cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiratory-gated micro-CT using a carbon nanotube based micro-focus field emission x-ray source

ABSTRACT A prototype physiologically gated micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) system based on a eld emissionmicro-focus x-ray sour ce has been developed for in vivo imaging of small animal models. The novel x-raysource can generate radiation with a programmable waveform that can be readily synchronized and gated withnon-periodic physiological signals. The system performance is evaluated using phantoms and sacriced andanesthetized mouse models. Prospect ive respiratory-gated CT images of a nesthetized free-breathing mice arecollected using this scanner at 100msec temporal resolution and 10lp/mm of 10% system MTF.Keywords: micro-CT, in vivo imaging, respiratory gating, x-ray source, carbon nanotube 1. INTRODUCTION Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is an important tool in non-invasive screening of small animals suchas mice and rats for pre-c linical cancer studies. 13 Compared to clinical CT scanners, a much higher spatialresolution is needed in order to image the anatomy of small animals with research interest. Current commercialmicro-CT scanners oer the capability of imaging objects ex-vivo with high spatial resolution. Studies on lungand colon cancer models have shown that micro-CT is capable of sequentially tracking tumors of larger than2mm in diameter with high delity. Small tumors are still hardly distinguishable from the normal tissue, whichis partially attributed to the motion-induced artifacts created by peristalsis, respiration and cardiac motion.The motion-induced artifacts can in principle be minimized by prospective gating where the image acquisition issynchronizedwith the physiological signals, as commonly done in clinical CT scanners. However, performing suchmeasurements on small animals is challenging because their physiological motions are at least ten times fasterthan those of human. Motion-induced artifacts blur the micro-CT image resulting in signicantly deterioratedspatial resolution than the nominal values.Several new designs have been considered for high-resolution CT imaging of live animals. One is to use ahigh power rotating anode x-ray source instead of a xed-anode micro-focus x-ray tube.
Domain Nucleation Rates and Interfacial Line Tensions in Supported Bilayers of Ternary Mixtures Containing Galactosylceramide

Domains within the plane of the plasma membrane, referred to as membrane rafts, have been a topic of considerable interest in the field of membrane biophysics. Although model membrane systems have been used extensively to study lipid phase behavior as it relates to the existence of rafts, very little work has focused on either the initial stage of lipid domain nucleation, or the relevant physical parameters such as temperature and interfacial line tension which control nucleation. In this work, we utilize a method in which the kinetic process of lipid domain nucleation is imaged by atomic force microscopy and modeled using classical theory of nucleation to map interfacial line tension in ternary lipid mixtures. These mixtures consist of a fluid phase lipid component (1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), a solid phase component (galactosylceramide), and cholesterol. Interfacial line tension measurements of galactosylceramide-rich domains track with our previously measured area/perimeter ratios and height mismatches measured here. Line tension also follows known trends in cholesterol interactions and partitioning, as we observed previously with area/perimeter ratios. Our line tension measurements are discussed in combination with recent line tension measurements to address line tension regulation by cholesterol and the dynamic nature of membrane rafts.
Important of case-reports/series, in rare diseases: Using neuroendocrine tumors as an example

At present the publishing of case reports or case series involving small numbers of cases is controversial. While in the past they were commonly published by most journals, recently a number of prominent journals have either stopped publishing them or markedly reduced the numbers published. However, recently an increasing case is being made for their value and a number of new journals have been started devoted specifically to their publication. One of the arguments used for their value is their prominent role in rare diseases either in their recognition, full description or development of treatments. However this aspect has not been specifically studied. In this editorial this aspect is specifically examined using their role in neuroendocrine tumors as an example. Furthermore, the background of the controversy is briefly reviewed to better understand the context of this editorial.
HIV Seropositivity and Correlates of Infection Among Heterosexually Active Adults in High-Risk Areas in South Florida

The U.S. HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately impacts lower-income populations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of heterosexually active adults (N = 1076) in areas with high poverty and HIV/AIDS rates in South Florida in 2007. Using venue-based sampling, anonymous interviews and HIV tests were conducted at randomly selected venues (primarily retail businesses not associated with risk behaviors). The sample’s HIV infection rate was 7.1%. Half (52.2%) of the infections were previously undiagnosed. Our findings underscore the impact of social and environmental factors on HIV risk, as well as the need to increase and optimize HIV testing and other prevention services.
THE APPLICATION OF QUANTUM MECHANICS TO CERTAIN CASES OF HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS II. CERTAIN ASPECTS OF ENZYME ACTION

