cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of Intralesional Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Injection Therapy and Related Combination Therapies in the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease (an Update).

Abstract Introduction Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is an injectable agent used to treat Peyronie's disease (PD) by enzymatically degrading the interstitial collagen in plaques. CCH has been administered via multiple treatment protocols, in combination therapies, to patients with varying curvatures and in both the acute and stable phases of this condition. Objectives To review the current literature and provide an update on CCH as an injectable therapy for PD, as a singular therapy or in conjunction with combination therapies, and its associated complications. We provide a brief background of PD treatments, evaluate CCH efficacy in penile curvature reduction and subjective improvement in a variety of protocols, and compare combination therapies (penile traction, sildenafil), plaque location, and efficacy in both acute and stable diseases. Methods We performed a systematic review of the existing PubMed literature pertaining to CCH injection therapy in the treatment of PD and compared the effectiveness to different treatment modalities. Results CCH is a safe and effective injectable agent for all curvature directions in both acute and stable PD. It can be used in conjunction with multiple penile modeling techniques, in combination with sildenafil, and following a shortened administration protocol. Moderate to severe treatment-related adverse events occur at a rate of 9% and are typically managed conservatively. Conclusion Intralesional injections of CCH are FDA approved as a nonsurgical treatment for men with PD. The IMPRESS trials were instrumental in demonstrating the efficacy and safety of CCH and provided a standard protocol for administration. Additional studies are required to optimize treatment protocols and use in combination therapies. Further investigation of patients with ventral curvatures, hourglass deformities, and those in acute phase is needed. Natale C, McLellan D, Yousif A, et al. Review of Intralesional Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Injection Therapy and Related Combination Therapies in the Treatment of Peyronie's Disease (an Update). Sex Med 2021;9:340–349.
β-Lactamase triggered visual detection of bacteria using cephalosporin functionalized biomaterials

We report the conjugation of a chromogenic cephalosporin β-lactamase (βL) substrate to polymers and integration into biomaterials for facile, visual βL detection. Identification of these bacterial enzymes, which are a leading cause of antibiotic resistance, is critical in the treatment of infectious diseases. The βL substrate polymer conjugate undergoes a clear to deep yellow color change upon incubation with common pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria species. We have demonstrated the feasibility of formulating hydrogels with the βL substrate covalently tethered to a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymer matrix, exhibiting a visible color change in the presence of βLs. This approach has the potential to be used in diagnostic biomaterials for point-of-care detection of βL-producing bacteria, helping combat the spread of drug resistant microbes.
Apollonian depth, spinors, and the super-Dedekind tessellation

The configuration space of tricycles (triples of disks in contact) is shown to coincide with the complex plane resulting as a projective space costructed from the tangency and Pauli spinors. Remarkably, the fractal of the depth functions assumes a particularly simple and elegant form. Moreover, the factor space due to a certain symmetry group provides a parametrization of the Apollonian disk packings.
Novel Treatments for Transient Ischemic Attack and Acute Ischemic Stroke

The treatment of acute ischemic stroke is one of the most rapidly evolving areas in medicine. Like all ischemic vascular emergencies, the priority is reperfusion before irreversible infarction. The central nervous system is sensitive to brief periods of hypoperfusion, making stroke a golden hour diagnosis. Although the phrase "time is brain" is relevant today, emerging treatment strategies use more specific markers for consideration of reperfusion than time alone. Innovations in early stroke detection and individualized patient selection for reperfusion therapies have equipped the emergency medicine clinician with more opportunities to help stroke patients and minimize the impact of this disease.
Gender-specific Trajectories of Maltreatment, School Engagement, and Delinquency: The Protective Role of School Engagement

Despite the link between child maltreatment and delinquency has been well-established, relatively few studies have examined gender differences in the protective role of school factors that attenuat...
A Collective-Distributive Pragmatic Scale and the Developing Lexicon

A locus of the difference in meaning between distributive and collective sentences can be the quantifiers that modify their subjects. A current theoretical account of distributive and collective se...
Long-term renal function after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background The utilization of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) as a life-supporting therapy has increased exponentially over the last decade. As more patients receive and survive ECMO, there are a number of unanswered clinical questions about their long-term prognosis and organ function including the need for long-term dialysis. Methods We aimed to utilize over 208 patient-years of follow-up data from our large institutional cohort of VA-ECMO patients to determine the incidence of requiring VA-ECMO support on the need for renal replacement therapy after discharge (LT-dialysis). This retrospective review included all adult VA-ECMO patients at our institution from January 2014 to October 2018 (N = 283). Results Out of the 99 (35%) survivors, 88 (89%) did not require LT-dialysis of any duration after discharge from the index hospitalization. Patients who required VA-ECMO for decompensated cardiogenic shock were more likely to need LT-dialysis (p = .034), and those who required renal replacement therapy during VA-ECMO (N = 27) also had a higher incidence of LT-dialysis (33%). Conclusion Overall, these data suggest there is a low incidence of long-term dialysis dependence among survivors of VA-ECMO support. Worries about the potential long-term detrimental effect of VA-ECMO should not preclude patients from receiving this life-saving support.
Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Explant versus Decommissioning for LV Recovery

