cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound-mediated delivery of miRNA-122 and anti-miRNA-21 therapeutically immunomodulates murine hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality, and patients with HCC show poor response to currently available treatments, which demands new therapies. We recently developed a synthetic microRNA-based molecularly targeted therapy for improving HCC response to chemotherapy by eliminating drug resistance. We used ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) to locally deliver microRNA-loaded nanoparticles to HCC. Since the immune microenvironment plays a crucial role in HCC disease development and response to treatment, and UTMD and microRNAs have the potential to interfere with the immune system, in this study we analyzed the immunomodulatory effects of UTMD and miRNAs in HCC. We used an immunocompetent syngeneic HCC mouse model for the study. We conducted cytokine profiling in tumor, lymph nodes, and serum of animals within the first 24 h of treatment to analyze changes in the level of pro- and antitumoral cytokines. The results showed: (1) Hepa1–6 syngeneic tumors expressed HCC-related cytokines, (2) UTMD-microRNA combination therapy triggered transient cytokine storms, and (3) delivery of microRNA-122 and anti-microRNA-21 affected the immune microenvironment by decreasing the level of GM-CSF in tumors while modulating protumoral IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-17 and antitumoral IL-2 and IL-12 in tumor-proximal lymph nodes, and increasing IL-2 in the serum of tumor-bearing mice. Local delivery of targeted therapy by UTMD significantly reduced the concentration of IL-12 and IL-17 in lymph nodes of treated and contralateral tumors suggesting a systemic response. Conclusion UTMD-mediated delivery of microRNA-122 and anti-microRNA-21 modulated the immune microenvironment of Hepa1–6 tumors at the level of cytokine expressions. Exploiting antitumoral immune effects could enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the proposed combination therapy for HCC.
In sheep’s clothing : mammalian morphologies and aerial infrared surveillance

From high above, a helicopter’s thermal imaging camera sweeps the desolate Icelandic landscape, on the hunt for a heat-bearing body on the run. Suddenly, the camera detects radiation but, moving cl...
Fried, Mindy. Caring for Red: A Daughter’s Memoir. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2016.

Review of Fried, Mindy. Caring for Red: A Daughter’s Memoir. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2016.
Chapter 14 – RNAi

Typically, genes are delivered to a cell to increase the expression of a protein. RNA interference (RNAi), however, is used to lower or eliminate the production of a protein. In a gene delivery sense, the technology is very similar to transfection or transduction. From the poly(nucleotide) side of things, however, RNAi technology is quite different. This chapter will cover the interesting origins of RNAi technology and then progress into different specific applications and their mechanisms of action.
Hydrogen oxidation reaction response of noble-metal based bulk metallic glasses

Abstract Noble-metal based metallic glasses have recently shown excellent performance towards a range of catalytic reactions, which is attributed to their disordered atomic structure and high density of active sites on the surface. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that promote the catalytic performance of amorphous alloys would facilitate the design and development of highly efficient catalysts with significantly lower precious metal loading. In the present study, the electro-catalytic behavior of amorphous Pt- and Pd-based metallic glasses was studied towards hydrogen oxidation reaction by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electrochemical microscopy. The electrochemically active surface area for the metallic glasses was found to be several folds higher compared to pure Pt and Pd. Density functional theory calculations showed that hydrogen oxidation on the surface of the amorphous alloys preferentially followed the reverse Heyrovsky-Volmer pathway. The minimum over-potential for the amorphous alloys was calculated to be significantly lower compared to pure Pt and Pd, consistent with the experimental trends. The enhanced catalytic activity for the amorphous alloys was attributed to the reduced chemisorption of hydrogen on the metallic glass surface, particularly for the alloys containing both Pt and Pd.
Low-threshold laser medium utilizing semiconductor nanoshell quantum dots

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) represent a promising class of nanomaterials for lasing applications. Currently, one of the key challenges facing the development of high-performance NC optical gain media lies in enhancing the lifetime of biexciton populations. This usually requires the employment of charge-delocalizing particle architectures, such as core/shell NCs, nanorods, and nanoplatelets. Here, we report on a two-dimensional nanoshell quantum dot (QD) morphology that enables a strong delocalization of photoinduced charges, leading to enhanced biexciton lifetimes and low lasing thresholds. A unique combination of a large exciton volume and a smoothed potential gradient across interfaces of the reported CdSbulk/CdSe/CdSshell (core/shell/shell) nanoshell QDs results in strong suppression of Auger processes, which was manifested in this work though the observation of stable amplified stimulated emission (ASE) at low pump fluences. An extensive charge delocalization in nanoshell QDs was confirmed by transient absorption measurements, showing that the presence of a bulk-size core in CdSbulk/CdSe/CdSshell QDs reduces exciton-exciton interactions. Overall, present findings demonstrate unique advantages of the nanoshell QD architecture as a promising optical gain medium in solid-state lighting and lasing applications.
To boldly go and go Star Trek