(A) In a previous paper (1) the catalytic effect of H + and OHions on the hydrolytic splitting of the C N linkage was investigated by means of quantum mechanical considerations. In this paper will be reported investigations as to the effect of foreign rigid dipoles on the energy of the activated configurations, and thus on the energy of activation. If the latter is lowered a positive catalytic effect is noted, and such a dipole might conceivably constitute the prosthetic group of an enzyme for the reaction in question. The specific problems and method of attack may be briefly sketched as follows: Given some configuration (we shall limit ourselves to the activated one) of the atoms involved in the reaction
Cleft containing reactive thiol of myosin closes during ATP hydrolysis

The probe binding cleft of myosin subfragment 1 (S1) contains the reactive thiol, SH1, and tryptophan 510 (Trp-510). Solvent accessibility to Trp-510, measured using the acrylamide quenching of its fluorescence, is highest in rigor and decreases during the ATPase cycle prior to force generation. These data suggest the probe binding cleft closes during ATP hydrolysis and opens during force generation. The closing of the probe binding cleft may be the origin of the shape change of S1 during ATP hydrolysis.
Is a pyrene-like molecular ion the cause of the 4,430-Å diffuse interstellar absorption band?

The diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs), ubiquitous absorption features in astronomical spectra, have been known since early this century and now number more than a hundred. Ranging from 4,400 angstroms to the near infrared, they differ markedly in depth, width and shape, making the concept of a single carrier unlikely. Whether they are due to gas or grains is not settled, but recent results suggest that the DIB carriers are quite separate from the grains that cause visual extinction. Among molecular candidates the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proposed as the possible carriers of some of the DIBs, and we present here laboratory measurements of the optical spectrum of the pyrene cation C16H10+ in neon and argon matrices. The strongest absorption feature falls at 4,435 +/- 5 angstroms in the argon matrix and 4,395 +/- 5 angstroms in the neon matrix, both close to the strong 4,430-angstroms DIB. If this or a related pyrene-like species is responsible for this particular band, it must account for 0.2% of all cosmic carbon. The ion also shows an intense but puzzling broad continuum, extending from the ultraviolet to the visible, similar to what is seen in the naphthalene cation and perhaps therefore a common feature of all PAH cations. This may provide an explanation of how PAHs convert a large fraction of interstellar radiation from ultraviolet and visible wavelengths down to the infrared.
Predominance of helper-inducer T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and intestinal lamina propria of normal nonhuman primates.

Abstract To define the characteristics of T cells associated with the gastrointestinal tract, the phenotypes and immunoregulatory function of T cells from mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) were compared to peripheral blood (PBL) and spleen lymphocytes in normal nonhuman primates. Mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes were characterized by a higher proportion of Leu-3 + (CD4 + ) and 9.3 + (α-Tp44) lymphocytes and a lower proportion of Leu-2 + (CD8) lymphocytes than lymphocytes in other sites. LPL and MLN lymphocytes were both characterized by a higher proportion of cells having the helper-inducer phenotypes (Leu-3 + , Leu-8 − ; Leu-3 + , 2H4 − ) compared to PBL. A lower proportion of cells with the suppressorinducer phenotypes (Leu-3 + , Leu-8 + ; Leu-3 + , 2H4 + ) was found in LPL, but not in MLN lymphocytes compared to PBL. In studies of the Leu-2 + T cells, it was found that whereas PBL, spleen, and LPL contained approximately equal proportions of Leu-2 + , Leu-15 + (suppressor phenotype) and Leu-2 + , 9.3 + lymphocytes (cytolytic T-cell phenotype), the MLN T cells were predominantly Leu-2 + , 9.3 + . Furthermore, the Leu-3 Leu-2 ratio was significantly higher in MLN compared to other sites. In pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures, the highest helper function for Ig synthesis was found in MLN. Cells from none of the sites studied showed evidence of increased suppressor cell activity. These results show that MLN and LPL T cells in normal nonhuman primates differ from T cells in peripheral blood and spleen. While both MLN and LPL have a high proportion of T cells with the helper-inducer phenotype, cells with the suppressor-effector phenotype are infrequent in MLN, while cells with the suppressor-inducer phenotype are infrequent in LPL.
Urban adolescents’ exercise intentions and behaviors: An exploratory study of a trans-contextual model

Abstract Using a multi-theory approach, the current study was designed to identify gender differences in the psychological mechanisms by which urban adolescents’ motivation in physical education transfers into their leisure-time activities. The theoretical frameworks of Self-Determination Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior were integrated to generate a trans-contextual model. Urban adolescents (N = 837, ages 11–15) completed questionnaires assessing relevant psychological constructs as well as their levels of physical activity during leisure time. Path analysis was used to test the direct and indirect paths of the model. Results support the model tenability and demonstrate its invariance across gender. Although there were several gender-specialized characteristics, perceived competence in physical education was the strongest predictor of leisure-time physical activity for both male and female urban adolescents. The finding suggests that nurturing urban adolescents’ autonomy and competence in physical education is important for enhancing leisure-time physical activity intentions and behaviors.
Assessment of emergency physician-performed ultrasound in evaluating nonspecific abdominal pain.

