cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Logic Devices with Spin Wave Buses - an Approach to Scalable Magneto-Electric Circuitry

We analyze spin wave-based logic circuits as a possible route to building reconfigurable magnetic circuits compatible with conventional electron-based devices. A distinctive feature of the spin wave logic circuits is that a bit of information is encoded into the phase of the spin wave. It makes possible to transmit information as a magnetization signal through magnetic waveguides without the use of an electric current. By exploiting sin wave superposition, a set of logic gates such as AND, OR, and Majority gate can be realized in one circuit. We present experimental data illustrating the performance of a three-terminal micrometer scale spin wave-based logic device fabricated on a silicon platform. The device operates in the GHz frequency range and at room temperature. The output power modulation is achieved via the control of the relative phases of two input spin wave signals. The obtained data shows the possibility of using spin waves for achieving logic functionality. The scalability of the spin wave-based logic devices is defined by the wavelength of the spin wave, which depends on the magnetic material and waveguide geometry. Potentially, a multifunctional spin wave logic gate can be scaled down to 0.1μm2. Another potential advantage of the spin wave-based logic circuitry is the ability to implement logic gates with fewer elements as compared to CMOS-based circuits in achieving same functionality. The shortcomings and disadvantages of the spin wave-based devices are also discussed.
Some Thoughts on the Meaning of Open Access for University Library Technical Services

Many studies of the Open Access (OA) movement analyze the problems of cost, author, and publisher reactions to OA, or the fluidity of the movement. Very few, however, investigate how library technical services have already been impacted by OA. How do collection development librarians identify and select material in these models? How do acquisitions librarians license or otherwise gain access to the materials? How are these materials to be maintained and preserved? The author surveys how OA in its various forms impacts the primary functions of technical services in academic libraries.
The Distribution of Mid- and Far-Infrared Emission in 10 Interacting Galaxy Systems

A sample of 10 interacting and merging galaxy systems has been mapped at mid-infrared (10 μm) and far-infrared (100–160 μm) wavelengths with spatial resolutions of 4''and 45'', respectively. The interacting and merging systems are known to be strong IRAS sources; however, the IRAS data contain limited information concerning the distribution of infrared emission between the two galaxies in each pair and no information on the distribution within each galaxy. The observations presented here show that in five of the seven paired systems, one galaxy is the dominant or the only infrared source. There is a good correlation between the Hα and infrared emission levels for these galaxies, indicating that the infrared emission is closely tied to dust heated by young stars. There is also a good spatial correlation between the Hα, infrared, and radio continuum morphologies of these systems, which further strengthens the belief that the infrared, as well as the radio emission, is associated with regions of active star formation. The 10 μm emission is concentrated around the nuclei of most of these galaxies, indicating that the highest levels of current star formation activity are also confined to the near-nuclear regions. Some systems, however, show evidence for significant star formation activity throughout the outer disk regions of the galaxies. All the sample galaxies that are bright in the infrared also have optical indications of high levels of star formation or nuclear activity, suggesting that these conditions are necessary in order for a galaxy to exhibit excess infrared emission.
Characterization of beta-sheet structure in Ure2p1-89 yeast prion fibrils by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance.

Residues 1−89 constitute the Asn- and Gln-rich segment of the Ure2p protein and produce the [URE3] prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by forming the core of intracellular Ure2p amyloid. We report the results of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements that probe the molecular structure of amyloid fibrils formed by Ure2p1-89 in vitro. Data include measurements of intermolecular magnetic dipole−dipole couplings in samples that are 13C-labeled at specific sites and two-dimensional 15N−13C and 13C−13C NMR spectra of samples that are uniformly 15N- and 13C-labeled. Intermolecular dipole−dipole couplings indicate that the β-sheets in Ure2p1-89 fibrils have an in-register parallel structure. An in-register parallel β-sheet structure permits polar zipper interactions among side chains of Gln and Asn residues and explains the tolerance of [URE3] to scrambling of the sequence in residues 1−89. Two-dimensional NMR spectra of uniformly labeled Ure2p1-89 fibrils, even when fully hydrated, show NMR line...
Age-Related Group and Individual Differences in Aircraft Pilot Cognition

Abstract The effect of age on cognition was examined with a variety of neuropsychological tests in 220 aircraft pilots. The assessment included tests of psychomotor speed, information processing speed, attention and executive ability, verbal learning and memory, and visual learning and memory. Pilot age was between 28 and 62 with a mean ageof48years. Test performance was regressed on pilot age to determine the function (linear or nonlinear) of age-related differences in cognition. Individual performance was also examined by assessing outlier test scores (> 2 SD) relative to the overall group mean. Age was significantly associated with test performance across several domains; when significant, a linear function best described the association. Pilot age was not associated with immediate verbal recall or recognition or with immediate visual recall. Almost all performance outliers occurred in pilots over 40 years old. Implications of a gradual decline in pilot cognition are discussed as well as the considerat...
Simulating protein folding initiation sites using an alpha-carbon-only knowledge-based force field.