Which began in 1966, is experiencing an extraordinary renaissance in the year 2020. Is this a golden age for the show, asks Emily Wilson
Systematic Modulation and Structure–Property Relationships in Photopolymerizable Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics encompass the majority of commercial plastics but are limited to manufacturing techniques that require heat and/or solvent to enable material reprocessing and reshaping. Photopolymer...
Consumer Identities: Carnism Versus Veganism

“I hate when people are hostile about others ’ dietary choices! I have received a lot of stick for being a veggie, and it offends me sometimes. I would never dream of going up to a meat eater and just telling them that they are stupid or whatever, so I wish some people wouldn’t do that to me. ” Jen, Yahoo Group Discussion
Caring for Our Transgender Troops — The Negligible Cost of Transition-Related Care

When it was announced that the U.S. military anticipates lifting its ban on service by transgender persons, critics expressed concern about the cost of providing transition-related care. But the cost will be negligible in the scheme of the military's health care budget.
Inter-Industry Labor Mobility in Taiwan, China

The proximity of industries is strongly related to inter-industry labor mobility, and there is some evidence that workers who move to closely similar industries receive higher wages. Knowledge is transmitted more easily when industries operate, and workers work, in close physical proximity. Do flexible labor markets lubricate growth? Using data from Taiwan, China, to analyze the effects of labor market flexibility, Pack and Paxson find that: - Workers are more likely to move to industries that tend to be similar to their industry of origin (including intrasectoral moves that would be considered intersectoral if there were more sectoral disaggregation). The degree of similarity between two industries is measured in several ways, all of them based on the input-output flows across industries. Workers are more likely to move from industry i to industry j if i supplies a large share of j's inputs, receives a large share of its inputs from j, or uses many of the same inputs. - Moves to more similar industries produce larger wage gains. This is especially true when the industries' similarity is based on their using many of the same inputs. This may be partly because the close proximity of industries, occupations, and individuals provides an environment in which ideas flow quickly from person to person. - Gains are more likely to accrue to industries as a result of labor mobility. This paper - a product of Public Economics, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to analyze the potential need for public support of industrial development. Howard Pack may be contacted at hpack@worldbank.org.
Separation of inorganic isomers by thin-layer chromatography : VII. Synthesis and separation of the geometric and ligand isomers of dichlorobis(dibutyl sulfide)platinum(II)

Abstract The eight possible isomers of dichlorobis(dibutyl sulfide)platinum(II) have been prepared and characterized, six of them in a pure state ( cis - and trans-n ; cis - and trans-iso ; and cis - and trans-sec .). We have separated some of the geometric isomers from each other, some of the ligand isomers from each other, and some of both types from each other by thin-layer chromatography.
Invariant Visual Responses From Attentional Gain Fields

Salinas, Emilio and L. F. Abbott. Invariant visual responses from attentional gain fields. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 3267–3272, 1997. Inferotemporal (IT) neurons exhibit a substantial degree of invarian...
Poly(Ortho Esters)

The synthesis and characterization of four distinct families of poly (ortho esters) are described and designated as poly (ortho esters) I, II, III and IV. Poly (ortho ester) I is prepared by the transesterification of diethoxytetrahydrofuran with diols. Poly (ortho ester) II is prepared by the condensation of 3,9-bis (ethylidene 2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro [5, 5] undecane) with diols to produce a linear polymer or with a triol to produce a crosslinked polymer. Poly (ortho ester) III is prepared by the condensation of a flexible triol with and alkyl orthoacetate to produce ointment-like materials. Poly (ortho ester) IV is prepared by the condensation of a rigid triol with and alkyl orthoacetate to produce solid materials. The detailed mechanism of hydrolysis of these polymers has been determined and drug release data for a number of therapeutic agents are presented.
Postsynaptic Inhibitors of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II Block Induction But Not Maintenance of Pairing-Induced Long-Term Potentiation

The role of postsynaptic kinases in the induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) was studied in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slice. A peptide inhibitor for the catalytic domain of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaM-kinase) was applied through a perfused patch pipette. The inhibitor completely blocked both the short-term potentiation and LTP induced by a pairing protocol. This indicates that the kinase or kinases affected by the peptide are downstream from depolarization in the LTP cascade. The ability to block LTP required that measures be taken to interfere with degradation of the peptide kinase inhibitor by endogenous proteases; either addition of protease inhibitors or modifications of the peptide itself greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the peptide. Protease inhibitors by themselves or control peptide did not block LTP induction. To study the effect of kinase inhibitor on LTP maintenance, we induced LTP in one pathway. Subsequent introduction of the kinase inhibitor blocked the induction of LTP in a second pathway, but it did not affect maintenance of LTP in the first. The implications for the role of kinases in LTP maintenance are discussed.
An evolutionary approach for program model checking

