing and pharmacologic maneuvers performed in patients with stable focal ATs after segmental PV isolation. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of focal ATs occurring after PV isolation. Methods Patients with persistent left AT after cessation of antiarrhythmic drug therapy presented for mapping and ablation. Electroanatomic mapping during AT was performed. Entrainment was performed from multiple right and left atrial sites. Single-beat resetting was performed. Adenosine was infused intravenously to determine the effect on the tachycardia. Results Five patients (3 men and 2 women; age 65 ± 10 years) had focal left AT that persisted in response to pacing maneuvers. Four patients had ATs (cycle length 265 ± 18 ms) that demonstrated focal areas of early activation at the septal aspect of the right lower (3 patients) or right upper (1 patient) PV ostium. Resetting demonstrated a flat-plus increasing curve in two patients. Adenosine was infused with transient AV block and no change to the tachycardia cycle length in three patients. Tachycardias were entrained from multiple left atrial sites. Recordings from the ablation catheter at the critical isthmus typically demonstrated mid-diastolic or long fractionated potentials. One tachycardia with a longer and more variable cycle length (480–598 ms) did not demonstrate fusion during pacing from distant sites. Conclusion Persistent focal left ATs may occur after segmental PV isolation. Many of these tachycardias are caused by a focal reentrant circuit located at the PV ostium; however, focal nonreentrant rhythms also may occur.
Some effects of anisotropy on velocity contrasts between subducting lithosphere and overriding mantle

We compute velocity anisotropy for three models of preferred crystal alignment due to finite strain in the mantle which, when juxtaposed with computed anisotropy in subducted lithosphere and neglechng other eflects, give velocity contrasts that we compare with those obscrvcd. We find a strong dip dependence for computed velocity contrasts due to slow axis alignment in the overriding mantle perpendicular to the slab- mantle interface. Moreover, for an isotropic mantle wedge or convergence-parallel flow, it is difficult to produce greater velo- city in the subducting slab than the overlying mantle for near- vertical pmpagation even with high strain rates. We do. how- ever, obtain positive contrasts using a dip axis-parallel flow model, which is the only one that yields contrasts that approash observations fmm the Japan Trench. chemical discontinuities, and deflection of the a-p olivine phase boundary, they also suggesled thal ulivinc crystal orientation might be partially responsible. We test this latter mechanism using models of lattice preferred orientations in subducting slabs and idealized flaw pattcrns in the overlying manlle. From the juxiaposifion of slab and mantle crystal orientations, we cal- culate theoretical velocity contrasts. Wc assume a lattice preferred orientation in the upper litho- sphere that becomes "frozen" in as it cools, thereafter remain- ing constant, in the local coordinate system, even iI the local stress field changes. We also assume. following previous experimental, field, and theoretical considerations, that the fast axes of olivine crystals tend to align with the axis of greatest finite strain during induced mantle flow at spreading centers (e.g., Hess. 1964: Raht et al., 1971; McKenzie, 1979; Ribe, 1989al. Such alignment suggests that olivine fast axes in the ocean floor mughly parallel the paleospreading direction, an assumption which appears to be consistent with seismic obser- vations (e.g.. Forsylh, 1975; Shearer and Orcurl. 1986; Nishimura and Forsyth. 19891. Crystal axis orientations in sub- ducting slabs are computed by mapping these surface orienta- tions Qwndip thmugh a rotation about the dip axis.
Neural networks for cognitive sensor networks

The paper puts forward a concept of cognitive sensor networks and investigates a feasibility of artificial neural networks application for its realization. It describes a design of novel hierarchical configurations imitating the structural topology of brain-like architectures. They are composed from artificial neural networks distributed over network platforms with limited resources. The paper examines a cognition idea based on its implementation through the signal change detection. The novel multilevel neural networks architectures are designed and tested in sensor networks built from Crossbow Inc. sensor kits. The results are compared against conventional multilayer perceptron structures in terms of both functional efficiency and resource consumption.
Verification of The Weather Channel Probability of Precipitation Forecasts

The Weather Channel (TWC) is a leading provider of weather information to the general public. In this paper the reliability of their probability of precipitation (PoP) forecasts over a 14-month period at 42 locations across the United States is verified. It is found that PoPs between 0.4 and 0.9 are well calibrated for near-term forecasts. However, overall TWC PoPs are biased toward precipitation, significantly so during the warm season (April–September). PoPs lower than 0.3 and above 0.9 are not well calibrated, a fact that can be explained by TWC’s forecasting procedure. In addition, PoPs beyond a 6-day lead time are miscalibrated and artificially avoid 0.5. These findings should help the general public to better understand TWC’s PoP forecasts and provide important feedback to the TWC so that they may improve future performance.
Altered levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling proteins in postmortem frontal cortex of individuals with mood disorders and schizophrenia.