Purpose Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) explant or decommission for LV recovery is rare (1-2%). Furthermore, details regarding appropriate patient selection, surgical technique and short- and long-term patient outcomes are limited (1,2). Four different surgical techniques have been described for cessation of LVAD support for LV recovery (3). The purpose of our study is to describe our experience for patients undergoing LVAD explantation or decommission. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the surgical technique and outcomes for our LVAD patients who were explanted and decommissioned between 2010 and 2020. Baseline demographics were examined. Specific surgical techniques utilized along with outcome analysis including infection, thromboembolic events, LVEF change, need for re-implantation and death were analyzed. Results Thirteen patients were identified who underwent either LVAD explant or decommission with a mean age of 43. All patients had underlying non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Nearly half (53%) of the patients were selected due to a combination of LV recovery (mean LVEF 47% in this group) and an indication for device removal including pump thrombosis or infection (versus LV recovery alone). Surgical technique varied between full sternotomy with pump explant (69%) and thoracotomy with pump decommission (31%) depending on indication. Median follow up was 70 months. Results are displayed in table 1. In those with LV recovery alone, many experienced a drop in LVEF with clinical HF symptoms, but not resulting in re-implantation or mortality. All patients with infection and LV recovery experienced a drop in LVEF and recurrent HF, with a mortality rate of 50%. Conclusion LVAD explant or decomissioning can be performed via full sternotomy or thoracotomy depending on the indication. When performed for LV recovery and another reason, such as device infection, recurrent, severe HF can be fatal in this cohort. Careful monitoring of these patients is therefore required after such an operation.
Metaphyseal Stem Tip Location is a Risk Factor for Aseptic Loosening of Cemented Distal Femoral Replacements.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to describe the incidence of aseptic loosening (AL) of cemented stem distal femoral replacements (DFR) and to identify modifiable risk factors for its development. Methods A retrospective review was performed of 245 consecutive primary, cemented stem DFRs implanted at a single institution over a 40-year period. The primary outcome was revision surgery for AL. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for AL. Radiographs were reviewed to identify stem tip location, which was defined as diaphyseal or metaphyseal. Implant survival to AL was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results AL and structural failure were the most common causes of implant failure (incidence 11.8%, 29/245). Younger age (P = .002), male sex (P = .01), longer resection length (P = .04), and nonmodular implants (P = .002) were all significantly associated with AL. After 1:1 matching, stem tip location in metaphyseal bone was independently associated with AL (P = .04). 36% (9/25) of implants that loosened had a stem tip located in the metaphysis vs only 8% (2/25) of implants that did not fail. 30-year survival to AL was lower for implants with a metaphyseal stem tip than implants with a diaphyseal stem tip (22.7% vs 47.6%; P = .11). Conclusion A stem tip location in metaphyseal bone is associated with diminished survival to AL. When templating before DFR, stem tip location can assist in identifying high-risk reconstructions that may benefit from alternative or supplemental fixation techniques to prevent the development of AL.
Risk Factors and Outcomes Following Septostomy during Fetoscopic Surgery for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) of placental anastomoses is the preferred treatment for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Iatrogenic septostomy (IOS) during FLP is associated with increased risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. We sought to identify risk factors for IOS and quantify the resultant outcomes. This is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected cases of TTTS in monochorionic diamniotic twins following FLP at a single center. Pre-operative ultrasound characteristics and operative technique (i.e., cannula size, total energy used) were compared between cases with vs. without IOS. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes were also compared. Of 475 patients that had FLP, 33 (7%) were complicated by IOS. There was no association between operative technique and IOS. IOS was more common with later diagnosis, but less likely when selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) was present. Survival was similar between groups (76% vs. 76% dual survivors, p = 0.95); however, IOS was associated with earlier delivery (29.7 vs. 32.0 wks, p < 0.01) and greater composite neonatal morbidity (25% vs. 8% in both twins, p = 0.02). Risks of IOS at greater gestational ages without sFGR may be related to a larger collapsed intervening membrane area and the resulting increased risk of puncture on entry.
Anti-PolyQ Antibodies Recognize a Short PolyQ Stretch in Both Normal and Mutant Huntingtin Exon 1.