In this paper we use a genetic algorithm to verify safety properties of C programs. We define a new method for program modeling: A Separation Modeling Approach: ASMA, in which programs are represented by two components: Data Model DM, and Control Model CM. The safety verification problem is expressed by means of reachability of some erroneous location L in the program. First, we compute the "Access chain" of L: a string where each position represents the required value of CM elements guards to reach L. Then, the genetic algorithm starts by generating each time a new population which tries to provide an execution which is "conform" to the Access chain. An individual of the population is a set of intervals each one representing an input variable. Our technique allows handling programs containing pointers and function calls.
Technological Change in U.S. Agriculture: The Aggregation Problem

This paper asks the question: To what extent did the aggregate nature of previous studies of technological change determine their results of major efficiency increase, little of which is explained by capital increase? Past literature offers little help in measuring the effect of aggregation. One viable approach is contained in the two questions: Will the technological change index be biased by aggregation? Is aggregation covering significant variation? These questions are answered for U.S. agriculture at four levels of aggregation from 12 counties in the Corn Belt to the entire agricultural sector. Domar presented a theoretical solution to the bias question, and the present evidence supports the conclusion that little bias is involved in the aggregation.
Extreme marginalization: addiction and other mental health disorders, stigma, and imprisonment

Major well-defined medical problems that are, in part, the unfortunate outcome of a negative social environment may include specific addictive diseases and other mental health disorders, in particular the affective disorders of anxiety, depression, social phobia, and posttraumatic stress syndrome. This overview touches on the topic of extreme marginalization associated with addiction and other mental health disorders, along with arrest, imprisonment, and parole. All of these are characterized by a lasting stigma that hauntingly continues to affect each person suffering from any of these problems.
A specification matching based approach to reverse engineering

Specification Matching is a technique that has been used to retrieve reusable components from reuse libraries. The relationship between a query specification and a library specification is typically based on refinement, where a library specification matches a query specification if the library specification is more detailed than the query specification. Reverse engineering is a process of analyzing components and component interrelationships in order to construct descriptions of a system at a higher level of abstraction. In this paper, we define the concept of an abstraction match as a basis for reverse engineering and show how the abstraction match can be used to facilitate a process for generalizing specifications. Finally, we apply the specification generalization technique to a portion of a NASA JPL ground-based mission control system for unmanned flight systems.
Use of an in-shoe pressure measurement system in the management of patients with neuropathic ulcers or metatarsalgia.

Many injuries to the foot appear to be caused by repeated, excessive plantar pressures. In- shoe pressure systems are capable of measuring pressures at the interface between the shoe or orthotic and the plantar foot during a given functional activity. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of an in-shoe pressure system as a tool to aid physical therapists in the management of patients with foot problems as a result of excessive plantar pressures. Case histories are provided that describe the application of an in-shoe pressure device in the management of one patient with a neuropathic ulcer and one patient with metatarsalgia. A discussion of the primary clinical and equipment considerations of using this type of device is included.
Slip band development in a localized region of inhomogeneous deformation

Abstract In situ bending of a nickel-based metallic glass was observed utilizing scanning electron microscopy. The development of other forms of slip bands was found in a highly localized region of inhomogeneous plastic deformation consisting of secondary slip and sub-slip bands. These slip band forms are characteristic of the apex region only, and are believed to aid in the fracture of the metallic glass.
A Comparative Study of Methods of Determining the Moisture Content of Cheddar Cheese

Summary A comparison was made between the steam oven method operating at approximately 85 pounds pressure; the regular olive oil method, in which 5 grams of cheese are placed in olive oil and heated to dryness directly over a small gas flame; and the modified olive oil in which sodium chloride is added to the cheese-olive oil mixture to prevent spattering and sticking of the cheese. The results showed the olive oil method to give values averaging approximately 0.35 per cent lower than the oven method, whereas the salt-olive oil procedure gave results which averaged within 0.1 per cent of those secured by the steam oven. Either of these oil methods appear to give results which, on the basis of these comparisons with the steam pressure oven method, would be accurate enough for all practical purposes. Further, the oil methods have the distinct advantage of requiring less time than the oven procedure, since the test may be completed within 20 to 30 minutes, especially when the modified procedure is followed. The modified oil method has greater applicability than the regular olive oil method since (a) it permits more rapid heating and drying due to the fact that the particles of cheese do not lump together, (b) it prevents the cheese from sticking to the bottom of the pan during the heating process, and (c) it has permitted practically all of the Cheddar cheese samples thus far encountered to be analyzed without experiencing the difficulty with spattering which occurs frequently with the regular oil method. However, during some recent trials, two samples of cheese did not lend themselves to moisture determination by the modified oil method because of spattering. Both of these samples were abnormally high in moisture which may account for their behavior. Although this and the previous paper have dealt with the use of olive oil in the open flame test, other oils with higher volatilization points may be superior to the olive oil for this method of moisture analysis. It was observed in the trials reported that some volatilization of the olive oil did occur during heating, resulting in the formation of a disagreeable odor. This slight volatilization, however, did not appear to have any appreciable influence on the moisture results. Several trials have since been carried out using cottonseed oil, and indications are that this oil may be superior to olive oil for the moisture test. It has a higher volatilization point and is considerably less expensive. Mineral oil is less satisfactory since it requires a relatively low temperature for volatilization.
A functional model of instructional programs

