cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Morphologic and Fluorophotometric Analysis of the Corneal Endothelium in Type I Diabetes Mellitus and Cystic Fibrosis

Seven patients with type I diabetes mellitus (Group 1), seven with normoglycemic cystic fibrosis (Group 2), seven with hyperglycemic cystic fibrosis (Group 3), and ten age-matched control subjects underwent corneal fluorophotometry and quantitative specular microscopy. Group 1 had background microangiopathic retinopathy but no evidence of proliferative disease by fluorescein angiography. Significant increases in mean corneal endothelial permeability and mean pump rate occurred in Group 1, indicating a defect in the endothelial barrier function early in type I diabetes mellitus. Similar significant increases in mean corneal endothelial permeability and mean pump rate occurred in both cystic fibrosis groups. The greatest increase was found in Group 3, suggesting a primary defect in the endothelial barrier function in cystic fibrosis, aggravated by the hyperglycemic state. No morphologic abnormalities were noted in Group 1, but both cystic fibrosis groups had smaller mean cell areas than did the control group. There were significant differences in the morphologic and functional correlations between Groups 1 and 3, suggesting different mechanisms for the increased endothelial permeability in these two disorders.
Is liver transplantation safe and effective in elderly (≥70 years) recipients? A case-controlled analysis

Background Elderly patients are evaluated for liver transplantation (LT) with increasing frequency, but outcomes in this group have not been well defined.
Packaging Dissimilar Materials for Microfluidic Applications

In this paper we address the problem of assembling several different microfluidic devices, often made from different materials, into a hybrid packaged system. The focus will be on integration of silicon microfluidic die into larger hybrid systems. Details of three different approaches are presented: 1) a plastic flow manifold with tape die attach, 2) multiple capillary die insertion utilizing PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane – silicone adhesive) for sealing and structural support, and 3) die attachment to a glass flow manifold utilizing anodic bonding. The unique tools required for each of these three techniques will be described. Sealed microfluidic connections (>10 ATM pressure) between silicon microfluidic chips (die) and flow manifolds are demonstrated.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Spatial connectivity in a highly heterogeneous aquifer: From cores to preferential flow paths

[1] This study investigates connectivity in a small portion of the extremely heterogeneous aquifer at the Macrodispersion Experiment (MADE) site in Columbus, Mississippi. A total of 19 fully penetrating soil cores were collected from a rectangular grid of 4 m by 4 m. Detailed grain size analysis was performed on 5 cm segments of each core, yielding 1740 hydraulic conductivity (K) estimates. Three different geostatistical simulation methods were used to generate 3-D conditional realizations of the K field for the sampled block. Particle tracking calculations showed that the fastest particles, as represented by the first 5% to arrive, converge along preferential flow paths and exit the model domain within preferred areas. These 5% fastest flow paths accounted for about 40% of the flow. The distribution of preferential flow paths and particle exit locations is clearly influenced by the occurrence of clusters formed by interconnected cells with K equal to or greater than the 0.9 decile of the data distribution (10% of the volume). The fraction of particle paths within the high-K clusters ranges from 43% to 69%. In variogram-based K fields, some of the fastest paths are through media with lower K values, suggesting that transport connectivity may not require fully connected zones of relatively homogenous K. The high degree of flow and transport connectivity was confirmed by the values of two groups of connectivity indicators. In particular, the ratio between effective and geometric mean K (on average, about 2) and the ratio between the average arrival time and the arrival time of the fastest particles (on average, about 9) are consistent with flow and advective transport behavior characterized by channeling along preferential flow paths.
Galactorrhea secondary to chest wall surgery in an adolescent

Although nonpuerperal galactorrhea in youth may be a sign of pituitary prolactinoma, the etiology may be benign and extensive neurologic or endocrinologic evaluation and treatment may be unnecessary. An 18-year-old female with an unusual but benign form of transient galactorrhea due to chest wall surgery is reported. It is hypothesized that the sectioning of the intercostal nerves may result in reflex stimulation of hypothalamic centers controlling lactation through the same neural pathways involved in puerperal lactation. The patient experienced galactorrhea for two months and transient amenorrhea. She is asymptomatic without galactorrhea at nine months follow up.
Maudlin's Truth and Paradox

Tim Maudlin's Truth and Paradox is terrific. In some sense its solution to the paradoxes is familiar the book advocates an extension of what's called the Kripke-Feferman theory (although the definition of validity it employs disguises this fact). Nonetheless, the perspective it casts on that solution is completely novel, and Maudlin uses this perspective to try to make the prima facie unattractive features of this solution seem palatable, indeed inescapable. Moreover, the book deals with many important issues that most writers on the paradoxes never deal with, including issues about the application of the Godel theorems to powerful theories that include our theory of truth. The book includes intriguing excursions into general metaphysics, e.g. on the nature of logic, facts, vagueness, and much more; and it's lucid and lively, a pleasure to read. It will interest a wide range of philosophers.
Massive scalar field instability in Kerr spacetime