Background The extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway has been implicated in processes such as neuronal plasticity and resilience in psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BPD), and schizophrenia. The extent of the possible involvement of this pathway in psychiatric disorders remains unknown, as does its potential utility as a pharmacological target for the future development of novel therapeutics.
Guaranteed passive direct lumped-element modeling of transmission lines

A novel approach to the reduced-order modeling of the frequency-dependent skin-effect (R-L) parameters of a transmission-line interconnect is proposed. A lumped-element circuit model for a short length of the lines is obtained directly from the finite-element method matrix equations. Only the most "important" eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the finite-element matrix are used, based on the contribution they make to the line parameters. The resulting reduced-order equivalent circuit is always passive and stable without the need for special modifications. The model can thus be immediately applied to problems where the transmission line is connected to nonlinear circuits. The model should find practical use in the design of flexible interconnect circuits as well as in other areas of high-speed digital electronics.
Relationships among Perceived Enactment of Autonomy, Self-Care, and Holistic Health in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

The purpose of this article is to report findings from two studies of community-dwelling older adults. The focus of both studies was on delineating relationships among perceived enactment of autonomy (PEA) and selected self-care and health variables from the perspective of Modeling and Role-Modeling nursing theory. Results indicated that PEA, representing the potential for self-care action, was positively correlated to perceived control and morale in Study 1 and to life satisfaction in Study 2. Significant differences in PEA scores were found based on the health indicators of participation in social activities and reliance on others for shopping in Study 2. In addition, Study 1 found that morale, gender, age, perceived control, and education accounted for 39% of the variance in PEA. Implications are discussed for designing theory-based holistic nursing interventions to support PEA in older adults and to direct future research.
Designing an infrastructure for heterogeneity in ecosystem data, collaborators and organizations

To develop robust datasets for long-term re-use, new approaches are needed that incorporate relevant facets of organizational culture in their description. Early ethnographic research points to the importance of holding narrative accounts of data use alongside formal metadata structures. We describe our proposal to identify models for the design of information protocols and procedures within the Long-Term Ecological Research community that take account of the working practices of all the participants involved in the varied aspects of information processing.
Abstract 18062: Neonatal Outcomes and Maternal Morbidity Associated With Pregnancy in Women with Congenital Heart Disease

Background: Women with congenital heart disease (WCHD) who are considering pregnancy need counseling regarding maternal and offspring risk. Previous studies have not focused on neonatal outcomes and have mostly described lower risk patients. Methods and Results: We enrolled 113 WCHD (mean age 32 ± 5 years, 51% with NYHA functional class >1, 28% with World Health Organization (WHO) risk class > 2, 81% with moderate or higher CHD complexity) in our study and reviewed the medical record for their baseline cardiac status as well as their post-natal outcomes. We compared our cohort to a demographically similar cohort of patients (n = 147) without CHD. Neonatal outcomes included prematurity (< 37 weeks gestation), admission to the NICU, low birth weight (< 2.5 kg), and neonatal death, while maternal outcomes were arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke, and death. Significant predictors of neonatal complications included history of cyanotic CHD (OR 3.1, CI 1.0-9.7, p = 0.04), need for cardiac medications (OR 3.2, CI...
Congenital hypoplastic anemia associated with multiple developmental defects (Fanconi syndrome).