A functional model of instructional programs (for Computer Assisted Instruction - CAI) that describes all program types as being essentially composed of a set of primitive building blocks is proposed. The variables that account for the apparent distinguishing characteristics of these programs are then interpreted in the light of this model and a procedure is provided for reducing the different program types to their elementary building blocks. Starting with the primitive building blocks, it is shown how programs of varying descriptions can be generated by an appropriate choice of parameter values. This model provides better insight on the requirements and structure of application-oriented CAI languages, software, and systems. Furthermore, the model provides an easy means of generating CAI synthetic programs for the purpose of simulation modeling directed towards instructional systems design, analysis, and performance evaluation.
Observations on the Adenoma as precursor to ordinary large bowel carcinoma

The very common hyperplastic polyp is not a neoplasm and is unrelated to either adenoma or carcinoma. Adenomas, which are only one-tenth as common, are true neoplams. Depending on size, and probably related to a sessile mode of growth, in adenomas one may readily observe intramucosal carcinoma and/or early invasive cancer. Although microscopic examination has been performed on many thousands of minute mucosal lesions (e.g., 5 mm or less), “early” cancer, defined as intramucosal carcinoma with or without microinvasion, does not seem to occur unassociated with adenoma. The apparent nonexistence of small foci of intramucosal carcinoma, with or without microinvasion, in normal mucosa, and their frequency in adenomas, are two fundamental pathologic facts. They seem to disprove the proposition that cancer calls ordinarily arise de novo from the normal cells of the crypt of Lieberkuhn without the interposition of a stage in the neoplastic process that we recognize as adenoma.
Abstract 1213: Neuropeptide Y, adipose tissue and breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Adipose tissue contributes to obesity-associated risk in breast cancer progression. Recent work has demonstrated the involvement of preadipocytes in promoting the induction of breast tumor cell migration and invasion. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) stimulates proliferation of preadipocytes in vitro by the Y1 receptor. NPY receptors are present in almost all primary breast cancers and in lymph node metastases from ER-positive primary cancers. By contrast, the peptide has been shown to inhibit the invasion of certain tumor cells. However, the relative contribution of adipose and NPY to breast tumor survival remains to be determined. Using the highly metastatic ER-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, we found that NPY significantly inhibited cell proliferation, an effect that was reversed by treatment with the Y1-receptor antagonist BIBP-3226 (P<0.05). Breast tumor cells treated with NPY exhibited changes in cell morphology and demonstrated a two-fold increase in early apoptosis. When breast tumor cells were incubated in the presence of conditioned media harvested from 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, NPY enhanced apoptosis. Significantly more breast tumor cells migrated toward the preadipocytes compared to conditioned media alone (P<0.0001), but less in the presence of NPY. In conclusion, it appears that adipose tissue promotes breast tumor survival and migration, while NPY limits its. It will be of interest to determine whether the tumor migration-promoting activity of preadipocytes varies among breast cancer subtypes, and if so, whether it serves as a predisposing factor for breast cancer progression. In addition, the targeting of NPY-Y1 receptors in breast tumors may have a diagnostic and possibly therapeutic value. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1213. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1213
New reference spectrophotometer

A new single beam spectrophotometer is described in which transmittance is measured by placing samples normal to a parallel beam of light. Collimation and focusing of the main beam are achieved by means of off-axis parabolic mirrors. The wavelength at which the transmittance is to be measured is selected by a plane grating monochromator having off-axis parabolic mirrors and circular holes as entrance and exit apertures. The instrument has an inherent accuracy estimated to be 0.0001 transmittance unit. Its precision is characterized by a repeatability of 0.00004 transmittance units for neutral-density filters with transmittances between 10% and 30%. The design philosophy used to achieve these results is presented. A discussion of some systematic errors commonly neglected in routine spectrophotometric, measurements is given. Systematic errors such as detector nonlinearity and stray radiant energy are measured.
An unstable small-colony variant of a noninvasive mutant of Salmonella typhimurium is highly invasive for MDCK cells

A small-colony variant that appeared spontaneously at low frequency in cultures of a non-flagellated, avirulent, non-invasive mutant of Salmonella typhimurium, and reverted rapidly on subculture, was found to be highly invasive for MDCK cells.
Coping with racism: the impact of prayer on cardiovascular reactivity and post-stress recovery in African American women.