Huntington's disease is caused by expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in the huntingtin protein. A structural basis for the apparent transition between normal and disease-causing expanded polyQ repeats of huntingtin is unknown. The “linear lattice” model proposed random-coil structures for both normal and expanded polyQ in the preaggregation state. Consistent with this model, the affinity and stoichiometry of the anti-polyQ antibody MW1 increased with the number of glutamines. An opposing “structural toxic threshold” model proposed a conformational change above the pathogenic polyQ threshold resulting in a specific toxic conformation for expanded polyQ. Support for this model was provided by the anti-polyQ antibody 3B5H10, which was reported to specifically recognize a distinct pathologic conformation of soluble expanded polyQ. To distinguish between these models, we directly compared binding of MW1 and 3B5H10 to normal and expanded polyQ repeats within huntingtin exon 1 fusion proteins. We found similar binding characteristics for both antibodies. First, both antibodies bound to normal, as well as expanded, polyQ in huntingtin exon 1 fusion proteins. Second, an expanded polyQ tract contained multiple epitopes for fragments antigen-binding (Fabs) of both antibodies, demonstrating that 3B5H10 does not recognize a single epitope specific to expanded polyQ. Finally, small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering revealed similar binding modes for MW1 and 3B5H10 Fab–huntingtin exon 1 complexes. Together, these results support the linear lattice model for polyQ binding proteins, suggesting that the hypothesized pathologic conformation of soluble expanded polyQ is not a valid target for drug design.
The Unsteady Forces Due to Viscous Wakes in Turbomachines

The configuration of viscous wakes of cascade blades is approximated from single airfoil experiments. The unsteady force and moment on a downstream blade passing through such wakes is then calculated on the basis of the theory of isolated thin airfoils in nonuniform motion. The results indicate that the force is nearly proportional to the profile-drag coefficient of the upstream blades. For typical values of this coefficient and conventional cascade geometry the unsteady forces arising from passage through viscous wakes are of about the same size as those due to aerodynamic interference between the moving blade rows, previously estimated.
Seizing the Opportunity to Fulfill a Mission

“Outreach,” “collaboration,” and “partnership” are key terms embedded deeply into the mission statement of Texas Woman’s University and are in keeping with the renewed emphasis of American higher education to engage in partnerships and collaborations. As universities and colleges aim for excellence across their mission and determine the best way to meet the needs of society in the twenty-first century, university faculty will be expected to articulate and assess their outreach agendas (Outreach Program at Michigan State University, 1996). When a request for assistance came from a local elementary school to the College of Education and Human Ecology, the response was overwhelming and encouraging. The invitation was viewed as an opportunity for administrators, faculty, and staff to engage in outreach activities that would enhance the mission of the university and at the same time assist the elementary school in achieving its goals of educating families and children.
Anchors on the Ship of Progress and Weeds in the Human Garden: Objectivist Rhetoric in American Eugenic Writings

The eugenics era was marked by a very pejorative view of persons with disabilities, especially what was labeled as "high functioning" feeble-mindedness or moronity. This perception can be seen by the frequent use of denigrating metaphors in eugenic descriptions of those who supposedly fell into these and related, though vaguely defined, categories. This article analyzes the use of the "object metaphor" in eugenic writings, in which persons with disabilities were described as passive, unsightly, and valueless objects. The paper further analyzes the various sub-themes within object metaphors and how these were also employed to portray persons with disabilities as passive, unsightly, and valueless objects. While the use of the object metaphor has obviously changed over time, it remains one of the most frequently employed pejorative metaphors in relation to persons with disabilities.
Proposals for Reforming the Administrative Procedure Act: Globalization, Democracy and the Furtherance of a Global Public Interest

On February 3, 1999, Dean Alfred C. Aman, Jr. delivered the Third Annual Snyder Lecture at Cambridge University. This lecture recently has been published in 6 Ind. J. of Global Legal Stud. 397. It examines Administrative Law Reform, and is part of a larger work now in progress, dealing with the APA and possible legislative approaches to Administrative Law Reform. This lecture builds on the theoretical perspectives on globalization and their implications for administrative and constitutional law, as set forth in Aman, The Globalizing State: A Future-Oriented Perspective on the Public/Private Distinction, Federalism, and Democracy, 31 Vand. J. Trans. Law 719 (1998). The lecture sets forth four different conceptions of globalization -- the comparative/international model, globalization as Americanization, globalization as denationalization, and what the author calls "the globalizing state." With these frameworks in mind, the lecture then examines Administrative Law Reform, arguing that for years, U.S. public law debates have been dominated by the question of which public institution should be responsible for certain kinds of policymaking -- the court, the legislature or the administrative agency. The democracy problem inherent in globalization, however, is more fundamental. It involves more than a debate over which public institution is best suited to decide certain kinds of legal issues. What is at stake when the "globalizing state" delegates power to the market and various non-State private actors often is a far more striking choice between some democracy (or participation) and none at all. The lecture then considers APA reforms in three contexts: (1) the extension of the APA to certain private entities; (2) the creation of greater transparency and opportunities for participation in the processes of contracting out governmental functions to private entities; and (3) the need for a global impact statement in certain kinds of rulemaking proceedings. The lecture concludes that the APA of the future should include within its scope private entities carrying out public functions, a requirement that the global implications of domestic policies be considered if not coordinated with international strategies to deal with global problems, and an evolving sense of how public participation and transparency might be facilitated by the very technologies that are raising new issues, given their undeniably global characteristics.
Exercise to Music

(1965). Exercise to Music. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 73-73.
Expression of plasmid-coded mutant ribosomal RNA in E. coli: choice of plasmid vectors and gene expression systems.