Abstract Study objective The objective of this pilot study was to lay the groundwork for future studies assessing the impact of emergency physician–performed ultrasound (EPUS) on diagnostic testing and decision making in emergency department (ED) patients with nonspecific abdominal pain (NSAP). Methods This was a prospective, noninterventional study using a consecutive sample of patients presenting to the ED with NSAP as determined by nursing triage when a participating physician was available. Nonspecific abdominal pain was defined as abdominal pain for which the patient was seeking evaluation without a presumed diagnosis or referral for specific evaluation. Patients were evaluated by a physician who documented their differential diagnosis and planned diagnostic workup. Then, the physician performed EPUS, recorded their findings, and documented their post-EPUS differential diagnosis and planned diagnostic workup. This was compared with the patient's final diagnosis as determined by 2 emergency physicians blinded to the EPUS results. Results A total of 128 patients were enrolled. Fifty-eight (45%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 36%-54%) had an improvement in diagnostic accuracy and planned diagnostic workup using EPUS. Sixty-four (50%; 95% CI, 41%-59%) would have been treated without further radiographic imaging. Fifty (39%; 95% CI, 31%-48%) would have been treated without any further laboratory testing or imaging. Discussion Based on our findings, a future trial of 164 consecutive patients would have 90% power to confirm a 25% reduction in testing and a 25% improvement in decision making. Conclusion Emergency physician–performed ultrasound appears to positively impact decision making and diagnostic workup for patients presenting to the ED with NSAP and should be studied further.
Mammography utilization among Black and White Medicare beneficiaries in high breast cancer mortality US counties

Disparities in US breast cancer mortality between older Black and White women have increased in the last 20 years. Regular mammography use is important for early detection and treatment: its utilization among older Blacks especially in counties with high Black mortality is of interest, but its extent and determinants are unknown. We used Medicare claims for Black and White women 65–74 years old in 203 counties with the highest Black breast cancer mortality. Outcomes over 6 years were as follows: ever mammogram, i.e., ≥ 1 screening mammogram, and regular mammogram, i.e., ≥ 3 mammograms. With logistic regressions, we examined the independent effect of race on screening controlling for individual- and county-level factors. Of 406,602 beneficiaries, 17 % were Black. Ever and regular mammogram was significantly lower among Blacks (51.6 vs. 56.9 %; 32.9 vs. 43.1 %, respectively). Controlling for covariates, including use of cervical cancer screening, flu shots, or lipids tests, Black women were more likely to have ever mammogram (OR 1.23, CI 1.20–1.25), but not regular mammogram (OR 0.95, CI 0.93–0.97) than White women. County-level managed care penetration was negatively associated with ever and regular mammograms. In Medicare enrollees from these counties, breast cancer screening was low. Black women had same or better odds of screening than White women. Some health care factors, e.g., managed care, were negatively associated with screening. Further studies on the determinants of mammography utilization in older women from these counties are warranted.
When is there a full recovery for a myasthenia gravis patient

A myasthenia gravis (MG) patient who seems to have recovered can later have recurrence of myasthenic signs. Clearly clinical remission does not always correspond to the normalization of all the factors involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. In ten patients who had apparently recovered from MG, electromyographic tests of repetitive supramaximal stimulation were performed and the anti-acetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR) antibody was assessed. In two of the ten patients all these tests were normal, thus showing lack of electromyographic myasthenic fatigability and the absence of circulating anti-AChR antibodies. Our hypothesis is that for these two subjects the risk of a recurrence of MG is lower than for the others.
Synthesis and Structural Characteristics of Polycerams

Sol-gel techniques are readily applicable to the preparation of Polycerams. These hybrid materials uniquely combine organic and inorganic functionalities at the molecular level. Polycerams have here been prepared from tetraethoxysilane and modified, functionalized polybutadiene, polyethylene oxide urethane and polyethyleneimine. The structures and physical characteristics of the materials are here in reported.
Carbon nanotube coated high-throughput neurointerfaces in assistive environments

Loosing motor activity due to impaired or damaged nerves or muscles affects millions of people world-wide. The resulting lack of mobility and/or impaired communication bears enormous personal, economical and social costs. While several assistive technologies exist, they rely on device surrogates to compensate for the lack of movement and thus provide limited utility and unnatural interface with the user. The ability of interfacing populations of neurons with super high-density multielectrode arrays (SD-MEA) can provide the sensing from and control of bionics devices by thought. Here we propose a neurointerfacing approach using SD-MEAs coated with carbon nanotubes and high-speed computing to overcome latency and long-term electrical viability bottlenecks that are essential in assistive environments. The proposed approach provides ability for fast integration of recording/stimulation from thousands of individually addressable electrodes, while coordinating a real-time computing approach to register, recognize, analyze and respond appropriately to the biological signals from the motor neurons and sensory signals from the robotic prosthesis.
Predicting functional divergence in protein evolution by site-specific rate shifts