We study the Klein-Gordon equation for a massive scalar field in Kerr spacetime in the time-domain. We demonstrate that under conditions of super-radiance, the scalar field becomes unstable and its amplitude grows without bound. We also estimate the growth rate of this instability.
Informational Influence in Organizations: An Integrated Approach to Knowledge Adoption

This research investigates how knowledge workers are influenced to adopt the advice that they receive in mediated contexts. The research integrates the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis 1989) with dual-process models of informational influence (e.g., Petty and Cacioppo 1986, Chaiken and Eagly 1976) to build a theoretical model of information adoption. This model highlights the assessment of information usefulness as a mediator of the information adoption process. Importantly, the model draws on the dual-process models to make predictions about the antecedents of informational usefulness under different processing conditions.The model is investigated qualitatively first, using interviews of a sample of 40 consultants, and then quantitatively on another sample of 63 consultants from the same international consulting organization. Data reflect participants' perceptions of actual e-mails they received from colleagues consisting of advice or recommendations. Results support the model, suggesting that the process models used to understand information adoption can be generalized to the field of knowledge management, and thatusefulness serves a mediating role between influence processes and information adoption. Organizational knowledge work is becoming increasingly global. This research offers a model for understanding knowledge transfer using computer-mediated communication.
GABA synthesis by cultured fibroblasts obtained from persons with Huntington's disease.

— A consistent observation in particular regions of brains of persons having died with Huntington's disease (HD) is a reduction in the concentration of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and a decrease in the activity of its synthetic enzyme, glutamate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.4.15). GABA levels are also reduced in HD cerebrospinal fluids. This study suggests that skin fibroblasts obtained from persons with HD can be used to study their GABA system. A rapid and specific assay for [14C]glutamate– [14C]GABA based on Aminex A-7 chromatography has been developed. Cell monolayers and homogenates of HD cells convert [14C]glutamate to [14C]GABA. GABA synthesis by HD cell homogenates is pyridoxal dependent and is inhibited by 1 mm-aminooxyacetic acid. GABA synthesis by HD and control cell homogenates also show the same thermal sensitivity as rat brain GAD. When compared to non-HD human cells the HD cells reveal disturbances in the non-neuronal GABA metabolic pathway. Concentrated HD cell homogenates synthesize approx 3 times the amount of GABA as control cells. When diluted both extracts made similar amounts of GABA. Synthesis of GABA by HD cell homogenates is not inhibited by cysteine sulfinate. Decarboxylation of glutamate in these cells is therefore most likely due to glutamate decarboxylase and not cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase. HD cells in monolayer also synthesize 3 times the amount of GABA as compared to control cells. In addition, glutamate upake is altered in HD cells. This report indicates there may be a different pattern of enzyme regulation between HD and control cells.
A switch-regulated power supply system using the silicon controlled rectifier

Switch regulation is discussed and a full analysis of the circuit using a silicon controlled rectifier given resulting in formulae for the design of this circuit. An example is given of a complete circuit including the control amplifier for a 25 V 4 A supply unit. Performance details are included and the possible variations and applications are considered briefly.
Permeability Reduction in Pervious Concretes due to Clogging: Experiments and Modeling

The ability of in-place pervious concretes to effectively drain storm water runoff gradually reduces as it becomes clogged due to the ingress of fine particles into its pore structure. This study systematically investigates several pervious concrete mixtures propor- tioned using different size aggregates and their blends on their propensity to clogging so as to bring out the influence of pore structure features on particle retention and the consequent permeability reduction. A finer and a coarser sand are used as clogging materials and the experimental study on permeability reduction as a result of particle retention is carried out using a falling head permeability cell. Significant permeability reductions are observed when finer sand is used as the clogging material. A certain effective pore size to clogging particle size ratio is found in this study, that is most conducive to particle retention. Thus pervious concrete specimens of similar porosity, having very large 5-6 mm or very small 1-2 mm pore sizes are found to be less susceptible to clogging under the conditions of this study. An idealized three-dimensional geometry obtained from two-dimensional planar images of pervious concrete sections is used, along with a probablistic particle capture model to predict particle retention associated with clogging material addition and simulated runoff. The trends in the predicted particle retention and the experimentally determined permeability reduction agree well. A "clogging potential" is defined in this paper, either as a ratio of the porosity reduction because of clogging to the initial porosity, or as a ratio of the permeability reduction to the permability in the unclogged state. DOI: 10.1061/ASCEMT.1943-5533.0000079 CE Database subject headings: Concrete; Clogging; Porosity; Permeability; Experimentation. Author keywords: Pervious concrete; Pore structure; Clogging; Porosity; Permeability; Clogging potential; Particle capture model.
The nature and measurement of interpersonal dominance