Background Prayer is often used to cope with racism-related stress. Little is known about its impact on cardiovascular function.
ION EXCHANGE OF SEVERAL RADIONUCLIDES ON THE HYDROUS CRYSTALLINE SILICOTITANATE, UOP IONSIV IE-911

ABSTRACT The crystalline silicotitanate, UOP IONSIV IE-911, is a proven material for removing radionuclides from a wide variety of waste streams. It is superior for removing several radionuclides from the highly alkaline solutions typical of DOE wastes. Our laboratory previously developed an equilibrium model applicable to complex solutions for IE-910 (the powder form of the granular IE-911), and more recently, we have developed several single component ion-exchange kinetic models for predicting column breakthrough curves and batch reactor concentration histories. In this paper, we model ion-exchange column performance using effective diffusivities determined from batch kinetic experiments. This technique is preferable because the batch experiments are easier, faster, and cheaper to perform than column experiments. We also extend these ideas to multicomponent systems. Finally, we evaluate the ability of our equilibrium model to predict data for IE-911.
Witnessing Violence Across the Life Course, Depressive Symptoms, and Alcohol Use Among Older Persons

The purpose of this study is to see whether witnessing a very violent act at any point in the life course is associated with depressive symptoms and alcohol use in late life. The data come from a nationwide probability sample of older adults (N = 1,498). The findings reveal that witnessing violence is associated with more symptoms of depression for older women but not older men. In contrast, seeing a violent act is associated with greater alcohol consumption for older men but not older women. The results further indicate that age at first exposure to a violent act is not consistently associated with current depression or alcohol intake, suggesting that people who see something violent happen at any time in life may be at risk. The implications of these findings for designing interventions to help those who witness violent acts are discussed.
Damping of monocular pendular nystagmus with vibration in a patient with multiple sclerosis

Acquired pendular nystagmus (PN) occurs commonly in multiple sclerosis (MS) and results in a highly disabling oscillopsia that impairs vision. It usually consists of pseudo-sinusoidal oscillations at a single frequency (3–5 Hz) that often briefly stop for a few hundred milliseconds after saccades and blinks. The oscillations are thought to arise from instability in the gaze-holding networks (“neural integrator”) in the brainstem and cerebellum.1,2 Here we describe a patient with monocular PN in whom vibration on the skull from a handheld muscle massager strikingly diminished or stopped her nystagmus.
I (should) Need a Cigarette: Adolescent Social Anxiety and Cigarette Smoking

Approximately half of high school students in the USA have used tobacco. Social anxiety can put adolescents at increased risk for smoking. This study aims to determine whether adolescents high in trait social anxiety report more cigarette use and greater urge to smoke before, during, and after friend interactions than do teens low in trait social anxiety. Four hundred two students who reported smoking more than once during high school were assessed approximately every 30 min during up to 84-day monitoring sessions. Controlling for momentary anxiety, high socially anxious teens were equally or less likely to smoke, but more likely to report urge to smoke, surrounding friend interactions than low socially anxious teens. Although high socially anxious adolescents do not smoke more than low socially anxious peers, they may believe that they should need a cigarette in anxiety-provoking situations. Such urges may later develop into smoking behaviors.
Tabular fracture clusters: Dynamic fracturing produced by volatile expulsion, Sierra Nevada Batholith, California

Abstract An undocumented type of fracture system – Tabular Fracture Clusters (TFCs) – occurs in the Cathedral Peak granodiorite, Sierra Nevada Batholith, CA. TFCs are linear zones of sub-parallel, densely spaced fractures, approximately 4–40 cm wide and 3–100 m long. TFCs occur in highest density adjacent to the Johnson granite porphyry, which intruded the Cathedral Peak granodiorite. Individual fractures in TFCs exhibit only opening-mode displacement. Microstructural analysis indicates that TFC fractures contain micro-breccia of angular clasts of host rock. Fine-grained zeolite and quartz are observed along many of the fractures within TFCs, all of which are absent in the host rock. The characteristics of TFCs suggest that they differ from previously documented fracture systems in the Sierra Nevada Batholith. The dense spacing, nature of the fractures, and association of TFCs with miarolitic cavities provide compelling evidence that TFCs formed in response to volatile overpressure from the adjacent Johnson granite porphyry. We attribute the formation of TFCs to dynamic fracturing, based on the clustered nature of the extension fractures and the geometric similarities of TFCs to other dynamic fracturing arrays.
Microstructural characterization of high burn-up mixed oxide fast reactor fuel