Publisher Summary Mutation causes drastic reductions in cell growth rates. In some cases, mutations in certain regions of the operon could not be cloned, presumably because the gene product is lethal to the cells. To solve the problem of studying lethal mutations, a number of additional vector systems were developed. The description of these vectors is provided in this chapter. The discussion also includes a plasmid with low-copy-number and plasmids in which the wild-type promoters for the rrnB operon, P1 and P2, are replaced by inducible promoters, either the lambda promoter, P L , or a T7 late-promoter. These systems have allowed to clone lethal mutations and to study their expression. rrnB is a transcriptional unit (operon) coding for 16-S, 23-S, and 5-S ribosomal RNA. P1 and P2 are the two natural promoters initiating the transcription of the rrnB operon. P L is a repressible promoter from bacteriophage lambda that replaces P1 and P2 in front of the rrnB operon in plasmid pN026SO. A problem encountered in the study of ribosomal RNA mutants is the analysis of the mutant rRNA set in the background of host-coded rRNA. The expression of the rRNA operon is an involved and complex process. The operon is transcribed as a long primary transcript containing 16-S, 23-S, and 5-S rRNA. This primary transcript must be cleaved, methylated, and bound to 52 different ribosomal proteins for gene expression to be complete. Because processing involves these many complex steps, which have not been reproduced in vitro , it is necessary to express the cloned genes in vivo . This then raises the problem of distinguishing the cloned gene transcript from wild-type rRNA transcribed from the seven rRNA operons on the host chromosome. This problem is addressed in the chapter.
Massive aspiration of barium sulfate during an upper gastrointestinal examination in a child with dysphagia

Barium sulfate is an agent used widely as a contrast material for imaging studies of the gastrointestinal tract and is not inherently toxic to lung tissue. Aspiration of barium sulfate has been reported on rare occasions, but is more frequently seen in patients with underlying anatomical or neurological defects such as head and neck deformity, esophageal stricture, diverticulum or fistula. We report a previously healthy child suffered from massive aspiration of barium sulfate during the investigation of dysphagia due to an impacted foreign body in the esophagus. Massive aspiration of barium sulfate is potentially life-threatening because of mechanical interference with gas exchange. An obstruction of the esophagus should be considered in the differential diagnosis for children with acute dysphagia and barium contrast should be used with great care in such instance.
FDG-PET findings in patients with suspected encephalitis.

Purpose: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) may be used to establish a diagnosis of encephalitis, yet prior descriptions are mainly limited to small case reports. We explore the role of FDG-PET in the diagnostic evaluation of encephalitis. Methods: Brain FDG-PET was acquired in a consecutive case series of 10 cases of suspected encephalitis over a 5-year-period. Cases with positive Lyme serology were excluded. Two expert reviewers graded the FDG-PET studies in blinded fashion with respect to the clinical history. Retrospective review of the clinical history and examination, laboratory findings, electroencephalogram (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies was performed. A diagnosis of encephalitis was based on a combination of the clinical and diagnostic examination findings in each case. Results: Encephalitis was diagnosed in 6 of 10 cases. FDG-PET hypermetabolism was demonstrated in 5 cases of encephalitis, most frequently involving the medial temporal lobes. Multifocal hypometabolism was noted in at least 2 regions in all 6 cases of encephalitis, with at least 4 regions of hypometabolism noted in 5 of 6 cases. Nonencephalitis cases revealed hypermetabolism in only 1 of 4 cases, ascribed to status epilepticus. Hypometabolism was evident in all nonencephalitis cases. Conclusion: Encephalitis frequently manifests as FDG-PET hypermetabolism, but focal hypometabolism can also be observed. Seizure activity must be excluded as a possible cause of hypermetabolism in patients suspected of having encephalitis. Because other conditions that can cause hypometabolism may mimic encephalitis clinically, FDG-PET is more likely to serve as an adjunct to lumbar puncture, EEG, and clinical findings rather than a primary diagnostic tool in the management of patients suspected of having encephalitis.
Copper and Zinc Promote Interactions between Membrane-Anchored Peptides of the Metal Binding Domain of the Prion Protein†