The construct of dominance has been utilized in a variety of ways in scholarly research, which has led to conceptual confusion and operational problems. Particularly problematic has been a stereotypically narrow and pejorative conceptualization. Grounded in a review of literature from several different disciplines, this essay advances a broader conceptualization that focuses on dominance as an interpersonal communication construct. It also reports two alternative measurement strategies and initial validational work, as well as offers recommendations for operationalizing dominance in communication work.
Mold Management of Wetted Carpet

This study evaluated the growth and removal of fungi on wetted carpet using newly designed technologies that rely on physical principles of steam, heat, and fluid flow. Sixty samples of carpet were embedded with heat-treated house dust, followed by embedding, wearing with a hexapod, and wetting. Samples were inoculated using a liquid suspension of Cladosporium sphaerospermum prior to placement over a water-saturated foam pad. Incubation times were 24 hr, 7 days, and 30 days. Cleaning was performed using three methods; high-flow hot water extraction, hot water and detergent, and steam. Fungal loading increased from approximately 1500 colony forming units per area (CFU/cm2) in 24 hr to a maximum of approximately 10,200 CFU/cm2 after 7 days with a slight decline to 9700 CFU/cm2 after 30 days incubation. Statistically significant differences were found among all three methods for removal of fungi for all three time periods (p < 0.05). Steam-vapor was significantly better than the alternative methods (p <0.001...
Solution of the constraints for tensors generated by iterated integrals

Abstract Iterated integrals of complex vector-valued functions along some parameter curve generate tensors subject to certain algebraic constraints. By a suitable invertible truncation procedure, these tensors are mapped into other tensors which satisfy related linear homogeneous constraints and are arbitrary otherwise (inasmuch as the vector-valued functions are arbitrary). Here we describe a Z -module algorithm for solving these linear constraints in terms of independent basis variables.
What is your diagnosis? Abdominal fluid from a dog.

A 5-year-old female spayed Dachshund was evaluated at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics for chronic diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and decreased appetite for 8 weeks. On physical examination, the dog was bright, alert, and responsive and in poor body condition. Cutaneous lesions were not found, and abdominal palpation was within normal limits. A CBC and serum biochemical profile were performed (Table 1). Abdominal ultrasonographic examination revealed moderate anechoic abdominal effusion, corrugation of the small intestine, including the duodenum, and marked thickening of the muscularis layer with preserved layering of the duodenal wall. The liver was hyperechoic with rounded margins, and the spleen was diffusely heterogeneous. Fineneedle aspirates and a tru-cut biopsy of the liver were collected. Endoscopic examination revealed an irregular and thickened, ulcerated, pale duodenal mucosa, and multiple pinch biopsies of duodenum were obtained. Abdominal fluid was blood-tinged, but cleared after centrifugation, and had a total nucleated cell count of 4800/lL and refractometric total protein concentration of 4.1 g/dL. Smears of concentrated abdominal fluid were examined (Figure 1). Figure 1. Concentrated abdominal fluid from a dog. Wright–Giemsa, bar = 10 lm. Table 1. Selected CBC and serum biochemical results from a Dachshund with abdominal effusion.
Changing paradigms in minimally invasive surgery training

Abstract Background Realizing the trends toward minimally invasive procedures, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) increased the requirements for laparoscopic procedures effective 2007 to 2008. Our purpose was to analyze the trend of laparoscopic versus open cases. Methods We analyzed national ACGME general surgery operative log program data for basic and advanced open and laparoscopic procedures performed by graduating surgical residents between academic years 1996 to 1997 and 2009 to 2010. Results From 1997 to 2010, the average number of procedures performed by graduating residents increased for appendectomies (36.5 to 59.3), cholecystectomies (90.9 to 112), hernia repairs (58.9 to 67.4), and colectomies (40.1 to 60.2). These increases have been accompanied by decreases in the percentage of open procedures for appendectomies (84% to 30%), cholecystectomies (24% to 9%), hernia repairs (90% to 70%), and colectomies (97% to 71%), which have resulted primarily from a decrease in open procedures (basic) or an increase in laparoscopic procedures (advanced). Conclusions The rising number of laparoscopic procedures performed by surgical residents is associated with a drastic decrease in the number of basic open procedures. Although the number of open procedures is sufficient to meet ACGME requirements for now, this is an area of concern for the adequacy of training in the future.
Structural annotation of human carbonic anhydrases

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are a family of metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible interconversion of CO2 and HCO3−. Of the 15 isoforms of human (h) α-CA, 12 are catalytic (hCAs I-IV, VA, VB, VI, VII, IX, XII-XIV). The remaining three acatalytic isoforms (hCAs VIII, X and XI) lack the active site Zn2+ and are referred to as CA-related proteins (CA-RPs); however, their function remains elusive. Overall these isoforms are very similar to each other in structure but they differ in their expression and distribution. The favourable properties of hCA II such as fast kinetics, easy expression and purification, high solubility and intermediate heat resistance have made it an attractive candidate for numerous industrial applications. This review highlights the structural similarity and stability comparison among hCAs.
Managing Expectations for Aquaponics in the Classroom: Enhancing Academic Learning and Teaching an Appreciation for Aquatic Resources