Protein folding is a hierarchical process where structure forms locally first, then globally. Some short sequence segments initiate folding through strong structural preferences that are independent of their three-dimensional context in proteins. We have constructed a knowledge-based force field in which the energy functions are conditional on local sequence patterns, as expressed in the hidden Markov model for local structure (HMMSTR). Carbon-alpha force field (CALF) builds sequence specific statistical potentials based on database frequencies for α-carbon virtual bond opening and dihedral angles, pair-wise contacts and hydrogen bond donor-acceptor pairs, and simulates folding via Brownian dynamics. We introduce hydrogen bond donor and acceptor potentials as α-carbon probability fields that are conditional on the predicted local sequence. Constant temperature simulations were carried out using 27 peptides selected as putative folding initiation sites, each 12 residues in length, representing several different local structure motifs. Each 0.6 μs trajectory was clustered based on structure. Simulation convergence or representativeness was assessed by subdividing trajectories and comparing clusters. For 21 of the 27 sequences, the largest cluster made up more than half of the total trajectory. Of these 21 sequences, 14 had cluster centers that were at most 2.6 A root mean square deviation (RMSD) from their native structure in the corresponding full-length protein. To assess the adequacy of the energy function on nonlocal interactions, 11 full length native structures were relaxed using Brownian dynamics simulations. Equilibrated structures deviated from their native states but retained their overall topology and compactness. A simple potential that folds proteins locally and stabilizes proteins globally may enable a more realistic understanding of hierarchical folding pathways. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Seasonal and Altitudinal Variation in the Distribution and Abundance of Tardigrada on Dugger Mountain, Alabama

Abstract A seasonal survey of the distribution of terrestrial tardigrades on Dugger Mountain, Alabama, was conducted during the time period from April 1997 through April 1998. Cryptogams from five trees ( Quercus alba ), three on north-facing slopes and two on south-facing slopes, were sampled seasonally at three stations (645 m, 410 m, 183 m) along an unnamed tributary of the South Fork of Terrapin Creek. Trees were chosen based on their location outside the riparian zone. Tardigrades were extracted from the samples, mounted individually in Hoyer's medium, and identified to species with phase microscopy. Seasonal and altitudinal variations in the distribution of the populations on the north- and south-facing slopes were determined. Present on Dugger Mountain were tardigrades belonging to 12 species ( Macrobiotus cf. areolatus/tonollii, Macrobiotus cf. echinogenitus, Macrobiotus islandicus, Macrobiotus richtersi, Minibiotus intermedius, Milnesium tardigradum, Diphascon pingue, Hypsibius pallidus, Echiniscus cf. arctomys, Echiniscus virginicus, Pseudechiniscus ramazzottii , and Pseudechiniscus suillus ). Due to the small numbers of individuals of each species, the total numbers of tardigrades of all species were pooled. There were no significant differences in the mean number of species or the mean number of all tardigrades per sample at each station (altitude). However, seasonal differences in both abundance and number of species were detected in pooled samples due to the high numbers collected in spring 1997.
Putting Children Front and Center: Building Coordinated Social Policy for America's Children

In this article, we argue that policymakers in America should reference a coherent, comprehensive, and child-centered framework for children. That is, based on an extensive review of the empirical literature on the first two decades of life, we conclude that policies should address the needs of young people throughout the first two decades of life. In addition, public policies should address the multiple contexts within which young people develop, and the multiple domains that represent positive development, such as cognitive, psychological, physical, social, emotional, and civic domains. By referencing such a framework, we posit that public policies would be more effective and efficient. We conclude with multiple recommendations that would be first steps to putting this framework into practice.
Perioperative interscalene blockade: an overview of its history and current clinical use

Use of single-dose and continuous interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) are gaining widespread popularity. When compared with general anesthesia, ISB has been reported to provide superior postoperative analgesia with fewer side effects, and it is associated with greater patient satisfaction. Anatomical landmarks are readily identifiable, which contributes to the ease of performing this block. In the future, we anticipate increased use of continuous interscalene catheters or injection of biodegradable local anesthetic impregnated microspheres to provide prolonged perioperative outpatient analgesia.
Enhanced binary tree genetic algorithm for automatic land cover classification

The development of automatic land cover classification maps using validated statewide datasets supported by state and federal agencies are becoming an important tool for monitoring change, planning, and land use impact assessment. Accurate and fast classification algorithms, adaptive to different data sources and scales, will facilitate cost effective routine updating of land cover maps using current satellite imagery to monitor and detect a broad array of land cover phenomena. A new binary decision tree classifier incorporating an evolutionary genetic learning algorithm is proposed for land cover classification. The new classifier referred to as the Enhanced Binary Tree Genetic Algorithm (BTGA+) has been applied to automatically classify tens of millions of pixels in two full scenes of Landsat TM data using multispectral multitemporal radiance features. The BTGA+ classifier can assign pixels into eight land cover categories for Landsat TM scenes in central Missouri with nearly 90% classification accuracy.
Periorificial dermatitis in children: an update and description of a child with striking features.