The prion protein (PrP) has been identified as a metalloprotein capable of binding multiple copper ions and possibly zinc. Recent studies now indicate that prion self-recognition may be an important factor in both the normal function and misfunction of this protein. We have developed fluorescently labeled models of the prion protein that allow prion-prion interactions and metal binding to be investigated on the molecular level. Peptides encompassing the full metal binding region were anchored to the surface of small unilamellar vesicles, and PrP-PrP interactions were monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy as a function of added metal. Both Cu2+ and Zn2+ were found to cause an increase in the level of PrP-PrP interactions, by 117 and 300%, respectively, whereas other metals such as Ni2+, Co2+, and Ca2+ had no effect. The binding of either of these cofactors appears to act as a switch that induces PrP-PrP interactions in a reversible manner. Both glutamine and tryptophan residues, which occur frequently in the metal binding region of PrP, were found to be important in mediating PrP-PrP interactions. Experiments demonstrate that tryptophan residues are also responsible for the low level of PrP-PrP interactions observed in the absence of Cu2+ and Zn2+, and this is further supported by molecular modeling. Overall, our results indicate that PrP may be a bifunctional molecule capable of responding to fluctuations in both neuronal Cu2+ and Zn2+ levels.
INFLUENCE OF EYE DOMINANCE ON THE APPARENT CENTERS OF SIMPLE HORIZONTAL LINES

-Ss with right-eye dominance overestimated with either o r both eyes the left segment of horizontal lines, regardless of where they fixated the line as they bisected it. The converse occurred with left-dominant Ss, except when these Ss fixated the right end of the line as they bisected it. It was hypothesized that this might be due to the formation of a sharper more accurate representation in the dominant than the non-dominant cortex, with a consequent overestimation of the more diffuse representation relative to the sharper one.
Silicon photonics: A chip-scale one-way valve for light

For integrated photonics to take off, light signals zooming around optical chips must be successfully isolated from one another. Scientists at Stanford University have now designed a miniature one-way valve for light that uses photonic transitions and is potentially compatible with silicon-chip CMOS fabrication processes.
Isotope dilution analysis of common and radiogenic strontium using84Sr-enriched spike

Abstract In determining the quantities of common and radiogenic strontium from a single isotope dilution analysis, a fractionation correction can be applied to observed isotope ratios if the spike is enriched in 84 Sr. However, for certain combinations of the isotopic composition of the spike and the spike to sample ratio, the analysis is subject to infinite error magnification. A consideration of the magnification of error indicates that nearly pure 84 Sr spike is optimum.
Density-matrix renormalization-group analysis of quantum critical points: Quantum spin chains

We present a simple method, combining the density-matrix renormalization-group algorithm with finite-size scaling, which permits the study of critical behavior in quantum spin chains. Spin moments and dimerization are induced by boundary conditions at the chain ends and these exhibit power-law decay at critical points. Results are presented for the spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet; an analytic calculation shows that logarithmic corrections to scaling can sometimes be avoided. We also examine the spin-1 chain at the critical point separating the Haldane gap and dimerized phases. Exponents for the dimer-dimer and the spin-spin correlation functions are consistent with results obtained from bosonization.
Traffic Flow Prediction for Road Transportation Networks With Limited Traffic Data

Obtaining accurate information about current and near-term future traffic flows of all links in a traffic network has a wide range of applications, including traffic forecasting, vehicle navigation devices, vehicle routing, and congestion management. A major problem in getting traffic flow information in real time is that the vast majority of links is not equipped with traffic sensors. Another problem is that factors affecting traffic flows, such as accidents, public events, and road closures, are often unforeseen, suggesting that traffic flow forecasting is a challenging task. In this paper, we first use a dynamic traffic simulator to generate flows in all links using available traffic information, estimated demand, and historical traffic data available from links equipped with sensors. We implement an optimization methodology to adjust the origin-to-destination matrices driving the simulator. We then use the real-time and estimated traffic data to predict the traffic flows on each link up to 30 min ahead. The prediction algorithm is based on an autoregressive model that adapts itself to unpredictable events. As a case study, we predict the flows of a traffic network in San Francisco, CA, USA, using a macroscopic traffic flow simulator. We use Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate our methodology. Our simulations demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed approach. The traffic flow prediction errors vary from an average of 2% for 5-min prediction windows to 12% for 30-min windows even in the presence of unpredictable events.
Magnetohydrodynamic shock propagation in non-uniform ducts

Es wird die Storung bestimmt, die ein gleichformiger magnetohydrodynamischer Stoss beliebiger Starke durch eine Querschnittsveranderung der Stromung erleidet. Beim Durchgang durch die Querschnittsveranderung andert sich die Starke des Stosses, und die Stromung bleibt nicht langer isentropisch. Es ergeben sich zwei verschiedene Storungsanteile, namlich ein stationarer, der unmittelbar durch die Querschnittsveranderung hervorgerufen wird, und ein zeitlich veranderlicher Anteil, der von der Reflektion des ersten Anteils an dem Stoss herruhrt.
Integration of optics into the undergraduate physics curriculum at Millersville University