ABSTRACTExposing the next generation to nature can foster a stronger appreciation for aquatic resources, yet it may not always be possible to allow students to experience natural aquatic environments. Aquaponics, the combination of aquaculture with hydroponics, can be an effective tool in schools and classrooms to reunite students with plants and animals, promote systems thinking, and encourage hands-on learning. In this article, we bring awareness to aquaponics in education, its potential as a novel platform for learning, and the realities of aquaponics in order to guide educators in managing their expectations for an aquaponics system. Specifically, running an aquaponics system requires diverse knowledge and skills, which makes it appealing as a teaching tool but may also present day-to-day technical challenges. Additionally, educational settings may affect long-term care, available space, and funding. We present strategies for addressing these realities of aquaponics in education and highlight two educ...
The self-fulfilling prophecy in college basketball: Implications for effective coaching

Abstract Eight Division I college basketball coaches and 23 players participated in a study which examined the relationship between the self-fulfilling prophecy and effective coaching. Among the variables analyzed were feedback given by coaches, including differences between high and low expectancy players, and player perceptions of feedback. The Coaching Behavior Assessment System (CBAS) and Cole's Descriptive Analysis System (Cole-DAS) were utilized to record coaching behaviors during basketball practices. Results indicated that head coaches offered more mistake-related feedback while assistant coaches offered more reinforcement and encouragement. Head coaches provided more of all types of feedback to high expectancy athletes. Results from a 28-item questionnaire indicated that high expectancy athletes generally perceived their coaches more positively than did low expectancy athletes. Overall, the findings suggest that college coaching routines may not parallel effective coaching techniques as defined b...
Relationship between neurological dysfunction and a test of speed of motor performance

Abstract To assess the effect of brain damage and Borderline IQ on motor performance in five-to eight-year-old children, a sample of 39 brain-damaged subjects was compared with 38 control subjects on a test of speed of motor performance that had been standardized on a group of normal children. The groups were matched for IQ, age, and sex. Brain-damaged subjects were found to be slower than control subjects with each hand, and particularly with the non-preferred hand. Quite similar findings occurred when the children with IQs in the 71–90 range were contrasted with children with IQs in the 91–110 range. No significant interactions between brain-damage and level of intelligence were found. Thus, both brain damage and Borderline intelligence related independently to diminished motor efficiency. The task of differentiating diagnostically between these two effects awaits future study.
Differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells in vitro by 6-thioguanine

Abstract The antineoplastic agent, 6-thiogaunine, was found to be a highly potent inducer of differentiation of HL60 human leukemia cells in vitro, producing cells with predominantly myeloid characteristics, as judged by morphological, functional, and cytochemical criteria. Maturation of HL60 was attainable without significant cytotoxicity as measured by cell number; moreover, maximal differentiation occurred at a level of the purine antimetabolite below that producing 50% growth inhibition. The 6-thioguanine-induced differentiated cells had distinctive granulocytic morphology, and were capable of generating superoxide anion during the respiratory burst typical of mature phagocytic cells.
Verbal satiation of a positive and negative verbal reinforcer in children

It was hypothesized that (a) the continued repetition of a positive or a negative verbal reinforcer would decrease its effectiveness as a reinforcer; (b) the effectiveness of a positive or negative reinforcer would be altered when the repeated word was either positive or negative; and (c) reinforcer effectiveness would increase following 10 repetitions, and diminish following 20, 30, 40, and 80 repetitions. A free operant task which involved dropping marbles into either of two holes was used to determine a baseline for each S . The satiation phase followed, each S continually repeating aloud “good” or “bad”. In the semantic differential (S.D.) rating phase, S rated the repeated word and “candy.” Conditioning followed, E verbally reinforcing S by saying either “good” or “bad” to responses S made, to S 's previously determined low or high preference side. Subsequent to conditioning, an extinction phase, identical to the base-line task was administered. The measures of the dependent variable were categorized under (a) task-performance measures, and (b) S.D. measures. The results of the task performance but not of the S.D. data supported hypotheses (a) and (b). Hypothesis (c) was only partially supported.
Detection of calprotectin and apoptotic activity within the equine colon from horses with black walnut extract-induced laminitis