Most modern tools that analyze protein evolution allow individual sites to mutate at constant rates over the history of the protein family. However, Walter Fitch observed in the 1970s that, if a protein changes its function, the mutability of individual sites might also change. This observation is captured in the "non-homogeneous gamma model", which extracts functional information from gene families by examining the different rates at which individual sites evolve. This model has recently been coupled with structural and molecular biology to identify sites that are likely to be involved in changing function within the gene family. Applying this to multiple gene families highlights the widespread divergence of functional behavior among proteins to generate paralogs and orthologs.
The Human Placenta Project: placental structure, development, and function in real time.

Despite its crucial role in the health of both the fetus and the pregnant woman, the placenta is the least understood human organ. Since a growing body of evidence also underscores the importance of placental development in the lifelong health of both mother and offspring, this lack of knowledge about placental structure and function is particularly concerning. Given modern approaches and technologies and the ability to develop new methods, we propose a coordinated "Human Placenta Project", with the ultimate goal of understanding human placental structure, development, and function in real time.
Sensitivity of electrical resistivity tomography data to electrode position errors

SUMMARY Limitations of imaging using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) arise because of the difficulty of quantifying the reliability of tomographic images. A major source of uncertainty in tomographic inversion is data error. Data error due to electrode mislocations is characterized by the sensitivity of electrical potential to both source and receiver positions. This sensitivity is described by a scattering-type equation and, therefore, depends not only on source‐receiver separation, but also on the location and magnitude of contrasts in electrical conductivity. At the overlapping scales of near-surface environmental and engineering geophysical surveys, for which electrodes may be close to the target and experiment dimensions may be on the same order as those of the target, errors associated with electrode mislocations can significantly contaminate the ERT data and the reconstructed electrical conductivity. For synthetic experiments, variations in the data due to electrode mislocation are comparable in magnitude to typical experimental noise levels and, in some cases, may overwhelm variations in the data due to changes in material properties. Furthermore, the statistical distribution of electrode mislocation errors can be complicated and multimodal such that bias may be introduced into the ERT data. The resulting perturbations of the reconstructed electrical conductivity field due to electrode mislocations can be significant in magnitude with complex spatial distributions that are dependent both on the model and the experiment.
Recurrent high-grade glioma: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

The management of recurrent high-grade gliomas with conventional, as well as targeted, therapies is problematic owing to several confounding issues. First, the diagnosis of recurrence using MRI is not straightforward, making the assessment of images in daily routines, as well as in clinical trials, challenging. While chemotherapies with cytotoxic agents have demonstrated initial treatment response, most tumors recur quickly. Second, targeted therapy itself is confounded by the heterogeneous expression of drug targets and nonlinear signaling effects, with functional redundancy and sidestream feedback mechanisms resulting in treatment failure; however, several active agents have been identified, most notably, bevacizumab (an antibody that sequesters VEGF), cilengitide (an inhibitor of integrin αvβ3/5 signaling) and cediranib (an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting PDGF receptor, c-Kit and all VEGF receptor subtypes). All of these agents have undergone multiple clinical trials and have demonstrated bene...
Ion-Beam Induced Silicide Formation: Markers and Moving Species

The moving species in near-noble metal suicide formation was investigated using embedded markers and Rutherford backscattering. With thermal annealing of Ni-silicides, Ni is the dominant diffusing species while in ion-induced reactions both Ni and Si diffuse across the suicide. This difference in behavior is not a result of the formation of amorphous Si during ion irradiation nor is it caused by release of Si. We propose that the diffusion of Si is associated with the formation of defects in the suicide layer generated within the collision cascade.
Spatial and temporal geochemical variability in basin-related volcanism, northern Israel

Abstract Middle Miocene (17-9 Ma) volcanism in northeast Israel migrated from eastern Lower Galilee (Poria, west of the Sea of Galilee) to the southwest (Yizre'el Valley) in association with the development of an extensional basin in that area. The Yizre'el Valley magmas are highly undersaturated in silica (basanites and nephelinites), while those of Poria are alkali-basaltic. Scarce Middle Miocene basalts from the Golan, further to the east, are also alkali-basaltic. Magmas from Kaukab (southeastern Lower Galilee) show a range of compositions from alkali-basalts to basanites. The patterns defined by ratios versus concentrations of incompatible elements in Kaukab basalts (e.g. La Sm versus La), as well as the scatter observed in Sr isotope ratios, are interpreted in terms of binary mixing. It is suggested that the Kaukab magmas were derived from veined lithospheric peridotites, melts of the veins and of the peridotites being the two end-members. Accordingly, alkali-basaltic- and basanite-dominated areas are underlain by vein-poor and vein-rich lithosphere, respectively. It is also suggested that melting during the Middle Miocene mainly occurred in response to extension, and that it followed the propagation of the Yizre'el-Galilee Basin from northeast to southwest.
The Major Field Test As an Assessment Tool for an Undergraduate Psychology Program