A discovery based lab course in applied optics was developed and will be offered for the first time at Millersville University (MU) in the fall of 2007. The course will deal with fundamental optics and optical techniques in greater depth so that the student is abreast of the activities in the forefront of the field. The goal of the course is to provide hands-on experience and in-depth preparation of our students for graduate programs in optics or as a workforce for new emerging high-tech local industries. The new 300 level course will be required for BS physics majors, but will be open also to the full spectrum of science majors, who have the appropriate background. The optics course consists of four contact hours per week including a one-hour lecture and a three-hour lab. Students will learn applied optics through sequence of discovery based laboratory experiences. The guided but open-ended approach provides excellent practice for the academic model of science research. The lab experiments are chosen from a broad range of topics in optics and lasers, as the emphasis is on geometrical optics, geometrical aberrations in optical systems, wave optics, microscopy, spectroscopy, polarization, birefringence, laser generation, laser properties and applications, and optical standards. The starting budget of about $60,000 provided state-of-the-art lab equipment from Newport Co. and MICOS Co. The attraction of the course is shown by the active registration among physics, chemistry and biology majors.
Magnetic Resonance Detection of Inflammation in Elastase-Induced Aneurysms

Intracranial aneurysm rupture is the leading cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the United States and is associated with higher fatality rates than ischemic stroke. There is currently no objective diagnostic means to identify aneurysms that are at high risk for rupture despite significant improvements in treatment. Often with no warning signs prior to aneurysm rupture such as the transient ischemic attack in ischemic stroke, the need to develop a method for detecting aneurysm instability is necessary.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Molecular g values, magnetic susceptibilities, molecular quadrupole moment, and spin-rotation interaction in 15NH3

The first-order Zeeman effect was observed at 25 kg on the inversion transition in 15NH3 for seven different rotational states. The measured g values are g ┴ = 0·563±0·001 and g ∥ = 0·500±0·001. The upper limit on the magnetic susceptibility anisotropy in ammonia is determined to be The molecular quadrupole moment is Q ∥ = - (1·9±1·0) × 10-26 e.s.u. cm2. The diagonal elements in the diamagnetic and paramagnetic susceptibility tensors are given along with the second moment of the electronic charge distribution. The molecular g values are combined with the nitrogen and hydrogen spin-rotation constants to obtain values of 1/r 3 matrix elements between ground and excited states. The results for NH3 are compared to the recent results in H2O.
Tunable optoelectronic oscillator with 10 5 finesse Fabry-Perot etalon as a photonic filter and optical frequency reference

A tunable optoelectronic oscillator using a high finesse etalon as both a photonic filter and optical frequency reference is presented. The microwave tone at 10.487 GHz displays fractional frequency instability of 3.3×10−10 at 1 s.
Discussion. How to weight scientists' probabilities is not a big problem: comment on Barnes

Assuming it rational to treat other persons' probabilities as epistemically significant, how shall their judgements be weighted (Barnes [1998])? Several plausible methods exist, but theorems in classical psychometrics greatly reduce the importance of the problem. If scientists' judgements tend to be positively correlated, the difference between two randomly weighted composites shrinks as the number of judges rises. Since, for reasons such as representative coverage, minimizing bias, and avoiding elitism, we would rarely employ small numbers of judges (e.g. less than 10), the difference between two weighting systems becomes negligible. Suggestions are made for quantifying verisimilitude, identifying 'types' of scientists or theories (taxometrics), inferring latent factors, and estimating reliability of pooled judgements.
The effects of antidepressants on the retention and metabolism of [3H]-norepinephrine in rat brain slices

tion. and O-methylation of [jH]-NE by rat brain slices were investigated in the presence of several antidepressant agents. The effects of antidepressants were compared to those of the prototype inhibitors. cocaine and reserpine. using slices of hypothalamus, brainstem. parietal cortex and caudate nucleus. Cocaine, which inhibits neuronal membrane uptake, decreased both the deamination and retention of C3H]-NE. while 0-methylation was increased. Reserpine. which inhibits vesicular transport and binding, increased deamination, while it reduced retention without affecting the 0-methylation of [‘HI-NE. The effects of desipramine. a prototype tricyclic antidepressant, were found to depend on the concentration. At low concentrations (10-9-10-sM). desipramine inhibited the retention and deamination of C3H]-NE in each brain region except the caudate. At higher concentrations (10-7-10-4M), the retention of C3H]-NE was reduced further. However, deamination was increased in the caudate and, in the other three repions, deamination did not decrease further. Nortriptyline and protriptyline had actions similar to desipramine, whereas, iprindole did not affect [‘HI-NE retention. These results suggest that tricyclic antidepressants are not specific selective inhibitors of neuronal membrane transport.
Effects of recognition accuracy and vocabulary size of a speech recognition system on task performance and user acceptance

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of recognizer accuracy and vocabulary size on performance of a speech recognition system. Subjects ranging in age from 20 to 55 years performe...
Promoting School Achievement among American Indian Students throughout the School Years.