The black walnut extract (BWE) model of equine laminitis is associated with a systemic inflammatory response manifest by increased expression of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs and liver as well as the laminae. The specific role of the gastrointestinal tract in development of this response is unclear and is of utmost importance, as gastrointestinal disease and laminitis are intimately related. We investigated calprotectin expression and epithelial and endothelial apoptosis in the colon of horses exposed to orally administered BWE. Sections of colon from 19 horses including 7 controls not exposed to BWE, 6 horses at the developmental time-point of leukopenia (DTP) and 6 at the onset of Obel grade 1 laminitis (LAM) after BWE-administration were histologically examined. Immunohistochemical evaluation for calprotectin expression with MAC 387 antibody was performed along with assessment of epithelial and endothelial apoptosis with caspase-3 active antibody. Calprotectin expression and percentage of apoptotic cells were compared between controls and the two treatment groups and presence of a correlation between calprotectin expression and apoptosis was evaluated. Histological findings from BWE-treated horses included eosinophil and lymphocyte epitheliotropism. The DTP group had a higher (p<0.01) calprotectin score with respect to the control group, while there was no significant difference in percentage of epithelial and endothelial apoptotic cells between groups (p=0.08 and p=0.48 respectively). No significant correlation was found between calprotectin score and epithelial or endothelial apoptosis (p=0.69 and p=0.29 respectively). There is preliminary evidence that exposure of horses to BWE results in an early inflammatory response in the colon. Further studies are needed to characterize the nature of the colonic injury in BWE-exposed horses and the link to the development of laminitis.
Fine-needle aspiration of 697 palpable breast lesions with histopathologic correlation

Background Fine-needle aspiration breast biopsy has been used increasingly as an alternative to excisional biopsy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration with histopathologic confirmation. Methods A retrospective study was performed using a computer database over a 5-year period. All women who had had fine-needle aspiration breast biopsy with histopathologic confirmation of the diagnosis were included. Fine-needle aspirations were interpreted as malignant, suspicious, or benign. Histopathologic diagnosis included core-needle biopsy, open excisional biopsy, or mastectomy specimen. Results A total of 697 patients fulfilled the criteria. Only 5 (0.7%) of the specimens were inadequate for study. There were 401 total malignant fine-needle aspiration diagnoses, with only 3 false-positive specimens. All three were ductal hyperplasia, one from a previously radiated breast. There were 125 suspicious readings; 84 of these were malignant and 41 were false-suspicious specimens. Most of the false-suspicious lesions were fibrocystic disease. Of the 166 lesions interpreted as benign, there were 13 false-negative specimens. The test had a 97% sensitivity, 78% specificity, 92% positive predictive value, and 92% negative predictive value. Conclusions Fine-needle aspiration is a sensitive test that can be useful as an adjunct in the diagnosis of breast cancer. "Malignant" and "benign" interpretations are highly predictive but must be used only in the context of other diagnostic modalities. "Suspicious" lesions require further investigation.
Effects of Behavior Support Team Composition on the Technical Adequacy and Contextual Fit of Behavior Support Plans

This study examined how the composition of a behavior support team affected use of assessment information in the design of behavior support plans. Specifically, we examined if typical teams designed behavior support plans that differed in (a) technical adequacy and/or (b) contextual fit when (1) teams did not include behavior specialists, (2) teams included behavior specialists, or (3) behavior specialists worked alone. Fifty-eight school personnel on 12 behavior support teams from typical elementary schools and 6 behavior specialists participated in the study. Vignettes describing hypothetical students with functional behavior assessment outcome information were used to develop 36 behavior support plans (12 by teams alone, 12 by specialists alone, and 12 by teams with specialists). Results were assessed by 3 expert behavior analysts for technical adequacy and by all 64 team members for contextual fit. Technical adequacy tended to be rated high if specialists alone or teams including a specialist designed...
COMPOSITE HADRONS AND RELATIVISTIC NUCLEI

In these lectures I would like to describe a model of hadronic scattering at large momentum transfer, either transverse or longitudinal. This model emphasizes in this regime the importance of forces involving the interchange of constituents of the hadrons, hence the name, CIM, or constituent interchange model.1, 2 As will be shown, this model should not be thought of as being different from quark-quark scattering models, or from QCD (quantum chromodynamics) but contains both of them. Omission of the CIM diagrams is not a consistent approximation. The CIM is, in fact, a rearrangement of standard perturbation theory to take into account the fact that the binding force is very strong in color singlet states. We could call this Singlet Dominance. For example, if one demands that an anti-quark, or \(\bar q,\), be found a large distance from the center of a baryon, the easiest way for it to propagate to such distances is via intermediate states involving light mesonic (singlet) states. But more of this later on when the CIM contributions and their absolute normalization will be discussed.
Multipath Channel Model in Underground Mining UWB LOS Environments

According to the channel pulse response of double-cluster arrival phenomena, measured by actual mine UWB(Ultra-Wide band), the IEEE 802.15.3a indoor multipath model is modified to the LOS double-cluster semi-deterministic statistical model. The determinate part of the model depends on the propagation environments, which makes effective use of geometric parameters data of specific environments, and the statistical part can be obtained from the testing data. In this paper, we show a detailed introduction about the determination of model parameters and calculation process, and obtain that the channel characteristics are similar to the actual environments based on the model. What's more, we analyze the signal band impact on the RMS delay spread, a conclusion is given that the greater the bandwidth is, the smaller the RMS delay spread will be. The simulation results show that the semi-deterministic statistical model has a greater advantage than traditional single form of statistical model and deterministic model in predicting indoor and underground gallery specific environment small-scale characteristics, because it has high accuracy and is easy to use.
Analog VLSI circuits for odor discrimination