Background Perioral dermatitis is a relatively important and often enigmatic type of eczema. Methods We describe a child with this disorder and review our experience and the literature. Results Clinical features of perioral dermatitis in our patient and in many others decribed elsewhere show a high prevalence of perinasal and periocular involvement alongside perioral findings. Conclusions Perioral dermatitis is more suitably termed periorificial dermatitis.
Improving service availability via low-outage upgrades

Service availability is of key importance to operations and maintenance systems for mobile telephony networks. This paper describes some of the challenges in providing continuous service and the impact of upgrade related outages. Potential methods for low outage upgrades are discussed from an industrial perspective, including practical and logistic considerations.
A self-adaptive burst-detection algorithm

Article accompanying a poster presentation for the 2007 Computational Neuroscience Meeting. This article discusses a self-adaptive burst-detection algorithm.
Bioremoval Of Cadmium Using Pseudomonas fluorescens

Electroplating industries discharge heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc in their effluents. Cadmium in high concentration in the effluent cause direct hazards to human and animals. Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from soil samples collected from contaminated sites was inoculated in 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ppm concentrations of cadmium for a period of eight days. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) analysis was carried out for the samples at an interval of two days to determine the amount of cadmium removed. Maximum cadmium removal was found at 1000 ppm concentration. Experiments were also designed to study the effect of dead cells and sugars on the biosorption of cadmium ions. Among glucose, sucrose, lactose, fructose and dextrose supplemented, sucrose exhibited the highest biomass. The results of this study indicated the cadmium removal capacity of P. fluorescens and hence it can be exploited in the bioremediation of cadmium.
Effects of dietary aflatoxin on the health and performance of growing barrows.

Aflatoxins, especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), can be greater in dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) because it can be concentrated during the ethanol production process. Increased use of DDGS in swine diets could potentially lead to an increased incidence of aflatoxicosis, a disease associated with de- creased feed intake, reduced BW gain, and impaired liver function. The objective of this study was to deter- mine the effects of AFB1 on the health, performance, and serum profile of growing barrows. Ninety Duroc × Yorkshire crossbred barrows were purchased (age = 35 ± 5 d; BW = 14.2 ± 3.0 kg), allocated to 9 pens with 10 pigs per pen, and randomly assigned to receive diets containing 0 μ g/kg of AFB1 (CON), 250 μ g/kg of AFB1 (LO), or 500 μ g/kg of AFB1 (HI) for 7, 28, or 70 d in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Feed intake was measured daily, and pigs were weighed and blood samples collected weekly. Serum was ana- lyzed for concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (BILI), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Both ADFI and ADG were negatively affected (P ≤ 0.001) by AFB1 treatment. Average daily feed intake was less (P < 0.05) in HI barrows than in CON barrows from wk 5 to 10 and was less (P < 0.05) in LO barrows than in CON barrows in wk 5 and again from wk 8 to 10. Also, ADFI was less (P = 0.022) in HI barrows than LO barrows in wk 10. Decreased ADG (P < 0.05) was ob- served in HI barrows than in CON barrows in wk 8 and 10; no differences (P ≥ 0.665) in ADG were noted be- tween CON and LO barrows. There was no effect (P ≥ 0.080) of AFB1 treatment on ALT or BILI concentra- tions. However, both AST and BUN were affected (P < 0.05) by AFB1 treatment. Serum AST was greater (P = 0.010) in LO barrows than CON barrows in wk 5, and serum BUN was greater (P = 0.004) in CON barrows than LO barrows in wk 3. Results from this study demonstrate that the performance and health of young growing barrows were affected by consumption of an AFB1-contaminated diet, especially when fed for a more extended period.
An epidemiologic study of prematurity: I. Relation to smoking, heart volume, employment, and physique

Abstract A study was made in a voluntary hospital in New York City of 197 premature Negro ward births with no known cause of prematurity and an equal number of mature negro ward births matched by sex and birth order of the infant and age and marital status of the mother. No association was found between prematurity and husbands' cigarette smoking, maternal heart volume per square meter of body surface area, employment during pregnancy, and maternal height. Prematurity was found to be associated with cigarette smoking during pregnancy and low maternal weight. A detailed review is made of the relation of the findings to those reported by other investigators.
Response to Angiotensin-(1-7) and Bradykinin in Baroreceptor Reflex Sensitivity in Hypertension.