The following information has been received from Dr. Solomon Estren. On page 92, volume II, Blood (January 1947) in the article, "Congenital hypoplastic anemia associated with multiple developmental defects (Fanconi syndrome)," by Estren, Suess, and Dameshek, the second paragraph on the page concludes with the statement: "Death here also occurred three years later." This should have read: "This patient is living and well seven years after the operation (personal communication, Dr. J. V. Dacie5)."
Effects of Chemically Modified Messenger RNA on Protein Expression

Chemically modified nucleotides play significant roles in the effectiveness of mRNA translation. Here, we describe the synthesis of two sets of chemically modified mRNAs [encoding firefly Luciferase (FLuc) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), respectively], evaluation of protein expression, and correlation analysis of expression level under various conditions. The results indicate that chemical modifications of mRNAs are able to significantly improve protein expression, which is dependent on cell types and coding sequences. Moreover, eGFP mRNAs with N1-methylpseudouridine (me(1)ψ), 5-methoxyuridine (5moU), and pseudouridine (ψ) modifications ranked top three in cell lines tested. Interestingly, 5moU-modified eGFP mRNA was more stable than other eGFP mRNAs. Consequently, me(1)ψ, 5moU, and ψ are promising nucleotides for chemical modification of mRNAs.
PANTHER. Trajectory Analysis

We want to organize a body of trajectories in order to identify, search for, classify and predict behavior among objects such as aircraft and ships. Existing compari- son functions such as the Fr'echet distance are computationally expensive and yield counterintuitive results in some cases. We propose an approach using feature vectors whose components represent succinctly the salient information in trajectories. These features incorporate basic information such as total distance traveled and distance be- tween start/stop points as well as geometric features related to the properties of the convex hull, trajectory curvature and general distance geometry. Additionally, these features can generally be mapped easily to behaviors of interest to humans that are searching large databases. Most of these geometric features are invariant under rigid transformation. We demonstrate the use of different subsets of these features to iden- tify trajectories similar to an exemplar, cluster a database of several hundred thousand trajectories, predict destination and apply unsupervised machine learning algorithms.
Afro-Latinos in the United States

With ethnic and racial minorities projected to comprise a majority of the U.S. population by 2042, current trends in political science scholarship have begun to assess the ways in which intra-group diversity can create opportunities for cooperation, but also contribute to conflict within the context of domestic politics and policy preferences. Research on the diversity of the Latino population in the United States has been predominate; thus, it is widely regarded that the Latin American identity is not monolithic, and as a consequence, neither is Latino political behavior, as evidenced by the divergent political trajectories of Mexican Americans and Cuban Americans in U.S. politics (Desipio, 1996; Claassen, 2004; Newton, 2000; de la Garza and Yetim, 2003). Thus, it is this body of literature that provides the framework for this essay, which indicates that in comparison to other Latin origin groups, Afro-Latinos face additional challenges with respect to the formation of their personal and social identity given the demarcations of race and ethnicity in the United States.
Fixation affects morphometric characters of Psoroptes cuniculi mites (Acari:Psoroptidae).

Thirteen morphologic characters were evaluated on Psoroptes cuniculi (Delafond) mites to determine if measurements for these variables were influenced by the use of different fixatives and varying periods of fixation. Morphologic structures composed primarily of chitin (outer opisthosomal setal lengths and right 3rd tarsal pedicle length) were not affected by either fixative type or duration of fixation. In contrast, alcohol and formalin fixation both resulted in significant reductions ( P < 0.05) in mean body size measurements when compared with mites mounted in Hoyer's medium without prior fixation. The largest reduction in size was seen in mites fixed for the longest period, but there was no apparent association between size reduction and increasing concentration of alcohol or formalin. Surprisingly, when mites were remeasured 4 yr later, Hoyer's mounting medium was found to have had the opposite effect of fixation and caused an increase in body size. Mites mounted in Hoyer's medium without prior fixation had significantly increased body lengths, whereas mites mounted in Hoyer's following fixation in alcohol and formalin had significant increases in both body length and posterior body width. Our results indicate that fixation and mounting can significantly influence the morphometric analysis of mites and other arthropods. We recommend that morphometric studies be conducted using consistent methodology to reduce experimental bias, and these methodologies be reported in publications dealing with morphometric analyses.
Enhanced nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production and damage after inhalation of silica

In previous reports from this study, measurements of pulmonary inflammation, bronchoalveolar lavage cell cytokine production and nuclear factor-κB activation, cytotoxic damage, and fibrosis were de...
Commentary: Abortion policy and science: Can controversy and evidence co-exist?