Traditionally, microelectronic chemical sensors have been plagued by a variety of performance problems related to drift, reproducibility, and selectivity. To address these problems, we have designed and fabricated collective analog VLSI circuitry that processes the outputs of an array of chemical sensors in a manner that facilitates robust chemical discrimination. This circuitry chooses the winner (maximum output) in an array of tin-oxide chemical sensors that operate at various temperatures. The location of the winner and its relationship with neighboring sensors has proven sufficient to discriminate among several types of alcohol and smoke. We present this approach to chemical discrimination as a fast, inexpensive alternative to more traditional methods of chemical sensing.
Polypropylene reinvented: Costs of using metallocene catalysts

This study develops scoping estimates of the required capital investment and manufacturing costs to make a zirconocene catalyst/cocatalyst system [(F{sub 6}-acen)Zr(CH{sub 2}CMe{sub 3})(NMe{sub 2}Ph)][B(C{sub 6}F{sub 5}){sub 4}] immobilized on a silica support. Costs for this fluorine-based system are compared with estimates for two other metallocene catalysts using methylaluminoxane (MAO)-based cocatalysts. Including wt of support and cocatalyst, each of the production facilities for making the 3 zirconocene catalyst systems is sized at 364--484 tonnes/year. Cost to make the F-based catalyst system is estimated to be $10780/kg, assuming 20% return on capital invested. Costs for the two MAO-based catalyst system fall in the range of $10950--12160/kg, assuming same return. Within the {plus_minus}50% accuracy of these estimates, these differences are not significant. Given a catalyst productivity of 250 kg resin/gram zirconocene, the cost contribution in the finished ethylene-propylene copolymer resin is 4.4 cents/kg, excluding selling, administrative, research costs.
Insulin-like growth factor-I influences the initiation of myelination: studies of the anterior commissure of transgenic mice.

The effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the initiation of myelination have been examined in the posterior portion of anterior commissure of the transgenic (Tg) mice that overexpress IGF-I in brain, and those which exhibit ectopic brain expression of IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), an inhibitor of IGF actions. In IGF-I Tg mice the number of ensheathed axons was increased compared to their normal littermates. The distribution of the axon size further showed that both small ( 700 nm) axons were more often ensheathed and myelinated. The opposite was true in IGFBP-1 Tg mice. These data indicate that IGF-I increases myelin ensheathment independent of axon diameter, and support the hypothesis that the absolute axon size is not the sole determinant for the initiation of myelination in CNS.
Mechanism of a Genetically Encoded Dark-to-Bright Reporter for Caspase Activity

Fluorescent proteins have revolutionized modern biology with their ability to report the presence of tagged proteins in living systems. Although several fluorescent proteins have been described in which the excitation and emission properties can be modulated by external triggers, no fluorescent proteins have been described that can be activated from a silent dark state to a bright fluorescent state directly by the activity of an enzyme. We have developed a version of GFP in which fluorescence is completely quenched by appendage of a hydrophobic quenching peptide that tetramerizes GFP and prevents maturation of the chromophore. The fluorescence can be fully restored by catalytic removal of the quenching peptide, making it a robust reporter of proteolysis. We have demonstrated the utility of this uniquely dark state of GFP as a genetically encoded apoptosis reporter that monitors the function of caspases, which catalyze the fate-determining step in programmed cell death. Caspase Activatable-GFP (CA-GFP) can be activated both in vitro and in vivo, resulting in up to a 45-fold increase in fluorescent signal in bacteria and a 3-fold increase in mammalian cells. We used CA-GFP successfully to monitor real-time apoptosis in mammalian cells. This dark state of GFP may ultimately serve as a useful platform for probes of other enzymatic processes.
Using Videotape in the Advanced Conversation Class

The mere utilization of the videotape will not assure free-flowing conversation. Before taping, attentive selection of material and careful preparation are essential. In this experiment all sessions taped were a follow-up to students working with a unit on a French village. Students read interviews, prepared language and cultural exercises, and saw slides and films before attempting role-playing in front of the camera. The conscious effort required by the experiment created a new feeling of intimacy between students and teachers. The opportunity for self-analysis was found highly beneficial. Students felt that they had reinforced their language skills and their cultural awareness while learning how to pay more attention to each other as well.
Atrial sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve sprouting and hyperinnervation induced by subthreshold electrical stimulation of the left stellate ganglion in normal dogs.