(2005). Promoting School Achievement among American Indian Students Throughout the School Years. Childhood Education: Vol. 81, International Focus Issue 2005: Education of the Aboriginal and Indigenous Child: Global Perspectives and Practices, pp. 338-342.
Fibrinopeptide a increases after Chorionic villus sampling

Fibrinopeptide levels were measured in 20 women during transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Fibrinopeptide A, a sensitive indicator of fibrinogen cleavage by thrombin, significantly increased in five subjects, whereas there was no change in B beta peptide, an indicator of fibrinolysis. The data suggest that modest fibrin formation, uncompensated by fibrinolysis, may be induced in some women by CVS.
Enzyme reaction rates and the stochastic theory of kinetics

The kinetics of an elementary reaction step are discussed from the viewpoint of the stochastic theory of chemical kinetics. The general form of the rate constant found in the stochastic approach is described and compared with the expression from transition state theory. Whereas the stochastic theory predicts a rate enhancement in cases which are not adiabatic (in the quantum mechanical sense), transition state theory, which is essentially an adiabatic theory of reaction rates, does not permit inclusion of the effect. This effect can be expected to be of greater importance in cases of catalysis by structures, such as enzymes, containing large numbers of vibrational degrees of freedom (particularly low frequency ones) than in cases lacking such structures. The stochastic theory is more general than the transition state theory, the rate constant expression given by the latter being obtainable from the former when restrictive assumptions, including that of adiabaticity, are made. Interpretations of enzyme catalysis based on the transition state theory must thus be viewed as speculative.
HLA-D-DR relationships: PLT studies of HLA-D specificities associated with DR1, DR2, and DR4.

Abstract The primed lymphocyte test (PLT) detects gene products of the HLA-D-DR region which activate the secondary (memory) response of MLC stimulated T cells. In the present study attempts were made to determine whether different HLA-D alleles associated with the same DR, such as DR1, 2, and 4 can be discriminated by PLT typing. PLTs were generated by using, as responders and primary MLC stimulators, HLA-D different HTCs which shared all DR groups (major DR, supertypic MT and second locus MB) or only the MT or MB groups. As secondary stimulators, lymphocytes from an HLA-D selected panel of 72 individuals were used. PLTs raised in DR identical responder-primary stimulator combinations were able to discriminate between the different HLA-D antigens associated with the same DR. In contrast, when priming was performed in combinations differing for the major DR group, the restimulation response was highly associated with the DR specificity of the primary stimulator, regardless of whether or not this was compatible with the responding HTC for the MT or MB groups. This data indicate that the specificity of primed lymphocytes largely depends on the combinations used for priming and that the memory response can be activated by both HLA-D and DR antigens. The dissociation of HLA-D from DR by PLT typing might provide a useful tool for further analysis of this HLA region.
Comparison of Characteristics between Region- and Voxel-Based Network Analyses in Resting-State fMRI Data

Small-world networks are a class of networks that exhibit efficient long-distance communication and tightly interconnected local neighborhoods. In recent years, functional and structural brain networks have been examined using network theory-based methods, and consistently shown to have small-world properties. Moreover, some voxel-based brain networks exhibited properties of scale-free networks, a class of networks with mega-hubs. However, there are considerable inconsistencies across studies in the methods used and the results observed, particularly between region-based and voxel-based brain networks. We constructed functional brain networks at multiple resolutions using the same resting-state fMRI data, and compared various network metrics, degree distribution, and localization of nodes of interest. It was found that the networks with higher resolutions exhibited the properties of small-world networks more prominently. It was also found that voxel-based networks were more robust against network fragmentation compared to region-based networks. Although the degree distributions of all networks followed an exponentially truncated power law rather than true power law, the higher the resolution, the closer the distribution was to a power law. The voxel-based analyses also enhanced visualization of the results in the 3D brain space. It was found that nodes with high connectivity tended have high efficiency, a co-localization of properties that was not as consistently observed in the region-based networks. Our results demonstrate benefits of constructing the brain network at the finest scale the experiment will permit.
The effect of abdominal strength or endurance exercises on abdominal peak torque and endurance field tests of healthy participants: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Objective To compare the effects of muscular endurance and resisted strengthening protocols on abdominal strength and endurance in a sample of young subjects. Design Randomized Clinical Trial. Setting University fitness laboratory. Participants 79 healthy subjects, (45 males and 34 females) aged 23.5 ± 5.8 years. Main outcome measures Measurements were taken at baseline and 12 weeks. Abdominal strength and endurance were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (IKD) and four floor tests including the timed front plank (FP), angle sit (AS), sit-up (SU), and handheld dynamometer (HD). Results Multivariate analysis revealed no between group differences for the outcomes or group × time interaction ( P = 0.52 and P = 0.31 respectively). The univariate within group analysis was significant for SU P = .001, HD rectus P = .007, HD oblique P = .005, and for the IKD peak eccentric torque P = .025. Conclusions A 12-week intervention program addressing endurance or strength did not produce between-group differences over a control group of routine activity maintenance.
Nonproliferation in dermal condensations of mouse vibrissae and pelage hairs