The letter by Tsuda1 raises the question of whether bradykinin contributes to the effects of chronic intracerebroventricular angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) to enhance baroreflex function in hypertensive (mRen2)27 rats. Our studies exclusively focused on the effects of Ang-(1-7) on NADPH oxidase and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in the brain dorsal medulla relative to baroreflex …
When the Secondary Survey is Primary: Knife Blade in the Spine

A 42-year-old male was assisted from a car in front of our inner city stand-alone emergency department (ED) with a stab wound to the right chest. He was confused and bleeding; his past medical history was unknown. The patient was diaphoretic, pale and confused with a large vertical stab wound over his right chest with no other obvious injuries. On initial exam in the outlying ED, his back was obscured by blood. He was transferred to the trauma center where during a full secondary survey a 2cm wound was located over the patient’s lumbar spine. The patient was stabilized and taken for imaging. No focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) was done at either site; however, the FAST exam, which emphasizes the search for extraluminal blood, would not have been expected to find a foreign body. Computed tomography (Figure) showed a retained 10cm blade extending through the left L1-L2 interlaminar space, spinal canal and disc space with associated injuries to the IVC and renal vein, duodenum and medial left hepatic lobe. On day one he had two damage control laparotomies. The blade could not be removed due to patient instability and inability to turn him prone. On day two, he returned to the operating room and the blade was removed by resecting the spinous process and lamina of L1 with joint efforts by the vascular, neurosurgery and trauma surgeons. He required five additional surgeries to wash out and finally close his abdomen and was discharged to home after 39 days. He was neurologically intact. Figure A) Scout film demonstrating retained knife blade. B) computed tomography demonstrating the retained knife blade and resulting artifact. Spinal stab wounds with retained knife blades are uncommon in the U.S. A literature search revealed few case reports.1–3 Enicker et. al present a 12-year case series from South Africa where a majority had neurologic deficits consistent with Brown-Sequard syndrome.4 A U.S. case report presented a patient who presented four weeks after an initial stab wound to the spine with worsening neurologic deficits necessitating knife fragment removal.5 The importance of a complete secondary survey in the evaluation of assault victims in order to detect spinal injuries and possibly prevent neurologic sequelae is demonstrated in this case.
Abstract 18016: Maternal Age is a Modifiable Risk Factor for Congenital Heart Disease

INTRODUCTION: Maternal age is a risk factor for congenital heart disease even in the absence of any chromosomal abnormality in the newborn. We previously reported the same risk for newborn mice that carry a mutation of the cardiac transcription factor NKX2-5. Whether the basis of the risk resides with the mother or oocyte is unknown. We describe here characteristics of the mechanism by which maternal age acts a risk factor for congenital heart disease in Nkx2-5 +/- mice. METHODS and RESULTS: First, we performed reciprocal ovarian transplants between young and old mothers in a C57BL/6N X FVB/N F1 hybrid background. The incidence of VSD in the Nkx2-5 +/- offspring was associated with the age of the mother and not the ovary. This result clearly indicates the existence of an age-related maternal factor that interacts with embryonic cardiac development. Second, a high-fat diet did not increase the maternal age-based risk, so abnormal glucose metabolism and obesity do not simply explain the mechanism. Third, the risk associated with maternal aging is a quantitative genetic trait. It was highest in the inbred C57BL/6N background, intermediate in the C57BL/6N X FVB/N F1 hybrid, and insignficant in the C57BL/6N X A/J F1 hybrid. Maternal genetic polymorphisms must determine the activity of the factor that mediates the age-based risk. Finally and most surprisingly, voluntary exercise by mothers can abrogate the age-based risk. Running wheels in breeding cages reduced the incidence of VSD from 20 to 9% for the offspring of old mothers. The lower incidence is similar to that observed in the offspring of young, sedentary mothers. CONCLUSION: A mother’s age, genes, and exercise influence a pathway that interacts with embryonic cardiac development. Interventions aimed at the mother could meaningfully reduce the risk of congenital heart disease in offspring who carry a deleterious mutation.
A Comparison of the Boolean and Continuous Dynamics of Three-Gene Regulatory Networks

We investigate the dynamics of three-gene regulatory networks with one feedback circuit using the Boolean and continuous models put forth by Gehrmann and Drossel [4]. We establish the existence of Hopf bifurcations in the continuous models and use these bifurcations to compare the models more closely. With this analysis we are able to establish the regions in the parameter space where the dynamical behavior of the models agree and where they disagree.
Top-Down Control of Visual Alpha Oscillations: Sources of Control Signals and Their Mechanisms of Action