Abstract Background Subthreshold electrical stimulation of the left stellate ganglion (LSG) can induce nerve sprouting and sympathetic hyperinnervation in canine ventricles. It is unclear whether a similar neural plasticity involving both sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation also exists in the atria. Methods and Results We applied subthreshold electrical stimulation at 20 Hz (0.45 ms pulse width) or 5 Hz (1.9 ms pulse width) to the LSG in 6 normal mongrel dogs. After 41±9 days, the hearts were harvested and the right and left atrium stained for synaptophysin (SYN), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), sympathetic nerve markers tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and parasympathetic marker choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Tissues from 6 additional healthy dogs were used as controls. The hearts from dogs with LSG electrical stimulation had a higher density of nerve structures immunopositive to the SYN, GAP43, TH, and ChAT ( P P Conclusions Continuous subthreshold electrical stimulation to the LSG induces both sympathetic and parasympathetic hyperinnervation in both right and left atria in normal dogs.
An efficient algorithm for the identification of repetitive variable motifs in the regulatory sequences of co-expressed genes

Over the last several years there has been an explosion in the number of computational methods for the detection of transcription factor binding sites in DNA sequences. Although there has been some success in this field, the existing tools are still neither sensitive nor specific enough, usually suffering from the detection of a large number of false positive signals. Given the properties of genomic sequences this is not unexpected, but one can still find interesting features worthy of further computational and laboratory bench study. We present an efficient algorithm developed to find all significant variable motifs in given sequences. In our view, it is important that we generate complete data, upon which separate selection criteria can be applied depending on the nature of the sites one wants to locate, and their biological properties. We discuss our algorithm and our supplementary software, and conclude with an illustration of their application on two eukaryotic data sets.
Facilitating self-education by questioning assumptive reasoning

Making assumptions limits the depth of inference chains and reduces the potential for complex interactions, but assumptions that are made implicitly can blind the reasoner to important inferences and interactions. A self-education aid makes students aware of their assumptions by demonstrating how these assumptions might be violated. DECIDER is a self-education aid for history that tracks student assumptions using political models and illustrates possible violations using dramatic stories and video sequences from real historical cases.
Successful adaptation to ketosis by mice with tissue-specific deficiency of ketone body oxidation

During states of low carbohydrate intake, mammalian ketone body metabolism transfers energy substrates originally derived from fatty acyl chains within the liver to extrahepatic organs. We previous...
TTDD: two-tier data dissemination in large-scale wireless sensor networks

Sink mobility brings new challenges to data dissemination in large sensor networks. It suggests that information about each mobile sink's location be continuously propagated throughout the sensor field in order to keep all sensors informed of the direction of forwarding future data reports. Unfortunately, frequent location updates from multiple sinks can lead to both excessive drain of sensors' limited battery supply and increased collisions in wireless transmissions. In this paper, we describe TTDD, a Two-Tier Data Dissemination approach that provides scalable and efficient data delivery to multiple, mobile sinks. Each data source in TTDD proactively constructs a grid structure, which enables mobile sinks to continuously receive data on the move by flooding queries within a local cell only. TTDD's design exploits the fact that sensors are stationary and location-aware to construct and maintain the grid infrastructure with low overhead. We evaluate TTDD through both analysis and extensive simulations. Our results show that TTDD handles sink mobility effectively with performance comparable with that of stationary sinks.
Air Pollution and Mortality in Philadelphia, 1974–1988

Analyses involving data from many locations throughout the world have now been conducted to assess the association between air pollution and mortality. To date, six independent analyses of mortality data for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have been reported. In this new analysis of Philadelphia data for 1974–1988, Poisson regression models were developed to estimate the increased risk of daily mortality associated with air pollution while controlling for longer-term time trends and season and for weather. Model development was based on prior understanding of the effects of these factors on mortality and on consideration of model fit. The authors found moderate correlations of daily concentrations of total suspended particles (TSP), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), and only slight correlations of ozone (O3) with other pollutants. When included individually in the model, the means of current and previous days' levels of TSP, SO2 and O3 had statistically significant effects on total mortality; pollutant increases of an interquartile range (34.5 µg/m3 12.9 ppb, and 20.2 ppb, respectively) were associated with increases in mortality of around 1% for TSP and SO2 and of around 2% for O3. The effects of TSP and SO2 were diminished when both pollutants were simultaneously included in the model, whether pairwise or in the full multi-pollutant model. These analyses confirm the association between TSP and mortality found in previous studies in Philadelphia and show that the association is robust to consideration of other pollutants in the model.
Expression Patterns of Odorant Receptors and Response Properties of Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Aged Mice

The sense of smell deteriorates in normal aging, but the underling mechanisms are still elusive. Here we investigated age-related alterations in expression patterns of odorant receptor (OR) genes and functional properties of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs)—2 critical factors that define the odor detection threshold in the olfactory epithelium. Using in situ hybridization for 9 representative OR genes, we compared the cell densities of each OR in coronal nose sections at different ages (3–27 months). The cell density for different ORs peaked at different time points and a decline was observed for 6 of 9 ORs at advanced ages. Using patch clamp recordings, we then examined the odorant responses of individual OSNs coexpressing a defined OR (MOR23) and green fluorescent protein. The MOR23 neurons recorded from aged animals maintained a similar sensitivity and dynamic range in response to the cognate odorant (lyral) as those from younger mice. The results indicate that although the cell densities of OSNs expressing certain types of ORs decline at advanced ages, individual OSNs can retain their sensitivity. The implications of these findings in age-related olfactory deterioration are discussed.
Reinventing Government: How the Entrepreneurial Spirit is Transforming the Public Sector / From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government that Works Better and Costs Less