Abortion policies should be based on evidence. Over the past four decades in the United States, we have accumulated more data about the practice of legal abortion than any other surgical procedure. This evidence has documented the public health impact of increased access to safer abortion. In recent years, state laws to restrict abortion access have gained momentum. An accompanying article in this issue of JPHP uses extant data to examine whether two restrictive policies have had a measurable effect on abortion morbidity. The analysis found an unexpected result – states which imposed restrictions had lower levels of abortion complications than those who did not. Various explanations exist for these findings. Caution is needed to interpret observational findings, especially with polarizing issuess like abortion.Article JPHP.2012.12, available at www.palgrave-journals.com/jphp/, relates to this commentary.
Health Promotion Efforts as Predictors of Physical Activity in Schools: An Application of the Diffusion of Innovations Model.

BACKGROUND Implementing a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) effectively addresses public health issues by providing opportunities for physical activity (PA). Grounded in the Diffusion of Innovations model, the purpose of this study was to identify how health promotion efforts facilitate opportunities for PA. METHODS Physical and health education teachers (N = 256) nationwide were surveyed using a CSPAP Index to identify teacher's efforts for providing opportunities for PA within a school setting. RESULTS A hierarchical regression analysis revealed total number of PA opportunities was significantly predicted by teachers' health promotion efforts, p < .001. Sex and years of experience were not significant covariates, p = .35, in the final step of the model. Accounting for teaching environments, the model was significant, p < .001. The strongest predictors were the promotional efforts of PA for family and community, p < .001, PA for staff members, p < .01, PA during the school day, p < .05, and PA before school, p < .05. CONCLUSIONS To increase PA opportunities for children in schools, emphasis should be placed on health promotion. This study confirms the importance of teachers involving family, community, and staff members as co-health promoters when trying to increase PA engagement surrounding schools.
Impact of Nutritional Knowlege-Attitude-Behavior on Nutrition Status of Senior Middle School Students

OBJECTIVE To understand at nutrition status of senior middle school students,proceeds to them the nourishment guide,and improve the condition of their nourishment. METHODS A survey of nutritional knowledge-attitude-behavior and was conducted among 310 senior middle school students in Meihekou. RESULTS The incidence of malnutrition was 42.5%,overweight and obesity was 3.5%. Intakes of protein,fat,carbohydrate,and calcium were very low. The students lack nutrition knowledge,21.0% of them nibble between meals frequently,37.0% often use tonic or nutrient’s additive foods. CONCLUSIONS Therefore,it is necessary and practicable to carry out nutrition education among the senior middle school students.
Correction of late glottic insufficiency.

Preservation of respiration, deglutition, and phonation, as well as tumor ablation, is the objective of conservation surgery of the larynx. Immediate reconstruction may fail, leading to aspiration and aphonia. Five extralaryn-geal techniques for correction of late glottic insufficiency are described.
Usability Testing a Malware-Resistant Input Mechanism.

We report the results of a usability study of Bumpy, a system that enables a user to provide secret inputs to remote webservers without trusting the computer on which she types those inputs. Achieving this somewhat paradoxical property via Bumpy requires extra diligence from users, raising questions as to whether it is a viable protection for the average user. We evaluate the originally proposed Bumpy design and several new alternatives in a user study involving 85 participants, each of whom utilized one of these designs (or a control design) for roughly four months to protect her password entries to a university course web page. Beyond assessing the usability of Bumpy designs, our study offers insights for designing security-relevant interfaces and training users to successfully utilize them.
The Impact of Nonpolymerizable Swelling Agents On The Synthesis of Particles With Combined Geometric, Interfacial, and Compositional Anisotropy.

Seeded emulsion polymerization is by far the most successful synthetic method for making anisotropic particles with precise control and high throughput. However, this synthesis involves multiple steps and the types of anisotropic properties that have been made on particles are limited. Here, we demonstrate, by using two different types of nonpolymerizable swelling agents, that we can simplify this method while still producing colloidal dimers with combined anisotropic properties in geometry, interface, and composition. When we swell cross-linked polystyrene seed particles with a simple solvent toluene, without additional polymerization steps we can make dimers with asymmetric distribution of surface charges and roughness on two lobes by fast extraction of toluene. We further show that this toluene-swelling-extraction method can promote the surface modification of the second lobe selectively especially for hydrophilic and stimuli-responsive polymers, which was a significant challenge in dimer synthesis. Wh...
Consequence Analysis of a Steam Generator Tube Rupture Accident