Senior psychology majors completed the Major Field Test in Psychology (MFT) produced by the Educational Testing Service as a component of program assessment at James Madison University. We related MFT performance to student characteristics including academic success indicators and specific psychology courses completed. MFT performance strongly correlated with other measures of academic success such as Scholastic Assessment Test scores and grade point average. There was a weak but significant positive correlation between number of psychology courses completed and MFT score. Only 4 content courses appeared to improve MFT subtest scores: Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology, Biopsychology, and Counseling Psychology. We discuss the use and interpretation of MFT scores for program assessment and the implications of these findings for curriculum design, academic advising, and preparation of students for the Graduate Record Examination Advanced Psychology Test.
Female Ostracods Respond to and Intercept Artificial Conspecific Male Luminescent Courtship Displays

Some male cypridinid ostracods (ca. 2 mm) utilize luminescent secretions in the most unique and complex light displays yet described in marine environments. While swimming rapidly males secrete pulses of luminescence to attract females, but females do not reciprocate with light production. Females have been hypothesized to be attracted to and exhibit choice between these signals but this remained untested. Their small size and nighttime mating activity necessitated laboratory experiments that used light mimics of the male’s patterns in order to observe individual female behavior. In this study, we asked 2 simple questions: are females attracted to the light patterns that mimic conspecific male display patterns, and, if so, what do females actually do on detecting and responding to this signal pattern? Using a blue light-emitting diode array, we mimicked the male display of Photeros annecohenae in the lab and, in conjunction with infrared lighting and infrared cameras, we recorded individual behaviors of virgin females. Here, we provide direct evidence that females respond to the pulsed light mimic and approach the intermittent signal in such a way that they would cross closely above the path of an upwardly signaling male. In order to maximize her proximity to each pulse in the display, a responding female swims at a compensatory angle above the display to adjust her vector to intercept the male above each preceding pulse. These data support the hypothesis that luminescence is the initial signal used by males to attract receptive females in courting ostracods.
Incorporation of eicosapentaenioic and docosahexaenoic acids into breast adipose tissue of women at high risk of breast cancer: A randomized clinical trial of dietary fish and n-3 fatty acid capsules

Scope The fatty acid profile of dietary lipids is reflected in mammary adipose tissue and may influence mammary gland biology and cancer risk. To determine the effects of fish consumption on breast adipose tissue fatty acids, we conducted a study of fish versus n-3 PUFA supplements in women at increased risk of breast cancer. Methods and results High risk women were randomized to comparable doses of marine n-3 PUFAs as canned salmon + albacore or capsules for 3 months. Pre- and posttreatment fatty acid profiles were obtained by GC. Dietary fish (n = 12) and n-3 PUFA capsules (n = 13) yielded increased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in plasma (p < 0.0001), erythrocyte membranes (p < 0.0001), and breast fat (p < 0.01) at 3 months. Women taking capsules had higher plasma and erythrocyte membrane EPA changes (∼four versus twofold, p = 0.002), without significant differences in DHA. Increases in breast adipose EPA, DHA were similar for both groups. Higher BMI correlated with smaller changes in plasma, erythrocyte membrane EPA, and breast adipose EPA, DHA. Adherence was excellent at 93.9% overall and higher in the fish arm (p = 0.01). Conclusion Fish provides an excellent source of n-3 PUFAs that increases breast adipose EPA, DHA similar to supplements and represents a well-tolerated intervention for future studies of the impact of n-3 PUFAs and dietary patterns on breast cancer.
Concussion in the National Football League: Viewpoint of an Elite Player:

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy resulting from head hits and concussions is an unfortunate illness that has affected numerous football players, especially in the National Football League. Many of my fellow players suffer from this problem, and many have died prematurely because of it. I make some suggestions for improving the situation for retired and current players.
A Performance Estimation Tool for Video Applications