Abstract High burn-up mixed oxide fuel with local burn-ups of 3.4–23.7% FIMA (fissions per initial metal atom) were destructively examined as part of a research project to understand the performance of oxide fuel at extreme burn-ups. Optical metallography of fuel cross-sections measured the fuel-to-cladding gap, clad thickness, and central void evolution in the samples. The fuel-to-cladding gap closed significantly in samples with burn-ups below 7–9% FIMA. Samples with burn-ups in excess of 7–9% FIMA had a reopening of the fuel-to-cladding gap and evidence of joint oxide-gain (JOG) formation. Signs of axial fuel migration to the top of the fuel column were observed in the fuel pin with a peak burn-up of 23.7% FIMA. Additionally, high burn-up structure (HBS) was observed in the two highest burn-up samples (23.7% and 21.3% FIMA). The HBS layers were found to be 3–5 times thicker than the layers found in typical LWR fuel. The results of the study indicate that formation of JOG and or HBS prevents any significant fuel-cladding mechanical interaction from occurring, thereby extending the potential life of the fuel elements.
Should we target HDL-cholesterol to reduce coronary heart disease risk?

Although LDL-cholesterol is commonly targeted in treatment regimens aiming to reduce coronary heart disease, the value of elevating HDL-cholesterol levels is still debated. The authors suggest that raising levels of HDL-cholesterol with drugs such the experimental agent torcetrapib might prove beneficial, particularly when used in combination with statins.
Accumbal Neurons that are Activated during Cocaine Self-Administration are Spared from Inhibitory Effects of Repeated Cocaine Self-Administration

Hypoactivity of the accumbens is induced by repeated cocaine exposure and is hypothesized to play a role in cocaine addiction. However, it is difficult to understand how a general hypoactivity of the accumbens, which facilitates multiple types of motivated behaviors, could contribute to the selective increase in drug-directed behavior that defines addiction. Electrophysiological recordings, made during sessions in which rats self-administer cocaine, show that most accumbal neurons that encode events related to drug-directed behavior achieve and maintain higher firing rates during the period of cocaine exposure (Task-Activated neurons) than do other accumbal neurons (Task-Non-Activated neurons). We have hypothesized that this difference in activity makes the neurons that facilitate drug-directed behavior less susceptible than other neurons to the chronic inhibitory effects of cocaine. A sparing of neurons that facilitate drug-directed behavior from chronic hypoactivity might lead to a relative increase in the transmission of neuronal signals that facilitate drug-directed behavior through accumbal circuits and thereby contribute to changes in behavior that characterize addiction (ie differential inhibition hypothesis). A prediction of the hypothesis is that neurons that are activated in relation to task events during cocaine self-administration sessions will show less of a decrease in firing across repeated self-administration sessions than will other neurons. To test this prediction, rats were exposed to 30 daily (6 h/day) cocaine self-administration sessions. Chronic extracellular recordings of single accumbal neurons were made during the second to third session and the 30th session. Between-session comparisons showed that decreases in firing were exhibited by Task-Non-Activated, but not by Task-Activated, neurons. During the day 30 session, the magnitude of the difference in firing rate between the two groups of neurons was positively related to the propensity of animals to seek and take cocaine. The findings of the present study are consistent with a basic prediction of the differential inhibition hypothesis and may be relevant to understanding cocaine addiction.
Novel features of quantum Hall plateaus for varying interface charge

A systematic study of quantum Hall plateaus has been made in Si metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors having driftable ${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$ ions. For low interface ion densities (${N}_{\mathrm{ox}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$) the positions of plateaus for filled spin and valley levels exhibit unexpected shifts with respect to those for completely filled Landau levels, and the widths of plateaus for filled Landau levels increase more rapidly with interface charge than do those for filled spin and valley levels. These results have interesting implications for features of the density of states of the system and for aspects of interface electron scattering.
Police evaluation research: an experimental and cost-benefit analysis of a helicopter patrol in a high crime area.

The significance of a helicopter patrol procedure directed toward prevention of home burglaries was evaluated from experimental and cost-benefit perspectives. The helicopter patrolled one city zone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for two 12-day periods. Each 12-day period was separated by a baseline period in which only normal patrol-car levels were maintained. Significantly reduced burglary levels during the intervention periods, compared to baseline periods, documented the experimental significance of the helicopter procedure. The cash costs of implementing the patrol procedure were compared to two estimates of the resulting cash benefits. This latter cost-benefit analysis was supplemented by a discussion of the intangible costs and benefits of the helicopter procedure. Taken together, these analyses documented that the marginal costs of the helicopter intervention were exceeded by all estimates of benefits.
An investigation of the power characteristics and saturation mechanisms in HEMTs and MESFETs

A method for large-signal transistor analysis is presented. The method is based on the harmonic-balance approach but makes use of input data from measured S-parameters instead of DC or pulsed DC characteristics and a large-signal equivalent circuit with harmonic elements. The topology of this circuit is nearly identical to commonly used small-signal equivalent circuits; its application allows a detailed interpretation of the computed results, which are very precise due to the use of small-signal S-parameters. The large-signal model is applied to HEMTs and MESFETs. Their saturation mechanisms are investigated and the operational difference is discussed. The importance of including higher harmonic signal components in the large-signal analysis is also shown. >
Jurors' perceptions of child victim-witnesses in a simulated sexual abuse trial.