A flashing droplet model was developed to examine the rupture flow of reactor coolant and its transport phenomena through the stream generator during a steam generator tube rupture accident. The model includes flashing flow; droplet formation; droplet removal by tube bundles, bubble scrubbing, steam separators, and steam dryers; and droplet size change by evaporation and condensation. The calculation follows the actual sequence of events during the accident. Those reactor coolant droplets escaping from the steam generator are used to estimate the radioactivity released into the environment. The steam generator tube rupture accident that occurred at the Prairie Island Plant on October 2, 1979, was studied using the model. The model estimated a release of 204 ..mu..Ci of /sup 131/I equivalent activity. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated a 210-..mu..Ci release, assuming an iodine partition factor of 1/100 in the steam-generator. The model was also used to analyze a hypothetical steam generator tube rupture accident coupled with loss of off-site power in a large 1100-MW (electric) Westinghouse four-loop plant. The model estimated that 45 Ci of /sup 131/I equivalent activity could be released through the relief valves, which were stuck open for 30 min. The number is eight times higher thanmore » the estimate from the Westinghouse safety analysis report using a uniform mixing model.« less
Neurocognitive Applications of the Woodcock–Johnson IV

Abstract The purpose of this chapter is to review the application of the WJ IV (Woodcock–Johnson—Fourth Edition) batteries from a neuropsychological perspective. The first section of the chapter presents a reclassification of the WJ IV tests into a neuropsychological conceptual framework. The second section of the chapter provides a review of what basic neurocognitive constructs are addressed and assessed by the WJ IV tests of cognitive, oral language, and achievement. The final section of the chapter provides an example of how the learning and memory tests may be interpreted from a neuropsychological perspective.
Sampling code clones from program dependence graphs with GRAPLE

We present GRAPLE, a method to generate a representative sample of recurring (frequent) subgraphs of any directed labeled graph(s). GRAPLE is based on frequent subgraph mining, absorbing Markov chains, and Horvitz-Thompson estimation. It can be used to sample any kind of graph representation for programs. One of many software engineering applications for finding recurring subgraphs is detecting duplicated code (code clones) from representations such as program dependence graphs (PDGs) and abstract syntax trees. To assess the usefulness of clones detected from PDGs, we conducted a case study on a 73 KLOC commercial Android application developed over 5 years. Nine of the application's developers participated. To our knowledge, it is the first study to have professional developers examine code clones detected from PDGs. We describe a new PDG generation tool jpdg for JVM languages, which was used to generate the dependence graphs used in the study.
MiR-126 Affects Brain-Heart Interaction after Cerebral Ischemic Stroke

Cardiovascular diseases are approximately three times higher in patients with neurological deficits than in patients without neurological deficits. MicroRNA-126 (MiR-126) facilitates vascular remodeling and decreases fibrosis and is emerging as an important factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and cerebral stroke. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that decreased miR-126 after ischemic stroke may play an important role in regulating cardiac function. Wild-type (WT), specific conditional-knockout endothelial cell miR-126 (miR-126EC−/−), and miR-126 knockout control (miR-126fl/fl) mice were subjected to distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAo) (n = 10/group). Cardiac hemodynamics and function were measured using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Mice were sacrificed at 28 days after dMCAo. WT mice subjected to stroke exhibited significantly decreased cardiac ejection fraction and increased myocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis as well as increased heart inflammation, infiltrating macrophages, and oxidative stress compared to non-stroke animals. Stroke significantly decreased serum and heart miR-126 expression and increased miR-126 target genes, vascular cell adhesion protein-1, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 gene, and protein expression in the heart compared to non-stroke mice. MiR-126EC−/− mice exhibited significantly decreased cardiac function and increased cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammatory factor expression after stroke compared to miR-126fl/fl stroke mice. Exosomes derived from endothelial cells of miR-126EC−/− (miR-126EC−/−EC-Exo) mice exhibited significantly decreased miR-126 expression than exosomes derived from miR-126fl/fl (miR-126fl/fl-EC-Exo) mice. Treatment of cardiomyocytes subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation with miR-126fl/fl-EC-Exo exhibited significantly decreased hypertrophy than with miR-126EC−/−EC-Exo treatment. Ischemic stroke directly induces cardiac dysfunction. Decreasing miR-126 expression may contribute to cardiac dysfunction after stroke in mice.
Nicotine deprivation attenuates panic reactivity in smokers: Findings from a placebo-controlled nicotine patch study.