Alpha oscillations (8-12 Hz) are thought to inversely correlate with cortical excitability. Goal-oriented modulation of alpha has been studied extensively. In visual spatial attention, alpha over the region of visual cortex corresponding to the attended location decreases, signifying increased excitability to facilitate the processing of impending stimuli. In contrast, in retention of verbal working memory, alpha over visual cortex increases, signifying decreased excitability to gate out stimulus input to protect the information held online from sensory interference. According to the prevailing model, this goal-oriented biasing of sensory cortex is effected by top-down control signals from frontal and parietal cortices. The present study tests and substantiates this hypothesis by (a) identifying the signals that mediate the top-down biasing influence, (b) examining whether the cortical areas issuing these signals are task-specific or task-independent, and (c) establishing the possible mechanism of the biasing action. High-density human EEG data were recorded in two experimental paradigms: a trial-by-trial cued visual spatial attention task and a modified Sternberg working memory task. Applying Granger causality to both sensor-level and source-level data we report the following findings. In covert visual spatial attention, the regions exerting top-down control over visual activity are lateralized to the right hemisphere, with the dipoles located at the right frontal eye field (FEF) and the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) being the main sources of top-down influences. During retention of verbal working memory, the regions exerting top-down control over visual activity are lateralized to the left hemisphere, with the dipoles located at the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) being the main source of top-down influences. In both experiments, top-down influences are mediated by alpha oscillations, and the biasing effect is likely achieved via an inhibition-disinhibition mechanism.
Second-order discretization in space and time for radiation-hydrodynamics

Second-order accurate discretizations for radiation-hydrodynamics are currently an area of interest in the high energy density laboratory physics and astrophysics communities. Second-order methods used to solve the hydrodynamics equations and second-order methods used to solve the radiation transport equation often differ fundamentally, making it difficult to combine them in a second-order manner. Here, we present an implicitexplicit (IMEX) method for solving the 1D equations of radiation-hydrodynamics that is second-order accurate in space and time. Our radiation-hydrodynamics model consists of the 1D Euler equations coupled with a gray radiation S2 approximation. Our RH method combines the MUSCL-Hancock method for solving the Euler equations with the TR/BDF2 time integration scheme and the linear-discontinuous Galerkin finite-element spatial discretization scheme for the S2 radiation equations. The MUSCL-Hancock method is commonly used for hydrodynamic calculations and the linear-discontinuous Galerkin scheme is the standard for the Sn equations of radiative transfer. While somewhat similar, these schemes vary fundamentally with respect to the treatment of spatial slopes. We address the challenges inherent to coupling these different numerical methods and demonstrate how these challenges can be overcome. Using the method of manufactured solutions, we show that the method is second-order accurate in space and time for both the equilibrium diffusion and streaming limit, and we show that the method is capable of computing radiative shock solutions accurately by comparing our results with semi-analytic solutions.
Evaluation of an unstructured afterschool physical activity programme for disadvantaged youth

ABSTRACTThe purpose of the study was to conduct an evaluation of an unstructured afterschool physical activity (PA) programme (Keep it Moving!; KIM) in an ethnically diverse and low socio-economic status (SES) school district. PA of students in 3rd–5th grades (N = 205) at four elementary schools were assessed during spring 2012. An ActiGraph accelerometer was utilised to examine objectively measured time and steps in differing intensity levels. Standard data reduction procedures were used to process collected data and characterise PA. Students averaged approximately 54 min of accelerometer wear-time during the KIM programme, 10.4 ± 6.1 min (19.2%) of which were spent in sedentary behaviour, 28.2 ± 8.3 min (52.1%) in light PA and 15.6 ± 6.6 min (28.7%) in moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA. Within the cadence band of 1–19 steps/min participants accumulated the highest time-derived PA (16.4 ± 6.3 min). In total, children averaged 1811.9 ± 527.5 steps during the entire KIM programme. Results from the programm...
Abstract 3328: Cytotherapy with naïve rat umbilical cord matrix stem cells significantly attenuates growth of murine pancreatic cancer cells and increases mouse survival in syngeneic mice

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies, with a very poor prognosis. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. MSC derived from the human umbilical cord matrix (UCMSC) have a great potential for therapeutic use in cancer. UCMSC-based targeted gene/therapeutic-delivery and successful tumor attenuation has been demonstrated. However, the targeted stem cell therapy would be significantly safer and more applicable to human patients if unmodified postnatal stem cells alone were shown to cause tumor cell death and regress tumors, without any foreign gene transfection. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the anti-cancer effect of un-engineered naive rat UCMSC on the growth of murine pancreatic ductal carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. A mouse peritoneal model was used to test the ability of un-engineered rat UCMSC to control growth of pancreatic cancer. In addition, MTT, direct cell count, [ 3 H] thymidine uptake, and soft agar colony assays were carried out as in vitro studies. Co-culture of rat UCMSC with PAN02 murine pancreatic carcinoma cells (UCMSC:PAN02, 1:6 and 1:3) caused G0/G1 arrest and significantly attenuated the proliferation of PAN02 carcinoma cells as monitored by MTT assay, direct cell counts, and [ 3 H] thymidine uptake assay. Rat UCMSCs also significantly reduced PAN02 colony size and number as measured by soft agar colony assay. The in vivo mouse studies showed that rat UCMSC treatment significantly decreased the peritoneal PAN02 tumor burden 3 weeks after tumor transplantation and increased mouse survival time. Histological study revealed that intraperitoneally administered rat UCMSC survived for at least 3 weeks and the majority were found near or inside the tumor. These results indicate that naive rat UCMSC alone remarkably attenuate the growth of pancreatic carcinoma cells in vitro and in a mouse peritoneal model. Thus, these studies imply that UCMSC could be a potential tool for targeted cytotherapy for pancreatic cancer. This work was supported by Kansas State University (KSU) Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research, KSU College of Veterinary Medicine Dean9s fund, Kansas State Legislative Appropriation, NIH P20RR017686, P20RR015563 and R21 CA135599. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3328.
Identification of a mitochondrial-binding site on the N-terminal end of hexokinase II.