A trend in the consumer electronics market is the demand for new applications that have a lot of similarities to older applications but the new ones impose more challenging and special-purpose performance requirements. In the digital signal processing (DSP) industry, this clearly reflects a transition from the design regime of general DSP to the application-specific DSP. A key in effecting this transition is the engineering capability to make the design specification "match" the application, before detailed design starts. In this paper, we present an effective simulation tool to assist in the generation of accurate design specifications. It models the application by a parameter-driven conditional data-flow graph (CDFG) and the hardware (HW) architecture by a configurable HW graph. The simulator takes the application CDFG and HW graph as the input and carries the simulation at a low level to catch the detailed HW activities. Experimental results show that our tool is not only able to accurately estimate system performance, but also helps to identify performance bottlenecks and to find the optimal software (SW) implementation solution for video applications.
Blood levels following intravenous and endotracheal epinephrine administration

The blood levels of epinephrine and its metabolites which were obtained when the drug was given by both the intravenous (IV) and endotracheal (ET) routes were compared. Anesthetized dogs were subjected to radioactive epinephrine in doses of 0.005, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09 mg/kg administered both intravenously and endotracheally. Blood levels were obtained at 0.25, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 5, 10 and 30 minutes following injection and analyzed by thin layer chromatography. The maximum measured concentration following IV injection was observed at 15 seconds. Epinephrine was rapidly metabolized with 20% of the original concentration detected at 5 minutes following IV injection. When the drug was given by the ET route, the maximum measured concentration was similarly observed at 15 seconds. Following ET installation, initial blood concentrations are sustained over a much longer period of time and 80% of the initial concentration was detected at 5 minutes. Maximum concentrations are approximately one-tenth of those achieved with an equal IV dosage. It is concluded that endotracheally and intravenously administered epinephrine rapidly reach maximum blood levels although there are differences in kinetics between the two routes.
Feature selection for shape-based classification of biological objects

This paper introduces a method for selecting subsets of relevant statistical features in biological shape-based classification problems. The method builds upon existing feature selection methodology by introducing a heuristic that favors the geometric locality of the selected features. This heuristic effectively reduces the combinatorial search space of the feature selection problem. The new method is tested on synthetic data and on clinical data from a study of hippocampal shape in schizophrenia. Results on clinical data indicate that features describing the head of the right hippocampus are most relevant for discrimination.
Conformational Sampling of Loop Structures Using Genetic Algorithms

BLoop, a method for generating plausible loop conformations for protein models, is described. Conformations that are compatible with the local sequence are generated by using the search mechanisms of genetics algorithms to explore the possible combinations of tetrapeptide conformers. Because the amino acid propensities that are used to judge the quality of the structures are derived from a data set of known protein structures, BLoop reproduces many features of database loop searches. But unlike these strategies that are limited by their contents, BLoop is capable of generating novel conformations. The expected accuracy of the database and BLoop methods for loop generation are compared on a set of loops as a function of residue length.
Cyclosporin A Treatment of Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis

Ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis were entered into a 24-week pilot study of oral cyclosporin A at a starting dosage of 6 mg/kg/day, followed by a 12-week washout period. Significant improvement in clinical parameters was observed at 12 weeks and 24 weeks (P less than 0.02 versus baseline for joint pain and joint swelling indexes and patient and physician assessments; P less than 0.04 versus baseline in the numbers of painful/tender joints and swollen joints). Adverse reactions were varied: renal impairment occurred in all patients and hypertension occurred in 7. All patients demonstrated an increase in defined disease activity at cessation of treatment and through the washout period. Cyclosporin A is clinically effective in the treatment of patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis, but its value as an intervention therapy is limited by its toxicity.
Toxic Effects of 2-Deoxy-D-Galactose on Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) and Symbionts

In the interest of developing interventions to infestations by Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), several rare sugars were tested for effects on the termites and symbionts. Among these, the D-galactose analog, 2-deoxy-D-galactose (2deoxyGal) showed promise as a potential control chemical. At a test concentration of 2deoxyGal (320.4 µg/mm3) in water applied to 5-cm filter paper, in bioassays with 20 termite workers, we found that worker termite mortality was significantly affected over a 2-wk period. Subsequent dose—mortality feeding studies confirmed these findings. In addition, consumption of the sugar-treated filter paper by termites caused a significant decrease in hindgut protozoan populations. 2deoxyGal caused dose-dependent termite mortality, taking on average 1 wk to begin killing workers, indicating that it may have promise as a delayed action toxin, which, if added to baits, could allow time after bait discovery for an entire colony to be affected.
Turnover Threat and CEO Risk-Taking Behavior in the Banking Industry

In this study we investigate the risk-taking reaction of bank CEOs to turnover threats they anticipate. In contrast with the previous studies (e.g., Chakraborty, Sheikh and Subramanian, 2007), we find a concave relationship between the turnover threat and CEO risk taking in banking industry such that the highest levels of risk taking take place when CEO is faced with medium to high levels of turnover threats. When the turnover threat is imminent, bank CEOs take relatively less risk. We also investigate the impact of independent directors on this relationship and find that the effects of CEO turnover threat on CEO risk-taking behavior concentrates on banks with a more independent board.
Acute Abdominal Pain in Children