Background Prospective studies consistently find that smoking is a risk factor for the development of panic disorder (PD). A possible explanation is that nicotine deprivation promotes heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations and/or arterial carbon dioxide (CO2). Abrams et al. (2011) previously found that, in response to a CO2 rebreathing challenge, smokers experiencing more (vs. less) intense nicotine withdrawal had more severe panic symptoms and a stronger urge to escape. However, participants were aware of the last time they smoked, leaving unclear the extent to which fear reactivity was influenced by the pharmacologic effects of nicotine deprivation versus beliefs regarding when nicotine was most recently used. The present study aimed to ascertain whether nicotine deprivation, independent of beliefs regarding recent nicotine use, promotes fear reactivity among smokers. Methods Moderate to heavy smokers without PD (N = 25) participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study consisting of two sessions spaced 1 week apart. Participants abstained from nicotine for 2 hr prior to sessions. During one session participants were given a 21 mg nicotine replacement patch and, during the other, a placebo patch, with the order counterbalanced. For both sessions, after a 3-hr absorption period, participants underwent a 10-min CO2 rebreathing challenge. Results Wearing a nicotine (vs. placebo) patch increased self-reported panic reactivity among participants, but did not significantly affect physiological and behavioral measures of reactivity. Conclusions In smokers without a history of PD, nicotine deprivation attenuates subjective panic reactivity. Possible explanations for the contrast between theory and laboratory findings as well as clinical implications are discussed.
Heterotypical Behaviour in Man and Animals: Concepts and Strategies

A biologist who studies aggression in mice might ask, ″What can an analysis of limerence in homosexual men tell me about why castrated, but not gonadally intact, male mice attack lactating females ?″ (Haug & Brain, 1978). I realize that it is more common for the student of human behaviour to ask the obverse question; nonetheless, the question is legitimate.
Intumescent flame-retardant cotton produced by tannic acid and sodium hydroxide

Abstract Tannins, natural phenolic compounds abundant in many plants, exhibit low thermal conductivity and low flammability and have inspired bionic approaches in the development of flame-retardant materials. Still, tannins have been used as a dyeing fixative for cotton, and their potential contribution to developing flame-retardant cotton has not yet been examined. This study shows that tannic acid with the aid of sodium ions can produce intumescent flame-retardant cotton. Treatment with tannic acid alone altered the thermal patterns of the pyrolysis and combustion of cotton and increased the char yield, but the limiting oxygen index (LOI) was not improved significantly. The addition of low concentrations of sodium hydroxide enhanced the adsorption of tannic acid onto cotton and catalyzed the decarboxylation of tannic acid and the dehydration of cotton cellulose at lower temperatures. Such modified thermal reactions as well as the formation of intumescent char led to a reduction in heat release capacity of 82% (from 278 to 51 J/g K) and an increase in the LOI by as much as 30.2% as compared with that for control cotton.
Navigating institutional teaching culture in implementing language ePortfolios

Our article presents the case of ePortfolio use for university-level language learners in foreign, second, and heritage (L2) language classes. It outlines the multi-year initiative of a language center in a private university in the Northeastern U.S. to introduce and support the use of ePortfolios in language classes across its campus. The article takes the form of a narrative in two parts, and in two voices. First, the authors outline the rationale, stages of planning, faculty training initiatives, and technical considerations from the vantage point of the language center’s ePortfolio initiative. The second narrative portrays how this ePortfolio initiative took shape in one semester of an Advanced German course. There, the instructor experimented with ePortfolios to showcase students’ language skills and intercultural achievements, while cultivating their digital literacy. We argue that the potential for students to take ownership over their ePortfolios as tools for deeper academic and personal development resides significantly with their instructor’s pedagogical assumptions and approaches. Further, we suggest that language learners’ sustained and deeper use of ePortfolios can be best supported not by a single classroom instructor acting alone, but through coordinated pedagogical, administrative, and technological support across the institution.
A comprehensive survey of current and former college students with autism spectrum disorders.