Hexokinase II (HKII) is responsible for the first step in the glycolysis pathway by adding a phosphate on to the glucose molecule so it can proceed down the pathway to produce the energy for continuous cancer cell growth. Tumour cells overexpress the HKII enzyme. In fact, it is the overexpression of the HKII enzyme that makes the diagnosis of cancer possible when imaged by positron emission tomography (PET). HKII binds to the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) located on the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM). When bound to the MOM, HKII is blocking a major cell death pathway. Thus, HKII is responsible for two characteristics of cancer cells, rapid tumour growth and inability of cancer cells to undergo apoptosis. One method to identify novel compounds that may interfere with the HKII–VDAC-binding site is to create a molecular model using the crystal structure of HKII. However, the amino acid(s) responsible for HKII binding to VDAC are not known. Therefore, a series of truncations and point mutations were made to the N-terminal end of HKII to identify the binding site to VDAC. Deletions of the first 10 and 20 amino acids indicated that important amino acid(s) for binding were located within the first 10 amino acids. Next, a series of point mutations were made within the first 10 amino acids. It is clear from the immunofluorescence images and immunoblot results that mutating the fifth amino acid from histidine to proline completely abolished binding to the MOM.
The managerial revolution in the U.S. health care sector: lessons from the U.S. economy

The U.S. health care sector is following the path of the revitalized U.S. economy with the creation of focused health care factories that provide coordinated care primarily for high-cost chronic diseases, disabilities, and surgical procedures, and with increased response to the demands of hard-working, well-educated Americans for convenience and support. Everything-for-everybody vertically integrated systems and managed care organizations will be sorely tested by these efficient, consumer-friendly innovations. This managerial revolution will create substantial opportunities for important health care administration research.
The Zenith of Umayyad Power

Marwān (683–5), the founder of the Marwānid branch of the Umayyad dynasty, was succeeded by his son ‘Abd-al-Malik (685–705), the “father of kings”. Under ‘Abd-al-Malik’s rule and that of the four sons who succeeded him1 the dynasty at Damascus reached the meridian of its power and glory. During the reigns of al-Walīd and Hishām the Islamic empire reached its greatest expansion, stretching from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees to theIndus and the confines of China—an extent hardly rivalled in ancient times and surpassed in modern times only by the British and Russian empires. To this glorious period belong the subjugation of Transoxiana, the reconquest and pacification of North Africa and the acquisition of the largest European country ever held by Arabs—Spain.
Frameless, electromagnetic image-guided ventriculostomy for ventriculoperitoneal shunt and Ommaya reservoir placement.

Abstract Objectives Catheter ventriculostomy is a common neurosurgical procedure for placement of Ommaya reservoirs or ventriculo-peritoneal shunts (VPS). Malpositioning or multiple attempts at catheter placement may lead to complications such as hemorrhage, mechanical obstruction, or tissue injury. Traditional navigation systems to guide placement require head fixation, which can lead to additional risks of pin placement as well as inconvenience, particularly with regard to patient positioning. Here we report our experience using frameless, electromagnetic (EM) image-guidance as a fast and low risk method of ensuring accurate ventriculostomy catheter placement. Patients 51 consecutive patients with frameless, EM image-guided Ommaya or VPS placement from 2011 to 2015. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patient charts and recorded case duration and patient post-operative outcomes. Results Twenty-four (24) patients received Ommayas and 27 received VPS. Average time of operative room set up was 48 min. Average case duration was 35 min for Ommaya cases and 61 min for VPS cases. All catheters were placed with one pass. One patient required revision surgery for obstruction or misplacement. No clinically significant hemorrhages occurred postoperatively. Conclusions Ventriculostomy with EM image-guidance is a safe and efficient way to ensure proper catheter placement and minimize patient complications.
Monocyte-macrophage-derived acidic isoferritins: Normal feedback regulators of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells in vitro