Acute abdominal pain accounts for approximately 9% of childhood primary care office visits. Symptoms and signs that increase the likelihood of a surgical cause for pain include fever, bilious vomiting, bloody diarrhea, absent bowel sounds, voluntary guarding, rigidity, and rebound tenderness. The age of the child can help focus the differential diagnosis. In infants and toddlers, clinicians should consider congenital anomalies and other causes, including malrotation, hernias, Meckel diverticulum, or intussusception. In school-aged children, constipation and infectious causes of pain, such as gastroenteritis, colitis, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections, are more common. In female adolescents, clinicians should consider pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy, ruptured ovarian cysts, or ovarian torsion. Initial laboratory tests include complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein, urinalysis, and a pregnancy test. Abdominal radiography can be used to diagnose constipation or obstruction. Ultrasonography is the initial choice in children for the diagnosis of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, ovarian cyst, ovarian or testicular torsion, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy-related pathology, and appendicitis. Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgery, with a peak incidence during adolescence. When the appendix is not clearly visible on ultrasonography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Helium Adsorption on Activated Carbons at Temperatures between 4 and 76 K

Helium adsorption isotherms have been measured for two activated carbons in the 4–76 K temperature range for pressures from 0.1 to 3000 kPa. Such measurements have not been made previously in this temperature and pressure range, but they are needed for the design of an adsorption compressor for helium gas. This paper describes the measurement and analysis techniques for obtaining the adsorption isotherms. The isosteric heats of adsorption are derived from these isotherms. Adsorption isotherms on various charcoals are correlated using the effective adsorbed film thickness as a fundamental parameter.
Safe and effective use of rivaroxaban for treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolic disease: a prospective cohort study

Low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been the standard of care for treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer. Rivaroxaban was approved in 2012 for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), but no prior studies have been reported specifically evaluating the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban for cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). Under a Quality Assessment Initiative (QAI), we established a Clinical Pathway to guide rivaroxaban use for CAT and now report a validation analysis of our first 200 patients. A 200 patient cohort with CAT (PE or symptomatic, proximal DVT), whose full course of anticoagulation was with rivaroxaban, were accrued. In competing risk analysis, primary endpoints at 6 months included new or recurrent PE or symptomatic proximal lower extremity DVT, major bleeding, clinically-relevant non-major bleeding leading to discontinuation of rivaroxaban, or death. In competing risk analysis, the 6 months cumulative incidence of new or recurrent VTE was 4.4 % (95 % CI = 1.4–7.4 %), major bleeding was 2.2 % (95 % CI = 0−4.2 %) and all-cause mortality 17.6 % (95 % CI = 11.7–23.0 %). In this cohort of 200 patients with active cancer and CAT the rates of new or recurrent VTE and major bleeding were comparable to the cancer subgroup analysis from the EINSTEIN studies. The results of our Clinical Pathway provide guidance on Rivaroxaban use for treatment of CAT, and suggest that safety and efficacy is preserved, compared with past-published experience with LMWH.
Spontaneous thermal facial expression analysis based on trajectory-pooled fisher vector descriptor

We present a new descriptor for spontaneous facial expression recognition from videos acquired by a thermal sensor. Previous descriptors mostly compute features from RGB videos. It is difficult to process mixed and varied spontaneous expressions with a large ambiguity of facial appearances. In contrast, thermal imaging can measure autonomic activities, which are the physiological changes evoked by the autonomic nervous system regardless of the variety and ambiguity of facial appearances. This paper presents a new thermal video representation as so-called trajectory-pooled fisher vector descriptor (TFD). To get the local energy and temperature changes, we propose to use spatio-temporal orientation energy and acceleration of dense trajectory as low level features and further improve the discriminative capacity by aggregating the local feature using an improved fisher vector. The benefits of TFD in comparison with existing approaches are illustrated in two databases using different modalities: USTC-NVIE database and MMSE (a.k.a. BP4D+) database.
To Take the Stairs or Not to Take the Stairs? Employing the Reflective⁻Impulsive Model to Predict Spontaneous Physical Activity.

The reflective–impulsive model (RIM) has been employed to explain various health behaviors. The present study used RIM to predict a spontaneous physical activity behavior. Specifically, 107 participants (75 females; Mage = 20.6 years, SD = 1.92 years) completed measures of (1) reflections about spontaneous physical activity, as indexed by self-report questionnaire; (2) impulse toward physical activity, as indexed by the manikin task; and (3) (state) self-control, as indexed by the Stroop task. The dependent variable was whether participants took the stairs or the elevator to the study laboratory. Results revealed reflections toward spontaneous physical activity positively predicted stair-taking. Further, a significant impulse toward physical activity × self-control interaction was observed. This interaction revealed that participants with high self-control who had a high impulse toward PA were more likely to take the stairs than their counterparts with a low impulse toward PA, whereas the opposite was the case for participants with low self-control. However, the impulse × self-control interaction was not significant when employing a self-report measure of trait self-control. Thus, RIM may be a good framework with which to consider spontaneous physical activity, but careful consideration must be given when examining variables within RIM (e.g., the boundary condition of self-control).
Training the Next Generation of Translational Cardiovascular Investigators: Is the Pipeline Half Full or Half Empty?