Two studies investigated the effects of a child witness's age (5, 10, or 15 years old), communication style (powerful vs. powerless), and prosecuting attorney questioning methods (leading vs. nonleading) on perceptions of her testimony in a videotaped mock trial. In Experiment 1, as predicted, ratings of a child witness's credibility were most extreme when the child's communication style contrasted with adults' age-related expectations. Results of Experiment 2 showed that the child's communication style strongly affected perceptions of the defendant as well.
A review of antiviral therapies in the treatment of cytomegalovirus

: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family that is very prevalent world wide based on serologic testing. In immunocompromised persons CMV produces high rates of morbidity and mortality. Congenital CMV is the leading infectious cause of fetal abnormalities in the United States. Infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive persons or transplant patients with CMV can produce retinitis, encephalitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, gastrointestinal ulcerations, and cutaneous lesions. Three intravenous therapies are available for CMV infections: ganciclovir; foscarnet and cidofovir. Most recently a fourth antiviral agent was approved for intravitreal injection. This drug, fomivirsen, is the first antisense oligonucleotide available for therapeutic use. A number of other antiviral drugs and vaccines are currently under study.
Resistive tearing-mode instability in a magnetic-field-reversing current sheet with coplanar viscous stagnation-point flow

The tearing-mode instability of a magnetic-field-reversing current sheet in the presence of coplanar incompressible stagnation-point flow is examined. The unperturbed equilibrium state is an exact solution of the steady-state, dissipative, incompressible magnetohydrodynamic equations; thus the analysis is valid even for small viscous and resistive Lundquist numbers S v and S η . The instability problem has no known analytical solution; for this reason, it is studied numerically by use of a finite-element method. Simulation results indicate stability for sufficiently small values of S v or S η and instability for large values. The boundary separating stable and unstable regions in the (S v , S η ) plane is located. In the unstable regime, the simulation results show formation and subsequent convection of magnetic islands along the current sheet at about 80% of the unperturbed outflow flow speed, on average. Stretching and pinching of convecting magnetic islands are also observed. The results show the occurrence of multiple X-line reconnection at the centre of the current sheet (x = 0). Small-scale structures of vorticity and current density near the X-point reconnection sites are found to be qualitatively consistent with results obtained by Matthaeus. Normalized global linear growth rates are found to obey the approximate power law γ = 10 0.0439S v -6.09S η 2.21-0.0128S v within the ranges 20 ≤ S v ≤ 70 and 200 ≤ S η ≤ 1000. At least for S η ≤ 1000, the number of magnetic islands is found to be nearly independent of S η , indicating the existence of a narrow band of dominant wavelengths in this range. The stretching of magnetic islands, which is present in this coplanar flow and field configuration, but not in the perpendicular flow and field configuration examined by Phan and Sonnerup, causes a substantial decrease in linear growth rate relative to that obtained by those authors. The stability curves obtained are qualitatively similar in both analyses, but the stable region is much larger for coplanar flow and field. Unlike most simulations of the tearing mode, no symmetry conditions are imposed on the perturbations; nevertheless, they develop in a symmetric manner.
Electron diffraction studies of supersonic jets. VII. Liquid and plastic crystalline carbon tetrachloride

Carbon tetrachloride at 3–11 mol % in neon carrier produces clusters of CCl4 molecules in flow through a Laval nozzle. Electron diffraction patterns of the clusters formed at a total pressure below 2.5 bar are intermediate between x‐ray diffraction patterns of bulk liquid CCl4 and neutron patterns of the amorphous material formed by condensation at 10 K. Strong, sharp interference features at low angle imply appreciable long range order, perhaps beyond 50 A, in the clusters, whose temperatures are about 210 K. When carrier partial pressure is increased beyond 2.6 bar, clusters begin to exhibit crystallinity. Crystallites belong to the rhombohedral plastic‐crystalline phase Ib, a=14.27 A and α=90.0°.
Automated Estimation of Abdominal Effective Diameter for Body Size Normalization of CT Dose