The recent identification of a leukemia-associated inhibitory activity (LIA) against granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) as acidic isoferritins has now led to detection of this activity in normal bone marrow and blood cells. Detection of this activity depends on stimulation of CFU-GM by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulatory factors (GM-CSF), and some conditioned media (CM) sources of GM-CSF (human placental and monocyte, mouse macrophage and WEHI-3) contained low levels of acidic isoferritin that lowered colony formation. Inactivation or removal of this activity increased the stimulatory capacity of the CM. CM depleted of acidic isoferritins or CM originally devoid of this activity (human GCT, 5637, Mo, lymphocytes: mouse L cells or pokeweed-mitogen-stimulated spleen cells) increased the sensitivity of the assay to detect acidic isoferritin inhibitory activity. This activity was selectively contained and released from normal monocytes and macrophages. Restriction of this activity to mononuclear phagocytes was substantiated, as only continuous cell lines of monocytes and macrophages or lines capable of induction to this lineage contained and released acidic isoferritin inhibitory activity. The cells of origin and target cells of action suggest that acidic isoferritin-inhibitory activity can be considered as a negative feedback regulator, at least in vitro.
A node-based CSMA algorithm for improved delay performance in wireless networks

Recent studies in wireless scheduling have shown that CSMA can be made throughput optimal by optimizing over activation rates. However, those throughput optimal CSMA algorithms were found to suffer from poor delay performance, especially at high throughputs where the delay can potentially grow exponentially in the size of the network. Motivated by these shortcomings, in this paper we propose a node-based version of the throughput optimal CSMA (NB-CSMA) as opposed to previous link-based CSMA algorithms, where links were treated as separate entities. Our algorithm is fully distributed and corresponds to Glauber dynamics with "Block updates". We show analytically and via simulations that NB-CSMA outperforms conventional link-based CSMA in terms of delay for any fixed-size network. We also characterize the fraction of the capacity region for which the average queue lengths (and the average delay) grow polynomially in the size of the network, for networks with bounded-degree conflict graphs. This fraction is no smaller than the fraction known for link-based CSMA, and is significantly larger for a special class of wireless ad-hoc networks.
Computing spatial correlation of ground motion intensities for ShakeMap

Modeling the spatial correlation of ground motion residuals, caused by coherent contributions from source, path, and site, can provide valuable loss and hazard information, as well as a more realistic depiction of ground motion intensities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) software package, ShakeMap, utilizes a deterministic empirical approach to estimate median ground shaking in conjunction with observed seismic data. ShakeMap-based shaking estimates are used in concert with loss estimation algorithms to estimate fatalities and economic losses after significant seismic events around the globe. Incorporating the spatial correlation of ground motion residuals has been shown to improve seismic loss estimates. In particular, Park, Bazzuro, and Baker (Applications of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering, 2007) investigated computing spatially correlated random fields of residuals. However, for large scale ShakeMap grids, computational requirements of the method are prohibitive. In this work, a memory efficient algorithm is developed to compute the random fields and implemented using the ShakeMap framework. This new, iterative parallel algorithm is based on decay properties of an associated ground motion correlation function and is shown to significantly reduce computational requirements associated with adding spatial variability to the ShakeMap ground motion estimates. Further, we demonstrate and quantify the impact of adding peak ground motion spatial variability on resulting earthquake loss estimates. HighlightsSuccessive computations increase the efficiency of computing correlated random fields.The use of parallel processes significantly reduces CPU time.Method reduces memory constraints and computes realizations with near-linear speedup.Method is suitable for large ShakeMap grids and can condition upon station data.Realizations are used to compute valuable seismic loss distributions.
The role of religious coping on problematic alcohol consumption by police officers

AbstractProblematic alcohol consumption by police officers is well documented in the literature. It also shows that critical incident stress is correlated with this behavior. A separate body of research indicates that religious coping exerts a moderate protective effect on various types of problematic behavior, including problematic alcohol consumption. We merge these literatures in an effort to determine if religious coping reduces problematic alcohol consumption by police officers and whether it mitigates the positive relationship between critical incident stress and problematic drinking. Data from the Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland, 1997–1999 are analyzed to examine these propositions (n = 1004). Results indicate that police officers with higher levels of religious coping were in fact less likely to report problematic alcohol consumption. However, religious coping did not mitigate the positive relationship between critical incident stress and problematic a...
Intraoperative detection of parathyroid gland perfusion during endocrine surgeries (Conference Presentation)

As many as 80,000 patients a year in the US undergo thyroidectomies or parathyroidectomies for diseased glands. About 21% of these surgeries result in disruption of blood supply to health parathyroid glands, which, if unaddressed, may result in long-term hypocalcemia. Surgeons need to know as soon as possible whether or not the blood supply to a parathyroid gland has been disrupted, as this informs their decision on whether or not to excise and reimplant the gland. There is a non-trivial failure rate involved in this transplantation process, and in the absence of an objective gold-standard surgeons often rely on subjective visual inspection in making this decision. Here we present Laser Speckle Imaging as a real-time objective method to assess parathyroid viability. Our device consists of a 785 nm laser source and a near-infrared camera with a zoom lens, positioned above the surgical field with an articulated arm. With the laser diffusing light onto the tissue, the camera acquires images which are processed in real-time and displayed on a monitor. These speckle contrast images are then averaged and the relative difference in speckle contrast between the parathyroid gland and surrounding thyroid tissue is calculated and correlated with the surgeon’s assessment of viability. Preliminary findings from in vivo measurement of 9 diseased glands show 100% agreement with the surgeon when taking a greater than 5% relative difference to indicate devascularization. This device has the potential to be used as an intraoperative tool for assessing parathyroid viability.
Zinc as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration

Evidence continues to increase that antioxidants are an important factor in the progress and development of age-related macular degeneration. While zinc supplementation fits nicely in this thesis as a mineral co-factor of vital antioxidant enzymes, the clinical evidence for oral zinc supplementation is mixed and presently inconclusive. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 11:137–145, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Observing Inquiry-Based Learning Environments Using the Scholastic Inquiry Observation Instrument

This study provides psychometric data for the Scholastic Inquiry Observation instrument and 6 years of research data from an inquiry-based professional training program. The rating instrument provides a resource for measuring 16 inquiry-related learning activities based on level of inquiry implementation and level of active student engagement. Observational data at the item level can be useful for inquiry-based professional development programs. Four scale score options are available for inquiry summarization (Inquiry Implementation for Hypothesis Usage; Implementation of Inquiry Communication; Student Engagement in Hypothesis Usage; Student Engagement in Inquiry Communication) and two scales measuring Student Interest and Mastery of Objectives. Comparisons of the types of inquiry most commonly used and those with the highest levels of active participation by middle school students in science and math classrooms are provided.
Intracellular Chloride Regulation in AVP+ and VIP+ Neurons of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Several reports have described excitatory GABA transmission in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master pacemaker of circadian physiology. However, there is disagreement regarding the prevalence, timing, and neuronal location of excitatory GABA transmission in the SCN. Whether GABA is inhibitory or excitatory depends, in part, on the intracellular concentration of chloride ([Cl−]i). Here, using ratiometric Cl− imaging, we have investigated intracellular chloride regulation in AVP and VIP-expressing SCN neurons and found evidence suggesting that [Cl−]i is higher during the day than during the night in both AVP+ and VIP+ neurons. We then investigated the contribution of the cation chloride cotransporters to setting [Cl−]i in these SCN neurons and found that the chloride uptake transporter NKCC1 contributes to [Cl−]i regulation in SCN neurons, but that the KCCs are the primary regulators of [Cl−]i in SCN neurons. Interestingly, we observed that [Cl−]i is differentially regulated between AVP+ and VIP+ neurons-a low concentration of the loop diuretic bumetanide had differential effects on AVP+ and VIP+ neurons, while blocking the KCCs with VU0240551 had a larger effect on VIP+ neurons compared to AVP+ neurons.
An Evaluation of the Response of Yield Monitors and Combines to Varying Yields

Comparisons were made between yield measurements with an impact based yield sensor and an electronic scale in adjacent harvest strips and on the same grain stream within a combine. Yield measurements in adjacent strip comparisons were more prone to errors as the segment lengths decreased. Grain yield difference between the yield sensor and electronic scale ranged from 5 to 14%, 4 to 13%, 3 to 12%, and 2 to 11% for 15, 30, 60, and 300 m long segments. The yield differences between neighboring segments might have been caused by yield variability to a degree; however, a consistent decrease in yield differences with increasing segment lengths implied that better accuracies could be obtained in longer management areas. The combine responses to grain yield changes and the effect of varying ground speed on accuracy were also evaluated by creating artificial yield patterns in harvest strips. Grain diffusion within the combine was more obvious when abrupt yield changes were introduced at known locations. Grain mixing and redistribution inside the combine may dictate the selection of segment sizes in the site-specific decision making process. Constant ground speed provided more stable grain flow values than varying ground speed. The average error in yield estimate was 3.4% and 5.2% at constant ground speed and varying speed, respectively. Careful calibration and constant combine speed were important to achieve better accuracy with the grain yield monitor.
Recovery of Immunoglobulin VJ Recombinations from Pancreatic Cancer Exome Files Strongly Correlates with Reduced Survival

We assessed pancreatic cancer, lymphocyte infiltrates with a computational genomics approach. We took advantage of tumor-specimen exome files available from the cancer genome atlas to mine T- and B-cell immune receptor recombinations, using highly efficient, scripted algorithms established in several previous reports. Surprisingly, the results indicated that pancreatic cancer exomes represent one of the highest level yields for immune receptor recombinations, significantly higher than two comparison cancers used in this study, head and neck and bladder cancer. In particular, pancreatic cancer exomes have very large numbers of immunoglobulin light chain recombinations, both with regard to number of samples characterized by recovery of such recombinations and with regard to numbers of recombination reads per sample. These results were consistent with B-cell biomarkers, which emphasized the Th2 nature of the pancreatic lymphocyte infiltrate. The tumor specimen exomes with B-cell immune receptor recombination reads represented a dramatically poor outcome, a result not detected with either the head and neck or bladder cancer datasets. The results presented here support the potential value of immunotherapies designed to engineer a Th2 to Th1 shift in treating certain forms of pancreatic cancer.