Background: There is a paucity of research concerning individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) pursuing higher education. Method: This study sought to augment this gap in the literature by surveying individuals with ASD who are currently college students or who have previously attended college. Results: Thirty-five individuals completed an online survey. These individuals reported receiving extensive academic supports that enabled their academic success. Their reported difficulties in the social and emotional domains received less support. In addition, not all areas of campus life were supportive, as study abroad and career service offices were reported to not understand individuals with ASD. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this survey indicate the importance of self-advocacy and the need for institutions of higher education to provide comprehensive supports for individuals with ASD in the academic, social, and emotional domains in order to effectively integrate this group into the campus environment.
Anharmonic Rovibrational Partition Functions for Fluxional Species at High Temperatures via Monte Carlo Phase Space Integrals

Monte Carlo phase space integration (MCPSI) is used to compute full dimensional and fully anharmonic, but classical, rovibrational partition functions for 22 small- and medium-sized molecules and radicals. Several of the species considered here feature multiple minima and low-frequency nonlocal motions, and efficiently sampling these systems is facilitated using curvilinear (stretch, bend, and torsion) coordinates. The curvilinear coordinate MCPSI method is demonstrated to be applicable to the treatment of fluxional species with complex rovibrational structures and as many as 21 fully coupled rovibrational degrees of freedom. Trends in the computed anharmonicity corrections are discussed. For many systems, rovibrational anharmonicities at elevated temperatures are shown to vary consistently with the number of degrees of freedom and with temperature once rovibrational coupling and torsional anharmonicity are accounted for. Larger corrections are found for systems with complex vibrational structures, such a...
Mechanisms by which Somatostatin Inhibits Pituitary Hormone Release

Since somatostatin inhibits secretion in a wide variety of target cells, studies probing its mechanism of action have focused on the involvement of the two intracellular messengers known to regulate secretory processes: cyclic AMP and calcium (see reviews 1–5).
Treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and its complications. A state of the art review.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a major health problem which occurs predominantly in the older population; 16.8% of persons over age 65 years have NIDDM. The total health costs of NIDDM are in excess of $US20 billion annually.
3D Shape-based Body Composition Prediction Model Using Machine Learning

A booming development of 3D body scan and modeling technologies has facilitated large-scale anthropometric data collections for biomedical research and applications. However, usages of the digitalized human body shape data are relatively limited due to a lack of corresponding medical data to establish correlations between body shapes and underlying health information, such as the Body Fat Percentage (BFP). We present a novel prediction model to estimate the BFP by analyzing 3D body shapes. We introduce the concept of “visual cue” by analyzing the second-order shape descriptors. We first establish our baseline regression model for feature selection of the zeroth-order shape descriptors. Then, we use the visual cue as a shape-prior to improve the baseline prediction. In our study, we take the Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) BFP measure as the ground truth for model training and evaluation. DXA is considered the “gold standard” in body composition assessment. We compare our results with the clinical BFP estimation instrument—the BOD POD. The result shows that our prediction model, on the average, outperforms the BOD POD by 20.28% in prediction accuracy.
Surgical Issues in NASH: Bariatric Surgery and Liver Transplantation

The rising prevalence of obesity in general and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) specifically as an indication for liver transplantation has occurred in parallel with an increase in the consideration and performance of bariatric surgery before and after liver transplantation. We review the impact and relative merits of bariatric surgery before, during, and after liver transplantation. The sleeve gastrectomy approach has several practical advantages over other forms of weight loss surgery and has been shown to improve metabolic parameters. Bariatric surgical procedures inevitably affect immunosuppression pharmacokinetics, with the least impact being observed following sleeve gastrectomy. In the non-transplant setting, bariatric surgery has been shown to be an effective therapy for histological features of NASH. When compared to lifestyle changes alone, bariatric surgery performed during or after liver transplantation results in sustained weight loss and improved metabolic parameters associated with liver disease, cardiovascular risk, and overall mortality. Further studies are needed to confirm which surgical procedures, timing, and NASH patients will receive most benefit.
Design Mobile App Notification to Reduce Student Stress

College is the first time many students spend extended time away from their parents’ homes and take on new responsibilities of independence. Encountering different lifestyles and values, they begin to define their adulthood. Newfound freedom increases stress they have not learned to cope with. This paper discusses recognizing stress, learning coping skills, and social sharing toward designing a personalized mobile application used to monitor students’ stress and help them set goals. The application uses a reward system to reduce stress levels and facilitate a healthier lifestyle.