Most CT dose data aggregation methods do not currently adjust dose values for patient size. This work proposes a simple heuristic for reliably computing an effective diameter of a patient from an abdominal CT image. Evaluation of this method on 106 patients scanned on Philips Brilliance 64 and Brilliance Big Bore scanners demonstrates close correspondence between computed and manually measured patient effective diameters, with a mean absolute error of 1.0 cm (error range +2.2 to −0.4 cm). This level of correspondence was also demonstrated for 60 patients on Siemens, General Electric, and Toshiba scanners. A calculated effective diameter in the middle slice of an abdominal CT study was found to be a close approximation of the mean calculated effective diameter for the study, with a mean absolute error of approximately 1.0 cm (error range +3.5 to −2.2 cm). Furthermore, the mean absolute error for an adjusted mean volume computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol) using a mid-study calculated effective diameter, versus a mean per-slice adjusted CTDIvol based on the calculated effective diameter of each slice, was 0.59 mGy (error range 1.64 to −3.12 mGy). These results are used to calculate approximate normalized dose length product values in an abdominal CT dose database of 12,506 studies.
Chronic Inflammation After TBI and Associated Behavioral Sequelae

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with peripheral and central inflammatory processes that contribute to injury pathology and functional recovery. Unfortunately, there are no effective therapies for limiting either the immediate or long-term neurological consequences of TBI. The purpose of this review is to briefly summarize the relevant TBI pathophysiology and current clinical strategies to reduce inflammation, and to discuss the role of ongoing inflammatory processes that may contribute to long-term neuropsychiatric complications associated with TBI.
Semiparametric analysis of recurrent events data in the presence of dependent censoring.

La censure dependante apparait dans les etudes longitudinales d'evenements recurrents quand le temps de censure depend des temps d'evenements recurrents potentiellement non observes. Pour realiser une analyse de regression dans cette situation, nous proposons un modele semi-parametrique joint qui specifie les distributions marginales du processus des evenements recurrents et du temps de censure dependant au moyen de modeles a changement d'echelle tout en laissant la forme distributionnelle et la structure de dependance non specifiees. Nous deduisons des estimateurs consistants et asymptotiquement normaux pour les parametres de la regression. Nous developpons egalement des methodes graphiques et numeriques pour evaluer la pertinence du modele propose. Le comportement de la nouvelle procedure pour des echantillons finis est evalue par des etudes de simulations. Une application de donnees d'hospitalisations recurrentes dans une etude chez les usagers de drogue par voie intraveineuse est fournie.
Trehalose lowers membrane phase transitions in dry yeast cells

Recent work has clearly demonstrated a direct correlation between the amount of trehalose present in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its ability to tolerate dehydration, but has failed to elucidate the specific role played by trehalose. By using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy we measured the transition temperature of phospholipids in both intact S. cerevisiae and isolated plasma membranes dried in the presence and absence of trehalose. Our results show that trehalose lowers the temperature of the dry gel to liquid crystal phase transition in yeast from around 60°C to about 40°C, thus allowing yeast rehydrated above 40°C to avoid the damaging effects of passing through a phase transition. These results explain both the need for trehalose and the observation that yeast must be rehydrated with warm water if they are to remain viable. Only when trehalose is present is the dry transition within a physiologically tolerable range and only when the cells are rehydrated above 40°C will they avoid passing through a phase transition.
Density Changes in Selected Agglomerated Food Powders Due to High Hydrostatic Pressure

Abstract Traditional compression tests are usually carried out by using the Brazilian test, confined uniaxial compression cells, and cubical triaxial tester. The high hydrostatic pressure unit (HHP) may be added as a new and useful tester to the compression test family because of its unique high pressure range and multi-directional forces. The bulk density changes of selected food agglomerates affected by hydrostatic pressure, HHP processing time, agglomerate size, and water activity after compressed by HHP were studied and assessed by a modified Hausner ratio. The microstructures of these agglomerates before and after HHP treatment were observed by SEM. It was found that the higher the pressure, the higher the bulk density for each material. Beyond a certain high pressure, the bulk density remained constant and the SEM observations showed there was little void space within the compressed samples for each material, therefore, the HHP unit could be used to measure the ‘ultimate bulk density’ for agglomerated powders. The HHP processing time had no effect on the final bulk density at a constant pressure. The compressed bulk densities at the same pressure for powders with different initial particle sizes and water activities were not significantly different. The modified Hausner ratio was higher for larger agglomerate under the same pressure.
Physiological Cost Optimization for Sit-to-Stand Transfer

Researchers have analyzed human movement coordination in a variety of ways using different optimization variables and functions. In this study we used a 4-link sagittal plane biomechanical model of sit-to-stand transfer to study physiological cost optimization. We regulated the movement with optimal controller design emulating central nervous system decision making. In such scheme the state and inputs were weighted by penalty functions derived from physiological variables, i.e., center of mass and ground reaction forces. We tracked the position variables through reference trajectories, which were also used to generate active components of joint torques. Net torque comprising feedback and feedforward components resulted in stable STS transfer. Our results shows that analytical model with physiological cost functions provides efficient framework for the study of STS movement.