One of the major goals of JACC: Basic to Translational Science is to provide an open forum for discussions by translational cardiovascular investigators in academia and industry; patients and families affected by heart disease; the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute (NHLBI); and the U.S. Food
Mechanical properties of resin-ceramic CAD-CAM materials after accelerated aging.

Abstract Statement of problem The development of polymer-based computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milling bocks and the limited availability of independent studies on these materials make it pertinent to evaluate changes in their mechanical properties after simulated aging to identify strengths and limitations. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to measure the effect of thermocycling on the flexural properties of ceramic, resin, and resin-ceramic CAD-CAM materials. Material and methods Studied materials included Lava Ultimate Restorative (LVU; 3M ESPE), Enamic (ENA; VITA Zahnfabrik), Vitablocs Mark II (VM2; VITA Zahnfabrik), and Paradigm MZ100 (MZ1; 3M ESPE). Polished 4×1.2×14 mm bars (n=45 per material) were prepared from standard-size milling blocks. The 2 distilled water baths of the thermocycling apparatus were set to 5°C and 55°C, with a specimen immersion time of 15 seconds and transfer time of 4 seconds. Fifteen specimens from each material group were subjected to a 3-point flexural test at 3 different thermocycling intervals: 0 (control), 5000, and 10 000 cycles. The flexural test was performed over a 12-mm span with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were subjected to multiple analyses of variance and the Tukey HSD post hoc tests (α=.05). Results Mean flexural strength values for 0, 5000, and 10 000 cycles were 133, 130, and 128 MPa for VM2; 175, 139, and 134 MPa for LVU; 154, 144, and 138 MPa for MZ1; and 149, 136, and 132 MPa for ENA. Mean flexural modulus values were 51, 52, and 54 GPa for VM2; 14, 13, and 13 GPa for LVU; 16, 15, and 15 GPa for MZ1; and 31, 30, and 31 GPa for ENA. Mean modulus of resilience values were 0.17, 0.16, and 0.15 MPa for VM2; 10.1, 0.76, and 0.72 MPa for LVU; 0.77, 0.69, and 0.62 MPa for MZ1; and 0.42, 0.31, and 0.28 MPa for ENA. A significant difference was found among the materials in the mean change of flexural strength ( P P P =.113). Conclusions The mean flexural strength of resin-ceramics is significantly different from that of the feldspathic ceramic control at 0 and 5000 cycles, but not at 10 000 cycles. The mean modulus of resilience of resin-ceramics varies significantly after thermal cycling, unlike the feldspathic ceramic control. Conversely, the mean flexural modulus of tested materials did not vary significantly after thermocycling.
Identifying causal interaction in power system: Information-based approach

Stability analysis of power system is a problem of immense importance in power community. Identification of the cause for instability is a relevant problem and has been studied widely. In this work we provide a novel approach, using the concept of information transfer in a dynamical system, to identify the states and the generators which are most responsible for instability in a given power network. Our developed notion of information transfer is physically motivated and has been previously shown to capture the true notion of causality and influence. In this paper, we use information transfer measure to characterize causal interactions and influence in a power network. In particular, we identify the dynamic states of the generators (and the generator) which are most responsible for the instability. We further determine the states which contribute most to system oscillations and these findings reflect the physical intuitions of power network. Moreover, the analysis of information transfer from generators to load identifies which generators are most responsible for load fluctuations.
They Have Risen Up and Rebelled: Che Resilience AD 1475–1700

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the Che living north of the Bio Bio River successfully defeated the expanding Inka Empire, perhaps laying the foundations for the later anticolonialism of Che culture farther south. Archaeological and ethnographic information suggests some degree of Inka influence on Che culture, which is explored in this chapter. The arrival of the Spanish in AD 1536 and the subsequent attempts at colonization are then presented, including the construction of the Spanish elements at Santa Sylvia around AD 1580 and their subsequent abandonment and destruction by AD 1600. I also discuss the changes in Che spatial organization, the rise of toqui war leaders, and the strengthening of Che anti-colonial identity through the Quillin Treaty in AD 1641 (which recognized Che autonomy) to a period of detente in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This is presented with emphasis on the Adaptive Cycle in Resilience Theory.