The article reviews the books “Reinventing Government: How the Entrepreneurial Spirit is Transforming the Public Sector,” by David Osborne and Ted Gaebler, and “From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government that Works Better and Costs Less,” published by the National Performance Review.
Exploring the Interaction Between Device Lifetime Reliability and Security Vulnerabilities

As technology scales, device reliability is becoming a fundamental problem. Even though manufacture test can guarantee product quality, due to various types of wearout and failure modes, permanent faults appear in the filed is becoming an increasingly important and real problem. Such types of wear-out creates permanent faults in devices during their lifetime, but after release to the user. In this paper, we perform a formal investigation of the impact of permanent faults on security, examine empirical evidence, and demonstrate a real attack. Our results show that permanent stuck-at faults may leave security holes in microprocessors. We show that an adversary with knowledge of a fault can launch attacks which can obtain critical secrets such as a private key in 30 seconds.
Quadricuspid Aortic Valve Characteristics, Associated Structural Cardiovascular Abnormalities, and Clinical Outcomes

Background— Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital cardiac defect. This study sought to determine QAV frequency in a large echocardiography database, to characterize associated cardiovascular abnormalities, and to describe long-term outcomes. Methods and Results— Fifty patients (mean±SD age, 43.5±21.8 years at the time of the index diagnosis; female sex, 52%) received a diagnosis of QAV between January 1, 1975, and March 14, 2014 (frequency, 0.006%). The QAV was type A in 32% and type B in 32% (Hurwitz and Roberts classification). Aortic dilatation was present in 29% of the patients, and 26% had moderate or severe aortic valve regurgitation at the index diagnosis. Stenosis affected only 8% of the valves and was mild. Other findings, including abnormalities of other cardiac valves, septal defects, persistent left superior vena cava, and patent ductus arteriosus, were present in 32% of patients. During a mean±SD follow-up of 4.8±5.6 years, 8 patients underwent aortic valve surgery, with severe aortic valve regurgitation being the surgical indication in 7 patients. One patient with mild to moderate aortic valve regurgitation underwent aortic valve repair for obstruction of the left coronary ostium by the accessory cusp of QAV. No infective endocarditis or aortic dissection was found. Overall survival was 91.5% and 87.7% at 5 and 10 years. Conclusions— Aortic dilatation and other structural cardiac abnormalities were relatively common among patients with QAV. Aortic valve regurgitation was the predominant hemodynamic abnormality and the indication for aortic valve surgery in most patients who received surgery. Long-term survival was excellent.
Higher Education and Community Engagement

Our path through graduate school was incredibly similar. First, we earned Masters degrees from Central Michigan University in exercise science. During our experiences as graduate assistants in Mount Pleasant, Michigan we worked on similar research projects, learned from the same advisors, and taught the same classes.
Best Practices in Docking and Activity Prediction

During the last decade we witnessed how computational docking methods became a crucial tool in the search for new drug candidates. The 'central dogma' of small molecule docking is that compounds that dock correctly into the receptor are more likely to display biological activity than those that do not dock. This 'dogma', however, possesses multiple twists and turns that may not be obvious to novice dockers. The first premise is that the compounds must dock; this implies: (i) availability of data, (ii) realistic representation of the chemical entities in a form that can be understood by the computer and the software, and, (iii) exhaustive sampling of the protein-ligand conformational space. The second premise is that, after the sampling, all docking solutions must be ranked correctly with a score representing the physico-chemical foundations of binding. The third premise is that 'correctness' must be defined unambiguously, usually by comparison with 'static' experimental data (or lack thereof). Each of these premises involves some degree of simplification of reality, and overall loss in the accuracy of the docking predictions. In this chapter we will revise our latest experiences in receptor-based docking when dealing with all three above-mentioned issues. First, we will explain the theoretical foundation of ICM docking, along with a brief explanation on how we measure performance. Second, we will contextualize ICM by showing its performance in single and multiple receptor conformation schemes with the Directory of Useful Decoys (DUD) and the Pocketome. Third, we will describe which strategies we are using to represent protein plasticity, like using multiple crystallographic structures or Monte Carlo (MC) and Normal Mode Analysis (NMA) sampling methods, emphasizing how to overcome the associated pitfalls (e.g., increased number of false positives). In the last section, we will describe ALiBERO, a new tool that is helping us to improve the discriminative power of X-ray structures and homology models in screening campaigns.