Abstract The early development of mouse embryo vibrissae and pelage hairs has been investigated by labeling with nucleic acid precursors and by organ culture procedures. As soon as dermal condensations form in either hair type, condensation cells fail to incorporate H3-thymidine or show mitoses, although such cells continue to bind H3-uridine into ribonuclease-sensitive material. Condensation cells remain relatively quiescent mitotically during hair peg downgrowth and few adjacent (labeled) dermal cells migrate into the condensation mass. These observations, in conjunction with earlier work, demonstrate remarkable similarities between hairs and feathers in terms of nonproliferation at times when significant tissue interactions are thought to be occurring.
CO2 Reduction on Supported Ru/Al2O3 Catalysts: Cluster Size Dependence of Product Selectivity

The catalytic performance of a series of Ru/Al2O3 catalysts with Ru content in the 0.1–5% range was examined in the reduction of CO2 with H2. At low Ru loadings (≤0.5%) where the active metal phase is highly dispersed (mostly atomically) on the alumina support, CO is formed with high selectivity. With increasing metal loading, the selectivity toward CH4 formation increases, while that for CO production decreases. In the 0.1% Ru/Al2O3 catalyst, Ru is mostly present in atomic dispersion, as scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images obtained from the fresh sample prior to catalytic testing reveal. STEM images recorded from this same sample, following the temperature programmed reaction test, clearly show the agglomeration of small metal particles (and atoms) into 3D clusters. The clustering of the highly dispersed metal phase is responsible for the observed dramatic selectivity change during elevated temperature tests: dramatic decrease in CO and large increase in CH4 selectivity. Apparent acti...
Reduced purine accumulation is encoded on an amplified DNA in Leishmania mexicana amazonensis resistant to toxic nucleosides.

Abstract Nucleoside analogs are potential anti- Leishmania agents. To better understand how these compounds might lose their effectiveness, Leishmania were independently selected for resistance to inosine dialdehyde or tubercidin. Each of the resistant cells exhibited resistance to inosine dialdehyde and tubercidin as well as to formycin B and allopurinol ribonucleoside. Resistant cells had a greatly reduced capability of accumulating exogenous adenosine, guanosine, thymidine and guanine. This decreased ability to accumulate nucleosides and at least one nucleobase appeared to be due to reduced activity of a number of distinct purine transporters, as the differences between purine metabolizing enzymes were not sufficiently different to account for the decreased accumulation capability. The resistance to toxic nucleosides and the decreased ability to accumulate purines were due to the presence in the resistant cells of an extrachromosomal DNA approximately 55 kb in size. The extrachromosomal DNA was not detected in wild-type cells or revertants which have lost resistance to toxic nucleosides. Except for a 1.2-kb difference, the extrachromosomal DNA from both independently selected resistant cells appeared to be identical. The resistant cells contained 2–4 times as much DNA homologous to the extrachromosomal DNA as compared to wild type cells. When cloned into an E. coli/Leishmania shuttle vector, a portion of the amplified DNA had the ability to confer upon wild-type cells resistance to the toxic purine nucleoside analogs tubercidin and inosine dialdehyde. These transformed cells also exhibited a decreased ability to accumulate non-toxic purine nucleosides.
Cellular sources of fibrotic collagen

Every somatic cell within vertebrate species contains genetic information and therefore the potential to synthesize collagen. Normally, when there is a requirement for new connective tissue following injury, cells of mesodermal origin are activated to meet that demand and supply sufficient amounts of collagen to return structure and function to the damaged tissue or organ. Under these conditions, nonconnective tissue cells either do not synthesize collagen or may produce only minute quantities which are barely detectable by our most sensitive techniques. However, when these nonmesodermal cells are exposed to an abnormal or toxic environment, collagen expression may become greatly enhanced. For example, when hepatocytes are removed from their normal in vivo environment and placed in cell culture, they demonstrate a dramatic increase in their potential to produce collagen. Hepatocytes may also express this ability to produce significant quantities of collagen when they are exposed to toxins or injury in vivo. The list of cells shown to produce collagen or contain enzymes related to collagen biosynthesis has expanded in recent years and now includes such diverse and specialized cells as glomerular mesangial, adipocytes, aortic endothelial, smooth muscle, Schwann cells, and lymphocytes. Therefore, the loss of structure and function in a tissue or organ due to fibrosis may result from excessive deposition of collagen from nonmesodermal sources as well as from connective tissue cells.
ON THE NEED FOR QUALITY CONTROL IN VALIDATION RESEARCH

The aptitude tests used to help make personnel decisions about military recruits were validated against hands-on tests of job performance in two Marine Corps occupational specialties, radio repairers and automotive mechanics. The tests were administered by Marine Corps noncommissioned officers. Marine Corps units provided the test administrators, testing facilities, and examinees. Data collected under such conditions are filled with errors that reduce the accuracy of validity coefficients. This paper shows how validity coefficients can be made more accurate by exercising quality control during the statistical analysis.